52: Chapter 52 Is this my strength? Sorry, I meant my wives.

Atop the Star Observation Platform, the atmosphere was eerie to the extreme.

What was supposed to be a serious and solemn Heavenly Prodigy Assembly for discussing the Dao and competing in martial arts had completely veered off course because of Xu Chen's presence.

On the main seat symbolizing supreme status, Xu Chen was half-reclining without any sense of decorum.

Su Qingge was off to the side softly humming a lullaby while holding the child, Jiang Liuli was peeling a crystal-clear spirit fruit and feeding it to him, Bai Ningbing was using her mystic ice spiritual power to chill the fine wine, and Luo Hongyi was even more direct, fanning him with a small fan.

Where was the Shura Field?

This was clearly the debauched paradise of a decadent ruler!

The so-called Holy Sons and Divine Maidens below the stage watched this scene, their teeth itching with rage, nearly crushing the wine cups in their hands.

"Going too far! This is simply going too far!"

"What does this Xu Chen take us for? What does he think the Heavenly Prodigy Assembly is? This is clearly a humiliation to us all!"

"I can't take it anymore! If we don't teach him a lesson today, how can we ever hold our heads high in the cultivation world again?"

At a signal from Wang Lie's dark gaze, a burly man with muscles bulging like granite suddenly stood up.

*Boom!*

He crushed the stone slab beneath his feet with one step, his figure standing in the center of the field like an iron tower, holding two massive Flower-Patterned Greataxes as he pointed at Xu Chen and roared:

"Xu Chen!"

"I am Zhao Tiangang of the Vajra Sect! I've been tired of looking at you for a long time!"

"As the Young Master of the Imperial Clan, you don't have the slightest air of a powerhouse. Instead, you hide among women all day—you've completely disgraced all men!"

"Today, I challenge you! A duel to determine who is superior, and a battle to the death!"

"If you've got any balls, get down here and fight me for three hundred rounds! Don't hide behind women like a shrinking turtle!"

This shout was full of vigor, exploding like a clap of thunder.

The spirits of the entire crowd were lifted.

Someone finally stepped up!

Zhao Tiangang was the first disciple of the Vajra Sect. His hard qigong had long reached perfection, and his cultivation had attained the peak of the Half-step Great Power realm, just a hair's breadth away from the Great Power realm. With his defensive power, even a true Great Power wouldn't be able to do anything to him for a while.

He was the perfect choice to test Xu Chen's depth.

However...

Facing this direct challenge, Xu Chen didn't even lift an eyelid.

He opened his mouth to swallow the spirit fruit Jiang Liuli offered, chewing it with relish as he said indistinctly:

"Zhao Tiangang? Who's that? Never heard of him."

"Great Elder, is this name in our family's dog registry?"

Standing to the side, the Great Elder rolled his eyes cooperatively and said respectfully, "In response to the Young Master, no. He's likely just a stray dog from somewhere, barking wildly to get attention."

"You—! You're looking for death!"

Zhao Tiangang was instantly enraged. His blood and qi burned like a furnace as he turned into a golden cannonball, swinging his giant axes and charging directly toward Xu Chen on the main seat!

"Refusing a face-saving offer! I'll split you apart!"

The power of that axe strike was enough to split mountains and shatter rocks. A terrifying gale whistled toward him, even disheveling a strand of hair on Xu Chen's forehead.

"Husband, be careful!"

"Young Master!"

The surrounding Xu Family Divine Guards were about to take action.

Yet they saw Xu Chen remain as steady as Mount Tai, even picking up his wine cup to take a sip, a mocking curve playing on his lips.

"Split me?"

"Have you asked my wives if they agree?"

Before he finished speaking...

The four peerless beauties originally surrounding Xu Chen stopped what they were doing almost simultaneously.

They, who were gentle as water and charming just a moment ago, underwent a world-shaking change in temperament at this instant.

"Presumptuous!"

A cold rebuke rang out, like the shattering of Nine Heavens mystic ice.

Bai Ningbing was the first to act.

She didn't even stand up; she merely cast a cold glance at Zhao Tiangang with her pale blue eyes.

*Crack!*

Zhao Tiangang's charging figure suddenly jerked to a halt.

A terrifyingly extreme chill instantly enveloped him. His physical body, which was strong enough to withstand dharma treasures, was actually covered by a thick layer of frost at a speed visible to the naked eye, and even the giant axes in his hands were frozen in mid-air.

"You dare use force against my husband? Die!"

Next was a fiery red afterimage.

The long whip in Luo Hongyi's hand was like a spirit snake emerging from its hole, carrying demonic qi that tore through the void as it lashed heavily against the frozen axes.

*Snap—!*

A crisp sound echoed.

Those Flower-Patterned Greataxes, weighing ten thousand catties, were actually shattered into pieces by this single whip strike!

"Ah—!"

Zhao Tiangang let out a miserable scream as he was sent flying back by the massive recoil.

But it wasn't over yet.

"This is the Star Observation Platform, not a place for you to act wildly."

Su Qingge was holding the child and couldn't free her hands, but the Sacred Mark on her forehead glowed slightly.

*Buzz!*

A surge of noble spirit transformed into an invisible giant hand, descending from the sky and slamming the mid-air Zhao Tiangang hard into the ground.

"Cough, cough..."

Zhao Tiangang spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling as if every bone in his body was broken.

He just wanted to struggle to get up.

Then came the final straw that broke the camel's back.

"He who harms my husband shall be punished, no matter how far away."

Although Jiang Liuli had the lowest cultivation, she was a formation master with the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart.

She flicked her slender fingers, and several formation flags silently landed around Zhao Tiangang.

"Dragon-Trapping Array, rise!"

*Boom!*

A golden light cage instantly took shape, trapping Zhao Tiangang firmly inside. Moreover, this formation was connected to the Earth Fire, and raging flames instantly ignited within, making Zhao Tiangang howl in pain.

This series of strikes happened in the blink of an eye.

From the moment Zhao Tiangang attacked to when he was frozen, disarmed, suppressed, and roasted, it took no more than three breaths.

The entire venue was dead silent.

Everyone stared at this scene wide-eyed, their jaws nearly dropping to the floor.

That arrogant first disciple of the Vajra Sect, the one known for invincible defense, Zhao Tiangang...

He hadn't even touched the corner of Xu Chen's clothes before being instakilled by his four wives?!

Furthermore, the coordination between these four ladies was too seamless, wasn't it?

Freezing, disarming, suppressing, and roasting.

A full-service treatment, arranged perfectly!

"This... how is this possible?"

The wine cup in Wang Lie's hand finally shattered, and he was completely unaware that wine had spilled all over him.

He knew Xu Chen's wives were formidable, but he didn't expect... they were this formidable!

It was one thing for Bai Ningbing to be a Dao Severing King, but why were the Demon Sect Empress and the Tai Chu Saintess also this strong? Even the seemingly weak Jiang Family Divine Maiden had such sharp methods?

Did the Xu Family... stumble upon a nest of goddesses?!

On the main seat.

Xu Chen looked at Zhao Tiangang, who was wailing in the formation, shook his head helplessly, put down his wine cup, and wore a look of "I'm very disappointed."

"Sigh, I told you not to be in such a hurry."

"You see, young people nowadays just can't keep their cool."

He stood up, walked to the edge of the steps, and looked down at the pale-faced prodigies from a height.

At this time, Su Qingge, Luo Hongyi, Jiang Liuli, and Bai Ningbing stood in a row behind him.

Four distinct yet equally terrifying auras soared into the sky, interweaving into a massive web of pressure that loomed over everyone's hearts.

Holy, seductive, ethereal, and aloof.

Four kinds of ultimate beauty, four kinds of ultimate strength.

And Xu Chen was like an emperor surrounded by stars, enjoying this unique glory.

"Who just said I was living off women?"

Xu Chen picked his ear and asked with a smile.

The entire venue was silent; no one dared to respond.

Those who had shouted the loudest earlier were now all shrinking their necks, wishing they could bury themselves in the dirt.

What a joke!

Even Zhao Tiangang was instakilled; who would dare go up and seek death?

Besides, the gazes of those four women were too terrifying, as if anyone who dared to say one more word would be torn to shreds the next second.

"Not talking anymore?"

Xu Chen sneered and opened his arms in a gesture of embracing the sky.

"Didn't you want to see my strength?"

He pointed to the four beautiful wives behind him, his tone domineering and arrogant:

"Do you see it?"

"This is my strength!"

"To have the Tai Chu Saintess protect my path, the Demon Sect Empress kill for me, the Mistress of the Ice Palace pour wine for me, and the Jiang Family Divine Maiden play the zither for me."

"This is the capability of me, Xu Chen!"

"You call this living off women?"

Xu Chen's eyes turned sharp, and his voice suddenly rose:

"Wrong!"

"This is called—"

"Hard strength!"

*Boom!*

These words were like a Great Bell of the Law, making everyone's heads buzz.

Although it sounded shameless and utterly brazen...

For some reason...

Looking at those four women of unparalleled elegance and the man standing in the middle enjoying it all.

Every male creature present felt an uncontrollable surge of... envy and jealousy.

This is a true winner in life!

Compared to Xu Chen, their so-called bitter cultivation, so-called tempering, and so-called fighting for opportunities were simply a joke!

He could have all this just by sitting at home and moving his lips.

How could they even compete?!"

"Xu Chen..."

Wang Lie gritted his teeth, the fire of jealousy in his eyes almost erupting.

He had originally wanted to humiliate Xu Chen through this assembly and strike at the Xu Family's prestige.

But now, look at this.

Not only did he fail to strike at him, but it had turned into Xu Chen's massive display of affection!

This was simply lifting a stone only to drop it on his own feet!

"I refuse to accept this!"

Wang Lie slammed the table and stood up, his aura exploding as he pointed at Xu Chen and roared:

"Xu Chen! Besides hiding behind women, what else can you do?!"

"This is the Heavenly Prodigy Assembly, where we compare our own cultivation! Not who has more wives!"

"If you really have the guts, have your wives step down!"

"You and I, a duel!"

With Wang Lie's roar, hope was rekindled in the eyes of those who had been overwhelmed by Xu Chen's momentum.

That's right!

His wives being strong doesn't mean he is strong!

As long as those women are sent away, Xu Chen is just a waste piled up by pills!

"A duel?"

Xu Chen looked at the exasperated Wang Lie, a smile playing on his lips.

He turned around and waved his hand to his four wives.

"Wives, step back for now."

"Since Brother Wang wants to see me take action so badly, I'll satisfy him."

"Husband..." Jiang Liuli was a bit worried.

"Don't worry."

Xu Chen gave her a confident look.

"To deal with this kind of character, one hand is enough."

The four women glanced at each other, and although they were somewhat reluctant, they obediently stepped aside.

Xu Chen stood alone at the edge of the high platform.

He looked at Wang Lie below and extended a finger, hooking it slightly.

"Come on."

"Let me see just how much weight you, the so-called 'Little God of War,' actually carry."

"I hope you can... withstand one more move than the guy just now."