“Whoosh!”
The crystal arrow shot out, trailing a long tail.
The layers of formations in Goddess City were like paper before it, easily pierced through.
From leaving the string to reaching Wuma Jiuxing, it took less than a moment.
Wuma Jiuxing’s hair stood on end. He planted his feet in a horse stance, his body glowing red like a furnace. Gripping his blade with both hands, he let out a mighty shout.
The blade traced a circle.
With one slash, he broke the circle, meeting the arrow head-on.
The blade’s edge collided precisely with the crystal arrow, unleashing a surge of unstoppable light that tore through the city’s locks, inscriptions, and formations.
Screams echoed through the city.
The Goddess Tower’s formation masters and spiritual power saint masters numbered over a thousand, but in that instant, nearly half perished. Those still alive suffered injuries to varying degrees.
Wuma Jiuxing’s gaze was sharp, locked on the crystal arrow, his fiery red hair billowing in the wind.
“Crack!”
The crystal arrow couldn’t withstand the blade’s energy and shattered, dissolving into countless rules of heaven and earth.
But at the arrow’s core was a foot-long smaller arrow.
This smaller arrow was formed from Fu Xiangnu’s arrow path rules.
As it struck the blade, the inscriptions beneath Wuma Jiuxing’s feet shattered. His feet slid backward, carving two deep trenches in the ground.
After retreating thirty zhang, the small arrow’s power finally dissipated, turning transparent before vanishing completely.
Though Wuma Jiuxing blocked the arrow, the momentum he had built from slaying five assassins was broken, and a sharp pain surged through his chest and abdomen. A mouthful of blood threatened to spill, but he forced it back down.
The Way of the Blade relies heavily on momentum.
With momentum intact, Wuma Jiuxing was confident he could slay all ten assassins before falling.
A sword cultivator relies on heart and intent; a blade cultivator relies on a single breath.
Now, with his momentum broken, let alone slaying all ten assassins, even facing one in single combat would make killing them extremely difficult.
“The Heavenly Path Arrow lives up to its name,” Wuma Jiuxing said, forcibly rallying his momentum, his tiger-like eyes blazing.
Fu Xiangnu, like a stunning elven goddess, stepped onto a shower of light and landed in the centre of the long street. She said, “Under siege and gravely injured, you still blocked my arrow. Such a feat may not make you the representative of this era, but it surely makes you the representative of this era’s blade path.”
For deities and those aspiring to reach the Divine Realm, an era is measured by a single cosmic cycle.
A deity may not be remembered for eternity, but a representative figure of a cosmic cycle will be recorded in ancient texts, studied and remembered by future cultivators.
Zhang Ruochen is currently only considered a cosmic-cycle-level genius.
The word “genius” is an honour for other cultivators.
For him, however, it’s a label he must erase.
In this age, who still calls the Blood Absolute War God or the Desolate Heaven Great God a cosmic-cycle-level genius?
Footsteps echoed.
Yan Yu, holding the Dark Celestial Umbrella, walked down the long street, stopping beside Fu Xiangnu.
Though no one could see him beneath the umbrella, everyone knew the identity of the one holding it.
Wuma Jiuxing’s pupils narrowed, his gaze fixed on the dark area beneath the umbrella. He said, “Yan Yu, the Half-God of Gods. I didn’t expect you to come. What a pity. If you’d come earlier, you might have had a chance to face me alone.”
To be called the “Half-God of Gods” shows Yan Yu’s status below the Divine Realm.
A god among half-gods.
Yan Yu said, “Indeed, it’s quite regrettable.”
“I didn’t expect the Yama Clan to get involved,” Wuma Jiuxing said.
Yan Yu replied, “Isn’t it the many surprises and variables that make this world so fascinating? Your appearance and strength were something I didn’t anticipate.”
The remaining five assassins each upheld a Gate of Destiny.
Five beams of destiny light illuminated Goddess City, making all cultivators within feel as though their cultivation had been stripped away, turning them into mortals.
“Whoosh!”
A sixth Gate of Destiny rose from behind Wuma Jiuxing.
Without turning, Wuma Jiuxing knew who it was and laughed, “The day I defeated Zhuo Yunong, you were nearby, wanting to act but holding back. From that moment, your spirit was already broken by me. If you dare to face me now, you’ll surely die.”
Wuyue Mingzu walked down the centre of the street, the Gate of Destiny behind him like a square sun, rising slowly, its light growing stronger.
He said, “Your momentum has been broken. The one who will surely die is you.”
Strength and realm are always paramount.
But at the pinnacle level of Wuma Jiuxing, the Ten Undead Assassins, Yan Yu, Wuyue Minghuang, and Fu Xiangnu, the heart and momentum in battle become especially crucial.
Without that momentum, Wuma Jiuxing could not have slain five assassins earlier.
Without the conviction to defend the Destiny Temple’s honour, Zhuo Yunong could not have withstood seven of Wuma Jiuxing’s slashes.
Without the resolve to fight to the death, Zhang Ruochen’s sword could not have struck Wuma Jiuxing.
In this cruel world, everyone strives and fights to realise their vision.
Despite being surrounded by formidable enemies, Wuma Jiuxing didn’t flinch. He roared, “Who else wants to take my life? Come out together, and let me see if you’re worthy.”
Snowflakes fell from the sky.
A chill swept through the city.
Looking up, the crowd saw a cyan holy ship in the snow-filled sky.
“It’s the holy ship of the Ice Emperor Palace.”
“The Ice Emperor Palace has finally intervened.”
“How could they not? So many top-tier cultivators below the Divine Realm are fighting, with such terrifying destructive power. Earlier, the city’s formations and inscriptions held it back, but if they fail, the battle’s impact will sweep across a million miles, and countless cultivators will perish.”
…
The current master of the Ice Emperor Palace, Qing Yulou, was under five thousand years old.
Though Qing Yulou rarely fought, the Ice Emperor Palace he led ruled all of Ice King Star. Even the ten dark forces, the ten clans of the Infernal Court, and the cultivators of the Destiny Temple had to abide by the Ice Emperor Palace’s rules on Ice King Star.
Qing Yulou stepped out from the holy ship, his cyan robes flowing like waves, elegant as a jade tree, long hair tied back, his features clear and refined. In a gentle voice, he said, “Would you all give the Ice Emperor Palace some face and take this fight outside the star?”
Ku Sha said, “What if the Destiny Temple doesn’t give this face?”
The Ten Undead Assassins lacked emotion; they knew only killing and completing their mission.
Everyone knew that if the fight moved outside the star, Wuma Jiuxing’s chances of escape would greatly increase.
Qing Yulou smiled, “The Destiny Temple must give this face.”
Ku Sha’s eyes turned cold, his killing intent surging.
Wuyue Minghuang frowned slightly and sent a mental message to Ku Sha, “The master of the Ice Emperor Palace once declared to the world that he sets the rules on Ice King Star. Whoever dares break his rules, he will slay. This is acknowledged by all the deities of the Infernal Court.”
“Claiming sovereignty over a region in the Infernal Court? That’s impossible. The Destiny Temple would never allow it,” Ku Sha said.
Wuyue Minghuang replied, “It’s not claiming sovereignty; it’s drawing a prison. He swore never to step off Ice King Star, imprisoning himself here.”
“I know who you’re talking about now,” Ku Sha said, retracting his killing intent towards Qing Yulou.
“Let’s go, to the stars,” Yan Yu sighed lightly.
Wuma Jiuxing soared into the air first. Midway, a dragon’s roar echoed from the clouds.
Ying Long’s massive form swooped down, and Wuma Jiuxing landed on its back.
One by one, the powerhouses, including the cyan holy ship in the sky, vanished.
The oppressive sacred aura that had suffocated Goddess City dissipated, and the kneeling cultivators stood, many wiping cold sweat from their bodies.
It was too terrifying!
Of course, most cultivators didn’t know what had happened, only that powerful beings had fought in the city. As for their level, it remained unknown.
Some cultivators let out anguished screams.
They were horrified to find their cultivation gone, reduced to mortals.
Many cultivators lost their cultivation, mostly because they were too close to the Sealed Machine Sacred Mansion and were struck by the light of destiny.
This battle, sparked by Zhang Ruochen and Gu Shejing, caused heavy losses to the Goddess Tower and devastated Goddess City.
Bai Qing’er stood on the highest jade platform of the Goddess Tower, overlooking the dust-filled city. Her clear, gentle eyes radiated the light of origin, as if searching for something.
Shang Yue stood behind her, looking up at the sky, and said, “Master, shouldn’t we help Lord Wuma? After all, Yan Yu, Wuyue Ming…”
“No need,” Bai Qing’er said. “Remember, the Twelve Goddess Pavilions have never intended to oppose the Destiny Temple, nor can we. The Destiny Temple knows the exact location of every Goddess Tower. With a single command, all Goddess Towers would turn to ash. But does the Infernal Court know where the Qiankun Yiqi Hall is?”
“I understand,” Shang Yue said softly.
Bai Qing’er’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. “They escaped the Sealed Machine Sacred Mansion and vanished without a trace, even from my Origin Divine Eyes.”
Shang Yue smiled, “If they’re still in the city, finding them is only a matter of time. Goddess City belongs to the Twelve Goddess Pavilions. No matter what form they take or where they hide, there must be clues. I will find them.”
Bai Qing’er said, “Good. This task is yours. Keep the city sealed with formations and announce to the outside that cultivators from Paradise Realm have infiltrated Goddess City. The Twelve Goddess Pavilions, in cooperation with the Ice Emperor Palace and the Destiny Temple, are conducting a city-wide manhunt.”
This battle needed an explanation to the public.
Though many powerhouses knew what happened, most cultivators did not.
The Destiny Temple suffered a great loss and clearly didn’t want the truth to spread. Bai Qing’er’s approach could obscure the truth while preserving the Destiny Temple’s reputation.
The fewer who knew the truth, the better.
…
Little Black, carrying the gravely injured Zhang Ruochen and Gu Shejing, fled towards the city’s edge. As it neared the city walls, a towering beam of light surged, forming a grand formation.
With its mastery of formations, Little Black could break through.
But doing so would expose its position, alerting Bai Qing’er.
Bai Qing’er alone was formidable enough, and with the Twelve Goddess Pavilions’ many experts and the power of formations, even Little Black, as powerful as it was, would likely perish.
Without hesitation, Little Black darted into a large holy mansion near the city walls.
The mansion was vast, with many empty rooms.
Little Black chose one at random, tossed the injured Zhang Ruochen and Gu Shejing onto a bed, and took out formation flags to set up an ancient ninth-grade concealment formation in the room.
Spreading its claws, Little Black saw a deep blade mark, nearly severing its paw.
Lingering blade path rules invaded from the wound, coursing through its body.
“What a terrifying blade technique. No wonder the little witch was gravely injured by a single slash, teetering from life’s edge, with her saint path rules breaking down. Fortunately, this emperor is strong enough, or the consequences would be dire.”
Little Black extended a claw, striking the Radiant Merit Armour on Zhang Ruochen.
“Whoosh!”
The armour vanished.
Zhang Ruochen’s body was in ruins, his skin entirely shattered, with no intact flesh and even many bones crushed.
“Reckless fool. A mere Hundred-Shackle Realm cultivator daring to fight a Supreme Realm Great Saint. Doesn’t he know the meaning of death? Hmm, despite such severe injuries, his life force remains so strong, and his wounds are healing rapidly. Could he… have taken some divine pill or medicine?”
Little Black’s eyes lit up, its gaze shifting from Zhang Ruochen’s broken body to the spatial ring on his finger.
“This kid must have plenty of treasures. Could he really have a divine pill or medicine? No, no, that would be taking advantage of him. I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“This emperor saved his life; he should thank me.”
“Exactly. He has so many supreme holy artefacts. Taking one or two treasures isn’t too much.”
“Besides, this emperor was injured saving him. Taking his treasures is for healing and boosting strength to better face pursuing enemies.”
Rubbing its claws, Little Black hesitated no longer and reached for the spatial ring on Zhang Ruochen’s finger. As if to convince itself, it muttered, “This emperor will take just this one thing, nothing else. It’s not taking advantage or stealing; it’s for survival. Wuma and Little White are so powerful; this emperor must grow stronger. Duty calls, no choice, truly no other way. This emperor is forced into this!”
