Chapter 054: Challenge

The moment their hands touched, both of them involuntarily released the power within them. Chen Xiao unleashed the vast power of the Supreme God, mimicking it as the spiritual energy of ordinary superhumans, and directed it straight at the strange energy emanating from Ouyang Zheng. Chen Xiao had encountered the spiritual energy of superhumans before, but this strange energy was nothing like it at all. In the next instant, he immediately thought of the legendary true energy. At that moment, Chen Xiao’s expression remained calm, showing no change, while Ouyang Zheng stepped back half a step, his face paling. His right hand, hidden behind his back, trembled slightly.
“A martial warrior?” Ouyang Zheng glanced at Chen Xiao in disbelief. From the information he had received, the newcomer to the Xuan Group should have been a sorcerer, but it seemed he was actually a martial warrior. A sorcerer’s spiritual energy couldn’t be this fierce. “Could the information be wrong? And who is this guy? His identity is clearly protected under S-class secrecy.” Ouyang Zheng hesitated.
“Hey, colleague, do you have anything else on your mind?” Chen Xiao asked politely with a smile.
“Oh, Comrade Chen Xiao, you must be new here. Would you mind if I showed you around the headquarters of Huaxia Soul?” Ouyang Zheng’s eyes sparkled as he smiled. Chen Xiao, seemingly expecting this, nodded.
“I’d be glad to. Thank you, comrade. May I ask your name?” Although Chen Xiao already knew Ouyang Zheng’s name, he still asked.
“My name is Ouyang Zheng, from Jiangsu and Zhejiang,” Ouyang Zheng replied with a sly smile. Chen Xiao observed all of this, but he merely sneered inwardly without showing any outward reaction. This was exactly what Chen Xiao wanted—he needed a guide to help him navigate this vast underground labyrinth. Having a free guide made things easier for him.
Ouyang Zheng then led Chen Xiao through this maze-like underground world casually, introducing him to various departments of Huaxia Soul along the way. Chen Xiao learned that Huaxia Soul wasn’t composed of just the four groups he had initially imagined—Tiandi, Xuanhuang, etc. Instead, it consisted of eight groups and sixteen teams, totaling twenty-four subdivisions: eight groups—Tiandi, Xuanhuang, Yuhang, and Yuxiang Honghuang—along with teams one to sixteen. Among them, aside from the extremely mysterious Tiandi and Xuanhuang groups, the other six groups and sixteen teams were made up of superhumans or ancient martial artists, all of whom were extremely powerful. From Ouyang Zheng’s words, Chen Xiao could tell just how formidable Huaxia Soul really was. No wonder people like Yuye Xiaochen didn’t even take the Murong family seriously. Seeing the awe in Chen Xiao’s eyes, Ouyang Zheng grew even more proud.
When they arrived at the entrance of a huge training hall, Ouyang Zheng stopped. “This is where Huaxia Soul members usually spar. Brother Chen Xiao, would you like to go in and take a look?”

By this point, the two seemed quite familiar with each other, and Ouyang Zheng truly enjoyed Chen Xiao’s slightly admiring gaze.
“He’s here,” Chen Xiao thought to himself with a smirk, but remained calm on the surface. “Is this the place where the seniors of Huaxia’s Soul usually spar? That’s great! Let’s go in and take a look.”
As he spoke, Chen Xiao’s face showed an eager expression.
“That fool—clearly a newbie,” Ouyang Zheng sneered inwardly as he led Chen Xiao into the training hall, which was as big as half a football field.
Indeed, as Ouyang Zheng had said, this hall was where the members of Huaxia’s Soul usually practiced. There were seven platforms, each about five meters in diameter.
At that moment, on three of these platforms, six people—either those with supernatural abilities or ancient martial artists—were engaged in sparring matches.
“Huh?” Suddenly, Chen Xiao noticed a martial artist on the platform using a boxing style that gave him a strangely familiar feeling. He couldn’t recall where he had seen it before.
“Brother Chen Xiao, do you want to go up and give it a try?” Ouyang Zheng, seeing Chen Xiao staring intently, leaned in and whispered in his ear.
“This guy really has ulterior motives—wanting me to go up and try? Hmph, for a newbie to boldly challenge others like this… Hmph.”
If it were anyone else, they might have fallen for Ouyang Zheng’s trick. But at this moment, Chen Xiao’s soul had already begun to merge with his main divine essence, and he himself was undergoing subtle changes, becoming more composed.
How could Ouyang Zheng’s deception tactics affect him?
“Brother Ouyang, think about it—I’m just a newcomer who’s been here for a few days. It seems bad to go up and challenge them like that, right?” Chen Xiao looked at him with a half-smile.
“Hm? This kid is quite cautious,” Ouyang Zheng thought.
“Oh, you’re right. It’s indeed not a good idea to go up now,” Ouyang Zheng laughed, though he was secretly planning how to deal with Chen Xiao.
The Xuan Group and the Huang Group were at odds. Whenever a newcomer joined one of these groups, the other group would always try to deal with them in some way. This unspoken rule had persisted for who knew how long.
This was also why Yuye Xiaochen had warned Chen Xiao to be careful earlier.
Suddenly, Ouyang Zheng’s eyes lit up.
“Hey, Lao Chen, you’re here too?” Ouyang Zheng quickly walked ahead and approached a tall, strong young man who was about two meters tall.
“Ouyang? You actually came here? Are you here to get beaten?” the strong young man, called Lao Chen, laughed heartily.
“Not at all. Come, let me introduce you. This is Chen Xiao, a new member of the Xuan Group,” Ouyang Zheng pulled Lao Chen over to Chen Xiao and said, “And this is Chen Wenhú, a member of our Huang Group. Both of you share the same surname—maybe you’re even relatives.”
Ouyang Zheng laughed.
“A new member of the Xuan Group?” Chen Wenhú’s eyes lit up.
Meanwhile, two black lines appeared on Chen Xiao’s forehead. This Ouyang Zheng was truly shameless—knowing he wasn’t his match, he brought someone else to deal with him.

Sure enough, after learning Chen Xiao’s identity, Chen Wenhu burst into laughter and said, “Since she’s a new member of the Xuan Group, she’s one of us. Come on, step onto the arena and show us what you’ve got.” Without paying any attention to Chen Xiao, he jumped onto the arena himself, seemingly unconcerned about whether she would follow. “Hey, Brother Chen Xiao, are you afraid?” Ouyang Zheng raised his eyebrows at Chen Xiao and said loudly on purpose. Hearing Ouyang Zheng’s voice, the others around also turned their attention to Chen Xiao. “It seems I underestimated Ouyang Zheng’s audacity,” Chen Xiao shook his head. He knew that if he refused this challenge now, he would never be able to lift his head again in Huaxia Zhishen. This was different from before—this time, Chen Xiao was being challenged, not initiating one. Now, even the main divine entity in his mind wouldn’t allow him to back down in the slightest. “I accept.” Chen Xiao smiled and instantly connected his mental energy to the main divine space. “Mumu, tell me the method to summon the Water Element Giant.” …