The Abyssal Emperor Council.
"Spirit Emperor, you saw it too, didn't you? How did that 'human' suddenly appear inside the Heavenly Ox Emperor and kill him? The whole thing took less than five seconds, and an Emperor..."
"And it wasn't using spatial elements, was it?"
Sage Emperor's words left Spirit Emperor deep in thought. It rubbed its chin, its eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
It had secretly tried to seal off space, hoping to restrict the other's movements and kill A-Qi in one fell swoop.
But the move had no effect on A-Qi at all. It moved through the spatial lockdown as if no one stood in its way, and the Abyssal King they'd used as bait was still killed in an instant.
Spirit Emperor had also tried using divine-level spiritual power to investigate, even to kill A-Qi, but the results had been useless. It couldn't sense this person's cultivation at all!
Unknown. An unpredictable variable. A variable.
This was terrifying!
"I fought 'him' too. I can say with certainty that 'his' body is nowhere near divine level—not even quasi-divine!"
"His fighting style is impossibly strange and hard to read. My battle with him was the most disgusting fight I've ever had. And if you look at 'him' from a martial artist's perspective, every move he makes is far too perfect: prediction, calculation, strategy, attention to detail, composure, quick thinking, decisiveness, finishing blows..."
"To me, none of it seems like something a human could possess! Do you know what's most terrifying?"
"'He' is learning, and he's growing! He learns far faster than I could have imagined! He studies the characteristics of every one of our Abyssal Creatures, then develops a specific fighting style to counter each of us!"
"That's why I fell further and further behind as the battle went on..."
Fierce Emperor slammed his massive palm against the table and let out a heavy sigh. He wished he could take Abyssal Sage King's Heavenly Saint Abyss-Splitting Halberd and strike this person down once and for all!
This 'person' could not be allowed to live!
"Enough. When we launch the next Abyssal assault, Fierce Emperor, you'll lead the charge again. Devil Emperor, Sage Emperor, Scythe Emperor, Black Empress, and I will stay hidden. At the critical moment, we'll strike like thunder and kill this person in one fell swoop!"
Spirit Emperor's cold gaze swept over the other eight Emperors present. A bone-chilling ruthlessness flashed in its eyes, and a fierce killing intent silently spread through the room.
The eight Emperors below all felt their hearts tighten, and fell instantly silent.
Every Emperor knew that Spirit Emperor had gone to such lengths and summoned them all because he was truly furious. There was no room for jokes anymore.
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
"Very well. The next Abyssal assault will take place in six months. I hope none of you will let this person escape because of a moment's carelessness. Otherwise..."
Fierce Emperor: "..."
Devil Emperor: "..."
Sage Emperor: "..."
The Emperors around the table fell silent. Spirit Emperor's brows relaxed, and the authority radiating from him receded.
"Meeting adjourned!"
Blood God Camp.
"Leng Wuduan, I suggest you hand over the Six-Clawed Demon Emperor you captured so we can study it together. Wouldn't that be better than you trying to work it all out on your own?"
Drawing on his prestige across Douluo Continent and his seniority, Chen Xinjie had once again gathered the other seven Blood Gods, trying to suppress Leng Wuduan and bolster his own standing once more.
A-Qi: "..."
Was it possible that all of you put together had less computing power than it did—and couldn't make research progress as fast, either?
Chen Xinjie frowned, then fell silent again. Damn that Leng Wuduan. Why did he always put on a silent act as soon as he came to Blood God Camp?
Three years ago, he'd been quite the smooth talker, hadn't he?
He'd forced nearly ninety percent of the families on Douluo Continent to send people to the Abyss Battlefield.
And he wore his Four-Word Battle Armor all the time. Did he really feel that insecure?
This was Blood God Camp, after all.
"Leng Wuduan, silence won't help you. You have to give me an answer today. Are you handing it over or not?"
A-Qi knew full well that Chen Xinjie was deliberately trying to put him down.
It couldn't be bothered to deal with him. In its view, saying one more word to Chen Xinjie was a pointless drain. It would be more practical to save its computing power, focus on running its models, and work through the training data.
But just then, Su Jiu came online.
A detached yet oppressive gaze locked straight onto Chen Xinjie, enveloping him in an instant.
Chen Xinjie's heart sank, and for some reason, his backside clenched.
He could vaguely sense that this time, something was different from before.
"Blood Three, I'm Blood Two now, your superior! Is that how you speak to your superior? Who gave you the nerve to talk to your leader like that?"
"Or are you, Chen Xinjie, so old you've got dementia and forgotten what respect for rank means? Want me to loosen up those old bones for you?"
"What?!"
"I'll make this clear right now: if you want one, go catch one yourself. Don't turn your incompetence out there into an excuse to throw your weight around at home! I, Leng Wuduan, am telling you that your little internal power games won't work on me. And I have no respect for them outside the camp, either, Blood Three Chen Xinjie!"
Su Jiu's merciless retort left Chen Xinjie's face dark with fury and humiliation.
Blood One, Cao Dezhi, standing nearby, looked troubled and inwardly groaned.
Blood Two, Leng Wuduan, was the strongest person alive;
Blood Three, Chen Xinjie, was a veteran Limit Douluo, the current head of the Sea God Family, and the master of the War God Temple. His position was every bit as weighty.
One was a peerless powerhouse, the other an old heavyweight with immense influence. Both were men of great importance whom he could ill afford to offend. Taking either side would be inappropriate.
Cao Dezhi could only smile wryly to himself. Caught between the two, he was in an impossible position. Being in charge was just too damn hard.
"Oh? Blood One, are you having a hard time deciding?"
"Don't worry, just say it. This is Blood God Camp, after all. We judge the matter, not the person. Anyone can understand that."
Cao Dezhi: "..."
Blood Gods, I have no objections.
"You, you..."
Chen Xinjie was so furious that his old face flushed red, then darkened. Any retort he could have made was demolished by Su Jiu's blunt truth.
Chen Xinjie hadn't killed many Abyssal Emperors. Plenty of Kings had self-destructed in his hands, leaving him covered in minor injuries. It was humiliating!
"Fine. Since no one has any objections, let's not waste everyone's precious time. Meeting adjourned."
"By the way, Sect Master Cao, I have something to discuss with you. This is personal, not official!"
Su Jiu called Cao Dezhi back. They had worked together for three years and understood each other fairly well. It was time to squeeze him for those Immortal Herbs.
Cao Dezhi's dormitory.
"Sect Master Cao, let's keep this brief and get straight to the point."
"I hear that you and Vice Sect Master Zang share a love that could move heaven and earth, but worldly prejudice has kept you from truly tying the knot."
"But I have a way..."
Su Jiu: ???
Perhaps Cao Dezhi, who had been stationed at the Abyss for so long, was so starved for affection that he'd grown overly repressed. Or perhaps his feelings for Zang Xin were simply too devoted, too steadfast.
Cao Dezhi had actually chosen to believe him right away?
"Lord Wuduan, tell me what you want. Once this is done, we can discuss anything!"
"Sect Master Cao, once the right time comes, fate will follow. Two hundred-thousand-year-old Immortal Herbs!"
"No. One. I can give you one at most!"
"Fine, deal!"
That was exactly what Su Jiu had been waiting to hear, and he agreed at once.
"The Universe Inquiry Valley! The tokens of true love aren't just for people. Animals in this world can use them too..."
"Sect Master Cao, why not sneak off and try it first? If it works, wouldn't that be a 'wonderful surprise' for Vice Sect Master Zang? And then..."
"Anyway, once you've taken care of things and changed your nature, you can give me the Immortal Herbs."
"If this is true, you'll get the promised Immortal Herbs, of course!"
Su Jiu: By then, the two of you can go at each other...
Before you continue