"He's finally here!"
The Devil Master saw the figure in the vault of the sky.
At once, he heaved a sigh of relief.
Naturally, he could guess it.
The man before him was Ren Xiaoyao.
The Four Great Royal Princes also narrowed their eyes at Ren Xiaoyao. That burst of Gang Qi just now had truly been terrifying, suppressing all four of their True Essence.
Danger!
The Four Great Royal Princes' pupils constricted.
They readied themselves for battle.
Phoenix watched Ren Xiaoyao descend step by step from the heavens, as though he were walking down Heavenly Steps, and saw the Ghost Face Mask on his face.
Phoenix seemed to recall something as well.
Her expression changed drastically.
"The person who slaughtered three Heavenly Human Realm martial artists at Princess Taiping's Residence and even captured Elder Tang of the Martial Saint Realm was also wearing a Ghost Face Mask like this!"
A sense of foreboding rose in Phoenix's heart.
She could not help but shudder.
Ying Huai looked toward Ren Xiaoyao's figure in the sky, equally surprised.
For Ying Huai had no idea who this figure, descending like a divine soldier from heaven, was, nor why he had intervened to save him.
Phoenix took a deep breath and said.
"Your Excellency, who are you? We have come under the Empress's orders to apprehend a wanted criminal. Why are you stopping us?"
Upon hearing this.
Ren Xiaoyao did not answer Phoenix.
His gaze merely fell upon her.
At the same time, he used his Spiritual Sense to probe Phoenix.
He discovered that the True Essence fluctuations radiating from Phoenix had actually reached the level of the Heavenly Human Realm.
This.
Greatly surprised Ren Xiaoyao.
Because roughly a year ago, Ren Xiaoyao had seen Phoenix once.
At that time, she had not even reached the True Man Realm. Yet in merely one year, Phoenix had actually attained the Heavenly Human Realm?
Then.
Ren Xiaoyao's Spiritual Sense swept over the Four Great Royal Princes. These four princes were all martial artists of the Heavenly Human Realm, and the intensity of their True Essence even surpassed that of the Devil Master.
No wonder tonight's killing trap was a certain death situation for Ying Huai.
A mere Devil Master.
When facing five martial artists of the Heavenly Human Realm.
Would likely find it difficult even to retreat unscathed.
Let alone protect Ying Huai.
Ren Xiaoyao's disregard also angered Phoenix for a moment. Her voice sank as she said, "Your Excellency, can't you hear what I'm asking? I..."
Phoenix was about to say more.
But Ren Xiaoyao merely glanced at her.
Then he gently raised a hand.
In an instant, a palm imprint formed from spiritual power appeared in the void.
Slap!
Ren Xiaoyao then flicked his hand.
A gale lashed Phoenix's body.
Although Phoenix was now a martial artist of the Heavenly Human Realm, before Ren Xiaoyao's power, she had no qualification whatsoever to resist.
Phoenix was sent flying more than ten meters.
She crashed heavily onto the ground.
Dust immediately billowed into the air.
Phoenix coughed up blood mouthful after mouthful.
When Phoenix looked at Ren Xiaoyao again, there was no longer the slightest trace of pride in her eyes, only boundless terror.
"H-How is this possible?"
Phoenix looked at Ren Xiaoyao in the distance.
Her entire body trembled and shook.
Originally, Phoenix had not been certain whether the man before her was the one who had killed Elder Tang in Qianqiu Pavilion.
But now.
Phoenix was completely certain. Her dignified Heavenly Human Realm cultivation was like that of an ant before such an existence, unable to withstand a single blow.
Then.
This man's realm was at least the Martial Saint Realm!
Moreover.
This man even dared to kill an Elder of Qianqiu Pavilion.
What did that make them?
At this thought.
Phoenix only felt her liver and gall turn cold.
This scene.
Naturally made the Four Great Royal Princes' faces turn white.
Though Phoenix's strength was inferior to theirs.
She was still, after all, a martial artist of the Heavenly Human Realm.
Yet now.
She had been so unable to withstand a single blow?
If they faced Ren Xiaoyao.
What then?
At this thought.
The Four Great Royal Princes could not help but feel their scalps tingle, finding even breathing difficult.
Ying Huai hurried forward at this moment and cupped his fists toward Ren Xiaoyao. "Thank you, Your Excellency, for acting and saving this old man's life."
Ren Xiaoyao nodded at Ying Huai as well.
Then, using spiritual power to create an incomparably aged voice, he said.
"There is a karmic bond between you and me. I once promised an old friend that I would protect you for a lifetime, so naturally I will not let you die."
Upon hearing Ren Xiaoyao's aged voice.
And considering Ren Xiaoyao's Martial Dao that reached the heavens and penetrated the earth.
Phoenix, the Four Great Royal Princes, and Ying Huai.
All reached the same conclusion.
The man before them ought to be a Martial Dao titan who had cultivated for countless years and reached peak mastery.
At this moment.
Prince He of the Four Great Royal Princes stepped forward.
Suppressing the fear in his heart, Prince He took a deep breath, looked at Ren Xiaoyao, and said.
"Senior, Ying Huai has committed the crime of deceiving the sovereign, and the Empress cannot tolerate him. Though your cultivation reaches the heavens and penetrates the earth, offending the Empress of Great Gan for a wanted criminal like him seems somewhat not worth the loss, does it not?"
Yet upon hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao burst into laughter and said.
"Can the Empress of Great Gan threaten me? Though my lifespan is nearing its end, I can still stand against an army of a thousand. If I throw away this old life and drag the Empress of Great Gan down with me before I die, that will be no problem!"
Upon hearing this.
Phoenix's heart gave a thump.
Ren Xiaoyao's attitude was exceedingly clear.
Today's matter.
Was likely impossible to settle peacefully!
Yet Prince He was not angered by Ren Xiaoyao's words. Instead, he chuckled and said.
"Indeed! Senior, your lifespan is nearing its end, so you naturally have no scruples. But if we have a way to extend Senior's lifespan for a while longer, would Senior be willing to cooperate with us?"
After saying this.
Prince He looked at Ren Xiaoyao with amusement.
Though Prince He could not see Ren Xiaoyao's expression beneath the mask.
In his view.
Ren Xiaoyao could not possibly remain unmoved.
For martial artists like him, whose Martial Dao reached the heavens and whose lifespans were nearing their end, nothing was more tempting than extending their lives!
"Oh?"
Ren Xiaoyao was rather surprised upon hearing this and asked, "The lives of mortals have their own ordained span. Trying to forcibly seize longevity from Heaven cannot be so simple, can it?"
After hearing Ren Xiaoyao's words.
Prince He naturally assumed Ren Xiaoyao had taken the bait, and he said with a smile.
"The Empress possesses such a method. She can extract the vital blood of mortals and condense it into Blood Pills. Humans are the foremost of all living things, so Blood Pills can seize the creation of Heaven and Earth. They can not only help us overcome bottlenecks in cultivation, but also extend our lives by several decades."
Upon hearing this, Ying Huai revealed an enraged expression and said coldly.
"Just as I deduced! In pursuit of power, the Empress has already become utterly unscrupulous, treating the common people as blood food. Such a tyrant has never existed since ancient times!"
Even Ren Xiaoyao.
Had not expected the Empress to possess such vicious and cruel methods.
No wonder Ying Huai had completely torn off all pretense with the Empress.
At this moment.
Prince He shook his head instead and looked mockingly at Ying Huai. "Ying Huai, you simply do not know what is good for you. People are born only to die. For ordinary commoners, being able to become good material for us can be considered dying where they belong!"
Then.
Prince He looked at Ren Xiaoyao and said.
"Senior, since that is the case, let us form our alliance here and now. After all, there are countless people under heaven—impossible to kill them all, impossible to use them all—and more than enough for us to divide among ourselves."
The other three royal princes nodded repeatedly and echoed his words.
Phoenix's heart, which had sunk earlier, gradually relaxed at this moment.
After all.
Phoenix believed that the masked old man before them could not possibly reject Prince He's proposal.
For martial artists of this level.
They might fear neither Heaven nor Earth, but death alone terrified them.
The older people grew, the more they feared death.
Just like when news of the Ten-thousand-year Ginseng had spread, drawing countless martial artists on the verge of dying from old age to rush forward one after another and risk challenging Li Chunfeng.
Whether the Ten-thousand-year Ginseng could extend one's lifespan had only ever been a rumor.
But now.
The ability of Blood Pills to extend lifespan.
Had already been proven on the four royal princes.
It seemed.
The Empress's faction was about to gain an unprecedentedly powerful martial artist.
This masked mysterious person before them.
Would likely become the Empress's sharpest sword.
Ren Xiaoyao did not answer Prince He. His gaze fell upon Ying Huai as he asked, "Ying Huai, what do you think this old man should choose?"
Ying Huai's gaze was resolute. "A true man standing between Heaven and Earth should cultivate Heaven and Earth's Righteous Qi and conduct himself openly and honorably. If I were Senior, I would disdain to keep company with the Empress."
Ren Xiaoyao nodded as well and smiled faintly. "What a true man. Ying Huai, saving your life was not in vain."
Then.
Ren Xiaoyao's gaze fell upon the Four Great Royal Princes. Though Ren Xiaoyao wore a mask, the four princes could all feel the chill behind it.
"Damn it! I never thought you would be another foul-smelling, unyielding stone! Since you insist on upholding Heaven's Dao, let us see whether you have the skill for it!"
Seeing this, Prince He knew there was no longer any room to negotiate with Ren Xiaoyao.
The Four Great Royal Princes did not hesitate in the slightest. They erupted with the power of the Heavenly Human Realm and charged toward Ren Xiaoyao to kill him.
The Devil Master watched this scene from afar and could only feel the overwhelming intensity of that killing intent.
Too powerful!
Even the Devil Master could not help but feel fear.
These Four Great Royal Princes had all entered the Heavenly Human Realm over a decade ago. Ordinarily serving as the Empress's trump cards, their combat power far surpassed that of the Devil Master, who had only recently entered the Heavenly Human Realm.
Yet when Ren Xiaoyao saw the Four Great Royal Princes charging toward him to kill him, he merely shook his head and spoke calmly.
"Upholding Heaven's Dao? Heh heh. Has it ever occurred to you that I am Heaven?"
Then.
Ren Xiaoyao casually threw a punch.
The radiance of his fist tore through the air.
Its piercing brilliance made Ying Huai, Phoenix, the Devil Master, and the others unable to open their eyes.
His voice was like thunder.
The noise was so deafening that Ying Huai, Phoenix, Devil Master, and the others could not hear anything from the outside world.
In an instant.
Every blade of grass and tree in the entire mountain forest was uprooted, while dust and gravel filled the sky.
As for the Four Great Royal Princes, facing Ren Xiaoyao's punch head-on, they only felt that their True Essence was nothing more than a joke before this punch.
In that single moment.
The Four Great Royal Princes felt unprecedented despair and unwillingness.
They could not understand.
How could the Martial Dao of this world be so powerful?
They only felt their bodies completely explode beneath Ren Xiaoyao's casual punch, and before death came, boundless sorrow rose in their hearts.
They were in the Heavenly Human Realm!
Yet they could not even withstand a single punch from Ren Xiaoyao!
At this moment.
The glow of the punch dispersed.
Ying Huai, Devil Master, Phoenix, and the others opened their eyes as well.
But where could they still see any trace of the Four Great Royal Princes?
Then.
They heard the sound of rocks shattering.
They saw.
Behind where the Four Great Royal Princes had stood.
The small mountain that had once stood there collapsed and shattered at that very moment.
This punch.
Not only had Ren Xiaoyao instantly blown apart the Four Great Royal Princes.
At the same time.
The lingering might of Ren Xiaoyao's fist wind.
Had directly smashed apart that mountain which had stood there for who knew how many thousands of years.
Afterward.
Ren Xiaoyao's gaze fell upon Phoenix.
Thud!
The Grand Commander of the Shadow Guards, the Empress's most trusted subordinate and a supreme Martial Artist of the Heavenly Human Realm, was so frightened that she fell to her knees.
She seemed to have something to say to him.
But her courage had been utterly shattered by Ren Xiaoyao's punch.
Despair filled her face.
Her lips trembled without end.
Yet even after a long while, she could not utter a single word.
Before you continue