C17 A Fierce Person Appeared in the Vrabouton Empire!

Boom!

The Skybreaker's ferocious assault ripped through the fabric of the void, revealing a massive rift dozens of meters across.

The Demon Emperor, caught in the maelstrom of the Skybreaker's onslaught, blanched in terror.

Without hesitation, he bit down hard and spat several mouthfuls of his lifeblood onto the black scales that armored his body.

In the span of a single breath, a faint, blood-red luminescence emanated from the Demon Emperor's scales.

The defense of the Armor of the Shadow King instantly doubled.

Yet, the Demon Emperor remained vigilant.

With a mere thought, he summoned an exceedingly rare Ten Thousand Mile Teleportation Talisman into his grasp.

"This grudge, I will not forget. When next we meet, we shall settle both old and new scores!" he declared with a menacing laugh.

Soong Lin, however, couldn't be bothered to engage in banter.

He redoubled his efforts, driving the Skybreaker with relentless force.

Clang!

The Skybreaker descended with a clash, and a potent rebounding force burst forth from the Demon Emperor's scales, dissipating a full third of the Skybreaker's might.

Still, the subsequent force of the Skybreaker's blows remained formidable.

With each successive strike, scales shattered under its edge, leaving a stark, fresh wound from which dark red lifeblood gushed ceaselessly.

In an instant, the Demon Emperor's resolve crumbled.

He dared not continue the clash with Soong Lin.

"Fool, though you may have dealt me a severe blow, you won't capture me! The landscape may change, but our fates are bound. Our next encounter will spell your doom," the Demon Emperor spat out in defiance.

The Ten Thousand Mile Teleportation Charm in his hand ignited with energy.

Whoosh!

A surge of green light enveloped the Demon Emperor.

Witnessing this, Soong Lin let out a contemptuous snort as the Skybreaker's strikes accelerated.

Puff!

The colossal blade came down like an axe upon an unyielding stone, sending sparks scattering in every direction.

Simultaneously, a blood-curdling scream tore through the air as a blood-drenched, muscular arm plummeted from the void.

"Curse you, I will remember this! Await my vengeance!" the Demon Emperor bellowed.

But by then, the teleportation charm had fully taken effect.

The Demon Emperor seized the opportunity to make a swift escape.

"Hmph, the mighty Demon Emperor, all bluster and no backbone. When push comes to shove, you flee in panic," Soong Lin scoffed.

With a mere thought, he stowed the Skybreaker and vanished into the heavens. When he next appeared, he was within the Vrabouton imperial mausoleum.

The aftermath of the battle—the ruined Northern City Gate and the affected citizens of the Vrabouton Empire—didn't require his personal attention. Soong Wang would handle the comforting.

In the Vrabouton Empire's Imperial Palace, Soong Wang watched the battle at the Northern City Gate conclude with the Demon Emperor's hasty retreat, his eyes brimming with tears of elation.

"Truly worthy of being the Vrabouton Empire's King the Benevolent, this battle has elevated our name across the Myriad Realms. The Evilkind will surely hesitate before challenging us again."

"Your Majesty speaks the truth. To think that even the Demon Emperor suffered a defeat at the hands of King the Benevolent. Our Vrabouton Empire has truly produced a formidable hero," the State Preceptor exclaimed in admiration.

Meanwhile, outside the White City of the capital, the Vrabouton Empire's commoners had gathered in droves to witness the spectacle.

They stared at the Demon King's severed arm, several feet in length, speechless with awe. Eventually, someone broke the silence, their voice tinged with excitement.

"Behold the arm of the Demon King, a trophy of King the Benevolent's valor. He single-handedly inflicted a grievous wound upon the Demon Emperor. We, the people of the Vrabouton Empire, must etch this victory into our memories."

"This battle will surely be etched into the annals of Vrabouton history."

"With his deep connection to the people and his illustrious military achievements, King the Benevolent is indeed the bedrock of our great empire."

Soong Lin, however, had no interest in these accolades. Having returned to the Vrabouton imperial mausoleum, he promptly found a secluded spot and activated a protective formation.

He meticulously replayed the fight with the Demon Emperor in his mind.

"As a fellow early-stage Nascent Infant cultivator, I managed to sever an arm of the Demon Emperor. The Skybreaker played its part, but it was the Demon Emperor's underestimation of me that proved to be his downfall."

As the thought crossed his mind, Soong Lin's expression turned grim.

A nameless pressure weighed on him, leaving his heart restless for a long while.

"The Evilkind has a multitude of experts, and the Demon Emperor is merely their figurehead—a puppet put forth by the stronger forces among them. In this battle, I managed to sever one of the Demon Emperor's arms, which may temporarily deter the Evilkind's experts, but it's not a permanent solution."

"If they decipher my capabilities, I fear a full-scale invasion of the Vrabouton Empire is imminent. I must seize this brief respite to bolster my own strength."

This realization allowed some of the pressure in Soong Lin's heart to dissipate.

He then meticulously reflected on his combat experiences before settling into a meditative state to cultivate.

Swallowing a top-grade pill, its potent medicinal essence diffused throughout his body.

The spiritual force within Soong Lin's power core steadily replenished.

His realm incrementally ascended.

Yet, advancing beyond the Nascent Infant stage proved arduous, with each minor level challenging to attain.

Despite the plethora of pills at his disposal, Soong Lin knew he had to continuously refine and gather spiritual force to progress.

A rapid rise in realm was beyond even his reach.

"Since a swift advancement is out of the question, I should focus on mastering the Sunflower Compendium. The Evil-Dispelling Swordsmanship contained within is exceptionally formidable. Should I confront the Demon Emperor again, this technique will surely claim his life."

With that thought, Soong Lin set his mind to the task and began to delve into the Sunflower Compendium.

He dedicated several days to thoroughly grasp the Evil-Dispelling Swordsmanship detailed in the compendium's first volume before embarking on his cultivation journey.

...

In the desolate reaches of the Far North, within the Demon Emperor Palace.

The Demon Emperor, pallid from his narrow escape from death, was haunted by the memory of Soong Lin's parting sword strike.

"Soong Lin possesses an Immortal Sword. That coveted artifact must surely be with him."

"Yet, I must keep this knowledge secret. Should the others learn of it, they would strike at Soong Lin first. Not only would I lose the chance to claim the artifact, but the Immortal Sword would also end up in another's grasp."

The Demon Emperor grumbled under his breath.

He resolved then and there to keep his injuries a secret.

In the shadows, he began amassing resources for cultivation, aiming to bolster his power before challenging Soong Lin once more.

While he didn't necessarily have to kill Soong Lin, he coveted the Skybreaker sword.

Unbeknownst to him, word of the Demon Emperor's grievous wounds had quietly spread throughout the Myriad Realms.

The incident was particularly noted by the Vrabouton Empire's experts, whose tale of severing the Demon Emperor's arm with the Immortal Sword had drawn the gaze of numerous alien race warriors.

In the Southwest, within the Hall of Savagery.

The Barbarian God sat upon his regal throne, flanked by twelve Wildling chieftains in a solemn row.

Their gazes fixed intently on the Barbarian God.

"You've all heard about the Demon Emperor's blunder in Newcliff, haven't you? I've summoned you here to hear your counsel," he stated.

As the Barbarian God's words fell, the twelve chieftains' faces registered shock and concern.

"Master Barbarian God, the Immortal Sword chooses to reside with the mighty. If a cultivator from the Vrabouton Empire can wield the Immortal Sword, it signifies their realm far surpasses our own. To covet the Immortal Sword may invite more peril than fortune," one chieftain cautioned.

"Please reconsider, Barbarian God. Do not gamble the future of the Wildlings so rashly," another advised.

"If you truly desire the Immortal Sword, there's no need to act hastily. The Demon Emperor is known for his vindictiveness and greed. Let's bide our time and observe. When he clashes with the Vrabouton Empire's might once again, we can seize the opportunity to benefit," a third suggested.