Ding Mian looked at Meng Tingfeng. “Are you not going to take action?”
Meng Tingfeng gave him a strange look. “I think you have some misconceptions about me. I know you’ve heard of my title as junior emperor, but just because I reached the threshold of the emperor level doesn’t mean I can actually contend with immortal emperors. At least not for long. Besides, I’m only here to protect your safety.”
Ding Mian glanced at one of the immortal monarchs watching the battle closely. “One junior emperor might not be enough, but what about two?”
Meng Tingfeng followed his gaze and saw Ye Chen. Although the Numinous Sword Sect was in decline, there were still two hopes. As long as he and Ye Chen could enter the Extremity Immortal Realm, then the Numinous Sword Sect could still reign as the hegemon of the realm, even if it wasn’t as dominant as before.
If he and Ye Chen teamed up, they could contend against an immortal emperor for a short while, but the problem was that the two didn’t have much of a relationship. Rather, they were quite alienated from each other. If they did not sense the changes in the Huang Realm, they would have likely not interacted outside of forced interaction by the sect.
“Forget it,” Meng Tingfeng said with a shake of his head. “He and I don’t get along that well, much less teaming up. Instead, you should focus on the battle. Their techniques might be far beyond your current understanding, but if you can comprehend even a fraction of an immortal emperor’s technique, you will have benefited a lot.”
Since Meng Tingfeng already said so much, Ding Mian didn’t say anymore. As Meng Tingfeng advised, he watched the battle between the immortal emperors, hoping to get a spark of inspiration from their battle. Unknown to the immortal monarch, Ding Mian could see much more than he thought.
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Emperor Wujian and the Threeslash Emperor clashed again and again. They had forgone any means of long distance combat in favor of close quarter combat. Although they could release sword light, most weapon masters like themselves preferred close combat.
There was no ripple, no grand torrent of energy, or miraculous phenomenon around the two immortal emperors. Aside from the fact they were standing in midair, they were just a swordsman and sabersman fighting at an extremely fast rate.
Emperor Wujian’s gaze flickered toward another direction, and the Threeslash Emperor narrowed his eyes.
Suddenly, the Threeslash Emperor’s arm blurred. Just as his saber’s edge was about to touch Emperor Wujian’s neck, a sword deflected it. Although no qi or light burst out from the saber, a deep ravine appeared in the direction where the saber had swung.
It was not that Emperor Wujian or the Threeslash Emperor weren’t using powerful techniques and having a simple contest of skill, but that the energy behind each attack was carefully measured and controlled. Each slash they swung could split the island in half easily. If the Numinous Sword Sect hadn’t strengthened the Numinous Realm over millions of years, the two emperors would have never dared to fight within it because doing so would cause the dimensional boundary to destabilize.
In contrast, the fight between the Ripple Emperor and the Redmoon Emperor was much more magical.
The surrounding area around the two emperors had transformed into a landscape similar to the surface of the moon. Only instead of reflecting a white glow, it reflected a rusty red light, draping the atmosphere in an eerie light. On this moon, certain rules were different.
Unlike the Emperor Wujian and the Threeslash Emperor, the Ripple Emperor and the Redmoon Emperor were not in the air but walking on the moon’s surface. The Ripple Emperor was on the ground against his will, because the rules of the red moon dictated that no one could fly, and as the creator of this rule, the Redmoon Emperor was more bound by this rule than his foe.
Two unlucky immortal monarchs had also fallen under this rule because they could not escape the range when Emperor Redmoon transformed the land. But they quickly evacuated from the area. Once they left the boundaries, they could fly again.
The Redmoon Emperor held two chakrams in each hand, each whirling with the movement of his fingers. He swung his arm and two chakrams sliced toward the Ripple Emperor.
The Ripple Emperor’s body blurred, as if it was phasing out of reality, but soon, it returned to normal. His eyes flickered, but he did not attempt to teleport again. Instead, he held his palm out, as if to blow the two chakrams away. Even if an immortal sovereign was present, he would not dare to take the two chakrams barehanded.
Still, the Ripple Emperor did not attempt to dodge.
Just as it seemed a chakram would slice through his palm, they disappeared in a ripple. The second one disappeared in the same way. The Ripple Emperor lowered his palm and raised his other hand. A ripple appeared and two chakrams shot out.
The Redmoon Emperor raised his hand to retrieve them, but as they neared, he frowned. His other hand threw the remaining two chakrams. Sparks flew as the four chakrams clashed. They froze for a bit before whirling back into the Redmoon Emperor’s hand.
The Ripple Emperor waved both his arms like whips. Two crescents shot forth from his swing, each soaring toward the Redmoon Emperor.
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The Redmoon Emperor no longer twirled the four chakrams, but grabbed them by their handles, two in each hand. When the void crescents reached him, he swung his two arms and shattered them. He didn’t have time to do anything else as the Ripple Emperor had appeared a few meters away, palm flying toward him.
Chakrams met palm, but just like before, ripples appeared. However, they didn’t get sucked into the ripple because the Redmoon Emperor was holding onto them.
The two emperors locked eyes and hands.
“As expected of the Redmoon Realm. It suppresses externalization of qi and spells, forcing those within to fight in close quarters. Paired with the Bluemoon Realm of the Bluemoon Emperor, you two can hold an absolute advantage against anyone. No wonder you two are called the Twin Supreme Moons,” the Ripple Emperor said.
“Senior is overpraising me,” the Redmoon Emperor said, his arms exerting greater strength in an attempt to overpower the Ripple Emperor’s seemingly frail and skinny arms. However, the Ripple Emperor’s arms did not budge, as if they were forged of steel. “I only dare to fight you. Against Emperor Wujian and the Threeslash Emperor, my Redmoon Realm is not effective. Alas, even if the Redmoon Realm is most effective against you, I’m still forced to a tie.”
“No need to diminish your achievements. You are still young, with much more potential to tap than an old man like me,” the Ripple Emperor said.
Although it was a fierce battle where a slight mistake could result in heavy injuries, both of them were talking as if it was just an ordinary conversation. The two didn’t have much to say about the other, and they continued their battle. Even while they battled, the two immortal emperors did not forget to keep their eye on Emperor Wujian and the Threeslash Emperor.
The battle raged on. No matter how fierce the battle between emperors became, none of the participants became injured. It was as if they could continue to battle forever. While two emperors battled on the ground, the two emperors in the sky fought everywhere, changing positions nonstop. The only place they didn’t step into was the Redmoon Realm.
On the seventh day, when Emperor Wujian and the Threeslash Emperor clashed near the border of the Redmoon Realm, the borders suddenly expanded, engulfing them within. The sudden change made Emperor Wujian and the Threeslash Emperor temporarily halt their battle and stare at the Redmoon Emperor. In response, the Redmoon Emperor simply disappeared, leaving the Ripple Emperor standing alone in a vast expanse of red.
Although only three emperors could be seen, they knew that the Redmoon Emperor hadn’t fled or left. If he left, the Redmoon Realm would collapse, which meant that he had merged with the Redmoon Realm, trapping them. It only took a second for them to discover this.
The three emperors didn’t say a single word, but they all banded together. Ripples spread from where the Ripple Emperor stood, distorting the surrounding ground. Emperor Wujian and the Threeslash Emperor attacked the ground with their sword and saber nonstop.
As long as they destabilized the Redmoon Realm, not only would it collapse, freeing them, but it would also injure the Redmoon Emperor’s immortal body.
Outside, the instant the Redmoon Realm’s boundary shifted, chaos erupted. The monarchs of the Void Ripple Sect and Twin Mood Sect burst into action. The Void Ripple Sect flew toward the Sovereign Nine Yang Lotus, while the Twin Moon Sect monarchs formed a moon-shaped war formation.
The first to react to the two sects’ actions was Ye Chen. Without another word, he unsheathed his swords and flew toward the Sovereign Nine Yang Lotus. Awoken by his action, the other sword monarchs also attacked. Only Meng Tingfeng stayed behind, protecting Ding Mian.
The monarchs from the Myriad Saber Alliance also flew into action. They raised their sabers and attacked the Lunar War Formation. Because it was formed from insufficient monarchs and no true immortals, it barely had the power of a half-emperor, hardly enough to block all the charging sword and saber monarchs.
Ye Chen alone knocked it back hundreds of meters with a slash. His second swing caused the war formation to stall, long enough for him to fly by it.
The Lunar War Formation wanted to chase, but stopped. It expanded until it resembled a dream catcher that blocked the other sword and saber monarchs’ path.
The Void Ripple Sect’s monarchs also took action when they saw Ye Chen bypass the Lunar War Formation. Only one of them continued to fly toward the Sovereign Nine Yang Lotus, while the rest formed another war formation, the Endless Road War Formation. Because Ye Chen was already nearby and they formed the war formation far too fast for it not to be premeditated, Ye Chen couldn’t react when the war formation swallowed him. From there, the war formation just floated there like a black hole in the sky.
Less than a few seconds after Ye Chen was swallowed, the Myriad Sword Alliance’s monarchs suddenly attacked the monarchs from the Numinous Sword Sect. Although none died, two suffered grievous injuries.
“They’re banding against us,” Meng Tingfeng said. He unsheathed the Seven Star Sword from his back. “Ding Mian, go hide. I have to help.”
Just as he finished speaking, but before he could move, the Redmoon Realm disappeared. It didn’t collapse because of the damage it suffered, but because the Redmoon Emperor canceled his technique. When the surroundings returned to their original appearance, three emperors surrounded one immortal emperor.
“What is the meaning of this?” Emperor Wujian asked, his eyes scanning the Redmoon Emperor, the Threeslash Emperor, and the Ripple Emperor.
“It’s exactly what it looks like,” the Redmoon Emperor said.
“I would rather defeat you head on, but these guys didn’t agree,” the Threeslash Emperor said.
“No need to waste words,” the Ripple Emperor said. A killing intent condensed in his eyes. “The Numinous Sword Sect has reigned for too long. It’s time for the hegemon to change.”
Emperor Wujian’s shoulder shook. Then, a chuckle escaped from his lips before transforming into a full-blown laughter. “Just you? You have no idea about the depth of the Numinous Sword Sect. One of you will fall today for your arrogance!”
He no longer had any ideas about grabbing the Sovereign Nine Yang Lotus. Instead, he was going to make one of the emperors fall today.
“Don’t think we haven’t noticed. You’re close to death,” the Ripple Emperor said. “Once you fall, the Numinous Sword Sect will become much weaker. How many emperors are left? One? Two?”
Emperor Wujian said nothing. He just gripped his sword tighter. The seemingly plain sword radiated divine light, making it clear to everyone that it wasn’t an emperor-level artifact. It wasn’t even a sovereign-level artifact. It was a divine artifact, the Immortal Confining Sword!