Xuanyi, Zhang He, Li Chun, Little Yuan’er, Conch, and Zhu Honggong looked at the scene before them with their mouths agape.

The world shook as the space twisted.

Boom!

The golden dragon crashed into Zhi Guangji’s avatar.

The avatar shone brilliantly before rumbling noises, along with Zhi Guangji’s angry roar, rang in the air. Then, it began to flicker as it used its pearl and hands to resist the golden dragon with all its might.

The golden dragon was peerlessly strong. Every time it moved, the earth would shake, and the space would tear.

Everyone had no choice but to retreat to avoid being injured.

Little Yuan’er exclaimed in surprise, “Master’s cultivation has become so… powerful?”

“I didn’t expect this. I always thought master is just a Dao Saint, about the same as us,” Conch said.

Little Yuan’er was jubilant. Then, she complained, “Master really made us worry for nothing!”

Shang Zhang, the attendant, quickly adjusted the shocked expression on his face before he asked in a low voice, “Is he really your master?”

“Nonsense. What do you think?” Little Yuan’er rolled her eyes.

Shang Zhang, the attendant, wanted to continue asking, but he remembered most of his questions were related to things he learned when he was in Shang Zhang Hall. If he asked those questions, his identity would be exposed. Finally, he gave up and sighed.

After thinking about it, Shang Zhang thought that it did not matter who Lu Zhou was or what Lu Zhou’s purpose was. As long as his daughter was fine, what was there to investigate or ask? Moreover, what right did he have to investigate his daughter’s benefactor?

At this moment, Xuanyi’s excitement had reached its peak. However, his expression did not show it.

Zhang He, who was standing next to Xuanyi, said in a low voice, “Could it be that… he’s the White Emperor? Did he disguise himself and come here?”

Boom!

The huge golden dragon pierced through the huge black avatar.

The experienced Zhi Guangji reacted instinctively. He joined his palms together and opened his mouth before the divine soul pearl flew in. Following that, his avatar suddenly vanished.

At the same time, the huge golden dragon flashed and disappeared about 300 feet behind Zhi Guangji.

Zhi Guangji raised his head slightly to look at Lu Zhou who was hovering in the sky.

Lu Zhou’s expression remained as calm as ever as he looked down at Zhi Guangji. It looked as though he did not expend much of his energy at all.

With this, it seemed like the winner had been decided.

No one spoke, no one moved, and no one dared to go up and check on the situation. Everyone just stared at the two figures facing each other in the sky.

It felt as though 1,000 years had passed as clouds returned to the sky and the Primal Qi grew richer. There were even a few courageous fierce beasts scampering across the land.

The sunlight from the west shone through the clouds on Lu Zhou’s body. He looked like an immortal from heaven that had descended to the mortal world at this moment.

Everyone looked at Lu Zhou in awe. They had never seen someone with such a majestic aura before. He did not need to display any skills at this moment to make people submit to him. This was what having absolute strength was like.

Zhi Guangji was the first to break the silence. He said, “You’re… not a lesser supreme being. Who are you?”

Lu Zhou remained expressionless as he said, “Oh, you met my attack directly, but you’re still safe and sound?”

Zhi Guangji scoffed. “A mere golden dragon can’t do anything to me.”

“I’ve said earlier that I’d kill you with three moves. I’ve only used two moves,” Lu Zhou replied.

Zhi Guangji said in a deep voice, “Forget about three moves. Even if it’s ten moves or 100 moves, you still won’t be able to defeat me, let alone kill me.”

Lu Zhou raised his hand.

At this time, Zhi Guangji suddenly said, “Wait. I want to know who you are.”

“A golden lotus cultivator. A nobody,” Lu Zhou replied. Indeed, he was from the golden lotus domain. Although his name resounded throughout the golden lotus domain, he was a nobody in the Great Void.

Zhi Guangji chuckled. “Do you think it’s so easy to fool me?” Then, he pointed at Lu Zhou before he continued to say, “I recognize that item. The Hourglass of Time.”

Lu Zhou was not surprised that Zhi Guangji brought up the Hourglass of Time.

“This item was originally with Yue Qi, a beast tamer from the Great Void. It was unfortunate that he didn’t have the ability to unleash the full potential of the Hourglass of Time. It was wasted on him. How did you obtain this from Yue Qi?” Zhi Guangji asked.

Lu Zhou replied nonchalantly, “I killed him.”

“…”

Zhi Guangji clapped his hands. “Very good! You’re really bold! Aren’t you afraid the Great Void will hold you accountable for his death?” Then, he turned to Xuanyi and said, “Xuanyi, you’re harboring a criminal. I can’t wait to report this to the Sacred Temple.”

Xuanyi: “…”

Xuanyi frowned. ‘That thing originally belongs to teacher anyway! What a terrible injustice!’

Lu Zhou shook his head and said in a deep voice, “It seems like I really can’t let you live. Only a dead person won’t snitch, after all.”

“…”

Zhi Guangji shook his head as well and said in a neither servile nor overbearing tone, “Snitch? You’re overthinking things. I’ve always been righteous, and I do things openly. I’ve always disdained to do such lowly things.” Then, he lowered his voice as he continued to say, “I’m afraid it won’t be easy for you to kill me. I was cultivating in seclusion for many years and have mastered a divine skill. I’ve comprehended the laws of the Great Dao. If it weren’t because I considered the innocent lives that would be affected, perhaps, you wouldn’t even have the chance to act earlier.”

Lu Zhou said, “I’ve only used 30% of my strength.”

Zhi Guangji did not think much of these words. He said with a smile, “That’s because you don’t dare to use your full strength.”

“How do you know?”

“If you’re telling the truth, once you use your full strength, the power of the Great Dao will affect the balance of the Great Void. In turn, the Pillars of Destruction will collapse, and the Great Void will also collapse. At that time, countless lives will be lost. Even if all of those things don’t happen, the Sacred Temple won’t let you off. Do you have the confidence to defeat… Ming Xin?” Zhi Guangji asked.

Lu Zhou did not reply to the question. Instead, he said, “Whether the Sacred Temple lets me off or not, it has nothing to do with the matter at hand. I just need to get rid of you now.”

Zhi Guangji frowned slightly.

At this time, one of Zhi Guangji’s subordinates flew over from afar. He looked at Lu Zhou as though he was facing a terrifying enemy.

Zhi Guangji thought about it for a moment before he continued to say in a neither servile nor overbearing tone, “Very well. Do you think I’m afraid of you?”

The void-grade Unnamed appeared in Lu Zhou’s hand at this moment.

The space trembled as though in anticipation of the great battle that was about to take place.

Everyone’s mouths turned dry at this moment. They were all nervous.

Xuanyi shook his head repeatedly. He did not want to see a battle between divine emperors. It would affect the balance in the Great Void, after all. However, he knew they could not allow Zhi Guangji to live. He felt deeply conflicted.

At this moment, Shang Zhang, the attendant, who was standing in front of Conch said, “Why don’t we take a step back?”

Everyone turned to look at Shang Zhang, the attendant, in unison.

“Who’s he? He dares to interject at this moment?!”

“He really doesn’t care about his life at all! How dare he spouts nonsense at this time?”

“Even His Majesty didn’t speak, but a mere attendant dared to speak?”

“Impudent!”

Shang Zhang’s expression remained the same. How could he be angered by the words of insignificant people? He could only say that one sentence to break the tension. He could not say any more in case he exposed his identity.

At this time, Zhi Guangji looked at Shang Zhang, the attendant. Then, his voice was fierce and domineering as he suddenly said, “For your sake, I’ll let Xuanyi Palace go this time!”

Then, Zhi Guangji flicked his sleeve and turned around.

Zhi Guangji’s subordinates: “???”

Zhi Guangji walked in the air as though he was walking on flat ground.

One of the cultivators rushed over and pointed at Zhu Honggong before he asked, “Your Majesty, w-what about him?”

Zhi Guangji did not turn around. He stopped in his tracks and said, “There aren’t many people who are a match for me. For your sake, I’ll return this person to you.”

After saying that, Zhi Guangji flew into the distance like a shooting star. His speed was… incredibly fast.

Zhi Guanghi’s subordinates turned back to have a look. Then, as though they were afraid they would be eaten, they hurried away as well.

Lu Zhou hovered in the sky as he watched them leave. He did not say anything, and he did not stop them. After a long time, he said indifferently, “For the sake of the people in Xuanyi Palace, I’ll let you live.”

…

At a mountain peak near the boundary of Xuanyi Palace.

Swoosh!

Zhi Guangji flashed and landed. As soon as he landed, he let out a muffled groan. His Dantian’s sea of Qi was in chaos, and his qi and blood were surging.

Boom!

He smacked a hand on the ground, easily destroying the mountain peak. The surging and violent energy in his Eight Extraordinary Meridians was finally released.

After that, he let out a long sigh and muttered, “That was close.”