CHAPTER 561: CHAPTER 0553: SMELLING THE SCENT OF BLOOD

"How could this be..."

The expression of the Pure Yang Immortal Emperor changed dramatically. The aura emanating from the World Suppressing Tripod gave him the sensation of being suppressed, while the scripture descending from the heavens exuded a radiance that was earth-shattering.

The heavens were filled with Buddhas, their Buddha Light shining brilliantly. Pairs of compassionate Buddha Eyes hung down, and the oppressive power they formed was indeed astounding.

"This is the Demon Crossing Scripture."

"Has that Buddha passed down the Demon Crossing Scripture again?"

He gazed solemnly at the Heavenly Vault, beams of light descending vertically and sealing off his surrounding space. The aura of the Immortal Emperor clashed with the World Suppressing Tripod, but in the very instant of contact—

The World Suppressing Tripod, empowered by the Demon Crossing Scripture, erupted with a dazzling barrier of light, standing against the might of the Pure Yang Immortal Emperor.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, impressive skill," praised the Mouse Emperor Immortal.

Lin Fan smiled bitterly. "Skill, my ass. I’m barely suppressing one Immortal Emperor with two ultimate weapons, and who knows when he’ll break free?"

It was far too early to celebrate.

Three other Immortal Emperors were still waiting over there.

Clutching the Eternal Divine Furnace and the Mixed Element Golden Gourd in his hands,

he fell into deep thought.

At the current stage, it seemed he was at a bit of a loss.

The Immortal Emperor Futu was a burly big man, with a beard coiled around his chin like a dragon. Just by looking at him, one could sense he was yet another dangerous figure.

Step by step, he had climbed from the world of cultivation to this point.

Only heaven knew how many dangers he had faced along the way.

Now, confronting an Immortal Emperor directly, he couldn’t help but lament how fleeting life felt. He hadn’t even fully processed the situation.

The Immortal Emperor Futu remarked, "Impressive skill, astounding ability, and remarkable treasures. With your cultivation, using powerful artifacts to trap an Immortal Emperor is enough to make you a celebrated prodigy throughout the Immortal Realm."

"However, the prodigies who live to the end are always the ones who understand propriety—who know when to advance and retreat, who respect hierarchy."

"Your actions, well, I can only say this: Today will be the day of your demise."

As his words fell—

The Immortal Emperor Futu opened his massive palm, and a colossal Futu Tower soared into the sky, radiating an indescribable and oppressive might before hurtling down from above.

Standing atop the Eternal Divine Furnace, Lin Fan waved his sleeve, and the divine furnace spun forth. It was a treasure of the Eternal Immortal Venerable. Though not yet fully refined, it was still a weapon of the Way.

Boom!

A magnificent glow exploded, and the light from the collision engulfed the heavens and earth.

Were ordinary Immortals caught within the impact zone, they would likely be obliterated without a trace left behind.

The Mouse Emperor Immortal faced off against the other two Immortal Emperors.

Though he was suppressed at every turn, he at least managed to hold them at bay.

"How exactly do I shake off these four Immortal Emperors and escape from their grasp?"

Lin Fan pondered hard.

Against Immortal Kings, there’d be no need to overthink. He would simply fight them to the death and see how long they could endure. But this time, he faced four Immortal Emperors.

It left him oddly apprehensive.

Forget it—he decided to try his luck with a burst of action to gauge the situation.

In that instant—

A dragon’s roar resounded across the firmament, and a fiery phoenix blazing in flames soared into the sky.

The Ancestor Dragon Floating Body, combined with the physical methodologies inherited from the Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor, fully erupted.

"Hmm?"

The Immortal Emperor Futu’s expression shifted in surprise—clearly, he hadn’t anticipated that this lad had such a trump card.

"Such searing flames, and this phoenix that ascends to obscure the heavens... It seems you’ve inherited the legacy of the Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor. Fascinating, truly fascinating. So this is your foundation for daring to oppose us?"

"In that case, I shall suppress you and see just how capable you really are."

The Immortal Emperor Futu roared with laughter. As one of the Immortal Emperors, he was unmatched across the Eight Directions and possessed countless secret techniques. Ancient Immortal Emperor arts were among the prized treasures he hoped to acquire.

"I’m full of surprises," Lin Fan replied.

With a thud, he vanished from his position and reappeared in front of the Immortal Emperor Futu in an instant. For now, hand-to-hand combat offered him the greatest chance against an Immortal Emperor.

Using his current mana to directly clash with an Immortal Emperor would have been highly unwise.

The disparity between them was too great.

With the Eternal Divine Furnace and the Mixed Element Golden Gourd as protection, close combat was his only viable option.

Lin Fan threw a punch, his fist light piercing the heavens as strange visions materialized around him. This was the result of cultivating the Fist Skill to its pinnacle, radiating an overwhelming celestial force.

The Immortal Emperor Futu responded with a punch of his own. It wasn’t particularly fast but carried an air of returning to simplicity and essence.

Bam!

Their fists collided.

A torrent of devastating shock waves rippled outward, with nearby cave mansions unable to withstand the force, crumbling into ruin.

Despite the explosive collision, the battle had only just begun.

Moments later—

Lin Fan’s figure was forced to retreat but steadied himself midair.

Blood oozed from his arms, not because of a direct hit, but from the sheer might of the Immortal Emperor. The overpowering mana, vast as the ocean, bore down on him with incredible force.

Even with the protection of the Eternal Divine Furnace and the Mixed Element Golden Gourd, it was still this overwhelming.

Yet despite it all—

He showed no fear.

A gap in power was to be expected. No matter what, he had to find a way to escape.

In an instant—

Lin Fan stretched out his arms, unleashing every Immortal Technique and Divine Skill he had mastered since the beginning of his cultivation. An array of bizarre visions filled the sky, their cumulative power growing ever more terrifying, until it reached its apex.

"In cultivating to this day, every Divine Skill I’ve learned has been pushed to its peak level."

"Now, let me present you with a move, Immortal Emperor Futu."

The mana within him surged wildly, causing the entire world to quake.

All the Immortal Techniques and Divine Skills he’d honed to perfection resonated with the Dao. When unleashed, they made the Great Dao itself tremble in harmony.

The Immortal Emperor Futu focused intently on Lin Fan.

At first, he had not regarded him seriously.

But now, he suddenly realized that this kid’s methods were indeed extraordinary. The oppressive force that surged from him grew increasingly alarming.

Fortunately, his own mana was sufficiently robust; otherwise, the feat of channeling all these Immortal Techniques at once might have inflicted significant pressure on him.

"Good lord, not bad at all," the Immortal Emperor Futu murmured. He took a deep breath as a shimmering barrier emerged around him, waiting calmly. To him, anyone below an Immortal Emperor was merely an ant.

"Immortal Techniques converge—Heavenly Element Strike!"

Lin Fan pointed a finger, condensing countless Immortal Techniques into a single point. That point radiated a force potent enough to annihilate worlds and shatter the Heavenly Vault. With a whoosh, the beam shot toward the Immortal Emperor Futu.

The resulting power was so terrifying that it triggered a storm of chaos and destruction.

Such a force was beyond the realm of what ordinary beings could withstand.

Even a strong Immortal King present would be obliterated instantly, incapable of any resistance.

"Hmm?"

At that moment, a sudden, inexplicable premonition arose within the Immortal Emperor Futu’s heart. That force... something about it seemed not quite right.

And just as he had this realization—

His body was instantly engulfed.

The light was blinding, and as its explosive force unfurled, it even drew upon the power of the Heaven’s Dao.

Lin Fan gazed intensely into the distance.

Uncertain of the outcome.

Soon—

The radiance began to dissipate.

He caught the scent of blood in the air.