Chapter 973: Lord of the Azure Abyss Heaven!

"You actually fled back, not bad for being my left and right hand minister!"

The astonishment in this voice flashed past, replaced by an apparent deep concern.

Hearing this, Sun Qinghou cursed inwardly, "Damn! Is this how you treat a left‑and‑right hand minister? Using me as a pawn!"

But his face showed awe and reverence as he knelt directly on Above the Void, tears flowing like great rivers.

"Your Majesty! This time, in the campaign to Endless Heaven, aside from me the whole army was annihilated! I'm sorry, Your Majesty!"

A leisurely sigh sounded in Sun Qinghou's ear: "The destruction of this army is not your fault."

As this voice fell, a dazzling heavenly ladder appeared from the direction of Qingming Tiangong and instantly descended beside Sun Qinghou.

Get up!

Sun Qinghou rose and stepped onto the heavenly ladder.

Boom!

Suddenly, the heavenly ladder contracted; Sun Qinghou vanished from the spot and, when he reappeared, was already inside Qingming Tiangong.

In the vast hall, Lord of the Azure Abyss Heaven Huang Zhen sat high on the throne, which radiated the divine splendor of Dao Resonance, while an endless stream of World Tree power struck his body.

This place itself is where the power of the Azure Abyss Heaven World Tree Dao is strongest, occupied by Huang Zhen who opened up the heavenly palace and then took charge here.

Huang Zhen wore a dragon robe; his features seemed peaceful but hid a sinister edge, his brow bearing the lofty majesty of a ruler as he silently regarded Sun Qinghou, his face also taking on a caring look.

"Qinghou, I didn't expect to encounter a dead end this time. Has your cultivation fallen?"

"But being able to escape this dead end, such a sacrifice is acceptable!"

Hearing this, Sun Qinghou knelt in the hall and loudly said, "Thanks to Your Majesty's blessings."

Both understood each other's situation clearly, yet they still went through the motions.

Sun Qinghou immediately kowtowed hard on the stone slab, making "bang bang bang" sounds, even bleeding from his forehead as he wailed, "Your Majesty, the Azure Abyss Army I led all died, and many of my Sun clan perished…"

Before he finished, Huang Zhen flicked his sleeve, a faint cold smile on his face.

Hiss!

Several space rings flew to Sun Qinghou's front, "Get up."

Huang Zhen, looking startled by the favor, took the space rings, tears of gratitude streaming as he said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

No need to look; the supreme treasure in those space rings is enough to offset the lives of their Sun clan!

Huang Zhen continued, "Later I'll grant you a Dao Source Fruit; whether you can thereby return to the Dao Void Realm depends on your fortune."

Sun Qinghou gave thanks again.

Not long after.

Huang Zhen slowly descended from the throne and walked toward Sun Qinghou, his face showing helplessness and displeasure, "Do you know why this time I only sent you to wage war in Endless Heaven?"

Actually, the Azure Abyss Army had an even stronger commander, but Huang Zhen did not deploy him.

It's obvious Sun Qinghou was just being sent to die!

The goal was to let the Deceit Palace and Gu Origin Heaven see an attitude from Azure Abyss Heaven.

For that attitude, countless Question‑Dao and Dao Origin realm cultivators could die!

To Huang Zhen, it was merely a number!

Sun Qinghou saw through Huang Zhen's thoughts as clear as fire, so he had earlier engraved a super spatial dao pattern, preparing for the worst and escaping death.

He really wanted to shout: "It's not because the Deceit Palace and Gu Origin Heaven completely used all of Azure Abyss Heaven as a tool, treating you like a dog to drive?"

He also knew Huang Zhen was furious about this but powerless.

So he sent them out to die!

A moment of silence.

Huang Zhen walked up behind Sun Qinghou with his hands behind his back, not stopping but continuing toward the hall's door, gazing into the depths of the Void Above.

The Void Above was splendid, like a scroll slowly unfurling.

Sun Qinghou also silently stood at Huang Zhen's side, not level with him but keeping a distance, his body slightly bent.

Huang Zhen slowly said, "I wish to ally with the Deceit Palace and Gu Origin Heaven, but they constantly make things difficult for me!"

"As allies, we should share weal and woe, not have Azure Abyss Heaven be their tool."

"Where does this leave the myriad star seas under my rule?"

Sun Qinghou silently said, "Indeed, Your Majesty embraces myriad star rivers and boundless life."

Huang Zhen's voice carried a hint of resentment: "You know I've repeatedly asked Gu Origin Heaven for a Nine‑turn Battle Gu, but Gu Yue Laozi ignored me. Yet this time they let Bai Loulan take a Nine‑turn Battle Gu into battle! It shows they have no regard for me as an ally."

Hearing this, Sun Qinghou's heart jolted.

Damn!

He suspected the Azure Abyss Emperor had also gone to the Endless Heaven battlefield, merely staying hidden.

If he hadn't prepared in advance, the Azure Abyss Emperor would watch him die helplessly.

Huang Zhen continued, "In this war I sent you, also to let the Gu Origin Heaven and Deceit Palace two great realms see my attitude. To cooperate we must show attitude—I must obtain a Nine‑turn Battle Gu!"

Speaking, Huang Zhen stretched out his big hand and clenched it tightly into a fist, as if trying to firmly grasp something.

This is Huang Zhen's obsession.

Only because his strength cannot match Luo Jin Laozi's level, nor be a match for Dark Sorrow Old Ancestor, he urgently wants a Nine‑turn Battle Gu for self‑protection.

Although he has already reached an agreement with Gu Origin Heaven and the Deceit Palace, when the World Tree collapses they will take him away from this realm.

But if he lacks a Nine‑turn Battle Gu, how can he ensure survival until that day?

Qi Chun Jing has been eyeing him covetously, and now there's also the Spirit Martial Emperor's upper realm!

The situation is perilous!

Sun Qinghou said, "They ought to hand over the Nine‑turn Battle Gu to Your Majesty; otherwise there's no sincerity in cooperation."

Huang Zhen patted Sun Qinghou's shoulder, "Alright, I'll give you another important mission: go to Gu Origin Heaven and tell them my intention. If they still don't bring the Nine‑turn Battle Gu, I won't cooperate with them."

Sun Qinghou's face twitched.

Holy crap?

It's him again?

The Insect Origin Heaven is incredibly mysterious, causing countless beings to feel fear, and they dare not set foot in it.

This time he even has to go to the Insect Origin Heaven carrying Huang Zhen's request; will he not be able to come back?

Making such a request, Bai Loulan might beat him to death!

Huang Zhen said, "Let's set off now. In the storage ring I gave you, there is a Void-stage Breaking Void Cloud Ship!"

Sun Qinghou stared for a moment, and could only bow respectfully, "As you command!"

Since the Azure Abyss Emperor has already given the order, if he doesn't go, Huang Zhen will slap him to death!

Sun Qinghou was about to leave.

The Azure Abyss Emperor suddenly asked, "Qinghou, do you understand my loneliness?"

Sun Qinghou looked bewildered, secretly thinking, "Is this trying to play the emotion card?"

……