Chapter 316: Of Course It's Me!

Chapter 316: Of Course It's Me!

In the Sky Palace, the copper bells hanging from the eaves swayed gently, reflecting the colorful heavenly light. A staircase, built from the clouds, led directly to the heavens, and a mirage dragon could be faintly seen swimming in the sea of clouds.

No matter how long one gazed at this palace, the people of Dong3 Huang Xing felt as if they were in a dream.

As one of the Nine Palaces, this Sky Palace was specially prepared for Ji Jingqiu, a grand arena for his 'Dao Field.'

Not only was Ji Jingqiu present here, but there were also some guests from the Hundred Veins.

At this moment, four figures approached from the four directions of the palace, each with a divine treasure suspended above their heads, concealing their presence and movements. They were determined not to give this prey any chance of escape.

All four were elders, some tall and robust, others thin and gaunt, but all exuded an air of solemnity. Their aura, as if holding the power of life and death, was both majestic and indifferent. They communicated silently through their minds.

For this hunt of Ji Jingqiu, the Four Divine Temples attached great importance, sending most of their current top experts. Besides these four Great Heavenly Rank elders, there were also dozens of Tianren who had already infiltrated Dong3 Huang Xing as backup for the Blood Ritual.

When the Four Divine Temples were at their peak, these four elders were also candidates for the Grand Bishop. They had survived the trials of Wind, Fire, and Thunder, and were just a step away from Tianren Yuwan.

"The Blood Ritual is ready. We just need to capture Ji Jingqiu, and our believers scattered across the lands will take action. We will perform the Blood Ritual here to welcome the arrival of our Shenzhu," said one of the elders, his voice calm as he communicated through his mind to the other three.

This elder was named Kun Tai'A. Ji Jingqiu had killed Kun Qian Zhou, his ancestor, who had once been full of promise, especially after receiving the blessings of the Shenzhu. But everything had come to an end on the Huang Tian Gu Road.

Among the four present, Kun Tai'A held the strongest desire to kill Ji Jingqiu, his killing intent the most intense.

The elder from the east nodded, his name was Xuan Gu Tong, and he was the leader of this operation:

"I've contacted Fang Yu, and he has obtained the grasp of the Heavenly Heart. He can seal Ji Jingqiu's 'Omnipresence' at any time."

Another Great Heavenly Rank elder spoke up:

"This person is the reincarnation of a Tian Wang. His thoughts are intricate and unpredictable, making him difficult to deal with. We must be prepared. Also, there are those from Yanfutuo, and they are not benevolent. The contract may not be enough to bind them."

Xuan Gu Tong smiled and said, "No worries. After we capture Ji Jingqiu, we'll perform the Blood Ritual right here. We won't fear any other schemes he might have. Once our Shenzhu arrives, what does it matter if Tian Wang cultivates again? He will still have to bow and submit. At that time, he will be one of us."

He looked up at the majestic Sky Palace at the end of the cloud staircase, his eyes filled with anticipation:

"According to Fang Yu, this child is currently in deep seclusion within the palace. I'm waiting to enter and finish this quickly, not giving others a chance to interfere. After the Blood Ritual, we can all rely on the divine power of our Shenzhu to advance further!"

Kun Tai'A's voice was cold as he said, "A group of Small Heavens Rank and Zhongtianwei, what does it matter if they interfere? They'll just be additional sacrifices for the Blood Ritual."

Xuan Gu Tong's voice was grave as he said, "If we can avoid complications, let's not create them! Federal warriors have very intricate methods. Recently, a warrior who had just broken through to the Great Heavenly Rank managed to stop Gu Yunjian!"

Including Kun Tai'A, the others all furrowed their brows slightly.

Gu Yunjian, mentioned by Xuan Gu Tong, was one of the Tianren Yuwan warriors from the Four Divine Temples.

Currently, including the Four Divine Temples, many of the Four Divine Believers' powers in the Grand Universe were stationed at the Federal Border.

If not for the Twelve Divine Lords of the Federal, who were willing to sacrifice themselves to guard the present world, these forces would have already invaded.

In recent trials, they attempted to gather all their Tianren Yuwan forces to attack a single location, hoping to create a breach.

But in the end, they were still intercepted at the border by the Federal forces.

The Federal's main force was a White Robed Priest, suspected to be the Shenxuan of the Federal Four Divine Lords, whose abilities were unfathomable.

Apart from that, there were also the Great Heavenly Rank warriors of the Federal.

Among them was Yin Tianping from the Pure Yang Dao, who, despite having just entered the Great Heavenly Rank, managed to stop Gu Yunjian, a Tianren Yuwan!

Up to this point, their Tianren Yuwan had been firmly restrained by the Federal warriors on the front battlefield.

The reason these individuals were able to infiltrate Dong3 Huang Xing was threefold: first, their lower cultivation bases would not cause ripples in the Youhai, preventing detection; second, Dong3 Huang Xing was already on the Federal border; and third, the 'instructions' of the Shenzhu.

This operation was initiated by the Shenzhu, hoping to use Dong3 Huang Xing as a springboard to open a passage to the present world.

It was also because of this that, up until now, their journey had been smooth, as if guided by destiny.

Suddenly, Xuan Gu Tong said, "Fang Yu has made the preparations. Let's make our move!"

The four figures vanished from their original spots and took a step into the palace.

Unexpectedly, the person within the palace was already standing with his hands behind his back, as if he had been waiting for their congratulations for a long time.

Had he sensed their approach despite their joint concealment, or had he discovered them earlier?

The four were slightly surprised.

It wasn't too shocking, after all, as he was a Shenjin.

Xuan Gu Tong's eyebrows suddenly furrowed, sensing that the aura of this child was very peculiar. It was as if the person standing before them was not just one person, but an entire world and ocean.

Under such an aura, Ji Jingqiu's smile seemed playful, but there was also a sense of transcendence and otherworldliness.

He said, "You are already surrounded by me. Those who do not surrender today will be killed. Those who surrender will also be killed. Those who kneel and beg for mercy may be spared, but only temporarily."

"Upon hearing these reckless words, Xuan Gu Tong was momentarily perplexed and uncertain. He communicated with Fang Yu through his mind, asking if anything was amiss, only to meet Ji Jingqiu's gaze, which seemed to be a smile yet not quite.

Fang Yu's response of "no issues" eased Xuan Gu Tong's worries.

Standing nearby, Kun Tai'A's expression darkened, and he shouted, "Nonsense! Attack! Don't give him any chance to struggle!"

This decisive move, even with sufficient restraint, emanated a sword intent powerful enough to sever stars. It swirled around his body, causing an even more formidable celestial tremor!

Using his finger as a sword, the sword intent surged like a galaxy, crushing everything in its path. With cold eyes, he watched how Ji Jingqiu would respond.

Ji Jingqiu narrowed his eyes as the sword intent, capable of slicing through everything, rushed towards him. Yet, he remained unmoved, his robe fluttering in the wind, allowing the sword intent to brush past him as if he were a pillar standing firm in the midst of a raging river of sword intent.

The next moment, the sword mysteriously bypassed Ji Jingqiu!

This sight caused Kun Tai'A's expression to freeze, a hint of disbelief flashing in his eyes.

Did he miss?

Was this a joke?!

When he made his move, he had locked onto this boy with his mind and sword intent, yet the boy showed no signs of struggling, not even attempting to break free.

Either he was willingly offering his neck or was so arrogant that he intended to block the attack with his physical body.

Regardless, Kun Tai'A didn't care; he only trusted the sword in his hand.

But now...

Xuan Gu Tong, standing by his side, almost distorted his voice as he spoke, "Unreachable!"

The higher one's cultivation, the greater the gap. Between a Tian Wang and a Tian Ren, just mentioning the characteristic of 'Unreachable' sets them apart as beings of different levels.

'Unreachable' spans the vastness of the universe with the breadth of one's mind, making even the most distant places seem within arm's reach.

Without mastering this characteristic, no one can escape before a Tian Wang.

And this is just the first marvel of 'Unreachable'.

The second marvel is that, like Ji Jingqiu at this moment, he seems to be here, yet he is 'Unreachable', becoming one with the void!

Without mastering the power of the same level, without a Tian Wang-level divine weapon to suppress the void, all attacks are difficult to hit, only falling into the void!

This is the characteristic of a Tian Wang. Without standing on the same level, one doesn't even have the qualifications to engage in battle, let alone the possibility of being surpassed by a lower-level opponent!

Almost immediately, Xuan Gu Tong contacted Fang Yu through their mental connection.

However, there was no response.

Fang Yu, who had been in constant communication and guiding their route, now showed no reaction to Xuan Gu Tong's questions and urgings.

This caused Xuan Gu Tong's brows to furrow, a sense of foreboding rising within him.

Kun Tai'A shouted decisively, "Impossible! He has just entered the Tian Ren realm; how could he possibly have mastered 'Unreachable'? This state does not exist independently; it requires other Tian Wang characteristics to complement and support it!"

Whether it was true or not, it had to be 'fake' at this moment!

He activated the resonance of the divine weapon behind him, transforming it into a transparent sword. Forged from eternal ice, its appearance, the cold air turned into white mist, quickly freezing the surroundings into an eternally frozen land.

Kun Tai'A gripped the divine weapon with a speed that seemed slow yet was actually swift. The oppressive feeling was like a storm, and his aura instantly reached its peak!

The sword's ring resembled a dragon's roar, carrying an endless deep cold capable of freezing an entire planet, all contained within a single point, freezing the void along its path!

With just this move, he was confident he could suppress Ji Jingqiu's incomplete 'Unreachable'!

However, in that instant, he was horrified to find Ji Jingqiu had disappeared right in front of him. Even with his mental probing, he couldn't sense anything!

Was this truly 'Unreachable'?

What was Fang Yu, who claimed to be a Tian Wang, doing?

All that remained before him was a towering 'Heaven and Earth' and a voice.

"Never mind, I'm done playing."

The voice sounded somewhat disinterested, as if he had just gotten excited but now found his opponents too weak, leaving him unenthusiastic.

"If this were outside the Dong3 Huang Xing, I might still have some interest in showing you a thing or two."

Kun Tai'A felt enraged, "You little thief, don't you dare..."

Before he could finish, his pupils reflected a burst of dawn's light, like the rising sun, 'Unreachable', making him feel as if he were being illuminated, inside and out, with no secrets left.

No.

This was... the light of a blade?

The blade's light illuminated everything, and its might was overwhelmingly domineering!

Before Kun Tai'A could react, the blade pierced through his Tian Ren body, directly severing it in his inner world.

The boundless light, bright enough to eclipse all the world's radiance, burst forth, illuminating the dark void, consuming his mind, inner world, and melting away everything.

In an instant, Kun Tai'A's inner world became riddled with a thousand wounds and a hundred holes. Golden-tinged crimson seeped from every pore and orifice, and strands of scorching light silently burned away everything.

He slowly turned his head, as if to say something to the others, but as he opened his mouth, his body crumbled into a cloud of dust.

There was no earth-shattering explosion.

In the blink of an eye, everything was silently wiped out.

This scene only made the three of them shudder in fear.

A Great Heavenly Rank cultivator, who had already passed through the three calamities of Wind, Fire, and Thunder, and was just a hair's breadth away from achieving Tianren Yuwan, was now dead?

Ji Jingqiu revealed his teeth and laughed, "Not running away?"

"If you don't run, how will the world know that my Wu Suo Bu Zhi has reached the level of Tianwang Zongshi?"

"And how would you know that Ji, has become invincible in this world?"

In an instant, their faces turned from crimson to deathly pale, and only they themselves knew how their hearts had flipped and turned several times.

"What a quick change of face!" Ji Jingqiu applauded.

Xuan Gu Tong suddenly rose, waving his sleeves and sweeping the people behind him, throwing them out of the Dao Palace, and proactively blocking Ji Jingqiu, roaring like thunder:

"I'll stop him, you all retreat! Inform others, this person is invincible in this world, and has manifested near Tianwang on Dong3 Huang Xing with some mysterious and unpredictable means! When facing this person, it's absolutely impossible to fight on Dong3 Huang Xing!"

He stomped his foot, attempting to overturn the entire Dao Palace, but this strike, powerful enough to shatter stars, had no effect. It was as if his stomp hadn't landed on solid ground but had been transferred to the void.

Ji Jingqiu appeared without warning in front of Xuan Gu Tong.

"You're blocking me?"

Amidst the mocking laughter, a palm pressed down, as if the sky itself was collapsing.

Xuan Gu Tong's heart nearly burst with rage. He could destroy the void with a snap of his fingers, but he had never witnessed the sky itself pressing down!

Was this Wu Suo Bu Zhi?

His eyes widened in fury, but before he could unleash his power, he was solidified in place by Ji Jingqiu, pressed down with immense force, and could only watch helplessly as that slender, fair-skinned hand pressed down, and along with it, the entire 'sky' overturned!

The wind howled and clouds surged, and the Qi swept across the land.

They heard a deafening roar from behind.

The two who had been thrown out of the hall looked utterly defeated. In perfect harmony, they fled left and right, escaping towards the vast universe beyond.

In the blink of an eye, one of them had already used over ten escape secret arts, but no matter how he tried, the void that he could previously tear apart with a snap of his fingers was now like an impenetrable wall, impossible to surpass!

He could only frantically flee towards the universe, and in the blink of an eye, he was nearly at the edge of the universe, but a blade of light dragged the clouds and struck him down just a step away from escape!

The other person's face turned deathly pale. He knew that Ji Jingqiu was deliberately toying with them. Seeing no chance of escape, he suddenly descended, running for his life, and roared his message across the world, notifying all the hidden Tianren Wuzhe on their side:

"Run, run! Retreat quickly! This person is invincible in this world, comparable to Tianwang on Dong3 Huang Xing, and cannot be defeated! When facing this person, it's impossible to—"

Before he could finish his words,

The sky rumbled with dull thunder, striking deep into everyone's hearts. Even the powerful Tianren, who had cultivated the Sacred Embryo, couldn't help but tremble.

A strand of blade light, like snow, suddenly descended without warning, splitting the heavens and illuminating the withering and flourishing of all things.

This blade light filled the void ahead, engulfing the Great Heavenly Rank cultivator who had just escaped.

"I'll stop here, any more words would be impolite."

Laughter echoed in the sky amidst the swirling clouds.

For ten breaths, boundless light rose within the infinite void, illuminating a corner of the universe and also lighting up everyone's hearts, astonishing the world.

After ten breaths, the blade light dissipated, and the shattered void began to repair itself, but there was no trace of the Great Heavenly Rank cultivator's figure or aura.

On Dong3 Huang Xing, numerous Tianren Wuzhe from the scattered Sishendian across the land stood in a daze, their faces blank.

What does it mean to be invincible in this world, comparable to Tianwang?

A newly ascended Tianren, who hadn't even stabilized his Small Heavenly Rank, no matter how talented, what could he possibly have to cross that immeasurable gap and stand shoulder to shoulder with Tianwang?

But in just a moment,

The blade light swept across the sky, slaying the Great Heavenly Rank cultivator who had just escaped, and the light illuminated everyone's faces, making them deathly pale, cold sweat dripping.

Almost instantly, everyone snapped awake, realizing they had stepped into a desperate situation.

Someone tried to threaten with the countless ordinary people around, but before he could act, a finger stretched out from the void, omnipresent, pointing at their foreheads, imbued with endless light and heat.

In an instant, they were burned to ashes.

Most of the Tianren went crazy, frantically scattering and fleeing towards the universe beyond!

— According to the previous person, Ji Jingqiu's invincibility relied on Dong3 Huang Xing, though they didn't know the details, but for now, this was their only hope!

At that moment,

Dozens of blade lights rose from the ground.

Countless people on Dong3 Huang Xing looked up, seeing the blade lights tearing through the sky, illuminating the dark and deep universe beyond, and pulling down Tianren one by one.

In that moment, "rain" fell upon the mortal world.

...

In the Taian Urban Area,

Huang Zhiyan put down her wine glass. The days on Dong3 Huang Xing were dull, and she could only pass the time with alcohol.

She looked up at the commotion above, and murmured,

"What's the point of provoking him? People fear death, but if you're not afraid, why run? And what does it mean to be invincible in this world?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end