Chapter 834: Astral Emperor and The Asura

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The hellish creature entered the throne room and made its way towards the Astral Emperor. Lilian watched with wide eyes, still shrouded within her spatial cocoon, as it made its way towards her father.

'F....father is going to be attacked by this...demon,' Lilian thought frantically, her mind a chaotic mess. "I...I need to find help! There's no way father can fight this demon alon-"

"I hope you weren't spotted by anyone when you entered my palace," the Astral Emperor's calm voice filled the throne room, stopping Lilian in her tracks.

The Astral Emperor sat calmly on this throne, his chin resting on his propped up right arm. Lilian stared at him with wide eyes filled with confusion.

Her fathers even tone and calm demeanor were not that of a man about to fight for his life. In fact, based on his words, he had been expecting the nightmarish creatures arrival.

A guttural scoff was the only reply the creature gave, as if answering the question was beneath it. The Astral Emperor slightly frowned, but did ask the question again.

The creature arrived before her father. It was so tall that it looked him at an even level, despite the fact that her fathers throne had him sitting more than a dozen feet off the ground.

The two stared at each other for a moment, before the creature broke the silence.

"When will you fulfill your part of the agreement?" The creature asked, its voice guttural and unnaturally loud. The walls trembled lightly from its voice alone.

The Astral Emperor frowned, as if the question annoyed him.

"I told you last year, she must first reach a certain cultivation level before she is ready," the Astral Emperor replied calmly.

Rumble!

The palace rumbled violently as the creature scoffed, y pleased with the answer it was provided.

"And when will that be, exactly?" The creature growled.

"It depends, but it will most likely be at least fifteen years before she is ready," the Astral Emperor replied, to which the creature narrowed its hellish gaze, fiery red eyes as large as the Astral Emperors head staring at him with displeasure.

'She? Who is father talking about?' Lilian thought, still hidden. Holding the spatial cocoon intact, especially in the presence of such a nightmarish creature was taxing her to her limits, but she dared not to release it, no matter how exhausted she became. She knew that would be a mistake.

"You dare lie to me?" The creature growled menacingly.

"I wouldn't dare, as that does me no good," the Astral Emperor waved his hand dismissively.

The creature studied him with scrutiny, to which the Astral Emperor sighed.

"You may come from some other place where cultivation is faster, but on this world, reaching the World Expansion realm takes time. Fifteen years is already faster than anyone else in recent history, so all you can do is wait," the Astral Emperor said as his eyes moved downwards, gazing at the massive wound on the creature chest; a gruesome wound that seemed to refuse to heal.

The wound was no doubt worse than it looked, as it was obvious that the creature was greatly weakened in its current state. And yet, it's power was still unfathomable to Lilian.

The creature's expression was still filled with malevolent displeasure, as if it would unleash a fatal attack on the Astral Emperor at any moment.

"The ancient war was what? Three hundred thousand years ago? Maybe more?" The Astral Emperor spoke up once more. "And despite that passage of time, your wound has yet to heal. If it was able to be healed by conventional methods, you would have done so by now."

The palace trembled again as the creature scoffed, but it did not argue against the Astral Emperors claims.

"It seems that only the most miraculous of methods can help you now, and that method just happens to be under my command. And I am telling you that it will be fifteen years before she is ready."

"You best make sure that it happens within fifteen years, or I'll raze your empire to the ground," the creature threatened.

"You would definitely be capable of doing so, but then your existence would be revealed to the world," the Astral Emperor replied calmly at the grave threat. "While you may be stronger than anyone in this world, do you have the confidence to fight the whole world at once...especially in your condition," he said as he eyed the wound again.

The creatures sinister gaze narrowed again, but it did not rebuke the Astral Emperors claims. Fighting the entire world in its current state was not possible.

"So, it seems you require my help, as I require yours, which is why we entered into this agreement in the first place," the Astral Emperor said. "So do believe me when I say fifteen years is the time frame we need to follow."

"Hmph, fine," the creature scoffed, believing the words spoken. "But I'm adding a new condition to our agreement."

The Astral Emperors gaze narrowed as he heard this, but he remained silent to hear what the condition was.

"You were right when you mentioned how hard it is for me to heal this wound," the nightmarish creature said as he stared at the wound on his chest. "And so, as part of our agreement, when the time for me to be healed comes, I'll be taking the girl with me. Her...healing skills should prove very useful for me in the future."

The Astral Emperors gaze narrowed, and his aura grew cold, as of the mere mention of such a thing was unforgivable.

Flash!

An item flashed into existence, grasped within the creature's massive hand. He tossed it over to the Astral Emperor, who caught the spatial ring and cautiously inspected it.

His eyes went wide at what he saw within, and his cold gaze faded away, replaced by a conflicted expression instead. The creature smiled when he saw this; his sharp teeth barred like a monstrous beast.

"Our annual agreed upon transaction, tripled going forward, as long as I get to keep the girl," the creature proposed, it's menacing smile widening as it could tell the offer was being considered.

"What do you intend on doing to her? Do you intend to only have her heal you?" The Astral Emperor asked, sounding unsure of the matter.

"That does not concern you," the creature snorted, his tone and expression indicating he wanted an answer, not discussion.

A deep sigh escaped the emperor's mouth as he slumped slightly on his throne. After a short moment of silence, he breathed in deeply and sat upright, his mind clearly made up.

"Agreed!"