C142 A Legendary Overlord!!

In the eyes of the peculiar figure, twin orbs of green fire blazed fiercely.

His gaze was fixed solely on Yu Yuan.

He didn't bother to solicit the opinions of Qin Yun, Lee Yuchan, or any of the other Yin Gods, clearly deeming them incapable of influencing the grand scheme of things.

Only Yu Yuan, recognized by the sword soul and capable of invoking the Forbidden Law of Heaven and Earth, could exert significant pressure on the Green Incubus.

In the mind of this enigmatic being, it was essential that he and Yu Yuan join forces to vanquish the Green Incubus lurking within the bronze monument.

Qin Yun of the Seven Divine Sect and the female general from the Silvermoon Empire were relegated to minor roles.

Upon learning his identity, no one expressed anger.

After all, he was the Sky Shocking Emperor.

As a legendary figure and the supreme ruler who nearly unified the Profound Sky Continent, he had earned his authority.

Such a person had almost ascended to the Unrestrained Stage on the Profound Sky Continent without the backing of any sect, compelling the Sword Sect's masters to confront him in person.

Was it not expected for such a being to look down upon them?

Moreover, he had survived the onslaught of the Sword Sect's experts!

"Emperor, I..." Yu Yuan began, choosing his words carefully, followed by a sheepish chuckle. "You're known as the Alien Soul Evil Spirit of the Forbidden Ground. And in your prime, with your soul intact, you were infamous for your bloodthirsty and merciless nature. I'm unsure of your current state, and I fear that after we join forces and you successfully assimilate the Green Incubus, I might end up obliterated by you."

It was through a clandestine communion with the sword soul and a plea for aid to the Monochrome Boy that he learned the true identity of this mysterious individual.

The legends didn't tell the whole story.

At his zenith, the Sky Shocking Emperor nearly reached the pinnacle of the Great Unrestrained. The Sword Sect's expert from the Heavenly Source Continent had slain his corporeal form, suffering grave injuries in the process.

Both the Yin God and Yang God aspects of the Sky Shocking Emperor had achieved Great Perfection, with the Yang God perishing alongside his physical body.

A single Yin God, formless and elusive, managed to slip away right under the Sword Sect expert's watchful eye.

In truth, the Sky Shocking Emperor and the Sword Sect expert were evenly matched.

Because he was not dead, the Yin God managed to escape. The Sword Sect's expert, having returned to the sect after suffering severe injuries, retreated into seclusion, his condition unknown.

His Yin God ultimately made its way to the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area in stealth.

There, the Yin God intended to consume the myriad Alien Soul Evil Spirits within the Forbidden Area using the Martyr Spell, in hopes of reconstituting the Yang God and nurturing a new Life Soul.

After some activity and partial recovery of his strength, he inadvertently triggered the area's restrictions and was suppressed and sealed by the forces of this realm.

Before his sealing, he had his sights set on the Green Incubus, convinced that by devouring and refining it, he could use the Soul Seal to reconstruct the shattered Yang God.

The heavily constrained Green Incubus, in turn, lusted after him, desiring to draw him into the bronze monument to achieve its own ends.

The two formidable spirits had been locked in a covert struggle for years, each unable to best the other.

The arrival of Yu Yuan and the recognition of the sword soul presented him with an opportunity.

As a human, and with Green Incubus being an extraterrestrial demon, Yu Yuan, as a sword-bearer, would naturally choose to confront a fellow clansman rather than a demon, should he need to challenge an ally.

"You must choose to trust either me or Green Incubus, not both," he declared.

The Sky Shocking Emperor spoke plainly, "Given Green Incubus's hostility towards you and its status as a foreign demon, you surely wouldn't side with it against me. As a human, even if I were to escape the Forbidden Area's constraints, my only goal after reconstituting the Yang God would be to settle scores with the Sword Sect, not to lash out at others."

Yu Yuan kept his silence.

"In that case, I can afford you some time to consider," said he, cloaked in his silver-white robe, with a sly chuckle. "The alien souls and evil spirits from beyond are also coveting this place, eager to conspire from within and without. And you, as the sword-bearer of the Forbidden Area, having gained the sword soul's approval, should embrace the weighty duty of preserving the stability here."

With that, he soared into the sky, calmly drifting toward the tempestuous heavens above.

In the nooks and crannies nearby, within the fissures of the earth, amidst the jagged rocks, colorful bones were irresistibly drawn to the fragments of the moon.

The silver-white robe billowed out as bone after bone was absorbed into his body.

He visibly shot up in height at an astonishing rate.

With each increment of growth, the pressure he exerted intensified, becoming exponentially more terrifying.

"I'll be waiting for you at the entrance to the Green Incubus's lair. Once you've made up your mind, I'll accompany you down," his raspy voice emanated from within the silver-white robe.

Onlookers exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions odd.

"Yu Yuan, could he truly be the Sky Shocking Emperor?" Zhan Tianxiang's eyes brimmed with reverence. "This man nearly brought the Profound Sky Continent under his rule! Had it not been for the Sword Sect of the Heavenly Source Continent holding him back, he might have ascended to the Unrestrained Stage right here in our world! To think such a legendary figure is still alive, plotting a resurgence in this forbidden land!"

"It's definitely him," Lee Yuchan confirmed.

She had suspected as much when the Sky Shocking Emperor first appeared, but had been reluctant to acknowledge it.

Her cultivation technique, the Martyr Spell, was a legacy of that ancient, illustrious emperor. That unmistakable aura could never be fully concealed.

"Yu Yuan, you made a promise to me!"

After the Sky Shocking Emperor departed, Qin Yun of the Seven Divine Sect could no longer contain himself and blurted out, "The soul of the Green Incubus is vital for my cultivation too! Should I refine its soul, I might well advance to the Soul Wandering Stage!"

"I truly apologize," Yu Yuan said with a bow, full of regret. "I must be frank with you—the Sky Shocking Emperor's combat prowess far surpasses yours at present. I have no certainty of defeating the Green Incubus, and if we do decide to take action, the soul should go to the one who contributes most."

"Sect Master Qin, if the Sky Shocking Emperor wasn't bluffing, you'd owe him your gratitude for escaping with your life," Lee Yuchan remarked coolly.

As Yu Yuan and Lee Yuchan unexpectedly aligned themselves with the Sky Shocking Emperor, Qin Yun fell into a contemplative silence.

It took him a moment, but he finally nodded gently and agreed, "I'll accept that the final outcome will determine who claims the soul of the Green Incubus."

"Very well then."

Yu Yuan had made his decision and, without further ado, set off towards the area where thunder roared.

The rest quickly fell in step behind him.

Qin Yun of the Seven Divine Sect and the elder in the Penetrating Stage hung back, opting not to follow immediately.

It was only after Yu Yuan and his group had traveled a good distance that the elder spoke, "Sect Master, that youngster has destroyed one of our Azure Yang Arrows. The remaining four are bound by a blood oath. Now, even the potential rewards are beyond your reach, Sect Master..."

The elder bowed his head, not meeting Qin Yun's gaze, and left his sentence hanging.

"Survival comes first," Qin Yun said evenly. "It's often the last one standing who has the last laugh. Moreover, Yu Yuan will eventually have to leave the forbidden area and make his way to our Rainier Empire. Once he steps onto our turf without the protection of the forbidden land, things will get much easier."

After a moment of contemplation, the elder from the Seven Divine Sect remarked, "Sect Master, you always have the long game in mind."

...

"Hantian!"

The bronze monument reverberated with a thunderous boom that shook the very fabric of the heavens and earth, echoing far and wide, "While I was breaking through the seal, you stole a mere Moon Demon and cobbled together a rough vessel. Are you trying to amuse me? Does the real you not dare to face me?"

The inscriptions on the monument twinkled like countless stars as swarms of Evil Creatures shrieked around it like a plague of locusts.

Yet, in comparison to the massive bronze monument, these Evil Creatures were insignificant.

"Green Incubus, oh Green Incubus, your halcyon days in the Boundless Land end today," the Sky Shocking Emperor said with a sinister chuckle.

...