The White Emperor whose will had been crushed by the threat of the Darkness Seed shouted at the Duke, Lord Yue, as if to prove his value, “My noble art will lay waste to all who are in this place. Take your men and retreat today and everyone can live to fight another day.”

The Black Emperor had just absorbed a Paramount Cultivator not much weaker than himself. Even if he will quickly become stronger, his actual combat strength will be much lower until he fully assimilated his surging power. With three enemies that could threaten the lives of Paramount Cultivators, it is unwise to continue the fight.

Of course, just by using the lives of soldiers, from both Frosthral and Saint Empire, it might not coerce the enemy to withdraw. After all, their side outnumbers their opponent, and the value of this stronghold itself already exceed any cost.

Yet, Reynold is confident that the enemy will reconsider, “Your Grace, if you stubbornly insist on fighting your soldiers that are not trained to weather the cold will die long before any of our soldiers fall victim.

Don’t think I’m bluffing you.

Every person chosen to be in this camp are born with the Frost elemental affinity and trained in Cultivation Methods with overwhelming Yang.

Any longer, all your men will die, and even then you will not seize victory with the Great Khan here.”

Lord Yue laughed softly, “You really think that with only 15 Paramount Units you can deter us?”

The Black Emperor’s pupils constricted.

His Cultivation should not be so easily detected, especially if he is stronger than them. Yet not only did they see through his strength, the Duke even estimated the amount of Paramount Unit he will have.

“Did Rielon tell him that I am currently at 12 Paramount Units?” Temujin thought dismally.

The only possibility is that the Thief King’s cultivation is higher than 12 Paramount Units and told the Duke. Judging by the speed his Ki is raising, it isn’t difficult to estimate how strong he will be at completion.

The White Emperor involuntarily took a step back from the Black Emperor, fearful that he will also be absorbed.

He did not know that right now, the Great Khan is already at his limits from absorbing the Crimson Emperor’s power. If he forcefully take in another Darkness Seed before stabilising his Ki, it is likely his Dantian will explode.

Reynold’s guess was correct, even if he reaches 15 Paramount Unit in minutes, he wouldn’t be able to properly control that much power. His body that is used to the power of 8 Paramount Unit will feel awkward and uncoordinated for a while.

Moreover, it will take months to fully refine the Rurik’s Ki to become his own.

The Duke’s words was like cold water splashing on him. The rush that the Black Emperor felt from his surging strength silently faded and he looked seriously at his opponents once again.

However, talk is cheap, the Duke must back up what he said with actual strength.

Temujin knows that it might be a ruse the enemy used to cover up their apprehension.

“We can retreat as you desire,” Lord Yue said.

The two Emperors looked at him surprised.

The Black Emperor’s face darkened with murderous intent, “As I thought, they are not confident to face me!”

But the Duke wasn’t finished and he gave his chilling demand, “Kill Reynold and we will withdraw.”

Both Emperors were shocked by the demand given, “What?”

They couldn’t believe their ears, but the Duke patiently repeated his words, “Kill him and we leave. Don’t make me say a third time, otherwise I won’t mind a good fight.”

“I don’t think you dare to fight me.”

“I’m curious what will be the result if we go all out. Are you truly able to fight with 15 Paramount Units?”

The Black Emperor furrowed his brows. He did a calculation of the strength he could use in short order and estimate that it will be a hard fight against someone with over 12 Paramount Units.

He will win but the enemy can leave anytime.

No one really knows how powerful the King of Thieves is. As an ancient cultivator, he must’ve compressed his Ki to incredible levels, which is why the Black Emperor suspected him to be the one that revealed his current cultivation.

Yet what makes Temujin hesitate is the rumour that a few hundred years ago, Rielon is already a step away from becoming an Immortal.

His internal energy should be in the process of turning into Immortal Ki.

Just like coal bursting into flames, the total energy level did not change but the type is wildly different. It could be dangerous for a frontal confrontation, but losing the White Emperor is unacceptable as well.

While the Black Emperor is overclocking his brains, the duke is secretly panicking beneath that unfazed expression.

Temujin might have been daunted by his confidence, his poise, and most importantly his face that could kill the weak-hearted by staring long enough, but it was mostly hot air.

A bluff.

Everything was a bluff.

The one who revealed the Great Khan’s cultivation reaching 12 Paramount Unit was not the Thief King but Kairos.

With his Veritable Sight and Soul Perception, he didn’t have the limitations on perceiving stronger cultivators that others suffer.

Rielon, while powerful, is only at 10 Paramount Units and couldn’t tell how much stronger the Black Emperor is becoming.

Given his talent and the centuries he lived, the Thief King could easily reached the Great Khan’s level. However, he remained at his current cultivation all these years.

He had instead taken half a step towards the Immortal Realm closer than any other Paramount Cultivator on Gaia, and started on another path.

His Ki had indeed began transformation, akin to red embers, yet no matter what he does, it is difficult to turn it into fire.

If he compresses his Ki further, it will only be adding more coal to the mix but there is not enough oxygen nor heat to set it alight.

Without those, he will never become an immortal.

This is the same problem that everyone face on Gaia.

If Coal represents one’s Ki and Fire is Immortal Ki, then Oxygen is the heavenly energies around and Heat will be one’s potential, cultivation method, cultivation insight, and Dao Heart. For some people, no matter how much time and effort they put in, it will be impossible to set their flames alight.

In Rielon’s case, he already managed the first step, but it just lacked some temperature until the day that Kairos appeared before him with a Zhu Que feather.

He had at first thought the plume to be from a matured creature but upon studying, it turned out to be a hatchling’s.

This was greater news than he expected.

The creature is of divine origin; if Immortal Ki is flames then Celestial Ki is the sun.

To observe the sun from far is difficult to research the properties of fire but to see the birth of a sun grant countless valuable information.

The feather of an infant divine beast is a priceless opportunity for Rielon. For this treasure alone, Rielon he owed the boy a great favour and participated in this battle.

Of course, if things started getting dangerous, he has no qualms on dropping everyone and escaping. However, for his new disciple, he will put in a little more effort, and in the worst situation he will save whoever he can.

“Unfortunately, I still have a use for the White Emperor,” the Great Khan said.

Lord Yue laughed, as though this is the result he wanted, “Looks like there is no need for further discussion. I will help you end Reynold’s life, but the cost will be extracted from you, Great Khan.”

The way he said these words sent shivers down the powerful overlord of the north.

The White Emperor is already closed to panicking. If someone can offer him a way out right now, Reynold will run straight towards that person with his tail between his legs.

Unknowingly the multiple layers of lives had already crushed his Dao Heart.

Lord Yue, on the other hand, is also about to start panicking. Despite his bravado, he wanted the Black Emperor to ask him to stop for further discussions.

“Oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh!”