Chapter 124: The Ferocious Emperor Battles the Heavenly Venerable (Part I)

Above the City of Gods lies an endless sea of clouds, drifting and ethereal, glowing brilliantly under the gentle golden light.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A streak of blood-red light suddenly pierced through the sea of clouds with a deafening roar, followed closely by dozens of various divine lights as they ascended toward the highest reaches of the sky. The lead blood-red light did not stop until it reached the very pinnacle of the City of Gods, where it finally revealed its true form. It was none other than Xiong Shitian.

Dozens of other figures emerged from the divine lights several thousand feet behind him. These figures, led by three primary lights, were divided into over a dozen small factions. The three leading figures were revealed to be Zhulong, Fenghuang, and Qilin Huo. The rest consisted of dozens of renowned and formidable ancient gods of the Primordial Era.

Standing at the pinnacle of the City of Gods, Xiong Shitian scanned the boundless horizon with his blood-red eyes, thinking, "Where exactly is that golden palace? There is nothing here at all!"

Despite the emptiness of the summit, Xiong Shitian was certain the palace was there. He had attempted to use his malevolent consciousness to search the peak, only to find it restricted and unable to extend, as if hitting an invisible wall. "Apart from that golden palace, what else in this City of Gods could hinder my consciousness? Only the barriers surrounding that palace could imprison it. It must be here. But where?"

He searched silently, his blood-red eyes flashing as he hunted for any trace. After observing that Xiong Shitian was merely standing still without intent to attack, the dozens of other powerhouses, led by Zhulong, Fenghuang, and Qilin Huo, finally dared to inspect the area.

In truth, the overwhelming ferocity Xiong Shitian had displayed earlier, combined with his impulsive and violent nature, had left a deep impression on them. Had they not needed to follow him to force the God Race’s army to retreat, they would never have risked their lives in his presence. Dealing with a volatile, murderous beast-emperor was a source of great helplessness for them. More would have followed had they not feared his unpredictable rages. Even so, the leaders kept most of their focus on him, terrified he might suddenly begin a slaughter.

"Xiong Shitian shouldn't have brought us to the wrong place, but why can't I find the palace?" Qilin Huo wondered, surveying the void.

Fenghuang shook his head helplessly. "Forget the palace; is there anything here at all besides us?"

Zhulong scanned the surroundings with his golden dragon eyes, attempting to project his divine sense, only to find it swallowed by the void as if cast into a bottomless ocean. "The palace must be here! It is likely hidden within a barrier or a pocket dimension," Zhulong concluded.

"Oh! A barrier or a pocket dimension," Fenghuang exclaimed, but upon trying to project his own sense, he found it just as useless. Qilin Huo followed suit with the same result, looking dejected.

"You feel it too, don't you? The restrictions here are too strong to use divine sense," Zhulong explained.

"If it is hidden in a barrier or a pocket dimension, and we cannot use our senses, how are we to find it?" Fenghuang asked, frowning.

"I do not know," Zhulong replied, shrugging toward Xiong Shitian. "It is up to him."

Qilin Huo and Fenghuang looked at Xiong Shitian, and Qilin Huo nodded in agreement. "Indeed. We are in no rush; he is the one who should be anxious."

It was clear that none of the powerhouses present were foolish. Since they could not find it themselves, they chose to follow Xiong Shitian, letting him bear the burden of the search. Feeling their lingering gazes, Xiong Shitian felt only cold contempt. *These pathetic cowards, always relying on the strong. A day will come when you pay for this in blood.*

As it turned out, this was a prophecy that would one day be fulfilled.

Xiong Shitian felt a growing sense of unease, a premonition of danger that even a beast-emperor could sense if he were powerful enough. His blood-red eyes pierced through the clouds to look below, where the God Race soldiers were escorting the millions of visiting gods away from the scene.

"What if I were to slaughter all the God Race soldiers and the millions of gods below?" Xiong Shitian mused aloud, his voice echoing across the summit.

The gathered powerhouses were terrified. They knew that if he did this, the God Race would not only suffer a blow to their strength but would lose all credibility. If the God Race could not protect their guests, their ten thousand years of prestige would vanish in a single day. They were certain he would do it—unless the God Race’s Sovereigns stepped forward.

"Well? Are you not going to show yourselves?" Xiong Shitian called out, his eyes cold. "I will count to three. If you do not appear, do not blame me for being heartless."

"One."

"Two."

As he called out, his killing intent flared. The other powerhouses, while loathing his cruelty, did nothing to stop him; they followed the truth that one should prioritize one's own safety over the lives of others.

"Three."

Before the word had even finished echoing, Xiong Shitian raised his right hand and hurled a three-foot-wide sphere of baleful blood energy toward the platform below. It streaked through the sky like a blood-red meteor.

Boom!

A massive explosion erupted as the sphere was struck by a golden light descending from above. The sea of clouds was stained crimson.

Violence, as always, proved to be the most effective tool. Forced into the open, the twelve Sovereigns of the God Race finally appeared, standing shoulder to shoulder atop twelve towering golden pillars before Xiong Shitian.