Nine Realms Sword Emperor

"Powerful figure!"

The hair on Chu Fengmian's body stood on end, and his spiritual senses were fully extended, observing every move around him.

This mysterious figure could actually break through the blockade of the Soaring Snake Transformation, meaning this person's strength must be far superior to the Great Venerable Master.

"A quasi-emperor? Or a true emperor? I thought that the Ancient Serpent Commerce Association had only the Great Venerable Master, a quasi-emperor, which was enough to suppress everything. But there are stronger figures?"

Chu Fengmian's heart was extremely tense. Without needing to think, he knew that this person must be a formidable figure from the Ancient Serpent Commerce Association. Now that Chu Fengmian had caused such a commotion in the association, this person was likely an enemy rather than a friend.

"Mr. Chu needn't be so tense. I am aware of today's events, and they are just misunderstandings. My Ancient Serpent Commerce Association has always valued harmony in business. A little misunderstanding can be resolved by discussing it. It's really nothing. Could Mr. Chu first release the Great Venerable Master?"

The mysterious voice sounded again.

Chu Fengmian considered for a moment, frowned, and then released the Great Venerable Master.

Now that this mysterious figure had appeared, killing the Great Venerable Master in front of him was clearly unrealistic.

However, Chu Fengmian left a little trick by secretly planting a seed of fire within the Great Venerable Master's body, a seed condensed from Pure Yang Heavenly Fire.

Pure Yang Heavenly Fire is a flame that cannot be controlled by human power. Only an innate divine body of the fire element might control it. Chu Fengmian could control it any time after condensing his Ice-Fire Divine Body.

If Chu Fengmian's mind moved, the seed of fire would erupt. Even if the Great Venerable Master was a quasi-emperor, he would be burned to ashes by the Pure Yang Heavenly Fire. Having this card up his sleeve, Chu Fengmian was not afraid of any schemes from the Ancient Serpent Commerce Association.

"Mr. Chu indeed is a wise man."

The mysterious voice sounded again, and a hint of relaxation could be heard in it; it seemed he did not wish for a mutually destructive outcome.

As the voice sounded, a middle-aged man slowly emerged beside the Great Venerable Master.

As Chu Fengmian released the Great Venerable Master, he also retracted the power of the Soaring Snake Transformation.

Chu Fengmian could not afford to waste these two powers. They are his best cards when confronting a quasi-emperor and must be preserved.

"Who are you?"

Chu Fengmian glanced at the middle-aged man, with a hint of pressure in his gaze.

Chu Fengmian could tell that this middle-aged man should still be a quasi-emperor and not yet a true emperor. However, his power was markedly different from that of a quasi-emperor like the Great Venerable Master.

There are different levels among people just as there are with quasi-emperors. The previous Demon Lord had just stepped into the quasi-emperor realm and was considered among the weakest.

The Great Venerable Master and the Great Elder of the Fire Family, with whom Chu Fengmian previously fought, should be on the same level, both at the level of a minor accomplished quasi-emperor.

Beyond this, there are major accomplished quasi-emperors and peak quasi-emperors, two divisions within the realm of quasi-emperors. Although everyone's realm is the same, these divisions are based on power.

This middle-aged man might surpass the major accomplished stage to reach the level of a peak quasi-emperor, which is why Chu Fengmian felt such immense pressure.

This person was genuinely close to becoming an emperor, just one step away from leaving the quasi-emperor realm and becoming a true emperor.

Dealing with him would be more challenging than dealing with ten Great Venerable Masters. Chu Fengmian was now surreptitiously gathering spiritual power. If he sensed anything amiss, he would unleash his full strength and escape. Once he left the Ancient Serpent Commerce Association, with the world being so vast, Chu Fengmian could assume another identity and hide, evading even a true emperor.

"President?"

"Greetings, President!"

Before the middle-aged man could speak, the disciples of the Ancient Serpent Commerce Association around them all knelt down respectfully upon seeing him.

Even the Great Venerable Master was no exception, although he did not kneel, he showed immense respect.

"The President of the Ancient Serpent Commerce Association?"

Chu Fengmian's eyes flickered. He had already guessed this identity, someone whose status transcends even the Great Venerable Master; it could only be the President of the Ancient Serpent Commerce Association.

The President of the Ancient Serpent Commerce Association was rumored to be a figure as elusive as a divine dragon, yet today he suddenly appeared. Did this mean the matter had escalated so that he had to step in?

Yet it made sense, as Chu Fengmian nearly killed the Great Venerable Master just now. If the president hadn't acted, the situation would have become dire.

The fall of a quasi-emperor would be enough to shake the entire Ancient Serpent Empire.

"The President of the Ancient Serpent Commerce Association, Ouyang Li."

The middle-aged man spoke.

"President Ouyang, this person insulted me greatly, injured the disciples of the Ancient Serpent Commerce Association, and even made us kneel. Such a disgrace, I implore you, President Ouyang, to take action!"

Young Master Lei knelt on the ground and shouted loudly upon seeing Ouyang Li, as if he had found a savior.

His hatred for Chu Fengmian was deep, and with Ouyang Li's arrival, it would be easy to kill Chu Fengmian. In the imperial capital, aside from the mysterious Ancient Serpent Emperor, even the quasi-emperors of the eight great royal families might not be a match for Ouyang Li.

"Young Master Lei's matter will be discussed later. Someone, take Young Master Lei away."

Ouyang Li didn't even look at Young Master Lei, simply instructing those beside him. Two elders of the Ancient Serpent Commerce Association stepped forward and directly took Young Master Lei away.

Young Master Lei initially wanted to say something, but after seeing Ouyang Li's cold gaze, he consciously stayed silent.

He dared to act arrogant before Vice President Hong Mu and even before the Great Venerable Master, but never before Ouyang Li.

This is the power of strength. In the face of absolute power, all arrogance must be restrained.

Chu Fengmian observed this scene, his eyes flickering.

What was Ouyang Li's intention? It seemed he had no plans to continue the fight today. Otherwise, he would have acted against Chu Fengmian in front of Young Master Lei to win the favor of the Lei family.

"Now that the bystanders have left, it's just the matter between you and my Ancient Serpent Commerce Association. This situation isn't really an enmity, just a small misunderstanding. Here is a blood crystal, purer than a blood stone by dozens of times. I've heard Mr. Chu needs blood stones, so I'm giving this as compensation."

Ouyang Li suddenly moved his hand, and a blood-red crystal stone appeared from his palm, which he extended toward Chu Fengmian.

The power within this blood-red crystal stone was the same as that of a blood stone but much more enormous. Not only was the power immense, but it was also extremely pure, making it very easy to refine.