Martial Cultivator

Chapter 290.1: His Majesty, the Emperor - Part 1

A demon tribe settlement stood quietly on the desolate north plain. Whether the demon tribe in this settlement knew about human customs and liked it, or they purely wanted to mock humans, they had wind chimes hanging in front of their respective tents. Usually, when the wind blew, the sound of wind chimes echoed.

The desolate north was windy, so when the sound of wind chimes rang again today, the demon tribes in the settlement did not feel that it was anything special.

However, after a moment, a demon walked out of a tent and coincidentally looked up. Looking towards the distance, he discovered a giant wave coming from the north. The demon's expression changed drastically, and he shouted angrily, "Run!"

At the end of his line of sight, the massive wave was akin to a surging flood, continuing to advance forward. The terrifying aura layered upon itself as it pushed forward. Strangely enough, as that horrifying air billow advanced, it did not crush the wild grass as expected but rather pressed it down, preventing it from lifting its head.

The demons transformed into their original forms and ran towards the distance with strange cries. Their dwellings were torn apart by the terrifying air billow, and nothing could withstand it for even a moment. Everything in the world, except for the grass, turned into powder.

On the vast plain of the desolate north, there were countless demon tribe settlements, and also countless demons. As that massive air billow continued to advance across the plain, countless demons began to run. Not a single demon had the thought of resisting this air billow because the terrifying air billow carried not only the terror of death but also two powerful wills. One of them was extremely familiar; it belonged to the Demon Emperor. The other was somewhat unfamiliar, but both wills were actually the same -- both equally terrifying and irresistible.

The demons exerted all their effort to run across the grassland. Some demons ran for a long time, before gradually running out of energy in the end, and eventually caught up by the terrifying air billow. They could only sit on the ground paralyzed, their faces filled with fear.

As the air billow swept past, those demons were instantly crushed, turning into a blood mist that dissipated between heaven and earth.

No flesh, no bones, everything was crushed.

This air billow gave no chance for resistance.

Feeling the terrifying aura continuously advancing behind them, no one could remain calm. But there were more and more demons who ran out of energy, so the blood mist grew increasingly thicker. Across the entire desolate north plain, strange sights could be seen, which was that blood mists floated everywhere on the plain, creating a bizarre sight between heaven and earth.

In the southeast direction of the desolate north plain, countless demons ran. Two tiger demons, having run for too long and depleted their strength, could no longer keep going. The male tiger glanced at the female tiger beside him, then turned to look behind. The terrifying air billow was now just a few yards away. Knowing it had no chance of escape, the male tiger resolutely pushed the female tiger several dozen yards away before casting a lingering look and choosing to halt its steps.

The female tiger roared angrily, with emotional undertones in its voice, but its footsteps did not stop. It continued running, its four paws were as quick as lightning.

Facing that terrifying air billow head-on, the male tiger's fur was blown until it clung tightly to its body. It had initially mustered up limitless courage, but when confronted with the horrifying air billow, that deep-seated fear from the depths of its soul forced it to kneel. In the face of the ultimate choice between life and death, it could not summon any thoughts of resistance. There was only submission, only kneeling.

It originally expected that it would die in such humiliation. However, unexpectedly, after it chose to kneel and submit, the air billow passed over it like a gentle breeze, bringing nothing more. The gentle breeze swept by and continued forward.

The tiger demon raised its head, a look of astonishment on its face.

It turned its head with lingering fear to watch that air billow continue advancing relentlessly. It had no clue what had just happened.

Why?

It was actually very simple.

That air billow did not seek destruction, but submission.

It wanted everything in this world to submit, this was the way of the emperor!

……

……

The meeting and subsequent battle between the two sovereigns was naturally a significant event in the world. The entire desolate north plain had already begun quaking when they probed each other. This vast plain, once belonging to humans and now to demons, pulsated with qi that pushed out like surging waves. There were some demon tribes that were not considered far away. After sensing the enormous air billows and undulations that started coming from the horizon, without any hesitation, they began to migrate the whole family, moving towards more distant regions.

When the demon tribes headed further southward, the sword immortal, Liu Banbi, was riding his sword northward. This man who came from the academy, but was now a sword immortal, gazed indifferently at the desolate north. He naturally knew what kind of price he might pay for venturing deep into the desolate north. He might very likely die in the desolate north, amidst the siege of a horde of great demons. However, he didn't care.

He was just heading north for a human whom he had never met. Since the other party dared to venture into the desolate north for the sake of humanity, why would he not dare? Even if he was currently heavily injured, even if the path ahead was destined to be perilous.

Standing on the flying sword Embracing Cicada, Liu Banbi smiled faintly, thinking with vicissitudes of emotion that if he had to die, he must die facing the North.

Facing south would be the land of the human race, while looking north would be the ambitions of humanity.

……

……

The river water had endured countless terrifying techniques. The two monarchs stood on opposite sides of the riverbank, but had never moved. These two just looked at each other silently. The grassland became turbulent, the sun and moon lost their radiance, and the world turned dim.

The silent exchange between the two monarchs lasted less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The wind-swept grassland suddenly fell silent.

The emperor robe of the Great Liang Emperor was originally embroidered with countless golden threads. At this moment, many of them had already snapped. On the other side, the robe of that Demon Emperor now had an additional rip.

Apart from these, the two did not seem to have any traces left on their bodies.

It seemed as if the two of them did not make any moves for a long time after this great battle started. It also felt like the outcome had already been decided shortly after this battle started.

"We have underestimated you a little."

The Demon Emperor spoke first, looking at the tear in his own robe. As the Demon Emperor, his clothes was naturally no ordinary item, how could it be ripped so easily?

The Great Liang Emperor remained silent. Except, his hair seemed to have turned a bit whiter.

The Demon Emperor said calmly, "Perhaps YOU are the strongest person in the human race."

His voice was faint, but these words were enough to stir up tumultuous waves. As the strongest powerhouse among the demons, the words of the Demon Emperor carried tremendous weight. The Great Liang Emperor was not even considered the strongest in the Great Liang Dynasty before, but now, based on the Demon Emperor's words, he had become the strongest powerhouse among the entire human race.

Did that not mean that the prominent figures from the foreign lands, such as that Temple Master of the Infatuation Daoist Temple, that Sword Sect's sect master who had not appeared in the world for many years, or that old monk from Deercry Monastery, were all inferior to the Great Liang Emperor?

The Great Liang Emperor just said calmly, "Indeed, We wanted to take a look at the Onan River."

The Demon Emperor looked towards the south and also said, "We would also like to take a look at the Divine Capital."

After saying these words, the two monarchs stepped into the river virtually without prior agreement.

Feeling the river water flowing around their legs, the distance between the two monarchs was now only a dozen feet.

"We heard that among you human cultivators, martial artists have the sturdiest bodies. That's your greatest reliance when facing other cultivators. Unfortunately, in front of Us, your greatest reliance is utterly ridiculous."

The Demon Emperor slowly walked forward and said in a slow tone.

The bodies of the demon race were inherently tough, surpassing even martial artists; this was an indisputable fact. Although the Great Liang Emperor had already advanced extremely far in his cultivation, facing the Demon Emperor before him, he might still not have the upper hand.

The Great Liang Emperor did not speak, he just walked a few steps. He spotted an extremely beautiful pebble in the river and smiled.

The Demon Emperor raised his hand, and a strong wind stirred between heaven and earth once again.

But the wind stopped at the river water.

Behind the Great Liang Emperor, everything remained calm.

The confrontation between the two had actually been ongoing this entire time.

Furthermore, neither of them was willing to be the defeated party.

Both were well aware that their victory or defeat would directly impact the future of the human and demon races.

……