"I don't think we've met before, and I honestly don't know how to address you. As for you saying I haven't disappointed you, that's just confusing to me."
Evan Chu stared at the guy in front of him, whose cultivation was supposedly late-stage God-Venerable, and just couldn't believe it—was he really the creator of Ninefold Stellar Transformation? No way! That kind of power, being able to use Star-Snatching Hand, a move specifically designed for refining star-powered experts... To create that, you’d have to be someone who surpassed the Three Realms themselves!
He didn’t say it out loud, but that trace of disdain at the corner of Evan’s eye was instantly picked up by the Ninefold Divine Sovereign.
"Damn! Kid, you really have no manners! You inherited my strongest technique and don’t even know how to be grateful, let alone call me Master. And you still act like this?"
"Master? Sorry, I have a master—just not you."
"You little brat! You’ve got some nerve, huh!"
But when he saw Evan’s utterly contemptuous glare, the Ninefold Divine Sovereign could only mutter weakly.
"Damn it, whatever—can you at least untie me now?"
"That's easy."
Evan Chu flicked his finger, and all the iron chains set by Galen Sharpe instantly snapped apart. The Ninefold Divine Sovereign, bloodied and battered from torture, was finally free.
If Evan hadn’t already seen the Ninefold Divine Sovereign inside Galen Sharpe’s illusion-array space domain, he wouldn’t believe for a second that this pitifully weak guy in front of him was really the Ninefold Divine Sovereign.
I mean, even Adrian Xuan had reached the God-Emperor realm. How could his own master be weaker than his disciples?
Besides, looking at the Ninefold Divine Sovereign right now—even though he was covered in blood and looked absolutely miserable—his cultivation aura was full and vibrant, obviously at his peak. There was no sign that his realm had dropped due to any tricks.
Which meant, right now, the Ninefold Divine Sovereign was at his strongest! But... did he really create Ninefold Stellar Transformation? Was I here looking for answers just wasting my time?
"Fine, I guess I came here for nothing. Just looking at you, I can tell you’re not going to have anything interesting to say. Way too weak."
Evan finally shook his head, coldly sneering. The Ninefold Divine Sovereign was so humiliated he could have cried.
First he’d been imprisoned and tortured by Galen Sharpe, who’d stolen Heaven’s secrets and grasped power beyond the Three Realms. Now he was getting looked down on by his own inheritor? Damn! Was he cursed or something?
He’d almost died of frustration when Galen Sharpe first caught him. He’d thought things couldn’t get any worse. But looking at Evan’s scornful gaze and the way he turned to leave—damn, it actually could!
"You brat! Get back here! I’m telling you, you’d better stand there and listen to what I have to say, or next time we meet I’ll beat you half to death!"
"You and what army?" Evan really did stop and turn around, but his eyes toward the Ninefold Divine Sovereign were even more full of contempt.
Pfft... The Ninefold Divine Sovereign nearly coughed up blood from sheer frustration. If only he’d used a hair when condensing this avatar instead of a sweat follicle! Then at least this version of himself would have power beyond Galen Sharpe’s, and even if he couldn’t teach Evan Chu a lesson, he could at least go all out and vent his anger.
But now... this kid’s attitude was even cockier than his own! Send this avatar to fight him? Dream on—he’d probably get wrecked instantly! Then all his arrangements would be ruined, and everything would go up in smoke!
"Fine! You win, I’m scared, okay? Just come here—I have something to tell you. Listen quietly and I’ll pay you ten thousand Star Crystals."
"Star Crystals? What the heck is that? Never heard of it. Not interested!"
Evan still couldn’t care less and turned to leave again. But this time, it wasn’t the Ninefold Divine Sovereign who stopped him—it was Lord Thunder.
Violet Thunder was nearly dying from anxiety outside. My dear senior brother, you’re truly something—I’m honestly in awe of you!
You don’t ask a single question—just straight-up disrespect him. Do you know what that means? It means if his real body gets pissed off, with just a breath, the entire Frostbane Dynasty could be wiped out!
The Star-River Dominion might not have a single absolute ruler, but it does have the Ten Sacred Emperors standing at the very top, overlooking the Star-River and commanding respect from all races.
And the real body of the Ninefold Divine Sovereign is the Ninefold Sacred Emperor—the strongest and most untouchable monster among the Ten Sacred Emperors!
"Senior brother! Don’t! The elder means well—why don’t we stay and hear what he has to say?"
"Junior brother... you?" Evan asked in confusion. Lord Thunder then explained via divine sense the true identity of the Ninefold Divine Sovereign—the name Ninefold Sacred Emperor echoed throughout the entire Star-River Dominion, and the Ninefold Stellar Transformation was the technique every race in the Star-River dreamed of obtaining!
But the real kicker was—ten thousand Star Crystals! That was ten thousand! As Lord Thunder, the third protector, his status might not be the highest, but in the Frostbane Dynasty he still enjoyed top-tier treatment. Each month, he got a thousand Star Stones as cultivation resources, but it took ten thousand Star Stones to make a single Star Crystal. And ten thousand Star Crystals...
Some people are born lucky, some things are just junk, and comparing yourself to others only makes you want to die!
"Senior brother! Listen to me—if not for yourself, at least do it for ten thousand Star Crystals!"
Evan was stunned. He hadn’t expected the Ninefold Divine Sovereign’s real identity to be so terrifying, and that all his earlier scorn had been for an avatar made from a single sweat follicle, just to deliver a few words?
So really, wasn’t the one being looked down on actually him?
Evan’s face flushed bright red. Looking at the Ninefold Divine Sovereign, whom he’d just mocked, he muttered quietly,
"Elder, please enlighten me."
"Elder my ass! Call me Master!"
Evan was helpless. Looking at Lord Thunder’s face, flushed with anxiety, he could tell—if he didn’t say it, Lord Thunder would say it for him!
"Master..."
"Ha! Good! From today on, this old man finally has a disciple!"
The Ninefold Divine Sovereign suddenly beamed with excitement, absolutely thrilled.
At that moment, Lord Thunder realized something too: this Sacred Emperor who’d dominated the Star-River Dominion for countless years had always been alone, never having taken a disciple.
The other Ten Sacred Emperors all had disciples and grand-disciples who’d grown old themselves.
As for Adrian Xuan, he certainly wasn’t a disciple of the Ninefold Divine Sovereign. He was just a messenger, whose sole purpose was to pass the Ninefold Stellar Transformation to Evan Chu and help him achieve everything he had today!
"Alright, the Calamity Star faction just gained a new member in the Star-River Dominion! Heh! I hope you grow up fast and help your master beat up those old geezers someday—that’ll finally settle my grudge!"
"Calamity Star faction?" Evan was speechless. What kind of title was that? Was this old man really the most terrifying of the Ten Sacred Emperors in the Star-River Dominion?
But when Lord Thunder heard 'Calamity Star faction,' he shivered. Calamity Star faction! Did that mean... Evan’s appearance in the Star-River Dominion would make him the enemy of the world? And the Frostbane Dynasty would suffer too?
After all, Evan Chu was the first inheritor of the Calamity Star in the Star-River Dominion!