Chapter 631: This King and This Emperor
The fiery light formed by the flock of Crimson Fire Crows dyed most of the sky in a color resembling crimson flames. Looking from afar, it seemed like a magnificent painting of fiery clouds embedded at the edge of the horizon.
On the horizon, a pitch-black fat cat walked on two short legs, with its other two paws clasped behind its back like human hands. It cast a distant glance toward the skyline.
Illuminated by the firelight, a sturdy shadow stretched across the ground.
If one only saw the shadow, they might mistake it for a fat tiger.
Behind the black cat followed a tall, slender young woman, from whom an intense aura of yin-cold radiated. With every step she took, a layer of white frost formed on the ground.
This woman was none other than Orange Moon Star Envoy of the Black Market First Class Hall.
Orange Moon Star Envoy also gazed into the distance, a cold expression flickering in her eyes. "There are actually thousands of Crimson Fire Crows gathered here. It must be the Blood Crow King controlling them. It seems Master's intuition was correct—the owner probably isn't dead and should be nearby."
Although Orange Moon Star Envoy was reluctant to bow to a cat as her master, this cat's understanding of the Sacred Dao left her deeply astonished.
In fact, she felt that even her own master, Ghost Saint, was far inferior to this cat in comprehending the Sacred Dao.
With its guidance, Orange Moon Star Envoy's cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. Almost every day, her understanding of the Sacred Dao reached new heights.
Moreover, Xiao Hei would occasionally take out some lost powerful martial techniques and ancient secret arts for her to practice. Each one was profound and boundless in power, leaving Orange Moon Star Envoy utterly captivated.
It was for this reason that Orange Moon Star Envoy had accepted Xiao Hei as her master, eager to learn how many more treasures she could gain from it.
"Zhang Ruochen isn't so easy to kill. This Emperor made a huge discovery in the Ruins Realm Battlefield, and there are some major matters I need to handle with him," Xiao Hei said in an old-fashioned tone.
Since returning from the Ruins Realm Battlefield, Xiao Hei had already inquired about Zhang Ruochen's situation and learned that his identity as the Heir of Time and Space had been exposed.
Although everyone claimed he was dead,
only Xiao Hei knew that Zhang Ruochen was still alive.
That was why, relying on its connection to the Cosmic Divine Wood Map, it had brought Orange Moon Star Envoy to the Eastern Domain Evil Ground to find Zhang Ruochen and set off to handle important matters together.
Orange Moon Star Envoy naturally knew that Xiao Hei had made a huge discovery in the Ruins Realm Battlefield, but no matter how she probed, she couldn't extract a single word from the cat's mouth.
This cat appeared foolish, fat, and pretentious, but in reality, it was quite shrewd and exceptionally experienced.
Getting any useful information out of it was harder than reaching the heavens.
Xiao Hei sniffed the air, then looked up into the distance again, a profound expression in its eyes. "Hmm? Why does this Emperor smell a thick scent of blood?"
Orange Moon Star Envoy also sensed the intense energy fluctuations coming from afar. She channeled her true qi into her eyes and vaguely saw a mass of blood clouds floating in the sky.
Within the blood clouds seemed to stand a humanoid monster. The energy fluctuations emanated from it, sending a chill down one's spine even from three hundred miles away.
...
At that moment, Zhang Ruochen's gaze was also fixed on the Blood Crow King above. He explained to Mu Lingxi, "Earlier, the Artifact Soldier's punch severely injured the Blood Crow King, forcing him to reveal his true form."
"Then, the Blood Crow King absorbed the blood of the Crimson Fire Crow King to recover. Now that he has shown his true form, he no longer needs to hide and will become even more terrifying."
Everyone had their own secrets and trump cards. Zhang Ruochen was no exception, and neither was the Blood Crow King.
Only when pushed to the brink would they reveal their hidden cards.
Above, the Blood Crow King glanced at Zhang Ruochen with some surprise and said with a sinister laugh, "Eight hundred years have passed, and I didn't expect the younger generation of Kunlun Realm to still remember us Undying Blood Clan. Zhang Ruochen, your talent is impressive. If you hand over Di Yi and become my blood servant, this king will spare your life."
Zhang Ruochen snorted coldly. "Eight hundred years have passed, and the Undying Blood Clan remains as arrogant as ever. It seems back then, the Ming Emperor should not have just sealed you on Manji Island but should have wiped out your entire clan."
The Blood Crow King's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Zhang Ruochen. "You actually know about that battle eight hundred years ago between the Holy Bright Central Empire and our Undying Blood Clan? Interesting."
"Let me tell you the truth. This time, our Undying Blood Clan has returned to Kunlun Realm to seek revenge. Our clansmen have already infiltrated the major powers of Kunlun Realm, waiting only for the right moment to uproot the remnants of the Holy Bright Central Empire, including the so-called Bright Hall."
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "Aren't you afraid I'll send word to the Bright Hall and warn them to eliminate you first?"
The Blood Crow King showed no fear and chuckled. "First, you have to escape from this king's grasp. With just the two of you, even with an Artifact Soldier, you are no match for me."
In the Fish-Dragon Realm, only those at the ninth transformation of Fish-Dragon with a Sacred Body could suppress him. Even an Artifact Soldier was just scrap metal once its sacred qi ran out.
The Blood Crow King was naturally very confident in his strength.
A cold snort rang out. "This Emperor hates arrogant people like you the most, especially when they act arrogant in front of me. Do you really think the Heaven-Slaying Earth-Destroying Emperor is just for show?"
On the horizon, Xiao Hei strutted with its chest puffed out, its round cat eyes radiating a disdainful gaze. It carried an air of pride as it walked slowly forward, seemingly trying to intimidate the Blood Crow King with its presence.
However, its body was far too fat, lacking any fierce or menacing appearance. Moreover, its aura was not particularly strong—far from intimidating the Blood Crow King, it probably couldn't even scare a cultivator at the first transformation of Fish-Dragon.
Everyone's gaze turned toward Xiao Hei.
Seeing Xiao Hei, Mu Lingxi's eyes lit up, her eyelashes fluttering as she exclaimed in surprise, "Xiao Hei."
Zhang Ruochen, however, showed no surprise. Since Xiao Hei could sense his location, he could also sense Xiao Hei's. In fact, he had already noticed that Xiao Hei was nearby.
The Blood Crow King's gaze fell on Xiao Hei, curious to see what kind of being dared to call itself "Emperor."
After all, since Empress Chi Yao ascended the throne, no one in the world had dared to use the title "Emperor."
But when the Blood Crow King saw that the speaker was merely a fat cat, he shook his head in disappointment, a look of contempt on his face. His gaze shifted to Orange Moon Star Envoy behind Xiao Hei.
This time, the Blood Crow King's expression finally changed. He let out a hoarse laugh. "Orange Moon Star Envoy, long time no see."
Orange Moon Star Envoy frowned at the Blood Crow King's ferocious appearance. "Blood Crow King, I never expected you to be from the Undying Blood Clan. What are you plotting by hiding in the Black Market?"
The Undying Blood Clan sustained their lives by drinking the blood of living beings, making them enemies of all humanity.
Even the Black Market could not tolerate the Undying Blood Clan.
"Plotting? The Black Market's influence spans the entire Kunlun Realm. Our Undying Blood Clan naturally wants a piece of the pie."
"Greedy," Orange Moon Star Envoy said.
The Blood Crow King sneered coldly. "Since my identity is exposed, all of you must die today."
"Arrogant! How dare you act recklessly in front of this Emperor? Do you believe I'll eat you alive?" Xiao Hei displayed an even more arrogant demeanor than the Blood Crow King, its eyes fierce and menacing.
The Blood Crow King could no longer tolerate this fat cat. He growled, "You dare call yourself 'Emperor' in front of this king? Then I'll kill you first."
The Blood Crow King swooped down, appearing above Xiao Hei's head. He struck with his sharp claws, summoning a thick mass of blood qi that slammed into Xiao Hei.
"Bang!"
Without any surprise, struck by the claw, Xiao Hei flew off like a black rubber ball, crashing into a small hill.
The hill collapsed with a roar, burying him.
In truth, the Blood Crow King hadn't seen through Xiao Hei's cultivation earlier and thought the cat might actually be formidable, which was why he attacked first.
With such a big mouth, there had to be some real skill, right?
But unexpectedly, the fat cat was all talk and no substance, completely bluffing. A single slap had taken care of it.
"Heh! Just a useless piece of trash..."
The Blood Crow King let out a sinister laugh, but his expression quickly froze, and his laughter abruptly stopped, as if something was stuck in his throat.
"How is this possible?"
He saw the fat cat nonchalantly crawl out of the rubble, shake its body vigorously, and send dust flying from its fur. It said coldly, "Despicable wretch, daring to ambush this Emperor. Kid, you've angered me. Today, you're dead."
The Blood Crow King's face showed a solemn expression. No one knew better than him that he had used full force in that strike. Even a cultivator at the ninth transformation of Fish-Dragon would have died if hit.
Yet that fat cat was completely unharmed.
Such terrifying defensive power made even the Blood Crow King feel a chill in his heart.
Xiao Hei tilted its head arrogantly. "If this Emperor personally fought you, it would be beneath my dignity. So, I'll send my disciple to deal with you. Yue'er, take care of him for your master and kill him."
"Yes."
Orange Moon Star Envoy stepped forward. With each step she took, the cold aura emanating from her grew stronger.
When she took the ninth step, the ground within a ten-mile radius centered on her feet was completely sealed by ice.