King of Creation Chapter 1664 - 1649: Divine King’s Imperial Edict

Because of the lurking danger, Ye Zhen avoided lingering in Luoyi for too long.

Right after arriving in Luoyi and concluding their talks, he slipped away secretly from the city that very night, rushing toward Haiyuan City in the Marquisate of Haiyuan—the closest point to the Ancient Teleportation Array.

Furthermore, Ye Zhen had disguised himself completely.

Per the strategy, Ye Zhen would escort Liuu Feng, Heavenly Patrol Divine General Fengg Jiumo, and Spirit Scout Niu Er back when reporting his return. Yet, Liuu Feng and Spirit Scout Niu Er were set to travel openly to Haiyuan City by daylight, drawing eyes away.

With his perfect disguise and meticulous planning, Ye Zhen faced no surprises until reaching the Ancient Teleportation Array on Dragon Swimming Plain beyond Luoyi City. There, he finally dropped his cover, awaiting Liuu Feng and Spirit Scout Niu Er's arrival.

Great Zhou's laws demanded that officials reporting back in Luoyi do so accompanied by a retinue, honoring heaven and the emperor through proper rites.

Additionally, Ye Zhen in disguise couldn't step foot into Luoyi.

Through multiple teleportation arrays, Ye Zhen's path mirrored that of Liuu Feng and the rest closely, so he only lingered under two hours on Dragon Swimming Plain before linking up with Liuu Feng and his group.

Soon after, a modest earl's convoy—complete with the bare minimum of around twenty honor guards—set off from the Ancient Teleportation Array on Dragon Swimming Plain, bound for Luoyi.

The instant Ye Zhen, third-class Earl of North Sea, raised his banner, more than a hundred Dao Talisman Communications shot up together into the skies over Dragon Swimming Plain, sparking a flurry of light screens.

Witnessing this burst of Talisman Communications, Ye Zhen smirked to himself, "The grand show is about to begin!"

"As a third-rank earl, I'm permitted five companions into Luoyi City. Liuu Feng, Niu Er, Fengg Jiumo, Big Ears, and Ling Qianbi—you five come with me to Luoyi. Everyone else stays at the relay station outside the city," Ye Zhen ordered as they advanced.

No need to elaborate on Big Ears’ prowess. Having him along this trip proved a massive boon for Ye Zhen. Though Ling Qianbi stood at late-stage Dark Palace Realm, not even a Realm King could easily overpower him.

Particularly thanks to his All Living Beings Hundred Illusion Divine Ability, deployed shrewdly, it might even throw off a Dao Realm powerhouse.

Though slaughter in the Imperial Capital Luoyi seemed impossible, readiness was crucial, usable or not.

Big Ears Nie Ting and Ling Qianbi's histories and roles were already solidified long ago, serving in North Sea County with entries in the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy records.

For a Wind Patrol Envoy, fabricating a handful of identities was mere child's play.

"This mission carries supreme weight. While stationed at the relay station beyond Luoyi City, remain silent, stay indoors, and shun all outsiders. If disaster strikes from carelessness, don't say this Earl didn't forewarn you." Ye Zhen cautioned his followers en route.

Even if most attendants remained in the dark about the peril, Ye Zhen would bear remorse should they invite doom upon themselves.

Thus, Ye Zhen kept his group small, moving with utmost lightness.

"Sir, over there!" Heavenly Patrol Divine General Fengg Jiumo abruptly gestured toward Luoyi.

When all gazes lifted, a fierce blaze streaked swiftly from Luoyi's direction. Flying lights like this were routine near Luoyi City at first glance, yet as the firelight closed in, a chilling intuition gripped everyone—it barreled right toward them.

The higher one's Divine Soul Power, the more intense that sensation grew. Ling Qianbi and Fengg Jiumo both shot looks at Ye Zhen, awaiting his cue.

"Pull back—I'll handle it!"

Letting out a savage roar, Ye Zhen's form blurred as he charged ahead to meet the threatening firelight.

Closer it came, the more profound and mighty its aura swelled. Drawing from his encounters with masters, Ye Zhen recognized it instantly as the mark of a Dao Realm expert.

A mere thought summoned the pitch-black Dragon Scale Spirit Armor, sheathing Ye Zhen fully and giving him the look of a figure clad in ebony dragon scales.

Thunder Spirit Fire danced at his fingertips while a Xuan Fire Drill, radiating fearsome might, appeared in grasp. Ye Zhen stood bold and resolute against the surging firelight brimming with Dao Realm power.

To be frank, against a half-step Dao Realm foe like the Blue-scaled Dragon King, bolstered by his present power and mighty Purple Spirit, Ye Zhen could hold his own.

Yet facing a genuine Dao Realm powerhouse? Ye Zhen's confidence wavered. The sole variation lay in the speed of his demise.

Were this clash occurring away from Luoyi, Ye Zhen would have bolted the moment he sensed a Dao Realm expert's lock on him.

Without even deploying the War Soul Blood Flag for flight, he would swiftly trigger the Innate Five Elements Divine Escape, vanishing into the distance. Dao Realm experts must not be provoked.

But here, it was Luoyi.

Dressed as the third-class Earl of North Sea, embodying the North Sea third-class Earl and Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy, fleeing in terror from an abrupt Dao Realm presence would leave Ye Zhen certain that the Imperial Power Faction backers, including Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long, would feel profound dismay and might even punish him!

That firelight hurtling at Ye Zhen probably came from a Heavenly Temple powerhouse.

Ye Zhen gambled that after his public showing on Dragon Swimming Plain, both Heavenly Temple and Great Zhou authorities knew of his presence.

Ye Zhen refused to think Great Zhou officials would watch passively as a Heavenly Temple expert slew him.

He felt utterly assured.

Great Zhou's fearsome fame came not from mere talk but from battles stained in blood.

Trusting this gut feeling, Ye Zhen fearlessly charged toward the firelight pulsing with Dao Realm might.

Nearly instantly, a form burst from the flames: bald-headed, clad in red Heavenly Temple robes, eyes burning with savage fire.

"Are you Ye Zhen, the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy?" The Heavenly Temple Grand Divine Master Shouhui's voice boomed like thunder from afar.

"Indeed, I am Ye Zhen, third-class Earl of North Sea and Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy of the West Patrol of Great Zhou. Who are you, and why do you block my path?" Ye Zhen demanded sharply.

Though Ye Zhen's face stayed rigidly grave, his Divine Sense had already delved into the First Sword Vein, extending outward.

Ye Zhen scanned desperately for nearby powerhouses. Should his wager fail, his life hung in the balance.

No one could predict how many attacks from this Grand Divine Master Ye Zhen might endure.

With Ye Zhen's signal, the Purple Spirit stood ready long ago. If no other experts lurked nearby, Ye Zhen pinned his hopes on the Purple Spirit granting him a faint chance to live.

"It’s you!"

"By the decree of the Nine Suns Divine King, I have come to take your life!"

Grand Divine Master Shouhui's eyes ignited with savage glow. As he landed, his foot slammed the earth, sending tremors through ground and heavens alike, even the unseen Five Elements Spiritual Power quaking oddly.

Right then, the Five Elements Spiritual Power Ye Zhen's Divine Sense normally sensed and slipped into vibrated strangely, blocking his Divine Soul from detecting it.

Ye Zhen's face shifted; the instant Grand Divine Master Shouhui showed, he sealed Ye Zhen's escape.

Taking one step ahead, Grand Divine Master Shouhui swiftly followed with a second, his body ballooning the moment he did.

In a flash, with a body sway, Grand Divine Master Shouhui grew to a colossal three thousand meters, eyes roaring with flames, gazing down at Ye Zhen like a deity.

Without letting Ye Zhen respond, Grand Divine Master Shouhui stepped the third time.

That third step formed a foot vast as a mountain.

Starting at just a hundred meters wide, once extended, it eclipsed the world, swelling to ten thousand meters, resembling a towering peak.

Even deadlier, this massive foot blazed with dark red inferno.

As that scorching blaze erupted, it scorched the void with sizzling roars, choking breath from all around.

Upon emergence, the nearby air turned arid under the dark red blazing fire.

"Fatian Xiangdi Cultivated to the extreme! Damn it, I can’t believe there’s such a fool!" Mirage Dragon Primordial Spirit Achou howled, "Any divine power method, once cultivated to the extreme, will unleash unimaginable power."

In that moment, Ye Zhen's pupils shrank to pinpoints.

The Xuan Fire Drill, formed from Heavenly Thunder Spirit Fire at his fingers, paled against the blaze from Grand Divine Master Shouhui’s enormous foot.

As the colossal foot descended from the skies, Ye Zhen felt utter inescapability rise within.

Ye Zhen knew Grand Divine Master Shouhui’s all-out blow could not be dodged; he had no choice but to meet it directly.

Yet so far, no third party had stepped into the fray.

Ye Zhen questioned if his judgment erred.

Right now, Ye Zhen lacked the time to mull over those matters; his focus was entirely on his own survival.

With no one stepping in yet, Ye Zhen had no choice but to battle desperately for his life!

Instantly, an unmatched battle intent, murderous aura, and unyielding will to live exploded from within Ye Zhen.

As the Purple Spirit Immortal Sword soared forth, Ye Zhen’s divine sense plunged into the Kui Niu Spirit Essence Pearl housed in the Mirage Dragon Pearl, seizing that enigmatic and profound thunder element ripple without delay.

The Acquired Spirit Treasure Thunder Light Whip burst from behind Ye Zhen’s head, and in a flash, he integrated the mysterious thunder element fluctuation captured from the Kui Niu Spirit Essence Pearl into the Thunder Light Whip.

The vast divine soul power gained after forming his primordial spirit, combined with the spiritual power surging in his body, all surged into the Acquired Spirit Treasure Thunder Light Whip at once.

A shimmer danced at his fingertips, summoning the Nine Heavens Spirit Marrow Liquid to appear between Ye Zhen’s fingers.

Without any intervention, Ye Zhen could only unleash his most powerful abilities to struggle for survival.

The instant Ye Zhen’s eyes ignited with fierce light and a towering battle spirit along with killing intent burst from him, a massive light screen materialized before Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long in the Universe Hall of Great Zhou’s Imperial City.

The light screen clearly displayed the intense standoff between Ye Zhen and Grand Divine Master Shouhui.

Even the fiery blaze in Ye Zhen’s eyes and his steadfast expression were perfectly visible.

Grand Steward Yu Chao’en, standing beside Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long, observed Ye Zhen’s frantic fight for life on the enormous light screen. This screen held profound mysteries, subtly relaying the aura pulses from both Ye Zhen and Grand Divine Master Shouhui.

"Your Majesty, see how cunning this kid is—he knows that stepping onto the Dragon Swimming Plain makes him untouchable.

He’s pretending to be fearless, recklessly activating his forbidden technique to impress and deceive Your Majesty," Chief Eunuch Yu Chao’en said with a sly low chuckle.

Yet Emperor Ji Long, eyes fixed on the light screen, bore a grave look. "You’re mistaken, Great Attendant!"

"This kid is genuinely fighting for his life here—no pretense at all."

"In this Celestial Spirit Mirror under my direct control, even across thousands of miles, it captures over sixty percent of their aura fluctuations.

I can tell that kid’s purple spirit sword isn’t ordinary; it must be an Acquired Spirit Treasure.

Plus, the aura from the Small Five Elements Mixed Yuan Divine Thunder he’s channeling this time approaches the peak of his cultivation realm."

Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long let out a soft sigh. "Ah, if only I had more ministers bold enough to fight, to kill, and to directly challenge the Heavenly Temple—curbing their influence would be no issue."

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Chief Eunuch Yu Chao’en offered a light compliment with hands clasped, a trace of satisfaction gleaming in his downcast eyes.

"Your Highness the Princess, this old servant has fulfilled the task you assigned."

Given Chief Eunuch Yu Chao’en’s sharp perception, how could he fail to see Ye Zhen desperately battling in the light screen?

Still, Yu Chao’en pretended ignorance to emphasize Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long’s wisdom, greatly boosting the Emperor’s good opinion of Ye Zhen.

Yu Chao’en seldom resorted to such tactics, of course.

Acting foolish too frequently before the Emperor would brand one an actual idiot in his sight.

Once labeled a fool by the Emperor, expulsion loomed close.

Under the intent gazes of Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long and Chief Eunuch Yu Chao’en, a deep blue ice spike abruptly plummeted from the heavens, radiating a bone-piercing chill as it stabbed toward Grand Divine Master Shouhui’s colossal foot.

Upon the deep blue ice spike’s emergence, over half the flames engulfing Shouhui’s giant foot were snuffed out; the searing heat in the void dissipated, allowing Big Ears—nearly charred to jerky—to finally draw breath.

"Shouhui, you dare openly strike the Earl of Great Zhou on the Dragon Swimming Plain! What audacity!" A voice laced with intense, bone-chilling cold suddenly boomed across the Dragon Swimming Plain.

"I follow the Divine King’s edict—who dares obstruct me?" Shouhui bellowed, his massive foot plunging even faster.

Ye Zhen itched to curse right then; if you’re going to save him, do it properly—what sort of half-measure rescue was this?

He’d still need to risk everything.

Right as Ye Zhen silently cursed to himself, a white crescent light abruptly flashed above his head, savagely slicing through the void barrier.

What's more, it traced an utterly enigmatic arc, deftly wedging Ye Zhen apart from Grand Divine Master Shouhui’s massive foot.