They Are Archenemies, But They Have A Child - Chapter 106

Chapter 106: Drawing the Snake Out

Amidst the speculation.

Leng Licí and Yún Chuān, hidden elsewhere, monitored the surroundings. However, aside from demonic energy, there were no other signs of life. The gods and immortals who received invitations either watched from afar or simply chose not to participate, as none showed their faces.

On the sacrificial platform, the light specks gathered, gradually forming a lifelike image of a White Marsh. At first glance, this image strongly resembled Yun Qingwu, but those familiar could spot the difference.

The White Marsh formed by light had horns that had faded from gold to pale gold, and the right horn showed obvious damage.

“Is that the Heavenly Realm’s Lord Prime?”

“Not quite. I think it might be the legendary White Marsh Lady Monarch who died young.”

“Fireflies! It’s fireflies!”

Just as all the demons present were holding their breath and observing the sight, a child suddenly ran out of the crowd and climbed up the high platform, chasing the specks of light. “Fireflies! Slow down!”

The light specks paused at one corner of the White Marsh image. The child curiously looked at the person with closed eyes and asked, “What are you doing?”

Yun Qingwu, with his eyes closed, mimicked Lǎo Tóng’s tone. “I am waiting for my father.”

“Why must you wait for him?” The child’s innocent eyes held a shadow of gloom unsuited for his age, yet his tone remained childlike.

“It is because he has something he wishes to tell me. I believe that is the reason why he cannot fully enter reincarnation.”

“Can’t you just not wait? My father says we should learn to let go.”

“No, I cannot.”

“I see…”

Killing intent flashed in the child’s eyes. He struck out at “Lǎo Tóng”‘s chest with a palm. “Then let me lend you a hand.”

Yun Qingwu abruptly retreated. The Bone Sword, which had been waiting for a long time, instantly connected and wrapped directly around the child.

Simultaneously, Yun Qingwu brandished his Ice Spear to meet the attack again. The seated Chicken Demons scattered quickly, orderly adjusting their positions to form a formation and join the attack.

“Hmph, overestimating yourselves.”

The child waved his right hand. The calm ground instantly trembled. Sharp stones broke through the earth, piercing toward the bodies of the Chicken Demons.

“Hold steady!” Lǎo Tóng roared from the center of the formation.

As the formation took shape, a barrier automatically enveloped its perimeter, warding off external attacks. With a series of cries, strong winds rose outside, turning into multicolored tail feathers that struck the child.

Mid-air, the Ice Spear rotated. The white light merged with the red light below, forming a giant red-and-white sword that suppressed the child.

Yún Chuān flipped his Crimson Moon Fan. Intense flames instantly transformed into several streaks of sword light, joining the offensive.

The child was unconcerned. He formed a hand seal, and a great golden light erupted, forcefully slowing down the speed at which the attacks reached him.

He raised his eyebrows slightly, his expression full of contempt. “With just this little skill, you demand justice?”

“A petty nobody afraid to show his true face, let me see who you are!”

A lotus-shaped arrow fiercely penetrated the layers of resistance, heading straight for the child’s face. The child was too late to stop it. A flash of green light instantly exploded in front of him. The child’s disguise cracked and fell off in pieces.

Jiāng Héyè froze, momentarily forgetting to press her advantage. The lotus arrow clattered to the ground. “Your Majesty?”

The Heavenly Emperor extended his right hand. The Purple Flame Staff appeared. He said solemnly, “Since this is the case, neither you nor I can remain.”

The Purple Flame Staff lightly waved. The previously peaceful sky was instantly filled with thunder. The ground shook violently again. The already crumbling ruins, unable to withstand the strain, collapsed.

The Heavenly Emperor looked at Yun Qingwu. “This place should have vanished six hundred years ago, yet you still cling to it. Since you refuse to walk the path laid out for you, you might as well be buried here with this city.”

“Old coot, you talk too much nonsense.” Leng Licí’s eyes narrowed. He flew toward the Heavenly Emperor. Several Nightmare Spirit Blades shot from his fingertips, and the Bone Sword returned to his hand, striking directly at the Heavenly Emperor’s Dantian area.

But before he could get close, a flash of purple light instantly repelled Leng Licí, sending him crashing to the ground.

“A-Cí!” Yun Qingwu’s pupils shrank. He furiously injected spiritual energy into the Ice Spear, barely stabilizing the seismic intensity. He flew to Leng Licí’s side, attempting to help him up.

Leng Licí stopped him with his hand, using the sword as a support to stand up on his own. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked provocatively at the Heavenly Emperor. “That’s all the skill you have.”

The Heavenly Emperor slightly narrowed his eyes, assessing Leng Licí. “You do resemble me somewhat. Unfortunately, half of your body carries the inferior bloodline of the Fox Clan, making you useless.”

“Pah! You’re the inferior one!” The Nine-Tailed Fox Clan, led by the elders of the Qīng Clan, appeared one after another, joining the battle.

Sū Mùlǐ looked at Leng Licí. “Honored One, we are here to assist you.”

Several streaks of fox fire of different colors struck the Heavenly Emperor.

Leng Licí leaped up again. He looked at Yun Qingwu. “Guard me.”

Yun Qingwu understood that Leng Licí intended to seize the Purple Flame Staff from the Heavenly Emperor. He nodded and formed a hand seal. The air around Leng Licí immediately condensed into a thin layer of ice, securely protecting him.

Leng Licí’s fox tails emerged, extending several times their length. He wrapped them around himself, turning into a fireball.

The fireball, protected by the ice surface, rushed toward the Heavenly Emperor at maximum speed again.

The Heavenly Emperor’s expression was utterly unfazed. He allowed the staff to rotate in the air, quickly assembling a purple iron hammer. The hammer was raised high, ready to strike down the fireball.

“Honored One, I’m here!”

Dān Mù’s voice, accompanied by a chorus of chirping birds, appeared in the air. Countless colorful sandpipers circled in the sky, a dense, dark mass like a new cloak for the night. As their wings flapped, a hurricane was whipped up, forcefully lifting the descending “iron hammer” by a few inches, immobilizing it.

Leng Licí seized the opportunity to fly toward the Purple Flame Staff.

The Heavenly Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly, attempting to recall the Purple Flame Staff, but the next moment, his right hand was entangled by flying vines. The vines constantly spread, wrapping around his entire body.

As one layer was broken, another instantly replaced it.

The Heavenly Emperor’s calm expression finally showed a hint of impatience.

The Tree Demon swayed its body and chuckled. “Heavenly Emperor, you should also taste the flavor of a fire that never burns out, only to be reborn in the spring wind!”

Now is the time.

Leng Licí took advantage of the brief pause in the Heavenly Emperor’s speed caused by the vines to seize the Purple Flame Staff and quickly retreat.

The Heavenly Emperor softly snorted through his nose. “What can you do even if you take the Purple Flame Staff?”

The purple light violently dispersed. The circling flock of birds was forced to scatter. The Heavenly Emperor extended his right hand, instantly drawing the nearest Tree Demon toward him.

With a “crack,” the Tree Demon’s neck was snapped, and its life force was extinguished.

This act did not deter the other Tree Demons. Instead, their anger intensified. Several vines struck again.

Yun Qingwu suppressed the anger in his heart. He took the Purple Flame Staff and lightly tapped the ground. A ripple of light spread around, and the earth-shaking motion instantly stabilized.

“At the very least, I can stop you from destroying this place again.”

Yun Qingwu wielded the Purple Flame Staff, summoning Heavenly Thunder. “And I can kill you.”

The Heavenly Emperor was completely unafraid, allowing the Heavenly Thunder to strike him as if it were nothing more than a trivial lashing. He laughed, “Qingwu, can you truly kill your Grandfather God? If you can bring yourself to do it, your Grandfather God will be impressed.”

Yun Qingwu gripped the Purple Flame Staff, his jaw clenched. “I won’t kill you now.”

The Heavenly Emperor was not surprised. “I have told you many times, never be so indecisive in everything. Being emotional is a major taboo!”

With that, the restraints around the Heavenly Emperor violently exploded. In an instant, he arrived in front of Leng Licí, seizing his neck.

Leng Licí frowned tightly. Fury filled his eyes. He hadn’t even clearly seen the Heavenly Emperor’s movement!

He raised both hands, struggling to pull off the chokehold on his neck, but he couldn’t move it at all.

Yun Qingwu’s eyes widened in fury. The Ice Spear flew toward the Heavenly Emperor, aiming at his face. “Let him go!”

“Honored One!”

Dān Mù’s face was flushed with anger. All the demons glared hatefully at the Heavenly Emperor, lamenting their weak power. They did their best, only managing to delay him momentarily, unable to change the situation.

Jiāng Héyè recovered from her shock, picking up the arrow in her hand again and pointing it at the Heavenly Emperor. “Your Majesty, since you agreed to let Mother Empress and me handle this matter, please come back with us.”

The Heavenly Emperor looked at Jiāng Héyè as if he had heard a joke. “A mere mortal immortal, presuming to judge me?”

Jiāng Héyè’s eyes were firm and fearless. “Why should I not dare?”

Yún Chuān’s eyes showed a hint of pain. “Father God, stop making mistakes.”

The Heavenly Emperor tightened his grip and looked coldly at Yún Chuān. “Chuān’er, you are the one who should stop making mistakes. The clan gave you everything you have now, yet you betray the clan. Your Crimson Moon Fan should be aimed at those who intend to cause destruction, not your Father God.”

Yún Chuān gripped the fan handle, saying bitterly, “If everything I have requires the sacrifice of others, I would rather be an ordinary mortal.”

“Naïve.”

The Heavenly Emperor scoffed. “The only reason you can have such thoughts now is because you haven’t truly experienced it.”

He looked at Yun Qingwu. “Nor have you.”

The Heavenly Emperor’s eyes darkened. “But I have truly witnessed it. He, too, foolishly challenged the established order, debasing himself. But in the end, he only hurt himself and others. When he was worse than dead, all that love, all that freedom, all that equality for all beings became fleeting clouds, scattered by a single breath.

Before his death, I granted him a final audience out of past friendship. A person who was once so aloof was as low as dust, kneeling and begging the clan to give him one more chance.”

“But, why?” The Heavenly Emperor’s brows furrowed sharply. “Why should he deserve a chance to start over after throwing everything into chaos?

But Chuān’er, Qingwu, you still have a chance.”

He once again channeled spiritual energy into the hand choking Leng Licí’s neck. “As long as he and all the demons present die, I can pretend none of this ever happened.”

Leng Licí’s face was flushed from suffocation. He struggled to change the golden bracelet on his wrist into a golden blade, stabbing the Heavenly Emperor’s wrist repeatedly. But even when a wound appeared, it quickly healed.

The Bone Sword attempted to approach but was unsuccessful.

Yun Qingwu gritted his teeth. “I am not the ‘him’ you speak of. One person cannot represent everyone. But if you dare to harm A-Cí today, I will definitely kill you.”

“Go on, kill me.”

The Heavenly Emperor’s lips curled slightly. He fiercely squeezed his wrist. Leng Licí bit his lower lip hard, his face already turning blue and purple.

Yun Qingwu held the Purple Flame Staff. The Ice Spear, vertical in front of the Heavenly Emperor, pressed a few inches closer. “Don’t think I won’t dare.”

“You just don’t dare,” the Heavenly Emperor said, his eyes cold and mocking. “If you dared, that Ice Spear would have pierced my chest long ago, instead of remaining frozen. But—”

A trace of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. “I dare!”

With that, he formed a hand seal with his left hand, intending to add one final surge of power.

“Ah—”

Yun Qingwu violently closed his eyes.

Pfft.

The Ice Spear plunged directly into the Heavenly Emperor’s heart. At the same time, the power of the Purple Flame Staff rapidly flowed into the Ice Spear.

Yun Qingwu felt a warmth on his face. He opened his eyes and instinctively touched it.

It was a splash of fresh red—the blood spat out by the Heavenly Emperor.

The Heavenly Emperor’s right hand abruptly went limp. Leng Licí was able to break free. He quickly retreated to the ground, coughing violently.

The Heavenly Emperor’s power visibly withered, yet he showed no sign of distress. Instead, he looked somewhat excited. “Yes, just like that, Qingwu. You did it.”

Yun Qingwu stared blankly at the Ice Spear embedded in the Heavenly Emperor’s body, subconsciously taking a step back.

“Die!” Leng Licí flew up again, summoning the Bone Sword to land another strike at the Dantian area.

Fresh blood continuously dripped from the Heavenly Emperor’s mouth and abdomen.

The Heavenly Emperor looked at Leng Licí. “You want… my inner core? What a pity that you only possess half of my bloodline.”

“This one half of the bloodline, this Honored One finds it dirty,” Leng Licí said, his eyebrows furrowing. He struck another blow.

“Your Majesty—!”

A surprised scream rang out. The God Lord of Bright Virtue landed in a panic, staring in horror at the scene. His feet seemed glued to the ground, unable to move another inch.

“Bold scoundrel! How dare you commit insubordination!” Qīng Dì, who arrived immediately after, shouted severely. His Wind Clarity Umbrella opened, and several hurricanes flew toward Leng Licí, attempting to stop him from further harming the Heavenly Emperor.

Leng Licí turned to defend, extending the Bone Sword to coil the hurricanes together, forcibly intercepting them. He then gave the Bone Sword a sudden yank, sending the hurricanes back. He said coldly, “Who is the superior and who is the subordinate remains to be seen.”

“You are right. It certainly remains to be seen.”

Just as Leng Licí and the Azure Emperor were locked in combat.

Yun Qingwu’s voice rang out. Simultaneously, a streak of white light suddenly pierced through Leng Licí’s chest.

Leng Licí’s body shuddered. The fire blade he had swung abruptly went awry. He stopped moving and turned back in disbelief to look at Yun Qingwu. He saw that Yun Qingwu’s eyes were now completely devoid of their original clarity and brightness, replaced by cold indifference.

He opened his mouth, attempting to ask something, but his body uncontrollably fell downward.

“Little Cí!” Yún Chuān’s eyes widened. He flew up and caught Leng Licí’s body.

“Honored One—!” Dān Mù scrambled over.

Leng Licí was oblivious to the shouts around him. His eyes remained fixed on “Yun Qingwu.” Fresh blood continuously flowed from his mouth, preventing him from speaking a single word.

All the demons, gods, and immortals present were completely unprepared for this sudden turn of events, frozen where they stood.