"Mountain barbarian, take a knife."
"Take this sword if you dare."
"Barbarian, you've angered me! Witness the emperor's wrath as I lay waste to you and the palace!"
"You are merely a man, no more. Hahaha! A man's rage spans but five steps. I, Dong Zhuo, am the ancestor of calamity, laying waste to the world. When I wish, every city I enter will see thousands of corpses fall."
The two powerful cultivators clashed fiercely in midair, their swords and blades ringing with each impact. Thunder roared, the wind howled, and curses filled the air.
Li Tianba was formidable, but Dong Zhuo, a tyrant sowing chaos, was a force to be reckoned with.
"So powerful!"
"Indeed, a battle emperor's might can destroy the world!" Countless eyes watched in shock as the two titans fought in the sky.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
After a prolonged battle, Dong Zhuo and Li Tianba fell back to the ground simultaneously.
In the ruined palace square, they stood, one with a giant sword, the other with a magic knife, their expressions more ferocious than ever.
A colossal aura erupted from both, clashing like two roaring oceans.
Li Tianba, who was two meters tall and fiercely built, faced Dong Zhuo, whose three-meter frame and black flames made him a monstrous sight. Li Tianba, though intimidating, seemed small before Dong Zhuo.
"Their strength is evenly matched. It's hard to determine a winner right now," General Zaye said.
"It seems Li Tianba could use some help," Sa Noko smiled seductively, her eyes gleaming.
"I agree," Zaye nodded.
The two floated toward Li Tianba.
"Under Dong Zhuo and Li Tianba's auras, they approach unharmed. Their strength is unfathomable," Sun Bin observed from the Golden Temple steps.
"My Holy Sun Sect's secret treasure, the 'Elite Pill,' greatly boosts strength for a short time," Sa Noko said, presenting an evil-looking pill to Li Tianba.
"This 'Ghost Pill' is our royal treasure. It too can boost strength temporarily," Zaye offered, holding a dark, ominous pill.
"Excellent!" Li Tianba grabbed the pills eagerly.
"My lord, this is your first battle as emperor. It must be won to establish your majesty," Sa Noko and Zaye said as they floated back.
The Elite Pill and Ghost Pill could indeed increase power temporarily, but they didn't tell Li Tianba that these pills burned all potential within the body. Once the effects wore off, he would be left weak, his body hollowed out.
The two were deviously planning. If Li Tianba destroyed Zhao Hao but then died, the Divine Dragon Kingdom would crumble, leaving Carved Dragon Island up for grabs.
"Li Tianba is strong and the enemy has millions. General Dong Zhuo alone can't turn the tide!"
"Our nation's fall seems inevitable!"
"The emperor might flee..."
Outside the Golden Phoenix Temple, officials panicked. Dong Zhuo, though mighty, couldn't save them. This battle was merely a fight for dignity.
"Hahaha..."
Li Tianba roared and laughed maniacally. His head seemed to swell with madness, eyes bloodshot, and his aura exploded. His power surged from War Emperor Tier 1 to Tier 2, then quickly to Tier 3.
The sky darkened with the released energy.
"General Dong, be cautious. He's taken the pills," Sun Bin warned.
"Let him! This general fears nothing," Dong Zhuo roared, raising his giant sword. Lightning crackled, converging on the sword with cataclysmic force.
The world changed under the staggering thunder.
Dong Zhuo, sensing Li Tianba's surge, began to gather his own power, preparing a devastating attack.
As the world grew chaotic, everyone watched in shock, witnessing Li Tianba and Dong Zhuo's monstrous transformations.
"RoarRoarRoarRoar"
Suddenly, dragon roars pierced the sky.
"Where is that sound coming from?"
The crowd of people below looked up, only to see nine enormous five-clawed golden dragons emerging from the northern sky.
"RoarRoarRoarRoar"
The dragons flew toward the imperial city with boundless might.
"A dragon! It's really a dragon!"
"These are five-clawed golden dragons, symbols of royal supremacy!"
"Nine five-clawed golden dragons appearing together—what does it mean?"
The world had never seen such a sight. Everyone was awestruck.
Li Tianba initially was surprised, then laughed wildly: "Hahaha..." He had proclaimed himself emperor, and now nine five-clawed golden dragons descended. This was a divine sign, marking him as heaven's chosen, the true emperor.
"I am heaven's chosen, with gods protecting me. Who dares call me a traitor? Hahaha, I am the true dragon emperor," Li Tianba laughed, but then his face changed drastically.
"The true dragon emperor? You dare to claim that title?" A contemptuous voice echoed.
As the nine dragons passed through the clouds, nine long chains connected them to a mighty crystal chariot.
Standing on the chariot was a young man in a dragon robe and emperor's crown, his eyes bright like stars, radiating heroism.
It was Zhao Hao.
Zhao Hao stood on the crystal chariot, arriving with nine five-clawed golden dragons.