Chapter 711 - 382: The Reason We Must Win

Furthermore, by defeating his opponent, he could earn greater favor from the Spirit of Sun, bringing him one step closer to becoming the Chosen One.

Although he had been forced to enter initially, he was now growing excited. Perhaps this would turn out to be a good thing for him after all.

Then, he suddenly showed a touch of sincerity. "Sir, may I ask your name?" he inquired.

"Taixuan Hong," Su Chen replied impassively.

Taixuan Tianyi, however, chuckled. "There’s no need to pretend, sir. The Taixuan family doesn’t have anyone like you. And don’t even mention some forgotten side branch—that’s impossible."

Su Chen remained silent.

Taixuan Tianyi’s eyes flickered slightly as he asked tentatively, "Su Chen?"

Su Chen’s heart skipped a beat. His scalp went numb, and his composure nearly cracked. There was no way Taixuan Tianyi knew him.

The only possible way Taixuan Tianyi could have learned that name was from the Ancient Kings outside.

Had they already suspected him? Had they confirmed his identity, or was it still just a guess?

Su Chen kept his expression blank, but he knew deep down that even if it was merely a guess, the Ancient Kings wouldn’t hesitate to probe. If they were still in the outside world, they probably would have knocked on his door by now.

"But why would they connect this to me?" he wondered.

Su Chen couldn’t figure it out. He hadn’t done anything that could potentially expose his identity.

Seeing that the other party remained silent, Taixuan Tianyi didn’t press the matter. He didn’t care who this person actually was.

He spoke earnestly, "Sir, I was coerced by those people outside. I have no desire to make an enemy of you. Right now, I only have one request: could you please lend me the Fire-igniting Ash in your hands?"

"Lend you the Fire-igniting Ash?" Su Chen stared at Taixuan Tianyi. The Fire-igniting Ash was his only ticket in and out of this place; there was no way he would lend it out.

"If I lend it, will I ever get it back?" Su Chen’s voice was indifferent.

"What is borrowed will naturally be returned," Taixuan Tianyi quickly replied.

"Heh." Su Chen laughed. "And what if I refuse?"

Taixuan Tianyi sighed, his expression turning sorrowful. "Since you borrowed the Taixuan name, you should know that the Taixuan family has been wandering and homeless. Our ancestral teachings dictate that we should always strive to be kind to others and avoid making bitter enemies.

"However, the survival of my family is currently at stake. Since you refuse to hand it over, I’ll just have to take it myself."

As he spoke, a fierce glint erupted in his eyes. He moved instantly with extreme speed. Billowing profound flames surged from his body, and crimson patterns resembling rushing magma spread across his skin.

His figure flashed, his movements so fast that they left behind nothing but a blur. A piercing screech erupted as he tore through the air. His body split into countless streaks of flowing rainbows, each twisting and slithering like a living creature. Trailing long tails of fire, they ripped through the sky and closed in on Su Chen’s face in the blink of an eye.

Su Chen shook his head inwardly. He had thought the man was genuinely open-minded and magnanimous, but it turned out he had just been biding his time to build up momentum.

Since Taixuan Tianyi came from the Taixuan family, he had likely been groomed since childhood to become the Chosen One of the Purple Extreme World-Purifying Saint Monarch. His various professions were probably highly compatible with it as well.

Su Chen’s eyes flickered. His figure suddenly dissipated like a puff of mist, only to reappear far away in the next instant as profound flames and Flowing Light engulfed the spot where he had just stood.

"What incredible speed!" The profound flames condensed. Taixuan Tianyi’s expression grew solemn as he looked into the distance. "No, it doesn’t seem to be speed. There was no trajectory to his movement."

He was a little uncertain, but the profound flames around him were already surging like a raging sea. The fire encircling his body suddenly shot upward, transforming into nine spiraling, intersecting torrents of flame. They then exploded with a deafening roar, condensing into chains that plunged into the void.

Su Chen narrowed his eyes, already sensing a faint, scorching sluggishness in the surrounding space. A chain materialized not far away, quickly followed by many more, as if intending to lock him in place.

Feeling the constraints tightening around him, Su Chen realized that if his Permanent Body had not been enhanced, and if he had not yet assumed the Shadow Shattering Body, he might not have been able to beat Taixuan Tianyi.

"True Radiance..." Su Chen’s eyes flickered. Although this man was definitely older than him, he probably wasn’t older than Han Xingliu. Yet, his strength was far greater.

"However, although there is a blockade, its intensity isn’t enough to stop the Shadow Shattering Body." Su Chen shook his head and once again vanished silently from his spot, reappearing far away.

Taixuan Tianyi’s gaze sharpened. "It really isn’t speed. It’s more like directly crossing through space, yet without triggering the blockade. What kind of ability is this? Its intensity is no less than that of a Top Level Holy Profession..."

He realized that this must be how the man had passed the True Radiance trial—he had likely relied on this very ability. Taixuan Tianyi came to a sudden understanding, but he wasn’t worried. If this was all his opponent had, it wouldn’t be enough.

In the outside world, the Ancient Kings furrowed their brows tightly. Only the Bronze Ancient King’s eyes held a mixture of relief and regret.

This "Taixuan Hong" even had a different blinking frequency compared to Su Chen.

"A traceless speed is definitely not a combat style Su Chen excels at," the Profound Celestial Ancient King said, shaking his head.

Ever since he entered the Bronze Sect, none of Su Chen’s various reputations had ever included the label of excelling in speed.

Although they were separated by the virtual scenario and couldn’t see the specific situation clearly, they knew from Taixuan Tianyi’s reaction that this was by no means just ordinary speed.

"It shouldn’t be Su Chen," the Star Dome Ancient King spoke up.

The Zhenwu Ancient King furrowed his brow deeply. "It’s still hard to say. Who knows if that Su Chen has been hiding this kind of method and simply never used it before."

"Never used it before..." The others listened to the Zhenwu Ancient King’s obviously emotionally charged words, but none of them said anything.

This was a Holy Profession. Su Chen had only displayed about two Holy Professions so far. How could it be possible that he was still hiding another one without ever using it?

The Holy Cauldron Ancient King pondered for a moment before saying, "If this person isn’t Su Chen, even though he excels at extreme speed, Taixuan Tianyi actually has a higher chance of winning. His methods are quite extraordinary..."

They had evaluated Taixuan Tianyi and were extremely clear about all his abilities. What surprised them the most were the Professional Traits inherited from True Radiance, which, when combined with his Holy Profession, displayed tremendous strength.