The Blade Sovereign reached out, grasping through the air, the patterns of universal laws emerging between his five fingers. Instantly, the *Shura Hell Diagram* held by the Seven Greats appeared in his hand.
Even the gods present, all titans in their own right, could not fathom the mystery behind it.
The Seven Greats looked at their empty hands, giving a helpless, bitter smile. In the presence of a divine sovereign, they were clearly far inferior.
Mortals look up to gods.
Gods, in turn, must look up to divine sovereigns.
The *Shura Hell Diagram* unfurled once more, and the Supreme Warrior, Lord of the Cosmic Sea, and Nine-Headed Dragon God flew out from within. All three bore expressions of embarrassment. As titans among gods, they had been trapped by the gods of the Hell Realm in their own diagram. If this were to spread, their reputation would surely suffer.
Unless, today, they slew the Seven Greats to redeem their honour.
True God Xuan Yi appeared rather youthful, strikingly handsome, yet his eyes were profoundly deep. He said, “Blade Sovereign, you, revered elder, should go retrieve the Origin Temple. Leave this place to me.”
An unparalleled confidence radiated from him.
The Blade Sovereign looked into the distance and said, “An old friend has arrived. For now, I fear I cannot head to the Origin Temple.”
All the gods present sensed a terrifying pressure weighing on their divine souls.
In this space brimming with divine energy, a Blood Leaf Wutong tree appeared, towering countless miles high, casting the entire star domain in a blood-red hue.
A single blood leaf was as vast as a lake.
Indeed, a blood lake rested upon the leaf.
The dense aura of death was enough to make even gods tremble with fear.
“The Blood Leaf Wutong has appeared. The Death Sovereign has come!” Several gods of the Hell Realm were invigorated.
With the sound of a phoenix’s cry, a radiant, multicoloured phoenix flew into this star domain.
Its feathers shimmered with flowing light, each one resembling a divine river, its eyes like twin stars. Yet, this supremely sacred phoenix emanated a grey, misty aura of death.
The phoenix circled the Blood Leaf Wutong once, then transformed beneath the tree into a graceful, ethereal figure with an exquisitely curved silhouette, veiled and standing tall, exuding an imposing aura that intimidated the heavens.
At her feet, a sea of corpses ebbed and flowed, as if she were a being who had lived through endless ages, her presence ancient and awe-inspiring.
The Death Sovereign, Phoenix Coloured Wings.
Aside from the Blade Sovereign, none dared to meet the Death Sovereign’s gaze.
The Blood Leaf Wutong trembled, its leaves scattering across the sky, turning into a blood rain that surged towards the Blade Sovereign.
The Blade Sovereign’s expression grew gravely serious. He raised his hand and slashed with a single stroke.
“Swish!”
A ten-thousand-mile expanse of space was sliced open like paper, revealing a dark, boundless void.
The sky full of blood-coloured leaves shattered entirely, transforming into a sea of blood energy.
In the next moment, the Blade Sovereign and the fleeting Death Sovereign vanished from the starry sky, entering the void. Soon after, deafening sounds of battle echoed, already a million miles away.
Few gods had ever seen the Death Sovereign speak.
She was perpetually shrouded in deathly silence, utterly cold, as if born solely for slaughter, unwilling to utter a single unnecessary word. Or perhaps, in her view, the gods present were not worthy of her words.
The ten-thousand-mile space cleaved by the Blade Sovereign’s strike retained its lingering blade energy and divine might, preventing the space from closing and forming a river-like spatial rift.
None of the gods dared to approach that river lightly.
After a prolonged silence, the pressure on the gods of the Heaven Realm faction and the Hell Realm eased slightly.
When divine sovereigns clashed, though they could intervene, the danger was immense, with the risk of perishing at the slightest misstep. Thus, it was best to stay far away and not get involved.
Ten thousand years ago, countless gods had fallen for meddling in battles between divine sovereigns, a bloody lesson still vivid in their memories.
True God Xuan Yi said, “The Death Sovereign is occupied by the Blade Sovereign. You handle the rest here. I will head to the Origin Temple myself.”
“Can you escape, Xuan Yi?”
The Yin-Yang Divine Master, wielding the Embryo of Fate, blocked the path of the Heaven Realm faction gods heading to Sword South Realm.
True God Xuan Yi said coldly, “Yin-Yang, with just you? Ten thousand years ago, you were no match for me. Now, you are even less worthy as my opponent.”
The Seven Greats, using some unknown technique, appeared beside the Yin-Yang Divine Master, staring at True God Xuan Yi.
“Even the two of you together are far from enough.”
No sooner had True God Xuan Yi spoken than an unusual sensation stirred within him. He turned to look at the space cleaved by the Blade Sovereign’s strike. There, a towering figure emerged from the sharpest point of the blade energy.
This figure, broad-shouldered and robust, was clad in a martial robe.
The blood energy within him was overwhelmingly powerful. Even from a thousand miles away, one could hear the sound of blood flowing like rivers through his veins.
The Supreme Warrior’s eyes narrowed sharply. He said, “Yanluo Clan, Wu Qingzong. He should be guarding the Abyss of Darkness. Why is he here?”
Where Wu Qingzong passed, the blade energy dissipated, and the space slowly closed.
Once the space fully restored, Wu Qingzong’s proud figure stood firm, gazing at True God Xuan Yi. He said, “I will fight you. Am I worthy enough?”
True God Xuan Yi replied calmly, “You, Wu Qingzong, are certainly qualified.”
Wu Qingzong’s unexpected appearance caused the hearts of the Heaven Realm faction gods to sink to rock bottom.
Was this indeed a trap?
The Death Sovereign’s swift arrival was understandable, as her speed was unmatched by few in the Heavenly Court or Hell Realm. But why had the Seven Greats and Wu Qingzong arrived so quickly?
Had they been lying in ambush all along?
…
At the summit of the Origin Temple, atop the giant stone altar.
In the end, Zhang Ruochen did not dare to take the risk. Even if he used divine bones to build a bridge, it would not hold for long.
Moreover, two major uncertainties remained.
First, what if blood mist suddenly rose from the blood lake?
Previously, Yuan Qianmo had suffered greatly from merely a moment’s contact with the blood mist.
Second, no one knew if other dangers lurked on Sword Island.
With his cultivation, venturing there recklessly would mean certain death.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze turned to the other end of the blood lake, where several peculiar giant stone structures stood.
The altar’s summit was vast, with the blood lake occupying only a small area. It was conceivable that before the blood lake appeared, those stone structures were the main feature of the altar’s summit.
Zhang Ruochen was well aware that the gods of the Heaven Realm faction and Hell Realm could descend upon the Origin Temple at any moment. Time was pressing, and there was no need to risk his life for a divine artefact.
Finding Ji Fanchen and leaving the Origin Temple was the priority.
Many powerful cultivators had fallen due to greed.
He, Zhang Ruochen, had no need for such greed.
“I hope Gu Shejing did not deceive me. If flute music truly sounded in this area, it must be related to this altar. The only place on the altar yet to be explored is those stone structures.”
Zhang Ruochen returned to the formation camel and, after discussing with the others, headed towards the stone structures together.
The cultivators of the Death Temple followed closely.
Additionally, they contacted Duan Lingfeng, and through secret communication, they reached some unknown agreement. They had also hoped to ally with Wuma Jiuxing, but Wuma Jiuxing, standing atop the dragon’s head, merely stared at the chaotic cloud mass, ignoring them entirely.
Master Yeyou, observing the approaching Death Temple cultivators, said gravely, “This is bad. The Death Temple is likely planning to strike against us!”
“No need to worry. If they dare make a move, we’ll deal with them,” Zhang Ruochen said confidently, bolstered by Granny Haitang’s presence.
There were four stone structures in total, peculiar in design, resembling Taoist temples, castles, and shrines all at once.
The largest structure had no door, only a circular window more than ten metres above the ground. The interior was pitch black, and attempts to probe it with spiritual power were blocked.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Did any of you notice earlier whether Ji Fanchen emerged from this window?”
They all shook their heads.
Bai Qing’er was the first to ascend the giant stone altar. Zhang Ruochen found it hard to believe she had not explored these structures.
Granny Haitang said hoarsely, “This place is eerie, Ruochen. Do not venture in lightly.”
“I understand.”
Zhang Ruochen took out Fei Zhong’s puppet body, infusing it with a strand of spiritual thought and soul power. The puppet body immediately came to life.
This puppet body, with combat strength nearing the Supreme Saint realm, was perfect for scouting.
The puppet body leapt, entering the circular window.
“Boom!”
Moments later, a loud explosion echoed from within, and the entire stone structure trembled violently. Strange, ancient divine patterns appeared, accompanied by eerie sounds emanating from inside.
The sounds were uncanny, as if produced by some living creature.
Simultaneously, Zhang Ruochen’s connection to Fei Zhong’s puppet body vanished.
His expression changed drastically. A puppet body with near-Supreme Saint strength, destroyed just like that? What had happened inside?
Such a puppet body was worth more than a Seven-Yuan Monarch Sacred Artefact, yet Zhang Ruochen felt no heartache, only deep fear.
Master Yeyou, Seven-Handed Elder, and Master Kailuo, all seasoned veterans, turned pale as ash.
Unnoticed by all, at the moment of the explosion within the stone structure, Sword Island at the centre of the blood lake trembled slightly, sinking a fraction.
As they stood in shock…
“Zhang Ruochen, you collude with Heavenly Court cultivators and repeatedly oppose the Hell Realm. Today is your end,” came Yuan Benji’s voice as the Death Temple cultivators surrounded the formation camel.
Zhang Ruochen turned and said, “If you want to kill me and seize my treasures, just say so. No need for such grandiose excuses.”
Yuan Benji smiled and said, “Since you see through it so clearly, hand over those Supreme Sacred Artefacts willingly, and perhaps you’ll have a chance to live today.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “With just you lot?”
Yuan Benji replied, “You rely only on Master Kailuo’s formation. Once this defensive array is broken, can you still stand against the Death Temple? Fortunately, Senior Duan is also a master of array worlds. How long do you think this defensive array can hold against him?”
Though Yuan Benji was among the weaker Supreme Saints, his status as Yuan Qianmo’s younger brother gave him the authority to represent the Death Temple.
Duan Lingfeng stepped forward, a sinister smile on his face.
Yuan Benji, confident of victory, laughed smugly, “My fourth brother is about to ascend to godhood. When that happens, let alone one Master Kailuo, even ten wouldn’t be his match.”
“Before he becomes a god, handing over your Supreme Sacred Artefacts is your only path to survival.”
The Death Temple cultivators were at ease, unconcerned for Yuan Qianmo’s safety. They knew that if Yuan Qianmo were ever in mortal danger against Ji Fanchen, he would immediately break through to godhood.
For Yuan Qianmo, ranked first in the *Divine Storage Scroll* Class A, no one could stop his ascension, except perhaps a god.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen’s gaze shifted to the distant chaotic cloud mass, witnessing an unbelievable scene. He exclaimed, “No!”
Wuma Jiuxing, standing atop the dragon’s head, radiated dazzling divine light, unleashing unmatched divine might that shook the space violently.
He extended a palm, pressing it towards the chaotic cloud mass.
“Boom!”
His palm turned into a divine cloud, enveloping Bai Qing’er’s domain of the Primordial Chaos Sacred Will, shattering it instantly.
The four powerful figures battling within flew out like straw men, crashing to the ground in disarray, each bloodied and gravely wounded.
“Wuma Jiuxing, what are you doing?” General Zhu roared, rushing towards Bai Qing’er, who lay in a pool of blood.
But before he could reach her, a blade of light shot from Wuma Jiuxing’s eyes, striking him. With a boom, his stone body crumbled into rubble, all traces of life extinguished.
Lord Ghost King swung his iron staff at Wuma Jiuxing but was sent flying by a flick of his sleeve, soaring off the giant stone altar to an unknown fate.
Yuan Qianmo, Gu Shejing, Blood Spirit Immortal, and Bai Qing’er all fixed their gazes on Wuma Jiuxing, suppressed by his erupting divine might and divine patterns, unable to stand.
Bai Qing’er, facing his divine might head-on, slowly sank to the ground, blood staining her lips. She gave a self-mocking smile and said, “So you’ve already broken through to the divine realm.”
“Not too long ago. After leaving Ice King Star,” Wuma Jiuxing said lightly.
Bai Qing’er asked, “Why?”
Wuma Jiuxing, hands clasped behind his back, looked skyward and said with emotion, “Because the strongest path of the blade lies in the Heavenly Court, in the Blade God Realm.”
“So, in the years you were missing, you went to the Blade God Realm to cultivate?” Bai Qing’er asked.
“Rumble.”
Wuma Jiuxing descended from the dragon’s head, crushing Yuan Qianmo’s skull with a single step as he attempted to ascend to godhood, then kicked his headless body into the blood lake.
The body turned to dust, sinking to the lake’s bottom.
A peerless prodigy, ranked first in the *Divine Storage Scroll* Class A, was reduced to nothing, as if a mere mortal had been slain.
Wuma Jiuxing paced casually, saying, “Since you’re all going to die today, there’s no harm in telling you. Behind Qiankun Unity Hall have always been the Blade God Realm and the Heaven Realm. Qing’er, your talent is unparalleled. If you submit, I can spare your life today.”
“Submit? To whom?” Bai Qing’er seemed genuinely tempted.
Wuma Jiuxing looked down at her and said, “Surrender half your sacred soul for me to control. Today, I’ll guarantee your life.”
The divine might pressing down on Bai Qing’er grew even stronger.
