Chapter 3: Prologue 3
"Haha. Why would I do so? Because you can kill me? You jest, Celestial Emperor.
"You know, you're such a selfish man. You have remained high on your throne as the number one cultivator for over a million years without allowing anyone else to have a go. Don't you think it's time for you to go into retirement?"
The target of all this remained confused at the words of his opponent. It was after all, the first time someone had told him such since he ascended the throne of the Celestial Emperor. Being the only one worthy of taking on the title of Celestial Emperor, it was understandable for him to be the number one cultivator in the entire 33 realms. But on this very day, a demon of the Netherworld had suggested he step down.
"It looks like you won't fear death till you're truly confronted by it." The Divine Celestial Emperor frowned.
"Death? Haha. Indeed, someone will die but it won't be me." The fiend leader chuckled mysteriously.
"Originally, I was planning to use this technique to make that step into the realm of a Celestial Emperor right after comprehending the Heavenly Tome, but it looks like I would have to make some adjustments to my plan."
Immediately after that, a strange force descended on the plane threatening to wreak havoc all around. It surrounded the lead fiend and tightly wrapped around him, causing a strange energy wave that not only engulfed the target but also a 300m region around him. Even the Divine Celestial Emperor had to be careful when he noticed the energy wave. While it couldn't kill him, it could definitely hurt him, and this was previously impossible for any of the fiends.
Nonetheless, the Divine Celestial Emperor wasn't afraid. There were many individuals and weapons out there that could hurt him but none had succeeded in killing him.
"If that's all you've got then I'm pretty disappointed." The strongest of the 33 heavenly realms sighed.
"Haha." An eerie laugh escaped from the energy cyclone ahead.
"Devour."
Suddenly, the bodies of the other fiend lords began to fade out slowly as if they were becoming ghosts while the energy level of the enemy surged.
The Spirit King, who happened to have just regained consciousness at this moment, screamed at the changes that were taking place in his body.
"Zhao Yun! How dare you?!"
As the target of the technique, the Spirit King could sense that his being was being absorbed by Zhao Yun to strengthen himself. Even though he was a staunch supporter of the young man, it wasn't to the point of giving his life up for him.
"Your sacrifice would be well appreciated as long as I can defeat the Divine Celestial Emperor." The leader of the fiend, Zhao Yun replied without emotion.
"Haha. I knew you were a freaking bastard. Now, you've shown your true colours." The Monarch of devouring laughed as if he were the one on the high ground.
"I will start with you first as that would make my work easier."
Zhao Yun immediately concentrated his technique on the Monarch of devouring, absorbing his entire existence and cultivation into himself. The technique Zhao Yun used was a bit similar to the Monarch of devouring's arts, so he could easily combine both arts and speed up the absorption rate, hence his reason for absorbing the Monarch of devouring first.
With that done, the rate at which the others faded out of existence increased. Since they were already heavily injured by the Divine Celestial Emperor's attacks, they couldn't resist Zhao Yun's arts and were nothing more than lambs in a slaughterhouse.
"Celestial Emperor, save us or you might fall at that devil's hands!" The Spirit King yelled to his former adversary.
"Please, Emperor. Save us."
"I will pledge my entire being to you if you save me, Emperor."
The other demons cried out but they received no answer.
Zhao Yun sped up his art to prevent any opportunity for them to be saved so, within just 2 seconds, the remaining five fiends no longer existed in this world. Zhao Yun's energy signatures had risen above the level of a peak-tier sovereign, stuck in between that and the rank of a bonafide Celestial Emperor.
"Haha. Finally. So this is what the power of a Celestial Emperor feels like. I can feel it. Unimaginable power, coursing through my veins. You should have saved them back then, Emperor, but now it's too late. You're going to die at my hands and I will sit on the throne of Celestial Emperor." Zhao Yun's hoarse voice boomed.
The Divine Celestial Emperor stood still with no expression taking in all of this. Truthfully, he could have easily interrupted Zhao Yun's plans but he had no intentions of doing so. The six fiends were all heretic individuals and while he never planned on eliminating them in the first place, he wouldn't mind someone else doing the job. It would even be better if that someone else was one of them, hence his reason for doing so.
"Do you think you can defeat me?" The Divine Celestial Emperor calmly asked.
"Haha. Maybe not, but severely injuring you isn't impossible, neither is escaping." Zhao Yun answered.
"Foolish. Not only did your method fail to bring you to the rank of Celestial Emperor, but even if it did, you would still lose. No. Previously, I would have let you keep your life, but now, you have to die." The Celestial Emperor replied.
"Hmph."
Zhao Yun immediately drew out his weapon which was a large blood-red scythe. It was a cursed weapon that was ranked at the peak of what a weapon could be. He had nurtured it with him step by step on his journey to sovereignty, so, the weapon was as close to him as his child.
Imbuing it with his newly acquired celestial energy, he forcefully raised the weapon to reach the rank of Celestial grade. With it in hand, Zhao Yun felt confident enough to go toe-to-toe with the Celestial Emperor.
"Prepare yourself."
"I'm tired of all this farce." The Divine Celestial Emperor suddenly said.
"In 10 breaths, a sovereign would arrive here so I will end this in 3."
Zhao Yun was immediately irritated at those words. If it was back when he was still a regular sovereign, albeit at the peak, he wouldn't have denied that the Emperor could easily take him out in three seconds. Only one move was needed and he would become extinct. However, he was a different being now; one who had one foot into the rank of Celestial Emperor. Even for the acclaimed Celestial Emperor, defeating him in three breaths should be impossible.
"You will pay for your insolence. Die." Zhao Yun roared as he swung his scythe at the Emperor.
"Three breathes should be the same as one move. Receive my palm."
Demon-God Slaying arts: 10,000 palms of the Divine Heavens.
The Celestial Emperor pushed his right palm slowly towards Zhao Yun and in its place, a gigantic palm the size of a mountain appeared.
One gigantic palm constituted of 10,000 miniature palms, it radiated an encompassing aura that was capable of destroying all of creation. Immoveable like a great mountain, destructive like the art of a god, each small palm contained many mysteries that were beyond the understanding of a sovereign. Even the half-step Celestial Emperor Zhao Yun only understood a few of its mysteries. Combined, the 10,000 palms formed the gigantic palm that was an attack at the level of a seated Celestial Emperor and not a newborn.
"This is the true power of a bonafide Celestial Emperor, not that stupid form you've been flaunting around. Keep this in mind, even in your next life."
The words of the Celestial Emperor were the last thing Zhao Yun heard before his scythe collided with the palm.
Like a toothpick against a boulder, the scythe broke with such ease that Zhao Yun doubted whether this was the weapon he had used to run rampant in the Netherworld lands, but he knew that the scythe wasn't to be blamed; the attack was just too powerful.
Following the destruction of the weapon was the end of its wielder. Even with his newfound power, Zhao Yun was unable to dodge the attack of the Celestial Emperor and was crushed by the palm; his entire being obliterated from existence with not even a shred of him remaining. Both body and soul were all wiped out from the face of the universe and Zhao Yun was no more.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone