As Wu Lingmu unleashed that punch, the faces of the Evil Clan’s powerhouses turned deathly serious.
They had never underestimated the twelve human Life-Knowing Saints!
Back in the day, how fearsome had the Evil Clan been?
Yet, they’d still been crushed by these twelve Saints. Even after summoning their ancestors, the Evil Clan had lost, forced to retreat underground under the protection of generations past. One could only imagine how heaven-defying those twelve had been!
And now, after countless eons, their strength surely hadn’t stagnated.
For the Evil Clan to truly break free, they had to kill these twelve Life-Knowing Saints!
In that unknown spacetime, darkness swallowed everything—nothing could be seen!
The Evil Clan stared intently at the void, their eyes brimming with tension.
If Gu Chou fell, the Evil Clan would vanish from this world forever!
Then, the dark spacetime began to clear, bit by bit. Gradually, Gu Chou and Wu Lingmu emerged into view.
Both were still alive!
But on Wu Lingmu’s chest was a deep fist mark!
At this sight, countless Evil Clan members roared in unison, their voices thick with exhilaration!
Victory!
Gu Chou had won!
Above, the remaining eight of the Ten Saints darkened with grim expressions.
Had Wu Lingmu just lost like that?
In the distance, Gu Chou glanced at Wu Lingmu. “You were just a bit short!”
Wu Lingmu eyed the silver thread coiled around Gu Chou’s arm and chuckled. “Am I not worth your silver thread?”
Gu Chou shook his head. “You entered the Dao through martial arts, so I wanted to defeat you with martial arts!”
Wu Lingmu laughed heartily. “Well said—defeating me with martial arts…”
He opened his left palm, revealing a stone.
Looking at Gu Chou, he said, “One last time!”
Gu Chou glanced at the stone. “Is that your Martial Core?”
A flicker of surprise crossed Wu Lingmu’s eyes. “You know of it?”
Gu Chou smiled. “One of my Evil Clan ancestors fell to that Martial Core!”
Wu Lingmu grinned. “Over these countless years, I’ve gained some new insights. Care to test them?”
With that, his eyes closed slowly. The Martial Core melted into a beam of light, sinking into his brow.
*Boom!*
Wu Lingmu’s body shuddered violently. His aura surged wildly, growing stronger by the second until the unknown spacetime boiled over. Even the outer spacetime began to shimmer and fade!
Neither the inner nor outer dimensions could withstand the overwhelming aura radiating from Wu Lingmu!
Seeing this, disbelief filled the eyes of Mu Mo and the other Saints.
“Life-Knowing Godhood!”
Mu Mo stared at Wu Lingmu, his face etched with shock.
At that moment, Ye Xuan turned to him. “Mu Mo, what’s this Life-Knowing Godhood?”
Mu Mo hadn’t bothered to mask his voice, so everyone in the field heard him!
Furious, Mu Mo spun toward Ye Xuan. “What the hell are you asking? Are we buddies now? Huh? Best pals?”
Ye Xuan blinked, then muttered, “It was just a few dozen holy veins. You’re still mad? Stingy old man!”
Mu Mo exploded. “Ye Xuan, you’ve got some nerve! A堂堂剑修 (grand sword cultivator), breaking your word—are you even human?”
Ye Xuan replied calmly, “Didn’t I swear an oath? If I break it, may ten thousand swords pierce my heart and kill me!”
Mu Mo glared. “Ye Xuan, let me tell you—Heaven watches what men do. Don’t think you can ignore an oath! Every vow carries karma. It’s not that it won’t come—it’s just not time yet!”
Ye Xuan sighed helplessly. “Old man, you tried to steal my sword first. Why do you act like I’m the villain now? Everything I did was just to protect myself!”
Mu Mo stared coldly, silent.
Ye Xuan shrugged, dropping the pointless argument.
Better to keep a low profile for now!
In the distance, Wu Lingmu’s aura climbed higher.
Gu Chou murmured, “Life-Knowing realm, ascending to godhood through martial arts!”
Wu Lingmu grinned. “Come, take another punch!”
He stepped forward and threw a fist. The spacetime erupted, everything in sight disintegrating at a visible pace!
This punch transcended all comprehension!
The Evil Clan powerhouses’ faces grew solemn again.
Once called Life-Knowing Saints, Wu Lingmu had now ascended from saint to god!
A whole different level!
The Evil Clan turned to Gu Chou. Could their Clan Leader withstand this?
Ye Xuan watched with curiosity too!
Wu Lingmu’s power defied his understanding. Even with his thick skin, he had to admit—claiming to be “first under three swords” was pure bravado!
In the distance, Gu Chou suddenly smiled!
Under everyone’s gaze, he stepped forward and pointed a finger. As it descended, the boiling spacetime rippled, then stilled!
Complete calm!
The crowd froze!
Then Gu Chou pointed again.
Wu Lingmu’s pupils shrank. He crossed his arms to block!
*Boom!*
Before all eyes, Wu Lingmu was blasted back, tumbling into an unknown spacetime abyss. His physical body vanished entirely!
Everyone stood dumbfounded!
A Wu Lingmu who’d reached Life-Knowing Godhood—defeated just like that?
Mu Mo and the others were stunned!
With the Martial Core’s boost, Wu Lingmu had hit Life-Knowing Godhood!
And Gu Chou took him down in two moves?
What was happening?
The Evil Clan powerhouses erupted in wild cheers.
Victory!
This time, true victory!
“Clan Leader invincible!”
“Long live the Clan Leader!”
Their voices soared, piercing the clouds, shaking the heavens.
In the spacetime abyss, Wu Lingmu suddenly laughed!
All eyes turned to him!
He chuckled softly. “Life-Knowing Godhood! You’re the true Life-Knowing God!”
Life-Knowing Godhood!
Mu Mo and the others’ faces sank. They’d suspected it when Wu Lingmu fell!
Wu Lingmu had reached godhood through the Martial Core—an external aid. Gu Chou’s victory meant he was the real deal—a true Life-Knowing God!
In the distance, Gu Chou smiled faintly. “You were just a bit short!”
Wu Lingmu looked at him. “I’ve lost!”
He conceded!
Gu Chou waved his hand lightly, exiting the spacetime and returning to reality. He glanced at Ye Xuan nearby and smiled. “Young Master Ye, they’ve come after you?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Yeah!”
Gu Chou grinned. “Need help?”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “No need!”
Truth be told, he could break the seal now. With the Qingxuan Sword and Little Tower, no one could mess with his insides!
But he wasn’t ready to undo it yet!
Gu Chou smiled. “Alright!”
He looked up at the final tower layer and laughed. “Snow Mountain King, why not come out and fight?”
Snow Mountain King!
Everyone turned to that last layer.
The invincible Snow Mountain King of old—nearly the Evil Clan’s doom!
After countless eons, how strong was this godlike figure now?
Ye Xuan gazed up too, curiosity burning.
All eyes fixed on that final layer!
But it remained silent!
Below, Gu Chou smiled, about to speak, when the sole woman among the Ten Saints stepped forward. She wore a simple black robe—plain and unadorned!
Not strikingly beautiful, but far from ugly—a face that grew on you. Her hair, long and reaching her hips, stood out.
As she emerged, all attention shifted to her.
Ye Xuan glanced at Xue Linglong. “Who’s she?”
Xue Linglong said gravely, “Fan Jian. Fourth to reach Life-Knowing!”
Fan Jian?
Ye Xuan watched as she walked calmly to Gu Chou. Without a word, she raised her right hand. Instantly, the space around Gu Chou twisted, and a terrifying aura enveloped him!
The moment it appeared, everyone’s expressions shifted!
Life-Knowing Godhood!
Fan Jian was a true Life-Knowing God too!
Above, Wu Lingmu and the others stared in shock!
She’d reached genuine Life-Knowing Godhood!
Wu Lingmu shook his head with a bitter smile.
He’d thought himself second only to the Snow Mountain King. Now, he saw his mistake!
Beyond the equally dazzling ascetic from back then, Fan Jian had surpassed him.
A hidden master!
In the distance, Gu Chou’s eyes flashed with excitement as he saw her godhood. “Interesting!”
He stepped forward. The twisted spacetime around him began to normalize. With a flick of his sleeve, the space before him surged like a tidal wave.
Fan Jian raised an arm to block!
*Boom!*
The spacetime force was stopped cold!
Gu Chou’s eyes narrowed. He stepped forward again, throwing a punch!
*Boom!*
Fan Jian was hurled into a spacetime abyss. But the next moment, she opened her palm, revealing a sword. With a fierce slash—
*Boom!*
The abyss shattered! Before anyone could react, she appeared before Gu Chou. A flash of sword light—and Gu Chou was cleaved into another spacetime abyss!
Everyone froze!
A sword cultivator!
This woman was a sword cultivator?
Everyone knew sword cultivators far outclassed peers of the same realm!
Then, Fan Jian’s sword trembled violently. A sword cry shot skyward, piercing the clouds. Across the Burial Domain, every sword quaked, echoing with cries of submission!
Submission!
Xue Linglong beside Ye Xuan grew deadly serious. “The Heaven-Seizing Sword! The world’s greatest blade… Legend says when it appears, all swords bow. Defy it, and both sword and wielder perish!”
Suddenly, the Heaven-Seizing Sword unleashed a mighty sword intent—not aimed at Gu Chou, but at Ye Xuan below—or rather, his Qingxuan Sword!
Little Soul’s voice rang in Ye Xuan’s mind. “Little Master, can I show off?”
Ye Xuan: “…”
