The Immortal Emperor Returns

Chapter 502 Ignominious Encounter

The Flaming Qilin arrived first.

“Mongrel pups of the Immortals, show yourself!”

The Flaming Qilin appeared outside the city, seething at the atrocities wrought at the hands of these strangers that even the common folks were mindlessly murdered for nothing.

The strangers appeared, facing the Flaming Qilin at a distance away.

“And who might you be?” asked one of them haughtily.

“One of the renowned Sacred Beasts, the Flaming Qilin! I’ll destroy you, you vermin of the Immortals!” challenged the Qilin.

“Oh? You’re that Sacred Beast? I’ve heard of you,” said another. “That’s all fine. As it happens, I’m in need of a mount and I’m sure you’d do just fine.”

The irascible Flaming Qilin spewed a litany of expletives before saying, “Who do you think you are! Come right here this instant! Let me pound some manners into you!”

The youth who expressed interest in keeping the Qilin as a pet snarled coldly, “You’d do well to remember the name of your soon-to-be master. The name’s Wang He.”

“Wang He?” the Flaming Qilin scowled with undisguised contempt. “The name sounds even worse than how you look.”

Ignoring the jibe, the dashing and slender Wang He paced towards the Flaming Qilin slowly.

At first glance, he looked slow and casual, and then all of a sudden, he appeared right in front of the Flaming Qilin.

Roar!

The Flaming Qilin snarled at his enemy, summoning his fiery powers that the very air around him began to sizzle and burn. He raised a fist and drove it furiously at Wang He, firing a jet of lava at him.

A smug Wang He raised his hands, channeling his powers. The air warped in response to the gathering force condensing at his fists and he thrust his arm forward, firing a white jet of energy.

Sizzle!

White steam burst from the point of impact; the Flaming Qilin’s lava jet easily engulfed Wang He’s energy blast and reduced it into nothing.

The latter quickly dove sideways to avoid the lava jet screaming into his face, but part of his clothes was caught in the blast of the fire-made liquid, making him sullen and resentful.

The Flaming Qilin was, however, overjoyed by that. “That’s what you get for behaving like a bully here on Earth! Watch how I’ll beat you into a pulp!”

Emboldened by his early success, the Flaming Qilin’s aura burgeoned as he conjured a red set of armor that magically appeared over his clothes and charged at Wang He like a conquering hero.

Bang! Bang!

Both men disappeared into a blurry whirl of fists and kicks with the occasional streaks of molten lava and white energy beams. The ground shook and split whenever they came by with broken gravel and stones whisked up into the air by their furious battle and reduced into dust by stray bolts that whizzed by.

Scores of warriors had already been waiting to witness this battle and they had come as soon as they got word of the Qilin’s impending arrival. Seeing him gaining the upper hand filled everyone with joy and exuberance.

At any rate, the atrocities that the six strangers had committed had effectively made them the common enemy of all humanity.

Rumble!

With a terrible explosion that sent tremors across the ground, both men disentangled.

Wang He crashed to the ground, his face writhing with pain and rage. The blackened front of his clothes highlighted where the Flaming Qilin had delivered a fiery punch into.

On the other hand, a dent shaped like a man’s hand caved in the front of the Flaming Qilin’s scarlet-red armor.

Was it a tie?

The onlookers all gasped with astonishment. “Are the Immortals this powerful? The Flaming Qilin has been known to be a renowned warrior who has been nothing but victorious in his battle and has carved his name among the strongest warriors of Earth.”

“Immortal scum. And here was I, wondering if you’re actually any good. What an awful disappointment,” teased the Qilin as his fiery-red armor repaired itself.

Wang He’s face grew darker than ash. The Flaming Qilin’s armor could self-repair, but his clothes could not.

But at the same time, he was shocked. He came to Earth expecting little to no opposition at all, only to find himself a difficult opponent in the Flaming Qilin during his first battle here.

Flames swirled in the hands of the Flaming Qilin, growing longer in length as it began to assume the form of a rod. By the time the transformation was complete, it had turned into a long, fiery spear. It was Qilin’s heirloom magic that allowed him to condense his magic into solid items.

The Qilin aimed the tip of his spear at Wang He. “Come, you scum. It’s time you pay for what you’ve done!”

Wang He’s face contorted with indignation and malice. He waved a hand and conjured a silvered longsword that flared with blazing white energy when he activated its powers.

Swoosh!

The Flaming Qilin charged at Wang He, his very self radiating tongues of flames that engulfed him and his spear whole, the fiery shroud taking on the semblance of a dragon of fire. The tip of the weapon flickered with fire as well, screaming as it tunneled towards its target.

An angry Wang He swung his sword to defend himself, firing an energy bolt from his sword that collided with the spear.

Clang!

Fiery embers sprayed everywhere as a resultant shockwave from the collision swept everywhere in pulses.

Wang He grunted as the force threw him backward, the ground cracking beneath his feet when he landed.

Like a god of fire himself, the Flaming Qilin lunged and thrust his spear at his enemy, firing a barrage of countless energy bolts.

Frantically, Wang He brandished his sword and swung it furiously. A cascade of explosions broke out, devouring him inside as he warded off the swarm of energy bolts with some of his own.

The Flaming Qilin ignored his own safety and charged with reckless abandon, keeping his spear aloft and aiming at Wang He’s throat. The tip of his weapon blazed with angry flames like a serpent hungry enough to sink its teeth into flesh.

Wang He could not believe it. Deep inside, he cursed the Qilin for being a madman. Such foolhardy ways of fighting could see them both fatally wounded. He needed only to arc his sword upwards and he would be able to wound the Flaming Qilin, but with the risk of getting his own throat blasted open by the Qilin’s spear.

Knowing better than to gamble his life, he ultimately decided to defend himself first by wielding his sword at the front of his throat.

Clank!

The spear struck at the blade of the sword, eliciting an angry burst of sparks. For one moment, Wang He thought the blade of his sword was bending from the force of the hit.

But the Flaming Qilin was not giving up. He stomped and launched himself forward, channeling more flames into his spear that tendrils of flames danced all over its length, eager to snap Wang He’s sword in half.

Like a raging bull, the Flaming Qilin pushed Wang He backward with his spear driving into the latter’s sword. The ground shattered under the force and weight of their feet.

Filled with rage, Wang He desperately channeled his powers and activated his sword. The Relic gave off a sudden burst of energy, knocking the Flaming Qilin backward this time.

But as he fell back, he hurled his spear forward. The spear streaked through the air like a fiery comet.

By the time Wang He saw what was coming, he turned aghast as he frantically ducked sideways to avoid it – but he was too late.

ARGGGH!

Blood spattered every, accompanied by Wang He’s angry howls of pain. The spear had gnawed off a huge chunk of his flesh when it blasted off part of his shoulder.

“NICE!”

The mob of onlookers comprised of warriors mostly all roared with exultant cheers when they saw Wang He wounded by the Flaming Qilin.

“And you think you can come here from your lofty world and come here to bully us, eh? Think again!”

The Flaming Qilin stomped his foot hard and propelled himself into the air, swooping down at Wang He with his fists on the ready.

Feeling danger for the first time since stepping foot on Earth, Wang He backpedaled hastily with panic.

Rumble!

The Flaming Qilin fired a blast. The jet of flames turned into another flaming dragon that bore down on his enemy.

All of a sudden, a figure appeared right before Wang He, wielding a golden oil lamp. The lamp gleamed a brilliant shade of gold and easily inhaled all the flames the Qilin fired like a voracious black hole.

The Qilin retreated at once and maintained a wary stance even after he landed. That it could easily nullify his flames showed that the oil lamp must be a formidable weapon.

“Since when do single combat involve outside help, Wang He?” sneered the Flaming Qilin. “Is he your daddy and you’re his baby boy that needs protecting?”

Wang He’s face blushed red with shame. He lashed at the youth carrying his oil lamp, berating fiercely. “Who asked for you to butt in?!”

“Enough,” snapped the youth with the magical oil lamp darkly. “Do not make the mistake of thinking that I take pleasure in dipping my fingers into your sordid affairs. What should have been a glorious victory has become an ignominious encounter. You’ve dragged the good name of Assembly of Immortals into the mud with your shoddy performance.”

“Well, if you’re really his old man, perhaps you should find a quiet spot to admonish your son instead of doing it out here. Don’t you wanna save some face instead of hanging your dirty linens out to dry?” the Flaming Qilin added another jibe.

“I would implore for some manners, Qilin,” said the youth with his oil lamp politely, but testily. “I am Jin Yujie.”

“Wait, so you’re not his old man? Wow, anyone would think so by the way you berated him…” teased the Flaming Qilin yet again.

Wang He’s face could not have been any uglier as he glared at the Qilin with venom.

“Worthless scum. Let’s come for another round if you’re so unhappy about your defeat!” challenged the Flaming Qilin with undisguised contempt. “Or perhaps you should beg this Jin Yujie for help. He appears to be strong enough.”

Wang He’s nostrils flared with anger. “Do you really think you’re better than me, you filthy animal?!”

“Better? Of course, I am. Why else would your daddy need to step in?” the Flaming Qilin countered viciously.

Wang He grunted with suppressed anger. Then with a roar that almost literally burst out of him, he charged headlong into another clash with the Qilin.

Jin Yujie’s face contorted with dismay. To kill the Flaming Qilin, Wang He would undoubtedly need to use his final gambit. But the gambit did not come easily and it was supposed to be saved for express use on the Devil. Swiftly, he caught Wang He’s arm before he could get any further.

“What in the gods’ name are you doing?!” Wang He spat with rancor and rage.

“Remember our purpose!” warned Jin Yujie sternly.

Wang He shuddered. Jin Yujie was right. Their coming here to Earth was not easy; too much was at stake, for them and their race.

“That’s right. Be a good baby boy to your big daddy here. Listen to him. He means you well,” the Flaming Qilin mocked further.

Wang He lost his temper.

But Jin Yujie noticed it. He gripped firmly at Wang He’s arm, urging, “Control yourself. He’s goading you and you know it.”

Jin Yujie said to the Flaming Qilin, “I’m afraid my friend Wang is unwell. If you wish to fight, I shall be happy to oblige.”

“What’s this? Is he backing down from a challenge?” the Flaming Qilin heckled derisively. “Why did you all not feel unwell at all when you were slaughtering so many innocent people? Just admit it if you’re afraid of losing. The more you deny, the more it looks obvious.”

Unfazed, Jin Yujie smiled instead. “Slaughtering? Blame that on the Devil. All those lives could have been spared if he hasn’t been a coward.”

“How dare you! As if the likes of you are qualified to call Chu Xun a coward! No one has seen him for fifteen years! That’s exactly why you’re here – because he’s missing! If the Devil were here, he would have easily made short work of scum like you!”

Jin Yujie looked hardly amused at the Flaming Qilin’s reprimand. “Is the Devil really missing, or is he actually too much of a coward to answer our challenge? But that won’t matter to us – so long as he refuses to appear, nothing will stop the killing from going on.”

“Chu Xun might be absent, but that doesn’t mean you can go on rampaging Earth with impunity,” a cold and angry voice echoed from the skies.

Every head turned. Two figures in white approached with the speed of a falling star. In just mere moments, they descended to the ground, just in front of the crowd.

“That’s Fairy Jing Hong and Lady Hua Qingwu of the Chu Mansion; they are the consorts of the Devil.”

Many of the warriors recognized them instantly.

The appearance of Jing Hong and Hua Qingwu cast a shroud of silence over the crowd, their divine beauty enough to make any man avert his eyes with embarrassment.

“Were you uttering insults about Chu Xun?” demanded Jing Hong coldly at Jin Yujie, her eyes and countenance fraught with frost.

“And who might you be?” Jin Yujie regarded Jing Hong and Hua Qingwu with amazement in his eyes, enthralled by their unworldly beauty and charms.

“We are consorts of Chu Xun,” said Jing Hong reticently. “Were you the one slandering Chu Xun just now?”

“By what right does the Devil claim these ladies of such grace and beauty to be his women?” uttered Jin Yujie with apparent jealousy.

“By what right? By this!”

As she answered, Jing Hong crossly raised a hand and her lean finger gracefully tapped into the air.

Rumble!

The air trembled. A thick and ancient aura pervaded the entire area in an instant as a huge monolith with titanic weight and force came crashing down from the sky, bearing down on Jin Yujie and Wang He.