"Evil Spirit, how about we cooperate?" Suddenly, the Supreme Elder looked at the evil spirit and spoke.
"Cooperate? How?" A sinister voice came from the evil spirit's mouth upon hearing these words.
"You're unlikely to defeat him in a one-on-one fight. I'll help you kill him, and in return, you guarantee my escape. How about it?" the Supreme Elder said with a cold smile.
"Ha, that's certainly good! As long as you help me kill this fellow, I'll definitely let you go. I'm the very soul of integrity, hee hee~" The evil spirit cackled maniacally while intensifying its assault on the Imperial Ancestor.
"Elder Brother, what are you saying? Not only are you not helping me, but you want to team up with this evil spirit to kill me?" At this moment, the Imperial Ancestor was utterly stunned.
"Hmph, and you still recognize me as your elder brother? I'm several decades older than you, higher in seniority, and my talent is no less than yours. Yet Father devoted himself to your cultivation. He not only raised your strength above mine but also made you the Emperor."
"Now, you are the Ancestor of our dynasty, while I, the one with the longest seniority, am nothing but some damned Supreme Elder. Bah!"
"I hate you! I hate you to the core! I hate how you call me 'Elder Brother' with such fake affection every day, while taking everything that rightfully belongs to me!"
"I have waited for this day for so long. I will kill you, with my own hands!" At this moment, the Supreme Elder seemed to have gone mad, his features twisted with ferocity, his killing intent fully exposed.
Simultaneously, a resplendent golden character "Imperial" blazed on his forehead. He was clearly using the unique Imperial Bloodline of the Jiang Dynasty, multiplying his combat power.
Furthermore, a massive golden saber materialized in his hand—a King Artifact, and one that was bound to him. In this instant, the Supreme Elder's aura was completely transformed, infinitely approaching the peak of the Heaven Martial realm.
*Boom!* Suddenly, a thunderous roar erupted as he made his move. This elder brother of the Imperial Ancestor, crazed with madness, attacked his own younger brother. The golden saber swept through the air, transforming into thousands of golden rays that bombarded his sibling with terrifying ferocity.
In the blink of an eye, the three were locked in combat. However, it must be said that the Imperial Ancestor was truly powerful. Even with his elder brother wielding a King Artifact and joining forces with the terrifying evil spirit against him, he did not lose ground. Instead, fighting one against two, he grew more courageous with every exchange.
"It's useless! Even with you interfering, your strength at the eighth level of Heaven Martial is completely insignificant. You want to kill me? Today, you will only be the ones dying!" The Imperial Ancestor snorted coldly, his combat strength actually growing stronger. Relying on his own power alone, he forced the evil spirit and the Supreme Elder to retreat continuously.
"So powerful. Even within the same bloodline, there are differences in strength. This Imperial Ancestor's bloodline is clearly superior to his elder brother's. No wonder their father chose him as the Emperor. Between the two, the Ancestor is indeed superior in terms of bloodline."
At this moment, Chu Feng had already reached the exit of the great hall. While attempting to break the blue barrier, he was also observing the battle at the center of the hall, having seen that the Imperial Ancestor's talent truly surpassed his elder brother's.
However, despite Chu Feng also being a Blue-robed Spirit World Master, the strength of a barrier set by a Spirit Master was also related to their own cultivation level. Therefore, breaking this barrier in a short time was indeed not easy for Chu Feng.
To prevent further complications, Chu Feng had to give up on trying to break the entire barrier and focused his efforts on a single point. As long as he could create a small gap, he had a way to send a message and summon the Monkey King to save him.
*Hummm.* But just then, a blinding radiance suddenly bloomed from the center of the great hall. Turning to look, he saw that in the Supreme Elder's hand had appeared a lotus, the size of a basin, radiating dazzling golden light.
The aura of this lotus was terrifying, several times more so than even a King Artifact. However, it was clearly not a King Artifact, but rather a supreme treasure that could apparently only be used once.
"Golden Lotus of Radiance! You would actually use it against me?!!!"
Upon seeing this golden lotus, the Imperial Ancestor's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly withdrew his attack and retreated, while simultaneously a flash of light appeared on his palm. A golden longsword materialized in his hand—a King Artifact, and similarly one bound to him. Even he had to treat this Golden Lotus of Radiance with utmost seriousness.
"This Golden Lotus of Radiance is a supreme offensive treasure. The entire Jiang Dynasty possesses only this one. It can kill anyone below the Martial Monarch realm. Back then, Father felt guilty for giving you the throne and compensating me with this Golden Lotus to protect myself."
"But he never imagined that today, I would use this very treasure he gifted me to kill the son he favored and admired most."
"Hahahahaha..."
Suddenly, the Supreme Elder burst into laughter, his expression growing more ferocious with each laugh. Meanwhile, the evil spirit not far from him had a sinister gleam in its eyes, secretly thinking, "Humans are so devious, slaughtering their own kin. But you will all die by my hands. I will not let a single one of you escape."
"Die!" Finally, the Supreme Elder struck. He hurled the Golden Lotus of Radiance from his hand. The intact lotus instantly disintegrated, transforming into countless golden arrows that shot towards the Imperial Ancestor with overwhelming force.
*Shua! Shua! Shua!* "Red Dragon Sky Shield!"
Upon seeing this, the Imperial Ancestor's longsword swept through the air, erupting with the form of a colossal dragon. The dragon's body coiled, forming a crimson shield before him that blocked the barrage of golden rays.
The golden rays were immensely powerful. Colliding with the dragon shield, they actually cracked its surface with numerous fissures. However, ultimately, they failed to penetrate the dragon shield's barrier and were blocked.
"Hmph, useless! You underestimate me too much. Though this Golden Lotus of Radiance is formidable, Father long ago taught me the method to counter it. My Red Dragon Sword possesses both offense and defense. The Red Dragon Sky Shield it executes is the perfect counter to your Golden Lotus of Radiance," the Imperial Ancestor declared, his face full of pride.
"Haha, of course I know that Father taught you the Red Dragon Sky Shield to counter my Golden Lotus. That's precisely why I haven't made a move against you until now. But though your Red Dragon Sky Shield is strong, it has its flaws—it consumes far too much stamina. It's a self-damaging technique."
"Stop trying so hard! You are already heavily injured, your strength greatly diminished, having lost most of your combat power!" the Supreme Elder sneered.
"You..." Upon hearing these words, the Imperial Ancestor's expression changed instantly. His ruddy face turned pale and bloodless in an instant. At the same time, he opened his mouth, and *pfft!*, a mouthful of blood sprayed out, covering his clothes. He collapsed weakly to the ground, his aura becoming extremely faint.
"Evil Spirit, what are you waiting for? His essence is yours now!" the Supreme Elder said to the evil spirit.
"Hee hee hee, thank you!" The evil spirit let out a wild laugh, a sinister smile playing on its lips. It pounced towards the Imperial Ancestor, opening its mouth wide, intending to swallow him whole.
"Red Dragon Sky Piercing Strike!"
But just as the evil spirit was about to reach him, the Imperial Ancestor's complexion suddenly recovered. His faint aura instantly surged back to its peak state. Simultaneously, the Red Dragon Sword in his hand shot forth, transforming into a golden beam several zhang long, carrying the roaring sound of dragons. It pierced straight through the evil spirit.