Absolute Power!

“Their ability to kill is largely driven by their speed.” The emperor nodded approvingly. “You’ve paid close attention.” He then turned to Hua Yanli and Yun Qi and said, “And what about you two?”

Startled, Hua Yanli and Yun Qi grew alert at the emperor’s question. They had once been the future stars of Qingzhou City, full of audacity and even demanding Qin Huai pay in blood. Now, they barely dared to raise their voices.

“If you want to defeat these demons on equal footing, it’s safer if many of us attack together,” Yun Qi suggested tentatively.

Hua Yanli was bolder in his approach. “We should take the initiative, plan, and attack first!”

“You all have potential.” The emperor chuckled. “But none of you hit the mark.” They all listened attentively, curious about his insights.

“Didn’t this little bird just claim that only absolute power counts?” The emperor looked at Tang Ying, who was busily using his bloodline secret technique to destroy the bronze artifacts. The latter lifted his head and smirked at the emperor.

“How much power do you still have left, Emperor of Qingzhou?”

Bang!

Another slap landed on Tang Ying from afar, sending him spinning more than ten times. Gray feathers fell from his body, and chunks of flesh tore away, blood dripping down as if someone was being skinned alive. Finally, he collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.

“How… How can you still be so powerful?” Tang Ying, lying in a pool of his own blood, was a battered mess.

“I was merely toying with you,” the emperor said nonchalantly. “Since you’ve all seen how this demon fights, there’s no need to hold back any longer.” With that, the emperor approached Tang Ying. “You demons sure have many tricks. You’ve managed to blend your bloodline with the human race, preserving a part of the ancient demon’s power and absorbing the cultivation talent of humans. What a shame though. By doing this, your cultivation technique pollutes your blood essence, making it unfit to use your corpse as a spirit treasure.” The emperor shook his head in regret.

“Why are you so strong…” Tang Ying felt the imminent threat of death. In the presence of the emperor, he felt as helpless as a newborn, easily crushed.

“Well, I am the Emperor of Qingzhou,” he said calmly. He then pointed at Tang Ying’s forehead.

Bang!

Just like that, Tang Ying’s eyes lost their life and he collapsed heavily onto the ground.

“Is… Is this the Emperor of Qingzhou?” Hua Yanli’s voice trembled, his eyes full of awe.

Yun Qi, standing nearby, was equally astounded. Growing up on the legends of Qingzhou, every young man dreamed of becoming an invincible figure like the Emperor of Qingzhou. Now, they were witnessing him in person, a full ten thousand years after his supposed death.

“Isn’t fate marvelous?” Yun Qi mused.

“Little brats, the future of Qingzhou is in your hands,” the emperor said, walking up to the trio.

“What do you mean by that, Senior?” Hua Yanli asked, puzzled.

“This is Senior’s last bit of strength. After this attack, he will fade away completely,” Qin Huai explained, sadness creeping into his voice as he watched the emperor’s shadow start to dissipate.

“Haha! Life is full of goodbyes and regrets.” the emperor laughed heartily. “But I don’t want this to be something you regret.”

The trio listened solemnly. They understood what the emperor meant by ‘this’. “Let me share a little secret with you,” the emperor whispered, suddenly appearing several hundred meters away with Qin Huai.

“Please go ahead,” Qin Huai encouraged.

“Cherish your life,” the emperor said.

Qin Huai was taken aback by his words.

“As long as there’s life, there’s hope. An emperor like you might not come around again for ten thousand years,” the emperor of Qingzhou said seriously. action

“Really?” Qin Huai felt that his king’s force and emperor’s force were both pretty natural, just another aspect of his cultivation progression.

“Heh, you remind me of myself,” the emperor confessed.

“But, Senior, didn’t you say we could only manifest ourselves by luring them to the bronze sinkhole?” Qin Huai asked, puzzled.

“Ah, that was just a small lie. I didn’t want you to rely too heavily on my power,” the emperor confessed, coughing slightly.

“Are you still lying to me?” Qin Huai asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

“Haha… I still have a heart, you know,” the emperor admitted, his eyes filled with a hint of melancholy. “If I were still around, I would certainly crush anyone who dared to challenge us. Unfortunately, it’s no longer my time.”

“I will do my best,” Qin Huai said resolutely, not making any promises.

The emperor patted Qin Huai on the shoulder. “Don’t try to be me. The Emperor of Qingzhou is too weak.”

Qin Huai stayed quiet. Perhaps only the emperor himself could say he was weak. Even ten thousand years after his death, he was still capable of defeating a top-notch Qingzhou expert. His combat prowess was remarkable.

“Can we trust those prodigies who entered the bronze realm?” Qin Huai asked.

“You’ve finally thought about this.” The emperor smiled. “Why did you think I put in all this effort just to find a successor?”