Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

Chickens pecking at each other?

Who could be so bold as to spout such nonsense in public?

Everyone knew Su Han was a prodigy who had made it onto the List of Fiends. His fame had spread throughout the Eastern Region; there was no one who did not know of him. And while Su Tian’s reputation was not as prominent, he was still well-known in Qingmo Province. Moreover, he had obtained the Supreme Physical Body, been enlightened to the Sixth Layer of the Physique Realm, and had the full support of the Heavenly Demon Cult. Among his peers, it was likely that only Su Han could rival him.

Yet these two top prodigies of Qingmo Province were being called chickens.

Too arrogant! Too presumptuous! Too ignorant!

”Which brat dares to be so shamelessly boastful!” a shout erupted from the crowd.

Before the words had even faded, a bolt of purple lightning materialized out of thin air. It moved with impossible speed, piercing through the speaker’s head in a single, lethal strike.

This domineering and vicious attack caused an immediate uproar. The entire crowd, shocked, turned their gazes toward the source.

They saw a purple figure descending from the sky, enveloped in a noble purple aura that was beyond words. Within the aura was a young woman with bright eyes and pearly teeth, dressed in an eye-catching purple gown. Her long, purple hair flowed like silk, and her face was exquisitely beautiful, with skin as smooth as jade, so delicate it seemed a touch would break it. Her eyes, too, were purple, sparkling like flawless amethysts.

The purple-haired woman appeared to be no older than seventeen or eighteen, yet the aura she emanated was that of the Seventh Layer of the Divine Power Realm—far stronger and more formidable than either Su Han or Su Tian. Furthermore, she possessed the Purple Lightning Imperial Body, which ranked four hundred and eighty-first on the List of Special Physiques, a truly extraordinary trait.

She was definitely not from Qingmo Province. She had to have come from a major power, perhaps even another prodigy from the List of Fiends.

The crowd stared in terrified awe. At that moment, a figure had already stepped forward to greet her.

”Miss Zi Qiong! It is an honor to have you grace us with your presence. Why did you not inform me beforehand so I could have prepared a proper welcome?”

The speaker was none other than Ye Chuanfeng. He was bowing and scraping, his face plastered with a fawning smile. Given that he was an expert at the Supreme Realm’s Ninth Layer, his subservient attitude toward Zi Qiong spoke volumes about the young woman’s extraordinary background.

Lei Ming’s expression grew solemn as he explained to Su Han, ”That is Zi Qiong, a prodigy from the Zi Mansion Holy Land. Though she is not a Holy Maiden, her talent is astounding. She is ranked seventy-second on the List of Fiends and is one of the five primary followers of the Tian Lou Saint.”

With all his talent, strength, and glorious achievements, Su Han had only just barely managed to make it onto the List of Fiends. Yet this young woman was ranked seventy-second, a clear testament to her exceptional power.

The Zi Mansion Holy Land was one of the Ten Great Holy Lands of the Eastern Region. Although it could not compare to the Tian Luo Net Holy Land, it was far beyond the likes of the Seven Stars Sect or the Heavenly Demon Cult.

With her remarkable origins, powerful backing, and immense talent, Zi Qiong naturally possessed the arrogance of a city-dweller looking down on country bumpkins.

She hovered in the air, gazing down at the crowd below. Her exquisitely beautiful face did not bother to hide her pride and disdain. In truth, with her status and strength, she would never have bothered coming to remote, backward daozhou like Qingzhou and Mozhou. If not for the Saint Heir’s command, she would likely never have set foot in this place in her entire life.

As a prodigy of a Holy Land and a follower of the Tian Lou Saint, she had seen countless powerful experts and monstrous talents. The strength displayed by Su Han and Su Tian was certainly not enough to enter her Dharma Eye. Her assessment of them as chickens pecking at each other was her most honest opinion.

As others in the crowd gradually learned of Zi Qiong’s identity, they too became stunned, their gazes filled with a mixture of wonder and shock. These looks of base, pitiful awe did not fill Zi Qiong with pride; instead, they only deepened her contempt for the people here.

Looking disdainfully over the crowd, Zi Qiong turned to Ye Chuanfeng and spoke in the imperious manner of a master addressing a servant. ”Ye Chuanfeng, you have done well this time. The Young Master hopes you will continue to excel.”

Yet, far from being angered by her tone and attitude, Ye Chuanfeng’s face lit up with delighted surprise, his sycophancy on full display.

”To receive praise from the Saint Heir… I could die with no regrets.” He quickly produced the Nine Palace Golden Pagoda. ”This is the Nine Palace Golden Pagoda. Miss Zi Qiong, please return it to the Saint Heir on my behalf.”

Though Zi Qiong was no match for the Tian Lou Saint, she was still a personage from a Holy Land, and Ye Chuanfeng treated her with the utmost reverence.

”Hmph. I will return the Golden Pagoda to the Young Master,” Zi Qiong said, accepting the artifact and storing it in her Storage Ring. She then cast her gaze down upon Su Han. ”But on this trip, the Young Master also tasked me with meeting this Su Han.”

She continued, ”This arranged battle is not a bad idea. It will allow me to better observe his potential. It truly isn’t easy for a backwater place like this to produce someone on the List of Fiends. We shall see. If he genuinely has some skill, I might deign to bring him to meet the Young Master.”

Her angelic face constantly wore an expression of supreme condescension, as if bestowing charity and pity upon lesser beings. This expression infuriated Su Han, but everyone else seemed to think it was perfectly natural.

Many people began to envy Su Han. They realized the ”Young Master” she spoke of must be the Tian Lou Saint, and they believed Su Han should be weeping with gratitude for attracting such favor. His future seemed limitless.

”Su Han, hurry up and thank Miss Zi Qiong!” Ye Chuanfeng urged frantically. He had already bent the knee and had no intention of standing up again, hoping only to trade Su Han for even greater benefits.

The servility of the crowd and the fawning of Ye Chuanfeng unfolded before Su Han’s eyes, filling him with a sense of sorrow and shame.

Unfortunately, his spine was too strong. He could not bend his back, nor could he lower his head.

Zi Qiong’s arrogance and her charitable airs had deeply wounded his pride. He refused to kneel and beg for scraps like Ye Chuanfeng. Any power gained that way would be nothing more than an illusion, like the moon’s reflection in water.

The Demonic Path was one of defiance against the heavens, a path of the unyielding and the unbowed.

What does the List of Fiends matter? What does the Saint Heir matter? No one can make me submit.

Thus, he ignored Ye Chuanfeng and did not spare Zi Qiong another glance. Instead, he turned his focus back to Su Tian.

”Su Tian, are you ready to die?”

Su Han took a step forward, his killing intent boiling over.

Su Tian, who had been momentarily stunned by Zi Qiong’s arrival, felt the dam of resentment in his heart burst at Su Han’s provocation. His eyes turned bloodshot, as if they might spew fire. He shot into the air to face Su Han high above Qingmo City, a violent, murderous aura sweeping out in all directions.

The sudden confrontation took everyone by surprise, pulling their attention away from Zi Qiong.

Being ignored caused the haughty expression on Zi Qiong’s face to stiffen. Her beautiful purple eyes clouded over with gloom as pure rage filled her chest.

”Miss Zi Qiong, Su Han is young and foolish! Please, do not lower yourself to his level. Let’s watch the battle first!” Ye Chuanfeng’s heart pounded. Inwardly, he cursed Su Han to death, but on the surface, he quickly tried to placate Zi Qiong, desperate to keep his plans from falling apart.

But it was too late. Su Han’s actions had already earned him Zi Qiong’s enmity. Her lovely purple eyes now brimmed with intense fury.

What an unappreciative brute. I will make sure you die a terrible death!