Strip me of my armor? I'll summon the Emperor in a flash!

Chapter 12 Shadow Emperor
"The Great Emperor?!" Li Yan's voice pierced through the churning black mist, carrying a chilling sarcasm.

Beneath the visor of the dark imperial armor, a mocking glint flashed in eyes burning with eerie blue flames. "Your emperor hasn't answered your calls for millennia, let alone now?"

He knew all too well the tricks of these Shadow Guardians.

Throughout the long course of time, these pitiful Shadow Guardians have called upon their master countless times with the utmost devotion.

But the legendary Shadow Emperor remained elusive, vanished without a trace.

"Chong-"

The Dark Aurora Sword was drawn once more, the chaotic energy swirling around its blade writhing like a living thing.

This time, Li Yan poured even more chaotic energy into the sword's edge, causing the entire sword to emit a chilling hum, and the air around the blade began to distort and collapse.

"Shh!"

A sword beam carrying chaotic energy shot out and accurately struck the evil fire.

The purplish-black flame body was split in two, and the wound sizzled, curling and turning black like scorched paper.

Even more terrifying is that this time the severed part could never return to its original form, but instead turned into wisps of black smoke and dissipated into the world.

"Ah!!" The fiery inferno let out a heart-wrenching scream, its flame-formed face twisted and distorted. "My very essence... how dare you...!"

Li Yan sneered and remained silent, his figure moving like a ghost among the five guardians.

Each of his sword strikes was extremely cunning, and the point of his sword was always the most vulnerable energy node of the Shadow Guardian.

What made them even more desperate was that the wounds eroded by the chaotic energy were as if marked by some higher-level power, and could no longer be repaired by the power of shadow.

"The Seventh Sword!"

A chilling voice rang in Evilfire's ears, and he was horrified to discover that his left arm had completely disappeared, with eerie gray mist swirling around the severed area.

This is unprecedented—as energy life forms, they should be immortal!
"You damned thing!" the raging fire roared hysterically, its flames flickering, clearly at their last gasp.

He was absolutely certain that this damned armor summoner was targeting him!

Eight out of ten swords were aimed at him; this was no coincidence!
Suddenly, foul water surged from the shadows beneath Li Yan's feet, the viscous black liquid transforming into countless sharp spikes: "Don't even think about hurting my brother again!"

"Shut up." Without turning his head, Li Yan suddenly unleashed a burst of chaotic energy from his left hand, precisely striking the tentacles that were attacking the evil water.

The liquid solidified instantly, then shattered like fragile glass.

Seeing this, the runes on the metal body of the evil metal beast in the distance flashed wildly: "Attack together! Stop him!"

The five dark figures immediately abandoned their defenses, quickly creating distance before attacking him.

Li Yan sheathed his sword and stood with the Dark Aurora Shield in front of him, impenetrable!
A dangerous smile curled at the corner of his mouth beneath the visor: "Still trying to resist? Too bad."

He slowly raised his left hand, palm up. "Do you think I'd give you that chance?"

"Chaos Meditation Seal!"

With a low shout, the space within a kilometer radius of Li Yan suddenly froze.

The five attacking black figures seemed to have been paused, and even the churning black mist stopped moving.

Even more terrifying, they were horrified to discover that their connection with the Shadow Dimension was being severed by some higher-level force!

"This...this is..." The branches of the evil tree trembled violently, its voice filled with unprecedented fear, "Meditation Mudra?! No...how is this possible?"

Li Yan suddenly appeared in front of the evil fire, thrusting out the Dark Aurora Sword without any fancy moves. "As a reward, I'll let you be the first to disappear."

The sword tip pierced into the body of the evil fire, and time seemed to stand still.

The evil fire stared wide-eyed as it watched its purest shadow essence being slowly devoured by the chaotic energy.

He wanted to scream, but found that even his voice was trapped in this eerie space.

"boom!"

With a muffled thud, the core of the evil fire completely shattered, dissipating into countless specks of light. This time, it never reformed.

The remaining four Shadow Guardians witnessed this scene, their mental links filled with waves of despair.

They finally realized that the enemy before them had mastered the power to completely destroy them!
"Run! Run!" The evil metal demon frantically channeled its remaining shadow power, its metallic body beginning to disintegrate. "We must bring this message back!"

"Trying to leave?" Li Yan's figure appeared behind him like the Grim Reaper, the chaotic energy on his sword blade already so dense it had become tangible. "Did you ask my sword first?"

At this critical moment, a sudden change occurred!

The entire sky suddenly darkened, not in the kind of gloom caused by dark clouds, but rather as if the light itself was being swallowed up by something.

A suffocating pressure descended from the sky, causing even the confined space to tremble.

"Rumble--"

In the void, a giant hand covered in black mist slowly emerged, each part radiating a dense shadow power.

The mere appearance of this hand threw the spatial laws within a hundred miles into chaos!
Li Yan suddenly looked up, his pupils beneath the armor contracting sharply: "This is..."

"Great Emperor?!" The dying metal creature suddenly became excited, its metallic body trembling violently. "You have finally, finally responded to us!"

With a gentle clench of that giant hand, the Chaotic Meditation Seal space set up by Li Yan shattered like fragile glass.

The four shadow guardians were immediately granted a pardon and transformed into four streaks of black light, flying towards the giant hand.

Li Yan did not pursue, but instead solemnly assumed a defensive stance.

The Shadow Emperor's power level is completely incomparable to that of the Shadow Guardians.

That is the purest source of darkness, the most terrifying existence in the shadow world!

"Shadow Emperor." Li Yan gripped the Aurora Sword tightly, and all the patterns on his armor lit up!

The giant hand made no further move, but slowly closed its five fingers.

A deep, resonant voice that seemed to shake the very air resonated in everyone's heart:

"Go back!"

"You're still too weak!"

As soon as those words were spoken, the air around Li Yan suddenly solidified into a tangible pressure.

He groaned, and fine cracks began to appear on the surface of his armor!

At this critical moment, a golden light suddenly streaked across the sky and struck the giant hand precisely.

Amidst the dazzling light, a faint phantom of armor exuding a sacred aura could be seen.

"Old Man from the Holy Mountain?"

Li Yan was somewhat surprised to see the real imperial armor that had suddenly appeared in front of him.

He sensed the presence of the Old Man of the Divine Mountain emanating from the Emperor's Armor.

"You've done very well. Leave the rest to me!"

……

Top of a tall building
A biting night wind howled across the top of the high-rise buildings, whipping the hem of the man's black trench coat, making it flutter loudly.

He stood quietly atop the city, his slender figure casting a sharp silhouette under the neon lights.

The brim of his black top hat was pulled low, casting a shadow that covered most of his face, revealing only a faint, cold smile.

His fingertips gently caressed an old pocket watch, the patterns on the cover gleaming eerily in the moonlight.

High in the distance, shadows and golden light intertwined, chaos and order clashed, and the entire sky trembled as two supreme forces clashed.

The clouds were torn apart, space was distorted, and even the starlight seemed to be swallowed up.

"Emperor. Shadow Emperor," his voice was deep and savoring, like sipping a fine red wine, "Have they all appeared?"

The smile on his lips deepened, and the dark light in his eyes surged like an abyss.

He slowly raised his hand, palm facing upwards, and strands of shadow power wrapped around his fingers like submissive servants, only to be crushed by some higher-level power in the next second.

"This is getting more and more interesting."

As soon as he finished speaking, he snapped his fingers lightly.

"Snapped--"

The crisp sound dissipated in the wind, and his figure turned into a wisp of black mist, disappearing silently from the spot.

Only the pocket watch remained suspended in mid-air, its hands suddenly spinning wildly backward before finally freezing at a bizarre moment—

00:00
……

Two days later

Morning light filtered through the gauze curtains, casting dappled shadows on the floor. Li Yan leaned against the window, his slender fingers unconsciously stroking the bandage on his chest.

The cracks left on the armor by the earth-shattering battle two days ago have been repaired, but the disordered energy within the body still causes a dull ache.

"cough cough"

A violent cough forced him to bend over, and a metallic taste rose in his throat, spreading across his tongue.

He raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, his knuckles trembling slightly from the pain.

The bright sunlight outside the window shone on his pale face, making the unhealed scars even more shocking.

"Is the gap really that big?"

He stared at the lingering chaotic energy in his palm, his eyes dark and unfathomable. That night, the Shadow Emperor was merely a projection, yet his pride and joy seemed so insignificant.

If it weren't for the timely appearance of the Old Man of Shenshan...
"Don't go out while your injury hasn't healed."

A clear, spring-like voice came from behind him, and Li Yan was slightly taken aback.

As she turned around, Minci was leaning against the door, the morning light gilding her plain white dress with a golden edge.

She held freshly picked jasmine in her hands, its delicate fragrance mingling with the bitterness of the herbs, filling the room.

"I know." Li Yan subconsciously hid the blood-stained handkerchief, but couldn't help but smile.

He stepped forward, gently took Minci's soft hand, and stroked the faint scar on her palm with his fingertips—it was from when he accidentally burned her while brewing medicine for her last time.

Minci's ear tips turned a faint pink, but she didn't pull her hand away.

As she lowered her eyes, her eyelashes cast small shadows beneath them: "Aunt Hui made your favorite three-delicacy dumplings, let me make them."

Before she could finish speaking, she was pulled into a warm embrace.

"Is it just Aunt Hui who misses me?" Li Yan lowered his head and gently sniffed her hair, the jasmine scent mixed with her unique sweet warmth. "Doesn't that little ungrateful girl miss me at all?"

"You," Minci said, blushing as she lightly punched his shoulder, but immediately softened her blows when she touched the bandages. "You're injured like this and you're still not behaving yourself."

Li Yan smiled, took her hand and pressed it to his chest, feeling her strong heartbeat through the fabric: "This is where you are most needed to heal."

Minci finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, her eyes filled with tenderness. She carefully draped his coat over his shoulders, her fingertips pausing at the collar: "This one... I made it for you."

The dark blue fabric is embroidered with subtle patterns, the stitches are fine and neat.

Li Yan felt a warmth in his heart and suddenly hugged the person even tighter: "Once I'm healed, I'll take you home."

Outside the window, the shadows of the sycamore trees swayed on the ground.

Minci leaned on his shoulder and softly hummed in agreement, the silver hairpin in her hair gleaming gently.

……

Happiness Dumpling Restaurant

Inside the dumpling restaurant, steam from the steamers wafted under the lights, filling the air with the aroma of dumplings.

The teapot on the wooden table was still emitting wisps of white steam, and several dishes of vinegar and chili oil were neatly arranged.

"Aunt Hui, we're back!"

Minci's clear voice broke the tranquility of the store.

She pushed open the door, and sunlight streamed in from behind her, casting a warm glow on the floor.

With a bright smile on her face, she gently held Li Yan's wrist and pulled him into the store.

"Is Ayan here?" Aunt Hui's voice came from the kitchen, accompanied by the rhythm of a rolling pin hitting the cutting board.

As soon as Li Yan stepped across the threshold, the atmosphere inside the store suddenly froze.

The lively conversation and laughter came to an abrupt halt, as if a mute button had been pressed.

Xin Nan's teacup stopped in mid-air, and the surface of the tea rippled slightly.
Dongshan slammed his chopsticks down on the bowl with a "thud," his knuckles turning white from the force.
Bei Miao's eyes instantly turned cold, and the smile on his lips vanished without a trace.

What surprised Li Yan even more was that, in addition to the familiar ERP team members, there was also a quiet little boy sitting at the table—Xiang Yang.

He lowered his head, holding a small dough rabbit in his hand, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents around him.

Moreover, Kunzhong was also present here, which surprised Li Yan.

It should be noted that the Earth Shadow Stone is already in his hands, so Kunzhong should not be qualified to summon the Earth Tiger Armor.

Surprisingly, even under such circumstances, Kunzhong was still able to join the ERP Research Institute.

Dongshan suddenly stood up, the chair scraping loudly on the floor: "You still dare to show your face here?"

Bei Miao sneered, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table: "You've got some nerve."

Xin Nan didn't speak, but the wariness and scrutiny in his eyes were self-evident.

Meizhen pursed her lips, her gaze shifting among the crowd, seemingly considering how to ease the situation.

Li Yan remained calm, as if he didn't feel the piercing gazes around him.

He casually pulled out a chair and sat down, tapping his fingers lightly on the table: "Aunt Hui, are the dumplings ready? I'm hungry."

Minci stood beside him, her fingers secretly clenching the edge of her apron.

She looked at Xin Nan with a hint of wariness in her eyes, but he simply looked away in silence.

Just then, Xiang Yang, who had been quiet all along, suddenly raised his head, his clear black and white eyes looking straight at Li Yan.

Deep within his pupils, a faint golden light swirled.

As if sensing something, Li Yan also turned his gaze toward Xiang Yang.

I saw the golden light hidden deep within.

The two, one big and one small, just stared at each other.

A moment later, Xiangyang lowered his head first, as if nothing had happened.

Li Yan also shifted his gaze away from Xiang Yang, no longer paying attention to him.

At this moment, Meizhen suddenly sat down opposite Li Yan.

"Li Yan, let's make a deal."

She looked at Li Yan with unwavering determination in her eyes.

Li Yan raised an eyebrow, a hint of sarcasm flashing in his eyes: "What deal?"

"What, you're going to give me the Hokage Stone and the Mizukage Stone too?"

He remembered that there were two light and shadow stones in the ERP Research Institute.

And he, here, has three pieces!

The Wood Shadow Stone obtained from them and already absorbed, the Earth Shadow Stone obtained from Shadow Lord, and the Gold Shadow Stone obtained by defeating the Realm King.

He only needed two more stones to complete all five light and shadow stones.

"impossible!"

Meizhen refused decisively, "We only have two Light and Shadow Stones left!"

"And as far as I know, you have at least two Light and Shadow Stones!"

Meizhen looked at Li Yan, her gaze fixed on him.

"Yes, so what?"

"If you're not planning to give me the Light and Shadow Stone, then we have nothing to talk about."

Li Yan shrugged, neither confirming nor denying.

And to be honest, Li Yan wasn't interested in the deal that Mei Zhen was talking about.

"Give me the Light and Shadow Stone in your hand, and I can tell you the location of the Shadow Guardian." Seeing that Li Yan's attitude remained unchanged, Mei Zhen gritted her teeth and stated the terms of the deal.

Shadow Guardian
These four words made a glint of light flash in Li Yan's eyes.

He glanced at Meizhen discreetly and said with a smile, "The location of the Shadow Protector?"

"not interested."

"They are already seriously injured and cannot cause any trouble in the short term."

Li Yan slowly picked up a dumpling and lightly dipped it in the vinegar dish. The rising steam blurred his expression, but couldn't hide the nonchalance in his tone.

"Besides," he said, biting through the thin dumpling skin, the delicious broth bursting between his lips and teeth, "fighting evil is your glorious mission." A hint of mockery flashed in his eyes as he looked up, "What does it have to do with me?"

"Snapped!"

Meizhen slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly, making the bowls and chopsticks clatter.

Her chest heaved violently, her knuckles turning white from the excessive force: "You clearly possess such power, yet..." She suddenly choked up halfway through her sentence, her eyes slightly reddening.

Dongshan's temples throbbed.

He would never forget that day, how Li Yan so casually took away the Wood Shadow Stone, as easily as breaking a tree branch.

"Li Yan," Xin Nan suddenly spoke, her voice as cold as ice, "that night, you clearly could have..."

"What can I do?" Li Yan put down his chopsticks, the porcelain bowl clinking crisply. "Help you deal with the Shadow Emperor?" He suddenly chuckled, a laugh tinged with unspeakable sarcasm. "Have you forgotten—" His fingertips tapped a dangerous rhythm on the table, "Who was it that forced me to the opposite side in the first place?"

Minci's hand quietly covered his wrist, touching something icy cold.

In the corner, Xiangyang suddenly tilted his head. The small dough rabbit in his hand had somehow transformed into a ferocious dragon shape, with golden light flowing between the dough's cracks.

“To be honest,” Li Yan suddenly stood up, casting a shadow over half the table, “I have absolutely no interest in those few scoundrels right now.” His gaze swept over everyone, pausing slightly on Xiang Yang, “Unless…”

Bei Miao stood up, looking at him warily, a vague sense of foreboding creeping into her heart: "Unless what?"

Not only Bei Miao, but also Mei Zhen and the others had a bad feeling.

"Don't be so nervous!"

(End of this chapter)