Xiao Hei suddenly lost all fear and said, “A mere attempt to sow discord, and you think it worthy to use on a Taixu great god? Among those present, this emperor, Zhang Ruochen, and Uncle Wolf do indeed have some ties to Kunlun Realm, but Xue Tu is a rightful god of the Hell Realm, a disciple of Feng Tian. Has he ever once doubted that he is being used by Kunlun Realm?”
Xue Tu glared at Xiao Hei. Damn it, why drag this emperor into it?
This emperor had been keeping such a low profile that he was almost hiding beneath the white-feathered peacock sacred chariot.
Yuling God pondered thoughtfully and smiled. “Sister Wuyue’s proposal is most excellent, but sister perhaps does not know that there is a truly remarkable figure inside that sacred chariot. Below the Immeasurable realm, sister surely has few rivals, but what about above the Immeasurable realm?”
Zhang Ruochen’s expression darkened. He knew Yuling God intended to use Wuyue to test the truth behind the white-feathered peacock sacred chariot.
As expected, an alliance with the Yasha Clan was far too fragile.
To solidify this relationship and bind Yuling God, and even the entire Yasha Clan, firmly to his own cause, he would need further strategies.
Wuyue, the large-headed rag doll, the Human Skin Lantern, along with Xue Tu and Xiao Hei, all turned their gazes towards the white-feathered peacock sacred chariot, their faces showing shock, doubt, and delight.
Xiao Hei exclaimed in surprise, “Could Uncle Dragon be inside the chariot?”
Wuyue smiled. “If it truly is Lord Dragon within, even dying here today would be worthwhile.”
As she spoke these words, Wuyue’s spiritual force stirred.
A purple divine lightning bolt, ten zhang in diameter, pierced a thousand li from above and struck down towards the white-feathered peacock sacred chariot.
The Heavenly Light Rainbow Candle could block direct spiritual force attacks, but it could not stop attacks formed when spiritual force mobilised the power of heaven and earth.
“Boom!”
The purple divine lightning fell, effortlessly shattering the protective measures of Xiao Hei and Xue Tu.
Zhang Ruochen’s six divine swords slashed out, yet before they could reach the lightning, they were hurled away by its violent force. Xue Tu glanced upward, his legs trembling, thinking inwardly that this time he was surely finished.
When the lightning was still hundreds of zhang from the top of the white-feathered peacock sacred chariot, dense divine patterns emerged, blocking it completely. All the electric light slid away automatically, transforming into a rain of electricity.
Seeing the divine patterns encircling the white-feathered peacock sacred chariot, Yuling God’s expression changed dramatically. She immediately dropped to one knee.
Those divine patterns were something even heavenly-level powerhouses might not be able to cultivate.
Could it be…
Could it truly be Tianmu?
“Go!”
Wuyue was utterly decisive and fled at once.
The large-headed rag doll and Human Skin Lantern were clearly terrified. They abandoned the ghost array, tore open space, and escaped into the void world.
Zhang Ruochen burned with indignation and shouted, “You disturb Lady Tianmu’s cultivation and think you can escape? Wuyue, today marks your end! Why do you still not strike?”
Yuling God harboured no further doubt. All fear of Wuyue vanished. Billions of divine patterns surged from her body like a heavenly river, ripping the ghost array apart. Spiritual force threads snapped, and every human-shaped lantern burst into fireballs.
Without the large-headed rag doll controlling the ghost array, how could it possibly contain a Taixu great god?
Yuling God rose into the void, forming a seal with her right hand and pressing it outward across the distance.
“Boom!”
Space spanning more than ten million li shattered, turning into countless fragments that formed a terrifying space-time tide, surging towards the fleeing Wuyue.
The large-headed rag doll and Human Skin Lantern, who had fled into the void world, were flung back out by the space-time tide, utterly unable to resist Yuling God’s divine power.
Zhang Ruochen stared in stunned amazement at Yuling God’s graceful and exquisite figure, wanting to curse aloud, “You are this powerful, so what were you afraid of earlier?”
“This is the bearing a Taixu great god should possess!” Zhang Ruochen exclaimed in admiration.
Yuling God’s cultivation was certainly not merely early Taixu. It might even be Taixu peak.
Yet compared to anomalies like War God Xue Jue and Huang Tian, there remained a considerable gap.
Wuyue halted and turned back. Dense rune patterns flew from her pupils, arranging themselves across ten thousand li of sky, blocking the oncoming space-time tide and clashing directly with Yuling God’s divine power.
The large-headed rag doll and Human Skin Lantern were caught between the two divine forces, their bodies tossed upward and downward, screams ringing out incessantly.
Fortunately, Wuyue diverted a portion of her spiritual force to protect them, preventing their bodies from exploding.
“Tianmo Wuxiang!”
Amur roared, unleashing a punch across ten million li.
A heavenly demon phantom ten million li tall materialised, carrying boundless demonic qi as it crashed towards Wuyue.
“Boom!”
The Human Skin Lantern’s body exploded, divine fire scattering in all directions.
The large-headed rag doll’s body, made of some unknown material, miraculously held together.
The rune patterns before Wuyue were pierced, and her black-robed figure was instantly swallowed by the space-time tide.
Yet strangely, Wuyue, the large-headed rag doll, and most of the Human Skin Lantern’s vast expanse of skin vanished in an instant, leaving no trace.
“Mere illusions, and you dare flaunt them.”
Zhang Ruochen’s expression turned grave. He drew forth half the Ni Shen Stele, pouring divine qi into it continuously.
“Swoosh!”
Under the radiance of the Ni Shen Stele, the illusion dissolved. Wuyue’s figure reappeared, though the large-headed rag doll and Human Skin Lantern were nowhere to be seen.
Zhang Ruochen distinctly felt a gaze sharp enough to prick the skin shooting from beneath Wuyue’s black robe. One could only imagine her current fury.
Yet she dared to rage but not to fight.
Yuling God and Amur each unleashed secondary god-level supreme sacred artefacts before their true bodies swiftly pursued.
Zhang Ruochen naturally knew his own limits and had no intention of joining a melee among Taixu great gods. He glanced at the white-feathered peacock sacred chariot, thinking inwardly that fortunately he had given the Heavenly Venerable Treasure Gauze to Luo Ji beforehand. Otherwise, today’s crisis might not have been surmounted.
The most critical element in confronting the Dark Temple was Yuling God.
Only if she acted was victory possible.
“I pay my respects to Lady Tianmu! I am Zhang Ruochen’s junior brother, named Xue Tu. Xue as in blood thicker than water, Tu as in slaughtering heaven and earth. We are closer than brothers. I never imagined you would be inside the chariot. It is all senior brother’s fault for not telling me sooner. Had he done so, Xue Tu would have come to pay respects long ago!”
Xue Tu bowed deeply, then thought better of it and knelt outright, kowtowing repeatedly.
Kneeling to a heavenly being was no shame.
Xiao Hei looked doubtful, somewhat unconvinced that Tianmu was truly inside, for he knew something of her circumstances. Yet he understood the situation. Whether Zhang Ruochen was bluffing or not, they now had to cement Tianmu’s presence.
Xiao Hei knelt beside Xue Tu. “I pay my respects to Lady Tianmu! I am Zhang Ruochen’s brother, self-styled Emperor of Slaughtering Heaven and Earth. Tu as in slaughtering heaven and earth, Tian as in slaughtering heaven and earth, Sha as in slaughtering heaven and earth, Di as in slaughtering heaven and earth. We are closer than blood brothers. I never imagined you would be inside the chariot. It is all Zhang Ruochen’s fault for not telling me sooner. Had he done so, this emperor would have come to pay respects long ago!”
Xue Tu glared over. “Do not copy this emperor.”
“Who is copying you? Clearly you copied this emperor. How dare you casually use the phrase ‘slaughtering heaven and earth’?” Xiao Hei retorted angrily.
…
The Ancestral Realm Lord naturally held Tianmu in utmost reverence but would never kneel and kowtow like Xue Tu and Xiao Hei. He inwardly despised them.
Two upper gods discarding all pride and dignity to curry favour with a heavenly being. Truly a disgrace among gods.
Yuling God’s earlier single-knee kneel had been an apology for her perceived offence against Tianmu.
Zhang Ruochen paid them no mind, his attention fixed on the battlefield. The space within his view lay shattered, heaven and earth reduced to chaos. Deep within that chaos, three boundless divine forces surged, their sounds deafening, their divine majesty overwhelming.
Before long, the sounds gradually receded.
Yuling God and Amur returned.
Amur’s expression was grim. “Wuyue is indeed gravely injured, but her spiritual force is simply too profound. Even together, we could not detain her.”
Yuling God produced seven palm-sized pieces of human skin and handed them to Zhang Ruochen. Then she approached the white-feathered peacock sacred chariot and bowed once more in apology.
After all, she had indeed intended to use Wuyue to probe the chariot’s reality.
How could that escape the notice of the unparalleled Lady Tianmu?
The seven pieces of human skin bore ancient patterns. They belonged to the Human Skin Lantern and contained portions of its divine soul and spiritual will, though now sealed by Yuling God.
Judging by their material, they were no ordinary human skins, clearly of extraordinary origin.
Amur said, “These skins were sewn and refined from the hides of multiple Immeasurable realm human god venerables. Their defensive power is immense. Had this layer not been largely destroyed when previously struck by the Pure Yang Divine Sword, even I could not have shattered it.”
Having said this, Amur also hurried over to pay respects to Tianmu.
Zhang Ruochen’s expression was somewhat peculiar. He walked forward. “Everyone, Lady Tianmu is in a peculiar cultivation state that even I cannot comprehend. She cannot hear your voices. There is no need to continue bowing.”
“Nonsense!”
Yuling God shot Zhang Ruochen a glare, then said with deep reverence, “With Lady Tianmu’s cultivation, her divine sense pervades heaven and earth. With her true body present, how could she fail to hear us?”
The Ancestral Realm Lord said solemnly, “Angel Ruochen’s cultivation time is still short, and he clearly knows little of the mysteries of the divine realm. Lady Tianmu ranks among the mightiest even in the heavens. One must not speculate lightly.”
Amur said cautiously, “Ruochen, since you address me as Uncle Wolf, I have the right to admonish you. You lack reverence far too much. Even as Tianmu’s envoy, you cannot be so presumptuous.”
Zhang Ruochen’s expression grew serious. “Thank you for the guidance, Uncle Wolf.”
Yet inwardly, Zhang Ruochen was uncertain whether this ruse could truly deter Wuyue. Once she recovered her composure, suspicion would surely arise.
To offend a heavenly being and escape unscathed? How could that be possible?
Even if the heavenly being were truly in a state of sealed senses during cultivation, it would be impossible.
Moreover, the Dark Temple might well know Tianmu’s secret in the Dark Abyss.
“Let us leave this place first. We can carefully reconsider our strategy against the Dark Temple. Wuyue’s strength far exceeds my earlier estimates. I miscalculated somewhat.” Zhang Ruochen said.
Of course, he would not admit to having overestimated Yuling God and Amur’s battle prowess.
As everyone prepared to depart, a sword light emerged from the void world amid the chaos and landed before them. The figure was tall and lean.
Zhang Ruochen looked at the uninvited guest. “You have come to the Dark Triangle Star Domain as well? This is far too coincidental.”
“No coincidence. My master and I have been watching from nearby all along. Brother Ruochen, Master wishes to see you. Come with me.” Que said.
Everyone present felt their hearts jolt.
All trace of smile vanished from Zhang Ruochen’s face, leaving it deathly pale.
