Orion stood still, his brow slightly furrowed as Zhou Linglong's words echoed in his ears.
A duel? The word alone sparked something fierce in him. Deep down, an uncontrollable urge ignited—a primal need to put Zhou Linglong beneath his feet, to make her regret ever challenging him. A dark grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as wild thoughts flooded his mind.
"Let's see who dares now, hmm?" His eyes gleamed with wicked mischief. But then, something snapped in his mind.
Wait, what am I thinking? Orion quickly shook his head, trying to banish those thoughts. Get it together, Orion! She's your enemy, not some...
His thoughts trailed off, and an evil smirk returned to his lips.
But then again...
Orion's mind wandered to a masterpiece from his past life—an infamous painting that stirred controversy across the ages. A flash of brilliance sparked in his head. A plan. An idea.
Why not immortalize this moment? A sly grin spread across his face as he envisioned the scene. If there's a talented painter in Chang'an, I could commission a portrait. One that future generations will never forget! His eyes glinted with devious excitement.
Zhou Linglong noticed the wicked gleam in his eyes and felt a chill crawl down her spine. For the first time, a flicker of doubt and fear flashed in her heart. What is he planning? Her voice trembled ever so slightly, despite her angry shout.
"Orion!" Zhou Linglong called out, trying to regain control of the situation. But she hadn't realized that fear had already taken root deep within her.
Orion's smirk widened. He liked seeing that fear.
"Oh, Zhou Linglong," he purred, "you'll get your battle soon enough."
The tension between them crackled like lightning. But then, Orion raised a hand, halting the intensity.
"Wait a second!" His voice broke the charged atmosphere as he turned his head toward Xu Chu, his trusted warrior.
"Xu Chu," Orion called with a chuckle, "why don't you entertain our empress here? It seems she's itching for a fight."
Zhou Linglong's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?!" she hissed. "Orion, you agreed to fight me! Holy Body against Holy Body! You know our fates are intertwined—this duel must happen! Retreating from this battle means losing your Invincible Heart! It'll ruin your cultivation forever!"
Zhou Linglong's face twisted with frustration. Her voice turned cold as she tried to remind Orion of the gravity of the situation. How could he possibly disregard the risk of demonic obsession?
Orion shrugged nonchalantly. "Invincible Heart? Demonic obsession?" He chuckled darkly. "Yeah, I'm not too worried about that. My empress, maybe you should be more concerned about your own fate right now."
Zhou Linglong's heart sank. Orion wasn't bound by the same rules as other cultivators. He cared nothing for the consequences. His power came from something far deeper, something unshakable.
Still, Zhou Linglong gritted her teeth, her eyes narrowing as they focused on Xu Chu. Fine, if Orion refuses to fight, then I'll crush this so-called emperor first.
Her aura flared, surging with imperial power as the ground beneath her cracked from the pressure. She was ready.
Xu Chu stepped forward, unfazed by her display. His manic energy pulsed like an untamed beast.
Zhou Linglong steeled herself. So, this is the powerful emperor I must face?
Despite the immense power Xu Chu exuded, Zhou Linglong felt her own confidence rise. She had awoken the Holy Body of the Emperor—there was no one she couldn't defeat.
With a sneer, she prepared for battle. "Emperor or not," she muttered, "I will stand victorious."
The tension hung in the air as the battle loomed, each side ready to give their all.