Hongchen Emperor Son was somewhat stunned.
A Quasi-Emperor, even a Quasi-Emperor who had self-severed a blade, was not comparable to a Cultivator in the Supreme Seven Realms.
Even Chaos Dao Venerable was no match.
Moreover, the problem was, Jun Xiaoyao hadn't even reached Chaos Dao Venerable yet.
A Forbidden-Breaking Paragon was a Prodigy, capable of fighting across Realms.
But wasn't this crossing a bit too outrageous?
"Could he be a Paragon of the legendary Divine Prohibition-breaking level?"
Hongchen Emperor Son's head buzzed, and he still hadn't fully recovered his senses.
Defeating the strong with the weak, fighting a higher Realm with a lower Realm, this was called Prohibition-breaking.
For example, a Divine Venerable fighting a Dao Venerable.
But if one could cross a major threshold, a major Realm, and slay an even stronger opponent, such as a Dao Venerable fighting a Quasi-Emperor, or a Nine Tribulation Quasi-Emperor fighting a Great Emperor, and so on, this could no longer be described by ordinary Prohibition-breaking.
It could even be called Divine Prohibition-breaking!
Of course, a Prodigy of this level could also be described by another term: a peerless anomaly that appears once in an eternity!
Such anomalies did not need to care about the so-called suppression of cultivation Realm.
Realm, to them, was merely a process of Cultivation, and could not represent their true combat power.
However, how many such eternal anomalies were there in the entire World Sea?
Perhaps, the Fighting Heaven War Emperor of yesteryear could be considered half an anomaly.
The Demonic Lord could be considered an anomaly.
But without exception, such existences would all grow into peerless magnates in the future.
Hongchen Emperor Son simply couldn't imagine that Jun Xiaoyao would be so strong.
"What kind of Prodigy is he, exactly?"
Hongchen Emperor Son took a deep breath.
Later, he inquired and received news.
Jun Xiaoyao had displayed the Congenital Holy Body Dao Embryo Physique in the bloodbath.
Only then did Hongchen Emperor Son understand why Jun Xiaoyao was such a Prodigy.
However, he was not a Mortal either.
After the initial shock, he still calmed down.
"Although the situation is somewhat beyond expectations, it is still within controllable limits."
"Fortunately, when I made that wager with him before, it wasn't about the merits accumulated within one year."
"Otherwise, my Red Dust Merchant Guild might not have been able to keep it."
Hongchen Emperor Son now felt fortunate.
Thankfully, at that time, Jun Xiaoyao was competing on total merits, not merits within one year.
Before this, Hongchen Emperor Son had accumulated a lot of merits through various connections, building up a very deep foundation.
Although Jun Xiaoyao had emerged suddenly, even entering the top ten of the younger generation's rankings, he still hadn't accumulated as many merits as Hongchen Emperor Son.
"No, although I still maintain an advantage now, there's no guarantee that something won't go wrong."
"I must act."
Hongchen Emperor Son got up, preparing to go earn more merits.
He had originally thought he could "lie down and win."
Doing nothing, giving Jun Xiaoyao a year, and his merits still wouldn't surpass his.
But now, Hongchen Emperor Son felt a faint sense of unease.
He couldn't lie flat anymore; he had to go and acquire more merits.
Perhaps, this was the so-called internal competition.
And Jun Xiaoyao was the legendary 'King of Competition,' who could bring a great sense of crisis to others, making them fear being eliminated.
Hongchen Emperor Son acted.
He didn't want to hand over the Red Dust Merchant Guild, which he had built with his own hands, to Jun Xiaoyao.
Moreover, this wager was made with a Heavenly Dao oath.
It would be impossible to renege on it then.
And it wasn't just Hongchen Emperor Son who was shaken by Jun Xiaoyao's merits.
Throughout the Three Emperors' Bulwark Nine Great Passes, everyone saw the updated rankings.
"My goodness, it's the Yun Clan Young Master! This is too fierce, isn't it?"
"As expected of the son of Emperor Tianya! Demon Suppression Pass must be boiling over there."
The Town Boundary Army and various Cultivators from all over exclaimed.
And Demon Suppression Pass was precisely the pass guarded by Jun Xiaoyao's father, Emperor Tianya.
At the same time, deep within a pass called Yanggu Pass, there was an extremely mysterious Immortal Cave.
Inside the Immortal Cave, a figure sat quietly.
He was completely enveloped in incredibly dazzling divine light, like a radiant sun.
Although one couldn't clearly see his figure and face, one could vaguely glimpse his transcendent aura.
"He just arrived at the Three Emperors Barrier and already entered the top ten of the younger generation's merit list. This Yun Clan Young Master truly lives up to his reputation."
"And his ability to slay three self-severed Quasi-Emperors is indeed astonishing."
"As expected of the Congenital Holy Body Dao Embryo."
"Also, Hongchen Emperor Son seems to have a wager with him. This time, I'm afraid it's a bit uncertain."
This young, transcendent figure murmured faintly.
From the tone he used when speaking of Hongchen Emperor Son, it could be concluded that his identity was definitely not inferior to Hongchen Emperor Son.
And if Huangfu Jing were here, she would surely show a look of fervent longing.
Because this figure was the peerless Prodigy hidden by their Huangfu Emperor Clan.
He was also the cousin she constantly thought about.
Furthermore, he was the legitimate son of the Huangfu Emperor Clan's Gatekeepers!
He was very low-key, unlike Jun Xiaoyao, who was renowned throughout the World Sea.
But those who knew him understood how strong he was.
He was even the Huangfu Emperor Clan's designated Young Lord, though it had not yet been publicly announced.
"Jun Xiaoyao, he's probably not as simple as an ordinary Prohibition-breaking Paragon."
"Hongchen Emperor Son has really bitten off more than he can chew this time; he's probably going to feel a pinch."
"But I am indeed a little curious."
"However, we should eventually meet."
The figure enveloped in divine light smiled indifferently.
...
Just as the entire Three Emperors Barrier was shaken by Jun Xiaoyao's battle achievements, Jun Xiaoyao, back in East Ridge Pass, was once again sitting in meditation, undisturbed by the outside world.
His one-year wager with Hongchen Emperor Son had not yet ended, so he naturally couldn't leave the Three Emperors Barrier now.
But after this battle, the Ba Clan should not make any major moves for a short period.
And the merits Jun Xiaoyao had obtained were not yet enough to exchange for Great Emperor Body Refining methods like the Golden Body Art and Heaven-Supporting Sutra in the Merit Hall.
So Jun Xiaoyao was currently in a state of temporary idleness.
And some Prodigies also began to worry for Jun Xiaoyao.
Although Jun Xiaoyao had gained a large wave of merits this time, Hongchen Emperor Son had accumulated for a long time, and this wave of merits alone was clearly not enough to win the one-year wager.
And one year, for a Cultivator, was simply a blink of an eye.
Therefore, they were also very worried that Jun Xiaoyao's wager would fail.
After all, this time, Jun Xiaoyao had indirectly saved their lives and also gathered a wave of popular support.
They naturally didn't want Jun Xiaoyao to lose the wager.
Compared to the anxiety of outsiders, Jun Xiaoyao himself was very relaxed and natural.
He was usually served by Li Feiyan, Ji Yue, and others.
In his free time, he would go watch Lu Xingling practice battle formations.
After this girl exchanged for some battle formations in the Merit Hall, she studied and practiced day and night.
She wanted to become Jun Xiaoyao's helper more quickly and be able to assist him.
And just as East Ridge Pass entered a brief calm, deep within the No Man's Land, in a mysterious area of the black mist region, Emperor Kou Lie's figure appeared, his face dark.
"Kou Lie, your plan this time can be said to have completely failed."
"Not only did you fail to kill Jun Xiaoyao, but you also caused huge casualties among our clan's Prodigies."
"Now, people in every lineage are dissatisfied; their excellent descendants sacrificed themselves for nothing."
From the depths of the rolling black mist, Divine Thought came.
"My plan was flawless; it would have been an absolute kill for anyone else."
"It's Jun Xiaoyao, that little bastard, who was too unpredictable."
Kou Lie said in a deep voice.
"Because of your plan, our grand scheme also has to be delayed," a voice came from the black mist.
"Is that matter true? Is the young girl beside Jun Xiaoyao really related to our clan's Empress?" Emperor Kou Lie's eyes flickered as he asked.