Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

Present Form—Time Freeze!

BZZZT!

Everything in the void seemed to freeze. The panic on Yangg Hong’s face instantly solidified. Meeting no resistance, the sword severed Yangg Hong’s right arm with a SQUELCH.

Jiang Chen reached out with his power through the air.

With a WHOOSH, he snatched the Purple Gold Panlong Emperor’s Bow.

Then, with a sweep of his blade, he pressed it against Yangg Hong’s neck. Jiang Chen said coolly, "You’ve lost."

"Wh-what just happened? Why did it feel like you were controlling me? My body wouldn’t move!" Yangg Hong stared at Jiang Chen, horrified.

Jiang Chen grinned. "Go ask Yama in the Yellow Springs!"

"You can’t kill me..." Yangg Hong’s expression changed, and he quickly added, "I’m a disciple under the Fire Emperor Ancestor! If you dare to kill me, he will never let you go."

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes, studying Yangg Hong, then smiled faintly. "Alright, I won’t kill you."

"Hm?"

Yangg Hong froze, then burst into laughter. "Jiang Chen, so you do know fear! That’s right, with the Fire Emperor Ancestor backing me, you don’t dare to kill me, haha..."

However, Jiang Chen’s next words sent Yangg Hong into a state of utter confusion. "I’m not going to kill you, it’s true. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you go. I’m going to refine you into a pill!"

"R-refine me into a pill?"

The smug look on Yangg Hong’s face vanished. He stared at Jiang Chen in disbelief, completely dumbfounded.

’Refine him into a pill?’

’What the fuck is the difference between that and dying?’

’No!’

’This is even more agonizing than death!’

Death is just a final nod, but to be refined into a Human Pill means being eaten. After being eaten, the essence is absorbed to enhance someone else’s cultivation, of course, but what about the impurities?

’Wouldn’t I just turn into shit after I’m dead?’

"No, you can’t, you can’t do this..." Yangg Hong roared, his face filled with terror.

Jiang Chen smiled faintly. "There’s nothing I can’t do."

BOOM!

With a flick of his palm, he summoned the Eight Trigrams Roaming Dragon Cauldron.

The cauldron’s body shuddered and levitated in midair.

This Eight Trigrams Roaming Dragon Cauldron could change size, becoming as small as a mote of dust or as tall as a mountain. Now, under Jiang Chen’s control, it transformed into a Great Tripod a thousand feet high.

"No... Don’t... Jiang Chen, I’m begging you, don’t refine me into a pill, please, don’t..." Yangg Hong begged hysterically, pleading pitifully. He would rather die than be refined into a pill.

Jiang Chen’s face remained calm and indifferent.

There was not a shred of pity.

’If I hadn’t broken through, that previous arrow would have been enough to kill me!’

’This Yangg Hong is doomed to die!’

"Let me out, Jiang Chen! I’m willing to be your dog! Let me out..." Yangg Hong screamed in despair.

He continuously slammed against the Eight Trigrams Roaming Dragon Cauldron, producing a series of DONG DONG sounds.

Jiang Chen stood outside the Eight Trigrams Roaming Dragon Cauldron, his hands clasped behind his back. He smiled. "Sorry, but in my eyes, there are only friends and enemies. As for being a dog... you can wait for your next life to be the Fire Emperor’s dog again!"

"Summon—Celestial Fire!"

He stood in the air outside the Eight Trigrams Roaming Dragon Cauldron, thousands of feet up in the sky.

A golden light shone from Jiang Chen’s eyes. His hands continuously shifted through Seal Techniques, and then he suddenly thrust a palm toward the heavens.

RUMBLE!

Great clusters of Celestial Fire flew in from beyond the sky. This Celestial Fire, potent enough to incinerate a city of ten million people, was incredibly docile in Jiang Chen’s hands, transforming into a blazing Fire Dragon.

With a flick of his finger, the Fire Dragon condensed from Celestial Fire let out a draconic roar, shot forward, and plunged into the Eight Trigrams Roaming Dragon Cauldron.

"Refine!"

Jiang Chen executed a series of profound Pill Formulas.

As the Pill Formulas were activated, the Celestial Fire inside the Eight Trigrams Roaming Dragon Cauldron grew hotter and hotter, continuously melting its contents.

"No..."

"My body... it’s melting..."

"Help me..."

Inside the cauldron, Yangg Hong let out a series of bloodcurdling screams.

Jiang Chen remained unmoved.

After a full double-hour of refining, a glint appeared in his eyes, and a playful smirk touched his lips. ’Time for Solidifying Pill... I wonder how many Human Emperor Pills can be refined from a grand expert at the Human Emperor Realm Fifth Stage?’

He clapped his hands in the air, and two Palm Seals struck the Eight Trigrams Roaming Dragon Cauldron.

VMMMM!

The Eight Trigrams Roaming Dragon Cauldron trembled lightly. Its lid opened, and a rich medicinal fragrance filled the air.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Nine pills flew out one after another. Each one glowed with a yellowish-orange light, and a mellow, full-bodied medicinal aroma spread out. Just a single whiff seemed to make one feel years younger. These were pills refined from the essence of a Human Emperor.

No less potent than a Fifth-Grade Spirit Pill!

"A single pill like this is enough to let a Martial Artist at the Peak of Union Palace Realm step into the Human King Realm." Jiang Chen grinned. If he took all nine pills, it might be enough for him to cross into the Human King Realm Eighth Stage.

However, these were pills refined using a Human Emperor as the main ingredient, after all. Jiang Chen wasn’t so depraved as to resort to cannibalism.

’Hmm, I’ll ask Hall Master Bai and the others later if they’re willing to take them,’ Jiang Chen thought.

He himself couldn’t get over that mental hurdle; he was unwilling to consume pills made from a person.

After all, Bai Lingfei and the others had been stuck at the Peak of Union Palace Realm for quite some time. He would tell them the origin of the Human Emperor Pills and let them make their own choice.

After stowing away the Eight Trigrams Roaming Dragon Cauldron, Jiang Chen returned to the Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect. Black Emperor, Little White, Bai Lingfei, Xuue Junlin, Pang Jun, and the others were already on the watchtower of Heaven-Soaring Sacred City, craning their necks in anticipation of Jiang Chen’s triumphant return.

It was as if they hadn’t worried about Jiang Chen’s defeat at all.

"We welcome the Sect Master’s triumphant return!"

"Long live the Sect Master! Ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

"Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect, for a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations, shall unite the Eastern Continent!"

The powerhouses all shouted in excitement.

Although they hadn’t seen the process of Jiang Chen refining the Human Emperor Pill, they had witnessed the earth-shattering battle between Jiang Chen and Yangg Hong. They were already completely convinced of Jiang Chen’s power.

Jiang Chen smiled faintly and said, "While I was in seclusion, you have all worked hard."

"For the Holy Sect!"

"We are willing to give our all for the Sect Master and the Holy Sect!"

Everyone shouted in unison.

Hundreds of thousands of people roared at the same time, their voices shaking the heavens and the earth.

Jiang Chen laughed heartily. Looking at the dense sea of Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect disciples, he felt both gratified and proud, but also realized the pressure on his shoulders was growing heavier. He silently swore, ’I will definitely lead you, lead the Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect, to the pinnacle of this world. No one will ever be able to threaten you again!’

The master of a Sect carries the future of all its disciples on his shoulders.

Subsequently, Jiang Chen summoned Bai Lingfei and the other experts at the Peak of Union Palace Realm. Currently, the Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect had a mere three people in the Human King Realm; the Sect was mostly propped up by his strength alone.

For a Sect to be truly powerful, it must continuously produce a stream of powerhouses!

「In the great hall.」

Bai Lingfei and the others looked at Jiang Chen with some confusion, not knowing why he had summoned them.

Jiang Chen swept his gaze over the group and said slowly, "Everyone, I have nine Human Emperor Pills that can allow those at the Peak of Union Palace Realm to enter the Human King Realm. However, these Human Emperor Pills are made from..."

Before Jiang Chen could even finish, Bai Lingfei and the others were already shouting, "Sect Master, please bestow the pills upon us!"

"Sect Master, this subordinate is willing to take a Human Emperor Pill!"

"Even if there are side effects, I’ll take it!"

"I said it first, give it to me first!"

They all clamored, trying to be first.

Jiang Chen coughed lightly and said, "Everyone, don’t be hasty. Hear me out... These Human Emperor Pills were refined using a Human Emperor Powerhouse as the primary Spirit Medicine. Are you sure you want to take them?"

"..."

The crowd fell silent for a moment, then spoke in unison: "Yes!"

Every one of them had a determined gaze and a resolute expression.

Every time the Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect faced a great disaster, Jiang Chen had to fend it off alone. They could only be a burden, which had long made these former overlords and powerhouses feel helpless. They were no longer willing to endure such a life of weakness.

Seeing the resolve in their eyes, Jiang Chen didn’t try to persuade them further.

The nine Human Emperor Pills were distributed.

In the days to come, the Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect would gain nine new Human Kings!

With the Eastern Continent on the brink of chaos, this undoubtedly added to the Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect’s foundation.

Jiang Chen then ordered the Heaven-Soaring Sacred City to be sealed, with the million-strong Celestial Demon Army guarding the Holy City to prevent retaliation from the Fire Emperor and Ice Emperor.

However, the days passed, one after another.

In the blink of an eye, ten days had gone by.

Jiang Chen did not get the Fire Emperor or the Ice Emperor. Instead, an old acquaintance arrived...