The moment Mei Ji spoke, the entire audience was shaken, their gazes turning toward her in disbelief.

From the sound of it, did she actually intend to challenge the Azure Emperor?

Putting everything else aside, that courage alone was admirable!

To dare challenge the Azure Emperor to his face, she was undoubtedly the first person in history to do so!

Huo Hangku turned his head to look at Mei Ji's exquisite face, a wave of complex emotions washing over him. He suddenly felt as though he and Mei Ji were no longer of the same world. The Mei Ji he once knew, in her pursuit of cultivation, power, and ascent, had been unscrupulous and cruel, caring nothing for her own body and dignity—an attitude that had profoundly disgusted him. Initially, Mei Ji was just a dancing girl Huo Hangku had taken a fancy to in a pleasure den. After buying her freedom, he brought her back to the Swordfire Divine Sect and made her his concubine. And at that moment, the wheels of fate began to turn. Mei Ji rose from a bullied concubine to become the legitimate wife, then broke free from Huo Hangku's control to establish the Jade Delight Sect on her own, climbing her way up step by step. In the process, for the sake of her dual cultivation, she was notoriously promiscuous. But now, having become an Empress, she carried herself with an ice-pure and dignified air that made her a complete stranger to him. Who could have imagined that the once-promiscuous dancing girl would now be a respected Great Emperor in her own right? Her legend might have a dark and sordid side, but as she stood there now, she was the most brilliant and dazzling star of all!

Luo Xiu gazed at Mei Ji, surprised as well. This woman gave him a very different impression. She seemed ice-pure and dignified, as if untouched by the mortal world, yet she also exuded a cunning, venomous aura. Facing her felt like facing a cold, deadly snake. Although Luo Xiu didn't feel any direct threat from her, he also didn't experience the sense of 'lightness' he felt when facing others.

Dou Dou suddenly leaned toward Luo Xiu and whispered, "This woman is no simple character. Should we play it safe for now?"

But Luo Xiu just shook his head slightly. "Leave her to me. Master Ping, protect everyone."

The next instant, Luo Xiu's figure vanished, as if he had evaporated into thin air.

When he reappeared a moment later, he was already behind Mei Ji.

"I don't know where you get your confidence, but since you want to try, I'll indulge you."

Before Mei Ji could even react, a heavy blow struck her from behind. The immense force sent her delicate body flying forward. Luo Xiu had sent her sailing with a single kick.

Like an arrow shot from a bow, her body flew in a straight line, piercing through layer after layer of walls before crashing into a distant palace complex. Towering buildings collapsed one after another, throwing up great clouds of dust and debris.

At this moment, Luo Xiu was holding nothing back.

Even though he knew there was a risk of his illness acting up, he still unleashed his full power!

Since leaving Ghost Valley Mountain, this was the first time—barring the period he was afflicted by the Blood Ban Technique—that he had used his full power without reservation.

Back on the mountain, he would only ever use his full strength when sparring with Guijian Chou!

A profound silence fell. A faint, azure Spiritual Power began to radiate from his body.

The watching crowd was left dumbstruck. That striking azure hue reminded them of the legend where the All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds were dominated by a single man with a single sword!

"It seems he really is the Azure Emperor!"

"This is incredible! I never thought I'd see the Azure Emperor with my own eyes in this lifetime!"

Luo Xiu slowly turned, his gaze falling upon Huo Hangku, Li Huan, and the others.

With a simple extension of his hand, Li Huan's body flew toward him uncontrollably. Luo Xiu caught him by the throat.

CRACK.

With a sharp snap, the powerful hand mercilessly broke Li Huan's neck.

As a cold light flickered in Luo Xiu's left eye, eerie dust materialized out of thin air. It converged from all directions, instantly enveloping Li Huan's corpse.

The next moment, a vast aura permeated the entire Gluttonous Palace.

The onlookers stared in astonishment. The man who was once Li Huan had transformed into a towering, powerfully built, middle-aged man clad in battle armor. This man had long hair, a pair of horns sprouting from his head, vertical pupils, and faint bluish scales at the corners of his eyes.

Just by standing there silently, he exuded a boundless, mysterious aura that made all who saw him feel insignificant.

Atop the Pig Dragon's back, Yaya gazed at the middle-aged man, her small body trembling uncontrollably. She could feel a palpable pressure on her very bloodline.

"That's a true dragon!"

Master Ping spoke gravely, "That kid, Luo Xiu, actually resurrected the Azure Dragon Venerable. I just don't know if he can control him."

Mu Xueyan asked worriedly, "Master, if Luo Xiu can't control him... what will happen?"

Master Ping replied, "This Azure Dragon Venerable possesses the strength to fight an Ancient God. If Luo Xiu can't control him, I fear it will spell big trouble."

By now, all the cultivators who had been watching the spectacle had retreated to a safe distance.

Most were self-aware enough to know that one needed considerable power to witness the coming battle and survive.

The Pig Dragon no longer hesitated, quickly carrying Dou Dou and the others far away, not daring to linger for even a second.

...

With the successful formation of the Body of the Dark Land, the Azure Dragon Venerable's residual soul was also made whole.

He stared at Luo Xiu's left eye, his body suddenly erupting with a vast Dragon Qi that warped the Void around him!

He remembered how Luo Xiu and Master Ping had humiliated him in the Azure Dragon Sword Array!

"Junior with the Ancient God's Eye... resurrecting this Venerable One was your greatest mistake."

The instant he finished speaking, a fist brimming with terrifying power shattered the Void and shot directly toward Luo Xiu!

Luo Xiu's gaze hardened as he met the attack with a fierce punch of his own.

BOOM!

As the two fists collided, the Void trembled violently.

In the distance, buildings collapsed and crumbled to dust.

Some cultivators watching from too close were caught in the shockwave; their meridians instantly ruptured and their bones shattered, killing them on the spot!

It was true.

To even watch a battle of the Azure Emperor's caliber, one needed sufficient strength!

The crowd fell into a panic, scrambling to retreat even further away.

Back at the epicenter, Luo Xiu slowly withdrew his fist, fighting the urge to curse. He realized he couldn't control the Azure Dragon Venerable! Or rather, the Azure Dragon Venerable was able to break free from the control of the Elysian Nether Earth.

Just then, Mei Ji flashed onto the scene, coming to a stop beside the Azure Dragon Venerable.

The Azure Dragon Venerable glanced at her. Noticing the glowing, eerie mark on her forehead, he seemed to understand something. "Taotie," he said, "I never thought you'd find a successor. She seems quite decent. Very much like you."

Mei Ji remained expressionless. "If I'm not mistaken, he is one of the lotuses recorded in the *Divine Register*."

The Azure Dragon Venerable said, "This successor of yours is merely a Profound Emperor. She's not strong enough to take him down."

"So I underestimated him," Mei Ji said. "Fortunately, he used the power of an Ancient God to resurrect you." She then added, "Let's join forces to suppress him. You help me claim the Emperor's Blood!"

The Azure Dragon stared at Luo Xiu. "Agreed!"

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