Chapter 495: 494. Chapter 489: The Emperor of the Brother Xingpan Returns

494. Chapter 489: The Emperor of the Brother Xingpan Returns

Mi Zhong was killed, and Bu Yue's gaze turned dark and menacing.

Mi Zhong wasn't just his eldest son-in-law—he was his trusted aide, having done countless deeds for him.

Moreover, that Emperor's Vitality Fruit was his own; Mi Zhong had merely cultivated it on his behalf.

Wu Chang Emperor was cruel and heartless, utterly indifferent to the lives and fates of those who suffered and fought for him, all to crush Ding Huan and secure his own position.

It's not worth dying for such a person.

Brother Pingwei exhaled in relief, his admiration for Ding Huan deepening—only an extraordinary man could turn the tide under such circumstances.

Chu Xingren's back was drenched in sweat; he had just received the Emperor's endorsement, yet now he was to be killed by the Emperor himself.

Indeed, to the Emperor, they were less than grass.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say," said a man clad in a Star Lord robe, crowned with a Star Lord hat, his face suffused with purple aura.

Wu Chang Emperor spoke gently: "Star Lord Du Yue, speak your mind."

Ding Huan hadn't expected this man to be Star Lord Wu Wudu—wasn't he supposed to have been imprisoned after the Immortal-Devil peace talks? How had he been released so soon?

Wu Wudu pointed at Ding Huan and shouted:

"This Ding Huan once used the alias Zhang San and, together with my household servant Hearing Ku Lu, murdered my son Wu Jian. I beg Your Majesty to avenge me."

Ding Huan's heart sank—Wu Wudu could not possibly know about this.

Unless Wu Wudu had captured Hearing Ku Lu and tortured him for the truth…

Ding Huan knew Hearing Ku Lu's character well—he would never confess even under torture; only soul-searching could extract it.

Ding Huan's killing intent could no longer be concealed.

Wu Wudu stared coldly at Ding Huan: "What? You want to kill me, Wu Wudu? I'm standing right here—try killing me if you dare."

Feeling Ding Huan's killing intent, Brother Xingpan's spirit surged.

What's the point of all this blabbering? Just fight.

"Where is Hearing Ku Lu?" Ding Huan asked, each word sharp and deliberate.

Wu Wudu waved his hand, and Hearing Ku Lu collapsed onto the ground.

His eyes were vacant, his body covered in blood, his Dao aura in utter chaos—he had clearly endured unspeakable torture.

Ding Huan seized Hearing Ku Lu and immediately sensed his soul sea shattered, every single meridian torn apart.

"Old brother, when we move, take out Wu Wudu first," Ding Huan whispered to Brother Xingpan.

Brother Xingpan froze—wasn't the plan to kill Wu Chang Emperor first?

But he didn't question Ding Huan's order. Fine, kill Wu Wudu first.

He had come here to kill. Every corrupt, idle official eliminated was one less burden.

Ding Huan slipped several Immortal Pills into Hearing Ku Lu's mouth. Hearing Ku Lu opened his eyes: "Who are you?"

"I'm Zhang San. This is my true face," Ding Huan sighed.

He had never let Hearing Ku Lu see his real appearance, fearing Hearing Ku Lu might be captured.

Now it seemed his fears had come true—Hearing Ku Lu had been captured, and Wu Wudu had deduced from the Zhang San alias that Ding Huan was the real man.

Hearing Ku Lu's voice was hoarse: "Ding Huan, I'm sorry… because of me, Wu Wudu found out about you."

Ding Huan waved his hand: "I'll avenge you."

"Your friend from the Chiyunu Sect was also captured by Wu Wudu—he said he'd send a woman with an Immortal Spirit Body to the Demon Clan for peace…" Hearing Ku Lu gasped out the words, his breath fading rapidly.

Ding Huan lifted his hand and sent Hearing Ku Lu into one of his True Spirit Worlds.

Wu Wudu stared coldly at Ding Huan: "Bold indeed—daring to hide a witness inside the Immortal Court's Hall. You've got guts."

Wu Chang Emperor also glared coldly at Ding Huan:

"Ding Huan, do you think reading the Nine Courts' Laws grants you license to act lawlessly within the Immortal Court's Hall? Do you think you can just confiscate a witness?"

Ding Huan chuckled, pointing at Wu Wudu with icy calm: "Wu Wudu, if you don't hand over Wen Zhixi today, I swear I'll raze your nest to the ground and crush your skull into paste."

Wu Chang Emperor's fury erupted—he slammed his fist on the table: "Seize this madman, Ding Huan!"

Everyone exchanged stunned glances.

Just moments ago, Ding Huan had used the Nine Courts' Laws to render Wu Chang Emperor powerless—now this posture was like walking straight into a trap.

Had Bu Lü's entire effort been pointless?

How could someone be this stupid?

But wait—this fool had just defeated Zhong Emperor.

Several enforcers charged toward Ding Huan; Brother Pingwei tried to stop them but was too late.

"Now," Ding Huan whispered to Brother Xingpan, and a Yellow Flower Kill surged toward Wu Wudu.

Wu Wudu felt a searing pain in his soul sea—he instantly realized Ding Huan was attacking him. This kid is insane?

He dares to strike with such a crude ambush?

Before the enforcers reached Ding Huan, Wu Wudu reached out to grab him.

But the next instant, a aura of death enveloped his body.

Wu Wudu frantically expanded his domain, only to find it could not block the penetration of the death aura.

Brother Xingpan's killing domain had already crushed Wu Wudu's domain—and this wasn't the end. Ding Huan's domain layered atop it.

Though Ding Huan was only a Great Immortal of the Yi Realm, his domain was no ordinary thing.

Alone, Wu Wudu could have ignored Ding Huan's domain—but with Brother Xingpan's domain added, it became an entirely different matter.

Far from being simply one plus one.

In strength, Brother Xingpan could easily crush Wu Wudu—now with Ding Huan's aid, the disparity was absolute.

Crack!

A sound of snapping bones rang out; Wu Wudu spat a jet of blood, then felt his Purple Mansion and Dantian completely sealed.

By the time the others saw that it was Ding Huan's attendant who had seized Wu Wudu, the battle was already over.

Several Star Lords standing beside Wu Wudu had the chance to intervene, but they seemed utterly stunned, showing not the slightest intention to act.

"Boom!" The Brother Xingpan smashed Wu Wudu down at Ding Huan's feet.

Ding Huan instinctively lifted his foot and stepped squarely on Wu Wudu's chest.

Wu Wudu's consciousness sea and domain had already been utterly sealed by the Brother Xingpan; with this step, he spat out over a dozen jets of blood.

Fear flashed in his eyes—his Purple Mansion had been shattered by the torrent of immortal energy from Ding Huan's foot, and his meridians began to crumble inch by inch.

Chains of sealing runes locked away all his life force.

"Who are you?" Lou Wushang the Great Emperor rose abruptly, staring at the Brother Xingpan.

Even he could not subdue Wu Wudu in such a short time.

Wu Wudu was a Star Lord, at least an early-stage Immortal Emperor.

Killing Wu Wudu by ambush might be easy, but capturing him unharmed? That was far harder.

"I am the Brother Xingpan, Great Emperor," the Brother Xingpan said, his aura surging violently before his true face reappeared.

"The Brother Xingpan Great Emperor? Still alive?"

"The Brother Xingpan Great Emperor, leader of the Five Great Emperors?"

…

The people in the Immortal Court's Precious Hall began whispering among themselves—the appearance of the Brother Xingpan was utterly shocking.

Lou Wushang the Great Emperor felt a surge of regret—he should never have allowed the Brother Xingpan to register.

If it had been anyone else, even if they were stronger, they could not have escaped here—everywhere were Immortal Emperors and Immortal Kings.

But the Brother Xingpan was different; to be precise, this Heavenly Emperor throne was originally his. Had the Dao Ancestor not forcibly inserted himself, Lou Wushang would never have had the qualifications to sit here.

Chong Di appeared calm, but inside, his heart churned like a storm-tossed sea.

The Brother Xingpan had come.

Had he known the Brother Xingpan was beside Ding Huan, he would never have challenged Ding Huan—he would have used his privilege immediately and let Ding Huan take the lead.

"Someone, seize these two madmen!" Lou Wushang the Great Emperor roared.

But no one moved.

Even his trusted Imperial Chancellor Bu Yue stood still.

No one here was a fool.

The Brother Xingpan was once the leader of the Five Great Emperors, the undisputed choice for Heavenly Emperor. In other words, had the Dao Ancestors never come to the Pangu Great World, the man now sitting on Lou Wushang's throne would be the Brother Xingpan.

Ding Huan stared blankly for a long moment, then said: "Big Brother, your influence—what's the point of me even fighting this lawsuit?"

He truly hadn't expected the Brother Xingpan's influence to be this great.

"Brother Xingpan Big Brother, I apologize for what happened back then," Pingwei was the first to step forward.

He had a deep bond with Ding Huan and held great respect for Ding Huan's abilities.

As long as Ding Huan did not perish, his future achievements would surely not fall short of theirs—perhaps even surpass them.

Since he wished to befriend Ding Huan, he must reconcile with the Brother Xingpan; thus he saw clearly—he would be the first to apologize.

The Brother Xingpan laughed heartily: "Back then, you had no choice but to act—and I didn't suffer any real loss."

Back then, the Dao Ancestor was watching—how could any of you have dared to hold back?

As Pingwei the Great Emperor stepped forward, Lou Wushang's face turned cold: "Brother Xingpan, what are you implying?"

The Brother Xingpan looked at Lou Wushang with disdain:

"What am I implying? Hmph—you sit on the Heavenly Emperor's throne, yet allow the demon clans, demon races, and divine races to invade our Great Immortal Realm? Let our human cultivators and immortal sects have nowhere to survive?

When did the human race ever suffer so humbly? And you call yourself a Great Emperor? Pah!

You know full well why you summoned my brother Ding Huan today—I'll tell you plainly: as long as I, the Brother Xingpan, live one more day, you, Lou Wushang, won't dare lay a single hair on my brother Ding Huan."

Lou Wushang's heart burned with fury, yet he was helpless—he could not command a single soul.

Just now he had killed Mi Zhong, and now even Bu Yue refused to obey him.

And Wu Wudu, the one he had hoped to ally with, had been seized before even lifting a finger.

Everyone had seen the Brother Xingpan's power—they dared not move.

How many here were stronger than Wu Wudu?

"Ha! Brother Ding, I knew you were no ordinary fish—only this short time, and you've already impressed me so deeply, even winning the loyalty of Brother Brother Xingpan."

Emperor Jinhe walked over.

He greeted Ding Huan first, then bowed to the Brother Xingpan: "Brother Brother Xingpan, long time no see. Seeing you still in your prime, I am greatly relieved."

The Brother Xingpan laughed again: "Brother Jinhe, may our brotherly bond endure forever."

Some words need not be spoken aloud—everyone understood.

Back then, had Jinhe not held back, the Brother Xingpan would not have merely been wounded and fled—he would have been killed.

"Brother Ding, though I, Ji Changsi, am but an Immortal King, should you ever need me, I will give my all—life or death, I will not hesitate."

To everyone's astonishment, the last sect master among the immortal sects rushed forward and bowed to Ding Huan.