Ji Fuyao’s eyes flashed as she scanned the surroundings. A dozen or more high-star Great Emperors were openly leaking killing intent! Yet, her expression remained perfectly calm. “It’s fine,” she stated, her voice cold. “We continue the annihilation of the Heavenly Net Hall branches.”
The Fuyao Dynasty’s spirit boat pressed on.
The cultivators in Liangzhou were baffled. At a time like this, Ji Fuyao was still operating outside the safety of the Grand Dao Sect? Was destroying a Heavenly Net Hall Branch truly more important than her life!?
High-star Emperor Realm Experts were constantly descending upon the region. Though none had struck yet, the air was thick with palpable killing intent, almost solidifying into a physical pressure. Dozens of Great Emperors lurked in the void, their faint, leaking auras sending shivers down the spines of Wang Man and Qing Yan. The ones who had revealed themselves already numbered over a dozen, and all were Six-star Great Emperors or higher.
Everyone was watching, waiting for the first strike. The atmosphere was suffocating, like a black cloud pressing down on the city. This was the final, fragile calm before the storm. Once the first high-star Great Emperor made a move, an endless wave of Emperors would descend upon Ji Fuyao.
Soon, Ji Fuyao led her subordinates to the location of the Liangzhou Heavenly Net Hall Branch.
The branch master rose into the air, wearing a look of grim resolve. He stared at Ji Fuyao and laughed maniacally. “Ji Fuyao, you are truly arrogant! The Silent Destruction Old Man’s death bounty has been issued, yet you still dare to show your face!”
Ji Fuyao’s face was etched with frost. She immediately summoned the Emperor Weapon, Heaven-Rending, pointing the spear directly at the Heavenly Net Hall’s palace. “Kill!”
Just as Wang Man and Qing Yan prepared to charge, a Seven-star Great Emperor tore the void open and revealed himself.
This was the Green-robed Man, holding a folding fan, smiling at Ji Fuyao. “Let me help you with a minor task, and then you can help me with mine, how about that?”
Everyone was stunned. Had a high-star Great Emperor finally lost patience and decided to strike at Ji Fuyao?
No matter how monstrous Ji Fuyao’s talent, even with the Eight Desolations Annihilation Flame, there was a Chasm between her and a Seven-star Great Emperor!
Numerous high-star Great Emperors extended their Divine Sense, probing the surroundings, desperate to confirm if the feared White Robe Great Emperor was hidden nearby.
Before Ji Fuyao could speak, the Green-robed Man casually tossed his folding fan. Whoosh! The fan erupted in brilliant Divine Radiance, Dao patterns surging as it rapidly expanded, transforming into a colossal mountain range that crushed down upon the Liangzhou Heavenly Net Hall Branch. The momentum was vast and utterly unstoppable.
With a deafening boom, the branch’s Emperor Tier defensive formation shattered like brittle paper. In an instant, the bodies of the elders and disciples disintegrated, turning into a mist of blood.
The branch master’s wretched laughter echoed through the void. “Hahaha! Ji Fuyao, you’ve offended the Silent Destruction Sect! Ten Grand Dao Sects combined couldn't save you! I’ll wait for you and your master in the Underworld...” The Heavenly Net Hall Branch was annihilated in a flash.
The Green-robed Man retrieved his fan, lightly fanning himself as he smiled at Ji Fuyao. “There. I’ve done my part. Now, it's your turn to help me. I require your head. Why don't you save us all some trouble and commit suicide?”
Before he could finish, Ji Fuyao's fiery red dress billowed out. She swung the Emperor Weapon, Heaven-Rending, its tip blazing with cold light, pointing it directly at the Green-robed Man. She spoke with chilling contempt.
“Did I ask you to interfere!?”
The spear let out a dragon's cry that tore through the heavens.
The onlookers were dumbfounded. The world fell silent. How dare Ji Fuyao? A mere Quasi-Emperor openly challenging a Seven-star Great Emperor!
The Green-robed Man laughed, looking down at Ji Fuyao as if she were an Ant. He sneered, “Ji Fuyao, it seems the White Robe Great Emperor behind you has given you a delusion of invincibility! Very well. I shall now demonstrate the Chasm between the Seven-star Emperor Realm and the Quasi-Emperor Realm!”
As his voice faded, the Green-robed Man flicked his finger, and a stream of Divine Radiance shot toward Ji Fuyao. Shing! Ji Fuyao couldn't react in time. The Emperor Weapon, Heaven-Rending, was instantly seized by the Green-robed Man's power. Her delicate hand was lacerated by the immense force, her palm split open, blood dripping onto the ground.
The Green-robed Man waved his sleeve, his massive hand slamming down onto the Heaven-Rending. The terrifying, peerless force was like a falling star. CRACK! The six-star Emperor Weapon shattered instantly into countless fragments, its endless Divine Radiance annihilated. The Green-robed Man scoffed as the fragments clattered to the ground like shards of ice.
Destroying a Six-star Emperor Weapon in a single blow!
A chill ran through every observer. This was the power of a Seven-star Great Emperor! What could Ji Fuyao possibly use to fight back? The Chasm between a Quasi-Emperor and a Seven-star Great Emperor was absolute—it could not be bridged by any Emperor Weapon or treasure. Furthermore, Ji Fuyao's current cultivation couldn't even withstand the backlash of a higher-tier artifact.
Suddenly, Wang Man, wielding his massive axe, charged forward, roaring, “You are courting death by—” Before he could finish, the Green-robed Man waved his sleeve, instantly sealing Wang Man in the void. “Silence!” Wang Man immediately bled from all seven orifices, utterly paralyzed and unable to speak.
The Green-robed Man looked at Ji Fuyao with a mocking expression. “Well? Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve?”
Blood continued to drip from Ji Fuyao’s hand. Fear naturally stirred within her heart. She was facing not just this Seven-star Great Emperor, but a dozen high-star Emperors lurking in the shadows. Yet, she realized: Master had not appeared, nor had he ordered her to retreat to the Grand Dao Sect. This was his test. Her Master was invincible, but he would not walk her path for her. So what if there were dozens of high-star Great Emperors? She could lose, but she would never be a coward! No one on Azure Mystery Peak was a coward!
In that instant, an overwhelming torrent of fire surged from Ji Fuyao’s body. The Path of Spirit Fire manifested as an infinite Sea of Spirit Fire surrounding her. Her mental state underwent a profound transformation. Battle Intent! She had comprehended Battle Intent!
BOOM! Ji Fuyao’s fiery red dress billowed violently. She summoned the Eight Desolations Annihilation Flame, its heat scorching the air. Her starry eyes scanned the void.
“Which other high-star Great Emperors want my head? Come out together. I accept this fight!”
Silence. Everyone was stunned. Had Ji Fuyao gone insane? Challenging every high-star Great Emperor present? The void tore open repeatedly, revealing over a dozen Emperors. Their imperial might was vast, like falling stars, as they stood in the sky, staring down at Ji Fuyao. They were a mix of Human, Demon, and Alien Race Great Emperors.
Among them was a withered, Grey-robed Great Emperor, at the Nine-star Emperor Realm Initial Stage. Someone recognized him and gasped, “That's Ye Mo Great Emperor! I can't believe he's still alive.”
Ye Mo Great Emperor’s face was a mass of wrinkles, his body frail like ancient, rotting wood, radiating deathly stillness. Yet, his eyes burned with fierce greed as he clapped slowly. Clap, clap, clap! “Worthy of the White Robe Great Emperor's attention! Worthy of the Silent Destruction Sect's bounty on the younger generation! This resolve alone surpasses countless magnates in the Southern Wilds! But remember this: a fallen genius is not a genius; it is a corpse. And you, young one, are about to become one.”
With that declaration, the dozen high-star Great Emperors encircled Ji Fuyao. The Eight Desolations Annihilation Flame burned fiercely in her delicate hand. Fearless, she actually smiled, challenging the Emperors. “Come on, then.”
The Green-robed Man scoffed. “A mere Ant attempting to overturn the heavens! Die!” He unleashed a powerful attack.
Hidden in the shadows, Chen Changsheng materialized, shaking his head slightly. He muttered, “Master is forcing Senior Sister to use her life as fuel for this breakthrough!”
Just as he prepared to intervene—the world changed.
BOOM! CRACK! The void ripped open! Space twisted violently! A voice, imbued with overwhelming, transcendent power, echoed across the entire state.
“Who dares harm a disciple of my Grand Dao Sect?!”