Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Sun Devouring Emperor
"From now on, you’ll stay by Situ Yunqing’s side,” Xu Zimei said.
Shili Changkong nodded and asked, “Do you really want to entrust your power to a mere girl?”
Xu Zimei smiled. If his memory served him correctly, this woman, Situ Yunqing, was not to be underestimated.
In his previous life, she took only a few decades to expand the Situ Commerce Association across the Eastern Continent, becoming one of the most formidable powers.
Had Situ Yunqing not truly been capable, Xu Zimei wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to recruit her to his side.
"Give her two years. If she can spread her influence across the entire Extreme West Region, then I’ll believe in her abilities,” Xu Zimei said.
...
"And if she fails to do so within two years?” Shili Changkong countered.
Shili Changkong fell silent, thinking to himself, “That’s really cold-blooded!”
After resolving the matters in Zhouque City, Xu Zimei and his two companions also decided to leave, especially since the mission assigned by the Sect Gate was still incomplete!
The group galloped away, under the blue sky and white clouds, across the rolling green hills, with their Desert Flying Horses boldly running towards the distance.
Birds spread their wings and soared, circling above their heads, while a gentle breeze picked up dry leaves, spinning them in the air.
The blazing sun was overhead, and while they were riding on the road, suddenly an explosion sounded from the skies.
Soon after, they felt a powerful aura enveloping them from above.
In the sky above, two figures were walking on air. An old man dressed in a gray robe held a five-foot-heavy sword, his invisible aura rippling around him, causing the very space to crackle explosively.
The other was a middle-aged man, his body ablaze with fierce and splendid flames, as if the surrounding space itself was about to be incinerated.
The gray-robed elder’s face was composed as he spoke loudly, his voice booming through the space, causing it to reverberate with a thunderous rumble.
"Ren Pingsheng, hand over the legacy of the Sun Devouring Emperor, and I’ll spare your life,” he declared.
The man engulfed in flames sneered contemptuously. It seemed he had suffered severe injuries; his face was pale as he disdainfully said, “Yue Buli, a despicable person like you is also worthy of being a Sect Master—how laughable!”
Xu Zimei lay on the back of his horse, watching the two men’s fight with interest.
Anxious, Xiao Guizi turned to Xu Zimei, who appeared unfazed, and asked in confusion, “Senior brother, do you know them?”
"What’s there to fear? Who would dare to touch you while you are with me?” Xu Zimei chuckled.
"That man in gray is called Yue Buli, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect,” Lin Ruhu explained from beside them. “As for the man in white, I do not know him.”
"Ren Pingsheng, a man unperturbed by the smoke and rain of life, the descendent of the Sun Devouring Emperor,” Xu Zimei said with a smile.
"The Sun Devouring Emperor!” Xiao Guizi exclaimed. That was a very famous Great Emperor from the Era of Emperors.
"Yue Buli is of the Esteem Vein Realm, while Ren Pingsheng is just in the Empty Vein Realm. It seems unlikely he can hold out for much longer,” Xiao Guizi mused.
"Never underestimate the means left behind by a Great Emperor,” Xu Zimei waived his hand and said, “Let’s go. This matter is of no concern to us.”
Above the void, Yue Buli wielded his heavy sword, with boundless Sword Qi coalescing around the blade, condensing then exploding, causing space itself to crack.
This sword, with its unending killing intent, had mad winds ravaging and howling around him, as the heavy sword was raised high above his head, as if he was about to split the very firmament.
"Yue Buli, do you truly want to fight to the death,” asked Ren Pingsheng, his face flushed with discomfort.
"Hand over the treasure of the Sun Devouring Emperor, and I will spare your life,” Yue Buli roared.
Infinite power was condensing in his sword, and his entire face seemed to distort, as if he was about to unleash this charged strike to end the fight.
"You’re forcing my hand,” coughed Ren Pingsheng a few times as he slowly took a flute from his waist.
Seeing the flute, Xu Zimei, who was standing in the forefront, narrowed his eyes and then smiled, “Looks like there’s a good show to watch.”
"Is that flute really that powerful?” Lin Ruhu asked with confusion.
"The origin of this flute is related to a love story of the Sun Devouring Emperor. Would you like to hear it?” Xu Zimei asked with a smile.
Xiao Guizi was somewhat puzzled. The Sun Devouring Emperor was from several eras ago; how could his senior brother know of his love story?
But when it came to gossip about a Great Emperor, Xiao Guizi was still very interested.
"Rumor has it that it’s a story from the youth of the Sun Devouring Emperor,” Xu Zimei said with a smile, his interest piqued as he narrated, “When the Sun Devouring Emperor was young, he had a childhood sweetheart with whom he was betrothed from a very young age—and they were very close to each other.
But one day, the girl suddenly became gravely ill, and before she died, she gave her favorite flute to the Sun Devouring Emperor.
As a token to commemorate their precious but brief romance.
From then on, whenever the Sun Devouring Emperor missed the girl, he would play the flute alone in solitude.
Even after he eventually became the Great Emperor, he maintained this habit.
The flute was made of ordinary materials, but it was inscribed with Emperor Patterns within.”
As Xu Zimei narrated, Ren Pingsheng cut his own finger and let a drop of blood fall into the flute before slowly starting to play it.
After he let a drop of blood enter the flute, his originally pale face grew even paler.
The melodious sound of the flute slowly arose, the tune was gentle, evoking the tranquil sense of a small bridge over flowing water.
Yet, as the ordinary sound of the flute started to echo, the whole world seemed to come to a halt.
All sounds ceased, whether it was the raging river in the distance or the serene breeze at the horizon.
Even the sword intent from Yue Buli, which vowed to split the firmament in two, seemed to silently stop.
The sound of the flute continued to resonate, and Yue Buli’s face showed signs of shock.
The flute stirred up endless windstorms, and a black sun eerily appeared at the end of the horizon.
This was followed by collapsing space, chaotic rules, and boundless authority coalescing above the firmament.
"Is this the might of a Great Emperor?” Lin Ruhu and Xiao Guizi both exclaimed in surprise, “Merely a used Emperor Pattern flute holds such power; the majesty of the Emperor himself must be all the more splendid.”
"Ren Pingsheng, consider yourself lucky this time, but you haven’t earned the treasure’s recognition. With your essence blood, how many more times could you use it?” Yue Buli bellowed unwillingly before fleeing headlong into the distance.
As the devouring vortex-like sun was about to form, Yue Buli’s heartbeats felt as though they were gripped in a giant hand, almost bursting out of his chest.
He didn’t dare stay any longer; the dignity of a Great Emperor must not be violated.
Watching Yue Buli flee in a panic, Ren Pingsheng slowly lowered the flute, and the devouring sun began to fade away.
He staggered, nearly collapsing, the recent exertion had been far too great.
Then he slowly descended, casting a glance at Xu Zimei and the others standing nearby.