Eternal Life as False Emperor

The Crystal Stage was just a facade for this person.

Hidden within his body, there lived a being of unfathomable depth.

Even he, this Enlightenment Master, could not fully perceive the depths of this person’s true nature.

"This person must absolutely not be allowed to continue living." Strangely, the Azure Moon Flame Emperor, one of the top three experts of the Nether Spirit Race, had feelings of trepidation towards this human in the Crystal Stage standing before him.

Zheng Yi seemed to have anticipated all of this, speaking just as the Azure Moon Flame Emperor resolved to kill him.

"Sir, I am within this Mountain Protection Array, and even with your cultivation, it wouldn’t be so easy to break through it and kill me directly, would it?"

The Azure Moon Flame Emperor coldly stared at Zheng Yi: "Do you really think that a mere Mountain Protection Array can truly withstand my attacks?"

Zheng Yi slowly shook his head: "Of course, it can’t, but I suppose the respected Flame Emperor is also aware that experts from our Human Race are on their way here and could arrive at any moment."

The Azure Moon Flame Emperor spoke disdainfully: "Boy, don’t think you’re the only clever person in the world. Even among you humans, even the fastest, Sword God Fang Zhuo, would need at least half a cup of tea’s time to get here."

"In that time, it’s more than enough for me to destroy this pitiful array and crush all of you."

Hearing the words of the Azure Moon Flame Emperor, everyone felt a bit of despair.

Their greatest enemy was time.

Unless Sword God Fang Zhuo rushed over with all his might, perhaps he could arrive ahead of time.

But if he did, the energy consumption would surely not be small, and facing off against the Azure Moon Flame Emperor, he might not only fail to gain any advantage but could even be injured by him.

If that’s the case, it wouldn’t be worth the risk.

So even though the situation was urgent, it was impossible for Sword God Fang Zhuo to risk rushing here.

To be blunt, the entire value of the Wenxian Temple combined couldn’t compare to that of a single Sword God.

Zheng Yi nodded slightly: "What you say is indeed right. Sword God won’t arrive ahead of time."

"But haven’t you ever considered, what if it’s not just Sword God but two Enlightenment Masters?"

The Azure Moon Flame Emperor’s laughter shook the heavens: "Youngster, don’t be so full of yourself. Who do you think you are, worthy of two Enlightenment Masters personally taking action?"

"Even if you’re just a lowly Crystal Stage ant, not even all the people in this broken temple are worthy of prompting two Enlightenment Masters to intervene on your behalf."

Zheng Yi was waiting for the Azure Moon Flame Emperor to retort, and he immediately responded with a cold smile: "Naturally, we are not worthy of having Enlightenment Masters intervene."

"But, noble elder, have you forgotten yourself?"

"You are, after all, a distinguished Enlightenment Master, and now, alone, you’ve wandered into our Human Race’s territory."

"Even if the experts from the Nether Spirit Race notice something is wrong and rush to support you, they would surely not be faster than our people."

"If you can’t quickly break our Wenxian Temple’s Mountain Protection Array, you might find yourself besieged by two Enlightenment Masters."

"I wonder if you have the prowess to handle two on one?"

Zheng Yi’s analysis was reasonable, and even the Azure Moon Flame Emperor’s heart tightened.

If there were indeed two Enlightenment Masters...

Instinctively, he thought of retreating.

Avenging the death of his son was important, but not as important as his own life.

Then he reconsidered: it didn’t matter whether the other party was telling the truth; to be scared away by a few words from a mere Crystal Stage ant would mean having his dignity trampled by these humans.

How then could he ever uphold the dignity of an Enlightenment Master in the future?

The Azure Moon Flame Emperor suppressed his worries: "This is only your speculation. Do you think such words could really frighten me?"

Inwardly, Zheng Yi cursed: "Idiot, if you’re not afraid, why not just attack?"

In that moment, Zheng Yi felt somewhat disenchanted.

These cultivators of the Canglan Realm, with their eyes only on cultivation, weren’t much harder to fool than three-year-old children.

"I am merely analyzing the possible development of the situation," Zheng Yi said respectfully with clasped hands: "As for what will truly happen, won’t the esteemed elder find out by trying?"

"Perhaps I’m wrong, and only Sword God rushes here desperately."

"Due to excessive energy consumption along the way, by the time he reaches the Wenxian Temple, he would be severely weakened."

"If you act now, you might eliminate a Human Race Enlightenment Master, becoming a hero praised by every member of the Nether Spirit Race."

The more Zheng Yi spoke, the more uncertain the Azure Moon Flame Emperor felt.

After all, every cultivator knew, when a great fortune befalls you, it’s not necessarily a good thing.

Zheng Yi gazed at the Azure Moon Flame Emperor with anticipation, as if sincerely hoping he would stay.

The old Daoist was dumbfounded—could it really be that easy?

With just a few words, he had thrown the Enlightenment Master, the Azure Moon Flame Emperor, into disarray.

Even the two elders of the Wenxian Temple were left tongue-tied.

They had countless questions for Zheng Yi, but it wasn’t the time for that now; they needed to focus on recovering their magical power with all their might.

The more they recovered, the longer they could hold out.

Zui Jiu had long been familiar with Zheng Yi’s knack for fooling people and gave him a thumbs-up from an angle where the Azure Moon Flame Emperor couldn’t see.

"You’re something else—fooling Golden Core Stage cultivators is one thing, but even tripping up an Enlightenment Master?"

Zheng Yi didn’t divert his eyes. Right now, all the Azure Moon Flame Emperor’s attention was on him, and any unnecessary movement might provoke him.

Time ticked away in the Azure Moon Flame Emperor’s indecisiveness.

Zheng Yi was secretly counting the time: "It’s about right."

He gave Zui Jiu a warning glance and silently muttered an apology.

Then he suddenly staggered, nearly falling to the ground.

Quickly, he scrambled back to his feet, assuming once again his confident demeanor.

But this time, his confidence seemed to radiate an undeniable sense of insecurity.

Upon seeing this, the Azure Moon Flame Emperor knew he had been deceived.

Furious, he roared: "Ant, I’ll tear you all to pieces!"

"Fiery Sun God Technique!"

Zheng Yi felt blinded and instinctively looked up.

In the sky, there was another sun, larger than the one already in the sky.

Waves of heat surged, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

Zheng Yi urgently shouted: "Everyone come help; if we can’t hold it, we’re doomed!"

The old Daoist repeated Zheng Yi’s words without hesitation.

The entire Wenxian Temple was stirred into action—all the official disciples, the servants, and the hall masters, clerks, supervisors, and patrols were channeling spiritual qi into the Mountain Protection Array.

No need for Zheng Yi to say anything—they all understood the severity of this attack.

If they could hold it, they would live. If not, not a single person would survive this attack.

The Golden Core cultivators brought by Zui Jiu had just sobered from their drunkenness.

Seeing the Azure Moon Flame Emperor’s Fiery Sun God Technique, any drunkenness was dispelled immediately.

Ignoring everything else, they kicked or slapped the remaining people awake.

At times like this, every additional person meant an extra bit of strength.

"Just die!" The enraged Azure Moon Flame Emperor was not about to wait for them to be fully prepared.

The moment his cultivation technique was completed, he sent the gigantic sun hurtling towards the Wenxian Temple.

The instant the sun collided with the Mountain Protection Array, it exploded.

The dazzling light blinded everyone, reducing their vision to pure white.

The entire world seemed to be engulfed in this whiteness, utterly silent.

Nobody knew how long it lasted before the deafening roar echoed in their ears.

Dozens of the weaker Wenxian Temple disciples were reduced to blood mist.

Thankfully, they were shielded by the Mountain Protection Array; otherwise, none would have survived.

Every single Golden Core cultivator was gravely injured.

The only one left standing, it seemed, was Zheng Yi.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help, but he had no knowledge of the arrays of the Canglan Realm.

Intervening at this juncture would likely cause more trouble than aid.

As the explosion waned, the Wenxian Temple’s Mountain Protection Array flickered twice before it vanished.

The Azure Moon Demon Monarch slowly drifted forth: "Now, who dares stand against me?"

A lazy voice came from behind Zheng Yi: "I wonder if I could stand the chance?"