74: A quasi-emperor's phantom? You dare to stop me?

Yinsha Demon Province, deep within the White Bone Demon Palace.

A massive sinkhole of corpses lay across the underground, where thick Death Qi condensed into black droplets, sliding down the pale bone walls around it.

In the center of the sinkhole, a malevolent Formation constructed from the skulls of billions of living beings was in operation.

At the Formation's eye, a woman dressed in a plain white dress was pinned into the Void Realm by nine Soul-Locking Bone Nails.

Celestial Maiden Qingyin.

Her face was as pale as paper, her once clear and ethereal eyes filled with exhaustion and despair; the white dress that symbolized purity was stained with spots of black blood, like winter plums in the snow.

"Qingyin, stop struggling."

The true body of Great Sage White Bone sat cross-legged on the edge of the sinkhole, his entire skeleton as translucent as crystalline jade, the ghost fire in his eye sockets glowing with an eerie purple-gold light.

He looked at the woman in the Formation and spoke in a sinister tone.

"This 'Ten Thousand Corpse Immortal-Slaying Formation' was laid by me through a thousand years of painstaking effort. Let alone you, even a Peak Saint King would be refined into a pool of pus if they entered."

"Just stay here obediently and wait for that great personage to come and 'inspect' you."

Celestial Maiden Qingyin bit her lip and remained silent.

She knew in her heart that this time, escape was impossible.

Right then.

"Rumble—!"

The Void Realm above the Demon Palace cracked open.

A luxurious chariot, crafted entirely from crimson gold and carved with nine blood dragons, crushed the Void Realm and descended, carrying a vast Imperial Might.

Seated upon the chariot was a young man with dragon horns on his head, wearing a crimson-gold dragon robe.

His face was handsome yet carried an unsettling gloominess as he looked down upon the corpse sinkhole below.

The Third Highness of the Crimson Blood Imperial Court.

Behind him stood four figures with terrifying auras.

Every single one was a genuine Great Sage!

"Greetings, Third Highness!"

Great Sage White Bone stood up and bowed respectfully to the Third Highness.

Although he was a Great Sage, before a colossus like the Crimson Blood Imperial Court, he was merely a slightly stronger dog.

"Where is she?"

The Third Highness nonchalantly toyed with a blood-jade thumb ring in his hand, not even lifting his eyelids.

"Reporting to Your Highness, she is right there in the Formation."

Great Sage White Bone pointed toward the center of the sinkhole.

The Third Highness's gaze swept across, and when he saw the tragic yet beautiful figure locked in the Void Realm, a nauseating look of lust appeared in his eyes.

"Not bad."

He nodded in satisfaction with a wicked smile.

"White Bone, you have done very well this time."

"This Highness shall reward you handsomely."

Hearing this, Great Sage White Bone's ghost fire flickered wildly as he knelt on the ground.

"It is my honor to serve Your Highness!"

"However..."

His tone shifted, revealing a bone-deep malice.

"I have a humble request."

"Speak."

"My dao body was destroyed by someone a few days ago. That person is named Su Xuanchen, the recently famous Su Family Ancestor."

Great Sage White Bone gritted his teeth, his hatred reaching the heavens.

"This brat is arrogant and overbearing. Not only did he kill my Dao Companion, but he also threatened to tear down my Demon Palace!"

"I implore Your Highness to help me execute this scoundrel!"

"Su Xuanchen?"

The Third Highness frowned; he hadn't heard of such a person.

"Just a country bumpkin, is he worth such a fuss?"

He waved his hand with a look of impatience.

"Fine, this Highness grants it."

"Once I have taken this Celestial Maiden, I will conveniently swat that fly to death for you."

"Many thanks, Your Highness!"

Great Sage White Bone was overjoyed.

With the Crimson Blood Imperial Court taking action, even if Su Xuanchen had three heads and six arms, he would surely die!

However.

Just as he finished speaking.

"Swat me to death?"

"Are you even worthy?"

A voice of extreme indifference suddenly rang out within the Demon Palace hall.

Immediately after.

"Boom!"

The Demon Palace gates, said to be able to withstand the attacks of a Great Sage, instantly shattered into countless fragments.

As the dust settled.

Two figures stood against the light.

The leading man wore a robe of stars, his black hair like ink, standing with his hands behind his back, radiating a domineering aura that made heaven and earth submit.

It was indeed Su Xuanchen.

Behind him, Lu Qingchan was in a green maid's outfit, holding the rusted broken sword in her hands, her eyes lowered submissively, yet her peerless elegance could not be hidden.

"Su Xuanchen?!"

Great Sage White Bone spun around, the ghost fire in his eye sockets flickering violently.

"You... you actually dared to come?!"

He wanted to kill Su Xuanchen, but he never expected this lunatic to actually dare to charge right to his doorstep!

And at such a critical moment!

"I said I would tear down your Demon Palace, so naturally, I must keep my word."

Su Xuanchen didn't spare him a single glance, his gaze passing over the crowd to land on the locked woman in the center of the sinkhole.

Celestial Maiden Qingyin.

Even covered in blood, her ethereal and holy temperament remained unmistakable.

"Is this the 'gift' for this time?"

Su Xuanchen rubbed his chin and commented:

"Looks decent."

"Taking her back to be a musician for my Qingyue, she's barely qualified."

Arrogant!

Utterly disdainful!

Right in front of the Third Highness of the Crimson Blood Imperial Court, he called the furnace the prince had his eyes on a "gift"?

The Third Highness laughed.

Laughed out of pure anger.

He stood up, and the terrifying pressure of his Quasi-Emperor Bloodline swept through the area.

"Where did this stray dog come from, daring to bark before this Highness?"

His gaze fell on Su Xuanchen, and just as he was about to order his execution.

The next second.

His vision shifted to Lu Qingchan behind Su Xuanchen.

He froze.

A masterpiece!

A peerless masterpiece!

That cold and haughty temperament, that perfect figure that even a maid's outfit couldn't hide—she was a hundred times more enticing than that Celestial Maiden Qingyin!

The lust in the Third Highness's eyes surged.

"Good! Good! Good!"

He clapped and laughed, pointing at Lu Qingchan:

"I didn't expect such a beauty to exist in this backwater place!"

"Kid, hand over that maid behind you."

"This Highness can leave you an intact corpse."

Su Xuanchen's eyes narrowed.

Anyone familiar with him would know that this was the precursor to his killing intent.

"You want my... maid?"

He turned his head and glanced at Lu Qingchan.

Lu Qingchan was biting her lip, her face pale. Being stared at by such blatant, lustful eyes made her skin crawl, and she subconsciously shrank behind Su Xuanchen.

"Young Master..."

She called out, her voice carrying a sense of reliance she hadn't even noticed herself.

"Don't be afraid."

Su Xuanchen reached out and gently rubbed her head.

Then.

He turned his head and looked at the Third Highness.

The smile on his face vanished completely.

"It seems you are truly tired of living."

"My woman is not someone you can covet."

Boom!

Just as he finished speaking.

Su Xuanchen moved.

Without any warning.

He took a step forward, and the Void Realm beneath his feet shattered like a mirror.

"Seeking death!"

The Third Highness was furious.

"Kill him for this Highness!"

"Yes!"

The four Great Sages behind him attacked simultaneously.

"Crimson Blood Demon Palm!"

"Heavenly Net!"

"Soul-Shattering Roar!"

Four world-destroying Great Sage-Grade Divine Abilities converged into a torrent, crashing down toward Su Xuanchen.

At the same time.

Great Sage White Bone also saw his chance and sacrificed his lifeblood Saint Weapon—the "White Bone Myriad Forest Tower."

"Suppress!"

Five Great Sages joined forces!

Such power was enough to sink the entire Yinsha Demon Province!

Celestial Maiden Qingyin closed her eyes in despair within the Formation.

It was over.

Even a Peak Saint King would be reduced to ashes under this strike.

However.

"A bunch of chickens and dogs."

Su Xuanchen stood at the center of the destructive torrent, his expression cold.

"You think you're worthy of attacking me?"

"Astral Stars of the Universe—Ziwei Emperor Aspect!"

Buzz!

An emperor's roar from the ancient starry sky resonated through the heavens.

Behind Su Xuanchen, endless starlight gathered.

A towering phantom, ten thousand feet high, wearing a purple-gold imperial robe and a flat-topped crown, emerged.

The phantom's face was blurred, yet it radiated a supreme dominance that suppressed the ages and ruled over the universe.

Emperor Ziwei!

Lord of the Starry Sky!

"Kneel!"

Su Xuanchen raised his right hand and pressed down lightly toward the front.

The Ziwei Emperor Aspect behind him also raised its hand.

That palm.

Covered the sky and blotted out the sun.

Within its palm, billions of stars were born and destroyed, and the galaxy reversed.

Any Great Sage Divine Ability or lifeblood Saint Weapon was as fragile as a child's toy before this palm.

"Crack!"

Those four Great Sage Divine Abilities shattered immediately upon contact with the palm.

"Bang!"

The White Bone Myriad Forest Tower let out a wail and shattered into a sky full of bone dust.

"No!!!"

Great Sage White Bone screamed in terror, the ghost fire in his eyes nearly extinguished from fright.

"What power is this?!"

"Great Sage Hegemon?! You are a Great Sage Hegemon?!"

Responding to him was the giant palm that continued to descend.

Unstoppable.

Irresistible.

"Rumble—!"

A massive boom shattered all mountain ranges within a ten-thousand-mile radius.

Those four Great Sages of the Crimson Blood Imperial Court didn't even have time to scream before they were swatted into blood mist by that palm.

Great Sage White Bone's end was miserable.

He was at the core of the attack; his translucent bones were crushed into powder, and even his Divine Soul was completely obliterated under that terrifying astral power.

One palm.

Wiping out five Great Sages!

This was the true power of a Great Sage Hegemon!

The dust settled.

The entire Demon Palace hall had vanished.

Only a bottomless five-fingered palm print crater remained.

The Third Highness stood at the edge of the crater; his crimson-gold chariot was long since shattered, and his magnificent dragon robe was now tattered.

He stared blankly at the scene before him, his entire body trembling.

"Dead... they're all dead?"

"How is this possible..."

He was the Third Highness of the Crimson Blood Imperial Court!

Those around him were all elite Great Sages!

How could they all be swatted to death like flies with a single palm?

"Now."

Su Xuanchen dispersed the Emperor Aspect and walked toward the Third Highness step by step.

His boots stepped on the crushed bones, making a tooth-aching "crunching" sound.

"It's your turn."

He reached out and grabbed the Third Highness by the throat, lifting him up like a small chick.

"Which eye was looking at my maid just now?"

"The left one? Or the right one?"

"Pre... Presumptuous!"

The Third Highness's face turned the color of pig liver as he kicked his legs wildly, shouting with false bravado.

"I am the Third Highness of the Crimson Blood Imperial Court!"

"My father is the Divine Martial King! A Quasi-Emperor!"

"If you dare kill me, the Crimson Blood Imperial Court will tear you into ten thousand pieces and execute your nine generations!"

"Quasi-Emperor?"

Su Xuanchen sneered, his fingers tightening.

"I'm so scared."

"Buzz!"

At the center of the Third Highness's brow, a golden mark suddenly shattered.

A vast, majestic, and terrifying aura that surpassed the Great Sage level erupted from the mark.

Golden light shone for ten thousand feet.

A phantom of a middle-aged man wearing a nine-dragon imperial robe and an imperial crown appeared out of thin air.

Quasi-Emperor Will!

"Who dares to harm my son?!"

As soon as the phantom appeared, the Laws of heaven and earth froze.