Chapter 785: A Meeting
In the secluded chamber, Xiao Yi Xian recounted her restored memories to Xiao Ze, detailing her ties to the Ancient Celestial Palace.
It was worth noting that after Xiao Ze had revealed her identity and helped recover her memories, Xiao Yi Xian reverted to her true name, Mandala, leaving behind the alias she had been using.
Now, with Xiao Ze a Heaven Sovereign backing her, the blood dragon that had once been her nemesis seemed insignificant.
A Brother and Father Figure
"So, the Ancient Celestial Emperor was truly like both a brother and a father to you," Xiao Ze remarked thoughtfully.
Mandala nodded, her expression complicated. Her memories painted a far more detailed picture than anything Xiao Ze had gleaned from the original storyline.
Xiao Ze continued, "The Celestial Emperor clearly cared deeply for you. It makes sense that he would hide the palace's ruins in the void to prevent outsiders from interfering with the seal on that Demon Emperor."
Mandala hesitated. "But wouldn't attempting to locate the palace disrupt the Celestial Emperor's plans?"
Xiao Ze shook his head. "I doubt it. After such a long passage of time, his arrangements may have evolved in ways we can't predict. For all we know, the Demon Emperor could have gained the upper hand and erased the Celestial Emperor's will."
He paused, his expression grim. "Until we find the ruins, there's no way to know for sure."
Mandala nodded, her trust in Xiao Ze evident in the way her gaze softened.
"Xiao Ze, I'll leave this in your hands," she said, her voice tinged with a rare vulnerability.
Xiao Ze smiled. "Of course. But for now, let's deal with the invading enemies. Once the Heavenly Luo Continent is unified under our banner, I can focus on finding the ruins."
The Superpower Alliance Approaches
Xiao Ze wasn't surprised by the alliance of the four superpowers.
While his title as Demon Slayer King carried significant weight, this wasn't a time of war. As such, those superpowers weren't obligated to heed the Great Thousand Palace's commands.
"They've come to eliminate me from the competition for the Heavenly Luo Continent before I can fully leverage my title to gain reinforcements from the Great Thousand Palace," Xiao Ze deduced.
He glanced at the Celestial Diagram of Stars draped around him, its immense celestial energy swirling faintly.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. The Saint Flame Army alone should be enough to handle them.
A United but Fragile Origin Realm
Meanwhile, in the Origin Realm's temporary headquarters, the atmosphere was heavy.
The news of the four superpowers' combined assault left many uneasy.
Despite their fears, few considered leaving the Origin Realm. After all, the Origin Realm was still a superpower. Even if they lost the battle for the Heavenly Luo Continent, they could relocate to another continent and thrive there.
Still, the possibility of defeat weighed heavily on their minds.
The Warpath
In the grand hall, Xiao Ze addressed the assembled Earth Sovereigns. His calm demeanor exuded confidence, though he noted the limitations of his realm.
Apart from Mandala, who was a High Earth Sovereign, most of the other leaders were Middle or Lower Earth Sovereigns. For a superpower, their foundation was thin but that was inevitable for a newly formed force like the Origin Realm.
The only solution was to claim the Heavenly Luo Continent.
Determined, Xiao Ze led the stronghold's leaders southward to confront the advancing alliance.
Observers Take Note
The march of the four superpowers attracted a crowd of observers. Some debated fleeing, worried about being caught in the crossfire of Heaven Sovereigns.
"Xiao Ze is strong, sure, but the gap between Spirit and Celestial Heaven Sovereigns is massive. What's more, he's outnumbered. How can he win?"
Others speculated that Xiao Ze's decision to march southward was an act of desperation.
"Does he really think he can win? Or is he just blindly confident?"
Still, many followed from a distance, eager to witness what promised to be an epic battle.
The Thunder Swamp
The two forces met in the Thunder Swamp, a desolate and ominous marshland in the Southern North Territory.
The swamp, once shrouded in shadow, was lit brilliantly by the gathered warriors' auras.
At the center of the enemy force stood four towering figures:
Ghost Emperor of the Spirit Ghost Sect, radiating an eerie deathly aura.
White Spirit Sword Immortal of the White Spirit Sword Sect, exuding sharp and unyielding energy.
Azure Peak Lord of the Azure Peak Sect, as steady and imposing as a mountain.
Dan Yang Ancestor of Dan Yang Mountain, cloaked in blazing energy.
These were legendary figures in the Great Thousand World, each renowned for their overwhelming strength.
Ghost Emperor's Greetings
The Ghost Emperor stepped forward, his sunken eyes gleaming.
"So, you must be the newly anointed Demon Slayer King of the Great Thousand Palace. A pleasure to meet you," he said with a faint smile.
Xiao Ze stepped forward, his gaze calm but piercing as he addressed the four.
"Ghost Emperor of the Spirit Ghost Sect, White Spirit Sword Immortal, Azure Peak Lord, and Dan Yang Ancestor. Each of you is a renowned figure of the Great Thousand World. It's quite the surprise to see you all here, uniting against a single new Heaven Sovereign."
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