King of Creation Chapter 1665 - 1650: Void Hunting King

"Void Hunter King!"

When the white light burst into view, the Heavenly Patrol Divine General abruptly raised his head, staring with profound reverence at the point of its emergence, his eyes blazing with intense passion!

The Void Hunter King stands as the supreme being in the Heavenly Patrol Department. There, the Heavenly Patrol Divine Hunters form the essential force, while Heavenly Patrol Divine Generals rank as immensely formidable powers.

Training into a Heavenly Patrol Divine Hunter proves immensely difficult, demanding extraordinary aptitude. From a thousand such Hunters, scarcely one advances to become a Heavenly Patrol Divine General.

Typically, Divine Generals at the Peak of Ninth Stage Dark Palace Realm or Peak of Ninth Stage Realm King Realm embody the ultimate might of the Heavenly Patrol Department.

Nevertheless, legends speak of the Void Hunter King surpassing even Divine Generals—a horrifying powerhouse who ascends to the Dao Realm via the Divine General route, boasting freakishly overwhelming battle prowess.

Should a Heavenly Patrol Divine General achieve breakthrough into the Dao Realm, regular Dao Realm masters would flee at top speed upon crossing paths with them.

Still, Void Hunter Kings stay extraordinarily scarce. Forget outsiders—even fellow Heavenly Patrol Divine Generals have never laid eyes on one.

Yet today, Ye Zhen and his companions beheld a Void Hunter King unleashing its might right before them.

More crucially, Ye Zhen understood perfectly that solely the Grand Celestial Official or figures like Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long held the authority to summon a Void Hunter King.

Dispatching such an elusive Void Hunter King to safeguard Ye Zhen clearly revealed the firm position of the Grand Celestial Official and Ren Venerate Emperor.

This filled Ye Zhen with immense confidence!

Right after the Void Hunter King rescued Ye Zhen, a streak of white light shot forth like a bolt of lightning, slashing straight at the colossal Dharma Body of Grand Divine Master Shou Hui.

Each time a white light streak hurtled out, the Void-Slaughtering Radiance inside Ye Zhen quivered fiercely, echoing with wildly potent spatial ripples.

The area around Grand Divine Master Shou Hui’s Dharma Body got shredded into countless fragments instantly. Should Shou Hui persist in upholding his Dharma Body, it would undoubtedly get diced into hundreds of segments.

With an enraged bellow, Shou Hui’s Dharma Body contracted swiftly like a punctured balloon, dwindling to needle-tip size in a blink, thus evading the Void Hunter King’s lethal cuts.

But precisely then, the earlier Ice Cone detonated abruptly, unleashing bone-chilling cold that flooded the entire realm in an instant.

A kilometer-wide zone transformed into a frozen wasteland without delay.

Even Grand Divine Master Shou Hui, shrunken to needle-tip proportions, found himself swallowed by that deep blue glow.

"Gui Yu, you’re courting death!" Shou Hui thundered, as a ring of scorching flames erupted from his tiny Dharma Body, rapidly shattering the icy prison.

In the void, blue radiance flickered anew, and the signature spatial energy pulses of the Void Hunter King surged once more—yet right then, no fewer than five concealed, mighty presences materialized behind Grand Divine Master Shou Hui.

Clearly, Grand Divine Master Shou Hui hadn’t come solo; he brought allies.

Ye Zhen’s face twisted in shock, but amid the void, Great Sun Priest Gui Yu in his dark blue robes materialized suddenly, fixing a icy glare on the freshly freed Grand Divine Master Shou Hui.

Behind him, sharp glints shimmered faintly.

Deadlier still, thick void disturbances erupted densely from every direction all at once.

Ye Zhen’s Void-Slaughtering Radiance detected more than twenty spatial pulses.

No soul could tell how many Void Hunter Kings and Heavenly Patrol Divine Generals lurked within the nearby void.

Furthermore, Ye Zhen was certain that the Ancestor God Temple contingent at the Sun Festival exceeded just Great Sun Priest Gui Yu.

"Gui Yu, I bear the Imperial Edict of the Nine Suns God King. Dare you oppose it?" Grand Divine Master Shou Hui growled darkly.

"Shou Hui, that decrepit Nine Suns Ghost’s edict binds only your Celestial Temple lackeys. What business is it of my Great Zhou? We Great Zhou heed solely the Holy Emperor’s Imperial Decree. Throughout the Primordial Continent and heavens plus myriad worlds, none but my Great Zhou’s Holy Emperor issues edicts that rule all. Since when does your Celestial Temple wield such power? Planning rebellion, are you?" Great Sun Priest Gui Yu shot back with a mocking sneer.

Grand Divine Master Shou Hui let out several cold snorts, "Think you can still shield this destroyer of my Celestial Temple’s shrine?"

With those words, Shou Hui shot Ye Zhen a glance like twin sledgehammers, hammering at Ye Zhen’s Spirit Palace via a Divine Soul assault.

Shou Hui stood there in utter confusion, watching Ye Zhen turn away casually as though nothing at all had transpired.

Impossible! How could a Divine Communication Realm cultivator shrug off his Divine Soul assault without a scratch?

Stunned, Shou Hui morphed into a streak of fiery brilliance and fled swiftly, the shadowy yet potent presences trailing him vanishing as well.

With the Celestial Temple's forces pulling back, Great Sun Priest Gui Yu cast a final look at Ye Zhen before dissolving into the void; the encircling Void Hunter King auras likewise blinked out in a flash.

All traces faded as if the clash had never occurred, save for the massive kilometer-spanning ice barrier and the brooding thunderclouds massing overhead, still poised to unleash.

Ye Zhen gazed skyward at those thunderclouds, a hint of worry creasing his brow.

He had braced himself for an all-out battle initially, but salvation's timely arrival rendered such extreme tactics unnecessary.

Yet the Small Five Elements Mixed Yuan Divine Thunder wasn't his innate might; summoning and firing it proved simple, but suspending it midway invited peril.

Luckily, with the Acquired Spirit Treasure Thunder Light Whip in hand, Ye Zhen deftly managed and scattered the thunderclouds, averting any rebound.

Pressing forward, the typically taciturn Heavenly Patrol Divine General Fengg Jiumo became unusually talkative.

"My Lord, I never expected to see a Void Hunter King!"

"Young Master Liuu, do you think I’ll have a chance in this lifetime to become a Void Hunter King?"

Liuu Feng stayed quiet, leaving Fengg Jiumo somewhat dejected. Reaching top-tier Heavenly Patrol Divine General status this lifetime would be feat enough; Void Hunter King? That seemed a distant dream....

"Fengg Jiumo, what is your current cultivation?" Ye Zhen suddenly asked.

"Reporting to my Lord, this subordinate is currently at the Peak of First Stage Realm King Realm." Fengg Jiumo replied.

"What was your cultivation when you first followed me?" Ye Zhen inquired further.

"Reporting to my Lord, Late Stage Ninth Stage Dark Palace Realm!"

"How many years did it take you to reach your current cultivation?" Ye Zhen asked.

"Reporting to my Lord, less than four years!"

"How long does it take others?"

"Under normal circumstances, it takes at least ten years, with the average being around eighteen years...." Fengg Jiumo trailed off midway.

Ye Zhen glanced back at Fengg Jiumo with deep intent, "Understood?"

Fengg Jiumo nodded gradually.

"Good to understand; follow me, and everything.... is possible!" Ye Zhen proclaimed boldly.

During their journey from Dragon Swimming Plain toward Luoyi City, Ye Zhen had pieced it together. In truth, both Heavenly Temple and Great Zhou were merely probing each other's boundaries.

The true aim wasn't Ye Zhen personally, but gauging the opponent's stance on this issue.

Put another way, each side was signaling their position to the other.

Ye Zhen had become a pawn in this intricate affair.

Though a prized pawn at present, Great Zhou wouldn't discard him lightly.

Still, being a mere piece meant surrendering control of one's fate to higher powers.

Frankly, Ye Zhen loathed the sensation of manipulation, fully aware he couldn't yet seize the board in the near future.

Yet he vowed not to let others dictate his path, pondering ways to wield his strength and sway the greater game.

Within Great Zhou's Imperial City's Universe Hall, Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long calmly dismissed the glowing screen ahead, his face serene like a placid lake—though Yu Chaoen, well-acquainted with him, sensed the Holy Emperor's simmering fury.

"Hmph, those Heavenly Temple scoundrels grow bolder daily, brazenly executing Nine Suns Old Ghost’s commands right on my Great Zhou soil. Their nerve has swollen beyond measure, hmph!"

A frigid huff blanketed the Imperial City in icy dread, sending Chief Eunuch Yu Chaoen to his knees in haste, urgently pleading, "Your Majesty, calm down, the Heavenly Temple issue has festered across generations; eroding their power demands time, not rash moves. Please, Your Majesty, proceed with patience."

"Do you think I am unaware?" Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long nodded deliberately. "However, this time, it is a grand opportunity!"

.....

In Luoyi City's eastern lower temple, Moon Palace Master Baili Fei and the freshly returned Grand Divine Master Shou Hui meditated side by side.

"Great Zhou’s stance proves firmer than anticipated! They even mobilized two seldom-seen Void Hunter Kings." Shou Hui's face bore a heavy cast.

"For countless years, our Heavenly Temple has engaged in covert rivalry against Great Zhou, scheming relentlessly all this time. This event might prove to be the pivotal shift, the opportunity to dominate Great Zhou."

"Should we manage to eliminate this youth within the Great Zhou Imperial Court, from then on, any civil or military officials bold enough to defy our Heavenly Temple will need to hesitate." Baili Fei declared.

Shou Hui appeared worried, "Hall Master, merely depending on our Sun and Moon Heaven’s strength won’t suffice to overwhelm Great Zhou."

Hearing these words, a sly grin crept onto Baili Fei’s lips, "Of course not. With this affair resolved, the entire Heavenly Temple stands to gain, meaning Green Dawn Peak and Thunder Prison Mountain cannot stay out of it either.

An agreement was forged two months back, and come the moment, reinforcements from Green Dawn Peak and Thunder Prison Mountain will arrive too." At this juncture, a enigmatic smirk played on Baili Fei’s mouth, "Moreover, don’t forget—we possess two innate allies and helpers in this scheme!"

"Innate allies and helpers? And two of them?" Shou Hui wore a baffled expression.

"Report to Hall Master: Princess Ji Yuan requests an audience." A report echoed from beyond the door.

Baili Fei grinned assuredly, gesturing at the entrance, "See? One of them is here already..."

"Invite them in!"

"No, I, the Hall Master, will greet them myself."

....

Within West Patrol Xio Qiangu’s abode, as he sat in meditation sipping tea, his trusted aide Weis Gang’s voice rang out from the doorway.

"My lord, that Ye fellow has shown up and is about to pass into Luoyi City." Weis Gang reported.

"Excellent, he’s finally here—the performance is set to commence." Xio Qiangu seemed utterly relaxed.

Yet Weis Gang frowned in confusion, "My lord, what stance do we take in this affair? And when do we pull back the spies we covertly dispatched to Shahe City in the South River Marquisate?"

"What stance?"

Xio Qiangu savored a leisurely mouthful of tea, "Being part of the Heavenly Patrol Department, we must avoid getting too entangled with the Heavenly Temple.

Though all know I, Xio Qiangu, maintain ties to the Heavenly Temple, has anyone witnessed me consorting with its members? Thus, for this business, we merely observe."

"Merely observe?" Weis Gang stood stunned, "Wouldn’t that hand the advantage to that Ye Zhen punk? Such a rare chance..." Suddenly, Weis Gang’s face changed, "Could my lord mean..."

"Naturally, how could I squander such a prime chance?"

"We’ll keep no ties to this; a subtle push from the shadows will let us effortlessly pluck out the thorn embedded in our West Patrol beside the Emperor.

To ignore such a prime prospect would be foolish."

"Indeed, officially we’re just onlookers! Yet an onlooker can do more than applaud—they can toss in a few dramatic twists!"

Xio Qiangu’s face grew solemn now, "Compile the intel collected from Shahe City along with the info obtained through our Heavenly Patrol Department’s inner channels. Hand it over to the right parties at the critical juncture."

As he spoke, a smug gleam surfaced on Xio Qiangu’s features, "Thus, to the Emperor, I remain cautious and wise; to the Heavenly Temple, I’m still reliable. Heh, what a clever scheme!"

On hearing this, Weis Gang bowed quietly and withdrew; a heavy load of tasks awaited him.

Over the last three months, his lord had sent four to five hundred crack soldiers to Shahe City, and Weis Gang needed to sift through and select the valuable reports they’d amassed.

Upon Ye Zhen’s entry through the Luoyi City Gate, he faced stringent examination. While Liuu Feng and his companions passed more readily, Ye Zhen’s demonic attendants—the Cloud Winged Tiger King Kitten and the Nine-Headed Beast—underwent thorough checks.

On this occasion, Princess Changle offered no endorsement.

Still, they ultimately cleared the Luoyi City Gate.

Returning to Luoyi, Ye Zhen sensed a wholly altered atmosphere.

His prior visit to Luoyi felt like a mere ant entering the metropolis, gawking at everything in awe.

Now, however, Ye Zhen resembled a solitary wolf prowling into Luoyi—strength aside, he held the power to unleash storms.

Today’s turbulent Luoyi had been roiled into chaos by Ye Zhen himself.

Per Great Zhou’s statutes, officials reporting for duty in Luoyi from other locales were housed in state-allotted lodgings, scaled by their official rank.

Yet Ye Zhen headed straight to the Imperial City upon arrival to announce his presence.

He proclaimed his timely arrival for duty in line with the imperial edict.

Not even half an hour passed since Ye Zhen returned to his quarters when a fresh imperial decree arrived.

"From Primordial Era above, ruling Ten Thousand Worlds below, the Heavenly Destiny Saint proclaims: Earl of North Sea of third class, West Patrol Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy Ye Zhen, attend court tomorrow to report to the Emperor, thereupon!"

After taking the decree, before Ye Zhen managed to express thanks to the eunuch who brought it, that eunuch presented him with a Jade Scroll adorned in multiple layers of seals.

"The ancestor instructed me to deliver this to you, sir, and commanded that you destroy it right after reading!"