Chapter 773: Sword Slays the Emperor

Zhao Xiangdu regretted it!

He Pingsheng didn't die not because he was incompetent, nor because he was lucky.

It was because Zhao Xiangdu was too arrogant.

Because in that last strike, he hadn't used his full strength.

Keep in mind that a single strike from the Great Vehicle Emperor Realm, if unleashed at full power, would instantly shatter all the palaces and cultivation halls around it.

So to avoid damaging the surroundings, Zhao Xiangdu had restrained his power, using only three-tenths of his strength in that strike.

That's right!

Just three-tenths of his power.

Normally, even that much force could crush a Body Integration peak cultivator.

How much more so a Void Refinement cultivator?

A two-level realm suppression is like a Golden Core cultivator crushing a Qi Refining one—half a tenth would be enough, let alone three-tenths.

But who could have imagined He Pingsheng was this tough?

I should've used four-tenths.

With four-tenths, this bastard would've been dead already!

Far from Zhao Xiangdu, the Phoenix Emperor's face was utterly grim.

What the hell!

I told you to kill him, and you still didn't kill him?

Zhao Xiangdu's face had just been slapped, and now it was being rubbed raw again.

A streak of light shot in from afar.

Wang Dun's annoying voice rang out: "Zhao Xiangdu… you fucking bastard… try hitting me again… I'll fuck your ancestors…"

Wang Dun flew through the void, swinging a palm strike across the distance toward Zhao Xiangdu.

Of course, compared to a Mahayana Emperor, Wang Dun's attack was weak.

Zhao Xiangdu merely flicked his sleeve, dispersing Wang Dun's strike.

But even that strike hadn't killed Wang Dun.

Not only hadn't he died—he didn't even seem injured?

This…

Are both human geniuses this strong?

"If my younger brother dies… I'll slaughter every last one of your descendants…" Wang Dun cursed, glanced down at the ground, saw He Pingsheng gasping for breath, and immediately grinned: "Hehehe… I knew it—wise men adapt to circumstances… Zhao Xiangdu, you're wise after all."

"I…" Zhao Xiangdu felt like vomiting.

I'm wise?

Great… now I'm the one too scared to fight?

"Fine, fine, fine…" Zhao Xiangdu seethed, glaring at He Pingsheng: "Yes, I did say—if this strike fails to kill you, I won't trouble you further!"

"I, the Emperor, keep my word!"

"But… hehehe…" Zhao Xiangdu's face twisted into a cruel smile: "I won't trouble you—but my avatar has no such restrictions!"

Hummm…

The next moment, the void trembled, and a spatial passage opened.

Zhao Xiangdu's avatar, from a distance of ten thousand miles, appeared instantly on the scene.

Zhou Qingmei trembled with rage: "Zhao Xiangdu… do you even have shame?"

"Shame?" Zhao Xiangdu, nearly driven mad with fury, sneered coldly: "If I had no shame, you'd all be dead already."

"Go."

The avatar, receiving Zhao Xiangdu's command, drew a sword and slashed toward He Pingsheng and Zhou Qingmei.

A torrent of sword qi surged toward the nine heavens.

Before the blade even fell, the surrounding sword intent blasted every cultivator and prodigy nearby away.

For absolute certainty, Zhao Xiangdu used full strength—ten-tenths.

Ten-tenths!

Will you still not die?

Brilliant swordlight split heaven and earth!

Then, with blinding speed, it came crashing down.

Wang Dun transformed into a streak of light, hurling a jade seal forward to block He Pingsheng.

He tried to stop that light.

Too bad…

The sword qi was too strong.

Before the blade touched him, the sword intent slammed him flat against the ground, beside He Pingsheng.

They looked at each other, grimacing bitterly.

Just as everyone believed Wang Dun and He Pingsheng were doomed, a blinding streak of light shot from the distant horizon.

Ding…

A clear chime rang out.

A three-foot-long blue ice sword, barely larger than a finger, met the descending ten-thousand-zhang swordlight at its tip.

A single sword halted Zhao Xiangdu's avatar's full-power strike dead.

All turned to see where the swordlight had come from, wondering who had saved He Pingsheng and Wang Dun.

A white streak flashed across the distant sky.

In less than a breath, it landed above He Pingsheng.

The white light resolved into a woman in white robes: Qiao Huizhu!

She didn't manifest her Divine Form, standing normally in the void.

"This is…"

"What a beautiful woman!"

"Who is she?"

"So strong… heavens, a Mahayana Emperor?"

"Why have we never heard of a human Emperor this powerful?"

Everyone stared at Qiao Huizhu, stunned into stone.

Even the Demon Emperors trembled in fear.

That aura!

That presence—it was terrifying beyond words.

"Who are you?" Zhao Xiangdu's avatar shuddered.

Qiao Huizhu said nothing, extended her jade hand, and summoned the ice sword into her grasp.

The ice-blue blade spun slightly in her hand, releasing a sharp sword qi.

The qi, slower to start but faster to strike, pierced through Zhao Xiangdu's avatar, slicing him cleanly in half.

Puh…

Splash!

Blood rained down.

After slaying Zhao Xiangdu's avatar, Qiao Huizhu's gaze turned to Zhao Xiangdu's true body.

At that moment, Zhao Xiangdu's true body had already recoiled in terror.

Are you kidding? One sword, one kill!

What does that even mean?

There's no way I can win.

Zhao Xiangdu tried to tear open space and flee—but before he could move, Qiao Huizhu's sword became a blue streak, piercing straight through his body.

Zhao Xiangdu's true body—dead.

Two swords, two Emperors slain.

A wind laced with blood swept through the void, spreading in all directions.

All beings, above and below, fell silent.

Deathly stillness blanketed the surroundings.

The Emperors standing in the heavens and void seemed turned to statues.

"Cough… cough… cough… puh…"

After what felt like an eternity, He Pingsheng coughed again, spitting out blood.

Only then did the crowd awaken from their brief silence.

The Phoenix Emperor's face was black as ink. He glared at Qiao Huizhu: "Who are you? Why kill my Phoenix Clan servant?"

Qiao Huizhu twirled her wrist, pointing her ice-blue sword at the Phoenix Emperor: "He Pingsheng is my younger brother. He tried to kill him—I killed him. Is there a problem?"

"Even when you beat a dog, you look at its master!" the Phoenix Emperor breathed deeply. "Zhao Xiangdu is my Divine Clan's servant. You killed him—do you fear the Divine Clan's retribution?"

"Divine Clan?" Qiao Huizhu's lips curled in disdain: "You mean the Phoenix Clan?"

"My apologies—I thought he was a rogue cultivator. Turns out he had a master."

"Then I must ask: if this dog has an owner, did its owner order it to bite, or did the dog act on its own?"