For cultivators, the Heart Lake True Blood becomes increasingly significant as one's cultivation level rises. It contains the essence of the Dao and, if forced out, indicates a truly severe injury.
Chen Xia casually flicked his immortal sword, scattering the Heart Lake True Blood of Emperor Witch into the sea. The Dao intent within the blood caused massive waves, and countless sea monsters beneath the surface began fighting over the tiniest bits of the True Blood, igniting another battlefield.
Above the sea, Chen Xia tore off his tattered sleeve, revealing a blood-stained arm. With the surrounding tsunami, he lowered his eyebrows. His flying sword shimmered with the colors of time, and suddenly, a gigantic pale eye emerged from the sea, covering a significant portion of the water. The colossal head surged upward, propelling Chen Xia towards the heavens, while the entire dragon-like body rose from the sea, akin to a sky-piercing pillar, awe-inspiring and terrifying.
At the highest point of the sky, Emperor Witch looked down, heavily breathing with blood-soaked chest. The left hand glowed with black energy, shrouding the void in darkness.
Before their collision, an intense pressure already spread, causing the spiritual energy of the entire immortal world to falter and forcing cultivators below the Pāramitā realm to kneel. This was only because Chen Xia and Emperor Witch were far from the immortal world. Had they been closer, the battle's ripples could have obliterated half the realm.
The Lord of the Divine Realm slightly lowered his head, his expression changing subtly. With a downward press of his hand, the Dao manifested, protecting the Treasure Ring Scale State.
Boom!
The momentum rolled from the sky, and even the Lord of the Divine Realm's expression shifted, his brows knitting tightly. He felt that the combat strength of the two seemed even stronger than before the battle.
Progressing in battle?
Oh, that's impressive. Never seen such a strategy before.
At Heaven Pill Gate, Daoist Suppressing Heaven stood once more, whispering, "Evenly matched."
After saying this, he shook his head slightly, gazing towards the Ninth Mountain. In the hollow eyes of his puppet form, a flicker of brilliance sparked. Suddenly, he raised a hand, and the sun, moon, and stars rotated within it as he muttered,
"Want to locate my true body? No need."
Before him, footsteps sounded, and a golden-eyed, handsome man appeared. Though seemingly gazing at the sky, all the pressure fell on Daoist Suppressing Heaven, who casually asked,
"A serpent in the grass dares to plot against a tiger in the forest?"
"Why not a tiger in the grass?" Daoist Suppressing Heaven countered.
The Martial Emperor chuckled lightly. "You flatter yourself. Without the audacity to confront me directly, what fantasies do you entertain?"
"A strategist's battlefield is not limited to direct combat," Daoist Suppressing Heaven calmly replied.
"But a cultivator's battlefield has always been combat," the Martial Emperor rebutted, lowering his gaze.
They locked eyes.
Daoist Suppressing Heaven's hollow eyes flickered and he inquired softly,
"Are you here to kill me?"
The Martial Emperor gently brushed off the dust on his attire, then flicked it away, responding,
"What's the point in killing a puppet? I've gathered bits about your collaboration with Chen Xia, but it doesn't matter. You've also aided me in a way, facilitating Chen Xia's ascension to the pinnacle—just as I hoped."
"Let's hope so," Daoist Suppressing Heaven replied.
The Martial Emperor added, "However, I will personally slay your true body."
"Then you'd better search well. Hehe."
"I will find you, and you won't escape."
Their dialogue was brief, followed by lengthy silence. Daoist Suppressing Heaven stared at the sky for a long time before asking,
"These two—are they the collaborators you've chosen to overthrow the Heavenly Daos?"
"Yes, Chen Xia is especially unique. Given time, he can reach heights akin to mine. Numerous instances have demonstrated this, and I've witnessed his future firsthand."
"He could be my collaborator or my greatest obstacle. The future remains uncertain. Calculations aren't certainties; they merely nudge reality in the direction I desire. How much it bends—that's where it gets complex."
"Hehe," Daoist Suppressing Heaven chuckled softly, nodding, "It's rare for you to converse with me so calmly."
The Martial Emperor gazed at the sky, his tone was calm, he replied, "Let's wait for the outcome of the battle, and I'll just casually stroll around."
He had barely finished his words when...
Hum!
The sky dramatically changed; the spiritual energy of the entire immortal world surged, forming whirlpools that raced towards the heavens, draining all the realm's energy in an instant!
"Emperor Witch has unleashed his ultimate move!" The Lord of the Divine Realm shouted, his expression heavy.
Below the level of quasi-saints in the immortal world, all knelt. Those under quasi-Emperors couldn't withstand the aftershocks, and even ordinary Emperors could only catch glimpses of the battle.
The spiritual energy vortex of the immortal world suddenly halted. The sky turned pitch black, transforming into a vast Dark Heaven, filled with a deathly aura that pervaded far and wide, inducing slight despair in all who felt it.
In an instant.
The black sky abruptly stopped, as if all movement had ceased, even the spiritual energy. Somewhere within, a wide grey-white river faintly appeared, and within it, a phantom-like figure.
The Emperor of Time of this era.
All fell silent; in the immortal world, only Emperors remained unaffected.
Slow, tranquil.
Time lost meaning—a moment, or a whole year.
Pop.
A subtle sound of something shattering.
The sky cracked.
Then swiftly, a figure descended from the heavens, landing high in the immortal world. A green robe fluttered, an immortal sword swung, and despite being drenched in blood and pale, the aura remained strong. Tilting his head, a grin spread.
"Simple."
As the words finished, another figure fell from the sky, splashing into the sea without a sound.
The entire immortal world settled back into peace.
The battle seemed decided, with the title of the strongest Emperor crowned.