Saint Child Ji Que’s words were filled with righteous indignation and impassioned fervor. His posture, one of being willing to do anything to protect the Ghost Race, truly managed to stir up many Ghost Race cultivators, particularly those of the younger generation.
"We support Saint Child Ji Que and the others! The interests of the Ghost Race come first. What do personal gains and losses matter?" a Ghost Race cultivator immediately declared. "We will absolutely not let the Human Race get its way!"
"That’s right! The Ghost Race cannot bow down and compromise with this fiend!" At this time, a Sect Leader began to incite the crowd. "Our Ghost Race values trust out of righteousness. Why would we keep our word with a cruel and wicked person? The so-called agreement is merely a part of Li Qiye’s scheme. An agreement so unfavorable to our Ghost Race is hereby null and void!"
"Yes! An agreement with this fiend is tantamount to abetting a tyrant and fanning the flames of his evil. It’s a plot against our Ghost Race!" In an instant, countless Ghost Race cultivators echoed the sentiment. "An agreement like this is a conspiracy to harm us! It is hereby null and void!"
Of course, many Great Teaching Territories of the Ghost Race were happy to see this happen. There was a great opportunity in this pool, so who would be willing to give it up so easily? This was especially true for the Emperor Immortal Gates; they were more confident in obtaining such a great opportunity, particularly the likes of the Insect Emperor Dynasty. With everyone causing such a ruckus, the previous agreement between Saint Child Ji Que, the Ghost Insect Demon Child, and Li Qiye was thus voided. As a result, they became the biggest beneficiaries.
Seeing this, Lan Yunzhu couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh. The Shen Ran Phoenix Lady’s schemes really did run deep; her objective had finally been met.
However, Li Qiye didn’t care at all. To him, the so-called wager was just something he did on a whim. Since the Ghost Race was offering up their faces for him to slap, he was more than happy to oblige.
As for whether he became an enemy of the Ghost Race, he couldn’t care less. Even making an enemy of the entire race was a trivial matter to him.
In fact, making an enemy of an entire race was a path every Immortal Emperor had to walk. For example, when a Human Race genius was on the verge of becoming an Immortal Emperor, at the final moment of the battle for the Celestial Mandate, the other races would desperately try to stop them. They would also do their best to protect the geniuses of their own race, helping them become the Immortal Emperor instead.
Without the determination to battle the world, wanting to become an Immortal Emperor was nothing but a fool’s dream! To become an Immortal Emperor, one needed not only sufficient talent and an incomparably firm Dao Heart, but also the courage to make an enemy of the entire world.
Walking the Great Dao alone to achieve the rank of Immortal Emperor was, in itself, a Heaven-Defying act. It required the greatest courage; battling the world was just one factor in the process.
Seeing the Ghost Race’s seething indignation, Li Qiye simply smiled. He glanced at the crowd and said, "Fine. Since you all claim I’m some great villain plotting against the Ghost Race, I might as well enjoy the part. If you Ghosts have any guts, then bring it on. I’ll be waiting right here. Send a hundred thousand, I’ll slaughter a hundred thousand. Send a million, I’ll slaughter a million. Don’t like it? Then come and get me. Let’s see what your Ghost Race is really made of!"
"I will pave my path to invincibility with the corpses of your Ghost Race! How about it? Still not convinced? Then come on up! Even if you have Great Sages here, I’ll slaughter them all!" Li Qiye openly taunted the entire Ghost Race.
At such a domineering taunt, Lan Yunzhu couldn’t help but give a bitter smile. She was already used to Li Qiye’s arrogance; he simply didn’t give a damn about anyone in the world!
The many Ghost Race cultivators who had come forward to denounce Li Qiye suddenly fell silent. Some were even dumbstruck. Even the Sect Leaders who had been inciting the crowd moments before were at a loss. This was completely different from what they had imagined.
In this situation, under the pressure of the entire Ghost Race, anyone else would have probably chosen to back down, compromise, or even flee.
After all, hundreds of the Ghost Race’s Great Teaching Territories were camped here, as well as many Emperor Immortal Gates. In particular, Emperor Immortal Gates like the Insect Emperor Dynasty wanted nothing more than to see Li Qiye dead!
Under such circumstances, forget the younger generation; even experts of the older generation, even Great Sect Ancestors, would be unwilling to make an enemy of the entire Ghost Race. They wouldn’t dare offend the entire Ghost Race, for doing so would mean there would be no place left for them in this world.
Yet, Li Qiye did not choose to retreat, did not choose to compromise, and certainly did not flee. Instead, he challenged the entire Ghost Race, loudly proclaiming he would slaughter a million of them. This arrogant and domineering attitude left many of the Ghost Race dumbfounded. Even great figures like the Sect Leaders were somewhat at a loss!
To challenge the entire Ghost Race in front of its myriad sects and countries, to loudly proclaim he would slaughter a million of them—such a person was either a madman or unrivaled under the heavens. However, Li Qiye seemed to be neither.
"Battle the world!" Watching from a distance, Tian Lunhui couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath. His profound gaze narrowed, and a trace of fear even arose in his heart. He asked himself, ’If it were me, would I have this courage? This audacity to challenge the entire world?’
Talent, comprehension, Dao Heart, courage... these were all factors in becoming an Immortal Emperor. In fact, more often than not, courage was far more important than anything else. Without courage, how could one even speak of a Dao Heart? Without courage, things like talent and comprehension could only make you a strong expert, but they could never let you reach the summit and achieve true invincibility!
Since time immemorial, which Immortal Emperor hadn’t slaughtered their way through millions of enemies? Which Immortal Emperor wasn’t born from one bloody battle after another throughout the Nine Realms?
At this moment, a thread of fear appeared in Tian Lunhui’s heart. ’Battle the world!’ he thought. ’Do I have such determination? Such courage? When faced with an enemy far stronger than myself, would I retreat? Would I compromise?’
Having reached this stage, it was no longer a question of the enemy’s strength, but of one’s own Heart Demon. If fear took root in his heart now, it would become the greatest Heart Demon of his life!
Throughout the ages, even future Immortal Emperors could fail. In fact, over millions of years, the vast majority of them had experienced defeat, especially in their youth at the hands of enemies stronger than themselves.
But for one who would become an Immortal Emperor, this was not shameful. To know the difficulty and still fight—that was a true challenge. To lack even the courage to face that challenge—that was the most shameful thing of all!
"Battle the world!" Tian Lunhui’s eyes narrowed as he muttered, "Do I dare?" At this moment, even a peerless prodigy like him was forced into self-reflection.
Meanwhile, Li Qiye’s taunt left many of the Ghost Race stunned into a temporary silence. A moment later, a cold snort echoed. Without a doubt, a Great Sect Ancestor was displeased with Li Qiye’s arrogance. At this very moment, a Great Sect Ancestor had already resolved to kill him!
"Such big words! Why would an Elder Ancestor need to act to kill you? We are more than enough!" Saint Child Ji Que snorted coldly. His eyes flew wide with anger as his Blood Qi instantly erupted, soaring into the sky and making the earth rumble. His entire body’s Blood Qi coiled like a Flood Dragon!
The large lump on the Ghost Insect Demon Child’s forehead squirmed as he said with a chilling gaze, "Li Qiye, you think too highly of yourself. There’s no need for an Elder Ancestor to kill you. We are enough!"
Li Qiye leisurely glanced at the two of them and said, "Just the two of you? You’re nothing but defeated foes."
Faced with Li Qiye’s mockery, Saint Child Ji Que and the Ghost Insect Demon Child, quite uncharacteristically, did not fly into a rage. Saint Child Ji Que revealed a cold smile and said, "Li Qiye, high comprehension doesn’t mean everything! Even if you could walk across the entire pool, it doesn’t mean you’re invincible!"
"Li, it’s not too late to surrender to our Ghost Race," the Ghost Insect Demon Child sneered. His Blood Qi billowed and Ghost Qi soared. The Nether Emperor Insect on his forehead squirmed with particular excitement, like a bloodthirsty monster.
Saint Child Ji Que’s appearance was more or less normal. But the Ghost Insect Demon Child’s appearance was enough to make one’s skin crawl, especially when the Nether Emperor Insect on his forehead squirmed. It was utterly disgusting.
At this moment, the Ghost Insect Demon Child and Saint Child Ji Que surrounded Li Qiye, one in front and one behind, cutting off his path of retreat. Their auras surged, their Blood Qi roaring to the heavens like the howl of a wolf and the roar of a tiger. The presence they exuded was fearsome.
Although both had lost to Li Qiye in the duel at the pool, they were still the successors of Emperor Immortal Gates. Their strength could not be underestimated; they were even stronger than many of the great figures from the Great Teaching Territories.
"Li Qiye, if you surrender without a fight, our Ghost Race will be magnanimous and give you a fair trial!" Saint Child Ji Que’s eyes blazed. Though he said this, a terrifying killing intent already gleamed in his gaze.
The Ghost Insect Demon Child also gave a sinister smile and said, "You massacred our people. The fact that the Ghost Race is offering you a way out alive is already an immense gift, an act of supreme mercy!"
While countless cultivators of the Ghost Race were denouncing Li Qiye, the first to step forward and make a move against him were not the Sect Leaders, but the Ghost Insect Demon Child and Saint Child Ji Que.
There were reasons why they were the first to act. One, they had trump cards and were confident they could kill Li Qiye if they joined forces. Two, they wanted to use Li Qiye as a stepping stone!
Long Zun Tian’s assessment of Li Qiye had been weighing heavily on their minds. If even Long Zun Tian considered Li Qiye the number one rival for the Emperor’s Throne, what would it mean if the two of them joined forces to kill him? Not only would it establish an unparalleled reputation for them both, but it would also wash away their previous humiliation, reclaiming all their lost honor.
"So much nonsense. Make your move. Let’s see what you’re capable of," Li Qiye said slowly, barely lifting his eyelids.
BUZZ! Saint Child Ji Que and the Ghost Insect Demon Child unleashed their full power. In that instant, Divine Rings materialized around them. Saint Child Ji Que had thirty Divine Rings, while the Ghost Insect Demon Child had thirty-one.
"In less than a year, I’m afraid they’ll both reach Great Saint Venerable Perfection." Seeing the Divine Rings around them, many Ghost Race cultivators were moved with envy.