Chapter 872: The Enigmatic Emperor

Chapter 872: Chapter 872: The Enigmatic Emperor

The arrow moved like a lightning bolt, its speed astonishingly fast, reaching Zhong Shan's back almost instantly. The crowd gasped in shock at the sinister timing of the shot, coming just as Zhong Shan was exerting his full strength.

Nine-Tailed Princess's eyes widened in panic, but it was too late to help. Even an ancient immortal might not be able to intervene in such a brief moment, unless they possessed time-manipulation abilities, which were exceedingly rare and had no connection to Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan's Demonic Body Tempering, Seventh Level! Eightfold power erupted explosively.

In an instant, the power of the Sky-Opening Palm surged eightfold, and Zhong Shan's form swelled to twice its size. In the void, a massive hand collided with a smaller one, akin to an adult's hand meeting an infant's.

"Boom!"

A thunderous explosion shattered Cheng Baiyi's white palm, sending towering waves surging across the sea.

At that precise moment, the golden arrow pierced Zhong Shan's back.

Zhong Shan's instincts screamed danger, and his back hairs stood on end. He was ready to activate his Eight Extreme Demon Tail, but the speed of the great immortal artifact was too incredible. Just as death loomed over him, another treasure within Zhong Shan activated.

"Boom!"

From Zhong Shan's back, a burst of white light erupted, and a ten-foot-square painting unfolded, shielding his back.

The painting, mostly white with countless clouds, seemed to contain endless mountains and rivers. At its center was a striking black dot.

The golden arrow shot into the painting and vanished within its depths.

The painting acted like a spatial treasure, absorbing the golden arrow.

In an astonishing twist, the arrow reemerged from the black dot, now turned around, heading back the way it came at the same speed.

"Whoosh!"

The transformation happened in a blink. The arrow, painting, and its reemergence all occurred within a fleeting instant.

The golden arrow, following its original path, shot back with incredible speed. Alll latest novels at novelhall.com

Everyone was stunned. What kind of treasure was this? Reflection? No, the arrowhead had turned around. A spatial world within the painting?

What kind of treasure was this? Everyone looked at Zhong Shan with shock.

An immortal artifact? More than that—it was miraculous! What kind of treasure was this?

In that brief moment, the painting returned to Zhong Shan's body.

The crowd erupted. What kind of treasure was that? So mysterious and wondrous? Zhong Shan had just opened the heavens, so where did he get such a treasure?

It was an artifact crafted by Zhong Shan himself, a primal chaos treasure—the Emperor's Painting!

As Zhong Shan's palm defeated Cheng Baiyi, he turned to look back at the direction from which the golden arrow had come.

A sneak attack? In front of so many people, someone dared to attack?

On the distant island peak, Sima Qianjun had shot the arrow, a great immortal artifact. This sneak attack, even ancient immortals might struggle to intercept. Zhong Shan was surely doomed.

With the arrow released, Sima Qianjun felt an immense sense of satisfaction, as if the resentment he'd harbored towards Zhong Shan was being fully unleashed. There was no time; Zhong Shan couldn't possibly dodge it. The Soul-Destroying Arrow, once piercing the body, would annihilate the soul, ensuring instantaneous death.

Staring at Zhong Shan, Cheng Baiyi's face was extremely grim, and his eyes radiated a chilling coldness.

"Daoist Cheng Baiyi? It's just a spar. Why take it so seriously? The outcome is clear. Why can't you let it go?" A calm voice suddenly resonated from the void.

As the voice spoke, a figure slowly materialized beside Zhong Shan. It was the Demon Chess Saint of the fox clan.

Cheng Baiyi's eyes narrowed.

"What, you want to interfere in my matters with Zhong Shan?" Cheng Baiyi said coldly.

"Your matters with Zhong Shan? You wanted to spar with him, lost, and now you want to force another match?" the Demon Chess Saint said with a faint smile.

"So what?" Cheng Baiyi's eyes turned colder.

"Well, I've been rather idle lately and often feel like stretching my bones. Seeing Daoist Cheng Baiyi today, how about you and I spar a bit? I think my status wouldn't insult you. How about right here?" the Demon Chess Saint suggested with a casual smile.

Cheng Baiyi's face grew even darker.

The surrounding onlookers, having just witnessed a spectacular battle, were now eager for an even more exciting one. Each one watched with great interest.

"Who is this person? Challenging Daoist Cheng Baiyi? Doesn't this tone sound just like Cheng Baiyi's when he was speaking to Zhong Shan?"

"You don't know this person? The top chess master of the Fengzhong Domain. But I heard he was defeated by Zhong Shan in a game of chess!"

"The Demon Chess Saint? No way, beaten by Zhong Shan in chess? Isn't Zhong Shan known for his imperial path?"

"Are you from the underworld? Don't you know? Where did the treasure from the Aolai Sea Saint come from? It was an ancient immortal's tomb that several generations of the Demon Chess Saint's family couldn't open, but Zhong Shan did!"

"Is Zhong Shan really that powerful? Is Daeng really as weak as the rumors say?"

"Weak? It seems the rumors aren't true at all. Daeng? Daeng?"

...

As people talked, they deeply remembered the name 'Daeng'.

"Yes, the Demon Chess Saint. Duel him. People like him are shameless, challenging weaker cultivators and even getting others to launch sneak attacks," Nine-Tailed Princess suddenly jumped in.

"The one who launched the sneak attack wasn't my man; it was someone from your Taichu!" Cheng Baiyi's face turned green with anger.

Sima Qianjun's sneak attack had nothing to do with Cheng Baiyi, but Nine-Tailed Princess's accusation immediately made everyone think otherwise. Indeed, this was disgraceful.

"Someone from Taichu? What does that prove? Zhong Shan saved your Zixiao Saintess earlier, and now you want to embarrass him in front of everyone? Couldn't that archer have been colluding with you to plot against Zhong Shan? One palm exchange followed by a sneak attack—if we go again, who knows how many more sneak attacks you'll plan!" Nine-Tailed Princess mocked.

When had Cheng Baiyi ever been so humiliated? Despite his cultivation, he felt an overwhelming urge to vomit blood from the anger and shame.

"You're courting death!" Cheng Baiyi's tone was chilling as he glared at Nine-Tailed Princess.

The Demon Chess Saint immediately stepped in front of Nine-Tailed Princess, his tone equally cold. "Cheng Baiyi, if you dare disrespect Nine-Tailed Princess, don't blame me for being impolite."

"Why are you being polite to him? People like him just love showing off, especially in front of a crowd, by challenging weaker cultivators to display their 'strength.' Disgraceful!" Nine-Tailed Princess added fuel to the fire.

Cheng Baiyi wasn't the type to challenge weaker cultivators, but the current situation painted him as such, leaving him feeling utterly frustrated and close to spitting blood.