Chapter 1171: Phoenix Perched on the Parasol Tree |
Both the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor and the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor had ranked among the top three of their respective empires. And yet, both had fallen to Tang San.
The former was one thing; though the clash had showcased Tang San's powerful spirit, his opponent had been killed by the backlash of his own ability. But the latter? That was a frontal clash, a direct match where pure strength was pitted against pure strength. And in this scenario, where he should have been unrivaled, he had been completely suppressed instead! From the very outset, it was clear that Tang San's power and explosiveness were equal to his, yet he also mastered combat techniques far beyond the Behemoth Emperor's grasp. In the end, the invincible titan of the land had been crushed to death by mighty claws not unlike his own.
The Golden Mammoth and Sky-Splitting Demon Emperors had been among the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's staunchest allies—the very same who had voted against Mei Gongzi during her city lord evaluation. These old accounts were being settled one by one. Tang San would not possibly allow such people to remain in this world.
A safe distance away from the Ancestral Court's Council Mountain, Xu An'yu watched. He was not yet an Emperor, and consequently, he was unaffected by the laws of Conquering the Heavens; yet even so, his soul trembled.
Is this who you really are, Jin Miaolin? No, Tang San?
His human friend was rising step by step, treading upon the heads of Emperors to reach the highest peak. And these Emperors, once lofty beyond reach, could not halt him at all.
The Titan Giant Ape manifestation faded. Tang San's expression remained calm, as though he had not just slain yet another Emperor. His gaze shifted toward his next opponents.
Yes, opponents. This time, he had to face the duo of the Undying Demon Emperor and the Parasol Tree Nymph Emperor—the legendary Perching Phoenix Duo.
Tang San gestured courteously. "Your Majesties Undying Demon Emperor and Parasol Tree Nymph Emperor, please step forward."
The rules' suppression was lifted from the two. Together, they rose into the sky.
Two against two.
The Undying Demon Emperor's eyes ignored Tang San and fixed on Xiao Wu instead. "You once called me Grandfather. Was it only to steal my phoenix bloodline?"
Xiao Wu shook her head. "No. Back then, I accepted the phoenix bloodline out of gratitude for my father's legacy. I never wished to be an enemy to the phoenix race, and I still do not wish that. As long as you do not oppose humanity, you will always be my second grandfather."
The Undying Demon Emperor drew a long breath, then shifted his gaze to Tang San. "But is this really a matter of sparing humans? It is your husband who seeks to slaughter us all."
Tang San shook his head as well. "Neither you nor His Majesty the Parasol are my enemies. As Xiao Mei said, as long as you do not endanger humanity, you may live and retain all the honors you have. Truthfully, at the time, I only wanted her to have one more chance at survival, just in case. Your bloodline is of limited benefit to her now. But because of the bond you share, I do not intend to kill you today. You should consider yourself fortunate."
"Ha! Fortunate, am I? And what if I refuse this fortune?" The Undying Demon Emperor's gaze hardened. Flames roared from his body and a colossal phoenix phantom unfurled, blotting out the blood rain and turning the heavens to fire.
"Then you will die," Tang San replied calmly.
Their eyes locked. For reasons he could not name, the Undying Demon Emperor suddenly felt small… while Tang San's stature loomed vast as a mountain.
"Fine. Alright then! Let me see how you mean to kill us! Parasol, lend me your flame!"
The Immortal Flame Phoenix and the Parasol Tree flared together. Fire erupted, so hot that the sky itself warped.
Xiao Wu stood firm at Tang San's side. Amid the rising inferno, Tang San turned to her. She smiled gently, telling him with her gaze that she would stand by his every choice.
The Holy Dragon Spear shimmered in Tang San's grip, then suddenly turned into a golden trident. A large azure gem was embedded into the shaft right beneath the prongs, and from it flowed a soft blue light that enveloped him and Xiao Wu.
The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud—the Sea God's ability! With this, all heat was sealed away. For the Sea God, when had fire ever been a threat?
The Undying Demon Emperor's face darkened. His arms moved in large circles, and the massive phoenix screamed skyward. In the next instant, a rain of fire fell; each drop turned into a meteor, crashing toward Tang San and Xiao Wu.
Behind him, the Parasol Tree Nymph Emperor opened his arms wide. For a moment, he seemed to merge into the Undying Demon Emperor's silhouette, only to emerge the next moment as a towering vermilion tree. It stood tall beneath the phoenix's talons, supporting it with its crystalline red branches, and the moment it appeared, the phoenix fire turned a darker red.
From the heavens poured crimson fire meteors, a doomsday storm—the Phoenix Meteor Storm!
As they witnessed this display of power, even the Sunborne and Earthshade Nymph Emperors glanced at each other in unease. With his partner's amplification, the Undying Demon Emperor's fire actually exceeded Sunborne's. Their partnership, the Perching Phoenix Duo, was the most perfect symbiosis in the Ancestral Court; although Sunborne and Earthshade's yin-yang union involved more fundamental laws, their harmony was simply not as good
The sky rained red fire upon Tang San, but he only held Xiao Wu's hand and did not even flinch. At his brow, a black mark expanded, condensing into a shield before him: the Black Tortoise Shield he had once wielded in the Battle for the Throne. It expanded to tens of meters, protecting the two underneath.
Golden light blazed in Tang San's eyes as the Sea God's faith surged into the shield.
"Black Tortoise, awaken!" he cried.
The shield glowed gold. And at that moment, the first fire meteor struck.
BOOM!!!
The explosion painted the heavens dark red, heat waves twisting the sky.
Even with the Vast Sea Shroud and the Black Tortoise Shield, Tang San and Xiao Wu were hammered a hundred meters downward. Fire blazed all around, searing everything.
A peak twelfth-order being like the Undying Demon Emperor was more than just a little beyond Tang San's prior opponents. And with the Parasol Tree Nymph Emperor's support, his destructive power was absolutely terrifying.
As he watched, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's eyes narrowed. He knew this old Phoenix better than anyone else; he was the only one around who could contend with Sunborne. And now, with true fury burning, the Undying Demon Emperor's might seemed something that even Tang San could scarcely withstand. The latter was already being suppressed, and there were still countless meteors yet to fall.
But just as they were battered down, the shield protecting Tang San and Xiao Wu began to undergo some changes.