Entire star domains were pulverized into dust under the onslaught of sword radiance, blossoming like fireworks before vanishing forever from existence.
Silently, Cang Xiong's figure retreated across countless star domains. The many star domains behind him were severed by the sword radiance, yet he remained standing here, never falling.
Even so, the sword radiance was extraordinary, having been unleashed by a Monarch wielding a Monarch's Heavenly Sword. Wherever the sword radiance passed, ripples of power spread out in layers, arriving slowly before finally surging towards Cang Xiong.
*Hum—*
Cang Xiong merely flicked a finger, effortlessly dispelling the attack.
He looked calmly at the 1st Imperial Envoy and said, "Use some real skill. This old frame of mine won't fall apart immediately; it can still hold up."
"Agreed!"
The 1st Imperial Envoy attacked again. This time, the power he displayed suddenly increased by an unknown number of times. The knight's longsword in his hand was tyrannical, and a torrential, savage sword energy that overwhelmed countless star domains descended from the heavens.
It was like a light of a Great Emperor, indestructible and unbreakable, as if a Great Emperor stood tall, intending to destroy the great universe, establish a new order, and create his own cosmic laws.
"This is Monarch power. Big Brother is getting serious, truly displaying power at the Monarch level. Although he's not yet using his full strength, even the Second Envoy would suffer greatly if he were here. He wants to test the depths of this old fellow Cang Xiong, to see how much Monarch combat power he still retains," the 3rd Imperial Envoy spoke, his gaze blazing.
It could be said that the strength of the 1st Imperial Envoy was the goal pursued by all Imperial Envoys.
In the past, when the Heaven Soul Great Emperor was in seclusion, the 1st Imperial Envoy ruled the entire Chaos Ancient Universe in his stead, suppressing all races across the starry sky. One could imagine his might.
*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!—*
Innumerable sword radiances descended from the sky, directly overwhelming this place, piercing through star domain after star domain, transforming them into countless black holes. Chaos energy appeared here and there, a truly terrifying sight.
However, when everything settled, it was discovered that Cang Xiong's figure had long since vanished. He stood at the edge of the destruction zone, unmoving as a mountain, his physical body unscathed, eerie and mysterious.
This was startling. Had he actually dodged the 1st Imperial Envoy's terrifying attacks again and again?
The 1st Imperial Envoy's blue eyes turned icy as he looked at Cang Xiong. "Old fellow, do you not dare to face me in a direct battle?"
Cang Xiong smiled, very calm. "This old man is afraid that, in the end, it will be you who does not dare to fight."
How dare a mere aged and declining Monarch show such contempt? The 1st Imperial Envoy was instantly enraged. The golden light on his body grew even more intense, layer upon layer, shaking the six directions and eight extremes, trembling the heavens. "Old fellow, then attack quickly. Let me see your true strength."
"Agreed!"
This time, Cang Xiong said the word "agreed" and moved.
Eerily, no one saw how he moved. The next moment, he appeared silently before the 1st Imperial Envoy, his state like that of a ghost.
Even the 1st Imperial Envoy was greatly startled, his heart leaping, but he quickly calmed down and snorted coldly. "Only knows how to use some unorthodox tricks."
*Boom—*
The knight's longsword swept down once more, its radiance severing countless stars, incomparably terrifying.
Cang Xiong also attacked. Clearly striking later, his move arrived first. All that was seen was his seemingly bark-like, withered palm silently imprinting itself on the 1st Imperial Envoy's chest.
*Boom—*
The 1st Imperial Envoy's figure was sent flying violently. He hadn't even fully executed his sword technique before being slapped away fiercely. It was simply unbelievable.
*Pfft—*
Moreover, under that single strike, the 1st Imperial Envoy actually coughed up blood, a mouthful of blood spurting out.
In their first exchange, the 1st Imperial Envoy was injured. The torrential sword radiance that had been sweeping down had failed to be unleashed successfully.
Everyone was horrified, yet they couldn't understand how Cang Xiong, an aged and declining Monarch, could injure a Monarch at his peak, in the prime of his life. It was simply inconceivable.
"Impossible!"
The 1st Imperial Envoy stared at Cang Xiong in shock, having lost the noble dignity a Monarch should possess. He couldn't believe that this old fellow on his last legs, clearly with dried-up blood energy and about to die, still possessed such formidable strength.
Immediately, he said, "Old fellow, you are aged and declining, your blood energy exhausted, your strength lacking. You probably know your lifespan is nearly spent, so you forcibly burn your essence blood, gather your last bit of vital energy and spirit, and barely manage to exhibit combat power at your peak state."
Only in this way could this old fellow have the qualification to injure him, especially since he had been somewhat careless.
"Senior!"
The powerhouses of the Ultimate Ancient Path exclaimed in alarm, deeply worried. To battle the 1st Imperial Envoy, Cang Xiong had actually forced himself to such an extent.
Cang Xiong, however, remained expressionless.
"I must say, your death-defying attitude forces me to take you seriously. Very well, since you are also a Monarch, out of respect, I shall battle you with my peak combat power." The imposing aura on the 1st Imperial Envoy suddenly rose by a large margin, surpassing his previous state by an unknown degree.
He stood upon the nine heavens of the starry sky, resembling a peerless deity. Boundless golden light radiated outwards as he pointed into the distance at Cang Xiong. "Come."
Cang Xiong, with his hands behind his back, took a step into the depths of the starry sky, his figure vanishing. Only his aged voice echoed within this expanse of stars. "Come. Our realms are too high. It is not suitable to battle here. Let us go to the desolate edges of the universe."
"Agreed!"
The 1st Imperial Envoy's figure also disappeared.
The two Monarchs had left this starry sky, one after the other.
What remained were only the Soul-Restraining Hall's Nine Overlords, Thirty-Six Monarchs, and the powerhouses on the side of the Ultimate Ancient Path, naturally including Ye Chen who was undergoing his tribulation, the Ice Flame Monarch, and a few others.
However, the situation had returned to what it was before Cang Xiong's appearance.
Whether it was the Ultimate Ancient Path or the Ice Flame Monarch and the other few Star Sky Overlords, they were all held back by the Soul-Restraining Hall's powerhouses. But the 3rd and 4th Imperial Envoys had no opponents. Holding Monarch War Bows, they nocked Imperial Monarch Bone Arrows and aimed from afar at Ye Chen, who was undergoing his tribulation.
At this moment, Ye Chen's physical body Emperor Tribulation had reached its later stages. His entire body was covered in blood, tattered and broken, with many bones and tendons severed. He looked miserable, but in reality, every drop of blood contained boundless vitality.
His Chaos Saint Body was gradually approaching the level of a Monarch's physical body.
If not for the vast heavenly tribulation enveloping him, isolating everyone's senses, they would surely feel the rapidly strengthening vitality emanating from within his blood.
At this moment, the 3rd Imperial Envoy was drawing the Monarch War Bow. An Imperial Monarch Bone Arrow was nocked upon it, aimed at Ye Chen from afar. He said coldly, "Battle Saint King, blame yourself for being an enemy of my Soul-Restraining Hall. Today, you will undoubtedly die!"
*Boom—*
The Imperial Monarch Bone Arrow shot through the void, instantly entering the range of the heavenly tribulation.
Because its speed was too fast, even though the heavenly tribulation sensed it, before the corresponding calamity could descend, it had already struck Ye Chen.
Ye Chen naturally sensed the danger the moment it appeared. Unfortunately, he still failed to dodge it completely.