Imperial God Emperor

"What... who could it be?" Ge Ming's countenance changed wildly.

He instantly understood that he had just run into a genuine ace.

The arrow contained a strange power of laws which was way beyond anything the [Savage Army Demon Race] experts could have conjured. Moreover, instead of targeting him, it homed in on the girl in his arms. As a surprise attack, it was impossible to evade by now.

With no time for deliberation, he instantly tossed the girl high up. Subsequently, he worked up the shadowy mist power in his single arm and sent it charging toward the golden arrow with a point of his finger.

He had chosen to counter with force.

Boom!

A blare which shook the heavens was heard at the very moment that the fingertip collided with the arrow.

In the next moment, a terrifying power began to suffuse. Invisible bursts of qi radiated in every direction and dust whirled in the air as the surrounding buildings instantly collapsed like sandcastles. It was the very picture of the end of the world.

Amid the smoke and dust, the golden arrow could be vaguely seen to reverse its flight.

Ge Ming's figure, too, was sent flying backward and landed on the ground.

He forcefully operated his yuan power instantly upon hitting the ground. Spewing a mouthful of blood, he drew the girl in midair toward him until she returned to his side.

"Shui Xiu, are you alright?" There was a concerned look on his face.

Although there was an unconcealable terror in her eyes while abrasions covered her face and body, the girl nevertheless shook her head mannerly, saying, "Uncle, I'm fine. Don't bother about me... you're injured..."

He heaved a sigh of relief after confirming that she had only suffered superficial injuries.

"Uncle's fine." He gently caressed her hair to comfort her. However, an unprecedented somber expression appeared on his face.

He had indeed been damaged by the earlier blow.

And it was not a light injury.

The arrow contained a frightening power which jarred his only arm. Moreover, a weird golden mist remained within the wound on his arm even until now, eroding his flesh and causing a trail of blood to drip down his long aqua blue sleeve.

In the distance.

A voice ripped across the air and came surging.

"Hoho, hiding rat, I let you slip away the last time, but you ain't going anywhere this time!" The voice, which contained a king's arrogance and a menacing vigor, resounded through the street.

Amid the darkness.

Ye Qingyu, who had originally prepared to intervene, reverted to concealing his tracks.

A new ace had arrived.

Who could it be?

He looked toward the direction which the voice came from.

Meanwhile, the men and horses of the [Savage Army Demon Race] caught up and once again surrounded the duo.

Two figures flew out from the Black Demon qi in the distance.

The first to emerge was a young man who looked somewhere in his twenties or thirties. He had a hard and resolute face, trimmed sideburns, jade-white skin, and wore a purple crown. An awe-inspiring, hawk-sharp expression gleamed in his black pupils, while his pale blue gown, which was inlaid with a yin-yang fish pair pattern, gave off a continuous whistling sound. He appeared to be lofty, aloof, and of an overbearing spirit.

Behind him was another man of similar age. His body was tall, upright, and dressed in a black robe on which a bright crescent moon was stitched using golden thread, while his black hair, which intertwined with the Black Demon qi, was bundled up by a golden crown. His facial features were profound and well-defined, as though they had been carved with a knife. Handsome brows slanted into his temples, while a hint of callousness and audacity could be seen in his black pupils.

As if they were two ancient divine mountains towering in the void, the two young men stood tall in midair alongside each other with deep and surging vigors, delivering a heart-palpitating oppressive force which was matchless in power and horror.

"It's those people from the Divine Sky Sect and the Black Moon Divine Palace!" The red-bearded elder recognized their clothing with one look and was shocked.

He immediately motioned to the other elders and demons, who were busy surrounding Ge Ming, to retreat to one side.

Although the [Savage Army Demon Race] could be considered an established force in the Vast Thousand Domains, it was considerably weaker than forces such as the Divine Sky Sect and the Black Moon Divine Palace. Besides, it was apparent that the young men who suddenly appeared were extremely powerful and high in status within their respective sects.

Seeing as these Higher Domain top-level large sects were intervening in Ge Ming's affair, the [Savage Army Demon Race] knew that it had to slow down and think things through in order not to cause unnecessary disputes.

In the distance, the covertly-observing Ye Qingyu also looked fearful.

The two young men who popped up were very strong and could not be underestimated.

Ye Qingyu quickly and correctly guessed their statuses from their clothing and adornments. He had always paid great attention to the Divine Sky Sect, and thus had taken note of their fashion in the Black Demon Pool's administration hall and the Clear River Domain's Immortal God Emperor Sect earlier on. This was why he knew that the young man in front was from the Divine Sky Sect with one look at the latter's clothing.

The dress style of the Black Moon Divine Palace was also one of its kind and easily recognizable among the entire Vast Thousand Domains.

"If my guess is right, this white-robed young man is Lu Li, the promising talent who is said to have gone on a killing spree in the [Easy Wins Joint], and if so, the black-robed expert next to him is definitely Yang Wanqu, the young Heaven's pride of the Black Moon Divine Palace."

Using his quick wits, Ye Qingyu swiftly figured their identities out.

It was totally unexpected that these two people would suddenly appear at this crucial time, adding a new obstacle to Ge Ming's originally flawless rescue plan.

Presumably, they were also in hot pursuit of him.

Ge Ming really has enemies everywhere, it seems.

Hiding in a dark spot, Ye Qingyu decided to quietly watch the situation unfold.

Below the tower.

Ge Ming's breath gradually steadied.

He frowned slightly as he looked at the two talents in front of him, saying, "As they say, ghosts never go away. Seems like there are truly a lot of idiots out there trying to claim the bounty on my head."

Facing him.

A hint of disdain flashed across Lu Li's pupils as he snorted and taunted, "Ge Ming, you think too highly of yourself. That price on your body doesn't interest me at all. The only reason for hunting you down is because you displeased me. In my world, anyone who displeases me must die!"

"That's right, nobody who provoked us has ever lived for a day longer." To one side, Yang Wanqu spoke haughtily, "It's most unfortunate that you've run into us. Blame it on your luck for provoking people you shouldn't have."

Ge Ming laughed upon hearing this.

"Tut tut, so many young people nowadays think themselves Heaven's proud talents, but don't have the strength and temperament to back it up. They can't even take a loss in gambling, and refuse to acknowledge that they've been outplayed. Not only are they shameless, but they insist on killing the innocent people who saw what a joke they were. The people in the [Easy Wins Joint] were truly unfortunate to have run into characterless scumbags like you two..."

With that, he turned his head toward the red-bearded elder's contingent and said with interest and humor, "Elder Chi Lie, these kids are blocking your path to wealth. You may want to kill me, but so do these shithead Heaven's pridelings. Hoho, I'm but one person, what are you gonna do?"

When the elder heard this, he became somewhat uncertain.

Hunting Ge Ming down had cost them a lot of time and energy. Now that he was close at hand, there was definitely a chance to make him surrender if the contingent could wear him down for another half a day or directly threaten him using the little girl.

Unfortunately, the arrival of Lu Li and Yang Wanqu had added new variables to the plan. The Divine Sky Sect and the Black Moon Divine Palace were both super forces in the Vast Thousand Domains, particularly the former, which was the hegemonic sect of a Higher Domain. The [Savage Army Demon Race], which was relatively inadequate, would certainly not want to go up against them.

"Ge Ming, you're a felon wanted by the Alliance of Domains, and so there's no place in the world for you. No matter who takes action, they would be helping the Alliance to eliminate evil." Chi Lie's countenance became frosty. "Since Master Lu and Master Yang intend to kill you, the [Savage Army Demon Race] will naturally step aside and not interfere."

Having hesitated for a moment, he had reached a decision inwardly.

As he spoke, he beckoned gingerly with his hands, and thereupon the entire contingent retreated to the periphery.

However, the duo did not show any response to the gesture of the [Savage Army Demon Race].

To them, things had simply happened as they should have.

The contingent was simply looking out for itself. Otherwise, the duo would not have minded massacring the lot of them.

In the middle of the grounds.

"Hoho, as they say, you toady knee benders have a thief's heart but not a thief's guts... To think that a bunch of veterans would be scared off by two young arrogant juniors. Hoho, the [Savage Army Demon Race] is as good as destroyed with you cowards in charge!"

A watery mist power emitted a bright luster that wrapped around his body.

An overbearing power radiated in all directions.

"Hoho, the desperate fight of a trapped beast? Reckless things certainly don't know how to give up." Yang Wanqu's face turned grave as he sneered, "I'll chop you into pieces today."

With that, he clenched his fist in the void behind him.

Ripples undulated.

A crescent moon-shaped golden machete appeared out of thin air.

Its surface was engraved with strange ancient rune marks which emitted a blood-colored luster. The golden radiance from the power of laws on the blade could not be looked straight at, and even forced the surrounding Black Demon qi half a meter back. This was absolutely not a common-grade weapon.

Just then, Lu Li swept a glance across Ge Ming and noticed the young girl clinging on tothe latter's sleeves nervously. A sinister look flashed across his eyes as he laughed blandly and said, "Ge Ming, you may not be afraid of death, but is that also true for the little girl beside you?"

The latter's countenance changed crazily at once.

The girl was his sore spot and also his Achilles' heel.

He knew full well that it was practically impossible to protect Shui Xiu in the face of these two Heaven's pridelings who came from super sects and forces even if he was at the peak of his strength, let alone in his current state and strength.