Chapter 2287 Betrayals

Xi, Xia Zhi, and Big Yellow’s sudden retreat caught Emperor Ancestors Wanliu and Qianyin off guard.

Throughout their battle with Xi, a sense of unease had been creeping over them.

Watching Big Yellow and Xia Zhi relentlessly hunt down the Emperor-level figures only deepened their dread. Their expressions had long since turned ashen, their fury laced with disbelief.

No matter how unwilling they were to admit it, they knew the truth—if things continue as they were, the vanguard forces of the Black Tortoise and White Tiger Clans would be utterly wiped out in less than a quarter of an hour!

Fortunately, that did not happen.

The retreat of Xi, Xia Zhi and Big Yellow puzzled them at first, but realization quickly dawned on them. Their gazes snapped toward the distance.

At that moment, the entire battlefield seemed to freeze. Whether it was the Black Tortoise and White Tiger armies outside the city, or Huang Cangtian and the others in the city, all eyes turned toward the same direction.

The setting sun stained the sky a deep-blood-red hue.

Thousand Flame Imperial City stood bathed in golden light, its ancient towering buildings and magnificent landscape glistening beneath the solemn glow, casting an almost dreamlike illusion of peace.

Boom!

However, this tranquility was soon shattered.

The earth shook violently, and the air became thick with a murderous, blood-soaked aura

In the distance, a group of people appeared out of nowhere like a dark mass of thundercloud pressing down on the city.

Each individual in the group radiated divine majesty, their figures wreathed in the brilliance of the Emperor Stage. They resembled sovereigns patrolling the world, their presence alone enough to crush all obstacles before them.

Behind them, rows of cultivators stood in imposing formations, like a dragon emerging from the abyss. Their terrifying aura distorted the winds and clouds, shrouding the world in a suffocating gloom.

At the forefront stood dozens of figures, male and female, young and old, each emanating a boundless, commanding aura. There were no ordinary beings but instead a group of formidable Emperors!

Leading them were two men.

One was clad in a white robe and had a chilling expression. His tall, slender figure stood like a lone mountain peak thrusting into the heavens, exuding a terrifying murderous intent.

Bai Lingzhen!

Also known as Killing Emperor Lingzhen, the patriarch of the White Tiger Lineage!

Beside him stood an old man with sparse hair, his thin frame etched with deep wrinkles, as if he were at the end of his years. Yet, his green eyes gleamed with unfathomable depths, exuding a terrifying presence.

Wu Xiuxing!

Also known as Martial Emperor Xiuxing, the patriarch of the Black Tortoise Lineage!

At this moment, the two figures, like sovereigns descending upon the world, led a group of old antiques from their respective clans.

Huang Cangtian and the others grew increasingly grim. Were they preparing for an all-out assault?

The world fell into an eerie silence, tension thick in the air.

Both the Celestial Phoenix Clan and the Divine Forge Imperial Clan felt a growing sense of dread. The enemy’s lineup was too terrifying and the difference in power between them was far too vast.

The arrival of the Emperors was a spectacle of unparalleled majesty. Their presence was enough to instill fear in even the most ancient of sects and clans.

The wrath of Emperors could make the sun and moon lose their brilliance, shatter the earth, and plunge all things into chaos. Though intangible, their power alone was enough to dictate life and death for the vast majority of beings in the world.

In ordinary times, Emperors were elusive, mysterious and supreme, ruling over their domains from the shadows. Their existence alone was a deterrent to invaders.

Now, the Emperors of the White Tiger and Black Tortoise Clans surged out in droves. It felt as if the sky itself was collapsing, an unbearable pressure struck fear into the hearts of all.

A great battle was on the verge of eruption!

And today, Thousand Flame Imperial City, or perhaps the entire Celestial Phoenix World would experience earthshaking changes!

“Paying respect to Patriarch!”

“Paying respect to Patriarch!”

From the battlefield, Emperor Ancestor Wanliu and other powerful figures from the White Tiger Lineage, as well as Emperor Ancestor Qianyin and other powerful figures from the Black Tortoise Lineage, stepped forward to greet them. Their faces were brimming with excitement.

Reinforcements had arrived. The tide of battle was about to turn!

Bai Lingzhen’s gaze swept across the battlefield, his brow furrowing. “What are the casualties from the previous battle?”

The question caused Emperor Ancestor Wanliu and the others to shift uncomfortably.

“Patriarch, nine Emperors of our clan have fallen. From the Black Tortoise Lineage, eleven Emperors are dead... In addition, over ten dao rune founders have perished...” someone answered quietly.

Bai Lingzhen, Wu Xiuxing and other high-ranking figures who had just arrived were stunned, barely able to believe what they were hearing.

“What happened?” Bai Lingzhen’s voice turned icy as his eyes narrowed.

Emperor Ancestor Wanliu sighed heavily, his face grim as he reluctantly revealed the truth.

“Two women and a dog?” Bai Lingzhen’s face darkened with fury upon hearing the details.

Not just him, but Wu Xiuxing and the others were also in shock. Two women and a dog had almost wiped out the vanguard forces that were led by two Emperor Ancestors, Wanliu and Qianyin!

Who could have believed it?!

The atmosphere outside the city grew unbearably tense.

Bai Lingzhen, Wu Xiuxing, and the others turned their cold, murderous gazes toward Thousand Flame Imperial City in the distance.

“Huang Cangtian, abandon the city and surrender now, and I will grant your Celestial Phoenix Lineage a chance to live. Otherwise, this city will be razed to the ground, and your entire clan will be wiped from existence!” Bai Lingzhen spoke indifferently, his voice thundering through the heavens, echoing in all directions.

Inside the city, Huang Cangtian’s expression remained icy, “Bai Lingzhen, my Celestial Phoenix Lineage does not cower so easily. If we are to fight to the death, then the outcome is far from certain!”

“In three days, the Seventh Elder of the Luo Clan will arrive in person. Does your Celestial Phoenix Lineage really want to resist?” Wu Xiuxing’s aged face held a trace of mockery as he gestured toward the tremendous forces surrounding the city. “Look for yourself, our Black Tortoise and White Tiger Clans have gathered here in full force. Against such power, your clan is just like an egg striking a boulder.”

“Old bastard, enough with the nonsense! If you have the guts, then come and kill!” Huang Cangtian snorted coldly.

Wu Xiuxing was unfazed by the insult. “Huang Cangtian, you know why we’re here. I’ll make it simple for you, Your Progenitor Ancestor must surrender if he wishes to awaken and survive. Otherwise, it’s not just our Black Tortoise and White Tiger Clans that won’t allow it, even the Luo Clan won’t either.”

His words echoed ominously over Thousand Flame Imperial City.

The faces of Huang Cangtian and other old antiques of the Celestial Phoenix Lineage darkened. The bastards indeed came to prevent their Progenitor Ancestor’s awakening!

Bai Lingzhen sneered, “We also know that in order to undergo a complete transformation, your Progenitor Ancestor has already refined the origin law power of your Celestial Phoenix World into the Phoenix Flame of Order. That means, Huang Cangtian, you no longer have control over it.”

His voice carried a chilling disdain as he continued, “Without that powerful weapon, what does your Celestial Phoenix Lineage have left to resist us? This fragile, broken city?”

“It looks like those guys came well-prepared,” Big Yellow muttered.

Back in the True Dragon World, Ancestor Soul Slaying had wielded the World Commanding Pearl, controlling the world’s origin law power to wound and force both Xi and Big Yellow to retreat.

It seemed the Phoenix Flame of Order that Bai Lingzhen mentioned also functioned in the same as the World Commanding Pearl, granting control over the origin law power of the world of the Dragon Palace.

However, the Phoenix Flame of Order had already been refined by the Celestial Phoenix Progenitor Ancestor, meaning Huang Cangtian and his people had no way of using it.

This was why Bai Lingzhen, Wu Xiuxing and the others were so fearless.

At this moment, Huang Cangtian and other old antiques of the Celestial Phoenix Lineage were already shocked and enraged. Bai Lingzhen’s words had struck at the core secrets of their clan, and they were secrets that should never be known to outsiders!

Someone had betrayed them, leaking their most guarded secret!!

Huang Cangtian took a deep breath, his eyes bore a determined look. “Then let me tell you this—even if every last member of the Celestial Phoenix Clan falls in battle, we will never let you have your way!”

“Oh? Is that so?” Bai Lingzhen sneered. He suddenly raised a hand and commanded, “Now, it’s time for you all to prove yourselves!”

Before his voice faded—A sudden and shocking change erupted around Huang Cangtian!

An old antique of the Celestial Phoenix Lineage suddenly lunged forward, his palm striking out at Huang Cangtian’s back with terrifying speed and force.

The attack came without warning, catching everyone completely off guard.

No one had expected that, at this most critical moment, one of their own would turn against them!

Bang!

Huang Cangtian was sent flying by the force of the strike, blood spraying from his mouth.

Just as the traitorous elder moved to capture him, a graceful figure flickered through the air. It was Xi. With a flick of her hand, divine light erupted, forcing the attacker backward.

Boom!

Before he could steady himself, Big Yellow followed up with a devastating strike, slamming him straight into the ground.

“Third Elder, you betrayed us?!”

“How could you turn against your own clan!”

Recognizing the attacker, the experts of the Celestial Phoenix Clan were shaken to the core. The one who had struck Huang Cangtian was none other than Third Elder Huang Youdao, an old antique at the eighth realm Emperor Stage.

“Why, Third Elder?!’ Huang Cangtian also cried out in shock, his expression livid and his eyes about to spit fire.

Huang Youdao roared, his voice filled with frustration, “You still don’t understand? The only way our clan can survive is by surrendering to the Luo Clan from the other side of the cosmos, I did this for the future of our people!”

Commotions erupted, and the faces of the Celestial Phoenix Clan members turned grim.

Even Xi, Big Yellow, and Xia Zhi hadn’t anticipated that at such a critical moment, an old antique from the Celestial Phoenix Lineage would betray them!

Unfortunately, the treachery didn’t end there.

Swoosh!

Amidst the turmoil, a sword light suddenly shot through the air and before anyone could react, Lian Qingqi’s head was severed!

The gruesome sight struck Huang Cangtian and the others like a bolt of lightning. Only then did they realize that there wasn’t just one traitor in the clan!

Without hesitation, Xi and Big Yellow moved in unison, striking like lightning and capturing the culprit on the spot.

Unlike the Celestial Phoenix Clan, they had no emotional ties, allowing them to react decisively the moment the betrayal was exposed.

However, when the traitor’s identity was revealed, Huang Cangtian and the others looked even more devastated than before. Their faces were ashen, their eyes blazing with fury and disbelief, as if their souls had been shattered.

“Fifth Elder, you too?!”