Sage Monarch

A buzz of hushed conversation instantly arose in the Heaven-Dao Operation God-Temple.

No one in the crowd could have expected that Yang Qi would be so aggressive and dauntless. He was really going tit for tat, turning Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven's accusation around on him and accusing him of being unfit to serve as the league-lord.

It was an out and out insult!

As of this moment, it was obvious that these two wouldn't be able to reconcile their differences.

POP!

Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven really was burning with rage. His grip on his throne tightened so much that it suddenly exploded, which was when he shot to his feet, killing intent bubbling. Staring at Yang Qi, he spoke in the coldest of voices, "Well-played, Yang Qi, Emissary of Radiance and Light. Considering you're willing to speak to your league-lord in that way, what other rules are you willing to break? Don't you have any inclination to follow your ruler like a good official?"

"What was that?" Yang Qi said, barking a laugh. "Rules? Be a good official? You think that as the league-lord of the Dao Defense League, you're the ruler and we're your officials? And that if the ruler wants an official killed, that official will simply drop dead? This is an alliance, not an empire. I'm the Emissary of Radiance and Light, and I absolutely have the authority to accuse the league-lord of misconduct. You'd best not think this is the Heavenly Court where you control everything."

It was at this point that someone chimed in to support the Grand Emperor.

"What gall! How dare you accuse the Grand Emperor of misconduct!" It was none other than True Raja Dao-Denier, Young Master Leaf, who had been lurking in the shadows like a viper, just ready to strike with deadly force. Rising to his feet, he pointed accusingly at Yang Qi and said, "This is completely outrageous, Yang Qi. Whatever decisions you make, they have to be reported to and approved by the league-lord. Instead, you went off on your own, which is a clear violation of the rules of the Dao Defense League. If the league-lord wishes, he can expel you from the alliance for that. You'll be branded a wretch-devil who supports the future world, someone that anyone has the right to punish."

Looking over, Yang Qi snorted coldly and said, "Since when did you get so gutsy, Leaf Dao-Denier? I nearly killed you last time we met. You managed to escape, but do you really qualify to say a thing to me? I know that your Eldest Brother Secundus taught you some new techniques, and that the two of you are working with the Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court. But are you sure that your schemes are enough to handle me? Kindly back the hell down. I'll deal with you after I kill Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven."

"You really have gone insane, haven't you?" said a new voice, as three figures emerged from behind Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven.

They were invincible beings whose incredible auras filled the entire Heaven-Dao Operation God-Temple.

"The Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court!"

"Grand Emperors Myriadmagic Heavenspan, Ninelimits Paragon, and Heavenearth Vastocean!"

"So, the Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court finally showed up together." Many of the old-timers were already trembling in fear. Although they all had confidence in Yang Qi, the Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court were still strong enough to strike terror into their hearts.

"Oh? The Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court? What about those four hell-born devils you're working with? I thought you had some big trap ready to deal with me here in the Heaven-Dao Operation God-Temple. I was supposed to duel with Sectlord Nine Yangs today, which was when you planned to trap and kill me. Am I right?"

"Sectlord Nine Yangs, come out and face your opponent," Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan said. Instantly, Sectlord Nine Yangs stepped out into the open.

"Go ahead and kill him instantly."

However, much to the wide-eyed shock of everyone present, Sectlord Nine Yangs simply walked over to Yang Qi and kneeled in front of him. "Milord, I did just as you ordered. They fell for my deception, and even gave me a God Pill of Fate as a reward, as well as a Myriad-Sages Devil-Tempering Necrosius Truth Pill, making me much stronger than before."

The entire temple devolved into a huge uproar.

Now, everyone realized that the Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court had been trying to use Sectlord Nine Yangs to deal with Yang Qi. Except, that it had all been a big manipulation by Yang Qi. No one could have been more shocked.

"What, Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven," Yang Qi said, smiling. "You see, I wasn't just making blind accusations. You've been conspiring against me for quite a while now, haven't you? Is that how the league-lord is supposed to behave? Ladies and gentlemen, I urge you to make your own judgement about who is in the right and who is in the wrong here. We are the Dao Defense League, an alliance of numerous individuals seeking to fight the invasion of the future world. We shouldn't be tools to be manipulated by a single person, nor can we allow the mistakes of the ancient Heavenly Court to be repeated, lest we all end up dead. I say we should drive out all overly-ambitious schemers!"

Snorting coldly, Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven looked at Sectlord Nine Yangs and flicked his finger, sending a beam of light shooting directly toward his forehead.

It was none other than his Rage Finger, a godly-class energy art that was supposedly handed down by the Rage God. Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven had carried on that god's core teachings and doctrines, cultivating the Rage Fist, Rage Finger, Rage Palm, Rage Energy, Rage Kick, and so on. They were a suite of techniques that could overcome just about anything with pure rage.

"What's that supposed to be?" Yang Qi said, hardly even looking at the incoming attack. Reaching out, he tapped the Rage Finger attack, which instantly vanished without a trace. In response, a tremor ran through Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven as he realized that he didn't even know how Yang Qi had negated the attack. All of a sudden, he was struck with the realization that Yang Qi was vastly more powerful than him.

"Trying to kill the witnesses to keep them quiet?" Yang Qi chuckled. "Sorry, you won't be killing anyone while I'm around. I decide when my subordinates live and die, not you."

"You really are insane," said Grand Emperor Heavenearth Vastocean, taking a step forward. "If you're convinced that we've been plotting against you, and also know that we're working with four suzerains of hell, then why did you show up today? Do you really think we're incapable of killing you? We Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court are reestablishing our might. We're building the Heavenly Court again. Submit to us and prosper, or oppose us and perish."

"Come forth, suzerains of hell!" Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven said, waving his hand.

Cackling laughter could be heard as four massive influxes of devil energy filled Heaven-Dao Operation God-Temple, causing many of the old-timers to back up with ashen looks on their faces.

All of them were convinced that if there really were four suzerains of hell working with the four grand emperors, then unless a god showed up they were all in great danger. There was no way Yang Qi could stand up to a force like this.

However, that was when something very unexpected happened.

To the utter astonishment of everyone present, the four suzerains approached Yang Qi and offered him respectful salutes. "Young Sir, we'll follow any orders you give. Say the word, and armies of fiend-devils will swarm into the Dao Defense League to eradicate the Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court. The four emperors tried recruiting us, but had no idea that we've been on your side all along. You are the true ruler of all the countless hells, and any who are so pigheaded as to oppose you will make enemies of us as well!"

Although the four suzerains weren't particularly pleased to be saluting Yang Qi like this, they could sense an immense, brewing power in him, and realized that he could kill all of them if he wanted. They quickly suppressed any wild ambitions that had previously existed in their hearts and didn't dare to do anything against him.

Truth be told, Yang Qi's current cultivation base was actually vastly higher than on the day when he forced them to submit.

After accepting their salutes, Yang Qi spoke directly into their minds. "The four of you were hoping to take advantage of this situation for personal gain, weren't you? You wanted me and the four emperors to fight, allowing you to swoop in at the last minute to be the ultimate victors. Well, I knew about that all along. Back then, I still had a lot of work to do with my cultivation base. But I've achieved major progress since then. With a mere thought, I could strip you of your connection to the hells you come from, remove your power over their essences, and leave you powerless!"

"What?" All four of the suzerains trembled as they suddenly sensed their connections to their respective hells trembling as though they might be severed.

In that moment, they finally realized how strong Yang Qi was, and knew that plotting against him wasn't an option. Instantly, their expressions grew even more respectful than before. In fact, Suzerain Mahānata stepped forward and loudly said, "How dare you plot against the young sir, Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court! That's a high crime! Get on your knees and become believers in him. Give him your faith. If you do, he might forgive you. But if you refuse, then we four will kill you and any descendants you might have."

The other suzerains went on to make further declarations of righteous indignation, each one fiercer than the last.

"My flesh and blood belongs to the young sir. If you want to kill him, you'll have to do it over my corpse!"

"I've completely converted! The armies of my hell belong to the young sir. He controls the darkness and gloom of hell, and the radiance and light of the halls of heaven. He is the only true lord in heaven and earth, and any who oppose him are seeking death."

The Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court continued to look more and more taken aback. None of them could ever have guessed that Yang Qi would be so fierce, to the point where he even won over the four suzerains of hell.

As of this moment, they were facing the four suzerains, Patriarch Annalist, and Yang Qi. That was a total of six top experts, leaving them completely outnumbered. As for all of the old-timers present who had chosen to side with Yang Qi, they were breathing sighs of relief at the realization of how terrifyingly powerful Yang Qi was. And they knew that he had won a complete and utter victory here.

"What's going on here, you four? You're switching sides?" Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven said. "Are you really going to turn traitor at the last minute, completely disregarding our previous agreement?"

"Agreement? What agreement? We were working for the young sir the whole time. How dare you shamelessly talk of agreements with us."

"I'm gonna slaughter all of you!" Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven shouted, finally losing control of his emotions. However, Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan quickly reached out and held him back.

Looking dead at Yang Qi, Myriadmagic Heavenspan said, "So it was you who saved Patriarch Annalist. Well played. Very clever. We assumed you were a naive kid, but it turns out you're a wily old fox. But do you really think you can completely defeat us?"

"Yes," Yang Qi said, "although it will only be after a bitter fight."