The Steward Demonic Emperor Chapter 1341: Storm
Previously on The Steward Demonic Emperor...
Kunpeng stared intently as the encroaching void of darkness crept forward, advancing by mere inches with every passing moment. Anxiety gnawed at him while he observed Zhuo Fan, who remained locked in a state of profound, undisturbed meditation.
While Zhuo Fan seemed convinced that the shadows could neither reach nor harm him, Kunpeng remained deeply skeptical. Had it been his choice, he would have dragged Zhuo Fan back to Blackwind Mountain instantly, providing him with a safer haven to contemplate the mysteries of the Sacred Domain. [Though, I suppose that would only buy us time until the Heavenly Sovereign arrives to finish us off. A grim thought, indeed.]
He cast a look toward Lei Yuting; she appeared composed, provided one overlooked the involuntary twitch she displayed whenever the black expanse accelerated.
Upon her arrival the previous day, she had fought the urge to alert Zhuo Fan or flee with him entirely. Kunpeng gathered that she had eventually resigned herself to respecting his decision.
Shifting his gaze to his godson, Gu Santong, along with Queer and Sword Child, he found them remarkably at peace. Perhaps it was the result of years spent navigating peril alongside their father figure. In every instance, they had somehow emerged victorious, whether propelled by pure fortune or the strategic brilliance of Zhuo Fan.
[I suppose I should attempt to calm myself; fretting will not alter the inevitable. The void will eventually arrive, just as the Heavenly Sovereign continues his pursuit of the Supreme Stage, wherever he may be.]As if by some divine intervention, a sudden change occurred. The sea of blackness halted abruptly, then began to recede with startling speed. In its wake, there lay nothing but a desolate wasteland, utterly devoid of life or vitality.
This sudden reversal offered the group a fleeting sense of relief. That sensation vanished when a violent storm appeared on the horizon, causing every hair on their bodies to stand on end. Even the sacred beasts shuddered at the overwhelming pressure. Each thunderous detonation rent the fabric of space and shattered the earth as if it were fragile clay.
The group realized instantly who was responsible for such an unrestrained display of might.
“The Heavenly Sovereign!” the Dragon Ancestor growled. “He simply refuses to quit.”
“If he has survived for millions of years, a few extra days won't deter him,” Sea Ao remarked dryly.
“What is our next move? Zhuo Fan requires more time, and based on that tempest, attempting to stall him would be throwing our lives away. We wouldn't last even a heartbeat,” Sword Child noted, eyeing the incoming waves of power with visible apprehension.
“We either stand our ground here and wait for the Heavenly Sovereign to slaughter us, or we confront him and disrupt whatever he is attempting. At the very least, we would go out in a blaze of glory. The world would know we fought until the end,” Kunpeng stated solemnly.
“If only Yan Fu had been faster,” Elder Song sighed, his efforts feeling hollow now that the moment of greatest need had arrived.
“Look at the bright side: at least there is no more void to devour the Sacred Domain,” the Dragon Ancestor added, attempting a grim joke to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
“Yes, we’ve merely traded one certainty for another, only the first was much slower. We are absolutely thrilled,” Murong Xue replied, completely unimpressed, as were the others.
“Are we going or not?” The Dragon Ancestor dismissed the sarcasm, asking the practical question as he ascended into the sky, his resolve clear.
“I wouldn't miss it for the world,” Gu Santong said, nodding toward his father.
The others followed suit, advancing toward the roaring explosions, fully aware that they might never return.
As they neared the epicenter of the storm, the sky plunged into absolute darkness, devoid of any starlight. They failed to notice a prismatic flash shimmering behind them.
The Heavenly Sovereign appeared to be on the brink of death, his body covered in gaping, gruesome wounds. Black blood seeped from him incessantly, and his aura was clearly fading. By all logic, he should have been penning his final words rather than cackling like a madman.
This was the spectacle they encountered: a dying man seemingly capable of unleashing such immense, raw power.
[Is this really him?] Kunpeng observed closely and spotted two prismatic motes hovering around the Heavenly Sovereign. They drifted closer and further away, seemingly caught between attraction and repulsion.“He possesses the final paths and is attempting to refine them!” Sea Ao gasped. “That is why he retreated! He secured a contingency plan by claiming the remaining paths from the sea of blackness.”
“And here I was hoping the darkness would finish him,” Lei Yuting muttered.
“Stop wasting precious time. We must disrupt his ritual,” Kunpeng shouted.
He surged forward, launching an azure phoenix toward the paths. Recalling their previous encounter, he knew the Sovereign remained dangerous despite his injuries. The strike nudged one path away, though only slightly. The Heavenly Sovereign still managed to draw them closer to his grasp.
“You imbeciles! Stay put; I will deal with the lot of you shortly!” His raspy voice rumbled as he forced the paths into his body, ignoring the intense resistance.
Suddenly, an eerie silence descended as the storm of power halted. Yet, the sky remained fractured, brimming with a darkness capable of consuming them all.
“Since you have so kindly volunteered, you shall be the first to witness my newfound power!” The Heavenly Sovereign no longer bore any wounds. Even his lost arm had been restored, a feat deemed impossible since it had been claimed by the void.
His aura, however, had vanished. Not a trace of Yuan Qi could be felt emanating from him. He appeared like a common mortal. This realization struck terror into their hearts, as they knew this indicated he had transcended their level of power. He was now entirely beyond their ability to perceive!