Chapter 131: Formal Reception, Bloody Massacre
In the superior world of Vraeth, Liwei and Luowei had officially arrived.
Although both hated formalities, the reality was that the friction between Sects or worlds ruled by Immortal Emperors required a certain level of etiquette they had to follow. This was especially true for someone at Luowei’s level, who—unlike Liwei, who, being stronger, might be able to bypass some of these formalities—definitely didn’t have the option of skipping them, although it isn’t exactly easy for his older sister to do so either.
The difference between a Venerable and an Immortal Emperor was abysmal. The former, while respected wherever they went, lacked the political weight the latter carried. Of course, if it were Siyin or Cassian visiting this world, they wouldn’t care less about such things.
A large crowd had gathered to receive them, along with the ruler’s wife. Although the Emperor’s absence might have angered others, the two sisters didn’t take it to heart; they knew very well that he would appear as soon as the doors in front of them opened.
And they were right.
A man dressed in attire that screamed power, with a sharp gaze and a smile that betrayed a wary welcome, made his appearance. He looked noticeably confused by the presence of both of them.
The man’s principal wife—who had guided them there and was no mere accessory, being a full-fledged Immortal King—approached and positioned herself beside the sovereign with a soft, indecipherable smile.
The man took the opportunity to comment:
"It was a surprise when I heard that someone from the Primordial Essence Sect would be visiting, but you are both welcome."
Liwei didn’t pay much attention to his words and went straight to what really mattered to her:
"Have you not seen any stray cultivators around here? Especially anyone from the Black Blood Sect?"
The Immortal Emperor’s eyes narrowed, as if carefully considering his answer.
"This world is quite large. While I tend to stay informed when someone new arrives, I’m afraid nothing particularly interesting has happened recently," the man said, beginning to look around as if expecting someone else to appear.
Luowei prepared to say something, but it was at that moment she realized she didn’t even know the name of the family that held power here, much less the name of their Immortal Emperor.
She looked at Liwei with eyes that clearly asked that very question, and the connection between them was instant. Luowei turned her head toward the imperial couple and spoke in an arrogantly casual tone:
"I believe we haven’t been properly introduced. I know we are the guests here, but we’re embarrassed to admit that we don’t know who you are..." She briefly averted her gaze, emphasizing that last part.
The man’s expression darkened for a moment, but he couldn’t take offense in front of visitors of such caliber. Forcing a smile onto his face, he replied:
"I suppose the famous sisters Liwei and Luowei don’t pay much attention to every minor Immortal Emperor scattered across the hundreds of superior worlds." He paused briefly before continuing. "This is my wife, Meifeng. I am Emperor Dongfang Jun, and the one coming over there is my precious son, Dongfang Ye."
A young man with an arrogant gait suddenly appeared in the hall. Though he stopped upon sensing that the atmosphere wasn’t quite right, he first looked at his father, who wore a strange, amiable expression, before his eyes shifted to the two guests.
The hand holding what appeared to be a power core faltered. The object fell to the ground and shattered upon contact with the solid surface. Although these artifacts were made to withstand inhuman amounts of force, once one stopped channeling Qi into the core, they became quite fragile—resulting in the scene before them.
Dongfang Ye had seen his fair share of beautiful women in his life.
His mother was one, and Fengyue had been another. However, neither had managed to reach the sovereign levels—the peak of power in this universe that only his father and a few others around him had attained, whether as mere Venerables or his father as an Immortal Emperor.
Therefore, upon seeing Liwei and Luowei looking utterly dazzling, radiating an aura only those at the divine levels could emit, the ambition and greed in his eyes became impossible to hide.
Bailong, standing right behind his young master, immediately noticed the change in Dongfang Ye’s gaze. For a moment, his legs nearly gave out from the absolute terror of knowing his young master might try something with these two women.
He knew exactly which sect they belonged to.
Siyin, as one of the few cultivators at the legendary Ancestor level, was well known. But the one standing behind her... a genuine chill ran down his entire body just thinking about it.
Moreover, both women were, by themselves, a thousand times stronger than his young master.
Liwei and Luowei, for their part, paid almost no attention to the young man who had just entered. To them, aside from their own master, no man in the universe deserved even a second of their attention.
Dongfang Jun noticed their lack of interest. He also knew his son well enough to understand what he was thinking. He shot him a serious look, followed by a bit of pressure, to make it clear he shouldn’t say or do anything inappropriate.
Then, he turned his gaze back to the two women and invited them:
"We prepared a banquet upon learning of your arrival. Please, follow me."
Luowei wanted to refuse; she didn’t want to waste any more time here now that they had the information they needed. But when she saw her sister—who shared the same thought—begin to follow him, perhaps feeling guilty about the previous interaction and not wanting to appear too arrogant or curt with someone who had prepared something for them, she followed as well.
...
In Demor, the two figures who appeared made no introductions.
Zarian immediately gathered mana at the level of a demigod and, without warning, launched an attack toward Princess Elara.
The power contained within it devastated the floor and ceiling of the place. Some of the elders who had the misfortune of receiving the attack did not survive. Although everyone present was at least an eighth or ninth-level mage or warrior, the difference between breaking the third limit and nearly breaking the fourth was simply too vast.
The only one who managed to react was Cassandra, who did her best to protect Elara.
Forbidden arts were rare and frowned upon, but fortunately the name was the only thing forbidden about them. They didn’t require any kind of sacrifice as some believed; it simply seemed that the world itself didn’t want them to be used.
Cassandra’s dark mana partially blocked the attack for Elara, though part of it still struck her.
The princess’s clothes were no longer in perfect condition, and it looked like part of her arm had suffered a severe burn. Elara looked toward where the two attackers stood, ignoring the pain she felt, gazing at the destroyed surroundings and the remains of the dead elders lying beside her or scattered among the debris.
For someone like her, who had always acted spoiled and pampered, this was too much. We had already seen it once in Beaumont, and now it wouldn’t be much different, even with her improved strength.
But her master grabbed her uninjured arm firmly, snapping her out of it with urgency as she spoke in a grave voice:
"Run, quickly!"
There was no time to say anything else. Zarian was ready to try again what had failed the first time, and Belthor—who was even stronger than him—watched everything from the air with indifference.
Cassandra might be able to hold out for a while against the first one, but if they joined forces...
...
However, this wasn’t the only thing happening in Demor’s capital at that very moment.
In the central streets and even in the poorest suburbs, something never seen before was taking place.
Normally it was beasts that fell to the corrosion of the impure ones, but in this case—and as could be seen in the chaos of screams and destruction—it was the very humans who had just been laughing and talking happily with their friends, family, and loved ones.
And if one remembered some of the faces that had received food and other aid from the church just days before, they would quickly notice the coincidence between those now attacking people and those same individuals—though the corrosion was already making them nearly unrecognizable, and their power was increasing erratically.