Chapter 2290 - 2282: Step Up and Die

"Let the news spread throughout the capital." Old Master Jiang Wuji instructed the Jiang Family Patriarch.

He wanted all the sects and family experts in the capital of the Central Sacred Dynasty to come and witness, to see Huang Xiaolong die on the Central Battle Platform with their own eyes.

With the sects and families of the capital of the Central Sacred Dynasty as witnesses, even Li Wen would have nothing to say.

"Yes, Old Master!" The Jiang Family Patriarch respectfully replied.

Under the deliberate announcement by the Jiang Family, soon, even the minutest sects and families in the capital of the Central Sacred Dynasty knew about the impending life-or-death duel between Huang Xiaolong and Dragon Transformation Saint Son Yang Rong on the Central Battle Platform.

Instantly, the capital of the Central Sacred Dynasty was in an uproar.

"Our Holy Sect’s Saint Child Huang Xiaolong is dueling with Dragon Transformation Sacred Land’s Saint Son Yang Rong?! This Huang Xiaolong, although he’s the Saint Child of our Holy Sect, I’ve heard his talent is quite poor, ranked over four thousand in the Enlightenment Saint Realm! Among all the Saint Children in our Holy Sect, he’s second to last in ranking!"

"Such a waste, yet he dares to challenge the Saint Son from the Dragon Transformation Sacred Land. If he loses, won’t it bring shame to our Zhuoyuan Sacred Land?"

"If it were me, I would have gone into hiding long ago, yet he still dares to be so arrogant and cause trouble everywhere! It’s practically suicidal!"

Upon hearing the news, many sects and families within the capital of the Central Sacred Dynasty were filled with discussion, shaking their heads in disbelief.

Due to the sealed nature of the duel and its outcome between Huang Xiaolong and Huang Zhouping on the Holy Platform, only a few top-tier families and Supreme Sects knew the results; many first and second-rank families were unaware.

These small families only heard that during his initial assessment, Huang Xiaolong’s Enlightenment Saint Realm was ranked over four thousand, and merely heard that he was considered quite worthless among the Saint Children of the Holy Sect.

With the Jiang Family fanning the flames, most discussions in the capital revolved around mockery and ridicule of Huang Xiaolong.

Meanwhile, inside a lavishly decorated hall of the Jiang Family, Feng Tianyu smiled wryly at Huang Xiaolong, "Brother Huang, you really kept me in the dark."

He hadn’t anticipated that Huang Xiaolong was a Saint Son of the Holy Sect.

Earlier, when the Jiang Family and others referred to Huang Xiaolong as the Holy Son, Feng Tianyu was stunned, and he still felt shocked now.

Huang Xiaolong laughed, "Brother Tianyu, I didn’t mean to hide it from you; it was just that you never asked."

Feng Tianyu scratched his head a bit sheepishly, "That’s true." Then, with a hint of concern in his eyes, he asked, "Brother Huang, are you really ready for tomorrow’s battle?!"

Huang Xiaolong stood with his hands behind his back, "Don’t worry, I won’t do anything I’m not confident about."

Upon hearing this, Feng Tianyu felt relieved.

In the Lower Realm, he had known and befriended Huang Xiaolong for millennia, and he was well aware of Huang Xiaolong’s personality; if Huang Xiaolong claimed confidence, there was absolutely no mistake.

The night passed uneventfully.

The next day, under the shining sun, the entire capital of the Central Sacred Dynasty was bathed in sunlight, with many grand and resplendent buildings reflecting radiant colors.

Early in the morning, Jiang Wuji and others came to "pay their respects."

"Saint Son Huang Xiaolong, are you ready?" Jiang Wuji smiled kindly, "If you are, shall we head to the Central Battle Platform together now?"

Huang Xiaolong, seeing the broad smile on Jiang Wuji’s face, replied calmly, "Old Master Jiang, are you worried I might have run away last night? Hence the gathering of so many experts outside?"

Jiang Wuji quickly waved his hand and smiled, "No, absolutely not. Saint Son Huang Xiaolong’s status is noble, and I worried that someone might harbor ill intentions against him. That’s why I arranged for more people to protect Saint Son Huang Xiaolong; I didn’t expect it to be misunderstood by him. My apologies for not considering this."

Huang Xiaolong did not further entangle with Jiang Wuji on this issue but, with Feng Tianyu and the four Guardians, left the hall on his own to head towards the Central Battle Platform.

Jiang Wuji’s face had a momentary stiffness in his smile, then he and the others "closely" followed behind Huang Xiaolong, leaving the Jiang residence towards the Central Battle Platform.

Before reaching the Central Battle Platform, they saw a vast crowd ahead, with the entire area surrounded by the Central Sacred Dynasty’s army clad in Divine Armor and numerous experts from various families and sects.

Fortunately, with the Central Sacred Dynasty’s army maintaining order, the scene was not chaotic.

When Huang Xiaolong, Jiang Wuji, and others arrived, the initially noisy street became even more agitated.

The various family and sect experts whispered among themselves as they watched Huang Xiaolong.

As Huang Xiaolong surveyed the sea of people, he remarked to Jiang Wuji, "Quite a crowd. It seems the Jiang Family’s publicity was quite effective." For such a mass of family and sect experts to know about this duel in just one day, it would have been impossible without the Jiang Family’s intentional promotion.

Jiang Wuji merely smiled, "Perhaps a certain Family Head or Sect Master present at the time leaked the news, resulting in this."

Upon hearing Jiang Wuji’s denial, Huang Xiaolong smiled, mounted the Treasure Golden Pig, and proceeded to the Central Battle Platform.

The Central Battle Platform was not far from the Imperial Palace of the Central Sacred Dynasty. The area surrounding the battle platform was a vast plaza dotted with stele.

These stele recorded the many duels upon the Central Battle Platform fought by past powerful figures.

The Central Battle Platform carried a special significance and symbolism; not just anyone could duel on it. To ascend the Central Battle Platform, one must have the consent of the Emperor of the Central Sacred Dynasty. Of course, with the status of Huang Xiaolong and Dragon Transformation Saint Son Yang Rong, they naturally did not need the Emperor’s consent.

Thus, to step upon the Central Battle Platform, regardless of victory or defeat, was an honor.

Not far from the Central Battle Platform stood an enormous golden tablet, towering ten thousand feet high, crafted from the rare spiritual jade stone and refined ore of the Sacred Land — this was the Glory Golden Tablet, and only those who won could engrave their names upon it.

Additionally, the victor would receive the Emperor’s bestowment of the Central War General Gold Medal as a mark of honor. Naturally, with the status of Huang Xiaolong and others, they were unconcerned with the Central War General Gold Medal.

When Huang Xiaolong arrived, Jiang Tian, Tan Hongyi, Yang Rong, and others had already gathered at the Central Battle Platform.

"Brother Huang Xiaolong, how did you sleep last night?" Yang Rong greeted Huang Xiaolong with a grinning face, making it seem like they were good friends to onlookers.

Huang Xiaolong smiled, "Not well, because I spent the night thinking about the most enjoyable way to kill you on stage today. I couldn’t decide on the best method, so do you have any suggestions?"

Yang Rong initially smirked at Huang Xiaolong’s first words, but upon hearing the latter part, his face darkened, eyes filled with murderous intent, "What’s the most enjoyable way to kill me? Heh, Huang Xiaolong, I’ve thought of a method to kill you in the most satisfying way; as for what it is, you’ll quickly find out on the platform!"

"Is that so?" Huang Xiaolong replied serenely with a smile.

Subsequently, Yang Rong sealed his power, and after the Guardian of the Holy Sect behind Huang Xiaolong verified it, he leapt into the air, landing on the Central Battle Platform, shouting, "Huang Xiaolong, come up and face your death!"

Huang Xiaolong, however, leisurely stepped up, approaching Yang Rong.

As Huang Xiaolong ascended the Central Battle Platform, Jiang Tian, Jiang Wuji, Tan Hongyi, and others displayed a cold smile.

"Huang Xiaolong, die!" The moment Huang Xiaolong stepped onto the platform, Yang Rong’s figure flickered towards him, itching to strike, throwing a punch.