Liu Xi raised his head toward the distant sky. Three figures stepped through the void—one of them clad in imperial robes, yet surrounded by an eerie, bone-chilling aura. He resembled not a ruler of men, but a monarch of the underworld. Another had a stiff, corpse-like face, his iron-blue complexion devoid of any emotion, like a living corpse. The last possessed a towering frame and emanated a fierce, blood-soaked killing intent—not a human Heavenly Sovereign at all, but something closer to a savage beast.
"They really came… the Ghost Emperor, Duke You Xuan of the Profound Nether City, and the White Tiger King! That man is doomed now."
"Five Heavenly Sovereigns—four of the Spiritual Grade, and one of the Immortal Grade! Even if those two new Heavenly Sovereigns are strong, there's no escaping this!"
Liu Xi calmly examined the trio. From the fluctuations of their Spiritual Energy, he could tell: Duke You Xuan and the White Tiger King were both Late Spiritual Grade Heavenly Sovereigns, while the Ghost Emperor had reached the Initial Immortal Grade.
After breaking through to the Heavenly Sovereign Realm, one could condense a Heavenly Sovereign Spiritual Body—absorbing and merging with the power of heaven and earth, elevating one's might to the extreme. That spiritual body was the mark of a Heavenly Sovereign. The Spiritual Grade signified the process of perfecting it, while perfection itself granted qualification to advance into the Immortal Grade.
At the Immortal Grade, one could push the Spiritual Body to its utmost limit, capable of containing an even greater flow of heaven and earth's Spiritual Energy, greatly magnifying one's combat strength.
Beyond that, only the Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereigns existed—those who had refined their path to its absolute limit, attaining the state where skill transcended into Dao itself. They were beings standing at the pinnacle of the Great Thousand Worlds—figures whose existence even Liu Xi dared not yet fathom.
With such understanding, Liu Xi's heart settled. Unless the Ghost Emperor was also a Spiritual Array Master, a Battle Formation Master, or carried an unparalleled sacred artifact that could boost his power—he was confident he could defeat him.
He laughed aloud. "So, an Initial Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign, huh? You think that's enough to pin me down? Let's see if you can force out my limits!"
"Impudent!" The Ghost Emperor's eyes blazed, twin ghostly flames burning within. His voice was as cold as a winter grave. "Do not interfere—this emperor will personally crush this insolent brat!"
Duke You Xuan and the White Tiger King gave silent nods. For the five of them to gang up on a newly advanced Heavenly Sovereign would be shameful beyond measure.
Pellet Sun Ancestor and the severely injured Venerable Violet Thunder approached. The former's expression was grave as he warned, "Ghost Emperor, be cautious. That one is… strange. He shattered Violet Thunder's Celestial Body with a single blow and gravely wounded him."
Venerable Violet Thunder's face flushed with humiliation. He had boasted about teaching Liu Xi a lesson in respect—but instead, it was he who had been taught. The memory burned his pride to ash.
The Ghost Emperor shot them a cold glare. "Useless trash!"
Pellet Sun Ancestor and Venerable Violet Thunder both lowered their heads, resentment flickering deep within their eyes. They were Heavenly Sovereigns too—being scolded like subordinates was intolerable.
Hands clasped behind his back, the Ghost Emperor strode forward. With each step, his aura grew stronger. By the ninth step, it reached its peak, his gaze alight with condescending arrogance. Though he sensed Liu Xi's power, pride forbade him from treating the young man as an equal.
"Boy," the Ghost Emperor said, voice dripping with malice, "you've some talent. If you kneel and apologize now, this emperor may allow you to serve beneath me and remain in the Skylaw Continent. Otherwise… you know the consequences."
Liu Xi smiled faintly. "If you kneel and apologize, I might let you be my servant instead. Who knows—perhaps you'll even have a bright future under me."
"Arrogant wretch!"
The Ghost Emperor's fury erupted. Dark Spiritual Energy surged from his body, flooding the world with a soul-freezing chill that seeped into the bones of every living being nearby.
"Yan Luo Celestial Body—Ghost Emperor's Severing Sword!"
The Ghost Emperor's figure dissolved into his Heavenly Sovereign Spiritual Body. A colossal form, clad in imperial regalia and crowned with a monarch's diadem, materialized in the heavens. It exuded a mix of deathly cold and imperial dominance, like the true Emperor of the Netherworld who ruled over life and death.
The Yan Luo Celestial Body glared down, eyes glowing with judgment, before drawing a massive sword from its waist—its edge thousands of meters long, slicing through the void and rending space itself.
"So flashy," Liu Xi muttered, lips curling. Still, the sheer presence of that form was impressive.
The Azure Lotus Celestial Body lifted its hand. Azure flames surged as a long spear formed—its tip sharp enough to pierce reality, the shaft engraved with lotus markings, a wisp of azure fire coiling around its tassel.
The Ghost Emperor's sword swept down, splitting the heavens apart. Liu Xi met it head-on, swinging the Azure Lotus Spear into its path.
Boom!
When sword met spear, the amassed power of both collided—space shattered, layers of reality crumbled, and waves of destructive energy rippled outward in all directions.
Both immediately sensed the other's might. The Ghost Emperor's Heavenly Sovereign Spiritual Body was vast, capable of drawing in more Spiritual Energy than Liu Xi's—but its essence was weaker. Liu Xi's power, forged from Chaotic Spiritual Energy and tempered by the Azure Flame, was heavier, denser, and far more ferocious.
Even among the countless forms of energy in the Great Thousand Worlds, Liu Xi's was among the strongest.
The Ghost Emperor's face twisted in disbelief. For an Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign to be forced back by a newly ascended opponent was inconceivable!
He roared in fury and surged forward again, the Severing Sword blazing with dark radiance.
Liu Xi's grin widened. It had been a long time since he'd met an opponent who could push him even a little—since he'd slain Hun Tiandi early, this was the first time he'd had a proper fight at his own level.
The chance to temper himself against a true Immortal Grade foe—he welcomed it.
In the heavens and on the earth below, countless powerhouses stared, trembling in awe.
That was an Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign—an existence leagues above the Spiritual Grade!
And yet Liu Xi, who had only just entered the Heavenly Sovereign Realm… was evenly matching him!
(End of Chapter)
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