Chapter 406: Heavenly Fury Unleashed

The boundaries of Heaven and Earth fell silent!

Only the Divine Seed of King Ping Luan remained – pierced by the Thunder Demon Three-Pronged Twin-Edged Blade, creating a gruesome explosion as it was twisted and torn apart!

A terrifying divine aura erupted like a raging storm!

Furious intent surged, enshrouded within a tidal wave of divine energy that burst forth like a great, rolling river!

Above the Heavenly Dome!

Majestic, rolling heavenly might gathered as clouds of calamity heaped and threatened to descend, resembling a black dragon thrusting its sinister head from the clouds!

In Daocheng.

The oppressive, stifling qi nearly robbed everyone of breath; merely watching this battle was already exhausting every ounce of strength!

Chaos – utter chaos!

Feng Zhiqi, Yu Wen Wenlong, Monitor Hong Shifo, Elder Ding Zi, and Zhao Fangzhou – every divine seed and Martial Saint cultivator of Daocheng trembled visibly.

They were shaken by sheer terror!

The cascade of events left them deeply shaken, utterly beyond their expectations.

Ever since the betrayal of National Teacher Xie Yunshen by the duo Tian Can Di Que, the situation spiraled far out of control.

Ji Mo Li was besieged and slaughtered alongside Underworld Yama, Tian Can Di Que, and Master Taibai, his mortal body shattered into pieces.

This then forced the Imperial Court’s side to unleash their massive Divine Calamity Advancement!

A true Divine Calamity Advancement indeed!

Its emergence brought a fearsome pressure that nearly robbed them of breath.

But this was merely the beginning!

Above Daocheng, on the back of the half-step Mechanical Beast known as Little Yinglong King, Ma Mian — who was actually Elder Li Che – suddenly unleashed a terrifying display of Mechanical Art. At the very moment when the ancestral patriarch of the Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect intended to rescue Ji Mo Li, murderous intent surged toward National Teacher Xie Yunshen, the Imperial Court’s official!

Forcing the Divine Calamity Advancement to choose between letting one live!

And then——

It forced out a second Divine Calamity Advancement!

Atop the city wall, Feng Zhiqi’s dark hair whipped in the wind while his eyes brimmed with gravity.

“That is———— the founding patriarch of Bashu Sword Pavilion! The legend known as Sword God Gu Qianchi!”

Feng Zhiqi’s hair stood on end.

The founding patriarch of Bashu Sword Pavilion!

Another Divine Calamity cultivator who shattered the divine limits with the divine sword path!

Such figures normally only existed in historical records – to see him in today’s battle was astounding!

Yet,

No one expected that beneath the overwhelming aura released by these two divine calamity masters, Underworld Yama would ruthlessly, with the might of divine devastation, slay the Divine Seed of King Ping Luan Ji Mo Li!

After all,

King Ping Luan!

Whether it be at the Heavenly Gate or on the Divine Register, he was always among the foremost warriors!

The silver sword disc spun with resounding clatters, its sword light slicing the void as if cleaving it in two.

National Teacher Xie Yunshen stood atop it, his black and white hair whipping in the wind, his simple cloth garb fluttering; the feather fan in his hand had long been severed and twisted into nothing but ash by the sword qi.

Had he failed to halt it?!

A look of surprise and bewilderment flashed in Xie Yunshen’s eyes.

A bead of sweat appeared on his forehead.

It was as if he sat across from a chessboard, facing an opponent’s divine move and sweating profusely.

It felt like a masterpiece he had meticulously arranged was ruthlessly sliced down by a butcher’s blade!

King Ping Luan Ji Mo Li… must not die!

Not even a mere clone can falter!

For aside from King Ping Luan, no one understood his plans and secrets better!

Any mishap, even if Ji Mo Li’s clone—sustained by his blood pool—would not lead to his death, it would severely delay his plans.

In Bizarre Temple, during the era of the return of the gods, time was of the essence!

Even the Prison Lotus Daughter had appeared——

Everyone was racing against the clock!

Before them, the shattered flesh and severed Divine Seed of King Ping Luan Ji Mo Li was unmistakably a clone!

Yet, it was not merely a clone – it could well be the true body!

This very ambiguity left even Lü Taibai unsure whether it was a clone or the real Ji Mo Li!

Only Xie Yunshen knew the truth.

It was a truth purchased with countless lives – and it was why he would rather expose his second Divine Calamity Advancement than call upon the ancestral patriarch of the Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect, Zhao Beidou, for protection.

“But still——

“He’s dead again!”

Xie Yunshen sighed in regret.

In this war of chess, if he played white while Qianyuan Divine Sect played black, in their clash of black and white——

Ultimately, he made one wrong move!

He had calculated for the Underworld.

But he never expected that the Underworld could dispatch so many top-tier experts!

He had even reserved the combined might of Tian Can Di Que, Dragon God Prince, Half-Step Dragon God techniques, and four half-step divine cultivators of Ji Mo Li——

Such a lineup could sweep aside any Daocheng with ease!

Yet——

It had failed!

All because of Tian Can Di Que’s betrayal!

Xie Yunshen’s fingers clenched as a fierce glare burned in his eyes!

Impossible!

How could Tian Can Di Que ever betray?!

No one understood his origins better than Xie Yunshen!

Xie Yunshen closed his eyes.

Across Heaven and Earth, Ji Mo Li’s Divine Seed exploded, and waves of divine energy surged relentlessly.

“I hope nothing goes wrong in Jizhou.”

Xie Yunshen exhaled deeply.

He had contemplated many scenarios, even a failed campaign to crush a sect; yet, even in such cases, he’d never imagined Ji Mo Li would die!

To lose one life—

But in truth, thousands of lives were lost!

BOOM!!!

Torrents of divine energy, like surging waves over the Grand Canal, roiled above the Heavenly Dome!

Upon the river’s surface!

The relentless tide roared as if some unspeakable terror was about to break through!

Massive dark-iron spirit wood warships spanned the Grand Canal; yet at this moment, they heaved and tumbled with the overwhelming surge!

On one such warship,

Four imposing figures, as massive as mountains, stood upon the deck, clad in dark armor adorned with intricate patterns that evoked exposed veins. Their eyes blazed a fierce crimson.

These were Ji Mo Li’s four sons – though one was a mere impostor in disguise, played by disciple Zhou Chiguo.

Yet these four, his stalwart vanguard, had not intervened due to a lack of orders from Ji Mo Li.

Together, they could rival even top-tier experts.

They could only stand by helplessly as they witnessed this apex battle!

As they watched Ji Mo Li suffer Tian Can Di Que’s betrayal and be besieged!

When they saw his flesh violently shattered and his Divine Seed ruthlessly pierced by Underworld Yama’s blade into countless splinters of divine essence——

The four roared in a beastly, uncontrollable cacophony!

“Aaaaah——”

“Father!!!”

After their agonized roars,

They all raised their heads, their clashing armor resonating like a searing chorus.

Suddenly,

One of the towering figures abruptly fell to his knees, his body exuding hot, rising steam.

“Aaaaah——”

—

Tormented cries filled the air as blood mist slowly rose beneath his armor – the sound of meat and flesh dissolving, with a pungent brutality pervading the scene.

Gradually, the flesh under his armor melted away into a dark, unrecognizable stain.

“Old Three!”

“Li Hai!”

“This——”

The three figures behind, their blood-red eyes contracting, trembled at the sight.

Then, Oldest Ji Li Qing and Middle Ji Li Hong knelt, kowtowing at the collapsing body of Old Ji Li Hai. Zhou Chiguo hesitated briefly, then too fell to his knees.

Countless runes writhed as if countless lost souls were howling in torment, their twisted visages straining from the cracks in their armor.

Slowly, it seemed an ancient will revived beneath the armor, devouring those lost souls and reconstituting its imposing bulk.

A dense aura of death and decay seeped out, like venomous serpents spewing forth.

“Father!”

Ji Li Qing and Ji Li Hong fervently clasped their fists, their fervor undiminished by Ji Li Hai’s demise – instead, they were ignited with a fierce excitement.

Beneath Ji Li Hai’s fallen armor, his eyes slowly opened, revealing a chilling and ruthless glare!

One life—gone!

Ji Mo Li’s heart… was bleeding!

This time, he truly suffered a devastating blow – a blow that cost him the genuine life he had forged from his blood pool, which enabled him to fully wield his true power!

Unlike Huang Mei’s Three-Life Body or Gu Changqing’s Tian Dan Cloning Technique;

Those methods couldn’t fully channel the power of the original body since those clones were not living beings.

While the Three-Life Body relied on the Holy Hand Divine Eagle and the Tian Dan clone on Tian Dan—

Only true life, pulsing with genuine blood, could perfectly harness its host’s strength—

That was why after the death of Ji Li Shou in Daocheng, Ji Mo Li immediately replaced him with a disciple.

Only in this way could he sustain the cycle of life and death.

This was the true power of the Bloodsea Heavenly King Immortality Technique he had obtained from the Dark Heavenly Court!

BOOM!

An overwhelming tide of death and decay churned, reminiscent of the arrival of a Corpse God from the Corpse God Sect.

But beneath the armor now, what remained was merely an will condensed from death’s aura.

His true will had always resided within the blood pool in Jizhou, now stirring back to life.

“With the blood pool in Jizhou having expended a quarter———— it must be replenished again.”

Only by maintaining the blood pool’s perfection could he remain immortal!

Beneath Ji Li Hai’s armor, Ji Mo Li’s will surged.

“There!”

Ji Li Qing and Ji Li Hong saluted in unison – they knew full well how to replenish the blood pool.

It was nothing more than sacrificing another city.

Zhou Chiguo had once investigated for Nan Lihuo, but when faced with such terrifying power, he ultimately fell.

“Lü Taibai.”

“Underworld? King, and——”

“Tian Can Di Que!”

Ji Mo Li’s eyes burned red with fluctuating emotions, causing deathly aura to burst and spill from beneath the armor.

In this battle, he never imagined he would lose a life!

Not even the intervention of a Divine Calamity Advancement could save his Divine Seed.

In terms of battle prowess, Ji Mo Li taking on three by himself was fearless indeed.

Unlike Lü Taibai – who had only shattered his divine limits to gain the Annihilating God-Wind and Tao Calamity Sword –

Ji Mo Li had achieved a half-step divine realm in both martial and divine aspects!

Underworld Yama boasted half-step martial god power, and Tian Can Di Que similarly achieved a half-step martial god state through the combined might of Bizarre Temple’s gods——

So if Ji Mo Li were to face them head-on, why fear?

His heavenly avatar was a living, breathing life!

Whether clone or true body, it could unleash his full power flawlessly!

Up to this point, Ji Mo Li couldn’t fathom why Xie Yunshen’s Tian Can Di Que guards would suddenly betray him – a betrayal that nearly upended everything!

“Traitor—— you deserve to die!”

Ji Mo Li’s voice rang out coldly.

He glared fiercely toward Xie Yunshen, whose expression, as he stood atop the silver sword disc, betrayed resignation.

Tian Can Di Que’s betrayal—

He never saw it coming.

All his meticulous plans were torn apart by the breach inflicted by Tian Can Di Que’s treachery, leaving everything undone——

Ji Mo Li’s eyes flickered uncertainly, as if partly believing Xie Yunshen’s words.

Losing that life gravely impacted both his and Xie Yunshen’s plans, forcing him to expend tremendous effort to gather the necessary resources!

Moreover——

Would National Teacher Xie Yunshen still wait for him?!

Betrayal, whether once or many times, leaves an indelible scar, making trust nearly impossible to restore.

Now, Ji Mo Li felt everyone might betray him.

Except for his four sons, and—Master Huang Mei!

When Tian Can Di Que’s betrayal struck, only Master Huang Mei erupted with power to save him and shield him.

Such sincere loyalty truly earned Ji Mo Li’s trust.

Only with such companions could one feel secure.

Li Che, wearing the black-and-white Underworld Yama Mask, narrowed his eyes.

The Thunder Demon Three-Pronged Twin-Edged Blade trembled as it shattered Ji Mo Li’s Divine Seed – divine energy burst forth amid a dense blood mist. Beneath his mask, Li Che’s eyes betrayed disappointment.

So it was just a clone.

Could a clone be this powerful? If clones were this strong, just imagine how mighty Ji Mo Li’s true body must be!

Even Li Che’s own master clone could never match his full power – operating at roughly eighty or ninety percent of his true potential, and unable to utilize Dao Fruit energy.

In the moment the Cosmic Chessboard’s nets spread, he could sense Ji Mo Li’s resurgence from death’s silence, along with that dense aura of death and decay——

Death and decay——

A long-lost aura returned.

Li Che’s eyes flashed with piercing, cold determination.

Corpse God Sect!

Ji Mo Li was indeed entangled with the Corpse God Sect!

It was undeniable!

No wonder, although Ji Mo Li had suppressed the Corpse God Sect in Jizhou and battled six formidable Corpse Gods, the Sect’s experts kept emerging in Jin Guang Mansion and beyond.

“Perfect timing…”

Li Che gripped the Thunder Demon Three-Pronged Twin-Edged Blade at an angle, his qi surging fiercely.

Ji Mo Li and the Corpse God Sect – two towering mountains that had shadowed him since his youth – had now merged into one!

Just right…

Time to kill them all!

His eyes gleamed with frigid intent, murderous intent surging.

For with Ji Mo Li eliminated, the battle power of the four half-step divine cultivators would be unleashed all at once.

Lü Taibai laughed heartily toward the sky, his sword intent resounding as the Taibai Sword’s qi soared skyward.

“Damn it, a clone? A single clone can be this strong? What kind of sorcery has Ji Mo Li practiced!”

“Who has a clone this formidable?!”

After laughing, Lü Taibai couldn’t help but curse aloud.

BOOM!!!

As his words fell, Zhao Beidou, the ancestral patriarch of the Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect, grew notoriously pale.

After his hand clashed with that protruding from the plaque, he was even forced a step back.

Staring at the suspended plaque exuding vast Dao essence from the Mountain Gate,

a hand slowly tore the fabric of space open, and a figure in a timeworn robe stepped through.

It was none other than the ancestral patriarch of Qianyuan Divine Sect, Lü Qiankun!

“Lü Qiankun! You truly survived! The so-called transcension was merely a ruse to deceive the world!”

Zhao Beidou roared coldly.

The old man, frail and ancient, looked exactly like the statue of the patriarch in Minor Cavern of the Heavens.

“Hahaha, you old dog aren’t dead – how could Lü Qiankun ever die?”

The ancestral patriarch laughed heartily.

His eyes swept over the field: “Oh my, such a spectacle – are you planning to annihilate Qianyuan? To ruin my Lü Qiankun legacy? My very tomb?”

“Idiot of Bashu Sword Pavilion, are you crashing the party as well? No, you’re serving the Imperial Court now?”

Lü Qiankun squinted, his white beard billowing in the wind.

Beside Xie Yunshen, that dignified old man’s brow furrowed. Behind him, countless sword lights intertwined, forming a moon-like disk.

“Lü Qiankun, I am a sword maniac, not an idiot!”

“Hahaha, what a difference – you’re all idiots!”

Their exchange of insults resonated across the skies.

Beyond this, powerful Dao essence clashed in the void, as if invisible tidal waves collided!

Lü Taibai, Tian Can Di Que, the two old cultivators and Underworld Yama converged.

Across Heaven and Earth, as Ji Mo Li’s blood rain continued to fall and divine energy roiled ceaselessly,

Li Che’s only regret was not obtaining Ji Mo Li’s Qian Kun Jade.

That formidable foe seemed unwilling to yield his Qian Kun Jade.

Surely, no good person would leave home without it, right?

Fortunately, Li Che’s fingers spread wide to grasp the high-grade Umbrella Spear, mercilessly drawing it into the cosmic chessboard.

In a flash of inspiration,

the Gathering Celestial Yellow Flag rattled violently, sweeping over and subduing the trembling Umbrella Spear,

as if it were paying homage.

Originally, Li Che wanted to expend more energy to suppress it; he hadn’t expected the Gathering Celestial Yellow Flag to have such an effect.

Though the Gathering Celestial Flag was now incomplete, only a fragment remained – insufficient to summon the immortals in attendance.

But the divine weapon that subdues countless celestials was more than enough.

It seemed Li Che had unlocked a new application for the Gathering Celestial Flag!

The Qian Kun plaque hovered in midair as the ancestral patriarch of Qianyuan Divine Sect stood with his hands behind his back, facing the ancestral patriarchs of the Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect and Bashu Sword Pavilion – three Divine Calamity cultivators locked in a stalemate in the void.

For a moment, the situation reached a deadlock.

Fang Han Shu continued to subdue the Dragon God Prince and the half-step Dragon God; one swallowed the Dragon Emperor Pearl while the other relied on a combined technique to achieve a half-step divine realm – a far cry from Fang Han Shu’s genuine half-step divine state.

In a direct clash, Fang Han Shu easily held his own,

while elsewhere, Azure Dragon and Ning Caishen battled relentlessly. Vermilion Bird and Baihu fought with equal ferocity,

growing ever more frantic!

Ning Caishen, Gu Cheng, and Zhao Chunqiu – who had merely been fillers – were forced into life-or-death struggles, cursing bitterly in their hearts.

They had come to be counted, only to end up fighting for their lives – the battle inducing heart-pounding terror!

Most telling of all, even Gu Changqing, Bai Buyi, and even Ji Mo Li’s impossibly powerful clone had been slain.

They were terrified too!

Xie Yunshen’s face was etched with deep despair.

“National Teacher, retreat!”

“Pull back eight hundred li! Regroup and fight again!”

On the warship, Ji Mo Li’s revived, yet deathly aura-dripping body, clad in clanging armor, stood at the bow and bellowed gravely.

Xie Yunshen glanced at Ji Mo Li.

He now understood Ji Mo Li’s meaning.

Qianyuan Divine Sect’s final trump cards had all been revealed; they all knew now.

Since they knew the cards, a strategic retreat to regroup and summon reinforcements beyond Qianyuan’s might would eventually shatter the sect!

No cost was too high!

Xie Yunshen’s brows furrowed.

BOOM!!!

“Retreat?!”

Beside Xie Yunshen, the founding patriarch of Bashu Sword Pavilion, Gu Qianchi, coldly spoke, “Why retreat?”

“Two divine calamity masters versus one divine calamity master——can’t we still win?!”

“Old Zhao, aren’t you here to absorb Qianyuan’s qi? I’ll hold back Lü Qiankun – you absorb!”

“You all clearly don’t understand the true might of a divine calamity cultivator——”

“A divine calamity cultivator is— a god!”

Gu Qianchi replied coldly.

“One divine calamity cultivator can wipe out all opposition!”

On a face marked by scarred resolve, sword light surged forward; the mists parted as outstretched arms summoned howling winds.

A tempest of countless sword blades whirled, forming a storm of blades!

Lü Qiankun’s expression grew grim; he understood Gu Qianchi’s intent.

In terms of power, Lü Qiankun surpassed both Zhao Beidou and Gu Qianchi, having broken through his divine calamity earlier. Yet if Gu Qianchi devoted himself to holding him back, it might just work.

Sword cultivators excel in combat!

“You really think I can’t take on two foes at once?”

Lü Qiankun, in his ancient robe with sleeves rolled up, spread the Minor Cavern of the Heavens wide as he advanced toward the clear-faced Gu Qianchi and Zhao Beidou!

Aiming to hold back two divine calamity masters single-handedly.

Though newly returned, Lü Qiankun had read the situation clearly.

Thanks to the Underworld’s involvement and the slaying of Ji Mo Li’s powerful clone, Qianyuan Divine Sect held the upper hand.

In these circumstances——

If he could stall the two divine calamity masters long enough, the extra half-step divine cultivators could sweep aside the Imperial Army!

Thus, Lü Qiankun, this old warrior, had thrown himself into the fray with all his might!

“Want to ruin my heritage? To destroy my Divine Sect?”

“Come on!”

Lü Qiankun spread his arms wide as the Minor Cavern of the Heavens expanded like the gaping maw of an abyss.

But then, a razor-sharp sword light surged forth.

It was as if the sky itself was cleaved open by the blade, leaving a massive gap!

Countless sword blades roared across the sky like a river of sword qi, relentlessly charging into the Minor Cavern of the Heavens as if to completely fill it!

Elsewhere, Zhao Beidou’s eyes glittered; his Dragon and Tiger robe billowed as his youthful yet cold features set into a stern scowl.

His gaze fell upon Underworld Yama, Lü Taibai, and the others.

Then he stepped forward.

With a sound akin to an ancient bell’s toll!

The terrifying cosmic might crashed down onto them with earth-shattering force, as if crushing the heavens and earth!

Lü Taibai’s Tao Calamity Sword – its blade dripping with fresh blood – now faltered; his complexion waned as he struggled to maintain it for too long————

Maintaining the Tao Calamity Sword was akin to invoking the Qimen Divine Seed – it drained all his vital energy.

Li Che, still wearing the black-and-white Yama Mask, stared coldly as he felt Zhao Beidou’s gaze on him.

“How can you ignore the threat of my divine calamity? After enduring a cataclysm for so long, how can you disregard the heavenly might I wrested?!”

Zhao Beidou said coldly.

“I’d like to know your true origins!”

Even his divine calamity state couldn’t penetrate the mystery beneath the Yama Mask!

It was truly strange – this man’s origin was a mystery!

Zhao Beidou stepped forward, his body casting multiple afterimages.

And Li Che, with a thought, saw Tian Can Di Que’s presence immediately: the half-step martial god phantom arose, letting out a long howl as he charged straight at Zhao Beidou.

“Kill!”

Li Che declared coldly.

In the distance,

the Azure Dragon roared; its body twisted and bulged oddly, while the Black Dragon swelled in an instant, charging toward Ning Caishen. In that moment——

With resounding force, its qi exploded outward – a self-detonation of flesh!

The terrifying explosion of power erupted, and it wasn’t just the Qimen Divine Seed –

its mortal body also self-destructed!

What kind of lunatic is that?!

Does he not fear death?!

Is this really how battles are fought?!

Ning Caishen howled in agony as he exploded, his divine weapon lights dimming one after another, his body torn to pieces.

Vermilion Bird and Baihu self-destructed similarly, while Gu Cheng, a sword cultivator with only average defense, was blasted into heavy injury by Vermilion Bird’s explosion, tumbling into the Grand Canal like a dumpling, blood staining the water.

And it wasn’t just them.

The two old cultivators from Tian Can Di Que, charging toward Zhao Beidou, even self-detonated their half-step martial god phantoms with a deafening explosion!

A strange glint flashed in Zhao Beidou’s eyes, but soon he smiled.

Self-detonation?

A mere parlor trick – not true half-step divine calamity self-detonation.

Even if a true half-step divine calamity self-destructs, for those of divine calamity strength, what difference would it make?

The essence of life differed too greatly – utterly negligible.

Atop Daocheng’s city wall,

Li Che, in his Underworld Yama form, seamlessly shifted with Ma Mian’s form.

He now stood upon the back of Little Yinglong King.

Slowly, he removed Ma Mian’s mask to reveal a face of honest simplicity.

Then——

He produced a Divine Eagle Sculpture.

The Divine Eagle was carved as——

a dog.

It was none other than Big Black Dog.

Not fully completed, merely a half-finished work.

But——

With a loyal companion by his side, it was more than enough!

Li Che patted Little Yinglong King, whose mechanical markings flashed as he roared like a true divine dragon, then flapped his wings and soared upward at breakneck speed with Li Che riding on his back!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Countless waves shivered as they shattered under the assault, with raging winds and tumultuous surges!

Li Che’s dark robe billowed; he stood upright like an unyielding spear!

His five fingers closed around a Carving Knife.

It lightly settled upon Big Black Dog’s Divine Eagle Sculpture.

Tear…

In that moment, Heaven and Earth seemed to fall into an eerie silence.

Accompanied by the tearing sound of spirit wood being ripped apart—

an explosion rang out across the skies!

At that instant, within Li Che’s chest, his 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit pulsed with energy!

The calamity of the Holy Hand Divine Eagle!

It was unleashed by Li Che with a thunderous force!

Above the firmament, due to the emergence of three divine calamity masters, the nearly descending dark clouds were held at bay.

The onslaught of calamity thunder continued.

It seemed that at this very moment, all the stored thunder would no longer wait – it descended at once!

BOOM!!!

Countless thunderclaps roared across the Heavenly Dome!

Heaven and Earth raged in anger!

Divine calamity fell back!