Chapter 155: The Descent of the Eastern Emperor

High above the sky, Jiang Xiaofei maintained a calm expression, feeling not a trace of joy at the destruction of the Demon-Subduing Pagoda. After all, this achievement belonged entirely to the Black and White Divine Swords.

The power of the Divine Dao remained far beyond his reach, particularly the primordial energies of Yin and Yang, which he was incapable of wielding himself. Every bit of the destructive force unleashed against the tower had relied exclusively on the twin swords; without them, shattering the artifact would have been an absolute impossibility.

This realization filled him with a deep yearning for the power of the Divine Dao. If he possessed such strength of his own, he would no longer need to depend on external weapons.

"So be it. At the very least, the Demon-Subduing Pagoda is destroyed."

Jiang Xiaofei let out a soft sigh before fixing his gaze on Xiaoyaoxiang, shouting coldly, "Weren't you enjoying yourself immensely just a moment ago? Now, prepare to meet your doom!"

The moment his words fell, Xiaoyaoxiang felt himself locked in place by a terrifying, invisible pressure, rendering him entirely unable to move. Panic and dread gripped him as he stared fixedly at Jiang Xiaofei.

For the first time, he felt true terror! After ten thousand years of arduous cultivation, he had finally reached the threshold of the half-step Divine Dao. To face death now, at the pinnacle of his journey, filled him with bitter resentment.

Yet, despite his reluctance to die, Jiang Xiaofei was simply too formidable—like a towering mountain crushing down upon his heart, leaving him utterly powerless to resist. With even the Demon-Subduing Pagoda reduced to ruins, what could he possibly use to defend himself?

"Die!"

At that very instant, Jiang Xiaofei's eyes darkened. He guided the spinning Yin-Yang diagram downward toward Xiaoyaoxiang.

The descending symbol resembled a celestial compass of heaven and earth, unleashing an apocalyptic wave of overwhelming force that crashed down upon Xiaoyaoxiang.

Under such cataclysmic might, Xiaoyaoxiang appeared infinitesimally small, akin to a lone leaf adrift upon towering, furious waves, threatened with obliteration at any second.

"Grandmaster Xiaoyao!"

As the Yin-Yang diagram pressed downward, countless disciples of the Maoshan Sect cried out from below, tears streaming from their eyes. He was their founding grandmaster, yet he was now on the verge of perishing, a realization that filled them with grief and indignation.

Facing the crushing descent of the Yin-Yang diagram, Xiaoyaoxiang slowly closed his eyes, resigning himself to his impending fate.

It was not that he lacked the will to survive, but rather that he was completely helpless to fight back. If even the Demon-Subduing Pagoda could not withstand this attack, there was nothing he could do in his current, exhausted state.

"You dare kill my disciple? You truly deserve death."

Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed through the void.

The voice was laden with supreme majesty, exploding like a clap of thunder and causing everyone present to tremble from the depths of their souls. Involuntary, they turned their gazes toward the source of the sound.

Jiang Xiaofei's heart skipped a beat, and his brow furrowed as he looked up.

Beside Xiaoyaoxiang, a man had materialized out of thin air. His physique was as majestic as a mountain; he was clad in golden-yellow robes, crowned with a golden diadem, and possessed an innate dignity that commanded awe without anger.

With a mere casual flick of his right hand, the man shattered the descending Yin-Yang diagram into nothingness!

"How is this possible..." Shock washed over Jiang Xiaofei as he watched the man effortlessly neutralize his attack.

From this mysterious figure, he sensed an overwhelming wave of peril—it felt as though he were standing before a true deity. In fact, the presence emanating from this man was even more terrifying than that of any god!

"Who is he? How can he be so powerful! Could he be a god?"

"Has he come to save our Maoshan Sect?"

Down below, the Maoshan disciples stared in utter astonishment at the mysterious figure who had suddenly appeared in the sky.

Especially after witnessing him shatter the Yin-Yang diagram with a flick of his wrist, awe and disbelief seized their hearts.

Though the man was not physically giant, he radiated an imposing aura as steadfast as a mountain. He seemed to embody the very heavens—a figure worthy of eternal reverence, untouchable and utterly unassailable.

Jiang Xiaofei stared at the mysterious man with an expression of profound gravity. Though the figure merely stood there, he exerted an immense, suffocating pressure. The man's aura was veiled in an inscrutable mystery, defying all attempts at perception, yet Jiang Xiaofei knew better than to treat him as an ordinary mortal.

After all, anyone capable of effortlessly dissolving the power of Yin and Yang could not possibly be ordinary.

Furthermore, he could sense the lingering aura of the Divine Dao emanating from the man, restrained yet profound. Without a doubt, this person was a supreme monarch among the deities, entirely beyond Jiang Xiaofei's capacity to defeat.

Yet, Jiang Xiaofei could only wait and watch. Experts of the Divine Dao possessed heaven-defying abilities; even if he wished to flee, he stood no chance of escape.

Feeling the aura of death dissipate, Xiaoyaoxiang abruptly opened his eyes.

The first thing that entered his vision was the mountain-like, majestic silhouette of the man.

As he looked upon that figure, a sudden sense of familiarity washed over him, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

With a trembling voice, he asked, "Are you the Eastern Emperor?"

"It is I," the man replied indifferently, his tone carrying an absolute majesty that made him seem like the heavens themselves, inspiring deep awe.

"This disciple pays respects to the Eastern Emperor!" Upon hearing confirmation, Xiaoyaoxiang was stunned, but his face instantly lit up with overwhelming joy as he bowed obsequiously.

After all, the Eastern Emperor was the primordial ancestor of the Maoshan Sect and a legendary figure of the Divine Dao.

With the Eastern Emperor descending to the mortal realm specifically for the sake of the Maoshan Sect, all fear vanished from Xiaoyaoxiang's heart. In his eyes, with the Eastern Emperor taking action, Jiang Xiaofei was as good as dead, and his thirst for vengeance would finally be quenched.

"Homage to the Eastern Emperor Ancestor!"

Across the grounds below, thousands of Maoshan disciples dropped to their knees in fervent worship, their emotions running high. The Eastern Emperor had descended from the heavens to deliver the sect from the brink of destruction.

Then, they shouted in unison, "We beseech the Eastern Emperor to uphold justice for Maoshan and slay this madman!"

"What? He is the Eastern Emperor?" Hearing the name, Jiang Xiaofei was struck with profound shock and heightened wariness.

The reputation of the Eastern Emperor was legendary, echoing like thunder through the realms. As a master of the Divine Dao, he was leagues beyond what Jiang Xiaofei could hope to rival.

Beside him, Junyao tensed visibly, her palms slick with sweat, while the Corpse King similarly wore a grave expression. Though arrogant by nature, even the Corpse King did not dare underestimate the Eastern Emperor.

The Eastern Emperor was not only a powerhouse at the Divine Emperor realm, but also the supreme ruler of the celestial realms. Even during the Corpse King's peak era, he would have had to treat such a figure with utmost caution. To see him descend into the mortal realm now was nothing short of astonishing. Millennia had passed, and the Eastern Emperor's cultivation was bound to have surpassed its previous limits, perhaps even touching upon that ultimate boundary.

"Mortal, you are the one who seeks to annihilate my Maoshan Sect?"

At that moment, the Eastern Emperor let out a cold snort, locking his icy gaze onto Jiang Xiaofei.

Under that piercing stare, Jiang Xiaofei felt his heart skip a beat and a chill run down his spine.

A mere glance seemed imbued with the majesty of the Great Dao, crushing down with a suffocating weight that inspired primal terror and rendered resistance futile.

"Mortal or not, whoever your master may be, daring to destroy my Maoshan Sect warrants only one fate: death!"

The Eastern Emperor's voice rang out with supreme dominance. The force of his words caused Jiang Xiaofei's soul to shudder and his knees to tremble, as if about to buckle under the strain. Refusing to yield, Jiang Xiaofei gritted his teeth and forced himself to take a few steps backward.

Every step he retreated felt as though he were bearing the weight of a mountain, agonizingly difficult, causing a trickle of fresh blood to spill from the corner of his lips. This scene filled Junyao with deep anguish and concern.

"Divine Dao experts are indeed formidable!"

Stabilizing his stance, Jiang Xiaofei wore a grim expression, yet his eyes burned with an unyielding flame of defiance.

Strong as the Eastern Emperor might be, forcing Jiang Xiaofei to submit was an impossibility. Even if it meant perishing in battle, he would not cower.

If one were to quail and shrink back at the mere sight of a stronger foe, how could one ever hope to reach the pinnacle?

Doing so would fracture one's state of mind and ruin the foundations of cultivation. Once a cultivator lost their inner resolve, they would be no better than a cripple, forever trapped at their current level without a hope of advancement.

Cultivators lived by contending with the heavens in pursuit of eternity; how could they afford to be timid?

Jiang Xiaofei had long since forged a warrior's heart through countless trials. He would only ever march forward, and not even the Dao of Heaven could shake his iron-willed determination.

No matter how perilous or arduous the path ahead might be, he would walk it step by step.

Would he alter his path simply because his opponent belonged to the Divine Dao?

If gods blocked his way, he would slay the gods; if Buddhas hindered him, he would slaughter the Buddhas.

Even if this Eastern Emperor stood as a monarch among deities, Jiang Xiaofei would not halt his journey. His state of mind remained resolute and unshakeable.

Raising his gaze, he met the Eastern Emperor's eyes directly and shouted defiantly, "This king intends to wipe out the Maoshan Sect! What can you possibly do to me?"