Chapter 67: Cowardly Scoundrel
"How should I address you, fellow cultivator?"
The man called Bai Wuya was over ten thousand years old, yet he looked like a vigorous middle-aged man, a handsome figure with a wild and unrestrained beard.
He stroked his beard, gazing solemnly at Ji Ning. Though Ji Ning had not released her overwhelming Supreme might, the blood-colored murderous intent seeping from her body condensed into a tangible aura filled with slaughter and destruction.
Each wisp of that bloody intent seemed like an entire world of killing. How many beings had she slain to forge such terrifying murderous will?
Bai Wuya looked at her blazing red garments and the faint crimson at the corners of her eyes, his own face twitching uncontrollably.
Where had this peerless female demon emerged from?
He had been enjoying leisure with his wives and concubines at home, harming no one, yet disaster had fallen from the sky. Truly, there was no reasoning with fate.
"I heard you are the strongest in the Divine Phoenix Empire. I do not believe it."
Ji Ning's brows arched arrogantly, her red eyes glinting coldly as a frigid smile curved her lips, embodying the bearing of an unrivaled female demon.
"..."
Bai Wuya's lips trembled. He wanted to deny it.
Though he had always taken pride in being the empire's number one, now that he faced Ji Ning, he regretted it deeply.
Just one look told him this woman was not someone to provoke—her power was terrifying, perhaps even fatal. A lifetime of cultivation could vanish in an instant.
Yet it was too late to deny it now.
Truly, to wear the crown, one must bear its weight.
"It's merely an empty title. I was never the Divine Phoenix Empire's strongest," Bai Wuya struggled to say, but seeing Ji Ning's indifference, he sighed.
It seemed this calamity today was unavoidable.
"My lord!"
Several beautiful women of differing figures and features paled, panic flashing in their eyes.
"It's fine. Wait here patiently for my return."
Bai Wuya gave his wives and concubines a reassuring glance, then stepped into the outer void. A terrifying Supreme aura spread across the galaxy.
An awe-inspiring blade intent erupted, shaking the stars themselves.
Holding his ghost-headed saber, Bai Wuya stepped forward, his beard fluttering. His domineering blade intent seemed ready to cleave the universe in two.
Though Ji Ning was unimaginably strong—at the peak of the Ninth Level of the Supreme Realm—while he was only at the Sixth Level, Bai Wuya was no weakling. The title of the Divine Phoenix Empire's strongest was not for nothing.
Swish!
Ji Ning, ruthless and silent, stood proudly in the void, her red robes billowing.
With a wave of her hand, she summoned a curved blade like a crescent moon hanging in the heavens. Endless killing intent swept forth, birthing billions of blade lights.
"So strong."
The onlookers were secretly stunned by the terrifying power of the Supreme Realm. For cultivators of the Void Dao or King Realm, the mere sight was enough to make their hearts tremble.
Even from afar, their souls ached as if torn apart by those bloody blade lights.
If even one of those blades touched them, they would perish instantly.
A human Supreme—truly terrifying.
The crowd's gazes burned with awe as they observed the duel, attempting to comprehend the mysteries of the Supreme Realm.
"Your Highness, should we intervene?"
The battle of two Supremes shook heaven and earth. Even rebel forces hundreds of thousands of li away were drawn to it, among them Ye Hao.
"No rush."
Ye Hao's dual pupils glimmered, seeing every detail of the clash clearly.
Though Ji Ning had the upper hand, she bore no killing intent. If he acted now, he would expose a hidden trump card.
Unless Bai Wuya's life was in true danger, he would not make a move.
After all, he would soon march on the imperial capital. Though the Luo clan lacked Saint Realm experts or divine artifacts, a dying camel was still larger than a horse—the royal family surely had their own methods to counter a Saint Realm opponent.
Boom!
Their battle unleashed endless storms of destruction. The galaxy trembled, on the verge of shattering.
Ji Ning's expression was cold and aloof, her gaze overlooking the world. With a flick of her finger, stars shattered; with a punch, the heavens cracked; with a turn of her palm, the cosmos overturned.
One palm strike tore Bai Wuya's body apart, scattering Supreme blood across the stars. Each droplet shone brilliantly, filled with Supreme laws, like the brightest stars in the heavens.
"Father!"
Bai Suying cried out, face pale, tears glimmering in her eyes.
"Go!"
Bai Wuya's eyes widened, roaring as his blade intent split the sky apart.
His hair stood on end, and raising his saber high, he looked like a god splitting heaven and earth.
"Hmph. A petty trick, and you dare show off before me?"
Ji Ning snorted coldly. Using her hand as a blade, she struck downward, sending forth a scarlet light that split the void in two. Space ruptured, birthing earth, water, fire, and wind.
Bai Wuya's heart sank in despair.
This peerless female demon's killing intent reached the heavens; her divine powers were beyond imagination. Every gesture carried the might to open the world itself.
He was utterly outmatched.
Whether in Dao or divine art, he was completely defeated.
Boom!
A blade struck his forehead, the horrifying intent devouring his vitality.
Before he could react, a punch followed, shattering his body once more.
"Trash."
Ji Ning sneered, her sleeves sweeping wide. As she turned, her skirt fluttered, Supreme might filling the void. The stars and galaxies themselves seemed to exist only to adorn her presence.
"Father..."
As Ji Ning turned to leave, Bai Suying rushed forward.
"Father, are you alright?"
"It's nothing, just a small wound."
Bai Wuya replied quickly, hastily straightening his disheveled beard.
The head may break, blood may flow—but the beard must remain neat.
"Father..." Even at a time like this, he still worried about his beard.
Bai Suying was frantic.
"Hu!"
After fixing his beard, Bai Wuya exhaled deeply before examining his injuries.
"Fortunately, no Dao injury," he said with relief.
Though his body was torn and bloodied, as long as his Dao foundation remained intact, it was a minor matter easily restored with a single thought.
"Father, who is she?"
Hearing him say so, Bai Suying sighed in relief and quickly asked.
"I have no idea," Bai Wuya replied with a bitter face.
To be beaten senseless for no reason, and nearly have his beard ruined—it was truly hateful.
"Hahaha!"
Just then, a wild, booming laugh echoed through the sky. Everyone turned to look.
A burly, bear-like middle-aged man was laughing toward the heavens.
"Marquis Xiliang, what are you laughing at?"
Everyone frowned, asking with suspicion.
"This senior's name is Feitian. I, the Marquis of Xiliang, am under the worship of the Goddess Feitian," Dong Fei immediately withdrew his laughter, showing deep reverence as he bowed toward the direction where Ji Ning had vanished.
"What?"
The crowd's expressions changed drastically.
They had assumed Dong Fei laughed only because he knew Ji Ning, but it turned out she was his patron.
That meant this mysterious invincible Supreme had made some kind of deal with him.
As for what kind of deal, it was not hard to guess.
Most likely, she intended to establish a sect within the Divine Phoenix Empire and needed a puppet emperor under her control.
After all, what else could Dong Fei offer that might interest a human Supreme?
Thinking this, everyone's hearts burned with envy and jealousy.
If only Ji Ning had chosen them instead.
The imperial family's experts turned livid with fury.
They were not even dead yet, and already the empire was being divided up.
"Ancestor, what should we do?"
"Find a way to contact her. No matter what she demands, we will agree. Perhaps she might help the royal family reverse our current crisis."
"What about the Divine Phoenix Mountain secret realm?"
"Continue bombarding it. I suspect Luo Li harbors treacherous intentions and no longer stands with the royal family."
Their assault on the secret realm had caused such an uproar, yet neither Luo Li nor Luo Ling appeared. It was clear they were hiding something.
Either Luo Ling had rebelled, or Luo Li had, or perhaps both had conspired together, trying to unseal something before the royal family's fall.
Cold killing intent flickered in Luo Zhengyang's eyes.
The Phoenix Essence was his to claim. He intended to use it to break through to the Divine Fire Realm.
Whoever dared covet it would die.
"Your Majesty the Empress, this Marquis wishes to invite you to my residence to discuss the rebel situation."
Dong Fei turned to Bai Suying, a flash of desire in his eyes.
In the past, he could only fantasize about this most noble and beautiful goddess of the Divine Phoenix Empire.
But now, with Ji Ning's backing, that fantasy might become reality.
However, with Bai Wuya present, he dared not act recklessly.
He could only invite her first.
"I do not involve myself in state affairs," Bai Suying said coldly.
"Is that so? Then this Marquis will send troops to capture Dingyang City."
Dong Fei sneered.
"Wait, how did you come to know the Goddess Feitian?"
Bai Suying sensed something strange. Ji Ning was so powerful—why had she suddenly appeared in the Divine Phoenix Empire?
There was no such figure in the Eastern Domain.
"No comment," Dong Fei said with a laugh.
Ji Ning had sought him out, wishing to establish a sect and choosing him, the strongest force near the capital. It was fortune delivered straight to his door.
Upon meeting, she had declared her intent to help him seize the throne and even granted him one condition of his choosing.
In exchange, Ji Ning demanded twenty continents as her domain and required annual tribute thereafter.
Though the terms were harsh, to him it was a divine gift.
Without Ji Ning's support, he could never seize the empire.
His three hundred thousand Xiliang cavalry might be formidable, but they were at best enough to guard a small region—coming to the capital was mere opportunism.
Thinking of this, Dong Fei felt immensely proud and secretly sent her a transmission, summoning her to his residence with veiled threats.
"You seek death..."
Ye Hao's eyes turned icy as he stared at Dong Fei. Anyone who dared covet his woman—must die.
"Your Highness, shall I kill him?"
A refined middle-aged man spoke calmly, as though to him, Dong Fei—a peak Ninth Level King Realm cultivator—was but an ant to be crushed.
"No need. Do not expose yourself. Have the Luo Net keep close watch on him. Report to me immediately if anything unusual happens."
Though Ye Hao wished to personally strike down Dong Fei, his army would reach the capital in just a few days. He could let the man enjoy his fleeting pride.
If Dong Fei dared lay a finger on Bai Suying within these few days, Ye Hao would personally send him to his grave.
"..." The middle-aged man frowned slightly.
He wanted to object.
While concealment had its importance, he believed that strategy and scheming were only secondary tools. In this world, strength reigned supreme, and all plots depended upon power.
To him, Ye Hao was already strong enough to sweep across the land. Why continue to endure?
A true king walked the path of dominance—open and unrestrained.
Ye Hao's secretive caution was beneath a ruler's dignity.
But he was a summoned being of the system, bound by absolute loyalty to Ye Hao, and could not voice his dissent.
He sighed inwardly. Ye Hao was sometimes boldly tyrannical, yet at other times, timid and indecisive—truly puzzling.
"System, check Ye Hao's attributes."
Gu Qing narrowed his eyes, quietly approaching Ye Hao's position.
[Name] Ye Hao.
[Realm] Peak Ninth Level of the King Realm.
[Physique] Archaic Sacred Body, Supreme Bone, Dual Pupils.
[Talent] None.
[Fate Pattern] Child of Destiny.
[Fate] Peerless Emperor.
[Fortune] 300,000.
Seeing Ye Hao's realm, Gu Qing froze for a moment.
If he remembered correctly, Ye Hao's publicly announced realm was only the Void Dao Realm, wasn't it?
He had hidden far too much.
And the Archaic Sacred Body and Dual Pupils—typical traits of a protagonist—were hardly surprising.
"Check the people around him."
[Name] Zhuge Liang.
[Realm] Sixth Level of the Saint Realm.
[Physique] Exquisite Seven-Aperture Body.
[Talent] Exceptional Intelligence, Peerless Comprehension.
[Fate Pattern] Talent of a King's Advisor.
[Fate] Talent of a King's Advisor.
[Fortune] 15,000.
"Good heavens, he even summoned Zhuge Liang."
"System, is this the real Zhuge Liang?"
[No. All individuals summoned by the system are not those the host personally knows. They are replicas modeled after historical figures, created as system tools.]
Gu Qing understood and felt relieved.
So the invincible-type protagonist truly wasn't to be provoked.
Fortunately, he had restrained himself earlier.
This time he had brought along the so-called Crouching Dragon; who knew if Ye Hao also had the Young Phoenix—or other Saint Realm figures from history—under his command?
Gu Qing frowned in thought, feeling troubled.
Relying on himself alone, defeating Ye Hao would be nearly impossible.
As for calling for reinforcements—
He was confident he could summon even Saints or Divine Fire Realm experts.
But as the Child of Destiny, Ye Hao would undoubtedly possess powerful treasures.
After a moment's hesitation, Gu Qing sent a voice transmission to He Ni.
"He Ni, can you undergo your tribulation ahead of time? If it affects you, forget it—I'll find someone from the Star Temple instead."
Better to let He Ni benefit than anyone else.
But without transcending her tribulation, He Ni could only project her holy thought—and holy thought alone was vastly inferior to a Saint's true body.
"It will have no effect."
"Good. Then proceed with your tribulation; I'll wait here for you."
"..."
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