Chapter Twenty-One: The White-Clad Divine Emperor Descends—Yet the Quasi-Emperor Still Refuses to Bow in Welcome

Heavenly Profound Continent, Eastern Wilderness.

Hovering in midair, the Azure Flame Martial Emperor cast a sidelong glance down upon the Xiao Clan, his demeanor brimming with utter disregard. Yet beneath that cold indifference burned an intensifying murderous intent. He sensed the colossal decree of the Great Emperor hovering above the Xiao Clan was waning, soon to be rendered completely ineffective.

When that moment came, he would unleash merciless thunderous force to obliterate the Xiao Clan and seize their Imperial Dao Scriptures.

“Xiao Clan, my patience is nearing its limit. If you accept my terms now, there may yet be a sliver of hope for survival,” the Azure Flame Martial Emperor’s voice echoed from the heights, dripping with condescension.

It was less an offer of surrender than a grudging boon, as if to say: submit, and you might cling to life.

“Hmph. The Xiao Clan is a lineage of the Heavenly Profound Emperor Tribe. We would rather die standing than kneel and beg for survival!” Xiao Qingtian retorted fiercely, rejecting the humiliation the Azure Flame Martial Emperor so disdainfully offered.

Not a single soul in the entire Xiao Clan would stoop to seek life through cowardice.

“Hmph, ungrateful,” the Azure Flame Martial Emperor murmured with a shake of his head.

He had originally intended to bring the Xiao Clan under his command, but their obstinacy left no room for their existence. To defy the will of the Azure Flame Martial Emperor was a path to annihilation.

“The imperial legacy of the Xiao Clan now belongs to me!” His gaze shifted to the diminishing power of the Great Emperor’s decree, a flicker of eagerness lighting his eyes.

The era of the Xiao Clan’s Great Emperor had long since passed; today, they would become history, mere stepping stones for his ascension.

“What a pity, such an ancient imperial lineage destined for destruction today.”

“Heh, this is the fate of those who refuse to see reason. What use is resistance? Better to surrender early and preserve life.”

“Good thing we never answered the Xiao Clan’s call for aid, or we’d be ruined alongside them. Crossing the Azure Flame Martial Emperor is no wise choice.”

“Indeed. Once the Xiao Clan falls, maybe we can snatch a share. Though fallen, they are still an imperial family. Even scraps would be enough for us.”

Outside the Xiao Clan, various sects and powerful figures lurked like vultures, awaiting the clan’s demise to plunder their legacy.

Some had already begun calculating their spoils. They dared not compete with the Azure Flame Martial Emperor for the imperial scriptures, but the remaining treasures of the Xiao Clan might yet fall into their hands.

Boom!

At that moment, the Great Emperor’s decree, having expended all its strength, finally dimmed and dissipated into specks of light.

The imperial aura enveloping the Xiao Clan vanished with it.

Now, the Xiao Clan was utterly defenseless—its gates wide open.

“The Great Emperor’s decree left by Old Ancestor Xiao Xuan has dissipated!”

“Truly, the heavens conspire against our Xiao Clan!”

“Clan leader, if death is certain, then let us fight to the end and take some of them down with us!”

Determination blazed across the faces of the Xiao Clan members.

They had hoped the ancient decree would safeguard them but failed.

Since that was so, they might as well go down fighting.

“Father, the lives of the others in the Xiao Clan mean nothing. First, capture Xiao Jinyu—the woman is a Yin-type body, a top-grade refining furnace. I want to enjoy her in front of everyone!”

At that moment, a sickly smiling young cultivator behind the Azure Flame Martial Emperor leered, his eyes greedily roaming over Xiao Jinyu’s exquisite form.

This man was none other than the Azure Flame Martial Emperor’s only son, Cang Er.

“A mere woman, there’s no need for me to act personally. Just beckon her, and she’ll come naturally,” the Azure Flame Martial Emperor said coldly.

Without the Great Emperor’s decree, the Xiao Clan’s survival was doubtful even without his direct intervention.

“Xiao Jinyu, if you kneel before me now and agree to be my concubine, I might plead with my father to spare your clan!”

“But on one condition: you must serve me well. I want to see if the women of the Xiao Clan are obedient. If not, your clan is doomed!”

Cang Er’s twisted smile widened.

“Hmph. The Xiao Clan would rather perish utterly than stoop to you, a fool!” came the defiant roar.

“We will never hand over our own to survive in disgrace. You can give up that hope.”

“We of the Xiao Clan will never kneel to live, only stand and die!”

Perhaps due to Cang Er’s lecherous demeanor, the clan’s resistance was all the more fierce.

“Seeking death!” the Azure Flame Martial Emperor snarled, unleashing the terrifying pressure of a Quasi-Emperor.

Ah!

Several Xiao Clan members’ bodies split open instantaneously, their forms annihilated without a trace.

The Quasi-Emperor’s oppressive aura was so fearsome that a mere glance could kill.

“You...!” The clan was struck mute with rage and fear at his ruthless display.

“Xiao Jinyu, if you don’t come serve me soon, I’ll slaughter your clan one by one.”

“If you don’t want to see your entire clan wiped out, strip and come to me quickly. If I’m in a good mood, I might spare you a path to survive!”

Cang Er’s perverse smile twisted cruelly as he sought to torment the Xiao Clan in their final moments.

“You!” Xiao Jinyu trembled with fury, despising the vile man and wishing she could castrate and kill him herself.

But if she did not sacrifice herself now, the entire clan would be mercilessly slaughtered.

Boom!

Just as Xiao Jinyu was at a loss, an overwhelming aura surged from afar, instantly filling the heavens and earth.

This aura was supreme; even the Azure Flame Martial Emperor seemed insignificant before it.

Other powerful cultivators knelt involuntarily beneath this Great Emperor’s presence.

“This is the aura of a true Emperor Realm being, and an incredibly potent one at that.”

“What’s happening? I feel the presence of an Emperor!” someone exclaimed.

“Emperor’s aura, no mistake!” another confirmed.

Fear and reverence gripped the onlookers.

“How can this be?” The Azure Flame Martial Emperor’s heart jolted as even his Azure Flame Cauldron struggled to operate under this aura.

His complexion flickered with unease. The appearance of such a presence could only mean upheaval—something he dreaded above all.

In contrast to the Azure Flame Martial Emperor’s alarm, the Xiao Clan grew exhilarated.

“It’s the Emperor’s aura. Could it be that Old Ancestor Xiao Xuan has returned?” Xiao Qingtian’s heart leapt, the pressure suddenly lifting.

Xiao Jinyu also sensed the familiar imperial presence, a strange light flickering in her eyes.

Suddenly, the imperial might in the heavens thickened to its zenith. A golden path of light stretched from the horizon, spanning the cosmos, culminating above the Xiao Clan.

Upon that golden path stood a towering figure, surrounded by sun, moon, and stars, protected by the Four Symbols, with wondrous phenomena swirling about, an overwhelming majesty.

All the myriad laws of heaven and earth resonated; chains of cosmic order hung like divine links.

That figure was like the sole supreme deity of the cosmos, inspiring boundless awe.

All the powerful beings bowed their heads, unwilling to meet the gaze, lest they offend the Emperor’s dignity.

The Azure Flame Martial Emperor struggled to resist but found himself compelled to bow humbly beneath the imperial aura.

Though Quasi-Emperor and Emperor were separated by but a step, the chasm was infinite.

He had always prided himself on nearing the Emperor Realm, yet only now did he truly grasp the gulf between himself and a genuine Emperor.

“Damn it... why does this one’s presence surpass even the Emperor I once witnessed?” the Azure Flame Martial Emperor raged inwardly.

He had seen an Emperor’s avatar before, which alone exuded imperial majesty.

But this Emperor before him was far more terrifying.

Could the difference between an Emperor’s avatar and the true self be so vast?

Under the pressure of the White-Clad Divine Emperor, the Azure Flame Martial Emperor struggled to speak, “I do not know which Emperor graces us, but Cang Yan offers his respects.”

Even the arrogant Azure Flame Martial Emperor was forced to bow before a true Emperor Realm being.

Yet the White-Clad Divine Emperor cast him a mere glance, eyes devoid of any ripple, as if beholding a speck of dust.

“Do you even deserve the title of Emperor?” the White-Clad Divine Emperor’s voice dripped with disdain.

The Azure Flame Martial Emperor’s face flushed red, stunned by such merciless contempt.

What troubled him more was the Divine Emperor’s evident intention to defend the Xiao Clan.

Though burning with rage, the Azure Flame Martial Emperor suppressed it and forced a weak smile, as if to offer an explanation.

But the White-Clad Divine Emperor showed no interest in hearing it. To him, a Quasi-Emperor was no different from a common pest, merely a slightly stronger ant.

With a light wave of his hand, the Divine Emperor’s infinite imperial might pressed down upon the Azure Flame Martial Emperor, forcing him to his knees.

In the span of a breath, a Quasi-Emperor was brought low.

Such is the terror of the Emperor’s might!