Chu Kuangren had heard about these ancient sky-prides before.

According to the legends, the past hundred and fifteen thousand years had been the era where the road to the Emperor's Realm was sealed and Dharma had ended!

Unable to ascend into the Emperor's Realm, countless sky-prides had chosen to lock themselves into a hibernation mode, waiting for the Era of Great Battles to arrive.

Evidently, Ao Chang was one of these ancient sky-prides.

“Interesting.” Chu Kuangren's interest was finally aroused. How much more powerful would an ancient sky-pride be as compared to the ones today?

Through the Eye of Revelation, Chu Kuangren found out that Ao Chang's combat abilities were significantly stronger than a Young Emperor like Lei Ao. Ao Chang could even use three different Sage Ruler Techniques, which was quite impressive!

“Chu Kuangren, I've been looking forward to challenging you for a while now.” Ao Chang became unhappy when he had an unexplainable feeling that Chu Kuangren was staring through him. So, he began to channel the spiritual energies in his body and a mighty flow of Daoist Rhymes clouded the air.

As Ao Chang slowly raised his hand, the s.p.a.ce around him shook. Similar to an enormous rock falling into a lake, the ripples that Ao Chang created were both chilling and devastating.

“A Young Emperor! This is definitely a sky-pride who's at the level of a Young Emperor!”

“Not only that, he's probably even more powerful than the average Young Emperor.”

“d.a.m.n it, there used to be only eight Young Emperors in this realm. Why is it that so many Young Emperors have been making their appearances recently?”

“The Era of Great Battles is indeed here now!”

Facing Ao Chang's wrath, Chu Kuangren still maintained his calm composure. He even gestured and provoked his opponent to make the first move.

“Hmph.” At the provocation, Ao Chang could no longer hold it in. Upon the destructive blast of his Daoist Rhymes, he channeled his spiritual energies into a fist and threw a punch towards Chu Kuangren.

The devastating spiritual energies and Daoist Rhymes then transformed into a terrifying image of the Sun. It was magnificent!

“Sage Ruler Technique, Sunfall!”

A deafening explosion erupted in the air!

When the Sunfall fist technique landed on the white lotuses, its terrifying spiritual energies fell directly onto the garden, but the white lotuses kept breaking it down. As the two different sources of Daoist Rhymes intersected, it created an incredible spectacle for all to witness.

However, similar to Lin Batian's Sacred Flames, Ao Chang's fist attack was only capable of breaching ten feet of Chu Kuangren's barrier before it dissolved into nothingness.

Chu Kuangren was still standing in his initial spot, calm and composed.

“Looks like there's nothing impressive about ancient sky-prides either.”

Chu Kuangren shook his head and said with disappointment.

“The white lotuses actually possess such remarkable defensive ability!” Ao Chang was surprised before his gaze darkened again at the gravity of the situation

He had thought that in this era, no sky-pride was worth taking seriously; not even those who had ascended into becoming a Young Emperor.

However, Chu Kuangren was different!

He was definitely a worthy enemy!

Ao Chang contemplated for a moment before he smiled and said, “Chu Kuangren, since you're aware that I'm an ancient sky-pride, you should be clear that the Era of Great Battle is here not for people like you! It's for people like us!”

“The sky-prides of your time are too weak! When the ancient sky-prides awake from their slumber, that would mark the true beginning of the era. By then, Chu Kuangren, we shall have a rematch!”

Ao Chang's words brought ma.s.sive disturbance amongst the sky-prides who were present at the scene.

It was the Era of Great Battles!

Although they were lucky enough to be born into this generation, the era was not meant for them. What disappointing news to take in!

When Ao Chang finished, he turned around and was prepared to leave.

Only then did Chu Kuangren finally break his silence. “Hold on.”

“Oh, do you want to fight me again?”

“You've given me a taste of your fist technique, I think it would be rude of me if I don't return the favor. I must let you have a taste of my sword too!”

Chu Kuangren smiled. With the Descendent Self Holy Sword in his hand, he abruptly waved his sword and with a single slash, a bright purple sword ray burst out vigorously!

Deadly and destructive, the sword technique looked like it could annihilate everything in its path!

“Not good! Sage Ruler Technique, s.h.i.+eld of the Mountain G.o.d!” Caught off guard, Ao Chang immediately channeled his spiritual energies and Daoist Rhymes into forming a majestic mountain!

The heavenly mountain possessed defensive abilities that very few could overcome!

However, as the sword technique landed on the mountain, a ma.s.sive disruption occurred between the realms, sending an unending wave of explosive energies into all directions. Many cultivators were swept out of the compound by the impact.

Then, an ear-shattering explosion was heard!

The heavenly mountain was shattered into pieces and its Daoist Rhymes disintegrated!

The powerful purple sword ray landed directly on Ao Chang's body before it sent him backward, and like a blood rain, a mouthful of fresh blood spit out of his mouth!

“You can't even defend against a single attack from me. Are you even fit to challenge me?”

“Furthermore, let me remind you that I belong to this era. Ancient sky-prides like you are better off with continuing your slumber. Should any of you decide to come out and cause trouble, I'll make you understand what it feels to be hopeless!”

Chu Kuangren stared at Ao Chang and enunciated every single word.

Anyone in Chu Kuangren's position would not resist the temptation to trash-talk his opponent.

“You…” Ao Chang was so furious that he wanted to refute.

“What now? Get lost!”

Chu Kuangren's sword Qi flowed at the tip of his blade as the sword Daoist Rhymes radiated once again. No one at the scene dared to get close to Chu Kuangren at that moment.

Having sustained heavy injuries, Ao Chang knew that he was no match for Chu Kuangren, so he left the scene immediately.

'Just wait and see, Chu Kuangren!'

'Once I've recovered my prime, you'll learn where you stand!”

Ao Chang furiously cursed in his head and his face darkened.

After Ao Chang left, the remaining sky-prides gradually left the residence too. They had absolutely no way of achieving what they came for.

“d.a.m.n it, Chu Kuangren is too strong. We have no way to retaliate at all.”

A sky-pride said unhappily.

“Are we really going to live with these filthy beggars?” Another cultivator looked begrudgingly at the refugees below and said.

“No way, I can't take it.”

“Why don't we refuse to lend our hands and let Chu Kuangren handle those demonic cultivators himself? I'd like to see how he'll defend an entire state from them.”

“Sounds like a good idea. It doesn't matter how strong he is. He'll simply be outnumbered by the sheer amount of demonic cultivators there are. By then, he'll have no choice but to beg us for help.”

“That's right…”

Several sky-prides had made the decision to withdraw their help, to use it as an opportunity to leverage on Chu Kuangren.

Meanwhile, Chu Kuangren had just arrived at a piece of wasteland.

More specifically, it was where the Mountain River Sect once was. Upon the defeat of the Mountain River Sect, the sage orthodoxy's location was completely ransacked and looted by the demonic cultivators within a day.

By the time Chu Kuangren arrived, not a single soulstone had been found. What was left were broken structures and the remnants of what was once a glorious sect.

“Master, why are we here?”

Lan Yu asked curiously.

“Lan Yu, if you were to seal a Sage Ruler demonic weapon, where would you choose to do it?”

“Of course, it would be a place where I feel most secured.”

“What place would make you feel most secured?”

“A place where only I know.” Lan Yu scratched her head and said everything that came to her mind.

“Not bad.” Chu Kuangren nodded.

“Master, are you implying that the founding forefather of the Mountain River Sect has sealed the weapon within his sage orthodoxy? This place looks like it has been turned upside down,” Lan Yu said.

“Maybe there are some places that others have yet discovered.”

With a smile, Chu Kuangren activated his Treasure Locating Skill.

The acute observational abilities of Treasure Locating Skill soon came into action as Chu Kuangren scanned the entire Mountain River Sect again and again before finally, Chu Kuangren found something.