Chapter 437: Threatening Earth

"Haha, Li Yang. As long as you're willing to make a deal, you can always get the Gold-devouring Insect back."

Split Flame, however, was unconcerned by Li Yang's words.

He kept the smile on his face, but abruptly changed the subject. "You know, Li Yang, your home planet, Earth, is truly beautiful. I've never seen such a gorgeous planet before."

"Earth?"

Li Yang's expression changed slightly at Split Flame's words. "Deity Split Flame," he said, "are you on Earth right now?"

'In the face of a powerful Tri-System Deity, the entire planet could probably be annihilated with a single breath.'

"Yes. I'm so eager to obtain the Gold-devouring Insect that I couldn't wait to come to Earth to find you for a trade, Li Yang," Split Flame said with a faint smile.

"Speaking of which, the oceans on your Earth are a little dangerous. I flicked a finger earlier and easily took care of some of the fierce beasts on your seabed for you."

"However, when I flicked my finger, I lost control just a little. It nearly affected some of your people. Luckily, I noticed in time and managed to prevent any casualties."

He was still smiling, but that smile made Li Yang's expression darken.

'A threat! Split Flame's words were a blatant threat.'

'He was even threatening him with the lives of Earth's people.'

Suppressing the anger in his heart, Li Yang said in a low voice, "Deity Split Flame, my planet is too weak, and you are too strong. Earth couldn't withstand even a sliver of the energy you might release. If we have something to discuss, let's arrange to meet somewhere else."

"Haha, Li Yang, there's no need to move. I've taken quite a liking to this Earth. I plan to stay for a while, to wait for you to come back and trade for the Gold-devouring Insect."

Split Flame smiled. "You can name your price; I'll do my best to meet it. While I'm waiting for you, I'll just stay here on Earth. I might as well do some sightseeing."

Ignoring Li Yang's dark expression, Split Flame continued, "Oh, right, Li Yang. I'm not the only one here on Earth. Several other Deities have arrived as well. Their purpose is the same as mine, though. Once you trade away the Gold-devouring Insect, they'll naturally leave. Otherwise, who knows what kind of conflict might break out between them."

"Some of those Deities have a history of conflict with each other. They might suddenly start a fight on Earth at any moment. So, you'd better hurry back, Li Yang. If two Deities come to blows, you know how destructive that can be. Even I wouldn't be able to stop them."

Split Flame said with a smile, "Well, that's all I have to say. I trust you'll make the right decision, Li Yang."

He gave Li Yang a long, meaningful look.

With that, his figure wavered and vanished completely.

Staring at the spot where he had vanished, Li Yang's expression was incredibly grim.

'Damn it!'

'A threat! That was a naked threat from Split Flame!'

Though furious, Li Yang suppressed his anger and logged out of the Virtual World.

Seeing Li Yang's grim expression, the Blade Slaughter Sect Master couldn't help but ask, "Li Yang, who was that?"

Li Yang didn't dare hesitate and quickly explained the situation to the Blade Slaughter Sect Master.

"What? That Split Flame is using Earth to threaten you into trading for the Gold-devouring Insect?"

The Blade Slaughter Sect Master frowned upon hearing Li Yang's account.

'A Deity, threatening someone with mere mortals?'

Li Yang quickly turned to the Blade Slaughter Sect Master and asked, "Teacher, what's Split Flame's background?"

'He was, after all, a peerless genius nurtured by the Human Race's Eternal Saint Hall. An ordinary Deity wouldn't dare to threaten him.'

'Otherwise, once he became powerful in the future…'

'Therefore, a Tri-System Deity like Split Flame must have powerful backing.'

'To provoke and threaten him without powerful backing would be the act of a fool.'

The Blade Slaughter Sect Master looked at Li Yang and said, "Split Flame is one of Fire Cloud Emperor's subordinates."

"Fire Cloud Emperor?"

Hearing the name, Li Yang's gaze sharpened. "From the Zun Lie Clan?"

The Luoyu he'd met before was from the Zun Lie Clan. The Zun Lie Clan has a total of two Emperors. One is Zun Lie. He's a top-tier Emperor of the Human Race and a disciple of an entity from the Primordial Martial Dao Saint Realm who has surpassed the Sovereign level. His power and status are ranked among the highest in the Human Race.

Within the Human Race, aside from the Sovereigns and those who have surpassed them, experts like Zun Lie Venerable are the strongest.

The other is Fire Cloud Emperor. Compared to Zun Lie Venerable, Fire Cloud Emperor is clearly not on the same level.

But even so, he is still a powerful Emperor who looks down upon all Deities.

Upon learning this, Li Yang's face turned incredibly dark. "Was he sent by Luoyu?"

'Previously, Luoyu had tried to trade for the Gold-devouring Insect and failed. It seems he hasn't given up at all.'

'And now he was using Earth to threaten him into making a deal.'

'With Luoyu's background, of course he would dare to act so unscrupulously against him.'

'Damn him.' At that moment, Li Yang felt a flicker of killing intent toward Luoyu.

'Luoyu had casually imprisoned him before, and now he was threatening him with the entire planet. His actions had completely crossed the line.'

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Li Yang looked at the Blade Slaughter Sect Master and said hurriedly, "Teacher, what should I do now?"

Despite his anger, Li Yang felt utterly powerless.

'He was no match for a Tri-System Deity, and Split Flame wasn't even the only one on Earth. Luoyu had sent several Deities there.'

'He even threatened that these Deities had conflicts with one another and might come to blows.'

'Just imagine if two Deities started a fight. If Earth got caught in the crossfire and large numbers of its people died, any punishment the Deities received would be minor at best.'

'Luoyu must have anticipated this, which was why he was threatening him so brazenly.'

A cold look appeared on the Blade Slaughter Sect Master's face. "Luoyu failed to trade for the treasure, so now he resorts to threats. He truly brings shame upon his ancestor, Zun Lie Venerable."

There was a hint of disdain in his eyes. 'To use such methods over a mere treasure…'

However, this tactic was indeed a great threat to Li Yang in his current situation.

The Blade Slaughter Sect Master pondered for a moment. With a wave of his right hand, a white, crystalline object appeared in his palm.

"Teacher, what is this?"

Li Yang looked at the object, puzzled.

The Blade Slaughter Sect Master said, "Li Yang, this is a Deity-Sensing Crystal Stone. When you get back to Earth, place it anywhere on the planet. If any Deity makes a move there, no matter how stealthy they are, this crystal will be able to detect and record it. That will force Split Flame and the others to act with more restraint. It will also help prevent any other schemes Luoyu might have."

Even Deities were forbidden from attacking mortals without cause, especially on the homeworld of a genius like Li Yang. If this incident blew up, Deity Split Flame would be in serious trouble.

The Deity-Sensing Crystal Stone was like a surveillance device, monitoring every corner of the planet.

"However, this will only make Split Flame and the others more cautious."

The Blade Slaughter Sect Master's voice grew heavy. "To truly make them stand down and leave Earth, an Emperor will have to intervene."