Sage Monarch (Sage Emperor)

Proud Heaven was directly challenging the High Priestess. And even if she had been more furious that she was, she would have accepted it.

Obviously, it related to her prestige and personal interests. Everyone was watching with wide-eyed interest. If the High Priestess wanted the destiny, she would have to fight Proud Heaven and remove him as an obstacle.

That said, the High Priestess was shocked to see Proud Heaven facing her with such calm.

Normally speaking, even if Proud Heaven were stronger than everyone knew him to be, he still wouldn't be able to win in a fight against the High Priestess. The High Priestess was a half-Annulled expert, so without tapping into the destiny of the Central Dynasty, Proud Heaven was no match for her.

Yet Proud Heaven had specifically said that he wouldn’t use destiny in the fight.

The fact that he was still confident in winning indicated that he had something up his sleeve.

The High Priestess wasn’t the type to underestimate an enemy. She knew that Proud Heaven wasn’t a fool, and that he wouldn’t throw his life away. He obviously had a secret weapon, and a powerful one at that.

Unfortunately, she had absolutely no clue what it might be. While she was profoundly nervous, she couldn't let it show. Proud Heaven had challenged her, and if she wanted to be empress, there was no way she could shrink from tests like this.

Laughing heartily, she said, “The younger generation always finds ways to be impressive. Well done, Proud Heaven. Well done. It’s been years since anyone’s dared to challenge me. I’ve been invincible for numerous generations. In fact, ever since the Sovereign Lord died, I haven’t found a single person worthy to be my rival. However, you do know what's going to result from you challenging me, right Proud Heaven? Your death. By the way, what does Proud Central think of this? Why isn’t he here?”

“My father is in hiding while he crafts a powerful magical treasure. He gave me full authority, so for all intents and purposes, I'm the emperor of the Central Dynasty.” He smiled viciously. “The victor of this fight will win the empire, High Priestess. But who will it be? Are you really sure you can kill me?”

The High Priestess rose to her feet. “Does anyone have an objection?” she asked, looking around.

“None here,” said the Dugu patriarchs and Yang Chiliocosm. They knew that the matter had already slipped out of their control. How could any of them have predicted that Proud Heaven would make a move like this? Of course, they approved with all sincerity.

They would love for Proud Heaven and the High Priestess to both end up weak and injured.

Even Yang Voidprime, who had been a supporter of the High Priestess from the beginning, would rather sit on the mountaintop and watch the tigers fight, then reap the spoils when they tire out. As for Hailan, she had an odd expression on her face as she realized that she couldn’t do anything about the situation. Not even she had considered that Proud Heaven would do this.

She knew how terrifying her Master was, yet Proud Heaven had unexpectedly challenged her to battle. It was obvious that Proud Heaven had a trump card, and it made Hailan nervous about what it was.

“I agree completely,” said an old man sitting near the High Priestess. “I'm the Patriarch of the Universe, and I support the High Priestess’ bid to be empress. As such, I agree that she needs to accept the challenge.”

The old-timer’s psychic scale put him just on the verge of reaching the half-Annulled level. Obviously, his words carried great weight. And his sudden appearance and endorsement had plenty of people shivering in fright.

Years ago, when the Sovereign Lord unified the god world, there were certain old-timers who refused to accept his authority and went into hiding. They were all people who had come into existence before the god world, and were close to the half-Annulled level. Of course, that made them major threats to the Sovereign Lord.

Eventually, he had issued orders for them to be hunted down and killed. Although most of them were killed, a few had survived and remained hidden out in primal-chaos all this time.

Obviously, people the Sovereign Lord had failed to kill would be extremely formidable. And one of them was the Patriarch of the Universe.

The fact that the Patriarch of the Universe was here was terrifying to most of the people present. Although he wasn’t a half-Annulled expert, he had been working on his cultivation for billions of years, and as such was obviously strong enough to defeat half-Annulled experts.

“I also vote yes,” another expert said, rising to his feet. “I'm the King of Dark Mist, and I also agree that the fight should happen right here and now. The High Priestess was invincible even in ancient times, and no one present is a match for her. Anyone who defeats her will win our support in their bid for leadership.”

“The King of Dark Mist?” People began shouting in shock. He was yet another person that the Sovereign Lord had sentenced to death.

More such old-timers started speaking up, and they were joined by people who no one had ever heard of, but whose support the High Priestess had won.

Truth be told, there was no way to avoid fighting.

The High Priestess had to make a move, lest she lose all credibility.

“Set up the fighting arena!”

The countless experts present drew on the destinies of the three dynasties to create a huge fighting platform. It was so solid that not even a half-Annulled expert could easily damage its surface. And it was completely sealed off, so that no one could interfere in the fighting. It also cut Proud Heaven off from the destiny of the Central Dynasty.

Furthermore, a rule was instituted that whoever wanted to be considered the victor had to stay on the platform until there were no more challengers. That person would then be the emperor.

“Hmm?” Yang Qi had noticed that something was happening.

From his position with the boundless view of the multiverse of the god world, he sat there devouring the Halls of Heaven and furthering his cultivation. No one could possibly launch a sneak attack on him, as the destiny at his command was too majestic. In fact, it was so powerful that even the High Priestess would be smashed to bits if she challenged it.

Back during the war, she had used her Deathless Monument to stop Yang Qi’s army, but that wouldn’t be possible now that the Sage Monarch Empire had benefited from the Sovereign Lord’s ocean of faith. And that wasn’t to mention the addition of all the Ascendants. With all the recent gains, the sage monarch magistrates now numbered four hundred million, and they were still proliferating.

It seemed likely that, sooner or later, they would reach the level of a billion. And a billion sage monarch magistrates would definitely be an invincible force.

Despite that, Yang Qi remained fully on guard. Right now, the only possible threat to him would come from the three dynasties with their immense population. And if someone could actually unite them and focus their power, it would be possible to launch a deadly blow on him.

Other than them, Yang Qi didn’t have anything to fear, even if the King of Godmammoths or the Sovereign Lord himself returned.

Yang Qi watched as various old-timers secretly slipped into the three dynasties, causing their destiny to rise continuously. The main reason he didn't do anything to the dynasties now was that he was worried what would happen if their power was focused.

For now, he would rather wait until he reached the half-Annulled level.

Furthermore, his Ascendants were still weak, in the grand scheme of things, so if they got involved in a big fight, it would be a bloodbath.

He needed to give them time to get stronger. Meanwhile, his empire would also be growing stronger.

As he looked into the three dynasties, he eventually reached a place where his vision couldn’t penetrate. That was when he opened his Lord's Eye. Not even the destiny of the three dynasties could stop him from doing that.

He could now see that the destiny of the three kingdoms was chaotic, and as such, nowhere close to the level of the Everlasting Aegis.

‘Proud Heaven is going to fight the High Priestess.’ Yang Qi was tempted to try interfering, but in the end, he decided against it. If he were discovered, it could lead to disastrous consequences.

Plots and schemes wouldn't do any good right now. He needed to act openly, and for everyone to see. Once he crushed his opponents for good, the might of his empire would be established forever.

‘I'm curious to see how this fight plays out. Proud Heaven must be planning to use the essence of the god world. I wonder if he actually devoured the Great Necropolis and assimilated King Immortal-Slayer. I doubt it. If he killed and assimilated King Immortal-Slayer, he would already have reached the half-Annulled level.’

As he watched, he paid close attention to the fluctuations of the essence of the god world.

That essence was a terrifying thing, but it wasn’t capable of directly fighting people. It had to groom representatives to do that. And Yang Qi was hoping that Proud Heaven would reveal some of its secrets.