“From the lower worlds, how many true powerhouses could there be?”
Hearing Di Cangtian’s words, Jiang Yun frowned slightly.
“Brother Di, mind your tongue.”
“I wasn’t referring to you,” Di Cangtian explained. “It’s just that small worlds truly can’t compare. Many people fail to adjust to the change in status. In your small world, you may have been supreme, but here in the Nine Heavens, you’re nothing. Whether you’re a dragon, you must coil; a tiger, you must lie down.”
His meaning was plain: the so-called Grand Emperors of small worlds were insignificant here.
Strictly speaking, he wasn’t wrong. Even the greatest emperor of Primordial Heartlands, when arriving in the Nine Heavens, could at most be considered middling.
But such words should not come from him, someone who hadn’t even reached the level of Immortal Sovereign.
What right did he have to say such things?
Xu Zimo raised his eyes slightly to look at him.
“An insect that isn’t even at Nirvana Void dares spout such arrogance?”
His right hand clenched, and the surrounding void froze under immense pressure.
From the shattered void, Xu Zimo shot forward, unleashing a lightning-charged kick.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The strike carried the weight of ten thousand tonnes.
Di Cangtian snorted coldly and swung his right fist to meet it.
With a deafening boom, his figure was blasted backward, rolling several times across the ground before finally stopping.
“You court death!” Di Cangtian stood up, his eyes icy as he glared at Xu Zimo.
“What’s wrong?” Xu Zimo said calmly, waving his hand dismissively.
Three thousand Dao threads swirled around Di Cangtian’s body. With a wave, they split into countless strands, each transforming into a stream of light.
The streams converged before him, forming a colossal sword.
Gripping the sword, Di Cangtian’s body flared with cyan brilliance, storms coalescing around him.
“Kill!” he roared.
The massive sword cleaved down, tearing through sky and cloud, striking at Xu Zimo.
Clang! Xu Zimo raised Shadow Tyrant overhead, blocking the blade.
The clash sent boundless force rippling through both sword and saber.
“Bring your Three Thousand Grand Emperors, and perhaps there’d be something worth seeing. But you, a mere ant, dare draw a sword before me?” Xu Zimo said coldly.
The vast Imperial Might surged, entwined with the power of Death. With a swing of his blade, the heavens and earth quaked.
One saber strike split wind and thunder.
Di Cangtian desperately raised his giant sword to block.
Boom! Shadow Tyrant smashed against the blade, and the force drove Di Cangtian deep into the ground, half his body buried in earth.
The saber spun once and thrust toward his throat.
Steel met flesh. Xu Zimo yanked him up by the collar, dragging him out of the ground.
“Honored one, I beg you to stay your hand!” Yu Huang shouted hastily from the side.
Xu Zimo turned to glance at him.
Yu Huang quickly explained, “Fighting here will only benefit the liches. Brother Cangtian offended you. As long as you spare his life, you may punish him however you wish.”
“What? Since when does your Golden Roc Immortal Realm plead on behalf of the Three Thousand Dao Court?” Xu Zimo asked.
“I am not pleading for him,” Yu Huang said seriously. “But if he dies here, the Three Thousand Dao Court will not let it rest. When that happens, the entire Azure Frontier will fall into chaos. Right now, with the lich threat upon us, we should stand united.”
“Even if the liches destroy this Mortal Ascension Heaven, what does it matter to me?” Xu Zimo retorted. “We small world folk could never compare to you Nine Heavens elites anyway.”
“Honored one, please, grant us some face. Name your condition, and we will meet it,” Yu Huang said helplessly.
“Any condition?” Xu Zimo asked.
“As long as it’s within our power,” Yu Huang replied. “Think of it as for the future of the Mortal Ascension Heaven.”
As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward Jiang Yun, hoping the Sword Immortal would intervene.
But Jiang Yun remained silent.
“I’ll be heading to North River City soon,” Xu Zimo said.
“To find Gongyang Ce?” Yu Huang immediately caught on.
“I hear his price is steep,” Xu Zimo said meaningfully.
“Rest assured, whatever terms he sets, we will do our utmost to help you,” Yu Huang promised.
Xu Zimo looked down at Di Cangtian.
Through clenched teeth, Di Cangtian forced himself to reply, “The Three Thousand Dao Court will not shirk its duty.”
Only then did Xu Zimo toss him aside.
“The state of the small worlds is not yours to comment on.”
“I understand,” Di Cangtian quickly nodded, retreating backward.
At this moment, Jiang Yun finally smiled.
“So you are this era’s Grand Emperor.”
“I hadn’t expected to meet you here,” Xu Zimo replied.
“Why not join forces?” Jiang Yun suggested.
“And what benefit would destroying the liches bring me?” Xu Zimo countered.
“Then why did you enter this small world?” Jiang Yun asked.
“I merely happened upon it and came to look. Whom I destroy or not, I care little,” Xu Zimo answered.
The leaders of the major factions exchanged glances.
“Since you’re here, even if you bear no ill will, the liches won’t let you go,” Gui Che said.
He was from the Primal-Chaos Demon Tower, resembling a nine-headed bird, crimson-feathered, flames flickering faintly in his eyes.
“In that case, it’s another matter,” Xu Zimo said.
“Why not work together and explore this small world?” Yu Huang proposed. “It’s safer, and we can watch each other’s backs.”
Bai Tihe looked to Xu Zimo.
After all, the three medium items were theirs together.
“I don’t mind,” Xu Zimo said.
Bai Tihe nodded and slowly took out the three mediums, the stone stele, the ancient tree, and the beast bone.
They shot into the sky, rotating as waves of power spread through the formation.
In the next moment, the array split open, as if the void itself had been torn apart.
The group exchanged glances, then stepped into the rift.
Their vision shifted.
They emerged in a desert, buried beneath endless yellow sand.
The scorching wind lashed across their faces.
Not far ahead stood a solitary figure, calm and unmoving.
He wore a golden imperial robe, looking to be in his thirties, with a just, resolute face, and brows radiating authority.
At his waist hung the Sword of the Son of Heaven.
He stood quietly, watching them.
“Em… Bright Emperor?” Yu Huang asked in shock.
“You’ve come,” Bright Emperor said with a smile.
“You were waiting for us here?” Yu Huang asked.
“Kill me.”
Bright Emperor drew the Sword of the Son of Heaven from his waist and tossed it into the sand before them.
His words left everyone stunned.
“Bright Emperor, don’t joke,” Gui Che said with a laugh. “We came here to find the liches.”
“I am one,” Bright Emperor replied.
His long black hair whipped though there was no wind, and demonic light burst from his eyes.