Eternal Heavenly Emperor-Chapter 389 - 379: Imperial Artifact Duel
War Emperor Kongming slightly paused, unintentionally revealing anger as he said, "A mere War Venerate dares to command me?"
In front of the War Emperor, a War Venerate was hardly a big deal. Hadn’t four War Emperors been effortlessly subdued? It was precisely for this reason that War Emperor Kongming was somewhat surprised and angered.
These four people clearly were not from the Spirit Spring Sect, but a mere War Venerate wanted to stop him—based on what? He couldn’t believe that someone capable of cultivating to the level of War Venerate would be an idiot.
Atop the crimson bat, a man who looked to be only 40 years old smiled faintly. Facing the formidable War Emperor, he showed not the slightest reverence. He merely clasped his hands and said, "The junior is from the He Family of Fire State."
As he spoke, he took out a token colored like fire, engraved with a flame that seemed alive, giving off the impression that it was still flickering and burning.
"The He Family of Fire State!" War Emperor Kongming’s pupils shrank slightly. This was an ancient clan with an extremely mysterious inheritance, said to be involved with Ancient Times.
Anything related to Ancient Times became very troublesome because martial arts from that era were incredibly potent. You never knew what could be summoned, enough to make even the War God change color.
If his realm had been lower, being ignorant of the ancient clan’s strength wouldn’t matter—the proverbial ignorance is bliss. What did it matter to him if it were Fire State or Water State? He didn’t need to weigh the pros and cons to kill a lesser Warrior.
But his very level was sufficient to know these secrets, which made him somewhat hesitant. However, this was Cang State; just because a War Venerate from Fire State wielded a token didn’t mean he could make him cease his actions—how would he maintain face?
A tree lives on its bark, a man lives on his face!
"What is your relationship with this young man?" War Emperor Kongming asked.
"This is a private matter of our He Family, not appropriate to tell Lord Kongming!" The War Venerate of the He Family said, and although he addressed him as Lord, there was a clear lack of respect and reverence in his tone.
War Emperor Kongming couldn’t help but grow angry, snorting as he said, "Do you really think just with these words you can take this young man away? The ancient clans are indeed strong, but everyone knows, if they produce a War God, it means their later generations will have no connection with that War God. Why should I fear you?"
"The depth of ancient clans is beyond what outsiders can imagine." The War Venerate of the He Family gave a faint smile, looking utterly composed as he continued to look at War Emperor Kongming and said, "If Lord Kongming himself were here, I perhaps would have some apprehensions, but with merely a Dharma Body, the Netherfire Sword is enough to slay it!"
He took a long, narrow bundle from behind and slowly unwrapped it, revealing a scabbardless sword that radiated a flame-like glow as though it was ablaze.
Chu Hao couldn’t help but be astonished. It seemed unlikely that such a prominent figure as a War Venerate wouldn’t have a Mustard Seed Ring, yet a sword had been carried on his person. Wasn’t that cumbersome? Ever since these four people had appeared, he had been speculating about their identities, somewhat certain yet also puzzled.
He suspected these four were folks from his father’s family, yet the first two to appear had tried to take his life. But these four were clearly rescuing him, which was a bit hard for him to adapt to. Moreover, Dharma Bodies and real bodies? Could it be that War Emperor Kongming floating in the air was not actually present?
"A sword?" War Emperor Kongming couldn’t help but show a look of disdain.
Treasure Tools have their limits—generally speaking, to fully unleash the power of a Treasure Tool, one requires at least the cultivation of one realm lower. For instance, to wield the full power of a War Emperor-level Treasure Tool, one must be at least a War Emperor himself.
This was why he hadn’t flattened the Snowy Plains Sect, as they possessed a War Emperor level Treasure Tool and many War Emperors capable of fully unleashing its power. Although he could suppress them, it would come at a great cost.
But Cang State wasn’t just home to him as a War Emperor; what if, weakened from battle, he was ambushed on his return by another War Emperor?
However, even if the War Venerate of the He Family held a Treasure Tool of War Emperor or even War God level, at most he could only summon the power of a War Emperor. Such power appeared laughable before him, easily wiped out with a sweep of his hand.
Even if a War Emperor brought an Imperial Artifact here, he would not be afraid because this was Spirit Spring Sect—didn’t the Sect have Imperial Artifacts? With Imperial Artifact against Imperial Artifact, he could free his hands and kill to his heart’s content.
Thus, he couldn’t understand why the opponent thought that producing a sword could intimidate him.
"This sword, inherited from Ancient Times, ranks 27th among the Treasure Tools of our He Family!" The War Venerate of the He Family caressed the blade, as if the cold sword were not just metal but a beloved, his expression both focused and fervent.
War Emperor Kongming almost burst with anger. To pull out a tool ranked 27th and think to intimidate him felt like a profound insult. He was a War Emperor, one of the mightiest in Cang State, ranking just behind the seven War Gods across the entire Sky Martial Star.
Yet here was someone with a broken sword, claiming it was their 27th ranked Treasure Tool, yet capable of suppressing him.
Furious!
War Emperor Kongming’s index finger twitched slightly—a sign of his great fury, indicative of his intent to kill. Yet, he did not make a move, saying, "Out of respect for the ancient War God, I won’t kill you. Get lost now."
"Lord Kongming, you are forcing my hand!" the War Venerate of the He Family said flatly, suddenly lifting his head with a gleam in his eye.
War Emperor Kongming found it absurd. He, a mighty War Emperor, had already shown mercy by not killing them, and yet they dared to be insolent? If he, the War Emperor, decided to get serious, killing a mere War Venerate would be as simple as lifting his hand—what of forcing or not?
His expression darkened as he resolved to suppress the four from the He Family, to teach them a lesson before driving them out of Cang State. As for Chu Hao... daring to slap the face of his progeny meant death, marked from the moment Chu Hao raised his hand.
"I won’t drink a toast!" he raised his hand.
"Summon the Ancestral Artifact!" Suddenly, the War Venerate from the He Family shouted loudly, biting through his pulse gate. Instantly, rich, crimson blood flowed out, splashing onto the Netherfire Sword.
With a hum, a transformation occurred spontaneously. This originally ordinary sword, merely circulating some light of fire, suddenly burst out with supreme majesty. It floated in the void, entirely entwined with green flames, much like ghost fire.
War Emperor Kongming’s facial expression changed slightly, as he immediately sensed the sword’s power; it was as if its might could even punch a hole through the sky.
Moreover, the sword’s power was still increasing!
Hum, the Netherfire Sword suddenly elongated, instantly transforming into a giant sword a thousand meters in length, spanning across the heavens. With the Netherfire burning the sky, it seemed to forcefully drag Spirit Spring Mountain into the Nether Ghost Domain.
War Emperor Kongming’s expression changed again, and he abruptly stretched out his hand. Whoosh, a beam of white light shot out from Spirit Spring Mountain, instantly landing in his hand and transforming into a bright silver halberd.
This was a Treasure Tool forged by the first-generation War Emperor of the Spirit Spring Sect, but it was never fully completed because the materials needed to construct an Imperial Artifact were exceedingly rare. However, in the moment when his life was about to end, the first-generation War Emperor merged his body with the Treasure Tool, filling in its deficiencies, and ultimately succeeding.
Afterward, the War Emperors of each generation from the Spirit Spring Sect would use their own spiritual energy to nurture this Treasure Tool, and several War Emperors even chose to merge with the Imperial Artifact right before their deaths to further enhance its power.
Therefore, once this Cold Light Halberd is fully activated, it might even be able to cut down a War Emperor!
—Most Imperial Artifacts are passed down and strengthened generation by generation like this. This is also the foundation of each Great Sect, such as the Spirit Spring Sect. Unless both the War Emperor and War Venerate perish, they can activate the Cold Light Halberd to protect the Sect Gate and ensure its eternal succession.
Yet intimidating oneself, without a new War Emperor or War Venerate emerging, no one could truly activate the Imperial Artifact. Naturally, this imperial-level power would become just a name, waiting for its demise.
Now, with an Imperial Artifact in hand, and here on the home ground of the Spirit Spring Sect, he could draw on the momentum accumulated by the sect through generations at the imperial level, fundamentally securing an invincible position. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
Even though what he currently possessed here was merely a Dharma Body, having only less than one percent of his real body’s combat power.
"Lord Kongming, this junior advises you to put away the Imperial Artifact; otherwise, if it gets damaged, the loss will be great," the War Venerate from the He family said indifferently.
Where did this confidence come from?
War Emperor Kongming certainly didn’t believe it. If someone from the He Family became a War Emperor and held a Divine Artifact, then perhaps he might concede. But the other party was just a War Venerate, and he was not afraid at all!
"Wait till I kill this boy, then I’ll take you to the He Family to settle the scores. How dare you disrespect me!" His eyebrows raised as he revolved upward, as if suddenly sprouting two horns.
"You won’t get the chance!" the War Venerate from the He Family said with a slight smile, "I’m sorry, but you’ll have to cultivate this Dharma Body again!"
Hum, as soon as he finished speaking, the Netherfire Sword shone once again, its imposing aura escalating further.
War Emperor Kongming was greatly alarmed. He was a War Emperor and could keenly sense that the aura emitted by the Netherfire Sword was now far surpassing his own!
Martial Artists of the same realm could still be divided into ten tiers, and even within the same tier, there were distinctions such as early period, middle period, late period, and peak. Of course, this Imperial Artifact could also be quantified in such a way. War Emperor Kongming was a Sixth Tier War Emperor, and this was only one of his Dharma Bodies, equivalent to a First Tier War Emperor.
But the current aura of the Netherfire Sword not only surpassed the First Tier, it even far exceeded the Sixth Tier, reaching heights he could only look up to.
Fortunately, the Cold Light Halberd was also a Treasure Tool passed down through countless generations, nurtured by each generation of War Emperors, and even integrated with the imperial bones of several War Emperors, making its level similarly terrifying.
Eighth Tier Peak.
That was the real power of the Cold Light Halberd. Unfortunately, the jump to the Ninth Tier was just too difficult; otherwise, it would have undergone a qualitative change, making it as easy to annihilate ordinary War Emperors as slaughtering chickens and dogs.
Grasping the Cold Light Halberd, War Emperor Kongming was fully confident. He also began to activate the Imperial Artifact, with bone shadows of the past War Emperors who had merged with the body appearing on the halberd, and these were some of the most powerful bones; otherwise, they would have been worn out by the Imperial Artifact long ago.
"Kill!" War Emperor Kongming brandished the halberd towards the Netherfire Sword in the sky.
The Netherfire Sword, eerie in its behavior, had absorbed the fresh blood of the War Venerate from the He Family and activated on its own without any control. It seemed to truly possess life itself, immediately transforming into a bolt of lightning, striking towards the Cold Light Halberd.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The two Imperial Artifacts constantly clashed, and the sky thundered with roars like thunderclaps, the whole sky also covered with dark clouds, as if the apocalypse had arrived. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)
