The Emperor’s Gaze and the True Immortal’s Fury

Chapter 496

Within a dark red hall of the Heavenly芒 Hall in the Grand Xia imperial capital.

The black-robed Xia Emperor sat high upon his throne. Below him sat three generals clad in dazzling golden armor, their auras no weaker than the Xia Emperor’s own—unmistakably True Gods and True Immortals! All three sat ramrod straight, radiating a killing intent that was almost military in its discipline. For the ancient imperial clan, making even True Gods and True Immortals behave like soldiers was a simple matter.

“Whoosh~~”

Hundreds of images hung in midair, each one depicting a scene of battle. The Xia Emperor had absolute control over the Grand Xia world; any ripple at the Celestial Immortal level would be detected immediately.

“Young Master Xiamang, the Seamless Gate truly thinks highly of our ancient imperial clan. In this probing attack alone, they sent out two thousand raiding parties. There are simply too many battlefields… you cannot possibly monitor them all.” A fiery red-bearded elder below chuckled, faint flames flickering in his eyes.

“I don’t have that many Pure Yang treasures to spare for monitoring two thousand battlefields,” the black-robed Xia Emperor replied with a faint smile. Only a few hundred images floated in the air—this was already the limit of what could be observed simultaneously in different locations.

Among those hundreds of images, one showed the battle at Anchan City.

After all, Anchan City was home to the extremely powerful Tonghe Immortal, as well as the monstrously talented and astonishingly well-connected Ji Ning!

“What formation have those eighteen Celestial Immortals set up? A Tortoise-Serpent Formation?”

“The Tonghe Immortal is in danger!”

In an instant, they all took notice of this battle. Of the two thousand raiding parties, some were merely feints, most were just probing attacks, and only a very few were actual ‘kill missions.’ Naturally, a battle with a kill intent drew their attention.

“Hmph.”

The Xia Emperor’s expression darkened, but he continued to watch without giving an order.

On the image, the Tonghe Immortal was now trapped inside the ‘Tortoise-Serpent Formation.’ Suddenly, the Xia Emperor and the three golden-armored generals all changed expressions at the same time. They had all seen a young man tear through space and arrive via a divine ability.

“Ji Ning?” The Xia Emperor frowned. “What madness is this?”

“Is this the Ji Ning you’ve been keeping an eye on, Young Master Xiamang?”

“Far too reckless.”

The three generals shook their heads slightly, then their expressions froze.

On the image, Ji Ning’s sword-finger had suddenly expanded to a thousand zhang in length, sweeping across the sky like a colossal divine sword. It struck directly at the Tortoise-Serpent Formation. The incredibly resilient formation shattered under that terrifying sword-finger, and the eighteen Celestial Immortals, caught completely off guard, lost six of their number on the spot.

“What?!” The Xia Emperor shot to his feet, a terrifying divine light blazing in his eyes.

“Impossible.” The three generals also rose abruptly, staring fixedly at the image.

Watching Ji Ning activate his Three Heads, Six Arms and begin hunting down and slaughtering those Celestial Immortals, the Xia Emperor no longer bothered to maintain his imposing dignity in front of the three generals. He spoke in disbelief: “What’s going on? I don’t know if Ji Ning’s Primaltwin has undergone its tribulation, but his true body definitely has not!”

“If his true body had successfully transcended the tribulation, he would be an Empyrean God. His divine abilities, escape arts, and combat power would all be far stronger than they are now.”

“Clearly, he has not yet transcended the tribulation and become an Empyrean God!”

“But if he’s not an Empyrean God… how is he this strong? Can a Void Fiendgod really be this powerful?” Countless thoughts surged through the Xia Emperor’s mind.

The shock the three generals felt was no less than the Xia Emperor’s. The most burly of the three frowned: “A Void Fiendgod. Even if he trains in some of the most supreme divine abilities in the Three Realms, he might reach a level comparable to a Pure Yang True Immortal. That would generally put him on par with the Tonghe Immortal. But he’s far stronger than that! This power has already crossed the threshold of an Empyrean God or True Immortal.”

“A monster.” The Xia Emperor stared at Ji Ning as if he were the most precious treasure in all the heavens and the earth. Greed flickered in his eyes.

“Congratulations, Young Master Xiamang.”

The three generals rose simultaneously and spoke.

The black-robed Xia Emperor smiled.

Of course he was worthy of congratulations!

He was born into the ancient imperial clan, and the ancient imperial clan’s greatest specialty was uniting all forces. The reason the ancient imperial clan had become the sovereign of the ancient era was that it had a vast number of Ancestral Immortals and Daofathers among its ranks. Not all of these Ancestral Immortals and Daofathers were members of the ancient imperial clan, of course. So why did they support it?

It was because the ancient imperial clan had helped them constantly before they had risen to power. These Ancestral Immortals and Daofathers, having received the grace of the ancient imperial clan, were duty-bound to repay it.

You see, the stronger a cultivator, the more importance they placed on their Dao-heart, and the more they needed an unclouded mind.

If someone had done them a great kindness and they never repaid it, a ‘knot’ would form in their heart, affecting their Dao-heart. It could even cause them to fall into demonic madness. Of course, there were a very few Ancestral Immortals and Daofathers who walked a ‘heretical path,’ killing without hesitation even those who had been kind to them, while still maintaining a clear Dao-heart. But such individuals were extremely rare.

“Ji Ning?” The black-robed Xia Emperor’s eyes shone. He had just found a monster worthy of his full investment, and this genius hadn’t even transcended his tribulation yet!

He had a feeling…

As long as Ji Ning didn’t die, becoming an Empyrean God or True Immortal would be no problem. And he would likely become one of the most supreme existences among Empyrean Gods and True Immortals. To make such a powerful being his absolute ally… that would be more than worth it! And if a stroke of incredible luck occurred and Ji Ning became an Ancestral Immortal or Daofather, the Xia Emperor would be eternally grateful to heaven and earth.

You have to understand, the reason the Xia Emperor held such a special position was that aside from having a Daofather as his teacher, he also had a sworn brother—the Yinglong Daofather!

A teacher was, after all, just a teacher. They generally only offered guidance and instruction; they had a ‘debt of kindness’ to their disciples. Thus, even if the Xia Emperor were in danger, Daofather Crimsonbright might not lift a finger to help. Even if the Xia Emperor died, Daofather Crimsonbright’s Dao-heart would not be affected. He had many disciples, and every one of them owed him a debt of kindness.

The Yinglong Daofather was different. He and the Xia Emperor were sworn brothers bound by life and death. That relationship was far closer.

Now, if he began to pour his resources into helping Ji Ning and made sure Ji Ning remembered his kindness, then if the Xia Emperor ever ran into danger in the future and asked Ji Ning for help, how could Ji Ning simply stand by and watch?

“A monster. From ancient times to the present, this is the most monstrous genius I have ever seen.” The black-robed Xia Emperor stared at the image of Ji Ning. Although ancient times had produced their share of monsters, the Xia Emperor had never witnessed them firsthand. Now, he was watching a living, breathing, peerless monster right before his eyes.

Outside Anchan City.

The Flowinghua True Immortal was handsome and renowned for his easygoing, uninhibited nature. But at this moment, his face was twisted. His little sister Zicao, whom he had watched grow up, had actually died! The moment he sensed that the talisman he had given Zicao had shattered, he had immediately used a Greater Teleportation to come here. He had long since fully comprehended the Grand Dao of Space; he didn’t even need a Dao talisman to perform a Greater Teleportation.

However, he had been in another major world, so his senses couldn’t pinpoint Zicao’s exact location. He could only get a general idea.

His teleportation brought him outside Anchan City.

Through his sense of the space of heaven and earth, he instantly understood everything. He knew Zicao was in danger. In the first instant, he broke through the sealing formation. Because he couldn’t reach her in time, he sent a voice transmission to stop the attack. But… that young man hadn’t hesitated at all. With his Three Heads, Six Arms, six palms formed into sword-fingers, he had annihilated Zicao.

“Sister Zicao.” The Flowinghua True Immortal’s sense of space let him see it as if with his own eyes. He watched as his little sister Zicao was slain, her body turning to ash.

“No.”

The Flowinghua True Immortal’s eyes instantly turned bloodshot. His face twisted in agony.

“All of you will die!” The Flowinghua True Immortal had gone completely mad. A massive seal, white and black in color—the main body black, the handle white—appeared out of nowhere. It instantly swelled to the size of a mountain peak and crushed down directly. Although the formation barrier was quite impressive, the Flowinghua True Immortal had comprehended the Grand Dao of Space and was quite skilled in formations as well. Moreover, his personal power was far too great for the barrier to resist.

Rumble~~~

Where the great seal passed, the formation barrier was broken.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

“Ji Ning, be careful!”

“Enemy incoming!”

“He broke the seal! It must be a True God or True Immortal!” The Diancai Immortal, Yu Wei, and the Tonghe Immortal all sent urgent voice transmissions.

“Leave! Now!” Ji Ning naturally understood. He also had control over the grand formation. The moment he killed the Zicao Celestial Immortal, a massive black bow appeared in front of Ji Ning. He reached out and grabbed it. In his other hand, a single arrow appeared, and flames instantly flickered to life upon it.

Ji Ning drew the bowstring with all his might. Surges of divine power flowed into the Rahu Bow, were transformed by it, and continuously gathered upon the arrow. Ji Ning’s Heartforce was also infused into it. The Heartforce application of the ‘Houyi Archery Art’ was far superior to Ji Ning’s own arts. With his current level of Heartforce, he could only fire seven arrows at most.

“Go!”

HUM!

The world trembled. A blazing red streak of light tore through heaven and earth. Massive amounts of natural energy continuously gathered into the arrow. This was the Houyi Archery Art—a terrifying art that could wildly draw upon the power of the heavens and the earth.

Though it was also listed among the top ten divine abilities since Pangu’s creation of the world, in terms of pure destructive power, it was even above the Starseizing Hand!

“Rumble~~~” The black-and-white great seal crushed everything before it.

The fiery red arrow, like a shooting star, streaked across the sky.

BOOM!!!

The two collided, the air around them booming. The earth beneath them was deeply depressed by the sheer force of the shockwave.

“Oh?” The Flowinghua Immortal’s expression changed slightly. There were very, very few beings in the Three Realms who knew the Houyi Archery Art. Although Patriarch Subhuti’s disciples had some who could use it, it was not their primary focus, so they rarely employed it. Thus, very few had ever truly tasted the flavor of the Houyi Archery Art. Ji Ning, having reached the third level of Heartforce and achieved a more perfect application of it, was now able to unleash the art to a very high level.

With a single arrow, the black-and-white great seal slowed.

“Twang.” Ji Ning drew his bow again. Another arrow shot through the air, also carrying his full force. His Heartforce was being consumed at a terrifying rate. He didn’t dare let the enemy get close. After all, a True God or True Immortal… very few were merely on the theoretical threshold. Most were far stronger.

Another fiery red shooting star streaked across the sky.

The Flowinghua Immortal once again manipulated the white-and-black seal, directly blocking that arrow.

Twang! Twang! Twang! Twang! Twang!

Five more arrows in quick succession, forcing the enraged Flowinghua Immortal to halt in his tracks and preventing him from killing Ji Ning and the others immediately.

“Let’s see how many more arrows you can shoot.” The Flowinghua Immortal’s gaze was terrifying. He knew well that the most powerful archers could only fire a very limited number of their most powerful arrows. Sure enough, after those seven arrows had bought a brief moment of respite, there was nothing more to stop this enraged Flowinghua Immortal.

The black-and-white great seal crushed all formation barriers before it, bearing down directly upon Ji Ning and the others.

“Go.”

Ji Ning had fired those seven arrows precisely to buy time, to let the Diancai Immortal, Yu Wei, and the Tonghe Immortal escape. But just as they attempted a Greater Teleportation, they realized that the surrounding space had long since been sealed off by the Flowinghua True Immortal, making a Greater Teleportation impossible.

“None of you can escape. All of you will die.” The Flowinghua True Immortal’s killing intent reached the heavens. The black-and-white great seal was already flying toward them through the air.