While Yue Wuzhaoâs body was shattered, a beam of light penetrated right into his spirit core and implanted a golden mark of the word âslaveâ deep within his consciousness.
âWhatâve you done to me?â
After Yue Wuzhaoâs body recovered, he felt something was obviously off as he stared uneasily at Chu Kuangren.
âFrom here onwards, your life and death lie in my hand!â
Chu Kuangren said.
With a flicker of his mind, Chu Kuangren tapped into Yue Wuzhaoâs spirit core and unleashed a pain so intolerable that Yue Wuzhaoâs face twisted miserably.
Yue Wuzhao felt as if his spirit core could shatter at any moment.
âYou⦠youâve enslaved my soul?!â
âDo you have a problem with that?â
Yue Wuzhao took a deep breath, struggling to comprehend the situation.
After all, loyalty was not his primary trait. Otherwise, he would not have revealed the Universe Secret Realm to Chu Kuangren.
Then, Chu Kuangren proceeded to probe further on the issue.
Meanwhile, Shang Honghua and the Redshirt Army were extremely worried after establishing contact with the Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade.
Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade and his men took it rather seriously, and they immediately conducted a military meeting with the other strongholds to send forth their armies.
After all, a Universe Secret Realm was very important as it had always contained an abundance of resources and opportunities.
If such a treasure were to fall into the hands of the Blood Tribe, it would be a devastating blow to the cultivators of Firmament Star.
âBut despite having obtained such intel, weâre still a step too slow. The upper echelons of the military need to verify this information, and by the time our armies arrive, most of the Blood Tribeâs battalion would be there.â
âThe cultivators at Asteroid Seven arenât strong enough to go head-to-head against the battalion either. Forefather has instructed that we retreat to safety for now,â Shang Honghua shared.
âAlright.â Chu Kuangren nodded unsurprisingly.
Indeed, sending the soldiers near Asteroid Seven into a battle against the Blood Tribeâs battalion would be futile and suicidal.
However, Chu Kuangren was reluctant to give up the Universe Secret Realm.
He went silent for a moment before deciding to stay.
Although he might not be able to go against an entire battalion on his own, he should have no problem defending himself.
âYou should lead the Redshirt Army away first. Iâll stay and find a way to stop the Blood Tribe from looting too many resources.â
Shang Honghua and the rest were appalled to hear him.
âNo way. This is too dangerous.â
âSheâs right. Just the scouts of the battalion alone were cultivators of the Heavenly Imperial Realm. Itâs too risky for you to stay.â
âBrother Chu, please reconsider.â
The cultivators attempted to dissuade Chu Kuangren.
Alas, once Chu Kuangren had made up his mind, no one could stop him.
âBut before this, I have an unsettled business.â Chu Kuangren glared ahead with a cold intent in his eyes.
The cultivators were clueless at first.
However, Shang Honghua peeked at Yue Zhaowu for a moment and said, âBrother Chu, are you referring to the Sword Tribeâs betrayal?â
Chu Kuangren nodded. âThatâs right.â
They had betrayed his kind intention to save them.
Chu Kuangren could not let this slip away.
â¦
Somewhere on Asteroid Seven.
Jian Que led the remaining survivors to regroup with the rest of the Sword Tribeâs cultivators. The person in charge was a young-looking swordsman.
As youthful as he may seem, one could tell from his aura and bodily structures that the swordsman was no younger than Jian Que.
He was an Emperor who hailed from the past ancient era.
His name was Jian Wuque!
Jian Wuque was the most stellar swordsman in the past ancient era and one of the very few who had managed to ascend into an Emperor before recent ancient times.
Although his physique may not be as impressive as the Sword Daoistâs Supreme Daoist Physique, he was able to ascend in that era just by sheer insights and Opportunities of Fortune alone.
Through countless years of cultivation, Jian Wuque was now a strong Heavenly Imperial who was feared on the battlefields of the Extraterritorial Region.
He was also one of the strongest within the Sword Tribeâs ranks throughout the Extraterritorial Region.
âSword Imperial Wuque.â
Jian Que came forward and greeted him respectfully.
Although Jian Que and Jian Wuque were both commanders, Jian Wuque commanded far more stature compared to Jian Que.
One was a Low-rank Heavenly Imperial, while the other was a High-rank Heavenly Imperial.
To distinguish Jian Wuque from the other commanders, the members of the Sword Tribe would address him as the Sword Imperial.
âOh, youâre here. Any results?â
Jian Wuque asked.
Upon hearing this, Jian Que seemed a little uneasy. He immediately narrated his encounter with the Blood Tribe Heavenly Imperials to Jian Wuque.
Of course, Jian Que deliberately left out details of his encounters with the last two Heavenly Imperials. He did not want to be seen as ungrateful before the Sword Imperial.
As thick-faced as he may be, Jian Que knew ungratefulness was a much-despised trait within the Sword Tribe.
âChu Kuangrenâ¦â
Jian Wuque frowned. He was keener on learning about Chu Kuangren than the Blood Tribe Heavenly Imperials.
The entire upper echelons of the Sword Tribe knew about Chu Kuangren.
Some blamed him for being the sole reason that their younger generations could not ascend into Emperors, while some were in awe of his unprecedented talents.
Some of them even compared Chu Kuangren with Jian Wuque.
After all, Jian Wuque was also famed for his unprecedented talents during his time. He was a stellar cultivator who had managed to ascend into an Emperor on his own.
Very few in the Sword Tribeâs history had achieved such a feat.
That was why many would compare Jian Wuque with Chu Kuangren.
âIn just a few yearsâ time, Chu Kuangren has grown so much that he can now slay a Heavenly Imperial? What a freak.â
Jian Wuque was forced to concede that his talent may not be up to par against Chu Kuangrenâs.
âI surely wish to test my abilities against his when the chance arises.â
Jian Wuque murmured.
Then, his communication compass began to shudder.
âOh, itâs a message from the tribe.â
Jian Wuque flipped his compass open, and the messages that followed shocked him. âWhat?!â
âWhat happened?â Jian Que was surprised.
âA Universe Secret Realm has been found near Asteroid Seven. The Blood Tribeâs battalion will be arriving soon,â said Jian Wuque worryingly.
âWhat?!â
Jian Que was horrified. âWhat should we do now?â
âWe arenât strong enough to fight the Blood Tribe on our own. Letâs leave for now,â said Jian Wuque helplessly.
As strong as he may be, Jian Wuque would be foolish to go against the entire battalion on his own.
âAlright, Iâll inform the rest.â
Jian Que said. Just as he was about to leave, Jian Queâs eyes widened in shock, and he freaked out at the sight before him.
Several hundred meters away, a person was approaching them. He was dressed in a set of white clothes with an elegant sword strapped to his waist.
âItâs him, Chu Kuangren!â
Jian Que was incredulous.
What was going on?!
How was he not dead?!
How did he survive two Mid-rank Heavenly Imperials?!
Having noticed Chu Kuangren, Jian Wuque was surprised too. âSo thatâs Chu Kuangren. His aura is unordinary indeed!â
Chu Kuangren gradually walked towards the Sword Tribeâs forces.
Jian Wuque asked, âBrother Chu, what are you doing here?â
âSimple⦠To kill!â