The demon race watched in despair as the Black Fox King sacrificed his life to shield Lin Feng from the heavenly tribulation.
One by one, the Black Fox King's nine tails were shattering. Finally, only three remained, still resisting with all their might.
"Great Sage, please stop! You will die like this," the demon race pleaded, their voices choked with tears.
Lin Feng was also heartbroken. The onlookers were deeply moved by the Black Fox King's actions. A dignified Great Sage of the demon race was willing to sacrifice himself for Lin Feng. Such gratitude was immeasurable, deeper than the heavens and wider than the seas.
"Brother Hei, don't continue. I'll handle it myself," Lin Feng cried out, rushing forward to intervene.
"Kid, no need to persuade me. I've lived for thousands of years, and I've had my fill of life. Fighting against the heavens is what I enjoy most," the Black Fox King declared with a carefree smile. "It's not for you, but for my own pleasure."
He gathered all his remaining strength into his three tails. His essence blood ignited, and the three black tails, imbued with immense power, pushed the mountain back towards the cloud of tribulation.
"Break!" the Black Fox King roared, his entire body erupting in flames.
"No!" the demon race screamed their lungs out, watching their Great Sage burn himself to contend with the heavens. The pain in their hearts was beyond words.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
The Black Fox King's last three tails began to disintegrate. His life force was rapidly draining away. In his final moments, he managed to push the great mountain back into the cloud.
Peace began to return as a holy light emanated from the golden cloud, enveloping Lin Feng. The cloud then started to dissipate. The Black Fox King's body dissolved into specks of light, scattering throughout the small world.
A Great Sage of the demon race had fallen. His life was spectacular, and his death was heroic. As he had said, he came and went with freedom. With the strength of a half-saint, he had defeated a heavenly tribulation. The Black Fox King's feat would surely be etched in history.
Lin Feng was overcome with grief. Though he was bathed in the holy light and his cultivation had ascended to that of a true Great Sage, he felt no joy. All of this was bought with the Black Fox King's life.
"Brother Hei, I owe you too much. As long as I, Lin Feng, am alive, I will not tolerate anyone harming the demon race." Lin Feng could offer no other repayment for the Black Fox King's kindness than to protect the demon race in his stead.
The Demon Emperor watched from outside as the Black Fox King faded into the sky. Even the dignified Demon Emperor was moved.
A somber atmosphere enveloped everyone. However, as they saw Lin Feng bathed in holy light, they were filled with shock. Boundless saintly might spread throughout every corner of the small world. Lin Feng's aura had ascended to that of a true Great Sage, a fact that unsettled many. It signified that Lin Feng had broken through his constraints and entered the ranks of the Great Sages.
"The kid succeeded in his ascension!" many exclaimed in surprise.
"Indeed, he succeeded. This small world can no longer contain him," said He Nantian, the patriarch of the He family. Gazing at the swirling black clouds gathering at the barrier, he realized it was the barrier warning Lin Feng. The small world did not permit the existence of Great Sages. Upon achieving sainthood, one had to leave immediately, lest the barrier’s wrath obliterate them.
"Kid, leave the small world quickly. It no longer tolerates you," the Demon Emperor warned.
Lin Feng heard the warning and was about to fly away when a thunderous roar echoed. A hammer, as immense as a mountain, smashed into the barrier. The hammer radiated divine light, and boundless imperial might, like an enraged heaven, instantly shattered the barrier separating the small world from the outside.
Everyone present was stunned. A figure, bathed in golden light, appeared. The figure held a great hammer, crackling with imperial might—a true imperial artifact.
"Heavens, it's the Sky-Propping Emperor! The Sky-Propping Emperor has appeared!" some of the more knowledgeable individuals realized what was happening. The members of the Ji family, upon recognizing the figure, immediately knelt on the ground. This was none other than the Sky-Propping Emperor, who had departed the Ji family ten thousand years ago. The Sky-Propping Emperor's most distinctive symbol was his great hammer, named the Sky-Propping Hammer, his intrinsic imperial artifact.
"Welcome, Great Emperor! Welcome, Great Emperor!" Ji Buqun and others exclaimed, tears of joy streaming down their faces, never having dreamed their Great Emperor would appear.
"Haha, now let's see who dares disrespect my Ji family!" Ji Buqun exclaimed, revitalized, shedding his previous dejection. The younger disciples of the Ji family also straightened their backs. With their Great Emperor’s arrival, the Ji family was now the focal point.
"Ji Qingtian, you're still alive?" Ying Tianqing's eyes gleamed with battle intent upon seeing Ji Qingtian’s appearance.
"Ying Tianqing, if you are alive, why shouldn't I be?" Ji Qingtian retorted. "You all thought my Ji family had no one, and you even killed my Ji family's Great Sage. Did you truly believe my Ji family had no powerful backing?"
"I don't care about your relationship with this kid. Today, I will kill him." Ji Qingtian, enveloped in divine light, stood like a deity, commanding awe.
"Ji Qingtian, your opponent is me. Let me experience your Sky-Propping Hammer," Ying Tianqing stepped forward to engage. Lin Feng had only just reached the Great Sage level, far from being an Emperor. If Ji Qingtian truly wished to eliminate Lin Feng, he would have no chance of survival. This was the terrifying might of an Emperor.
"Haha, Ying Tianqing, although we are both Emperors, your strength is far from your peak. Do you think you can defeat me?" Ji Qingtian laughed heartily, instantly perceiving Ying Tianqing's weakened state.
"Whether I can defeat you will only be known after we fight," Ying Tianqing said, summoning a double-bladed axe. The axe radiated imperial might and was wreathed in formidable demonic energy. This was Ying Tianqing's intrinsic imperial artifact, the Desolate Axe.
The two Emperors faced each other, one wielding the Sky-Propping Hammer, the other the Desolate Axe. The terrifying imperial might sent shivers down one's spine. As the battle between imperial figures was too immense for this world to bear, the Sky-Propping Emperor casually opened up a separate space and took Ying Tianqing into it for their battle.
Although the onlookers could not witness the fight, the clash between the two created violent tremors throughout the heavens and earth. At times, the deafening sounds of the imperial artifacts colliding could be heard. Space warped, and imperial might surged. The battle between the two Emperors continued until Ying Tianqing was blasted out of the other space. Ying Tianqing was engulfed in demonic energy, black blood flowing from his body, and his Desolate Axe bore cracks.
"Brother Ying, how are you?" Lin Feng rushed forward to support the staggering Ying Tianqing. The onlookers were utterly dumbfounded. Ying Tianqing had been heavily injured by the Sky-Propping Emperor, his imperial artifact nearly shattered. The Sky-Propping Emperor was indeed too powerful. As expected, the Sky-Propping Emperor emerged from the space, radiating divine light, completely unscathed. His Sky-Propping Hammer blazed even brighter, like an undefeated war god.