316: Chapter 316: The Three-Day Deadline Has Arrived

The three-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.

On the ruins of the Great Qian Dynasty's imperial capital, the Demonic Path army stood in formation, waiting.

The dense crowd of Cultivators stretched from the foot of the mountain to its waist, endless to the eye.

The Nine-Headed Snake Emperor's carcass circled above the army, its hundred-zhang-long body blotting out the sky.

Three Grand Elder Puppets stood behind Xiao Ran, motionless like three stone statues.

The Disciples of the six sects, the Disciples of the Eternal Night Demon Sect, and the two thousand Void Refinement Stage corpses within the yellow spring banner were all in position.

Xiao Ran stood atop the head of the Nine-Headed Snake Emperor, hands behind his back, overlooking the imperial capital.

His black robes snapped in the wind.

"Emperor Qian, the three days are up."

"Surrender, or die?"

Xiao Ran shouted coldly.

He was issuing his final ultimatum.

On the walls of the imperial capital, Emperor Qian stood with his hands behind his back, his golden Dragon robes fluttering in the wind.

Behind him stood four retainers, each with a grave expression.

On the city walls, thousands of garrison troops held their Magical Artifacts, waiting in strict formation.

But their eyes were filled with fear.

"Xiao Ran, you want me to surrender? In your dreams!"

Emperor Qian's voice was full of anger.

"The Great Qian Dynasty has had its Legacy for ten thousand years; how could it bow to a wet-behind-the-ears brat like you?"

Xiao Ran laughed.

"Wet-behind-the-ears? Emperor Qian, have you gone senile? Have you forgotten who beat you to your knees begging for mercy three days ago?"

Emperor Qian's face turned livid.

"That was because you were despicable! You took advantage of me when I was unprepared and launched a sneak attack on the imperial capital!"

His voice carried unwillingness and anger.

"A sneak attack?"

Xiao Ran shook his head, laughing even more brazenly.

"I attacked openly and honorably, and because you couldn't stop me, you call it a sneak attack?"

"Emperor Qian, you've been an emperor for so many years, yet your skin is thicker than your cultivation base."

"You—!"

Emperor Qian was trembling with rage, the jade beads on his crown clattering noisily.

"Enough." Xiao Ran raised his hand, cutting him off.

"I don't have time to waste words with you. I'll ask you one last time: surrender, or die?"

Emperor Qian gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and then suddenly looked up, staring straight at Xiao Ran.

"Xiao Ran, do you think you've won? Do you think the Righteous Path has no one left?"

His voice suddenly became resonant, carrying an indescribable sense of confidence.

Xiao Ran narrowed his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Emperor Qian sneered and pointed at the sky.

"Look!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a golden light suddenly lit up in the distant horizon.

The light grew brighter and more intense, finally transforming into a massive pillar of light that descended from the heavens.

Within the pillar of light, several figures slowly emerged.

Leading them was none other than Daoist Master Qingxu.

He wore white Daoist robes with a Taiji pattern, and the horsetail whisk in his hand swayed gently.

His face was gaunt, three wisps of a long beard hung before his chest, and the charm of the Dao flowed around his body.

To the left of Daoist Master Qingxu was a white-haired old man with a withered face, wearing a grey Daoist robe and leaning on a cane.

The old man's eyes were half-closed as if he were dozing, but the Peak Integration Stage aura radiating from his body made the surrounding air freeze.

He was a Grand Elder of the Supreme Dao Palace, with the Daoist title Supreme Elder Xuan Qingzi; he had been in seclusion for three thousand years and was the Junior Martial Uncle of Daoist Master Qingxu.

To his right was a middle-aged woman with a stern face, wearing a black Daoist robe and holding a long sword.

Her eyes were silver-white, pupil-less, and emitted a cold light.

Her aura was also at the Peak Integration Stage.

She was a Grand Elder of the Supreme Dao Palace, with the Daoist title Fairy Xuanbing; she had been in seclusion for two thousand years, and her Sword Intent was clear and bright.

Including Emperor Qian, the Righteous Path side had a total of four Peak Integration Stage experts.

Daoist Master Qingxu landed on the city wall, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked at Xiao Ran.

"Xiao Ran, we meet again."

Xiao Ran looked at him, then looked at the two Peak Integration Stage experts behind him.

"Daoist Master Qingxu, have you brought out your entire foundation?"

His tone was relaxed, but inwardly he was secretly vigilant.

Four Peak Integration Stage experts, plus Emperor Qian, made four in total.

He had three Grand Elder Puppets and one Nine-Headed Snake Emperor carcass, which was also four.

The high-end combat power was evenly matched.

But he had the Yellow Spring Army and the Body Integration Stage Cultivators of the six great Demonic sects; his overall strength still held the advantage.

However, these old monsters of the Righteous Path had lived for over ten thousand years and surely had plenty of tricks up their sleeves.

His own Integration Stage powerhouses were all Puppets; if it came to a head-on clash, they would certainly be inferior to real people.

If he fought hard, he would also suffer heavy losses.

Daoist Master Qingxu said indifferently.

"Xiao Ran, you unified the Seven Demon Sects; your ambition is not small."

"But the Righteous Path is not the soft persimmon you imagine. If you retreat today, I will let bygones be bygones."

"If you insist on starting a war, then we shall perish together."

Xiao Ran looked at him and was silent for a moment.

"Daoist Master Qingxu, do you think four Peak Integration Stage experts can scare me?"

Daoist Master Qingxu shook his head.

"The Dao of immortal cultivation lies in harmony."

"War has no winners, only mutual destruction. You are a smart person; you should understand this principle."

Xiao Ran laughed.

"Mutual destruction? Daoist Master Qingxu, have you gone senile?"

"I have four Peak Integration Stage combat powers and the Body Integration Stage Cultivators of the six great Demonic sects."

"What do you have? Four Peak Integration Stage experts and a few thousand Soul Transformation Stage Disciples. Do you think this is evenly matched?"

Daoist Master Qingxu's expression changed slightly.

He knew that what Xiao Ran said was the truth.

The overall strength of the Righteous Path was indeed inferior to the Demonic Path.

But he could not retreat.

If he retreated, the morale of the Righteous Path would be completely finished.

"Xiao Ran, you can try."

Daoist Master Qingxu's voice was very calm, as calm as a stagnant pool of water.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ran did not waste words.

If he wanted to try, then he would try.

He raised his hand, and the three Grand Elder Puppets simultaneously charged towards Daoist Master Qingxu.

The five heads of the Nine-Headed Snake Emperor also opened their giant maws simultaneously, spitting out five dark red beams of light that blasted towards the city wall.

Daoist Master Qingxu swung his horsetail whisk, and white spiritual power transformed into countless threads, entangling one of the Puppets.

Supreme Elder Xuan Qingzi pointed his cane, and a grey beam of light shot towards another Puppet.

Fairy Xuanbing drew her long sword, and silver-white sword light slashed towards the third Puppet.

Emperor Qian struck out with his palm, the golden palm shadow meeting the beams of light from the Nine-Headed Snake Emperor.

Boom!

The collision of the five Peak Integration Stage powers erupted with an earth-shattering roar.

The entire imperial capital trembled; cracks on the city wall grew more numerous, and rubble fell down with a rustling sound.

The clouds in the sky were dispersed, revealing the grey-black firmament.

Xiao Ran stepped back, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Controlling so many Puppets was not an easy matter either.

Daoist Master Qingxu stepped back three times, his face pale.

Supreme Elder Xuan Qingzi's cane broke a section, cracks appeared on Fairy Xuanbing's long sword, and a large patch of Emperor Qian's Dragon robes was scorched.

Evenly matched.

"Again!" Xiao Ran wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and urged the Puppets on once more.

The three Grand Elder Puppets charged up again.

This time, their speed was faster and their power stronger.

The five heads of the Nine-Headed Snake Emperor also spat out beams of light simultaneously; this time, they were continuous.

Daoist Master Qingxu did not retreat but advanced instead, swinging his horsetail whisk; the white spiritual power transformed into a shield.

Supreme Elder Xuan Qingzi pointed his cane, and the grey beam of light transformed into a giant Dragon.

Fairy Xuanbing slashed with her long sword, and the silver-white sword light transformed into a rain of swords.

Emperor Qian struck with his palm, and the golden palm shadow transformed into a giant mountain.

The five forces collided once again.

This time, the shockwaves of the collision blasted the entire imperial capital into ruins.

The city walls collapsed, the palaces were incinerated, and the cries of the common people were drowned out in the roar.

Xiao Ran stepped back three times, spitting blood from his mouth.

Daoist Master Qingxu stepped back five times, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Supreme Elder Xuan Qingzi's cane shattered completely, Fairy Xuanbing's long sword snapped into two, and Emperor Qian's crown was blown away, his hair disheveled.

"Xiao Ran, you have lost."

Daoist Master Qingxu's voice was hoarse, but his eyes were filled with determination.