The World Is Shaken / Pillar of the Spirit

The enormous, ferocious dragon head of the Vicious Dragon Emperor fell to the edge of the Yellow Springs, like a small hill. Its terrifying and heavy aura suppressed the surrounding area, annihilating all living beings. Although dead, the Emperor might remained, and a vast blood-red light shot into the sky from his neck.

Splash!

In an instant, a torrential rain of blood fell over the surrounding area, stirring up a bloody wind that seemed to commemorate the fall of an immortal Emperor.

The Vicious Dragon Emperor has fallen!

The Pacific Empire's first slain Emperor represents a significant loss, having already lost a regional lord before the war even fully commenced. This devastating blow will further shake the resolve of many core Emperor within the alliance.

The Sea Monster Dynasty was originally just an alliance, with various Emperor joining forces, and even the Queen of the Royal Gauze Skeleton and Cold Moon Eye were in a cooperative relationship. Their cohesion was no match for that of humans. When things were going well, they were unstoppable and fierce, but when things were going badly, well...

In short, the aftershocks are destined to have a far-reaching impact, affecting human society.

This is one of the rare Emperor to fall since the most chaotic era in the Magic World.

In mid-air, Lu Jun remained indifferent, his body radiating intense battle aura. He paid no heed to anything else, Yellow Springs White Bone Great Sword in his hands dissipated.

It gathered all the power of the Yellow Springs Kingdom to unleash a single attack, which could severely injure even a powerful Emperor, let alone kill a dying Vicious Dragon.

He stared at the severed head of the evil dragon, and remained unmoved when he saw a trace of despair in its eyes.

The Vicious Dragon Emperor was beheaded, and not only did he die, but his soul was also destroyed under the effect of the Yellow Springs Forbidden Realm. This made it easier for the White Tiger Pendant to absorb his essence, saving it the trouble of suppressing the immortal and ferocious Emperor's soul.

Buzz buzz buzz!

The White Tiger Pendant on Lu Jun's chest shone brightly, floating on the surface of the evil dragon's corpse, which resembled a massive black mountain range in the vast ocean, and rising up with billions of strands of pure and boundless spiritual power.

It was none other than the Emperor Essence Soul.

Leader Hua and Dean Xiao were standing nearby, noticed that both of them had just gone through a fierce battle and were completely exhausted.

Seeing this, Hua Zhanhong couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You're quite clever, kid, not forgetting to collect your spoils. If you have the means to collect this essence, then take it, but this Emperor dragon corpse must remain."

Hearing this, Lu Jun didn't feel embarrassed. This was what he deserved. As for the remains, although it was a pity, it didn't matter. After all, Leader Hua and the other man had also made contributions.

In any case, the value of Demon Beast essence has always far exceeded that of corpses.

Just like now, the essence of the Vicious Dragon Emperor has been taken away, and his corpse is gradually losing its awe-inspiring supreme dragon might. The luster of his flesh and scales has dimmed, as if his essence has dried up.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

The White Tiger Pendant inside Lu Jun's chest flickered, as if he had indigestion.

"Glutton"

He shook his head. This White Tiger Pendant had refined the Monarch Essence Soul, which could upgrade it from a high-level Star River Magic Tool to Super Rank Star Sea Magic Artifact. However, before it could be fully digested, it had swallowed the Emperor Essence Soul.

While it is sufficient to develop it to the pinnacle of Star Sea Magic Artifact, it will take a long time.

This wasn't the end of it. Lu Jun looked up at the strange phenomenon in the sky, which was dark as blood, and surging blood energy was converging from all directions.

Within the Spiritual World, the platinum starry sea radiates brilliant light, while at its center, a constantly changing, shimmering, and war-inspired bronze coin resonates.

The Metal Element Calamity Talent [Taiyi Golden Light] is activated, continuously devouring the myriad golden blood and evil energy of heaven and earth. The Emperor-level Blood Battle is undoubtedly the top-level weapon sacrifice, enough to strengthen the Metal Element by a level.

At this moment, he sensed that the Metal Element star sea was rapidly rising, and the Supernatural Power of the Tai Bai Golden Palace was brewing with traces of immortal metal nature, Natal Magic Tool, Tai'a Sword, gained a new layer of Sword Sacrifice effect.

Lu Jun will return to cultivate for a while, and his breakthrough to the second level of the Metal Element is just around the corner, with a leap forward in all aspects of his Metal Element abilities.

In particular, the Tai'a Sword currently possesses three [Sword Sacrifice] effects, derived from the Harpy's avatar (Minor Monarch), the Heavenly Crown Tree (Supreme Monarch), and the Vicious Dragon (Emperor).

This is equivalent to a 4x power increase, which, multiplied by the 4.5x base power of the totem/divine seal, brings the total power to 18x, comparable to Water Element.

He was satisfied, having gained a great deal from this battle. Next, he would complete the effects of the Mid-level Monarch and Great Monarch levels, and then refine the fourth metal. At this level, the Metal Element would be considered highly accomplished in the Super Rank.

While Lu Jun was working on his cultivation, Hua Zhanhong and Lu Jun slowly landed on the Vicious Dragon.

Splash!

Dean Xiao activated the power of the forbidden Water Element spell, commanding the surrounding waves to create layers upon layers of towering waves, lifting the Emperor's corpse and sending it rapidly towards the Nine Provinces territory along the ocean current.

At this moment, Leader Hua called out to Lu Jun, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and leave."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jun quickly suppressed his aura, separated from the Mermaid Empress, and the two returned to normal human Size Change. They stood atop the ferocious dragon head of the Vicious Dragon, rode the vast waves, and left the Mariana Trench.

Chapter 538 Shaking the World

Lu Jun stood atop the dragon's head, curiously looking down at the dragon's body beneath his feet, feeling a slight pang of regret.

In the Original Timeline, after the Black Dragon Emperor's fall, his Emperor body was crafted by Asha Ruiya into a complete set of six magical artifacts, including Wing Magic Tool, Armor Magic Tool, Demon Slaying Gear, and auxiliary Magic Tool, each with its own unique use.

When combined, they can even briefly summon the Black Dragon Emperor, possessing Emperor-level combat power.

You could say that Mo Fan had a miserable life, but he finally got a legendary Magic Tool by hooking up with a rich woman. His equipment was now fully armed, making it one of the most powerful Magic Tool in the Magic World.

Vicious Dragon's strength is no less than that of the Black Dragon Emperor, so logically he could also be crafted into an equivalent Magic Tool.

However, it requires the preservation of the Emperor Essence Soul, and can only be created using the essence of a complete Emperor's corpse.

Lu Jun and the other two had no choice but to resort to this tactic to divide the spoils of war equally. Besides, his first divine weapon of the Metal Element was about to reach its peak. Once it was upgraded to a forbidden spell, he could melt down all the gold in the world and forge the strongest Magic Tool through countless hammerings. He wouldn't be short of this set of equipment.

"Furthermore, the Vicious Dragon belongs to the lightning element. If it were crafted into Magic Tool, it would probably be most suitable for Lightning Mage, which is not suitable for my zodiac sign."

He thought to himself that he didn't have too many regrets. The White Tiger Pendant was the most important thing. Once it was upgraded to the peak of the Star Sea Magic Artifact, his Super Rank cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds, enough to achieve the Great Perfection of the Eight Elements within a year, just like Mo Fan.

Splash!

At this moment, the surrounding waves surged, and the Vicious Dragon rolled and writhed in the vast ocean, as if it were a living creature, exuding a chilling aura. Wherever it passed, Demon Beast retreated, and even monarchs hesitated to approach, making it extremely arrogant.

There was no other way; after the battle of the Emperor, all the formations in the Mariana Trench were shattered, and with the Emperor's corpse in tow, they had no choice but to travel a long distance back.

This was exactly what Hua Zhanhong wanted. According to him, killing the Emperor would greatly boost the morale of the entire nation, and it was necessary to travel from the South China Sea to the Bohai Sea, circling half of the nation, to show the people along the 20,000-mile coastline.

Fortunately, the Pacific Empire already knew of the fall of the Vicious Dragon Emperor and would not pursue him relentlessly, so the danger was not great.

After all, if they are alive, Emperor will naturally come to their aid; if they are dead, they are worthless, and no Emperor will risk great danger to provoke these powerful humans who hunt down Emperor.

Unless they stay in one place for too long, they will be able to mobilize their forces to counter-hunt.

The four people sitting on the dragon's corpse were all exhausted. They sat cross-legged on the dragon's head with their eyes closed, resting. They had just gone through a great battle and were completely worn out.

The Mermaid Empress has already grown to the Size Change a normal human, unlike the ordinary Mermaid Holy Spirit can freely Size Change.

She had actually transformed into a living human being, her lower body no longer a long, lithe dragon's tail, but a pair of plump yet slender white legs.

Her entire demeanor was elegant and noble, she wore an imperial crown, had a slender figure, and a beautiful and mature face, like a beautiful woman who held absolute power.

The Mermaid Empress curiously sized up Lu Jun, treating him with great intimacy, much like a mother-in-law who loves her son-in-law more and more the sooner she sees him.

She spoke first, saying, "I heard that you summoned human forces to help our Water Elemental Spirit race overcome this difficulty, is that right?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Jun opened his eyes, scratched his head, and said without daring to ask, "Yes, it was mainly Leader Hua and Councilor Shao who offered their help."

"Not bad," the Mermaid Empress exclaimed. "I remember you made a pact with one of my clan's descendants. You helped me through this calamity, so I will carefully nurture her and make her the next leader of the Holy Spirit Clan."

Lu Jun was overjoyed; the Mermaid maiden had finally found a powerful patron.

At this moment, Hua Zhanhong had recovered some of his strength and, after some deliberation, said to the Holy Spirit Emperor, "Hello, regarding the Mariana Trench, once things have calmed down, we will help you rebuild your habitat."

"We will send people to guard this place with you at that time."

Hua Zhanhong felt somewhat strange and awkward. Forming an alliance with Demon Beast forces was unprecedented.

Humans had considered negotiating with the Demon Beast Emperor before, but the Demon Beast were inherently chaotic and brutal, born from the most frenzied aspect of the world's demonic energy. Although they were highly intelligent, they were completely devoid of human nature.

At most, they can rely on their tacit understanding to remain uninvolved.

He thought to himself, "Perhaps only the naturally docile Elemental Spirit are willing to cooperate."

Of course, those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts.

It's alright that the Mermaid Emperor is staying in the Nine Provinces for a short time. Hua Zhanhong doesn't dare to defy the world by bringing the Mermaid Clan into the Nine Provinces to live long-term. Therefore, he has come up with this inferior strategy: to station them outside and act as allies, watching out for each other.

Furthermore, the Mariana Trench is like a sharp knife, piercing the heart of the Pacific Empire from the south. Its geographical location is crucial, and its deterrent power is immense. It can tie down a portion of the Sea Monster Dynasty's forces, and they fear that it will cut off their troop transport routes.

The Holy Spirit Emperor remained calm and offered no objection. The Water Elemental Spirit required a very specific environment to thrive.

After they reached an agreement, they fell silent again.

Time passed, and about half a day later.

Dean Xiao propelled the giant waves, Vicious Dragon, and they were gradually approaching the South China Sea territory of the Nine Provinces.

When Lu Jun opened his eyes, Leader Hua beside him had already stood up, his black trench coat fluttering in the wind, exuding heroic spirit, as if he had returned to his prime.

Hua Zhanhong noticed this, looked over, and said with a smile, "Cheer up, show your best self, and prepare to become the leader of humanity and the spiritual pillar of the Nine Provinces!"

Meanwhile, the largest city on the South China Sea coast— Demon Capital Port.

This place had long since become a sea of people, a vast, dark mass of faces, an endless expanse of people, as if millions had gathered, all the local residents and tourists who had come after hearing the news, all eagerly awaiting its arrival.

News of the hunt for the Emperor spread, shocking the world.

Both the Holy City and the Asian Magic Association remained silent, and the international influence of Kyushu soared, making it stand out from the crowd, with no one daring to challenge its might.

Even Su Lu has given up on the idea of blocking Jiuzhou at the international conference; a single Heart of the Earth is simply no match for it.

The rise in the prestige of the Nine Provinces has greatly strengthened the Nine Provinces faction within the Asian Magic Association. Most of the councilors have sided with Shao Zheng, making his dominant position precarious, let alone his chances of becoming the Emperor of Humanity.

After learning the news, Su Lu locked himself in his office alone, and no one knew what he was thinking.

All that is known is that the signs of the Malicious Wolf Society's activities became increasingly agitated, almost to the point of madness, as they collected massive amounts of Heart of the Young Child.

If Lu Jun were to learn of this information, he would understand that Su Lu couldn't wait any longer; the other party wanted to take down the Black Dragon Emperor, restore his prestige, and overshadow the Nine Provinces.

At the Demon Capital, media from all over the world gathered, setting up cameras to broadcast the entire event live to billions of people around the world who couldn't attend, while also recording this historic moment.

At the edge of the deep blue ocean, a dark arc suddenly appeared on the horizon.

At first, people didn't pay attention, but later they discovered that this long, narrow black line encompassing the sky and the earth was getting closer and closer to the shore, and the line became thicker and bolder.

"They've arrived! Leader Hua and Lu Bing Ce!"

Someone suddenly realized what was happening and shouted.

Chapter 539 Pillar of Spirit

Rumble!

Along the coast of the Demon Capital, countless people gazed into the distance. A black line leaped out and arrived in an instant, revealing wave after wave of towering giant waves, hundreds of feet high, vast and unstoppable.

Above the massive waves, a majestic, winding, pitch-black dragon coiled and danced, like a magnificent mountain range suspended on the ocean, its terrifying supreme pressure sweeping across all directions, shaking the world even from a hundred miles away.

"This... this is the Demon Beast Emperor that the leader of the Nine Provinces slew? This is the Demon Beast Emperor?!"

On the shore, everyone was speechless at this moment. The colossal waves that blotted out the sky and the monstrous dragon that soared above the Tide, though dead, still possessed immense power. It was unimaginable how powerful they must have been in life.

People all over the world saw this scene on video and found it unforgettable.

Most of them were mortals; let alone Emperor, they would at most come into contact with Servant-level Demonic Beast throughout their lives, so the mental and spiritual impact they experienced was naturally at its limit.

"Oh my god, this is a celestial being! A being more terrifying than God! How dare the Chinese kill a god?!"

Foreigners were horrified; witnessing the Emperor only enhanced the prestige of the Nine Provinces. Even magicians were no exception, gaining a newfound sense of awe.

As for the people at the scene, they began to tremble, and a few were even scared to death. They worried that the giant wave that blotted out the sky would suddenly crash down, flooding the Demon Capital, leveling skyscrapers, and killing millions of people.

But at that moment, on the dragon's head atop the giant wave, several figures stood tall. Though they were as small as black dots, they trampled the colossal creature and the vast Tide beneath their feet, exuding an aura of overwhelming power.

Upon witnessing this scene, the port fell silent for a moment, everyone stunned and speechless. The next moment, a thunderous cheer erupted, shaking the heavens and the earth.

The Military Mage divisions stationed along the riverbank to maintain order were extremely excited and shouted in unison, "Victory! Victory!"

The originally noisy and disorderly shouts gradually became unified under the leadership of the military and civilians, inspiring people and boosting morale.

"May the Leader Hua be victorious! May China be victorious!"

The unified shouts startled journalists from around the world, who faithfully recorded the event with their cameras, making it visible to people all over the globe.

The people of all nations couldn't help but feel envious. A powerful and united superpower had the ability to travel thousands of miles to slay the evil dragon Emperor and hang his head in the northern capital. How enviable, how powerful!

Some of the stubborn beliefs that were once held onto have quietly faded away, leaving only the impression that the Nine Provinces are not to be trifled with.

It can be said that the enthusiastic response to Lu Jun's victory in the national battle a year ago, where he swept aside a hundred opponents, has not only been going on for less than two years, but has also been further consolidated, pushing Jiuzhou International's status to the center of the world.

"Sigh, the higher-ups in Kyushu have real guts. If only our officials could be like that."

"Heh heh heh, wishful thinking! Don't you remember the Mediterranean Sea incident a few years ago..."

At this moment, Lu Jun stood on the head of the Vicious Dragon Emperor, looking down at the towering Demon Capital of the Demon City. He saw that the streets of the port were crowded with a dense crowd, and heard them cheering for their names.