Chapter 156: The Tragedy of Mount Mao

"What? Has he lost his mind?"

As Jiang Xiaofei's words faded, all the disciples of the Mount Mao Sect were utterly astonished. They thought Jiang Xiaofei was far too arrogant and conceited. After all, the person standing before them was none other than the Eastern Emperor, and to speak insolently in front of the Eastern Emperor was nothing short of courting death!

Meanwhile, Xiaoyaoxi watched with cold indifference. In his eyes, Jiang Xiaofei was merely an ignorant and audacious youngster who did not know the immensity of heaven and earth. With the Eastern Emperor taking action, Jiang Xiaofei would surely be slain in a single blow, restoring the lost prestige of the Mount Mao Sect.

"Audacious!"

The Eastern Emperor was similarly shaken with fury. As the esteemed sovereign of the Celestial God Realm and a being superior to millions, who would ever dare show him disrespect?

Yet Jiang Xiaofei actually dared to address himself as a king in his presence, which was nothing less than a contemptuous insult to his supreme dignity.

Even other mighty Divine Emperors would treat him with utmost courtesy and never presume to call themselves "Sovereign" in his domain.

Yet a mere mortal, an insignificant ant, dared to disrespect him and style himself a king right before his eyes. This was sheer provocation. How could he not be enraged?

"Boy, you are courting death. Today, no one can save you."

The Eastern Emperor's fury unleashed a terrifying momentum that caused the heavens and earth to change color. The seas of clouds rolled violently, and a terrifying divine pressure descended with it.

Under that oppressive might, everyone below trembled like cicadas in winter, not daring to draw a full breath.

When a mighty divine being fell into a rage, the consequences were unthinkable; it would surely turn the world upside down.

At this moment, they were also deeply shocked that Jiang Xiaofei dared to speak with such wild arrogance to the Eastern Emperor.

Could it be that Jiang Xiaofei was not afraid of being killed by the Eastern Emperor?

Or did he possess some deep-seated reliance that made him fearless?

At the same time, Xiaoyaoxi's eyes revealed a trace of terror. Although the Eastern Emperor's wrath was not directed at him, he could still clearly feel the terrifying divine pressure bearing down upon his body.

However, when he looked at Jiang Xiaofei, a mocking expression appeared on his face. In his view, for Jiang Xiaofei to provoke the Eastern Emperor was utterly foolish and completely beyond his capabilities. The Eastern Emperor would undoubtedly annihilate him.

Meanwhile, Junyao, the Ghost King, and the Corpse King were filled with anxiety, for the Eastern Emperor was far from an ordinary divine practitioner.

Yet, facing the fury of the Eastern Emperor, Jiang Xiaofei showed no trace of fear, radiating a monstrous fighting spirit. His voice was bone-chilling as he said, "So what if you are a divine practitioner? If you want to fight, let us fight!"

"What? He actually wants to challenge the Eastern Emperor?"

"Has his brain been kicked by a donkey?"

As Jiang Xiaofei's words echoed, all the disciples of the Mount Mao Sect wore sneering expressions.

In their eyes, how could Jiang Xiaofei possibly be a match for the Eastern Emperor? Such an act was undoubtedly seeking his own demise!

After all, the Eastern Emperor had stepped into the divine path long ago and was surely even stronger now—at the very least at the Divine Emperor level. How could Jiang Xiaofei possibly rival him?

Junyao was consumed by worry, but her expression remained resolute.

Hearing that Jiang Xiaofei actually intended to challenge him, the Eastern Emperor was somewhat surprised, but even more annoyed, feeling that his supreme dignity had been severely insulted.

After all, he was a sovereign among the divine beings, standing high above all living creatures. Yet today, a mere mortal, an ant, dared to challenge him?

If other sovereigns of the God Realm were to learn of this, they would surely mock him for being a dignified Divine Emperor provoked by a mere mortal!

Instantly, a flash of murderous intent flickered in his eyes as he locked onto Jiang Xiaofei and shouted coldly, "Since ancient times, you are the first person who has ever dared to speak to this Sovereign in such a manner. However, today you will pay the price for your ignorance. Prepare to die!"

As his voice fell, the Eastern Emperor struck downward with his right hand. It seemed like an ordinary, unpretentious palm strike, yet it contained a terrifying, monstrous divine power.

Under that overwhelming force, the winds and clouds shifted, and space overturned as if the end of the world had arrived.

It swept toward Jiang Xiaofei like a collapsing canopy of heaven, the void shattering in its wake. That terrifying scene riveted the gaze of everyone below, their eyes filled with horror.

Although they had long known that deities possessed heaven-defying abilities, witnessing it with their own eyes was far too shocking!

It seemed as though a casual strike could overturn heaven and earth; it was not hard to imagine that if a divine practitioner exerted their full strength, this entire realm would likely be annihilated!

Facing the vast divine force descending upon him, Jiang Xiaofei's expression turned grave.

Before the power of the divine path, he was like a tiny boat amidst towering ocean waves, at risk of capsizing at any second.

Though he knew he was no match for the Eastern Emperor, how could he yield to fear? Immediately, he circulated the black and white energies within his body, fusing the dual swords of Yin and Yang.

"Yin-Yang World-Extinction Slash, cleave the firmament!"

As Jiang Xiaofei shouted, the black and white swords merged into one, instantly erupting with boundless radiance to parry the incoming divine power.

"Do you actually delusional think you can block this Sovereign's divine power with mere tricks? Utterly overestimating your own capabilities! Today, you shall undoubtedly die!"

At that very moment, the Eastern Emperor sneered coldly, guiding that strand of divine power to descend with lethal force.

Boom!

Under the Eastern Emperor's guidance, that terrifying divine power instantly transformed into a dazzling beam of light that shattered the fused swords and shot straight toward Jiang Xiaofei.

That sight made everyone below hold their breath. It was needless to imagine whether Jiang Xiaofei could survive such a blow if it hit him!

After all, even the fusion of the dual swords failed to stop it! How could Jiang Xiaofei possibly withstand it?

At this moment, the Corpse King was also filled with deep concern.

"Husband!"

Right at that critical juncture, Junyao cried out toward the heavens and charged upward. Her action clearly indicated her intention to use her own body to block that fatal beam of divine power.

This selfless act moved many of the onlookers deeply.

Jiang Xiaofei was stunned as well, and immediately shouted, "Get away from here!"

However, that beam of divine power had already descended, piercing straight through Junyao's body.

The sight of it caused Jiang Xiaofei's mind to go completely blank. He rushed upward frantically and gathered Junyao into his embrace, only to find that the fair beauty in his arms had already lost all vitality.

This drove him into an abyss of grief and fury, tears streaming from his eyes, accompanied by an overwhelming, monstrous hatred.

"Hahaha!" At that moment, the Eastern Emperor laughed coldly. "What a pair of star-crossed lovers. Since you wish to die together, this Sovereign shall grant your wish."

As his words fell, the Eastern Emperor struck downward at Jiang Xiaofei once more. With that single strike, another wave of divine power descended directly upon him.

Yet, facing this devastating divine might, Jiang Xiaofei made no attempt to resist, holding Junyao tightly in his arms instead. Now that Junyao was dead, what meaning was there in him continuing to live?

In that instant, he could no longer see any future; there was only boundless grief and biting regret. If only he had not brought Junyao to the Mount Mao Sect, she would never have died.

"King Fei, run quickly!" At that moment, the Corpse King roared and charged straight upward.

That sight caught the attention of everyone present. They saw the Corpse King thrust his massive hands into the empty air, releasing a vast amount of divine power from within his body to block the descending force.

Taking advantage of this opening, he shouted anxiously to the Ghost King, "Ghost King, take King Fei and run! I will cover our rear!"

Hearing the Corpse King's words, the Ghost King nodded, then flew swiftly to Jiang Xiaofei's side and urged, "Brother-in-law, let's hurry and leave! If we don't go now, it will be too late!"

Jiang Xiaofei shook his head, looked at the Corpse King, and said with a bitter smile, "Why must you do this? Knowing it means certain death, why save me?"

The Corpse King grinned and replied, "You saved this King back then; this time, it is my turn to save you. However, you must avenge me, or I will not rest in peace even in death!"

With those words, a fierce and resolute look appeared on the Corpse King's face. Crimson light bloomed around his entire body—an unmistakable sign that he intended to detonate his core.

This sight filled Jiang Xiaofei with agonizing grief and rage, his hands clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

At this, the Eastern Emperor showed a hint of surprise and sneered, "So you are a divine body. No wonder you could block a fraction of this Sovereign's divine power. However, if you think self-detonation can defeat me, you are being utterly delusional."

"Die for me!"

As his voice fell, the Eastern Emperor swept down with a massive palm strike. Instantly, under the crushing weight of the divine power, the Corpse King's body shattered inch by inch, not even leaving him a chance to detonate.

That brutal sight filled Jiang Xiaofei's eyes with burning fury. Remembering the Corpse King's dying plea for vengeance, he held Junyao's corpse tightly, grabbed the Ghost King's hand, tore open the void, and plunged directly into the spatial rift.

"Hahaha, running away when death is at hand? Truly wishful thinking." After obliterating the Corpse King, the Eastern Emperor let out a cold laugh. He reached his hand out into the empty air, grasping toward that spatial rift as if intending to cut off Jiang Xiaofei's escape route.

However, right at that moment, a cold voice suddenly resounded through the void.

"For the Eastern Emperor to act in such a manner is surely bullying the weak with your strength, is it not?"

(End of this chapter)