Strongest War Emperor

The inky-black night enveloped the entire space. In the darkness, several vast mountains deep within the Phoenix Mountain Range loomed, their peaks soaring into the clouds.

Compared to those vast mountains, Black Wind Ridge could only be considered an ordinary ridge.

The towering trees here were not dense; it was mostly shrubbery.

A few bestial cries and the flickering points of phosphorescent Ghost Fire painted a grim atmosphere. In such an environment, an ordinary person would feel the approach of ”death,” the detachment and distance of ”life”!

In a dense thicket, Shen Lang, wearing an Evil Ghost Mask, silently pushed aside the branches obstructing his view, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

About a hundred meters directly in front of him, a person completely hidden in a black cloak stood between two boulders, their back to him. Their figure nearly blended completely into the darkness.

If not for having mastered the Silver Eyes of Truth, and having the perfect angle, even Shen Lang would have found it difficult to notice that someone was hidden in a crevice between these boulders.

Another hundred meters further, Shen Lang could only see clearly by relying on his Silver Eyes of Truth. There lay a quiet pool, about a hundred zhang square.

Around the pool, more than ten Demon Corpses squatted in the bushes, each clutching a flickering, blood-red thread.

The threads emitted a strange glow, completely encircling the hundred-zhang-square pool...

The Demon Corpses remained motionless, like inanimate objects, yet they also seemed to be hunting, waiting for something.

The pool before them remained as still as a mirror, showing no signs of movement.

Shen Lang’s Silver Eyes of Truth swept over the scene, and his gaze turned cold and severe.

The Corpse Qi around these Demon Corpses wasn’t strong; they had clearly been through Refinement only recently...

In contrast, the cloaked figure hiding in the back had concealed their aura, but in Shen Lang’s eyes, the Corpse Qi they emitted far surpassed that of the Demon Corpses!

The Silver Eyes of Truth were truly heaven-defying to an unbelievable degree. Even though the person’s Cultivation far exceeded his own, a single sweep was all it took for Shen Lang to see the cloaked figure’s Cultivation level—Spirit Martial Realm Sixth Heaven!

’A black cloak... Looks like this is the one who struck my father. Hmph, I haven’t even come looking for you, yet you show up here again... All the major powers have already taken notice of this area, yet you still dare to show yourself. How arrogant.’

This person’s Cultivation was around the Spirit Martial Realm Sixth Heaven; with Shen Lang’s current Cultivation, it was impossible to contend with them.

But ruining whatever they were trying to do? That was certainly possible!

Shen Lang tilted his head back slightly and sneered inwardly.

In that world of black and white, a large net shimmering with a strange light hung above the pool, poised and ready!

Turning to look back, he saw that more than four hundred meters behind him, men from the City Lord’s Mansion, seemingly under the pretext of patrolling, had discreetly sealed off the area. Now, anyone who approached would be intercepted by the City Lord’s Mansion’s men.

’The two colluding parties are working together flawlessly... Truly, the nets of heaven are vast, but they let nothing slip. This time, I’ll make sure you both get what’s coming to you!’

The silver threads in his eyes vanished without a sound, and his irises returned to their previous deep, dark appearance.

With a thought, he activated the Breath Concealing Technique from the War Emperor’s memories. All 108,000 pores on his body closed, not letting a single wisp of his aura escape!

The man in the black cloak hid behind the Demon Corpses, waiting for his prey...

And Shen Lang, the oriole stalking from behind, was likewise waiting for the cloaked man to make his move.

Having concealed his entire aura, Shen Lang sank down and sat on the ground, becoming like a boulder. Even small animals hopping past him failed to notice his presence.

The cloaked man’s Cultivation was far above his, yet he didn’t seem to possess the same mental fortitude.

In the pitch-black night, a trace of blood-red light would occasionally flash through the cloaked man’s eyes. It seemed that no matter how he tried to conceal his aura, he couldn’t hide his inner excitement.

’Five years. I’ve been hiding in that damned stone room beneath the City Lord’s Mansion for five whole years. Today is finally the day of harvest.’

’Decades of work refining Demon Corpses and Gu Corpses, all of them killed. I thought all my efforts were wasted, but I didn’t expect that by taking a risk, the Nine Immortals Lingzhi would finally fall into my, Ji Chengwu’s, hands...’

’Just over two hours left. At the moment Yin and Yang interchange, when the sun and moon travel in parallel, once the darkest moment between heaven and earth has passed, the Nine Immortals Lingzhi will definitely appear. My Heaven and Earth Net will absolutely not let it escape again! Even if it means risking discovery by the other powers in Celestial Phoenix City, it’s worth it!’

...

The night slowly faded with the passage of time. At the exact moment of Yin and Yang’s interchange, the Phoenix Mountain Range, silent all night, finally burst with life. Countless birds and beasts began to cry out, their calls rising and falling, echoing endlessly through the forest.

At that very moment, Shen Lang, who had become one with his surroundings, suddenly opened his eyes!

He saw that the pool ahead had changed. In its very center, as if a pebble had been dropped, a ripple spread outward.

Then, a few jade-like leaves emerged from the water, followed by a peculiar Lingzhi over a foot tall. Its shape was already approaching that of a human, and it finally appeared on the water’s surface.

’It’s actually the Nine Immortals Lingzhi.’ Shen Lang’s expression flickered; he recognized the item.

This item typically grew in ancient forests with exceptionally abundant Spiritual Qi. It was extremely rare, and after reaching a certain age, it could burrow into the earth at will, wandering about with its movements impossible to trace.

If obtained and refined into Elixir Pills, it could dramatically increase a Martial Artist’s Cultivation. A Purification of Essence and Marrow that allowed one to jump three levels was not out of the question. It was also the best aid for breaking through the barrier from the Spirit Martial Realm to the Xuanwu Realm—a top-tier Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure.

Shen Lang never would have imagined that such a treasure could be found in the Phoenix Mountain Range.

It seemed to have wandered out from the depths of the Phoenix Mountain Range, where it was discovered by that Demon Martial Artist. He must have tracked it, then used Demon Corpses to surround and herd it, finally cornering it here in the Black Wind Ridge area.

This Nine Immortals Lingzhi seemed not far from the day it would transform into a human. It had eight translucent leaves, like the most perfect Cyan Jade, so naturally flawless one couldn’t bear to part with it. Its body radiated faint points of light, and the pulsing Spiritual Qi it exuded was refreshing to the soul.

After emerging from the pool, the Nine Immortals Lingzhi rotated slightly, as if observing its surroundings.

After confirming that there was nothing amiss, it gave a quick spin on the water’s surface. Its lowest tendrils, like feet, paddled against the water, creating a small wake as it headed for the edge of the pool.

Just as it set foot on the shore, disaster struck!

As it moved rapidly, the Nine Immortals Lingzhi touched the red thread hidden in the grass. With a BUZZ, the Lingzhi shuddered as if electrocuted and was thrown backward!

It was at this moment that the black-cloaked Ji Chengwu, hidden in the crevice between the rocks, made his move!

Ji Chengwu had long been forming a Hand Seal, and at this most critical moment, he thrust it toward the calm surface of the pool.

CRACKLE!

The mirror-still surface of the water instantly froze over completely!

Almost simultaneously, a light flashed in the sky, and a large net fell, instantly ensnaring the Nine Immortals Lingzhi.

WHIMPER...

Every thread of the net was exceptionally fine, yet a faint current of electricity flowed through them. The Nine Immortals Lingzhi struggled continuously, letting out strange cries, but it only became more tightly entangled, unable to break free.

Ji Chengwu was overjoyed. He soared toward the pool, and while still in mid-air, he thrust out both hands, sending two Spells toward the trapped Nine Immortals Lingzhi!

Just then, Ji Chengwu, his mind clouded by immense elation, suddenly felt the hairs on his neck stand up as a premonition of danger struck his heart.

”Who’s there?!”

Still in the air, Ji Chengwu swung his hand back in a palm strike. The sharp Palm Wind instantly blasted away the boulder and trees behind him.

But Shen Lang, who was behind him, had already calculated his reaction perfectly. With a mere flash of his figure, he had already dodged the attack.

SWISH! SWISH!

With two soft sounds, Shen Lang had already unleashed two Talismans from his hand the very instant Ji Chengwu turned around.

Two vines shot out from the ground. Their speed far surpassed the vines Shen Wubing had summoned when Shen Lang fought five opponents at once. They instantly wrapped around Ji Chengwu’s legs and dragged him down sharply!

”Petty tricks, and you dare show them off?!”

Ji Chengwu shouted coldly, about to sever the vines with a casual swipe of his right hand. However, another Ice Arrow had already reached him, accompanied by a sharp, air-piercing whistle.

’This Ice Arrow formed from a Talisman is actually this powerful!’

Ji Chengwu had no time to think. He crossed his arms in front of his chest to block.

Just as a brilliant light erupted from his hands, the Ice Arrow slammed into his arms with a BOOM.

However, the collision of two energies he had expected did not occur...

The moment the Ice Arrow touched his hands, it suddenly sank into his body. A bizarre cold instantly coursed through him, causing him to shudder violently. With a few crackling sounds, bone-chilling Ice covered his entire body, freezing him solid!

”Damn it, to think there’s such a bizarre Talisman!”

Ji Chengwu was shocked. Before he could react, he heard a soft shout from his right: ”Burst!”

His attacker’s speed suddenly exploded, and he shot like an arrow toward the Nine Immortals Lingzhi!

”Damn you! I’ll kill you!”

Ji Chengwu was so furious he almost coughed up blood. He frantically circulated the Spiritual Power in his body, violently blasting it outward.

The thick Ice immediately shattered, flying in all directions!

The ice had only frozen him for four seconds before he completely shattered it.

But just as he broke through the ice, he saw a giant log materialize in the air, hurtling down toward him with a fierce momentum!

Meanwhile, thunderclouds gathered directly in front of him, and more than ten Thunder Balls bombarded him one after another!

The Thunder Balls led the charge, closely followed by three massive fireballs!

Three violent attacks rained down, blanketing the sky and earth...

”Giant Wood Talisman! Continuous Pearl Thunder Talisman! Fiery Fire Explosion Talisman! Dammit, who the hell is this?!”

This time, Ji Chengwu really did spit up blood. He wouldn’t have given attacks of this level a second thought, but his opponent had clearly been lying in wait for a long time. After this sudden assault, he realized everything had been calculated down to the smallest detail. Although the Talisman attacks weren’t incredibly powerful, they were continuous, their timing was precise, and the speed of their execution was horrifying!

There was no avoiding it. The moment the Ice Talisman shattered, the other Talismans’ attacks were already upon him. He had no choice but to counterattack and watch helplessly as the person snatched the Nine Immortals Lingzhi!

Even if these attacks couldn’t kill him, he didn’t dare to just ignore them.

And at that moment, the dark figure in front had already reached the Nine Immortals Lingzhi!

”You’re courting death!” Ji Chengwu roared. He threw a punch with his left hand, shattering the giant log from the Giant Wood Talisman above. With his right, he chopped out a palm strike, the ferocious Palm Wind instantly crushing the Thunder Balls and fireballs before him.

Amidst a tremendous BOOM, Ji Chengwu’s figure shot like a cheetah through the shockwave of energy, rushing toward the pool.

”Beast, die for me!” Ji Chengwu shrieked like a wild animal.

Amid a flash of brilliant light, a long whip appeared in his right hand. With a sharp crack, the whip instantly transformed into a black giant serpent over twenty feet long and half a foot wide, roaring as it lunged toward Shen Lang!

”Old beast, you talk too much. You want me dead? You don’t have what it takes!” Shen Lang’s voice drifted calmly from ahead.