Chapter 493: 18 Beasts

Chapter 493: Chapter 491: 18 Beasts

The Eighteen Beasts blocked Li Qiye’s path. Though few in number, when the eighteen of them assumed their formation, they became a veritable fortress of steel, projecting the might of an army of thousands.

“Young man, leave at once, lest you bring ruin upon yourself!” the leader of the Eighteen Beasts said in a low voice.

Li Qiye glanced at them and chuckled. “Well, this is interesting. Your master wants me dead, yet you’re telling me to leave. What am I supposed to do?”

“We are responsible only for our lady’s safety. We will not involve ourselves in any other matter,” the leader of the Eighteen Beasts stated coldly.

Li Qiye spread his hands. “It’s easy enough for you to stay out of it. Just have her come out and fight me. My patience is limited.”

Li Qiye’s tone was casual, but his aura was becoming aggressive, even surpassing that of the Shen Ran Phoenix Lady.

This was hardly surprising. In fact, even though Li Qiye was being aggressive and domineering, no one present would consider him arrogant or ignorant. After slaughtering tens of thousands of foes, he had more than earned the right to speak this way.

He had slain tens of thousands in a single stroke, shaking the world with one battle. Everyone now understood that with this victory, Li Qiye was on the verge of rivaling the Three Heroes of the Netherworld. Even successors from Emperor Immortal Gates, like Saint Child Ji Que and the Ghost Insect Demon Child, could at best be considered his equals.

“Young man, to have achieved so much at your age is truly remarkable. It’s not easy for one so young and talented.” In response to Li Qiye’s aggressive words, the leader of the Eighteen Beasts said coldly, “However, slaughtering ten thousand enemies doesn’t make you invincible. The Ghost Sacred Realm is a land of hidden masters, with countless Virtuous Paragons…”

“Are these ‘countless Virtuous Paragons’ you speak of from your Ten Thousand Bones Throne?” Li Qiye cut him off with a smile. “I wonder just how many Virtuous Paragons your Ten Thousand Bones Throne has, and what’s so special about them.”

The leader of the Eighteen Beasts declared in a low voice, “The Ten Thousand Bones Throne has enough Virtuous Paragons to handle any crisis in this world! Our Virtuous Paragons are more than capable of standing as equals against any invincible existence!”

The leader’s words were arrogant and domineering, but they were also true. In the Ghost Sacred Realm, no lineage and no person dared to underestimate the Ten Thousand Bones Throne.

A single sect with three Immortal Emperors—this heritage was enough for them to look down on all others. As an ancient Emperor Immortal Gate of the Ghost Sacred Realm, the Ten Thousand Bones Throne might not be the oldest lineage in the Holy Holy Realm, nor the most Heaven-defying Ancient Sect Secret Sect. However, within the Netherworld, the Ten Thousand Bones Throne was, without a doubt, the most powerful and terrifying lineage of all.

Just as the leader of the Eighteen Beasts had said, with the foundation of the Ten Thousand Bones Throne, they could indeed handle any danger in the world and had the confidence to crush any foe.

“Hmm, what a domineering tone.” Li Qiye stroked his chin and chuckled. “But even if the Ten Thousand Bones Throne itself stood in my way today, you couldn’t shake my resolve.”

But the leader of the Eighteen Beasts replied coldly, “Harsh words are often good medicine. Your current Dao Practice was not easily achieved; you are truly a dragon among men. However, making an enemy of the Ten Thousand Bones Throne and our Emperor will not end well for you. Even if you are a genius among geniuses, your fall is preordained. If you know what’s good for you, it’s not too late to bow your head and yield. Perhaps we can even bury the hatchet. Our Emperor is a man who cherishes talent, with a heart as vast as the ocean. If you yield and follow him to achieve a world-shaking great deed, our Emperor…”

These words caused many of the powerful cultivators watching from afar to exchange glances. The leader of the Eighteen Beasts and the Shen Ran Phoenix Lady were clearly playing good cop, bad cop. One played the villain, the other the hero.

But on second thought, it wasn’t impossible. Li Qiye was so Heaven-defying that if the Emperor truly managed to recruit him, he would likely be more than willing to forgive all past grievances.

At this moment, many eyes were fixed on Li Qiye. The younger generation, in particular, felt their hearts sink. Even figures like the Ghost Insect Demon Child and Saint Child Ji Que had a bad feeling, and the mysterious Tian Lunhui’s profound gaze intensified.

At this moment, the Ten Thousand Bones Throne was actually extending an olive branch to Li Qiye. Regardless of whether this was the Shen Ran Phoenix Lady’s own initiative to recruit for her fiancé or an impromptu decision by the throne, it was a major development—one that put everyone on guard.

Everyone had witnessed what Li Qiye was capable of in this battle. He was a man of immense potential, someone who could one day stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Three Heroes of the Netherworld. If Li Qiye truly joined the Emperor, the consequences would be unthinkable.

The Emperor was already a formidable figure. If Li Qiye were to join him, they would be practically invincible across the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands in the future. The dream of forging a supreme and glorious enterprise would be no empty boast.

“Recruit me?” Hearing the leader’s words, Li Qiye couldn’t help but laugh. He said slowly, “That might be the most ridiculous joke I’ve ever heard. The Ten Thousand Bones Throne wants to recruit me? Isn’t this a case of the cat weeping for the mouse?”

In response to Li Qiye’s reaction, the leader of the Eighteen Beasts glanced toward the distant Shen Ran Phoenix Lady, who evidently gave him a clear signal.

“The Ten Thousand Bones Throne is like the vast ocean, accepting all rivers. We wish to build a brighter future alongside the world’s Virtuous Paragons,” the leader said in a low voice. “For cultivators, a life of battle is normal. Vengeance and gratitude are commonplace, and it is even more common to let go of old grudges with a smile. As the old saying goes, ‘Strangers at first, but friends after a fight.’ Another says, ‘It is better to resolve a feud than to let it fester.’ The Ten Thousand Bones Throne is desperate for talent, and our Emperor would be delighted to befriend Your Excellency and discuss the grand matters of the world with you!”

“I’m so touched,” Li Qiye said with a laugh, shaking his head. “You paint a beautiful picture, but it all sounds rather… unreal. Just a moment ago, I slaughtered countless foes, annihilated the armies of the Divine Burning Country, and even killed your future Empress’s little brother. And now you want to be friends? I’m finding that a little hard to believe.”

The leader of the Eighteen Beasts said in a low voice, “It is better to resolve a feud than to let it fester. The Ten Thousand Bones Throne is desperate for talent and wishes to explore the Great Dao with all the Virtuous Paragons of the world. Furthermore, Your Excellency is an outstanding hero; you need a stage to realize your grand ambitions. Our Ten Thousand Bones Throne leads the way on the Great Dao, our legacy stretches back for eons, and we have delved into the Wan Dao of the Nine Realms. I believe our Ten Thousand Bones Throne will surely have a place or something that suits Your Excellency!”

At this point, the Shen Ran Phoenix Lady, who was seated high in the Nine Heavens, also spoke slowly. “The world’s greatest talents all know how to let bygones be bygones. If you are sincere about contributing to the prosperity of my Ghost Race, then we Ghosts are also willing to accept a new friend. As for what happened in the past, let it stay in the past.”

For even the Shen Ran Phoenix Lady to speak up and extend an olive branch to Li Qiye at a time like this sent a chill through many of the observers.

Younger, less experienced people might not have understood the implications, but the more seasoned cultivators felt a chill and a sense of foreboding.

The Phoenix Lady’s words made many people uncomfortable, especially members of the Ghost Race. Moments ago, the battle had been apocalyptic, a fight to the death. But now, she was extending an olive branch to Li Qiye. This sat poorly with many of the Ghosts.

And yet, upon careful consideration, they realized they would likely do the same in her position. An army of thousands is easy to find, but a single great general is a rare prize. Just as the leader of the Eighteen Beasts had said, the Ten Thousand Bones Throne possessed a deep enough foundation and sufficient power to handle any threat.

They needed talent, especially talent like Li Qiye. The Emperor aspired to the Immortal Emperor’s throne. If he could secure such an unparalleled talent, wouldn’t he then have an invincible War General under his command to carve out his path to imperial hegemony?

The leader of the Eighteen Beasts was giving Li Qiye an easy way out, but wasn’t he also giving one to the Shen Ran Phoenix Lady? With this pretense, it seemed perfectly natural for her to be the one extending the olive branch.

‘The Shen Ran Phoenix Lady truly is a remarkable and capable partner.’ A Sect Leader from a Great Sect, also a member of the Ghost Race, felt uneasy hearing her words but couldn’t help remarking with a sigh, ‘Those who achieve great things don’t get bogged down by trifles. It’s worth trading an entire army for a single general.’

An army of thousands is easy to find, but a single great general is a rare prize. For someone like the Emperor, who harbored ambitions for the Immortal Emperor’s throne, what was a million cultivators? If he could trade a million cultivators for one invincible War General, he would do so in a heartbeat.

Trading an army for a general was a common occurrence throughout history. Many an Invincible War General serving under an Immortal Emperor had once been that emperor’s bitter rival in his youth. In the end, didn’t they all let bygones be bygones with a smile?

‘The Shen Ran Phoenix Lady is truly something else,’ even Lan Yunzhu couldn’t help but sigh as she watched the scene from afar.

Li Qiye had slaughtered the armies of her Divine Burning Country and even killed her own brother. Yet, if it meant securing an invincible War General for her future husband, she was willing to write off all these grievances. The Emperor had truly chosen the right woman as his fiancée.

No matter how uncomfortable this made the crowd feel, they could only sigh softly. It was the way of the world. For many cultivators, especially those who hoped to attach themselves to the Emperor, they knew they would likely end up as cannon fodder, yet many would still make that choice without hesitation.

Be it the Emperor or Tian Lunhui, both had numerous followers. As followers, they knew they weren’t particularly powerful, and they knew that figures like the Emperor or Tian Lunhui wouldn’t necessarily treat them with any special favor. But they all dreamed that if the Emperor or Tian Lunhui one day became an Immortal Emperor, they would be the founding heroes of a new dynasty. That was more than just returning home in splendid robes—it meant ruling over the Nine Realms!

The reality was just that cruel. As long as you had enough strength, you would earn respect no matter where you went. People would even flock to your side.

At the same time, others felt the pressure mounting—especially those who harbored their own imperial ambitions, like Tian Lunhui.

As fellow members of the Three Heroes of the Netherworld, both the Emperor and Tian Lunhui had ambitions to vie for the Immortal Emperor’s throne. The three of them were more or less evenly matched. If the Emperor truly succeeded in recruiting a Heaven-defying talent like Li Qiye, it would be like giving a tiger wings. That was not something Tian Lunhui wanted to see.