Not long after the transaction was completed and Li Mu left the stall, his eyes suddenly turned sharp, and a cold sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth as he said, "Your Excellency has been following us for so long, why not show yourself?"
Before he finished speaking, a figure emerged from the shadows of the street corner. He was draped in a black robe, his face hidden beneath a hood, revealing only a pair of deep eyes that exuded an Aura not to be underestimated. When this person appeared, the surrounding Yao Race Cultivators seemed not to notice him.
Immediately after, a void power surged from his body, taking Li Mu and Xiao Jin into a special space. The surrounding Yao Race Cultivators and the streets of Wan Yao City vanished.
Seeing this, Li Mu's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he had anticipated it, and he did not mind the other party's actions.
"You discovered me so quickly. Who exactly are you? And what is your purpose in coming to Wan Yao City?" The black-robed man asked with surprise and impatience.
"You, who hide your head and tail, shouldn't you introduce yourself first!"
Green-Eyed Golden Ape - Xiao Jin reprimanded angrily.
The fact that he had only now discovered the hidden enemy made him, as a 'guard,' feel negligent. Although the other party had displayed the cultivation of an Eight-rank Demon Emperor, Xiao Jin, relying on his master Li Mu, was naturally fearless.
"How dare you! Considering the extreme difficulty of your Breakthrough to Seven-rank True Spirit through the Golden Ape Bloodline, I will forgive your disrespect. If you dare to offend again, do not blame me for being merciless!" The black-robed Demon Cultivator was furious, his gaze chilling, and he sternly rebuked.
As a dignified Eight-rank Demon Emperor, he had already displayed his cultivation and Aura, yet this Golden Ape, ignorant of death, dared to contradict him. He was simply oblivious to the immensity of heaven and earth.
Facing the black-robed Demon Cultivator's angry roar, Xiao Jin scoffed. He was about to retort further when Li Mu quickly stopped him, saying, "Xiao Jin, don't be rude!"
Seeing that Xiao Jin was still somewhat indignant after being stopped, Li Mu couldn't help but feel a headache. He wished he had brought Xiao Wa or Qing Yue as his attendants instead; Xiao Jin was too careless with his words.
"Sky Void Demon Emperor, what an honor to have you here. Please forgive my lack of a proper welcome. How may I assist you?" Li Mu's eyes flashed with a sharp gleam, and he smiled as he continued.
Under the Heavenly Talent - Identifying Myriad Spirits, the attributes of the newcomer appeared one by one in Li Mu's eyes, and he immediately learned his identity and much information.
【"Spirit of the Void"】
【"Rank: Eight-rank Demon Emperor"】
【"Characteristics: Illusory Body, Space-Time Travel, Illusory Perception, Void Spirit Transformation, Void Domain Control!"】
【"Status: Spirit Sense Awakening, World-Shaking Aura"】
【"Formed by the accidental gathering of Void Qi from the endless Void Realm within the Jade Void Illusory Space, after ten thousand years of arduous cultivation, it finally took shape as an Eight-rank Demon Emperor. Due to its unique birth, it has integrated the mysteries of the Void and time, excelling in space-time techniques. It can manipulate the flow of space and time, perceive the movements of all spirits, and possesses a Divine Ability called 'Spirit Domain Control,' which allows it to instantly construct an exclusive Void Domain to trap enemies invisibly."】
The Sky Void Demon Emperor was not surprised at all to be seen through and have his identity revealed by Li Mu. He lifted his black hood, revealing his true face.
After the Sky Void Demon Emperor removed his hood, his true appearance was immediately revealed before Li Mu and Xiao Jin. It was an extremely demonic face, pale and almost transparent, as if woven from moonlight and Void Qi, exuding an ethereal and profound quality that did not belong to this world.
His head resembled that of a Human Race, neither beautiful nor ugly, extremely demonic. He had a medium-sized face, and his appearance did not reveal his gender, exuding a captivating charm. A pair of horns grew from his forehead, crystal clear, as if carved from the purest Void crystals, shimmering with a faint blue light that echoed his deep eyes.
"Who are you? What is your purpose in coming to Wan Yao City!" The Sky Void Demon Emperor's gaze swept over the battle-ready Xiao Jin before settling on Li Mu, repeating his question.
Facing the Sky Void Demon Emperor's deep eyes that seemed to penetrate the heart, Li Mu's expression remained unchanged, and he fabricated an identity in response: "I am Elder Li Changfeng of Qingxuan Sect. I have long heard of Wan Yao City and happened to pass by, so I came to see it with no other intentions. I never expected to encounter Your Excellency the Demon Emperor here; it is truly fate."
Upon hearing this, the Sky Void Demon Emperor's gaze lingered on Li Mu for a moment, seemingly judging the truthfulness of his words.
"Qingxuan Sect Elder? Hmph, Human cultivators and the Yao Race have always kept to themselves. Your visit this time is probably not as simple as merely passing by, is it?" The Sky Void Demon Emperor's face darkened, and he questioned sharply.
Li Mu sighed, his gaze becoming profound, as if a heavy burden weighed on his heart, and he honestly admitted: "Your Excellency the Demon Emperor has keen insight. To be frank, I came to Wan Yao City this time to escape disaster."
Upon hearing this, the Sky Void Demon Emperor's brows furrowed slightly, and a flicker of understanding flashed in his deep eyes, seemingly unsurprised by Li Mu's answer.
Li Mu's expression was solemn as he continued, "The current situation in the Spirit Realm is turbulent. The Demon Abyss forces and the Immortal Spirit Tribulation forces have invaded, causing slaughter everywhere and plunging all living beings into misery. My Qingxuan Sect is also one of the major sects in the Southern Wilderness Spirit Domain, but under this world-ending calamity, it cannot escape the fate of destruction. In order to escape the catastrophe, I had no choice but to flee with my Guardian Divine Beast - Xiao Jin, and seek refuge in this Yao Race territory."
"Is that so!" After hearing Li Mu's narration, the Sky Void Demon Emperor somewhat believed him. Currently, the Devil Abyss Army and the Immortal Spirit Tribulation Army, two forces, have successively invaded the Spirit Realm, using the Spirit Realm as a battlefield for confrontation and struggle.
The native inhabitants of the Spirit Realm, Human cultivators, and even the Yao Race, have all become innocent victims of this catastrophe, or pawns forced into the conflict. Thinking of this, a complex expression flashed in the Sky Void Demon Emperor's eyes.
"Since you came to this city for refuge, why did you not try to curry favor with this Emperor, and even reject this Emperor's goodwill!" The Sky Void Demon Emperor looked at Li Mu meaningfully and questioned him.
Upon hearing this, Li Mu gave a bitter smile and quickly explained, "Your Excellency the Demon Emperor has misunderstood. I did not intentionally refuse; it is merely my nature not to rely on others, nor do I wish to get involved in too many conflicts. My coming to Wan Yao City this time was an act of desperation; I only wish to find a place to settle down and have no other intentions."
"Hmph, Wan Yao City does not support idlers. It's not impossible for you to stay in Wan Yao City, but if you are unwilling to rely on me, then you must demonstrate sufficient strength and value. Otherwise, get as far away as possible!" The Sky Void Demon Emperor snorted coldly, his eyes revealing a greedy expression.
"Oh! May I ask what Your Excellency the Demon Emperor means?" Li Mu was slightly taken aback and asked with a slight smile.
"You boy have good taste; you were actually able to find that treasure-hiding Empty Spirit Altar in the scattered market. Hand them over, and this Emperor will not bother you anymore!" The Sky Void Demon Emperor's tone suddenly changed, and he said in a deep voice.
Upon hearing this, Li Mu was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected that this fellow would try to rob him of his newly acquired great find.
"Your Excellency the Demon Emperor, aren't you being a bit too overbearing!" Li Mu's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of killing intent!
"What, you want to fight me? Have you thought it through?" Seeing a cold sneer curl at the Sky Void Demon Emperor's lips, as if he had long anticipated Li Mu's reaction, he slowly raised his hand. The surrounding Void Realm Law Domain fluctuated accordingly, and invisible forces began to condense around him, ready to launch an attack at any moment.
Li Mu frowned, and said in a deep voice, "The Empty Spirit Altar is also something I cherish dearly; how can I easily hand it over to others? If I truly have any shortcomings, Your Excellency the Demon Emperor can certainly enlighten me, but if you try to overpower me with your influence, although I am not talented, I am unwilling to be bullied."
Upon hearing this, the Sky Void Demon Emperor laughed in extreme anger, his voice as biting as a cold wind: "Do you know how many people in Wan Yao City have met a gruesome end due to a moment of impulsiveness? This Emperor is giving you a chance. If you don't cherish it, then don't blame this Emperor for being merciless."
As these words were spoken, the atmosphere suddenly became tense, the air solidified, and even the passage of time seemed to slow down. Xiao Jin, standing by, was extremely anxious. He stared intently at the Sky Void Demon Emperor, ready to respond to any potential crisis.
"Hmph, since you refuse a toast and prefer a penalty, then this Emperor will let you know what true power is!" The Sky Void Demon Emperor snorted coldly, his figure suddenly vanishing from its original spot, leaving only a faint afterimage.
The next moment, the Sky Void Demon Emperor's figure suddenly appeared above Li Mu's head. A massive Void Realm hand condensed, carrying immense pressure, and slapped down fiercely towards him.
Without a word, he attacked. Li Mu's body remained still, his hands rapidly fluttering. Two glowing Seven-rank Talismans—Thousand Frost Cold Domain Talismans—were conjured from the tianxuan ring, emitting biting cold and boundless frost power, and were unleashed fiercely towards the Sky Void Demon Emperor above.
"Hmph, a mere two Talismans, and you think you can seal this Emperor's Void Realm Law Domain?" The Sky Void Demon Emperor sneered, waving his right hand. The surrounding Void Realm power surged, seemingly intending to easily dissolve the two Talismans.
However, a subtle cold sneer appeared at the corner of Li Mu's mouth. He had already seen through the opponent's scheme. The two Thousand Frost Cold Domain Talismans were not used individually, but rather as part of a carefully prepared consecutive strategy.
Only to see the first Talisman explode in the air, instantly transforming into a world of ice and snow, with cold Qi overflowing, freezing the surrounding space. The second Talisman, under the cover of this cold, quietly erupted within the Sky Void Demon Emperor's Void Realm Law Domain, and a cold tide instantly descended.
"What?" The Sky Void Demon Emperor's face changed. He discovered that his Void Realm Law Domain had begun to show cracks, as if being eroded from within by some force, and the cold Qi was like a maggot in the bone, continuously eroding his Law Domain.
Just then, Li Mu's figure flickered, and he unleashed the Five Elements Earth Escape technique, taking Xiao Jin deep into the earth. Earth element energy surrounded them, and their figures became illusory and unpredictable. In an instant, they had already broken through the Sky Void Demon Emperor's Void Realm Law Domain and sped towards the outskirts of Wan Yao City.
"Trying to leave? Not so easy!" The Sky Void Demon Emperor roared. How could he easily let Li Mu go, especially after learning that the other party might have treasures on him?
Li Mu had already anticipated this move. While escaping, he launched another Seven-rank Talisman, temporarily blocking the Sky Void Demon Emperor's path.
The Sky Void Demon Emperor snorted coldly, naturally not to be trapped by this small Talisman, but this delay was enough for Li Mu and Xiao Jin to escape Wan Yao City.
After escaping Wan Yao City, Li Mu did not immediately stop. He quickly formed hand seals, chanting incantations, and a Five Elements light burst forth from his body, instantly transforming into a Five Elements Avatar identical to Li Mu. The Avatar's clothing and Aura were no different from Li Mu's and Xiao Jin's true bodies.
A total of four teams fled separately. When Li Mu and Xiao Jin's true bodies flew hundreds of miles outside Wan Yao City and looked back at the city shrouded in Demonic Qi, the Sky Void Demon Emperor, utilizing his speed advantage, swiftly pursued and eliminated Li Mu's three Five Elements Clones.
"Master, what should we do next? He's catching up!" Xiao Jin asked, his eyes filled with worry as he watched the Sky Void Demon Emperor rapidly pursuing them.
"No choice, we can only fight!" A strange glint flashed in Li Mu's eyes, and instead of being alarmed, he was delighted.
He was just pondering how to quietly deal with the several Demon Emperors in Wan Yao City to retrieve the nine-rank divine object - Blue Origin Cyan Tree! Now, with the Sky Void Demon Emperor delivering himself to his doorstep, Li Mu couldn't be blamed for being impolite.
With a plan in mind, Li Mu flew to a secluded area, a mountainous ravine, which was an excellent place to set up a Formation.
Li Mu's mind entered the tianxuan ring, and he formed hand seals. Streams of spiritual light flew from his fingertips, and array plates emerged, transforming into array foundations that silently merged into the surrounding rocks and soil.
"Xiao Jin, follow me!" Li Mu whispered, turning his body and leading Xiao Jin to a higher position, silently awaiting the Sky Void Demon Emperor.
The Sky Void Demon Emperor continued his relentless pursuit, never expecting Li Mu to actively stop, let alone choose such a secluded place as a battlefield. The moment he stepped into the valley, an ominous premonition surged in his heart, but it was too late.
Li Mu waved both hands, and streams of light rose from the ground. The Five Elements intertwined, forming a massive Five Elements barrier that isolated the valley from the outside world. This barrier could not only block sound but also Divine Sense, preventing the outside world from perceiving any movement within the valley.
"You dream of using this Formation to trap this Emperor!" The Sky Void Demon Emperor snorted coldly, waving his hands as Void Realm power surged, attempting to break free from the Five Elements barrier's restraint. However, he quickly discovered that this Five Elements barrier was extraordinary. The Five Elements mutually generated and restrained each other, continuously regenerating, and possessed infinite power supporting this barrier.
Seeing that the Five Elements barrier was indestructible, the Sky Void Demon Emperor's eyes grew colder. If he couldn't break through the Formation quickly, and the other party could employ other means, the situation would become even more unfavorable.
The Sky Void Demon Emperor took a deep breath, and the Void Realm power around him boiled. An Aura surpassing the ordinary burst forth from his body, as if intending to bring this entire world under his control.
"Space-Time Blade Rain, break for me!" The Sky Void Demon Emperor roared, Dao Yuan surging. The Void Realm suddenly split into tiny cracks, and dark light emanated from the cracks, like the eyes of the abyss, gazing at everything in this world.
Immediately after, countless blade lights, condensed from space-time power, shot out from those cracks, like a torrential downpour of blade lights. Each blade light contained the terrifying power to tear space and sever time, slashing fiercely towards the Five Elements barrier.
"Clang! Clang!" The blade lights continuously collided with the grand Formation, erupting with crisp metallic sounds. Sparks flew everywhere, and ripples appeared on the surface of the Five Elements barrier, threatening to collapse at any moment. (End of this chapter)
