My people are not yet to be touched by you.
Suddenly, a voice echoed, filling the entire room with Xia Feng's voice.
The sound seemed both near and distant, creating a pressure that unnerved the senses.
The expressions of Lao Tian Gou and Pu Bu Qi changed drastically; this voice was far too familiar.
It was their master, Xia Feng's voice, a sound they would never forget, even in death.
"Who? Show yourself, stop this cowardly hiding and spewing venom!" Shi Yuan Ji's face contorted, and powerful divine energy erupted from his body.
He was a God King, one of the most formidable existences in the God Realm.
It was merely due to various reasons that the Illusory Clan had been squeezed into a small territory for survival.
None of that altered the fact that Shi Yuan Ji was a God King.
The room's door swung open of its own accord, and Xia Feng strolled in leisurely. Seeing Lao Tian Gou and Pu Bu Qi looking relatively well, he smiled, "It seems I am not late."
"Master, why have you come?" Lao Tian Gou exclaimed, a mixture of surprise and joy on his face, yet he also worried for Xia Feng.
Xia Feng must have only recently ascended to the God Realm, considering they themselves had only returned a few years prior.
They truly hadn't expected Xia Feng to come to their rescue at such a moment.
To have such a master, they felt no regret in dying, but if their predicament caused their master harm, then death would be a small price to pay.
"Master, leave quickly, you are no match for him," Pu Bu Qi also expressed his concern for Xia Feng.
If Lao Tian Gou and Pu Bu Qi were considered liabilities, then no word would be too harsh.
Had Xia Feng truly been weaker than Shi Yuan Ji, exposing him like this would it have allowed Xia Feng to escape unharmed?
Upon hearing the two address Xia Feng as "Master," Shi Yuan Ji narrowed his eyes and looked at Xia Feng, asking, "The small world, it's in your possession, isn't it?"
Shi Yuan Ji's cultivation to the God King realm meant he was certainly no fool.
Without a sharp mind, how could he have achieved his current standing? From the way Lao Tian Gou and Pu Bu Qi addressed Xia Feng, he deduced that the small world had been given to Xia Feng by these two.
Xia Feng did not deny it in the slightest, nodding and stating, "It is with me."
As Xia Feng finished speaking, he extended his right hand, and a crystal ball appeared, hovering in his palm. The small world within could be clearly seen through the crystal.
Seeing the small world finally revealed, Shi Yuan Ji suppressed his inner elation. He did not know when Xia Feng had arrived and dared not act rashly.
Although Lao Tian Gou and Pu Bu Qi had just stated Xia Feng was not his match, Shi Yuan Ji had always been cautious. He couldn't detect any fear on Xia Feng's face.
When facing a God King's might, those who show no fear fall into two categories:
The first, their strength surpasses one's own, rendering fear unnecessary.
The second, they are simply foolish, lacking proper judgment.
The Xia Feng before him very well might belong to the first category; this was Shi Yuan Ji's intuition.
If Xia Feng truly was more powerful than him, then not only would he fail to retrieve the crystal ball, but he might also lose his life. He then smiled and asked:
"Young friend, may I inquire about your strength? If you would be willing to spar with me a little, to offer some guidance on cultivation, then the crystal ball is yours to keep."
Shi Yuan Ji's words were artfully crafted. If Xia Feng was indeed stronger, then a mere spar wouldn't result in death.
He would even have the pretext of receiving guidance on his cultivation.
If Xia Feng's strength was lacking, and he proved no match in a spar, the outcome would be self-evident.
"Master, don't fall for his trickery; he's a devious old schemer with malicious intent," Lao Tian Gou quickly warned Xia Feng.
"I can see that," Xia Feng replied indifferently. He then glanced at Shi Yuan Ji and, in an instant, unleashed his power, commanding him, "Kneel."
*Thump...*
Shi Yuan Ji, losing control, instinctively fell to his knees.
As Xia Feng had only recently broken through to the God Emperor realm and was not yet fully accustomed to controlling his power, the single command to kneel revealed his entire cultivation level to Shi Yuan Ji and the others.
(O_O) ....
God Emperor?
The power Xia Feng had just displayed was clearly perceived by Shi Yuan Ji and the other two. They had never felt such terrifying might.
While Shi Yuan Ji was stunned into a stupor, Lao Tian Gou and Pu Bu Qi's eyes bulged wide open.
They knew Xia Feng's cultivation level; they had experienced it firsthand on Earth.
Moreover, Xia Feng had no knowledge of the God Realm back then. Now, having just arrived, he was already a God Emperor?
The two seemed capable of hearing each other's breaths.
Whether there was even a God Emperor in the entire God Realm now was uncertain. God Emperors were legendary existences; no one knew for sure if they truly existed.
Perhaps there were, perhaps not.
But everyone in the God Realm knew that a peak Divine Venerable was the most powerful being.
Now, a God Emperor had suddenly appeared, and it was their master. Lao Tian Gou and Pu Bu Qi struggled to process this revelation.
"Mas... Master, are you... are you from the God Realm?"
Lao Tian Gou was now highly suspecting that Xia Feng was indeed an inhabitant of the God Realm, perhaps even a legendary ancient being, a God Emperor.
Going to Earth, perhaps it was merely for the enjoyment of delicious food, just like himself.
Lao Tian Gou felt very confident in this deduction; he believed he was largely correct.
"Yes, your strength has left us utterly astonished. When did you arrive in the God Realm?" Pu Bu Qi also asked, his expression filled with shock.
"I've only just arrived," Xia Feng stated, not hiding anything.
"Just arrived?"
Lao Tian Gou and Pu Bu Qi exclaimed in unison, their voices cracking slightly, like the strained quack of an eunuch.
*Gulp...*
Shi Yuan Ji, still kneeling, swallowed hard. His face had turned deathly pale from fright, and he dared not utter another word.
He could only swallow nervously, overwhelmed by the shock.
"Yes, I came from the Immortal Realm today. I'm not sure why myself, but after arriving in the God Realm, my strength has been continuously increasing, only stopping at the early God Emperor stage. It felt as if I was being suppressed, or perhaps recovering my power. Have you ever heard of such a thing?"
Xia Feng harbored immense questions himself, and he was even more eager to know than Lao Tian Gou and Pu Bu Qi.
Therefore, at this moment, he couldn't help but ask.
Whether or not to reveal such a matter was inconsequential; it didn't matter if others knew.
Especially since he was merely speaking to his two servants. As for Shi Yuan Ji, he would have no opportunity to pass on this information.
Upon hearing this, Lao Tian Gou and Pu Bu Qi remained silent. They had never encountered such a phenomenon and could offer no answer.
"Master, I am truly powerless to help; our knowledge is too limited," Lao Tian Gou apologized, shaking his head.
Pu Bu Qi's eyes flickered as he looked at Shi Yuan Ji, who was still kneeling, and asked:
"Shi Yuan Ji, do you know what my master's situation is?"
Hearing this, Xia Feng turned his gaze to Shi Yuan Ji. Could he possibly know?