"Where is she?" Bai Ye's voice was icy, so cold that the quasi-emperor before him trembled. He hadn't felt this afraid even when facing the wrath of three demon emperors simultaneously.
"She's here, in this desert," the quasi-emperor said cautiously. "Please, follow me..."
Hmph! Bai Ye let out a cold snort, his figure flashing as he appeared before the quasi-emperor. A large hand shot out, grabbing for the quasi-emperor's neck.
The quasi-emperor's pupils contracted, and he tried to evade in terror. However, Bai Ye's hand was like an extension of his own body. No matter how desperately he tried to dodge and weave with his agile movements, he couldn't escape.
A sharp pain gripped his neck as Bai Ye's hand clamped down like an iron vise. The force was like that of several mountains pressing down, causing the quasi-emperor to grit his teeth in pain.
"What, what do you want? Your sister is still in our hands!" the quasi-emperor warned, his face flushed. The pain was one reason, but as someone who had reached the quasi-emperor level, holding high office and possessing great power, when had he ever been held like a mere chick?
"If anything happens to her, I will slaughter every single demon!" Bai Ye's gaze was terrifying, like the Grim Reaper himself staring down the quasi-emperor. The quasi-emperor's face turned ashen. He wanted to retort but feared Bai Ye would kill him, so he dared not speak.
However, Bai Ye's next words immediately filled him with dread.
"You have something of my sister's on you."
"What? N-no!" The quasi-emperor's gaze flickered away. Bai Ye's gaze was too sharp, seeming to pierce through everything. "You'd better let me go, or you won't find your sister safely!"
Hmph! A killing intent flashed in Bai Ye's eyes. Before the hesitant quasi-emperor could decide whether to release his demonic power to resist, a ball of flame erupted from Bai Ye's palm, engulfing the quasi-emperor's entire body.
"Ah!! You, how dare you kill me!"
"Lord Azure Ox Emperor, save me!" The quasi-emperor's cries echoed through the silent desert, the air thick with a tragic atmosphere.
This was the quasi-emperor's survival instinct kicking in, channeling ten to a hundred times his usual demonic power to resist. But the more he resisted, the fiercer the flames burned.
And his hysterical calls for help went unanswered.
Within dozens of breaths, the quasi-emperor, once held in such high esteem, was reduced to ashes, vanishing from existence.
[Successfully killed a quasi-emperor level demon, Reputation +1 Billion...]
Bai Ye extinguished the flames, and a staff appeared before him. The colorless staff that Bai Ye had given to Lydia...
Taking the staff, Bai Ye looked deeper into the desert, his gaze growing even colder. Killing this demonic quasi-emperor was partly because he sensed the colorless staff, and partly to lure out the three demon emperors.
At this point, it was obvious without much thought that this entire affair was a plot by the three demon emperors against him.
They must have done something to this strange desert, using some trump card to deal with him.
But no matter what dragon's den or tiger's lair it was, Bai Ye had to go.
Today, he would settle things here and see if their trump cards truly gave them enough confidence! With a thought, Bai Ye sped towards the center of the desert.
At the edge of the desert, two figures hiding in the shadows cautiously and tremblingly fled. They were the other two quasi-emperors who had been holding Lydia captive. Witnessing their companion's brutal death, their hearts were in their mouths, and a shadow that would never be forgotten was cast upon them for life.
Since when did emperors possess the power to slaughter quasi-emperors? They didn't even have a chance to escape! Could the Elven Emperor, the Azure Ox Emperor, and the Cold Martial Emperor achieve such a feat?
"Quick, let's go, it's none of our business anymore!"
"But, we kidnapped his sister, and we injured her..."
"Then what are you waiting for? Run! No, that was the work of the three Emperor Lords, what does it have to do with us?"
"Run!!!"
...
In the center of the Great Desolate Forbidden Zone, where the ground was once empty and covered in yellow sand, a giant vine now stood tall.
Midway up the vine, a little girl was tightly bound by countless small tendrils. The blood stained her pretty, lovable face, and her eyes were closed, as if in eternal sleep.
Bai Ye sped towards her, and upon seeing Lydia's state, his pupils contracted. In that moment, his heart felt as if it were being torn apart by a thousand knives, writhing in agony.
At this moment, he did not display overwhelming rage. Instead, his face became even colder, and tiny ice crystals began to form in the surrounding space.
Bai Ye increased his speed slightly, but a red rose slowly bloomed, blocking his path.
As the bud slowly unfurled, a peerless woman appeared, exuding an ethereal queenly aura. "Bai Ye, we meet again."
Rachel, the Elven Emperor.
As she appeared, two figures materialized in the sky in succession: the Azure Ox Emperor and the Cold Martial Emperor.
"Bai Ye, it's not that easy to save your sister!" the Cold Martial Emperor sneered.
Suddenly, the entire Great Desolate Forbidden Zone trembled violently. Countless runes appeared in the sky and on the ground.
"Spatial Restriction Demonic Array, this was specially prepared for you. You always act recklessly relying on your spatial powers, but today, I want to see how you can still move freely and with ease!!!"