Li Cheng did not immediately check out his new and updated skill. He furtively rolled his eyes and perked his ears. It seemed this stalemate would be fine for just a little longer.
As soon as he concluded, he immediately began speed reading the new abilities.
[Unfathomable Sect Master Li Cheng!]
[When activated, you become unfathomable! Nobody can see through your cultivation level. People who look at you are pressured, effect based on your cultivation level. Other Sect Masters are compelled to listen to you. Your aura gives off a mysterious feeling. This is permanently activated towards a disciple of yours. Active Duration: 60 minutes Cooldown Period: 1 day.]
'Fuck? That's it? +15 minutes? Well, it's better than nothing.'
He had to gloss over the reading a few times because he thought he had missed something.
"Exalted one!"
"Exalted one is here!"
"All of you, make way!"
The front of the army dispersed to the sides in a hurried manner, opening a passageway. The demonic cultivators all shut their mouths. Many of the juniors and low in status were confused at this occurrence, but their hardened superiors ordered them into attention.
Beyond the lines of the army stood a stout figure beneath the shadows of a large tree. The figure was donned in what looked to be a well-maintained red cloak. It looked nothing special. However, from keen inspection, the deep red colour evoked a strange similarity to the figure's dangling garnets sliced in the shape of a tear, which were embedded in his ears.
When the leaked dim rays managed to shun on the figure's hood what was evoked became apparent.
It was blood.
To onlookers, it came as quite a surprise that the mysterious figure's face was ordinary. In fact, from his features the figure looked like an ordinary mortal male. His looks had no resemblance to the beautified skin of a cultivator. Oddly, he looked a little pale and malnourished, but far from the extent of being recognised as a poor man or beggar.
He took his time walking between the flanked demonic cultivators, as they bowed their heads in fear and submission, unwilling to look into his eyes. It was similar to their reactions with Li Cheng, the difference is their deference to an enemy and their ally.
At last, the Exalted one stopped right until he was in line with the first ring of imprisonment.
"Who are you?"
Not obtaining a response, the Exalted one snorted. He was unfazed as though he had expected it. "No matter, there are many ways to get someone to speak. Whether you are willing or unwilling, it is irrelevant."
Staring underneath the tips of his cloak that covered his bangs, he continued,
"You should be honoured that you are able to meet me face to face in public. It is rare for me to personally take action. In respect to this and my wishes to not force me to step my bounds I will give you a choice.
"Hand over the robe, and I will let you leave. Those dogs of yours can also accompany you."
The Exalted one sensed that the enemy's eyes stopped lingering on him for a moment.
"Impudent!! You dare think that you can escape through me?"
Everyone blanched pale as an oppressive air and force swept over them. Those under the Golden-Core spewed out a vomit of blood. The higher-ups wanted to help them, but they were afraid of displeasing him and simply did nothing.
Li Cheng mustered his courage and strength to maintain his disposition. The power of the force had actually managed to almost make him also spew out blood. From the moment this Exalted one had appeared, Li Cheng felt a perilous sense of crisis.
He had actually managed to sense that he, Li Cheng, was planning to use a talisman to the newly opened route. In his heart he cursed, 'Damn it, stop covering your eyes beneath your hood, and look me in the eyes like a man! Aren't you the leader? Such cowardice!'
Li Cheng felt very humiliated that he was being bullied by a powerful man who was thousands of times stronger than him, and yet had the audacity to hide from him despite being completely out in the open.
Shameless!
[15 minutes until your skill 'Strongest Sect Master Li Cheng' wears off.]
'Fuck!'
Li Cheng was not sure how imperative this skill came into play with his illusion of being an Emperor, but he understood that not being able to hide his cultivation level was extremely bad. Who would he be trying to fool? An Emperor wouldn't purposely slap people in the face unless there was a good reason behind it.
Li Cheng reflexively turned his head around to see the eyes of his people. They wore expressions of despair, but it was evident through their glossy eyes and gestures they still staked their hopes in him.
An old man was seen attending his best to prolong He Fang's condition. Despite the clear perfusion of sweat soaking his body, it was clear that his actions were nowhere sufficient to resuscitate her.
Taking a survey of the encirclement of doom, Li Cheng sighed inwardly. It appeared that he had no choice.
He was forced to unwillingly decide to take out a particular trump card.
'I didn't want to use this because of how stupid it would be and it would shatter my image to be in shambles, but I really have no choice. If only I knew the demon bastards would be here, otherwise it didn't have to be this way.'
Li Cheng stared down at his fellow people and gave a heart-warming smile. The people felt their hearts melt in warmth, and a reassuring air brightened the sorrow mood. Their eyes affixed, tracked the movements of their Emperor as he turned out.
His back, seemingly wide and tall, emitted an unprecedented level of confidence and power; a lone brilliant pillar torching a brilliant shine of hope amidst the world of darkness.
The Emperor's eyes cold and bereft of mortality suddenly blazed in resolute.
"You are not worthy."
"—But an old friend of mine may be willing to play with you."
With a graceful extension of a swooping of his arm, he reached out to the void of space.
RUMBLE!
RUMBLE!
RUMBLE!
The turmoil skies was once again enveloped with a curtain of terrifying darkness, washing out the pathetic smokes of war and silencing the mundane activities below.
The darkness of the skies encompassed, but not saturated as before. Sprinkled and swarming the grumbling Heavens were stars of dim, translucent pure lights. However, if there were any higher beings from above, they would notice from their extraordinary eye-sight that these pure lights were in fact rainbow in colour and were transforming to become pure white light.
The Heavens grumbled half of the skies of the Southern Province of the Ming Empire.
Everyone who were discussing the phenomena became shocked still from its second appearance. Many grim-looking cultivators who had knowledge of this phenomena were afraid that this was not a descent of a fortuitous event, but a precedent to a calamity.
However, there was especially a class of experts that seemed to have some clues as to what those white, pure lights signified… When they saw this, they were snapped out of their horrors and immediately notified their home of origins.
Deja vu, the beings of Deepthorn, who were at the point of disaster, had their ears ringing with loud roars of thunder. They blankly stared in a daze at skies above them, holding their breaths as the white barrier enveloping the city wobbled and occasionally shook.
If a demonic cultivator dared to strike a move, or the Heavens judged the city to decree punishment, then the barrier would certainly shatter and unfold a great level of chaos.
At the epicentre, all demonic cultivators and even the Exalted one wore ghastly and terrified expressions. Their bodies tainted in evil instinctively shrunk like mice, edging their feet to scurry off into their holes of hiding. However, they were petrified and their sole movements were acts of shiver.
In fact, the Exalted one seemed to be worse off: he continued to murmur undecipherable noises leaking between the gaps of his chattering sharp teeth hidden behind his shivering mouth.
This reaction by the demonic path was not only because of the powerful foe in front of them and the calamity that he had seemed to have called forth, but also the item that was hanging down on the tips of the enemy's fingers.
There, one could see three small and innate objects. With a golden ornate handle forming into a curved bell, the top resembled a crown. The patterns were complex and unyielding, representing the complexity of its religion. The bell curve, the root of its beauty, however, preferred a simple layer of embellishment and repetitive patterns.
Despite the uncanny and dark weather, the bells' brilliance were unhindered and a light, dim, yellow glow permeated its surface. Its appearance in the holder's hand augmented the perceived idea of the Emperor being the sole hope in the reign of darkness.
An emergence of a sudden gust of wind may propel these terrified demonic fiends to sprint away at utmost haste in fear that it would shake the bells.
"T-threeee?"
The Emperor lightly shook his head, disdained to answer the so called 'Exalted one'. With a flick of his hand, two of the bells flung, scaring a sizable amount of demon cultivators to run off. The two bells disappeared into the void leaving only 1 remaining.
"F-f-fools! You dare leave without my permission!"
A wave of invisible power burst outwards, knocking down the fleeing demonic cultivators. Because the force was somewhat uncontrolled due to the fear, many of them coughed out blood, including those at the Nascent-Soul. The smarter ones played dead. But nobody had the mind to care.
"You… Could they be…. No, that's impossible. How could such heavenly treasures be here? It doesn't make sense. The phenomena from before… did it signify the re-emergence of these? But then why is it occurring again?!"
The Exalted one was biting his nails in trepidation and confusion. The commanding figures under him wore worried expressions. They had no idea what those bells were.
One of them was afraid of not knowing what was coming asked,
"...Exalted one, what are those… I mean what is that bell?"
The Exalted one stopped his biting and remained still. He was still shivering and chattering, but he seemed to me much better than before.
"...D-Don't worry about it. It's p-probably a trash copy that some imbeciles failed to replicate."
"A replica could stir such a phenomena?!"
"...No..? Yes? Maybe, fuck!" the Exalted one cussed. He looked towards the Emperor who was seen gracefully kneeling on the floor, holding the soon to be dead Sky-Seeking Realm cultivator.
In his unoccupied hand was another exotic looking item, but this time in the form of a pill. Gently he inserted the pill into her mouth, and used his qi to help her consume the pill.
In a matter of seconds, there was a holy white glow that covered her body. During the process from the outside, it looked as if her body was undergoing a speedy healing recovery spell. No it was exactly that, all her cuts, blood, blemishes, and innards were repairing itself. She even appeared to be slightly floating!
And then, everything settled and the glowing is no more. Left was the body of a woman peacefully breathing in her sleep.
If it weren't for the exaggerated scene and their disturbed minds, then some of the stronger cultivators would notice that there was something odd in the Qi used. As though it was very weak and unfiltered like that of a low stage cultivator.
"Divine Pill?!"
The people and demonic cultivators yelled. It was such a miraculous effect that the term "Divine Pill" must be attributed to it. They have heard of Divine Pills, but were they this fearsome and potent? Even Divine Pills should take at least a minimum of a few hours to cure her degree of injuries right?
Suddenly, a gentle force spread outwards from her body. The force did not cause much harm to people as there was no such intention, but its power was clear. Those skilled cultivators all shouted in unison.
"Breakthrough?!"
She had actually broken through the late-stage of the Sky-Seeking Realm! Sky-Seeking Realm cultivators were further baffled when they sensed that her Qi fluctuations were very stable.
Didn't she require to consolidate her breakthrough?
Why was her Qi still as water as though she had always been in the late-stage?!
Moreover, the most nonsensical aspect was that she was asleep!
The Exalted one was not stupid. From everything he had seen though seemingly little, this mysterious emperor-like foe was continuously displaying a series of unbelievable things from one to another. He knew that even though he should be one of the strongest in this continent, he may not be a match for the figure in front.
His unknown prowess aside if that bell was genuine…
The Exalted one gritted his teeth, crushing a tooth in frustration and trudged away. Solemnly, he commanded,
"Demonic Path, listen to my orders. You will all attack him now!"
The demonic cultivators at the front looked at the Exalted one in horror. Those behind were uneasy. The confident ones were eager to finally attack, but deep in their hearts they were very afraid. Even the Sky-Seeking Realm cultivators that are meant to lead the charge were thinking of pulling a play and watching how things go first.
"Activate the Hundred Encircling Evils Formation!" a Sky-Seeking Realm demonic cultivator shouted from the third circle of the entrapment.
Those standing on the third circle shot to the ground onto their knees, splatting their hands onto the floor rooted, and howled in pain. Their demonic Qi surged into the inscribed hidden formation. All of those within the formation felt their power drastically rise in power, and the fear that sickened their bodies went crazy into mad devils that dared to approach.
The accumulated leaked malefic energy from the cultivators spread, shared, and was contained; the air became so thick with evil that half of the people behind the Emperor were suffering so severely that they were bleeding from many of their orifices.
A few of them were even starting to turn mad themselves: rolling on the floor or clutching their heads in pain.
Those below the demonic cultivators under the Nascent-Soul were unable to control themselves. No regard for their stations, they murderously launched themselves at their enemy. Some were so crazed they disregarded their weapons, and used their fiendish limbs brimmed with power to attack.
Kill!
Kill!
Kill!
The Emperor stood coldly, unblinking to the innumerable black shadows that spotted his vision. Narrowing his brows to swords that will kill, he gazed at the back of the Exalted one where stood ahead a fleet of powerful Nascent-Soul and Sky-Seeking cultivators.
RUMBLE!
Following the deafening sound of thunder, lightning streaked: Its white sheen revealed and lit the wrath of the Emperor.
"Unless dismissed—Nobody under the Heavens can leave!"