Chapter 352: Bitter Struggles of Divine Might

The Ruler!

The Master of the Entire City!

Underworld Yama!

Lord of Shandu!

Buddha’s radiance shone everywhere, expanding fiercely; the immense Buddhist silhouette seemed to fill the heavens and earth, yet countless falling, inky raindrops pressed it down.

Each inky drop that struck the Great Buddha burst like an arrow against the statue, sending up ripples of golden light.

With his feet soaked in pooled water, Huang Mei brought his yellow brows together in prayer. Beneath his flowing, long, arched eyebrows, his eyes brimmed with sorrow.

“Lay down your butcher’s knife, embrace hell—”

These were the words spoken by his disciple Wukong.

Huang Mei was sure that Wukong was dead—the divine connection through Buddha’s light between them had been completely severed, beyond repair.

Not only Wukong, but every disciple from Xiao Lingyin Courtyard had perished.

Even that junior companion who had come with the miraculous Divine Seed transformation and joined the Peach Banquet in the Divine Capital was dead.

In the brief time since he was brought into the confines of Mo City Shandu, he could already imagine the brutal massacre that had taken place within Xiao Lingyin Courtyard.

“Amitabha——”

“What sin…”

Huang Mei’s lips trembled, his body shuddering in agony.

“This humble monk… am I already in hell?”

Suddenly, all his pain disappeared.

He lifted his head, his brows furrowing fiercely, his eyes hard and indifferent.

“In that case——”

“This humble monk will empty this hell.”

“Only through killing can one prove the Way and behold the True Buddha!”

Huang Mei clasped his hands together as a profound Buddhist light enveloped him, as if an immense Buddha manifested within his heart, his recitations growing steadily, determined to drive away all darkness with his radiant light!

Yet behind him, the Buddha’s glow was even colder and more piercing.

It magnified all the malice and ferocity in Huang Mei’s heart!

Evil thoughts and murderous intent grew wildly and chaotically!

The Buddha light was like a biting chill of winter.

The Great Buddha’s eyes were icy, as if surveying all beings from the depths of hell!

Boom, boom, boom!

Countless luminous Buddha beads hovered around, their radiance overwhelming!

Huang Mei’s monk robe billowed wildly.

He stared intently at the Underworld Yama standing atop the bizarre edifice!

Two fierce waves of murderous intent collided between heaven and earth!

Lü Taibai stood amidst wind and rain, silver sword aura cresting, his broad sleeves flapping, his eyes showing shock and awe.

He looked at the many disciples of Xiao Lingyin Temple emerging from Mo City’s architecture, their faces twitching slightly.

All dead?!

Not a single one left?!

Who said I, Lü Taibai, was merely a harbinger of death?!

My Qianyuan Divine Sect truly possesses a death star!

Outside stood Li Che, disguised in a Divine Monkey Mask as the Underworld Divine Monkey, which meant that the monks of Xiao Lingyin Courtyard, including Wukong, were killed by Li Che!

What an immense aura of killing intent!

Lü Taibai assumed that Li Che only intended to kill Huang Mei…

But it now seemed he had underestimated Li Che’s murderous resolve.

Yet Lü Taibai couldn’t help but laugh heartily—a flush of unbridled exhilaration burst forth like an exploding balloon!

It surged up above him, making every hair on his head stand tall!

Pure exhilaration!

Lü Taibai had long despised the monks of Xiao Lingyin Temple. In his younger days, brandishing his sword and roaming the lands, he had grasped the essence of the Heavenly Sword and once visited Xiling Road to witness the blind misery and despair of the common people under the temple’s rule.

Within Xiao Lingyin Temple, monks with divine desires held hundreds of girls captive, and Buddhist weapon masters used their skin and bones to craft sacred drums—

Lü Taibai had drawn his sword more than once.

But Xiling Road had long been transformed into an earthly Buddha nation; no matter how sharp his sword, it could not cut them all down—

Lü Taibai had never held any fondness for the Buddhist way.

These Buddhas were nothing but wicked false deities!

Be it the Xiao Lingyin Temple or even the Western Buddhist Lands—the cultivators there were all misguided.

They exploited the emotions and desires of the people through pain, torment, and blind faith, deceiving all under heaven.

On Xiling Road, Lü Taibai slaughtered his way through, only to be hunted by a terrifying false Buddha from the Temple Spirit. Without the help of the Ancestral Patriarch, Lü Taibai might have been dragged into the Buddhist pit of Xiling Road forever.

“Hahaha—so exhilarating!”

“Kill! Kill brilliantly!”

Lü Taibai’s silver hair whipped wildly as his sword aura interwove in dazzling brilliance.

It had been so many years—long since he felt this unbridled thrill!

Even if he wasn’t the one doing the killing, the joy of battle was enough for him!

As he gripped the Taibai Sword, the divine weapon seemed to resonate with his will, trembling continuously,

emitting a resplendent sword hum!

The Underworld had summoned him, surely to join forces in killing Huang Mei.

Huang Mei was immensely powerful!

Even if two of his Three-Life bodies were severed, he remained one of the era’s top warriors!

His name graced the top lists—celebrated in the Divine Register and at Heavenly Gate alike!

Lü Taibai would never stand by idly!

Moreover—

“Old Bald Huang Mei!”

“I, Lü Taibai, have longed to kill you for ages!”

Lü Taibai roared with laughter.

Leaning forward suddenly,

in the next instant, it was as if a tidal surge roared beneath his feet, sending countless cascades of water cascading like slashing sword-light!

Crash after crash!

The sword aura flowed like a mighty river!

It descended from the heavens!

Taibai’s death-star ignited his killing intent!

The Sword of the Great River!

In that moment, Mo City Shandu trembled violently; the roaring, surging water resounded

with a resounding, clanging cacophony!

Lü Taibai’s figure was almost obscured by the surging waves of the sword aura river!

The sword aura river blazed across, swift as a comet streaking across the night sky, leaving a trail of brilliant tail flames!

In an instant, it had slashed toward Huang Mei. Though one of his arms was severed, it regenerated amidst the resurgent Buddhist light and the Great Buddha’s manifestation!

Huang Mei then clasped his hands, slowly stepping forward. His cloth shoes, soaked by pooled water, suddenly surged ahead.

The stagnant water on the ground bubbled as if boiling in a hot pan, each droplet leaping energetically.

Huang Mei opened his palms, as if the Buddha had withdrawn its mercy, as if the Bodhisattva no longer offered salvation.

Facing Lü Taibai’s sword that had seemingly fused into his martial will and the near-solidified void,

Huang Mei’s ordinary monk sleeve flicked forward, sweeping up endless Buddhist light and divine energy, merging seamlessly with the Great Buddha’s manifestation.

The Great Buddha’s visage flared, its radiance dazzling beyond measure!

Then, its robe and the flowing sword aura collided with a thunderous crash!

Bang, bang, bang—a tremendous sound!

Buddha light shone like a blazing wheel, with each Buddha bead bursting forth like a searing sun around it!

Originally within Mo City Shandu, once the divine energy was expended, it could no longer be replenished from the heavens.

For Mo City Shandu was isolated, and the diffuse divine energy from the bizarre temples could not flow freely within.

Thus, any clash here had a profound effect on practitioners reliant on divine energy; when depleted, death was inevitable.

Huang Mei was immensely strong; his apex-level heavenly sense and the soul of a great deity had long detected this.

Yet he paid no heed, unleashing every ounce of his divine power!

That Great Buddha’s form was honed to perfection—a Diamond Fist Manifestation forged by divine energy and blood. Compared to Wukong’s manifestation, it was far mightier!

Even Li Che’s hundred-zhang Fa Tian Xiang Di paled in comparison—one sweep of that Buddha sleeve would shatter it instantly!

The collision of the Great River sword aura with the Buddha sleeve!

The entire city trembled, an invisible shockwave rippling outward in concentric circles,

turning each falling raindrop into a burst of mist before evaporating into steam!

Huang Mei’s gaze grew cold as his aura shifted dramatically.

Buddha light turned lethal and austere, its killing intent dazzling!

Lü Taibai’s death-star and Underworld Yama sought to kill him, and he—wished to slay both to prove the Way through bloodshed!

He knew that even if two of his Three-Life bodies were severed, it would spur apex-level might to stir.

In the instant his future self was cut off, Huang Mei felt not one, but several surges of murderous intent.

Not only from Lü Taibai, but from other Divine Sect patriarchs within Xiao Lingyin Courtyard—perhaps even Gu Changqing, Ning Caishen, or Bai Buyi from Haoran Academy—

all possible!

Yet he felt no fear, having long prepared himself.

He had driven himself to the limit to provoke their murderous intent and then—

to slay them with his butcher’s blade, converting them, and breaking through to a higher level!

“The tide of the Bizarre Temple shall rise again. The Buddhas of Black Xumi from [Hei Xu Mi] will soon awaken from its depths. This humble monk must catch that wave, or else he will never attain the True Buddha’s realm in this lifetime.”

Huang Mei’s eyes flickered as if sparks danced within, mingling with the Buddha light in a display of immense terror!

Boom, boom, boom, boom!

The clash of the Great River sword aura and the Buddha sleeve sent shockwaves crisscrossing the battlefield.

It swept over the Underworld Yama stationed atop the bizarre edifice, causing his dark, coarse hair to dance wildly!

Li Che raised his hand, pressing down his black-and-white Yama mask.

The lingering shock of battle prickled every inch of his skin and flesh.

Mo City Shandu trembled incessantly!

This was a battle of apex might!

So powerful!

Truly, indescribably powerful!

Blood boiled within Li Che.

Within his chest, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit pulsed as if revived by the surge, its every beat sounding like the resounding drum of divine deities, sending ripples that warped the void around him.

Tower Ascension!

In Li Che’s eyes, golden smoke churned and settled instantly!

His body swelled massively, yet not as excessively as the Ogre; instead, his flesh became as refined and tempered as if forged repeatedly by countless blows!

He extended both arms.

Nine great tendons along his back tightened, the spine emerging like the sturdy framing of a dragon, then relaxing as if drawing a full moon bow to unleash an overwhelming surge of raw, terrifying power!

Dao Induction: Dragon Elephant Furnace!

Li Che’s dark hair whipped fiercely as torrents of golden blood surged out, shaking violently within the Dragon Elephant Furnace!

Then, six consecutive Divine Seed surges detonated!

Crash after crash…

It was as if one golden chain after another shattered completely!

His breath surged with every heartbeat!

His five fingers gripped tightly as viscous, mercury-like blood was propelled by a tremendous force, unleashing an overwhelming torrent!

It was like magma stored to the extreme at a volcanic crater.

In the very instant Lü Taibai clashed with the Great Buddha’s manifestation,

behind Li Che’s shifting black-and-white mask, golden smoke flickered as he burst forth, moving at unimaginable speed!

Countless shockwaves spread out as if violently cleaved by a razor-sharp blade!

Underworld Yama surged forward with a crushing punch—Dragon Elephant roared in unison!

Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant!

Six Divine Seed detonations ignited his ultimate martial will as the Dragon Elephant Furnace roared!

At that moment—

The Divine Seed Martial Arts known as Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant in Li Che’s grasp seemed to transform!

Transcendent Divine Seed!

Transcendent True Martial Way!

Divine Dragon and Giant Elephant emerged with a roar—Dragon Elephant Convergence!

The Divine Dragon coiled around the Giant Elephant’s body and swung its snout fiercely, hoisting its massive, pillar-like hooves high,

then stomping down with crushing force!

Pure golden blood surged forth like an overflowing tide!

Huang Mei glared furiously as a punch, suddenly appearing beyond his Buddha manifestation, pounded forward!

A force as if poured out from that pure golden blood furnace!

The tremendous Divine Dragon and Giant Elephant, roaring in unison, collided fiercely with Lü Taibai’s Great Buddha manifestation!

The manifestation tilted violently from the impact!

Buddha light began to disperse like ripples!

And Huang Mei fixed his gaze on his own Buddha manifestation!

He saw the massive, robust Underworld Yama, engulfed in swirling golden blood and a mask split starkly in black and white, reflected right before him.

A punch slammed into the radiant light of the Great Buddha’s form.

At the point of impact, cracks rapidly splintered out like shattered glass under a brutal, piercing force!

Crunch, crunch, crunch—like fragile glass bombarded by a force too strong, webbing cracks spread like spiderwebs!

In Huang Mei’s eyes, filled with murderous intent, a grave expression appeared.

“Pure Martial Arts?!”

“Apex Pure Martial Arts?!”

How could there possibly be apex-level pure martial arts in this world?!

Countless cracks spread, stretching over one zhang, ten, a hundred, even three hundred zhang!

The nearly three-hundred-zhang Great Buddha manifestation, nearly reaching the pinnacle of Mo City Shandu, was instantly riddled with fractures!

“Hahaha—”

“Old Bald Huang Mei! Sever your past and future selves—you’re clearly faltering now!”

“Brother Yama! The move was splendid!”

The Great Buddha manifestation, covered in shattered fissures, was pummeled by countless sword auras as if riddled with endless tiny bullets!

In an instant.

Surrounding the Great Buddha form, Buddha beads that once shone with golden light now dimmed immediately,

as if their divine radiance and energy were entirely spent!

Above the Great Buddha, innumerable beams of golden light detonated, splintering into even finer fragments!

A dazzling brilliance that outshone all!

The compassionate Buddha exploded instantly, its domineering golden light rendering the heavens and earth virtually white!

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

The Great Buddha’s explosion flattened the ground of Mo City Shandu with its terrifying force!

Every puddle on the ground vaporized in an instant, while cracks spread and intertwined like spider webs!

Dense and widespread!

From Huang Mei’s position, the damage extended to the surrounding structures.

It was as if, centered on Huang Mei, the ground collapsed inch by inch—a seismic catastrophe causing countless buildings to crumble!

Fierce winds howled and raged!

Huang Mei’s robes whipped about as he gripped his fists; his monk robes were etched with countless fine sword marks!

Numerous droplets of blood seeped from his wounds, falling to the ground.

The heavy blood splatters pockmarked the earth.

Lü Taibai floated behind Huang Mei, sword in hand.

His brows furrowed as his fearsome sword intent spread, shaking all of Mo City Shandu as if the very earth trembled!

That was the power of Dao Induction!

The Tao Calamity Sword roared out from his brow with resounding clangs!

It was as if the heavens had suddenly burst into a terrifying gale!

And before Huang Mei,

a golden mist enveloped him, with an enormous Underworld Yama hovering behind him like a bulging Dragon Elephant Furnace,

his aura soaring, his flesh peerless!

From the front and back, Huang Mei was encircled by the shattered Diamond Fist,

as if sealed in a death trap.

Yet Huang Mei spread his arms and chuckled softly.

His wrinkled old face looked at the imposing figures of Lü Taibai’s death-star and Underworld Yama.

One wielded the Tao Calamity Sword, the other epitomized apex pure martial arts!

Huang Mei grinned, exposing his yellowed teeth.

He raised his hand.

Then pressed it to his brow.

Boom, boom, boom!

Thunder clashed over Mo City as lightning suddenly roared!

“Master Taibai, you’ve comprehended the Tao Calamity Sword, the Extinction of Divine Wind Sword—”

“This humble monk, too, has experienced enlightenment.”

“Dao Induction: Tao Calamity Buddha!”

“Three Calamities: Divine Xiao Thunder!”

Crash! The temperature in Divine Capital surged in an instant as leaden clouds gathered high, as if with the swell of early spring, the sparse snow melting into rain.

The first drizzling spring rain floated gently down from a towering height.

The rain grew mightier, as if set on a grand mission to bridge late winter and early spring.

In Divine Capital Second City.

At the Ji Family Residence.

A burly man draped in an official’s robe—resembling a man in tight garments—exuded a fierce, flame-red aura from his wild hair,

with two sharp horns crowning his forehead, wrapped in a membrane, his prominent horns and a golden ring encircling his nose gleaming menacingly.

He glanced over the blood-soaked room. The once resplendent Consort Ji had long since been reduced to shattered remnants of beauty.

Wang Kui, the supreme governor of the Temple Guardian Division, shook his head: “He was ruthless—obliterating them completely, leaving no chance for resurrection.”

“Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant is formidable, but it wasn’t done by Ji Mo Li.”

Wang Kui said coolly.

He had deduced everything with just one glance.

“The killer only used blood martial arts, not divine energy. The disparity is too vast—”

Wang Kui stepped out, wiping the blood off his hand with a handkerchief.

“Interesting—”

“The Underworld is here.”

Wang Kui laughed.

Ji Family Head Ji Qingchuan, trailing silently, fixed a stern look: “Underworld? Do they mean the mysterious force led by that Divine Monkey w/ the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff?”

“Yes,” Wang Kui replied with a glance at Ji Qingchuan.

Consort Ji’s death dealt a tremendous blow to the Ji Family.

Even if it was found to be unrelated, a grievance would inevitably arise between the Ji Family and the Third Prince for his lax protection.

At the very least, a rift had opened between the Ji Family and the Third Prince.

“Underworld—why kill Ji Yan?”

Ji Qingchuan’s eyes burned with murderous intent as he muttered, “Such brutal methods… could there really be such deep hatred?”

“Surely it wasn’t Ji Mo Li’s doing?”

Ji Qingchuan asked in a low voice.

Wang Kui twisted his neck as his bones creaked terrifyingly: “What’s wrong? Are you hoping it was Ji Mo Li?”

“Why would Ji Mo Li kill Consort Ji without reason?”

Ji Qingchuan froze.

Wang Kui gave him a knowing smile, as if reading his thoughts.

For Ji Qingchuan, Consort Ji’s death was not merely about her life lost, but the collapse and disappearance of the benefits she brought to the Ji Family.

The Ji Family had spared no effort to elevate her, only for her death to snatch away their unharvested rewards!

“Pass on my orders: temporarily mobilize the Golden Scale Imperial Guards of Divine Capital Second City to seal all gates of the upper Third City—”

Suddenly,

A youth dressed in the Temple Guardian Division uniform approached Wang Kui and whispered something.

Wang Kui raised an eyebrow and left the Ji Residence.

On the spacious streets of Divine Capital Second City,

a low-profile carriage was halted; its beast snorted and pawed restlessly while steaming, and the carriage bore the character “Qin”.

There was no doubt: this carriage belonged to the Imperial Watch.

The curtain lifted as Hong Shifo, carrying a chessboard, peered outside at the encircling Golden Scale Imperial Guards.

In the upper Third City, the Golden Scale Imperial Guards were an undeniable force.

Apart from the Great Jing Emperor, only the supreme governor of the Temple Guardian Division could command them.

Sure enough,

In the distance, the rain seemed to split off to either side.

A figure approached slowly.

With wild, flame-red hair, his horns blazing and his nose-ring flashing brilliantly,

“One of the three supreme governors of the Temple Guardian Division—Wang Kui!”

Hong Shifo’s eyes flashed with a trace of apprehension.

Wang Kui strode forward, casting a glance at Hong Shifo before turning his gaze to the quiet, down-to-earth Li Che seated in the carriage.

His brows furrowed as he sniffed, as if catching the scent of ink?

Amid such torrential rain, he could still detect the aroma of ink?

Wang Kui fixed his gaze on Li Che, his eyes distant as the nose-ring swayed.

“Sir, are you Li Bansheng of the Qianyuan Divine Sect?”

Wang Kui suddenly bowed his hand.

The Painted Immortal Li Che also returned the bow.

“When I was in Jin Guang Mansion and Daocheng, it was thanks to you that I avoided catastrophe.”

Wang Kui laughed.

“That stinking Tie Shancai—he’s my son! My son and his mother had planned to visit you someday, but fate has brought us together so unexpectedly.”

Li Che’s expression brightened as he smiled and exchanged pleasantries.

“So you’re off to the Imperial Watch?” asked Wang Kui.

“Since Consort Ji was brutally slain—this is to investigate any offense by you. I hope you understand.”

Both Li Che and Hong Shifo were taken aback.

“Consort Ji was brutally slain?” Hong Shifo gasped.

Wang Kui glanced at Hong Shifo, then at the shocked Li Che, but said nothing further.

“You must be meeting the Grand Inspector at the Imperial Watch. Do not delay—don’t keep him waiting.”

Wang Kui ordered the Golden Scale Imperial Guards to let them pass.

Suppressing his shock, Hong Shifo signaled the carriage driver to proceed.

As he watched the carriage vanish into the torrential rain,

Wang Kui’s red hair twitched slightly.

“According to the timeline—at the moment of Consort Ji’s death, Li Che and Hong Shifo had just entered the Third City; they only got in after the Golden Scale Imperial Guards had been deployed.”

“It wasn’t him—”

“But then why…”

Wang Kui massaged his disheveled red locks, murmuring, “I sense an ominous portent.”

Boom!

Suddenly,

in the direction of the Fourth City, a terrifying burst of Buddha light erupted!

It was as if a sorrowful Buddha roared in anguish!

Even separated by two cities, that mix of grief and horror was overwhelmingly intense!

Wang Kui’s expression changed subtly.

With one decisive step, he rushed toward the Fourth City.

Inside the Second City,

in the Pingluan Prince’s mansion courtyard,

Ji Mo Li stood as rain cascaded over him, drenching him completely.

Hot breath escaped his lips, permeating his body.

It was as if only the cold rain could douse the fiery anger burning within him.

“Ji Yan…—dead!”

Ji Mo Li clenched his fingers, his inner blood and divine energy churning violently, as if a terrible demon howled in fury.

A thick, overwhelming stench of blood exploded forth,

turning even the falling raindrops a deep crimson!

In an instant, Ji Mo Li guessed who was responsible.

He had planned to escort Ji Yan into the imperial temple to seek the emperor’s blessing for the Third Prince’s betrothal to Li Nuǎnxi—

but then, Ji Yan was dead!

So sudden!

No!

It must be said… the Underworld had always been monitoring Ji Yan!

Even every conversation between him and Ji Yan was known in full detail by the Underworld!

He had been careless!

This was Ji Mo Li’s first real encounter with the Underworld, truly revealing why his son, Princess, and disciples had met such tragic ends.

For the methods of the Underworld were simply too mysterious!

They could even eavesdrop on the conversations of apex-level cultivators!

Suddenly,

Ji Mo Li looked upward, his terrifying eyes filled with murderous intent as he glared into the distance.

That was the Fourth City.

“What’s happened?”

“Xiao Lingyin Courtyard?”

The rain on Ji Mo Li evaporated instantly. He strode forward, ascending toward the skies, with four towering generals at his back following closely— their auras roaring, distorting the very fabric of reality.

“Huang Mei has severed his future self—”

“Does that mean… someone is coming for him?”

In Mo City, thunder roared and split the air!

Amidst the clamor of lightning, the oppressive aura of impending doom made souls tremble in terror and despair.

One of the three calamities—

Divine Xiao Thunder!

If a calamity cultivator descended into the mortal realm, they would have to face the three disasters and nine tribulations formed by the will of heaven!

One disaster: Divine Xiao Thunder, in three tribulations!

Second disaster: Extinction Divine Wind, in three tribulations!

Third disaster: Netherworld Fire, in three tribulations!

These were the three disasters and nine tribulations!

An apocalyptic pressure hung over Mo City Shandu as if the world itself was collapsing.

Then, Huang Mei spread his arms as countless strands of Buddha light erupted from him. Finely woven, the golden thunder pulsed like living energy—charged with an aura of annihilation and surging with dread!

Lü Taibai’s silver hair whipped in the wind as he gripped his Taibai Sword, while Hunter King’s mask on his face revealed the imposing Tao Calamity Sword with eyes full of gravity and shock.

“Dao Induction: Tao Calamity Buddha!”

“Three Calamities: Divine Xiao Tribulation!”

“So this is what underlies Huang Mei’s confidence—even if two of his Three-Life bodies are severed, even if Underworld Yama and I encircle him, his resolve remains unshaken—”

“He has successfully captured a Divine Xiao Tribulation Thunder and comprehended ‘Dao Induction: Tao Calamity Buddha’!”

“Divine Xiao Tribulation Buddha!”

Boom!

Huang Mei’s entire being, almost bathed in golden thunder, seemed to grow young and relaxed; vaguely, a Buddha of thunder emerged behind him.

Surging, boiling blood, a fearsome Buddha light, and even the pores on his body pulsed with the power of Divine Xiao Thunder as his blood surged with apocalyptic intent!

Li Che, behind his split black-and-white Yama mask, could not help but express his astonishment.

Three tribulations!

This was the power of touching the divine calamity realm!

It was like Lü Taibai capturing an Extinction Divine Wind and fusing it with his sword, grasping the essence of Dao Calamity Sword—standing on the threshold of the divine calamity realm.

That was why Li Che had invited Lü Taibai to join forces in killing Huang Mei.

Because Lü Taibai possessed the power to slay apex-level cultivators!

Otherwise, even with two apex-level leaders teaming up, they might not be able to kill an apex cultivator.

But now, an unexpected turn of events occurred.

Huang Mei had mastered Dao Induction!

He had transformed into Dao Induction: Tao Calamity Buddha!

Boom, boom—the intertwining golden thunder surged as Huang Mei’s explosive power erupted from within, while the Heavenly Gate opened behind him, unleashing an overwhelming outpouring of divine energy. Melding with Divine Xiao Thunder, it became like puppet strings connecting with his Tao Calamity Buddha manifestation!

Boom!

With a twist of his foot, Huang Mei shattered the ground of Mo City beneath him.

Nearly half the city’s foundation crumbled!

Golden thunder raged as it sliced through!

A fist erupted—a dazzling burst of bright light—as, behind him, a ten-zhang tall but far more terrifying Buddha of wrath, entwined in thunder, roared fiercely!

Synchronized with Huang Mei’s punch, it struck Lü Taibai!

Lü Taibai’s expression behind his Hunter King mask suddenly turned grim.

Damn it—

Now, killing Huang Mei would be far from easy!

Sure enough, not even the sect leaders of the great Divine Sects were as simple as they appeared; all secretly attempted to challenge the divine calamity themselves!

Lü Taibai’s Tao Calamity Sword roared forth, the mighty winds tearing through the void, shattering it into countless pieces!

It transformed into a dazzling silver sword—a wind both ephemeral and raging.

It collided with the thundering Divine Xiao Tribulation Buddha that had been laced with raging lightning!

In the silent void, their powers clashed and dissipated thousands of times in an instant!

In this battle of annihilation—

Underworld Yama could no longer interfere.

As for Huang Mei, he seemed not to have spared Underworld Yama, targeting him directly.

Lü Taibai sighed inwardly.

Killing Huang Mei had grown exceedingly difficult.

Lü Taibai could sense that with the emergence of the Divine Xiao Tribulation Buddha, Mo City Shandu was straining under its might.

Though the Underworld’s Mo City Shandu was ravenously absorbing the dissipated energy of Dao Induction,

there was a limit. Ultimately, this city would disintegrate,

unable to contain Huang Mei any longer!

And once back in the real Divine Capital, attempting to kill Huang Mei would be nearly impossible!

Suddenly,

Lü Taibai’s eyes hardened.

He looked into the distance, fixating on the Underworld Yama, shrouded in golden blood mist.

But he saw Underworld Yama suddenly bend his legs, looking up with eyes filled with intense desire and greed, fixated on the gaping Heavenly Gate and the terrifying Divine Xiao Tribulation that had erupted!

What could he possibly be planning?!

Lü Taibai was momentarily stunned.

Then, colors flashed in his eyes.

Without hesitation,

the Heavenly Gate emerged behind him!

Blood and divine energy surged uncontrollably, coalescing into a fearsome silver sword-like torrent of Extinction Divine Wind!

Entwined in golden thunder, Huang Mei, now resembling the furious Buddha of Divine Xiao, seemed determined to extricate himself from Lü Taibai’s grasp!

But he was forcibly controlled by Lü Taibai!

In the fleeting gap amid the clash with the Extinction Divine Wind Sword,

Huang Mei turned his head.

His eyes blazed with fury!

“Yama! What are you doing?!”

He roared, his voice echoing like rolling thunder!

Then,

the Underworld Yama—wearing his black-and-white mask—

recklessly charged toward the Divine Xiao Tribulation that had burst forth from the Heavenly Gate!

And then,

in Huang Mei’s enraged gaze,

the image of Yama being reduced to ash by the Divine Xiao Tribulation did not appear!

Instead, a blazing beam of golden Divine Xiao Thunder, coiled like a golden dragon, struck Underworld Yama’s body.

It was as if Underworld Yama were being frantically devoured!