The ground trembled under the powerful shockwave, turning all trees and stones within a radius of tens of kilometers into dust.
Several minutes later, Zhou Hong saw that the King was still standing steadily on the ground, not a single strand of hair out of place.
"Your Majesty, how are you?" Zhou Hong descended, looking at the Emperor with disbelief.
"Zhou Hong, your weapon, while it looks powerful, only possesses great destructive force against weak things like trees and stones. Once it encounters something strong, it loses all penetrative power."
"Oh, oh." Zhou Hong could only offer a wry smile.
"Your weapon, if used to kill weak civilians, would have some effect due to its large area of damage. In short, its destructive range is ample, but its penetration is very weak. Standing here, it didn't even scratch my skin," the Emperor said, sounding disappointed. He had thought that a weapon capable of leveling his palace would be formidable, but its penetrative power was too poor.
"Your Majesty, I have another, even more powerful weapon. Shall I try it?" Zhou Hong asked.
"Very well."
Zhou Hong took out a hydrogen bomb. The destructive power of a hydrogen bomb was, naturally, even greater than that of an atomic bomb.
Thus, Zhou Hong dropped another hydrogen bomb from the sky.
As expected, after the hydrogen bomb exploded, a colossal crater was formed within a radius of tens of kilometers.
However, Zhou Hong still saw the Emperor suspended above the ground, seemingly unharmed.
Zhou Hong descended and quickly asked, "Your Majesty, how was this weapon?"
"Heh, there's little difference from the last one. Its penetrative power is also very low, only capable of causing great destruction to weak things like trees and stones."
"Alright." Zhou Hong felt helpless. If the penetration was insufficient, no matter how large the destructive range, it could only damage the weak. Strong entities would remain unaffected.
It seemed that no matter how much Earth's technology advanced, it could not contend with cultivators, as these two forces were not on the same dimensional plane. Even atomic and hydrogen bombs could not harm a cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage. Earth's guns and cannons would be even less effective, barely causing a tickle.
"Let's go back. We need to think of other ways to deal with the National Preceptor. I almost killed his subordinate just now, which will likely provoke him even further," the Emperor said with a look of frustrated unwillingness.
Just then, the Dark Golden Crow in Zhou Hong's mind spoke, "Zhou Hong, it's not impossible for this Emperor to kill the National Preceptor."
"What opportunity?" Zhou Hong quickly asked.
"The Body Tempering Spirit Liquid you obtained earlier, if the King were to absorb it, his body would be further refined, and his strength would increase by another level. They were already evenly matched in strength. If the Emperor's physical body were slightly enhanced, it would break this balance. At that point, even if he couldn't kill him, it would serve as a strong deterrent. However, the human heart is unpredictable. Once the Emperor knows you possess such Spirit Liquid, what happens next is uncertain."
Zhou Hong shook his head. The Body Tempering Spirit Liquid was meant for his loved ones. If the Emperor were to absorb it once, it would likely be half-depleted. Moreover, Zhou Hong did not want to gamble with human nature.
"Let's forget about that. We should think of other methods."
"Zhou Hong, I actually have another method," the Dark Golden Crow said again.
"What method?"
"I can only control your body once a month now, but if you lift the seal on me, I can control your body anytime."
"This... that might not be good," Zhou Hong quickly shook his head.
"Zhou Hong, we've known each other for so long, don't you trust me? Do you think I would take control of your body? You don't need to worry about that at all. I, the Dark Golden Crow, am not human. Why would I want your body?"
"This...!"
"We're friends, aren't we? Don't you even have this little bit of trust? If you trust me, then lift the seal on me in the sub-world, and I can help you kill that National Preceptor in minutes."
"Brother Golden Crow, this... it's too difficult for me."
"Zhou Hong, you even call me brother, yet you still lock me up like this. There's a saying on Earth: 'Use people without doubt; doubt people without use.' Only by treating each other with sincerity can true friendship be forged."
"This..." Zhou Hong was internally conflicted, wondering whether to lift the seal on the Dark Golden Crow.
"Zhou Hong, there's something else I haven't told you."
"What is it?"
"I am sealed within your sub-world. For me to control your body, I have to exert all my effort, and can only do so once a month. That's not all. After controlling your body, the strength I can exert is less than one in a hundred million of my original power. This means that as the enemies' strength increases in the future, the enemies I can deal with will only become fewer. So, even if you don't lift the seal now, you will have to in the future, otherwise, I will be useless to you."
"Uh!"
"Zhou Hong, believe your brother. Your brother is a man of his word. Even if you lift the seal on me, I will not harm you. I will still assist you in your growth within your sub-world. However, don't blame me for speaking plainly: I will only assist you until your ascension."
"Of course. It's more than enough that you can help me until I ascend to the Immortal Realm," Zhou Hong nodded.
"Then it's up to you. If you don't lift the seal, even if in a few days I can control your body again, I cannot be one hundred percent certain that the strength I exert will be enough to deal with that National Preceptor."
"Ah, this...!"
"Zhou Hong, my good brother, trust your brother."
"I!"
"If we are brothers, then be generous. If not, then I can only follow your lead."
Zhou Hong was in great turmoil, wondering whether to trust the Dark Golden Crow.
However, one statement was true: if they were to be real brothers, one should indeed be generous.
"Alright, I trust you." After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Hong decided to go all out and lift the seal.
"That's more like it, my good brother."
Zhou Hong took a deep breath.
Then, in his mind, he instantly lifted the seal on the Dark Golden Crow. Sultan Novels.
The next second, Zhou Hong felt his sub-world become lighter, as if a burden had been lifted. He felt a sense of losing some form of support.
However, Zhou Hong did not completely lift the seal. He secretly kept a small contingency, after all, the human heart was unpredictable.
"Hahaha, my good brother, I didn't expect you to actually lift the seal."
The next second, a booming laughter came from above Zhou Hong's head.
The King beside Zhou Hong suddenly collapsed, unconscious, as if the Dark Golden Crow did not want anyone to know of its existence.
Zhou Hong quickly looked up and saw a dark cloud floating above his head.
"Brother Golden Crow," Zhou Hong called out quickly, hoping it wouldn't betray him, otherwise, the boat of friendship might capsize.
"Zhou Hong, my good brother, I thought you wouldn't lift the seal, but I didn't expect... you actually did."
"Brother Golden Crow, we've been together for a while now. I think if we are truly friends, we should trust each other, don't you agree?" For some reason, Zhou Hong felt that the boat might indeed capsize.