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One hundred and sixty Buddhas, each boasts a name and title, yet some are merely names, while others... resonate like thunder in the heavens!

The Buddha Kingdom rose relatively late, ultimately securing few Venerable Ones, yet it managed to claim a foothold in this world. Could it lack formidable figures?

In that ancient era, the name Victorious Fighting Buddha was undoubtedly known to all. A being who defected from the Heavenly Palace and was successfully converted by Buddha’s Gate. Even now, the Heavenly Palace has found no way to thwart him.

The reason is simple: he’s powerful!

Incredibly powerful. It’s said he could fight the Heavenly Palace’s first Divine General to a standstill. In direct combat strength, even the Future Buddha would yield before him.

Chen Qing had heard faint whispers about him but hadn’t expected Old Liu to play this trump card so soon.

"Victorious Fighting Buddha?" The Emperor gazed upward.

That dazzling brilliance—so radiant it stung even his own eyes.

He had never seen light so blinding, brighter than the Golden Crow Flame itself.

The flare of the Golden Crow Flame could overbearingly blind others, but compared to this, the Emperor hesitated to even unleash his own fire.

"Such an audacious title..."

Chen Qing remained silent upon hearing this.

Indeed, it’s audacious. Victorious Fighting Buddha.

A name tied to combat, destined for perpetual victory.

To lose even once would render the name unworthy, potentially shattering one’s Dao Heart.

It left no room for error, but reality proved the name fitting.

The mere fact he still holds this title means only one thing—since he took the title, he hasn’t lost... even once!

"Is the Emperor of the Human Race... reluctant to fight?"

Above Capital City, an impossibly arrogant figure looked downward. Golden pupils ablaze with golden flames. Yet the feeling differed from the domineering aura of an emperor; it was a solitary, hollow pride, as if he belonged there, to be admired by all.

"Your Majesty..." Chen Qing frowned and tried to say something, but before the words escaped, the powerful Golden Crow Flame responded instead.

Shooting up from the Central Palace to Lantern Festival night skies, domineeringly answering the challenge.

If you seek battle... then so be it!

Chen Qing’s words caught in his throat. His hand, which had reached to stop the Emperor, withdrew instantly.

He knew this outcome couldn’t be avoided. As Emperor, as one who walks the ruler’s path, he would never duck from a challenge, especially one incited by referencing his title as the human emperor.

This was an open gambit. Unless the Emperor abandoned the path of kingship...

Chen Qing had thought no one would take this risk. After all, beneath the King Level, the Siao Family Emperor had a chance to triumph over anyone. The more esteemed a Venerable One, the less likely they’d dare take such a risk.

But he forgot, among Venerable Ones, there were those who tread this path too.

Victorious Fighting Buddha—how could he forget this individual?

Recently revived, with his body’s vitality likely not entirely restored, and the power of the Venerable One’s Dao Fruit potentially not fully operational, would he truly challenge now, under such conditions?

At that moment, unease gripped Chen Qing.

Anyone daring to fight undoubtedly held confidence, and Victorious Fighting Buddha carried billions of years of combat experience, a billion-year record of undefeated renown...

For the first time, Chen Qing felt uncertain about the Siao Family Emperor...

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"This is rather interesting..."

Sky-high flames scorched the night sky orange, illuminating the heavens above Capital City. Even those secluded within Buddhist Temples, the Buddhas themselves, could not help but open their eyes and watch this epic duel unfold.

In billions of years, no one had dared challenge Victorious Fighting Buddha.

Major powers refrained from disrupting fragile balances.

Figures like the Heavenly Palace’s Divine Generals, the Taoist Sect’s Three Venerables, or the Demon Realm’s Seven Saints were not the caliber to act recklessly.

Their moves risked tectonic shifts among forces if victory weren’t assured.

Chen Qing hadn’t expected this man to make a move—reasonably speaking, even if he intended to act, Old Liu shouldn’t have deployed him so easily...

And yet...

"I’ve heard tales from my subordinates about you. A peculiar existence indeed. A native, capable of such presence. All these years, it’s the first I’ve seen. It seems this world has resolved to rebel this time around."

The Emperor stared coldly at his opponent. The term ’native’ had first filtered through the Black Empress. In their eyes, this continent’s myriad creatures were but natives. Though the Emperor didn’t fathom this label, every mention from their arrogant lips struck a nerve deep within him.

Chen Qing never used such words, nor did the King of Qin. At the very least... this world... must no longer fall into their hands.

No hesitation remained. Golden flames transformed into a meteor, hurtling directly at his adversary.

The collision of two towering auras caused the skies above Capital City to fracture.

Even the Buddhas hidden in their temples struggled to keep their eyes on the brilliance emanating from these two figures.

"Not bad!"

Gazing at the close-range Emperor, a flicker of solemn interest crossed the Buddha’s eyes.

"You are indeed impressive!" The Buddha affirmed again, "So, the Emperor of the Human Race? Among the leaders I’ve seen, you’re the one with the greatest courage and resilience. If not for your innate limitations, your boldness alone would be enough to challenge me!"

"Are you saying that, as I am now, I’m still unworthy to face you?" The Emperor’s voice hardened.

"Barely worthy..." The Buddha chuckled, "My name... is Sun Xing!"

"I’ll remember that name!" The Emperor’s eyes flashed with icy resolve. As his aura surged to its peak, the roaring flames around him abruptly disappeared—replaced by a single, unassuming punch!

Their auras were evenly matched, but the Emperor could sense his own limits approaching, while this monster before him continued to climb higher.

The battle’s outcome must be decided now; any further delay might strip him of even the qualification to fight!

"Truly impressive..."

Victorious Fighting Buddha’s eyes gleamed as he extended his palm, unflinching, to meet the Emperor’s punch.

Fist met palm, and a rending Dragon’s Chant erupted across the skies of Capital City. The space surrounding these titans shattered, their power surpassing King Level in an instant!

"Impressive, indeed..." Victorious Fighting Buddha’s face filled with admiration as he spoke again, "The Golden Crow Flame, so domineering. Yet you’ve absorbed it entirely into your meridians, compressing it for explosive release. Your mastery over your meridians and utilization of the Golden Crow’s power—it’s simply flawless.

Neither a Golden Crow nor a human alone could achieve this.

You are the perfect fusion of Golden Crow and human.

But alas... innate limitations. Otherwise. .."

"Silence!"

A heavy voice roared out from the flames, followed by an even more terrifying explosion. Gripping the Emperor’s fist, Victorious Fighting Buddha faltered, as an originally perfect situation suddenly began to crack...

"Impossible!"

Those spectating, countless Buddhas, gazed upon the unimaginable.

In all their existence, they had never seen... or imagined... such a scene.

Even Victorious Fighting Buddha himself had not foreseen this. His arm, clutching the Emperor’s fist, began to splinter like a spider’s web.

A moment later... it shattered—violently exploding!