In a castle within the valley, in the topmost room of a spire.
A white-haired man with an effeminate appearance, clad in a white robe, sat cross-legged in mid-air. The terrifying spiritual energy surging around him distorted the very space, making him appear like a saint!
At that moment, demonic energy erupted from the direction of the quarry, directly activating the valley's barrier, causing the spiritual energy within to become turbulent.
Sensing the fluctuations of spiritual energy outside, the white-haired man slightly opened his eyes and looked towards the quarry.
"Is that demonic energy?" the white-haired man murmured, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Has Emperor Ye Ling found this place? This power is indeed not weak, even a bit frightening, but it's weaker than the oppressive aura I imagined."
"If this is Emperor Ye Ling, then he has greatly disappointed me. Those old fellows from the Shadow Hall actually treat such a fellow like a monstrous flood... tsk tsk."
"So be it, let me go and meet this so-called Emperor!" the white-haired man said to himself, a slight smile curling his lips.
The space around him distorted, and he vanished from his spot!
...
In the quarry, Wang Li Ren erupted with surging demonic energy. His eyes became hollow, his hair stood on end, and his muscles bulged, veins protruding, making him look like a demon god!
The barrier above the quarry was continuously impacted by the demonic energy Wang Li Ren unleashed, and cracks began to appear.
The cultivators of the Dragon Division around them could clearly feel their sealed cultivation slowly recovering.
Instantly, the surrounding area erupted in cheers!
"Such immense power..."
"If Wang Li Ren possesses this kind of strength, then we can truly escape!"
"Everyone, the time to resist has come!"
Upon sensing Wang Li Ren's powerful aura, all the cultivators of the Dragon Division rejoiced, dropping their heavy stones and attacking the surrounding Shadow Hall overseers.
Wang Li Ren's demonic energy had broken through the barrier, and everyone's cultivation had recovered significantly. Now was undoubtedly the best time to resist the Shadow Hall!
The vast quarry was filled with the sounds of shouting and killing, and the Shadow Hall overseers scattered in all directions!
Fu Tu watched Wang Li Ren with a look of terror, retreating continuously, trembling, "No, impossible... why does this worm still possess such immense power within him? This is impossible!"
Wang Li Ren regained his senses. His gaze towards Fu Tu was utterly indifferent, as if he were looking at a dead man.
Extreme anger had caused him to activate Ye Ling's power. At this moment, Ye Ling's demonic energy filled his surroundings, giving him a sense of boundless strength.
At this moment, Wang Li Ren even felt as if he could tear the sky apart!
Fu Tu, having been terrified by Wang Li Ren's aura, completely lost his will to fight. He dropped his great axe and fled into the distance.
"Trying to leave?"
Wang Li Ren instantly appeared before Fu Tu, startling him into falling onto the ground.
Fu Tu's face was filled with terror as he continued to shuffle backward, trembling and begging for mercy, "M-Mister, spare me... I was wrong! I'll never dare again!"
Wang Li Ren's expression was icy as he approached Fu Tu step by step. He casually picked up the great axe from the ground and pulled it out, "Who else have you spared?"
Seeing Wang Li Ren pick up his great axe, Fu Tu was so terrified that he wet himself. He quickly knelt before Wang Li Ren, kowtowing and begging for mercy, "Mister, spare me! Please! I don't want to die!"
Wang Li Ren looked at Fu Tu indifferently, raised the great axe, and said coldly, "These words... go to the underworld to repent."
*Swoosh!*
The great axe descended, cleaving Fu Tu in two. Scarlet blood, mixed with grease, splattered all over Wang Li Ren!
Seeing Fu Tu cut in half, the other Shadow Hall overseers in the quarry lost all will to fight. They all abandoned their resistance and were routed!
The Dragon Division achieved a great victory, and the quarry erupted in cheers!
However, Wang Li Ren's eyes were filled with sorrow. He no longer looked at Fu Tu's severed corpse, dropped the great axe in his hand, and slowly walked to Liao Hong's body.
*Thump...*
Wang Li Ren knelt down, large tears falling, washing away the bloodstains on his face. He choked out with a trembling voice, "Old Liao... I caused your death..."
"Tsk tsk... such an emotional side for the esteemed Emperor."
At this moment, a soft, effeminate voice sounded from behind Wang Li Ren, making his hair stand on end!
Immediately after, an extremely powerful aura surged from behind Wang Li Ren like a tsunami, instantly covering the entire quarry!
The celebrating cultivators of the Dragon Division suddenly felt that powerful pressure, their expressions changing drastically, their smiles freezing on their faces!
Fear appeared in their eyes.
In an instant, the noisy quarry became deathly silent.
Wang Li Ren's eyes shifted slightly, and he quickly turned to look. He saw a man with long white hair, wearing a white robe, and looking like a woman standing behind him!
The white-haired man's lips held a faint smile, his eyes filled with mockery, and the aura emanating from him made Wang Li Ren feel suffocated!
Realizing the visitor was no ordinary person, Wang Li Ren asked in a deep voice, "Who are you?"
The white-haired man chuckled lightly, "Right... I almost forgot to introduce myself. My apologies."
"I am Bai Wu Jue, one of the Twelve Holy Pillars of the Shadow Hall."
"Bai Wu Jue..." Wang Li Ren murmured, then summoned the great axe from not far away with one hand, wrapping it in demonic energy, ready to fight.
This Bai Wu Jue exuded the aura of a saint. Wang Li Ren himself was only at the eighth rank. Even with Ye Ling's demonic energy aiding him, it would not be easy for him to defeat Bai Wu Jue.
Bai Wu Jue looked at Wang Li Ren's prepared stance and shook his head with a laugh, "The Lord of the Demon Palace, I thought you would be a person of exceptional grace and beauty. To see you today, however, has greatly disappointed me."
Wang Li Ren said in a deep voice, "I don't understand what you mean. Your appearance here suggests you are the master of this castle, right?"
"Since you dare to show yourself, don't blame me for cutting you down!"
Bai Wu Jue smiled, "Very well... since your fighting spirit is so strong, I shall indulge you in a battle."
"As long as I kill you, no one in this world will be able to stop my Shadow Hall!"
Wang Li Ren declared, "Utterly arrogant! Die!"
As their words fell, both vanished from their spots.
The next moment, they appeared in the air. Wang Li Ren swung the great axe down fiercely, while Bai Wu Jue, wielding a soft sword, agilely thrust towards Wang Li Ren!
*Clang!!!*
The sword and axe collided. White spiritual energy and black demonic energy intertwined in the air, and an extremely powerful pressure spread outwards. The cultivators of the Dragon Division in the quarry were all blown away by the residual force, and the vast quarry began to collapse!
"Such immense power!"
The cultivators of the Dragon Division, along with the Shadow Hall cultivators who had rushed to reinforce them, frantically sought cover. They all looked at the two figures in the air with shock, their hearts churning with immense waves!
The two in the air were not from the same world as them!
Bai Wu Jue smiled, holding his soft sword steadily, and said to Wang Li Ren with a laugh, "Emperor, if this is all you've got, I'm going to kill you!"
Wang Li Ren roared, "Pretty boy, you are not qualified to use that title!"
Wang Li Ren increased his strength, pouring a large amount of demonic energy towards Bai Wu Jue. Bai Wu Jue, unwilling to be outdone, unleashed his spiritual energy to its fullest!
The powers of both sides collided in the air, and a dazzling radiance swept through the surroundings.
The barrier enveloping the valley instantly shattered!