PHS Chapter 214 (Patreon)

Chapter 214: Is He About to Achieve Emperorship? (Two-in-One)

As Ling Xiao marched on the Blazing Flame Sacred Land, Li Yun was reclining in his long chair, engrossed in an ancient text. The cover bore six large characters: Biography of the Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame.

"I wonder who is stronger, this Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame or that Xiao Yan I know of. They both play with fire, so the gap probably isn't too large," Li Yun mused, clicking his tongue.

As he was absorbed in his reading, footsteps approached.

A man dressed in a long purple robe, his eyebrows slanting up to his temples and his body wreathed in sword intent, strode in. The moment he saw Li Yun, his eyes lit up, and he cupped his hands in a salute.

"Junior Ren Qingtu pays his respects to Senior!"

"Hmm?"

Hearing the voice, Li Yun sat up. Seeing that it was Ren Qingtu, he gave a slight pout. He had wondered who it was, but it was just the Grand Luo Sect Master.

This man was a bit disingenuous.

After achieving Sainthood, he had spoken of a generous reward, but then there was no follow-up.

Moreover, his offerings were not as generous as Yang Qiu's.

It was a pity that Yang Qiu had been outmaneuvered by him and was now reflecting on his actions in seclusion within the Nine Nether Demon Sect. He probably wouldn't be coming out any time soon. Thinking of this, he felt a pang of regret.

A miscalculation.

He had let the big fish, Yang Qiu, get away.

The people of the righteous path were too concerned with face. When buying information, they always consider their reputation first. They weren't as straightforward as those of the demonic path. When they saw a benefit, they didn't care about anything else. They would snatch it for themselves first and ask questions later.

"Have a seat."

Li Yun pointed to a nearby chair and said casually, "You've come to the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets today, but it surely wasn't just to tell me that the Grand Luo Sword Sect has two new Great Saints."

"Er…"

Ren Qingtu had just lowered his hands and hadn't yet had a chance to sit down before he froze in place.

Senior has divined it again?

The Grand Luo Sword Sect indeed had two Saint Kings who had become Great Saints. This news could be considered top secret, as Great Saints were the foundation of a sect.

When one broke through, they usually chose a secret realm or a grotto-heaven.

Even after a successful breakthrough, they would not announce it publicly.

This was to guard against those with ulterior motives, who might secretly plot against them. After all, a Great Saint's lifespan was limited. When their time was up, even if they didn't die, their strength would decline from its peak. If they were barely hanging on, a single battle could send them on their way.

"Actually, this junior has come today specifically to thank Senior."

Since he hadn't sat down, Ren Qingtu decided not to. He stood up again, walked over to Li Yun, and handed him a storage ring.

"If not for Senior's help in divining the heavenly secrets, my Grand Luo Sword Sect would likely be in imminent danger," Ren Qingtu said respectfully.

These words were spoken with complete sincerity.

Without the news from the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, he would be unable to eat or sleep in peace right now. After all, without a pillar to support the sect, no one would feel secure. But things were different now.

A single piece of information from the Senior Pavilion Master had accurately predicted the future, allowing them to claim a Great Saint-level spirit herb for themselves in the Creation Mystic Realm.

And they had even managed to severely injure the Second Prince of the Golden Crow in the process!

The fame of the Grand Luo Sword Sect had been greatly enhanced!

Now that the Grand Luo Sword Sect had two more Great Saint-level figures, even the Golden Crow clan would not dare to act rashly. After all, the Second Prince of the Golden Crow was not dead. They had only lost two Sacred Lord-level figures, which was nothing compared to the Bloodfiend Clan, who had lost a Saint King-level figure.

To go to war with the Grand Luo Sword Sect for the sake of two Sacred Lords, they would have to consider what would happen if a Great Saint-level figure from the Grand Luo Sword Sect were to escape.

A single escapee would be an endless source of future trouble.

"Mm."

Li Yun gave a noncommittal grunt.

He accepted the storage ring and glanced inside. When he saw five Saint-level items, his mood improved considerably. The Grand Luo Sword Sect did have some conscience after all.

To offer five Saint-level items was quite generous. After all, the current foundation of the Grand Luo Sword Sect could only be considered a first-rate sect. It couldn't be compared to the Nine Nether Demon Sect, which had already joined the ranks of the top-tier sects.

Seeing Li Yun accept the storage ring, Ren Qingtu breathed a sigh of relief. He asked tentatively, "Has Senior heard that Ling Xiao has returned?"

"Ling Xiao?"

Li Yun frowned and thought for a long time before he finally remembered.

This person seemed to be the ancestor of the Shimmering Light Sacred Land, and his strength was at the Quasi-Emperor realm. He was the first Quasi-Emperor whose name he had learned since coming to this world.

"I have."

Li Yun nodded.

"Senior…"

Ren Qingtu chose his words carefully and asked softly, "Would you like this junior to summon the two ancestors?"

Back then, the conflict between the Shimmering Light Sacred Lord and the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets was known to almost everyone. And the destruction of the Shimmering Light Sacred Land was inextricably linked to the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets' behind-the-scenes machinations.

No one could guarantee that Ling Xiao wouldn't make a move against the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets.

Of course, Ren Qingtu didn't believe that Ling Xiao would be a match for the Senior. This statement was a blatant attempt to curry favor. Even if the two ancestors came, would the Senior just stand by and watch as two Great Saint-level figures from the Grand Luo Sword Sect were crushed to death by Ling Xiao?

"No need."

Li Yun waved his hand. He now had an Emperor's Scripture and several hundred thousand Heavenly Secrets Points. If he wanted strength, he could raise his cultivation to the Great Saint level in minutes.

Although a Great Saint was no match for Ling Xiao, he could still use Heavenly Retribution. At the very least, he could buy something else from the System Store.

After all, the System Store sold a wide and varied range of items.

Things like a Single Strike from a Great Emperor, a Single Strike from an Immortal Emperor, a Single Strike from a Great Overarching Golden Immortal, a Single Sword Strike from the Grandmaster of Heaven, and so on, were all available.

In the past, he hadn't exchanged for them because they were single-use consumables and ridiculously expensive. It was of no use and a pure loss to exchange for them. It was better to wait until he needed them to make the exchange.

"Since Senior has no need, then…"

Ren Qingtu chuckled lightly, about to say something.

BOOM!

With a tremendous roar, the entire Great Desolate City seemed to be struck by an earthquake. Countless people's hearts trembled, as if struck by a giant hammer, their faces turning pale.

Only the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets was spared from the effects.

"What's happening?"

Ren Qingtu's expression changed. He turned, walked to the entrance of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, and looked into the distance. His pupils contracted as if he had seen something terrifying.

In the distant sky, a magnificent phantom, tall and heroic, stood with its head in the blue sky and its feet on the earth. Its eyes were like the sun and moon, rotating and blooming with divine splendor. A mane of black hair cascaded down like a waterfall. In its hand, it held an ancient lamp that had burned for all eternity.

The magnificent phantom's gaze swept out, and the endless void shattered.

The ancient lamp was like a blazing sun, illuminating the eternal blue sky.

Around its body, an Emperor's might, so dense it was almost tangible, lingered. Even from Great Desolate City, one could feel their soul tremble, an uncontrollable urge to prostrate themselves in worship rising within them.

"That is… an Ancient Emperor!"

Ren Qingtu's heart was filled with utter shock.

The true Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame had long since passed away. What was appearing now was merely a wisp of a Great Emperor's will. But even a single wisp of will could still display thirty percent of the Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame's true glory!

"To be able to make the Blazing Flame Sacred Land use their Imperial Weapon, and even force them to awaken a wisp of the Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame's will to descend… they must have encountered an unimaginable opponent."

"Could it be…"

Ren Qingtu's heart jolted. He said in disbelief, "Ling Xiao?"

"No need to guess. It is Ling Xiao."

At that moment, Li Yun came up from behind, looking at the distant scene with great interest.

It was fortunate that Great Desolate City was not too far from the Blazing Flame Sacred Land. Otherwise, such a scene would not be so easy to see.

"A disturbance from the direction of the Blazing Flame Sacred Land!"

"That phantom, is it the Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame? Could the Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame still be alive?"

"The era of the Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame is too distant from our own. He passed away long ago. This should be a wisp of the Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame's unquenchable will!"

"Who has pushed the Blazing Flame Sacred Land to this extent?"

At that moment, the entire Great Desolate City was in an uproar. Every single person saw this scene, and all were aghast.

The deeds of the Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame, after being washed by the long river of time, had gradually faded in the hearts of countless people. But as long as his name was spoken, even if one didn't know his deeds, knowing that he was a Great Emperor was terrifying enough!

BOOM!

The sky roared and cracked inch by inch. The Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame was exceptionally heroic. In the depths of his eyes were scenes of the creation of the world, profound beyond measure.

He raised a hand, lifted the ancient lamp, and shot out ten thousand rays of light, like mercury flowing across the ground, spreading across the void, sharp and fearsome.

"Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!"

Ten thousand rays of killing light, heaven and earth overturned!

It was as terrifying as the end of the world. Countless people thought to themselves that if they were to face this strike, there was absolutely no way they could block it. They would be turned to flying ash on the spot.

But at that moment, a figure as small as a dust mote shot into the sky. His hair flew wildly, his ancient, unadorned face utterly calm. He threw a punch directly.

He chose to clash head-on with the will of the Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame!

With a tremendous roar, that place was filled with surging essence qi that pierced the heavens and startled the myriad races of the universe. As far as the eye could see, only a vast expanse of white remained in the world.

Nothing was left. The aftershocks had destroyed everything!

Countless people witnessed this world-shaking, wondrous sight!

After the single strike, the phantom of the Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame vanished.

It was not that the will of the Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame had been destroyed, but that the entire Blazing Flame Sacred Land could only support this single strike from a Great Emperor. This one attack alone had consumed the origin qi of an unknown number of people.

And there was no telling how many people had been drained of all their True Essence and died.

The figure as small as a dust mote stood in the sky for a moment before vanishing without a trace.

Watching the scene in the distance, Ren Qingtu's face was filled with disbelief.

The strength Ling Xiao had just displayed was clearly not that of a Great Emperor, yet with the strength of a Quasi-Emperor, he had withstood a Great Emperor's strike?

Although that was only the strength of a wisp of the Ancient Emperor of Blazing Flame's will, and it could not be considered a full-power strike from a Great Emperor, it was still terrifying!

It was something that had never been heard of, but today, he had witnessed it with his own eyes.

How close was Ling Xiao to becoming a Great Emperor?

"Senior, in your opinion, is Ling Xiao about to achieve Emperorship?"

Ren Qingtu asked, his voice dry.

"A hair's breadth away."

Li Yun uttered the words.

Then, he added another sentence, "This hair's breadth, some people may never cross it in their entire lives."

"I see."

Ren Qingtu understood. He glanced again toward the Blazing Flame Sacred Land, his heart still filled with shock. He asked, "Senior, where do you think Ling Xiao will go next?"

Li Yun spent a few Heavenly Secrets Points, queried the system, and said faintly, "He has already arrived at the mountain gate of the Nine Nether Demon Sect."

He had a considerable number of Heavenly Secrets Points now; wasting a few was no matter.

After all, he was also curious about Ling Xiao's movements.

At the end of the day, the destruction of the Shimmering Light Sacred Land had something to do with him. Since Ling Xiao had not stepped into the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, he did not know Ling Xiao's temperament.

What if he were unreasonable and wanted to attack the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets from a distance? If he had no warning, wouldn't he suffer a great loss?

He was in the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets and would be fine, but Great Desolate City would be destroyed.

If Great Desolate City were gone, it would be like someone had slapped him across the face. The prestige of the words "Master of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets" would plummet.

How could a Great Emperor's strength not anticipate a Quasi-Emperor's strike?

Therefore, he would not hesitate to spend a few Heavenly Secrets Points to monitor Ling Xiao's movements in real-time. If he dared to make a move against him, he would crush him a step ahead.

Want early access to chapters? Join as an Enforcer on Patreon and read ahead before anyone else.

If you are enjoying the story, please leave a 5 rating on Novel Updates!

[Index]

[Next Chapter]