Chapter 187 - A Battle of the Apex, One Sword Clears the Field!
Atop the Ascension Gate, Supreme Marshal Chen Xiao, clad in white tiger armor, leaned against the railing, his eyes burning as he gazed at the few names on the Ascension Board.
Chen Xi was in the top ten! And Yun Xiao was close to breaking into the top ten himself. The first day was just a preliminary ranking. It reflected the strength of the participants but wasn't all that crucial.
"Old Chen," Zhao Xuanjian, robed in violet, suddenly appeared beside him. Both men stood back to back, facing the Demon Saints and the officials from the various Immortal Empires.
"What's up?" the Supreme Marshal asked casually, eyes fixed ahead.
"Your son-in-law bet 100,000 Saint Stones on himself to win the championship!" Zhao Xuanjian said, his face a picture of disbelief.
"Oh?" The Supreme Marshal's gaze landed on the young man in white. "True to form for someone Chen Xi brought back. His growth is astounding. He alone could crush You Qingzhi's team, and now, after breaking through the Wind Fire Tribulation, he's unstoppable."
"Do you think he and Chen Xi have a shot at the top?" Zhao Xuanjian asked.
"Wishful thinking is pointless. The answer will be revealed tomorrow," the Supreme Marshal replied, glancing at Zhao Xuanjian. "The stakes this time are so immense, exceeding the wealth of nations. It's a grand gamble between the Divine and Demon Continents. Regardless, you, as the bookie, stand to gain!"
"We'll see. If the Demon Continent wins, the Spirit Treasure Palace won't profit much," Zhao Xuanjian shook his head.
The Supreme Marshal hummed in agreement, then whispered, "By the way, you didn't let slip about my son-in-law's bet, did you?"
"No leak! It's all confidential. Otherwise, it would influence others' bets and crash the market. A dark horse, suddenly backed by 100,000 Saint Stones, would surely draw followers," Zhao Xuanjian explained.
"Good. Yun Xiao, and this Moon Fairy, they're the variables once the war starts!" After a pause, the Supreme Marshal said to Zhao Xuanjian, "Once the bets are settled tomorrow, close up shop and shut down your Spirit Treasure Palace."
"What's happening?" Zhao Xuanjian asked, slightly startled.
"The Empress has a plan, and the armies are mobilizing. What do you think?" the Supreme Marshal's eyes gleamed.
"Oh!" Zhao Xuanjian looked at him deeply, then bowed. "Brother, I am at your service." Past their prime, the two men stood in the wind, locking eyes for a long moment.
Not far from them, Ye Qingtian sat quietly, his gaze somber, the shadows flickering with firelight.
The Grand Temple's top students were decimated, the original top ten from the Dragon Ranking had all perished. This War of Immortals had nothing to do with his Azure Leaf faction anymore.
Now, Ye Qingtian could only pray for the glory of the Demon Continent and the Violet Sky Immortal Empire. Ironically, he now hoped for the Divine Dawn Immortal Empire's utter defeat, for Chen Xi and Yun Xiao's team to perish.
Suddenly, a broad hand rested on his shoulder.
"Sit," Ye Qingtian said without turning around.
A figure in purple materialized beside him, taking a seat. It was none other than the jade-faced monarch, the Violet Emperor.
"Why not take your imperial seat prepared by the Divine Dawn? Aren’t you going up there?" Ye Qingtian looked up towards the top of the Ascension Gateway. There, at the highest point, were eight imperial seats, now empty and forlorn.
"I find no companions there," the Violet Emperor said with a slight smile.
Ye Qingtian chuckled.
"How did your secret talks with those four go?" he asked in a low voice.
"It's hard to say," the Violet Emperor shook his head.
"Catching so many significant relatives of the four Immortal Empires, just to make them comply and not interfere recklessly. I'm guessing they won't cry until they see the coffin?" Ye Qingtian's gaze turned icy.
"Not quite," the Violet Emperor chuckled coldly. "They've softened, even agreed to cooperate, nodding and bowing. But... I can't tell if they'll honor their word in the shadows."
"As long as we strike swiftly and decisively, destroying Divine Dawn, they won't even have the chance to betray," Ye Qingtian said indifferently. "Once Divine Dawn falls, they'll lose their spine, especially that old fool from the Spirit Treasure Immortal Empire. He's old; it's time for his son to take over. His ninth son isn't bad, understands the bigger picture, suitable for the new emperor of Spirit Treasure."
"That's why tonight's event at the Sword Dao Monument is crucial," the Violet Emperor glanced towards the Divine Dawn Palace, sneering. "If done well, it could utterly tarnish Divine Dawn's reputation in the Heavenly Realm. Even with her formidable power, if the world despises her, and she loses the people's heart, with no one to shield her, her fall will be simple."
"The Sword Dao Monument..." Ye Qingtian closed his eyes slowly, his voice deep. "Everything is arranged!"
Beside him, You Fengya and Mu Tianshi nodded, clearly well-prepared.
"The War of Immortals will distract everyone, perfect for our plans," Mu Tianshi said.
"Then it's settled," the Violet Emperor bowed to Ye Qingtian. "Brother, once Divine Dawn is disgraced, you can reclaim the imperial throne and restore the Azure Leaf Immortal Empire's legitimacy! I'm happy for you, congratulations!"
"May your good words come true!" Ye Qingtian returned the bow, his eyes intense with ambition.
He envied the Violet Emperor! Uniting the Violet Sky, allying with demons, leading the imperial family and great clans to new heights, and reigning supreme over the Divine Continent. With the support of the demons, even the Violet Emperor’s descendants were dominating the Cycle Battle and Arena Champion Battle.
Meanwhile, Ye Qingtian's own offspring were shadows in comparison.
"In the Cycle Battle, the most glorious team is none other than the Violet Emperor's valiant descendants!" You Fengya looked down. He saw the Violet Sky Crown Prince, who was in the Saint Realm, leading the second, third, fifth, and sixth princes and princesses on a rampage.
Among them, the fifth and sixth princesses, being younger and less powerful, were just making up the numbers, essentially coasting to victory.
It was the Crown Prince and the second and third princes who led the charge, advancing triumphantly.
Unlike Yun Xiao's team, this squad faced no formidable opponents; their luck was exceptionally good.
"And that other team..." The Violet Emperor's pupils narrowed as he looked at Yun Xiao and his companions.
"They're quite strong, but apart from Yun Xiao, the other four are already injured and nearly out of the fight," Mu Tianshi said, his eyes ablaze with hatred.
"With only Yun Xiao left, if they encounter the five princes and princesses of Violet Sky, it's a sure path to defeat, a perfect way to elevate the prestige of the Violet Sky Immortal Empire," You Fengya said coldly.
The Violet Emperor relished these words. After all, he was determined to have his Immortal Empire secure the title of humanity's number one.
Many officials of the Azure Leaf faction were also discussing animatedly.
"Chen Xiao must have invested a lot in training his team. If they clash with Violet Sky, all his efforts will go down the drain." These words were spoken partly to please their friends from the Violet Sky Immortal Empire nearby.
Just as they said this, the battlefield shifted.
"Oh?" The Azure Leaf faction officials were startled, their feelings complex now that the clash was actually happening.
"The show begins," You Fengya declared.
Ye Qingtian shot him a glare.
You Fengya quickly lowered his head and shut up.
He knew that by hyping up Violet Sky, if something went wrong, it would be like sabotaging the Violet Emperor.
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RUMBLE! The clash of the two strongest teams sent the atmosphere of the War of Immortals soaring to unprecedented heights!
In the Arena Champion Battle, only Moon Fairy had defeated Si Muyou, while the prodigies of the other three Immortal Empires in the Establishment Wind Fire Tribulation were still locked in fierce combat. As the challengers fell one by one, interest there waned.
So now, the collision between the Macho Men of the Divine Dawn Immortal Empire and the Royal Roster of the Violet Sky Immortal Empire became the apex battle of the first day of the War of Immortals!
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE! As the walls of the immortal battlefield fell and the ten warriors met, the Heavenly Realm boiled over once more!
The two mightiest human teams clashed!
"Divine Dawn! Yun Xiao!" Countless cultivators of the Heavenly Realm roared in frenzy.
The scions of the Azure Leaf faction's noble families took pride in the Grand Temple's Dragon Ranking students, but the common folk preferred the Macho Men, taking pride in the Divine Dawn Immortal Empire.
Their cries of Divine Dawn resonated as the name of the Immortal Empire!
"Violet Sky! Crown Prince!" In comparison, the cheers for the Violet Sky Immortal Empire were somewhat weaker.
After all, the Divine Dawn Immortal Empire was the host!
"Violet Sky! Crown Prince!" Unexpectedly, in the next moment, tens of millions of demons joined the cultivators of Violet Sky, shouting in unison!
The cries of both sides now stood in equal opposition!
To the uninformed, it would seem Violet Sky was representing the demons.
This earth-shattering chorus even left Yun Xiao a bit dazed. He had just overcome a tribulation. For there to be so much cheering, which popular team was he facing now?
As the fog ahead dispersed, Yun Xiao and his blood-stained companions, including Chen Jin, looked ahead intently. The first to catch their eyes were two identical little princesses, with their long violet hair and charming features.
"Weren't those two with that Peacock Prince, Kong Ming? Weaklings like them are taking part in this battle?" Yun Xiao wondered.
His confusion dissipated as his gaze fell on the other three youths. Two were at the Establishment Wind Fire Tribulation Realm, comparable to Ye Shengyin, and one was at the Saint Realm!
Zhao Xiaotang quickly informed Yun Xiao of their identities.
"The Crown Prince? And the rest are princes and princesses?" Yun Xiao asked.
"Right. They're basically Violet Sky's future," Zhao Xiaotang replied.
"Is the Violet Emperor doing charity work, sending them all so neatly?" Yun Xiao joked.
"Judging from the massive cheering, they seem to think we're inferior to them!" Chen Jin sneered.
"Oh, is that so?" Yun Xiao glanced forward, then said with a hint of disappointment, "You guys should rest."
"..." His four companions were speechless. But with an exasperated sigh, they turned and retreated, sitting down cross-legged, taking out medicinal pills to share and heal their wounds. They had actually gone to rest!
Yun Xiao, alone in his fluttering white robe, approached the roster of Violet Sky princes and princesses.
Before him, the Violet Sky Crown Prince looked at Yun Xiao with a frivolous and intrigued gaze.
"Big Brother, I told you, his rank on the Ascension Board is above yours only because those four sacrificed themselves to boost him up," the fifth princess said, her brows dancing with a hint of disdain.
The Cycle Battle was a closed box, preventing the spread of news. So, not everyone had heard of Yun Xiao's feat of defeating a whole team on his own.
In their eyes, Yun Xiao's prowess was still at the level when he fought Kong Ming.
The sixth princess glanced back at Chen Jin and the others, bloodied and battered, and rolled her eyes, "Still playing along with his charade, even in this state? What's so special about this guy?"
"Brother, just send this brainless brute to his demise."
"His audacity to insult and kill a Demon Emperor's son sealed his fate today. That's the price of being brainless!"
The two princesses sang in tune, their eyes gleaming with a smug light.
The Crown Prince chuckled and then turned to the two princes, "I'll take care of those four sick dogs. Which of you wants Yun Xiao's head?"
"Me!" both the second and third princes clamored.
Just then, a streak of azure sword light emerged. The technique was mysterious. Its essence was the Constellation Slaying Sword's Meteor Shower, capable of conjuring ten starry sword shadows. But its behavior was like skimming stones on water! Ten starry sword shadows skimmed like stones, creating a series of explosive sounds!
This was Meteor Shower combined with the Ten-Step Scale!
Two vastly different sword techniques miraculously merged, striking out in an inconceivable manner.
HUM! The Demon Emperor's demon magic, Night March of a Hundred Ghosts, instantly shone in the eyes of the Violet Sky princes and princesses.
BOOM BOOM BOOM! The azure sword light flashed explosively.
The two princesses were still smirking smugly.
The two princes were still vying to take down Yun Xiao.
THUD THUD THUD THUD! Four sounds echoed, and their heads neatly hit the ground!
Blood splattered everywhere!
Only the Saint Realm Crown Prince of the Violet Sky Immortal Empire remained! His smiling face suddenly froze, his breath growing heavier. Turning around, his eyes were bloodshot.
Before him, the young man in white held his Sword Soul, looking at the Crown Prince with a slight smile. "I'm just clearing the area, why so breathless?"
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