Chapter 955 - 433: Mockery
"The Nine Domains only consist of nine realms, with two being uninhabitable ghost realms and burial realms, so it’s really just seven realms, a total of eighteen kings divided among seven realms. Saying it aloud, a person doesn’t even get half a realm."
The voice of the King of the Fourteenth Realm was elusive, like an ethereal melody, impossible to trace back to its source through sound.
Yet the King of the Thirteenth Realm remained vigilant, observing the surroundings. He was too familiar with the Old Fourteenth, a notably callous and cold-blooded individual. He was a value-based thinker, but at least he had a bit of conscience. He knew that Old Fourteenth was different; back when Old Fourteenth ascended to the throne, he did so by personally killing his own father and mother. Someone so heartless, even though he often collaborated with him, the mutual wariness never ceased.
This time facing the Netherworld God, Hoffman never expected to be beaten so miserably, losing sixty percent of his power. He also hadn’t thought that sending someone to notify Old Fourteenth for support would become a death warrant now haunting him.
"Hmph! Old Fourteenth, the Nine Domains haven’t been conquered yet. If I die, you’ll lose one top-tier combat power against the Nine Domains, and you all might not necessarily be able to take it down." Hoffman could only emphasize his importance continuously to dissipate Old Fourteenth’s killing intent toward him.
Upon hearing Hoffman’s words, Old Fourteenth’s derisive laughter inexplicably reverberated around: "Brother Thirteen, your Bloodline Power has been abolished, and from what I see, you’ve also regressed quite a bit in your mastery of the Law. Do you think you’re still an indispensable realm king among our Eighteen Realms? I guess... your general probably can easily take you down now, right?"
"Hmph!" Hoffman snorted coldly: "You can try it; if you’ve got the guts, try it yourself! I guarantee you’ll get a satisfactory result."
"Is that so? Well, I might as well oblige." With that, a sharp Sword Qi suddenly attacked from Hoffman’s side.
The Sword Qi was extremely sharp, appearing to cut through air without making a sound and so fast that it left only a phantom trace in the air.
But Hoffman had long since noticed. In truth, after being dealings with the King of the Fourteenth Realm for tens of thousands of years, he was very familiar with him, allowing him to detect this attack despite his diminished strength.
Clang~~~~~~
The Bone Blade accurately blocked the sword’s tip, and the verdant Divine Power was swiftly swallowed by reddish flame Divine Power.
The next second, a figure hidden under the breeze was forced to reveal itself after being tainted by Hoffman’s fire elemental Divine Power.
The King of the Fourteenth Realm appeared tall and slender, wielding a three-foot breeze long sword, smiling at Hoffman, who looked chilling in the near distance.
"Wu Haotian!" Hoffman shouted deeply: "Even when severely injured, you can’t simply kill me at will!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Wu Haotian was clearly not intimidated by Hoffman’s scolding. He brandished his sword forward, transforming into a breeze again, encircling Hoffman.
When the figure of the King of the Fourteenth Realm, Wu Haotian, vanished again, Hoffman found himself greatly troubled. Before his serious injury, he relied on the augmentation of his Bloodline Power to keenly capture the opponent’s form from their wind trails, but now he couldn’t; even Wu Haotian’s transformed breeze was somewhat elusive to him.
He can’t continue to stalemate with Wu Haotian; he must return to his main base, where several God Lord Level beings among his subordinates still exist to protect his life.
But...
Hoffman hesitated once more because the Eighteen Realms respect strength. Returning in such a weakened state, as Wu Haotian had previously said, his subordinates would surely harbor ideas of killing him to take over his position as realm king.
Under usual circumstances, his subordinates wouldn’t dare to rebel since stability is essential in the realm. Thus, if he became weak due to specific reasons, other realm kings would not only refrain from taking advantage but actively help stabilize his regime and protect him until his strength was restored to deter the entire realm.
But things were different now; they had left the Eighteen Realms to wage war against the Nine Domains. In war, every realm king prioritizes their interests, especially given Wu Haotian’s earlier remarks—a loss of one realm king means fewer people to share the spoils.
Moreover, using these soldiers to kill a realm king also wouldn’t hold other realm kings accountable.
Realizing this, Hoffman suddenly understood why Wu Haotian hadn’t killed him when he was utterly defenseless but instead only pierced his chest.
This guy was further weakening him to amplify his subordinates’ determination to rebel.
Figuring out Wu Haotian’s intentions, Hoffman said, "You don’t dare kill me now. If you do, not only won’t you benefit, but you may also plant a fatal seed for yourself."
Upon hearing Hoffman’s words, Wu Haotian did not speak but quickly unleashed two sharp Sword Qis towards Hoffman’s left and right sides.
Hoffman took a step back, slicing horizontally with his Bone Blade, a ring of flames suddenly igniting, easily dissipating the Sword Qis.
"You just want to drain my Divine Power, Wu Haotian. If you attack me, when the Eighteen Realms win or lose the war, other realm kings will hold you accountable. I advise you to think clearly and not risk your life for some petty gain!"
Hoffman’s words were correct; if the Eighteen Realms won, realm kings would use Wu Haotian’s betrayal as a perfect excuse to unite and kill him, re-divide his share of the spoils.
If the Eighteen Realms ultimately lost, Wu Haotian would be held as the primary scapegoat, accused of causing the defeat by killing Hoffman, diminishing the Eighteen Realms by one peak strength Divine Lord.
"You think it’s just you who can conceive that idea?" Wu Haotian’s voice carried full derision, resonating by Hoffman’s ear: "Brother Thirteen, you’re really too weak now. I genuinely want to kill you with a slash."
This voice seemed as if Wu Haotian was whispering by his ear, sending chills down Hoffman’s spine.
Simultaneously, a cool sensation spread across Hoffman’s neck.
Raising his hand to touch it, a wound had opened on Hoffman’s neck.
"You... your strength has broken through again?!" Hoffman appeared somewhat terrified, as Wu Haotian had never before displayed such a silent approach ability.
"Sort of, but mainly, Brother Thirteen, your strength has declined too much, and even your perception capability has weakened significantly."
As the words fell, Wu Haotian’s figure reappeared before Hoffman, still displaying a carefree expression.
After being mocked twice, Hoffman finally lost his composure, yelling at Wu Haotian: "What exactly are you planning to do?! If you don’t kill me, what’s the point of draining me? As long as I don’t return to the camp, who would know I’m here? Once your men tip them off, you’re complicit in this matter!"
"Oh really? But what if the people I’m waiting for aren’t your subordinates?"
Wu Haotian’s words immediately stunned Hoffman, and then he saw four figures emerging from all directions around him.
Seeing these unfamiliar Divine Lords, Hoffman’s face darkened: "Whose subordinates are these?"
Wu Haotian didn’t answer Hoffman’s question, but one of the four approaching Heavenly Gods spoke up: "We aren’t from your Eighteen Realms."
"Nine Domains’ Heavenly Gods?" Hoffman scrutinized the four’s appearance once more, then suddenly looked at Wu Haotian, rebuking angrily: "Wu Haotian, you actually betrayed our Eighteen Realms?!"
"Betrayal is a little exaggerated; it’s just cooperation." With that, Wu Haotian backed away.
Before leaving, he told the four Nine Domains Heavenly Gods: "His Bone Blade is quite a treasure; of course, if you can extract his method of Bloodline Power Refining, that’s naturally best. If not, well, never mind."
"Wu Haotian!"
Amid Hoffman’s furious outcries, the four Heavenly Gods continued to close in. With the disappearance of the Fourteenth Realm King’s figure, Hoffman was thoroughly submerged under the suppression of four-colored Divine Powers.