Chapter 1162: A Battle Between Father and Daughter |
The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor's heart trembled. It was only natural for him to be the first one chosen, since among the Emperors his cultivation was the weakest.
The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor spoke in a deep voice, "Attempting to step on our necks to ascend is a grave provocation to all of us. Though it is established as the Ancestral Court's lawful way to become supreme ruler, it also means that every one of us may be trampled upon. Therefore, each Emperor who accepts the challenge must fight with their full strength. Otherwise, the law of the Ancestral Court will show no mercy."
The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor nodded to him. Crystalline radiance shimmered across his body, and in the next instant, immense phoenix wings spread behind him, carrying him soaring into the skies.
Tang San was about to step forward to fight, but the girl at his side stopped him. "Brother San, let me take this battle."
Tang San looked at her, smiled, and nodded. "Alright."
Xiao Wu drifted forward through the air to face the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.
Looking at the blurred, indistinct face of the daughter before him, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor could not help but give a bitter smile. "You two have ascended to become Emperors, and you are already the hope of the Ancestral Court's future. Why put yourselves through this?"
Xiao Wu sighed softly. "Because this is not our true goal. Father, no matter what you did before, in this life you gave me life. If in the future we take Mother and leave, would you be willing to come with us? I can make the decision to bring you away with us."
Sensing the subtle change in her tone, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor froze. "Leave? Leave for where?"
"Another place," Xiao Wu replied. "A place far better, far more beautiful than here."
The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor suddenly grew nervous. "T-then… could I still be with your mother?"
Xiao Wu shook her head. "I don't know. That depends on whether she is willing to accept you. But I can promise you that you will at least be able to see us often."
"But I've only just taken control of Crystal Phoenix City," he said anxiously. "In the future, I was hoping to leave behind more resources for you. I finally became lord of a city…."
Xiao Wu sighed again. "Can you not let go? Just as you could not let go of the chance to become an Emperor back then, when you abandoned Mother and me?"
The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor froze. "That's not the same. What is mine now will also be yours in the future. You are my only daughter."
"Your only daughter does not need an inheritance, and she does not need Crystal Phoenix City. So I ask you again: Are you willing to let go of it all, and come with us?"
"Where exactly are you going?" the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor asked, puzzled.
"Just think of it as sailing across the seas, far overseas," Xiao Wu said.
"Why overseas?" he pressed, frowning.
"You don't need to worry about that," she said. "You only need to tell me whether you're willing to give up everything for me and Mother, and come with us."
Struggle flashed in his eyes, but only for a moment. He drew a deep breath and said in a solemn voice, "Though I don't really understand why you're suddenly talking about leaving… If one day you and your mother truly wish to go away, then I will go with you. Even if it's only to protect you from a distance, that will be enough. I will not make the same mistake again."
Xiao Wu smiled. It seemed he really had come to his senses.
"Then let us begin. Do not hold back," she told the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.
He immediately sobered up, remembering that this was still Conquering the Heavens. Nodding slightly, he spread his wings, and radiant crystalline light burst forth.
But as he unleashed his bloodline power, a strange feeling overcame him. The sky was clear—utterly clear. No elemental energy of any kind remained. That strange dryness could only be the result of the heavenly tribulation earlier. He could not tell whether the tribulation had devoured the energy in the process of generating the storm clouds, or simply annihilated it altogether.
"Be careful," the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor said in a deep voice.
All the other Emperors below were watching. The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor had just reminded them that none of them could hold back.
Stars of crystalline light flickered all around the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, and his eyes shone brightly. He roared, "Crystal Seal of Heaven and Earth!"
Instantly, the surrounding space transformed into crystal, gleaming with strange brilliance.
But Xiao Wu's figure grew illusory. Though the Crystal Seal of Heaven and Earth was a domain that caused everything within to solidify, her body drifted within it as though immaterial. In the next instant, a crimson light burst forth.
The crystal shattered to pieces as a scarlet sword-light soared into the heavens… not cleaving toward the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, but staining the sky a blood-red.
Clang!
A clear chime rang out, filled with such joy that it seemed almost alive. It was the joy of the Asura Sword—the joy of welcoming Xiao Wu's return.
But the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor felt only a sudden, overwhelming terror surge into his consciousness. Just that single metallic chime caused his body to freeze, entirely unable to move.
With a gentle swing of the Asura Shadow Sword, a tide of red light pressed down upon him, swatting him down from the sky and slamming him toward the ground.
The Emperors watching from below took in the battle intently. If Jin Miaolin and Mei Gongzi dared to challenge all of them, then surely they had some confidence in succeeding. Otherwise, someone like Jin Miaolin would never have done this.
Though the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was the weakest among them, he was nevertheless an Emperor, and he hadn't ascended yesterday either. Yet he was defeated in a single instant. That was truly difficult to believe.
A strange heaviness settled over the gathered Emperors' hearts. If Mei Gongzi's strength was already this terrifying… then what of Jin Miaolin?
The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor looked bitterly at the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.
"I did my best."
His daughter had shattered his domain with a single strike, and the sword's cry alone had shackled his divine consciousness. The difference between them was simply too great. Facing her, he had even felt as though he was confronting the Undying Demon Emperor.
The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor only nodded slightly.
"Understood. Endless Nymph Emperor, please accept the challenge."
On the side of the Solstice Empire, the Endless Nymph Emperor inclined its head. In the next instant, a massive waterspout burst forth, surging skyward.
Xiao Wu retreated, and Tang San switched places with her, appearing where she had been. The Holy Dragon Spear in his hand did not shift back into the form of the Sea God's Trident. Instead, blue-golden radiance erupted from him, condensing into a halo behind his head.
The water tornado was poised to engulf him, but when it neared within a hundred meters, it suddenly collapsed, scattering into countless motes of blue light that flowed into Tang San, merging into the blue-golden halo at the back of his head.
Tang San took a single step into the air. Beneath him, a golden ring of light rose, encircling him. In his hands, the Holy Dragon Spear blazed, turning to brilliant gold.
"Be careful," his calm voice echoed throughout the Ancestral Court.
In the next moment, the spear shot forth like a streak of golden light. Blue-golden brilliance trailed in the air behind it, and faintly, all the vegetation within the Ancestral Court stirred in resonance.
The Endless Nymph Emperor's heart shook violently. The instant Tang San cast the spear, it felt as though its entire being was locked down, unable even to dodge. It tried to gather water energy to resist, but to its horror, it found that all the water had abandoned it and was now refusing to obey its orders.
Tang San was the Sea God. The boundless seas were his dominion. The water element belonged to him. How could it ever harm him?
"I—" The Endless Nymph Emperor tried to surrender, but it was already too late.
The golden spear shining with blue-golden radiance was already at its chest.
the poing team's Thoughts
penguin: am I wrong for rooting for Lin Ximo? Poor dude suffered for twenty freakin years for no reason...