44: Chapter 44 The Arrogant Emperor's Wife

Inside Undying Mountain, within that tranquil world shrouded by Chaos formation patterns.

Xiao Shitou was sitting cross-legged on a stone stool in front of the thatched cottage, eyes closed as he regulated his breathing. The golden blood Qi around his body was restrained, but the faint sound of the Great Dao harmonizing could be heard. Clearly, the accumulation of these years had allowed him to delve deeper into the Origin of the Sacred Body.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, a golden light flashing within them.

"Teacher, you're back!"

Chu Tianjiao's figure appeared silently in the courtyard. He still possessed that clean and handsome appearance, but his temperament had become even more profound, like a bottomless ancient pool.

"Yes, I'm back." Chu Tianjiao nodded, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Shitou. "Nannan has advanced to the Peak of Quasi-Emperor."

"Yes! Teacher! I sensed it!" Xiao Shitou was extremely excited as he stood up. "I didn't expect my sister to take only five hundred years to break through all the way from Saint King to the Peak of Quasi-Emperor! This speed is unprecedented throughout the ages!"

His tone was filled with pride and relief.

Although he could not meet his sister during these five hundred years and could only judge her growth by occasionally sensing her aura, every sensation left him shocked—his sister's progress speed far exceeded his imagination.

"The Chaos Body has evolved to Perfection, the Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art has reached Major Achievement, and added to that is the obsession in her heart..." A trace of complexity flashed in Chu Tianjiao's eyes. "That she could reach this step is both a matter of talent and inevitability."

He paused and looked at Xiao Shitou. "Get ready. When Xiao Nannan and Emperor Yuhua exchange blows, you will go to the Cosmic Borderlands to break through to Emperor."

"Yes, Teacher." Xiao Shitou nodded heavily, his eyes full of determination.

He knew his teacher's plan—the moment his sister slayed Emperor Yuhua and the heavenly heart mark became vacant would be the optimal time for him to prove his Dao and become an Emperor.

At that time, his teacher would use Heavenly Emperor methods to conceal him and act as a Protector, while simultaneously interfering with the heavenly secrets so his sister would not be able to immediately detect his aura.

This was his Opportunity, and also a responsibility he had to bear.

Only by proving the Dao and becoming an Emperor would the Sacred Body be truly considered at Perfection. Only then would it be possible for him to live out a second life, possessing a longer Lifespan and a higher limit.

...

Central State, the former site of the Yuhua Divine Dynasty.

This was no longer the magnificent imperial capital that stretched for ten thousand miles five hundred years ago, but a wasteland of broken walls and ruins.

Broken palace Foundations lay exposed, and shattered formation patterns were scattered everywhere. Occasionally, low-level Cultivators could be seen rummaging through the ruins, hoping to find treasures or divine materials left behind by the Divine Dynasty of old.

Three thousand feet underground, in a secret chamber sealed by layers of Restrictions.

Emperor Yuhua sat cross-legged on a jade bed, surrounded by Imperial Dao Law that swirled like mist.

His aura was much steadier than it was five hundred years ago, but there was still a lingering trace of weakness between his brows—he had been too heavily injured in that battle with Xiao Shitou back then. Even after five hundred years of secluded cultivation, he had only barely recovered eighty percent.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed.

A vast and sharp aura arrived from the outside world, penetrating through layers of Restrictions to reach the depths of the secret chamber!

That was... the aura of the Ninth Heaven of Quasi-Emperor!

And it wasn't an ordinary Ninth Heaven of Quasi-Emperor; that aura contained a will that could split the heavens and swallow ten thousand Daos. It was so overbearing that it even made his heart palpitate!

"Who is it? To break through to the Peak of Quasi-Emperor with such god-like speed while I was in seclusion!"

Emperor Yuhua opened his eyes, a look of suspicion and surprise flashing within them.

He remembered that five hundred years ago, there were no other stunning Quasi-Emperors in the Big Dipper Astral Region besides that Sacred Body.

How could someone have reached this step in just five short centuries?

He no longer hesitated. He stood up, restrained his Imperial Dao Law, and stepped out of the secret chamber.

When he appeared in the sky above the ruins, he was stunned.

"What's going on? Where is my Yuhua Divine Dynasty?"

Where were the palace complexes that stretched for ten thousand miles? Where were the towering altars for heaven worship? Where were the prosperous Cultivator markets?

There were only ruins, a scene of complete devastation.

Among the ruins, several low-level Cultivators in the Dragon Transformation Realm and Dao Palace Realm were rummaging. Seeing the sudden appearance of Emperor Yuhua, they trembled all over and knelt to kowtow.

"Em... Emperor, have mercy! We're just picking through scraps..."

Emperor Yuhua's face turned ashen as his Divine Thought instantly swept across the entire ruins. He discovered that the high-level members of the Divine Dynasty—those Elders and Enshrined Experts above the Sendai Realm—were all gone.

Their auras had completely vanished, not even a trace of a remnant soul remained.

This meant they weren't just killed, but completely annihilated.

"Who! Who dared to destroy my base of operations!"

A towering rage surged in Emperor Yuhua's heart.

The Yuhua Divine Dynasty was not just a power he established, but also the vital Foundation for him to collect resources and refine the immortal-becoming cauldron. Now that the Divine Dynasty was destroyed, his five hundred years of planning were ruined!

Just as Emperor Yuhua was reaching the Peak of his anger, a bone-chilling Killing Intent suddenly came from the depths of the starry sky, locking onto him!

That Killing Intent contained a deep-seated hatred, as if it wanted to hack him into a thousand pieces and grind his bones to dust!

"Emperor Yuhua! Give me back the lives of my husband and my brother!"

The voice arrived before the person did!

That voice was as cold as frost, yet it carried a murderous intent that could freeze the starry sky, instantly spreading across the entire Emperor Burial Star!

Emperor Yuhua's pupils shrank as he suddenly looked up.

He saw a white-clothed figure stepping through the starry sky. Her silver hair was like snow, and she wore a silver mask on her face, revealing only a pair of eyes as cold as ten-thousand-year-old black ice. In her hand, she held an ancient long saber—a saber Emperor Yuhua was all too familiar with!

The Emperor Weapon of Emperor Jiaoheng, the Tyrant Saber!

"You are the wife of Emperor Jiaoheng?" Emperor Yuhua looked at Xiao Nannan. Hearing her mention "husband" and "brother," he instantly understood her identity.

Emperor Jiaoheng, and that Major Achievement Sacred Body, Xiao Shitou.

"That's right! I've come to avenge my husband and my brother!" Xiao Nannan stopped a thousand feet away from Emperor Yuhua, the Tyrant Saber in her hand pointing directly at him. The blade hummed as if echoing the Killing Intent in its master's heart. "You! And those Supremes! Not one of you shall escape! I have returned to take your dog lives as an offering to my husband and brother!"

Her voice was bone-chillingly cold, once again spreading across the entire Emperor Burial Star.

At this moment, the Eastern Wastelands, Central State, Southern Ridge, Western Desert, Northern Plains... every Holy Land was shaken!

"The wife of Emperor Jiaoheng?!"

"She's back! She wants revenge!"

"Ninth Heaven of Quasi-Emperor... this aura is terrifying!"

"From Saint King to the Peak of Quasi-Emperor in five hundred years? What kind of Prodigy is this!"

Within the various Life Forbidden Zone, one terrifying Divine Thought after another was awakened, casting their gaze toward the Central State.

Ancient Mine of Primordial Beginning, God Ruins, Immortal Mausoleum, Heaven Above, Reincarnation Sea... those Supremes who had been dormant for hundreds of years all opened their eyes, their gazes piercing through the Void Realm to fall upon Xiao Nannan.

"The wife of Emperor Jiaoheng? He actually had a wife?"

"Peak of Quasi-Emperor in five hundred years... this talent is not inferior to Emperor Jiaoheng's."

"Hmph, a mere Ninth Heaven of Quasi-Emperor dares to claim she will take our lives? Truly she knows not the height of the heavens."

"Let her fight Emperor Yuhua first. We shall watch the show."

The Divine Thoughts of the Supremes intertwined in the Void Realm, some surprised, some disdainful, and some indifferent.

But not a single Supreme took Xiao Nannan's words to heart—no matter how strong a Ninth Heaven of Quasi-Emperor was, they were still just a Quasi-Emperor.

Without the heavenly heart mark and without complete Emperor Dao Laws, on what basis could she threaten these former Emperors and Sovereigns?

Back then, Emperor Jiaoheng could suppress the forbidden zones because he himself was a Chaos Body who had become an Emperor, with Heaven-Defying combat power, and he had lived out a second and third life. This woman before them, although also a Chaos Body, had after all not yet become an Emperor.

The gap was simply too large.

...

"Hmph! Based on just you, a mere Ninth Heaven of Quasi-Emperor?" Hearing Xiao Nannan say she would take his life, Emperor Yuhua couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

Although he was shocked by the other party's identity and growth speed, as a contemporary Emperor, he had his own pride. Quasi-Emperor and Emperor—a difference of one word, but worlds apart. Even if the opponent was a Chaos Body, even if she held the Tyrant Saber, he did not believe he would lose.

"A battle beyond the heavens!" Xiao Nannan looked at Emperor Yuhua, her gaze as if she were looking at a dead man.

After speaking, she turned and took a step, directly tearing through the Void Realm to leave the Big Dipper Astral Region and rush toward the endless starry sky.

Emperor Yuhua's anger had reached its boiling point by now. Just having woken up, he found his base of operations gone, and then the wife of Emperor Jiaoheng came to his door, claiming she would take his life.

This woman absolutely could not be allowed to live!

Since he dared to sneak attack Emperor Jiaoheng back then, he wouldn't mind sending his wife down to reunite with him today!

"Hmph!" Emperor Yuhua gave a light hmph, his Imperial Dao Law boiling as he took a step and followed closely after Xiao Nannan.

The two figures, one after the other, disappeared from the outskirts of the Big Dipper Astral Region and rushed toward the depths of the Universe.

The gazes of the Supremes from countless forbidden zones followed them, casting toward the Starry Sky Battlefield.