“Not avenging this slight would make us cowards! Why don't the three of us unite, head to the Blackflame Mountain Range, capture that White Robe Great Emperor, and force him to surrender his Supreme Offensive Secret Art?”
The two Demon Race Great Emperors and the Alien Race Supreme Great Emperor immediately agreed. They turned to Duan Hunsheng and the remaining human Great Emperor. “Shall we join forces once more?”
Duan Hunsheng flatly refused. “I must return to Tianluo State.”
The other human Great Emperor shook his head. “You three go ahead.”
Seeing their refusal, the Demon Race Great Emperors and the Alien Race Supreme Great Emperor departed at once. “No time to waste. Let’s move!”
Watching the three figures vanish, Duan Hunsheng flicked his sleeve, tearing the void open. He transformed into a Divine Arc of black light and shot toward Tianluo State. The remaining human Great Emperor sighed softly and also departed.
Deep within the void, the human Great Emperor revealed his true form: a weathered, gray-robed elder. A faint scent of spirit herbs clung to him. His gaze was profound as he recalled the events of the past few days, letting out a heavy sigh.
After pursuing Tianyuan Old Ancestor for several days, he had gained nothing but severe injuries! As for going to the Blackflame Mountain Range, he had no intention of it. He strongly suspected the White Robe Great Emperor had intervened! Knowing Tianyuan Old Ancestor, the man couldn't have achieved this escape alone. Thus, he decisively abandoned the plan to hunt in the Blackflame Mountain Range.
Half a day later, the gray-robed elder concealed his aura and returned to the Yao Family, immediately entering secluded cultivation. He was none other than Yao Quan, the Yao Family Old Ancestor.
He was confident that his concealment technique was flawless and that no one had discovered his identity. However, the Alien Race Supreme Great Emperor had been injured by the Ancient Yin Soldiers, and the exposure of his bloodline confirmed his identity: he was undoubtedly the Blood Demon Race Old Ancestor.
***
Deep in the void.
Lu Xuan, effortlessly supporting the Ye Family's hundreds of miles of landmass with a single hand, traversed the void at terrifying speed. He blotted out the sun as he soared over various states, his momentum overwhelming.
The commotion this caused grew exponentially! Everyone could now clearly discern Lu Xuan’s destination: Tianluo State!
Tianyuan Old Ancestor, a Nine-star Great Emperor, had been severely injured and forced to flee Duan Hunsheng. Yet now, this White Robe Great Emperor was carrying an entire landmass and heading straight for a confrontation with the Heavenly Net Hall Master! It was terrifying! Was the White Robe Great Emperor truly that powerful, or simply arrogant beyond measure?
Dozens of Ancient Spirit Boats now trailed Lu Xuan, their numbers constantly swelling! Boom! Boom! Boom! Endless Divine Arcs surged as numerous high-star Great Emperors chased Lu Xuan, their excitement mounting.
Although the target, the White Robe Great Emperor, made no attempt to conceal his cultivation—Eight-star Emperor Realm—everyone knew he possessed a Supreme Offensive Secret Art capable of bridging the massive Chasm between the Eight-star and Nine-star Emperor Realms.
The crowd buzzed with speculation.
“If the White Emperor clashes with Hall Master Duan Hunsheng, it will be the most terrifying battle in millennia!”
“It was a true pity we missed the battle in Cloud State last time! Now, we finally get to witness the White Emperor fight!”
“Do you think the White Emperor might actually be a Nine-star Great Emperor, just pretending to be Eight-star to fool us? After all, he was only Seven-star when he was in Cloud State!”
***
Just then, Chen Changsheng transmitted a message. “Master, I sense my clone has already departed with Tianyuan Old Ancestor. However, the Old Ancestor is severely injured, and a lingering Silent Destruction power remains unresolved in his body!”
Chen Changsheng then relayed the full sequence of events that transpired in the Ancient Lost Fierce Land to Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan couldn't stop grinning. “Brilliant!”
His third disciple truly was a Wondrous Person! A single puppet clone had managed to run circles around Duan Hunsheng and four other Nine-star Great Emperors. If Chen Changsheng hadn't been so focused on 'Ultra Low-Profile' survival and avoiding unnecessary killing, the injuries sustained by the five magnates would have been far worse! Chen Changsheng was the epitome of 'Gou Dao' (Hiding Power)! Only he could have walked out of the Ancient Lost Fierce Land unscathed, thanks to his Insight Eye, which allowed him to navigate the complex traps that baffled the other Nine-star Great Emperors. It was a scheme within a scheme!
Ji Fuyao’s starry eyes flickered with curiosity. “Master, what has you so amused?”
Lu Xuan replied, “Just recalling some things about your Third Junior Brother.”
Ji Fuyao smiled sweetly. “I had a feeling Third Junior Brother wasn't as simple as he appears.”
Lu Xuan chuckled. “You guessed correctly. He is far from simple. However, you and Ye Chen must not actively probe into his secrets.”
Ji Fuyao bit her soft lip in compliance. “Understood, Master. I look forward to seeing what he does next.”
A moment later, Lu Xuan smiled mysteriously. “Changsheng, what’s the deal with your cultivation?”
Chen Changsheng’s expression shifted slightly. “Master, my situation is rather complicated. My true cultivation involves a deep secret of the Southern Wilds, and I once swore a Heavenly Dao Oath never to expose it.”
Hearing this, Lu Xuan didn't press the matter.
Chen Changsheng continued, “Right, Master, of the five Nine-star Great Emperors who ambushed Tianyuan Old Ancestor, one was Duan Hunsheng. Another was injured by the Ancient Yin Soldiers, and the exposure of his bloodline revealed his identity: he is the Blood Demon Race Old Ancestor!”
Lu Xuan frowned slightly. “The Blood Demon Race Old Ancestor? And the other three?”
Chen Changsheng shook his head. “The remaining three concealed their auras perfectly; I couldn't discern their origins. However, the other human Great Emperor is likely not Nanchenzi of the Supreme Profound Sect. He carried no trace of the Supreme Scripture aura.”
Lu Xuan’s voice turned cold. “Very well. Blood Demon Race Old Ancestor. I’ll remember that name!”
Chen Changsheng nodded. “Thank you for the opportunity, Master! Along the way, I gained significant enlightenment regarding the spatial Great Emperor Formation Pattern Fragment, and my Evasion Art speed has increased considerably!”
Lu Xuan replied, “That’s good to hear! Now, Duan Hunsheng should have already returned to the Heavenly Net General Hall, correct?”
Chen Changsheng confirmed, “He should have been back for a while now!”
Lu Xuan accelerated, his form flashing like lightning. A brilliant silver river of light flowed across the void above, intensely bright. In just two hours, he would reach Tianluo State! The numerous Great Emperors trailing behind him could no longer keep up with his pace.
***
Meanwhile, the news that Lu Xuan was heading to the Heavenly Net General Hall for a massive confrontation spread across the Three Thousand States of the Southern Wilds at a terrifying speed.
The Blood Demon Race Old Ancestor and his two Demon Race peers had already traversed millions of miles when they heard the news. They were utterly shocked!
The Blood Demon Race Old Ancestor looked incredulous. “That White Robe Great Emperor actually dares to go to Tianluo State to confront Duan Hunsheng?!”
The two Demon Race Great Emperors were equally bewildered. The man was supposedly an Eight-star Great Emperor! The Chasm between the Eight-star Emperor Realm and the Nine-star Emperor Realm was as vast as the difference between Cloud and Mud! Could the White Robe Great Emperor truly bridge that gap? But given his confidence, he must possess the strength to fight!
With this thought, the Blood Demon Race Old Ancestor’s voice turned cold. “It seems there’s no need to go to the Blackflame Mountain Range. Let’s head to Tianluo State! Since we failed to obtain the Dao Rhyme of the Bronze Ancient Palace, we absolutely must seize this Supreme Offensive Secret Art!”
The two Demon Race Great Emperors agreed instantly. “Exactly! If we combine our strength, the White Robe Great Emperor’s Supreme Offensive Secret Art will surely fall into our hands!”
Moments later, the three Supreme Great Emperors tore open the void and began racing toward the Heavenly Net Hall.
***
At the same time, within the Heavenly Net General Hall, Duan Hunsheng sat high upon his throne. Mysterious black mist swirled around him as he surveyed the elders gathered in the hall. A sinister, chilling smile spread across his face as he spoke slowly. “The Grand Elder truly was nothing but waste! Not only did he fail to bring Ji Fuyao back, but he was also executed by that White Robe Great Emperor!”