Undercurrents Stir

Upper Realm. Sacred Realm Divine Domain. Zhou Haihao stood before the Yaotian Sacred Pool, his brows tightly furrowed.

His expression was somewhat grave, his long white hair moving despite the lack of wind.

A phantom figure emerged behind him, then instantly solidified. Su Linyue stepped out and stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhou Haihao.

The two of them stared at the sacred pool before them without speaking. After a long while, Su Linyue was the first to break the silence. "How did the negotiations go?"

"Not well." Zhou Haihao's expression was solemn. "The Immortal Realm is determined to obtain the Pangu Treasury this time. The Immortal Emperor said that, for it, he could start an Emperor War!"

"An Emperor War?" A cold glint flashed through Su Linyue's heterochromatic eyes. "The Immortal Emperor has coveted control of the Six-Dimensional Universe for a long time. This just gives him sufficient justification."

"I'm afraid it's more than that." Zhou Haihao said, "The Heavenly Court's strength has risen rapidly since the previous era. For the Immortal Emperor to dare speak of starting an Emperor War this time, he must be fully confident."

Su Linyue's heterochromatic eyes flickered. "So what if it's an Emperor War? Does he really think we have no foundations of our own?"

In truth, even within the Sacred Realm, only the two Supreme Sacred Kings, Zhou Haihao and Su Linyue, knew just how terrifying the Sacred Realm's foundations truly were!

Zhou Haihao shook his head. "Among the ten Divine Stars, Dragon God Star, one of the upper three, has vanished. The Sacred Realm Divine Domain and the Immortal Heavens are the two leading giants."

"For all this time, the Immortal Realm's subordinate planets have increased every moment. Clearly, their desire for hegemony has been reignited."

At this point, Zhou Haihao changed the subject. "How are things on your end?"

Su Linyue sighed as well. "Not well either. The barrier is still deteriorating faster. At this rate, I'm afraid it won't hold much longer."

"That legendary prophecy is about to descend," Zhou Haihao said slowly.

"Whether that prophecy is real or not remains unknown." Su Linyue said, "There's no need to draw conclusions so early."

"Whether it's real isn't important." Zhou Haihao said, "What worries me are those who believe in that prophecy and may do something extreme because of it."

"You mean the Immortal Emperor?"

Zhou Haihao did not answer Su Linyue. Instead, he looked toward the Immortal Realm, seemingly lost in thought.

Su Linyue's heterochromatic eyes flickered. No one knew what he was thinking either.

Immortal Heavens. Within the Palace of Golden Radiance, as a vast righteous aura appeared, the immortals immediately knew who had returned.

The assembled immortals respectfully knelt. "Welcome, Immortal Emperor!"

The Immortal Emperor, dressed in golden robes and wearing a crown, appeared upon the throne. The beautiful woman beside him nodded to him. "Immortal Emperor."

"Mm." The Immortal Emperor said slowly, "I have important matters to attend to today. If there is anything, submit your memorials tomorrow. Court is adjourned!"

"By command!" Taibai Jinxing cried, "By His Majesty's decree, court is adjourned!"

As the immortals departed, the Palace of Golden Radiance was soon left with only the Immortal Emperor.

With a wave of his hand, several prayer mats appeared around him. At that moment, the space around them began to distort, and a black-robed man sat upon the first mat.

"Looks like this emperor arrived early," the black-robed man said in a hoarse voice, like the voice of a ghost.

Sensing the deathly aura around the black-robed man, the Immortal Emperor frowned. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately held it back.

The black-robed man asked, "What does the Immortal Emperor mean by this? Do you have some objection to this emperor?"

"None." The Immortal Emperor cupped his hands. "For the Ghost Emperor to come in person, you are naturally an honored guest of mine."

"Come, Ghost Emperor. I offer you this cup."

As he spoke, the Immortal Emperor raised the cup in his hand and drained the jade wine in one gulp.

"Heh heh." The Ghost Emperor smiled as well. "Good. Since it is wine offered by the Immortal Emperor, this emperor should naturally drink it."

"However, this emperor has been feeling unwell lately and cannot conveniently drink alcohol. I shall use tea in place of wine."

The moment those words were spoken, a trace of killing intent flashed through the Immortal Emperor's eyes.

Fine. This Ghost Emperor actually dared to disgrace him so openly!

He even dared to give him a show of force on his own turf.

Ghost Emperor, this emperor would remember you!

Yet outwardly, the Immortal Emperor still smiled faintly. "No matter. The Ghost Emperor's presence already gives me ample face. Tea it is. There is no need for so many rules here."

The Ghost Emperor was somewhat surprised. Among the rulers of the various Divine Domains, the Immortal Emperor cared most about appearances. He had openly slighted him, yet he had endured it.

It seemed the Immortal Emperor truly intended to get serious this time.

As the two spoke, the void tore apart, and two more people stepped out from it.

One was a handsome middle-aged man enveloped in golden light, with an elegant and scholarly appearance.

The other was a beautiful mature woman who appeared to be in her thirties. She wore a purple gown that exposed large swathes of snow-white skin.

Her long, shapely legs were exposed, and because she wore no shoes, her pale toes were bare.

Her ample chest was extraordinarily full, while her stunning face lent her an added touch of seduction.

Upon seeing these two, the Immortal Emperor's attitude visibly improved. He cupped his hands and said, "Demon Lord, Tathagata."

"Immortal Emperor, apologies for keeping you waiting." Tathagata nodded toward the Immortal Emperor.

Demon Lord Leng You said to the Immortal Emperor, "Jiuyou has urgent matters to attend to, so I came to meet with you in her place."

The Immortal Emperor nodded in response.

Leng You and Jiuyou were both rulers of the Demon Realm, so Leng You could naturally represent the Demon Realm.

"Good." The Immortal Emperor said, "Now that everyone has arrived, we should discuss cooperation."