A rumbling sound echoed from the heavens, a majestic aura that made men tremble and women quiver.
Xia Feng merely displayed his strength, not unleashing his full pressure, lest these people be annihilated. They simply couldn't withstand Xia Feng's might.
The pressure of an Immortal Emperor – what a terrifying existence, the most powerful being in this world. And before them stood Xia Feng, the foremost Emperor of the Immortal Realm, unmatched.
Everyone forgot to breathe. Those who didn't understand cultivation realms couldn't comprehend, but they felt an intense sense of reverence, an urge to prostrate themselves in worship.
The Immortal Emperor expert from Heavenly Void Palace's eyes bulged, recoiling in terror, his body quaking. He stammered, "Imm...Immortal Emperor..."
Others might not recognize the realm, but he did. An Immortal Emperor? Was this person an Immortal Emperor?
Before anyone else could react, the Immortal Emperor expert of Heavenly Void Palace regained his senses and immediately knelt down with a thud, shouting loudly, "Greetings, Immortal Emperor. I was disrespectful just now; I will accept any punishment."
That Immortal Emperor expert was Tao Taolei, the Second Elder of Heavenly Void Palace and their third strongest individual. He had never dreamed he would one day meet an Immortal Emperor, but alas, he had met one, only to be courting death.
Seeing Tao Taolei immediately kneel, Jin Feipeng and the other onlookers were stunned. (⊙o⊙)... Everyone's eyes widened, especially Jin Feipeng, who simply couldn't accept it. Wasn't he just an early-stage Immortal Lord? How did he suddenly transform into an Immortal Emperor expert?
Then he remembered. His earlier analysis was correct; it was precisely because Xia Feng was an Immortal Emperor that he could alter his realm at will. He never expected the most improbable thing to happen so easily. Nothing could be more absurd than this.
At this moment, Jin Feipeng finally understood that the previous two Immortal Kings weren't playing any tricks, nor had they simply vanished. Xia Feng had directly annihilated them. To die at the hands of an Immortal Emperor could be considered their fortune, and to disappear in such a manner, perhaps it wasn't so bad.
"Greetings, Immortal Emperor."
Everyone knelt down, including Jin Feipeng. It was the rule of the Immortal Realm; one must pay homage upon first meeting an Immortal Emperor. Unless you were familiar with them, or had already paid homage once, you wouldn't need to bow again. Of course, if even the Immortal Emperor experts were kneeling, they had no face not to.
Chi Manman was about to kneel when a gentle force lifted her. Xia Feng smiled and said, "Between us, such vulgar formalities are unnecessary." Xia Feng, being from Earth, disliked such prostrations. However, it was their rule, and Xia Feng couldn't be bothered to say more. But in his Empty City, such troublesome rules didn't exist; respect was internal, not expressed through such ostentatious regulations. He recalled the most powerful nation on Earth, the Tang Dynasty. Even when meeting the Son of Heaven, they didn't perform the kowtow; true respect resided in the heart.
Chi Manman's face flushed. She didn't quite understand what Xia Feng meant, but she felt very happy. At least Xia Feng truly considered her a friend.
Looking at everyone kneeling on the ground, Xia Feng calmly said, "Rise, everyone. I, Xia Feng, am not one to dwell on minor matters."
Xia Feng? The foremost Emperor of the Immortal Realm. (⊙o⊙)... Xia Feng announcing his name, and the name Chi Manman had mentioned earlier, there was a chasm of difference between them. After Xia Feng revealed his name, everyone's legs trembled again. Because before Xia Feng arrived, they had mocked Chi Manman, saying she was indulging in wishful thinking, daring to claim she knew the foremost Emperor of the Immortal Realm? It turned out everything Chi Manman said was true; she really knew him. Some bolder individuals began to sneak glances at Xia Feng, not expecting him to be so young.
Jin Feipeng kept his head down, not daring to utter a word. What awaited him next was death, and he didn't know in what manner it would end. He was afraid, terrified, uneasy; all sorts of emotions converged within him, filled with dread and anxiety. He had given up struggling, for in the face of an Immortal Emperor, struggling was utterly pointless.
Tao Taolei finally came to his senses regarding Xia Feng's earlier words, asking the strongest person from Heavenly Void Palace to see him. He stood up, bowed to Xia Feng respectfully, and said, "I will have our Sect Master come to meet the Immortal Emperor immediately." After saying this, Tao Taolei spoke to an Immortal King behind him. That Immortal King vanished instantly. He was heading to the sect at the fastest speed possible to report this monumental event to the Sect Master. This was a cataclysmic affair, as if the heavens themselves had collapsed.
The Sect Master of Heavenly Void Palace was drinking tea with the Grand Elder. Suddenly, his grandson sent a signal requesting urgent assistance. The Second Elder had already rushed over, and they could only wait patiently at the sect.
"Sect Master, could young master Feipeng have encountered a situation he cannot resolve?" the Grand Elder, Tie Longbiao, asked leisurely after taking a sip of tea, setting the cup down.
"Second Elder went over. If he can't resolve it, our going would be of little use. In this area of Sky Pool City, for at least ten thousand miles, it's our Heavenly Void Palace that calls the shots. If Second Elder can't handle it, then it must be at least an Immortal Venerable expert. The late-stage Immortal Emperor expert already sent a danger signal, so there's no need to worry," the Sect Master of Heavenly Void Palace, Jin Qianbao, was clear-headed, analyzing the situation almost perfectly.
Truly impressive. There were only two points: he can handle it, or he can't.
"Sect Master speaks wisely. If they can handle it, we have nothing to worry about. If they can't, our presence is futile. Your foresight is truly commendable; I admire you," Tie Longbiao said, offering a bit of flattery.
Jin Qianbao chuckled heartily, "Just relax and drink your tea. Who would bring an Immortal Venerable expert to a desolate place like this?"
"Indeed. Immortal Venerable experts hardly ever leave their homes. I'm still waiting for the day you break through to Immortal Venerable, Sect Master. Then, our sect will have its own Immortal Venerable, and we will enter the ranks of major sects." Tie Longbiao spoke with a hint of wistfulness. Whether a sect was powerful or not depended on whether it had Immortal Venerable experts. With an Immortal Venerable expert, it was a major sect. With an Immortal Emperor, it was a super-major sect. Immortal Emperors were unthinkable; while Immortal Venerables were difficult, Immortal Emperors were almost impossible. That's why, out of so many people in the Immortal Realm, there were only a dozen or so Immortal Emperors, a negligible number.
"Haha... I wish I could," Jin Qianbao laughed. Breaking through to Immortal Venerable was not easy, unless one had the Primordial Originless Pill, which would increase the chances. The key was that he didn't have the materials. Even with materials, the Pill Sect might not deign to notice him. Who would refine this pill for him? This was a ninth-grade pill.
Just then, an urgent voice sounded from outside:
"Sect Master, Sect Master, a big... a big problem has occurred, a big problem."
...
(PS: There will be another chapter around 12 AM tonight. The plot is designed this way. If you say I'm dragging, I'll finish this plot and move on to the next.)