Chapter 358: He in the Heart of All Beings

Chapter 358: He in the Heart of All Beings

An ancient Golden Peng appeared in the world, its body like a statue cast in gold, radiating a surging golden divine light, majestic as a deity.

Its form was not enormous, but when it spread its wings, a blurred world appeared behind it. Within it, a colossal being emerged, its wings like clouds stretching across the sky, bearing the cosmos and stars, traversing the chaotic sea.

—That was its true form!

The ancient Golden Peng let out a long cry and struck in an instant. With one claw, space distorted and collapsed, grasping the radiant divine body that had fallen from infinite heights. It charged toward the Four Guardian Stars without hesitation.

"Kill!"

When the Golden Peng, the guardian of Mu Shitian, revealed itself, Wu Zhou did not even glance at it. As his gaze fell, the threads of fate and time were as clear as the lines on a palm.

He took a step, and myriad phenomena followed. With a single breath, a myriad of divine powers blossomed, shining like stars exploding in the universe, weaving an eternal brilliance. He struck at the place where the Golden Peng had appeared with a single blow!

This was just the beginning.

No one knew better than Wu Zhou how difficult and troublesome Mu Shitian could be.

Even a mere mental projection could summon the complete might of his former peak!

Myriad divine powers blossomed, shattering the star rivers and plunging into the Ocean of Minds, stirring up vast currents, allowing Wu Zhou to see the deeper scenes.

It was a stone statue hidden within a speck of dust!

The ancient Golden Peng had perched on the shoulder of this stone statue earlier.

At this moment, the stone statue raised its head, exuding a profound Zen aura, with a spotless lotus blooming at its feet.

But at the same time, a surging killing intent arose, as if it bore the calamity of ending all life, making even Wu Zhou take notice!

Everything moved in unison.

The heavens and earth suddenly dimmed, and a five-colored light split the sky, forming an infinite, five-colored grinding wheel in the cosmos, slowly turning and crushing all anomalies in the world, pressing down upon Wu Zhou's head!

At this very moment.

Some of the True Saints from various realms also made their move.

The True Saints had sensed the changes in the timeline, and some had deduced what had just happened based on the current scene.

The only mystery was who had struck 01 down to the mortal world.

But this did not stop the True Saints from adding to the chaos.

The Yanhuang Federation's current goal was clear: to invite the Four Demons into the Four Guardian Stars.

While they would not directly engage in battle, some were not averse to fanning the flames and aiding the cause.

They also wanted to see what traps lay within the Four Guardian Stars.

Xuan Chongyang's gaze was sharp as he looked at the source of the divine power. The old peacock from Wu De Palace had refused their invitation but was now making a move?

A white fist appeared silently, space meaningless before it. The fist's edge depicted the vastness of heaven and earth, the primordial universe, and all living things within it, none of which were more than ants.

Even the Four Demons were no exception!

This fist was heavier than the combined mass of a universe. The fist imprint soared through the air, descending heavily upon the true body of the ancient deity, sending massive waves of energy rippling outward.

A series of ten punches followed, each one landing, although not wounding the deity, but making it difficult for it to break free, causing it to fall continuously!

"Damn, it's so hard! Harder than the old turtle's shell in Dode Palace!"

Among the True Saints, someone cursed, clearly muffling their voice, not even using divine power, but striking with their physical body.

It was widely acknowledged in the realms that engaging the Four Demons, especially in a battle with 01, was not worth it. Not only could they not injure 01 at its core, but they might even reveal their own fundamental Dao.

"I'll give it a try."

A cold voice rang out.

A black and gold alloy staff suddenly pierced through the Greater Universe, like a white jade pillar supporting the sky, a purple gold beam bridging the sea.

Someone had manifested their Dharmakaya, projecting it into the Greater Universe, and swung the staff, flattening the heavens and earth, dispelling the fog for miles!

The heavens lost their sound, and the earth lost its color!

One force to break all laws!

At the same time, the ancient deity, having fallen to the mortal world, calmly broke free. With a thought, a colorful long river appeared, layers of floating light and feathers surrounding it, trapping the ancient Golden Peng.

Then,

He flicked his finger.

A thunderous sound echoed through the universe, shaking the Eight Lands. The descending staff suddenly rebounded, soaring high.

A cold snort sounded.

It was a valiant man in battle armor, raising the staff to the sky, standing like a pillar in the center of heaven and earth, supporting the vast starry sky.

The spirit of supporting the sky and the strength to do so were concentrated at the tip of the staff. One swing of the staff seemed to collapse the nine layers of heaven.

The space beneath the staff did not have a chance to shatter; it vanished in an instant, leaving a brilliant trace in the cosmos, illuminating eternity!

This was an invincible might, even when facing the First of the Four Evils, this one had the spirit to overpower.

After two consecutive strikes, this one's spirit surged, ignoring the warnings of Xuan Chongyang and others behind him, and took a step into the Greater Universe, engaging in true form combat!

"Long have I heard your name, but never seen you in person. Let me see if the First of the Four Evils lives up to the name!"

He roared, and the star sea around him exploded instantly, forcing his True Saint body into the Greater Universe!

If not for the current descent of the Four Demons, he would never have had the chance to manifest his true form.

But even at that moment, he still instantly faced the compression and backlash of the Cosmic Mandate.

This made the True Saint frown, his gaze fixed on the battlefield opened by the Yanhhuang Federation. Without hesitation, he swung his staff, forcing 01 to enter the world evolved by the Four Guardians.

Soon.

Another divine sun rose.

An ancient-level True Saint stepped forward, crossing through layers of void, and calmly entered the Great Universe. He ignored Wu Zhou and directly entered the Four Guardians.

"The old saint from the Sun God Palace..."

Someone whispered.

"Is he following the ancient Sun God, Chi Wan Yang?"

"Xi Dao You was too rash, actually directly charging into the Great Universe to fight that fiend."

"The situation is getting more chaotic." Someone said gravely, "Haven't you noticed? To this day, the Yanhhuang Federation has not revealed their trump card!"

"Isn't the Four Guardians their trump card?"

Suddenly.

"This is..."

Many eyes were fixed on the white, jade-like hand that emerged from the void.

The True Saint Xi Yingzhen from the City of Order had unleashed his true power, battling the First of the Four Evils, 01. Suddenly, a figure appeared behind 01.

It did not cross over from another dimension but came from a nearby star domain of the Yanhhuang Federation, its aura hidden, almost undetectable. It extended a large hand and slapped it down with force, as if swatting a fly.

The crowd's eyebrows shot up, shocked by the crude and thug-like move.

"It's the one from the Shengmiao!"

"The rumors are true. Such vile habits; this person must be one of the three pathbreakers, Bihai Lao Dao!"

Witnessing this hidden figure slap the ancient deity, causing divine light to ripple and disperse, several of the Supreme Beings present turned pale, memories of past grievances resurfacing.

At the same moment.

Following Xi Yingzhen from the City of Order, a second True Saint joined the battlefield.

The old ancestor from the Shengmiao cursed, "You surnamed Ta, I will beat you to death today, you damn brat, for blocking my path back then!"

Struck by the slap that extinguished the divine light in his mind, the ancient deity, who had remained silent throughout, seemed to be enraged. Numerous divine realm shadows appeared around him, and in anger, he struck back, engaging the two True Saints and an ancient Golden Peng.

The four quickly entered the battlefield of the Four Guardians.

A True Saint with sharp eyes tried to peer through the void to glimpse the depths of the Four Guardians but saw nothing.

The Chifa Daoren and Shizun had entered it one after the other, but no news had come out yet.

Some people began to grow restless.

Some attacked Wu Zhou, who was still outside the battlefield, trying to force him into the fray, so they could all advance and retreat together.

The battle was intense, and the void boiled. Wu Zhou, who had remained outside, instantly faced attacks from multiple directions.

His gaze never left the stone statue, and suddenly, he threw back his head and laughed loudly:

"Mu Shitian! Turning from a Buddha to a demon, is this the answer you found?!"

"Yes, yes, why go through such trouble? Even if you suffer through countless lifetimes, I have tasted it for you. Now, it is time for me to personally guide you into the path of the Vacuum Heavenly Demon!"

Facing the attacks of many Supreme Beings, Wu Zhou neither retreated nor avoided. The void, the Great Dao, and all tangible and intangible things around him could not touch him.

For a moment, the powerful Dao forces from all directions were kept at bay.

This was because Wu Zhou was standing in the Yin Sea!

Shizun, who had entered the Four Guardians with the Chifa Daoren, suddenly appeared behind him, transforming from a Buddha to a demon in a single thought.

In an instant, it seemed like the end of the Dharma.

Wu Zhou, standing here, aligned with the essence of the Yin Sea, continuously plundering the fundamental essence of the universe.

Invisible waves rippled around him, the sound of the tide combined with his whispers, like the most terrifying delirium, entering the ears of all sentient beings, stirring the restless thoughts deep in their hearts.

The stone statue finally opened its eyes, raised its head, and with a compassionate expression, chanted, soothing the hearts of all beings:

"Good and evil are the nature of the heart, but the movement of the mind is without good or evil."

Wu Zhou's two forms merged, allowing the Yin Sea to engulf his body while protecting himself with the Vacuum Great Dao. He took a step forward and laughed:

"Shitian Dao You, come and witness the 'Vacuum Heavenly Demon Dao' I have cultivated for ten thousand years!"

When heaven and man turn to demons, it becomes the Vacuum Heavenly Demon, neither real nor false, the ultimate clarity!

A vast and ethereal golden dharma body rose, and the numerous stars in the Yanhhuang Federation's territory were but a speck beneath its feet.

Draped in white, with white hair standing tall between heaven and earth, his body glows like white jade, pure as crystal, exuding a divine aura and boundless Daoic charm. A black lotus slowly rotates at his brow, symbolizing the end of all phenomena.

At this moment,

Wuzhou stands atop the You Hai, towering infinitely, a vast Daoic power surging heavenward, permeating the cosmos and stirring the Flow of Time. It seems as if tens of thousands of "springs" have emerged in the universe, splashing ripples of countless water droplets. These ripples are both from the Flow of Time and the You Hai.

With each breath, a torrent of white vapor, like a cluster of dragons, emerges from his pores, splitting the heavens and giving birth to the Three-Thousand Worlds.

Even the most powerful beings of various realms find him unreachable, as if they are witnessing the pinnacle of Dao!

This is the —— Heaventian Demon True Body! The pinnacle form of a Heaventian Demon, just a step away from transcending!

Heaventian Demon Wuzhou, Daoist name Wuzhou Myriad Forms.

For three thousand years, Dao has declined, and he is the most flamboyant figure in the mortal world.

The faces of the True Saints observing from other realms suddenly turned grim. After Wuzhou merged with the You Hai using a mysterious technique, he has seemingly achieved perfect harmony with the Great Dao!

If he were to fully merge with the You Hai, he might ascend to the Ninth Realm of Transcendence in one go and be no weakling even at that realm.

For a moment, even the True Saints who were merely spectating became restless, their expressions grave, ready to intervene at any moment.

The stone statue deep within the You Hai sighed deeply:

"Three-Thousand Worlds, myriad phenomena, why must you encompass all and reduce them to one form?"

The numerous Supreme Beings who were about to attack simultaneously halted, their auras locking onto the stone statue. Could it be Mu Shi Tian?!

Is he not dead?

Or has he returned from his tribulations?

"Three Enclosures and Four Symbols, Reverse-all-Life Great Array, did you truly believe we had no foresight? Your Ji brother had already given us a clear briefing."

Wuzhou suddenly smiled, his smile filled with unbridled joy.

"Traversing countless realms, meeting you all is both my fortune and your misfortune!"

In the next moment,

Wuzhou pointed a finger, the black lotus at his brow becoming even deeper and more profound. A lotus flower quickly bloomed at his fingertip, not one of purity and emptiness, but filled with the power of destruction.

The Heaventian Demon Lotus!

The moment this lotus appeared, the You Hai approached the mortal world.

Wuzhou used the Heaventian Demon Lotus as a catalyst, mobilizing a third of the You Hai's immense power, swallowing everything around him, Dao Rules, and stars.

The Dharmakaya standing between heaven and earth slowly pressed down a palm, and the stone statue in the You Hai disintegrated on the spot, with almost no resistance.

"Daoist friend Shi Tian, I don't believe this is your only move," Wuzhou said calmly. "If the Yanhuang Lianhe only had this preparation, it is truly disappointing."

Just as Wuzhou's palm extinguished the residual consciousness of Mu Shi Tian left in the world,

Countless sword lights surged from the direction of the Four Guardian Stars!

The Crimson-haired and Blood-cloaked cultivator, expressionless, took a step forward. Behind him, a Dao Tu slowly rotated, encompassing the Three-Thousand Daoic Paths, all leading to oblivion, known as the Kill 3000 Dao Map!

This map is not yet fully refined, but it has already become the central hub of the Four Slayer Swords.

With the Dao Tu's enhancement, the four swords merged, their sword qi sweeping across, and kill intent piercing through heaven and earth. In a short time, they breached the Three Enclosures and Four Symbols Array prepared by the Federation on the Four Guardian Stars, breaking through directly.

"You four are disappointing, far too far from He Donghuang and Mu Shi Tian," the Crimson-haired and Blood-cloaked cultivator's gaze was cold and severe. "Crimson Wan Yang, come to your death!"

At this moment, he stood tall between heaven and earth, his form growing even larger, his Dharmakaya and True Body merging, each strand of his crimson hair entwined with boundless souls.

A blood-red river, nearly as vast as the Flow of Time, roared beneath his feet, the kill intent so overwhelming that it could shatter heaven and earth.

At this moment,

Two beings, infinitely close to transcending, displayed their peak forms, their auras rising boundlessly, causing the entire Great Universe to tremble.

All things in the world, from the smallest blade of grass to the tallest tree, bowed in submission under this aura, feeling immense pressure.

Even the True Saints of other realms were now gravely serious.

After many years of not "seeing" each other, these boundary-defying beings had further elevated their realms. Although they haven't yet reached transcendence, they are infinitely close, surpassing most of those present by more than a step.

These two, merely with their True Bodies descending, are continuously "infecting" the Great Dao, Dao-ifying the universe.

If left unchecked, the Great Universe will eventually become their pasture.

With such "realms," how can the Yanhuang Lianhe fight?

Ke Qing Xiu's previous words were arrogant, but now, the four of them, relying on the Three Enclosures and Four Symbols Array empowered by the Great Universe's intent, couldn't hold on for long and were forcefully penetrated by the Crimson-haired and Blood-cloaked cultivator!

As for the leader of the Four Demons, [Da Yi], who was entangled by the old ancestor of the Shengmiao and Xi Yingzhen, it is unknown where they have fought to.

"Daoist friend Shi Tian, do you not wish to see me?" Wuzhou's expression was regretful. "Then I will force you to come out and see me."

With a flip of his palm, the Dharmakaya seized control of the surrounding starry sky!

Even the Great Universe's intent was briefly expelled!

The Reverse-all-Life Great Array, empowered by the Great Universe's intent, now trembled violently!

Wuzhou pointed a finger, the black lotus rotated and fell, countless dark lotuses blooming in the sky, piercing through the Reverse-all-Life Array and appearing before the eyes of countless Federal Subjects.

Flower Blooms to Reveal Me

"Since you won't come out, I will turn your billions of Federal Subjects into a brand new 'Wuzhou'. I want to see how long you can endure this!"

Wuzhou unleashed one of his life-bound divine skills, assimilating the myriad beings before him. His gaze was cold, yet filled with madness. As he merged with the Dark Ocean, he was also being eroded by it—a double-edged sword.

With the Yanhuan Federation at the center, the surrounding civilizations were instantly turned into Wuzhou's "pasture."

And this was merely the ripple and aftermath of the Dao.

The true focus of the assault was the Federal Territories, where the Reverse-all-Life Great Array was on the verge of collapse.

In a moment, Wuzhou's gaze swept over countless faces, searching for the traces of Mushi Tian's thoughts.

Witnessing this scene, some of the supreme beings observing from afar sighed lightly and prepared to intervene.

But soon, they found someone blocking them, which made their expressions turn grim.

"Brother Xuanyang, what do you mean by this?"

"Why should any of you get involved in the Yanhuan Federation's mess? Let's just watch and wait together."

In an instant, the strong beings across various realms formed several opposing factions.

Even those who were inclined to help the Federation found it difficult to act immediately.

Xuan Zhongyang and a group of supreme beings did not wish to interfere in the Federation's affairs and did not allow other strong beings to do so, coldly watching as the Federation faced destruction.

At this moment,

A Buddha chant echoed through the heavens and earth.

Do you really want to see me so badly?

It was like the evening drum and the morning bell, or a sudden enlightenment.

It seemed like a sigh, or a gentle breeze, sweeping over the cloud peaks, crossing mountains and valleys, and finally arriving unexpectedly, dispersing all the cries and laments of the world.

Wuzhou's expression changed abruptly, for this voice seemed to come from the depths of his own heart!

He immediately examined himself, searching for any seeds that Mushi Tian might have planted, but found nothing.

At this moment,

Not only Wuzhou, but also the Crimson-haired and Blood-cloaked cultivator, was on high alert.

Because the Four Guardian Stars, which he had shattered with a single sword strike, were now intact!

A pure, crystal-clear Dao light bloomed deep within the Four Guardian Stars, not scorching or intense, yet it turned the entire starry sky into a vast white expanse.

The gentle and vibrant life force seemed to spread from the depths of the void, like wild grass and vines pushing through the wilderness, growing freely.

The wind blew, and the green waves, which rose and fell without their own will, surged toward the distant horizon, vast and boundless, leaving a profound impact on the heart.

The Crimson-haired and Blood-cloaked cultivator suddenly realized that when life force was vibrant enough, it could also exude such...

Majesty!

Xuan Zhongyang's face also turned grim. The Yanhuan Federation still had a trump card? Truly, a centipede does not die even when it's dead!

No matter how Wuzhou searched, he could not find Mushi Tian's true form.

Where was he?

He was in the hearts of all beings.

At this moment,

Wuzhou finally saw it.

Deep within the profound and boundless Soul Ocean, a God Realm Pure Land spanned from the depths to the outer layers, towering majestically, illuminating the boundless realms with its Buddha light, which pierced through layers of void, cleansing the darkness and chaos along its path, with the sound of chanting lingering in the air.

A towering divine tree, reaching from the heavens to the earth, stood in the Dark Ocean, as if supporting its weight.

Its branches and leaves were lush, with radiant sun wheels seemingly traveling through them, and divine birds adorned with light. Such a magnificent scene was hard to distinguish between reality and illusion.

Under the Bodhi Tree,

Someone opened their palm.

The vast Federal Territories, smaller than a mustard seed, were held within it, protected in his hand.

Even the grand and majestic Heavenly Demon True Body Dharmakaya, which spanned the heavens and earth, was as small as a mustard seed in this palm.

He was in the hearts of all beings.

All beings were in his palm.

At this moment, a sword light slashed out, as if severing the connection between heaven and earth, with a shocking killing force, Dao Sha 3000!

Before Wuzhou could act, the Crimson-haired and Blood-cloaked cultivator, also contained within the palm, combined his four swords and unleashed the Dao Sha 3000 diagram, attacking Mushi Tian's Dharmakaya with all his might.

Even the supreme beings across the realms felt a chill down their spines from this strike.

It was this very strike that had previously split open the universe created by the Four Guardian Stars!

In an instant, before Mushi Tian could act, two sword lights simultaneously slashed out—one aggressive like fire, the other domineering like the will of heaven;

Another sword light cut through the boundaries of the void, and finally, a flame of fire ignited at the highest point of the starry sky, like a beacon spreading across the eight directions and myriad realms!

The four figures who had perished with the Four Guardian Stars reappeared, working together to fend off the Crimson-haired and Blood-cloaked cultivator's all-out attack.

Compared to before, the aura of these four individuals was completely different, all of them reaching the True Saint level!

"Fight!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end