Qian Chenruyi was also at his wit's end. "Alas, it is not that I wish to defy you, Heavenly Emperor. You may not know, but the energy contained within this ancient crystal is immense. It is crucial to the grand future of my Shimo Heavenly Domain for the next hundred years. Do you see its importance?"
Without the Ancient Profound Crystal, Shimo Heavenly Domain's ranking among the Six Domains and Eight Wastes might drop from first to second in the coming century, a concern for Qian Chenruyi as the First Domain Lord.
Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor said, "So, what do you want?"
Qian Chenruyi stood with his hands behind his back. "I don't want anything special. I only wish for the Heavenly Emperor to hand over the person to me."
Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor said, "Three days. As long as the person is within my Cloud's Edge, they can be found."
Qian Chenruyi shook his head. "No, no, no. I want the person today, and I must have them now. Three days is too long. If I cannot retrieve the Ancient Crystal of my Shimo Heavenly Domain within a day, I cannot rest easy. Heavenly Emperor, if you lack manpower, I can assist. If you give the word, my three thousand disciples outside the city can overturn the Grand City in fifteen minutes and retrieve the two individuals."
"Insolent!" Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor was enraged. "Is my Cloud's Edge something you can simply overturn at will? Who do you think you are, Qian Chenruyi? How dare you speak to me this way, hmm?!"
Qian Chenruyi said, "Why do I increasingly feel that the Heavenly Emperor is intentionally harboring a fugitive?"
Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor said coldly, "Get out of my Cloud's Edge."
"What if I refuse?" Qian Chenruyi did not back down, still feeling he was in the right.
Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor sneered, "Then we fight."
Qian Chenruyi, at the eighth level of the Perfected Great Wheel King realm, summoned his Azure Profound Sword and unleashed: "Whirlpool River Thousand Sacrifices!"
A silver river surged from his divine sword, forming a vortex and shooting forth!
Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor clenched and pulled with his large hand! He dissolved it into nothingness. Then, pinching a drop of water between two fingers, he flicked it out!
It shot out like a rainbow-hued cannonball! Qian Chenruyi immediately unleashed his second move: "Whirlpool Starlight!"
The long river transformed into faint starlight, but before it could fully form, Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor raised his hand and annihilated it.
"Heavenly Sacrifice!"
"Extreme Shadow Ten Thousand Changes!"
Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor waved his hands! As if using a force of four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds, he neutralized each attack one by one.
"How is this possible?!" Qian Chenruyi could not believe it, yet the facts were laid bare before him. Furthermore, Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor had not used a single full technique!
Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor said, "Can you comprehend the Profound Void Dao that I cultivate? Have you finished your attacks?"
Cold sweat beaded on Qian Chenruyi's forehead. Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor swung his palm! A giant hand of purple light and void surged forward!
Its speed was so great that Qian Chenruyi could not evade it. He was grazed by the palm's edge, tumbling to the ground and spitting out a mouthful of blood!
"Ugh, cough..."
Even he, at the eighth level of the Perfected Great Wheel King realm, was no match for the Grand Floating Void realm Buddha, Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor.
Qian Chenruyi coughed up another mouthful of blood, disbelief in his eyes. "Grand Completion Floating Void realm... ninth level?!"
Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor said, "Are you only realizing your place now? Do you have any other moves?"
"Bang!"
"Pfft!..."
"Stop!"
Qian Chenruyi cried out, "I surrender! Heavenly Emperor, please show mercy!"
Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor withdrew his hand. "I can let you go, but how will you compensate for the city walls and structures you destroyed in my Grand City?"
Qian Chenruyi said, "Ten million spirit stones?"
Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor shook his head.
"Twenty million?"
Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor shook his head.
"Thirty million?"
Hong Suan Heavenly Emperor scoffed, "Is your life only worth that much?"
Seeing the Heavenly Emperor's patience waning, Qian Chenruyi broke out in a cold sweat! So, he wasn't asking for compensation for damages, but for his life!
Trembling, he asked, "What... what do you want?"