Chapter 1149: More Money Required!

The one enveloped in dark green energy was the Poison King, and its body exuded a nauseating stench.

The one shrouded in dark black energy was the Heavenly Prisoner Demon Lord, whose aura carried eerie fluctuations capable of imprisoning souls.

Wrapped in silvery-white energy was the Starry Sky Sword Emperor, surrounded by faint sword energy that even cut through the air with a subtle "sizzling" sound.

Upon hearing the Palace Master's instructions, the three of them let out a smug sneer.

"Hmph, Palace Master," the Poison King's voice was chillingly venomous, "I alone am enough to handle this. Why add two more burdens? No matter how strong that kid is, he can't withstand the corrosive effects of my 'Corrosive Heart Poison'!"

The shadow of the Heavenly Prison Demon Lord twisted violently, as if countless chains were wrapped around it. His voice was arrogant: "Poison Emperor, do you even have the right to call others a burden? Making me team up with you is truly lowering my status! I only need to open the 'Heavenly Prison Domain' to trap and kill that brat. I don't need you to lift a finger!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an incomparably domineering sword aura suddenly erupted from the shadow of the Starry Sky Sword Emperor.

The silvery-white sword energy instantly filled the entire hall, and the beast totems on the pillars were swept by the sword energy, leaving a tiny scratch.

Immediately afterwards, the black shadow of the Starry Sky Sword Emperor gradually lengthened and condensed, eventually transforming into a black sword three zhang long.

The sword was engraved with star patterns, and a voice emanated from it, carrying an arrogant air of looking down upon the world: "Even if there are powerful enemies, I will kill them with a single sword! If that brat dares to resist, I will shatter his soul into pieces. What use are you two then?"

The three of them chatted back and forth, their tone full of disdain for each other, each exuding an air of "invincibility."

They all felt that they could complete the task by themselves, and that the other two would only hold them back.

Just as they were arguing so fiercely that they were about to come to blows, an even more terrifying and powerful pressure suddenly erupted from the giant throne at the top.

The oppressive aura was like an invisible mountain, instantly enveloping the entire Beast God Temple.

The energy patterns on the pillars of the hall flickered violently, as if they were about to collapse at any moment, and the air inside the hall was compressed, making a "creaking" sound.

The source of this oppressive aura is none other than the Lord of the Beast God Temple!

Under this absolute pressure, the Poison Emperor, the Heavenly Prisoner Demon Lord, and the Starry Sky Sword Emperor, who were just arguing, instantly concealed all their auras. The black figures froze in place, no longer daring to make a sound.

The other shadowy figures inside the hall suppressed their auras to the lowest possible level, even their breathing became cautious, and when they looked towards the throne, they were filled with deep apprehension.

"The matter has been decided!"

The Beast God Temple Master's voice carried a hint of coldness: "The three of you must cooperate well. Don't think you're so powerful. That opponent is not a soft persimmon that you can easily crush! If you dare to argue again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

After saying that, he snorted coldly. The twisted black shadow on the throne swayed slightly, then dissipated into the air like mist, leaving not even a trace of energy fluctuation.

Seeing that the temple master had left, the shadowy figures inside the temple dared not linger.

The Poison Emperor, the Heavenly Prisoner Demon Lord, and the Starry Sky Sword Emperor exchanged a cold glance before dissipating from their respective thrones.

The other shadowy figures also dissipated, turning into mist of different colors that merged into the darkness within the hall.

A moment later, the entire hall returned to its previous empty state.

Only the thrones on either side and the giant chair on the high platform remained. The hall was so quiet that you could hear your own heartbeat, as if everything that had just happened was just an illusion.

........................

About three hours after the heated meeting at the Temple of the Beast God ended, two figures suddenly broke through the void and landed steadily on the surface of a gray-white dead star with a diameter of a thousand miles deep in the silent Sea of ​​Dead Stars.

The young man in front wore a silver-white brocade robe with the dark gold "Shangguan" family crest embroidered on the hem. His face was handsome but still had a touch of youthful naiveté. He was none other than Shangguan Jing, the Chaos Saint Emperor of the Shangguan family.

The middle-aged man beside him was completely different.

A crimson robe enveloped his tall, imposing figure, surrounded by faint, pale golden flames.

Each flicker of the flames caused the surrounding void to distort slightly, and even the rubble on the surface of the Death Star was baked to a dark red. This person was Shangguan Yan, who had fought with Ye Chen before.

Shangguan Jing lightly touched the gravel on the surface of the Death Star with his toe, and the gravel turned into dust in an instant.

He gazed at the desolate landscape around him.

Billions of dead stars, like abandoned skulls, were scattered across the inky void. Even the starlight exuded a cold, deathly stillness, which aroused doubt in my heart.

It had only been a little over half a month since he last came here in person to issue the Beast God Temple the mission to assassinate Ye Chen. It hadn't even been a month yet, so why was the other party contacting him in such a hurry?

"Uncle Yan".

Shangguan Jing turned to look at Shangguan Yan beside him, his tone tinged with confusion: "Could it be that the Beast God Temple has already completed the mission? Did they really eliminate that guy? That shouldn't be the case. Although I've never met that Ye person, you said he was extremely powerful. Even if the Beast God Temple is powerful, they shouldn't have been able to take care of him so quickly, right?"

He casually ran his fingertips along the cuff of his brocade robe, his eyes filled with confusion.

He knew that the members of the Beast God Temple were all madmen, and their strength was beyond doubt.

Logically speaking, he certainly had the ability to complete the task, but the efficiency was too high, so high that it felt unreal to him.

Shangguan Yan, however, was not at ease. His brows were furrowed, and the wrinkles on his forehead deepened.

Recalling his past encounter with Ye Chen, the latter's effortless demeanor and the ease with which Ye Chen could immobilize him with his words, a chill ran down his spine.

He knew better than anyone how powerful Ye Chen was, and he simply couldn't believe that the Beast God Temple could eliminate this formidable enemy so quickly.

"I don't think it's that simple."

Shangguan Yan's voice was somewhat solemn, and his fiery aura unconsciously subsided a bit. "Perhaps... something unexpected has happened."

Hearing this, Shangguan Jing was even more surprised and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow: "An accident? What kind of accident could have happened? It can't be that all the people sent out by the Beast God Temple were killed by Ye Chen, can it?"

He spoke casually, but his tone carried a hint of disbelief.

A powerhouse at the level of a Chaos Saint Emperor wouldn't die so easily, let alone someone from the Beast God Temple.

Shangguan Yan opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but was interrupted by Shangguan Jing: "Uncle Yan, don't rush to judgment. We'll know what to say when we meet the Beast God Palace Master later."

Although he is young, he knows how to behave appropriately.

Shangguan Yan was, after all, his elder and a veteran expert in the family. As a junior, he shouldn't have directly refuted him; maintaining a proper attitude was the right thing to do.

Shangguan Yan nodded silently, the flames around him flickering more rapidly, clearly indicating that his inner unease had not dissipated.

Just then, the void above their heads suddenly began to twist violently, and a dark shadow that blotted out the sky slowly emerged from the void.

The black shadow was over five thousand feet tall, several times larger than the Death Star beneath its feet. Its form sometimes transformed into a ferocious chaotic beast with bared fangs and black saliva dripping from its tusks.

At times, it would coalesce into a humanoid figure draped in a black robe, the hem of which fluttered in the void, its ever-changing form completely unpredictable.

At the same time, an extremely terrifying pressure swept in like a tsunami, instantly engulfing the entire Death Star!

Shangguan Jing and Shangguan Yan's expressions changed drastically, as if an invisible force was pressing down on them.

The gravity was tens of thousands of times stronger than that of ordinary stars, like a hundred thousand towering mountains pressing down on their shoulders, making it difficult for them to even straighten their backs.

Shangguan Jing's silver-white brocade robe was pressed tightly against his body, and his knuckles turned white from clenching his fists so tightly.

The flames around Shangguan Yan were compressed and contracted violently, and the pale golden flames were almost extinguished.

Their hearts were pounding wildly in their chests, each beat accompanied by a tearing pain.

Fortunately, this suffocating pressure only lasted for three breaths before receding like the tide.

Shangguan Jing and Shangguan Yan both breathed a sigh of relief, their foreheads already covered in fine beads of sweat, but their eyes were filled with undisguised shock.

Even this brief moment of oppressive aura allowed them to clearly feel the terrifying power of the Beast God Temple Master.

They are both Chaos Saint Emperors, so how can there be such a big difference?

"What a strong person!"

Shangguan Jing was deeply shocked, his fingertips still trembling slightly. "Truly worthy of being the Lord of the Beast God Palace, no wonder it is said that his strength is close to that of His Majesty the Formless Holy Emperor!"

Having lived for countless years, he rarely felt such insignificance in front of other Chaos Saint Emperors.

But in front of the Beast God Temple Master, he truly felt like an insignificant speck of dust.

Shangguan Yan was no less shocked than Shangguan Jing.

He knew very well that even among the Chaos Saint Emperors, there were different ranks.

He himself was already at the fourth level of the Chaos Saint Emperor realm, and was already a top combatant in the family, but the aura emanating from the Beast God Palace Master was far stronger than his.

It was a power as unfathomable as an abyss, so deep that he didn't even dare to think of resisting.

"According to the ancient records of our clan, it seems that the Lord of the Beast God Temple has indeed reached the realm of His Majesty the Formless Holy Emperor..."

Shangguan Yan muttered to himself, a ridiculous thought suddenly popping into his mind.

He unconsciously compared the Beast God Temple Master with Ye Chen.

Whether it was the overwhelming pressure displayed by the Beast God Temple Master or Ye Chen's effortless strength, both were terrifyingly powerful.

If we really have to compare them, who would be better?

Shangguan Yan shook his head, suppressing the thought.

His Majesty the Formless Holy Emperor stands at the pinnacle of the Great Dao, able to look down upon all Holy Emperor powerhouses. If the Beast God Palace Master truly approaches this realm, then no matter how strong Ye Chen is, he would never be a match for him.

"Why has the Lord of the Beast God Temple contacted us?"

Shangguan Jing composed himself, stepped forward, and unconsciously adopted a more respectful tone, even temporarily suppressing his previous doubts: "Could it be that the mission has already been completed?"

The shadowy figure in the void swayed slightly, and a deep, hoarse voice rang in their ears like thunder, each word carrying a chilling coldness: "It is indeed related to the mission, but it was not completed, it was a failure."

"fail?"

Shangguan Jing was stunned, his eyes wide open, almost unable to believe his ears: "With the strength of the Beast God Temple, they failed so quickly?"

He had initially thought the other party was there to submit a task, but he never expected to receive such an answer.

Shangguan Yan's heart sank suddenly, his previous unease amplified instantly, and the flames around him began to tremble slightly.

His worst fears seem to have come true.

The Beast God Temple Master's voice grew increasingly cold, carrying a hint of barely perceptible anger: "To be honest, the two members I sent out on the mission have both perished."

"what?!"

Shangguan Jing and Shangguan Yan exclaimed in surprise at the same time, their faces filled with shock.

Shangguan Jing's hand trembled uncontrollably, and his voice changed: "You sent two members, and they're both dead? May I ask, Lord Palace Master, which two did you send?"

"Red Jade and Mad Owl".

The Beast God Temple Master's voice was calm and even, yet it struck the hearts of the two like a boulder thrown into a still lake.

Upon hearing those two names, Shangguan Jing's pupils suddenly contracted, and the shock on his face instantly turned into fear. He took two steps back, his footsteps making a crisp "crack" sound on the gravel.

He was deeply impressed by the mad owl.

When he last visited the Beast God Temple, he had a brief encounter with Mad Owl, and the two fought to a standstill.

He knew very well that Kuang Xiao's strength was almost equal to his own, and if it came to a life-or-death battle, the outcome was still uncertain.

He had long acknowledged Kuang Xiao's strength in his heart, but now, such a powerful person was actually dead?

Shangguan Yan's face twitched uncontrollably, and his red beard trembled slightly.

Although he had never fought Chi Jue, he had heard of him before.

Chi Jue was a top expert of the Crimson Flame Phoenix clan, possessing speed capable of tearing through the void and flames powerful enough to incinerate even divine souls. He was a renowned ruthless figure among the Chaos Saint Emperors. Even someone like him perished?

"Second, the two of them joined forces and both died?"

Shangguan Jing's voice trembled slightly, and suddenly, as if he had thought of something, a hint of suspicion appeared in his eyes. "Palace Master, you're not trying to deceive us and get us to pay more, are you?"

He knew his words were somewhat offensive, but the news was simply too astonishing.

Two Chaos Saint Emperors joined forces, yet they perished within half a month?

Is the Chaos Saint Emperor like a cabbage in the market, disappearing as soon as he appears?

This was far too frivolous, which made him unable to help but make such a guess.

"Humph!"

When questioned by Shangguan Jing, the black shadow in the void suddenly began to churn violently.

The black aura surrounding him bubbled like boiling water, and an even more terrifying killing intent instantly locked onto Shangguan Jing.

Shangguan Jing felt a tightness in his throat, as if an invisible hand was gripping his neck, making it difficult to even breathe.

Upon seeing this, Shangguan Yan quickly stepped forward, blocking Shangguan Jing's path, and respectfully said to the shadowy figure, "Palace Master, please calm down. Jing'er is young and ignorant, and his words were inappropriate. Please do not take offense."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious: "Moreover, what he said might not be false—if he is the target, he might actually have the strength to kill two Holy Emperors."

As he said these words, Shangguan Yan's heart ached, and a wave of regret washed over him.