Chapter 622: Endless Deterrence

The Four Bladeless of the Southern Heaven faced the Three Grand Elders of the Yun Family. Seven streams of Emperor power, before even colliding, had already twisted space into a massive vortex.

The momentum of the Three Grand Elders immediately slowed. Just then, the void above them twisted, and three more figures appeared out of thin air. They descended from above, their aura no weaker than that of the Four Bladeless of the Southern Heaven.

Ten Emperors in total, and all of them were in the mid to late stages of their cultivation. Their combined auras surged like vast, overwhelming waves, covering the sky and earth.

The combined power of seven Emperors—this was a force unimaginable to ordinary people! Outside of Demon Imperial City, no other region in the Illusory Demon Realm—not even the largest Heavenly Demon City—could muster seven Emperors. Though the Yun Family's Three Grand Elders were powerful, it was utterly impossible for them to approach Prince Huai while facing the might of seven mid-to-late stage Emperors.

At that moment, an aura of extreme heat suddenly enveloped the area. Yet, despite being intensely hot, the moment it descended, it sent a sudden chill through everyone's bodies.

As space twisted, the Little Demon Empress's figure appeared amidst the Yun Family's Three Elders and the seven Great Emperors, within everyone's stunned gaze. On her body, a crimson-gold Golden Crow phantom flashed for an instant, then dispersed into endless blazing light...

Instantly, the entire hall, and even all space as far as the eye could see, turned a boundless crimson.

“This is...” Yun Che involuntarily gasped, “The Golden Crow's Third Realm – Blazing Sun Burst!”

Within the crimson-hued space, vast and endless Golden Crow flames rapidly condensed, forming a scorching, dazzling, and divine Golden Crow phantom. It tore through the crimson world, pierced through space, and flew towards the seven Emperors blocking Prince Huai.

In just an instant, the formidable power of the seven Great Emperors—strong enough to destroy a city—vanished without a trace. Innumerable cracks fractured the world around them, followed by the complete collapse of space. At that moment, their vision and consciousness could no longer perceive anything else; only an endless crimson sea of fire remained...

The information their powerful spiritual energy conveyed to them was that these flames had invaded their bodies, and even their souls. Their Emperor-level physical and spiritual defenses were utterly useless against this flame, offering not even the slightest resistance.

Bang!!!

Amidst the thunderous shattering sound, the sky-full of flames contracted and dissipated. The seven Great Emperors fell far away like seven discarded sacks. Their heads, torsos, and limbs were all ablaze with crimson-gold flames... Even inside their bodies, within their very souls, flames burned relentlessly.

The seven Great Emperors thrashed wildly on the ground, wailing in agony. They finally understood why Prince Han had emitted such a piercing shriek earlier. The sensation of being burned by Golden Crow flames was like countless blades gouging every inch of their muscles and nerves. Despite their willpower, which surpassed ordinary people's by countless times, enduring it for mere breaths made them wish for immediate death.

A desperate counterattack from an Emperor should have been terrifying, but these seven Great Emperors could only scream and wail. Not one of them, in their despair, released all their profound energy without restraint, because any slight activation of their profound energy would be instantly incinerated.

The experts from Prince Huai's manor who had been lurking, preparing to advance, all froze rigidly. Their bodies trembled like sieves, and they no longer dared to take another step. After ten breaths, the screaming and wailing ceased. The Little Demon Empress slowly raised her hand and nonchalantly crushed the flames in her palm.

Bang!!

The Golden Crow flames burning the seven Great Emperors simultaneously exploded, scattering into countless fiery fragments across the sky. Their bodies, too, vanished without a trace along with the dispersed Golden Crow flames.

Prince Zhong... Prince Han... the seven masters of Prince Huai's manor...

These nine individuals died miserably at the hands of the Little Demon Empress. They had not even a shred of resistance, and they were certainly not nobodies, but nine genuine Emperors!!

Even in Demon Imperial City, Emperors were as rare as phoenix feathers. The fall of any Emperor, even the lowest ranked, was enough to cause an uproar throughout the entire Illusory Demon Realm!

And today, in the blink of an eye, nine Emperors—eight of whom were mid-to-late stage Emperors—all died miserably at the Little Demon Empress's hands. The entire process involved no earth-shattering energy clashes, no heaven-splitting destructive storms. The Little Demon Empress merely waved her hand a few times, sending out a few streaks of fire... and all nine Great Emperors met their demise.

It was as simple as crushing nine insignificant ants.

“This Empress has said: whoever dares to obstruct... shall die!!” The Little Demon Empress slowly turned, revealing her peerlessly beautiful face. Her body appeared even more delicate than that of an ordinary young girl. Any man seeing such a girl should have felt intense admiration and a desire to protect and possess her. However, no one present dared to meet her gaze. Everyone swept by her cold glance stiffened, as if trapped in the world's coldest ice cave, their blood nearly frozen solid.

It was a terrifying pressure they had never experienced in their lives. They even felt that if the Little Demon Empress willed it, this pressure alone would be enough to tear their bodies apart.

Beyond the heavy sense of oppression, there was an even heavier fear. This was because the Little Demon Empress's attacks were too ruthless... no, too brutal and malicious. The nine Emperors, each possessing immense prestige and status in the Illusory Demon Realm—with Prince Zhong and Prince Han even belonging to the Illusory Demon Royal Family—were directly attacked by her. She struck without any warning, not a hint of hesitation or mercy, and with each strike, she aimed to kill... even forcing them to endure extreme agony before death, and leaving not a speck of their remains afterward.

Facing princes and Emperors, her actions were so decisive... how much more so for others!!

Today, the Little Demon Empress was like a terrifying grim reaper... a grim reaper whose touch meant certain death!!

Prince Huai's pupils had long since constricted to needlepoints; all his previous composure had completely turned into terror. While the Little Demon Empress's sudden return had shocked and dismayed him, it hadn't made him lose his composure, as he still possessed overwhelming power against her. However, in just a few dozen breaths, the situation had dramatically shifted, and the power the Little Demon Empress displayed was like a series of nightmares unfolding before his eyes.

He had always believed that his father, Prince Ming, was unrivaled in the world. Though he had never witnessed Prince Ming's ultimate strength, he was certain that his father, Prince Ming... could absolutely not kill seven mid-to-late stage Emperors with a single move!!

This was power that should not exist in this world, power that had never appeared in the historical legends of the Illusory Demon Realm!!

All the royal family members who had pledged allegiance to Prince Huai were utterly dumbfounded. The Helian, Chiyang, Jiufang, Nangong, Lin, Xiao, and Bai families—all seven of them—were speechless, only their throats constantly bobbing. Some of the once-imposing heads of the seven families were drenched in cold sweat, while others' legs were even trembling. Even the royal and guardian families fiercely loyal to the Demon Imperial Clan were now silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to take a single breath.

Prince Zhong dead, Prince Han dead... Seven Emperors extinguished in one move!

This was the heaviest and most terrifying deterrent in the entire history of the Illusory Demon Realm!!

“Take Prince Huai down, now!!”

At the Little Demon Empress's cold command, the Three Grand Elders, roused from their daze as if from a dream, once again charged towards the somewhat distraught Prince Huai. This time, though ripples of aura appeared behind Prince Huai, not a single person dared to step forward to block his path.

Achieving the rank of Emperor was the highest goal for any profound practitioner. The achievement of every Emperor required countless hours of time, effort, resources, and rare, sought-after opportunities. Upon reaching this level, they had believed they no longer needed to fear anything, for they had attained the pinnacle of power in this world, and nothing could ever crush them.

But today, they horrifyingly discovered that before the Little Demon Empress, they were as insignificant as dust, practically no different from newborn children.

They could die... but even if Emperors were to die, their deaths should be tragic and earth-shattering. Yet, the nine Emperors who just died at the Little Demon Empress's hands met an incredibly lowly end. With these nine precedents, anyone rushing forward now to protect Prince Huai would face the same fate!

How could they willingly offer up their Emperor bodies—which embodied their life's glory—only to be instantly annihilated in vain?

“Prince Huai, surrender now!!”

Amidst the furious shouts, the Three Grand Elders unleashed their profound auras simultaneously, tightly locking down the bewildered Prince Huai. Three powerful streams of lightning profound energy also firmly sealed all directions around Prince Huai. Prince Huai seemed to have lost his nerve, standing there blankly, his eyes vacant. He offered no resistance at all, and was easily restrained by Yun He, who rushed forward.

“Pri...Prince Huai...”

Inside Prince Huai's manor, the previously arrogant direct lineage princes and core experts all had dilated pupils and shuddered uncontrollably. They watched helplessly as Prince Huai was directly apprehended by the Yun Family's Three Grand Elders, yet not one dared to step forward. The Little Demon Empress had her back to them, but they felt as though a cold, sharp blade was pressed against their necks; any slight movement would mean certain death without a burial place.

“Imperial Father... save my Imperial Father... hurry and save my Imperial Father!!!” Prince Huiye shrieked hoarsely, his lips trembling. “Imperial Father is the new Emperor of the Illusory Demon Realm... Why aren't you guarding him... guard him!!”

Prince Huiye screamed himself hoarse, but despite Prince Huai's immense and powerful forces, filled with top experts, still no one dared to move. At this moment, the Little Demon Empress slowly turned around, her chilling gaze falling upon Prince Huiye.

“Ahhh ahhh ahhh...” In that instant, Prince Huiye shuddered as if wrapped by a poisonous snake, letting out a strange shriek of terror. He tumbled backward, scrambling and crawling: “Don't kill this prince... don't kill this prince... This prince hasn't done anything... Don't kill this prince...”

Under the genuine fear for his life, the usually arrogant Huiye displayed behavior no different from a terrified mortal... No, it was even worse. He collapsed onto the ground, utterly unable to stand, his whole body trembling violently, his face deathly pale. The people from Prince Huai's manor around him even smelled a rapidly spreading foul odor...

Prince Huiye had, in fact, been scared into soiling himself on the spot.

The Little Demon Empress had already withdrawn her gaze. Such a wretch was utterly unworthy of her attention; even a prolonged glance would defile her eyes.

In this situation, no one could bring themselves to laugh. Looking at Prince Huiye, people found not a shred of reverence, only pity and disdain. The faces of those from Prince Huai's manor were filled with shame and sorrow... No one came forward to help him up, even as the foul liquid beneath him flowed a full zhang away.

With their combined efforts, Yun He, Yun Jiang, and Yun Xi quickly sealed all profound energy within the unresisting Prince Huai. Yun He then grabbed Prince Huai and dragged him directly before the Little Demon Empress, bowing and saying, “Prince Huai has been apprehended. Please decide his fate, Little Demon Empress.”

Given the terrifying power the Little Demon Empress had displayed, killing Prince Huai would have been effortless. Yet, she had not struck at Prince Huai herself, instead ordering them to capture him, clearly indicating she didn't wish him dead yet. Thus, the Three Grand Elders had merely sealed Prince Huai's profound energy, not daring to harm him.

Just then, Prince Huai's previously dim eyes suddenly flickered with vicious and crazed crimson light. His body, supposedly sealed of profound energy, suddenly burst into crimson-black Fallen Devil Flames! These suddenly ignited Fallen Devil Flames were incredibly violent, surging dozens of zhang high and instantly blasting back the unprepared Yun He, Yun Jiang, and Yun Xi. Prince Huai, ablaze with Fallen Devil Flames, charged towards Yun Che, Yun Qinghong, and Mu Yurou like a frenzied beast, letting out a hoarse roar!

Yun Qinghong was currently healing from severe injuries under the aura infused by Yun Che, unable to rashly use his profound energy. Mu Yurou was also wounded. Prince Huai's actions caught everyone off guard... Yet, the Little Demon Empress, glancing sideways at Prince Huai's trajectory, remained motionless.

“Look out!!” Mu Feiyan, Mu Yubai, Su Xiangnan, Yun Waitian, and others cried out in alarm, roaring hoarsely. But no one had anticipated that Prince Huai, whose profound energy was supposedly sealed, could instantly break free. Even if they wanted to intervene, it was too late.

The very instant Fallen Devil Flames ignited on Prince Huai, Yun Che's gaze subtly shifted. As Prince Huai suddenly charged, Yun Che's hand unhurriedly moved away from Yun Qinghong's body... On his face, there was no panic or disarray.

“Hong'er!!”

With Heaven Smiting Sword in hand, performing Star God Broken Shadow, everyone only saw a blur before their eyes. Yun Che had already met Prince Huai, and on the scarlet greatsword he gripped with both hands, a cluster of flames, so dense it was almost pure gold, ignited...

“Che'er!!” Mu Feiyan and the others were greatly alarmed. In his madness, Prince Huai was clearly unleashing the full extent of his power! How could Yun Che possibly withstand the frenzied power of a Level Five Emperor? In a head-on collision... even if Yun Che were ten times stronger, he would undoubtedly die.

Yun Che's shadow reflected in Prince Huai's pupils. His pupils suddenly dilated, his devil flames expanded once more, and he let out a roar, unsure if it was from excitement or agony: “Yun Che... Die!!!”

Yun Che's brows furrowed, his gaze icy. The Heaven Smiting Sword, burning with pure gold flames, met Prince Huai's power head-on without any evasion, because if he were to even slightly evade, Prince Huai's power might harm Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou behind him.

“Golden Crow Burning World, Fifth Realm – Golden Annihilation!!”