Chapter 128: The Sneaky One!
"Myriad Flames Great Emperor, you've been dead for tens of thousands of years. Old relic of a bygone era—how can you stop me?"
Boom—
In the sky, sky-surging demonic qi rolled and raged, like ten thousand miles of black clouds, shrouding the entire sky of the ruin.
Within the darkened sky, only at the center, within a stretch of crimson sea of flame, did a single illusory human figure resist the other's encroachment, preserving the last light of this world.
Watching the Myriad Flames Great Emperor, who was gradually being eroded and would before long be completely engulfed by black flames, everyone fell into despair. No one had anticipated such an outcome.
"Jie jie, if I refine you, combined with my current Demon Emperor's Hand, it should increase my chances of stepping into the Demon Emperor realm."
At this moment, that towering demonic shadow let out a sound akin to a sudden thunderclap. Within its scarlet-red eyes, greed was revealed. Its burning gaze fixed upon the crimson flame within the Myriad Flames Great Emperor's body.
If it could gather the inheritances of both the Myriad Flames Great Emperor and the Flame Demon Ancestor, it would surely be able to enter an even more profound realm.
At this thought, the demonic shadow could no longer restrain the craving within its heart!
Boom!
It abruptly slammed out a palm. Demonic qi rolled, directly transforming into a ten-thousand-zhang demonic seal. Carrying indescribable power, it slapped toward the illusion of the Myriad Flames Great Emperor.
Weng!
Sensing the opponent's attack, the Myriad Flames Great Emperor's illusion—its eyes seemed to grow animated and lifelike. With a wave of its sleeve, endless fiery light surged forth, like streamer after streamer of colored clouds, repelling the demonic seal.
"Familiar... aura. Is it... Flame Demon... Demon Emperor?!" Fragmented, halting words came from the Myriad Flames Great Emperor's mouth, as if his sentience was incomplete, even speaking with difficulty. But finally, upon uttering "Demon Emperor," endless spiritual light gathered toward his eyes.
In the next instant, a pair of star-brilliant eyes opened, as if containing the very cosmos and river of stars within them—possessing a charm that made one want to sink intoxicatedly into them.
A supreme, heaven-and-earth-transcending aura, as if suppressing the entire world, suddenly erupted. The Myriad Flames Great Emperor's residual will had awakened!
"You are not..." The Myriad Flames Great Emperor's gaze fell upon the demonic shadow. Shaking his head, he said, "You are not him."
"Even if I am not the ancestor, you too are not the true Myriad Flames Great Emperor. As I am now, I am more than enough to slay you!"
"Converge!"
The Flame Demon commander let out a cold laugh. With a long howl, in the next instant, the sky-surging demonic qi began compressing. The colossal demonic shadow began shrinking at a rate visible to the naked eye. Simultaneously, a terrifying power was condensing.
An aura of dread spread through the space. The hearts of the surviving Great Thousand World experts were immediately filled with unease. But luckily, they too had a powerful backer...
Looking up, seeing that towering, majestic figure, the crowd's expressions froze. Then, Huo Du, Li Yan, and the others cried out in startled joy: "Myriad Flames Great Emperor!"
To think the Myriad Flames Great Emperor's residual will had actually coalesced at the very last moment!
Didn't that mean they were saved?!
"Hahaha! The legendary Myriad Flames Great Emperor! I have already gained the ancestor's power. You are but a fragment of broken sentience. Be obedient and transform into nourishment on my path to stepping into the Demon Emperor realm."
"Let me lead you to once again ascend to the pinnacle of the world!"
The Flame Demon commander, compressing the demonic shadow, looked at that will avatar which had regained its sentience and laughed heartily.
"So long as I have a single breath left, I will not permit you evil demons to run rampant!" The Myriad Flames Great Emperor stared calmly at the opponent, speaking with grave solemnity.
As his voice fell, his gaze dropped to the crowd below, beginning to sweep across them.
"We are willing to aid the Great Emperor in slaying the demon!!!"
Sensing the Myriad Flames Great Emperor's gaze sweeping over them, the crowd hurriedly voiced their stances. This was the moment to show their mettle. Now that the Myriad Flames Great Emperor's will had appeared,
it meant the inheritance was right before their eyes. Only by leaving a good impression on him would they have a chance to obtain his legacy.
Besides, this had been a death sentence to begin with. Now that a sliver of hope had suddenly appeared, they naturally had to clutch it tightly.
Even if it wasn't the inheritance of the Myriad Flames Imperishable Body—an expert of this caliber, just a tiny bit scraped from under his fingernails would be enough to fill them to bursting.
"This... you can even do this?"
Zi Yan and Medusa watched this scene, somewhat dumbfounded. For the first time, they felt their own youth—incapable of being as 'unconstrained' as these people.
In midair, the Myriad Flames Great Emperor swept his gaze over the crowd, letting it linger for an instant especially on Huo Du. With gratified relief, he said, "To think that after countless millennia, this lonely wandering ghost would see the day he meets his own descendants!"
The Myriad Flames Great Emperor's words instantly stunned everyone. Gaze after disbelieving gaze swept between the two figures.
"You... you are my Flame Spirit Clan's... ancestor?!" The equally stupefied Huo Du stared at the Myriad Flames Great Emperor in shock. As a member of the Flame Spirit Clan, he had never known his ancestry had once been so prosperous!
Jiang Yun was similarly surprised. Could it be that fifty thousand years ago, the Myriad Flames Imperishable Body had been guarded by the Flame Spirit Clan? That back then their strength had been equal to the five great ancient clans, ranking among the Great Thousand's pinnacle?
That originally there had been ten great ancient clans? Each ancient clan possessing the legacy of one Original Dharma Body?
Only after the Myriad Flames Great Emperor—this Saint-Grade Heavenly Sovereign at the peak—along with the clansmen who followed him, had fallen, did the Flame Spirit Clan suffer a devastating loss of vitality, falling from the peak power of the Great Thousand World, reduced to its current state where it couldn't even produce a proper top-tier expert?
At this speculation, Jiang Yun's eyes flickered. The Flame Spirit Clan was an ancient race of the Great Thousand World. For their ancestry to have such illustrious, awe-inspiring renown was not entirely unreasonable.
The Flame Spirit Clan had been the stepping stone of the 'Child of Destiny,' the Flame Emperor. Then, what origins did the Ice Spirit Clan—stepping stone of the equally 'Child of Destiny' Martial Ancestor—possess?
If Xiao Yan cultivated the Myriad Flames Imperishable Body, and Lin Dong received the legacy of another Original Dharma Body from the Ice Spirit Clan, the two each relying on their own heaven-sent talent to forge their own paths—this would explain how both, in just a short hundred years, reached the very end of the Saint-Grade Heavenly Sovereign realm.
It would also explain how the two could cross the threshold of the Heavenly Sovereign, ascend the Firmament Ranking, and become Great Rulers.
One had to remember, the Green-Shirted Sword Saint, who shared their renown, ultimately did not transcend!
Just as Jiang Yun was lost in these thoughts, the Myriad Flames Great Emperor looked at Huo Du with a complex gaze. With a wave of his sleeve, a beam of profound light, under the crowd's burning stares, shot into the center of his brow.
At this moment, everyone had a single thought: Huo Du had obtained the inheritance!
Everyone looked at Huo Du and the Myriad Flames Great Emperor with complicated expressions. As expected—having someone in the court makes things easy. Both being of the Flame Spirit Clan, the Myriad Flames Great Emperor was naturally closer to Huo Du.
Facing the crowd's complex, fervent, and icy gazes, Huo Du wore a look of total bemusement. Only he himself knew: what the Myriad Flames Great Emperor had given him was absolutely not the legacy of the Myriad Flames Imperishable Body, nor was it any of those thirty-six resoundingly famous Peerless Divine Abilities.
It wasn't even a single divine ability. It was merely an art called the 'Flame Control Art'—a profound flame manipulation technique!
Though this too was exceedingly precious, it simply couldn't be mentioned in the same breath as the former two. He looked at the Myriad Flames Great Emperor, opened his mouth, but in the end, lacked the courage to speak.
At this moment, the Myriad Flames Great Emperor paid no heed to the complex expression on Huo Du's face. Instead, he cast a smiling gaze toward the direction where Jiang Yun was. "To slay the demon today, I will need the aid of this young friend's power."
"Him?!"
The moment the Myriad Flames Great Emperor spoke, everyone's gaze fell upon Jiang Yun's trio. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined—with so many Sovereigns and Great Emperors present—he would instead choose a mere Heaven-Connecting Realm?
Now, none of them had ever paid any attention to a Heaven-Connecting Realm existence. Because the moment the Demon Emperor and the Myriad Flames Great Emperor had appeared, the suppression between heaven and earth had been lifted.
The cultivations of the Great Thousand World crowd had already recovered. Uniformly at the Sovereign realm. The weakest were First-Grade Sovereigns, the strongest was Huo Du—Seventh-Grade Sovereign!
A Heaven-Connecting Realm was nothing but an ant to them. Who would pay attention to three ants—even three ants of special status?
The Nine-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python and the Taixu Ancient Dragon from just moments ago were still fresh in their minds!
But potential was potential. Jiang Yun's trio, in the end, suffered in the aspect of actual strength. No one regarded them as true opponents. Only due to Zi Yan's and Medusa's unique identities as divine beasts did they classify the three as "not to be provoked lightly."
They never expected things to take such a turn. The Myriad Flames Great Emperor had actually taken a fancy to Jiang Yun, that weakling?
Thinking that the other might, because of this, obtain the Myriad Flames Great Emperor's inheritance, quite a few eyes filled with dark, brooding malice. They clearly hadn't expected that among a whole host of Sovereigns, the Myriad Flames Great Emperor would choose Jiang Yun, a mere Heaven-Connecting Realm!
If so, didn't that mean Jiang Yun would get a share of the Myriad Flames Great Emperor's inheritance too?!
On what grounds?!
Huo Du being a clansman of the Myriad Flames Great Emperor was one thing. An ancestor looking after his junior—that was only right. And his own background and strength were solid enough; no one had the guts to provoke him.
But Jiang Yun was different. Although he had two divine beasts as companions, possibly indicating a background of no small significance, here, their strength was their fatal shortcoming.
At this thought, unconcealable jealousy and hatred surged in some people's eyes.
"Me?" Jiang Yun, unexpectedly thrust into the crosshairs, was somewhat taken aback. After a brief stunned moment and a pause of silence, he said, "To be able to aid you, Senior, in eradicating the demon—this junior naturally has a duty and will not shirk it. However, this junior's strength is low and weak; I fear I am hardly fit for such a heavy responsibility."
The Myriad Flames Great Emperor waved his hand, unconcerned. He scrutinized Jiang Yun for a moment, then spoke with meaningful emphasis: "You and I share a karmic connection. You are the most optimal candidate!"
Jiang Yun's heart stirred. He knew the other had seen through the traces of the Burning Art on him. Watching the other's fully smiling eyes, however, Jiang Yun's heart was somewhat uneasy.
His thoughts racing, Jiang Yun quietly grasped Zi Yan's and Medusa's slender hands. Within his spiritual sea, the Qing Ming Tower emitted waves of mysterious light. With an apologetic expression, he said, "This junior's strength is low and weak; I fear I cannot shoulder such a heavy responsibility. Brother Huo Du's strength is superb, and he is of the Great Emperor's own clan—he is the most suitable candidate."
The moment Jiang Yun said this, everyone was stunned. They had no idea what madness had seized Jiang Yun. To refuse an opportunity that was practically in his mouth?!
Jiang Yun was unaware of the crowd's thoughts. But after the Myriad Flames Great Emperor had made his appearance, considering his conduct, Jiang Yun had sensed something out of the ordinary.
The other had said they shared a karmic connection. It was probably because of the Burning Art. Jiang Yun had once drawn upon the Burning Art's methods to refine the Saint Demon Flame. The other had likely seen through this.
But if the other could see the traces of the Burning Art... could he also see the Saint Demon Flame within Jiang Yun's body?
At this thought, Jiang Yun instantly felt a chill run through him. Knowing this lord's temperament, if he had seen it, rather than not obliterating Jiang Yun on the spot with a single palm strike, he was instead here patiently coaxing and enticing him... he clearly had an even greater scheme in mind.
Now, looking at the other again, Jiang Yun suddenly felt his face had turned utterly repulsive and hateful.
Jiang Yun's refusal exceeded the crowd's expectations and also exceeded the Myriad Flames Great Emperor's. The latter's expression first froze in shock, then turned indifferent. "Exterminating evil demons is a duty no child of the Great Thousand can shirk. Though your strength is low, young friend, this Emperor has his own methods to aid you."
"Worry not, young friend. Leave everything to me. Come!"
As his voice fell, that strand of the Myriad Flames Great Emperor's will suddenly shot forth, heading straight for the top of Jiang Yun's skull.
"Xiao Yun—!"
"Jiang Yun—!"
By now, also sensing something was wrong, Medusa and Zi Yan cried out urgently. But the Myriad Flames Great Emperor's suppressive force was far too terrifying. They were now completely immobilized, able only to watch helplessly as that streak of light drew closer and closer to Jiang Yun.
"Boom—"
Suddenly, a mysterious, sky-surging pillar of spiritual energy light burst from atop Jiang Yun's skull, shooting straight toward the vast, azure firmament. The Myriad Flames Great Emperor's residual will fragment was unceremoniously deflected away.
"Who's there?!"
The Myriad Flames Great Emperor reappeared. His figure was now considerably dimmer. With an unsightly expression, he stared at that figure entirely shrouded in the pillar of spiritual energy light.
"A dignified Saint-grade Heavenly Sovereign, bullying a mere Heaven-Connecting Realm youngster—how utterly disgraceful!"
At this moment, a large number of cyan light points surfaced on Jiang Yun's body. The increasingly bright, mysterious cyan light points oscillated violently, extending dense cyan rays of light that interconnected with one another, quickly spreading outward.
Weng weng. A mysterious, ancient cyan tower was taking form.
The ancient tower was entirely archaic, seven stories tall. Its aura was deep and unfathomable, swirling with cyan flowing light, covered in profound, esoteric patterns, its fluctuations primordial and savage.
"An Immortal-Grade Peerless Sacred Object!" The Myriad Flames Great Emperor looked at that tower form and spoke in a grave tone.
"Hmph—you bullied one of mine. Now let me see just what skill the legendary Myriad Flames Great Emperor actually possesses!"
Qing Ming appeared. With a wave of her hand, she drew Jiang Yun's trio into her body. Staring at the Myriad Flames Great Emperor, she spoke in a deep voice.
As her voice fell, Qing Ming brought her palms together. From between her palms, a small, profoundly mysterious tower slowly emerged. The moment the small tower appeared, it was like a crystalline blazing sun. The light of the entire heavens and earth was suppressed beneath it.
The tower body shuddered, and immediately, a stream of cyan iridescent light sprayed forth. Within that iridescent light contained some kind of exceptionally profound and wondrous power.
The iridescent light shot out, heading straight for the Myriad Flames Great Emperor!
"A mere projection of an Immortal-Grade Peerless Sacred Object thinks it can stop me? Stay where you are!"
With a long howl, the sky-covering sea of flame came rolling in, madly condensing directly before him. After several breaths, it transformed into a crimson fireball the size of a human head.
That fireball was like a great blazing sun. When it appeared, the surrounding space collapsed entirely, as if unable to bear the weight.
It was a flame compressed to the extreme.
"Boom!"
In the next instant, the fireball shot violently toward the iridescent light. Everywhere it passed, space collapsed completely. Such a simple move already possessed the power to annihilate heaven and destroy earth.
Yet, watching the two attacks about to collide, Qing Ming merely revealed a strange, sly grin. With a wave of her hand, she shattered space. Her figure flickered. A single set of movements, flowing like water and drifting clouds.
By the time the Myriad Flames Great Emperor snapped out of his shock, not a trace of Qing Ming remained where she had been.
"Boom—"
A great explosion rang out. The fireball, unimpeded, pierced through the iridescent light, landing right where Qing Ming had just stood, burning straight through the entire mountain range.
But at this moment, the Myriad Flames Great Emperor's expression was not a pleasant one. He had been made a fool of by a mere weapon!
"Roar—"
Just then, an enraged roar came from behind. A pitch-black demonic shadow was slowly striding toward him. It was precisely the Flame Demon commander, who had now finished condensing his power.
The Myriad Flames Great Emperor swept a glance at Huo Du's group, who still hadn't recovered from the sudden turn of events moments ago, and sighed inwardly.