Chapter 211 - 196: Skirmish

"Please, Great Emperor, lend your aid!" Yin Qi’s voice echoed across the sky.

Suddenly, a sigh resounded, its ethereal sound reverberating through the heavens. A tall man slowly appeared in the sky, dressed in black ceremonial dress and holding a Treasured Sword, exuding authority without anger.

"So it’s you, Zhen Wu," the Demon Emperor sighed softly.

He hadn’t expected that the one to intervene would be the once Divine Revered Nine Heavens Demon-Dispelling, a true pinnacle of combat prowess. In contrast to the Jade Emperor, who was apt at strategizing, this one was purely a master at fighting.

His title of Great Emperor was carved out with the sword in his hand, stroke by stroke. Over countless years, who knows how many demons had perished beneath his sword.

However, the relationship between Great Emperor Zhen Wu and the Jade Emperor was delicate; he was like a powerful duke beyond control, and the Jade Emperor had no actual authority to command him, their affiliation was but in name.

Even during the fierce battle between the Demon Court and the Heavenly Court, the Great Emperor had remained an observer, not participating in that great war.

Unexpectedly, the Heavenly Court had managed to summon this Great Emperor to act today.

Standing tranquilly in the void, Great Emperor Zhen Wu smiled in response to the Demon Emperor’s words, "There’s no helping it, karma is difficult to repay."

"Since that’s the case, let’s begin!" the Demon Emperor commanded softly.

Terrible Red Lotus Karma Fire surged from the ground, transforming into ferocious and terrifying Flood Dragons that charged toward Zhen Wu in the sky.

The searing flames caused the air itself to distort.

Great Emperor Zhen Wu, at the very center of the flames, remained calm in the face of such formidable and strange fire, merely waving his Treasured Sword gently.

Brilliant sword light streaked across the sky like a splendid galaxy, bursting with dazzling radiance.

The unrivaled sharpness of the Sword Qi could annihilate everything; even the fearsome Red Lotus Karma Fire could not halt this terrible sword energy.

Under the Sword Qi, the fire dragons let out mournful cries, vanishing between Heaven and Earth after just a brief encounter, as if they had never existed.

The prowess of Great Emperor Zhen Wu was evident.

He raised his Treasured Sword and chuckled lightly, "If this is all the strength you have left, I’m afraid you won’t be leaving this place today."

The Demon Emperor fell silent, fully aware that Zhen Wu spoke the truth. Even at his peak, he had no certainty of victory against Zhen Wu, let alone now in his weakened state.

With a slight wave of his hand, countless flames enveloped him and a few Demon Masters.

Great Emperor Zhen Wu swung his Treasured Sword, but only saw the figures in the air dissipate.

"He’s actually fled," Great Emperor Zhen Wu said with a wry chuckle.

Who would have thought that the Demon Emperor, who once dared to vie with the Jade Emperor for the Supreme position, would choose to flee, and with such decisiveness, without any hesitation or delay.

"He’s escaped!" Yin Qi exclaimed as he witnessed the scene before him.

He quickly turned to look at Great Emperor Zhen Wu, saying eagerly, "Emperor!"

With a slight smile on his lips, Great Emperor Zhen Wu reassured, "Don’t worry, he won’t get away."

With those words, his figure suddenly vanished from the sight of Yin Qi and the others.

When he reappeared, he was already in front of the fleeing Demon Emperor and his companions, saying, "Fellow Taoist, it would be best for you to surrender now."

The Demon Emperor sighed, "After all, you are Zhen Wu, and my crippled body is indeed no match for you."

After finishing his words, he gently waved his hand, and a powerful force enveloped the Demon Master and the Wind-sage Great Saint, and their figures quickly disappeared from sight.

Zhen Wu didn’t make a move to stop them; after all, his agreement with the Jade Emperor was only to deal with the Demon Emperor. As for the others, that was none of his business.

Furthermore, without having to worry about his subordinates, the Demon Emperor could truly let loose and have a great battle with him.

Having been lonely for many years, he eagerly awaited a formidable opponent to whet his Treasured Sword, lest it rust.

The Demon Emperor, sensing the safe departure of the Demon Master and others, raised the corner of his mouth in a smile and said, "Come then, let me see how much progress you, the Demon-Dispelling Celestial Venerate, have made over the years."

"As you wish," Zhen Wu replied.

Two figures collided in the sky, and terrifying flames and sharp Sword Qi instantly filled the space between Heaven and Earth.

The dazzling light made all the people of Luzhou in the North lift their heads. This time, neither the Demon Emperor nor Zhen Wu had made any effort to conceal their clash, so many powerful beings in the Three Realms sensed this terrible fluctuation.

"Is that the Demon Emperor? When did he revive?" someone muttered to himself.

"Looks like his strength is not even one-tenth of what it used to be; he’s probably still in a weakened state. However, since he once ruled the Demon Court, his appearance will surely give the Jade Emperor a terrible headache," someone said with a hint of schadenfreude.

There were even those who sensed an opportunity, a chance to upend the Heavenly Court. They began to take secretive actions.

The appearance of the Demon Emperor was like a spark on a parched prairie, igniting the deep-seated ambitions of some ambitious individuals.

No longer able to contain the restlessness in their hearts, they began to take action.

Although it wasn’t apparent at the moment, as time passed, the actions of these individuals would inevitably bring new changes to the Three Realms.

"The days to come in the Three Realms will hardly be peaceful," someone sighed mournfully.

The emergence of the Demon Emperor started to stir the undercurrents in the long-peaceful Three Realms.

As countless people turned their gaze toward the great battle in Luzhou in the North, Lin Fang too noticed the fight in the sky. He was surprised to find that the battlefield was not far from him.

The figure of White Ape appeared in a flash. He silently stared at the battle in the sky, his eyes filled with continual amazement.

That terrifying Sword Qi, still so clear despite the distance, held great significance for someone like White Ape who devoted himself to the Sword Dao.

Through it, he could glimpse the highest level of Sword Dao, and he held a strand of faint Sword Qi in his hand.

The sharp aura instantly cut his finger, but White Ape showed no sign of pain. Instead, his expression was almost frantic as he looked at the strand of Sword Qi that would soon dissipate.

Through it, White Ape seemed to see a brand new Heaven and Earth, the realm he had longed for all his life.

At that moment, deep in his heart, he even harbored the thought of soaring to the Nine Heavens to exchange pointers with this powerful master of the Sword Dao.

But his reason quickly suppressed this impulse, for he clearly understood that if he were to go now, it would be suicide. The gap in their strength was like the difference between Heaven and Earth.

"Who is he?" White Ape asked curiously.

Lin Fang gave White Ape an annoyed look and said, "From this distance, how would I know who it is?"

However, that Emissary who wielded the Fire Technique, why did Lin Fang feel that his aura was very much like the Demon Emperor who appeared in Nine Tails City?