Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

The pitch-black Celestial Demon Ancient Castle seemed to have journeyed from the distant, primordial past, crossing the endless void and river of time to finally appear in this world.

Vast demonic might surged and roiled. Billowing Demon Flames shot toward the heavens. Streams of black vortexes continuously converged on the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle.

Countless terrifying energies transformed into the most primitive and essential destructive force, with the power of origin churning within.

This was a Divine Soldier!

If a Demigod were to guide it, fully summoning and refining it, the entire Six Mountains Dynasty would have been crushed into nothing the moment the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle appeared.

However...

It was Jiang Chen who had summoned the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle, and with his current strength, he was unable to fully activate this Divine-tier Profound Weapon!

Even with all his strength, he had only managed to summon the tip of the iceberg!

Yet this mere tip of the iceberg was as tall as a mountain, as vast as the sea, and as mighty as a Divine City. The moment the ancient castle appeared, it suppressed all, pinning Huang Xianyi, a cultivator at the Third Stage of the Human Emperor Realm, directly beneath it.

Jiang Chen hovered high in the sky, taking a few ragged breaths in secret. In his palm rested several healing pills.

He discreetly activated the Heaven-Swallowing Secret Technique, devouring the pills to restore his nearly depleted body.

’As expected of a Divine-tier Profound Weapon. Just summoning it nearly exhausted all my strength...’ Jiang Chen thought with a bitter taste in his mouth.

He hadn’t expected summoning the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle to consume so much energy.

Fortunately, the castle’s appearance seemed to possess an unparalleled deterrent effect, leaving the countless experts in the Six Mountains Dynasty’s Imperial Capital frozen in place.

Otherwise...

Even an ordinary Human King could have easily crushed him right now.

Jiang Chen hovered in the air, the golden light around him still flickering erratically. His eyes were as placid as an ancient well as he calmly surveyed his surroundings. ’It seems the appearance of the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle can indeed intimidate most people. I just don’t know if the Six Mountains Sword Venerable will be scared off by it... I hope he won’t disregard Huang Xianyi’s safety just to deal with me. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to use that last favor and ask the Ice Emperor to intervene!’

Jiang Chen took a deep breath.

Just as he was regulating his condition, using the Heaven-Swallowing Secret Technique to devour the world’s energy and replenish his own, several incomparably tyrannical auras suddenly shot out from the Imperial Capital.

SWOOSH!

SWOOSH!

Two beams of light tore through the air.

Taking the lead was an incomparably sharp Sword Aura. It streaked across the sky, its entire length radiating a brilliant, dazzling cyan light.

At the center of this Sword Aura was a figure in a luxurious dragon robe, his hands clasped behind his back. His thick, sharp, sword-like eyebrows were knitted together, and his eyes pulsed with a cold, predatory glint, as if ready to devour someone whole.

His speed was incredible. In a flash, he appeared outside the Imperial Capital City.

This was none other than the number one expert of the Six Mountains Dynasty, ranked fifth on the Celestial Venerable List and a peak cultivator at the Human Emperor Realm Ninth Stage—the Six Mountains Sword Venerable!

At this moment...

The Six Mountains Sword Venerable’s eyes smoldered with a faint, simmering rage, like two roaring dragons. His piercing gaze landed on Jiang Chen. The sheer force of his glare whipped up a gale that rushed toward Jiang Chen, only to be scattered by an invisible power before it could reach him.

The one following close behind was Yang Qiong, the Sovereign of the Fengyang Ancient Country!

Yang Qiong was ranked eleventh on the Celestial Venerable List. His cultivation had reached the Human Emperor Realm Eighth Stage, and his combat prowess was formidable!

More importantly, the Fengyang Ancient Country was backed by an old ancestor at the Emperor Realm!

Yang Qiong’s gaze also fell on Jiang Chen, but it held more curiosity and astonishment. As he sized up the pitch-black corner of the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle, a look of shock and confusion filled his eyes. ’What in the world is that? It can even suppress a Human Emperor? Could it be a Saint Tier Advanced Profound Weapon? Or maybe...’

At the thought of that possibility!

Yang Qiong trembled slightly, his eyes flashing with fervent greed.

A Divine-tier Profound Weapon!

’That must be it...’

However...

Yang Qiong didn’t act immediately. He glanced at the Six Mountains Sword Venerable at his side, thinking, ’I’ll let him test the waters first!’

Meanwhile.

The Six Mountains Sword Venerable was already looking at Jiang Chen. "Junior, I am here. Release Huang Xianyi at once and kneel before me to beg for your life!"

Domineering.

Arrogant.

Confident.

Contemptuous of all.

Such was the Six Mountains Sword Venerable, the most feared and yet most despised Human Emperor-level expert in all the Eastern Continent.

Positioned above the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle, Jiang Chen had discreetly absorbed so many Spirit Medicines that the feeling of emptiness inside him had been somewhat alleviated.

Jiang Chen gazed coldly at the Six Mountains Sword Venerable, his expression icy. "Six Mountains Sword Venerable, if our positions were reversed, would you release Huang Xianyi?"

The Six Mountains Sword Venerable froze, his eyes slowly narrowing to slits.

’If it were me?’

’Of course, I wouldn’t let him go!’

’Not only would I not release him, I’d use him as a hostage to blackmail and threaten Jiang Chen. If Jiang Chen refused to comply, I would then execute Huang Xianyi as a warning to others.’

At this thought.

The Six Mountains Sword Venerable shuddered, a hint of disbelief in his eyes as he stared at Jiang Chen. ’Could it be this brat has the same idea I do?’

As if noticing the Six Mountains Sword Venerable’s intense stare, the corner of Jiang Chen’s mouth lifted. He said lightly, "Six Mountains Sword Venerable, perhaps we’ve had the same idea."

SWOOSH!

A figure bound in black chains flew up from beneath the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle and into Jiang Chen’s grasp. His body was crushed to a bloody pulp, bones shattered, and he was as limp as a pile of mud in Jiang Chen’s hand. It was none other than the once-arrogant Huang Xianyi.

Huang Xianyi’s eyes fell upon the Six Mountains Sword Venerable. With a woeful expression, he begged, "Ma-Master, save me..."

"Shut up, you useless waste!" the Six Mountains Sword Venerable snapped, his face grim. He turned to Jiang Chen. "Junior, what exactly do you want?"

Huang Xianyi was a Human Emperor of the Six Mountains Dynasty.

He was also the disciple of the Six Mountains Sword Venerable.

If his own disciple were killed right before the Imperial Capital, right in front of his face, how could he ever show his face in the Eastern Continent again?

The Six Mountains Sword Venerable was indeed wary of acting rashly!

Jiang Chen said calmly, "Your Six Mountains Dynasty launched a full-scale invasion of my Cloud Domain, destroying cities, seizing land, and plunging the people into misery. I have come to demand a few promises and some compensation."

"State your demands!"

the Six Mountains Sword Venerable said grimly.

Jiang Chen began to speak slowly. "First, I want you, the Six Mountains Sword Venerable, to swear a Great Heart Demon Oath. For the next ten years, you will not send a single soldier into my Cloud Domain. In fact, you will use the full power of your dynasty to protect it. Your Six Mountains Dynasty must eliminate any who dare to invade my Cloud Domain. Second, you will compensate my Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect with three quadrillion Lower-Grade Spirit Crystals and one million Profound Weapons..."

With every word Jiang Chen spoke, the Six Mountains Sword Venerable’s expression grew darker.

When Jiang Chen finished, the Six Mountains Sword Venerable suddenly looked up, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "The compensation you demand is... reasonable enough. However..." He paused, then continued, "Do you really think that a mere junior like yourself, just because you’ve captured Huang Xianyi, is qualified to negotiate with me as an equal?"

"Hm?"

Jiang Chen’s expression shifted. He bellowed, "Six Mountains Sword Venerable, do you no longer care for Huang Xianyi’s life?"

However...

The moment Jiang Chen’s words left his lips,

he suddenly felt a chilling killing intent converge on him from all directions.

’This is bad!’

With a flicker of his Divine Thought, Jiang Chen vanished with a SWOOSH, teleporting inside the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle.

Simultaneously,

the space he had just occupied collapsed in on itself.

Countless strands of Sword Qi crisscrossed, shredding Huang Xianyi into innumerable pieces and shattering the void itself. Despite his escape, several ghastly wounds appeared on Jiang Chen’s back, bleeding profusely.

Now inside the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle,

rage boiled through Jiang Chen. He stared at the Six Mountains Sword Venerable outside and let out a low roar. "Six Mountains Sword Venerable, I gave you a chance to resolve this peacefully! But you looked down on me, Jiang Chen, and even dared to launch a sneak attack to kill me. Fine. Good. I will make you regret this. You brought this upon yourself!"