He drew forth his Nine Hell Sword, the most powerful weapon in his arsenal.
The hilt, black as night, glimmered under the faint light, with a menacing skull engraved upon it. Its blade, sharp and white, was surrounded by a swirling black aura that hinted at its deadly nature.
This sword was no ordinary weapon; it emitted a suffocating aura, making those nearby feel a crushing weight upon their chests. Just a glance at the blade sent waves of pain and anguish rippling through everyone who dared to look upon it.
The air around the sword was thick with an aura of death, a palpable bloodlust so intense that it could drain the courage of anyone with low cultivation levels.
As Bai wan and the others caught sight of the sword, terror gripped them. Images of a traumatic incident flickered to life in their minds. This was no mere blade; it was renowned throughout the realms, consistently ranked as the most powerful sword by the Heavenly Treasure House. Its infamy was tied to one name: Lucifer.
Once, there existed a realm known as the Realm of Metador, named for its inhabitants, the Metamon tribe. These enigmatic beings possessed a unique ability to empower any weapon or equipment they touched, though the secret of their power remained shrouded in mystery.
Occasionally emerging from their secluded realm, the Metamon were a force to be reckoned with; even the simplest weapon became deadly in their hands. No one dared to offend them; they lived peacefully in a secret realm, hidden from the ambitions of the outside world.
Until one fateful day, when zhou long's stealthily infiltrated their realm. That day marked the last known appearance of any member of the Metamon tribe.
It was widely concluded: Zhou long killed them—all of them. Though evidence was scarce, one could easily deduce the tragic truth, given Zhou long's notorious reputation. He silenced them to harness their secrets, wielding their power to forge the Nine Hell Sword.
Its the same day when this nine hell sword made its first appearance.
Despite the many factions and clans that held favorable relationships with the Metamon tribe, none dared oppose zhou Long. At heart, everyone acted out of self-interest; thoughts of personal gain overshadowed moral duty. Those in power were especially prone to prioritizing their interests and ignoring the welfare of others.
Everyone present understood the sword's immense power. They wouldn't dare approach zhou long if they hadn't heard rumors of his injuries.
Bai wan, trying to sound confident, declared, "Even that sword can't save you today. We know you're wounded and no match for us!"
Zhou long's smile widened as he responded, "Is that so?"
With a sudden eruption of energy, he unleashed his full aura, creating a shockwave that rattled the very ground beneath them.
*Boom!*
Bai wan and the others instinctively channeled their Qi for protection.
"What… How…?!" Bai wan stammered in disbelief. "YOU'RE NOT INJURED AT ALL!"
Everyone froze, staring at Zhou long in shock. They had dared to come here, bolstered by the thought that he was gravely injured.
"Damn it! I told you not to come here!" an older man cried out, glaring at a younger companion in his thirties. "Because of you, our entire sect will be obliterated!"
"But Grand Elder—"
"Silence! You—"
Before he could finish, the young man hastily activated his escape talisman, only to find it ineffective.
"Grand Elder," he pleaded, panic setting in. "Did you forget we sealed this entire realm? No one can enter or exit for the next four hours!"
"Because of you! I'll kill you before I die!" the Elder roared.
"But I am your patriarch! You can't—"
*Boom!*
Chaos erupted. Panic swept through the crowd, sending people scrambling in all directions.
"Shut up!" Bai wan shouted, rallying everyone. "We're trapped here! Today, either he lives—or we do. Everyone, attack with everything we have! If not today, there won't be a tomorrow!"
Suddenly, Zhou long's voice echoed, "Anyone who surrenders now will be spared. I won't pursue this matter further."
A sly smile appeared on his face. He said, " Belive me."
Hope flickered in the eyes of many, and some began considering surrender.
"Don't listen to him!" Bai wan urged, trying to regain control. "We can defeat him! We outnumber him, and he knows it. That's why he's playing mind games!"
Another voice piped up, "Yes! He can't take us all on alone, right?"
Yet many hesitated, a flicker of doubt in their hearts. Seeing their uncertainty, Bai wan bowed towards a hidden presence. "Your Majesty, how long will you stand aside? It's time to reveal yourself!"
A loud, booming laughter resonated from the shadows.
"Hahaha! Indeed, this is the right moment!"
From nowhere, a figure emerged—a man in his prime, draped in a resplendent royal robe adorned with phoenix and dragon motifs. Legends whispered that this robe was woven from the very essence of ancient powers.
Everyone present bowed in reverence, their fate hanging precariously on the edge of this unfolding drama.
The figure holds the authority to command the army of thousands.
"It is said that this robe is made from the skin of real dragons and phoenixes.
This man exudes a unique aura of royalty. His presence is commanding and domineering.
Everyone present bent their knees and bowed toward the man, saying in unison, "We have seen your majesty."
He replied, "No need for courtesy. Today, we are all acquaintances here to deal with this bastard."
All of them echoed, "It is our pleasure to work with you, your majesty."
"Hahaha! You all have a death wish," said Li dong with a smirk.
" You can't beat our master. No matter whoever will came today."
Zhou long cut in, "Come on, don't waste my time."
"
The king responded, "Sure, sure. I don't have much time either."
"Today I will end up your terror."
Zhou long said, "Let me summon my pets to play with those weaklings. While we can fight to our heart content."
Zhou long raised his hand, and two beams of light shot from it.
"Meet my soul pets," he declared.
Everyone turned toward the two creatures as they transformed into a dragon and a phoenix.
They were left stupefied by the sight of these magnificent beings.
While dragons and phoenixes are not rare, what shocked them was the sheer level of their cultivation.
Both creatures possessed strength nearly on par with their own.
It's important to note that they were all in the Imperial Realm, while only Zhou long and the king stood above that — the king most certainly being in the Ancestral Realm.
Each realm has ten levels; they lacked the specifics of his level, but based on his usual strength, he must be in the beginning to mid phase.
The king laughed, "You really are full of surprises, aren't you?"
These creatures were as powerful as they were, and their pure bloodline signified that they hailed from the royal family of dragons and phoenixes.
He was right; not only did these beasts possess high cultivation, but their life force was also incredibly strong, indicating they belonged to the pureblood line of dragon and phoneix.
Moreover, these creatures were known for their high pride and fierce independence. Even ordinary dragons and phoenixes, with common and honest blood, were not easy to tame; they preferred death over servitude.
It was nothing short of miraculous how Zhou long managed to take control of them.
The dragon and phoenix appeared before Zhou long, sitting obediently while awaiting his command.
Zhou long ordered, "You two handle those fools, while I confront his majesty personally."
Both the dragon and phoenix responded, "Yes, master."
Though dragons and phoenixes are often considered enemies, in this moment, they united to serve a human — a truly rare occurrence.
Li dong and Zhou yue chimed in, "We'll help them, master."
Zhou long nodded in agreement.
The king declared, "You did well. I also want to face you alone. Show me what hidden trump cards you possess."
With that, the king released his power, revealing his strength in the late phase of the Ancient Realm.
Zhou long smirked, "Eighth level of the Ancestor Realm. Not bad at all."
"If you think that's called not bad, then why not show me your true strength!" the king shouted, anger flaring in his eyes.
This was his strength after plundering resources as the king of the 2nd heaven in sacred domain, using all his authority to search for treasures to bolster his might.
How dare this brat downplay his achievement!
Zhou long simply smiled, "Okay, but do make sure not to run away when you see my cultivation." Then he unleashed his full power.
The king's mouth dropped open in disbelief. "Tenth stage of the Ancestor Realm!"
Zhou long grinned, "What do you think of this?"
The king stared back, astonished. "You're on the brink of entering the Great Ancestor Realm.
Suddenly, he recieved an enlightment.
"Now I see. I understand everything."
Zhou long smiled knowingly and asked, "What has your majesty understood?"
A bead of sweat trickled down the king's forehead as he clapped slowly, "I, the King of 2nd Heaven, acknowledge your scheming. You wish to use all of us to achieve the Grand Ancestor Realm."
"You planned all of this, and everything has gone according to your design thus far. You faked your injuries to lure us into attacking you, hoping to stimulate your body to its extreme in order to break through to the Great Ancestor Realm. It's the only way to reach that height."
Zhou long laughed heartily, praising the king, "You've proven yourself to be a true ruler, your majesty."
" You are indeed right. Its the only way I can stimulate my body and unlock the true potential of my body. "