"It's time to leave."

Ling Chen wasn't planning to stay in the cultivation room any longer. There wasn't much potential for further improvement, so why waste any more Spirit Nurturing Pills?

After settling the Spirit Nurturing Pills, Ling Chen left the Central Cultivation Field and returned to the Ling Family's Grand General's Mansion.

"Ling Yu has come out, quickly report to the master."

On the outskirts of the Central Cultivation Field, there were obviously spies watching. As soon as Ling Chen appeared, someone's eyes lit up, and then they quickly sent people toward the Imperial Palace.

"Hmm?"

Ling Chen also noticed something unusual, surprised that people were still so interested in him.

But this was the Divine Capital, so Ling Chen didn't mind and was too lazy to pay attention. There were countless people watching him recently, probably too many to count.

Grand General's Mansion.

After returning to the mansion, Ling Chen first went to see Ling Lie. They had stayed in the Divine Capital long enough, and now that the Heavenly Sword Conference had ended ten days ago, it was time for them to return to Xuzhou.

Upon asking Ling Lie, he learned that Ling Lie had already planned on leaving, but had delayed the journey due to not seeing Ling Chen these past few days.

Now that Ling Chen had appeared, they could set out to return to the Ling Family in three days.

"The results of the Heavenly Sword Conference must have already been conveyed back to the family. Ling Yu, when you return this time, those old guys in the family are bound to be overjoyed."

Ling Lie looked at Ling Chen with a smile.

He could even imagine the stunned expressions on Ling Tingfeng and others when they learned of the news.

The entire Ling Family would be filled with overwhelming excitement.

"Ling Yu, there's a member of the Imperial Clan named Li Yuanhao visiting outside."

Just as Ling Chen was about to reply, suddenly, Ling Xue walked in from outside and spoke.

"Li Yuanhao, who is he?"

Ling Chen frowned, as he couldn't recall knowing such a person.

Ling Lie pondered slightly, "I know this person. This Li Yuanhao is a member of the third generation of the Imperial Clan and is exceptionally talented."

"Third generation? Wouldn't that be the same generation as Empress Yun Yao?"

Ling Chen knew that the youngest in the Imperial Clan was the fourth generation, the same as Peerless Sword's generation, as for the third generation, that was Empress Yun Yao's generation.

"Li Yuanhao's talent is said to be second only to Empress Yun Yao among the third generation. Why is he here, could he be here to challenge you?"

Ling Lie looked at Ling Chen.

"Could it be he's here on behalf of Peerless Sword? After all, Peerless Sword, known as the number one genius of the royal family, lost to Ling Yu." Ling Xue said from the side.

"Not sure."

Ling Chen shook his head, "But Peerless Sword is extremely proud. Even if he wanted to regain his face, he wouldn't let anyone else do it, he'd definitely handle it himself. This doesn't seem like his style."

"Anyway, let's go meet this person first."

Ling Chen said nonchalantly, "If Li Yuanhao is here to challenge, then I'll accompany him."

He had been cultivating in top-level cultivation rooms for so long, and it was a good time to find someone to test how much his strength had improved.

After saying this, he leapt out swiftly.

"Let's go take a look."

Ling Lie's expression also turned serious, as Li Yuanhao was no ordinary person, and if they really fought, the outcome would be uncertain.

When the two of them went out, Ling Chen and Li Yuanhao were already in a standoff, both standing atop a pavilion looking at each other from a hundred meters apart.

Between Ling Chen and Li Yuanhao was a large lake encompassing several miles, with a sparkling surface, clear water, and a gentle breeze creating ripples.

"It's Li Yuanhao, a renowned expert in the Imperial Clan. I can't believe he's personally here to challenge Ling Yu, it seems he's trying to suppress Ling Yu's momentum."

Not far away, Ling Yuxuan, Ling Hai, and Ling Feng were present. The one speaking was Ling Yuxuan.

"Ling Yu, ever since he won the Heavenly Sword Conference, has been rather arrogant, known throughout the world. It's time he gets a wake-up call."

Ling Hai sneered coldly.

"Li Yuanhao is Peerless Sword's Uncle Emperor, one of the top experts of the third generation in the Imperial Clan. With Li Yuanhao making a move, Ling Yu will surely be defeated this time." Ling Feng declared confidently.

"So you're Ling Yu, it seems Peerless Sword's progress in recent years hasn't been remarkable, to lose to a kid like you isn't surprising at all."

Li Yuanhao sized up Ling Chen but didn't take him seriously. In his eyes, Ling Chen's aura was weak, likely unable to withstand three moves from him. Even if Ling Chen was hiding his cultivation, how much better could it be with just a Sky Apex Realm Fifth Layer cultivation?

"Isn't Your Excellency being too arrogant? Ling Yu is the champion of this Heavenly Sword Conference, widely recognized as the strongest young talent of this generation, yet you dare to look down on him?"

It was Ling Xue speaking, as she couldn't stand anyone belittling Ling Chen. He was the pride of the entire Ling Family, and she wouldn't allow anyone to insult him.

"Heavenly Sword Conference champion, so what?"

Li Yuanhao's face showed a dismissive expression. As for the so-called Heavenly Sword Conference representing the pinnacle of young talent, he never even watched it, as his focus was on competitors of his own generation. He felt the young generation's competition wasn't high-level enough to be worth watching.

"Since Your Excellency is so confident, then why wait? Let's start, we'll limit it to ten moves."

Ling Chen lightly tapped his foot and landed on the surface of the lake.

"No need for ten moves, three moves will be enough to defeat you."

Li Yuanhao flipped his hand, forming a palm knife. His momentum surged, and then suddenly, with a "whoosh," he shot out!

In the midst of his charge, Li Yuanhao's body transformed into eight figures, with all eight rushing toward Ling Chen, overlapping with each other, swift as shadows.

"Tornado God Knife!"

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The eight figures moved simultaneously, spinning rapidly around Ling Chen, creating an astonishing whirlpool in the lake, resembling an extreme tornado, threatening to engulf Ling Chen alive.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The tornado tightened, and Li Yuanhao struck. With a strike, countless stars flickered, and the entire whirlpool of the tornado seemed to be rotating blades.

Amidst the tornado, Ling Chen raised his right hand, calm, extending a sword-like finger straight ahead.

Clang!

A spark created a cold gleam that shot out from the tornado, stopping the entire tornado in its tracks.

The sudden halt of the tornado left everyone speechless, mouths agape.

"He actually shattered Li Yuanhao's technique with just one finger!"

On the lake, Li Yuanhao's tiger mouth on his right hand was bleeding, frozen in place, while Ling Chen had hardly changed his stance, merely extending a finger, seemingly effortless and with ease.