âHahaâ¦â
A peal of laughter resonated through the clouds, accompanied by a powerful ripple of spiritual power.
A ray of light flashed across the distance and arrived just before Chu Kuangren.
It was an energetic white-haired elder whose physique was radiating with a domineering aura.
Chu Kuangren squinted his eyes. âThis aura far surpasses that of a Boundary Emperor. Are you a Sovereign? No, youâre more like a Boundary Emperor whoâs infinitely close to becoming a Sovereign.â
âAn astute observation! Iâm Bai Tianque, the Senior Elder of the Bai clan!â
Bai Tianque laughed heartily as he looked at Chu Kuangren in awe.
Although it was his objective to kill Chu Kuangren, it did not stop him from being amazed by his opponent. Such a sky-pride was just simply unprecedented.
âThe Bai clanâs here too. Who else is coming? Wang clan? The demons? Nine-Headed Snakelet Tribe?â
Chu Kuangren rested his hands behind his back and glanced at his surroundings.
The spectators were trembling at each of the names he mentioned.
These were some of the most influential entities of Emperor Road. Basically, no one had ever dared to provoke them.
âChu Kuangren, the Sword Tribeâs right. Today, you shall die here!â
A cold voice echoed from the void.
Suddenly, a large flock of dark clouds formed in the distance. At a closer look, the clouds were formed by a dense composition of demonic qi.
Below the demonic qi stood a one-horned demon staring deadly at Chu Kuangren with his strange bloodshot eyes that were filled with cold murderous intent.
âItâs him! One of the elders left by the demons in Emperor Road, Balha!â
âJust like Bai Tianque, heâs infinitely close to becoming a Sovereign. He could perhaps be considered as the strongest demon among those below the Sovereign level.â
âLook, Balha isnât here aloneâ¦â
Only as the dark clouds approached closer could the spectators observe a horde of demonic soldiers and demonic beasts marching behind Balha.
There was even a three-headed hound beside Balha that was drooling excessively from its jaw. As the houndâs fear-striking gaze caught the eyes of the cultivators, they could not help but feel a chill run down their spines.
After the appearance of Balha and his demonic army, the sky began to glow in a rich array of colors.
A resonating squawk was heard, followed by the descent of a beautiful-colored peacock from the sky.
Nestled on the peacockâs coverts was a lady in bright attire.
The lady carried herself with the utmost elegance as a crown rested on her head. Within her grasp was the source of magnificent spiritual power.
âIâm the matriarch of the Wang Clan. Chu Kuangren, surrender and you can still die in one piece!â
The Wang Clan Matriarch muttered firmly.
An army of Wang clan cultivators marched majestically from the clouds.
âNo one in this world has been able to make me surrender. What makes you think the Wang clan can?!â
Chu Kuangren sneered and directed his attention to the rest of the cultivators. âIs anyone else here to take my life?â
After moments had passed, there was still no response.
Those who did not wish to participate had long distanced themselves from the scene.
âChu Kuangren, if youâre willing to hand over the treasures from the Spiritual Qi Leyline, perhaps there can be room for negotiation. Or if youâre willing, you can even consider joining the Bai clan just like Bai Jingchen. I guarantee no one can hurt you. What do you think?â Bai Tianque made an unexpected offer.
The spectators were dumbfounded. They did not expect the Bai clan would offer such a deal to Chu Kuangren at such a crucial moment.
However, it should be no surprise. Chu Kuangrenâs talents were just too otherworldly. Any orthodoxies that could recruit him would undoubtedly benefit from it.
âJoin the Bai clan? Haha, you think Iâd want to join those clowns in the Bai clan? Old man, there must be something wrong with your brain. I suggest you rinse it over before talking to me again.â Chu Kuangren chuckled.
Bai Tianqueâs face sunk at Chu Kuangrenâs response. There was now a cold murderous intent glaring from his eyes.
Bai Hongyu was shaking with anger when she heard Chu Kuangrenâs remarks from the crowd. How she wished she could just cut Chu Kuangren into a million pieces.
After all, Bai Hongyu was also a member of the Bai clan.
The âclownsâ Chu Kuangren referenced must have included her as well.
Chu Kuangren ignored Bai Tianqueâs dramatic change in expression and looked across all the orthodoxies that had surrounded him. âWang clan, Bai clan, the Demonic Tribe, and the Sword Tribe are formidable forces in Emperor Road that date all the way back to archaic times. Yet, these apparently powerful entities are joining forces to destroy me. Heh, it looks like all of your reputations have over glamorized your abilities.â
âThereâs no use taunting us now, Chu Kuangren. Today, your life ends here!â
Balha said firmly, âYou stopped the underworldâs arrival and took our sky-pridesâ Opportunities of Fortune. Weâre destined to be sworn enemies!â
âChu Kuangren, you must know that excess wealth is bound to bring about trouble. As rich as you may be, you have to be alive to indulge in them.â
The Sword Tribe Elder snickered and said.
âThe nail that sticks out will always get hammered first, Chu Kuangren. You donât even have any connections nor powerhouses to back you up, so how are you supposed to fight us?!â
The Wang Clan Matriarch said pridefully. To her, Chu Kuangren was just like a minuscule ant that she could easily crush.
âConnections? Powerhouses?â
âHahaâ¦â
Chu Kuangren let out a long burst of laughter. Then, his body released a powerful torrential spiritual power and frightening Daoist Rhymes, which both swept across the entire region.
Those lacking in cultivation were immediately swept away by the spiritual powers and Daoist Rhymes.
The longswords in the Sword Tribeâs cultivators began to tremble uncontrollably under Chu Kuangrenâs Daoist Rhymes as if fear had struck them into submission.
âAllow me to demonstrate today what it means to be an actual powerhouse!â
With a lengthy roar, the momentum in Chu Kuangren increased dramatically, unleashing an even terrifying form of Daoist Rhymes!
Dark clouds accompanied by the rumbling of thunder formed in the sky. After that, the majestic Heavenly Might began to engulf the entire area!
Chu Kuangren stood below the lightning, his body glowing with rays of divine light as if he was an incarnation of a god!
âI can back myself up, for Iâm the greatest powerhouse there is!â
Chu Kuangrenâs expression was unfazed as he stared at the insignificant cultivators before him.
At this instance, the cultivators felt a peculiar sense of pressure.
Some of them even struggled to maintain composure of their bodies as they collapsed over, void of all will to fight.
âKill!â
The Sword Tribe Elder immediately roared and unleashed a surge of fierce sword qi to mark the beginning of the battle!
Soon, the swordsmen behind him began rushing towards Chu Kuangren, each of them charged up with an abundance of sword qi.
Chu Kuangren lifted his hand and shot out an azure-colored thunderbolt that shattered the Sword Tribe Elderâs sword ray before it blasted across the swordsmen. Due to the impact, the bones of many swordsmen were shattered as they were blasted away with blood spewing out from their mouths.
âWhat in the world?!â
âThatâs a frightening amount of energy. I think thereâs something inside that thunderbolt.â
The thunderbolt wandered amongst the swordsmen and knocked dozens of them away before finally gliding back into Chu Kuangrenâs hands.
The lightning faded away, revealing a delicate, azure-colored guqin in its place.
It was the Emperor Weapon, Springtime Lightning!
Chu Kuangren placed his fingers on the plank and plucked a string, playing a single note that unleashed a terrorizing amount of energy.
The swordsmen that were closest to him were blasted away by the guqin note. Most of them instantly exploded into pieces!