In the Ninth Heaven,
within the void rift,
the atmosphere was grave. Ancient Great Emperors stood, their immense auras crisscrossing like dragons rising from the vast sea.
But deeper within the rift, an even more powerful primordial spirit fluctuation spread.
“What lies beyond high-martial…?”
“Can Lu Ping’an truly succeed? If he does, wouldn’t that set a precedent? The Five Phoenixes could surpass the Ninth Heaven in a short time.”
“Lu Ping’an is too mysterious. Who exactly is he? His strength itself is shrouded in enigma… The Five Phoenixes was supposedly just a low-martial world, a mere speck of dust that we could annihilate with a sneeze. Yet such a weak world has grown into the colossal existence it is today.”
Primordial spirit fluctuations intertwined as the ancient Great Emperors discussed.
Of course, they were also monitoring Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s situation.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor, bolstered by the Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Dao, had gone to the Five Phoenixes. The Five Phoenixes was currently attempting ascension to a higher realm. If the Ninth Heaven could successfully devour it, perhaps… the Ninth Heaven could advance even further in the future.
This thought made the ancient Great Emperors’ hearts race with excitement.
They too might have a chance to surpass Emperor Realm.
But whether it would succeed was uncertain.
After a while of discussion, the atmosphere gradually quieted.
Perhaps it was too serious—too solemn for words.
The success of the Five Phoenixes would change everything.
Deep within the rift, a pair of profound eyes gleamed with deep light, staring at the Abyss of Nothingness, at the transforming Five Phoenixes, as though brewing something.
…
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor narrowed his eyes.
His black-robed figure trembled slightly before suddenly streaking forward.
“That flame… is it Fire Spirit?”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor squinted.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor—the supreme ruler of the Fire Clan in the upper realm, an ancient Great Emperor whose lifespan was no shorter than his own.
In peaceful times, Fire Spirit and he had been acquaintances.
But in the end, they became enemies.
Within the void rift, the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor could not recall what happened deep inside—but he remembered clearly that Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor had once attacked him.
“The Five Phoenix cultivators are fully focused on the Divine Demons from the Primordial Starry Sky. At this moment… Fire Clan Ancient Emperor sneaks into the Five Phoenixes. His purpose is obvious.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor drew a deep breath. Light flickered in his eyes.
In truth, he shouldn’t interfere.
Helping the Five Phoenixes against the Divine Demons was already a significant favor.
“At this point, I should turn and leave, pretending nothing happened.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor adjusted his black robe’s hood.
His hooded gaze turned toward the passage entrance, seeing the Five Phoenix cultivators standing firm, refusing to retreat.
His expression wavered slightly.
Then he sighed softly.
“My actions are absolutely not a compromise with that bastard Lu Ping’an…”
“I’m doing this for the little princess.”
“And for revenge.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor said.
Then his body transformed into a streak of light, chasing after the flame.
His departure drew the attention of Gu Mangran, who had long suspected his identity.
Gu Mangran narrowed his eyes. After arranging the Sea Clan, he too streaked through the chaos.
…
At the passage entrance,
Zhu Long stood quietly, grinding disc in hand—like an unshakable mountain blocking the way.
Any enemy wishing to enter the Five Phoenixes must first overcome her.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The bombardment at the passage entrance continued. In this short time, at least twenty early-tier Divine Demons had detonated themselves. The strength of the Primordial Starry Sky was evident.
Early-tier Divine Demons were early Emperor Realm—true Emperor-level existences.
Their explosions could annihilate worlds below derivative second-tier high-martial.
All life would perish.
But because the Primordial Starry Sky’s energy was too stable, even Emperor-level explosions struggled to tear the passage wide open.
Moreover, for the Divine Demons of the Primordial Starry Sky, such actions were costly.
If not for the urgency, the Immortal-tier Divine Demon would not have resorted to this.
He could simply wait for time to pass, for the passage to widen naturally. In a thousand or ten thousand years, it would allow Immortal-tier Divine Demons to enter.
By then, the Five Phoenixes would still be doomed.
A thousand or ten thousand years meant nothing to Divine Demons with near-immortal lifespans.
But they couldn’t wait.
Why?
Because the Five Phoenixes was transforming—ascending toward Immortal-Martial.
The allure of the Five Phoenixes’ Immortal Origin was irresistible to these Divine Demons—like the scent of instant noodles to someone starved for days.
They had no resistance. Thus, the Divine Demons descended into madness.
BOOM!
When the passage entrance exploded again,
the Immortal-tier Divine Demon’s two hands reached in, gripping both sides of the entrance, intent on tearing it wide open.
But shaking space-time with raw force was still taxing.
Naturally, the Five Phoenix cultivators would not let him succeed so easily.
Lu Changkong’s expression turned cold.
He bit his finger, smeared blood on the crossbow bolt, and fired lightly. The bolt struck the two hands.
Corrosive power erupted.
The Immortal-tier Divine Demon beyond the passage roared in fury.
That was the sound of a mind exploding.
Lu Changkong merely smiled.
Compared to Lu, his talent for messing with minds was still lacking.
But such poisoned bolts couldn’t be fired too often. They drew from the foundation of his poison body. Excessive use would damage his foundation, and recovery would be troublesome.
The battle in the Abyss of Nothingness had temporarily reached a stalemate.
While Divine Demon flesh scattered, the top powerhouses paid them no mind.
The Five Phoenix army and cultivators would encircle and destroy them.
With the Five Phoenixes undergoing its great transformation, they absolutely could not allow these remnants to enter and affect it.
During this time,
Tantai Xuan, Micah, Lu Jiulian, and the other Golden Immortals sat cross-legged in the void, recovering their energy.
…
A silent flame streaked through the void.
A top-tier powerhouse intent on concealment was nearly impossible to detect.
Especially when everyone’s attention was drawn to the great enemy.
Zhu Long, Tantai Xuan, Micah, and the others were fully focused on the Immortal-tier Divine Demon from the Primordial Starry Sky. They had no spare attention for other directions.
Moreover, Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor moved as a tiny flame—unless one swept the area with primordial spirit, detection was nearly impossible.
Outside the Abyss of Nothingness,
an army stood guard. Of course, these soldiers were not particularly strong—most below Heavenly Human Realm, at Immortal Dweller level or lower.
But their numbers were vast, completely sealing the Abyss of Nothingness.
Their role was to prevent any fish from slipping through.
And they succeeded.
Many Divine Demon flesh avatars tried to escape the abyss but were surrounded and annihilated by the army’s combined attacks.
A tiny flame darted out of the abyss.
Some cultivators sensed something amiss and glanced over—but saw nothing.
A single flame was far too inconspicuous.
After all, even Heavenly Human Realm fire cultivators could summon vast seas of flame with a wave of their hand.
Who would notice a mere wisp of fire?
Perhaps it was just stray energy from the battle in the abyss.
The cultivators soon withdrew their gazes.
The flame transformed into a streak of light, passing through the army and speeding toward the Five Phoenix Continent.
In the void,
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor finally revealed his form.
He gazed at the void starry sky, astonishment in his eyes.
“It resembles the Primordial Starry Sky… Perhaps this is the essence of surpassing high-martial!”
“The Ninth Heaven exists as continental plates—such a structure is too unstable to sustain anything beyond high-martial.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor murmured.
As a Great Emperor, his insight was profound.
The Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Dao attached to him seemed thoughtful as well.
But their purpose here was not admiration.
“The Origin Space… the transformation must occur in the Origin Space.”
The Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Dao fluctuated.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s expression changed slightly. Then he raised his hand. A terrifying flame serpent shot forth.
It was deep purple flame—twisted with fear.
On the Five Phoenix Continent, he could easily locate the Five Phoenixes’ Origin Space.
However, Lu had prepared in advance—setting up arrays to obscure the Origin Space’s position so it could not be easily found.
Even Five Phoenix cultivators found it difficult to locate—because Lu did not allow them to perceive it.
Only the little Yinglong and Zhu Long could sense it—because Lu had granted them permission.
“Damn it… Lu Ping’an set up arrays!”
“He concealed the Origin Space’s coordinates!”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s expression turned cold.
His powerful primordial spirit swept the area but found nothing. Every world had an Origin Space—this was common knowledge for Emperor Realm existences.
If he couldn’t find the Five Phoenixes’ Origin Space, there was only one explanation—someone had hidden its coordinates.
And in the Five Phoenixes, the only one capable of such a feat was the mysterious Lu Ping’an.
“This bastard—even absent, he still messes with my mind!”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor snorted coldly and stomped lightly.
A blazing ring of fire exploded outward. Terrifying burning power turned the entire ancient forest into ruins.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor sat cross-legged and, with the assistance of the Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Dao, began searching for the Origin Space.
High above,
the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor in black robes coldly watched Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor below.
Then he slowly drew the sword from his back.
With a gentle flick,
the sword shot forth.
It transformed into a streak of light, descending from the heavens.
Clang!
The sword light suddenly expanded to ten thousand zhang!
Like a massive divine sword falling from the sky!
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor, sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes. Terrifying flames erupted from his body.
Above his head, a sea of fire formed.
The sword light plunged into the sea of fire but could not advance an inch.
“My tracks… were discovered?”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor looked up at the black-robed figure. In an instant, his expression changed.
“This aura…”
“Heavenly Spirit?!”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor exclaimed in shock.
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was alive?
Impossible…
He had personally witnessed Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor self-destruct his body. How could he still be alive?
Moreover, he had just attacked him with a sword.
He quickly recalled that Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s soul fragments had been taken by Lu Ping’an.
Could Lu Ping’an have revived Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor?
Impossible…
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s hatred for Lu Ping’an was no less than theirs.
So Lu Ping’an would not revive him and create another enemy.
“Shut your mouth.”
“You are not worthy to speak my name.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor spoke coldly and mercilessly.
Then, high in the sky, he opened his hand—as though parting a curtain of beads.
The sword suddenly split into countless beams of sword light—like a rain of swords pouring down madly.
BANG BANG BANG!
The entire area exploded. The ground cracked. Mountains were flattened.
But the sea of fire surged, forming a giant flame serpent coiled around Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
All the sword rain was blocked.
“Combat power below early Emperor… even if you are truly Heavenly Spirit, self-destruction severely damaged your strength. In such a short time, you can’t return to Great Emperor realm.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor sneered.
He looked up, his red hair flying, staring coldly at the black-robed Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor.
“With this level of strength, you dare block me?”
“Besides, me destroying the Five Phoenixes benefits you. Why interfere?”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor said.
The black robe blew open, revealing the reborn body of the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor.
Plain and unremarkable—not particularly handsome, not ugly—just an ordinary man’s appearance.
But his eyes shone with star-like brilliance.
He looked at Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
“I don’t care if you kill Lu Ping’an. But destroying the Five Phoenixes… I won’t allow it. My little princess still needs to live there.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor said.
“Your little princess? Pfft hahaha…”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor was stunned.
Then he burst into laughter—tears nearly streaming down his face.
“The great Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor has become someone’s servant?”
“Where is your dignity as a Great Emperor?!”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s eyes were full of contempt.
“You thousand-year-old virgin— what do you know?” The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor glanced at Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor below and sneered.
Sword light filled the sky.
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s body vanished like teleportation. Sword qi swept across thirty thousand miles.
Fortunately, with the Five Phoenixes’ transformation, the world had grown far more stable.
Even Emperor-level clashes could no longer shatter heaven and earth—though this region’s terrain was completely altered.
What was once an ancient forest had become a land of crisscrossing gullies and barren yellow earth under the clash of sword qi.
Gu Mangran appeared in the Five Phoenixes.
He naturally noticed the terrifying battle below.
His expression changed drastically.
“An ancient Great Emperor of the Ninth Heaven?!”
As expected… these ancient Great Emperors would not miss such a perfect opportunity. While the Five Phoenixes underwent transformation—even attracting Immortal-tier Divine Demons from the Primordial Starry Sky—how could these scheming ancient Great Emperors remain idle?
He had wondered why they hadn’t acted.
It turned out they had sneaked into the Five Phoenixes, preparing to strike!
“Flame domain… Heaven-Burning Fire—this is the Fire Clan’s ancient Great Emperor!”
Gu Mangran’s gaze shifted to the black-robed sword cultivator.
Regardless of who this sword cultivator was,
since he fought to protect the Five Phoenixes, he was an ally.
“A堂堂 ancient Great Emperor resorting to such despicable sneak attacks—truly disappointing, truly disgusting!”
Gu Mangran spoke.
BANG!
A massive explosion rang out.
The ground was plowed into gullies. The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor stood panting at the end of one, back covered in a mountain of earth.
The sword in his hand had nearly melted from the flames.
His strength had not yet returned to Great Emperor level. Now only early Golden Immortal—and without a proper weapon—he was no match for Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
If not for his familiarity with Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s techniques,
he would already be dead.
But the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor did not retreat. His eyes grew even more resolute.
“This land has a magic that makes people want to protect it… Perhaps because there are people worth protecting here—people I care about. I won’t let them perish due to someone’s greed.”
The broken sword rested on the ground. The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor panted heavily and straightened.
His black robe had been burned away, revealing his lean, powerful body.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor looked at Gu Mangran.
“Blood-Clad General?”
“As Hao’s loyal follower, you actually betrayed him…”
“Do you know why I came this time?”
“Because Hao sent me. As your former faith, why not help me… When you return to the Ninth Heaven, Hao will surely welcome you with open arms.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor smiled, gazing oddly at Gu Mangran.
In the distance, the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor also glanced at Gu Mangran.
As an ancient Great Emperor, he knew well Gu Mangran’s former devotion to Hao.
It was a worship engraved into his very bones—like an Immortal-tier Divine Demon commanding an early-tier one to die, and the early-tier obeying without hesitation.
Thus, the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was unsure whether Gu Mangran would help Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
Gu Mangran fell silent.
Then he laughed.
“Beyond the rift, my grudge with Emperor Hao was severed with a single blade… He shattered my faith. Now… I live for the Five Phoenixes.”
Gu Mangran raised his head.
“As for helping you…”
“Hah…”
“In Young Master Lu’s words—that’s just you daydreaming.”
Gu Mangran’s gaze suddenly blazed.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s body was coiled by mountain-sized flame serpents. The serpents raised their heads, roaring toward Gu Mangran. A pillar of flame annihilated the void as it surged forth.
“Then die.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor said coldly.
“A mere non-Emperor ant dares block me.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s gaze sharpened. The sword in his hand rose.
A vast sword qi swept across the earth, as though intending to cleave the entire ground in half. But his strength had not returned to Great Emperor level.
This sword was easily crushed by Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s flame palm—Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor was no weakling among Great Emperors.
“Fire Spirit! I’ve located the Origin Space coordinates!”
“Tear it open!”
Just as Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor prepared to finish the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor, the Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Dao suddenly resounded.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor narrowed his eyes. Business first.
His hand slashed. A flame Emperor Weapon appeared. Following the coordinates given by the Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Dao, he raised the weapon and struck toward a point in the void.
High above,
the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor coldly watched Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor below.
Then he slowly drew the sword from his back.
With a gentle flick,
the sword shot forth.
It transformed into a streak of light, descending from the heavens.
Clang!
The sword light suddenly expanded to ten thousand zhang!
Like a massive divine sword falling from the sky!
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor, sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes. Terrifying flames erupted from his body.
Above his head, a sea of fire formed.
The sword light plunged into the sea of fire but could not advance an inch.
“My tracks… were discovered?”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor looked up at the black-robed figure. In an instant, his expression changed.
“This aura…”
“Heavenly Spirit?!”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor exclaimed in shock.
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was alive?
Impossible…
He had personally witnessed Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor self-destruct his body. How could he still be alive?
Moreover, he had just attacked him with a sword.
He quickly recalled that Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s soul fragments had been taken by Lu Ping’an.
Could Lu Ping’an have revived Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor?
Impossible…
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s hatred for Lu Ping’an was no less than theirs.
So Lu Ping’an would not revive him and create another enemy.
“Shut your mouth.”
“You are not worthy to speak my name.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor spoke coldly and mercilessly.
Then, high in the sky, he opened his hand—as though parting a curtain of beads.
The sword suddenly split into countless beams of sword light—like a rain of swords pouring down madly.
BANG BANG BANG!
The entire area exploded. The ground cracked. Mountains were flattened.
But the sea of fire surged, forming a giant flame serpent coiled around Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
All the sword rain was blocked.
“Combat power below early Emperor… even if you are truly Heavenly Spirit, self-destruction severely damaged your strength. In such a short time, you can’t return to Great Emperor realm.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor sneered.
He looked up, his red hair flying, staring coldly at the black-robed Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor.
“With this level of strength, you dare block me?”
“Besides, me destroying the Five Phoenixes benefits you. Why interfere?”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor said.
The black robe blew open, revealing the reborn body of the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor.
Plain and unremarkable—not particularly handsome, not ugly—just an ordinary man’s appearance.
But his eyes shone with star-like brilliance.
He looked at Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
“I don’t care if you kill Lu Ping’an. But destroying the Five Phoenixes… I won’t allow it. My little princess still needs to live there.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor said.
“Your little princess? Pfft hahaha…”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor was stunned.
Then he burst into laughter—tears nearly streaming down his face.
“The great Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor has become someone’s servant?”
“Where is your dignity as a Great Emperor?!”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s eyes were full of contempt.
“You thousand-year-old virgin—what do you know?” The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor glanced at Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor below and sneered.
Sword light filled the sky.
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s body vanished like teleportation. Sword qi swept across thirty thousand miles.
Fortunately, with the Five Phoenixes’ transformation, the world had grown far more stable.
Even Emperor-level clashes could no longer shatter heaven and earth—though this region’s terrain was completely altered.
What was once an ancient forest had become a land of crisscrossing gullies and barren yellow earth under the clash of sword qi.
Gu Mangran appeared in the Five Phoenixes.
He naturally noticed the terrifying battle below.
His expression changed drastically.
“An ancient Great Emperor of the Ninth Heaven?!”
As expected… these ancient Great Emperors would not miss such a perfect opportunity. While the Five Phoenixes underwent transformation—even attracting Immortal-tier Divine Demons from the Primordial Starry Sky—how could these scheming ancient Great Emperors remain idle?
He had wondered why they hadn’t acted.
It turned out they had sneaked into the Five Phoenixes, preparing to strike!
“Flame domain… Heaven-Burning Fire—this is the Fire Clan’s ancient Great Emperor!”
Gu Mangran’s gaze shifted to the black-robed sword cultivator.
Regardless of who this sword cultivator was,
since he fought to protect the Five Phoenixes, he was an ally.
“A堂堂 ancient Great Emperor resorting to such despicable sneak attacks—truly disappointing, truly disgusting!”
Gu Mangran spoke.
BANG!
A massive explosion rang out.
The ground was plowed into gullies. The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor stood panting at the end of one, back covered in a mountain of earth.
The sword in his hand had nearly melted from the flames.
His strength had not yet returned to Great Emperor level. Now only early Golden Immortal—and without a proper weapon—he was no match for Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
If not for his familiarity with Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s techniques,
he would already be dead.
But the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor did not retreat. His eyes grew even more resolute.
“This land has a magic that makes people want to protect it… Perhaps because there are people worth protecting here—people I care about. I won’t let them perish due to someone’s greed.”
The broken sword rested on the ground. The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor panted heavily and straightened.
His black robe had been burned away, revealing his lean, powerful body.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor looked at Gu Mangran.
“Blood-Clad General?”
“As Hao’s loyal follower, you actually betrayed him…”
“Do you know why I came this time?”
“Because Hao sent me. As your former faith, why not help me… When you return to the Ninth Heaven, Hao will surely welcome you with open arms.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor smiled, gazing oddly at Gu Mangran.
In the distance, the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor also glanced at Gu Mangran.
As an ancient Great Emperor, he knew well Gu Mangran’s former devotion to Hao.
It was a worship engraved into his very bones—like an Immortal-tier Divine Demon commanding an early-tier one to die, and the early-tier obeying without hesitation.
Thus, the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was unsure whether Gu Mangran would help Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
Gu Mangran fell silent.
Then he laughed.
“Beyond the rift, my grudge with Emperor Hao was severed with a single blade… He shattered my faith. Now… I live for the Five Phoenixes.”
Gu Mangran raised his head.
“As for helping you…”
“Hah…”
“In Young Master Lu’s words—that’s just you daydreaming.”
Gu Mangran’s gaze suddenly blazed.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s body was coiled by mountain-sized flame serpents. The serpents raised their heads, roaring toward Gu Mangran. A pillar of flame annihilated the void as it surged forth.
“Then die.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor said coldly.
“A mere non-Emperor ant dares block me.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s gaze sharpened. The sword in his hand rose.
A vast sword qi swept across the earth, as though intending to cleave the entire ground in half. But his strength had not returned to Great Emperor level.
This sword was easily crushed by Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s flame palm—Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor was no weakling among Great Emperors.
“Fire Spirit! I’ve located the Origin Space coordinates!”
“Tear it open!”
Just as Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor prepared to finish the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor, the Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Dao suddenly resounded.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor narrowed his eyes. Business first.
His hand slashed. A flame Emperor Weapon appeared. Following the coordinates given by the Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Dao, he raised the weapon and struck toward a point in the void.
High above,
the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor coldly watched Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor below.
Then he slowly drew the sword from his back.
With a gentle flick,
the sword shot forth.
It transformed into a streak of light, descending from the heavens.
Clang!
The sword light suddenly expanded to ten thousand zhang!
Like a massive divine sword falling from the sky!
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor, sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes. Terrifying flames erupted from his body.
Above his head, a sea of fire formed.
The sword light plunged into the sea of fire but could not advance an inch.
“My tracks… were discovered?”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor looked up at the black-robed figure. In an instant, his expression changed.
“This aura…”
“Heavenly Spirit?!”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor exclaimed in shock.
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was alive?
Impossible…
He had personally witnessed Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor self-destruct his body. How could he still be alive?
Moreover, he had just attacked him with a sword.
He quickly recalled that Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s soul fragments had been taken by Lu Ping’an.
Could Lu Ping’an have revived Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor?
Impossible…
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s hatred for Lu Ping’an was no less than theirs.
So Lu Ping’an would not revive him and create another enemy.
“Shut your mouth.”
“You are not worthy to speak my name.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor spoke coldly and mercilessly.
Then, high in the sky, he opened his hand—as though parting a curtain of beads.
The sword suddenly split into countless beams of sword light—like a rain of swords pouring down madly.
BANG BANG BANG!
The entire area exploded. The ground cracked. Mountains were flattened.
But the sea of fire surged, forming a giant flame serpent coiled around Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
All the sword rain was blocked.
“Combat power below early Emperor… even if you are truly Heavenly Spirit, self-destruction severely damaged your strength. In such a short time, you can’t return to Great Emperor realm.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor sneered.
He looked up, his red hair flying, staring coldly at the black-robed Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor.
“With this level of strength, you dare block me?”
“Besides, me destroying the Five Phoenixes benefits you. Why interfere?”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor said.
The black robe blew open, revealing the reborn body of the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor.
Plain and unremarkable—not particularly handsome, not ugly—just an ordinary man’s appearance.
But his eyes shone with star-like brilliance.
He looked at Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
“I don’t care if you kill Lu Ping’an. But destroying the Five Phoenixes… I won’t allow it. My little princess still needs to live there.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor said.
“Your little princess? Pfft hahaha…”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor was stunned.
Then he burst into laughter—tears nearly streaming down his face.
“The great Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor has become someone’s servant?”
“Where is your dignity as a Great Emperor?!”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s eyes were full of contempt.
“You thousand-year-old virgin—what do you know?” The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor glanced at Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor below and sneered.
Sword light filled the sky.
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s body vanished like teleportation. Sword qi swept across thirty thousand miles.
Fortunately, with the Five Phoenixes’ transformation, the world had grown far more stable.
Even Emperor-level clashes could no longer shatter heaven and earth—though this region’s terrain was completely altered.
What was once an ancient forest had become a land of crisscrossing gullies and barren yellow earth under the clash of sword qi.
Gu Mangran appeared in the Five Phoenixes.
He naturally noticed the terrifying battle below.
His expression changed drastically.
“An ancient Great Emperor of the Ninth Heaven?!”
As expected… these ancient Great Emperors would not miss such a perfect opportunity. While the Five Phoenixes underwent transformation—even attracting Immortal-tier Divine Demons from the Primordial Starry Sky—how could these scheming ancient Great Emperors remain idle?
He had wondered why they hadn’t acted.
It turned out they had sneaked into the Five Phoenixes, preparing to strike!
“Flame domain… Heaven-Burning Fire—this is the Fire Clan’s ancient Great Emperor!”
Gu Mangran’s gaze shifted to the black-robed sword cultivator.
Regardless of who this sword cultivator was,
since he fought to protect the Five Phoenixes, he was an ally.
“A堂堂 ancient Great Emperor resorting to such despicable sneak attacks—truly disappointing, truly disgusting!”
Gu Mangran spoke.
BANG!
A massive explosion rang out.
The ground was plowed into gullies. The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor stood panting at the end of one, back covered in a mountain of earth.
The sword in his hand had nearly melted from the flames.
His strength had not yet returned to Great Emperor level. Now only early Golden Immortal—and without a proper weapon—he was no match for Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
If not for his familiarity with Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s techniques,
he would already be dead.
But the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor did not retreat. His eyes grew even more resolute.
“This land has a magic that makes people want to protect it… Perhaps because there are people worth protecting here—people I care about. I won’t let them perish due to someone’s greed.”
The broken sword rested on the ground. The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor panted heavily and straightened.
His black robe had been burned away, revealing his lean, powerful body.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor looked at Gu Mangran.
“Blood-Clad General?”
“As Hao’s loyal follower, you actually betrayed him…”
“Do you know why I came this time?”
“Because Hao sent me. As your former faith, why not help me… When you return to the Ninth Heaven, Hao will surely welcome you with open arms.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor smiled, gazing oddly at Gu Mangran.
In the distance, the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor also glanced at Gu Mangran.
As an ancient Great Emperor, he knew well Gu Mangran’s former devotion to Hao.
It was a worship engraved into his very bones—like an Immortal-tier Divine Demon commanding an early-tier one to die, and the early-tier obeying without hesitation.
Thus, the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was unsure whether Gu Mangran would help Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
Gu Mangran fell silent.
Then he laughed.
“Beyond the rift, my grudge with Emperor Hao was severed with a single blade… He shattered my faith. Now… I live for the Five Phoenixes.”
Gu Mangran raised his head.
“As for helping you…”
“Hah…”
“In Young Master Lu’s words—that’s just you daydreaming.”
Gu Mangran’s gaze suddenly blazed.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s body was coiled by mountain-sized flame serpents. The serpents raised their heads, roaring toward Gu Mangran. A pillar of flame annihilated the void as it surged forth.
“Then die.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor said coldly.
“A mere non-Emperor ant dares block me.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s gaze sharpened. The sword in his hand rose.
A vast sword qi swept across the earth, as though intending to cleave the entire ground in half. But his strength had not returned to Great Emperor level.
This sword was easily crushed by Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s flame palm—Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor was no weakling among Great Emperors.
“Fire Spirit! I’ve located the Origin Space coordinates!”
“Tear it open!”
Just as Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor prepared to finish the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor, the Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Dao suddenly resounded.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor narrowed his eyes. Business first.
His hand slashed. A flame Emperor Weapon appeared. Following the coordinates given by the Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Dao, he raised the weapon and struck toward a point in the void.
High above,
the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor coldly watched Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor below.
Then he slowly drew the sword from his back.
With a gentle flick,
the sword shot forth.
It transformed into a streak of light, descending from the heavens.
Clang!
The sword light suddenly expanded to ten thousand zhang!
Like a massive divine sword falling from the sky!
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor, sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes. Terrifying flames erupted from his body.
Above his head, a sea of fire formed.
The sword light plunged into the sea of fire but could not advance an inch.
“My tracks… were discovered?”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor looked up at the black-robed figure. In an instant, his expression changed.
“This aura…”
“Heavenly Spirit?!”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor exclaimed in shock.
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was alive?
Impossible…
He had personally witnessed Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor self-destruct his body. How could he still be alive?
Moreover, he had just attacked him with a sword.
He quickly recalled that Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s soul fragments had been taken by Lu Ping’an.
Could Lu Ping’an have revived Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor?
Impossible…
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s hatred for Lu Ping’an was no less than theirs.
So Lu Ping’an would not revive him and create another enemy.
“Shut your mouth.”
“You are not worthy to speak my name.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor spoke coldly and mercilessly.
Then, high in the sky, he opened his hand—as though parting a curtain of beads.
The sword suddenly split into countless beams of sword light—like a rain of swords pouring down madly.
BANG BANG BANG!
The entire area exploded. The ground cracked. Mountains were flattened.
But the sea of fire surged, forming a giant flame serpent coiled around Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
All the sword rain was blocked.
“Combat power below early Emperor… even if you are truly Heavenly Spirit, self-destruction severely damaged your strength. In such a short time, you can’t return to Great Emperor realm.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor sneered.
He looked up, his red hair flying, staring coldly at the black-robed Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor.
“With this level of strength, you dare block me?”
“Besides, me destroying the Five Phoenixes benefits you. Why interfere?”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor said.
The black robe blew open, revealing the reborn body of the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor.
Plain and unremarkable—not particularly handsome, not ugly—just an ordinary man’s appearance.
But his eyes shone with star-like brilliance.
He looked at Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
“I don’t care if you kill Lu Ping’an. But destroying the Five Phoenixes… I won’t allow it. My little princess still needs to live there.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor said.
“Your little princess? Pfft hahaha…”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor was stunned.
Then he burst into laughter—tears nearly streaming down his face.
“The great Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor has become someone’s servant?”
“Where is your dignity as a Great Emperor?!”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s eyes were full of contempt.
“You thousand-year-old virgin—what do you know?” The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor glanced at Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor below and sneered.
Sword light filled the sky.
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s body vanished like teleportation. Sword qi swept across thirty thousand miles.
Fortunately, with the Five Phoenixes’ transformation, the world had grown far more stable.
Even Emperor-level clashes could no longer shatter heaven and earth—though this region’s terrain was completely altered.
What was once an ancient forest had become a land of crisscrossing gullies and barren yellow earth under the clash of sword qi.
Gu Mangran appeared in the Five Phoenixes.
He naturally noticed the terrifying battle below.
His expression changed drastically.
“An ancient Great Emperor of the Ninth Heaven?!”
As expected… these ancient Great Emperors would not miss such a perfect opportunity. While the Five Phoenixes underwent transformation—even attracting Immortal-tier Divine Demons from the Primordial Starry Sky—how could these scheming ancient Great Emperors remain idle?
He had wondered why they hadn’t acted.
It turned out they had sneaked into the Five Phoenixes, preparing to strike!
“Flame domain… Heaven-Burning Fire—this is the Fire Clan’s ancient Great Emperor!”
Gu Mangran’s gaze shifted to the black-robed sword cultivator.
Regardless of who this sword cultivator was,
since he fought to protect the Five Phoenixes, he was an ally.
“A堂堂 ancient Great Emperor resorting to such despicable sneak attacks—truly disappointing, truly disgusting!”
Gu Mangran spoke.
BANG!
A massive explosion rang out.
The ground was plowed into gullies. The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor stood panting at the end of one, back covered in a mountain of earth.
The sword in his hand had nearly melted from the flames.
His strength had not yet returned to Great Emperor level. Now only early Golden Immortal—and without a proper weapon—he was no match for Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
If not for his familiarity with Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s techniques,
he would already be dead.
But the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor did not retreat. His eyes grew even more resolute.
“This land has a magic that makes people want to protect it… Perhaps because there are people worth protecting here—people I care about. I won’t let them perish due to someone’s greed.”
The broken sword rested on the ground. The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor panted heavily and straightened.
His black robe had been burned away, revealing his lean, powerful body.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor looked at Gu Mangran.
“Blood-Clad General?”
“As Hao’s loyal follower, you actually betrayed him…”
“Do you know why I came this time?”
“Because Hao sent me. As your former faith, why not help me… When you return to the Ninth Heaven, Hao will surely welcome you with open arms.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor smiled, gazing oddly at Gu Mangran.
In the distance, the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor also glanced at Gu Mangran.
As an ancient Great Emperor, he knew well Gu Mangran’s former devotion to Hao.
It was a worship engraved into his very bones—like an Immortal-tier Divine Demon commanding an early-tier one to die, and the early-tier obeying without hesitation.
Thus, the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was unsure whether Gu Mangran would help Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
Gu Mangran fell silent.
Then he laughed.
“Beyond the rift, my grudge with Emperor Hao was severed with a single blade… He shattered my faith. Now… I live for the Five Phoenixes.”
Gu Mangran raised his head.
“As for helping you…”
“Hah…”
“In Young Master Lu’s words—that’s just you daydreaming.”
Gu Mangran’s gaze suddenly blazed.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s body was coiled by mountain-sized flame serpents. The serpents raised their heads, roaring toward Gu Mangran. A pillar of flame annihilated the void as it surged forth.
“Then die.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor said coldly.
“A mere non-Emperor ant dares block me.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s gaze sharpened. The sword in his hand rose.
A vast sword qi swept across the earth, as though intending to cleave the entire ground in half. But his strength had not returned to Great Emperor level.
This sword was easily crushed by Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s flame palm—Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor was no weakling among Great Emperors.
“Fire Spirit! I’ve located the Origin Space coordinates!”
“Tear it open!”
Just as Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor prepared to finish the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor, the Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Dao suddenly resounded.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor narrowed his eyes. Business first.
His hand slashed. A flame Emperor Weapon appeared. Following the coordinates given by the Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Dao, he raised the weapon and struck toward a point in the void.
High above,
the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor coldly watched Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor below.
Then he slowly drew the sword from his back.
With a gentle flick,
the sword shot forth.
It transformed into a streak of light, descending from the heavens.
Clang!
The sword light suddenly expanded to ten thousand zhang!
Like a massive divine sword falling from the sky!
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor, sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes. Terrifying flames erupted from his body.
Above his head, a sea of fire formed.
The sword light plunged into the sea of fire but could not advance an inch.
“My tracks… were discovered?”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor looked up at the black-robed figure. In an instant, his expression changed.
“This aura…”
“Heavenly Spirit?!”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor exclaimed in shock.
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was alive?
Impossible…
He had personally witnessed Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor self-destruct his body. How could he still be alive?
Moreover, he had just attacked him with a sword.
He quickly recalled that Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s soul fragments had been taken by Lu Ping’an.
Could Lu Ping’an have revived Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor?
Impossible…
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s hatred for Lu Ping’an was no less than theirs.
So Lu Ping’an would not revive him and create another enemy.
“Shut your mouth.”
“You are not worthy to speak my name.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor spoke coldly and mercilessly.
Then, high in the sky, he opened his hand—as though parting a curtain of beads.
The sword suddenly split into countless beams of sword light—like a rain of swords pouring down madly.
BANG BANG BANG!
The entire area exploded. The ground cracked. Mountains were flattened.
But the sea of fire surged, forming a giant flame serpent coiled around Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
All the sword rain was blocked.
“Combat power below early Emperor… even if you are truly Heavenly Spirit, self-destruction severely damaged your strength. In such a short time, you can’t return to Great Emperor realm.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor sneered.
He looked up, his red hair flying, staring coldly at the black-robed Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor.
“With this level of strength, you dare block me?”
“Besides, me destroying the Five Phoenixes benefits you. Why interfere?”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor said.
The black robe blew open, revealing the reborn body of the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor.
Plain and unremarkable—not particularly handsome, not ugly—just an ordinary man’s appearance.
But his eyes shone with star-like brilliance.
He looked at Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
“I don’t care if you kill Lu Ping’an. But destroying the Five Phoenixes… I won’t allow it. My little princess still needs to live there.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor said.
“Your little princess? Pfft hahaha…”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor was stunned.
Then he burst into laughter—tears nearly streaming down his face.
“The great Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor has become someone’s servant?”
“Where is your dignity as a Great Emperor?!”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s eyes were full of contempt.
“You thousand-year-old virgin—what do you know?” The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor glanced at Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor below and sneered.
Sword light filled the sky.
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s body vanished like teleportation. Sword qi swept across thirty thousand miles.
Fortunately, with the Five Phoenixes’ transformation, the world had grown far more stable.
Even Emperor-level clashes could no longer shatter heaven and earth—though this region’s terrain was completely altered.
What was once an ancient forest had become a land of crisscrossing gullies and barren yellow earth under the clash of sword qi.
Gu Mangran appeared in the Five Phoenixes.
He naturally noticed the terrifying battle below.
His expression changed drastically.
“An ancient Great Emperor of the Ninth Heaven?!”
As expected… these ancient Great Emperors would not miss such a perfect opportunity. While the Five Phoenixes underwent transformation—even attracting Immortal-tier Divine Demons from the Primordial Starry Sky—how could these scheming ancient Great Emperors remain idle?
He had wondered why they hadn’t acted.
It turned out they had sneaked into the Five Phoenixes, preparing to strike!
“Flame domain… Heaven-Burning Fire—this is the Fire Clan’s ancient Great Emperor!”
Gu Mangran’s gaze shifted to the black-robed sword cultivator.
Regardless of who this sword cultivator was,
since he fought to protect the Five Phoenixes, he was an ally.
“A堂堂 ancient Great Emperor resorting to such despicable sneak attacks—truly disappointing, truly disgusting!”
Gu Mangran spoke.
BANG!
A massive explosion rang out.
The ground was plowed into gullies. The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor stood panting at the end of one, back covered in a mountain of earth.
The sword in his hand had nearly melted from the flames.
His strength had not yet returned to Great Emperor level. Now only early Golden Immortal—and without a proper weapon—he was no match for Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
If not for his familiarity with Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s techniques,
he would already be dead.
But the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor did not retreat. His eyes grew even more resolute.
“This land has a magic that makes people want to protect it… Perhaps because there are people worth protecting here—people I care about. I won’t let them perish due to someone’s greed.”
The broken sword rested on the ground. The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor panted heavily and straightened.
His black robe had been burned away, revealing his lean, powerful body.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor looked at Gu Mangran.
“Blood-Clad General?”
“As Hao’s loyal follower, you actually betrayed him…”
“Do you know why I came this time?”
“Because Hao sent me. As your former faith, why not help me… When you return to the Ninth Heaven, Hao will surely welcome you with open arms.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor smiled, gazing oddly at Gu Mangran.
In the distance, the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor also glanced at Gu Mangran.
As an ancient Great Emperor, he knew well Gu Mangran’s former devotion to Hao.
It was a worship engraved into his very bones—like an Immortal-tier Divine Demon commanding an early-tier one to die, and the early-tier obeying without hesitation.
Thus, the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was unsure whether Gu Mangran would help Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
Gu Mangran fell silent.
Then he laughed.
“Beyond the rift, my grudge with Emperor Hao was severed with a single blade… He shattered my faith. Now… I live for the Five Phoenixes.”
Gu Mangran raised his head.
“As for helping you…”
“Hah…”
“In Young Master Lu’s words—that’s just you daydreaming.”
Gu Mangran’s gaze suddenly blazed.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s body was coiled by mountain-sized flame serpents. The serpents raised their heads, roaring toward Gu Mangran. A pillar of flame annihilated the void as it surged forth.
“Then die.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor said coldly.
“A mere non-Emperor ant dares block me.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s gaze sharpened. The sword in his hand rose.
A vast sword qi swept across the earth, as though intending to cleave the entire ground in half. But his strength had not returned to Great Emperor level.
This sword was easily crushed by Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s flame palm—Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor was no weakling among Great Emperors.
“Fire Spirit! I’ve located the Origin Space coordinates!”
“Tear it open!”
Just as Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor prepared to finish the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor, the Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Dao suddenly resounded.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor narrowed his eyes. Business first.
His hand slashed. A flame Emperor Weapon appeared. Following the coordinates given by the Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Dao, he raised the weapon and struck toward a point in the void.
High above,
the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor coldly watched Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor below.
Then he slowly drew the sword from his back.
With a gentle flick,
the sword shot forth.
It transformed into a streak of light, descending from the heavens.
Clang!
The sword light suddenly expanded to ten thousand zhang!
Like a massive divine sword falling from the sky!
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor, sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes. Terrifying flames erupted from his body.
Above his head, a sea of fire formed.
The sword light plunged into the sea of fire but could not advance an inch.
“My tracks… were discovered?”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor looked up at the black-robed figure. In an instant, his expression changed.
“This aura…”
“Heavenly Spirit?!”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor exclaimed in shock.
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was alive?
Impossible…
He had personally witnessed Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor self-destruct his body. How could he still be alive?
Moreover, he had just attacked him with a sword.
He quickly recalled that Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s soul fragments had been taken by Lu Ping’an.
Could Lu Ping’an have revived Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor?
Impossible…
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s hatred for Lu Ping’an was no less than theirs.
So Lu Ping’an would not revive him and create another enemy.
“Shut your mouth.”
“You are not worthy to speak my name.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor spoke coldly and mercilessly.
Then, high in the sky, he opened his hand—as though parting a curtain of beads.
The sword suddenly split into countless beams of sword light—like a rain of swords pouring down madly.
BANG BANG BANG!
The entire area exploded. The ground cracked. Mountains were flattened.
But the sea of fire surged, forming a giant flame serpent coiled around Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
All the sword rain was blocked.
“Combat power below early Emperor… even if you are truly Heavenly Spirit, self-destruction severely damaged your strength. In such a short time, you can’t return to Great Emperor realm.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor sneered.
He looked up, his red hair flying, staring coldly at the black-robed Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor.
“With this level of strength, you dare block me?”
“Besides, me destroying the Five Phoenixes benefits you. Why interfere?”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor said.
The black robe blew open, revealing the reborn body of the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor.
Plain and unremarkable—not particularly handsome, not ugly—just an ordinary man’s appearance.
But his eyes shone with star-like brilliance.
He looked at Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
“I don’t care if you kill Lu Ping’an. But destroying the Five Phoenixes… I won’t allow it. My little princess still needs to live there.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor said.
“Your little princess? Pfft hahaha…”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor was stunned.
Then he burst into laughter—tears nearly streaming down his face.
“The great Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor has become someone’s servant?”
“Where is your dignity as a Great Emperor?!”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s eyes were full of contempt.
“You thousand-year-old virgin—what do you know?” The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor glanced at Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor below and sneered.
Sword light filled the sky.
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s body vanished like teleportation. Sword qi swept across thirty thousand miles.
Fortunately, with the Five Phoenixes’ transformation, the world had grown far more stable.
Even Emperor-level clashes could no longer shatter heaven and earth—though this region’s terrain was completely altered.
What was once an ancient forest had become a land of crisscrossing gullies and barren yellow earth under the clash of sword qi.
Gu Mangran appeared in the Five Phoenixes.
He naturally noticed the terrifying battle below.
His expression changed drastically.
“An ancient Great Emperor of the Ninth Heaven?!”
As expected… these ancient Great Emperors would not miss such a perfect opportunity. While the Five Phoenixes underwent transformation—even attracting Immortal-tier Divine Demons from the Primordial Starry Sky—how could these scheming ancient Great Emperors remain idle?
He had wondered why they hadn’t acted.
It turned out they had sneaked into the Five Phoenixes, preparing to strike!
“Flame domain… Heaven-Burning Fire—this is the Fire Clan’s ancient Great Emperor!”
Gu Mangran’s gaze shifted to the black-robed sword cultivator.
Regardless of who this sword cultivator was,
since he fought to protect the Five Phoenixes, he was an ally.
“A堂堂 ancient Great Emperor resorting to such despicable sneak attacks—truly disappointing, truly disgusting!”
Gu Mangran spoke.
BANG!
A massive explosion rang out.
The ground was plowed into gullies. The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor stood panting at the end of one, back covered in a mountain of earth.
The sword in his hand had nearly melted from the flames.
His strength had not yet returned to Great Emperor level. Now only early Golden Immortal—and without a proper weapon—he was no match for Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
If not for his familiarity with Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s techniques,
he would already be dead.
But the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor did not retreat. His eyes grew even more resolute.
“This land has a magic that makes people want to protect it… Perhaps because there are people worth protecting here—people I care about. I won’t let them perish due to someone’s greed.”
The broken sword rested on the ground. The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor panted heavily and straightened.
His black robe had been burned away, revealing his lean, powerful body.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor looked at Gu Mangran.
“Blood-Clad General?”
“As Hao’s loyal follower, you actually betrayed him…”
“Do you know why I came this time?”
“Because Hao sent me. As your former faith, why not help me… When you return to the Ninth Heaven, Hao will surely welcome you with open arms.”
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor smiled, gazing oddly at Gu Mangran.
In the distance, the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor also glanced at Gu Mangran.
As an ancient Great Emperor, he knew well Gu Mangran’s former devotion to Hao.
It was a worship engraved into his very bones—like an Immortal-tier Divine Demon commanding an early-tier one to die, and the early-tier obeying without hesitation.
Thus, the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was unsure whether Gu Mangran would help Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor.
Gu Mangran fell silent.
Then he laughed.
“Beyond the rift, my grudge with Emperor Hao was severed with a single blade… He shattered my faith. Now… I live for the Five Phoenixes.”
Gu Mangran raised his head.
“As for helping you…”
“Hah…”
“In Young Master Lu’s words—that’s just you daydreaming.”
Gu Mangran’s gaze suddenly blazed.
Fire Spirit Ancient Emperor’s body was coiled by mountain-sized flame serpents. The serpents raised their heads, roaring toward Gu Mangran. A pillar of flame annihilated the void as it surged forth.
