Chapter 548: Bronze Emperor

In that moment, many of the Great Teaching Territories in Xishuicang made their stance clear. The treasures here were tempting, but a long-term relationship with the Ten Thousand Ancient Country was far more important. Besides, there was no guarantee they could get the treasure from the pool anyway. With so many Emperor Immortal Gates present, even if a great opportunity appeared, it would never be the turn of a Great Teaching Territory like theirs.

Following the Emperor Immortal Gates around for scraps was far less appealing than using this chance to curry favor with the Ten Thousand Ancient Country! If they didn’t show Tian Lunhui some respect now and give him an honorable way out of this situation, it would be too late to build a relationship once he was in charge of the Ancient Country.

“This is the agreement between Fellow Daoist Li and our Ghost Race. Surely, you are satisfied now, Fellow Daoist Li,” Tian Lunhui said slowly to Li Qiye.

For someone like Tian Lunhui, who hailed from the Ten Thousand Ancient Country, there was never a shortage of treasures; he possessed a vast trove of them! He could accept not obtaining the great opportunity from the pool. What he needed more was status, prestige, and the recognition of the Ghost Race’s many Great Teaching Territories. This would solidify his future position within the Ghost Race, allowing him to eventually contend for dominion over the world.

With so many of Xishuicang’s Great Teaching Territories voicing their support, Tian Lunhui was very satisfied. Once he was in charge of the Ten Thousand Ancient Country, reigning supreme over Xishuicang would be no issue. And once he was powerful enough, he would vie for control of the Ghost Sacred Realm, march into the Nine Realms, and compete for the Celestial Mandate!

“Impressive,” Li Qiye said with a smile and a nod.

Tian Lunhui said no more and retreated silently. However, he didn’t go far, merely stopping in the distance to watch how the situation unfolded.

Tian Lunhui’s eyes were profound. Shrouded in a mysterious aura, no one could tell what he was thinking. He hadn’t left immediately because he was watching from afar; he wanted to witness Li Qiye’s Great Dao one more time!

After Tian Lunhui retreated, Li Qiye’s gaze fell upon the Shen Ran Phoenix Lady. This whole storm was her doing; the agreement was her proposal in the first place. But the Phoenix Lady was exceptionally cunning, letting others rush out to serve as her cannon fodder!

Li Qiye had no intention of letting the Shen Ran Phoenix Lady off the hook. She had opposed him time and time again. How could he possibly let her go?

Li Qiye stared at the Shen Ran Phoenix Lady and said nonchalantly, “Do you want to compete in the pool, or would you prefer to settle things with force? We’re not finished yet!”

“And what do you think?” the Shen Ran Phoenix Lady shot back, staring coldly at Li Qiye. Killing intent danced in her eyes, and she made no effort to conceal it. Without a doubt, she was determined to see him dead!

Li Qiye smiled faintly. “Whatever. You choose. We can compete in the pool, or we can settle this with force. Let’s settle all our scores today, new and old. I’ve said it before: make an enemy of me, and there is only one path—death! Prepare to meet your end today.”

“Heh, heh, heh… Human ant, do you really think our Ghost Race has no one to stand against you? How could we possibly allow a brutal, lawless butcher like you to wantonly slaughter our younger generation!” a sinister voice suddenly boomed.

A loud BUZZING sound filled the air as the sky suddenly turned pitch-black. A sky-blotting swarm of countless flying insects converged, instantly forming a Giant.

“The Bronze Beetle Race! The Bronze Emperor!” Seeing the Giant formed from countless insects, many people cried out in alarm, including numerous experts from the Ghost Race.

Although the Bronze Beetle Race wasn’t the most powerful tribe within the Ghost Race, they were by far the most troublesome and feared. Like locusts or cockroaches, they were seemingly inexhaustible and incredibly difficult to kill.

Now, the Bronze Emperor had arrived with countless members of its race, and their mere presence made everyone—from the Great Teaching Territories to even other Ghost Race members—feel a chill run down their spine.

Countless insects had formed the Giant. Now, this massive Bronze Emperor stood before Li Qiye, its head seeming to touch the very heavens as it looked down upon him.

“What, does the Bronze Beetle Race want to stick its nose into this as well?” Li Qiye asked, casting a lazy glance at the Bronze Emperor formed from the insect swarm.

The Bronze Emperor looked so lifelike, its entire body appearing as if it were cast from bronze. Who would have ever imagined it was formed from countless tiny insects?

“That’s right!” The Bronze Emperor’s voice boomed like thunder as it spoke coldly. “Human junior, I will not allow your little scheme to succeed!”

“‘My little scheme?'” Li Qiye found the words laughable.

The Bronze Emperor said coldly, “You have repeatedly targeted and killed the young geniuses of our Ghost Race. You are trying to enact your vile conspiracy!”

“A conspiracy? What kind of conspiracy?” Li Qiye couldn’t help but laugh.

The Bronze Emperor spoke with a chill, “First, you killed our Ghost Monk and Qing Jinzi. Then, you slaughtered tens of thousands of our Ghost Race’s experts and young geniuses. Now, your Demon Hand reaches for Saint Child Ji Que and the Ghost Insect Demon Child. In the future, you’ll even turn your Demon Hand on our Ghost Race’s Three Heroes of the Netherworld! Heh, what is all this for?

“You want to slaughter our Ghost Race’s younger generation! You want to butcher our budding talents, destroy our future, and extinguish our hope! That is your conspiracy! Once you have eliminated our youth, you plan to lead the Human Race in a great massacre against us, to drive us from the Ghost Sacred Realm, and to wipe out our entire race…”

“…That way, the Human Race can seize the Ghost Sacred Realm and rule it uncontested!” At this point, the Bronze Emperor was a picture of righteous indignation. Its voice thundered with fury, “But as a member of the Ghost Race, as a descendant of our people, the Bronze Beetle Race will never let you succeed! If you want to harm our younger generation, you’ll have to go through us first!”

This grand and righteous speech from the Bronze Emperor left many people at the scene completely dumbfounded, including those from the Ghost Race’s own Great Teaching Territories.

At that, many of the important figures from the Great Teaching Territories exchanged glances. Any clear-headed person, regardless of their race, could tell that the Bronze Emperor’s words were a gross exaggeration. Li Qiye alone wanted to exterminate the entire Ghost Race? It was utterly preposterous!

Standing to one side, Long Zun Tian gently shook his head. ‘He knew exactly what this ploy was for.’

“Shameless!” Lan Yunzhu couldn’t help but snort after hearing the speech. ‘Of course, she understood what was happening. They were slapping a damning label on Li Qiye, pinning a huge crime on him to incite the entire Ghost Race to attack. This way, those Old Undyings would have a reason to make a move, and all the Ghost Race’s Great Teaching Territories would have a righteous pretext.’

With such an excuse, such a grand justification, the Ghost Race could easily tear up their earlier agreement. Even if they lost, they wouldn’t have to withdraw from this place! They could still monopolize the pool!

Hearing the Bronze Emperor’s sanctimonious speech, Li Qiye couldn’t help but laugh. He glanced over at the Shen Ran Phoenix Lady, seated upon her Phoenix Carriage.

How could such a transparent scheme possibly escape Li Qiye’s notice? The moment he heard the Bronze Emperor speak, he knew whose idea it was. ‘A brute like the Bronze Emperor could never come up with a speech like that.’

“Well said, beautifully said.” Li Qiye clapped and laughed. “With such eloquence, to be able to spout such nonsense so effortlessly… it’s a real shame you’re not a public speaker.”

At this, Li Qiye turned his smiling gaze to the Shen Ran Phoenix Lady and said slowly, “No matter how much you scheme, it’s useless. Today, the Shen Ran Phoenix Lady will not be leaving here alive. I’m afraid that’s an impossibility.”

“Hmph! Li Qiye, what a venomous plot! To think you want to harm our entire Ghost Race!” a Ghost Race Cultivator shouted harshly.

“You want to murder our next generation! The Ghost Race will never let you succeed!” an Emperor from the Ghost Race even stepped forward to declare.

“That’s right! We must not allow the Human Race’s conspiracy to succeed!” In an instant, numerous important figures from the Ghost Race’s Great Teaching Territories stepped forward to denounce Li Qiye.

Among the Ghost Race Cultivators who stood up to denounce Li Qiye, some had genuinely been incited by the Bronze Emperor’s words. However, if the Sect Leaders and Emperors of the Great Teaching Territories were so easily swayed, they wouldn’t be Sect Leaders and Emperors in the first place.

These Sect Leaders and Emperors who now stood to denounce Li Qiye were simply playing dumb. They knew exactly what was going on.

For the powerful figures of the Ghost Race, this was the perfect opportunity to eliminate Li Qiye, and the Bronze Emperor’s speech had undoubtedly given them the perfect excuse—a grand and righteous justification.

With such a good excuse, such a grand justification, only an idiot wouldn’t use it. This perfect pretext to eliminate Li Qiye allowed them to kill three birds with one stone: first, they could kill Li Qiye; second, they could remain at the pool without technically breaking their promise, allowing the Ghost Race to monopolize its treasures; and third, they could clear the path for their own younger generation, especially the Three Heroes of the Netherworld.

How could the various Sect Leaders and Emperors of the Ghost Race possibly pass up such a perfect excuse?

In an instant, the crowd was in an uproar. Goaded on by the Sect Leaders and Emperors, even more Ghost Race Cultivators stood up to denounce Li Qiye. As for the Old Undyings hiding in the shadows, they merely sneered.

Before, these Old Undyings might have been reluctant to attack a junior so brazenly. But now, the Bronze Emperor had given them the perfect excuse. When the time came, these hidden masters would be more than happy to land a fatal blow on a human junior like Li Qiye.

With so many Ghost Race Cultivators and even Great Teaching Territories stepping up to denounce Li Qiye, the cultivators from other races wanted no part in these muddy waters. They all tactfully retreated to the side.

“What a move. ‘If you want to condemn someone, you’ll never lack a reason.’ Truly remarkable.” Seeing the situation reverse so suddenly, even the Bishui Empress was visibly moved and couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.