"Huff..."
Silence reigned.
Below the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Wang De stared at the figure in the sky in utter shock. Without realizing it, he took a few steps back, retreating into the crowd.
Everyone had just seen him bring Chen Xiaoming inside. Now that the Holy Son of the Xuan Yu Holy Land was dead, this was a catastrophe. If he got implicated, he would be in deep trouble.
But he wasn't even close to Chen Xiaoming! They had only met a couple of times!
Below, Ouyang Qian's delicate face was filled with astonishment. Then, she smirked slightly, revealing her little tiger teeth, her eyes flashing with schadenfreude.
The Xuan Yu Holy Son was dead. The Xuan Yu Holy Land would definitely retaliate. When that happened, Chen Xiaoming would surely be hunted down.
Not far away, a peerless woman let out a soft chuckle, her breathtaking beauty capable of toppling kingdoms. Her brilliant eyes sparkled with intrigue as she gazed at Chen Xiaoming in surprise.
On the other side, Hua Tiandu, another Holy Son from a sacred land, furrowed his brows and observed Chen Xiaoming, lost in thought. Beside him, the Holy Maiden of the Tian Ling Holy Land, her violet eyes glowing with divine radiance, let her long purple hair cascade over her shoulders. Her tall, graceful figure exuded a mesmerizing charm, and her red lips curled slightly with interest.
The Drunken Immortal Pavilion's Centennial Immortal Banquet had drawn not only many of the younger generation but also several figures from the older generation—Five Scattered Daoists, Heavenly Heart Matron, Red Dragon King, and even several sect leaders—all of whom were shaken by the turn of events.
"Heavens, this is earth-shattering. The Xuan Yu Holy Land is going to go mad."
"A Holy Son and an elder, both slain by a single person. This feud can only end in death."
"Heh, let them fight. This is an era of great strife. Without carving a path through blood, how can one attain the Dao?"
Many exchanged whispered discussions. Some felt regret—Chen Xiaoming was clearly extraordinarily talented, but if he had no backing, he would likely be annihilated under the Xuan Yu Holy Land's retaliation.
"Whoosh!"
With a wave of his hand, Chen Xiaoming was about to collect the spoils of battle from the Xuan Yu Holy Son and the others when a figure darted out, seizing the Holy Son's corpse before him.
"Hmm?"
Chen Xiaoming frowned. Someone had stolen his loot. Without hesitation, he flicked his finger, launching a silver light streaking toward the figure.
The figure was draped in a black robe, their appearance obscured. Having succeeded in snatching the corpse, they immediately retreated. Sensing the incoming silver light, they brandished an immortal sword, unleashing a hazy gray energy that slashed through the void. With a single step, they rapidly withdrew.
The silver light pierced through the gray energy like a shooting star, striking the black robe and shredding it apart, revealing the person beneath.
Flowing black hair, a moon-white dress, skin as flawless as suet jade—and a mask, neither weeping nor laughing, like a spectral visage.
"It's you!"
"Her!"
Chen Xiaoming and the crowd exclaimed in unison. Many eyes flickered with anger.
Damn it! Could his luck get any worse? Why had he run into her again?
Chen Xiaoming stared at the woman before him, feeling an urge to scream. They had already gone their separate ways—why meet again?
And of all things, they were once more at odds. Just his luck.
But what did she want with the Holy Son's corpse? Wait—was it for the Heaven Devouring Demonic Art, which consumed the essence of sacred physiques to enhance one's own strength?
It seemed the Ruthless Emperor had been eyeing the Xuan Yu Holy Son all along, coveting his Four Symbols Sacred Physique. Was she planning to steal the fruit of his labor?
"Hmph! Witch, how dare you show yourself here!"
A burly figure soared forth, clad in a crimson python robe. His overwhelming divine light illuminated the sky, and behind him, the void manifested a scarlet celestial dragon soaring through the heavens, its draconic roar reverberating, its breath like falling stars.
His terrifying aura locked onto the white-robed woman. With a flick of his hand, a compass flew out, sealing the void for miles around.
Chen Xiaoming frowned. This man had targeted the Ruthless Emperor right away, even laying down void-path sigils to trap her. Did he have a death wish?
"Hmph."
The white-robed woman swung her immortal sword. The boundless void collapsed, shattering entirely. As the rift widened, it revealed an unknown abyss, leading into the eternal unknown. The sound of mountains crumbling and tsunamis roaring filled the air as countless stars flickered.
Standing in the void, the Ruthless Emperor's gaze shimmered with endless destruction. Backed by an eternal starlit expanse, she radiated divine brilliance, drenching her form in sacred light.
Below, within the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, many sect leaders were horrified. This attack was beyond their ability to withstand.
Chen Xiaoming's eyes gleamed. In such a short time apart, the Ruthless Emperor had grown even stronger. Terrifying.
"Scarlet Dragon Saint-Slaying Art!"
Faced with this overwhelming strike, the Red Dragon King's eyes narrowed. His divine power erupted, and with a furious roar, an illusory crimson dragon manifested at his feet, soaring through the eternal void to another realm.
"Roar!"
A dragon's cry pierced the skies as the void split behind the Red Dragon King. Scarlet divine radiance surged, and within, eight celestial dragons danced among the heavens, their roars entwined with the Dao's reverberations. As the void crumbled, the crimson divine glow burned through the cosmos, condensing into ninety-nine heavenly dragons, each emanating supreme draconic might, their breaths infused with celestial sigils.
Simultaneously, his eyes erupted with twin beams of scarlet dragon energy, indomitable and destructive, aimed at annihilating the Ruthless Emperor's corporeal form.
"Buzz."
Lotus flowers bloomed in the void, azure tides surged, and moonlight cascaded down. The Ruthless Emperor bathed in lunar radiance, celestial blossoms materializing before her, absorbing the incoming twin beams of dragon energy, dispersing them into nothingness.
The clash was cataclysmic, the battlefield engulfed in a sea of divine force.
"Clang!"
Brilliant sword light collided with the golden celestial dragon, producing a sound that echoed across the four seas.
The divine light barrier over the Drunken Immortal Pavilion shattered, causing many below to pale, some even spitting blood as they struggled to withstand the residual force.
The heavens crumbled.
Standing amidst the cosmic storm, the Ruthless Emperor, bathed in moonlight, let a luminous point appear between her brows. Her immortal sword danced once more—
If you're weak, you die.
Watching the relentless killing intent of the Ruthless Emperor, Chen Xiaoming couldn't help but admire her. She had ascended step by step from a mortal to an emperor, ruthless and decisive.
Unlike her, he realized he was still too soft-hearted.
"Ahhh—!"
A wretched scream rang out. The Red Dragon King's celestial dragon phantom staggered. As he attempted to retreat, his right arm was severed at the shoulder, immortal sword light erasing his life force.
"Whoosh!"
Another sword light flashed.
With terror in his eyes, the Red Dragon King saw the blade approaching. The void shattered, the sword pierced his celestial aperture, and his vitality was severed.
"No..."
A desperate cry.
The once-mighty Red Dragon King was slain in a single strike, his life extinguished.
-------
Want to read ahead of schedule?
Join here for advance chapters: patreon.com / igotneonlight