Cang Xiong appeared on the verge of death, yet was terrifyingly formidable. He glanced at Ye Chen, giving a slight nod, then looked toward the experts of the Soul-Restraining Hall and spoke calmly, "A genius of our Ultimate Ancient Path is undergoing tribulation. For the Soul-Restraining Hall to act in this manner seems to show no regard for our Ultimate Ancient Path."
Facing Cang Xiong, no one could remain composed, not even the Third and Fourth Imperial Envoys.
As Imperial Envoys who once followed the Heavenly Soul Great Emperor, they were naturally powerful, but they also understood that this withered old man before them was a peerless invincible of the Ultimate Ancient Path from ages past, a terrifying existence who once vied with the Formless Monarch. Having lived to this era, his cultivation stood at the pinnacle of the Great Dao, only a hair's breadth from the Emperor's domain.
Compared to him, they were no match.
If a true battle erupted, they had no absolute certainty of victory.
Of course, they could not be said to fear him either, for although this Monarch Cang Xiong was exceedingly powerful, from another perspective, he was also nearing the limit of his lifespan.
Even as a Monarch, one's lifespan was not boundless; it had its corresponding limit—one epoch.
Cang Xiong's lifespan was nearing its end. Thus, his blood energy was withered, and all aspects of his being were far from their peak. Even if he were not a true Monarch, if a peak-level Tenth Heaven Sovereign were to strike, they would have the confidence to battle him.
The Third Imperial Envoy narrowed his eyes, staring coldly at Cang Xiong. "Old man, although this seat does not understand how you intercepted that arrow, you must also realize that your current self cannot be compared to your peak-era self. Therefore, this seat will not be overly wary. Moreover, if this seat were to draw the bow and shoot again, you might not be able to intercept a second arrow. This seat now gives you one chance: leave, and this seat may choose to spare you. Otherwise, do not blame this seat for being ruthless."
Under normal circumstances, the Third Imperial Envoy naturally very much wanted to kill Cang Xiong. But a starved camel is still bigger than a horse, let alone a Monarch. Even with little lifespan remaining, if he fought desperately, there was a great likelihood of dragging a Tenth Heaven Sovereign like himself down with him.
Unless pushed to that point, he was unwilling to take that risk.
Beside him, the Fourth Imperial Envoy clearly understood this risk as well and did not speak further, though his eyes blazed with sharpness, revealing dangerous intent.
"Senior!"
The experts of the Ultimate Ancient Path were also worried, wanting to persuade Cang Xiong to withdraw, for the reasoning was indeed sound.
"Senior, please rest assured. They cannot do anything to me."
Ye Chen, who was undergoing tribulation, also spoke up. He did not wish for this highly respected elder to come to harm for his sake.
At worst, his physical body might not achieve the Monarch level. To him, that was not a major issue. But if this highly respected senior were to come to harm, he would feel guilty for a lifetime.
"Are you truly so unwilling to face this old man in battle?"
Shaking his head, Cang Xiong faced the Third Imperial Envoy, his expression placid as he spoke, utterly unconcerned.
Before the Third Imperial Envoy could reply, the Fourth Imperial Envoy took a step forward. The awe-inspiring power of a peak Ninth Heaven Sovereign erupted unrestrained as he said coldly, "Old man, don't be so arrogant. We are not refraining from fighting you because we dare not, but because we do not wish to waste time, allowing the Battle Saint King to complete his tribulation."
"Oh, is that so?"
Still a placid response.
The Fourth Imperial Envoy grew furious. Terrifying rays of light surged from his body, manifesting twenty-seven vast layers of heavens above his head, as if supporting twenty-seven heavens. The imposing might of a Ninth Heaven Sovereign grew even more terrifying as he said with a cold voice, "Old man, one last chance. Leave now, or do not blame this seat for being ruthless and slaughtering you, a blood-dry old fossil."
"You dare not be so insolent! Do you truly think our Ultimate Ancient Path has no one?"
The ultimate powerhouses of the Ultimate Ancient Path also appeared—three Ninth Heaven Sovereigns, an extremely terrifying lineup. One among them was at the mid-Ninth Heaven level, the strongest of the three, who snorted in response.
"Hmph! Since that's the case, let's battle then. What is there to fear? Today, we shall annihilate your entire Ultimate Ancient Path along with you!"
The Fourth Imperial Envoy gripped his war spear, which instantly erupted with billions of layers of radiance. Countless Sovereign Rules manifested, aimed at everyone from the Ultimate Ancient Path.
Simultaneously, the Third Imperial Envoy also raised his Imperial Monarch War Bow, confronting them from afar, clearly ready to act as well.
Boom—
Suddenly, a ray of immortal light that could be called eternal shot toward the Soul-Restraining Hall's side. An extremely terrifying power abruptly exploded.
It was an Imperial Monarch Bone Arrow—the very one in Cang Xiong's hand—which had suddenly awakened, revealing a fearsome Monarch's power. It transformed into a peerless immortal light, cleaving through eternity as it fiercely shot toward the Third and Fourth Imperial Envoys.
The extreme, terrifying force was like a peak-state Monarch striking from across space—peerless and unparalleled, capable of annihilating everything. Even a Tenth Heaven Sovereign could absolutely not block it.
"Not good! That old man is attacking! He actually awakened the Imperial Monarch Bone Arrow without the Imperial Monarch War Bow!"
The Fourth Imperial Envoy exclaimed in alarm. The Third Imperial Envoy's expression turned grim, but he could not ignore it. He immediately acted at the first moment.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!—
The one hundred and eight divine rings around his body transformed once more into Sovereign Rule stars, infused with Sovereign Rules, causing the Imperial Monarch War Bow to awaken. He nocked an Imperial Monarch Bone Arrow, drew the bow, and shot it forth.
Though the description is lengthy, it all happened within the span of a single instant.
Visible to the naked eye, two eternal immortal lights, each stretching for billions of miles, shot across the starry sky toward each other, soon colliding.
The two Imperial Monarch Bone Arrows collided in the starry void, instantly exploding. An extreme, terrifying force erupted—a great silence without sound, only an absolute, deathly destructive power wantonly blooming, annihilating all in its path.
Destructive power of this level was akin to a Monarch unleashing divine abilities—utterly terrifying. Even a Tenth Heaven Sovereign like the Third Imperial Envoy would be severely crippled if not killed upon contact.
Cang Xiong made his move, casually slapping out twice, neutralizing all destructive ripples before they could approach.
The Third and Fourth Imperial Envoys also acted in succession, continuously plucking the bowstring of the Imperial Monarch War Bow, sending out ripples of Great Dao that also neutralized the force.
An even match.
On the surface, it seemed the Third Imperial Envoy had struck from a position of weakness against strength. But in reality, he understood Cang Xiong's fearsomeness. Even with withered blood energy, no longer at his peak, peerless invincible state, that casual awakening of the Imperial Monarch Bone Arrow's power required him to fully draw the Imperial Monarch War Bow to its full-moon state and shoot an arrow just to barely cancel it out.
In the end, he was actually the weaker one.
Looking somewhatGloomy / Darkened at Cang Xiong, after this incident, the Third Imperial Envoy became even more unwilling to underestimate this old man lightly.
He turned his face to the Fourth Imperial Envoy and said, "Old Fourth, I will deal with this old man personally. You take the others and attack the Battle Saint King. No matter what, we cannot allow him to successfully undergo tribulation."
"Good!"
The Fourth Imperial Envoy nodded and was about to turn and lead Forbidden Heaven Sovereign and the others away when Cang Xiong's expression suddenly focused slightly. He looked toward the void behind them, giving it a meaningful glance before slowly speaking, "I never expected that the First Imperial Envoy, the one who was once invincible across the great universe, would also come in person."