The battle between two Heavenly Sovereigns was enough to drain the power of an entire world. Vast storms of Spiritual Energy raged through heaven and earth, each shockwave carrying the power to annihilate.
The skies shattered. The ground split apart.
Gigantic fissures, like the gaping maws of abyssal beasts, hung in the heavens. Chaotic space currents twisted within them—any Earth Sovereign who fell into those rifts might never return.
Mountains collapsed. Rivers were severed. Entire forests were reduced to ash, and countless Spirit Beasts perished in the cataclysm.
"What's going on? That's the Ghost Emperor, an Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign! Are we dreaming?!"
Many cultivators began to doubt their senses. Liu Xi, who had just advanced into the Heavenly Sovereign Realm, fought like a being far beyond reason.
"To fight an Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign the moment he entered the Spiritual Grade... win or lose, this man will shake the entire Great Thousand Worlds!"
Awe replaced fear. The strong ruled supreme, and Liu Xi's strength was undeniable. He had become the embodiment of that law.
"Who is this person? Does anyone know where he came from?"
Only then did the crowd realize they knew nothing about Liu Xi—no origin, no history, as if he had emerged from the void itself.
Duke You Xuan and the White Tiger King grew increasingly grim, staring into the center of the raging battle. Somewhere deep within, a faint trace of fear surfaced in their hearts.
"This man…" Duke You Xuan rasped. "To stand against the Ghost Emperor, an Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign, with merely a Spiritual Grade cultivation—it's unthinkable."
The White Tiger King's deep voice rumbled in reply. "Even if I transform into my true form, I doubt I could last three exchanges against him."
Pallet Sun Ancestor and Venerable Violet Thunder exchanged uneasy glances. Neither had expected Liu Xi to actually contend with the Ghost Emperor head-on.
No matter how this battle ended, Liu Xi had already cemented his place as a name that would echo across the Great Thousand Worlds.
Mandala clenched her small fists, eyes fixed upon the heavens. Her breath quickened; she couldn't even describe what she felt. There was shame too—for she had doubted him. Now reality showed her that Liu Xi's strength was equal, if not greater, than the Ghost Emperor's.
"Master Qing Lian… is truly terrifying."
Xuan Pao's face glowed with pride. The stronger Liu Xi became, the higher his own standing as a servant rose.
But while all eyes were on Liu Xi, the Ghost Emperor—reduced to a backdrop in his own battle—grew increasingly deranged. His blood-red gaze brimmed with fury.
The Yan Luo Celestial Body stomped across the void, leaving black cracks in its wake. Waves of eerie, shadowy Spiritual Energy exploded outward as the Ghost Emperor's voice echoed like a death knell.
"Supreme Divine Ability—Nether Phantom Legion!"
Countless wraiths and resentful spirits erupted from his Celestial Body. Their shrieks pierced the air, filled with malice and rage as they surged toward the Azure Lotus Celestial Body, devouring all traces of Spiritual Energy in their path.
Liu Xi murmured, "Flame Command."
Roar!
In an instant, those ghostly entities ignited. Their shrieks turned into agonized wails as the ethereal flame consumed them completely.
"Impossible!"
The Ghost Emperor's voice trembled in disbelief. His Nether Phantom Legion was so fearsome that even Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereigns were wary of it—yet Liu Xi had incinerated it effortlessly.
His flames could ignite even Spiritual Energy itself, let alone mere ghostly souls. And Liu Xi could control that fire perfectly.
"Here—take it back."
Liu Xi smiled as he raised his hand. The burning wraiths exploded into a storm of azure flame. Several blazing dragons coalesced and roared forth, diving toward the Ghost Emperor.
A chill surged through the Ghost Emperor's heart. Those flames—he could feel it—were something that even he could not withstand. He retreated rapidly, slashing with the Severing Emperor Sword to unleash waves of dark sword qi.
But the countless sword shadows vanished the moment the flame dragons exhaled their fiery breath.
Panic twisted the Ghost Emperor's face. If this continued, he would lose—and not merely lose, but be utterly humiliated, reduced to Liu Xi's stepping stone.
He had to kill Liu Xi!
"Everyone—attack together! Kill him!"
The Ghost Emperor's cold, venomous roar echoed through the skies.
The White Tiger King, Duke You Xuan, Pallet Sun Ancestor, and Venerable Violet Thunder exchanged looks. They all saw the same murderous glint in one another's eyes.
If Liu Xi survived, their pride and authority would be ruined forever.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Four monstrous auras erupted skyward, and four colossal Celestial Bodies rose alongside the Ghost Emperor's.
Five Heavenly Sovereigns—five titanic Celestial Bodies—loomed over the world. Their combined pressure sent terror rippling across the land; even Earth Sovereigns felt like ants beneath the heavens.
Seeing this, Liu Xi's expression remained calm. "So be it," he said lightly. "Let's end this completely."
"Demonic Flame World Destruction!"
The Azure Lotus Celestial Body blazed with boundless radiance. The azure flames expanded wildly, their scorching heat devouring even the void itself.
Several colossal flame dragons emerged, roaring as they lunged toward the five Heavenly Sovereigns.
To ensure annihilation, Liu Xi poured out sixty percent of his Chaotic Spiritual Energy. That blazing, domineering power could destroy the heavens.
The Azure Dragons tore through space itself, descending upon the Ghost Emperor and his allies. The five looked on in horror—there was no escape.
Boom!
The explosion shook heaven and earth. Space collapsed. A vast abyss opened where they had stood, storms of chaos and heat waves surging outward in every direction.
Liu Xi hovered in midair, absorbing the surrounding Spiritual Energy. Within moments, most of his power was replenished.
"Heh… come out, Ghost Emperor. A Heavenly Sovereign doesn't die so easily."
"Cough… cough…"
A frail cough echoed as the Ghost Emperor stumbled out of the smoke, followed by the battered Duke You Xuan, Pallet Sun Ancestor, and the others.
The Ghost Emperor's eyes trembled with fear. His voice quavered with forced authority.
"We've lost. From now on, you may come and go freely across the Skylaw Continent. But if you try to kill us… don't blame us for self-detonating. You won't escape unscathed."
Liu Xi nodded seriously. "True enough. But after causing me so much trouble, did you really think I'd just let you walk away?"
"What do you want?" the Ghost Emperor growled through clenched teeth.
Liu Xi smiled pleasantly. "You already know. Leave all your Spatial Treasures behind, and I'll let you live. Refuse, and blow yourselves up—I won't stop you."
"You—!"
The Ghost Emperor's face twisted, but Liu Xi's calm, unwavering gaze told him this was no bluff. After a long silence, he removed his Storage Ring and pouch, tossing them over.
Seeing that, Duke You Xuan and the others dared not resist. One by one, they surrendered their treasures as well.
Now the hunter and the prey were clear.
After sending the five away, Liu Xi glanced toward the ruined land below. Countless wounded Earth Sovereigns lay scattered across the devastated battlefield. He didn't bother with them.
Exchanging a glance with Bodhisattva, the two nodded in silent understanding. With Xuan Pao and Mandala beside them, they departed the ravaged skies.
(End of Chapter)
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