55: Chapter 55 The Pinnacle of the Finals, S-Rank Demigod Xiao Xuan

Before the countdown to the grand finals hit zero, the number of online viewers in the Seventeen Stars livestream room had already shattered the highest record for the Nova Assessment in nearly a decade.

Viewers from seventeen life planets—Tianhai Star, Liumang Star, Tianlang Star, Qingyan Star, Titan Star, Minghe Star, and others—all crowded into the same main livestream room.

Above the virtual plaza, a massive golden light screen slowly unfurled, and the name of the final battle plane emerged.

【Battle Plane: Tianqiong Battle Platform.】

【Rules: Both sides' Divine Kingdom projections will engage in a head-on confrontation; the one who destroys the enemy's Divine Core projection wins.】

【Restrictions: No temporary purchase of outside supplies, no calling upon power outside of the competing Divine Kingdom.】

【Winner: First place in this year's Xuanyuan Star Region Seventeen Stars Nova Assessment.】

As these lines appeared, the bullet comments in the entire livestream paused for a moment before being submerged by a tidal wave of spam.

"It's finally here! Wang Pingan versus Xiao Xuan—this is the real final!"

"One is a Divine Being, the other is a Demigod. How is this even a fight? As long as Xiao Xuan doesn't make any mistakes, he's guaranteed to win!"

"Don't forget that Wang Pingan has had zero combat losses the entire way. He's already crushed the Mechanical style, the Insect-taming style, and the Corpse-cultivation style!"

"That's because his previous opponents hadn't reached the Demigod stage. The difference between a Demigod and a Divine Being isn't just about resources!"

In the Tianhai Star spectator area, Zhao Yang stood straight, his gaze fixed on the main screen. The water cup in his hand had long been crushed out of shape.

Wang Qingyan sat in silence. She had already been eliminated, but she knew better than anyone how deep the logistical reserves of Wang Pingan's legion were.

Wang Jincheng sat in the back row, scars still visible on the back of his hand—left behind after he lost control of his emotions following his elimination.

He looked at Wang Pingan's name on the screen, his tone light, yet devoid of any bitterness.

"Hold on, don't let Xiao Xuan win too easily."

Old Li heard these words but did not turn back, only keeping his eyes fixed on the center of the light screen.

Zhou Mingyuan and Deputy Director Xu Zhenhai stood at a higher vantage point, both of their expressions much more solemn than before.

They dared to place bets on Wang Pingan because his track record throughout the journey was solid enough.

But with the name Xiao Xuan weighing down the opposite side, it still made everyone's hearts sink.

S-minus Grade Profound Yellow Divine Body.

Demigod realm.

Direct descendant of the Liumang Star Xiao Family.

These three labels combined were enough to make any new god feel heavy pressure.

The next moment, the Tianqiong Battle Platform fully formed.

It was a massive battlefield floating high in the sky. There were no mountains, rivers, dense forests, or ruins—only a black battle platform, smooth to the point of being cold and hard.

Ten thousand zhang of sea clouds hung from the edges of the platform. The sky hung low, and spiritual energy and source power mixed together, forming a pale golden current visible to the naked eye.

On a battlefield like this, there was no room for tricky terrain or cover; both sides could only face each other head-on.

A white light descended, and Wang Pingan's projection appeared on the west side of the platform.

He stood on a high platform, and the Divine Kingdom passage slowly opened behind him. The aura of three thousand Immortal Martial Legion citizens rose and fell in perfect unison within the passage.

On the other side, Xiao Xuan's projection also appeared.

He wore a profound yellow robe, his expression indifferent, stepping on a patch of pale golden divine light. When the Divine Kingdom passage opened behind him, the entire Tianqiong Battle Platform trembled slightly.

The Liumang Star spectator area erupted in cheers.

"Xiao Xuan!"

"Liumang Star's number one!"

"Demigod suppression, take it down directly!"

Xiao Xuan ignored the cheers, his gaze crossing the entire platform to land on Wang Pingan.

"Wang Pingan, you do have some ability to have made it this far."

These words were transmitted via the public channel, and all viewers heard them clearly.

Wang Pingan did not respond.

Xiao Xuan continued, his tone steady but carrying an air of condescension.

"It's a pity, you are still only a Divine Being."

Wang Pingan raised his eyes to look at him, his expression unchanged.

Xiao Xuan stood in the golden light, and the Divine Kingdom projection behind him began to emerge: vast mountains and rivers, spiritual energy turning into mist, with boundaries far exceeding the level of a new god's Divine Kingdom.

"Between a Divine Being and a Demigod lies the level of the Divine Kingdom's foundation, the population cap, the cultivation cap of the citizens, and the carrying capacity of the laws."

"You can indeed surpass geniuses of the same rank by relying on tactics, equipment, and logistics."

"But you cannot cross the boundary of the realm itself."

As these words fell, many viewers in the livestream went quiet.

Because what Xiao Xuan said was too direct and too realistic.

Every victory Wang Pingan had achieved before was impressive, but those opponents were ultimately still at the Divine Being stage.

Xiao Xuan was already a Demigod.

A Demigod's Divine Kingdom is more stable, the source power is thicker, and the citizens can touch upon Foundation Establishment and Blood Condensation.

This was the truly oppressive part.

Xiao Xuan looked at Wang Pingan, his voice echoing across the platform.

"I can give you a chance for a dignified exit."

"Admit defeat voluntarily; your legion won't have to be shattered here, and you will still be the greatest hero of this year's Tianhai Star batch."

Someone in the Liumang Star spectator area immediately laughed.

"Did you hear that? That's class. Xiao Xuan is even saving face for him!"

"Wang Pingan should be content. A Divine Being reaching the finals is enough to brag about for a lifetime!"

"Just admit defeat; it will be ugly if you actually fight!"

The atmosphere in the Tianhai Star spectator area instantly sank.

Zhao Yang stood up and cursed: "Bullshit! The match hasn't even started; what are you acting like you've already won for!"

Someone next to him quickly tried to pull him down, but Zhao Yang shook his arm off, staring at the screen with reddened eyes.

Wang Qingyan also raised her head, her tone cold.

"Xiao Xuan may be strong, but he is not worthy of making Wang Pingan admit defeat."

On the battle platform, Wang Pingan finally moved.

He didn't say another word to Xiao Xuan; he simply raised his right hand and pressed down gently toward the Divine Kingdom passage.

The next moment, the sound of footsteps, so uniform it made one's scalp tingle, came from the depths of the passage.

Two thousand peak Immortal Martial Legion troops stepped out first.

Five hundred Martial Heavy Armor troops stood at the very front, their Black Iron Shields hitting the ground with a heavy thud.

Five hundred Cultivation Heavy Armor troops stood behind them, their crimson flame sabers hanging diagonally, the firelight on the blades suppressed to a thin line.

The Artillery Battalion pushed fifty Psionic Heavy Cannons into position, the barrels slowly raising to aim at the other end of the Tianqiong Battle Platform.

Five hundred Heavy Cavalry troops split into two wings, their Iron Hoof Warhorses stomping the ground, every step causing the black battle platform to emit a dull echo.

Wang Mu stood in front of the Artillery Battalion, holding a command flag, his gaze cold to the extreme.

Wang Shan stood at the front of the Cavalry, his crimson flame saber on his shoulder, his battle intent almost impossible to suppress.

Then, the two thousand peak Immortal Martial Legion troops drew their blades simultaneously.

"Clang!"

The sound of drawing blades merged into a torrent, directly overpowering the clamor of the Liumang Star spectator area.

Wang Pingan looked at Xiao Xuan and finally spoke.

"If you want to fight, then let's fight."

Four words, terrifyingly clean.

The livestream went quiet for a moment.

Immediately after, the Tianhai Star spectator area erupted.

"Awesome!"

"That's how you should answer him!"

"Admit defeat? Admit my ass!"

Old Li sat in his seat, his palm pressing hard against the armrest, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

Zhou Mingyuan also smiled, but his smile quickly retracted.

Because Xiao Xuan's expression had already darkened.

He didn't give Wang Pingan a chance to exit because he was kind.

The resource competition between Liumang Star and Tianhai Star had been intense for years, and the Xiao Family knew better than anyone what influence Wang Pingan winning the championship would bring.

If Wang Pingan took first place, Tianhai Star's educational resources for the next three years would skyrocket, and the Federation's key cultivation quotas would also tilt toward Tianhai Star.

This would squeeze out a portion of the resources Liumang Star had originally secured.

Xiao Xuan's attempt to persuade him to surrender was to let Wang Pingan exit with dignity, and also to let Liumang Star reveal fewer trump cards.

But Wang Pingan's refusal was too blunt.

This was equivalent to kicking the steps he had offered to pieces in front of everyone from the Seventeen Stars.

Xiao Xuan's gaze was cold.

"Since you insist on fighting, then I will fulfill your wish."

As his voice fell, the Divine Kingdom projection behind Xiao Xuan fully unfolded.

Boom!

The pressure of a Demigod-level Divine Kingdom swept out from the east side, and the spiritual energy of the entire Tianqiong Battle Platform was pressed to churn to both sides.

That pressure was not just ordinary momentum, but suppression at the level of the Divine Kingdom.

Above the Tianqiong Battle Platform, the golden clouds were torn apart, and the phantom images of mountains and rivers within Xiao Xuan's Divine Kingdom appeared.

The area of his Divine Kingdom far exceeded Wang Pingan's.

The spiritual energy concentration was also shockingly high.

More importantly, there was a burning embryonic Divine Fire in the center of the Divine Kingdom.

That was the symbol of a Demigod.

Although the viewers in the livestream were separated by the Star Network, which weakened it, they could still feel that sense of oppression.

Many low-level students subconsciously held their breath, their sitting postures stiffening slightly.

"Is this the pressure of a Demigod?"

"I feel uncomfortable just watching the stream; the pressure would only be greater if I were on the battle platform facing it directly."

"Wang Pingan's citizens standing on the battle platform must be under even stronger suppression, right?"

On the commentary stand, an official commentator slowed down his speaking speed.

"Contestant Xiao Xuan has already ignited the embryonic Divine Fire, and the stability of his Divine Kingdom structure is higher than the Divine Being stage. This will allow his citizens to gain greater carrying capacity in the projection battlefield."

Another commentator added: "In other words, the same attack landing on Xiao Xuan's legion will have its effect partially offset by the level of his Divine Kingdom."

This statement made the Tianhai Star spectator area even more depressed.

With the same combat power, Xiao Xuan can withstand more.

With the same consumption, Xiao Xuan can outlast him.

In the same legion collision, the Demigod Divine Kingdom behind Xiao Xuan will allow his citizens to achieve a higher upper limit.

Wang Pingan stood on the west high platform, his clothes blown by the airflow caused by the Demigod pressure.

The Immortal Martial Legion behind him did not retreat.

The Black Iron Shields remained standing straight, the crimson flame sabers still pointed diagonally at the ground, and the Artillery Battalion was still calibrating the cannons.

Wang Shan looked at the churning golden light opposite and grinned.

"Brothers, the Demigod's legion is coming."

"Are you afraid?"

Five hundred Martial Heavy Armor troops responded in unison: "Not afraid!"

Wang Mu did not shout; he just raised the command flag, and all the Cultivation Citizens simultaneously pressed their spiritual energy into their blades.

Wang Pingan watched this scene, no ripples in the depths of his eyes.

They had been preparing for too long.

From a small Divine Kingdom of one hundred square kilometers to a war Divine Kingdom of two hundred and fifty square kilometers.

From animal skins and stone axes to heavy armor and long blades.

From sand table drills to deep abyss bloody battles.

From Qi Refining Stage 1 to the Stage 9 peak.

All the resources poured in along the way, the time burned, and the pressure endured all gathered on the battle platform at this moment.

Xiao Xuan raised his hand.

From the Divine Kingdom passage behind him, Golden Armor citizens walked out in droves.

These citizens wore profound yellow armor, held long swords and magic tools, their formation steady, their aura stronger than any previous opponent.

The front row was mostly Martial Dao Citizens at the peak of Body Forging Stage 9.

The back row was Cultivation Citizens at the peak of Qi Refining Stage 9.

Deep in the military formation, there were several Blood Condensation realm backbones with clearly higher auras that did not appear immediately.

Xiao Xuan was not in a hurry to reveal all his trump cards.

He wanted to use his frontal legion to crush Wang Pingan's line first.

The countdown began to tick.

【Ten.】

Wang Pingan raised his hand, and the remaining main force in the Divine Kingdom passage entered a standby state.

【Nine.】

Wang Mu's command flag raised, and the fifty Psionic Heavy Cannons locked their muzzles onto the enemy's front line.

【Eight.】

Wang Shan vaulted onto his horse, and the five hundred Heavy Cavalry lowered their lances simultaneously.

【Seven.】

Xiao Xuan's Golden Armor Legion began to move forward, the Demigod Divine Kingdom pressure bearing down on them, only making their aura even stronger.

【Six.】

All viewers from the Seventeen Stars stopped spamming.

【Five.】

In the Tianhai Star spectator area, Zhao Yang stared at the screen, only one sentence left in his mouth.

"Hold on, you must hold on."

【Four.】

Someone in the Liumang Star spectator area had already raised a celebration banner in advance.

【Three.】

Wang Pingan's gaze fell deep into Xiao Xuan's legion; those few hidden, powerful auras confirmed to him that the opponent still had high-end combat power that hadn't moved.

【Two.】

Xiao Xuan looked at Wang Pingan and said coldly: "You will know what a gap in realms means."

【One.】

The system prompt echoed across the battle platform.

【The grand finals have begun!】

The elite citizens under Xiao Xuan's command swarmed out, the golden armor torrent, carrying the Demigod pressure, charging directly toward Wang Pingan's Immortal Martial Legion.