Chapter 47: Soaring on Clouds? At Best, You're Just Scrambling Up Them

“Your Majesty, rest assured.”
“Every grievance has its cause, every debt its owner.”
“I am not a bloodthirsty man; how could I implicate the innocent?”
Lu Ge spoke with a solemn expression.

These words only stirred silent doubts in the King of Chu’s heart.
If you are not bloodthirsty, then who is?
Surely, Lu Zi must be aware of how the world views him nowadays.
Throughout history, the God of War Bai Qi ranks first; you are undoubtedly second.
You once annihilated tens of thousands of Zhao soldiers without leaving a single survivor.
The King of Chu could not help but shudder every time he thought of that.
Is this truly a human being?

“Your Majesty,” Lu Ge continued, “Donghuang Taiyi is here within the palace.”
“Should you invite him out, or shall I go in search of him?”
The King of Chu hurriedly replied, “I will send someone to invite him right away.”
“No need to trouble Lu Zi,” he added quickly, dispatching attendants to summon Donghuang Taiyi.

“Lu Zi, the palace is vast and crowded,” the King of Chu cautiously suggested.
“When Taiyi arrives, perhaps you should take the battle outside the city?”
“There is more space there, allowing greater freedom to display your skills.”

Lu Ge glanced at the King of Chu, seeing genuine concern in his eyes—he truly feared the destruction of the palace.
Lu Ge shared this concern.
The title of Donghuang Taiyi had been passed down through generations, each bearer endowed with different divine powers.
Some could command floods, others summoned starlight, and some could briefly animate all living things with celestial elixirs.
This generation’s Donghuang Taiyi was particularly formidable.
According to Shen Dao, his divine power was called Solar True Fire.
Its destructive force was immense, covering a wide area.
If a battle broke out here, the palace might indeed be destroyed, and even the entire city could suffer.

Before long, a crimson light soared from the depths of the palace, piercing the sky and dyeing half the heavens a fiery red.
A figure floated gracefully, stepping on empty air as if walking on solid ground.
Lu Ge squinted to see a man adorned in a lofty headdress and broad sleeves, resembling an immortal engulfed in flames.

“Donghuang Taiyi?” Lu Ge whispered.

In just a few strides, Donghuang Taiyi stood before him, their eyes locking with an otherworldly intensity.

“The world is vast, and to master even one divine art marks one as a favored child of heaven,” he said.
“To command several is a rarity.”
“When you fought the Grand Music Master, I already sensed your extraordinary nature.”

“Your strength is no less than mine.”
“Our retreat was a clear sign of our desire not to make you an enemy.”
“But today, you have come to us of your own accord.”

Donghuang Taiyi’s voice was strange, like the clash of metal, far from mortal.

Lu Ge couldn’t help but smile.
“When you sought my death, you came without hesitation.”
“When faced with defeat, you fled, claiming no desire for enmity.”
“Now the tables have turned.”
“I have come today with the intent to kill, without hiding or evasion.”
“I only wonder if you possess the strength to make me hesitate, to retreat in fear.”

Their eyes met, words sharp as blades. The entire palace seemed enveloped by an invisible aura of tension.
All nearby felt an unseen, rampant murderous energy, cutting into their skin with an ache.

“Let us battle outside the city,” Donghuang Taiyi said, raising a hand and pointing beyond the walls.

The people of Chu revered the god Taiyi, and as a deity walking among mortals, he sought to protect them.
Naturally, he wished to avoid innocent casualties amid their conflict.

Lu Ge smiled. “That is exactly my intention.”

Donghuang Taiyi lowered his gaze to Lu Ge on the ground, his eyes cold and godlike.

“Then let us go together.”
“Hope you can keep pace with me.”

With that, he stepped forward, treading on air like an ethereal immortal.

Lu Ge was unhurried, turning instead to Shen Dao.
“You stay here and wait for me.”
“This Donghuang Taiyi is no ordinary man; he wields multiple divine powers.”
“If a fight breaks out, I fear you may suffer collateral damage.”

Shen Dao was startled.
“He also possesses multiple divine arts?”
“Ancestor, be cautious.”

Though Shen Dao was advanced in years, he had only ever seen one person—Lu Ge—wield multiple divine powers.
Never had he expected Donghuang Taiyi to be the same.

Lu Ge replied calmly, “No matter. I have a clear plan.”

Outside the city, atop a high mountain, Donghuang Taiyi stood on a great rock, hands behind his back, radiating an imposing aura.

“This Daoist ancestor seems to lack the power of flight.”
“Traveling on foot will wear down his sharpness.”
“If the battle truly begins, he may not be able to fully unleash his strength.”
“Such a pity.”

Donghuang Taiyi raised his right hand, studying the patterns on his palm.
“There are very few in this world who can compel me to fight at full strength.”
His words were heavy with solitude.

A familiar voice rang out nearby.
“Hey, what are you mumbling about?”
“Not secretly cursing me, I hope.”
“I let you go first, but you’re so slow.”
“I’ve been waiting ages.”

Donghuang Taiyi’s body trembled, turning in surprise to see Lu Ge lounging on a tree trunk, smiling cheerfully.

“When did you arrive?” Donghuang Taiyi asked.

“I arrived riding the clouds. How could you have beaten me here?” Lu Ge blinked playfully.
“Riding clouds, huh?”
“More like crawling clouds at that speed.”

Donghuang Taiyi’s expression darkened.
Though he possessed multiple divine powers granted by the gods, only his cloud-riding technique was self-developed, making it his pride.
Throughout history, only the Daoist Liezi had mastered such a method.
Yet now, Lu Ge belittled it so easily.

He had no retort, for though Lu Ge’s words were sharp, his speed was indeed faster.
Truth can be the cruelest weapon.

“I won’t bicker with you.”
“Strength can only be judged in battle.”

Donghuang Taiyi stood proudly, pressing his right palm forward.
Behind him, the void shimmered with countless strands of colored energy.
They transformed into swords, axes, and other weapons.
In an instant, the sky was covered with divine arms and blades.

Lu Ge looked up slightly, his eyes bright.
“Your divine power is quite impressive.”
“The special effects truly are top-notch.”

The vast sky was filled with divine weapons formed from energy, covering a hundred miles, all ringing in unison.

“This is the Gathering of Qi into Arms.”
“Let’s see if Lu Zi can withstand my strike.”

Donghuang Taiyi pressed downward with his right hand.
The endless divine weapons fell like a torrential rain, attacking Lu Ge.

Lu Ge was too lazy to dodge, still reclining on the tree trunk.
Thousands of divine weapons passed through him without causing the slightest harm.

His divine art, Disregard for Physical Form, was truly overpowered.
His body became intangible, existing beyond the realm of the physical, immune to all physical and magical harm.

No matter how hard Donghuang Taiyi struck, he could not touch Lu Ge—not even a drop of saliva.

“Just this much... ah~~~”

Lu Ge was about to continue mocking, but suddenly felt the surface beneath him vanish.
Though he ignored the divine weapons, the tree trunk beneath could not withstand the force.
In a moment, the ancient tree turned to ash and scattered.

Lu Ge fell straight down, landing hard on his backside.