Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

The breath of the Magic Flame Giant visibly collapsed, its strength plummeting drastically.

At this point in the battle,

Over twenty kings from the Horned Demon Imperial Clan had perished!

Some of them were from outside the Flame Stone Star Domain, serving as the Imperial Guards of the Cangkong Imperial Child, others were kings subjugated within the domain itself, like the Devil Flower King and the Overlord Blade King.

All of them were once famous and formidable figures on their own lands, within their own Minor Thousand Worlds, beings akin to the oldest ancestors of their families, with life spans of ten thousand years.

Yet, these strong individuals, on the battlefield, easily died like ants and chaff, unable to cause any ripples.

Now, the kings of the Horned Demon Imperial Clan withered away one after another, leaving only a few heavily injured kings like the Cangkong Imperial Child, and their resistance weakened to a nadir.

They watched the Blood-robed Taoist in the sky with terror.

Before, they could never have imagined dying at the hands of a Slave King, deeming the idea a nonsensical fantasy, a joke to be laughed off, treating the war as a hunting game.

However, now the tables had turned; those who fancied themselves as hunters were dying.

Boom!

In the sky, the Blood-robed Taoist, devoid of any expression, made a resplendent sanguine sun blossom in his hands, dropping another round of the blood sun from the heavens, its might undiminished, bombarding the dying enemy below.

”Could it be,”

”Swordsmanship truly belongs only to the Human Race?”

The Single-Horned Demon God’s voice was cold and low.

An undeniable fact was that his swordsmanship was indeed inferior to that of the Slave King.

But, why should this be?

He was an Ancient Imperial Son of the Cangyan Ancient Emperor Family, possessing the best resources of the Horned Ming Realm, raised from a young age by Great Emperors and Ancient Emperors, lavished with Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, with access to the sealed teachings of emperors, all without any hardship.

With a single word from him, the vast Star Domain and beings from nearly a hundred Minor Thousand Worlds would tremble, sparing no effort to fulfill his commands, even if it meant casualties of millions — all for what might merely be a casual and playful thought from him.

His teachers, rivals, and stepping stones were all dragons and phoenixes among humans, elites of elites.

He himself was even more so — an Ancient Imperial Son from the Cangyan Ancient Emperor Family, unparalleled in talent across the Domain.

With all these conditions, how could he be defeated in sword art by a lowly Slave King?

Why?

What did this slave have?

His cultivation method resorted to Burning Essence Blood, he grew up wallowing in mud, never having enough to eat, expending Essence Blood and Mana every day besides Cultivation, refining resources for the Imperial Clan, already nearing the end of his life span of just over five thousand years, not living even half as long as an Imperial Clan king.

It was just by chance, he obtained an incomplete inheritance of the Ancient Divine Path’s sword art and acquired the mediocre slave emperor’s Cultivation Method ”Dao Heart Planting Demonic Slaves.”

What were these when compared to all he had?

Yet still, this Slave King possessed swordsmanship superior to his own — the Undying Sword Technique!

It was truly disheartening, even stirring demonic thoughts, causing his Dao Heart to waver, doubting sword art and knife techniques, the Acquired paths that seemed to belong solely to the Human Race. Other races, even the inherently strong Imperial Clan, could not reach the pinnacle due to a lack of intrinsic compatibility, born with flaws.

The Single-Horned Demon God’s thoughts surged in a single instant.

Boom!

Regardless of anything else, the blood sun in the sky suppressed everything below, slaughtering and incinerating everything.

”That’s right.”

”On this battlefield, Blood River King, you have indeed won.”

The Single-Horned Demon God’s gaze regained its coldness.

He reached out his hand and took out a primitive and worn scroll, unrolling it to reveal a small riverside village scene with an ink painting of a shepherd boy herding an old ox past the village.

This ink painting appeared so abruptly in the sky, surrounded by shattering and turbulent voids that couldn’t affect it in the least.

Boom!

The blood sun fell upon the ethereal village, not affected in the slightest, no explosions occurred, nothing was damaged—it simply passed straight through, causing the surrounding space to collapse, blasting incessantly, and bringing about a rocking world, raising waves of destruction that wiped out countless beings.

However, these ripples of broken space could not affect the small riverside village.

These waves passed through it as if they traversed an illusion of air, disappearing without a trace.

”Is this...”

Jiang Ding’s pupils contracted, his gaze fixed on the ink painting of the small riverside village, and on the greatly weakened Magic Flame Giant within it.

This Magic Flame Giant, transformed by the Cangkong Imperial Child, had reached the brink of death, normally would not be able to withstand a single blow, but now it was as if it had entered into another spatial dimension, untouchable and no longer vulnerable to harm.

What kind of space technique was this?

Jiang Ding’s heart shook violently, utterly astounded.

To be able to dematerialize at any time, even during combat, avoiding attacks and leaving the enemy helpless, it was nothing short of a miracle, outrageously tenacious.

Swoosh!

The ink painting depicting the small riverside village turned into a streak of light, flying rapidly towards the distance, far surpassing the speed of a Nascent Soul Cultivator.

”Fleeing?”

”Your body isn’t as tough as your words.”

Jiang Ding swiftly reined in his shock, sneered coldly, and transformed into a streak of blood light, pursuing without any hesitation.

The Blood River King was a man of lowly status, a man without any alternative paths, now fighting with his life to attain the path of an Emperor, without any room for hesitation, even when facing death.

Before departing, Jiang Ding glanced at the darkening sky in the distance, pausing his gaze for a moment.

...

In the bleak starry sky, Emperor Yanliu’s body trembled.

Around him, the Chenshan King, Demon Mountain King, and many kings from the Flame Stone Family were likewise pale and shaking instinctively, not daring to approach that Slave King, not daring to express the joy of an imminent victory.

They no longer dared to stand high and reprimand, revealing their master’s majesty.

The deaths of the dozens of kings from the Horned Demon Imperial Clan explained everything.

It was a slave without taboo, one with not a trace of the subservience expected of one; whoever dared to do so would die, without exception.

The surroundings fell into complete silence.

These kings from the Flame Stone Family were terror-stricken, even if entire families were annihilated by the Blood River King, they dared not curse or complain to Emperor Yanliu at this moment.

”Congratulations, Imperial Child!”

”Your imperial crown will soon be within reach.”

Chenshan King steadied his spirit and congratulated.

”Congratulations, Imperial Child!”

”Congratulations, Imperial Child...”

”...”

Surrounded by kings flattering and congratulating, their attitudes lowered beyond measure, no longer maintaining any pretense of seniority, bargaining and advising condescendingly.

In their hearts, a fear they themselves wouldn’t admit to emerged, and their self-confidence waned.

That Slave King has cultivated the ”Dao Heart Devil Slave Sutra”!

This means that in the future, Emperor Yanliu would have such a terrifying slave, and if these family rulers are not clear about their position, they might not even know when they would die.

”Emperor’s crown...”

”My lonely imperial path...”

Emperor Yanliu’s heart swelled with emotion, somewhat intoxicated by the sight of all the kings completely submitting, as if he already foresaw his own glorious ascent to become a Great Emperor.

”Emperor, Cangkong Imperial Child will undoubtedly be defeated.”

”In this battle of imperial heirs, he will not be able to escape the Flame Stone Star Domain, and in the end, he must be captured by the Blood River King; there should be no accidents.”

Chenshan King solemnly said, ”The imperial crown is assuredly yours.”

”While the Blood River King is indeed a fine blade, it is also a dangerous one, harboring tremendous risk that can harm both foes and oneself. Please treat it with extreme caution in the future, even after ascending to become a Great Emperor.”

”This Slave King, if given the slightest chance, will surely betray!”

As a king who had always followed Emperor Yanliu and had never betrayed him, Chenshan King, as an elder, gave him a serious warning.

”I understand.”

”Rest assured, Seventh Uncle.”

Emperor Yanliu earnestly replied.

...

A streak of blood light, a quaint scroll pursued in the dark empty space.

It can be seen that the ancient scroll is much faster than the blood light, quickly losing it, but that’s not the end. In a few days, or in a few months at most, the blood escape light will reappear, finding the ancient scroll again and resumed the relentless pursuit.

No matter where the ancient scroll fled, as long as it didn’t leave the Flame Stone Star Domain, it would inevitably be caught up!

Because, in the divine souls and flesh of the Magic Flame Giant, Cangkong Imperial Child, King Spider Star, and others, immortal Blood River Sword Intent was embedded, which could never be shaken off. With time, instead of dissipating, the Blood River Sword Intent only grew more terrifying after devouring much flesh and blood!

This pursuit lasted for ten years.

During these ten years, Jiang Ding would vanish occasionally to restore his mana, only to reappear soon after and continue chasing the ancient scroll relentlessly, leaving it no escape, through earth and sky.

It had hidden deep in the starry sky, among meteorites, deep within the earth’s core, even within the flesh and blood of living beings... trying every possible method, but all were futile, each and every one inevitably caught up.

The scroll indeed contained unfathomable mysteries, concealed within a different spatial dimension.

But obviously, it must consume vast energy and couldn’t last too long. After a full ten years, it also reached its limit.

Whir!

Jiang Ding watched the unfolding water ink painting of a small riverside village.

It appeared from the void once more, transitioning from a state of ethereality to solid form, regaining a sense of tangible presence.

From the genuine and tangible small riverside village, the Cangkong Imperial Child, King Spider Star, Overlord Blade King, Demon Leaf King, and five other critically wounded kings tumbled out clumsily.

Cangkong Imperial Child remained silent.

He took one last look at the Blood River King as the shadowy image of his Demon God totem vanished from his body, giving up on this place completely after many attempts.

”Don’t kill me!”

”I am willing to serve Emperor Yanliu...”

Kings like Overlord Blade King and Demon Leaf King begged frantically, devoid of any royal dignity.

Clang!

A streak of blood-red sword-light flared, freezing their movements and words.

King Spider Star, Overlord Blade King, and Demon Leaf King became stiff.

Gurgle!

Several majestic, beautiful single-horned heads rolled in empty space, blood spurting from the necks as kings died like ants, not pardoned or forgiven for anything.

At this moment, even if Emperor Yanliu and Chenshan King came in person, they would likely not dare to utter a word of obstruction.

”Yanliu, what great fortune.”

”I acknowledge it begrudgingly.”

Cangkong Imperial Child’s face twisted into a bitter smile, ”If not for your despicable slave, I would have thrived now and ascended to become a Great Emperor in the future.

You mongrel, I will surely eradicate your entire Human Race one day, spare no one, inflict the cruelest pain upon you, and make you regret this day...”

It was obvious he was trying to provoke something.

Jiang Ding remained expressionless.

Clang!

Another burst of blood-light shone, but it did not slay him. Instead, it gave birth to strands of blood-red Sword Qi, enveloping Cangkong Imperial Child, layer upon layer wrapping around him.

His so-called resistance, his so-called struggling, was simply too weak to warrant attention, not deserving any consideration.

The blood-colored Sword Qi enveloped and sealed him, layer upon layer.

After dozens of breaths, only a blood cocoon shaped like a column remained in the original place, sealing inside it the Cangkong Imperial Child of the Horned Demon Imperial Clan.

It had to be so.

An imperial heir would surely have Great Emperor methods, and no one but another heir could slay them.

”Perhaps, it’s time... to end this.”

”...My path...”

Jiang Ding stared at the blood cocoon in front of him, murmuring.

Defeated, Cangkong Imperial Child would have no choice but to face Emperor Yanliu, then in the Slave Emperor Heavenly Tribulation, attempt to break through to become a Great Emperor, shake off the slave mark, and finally attain freedom.

Or die.

From now on, it would be the battlefield of Great Emperors, no longer any power of autonomy.

He returned to the status of a servant.

It was the destined fate of a king of the Slave Clan, transient transcendence, which now seemed just an illusion during the short and illusory period of the battle of imperial heirs.

”The imperial path, it must succeed...”

The Blood-robed Taoist pondered silently.

He didn’t know that at the same moment, within the Magical Stone Minor Realm, a will began to awaken, a Human Immortal Sect Disciple who was a true Domain Overlord began to revive, casting his gaze here.

”Hundreds of years of waiting,”

”Finally,”

”It begins...”

This Immortal Sect Disciple, whose real status exceeded that of an Ancient Imperial Son and ranked even more prestigious than the Cangyan Ancient Emperor’s Son, quietly thought.