The commotion caused by the Undying Netherworld Emperor this time was truly immense, affecting a full fifteen nations.
Dongbo Xueying and other Cosmic Deities, though not as perceptive as those at the ‘Ultimate Realm,’ could still sense the operation of that colossal formation. Even some Chaos Realms closer to those fifteen nations could perceive it.
“What is this?” Dongbo Xueying, who had been sitting beneath a pavilion, suddenly stood up, gazing into the distant void.
Using his Void Piercing technique to observe, he saw a great calamity unfolding at the edge of the Heartworld Continent. He looked at one city and saw countless souls. Another city revealed yet more struggling souls. An uncountable number of souls blotted out the sky as they flew.
“Lord of Swords, do you know what’s happening?” Dongbo Xueying sent a message to the Lord of Swords and also inquired with his master, the Monarch of the Southern Cloud Nation. After all, his Void Piercing technique could only observe one place at a time.
“Hmm?”
He finally saw it.
Following that terrifying aura, he traced it to its source.
There lay the massive corpse of a four-legged beast, bound by sixteen bronze pillars and chains. Above it swirled three enormous black vortices, within which souls wailed in agony. Countless other souls were suspended in midair around it.
The Xia Emperor, the Infinite City Lord, and the Monarch of the Mo Heaven Nation stood in confrontation with a handsome youth clad in resplendent golden robes and a crown.
“It’s the Undying Netherworld Emperor,” the Lord of Swords replied via message. “He seems to be performing some kind of sacrificial ritual. That corpse belongs to a Hunyuan lifeform. He’s using the souls of nearly fifteen nations—including the Cosmic Deities ruling those nations—as offerings! The Xia Emperor and the others intervened as soon as the ritual began.”
“This is madness.” Dongbo Xueying’s expression darkened.
Sacrificing so many?
Compared to the Undying Netherworld Emperor’s methods, blood sacrifices of entire cities paled in insignificance. How many cities made up a single nation? Nearly fifteen nations! That was likely one or two percent of the entire Heartworld Continent’s population! The Heartworld Continent was far more prosperous than his homeland, the Source World. Partly because his homeland had suffered the ‘Primordial Sacred World’s Shattering,’ which damaged its essence and reduced its population compared to the Primordial Sacred World era. Moreover, the Heartworld Continent was meticulously crafted and protected by Yuan, making the number of cultivators far exceed that of ordinary Source Worlds.
Even one or two percent of the Heartworld Continent’s population was comparable to roughly ten percent of his homeland’s.
Back in his homeland, when he confronted the Sacred Master and saved countless lives, he had rescued about the same number. He could never forget the overwhelming impact of those souls’ instinctive cries of joy.
“To sacrifice so many lives?” Dongbo Xueying was both furious and incredulous.
It was said that the Undying Netherworld Emperor represented ‘death.’
But witnessing it firsthand still shocked him.
“How dare he?” Dongbo Xueying seethed with rage.
—
Under the watchful eyes of Dongbo Xueying and many other Cosmic Deities—and due to the sheer magnitude of the event—news spread even to many Chaos Realms. Soon, countless powerhouses across the Heartworld Continent turned their attention to that nameless desolate mountain, watching to see if the Xia Emperor and the others could stop the Undying Netherworld Emperor.
“Xia Emperor, I hear that in this era, you are the strongest among the invincible existences of the Heartworld Continent?” The handsome Undying Netherworld Emperor smiled faintly. “To cultivate two Daos to the Ultimate Realm—you are indeed impressive. But you’re still somewhat inexperienced.”
The Xia Emperor’s expression darkened slightly, but he retorted coldly, “Netherworld Emperor, you dare to use such a forbidden technique to devour so many souls, affecting fifteen nations? How many nations does the Heartworld Continent even have? You’ve gone too far. Such actions may invite punishment from Yuan himself.”
“Netherworld Emperor, you’ve only just returned. Don’t push your limits. Slaughtering so many lives is a grave sin,” the Infinite City Lord added solemnly.
The Monarch of the Mo Heaven Nation also spoke, “Netherworld Emperor, please show some mercy toward the weak.”
The Undying Netherworld Emperor scoffed. “Enough. None of you will stop me. This sacrifice is crucial to me.”
He raised his right hand.
Flames flickered to life in his palm—flames that embodied destruction and death.
The Xia Emperor, the Infinite City Lord, and the Monarch of the Mo Heaven Nation all paled at the sight. This single move proved that the Undying Netherworld Emperor’s strength was at least on par with the Xia Emperor’s!
“The Heartworld Continent is under Yuan’s protection,” the Xia Emperor said coldly.
“I understand Yuan’s nature far better than you,” the Undying Netherworld Emperor sneered. “Among the Hunyuan lifeforms, Yuan is relatively kind to the weak, but he wouldn’t interfere in such trivial matters. In some realms under the protection of other Hunyuan lifeforms, it’s common for entire Source Worlds to perish just to elevate a single powerhouse. I’m merely sacrificing one or two percent of the Heartworld Continent’s population—what does that matter? The continent will replenish its numbers soon enough.”
“Right now, the Heartworld Continent is already at its population limit. Sacrificing a few might even add some excitement to this stagnant world.”
The Undying Netherworld Emperor spoke casually. “As long as the order isn’t disrupted, Yuan won’t intervene.”
“And as for the three of you…”
“It’s best you leave now.” A cold smirk curled on his lips.
The Xia Emperor swept his gaze over him and said icily, “Netherworld Emperor, our strengths may be comparable, but I can easily disrupt your formation and ruin your plans. I advise you to restrain yourself.”
“You dare!”
The Undying Netherworld Emperor’s face twisted into a snarl, his voice as frigid as the abyss. “I’ve invested a Hunyuan lifeform’s corpse and countless treasures into this sacrifice! If anyone dares to interfere, I swear I will make them regret it with everything I have. Your disciples, your descendants, your nations, your cities—I will slaughter them all!”
The Xia Emperor, the Infinite City Lord, and the Monarch of the Mo Heaven Nation shuddered at his words.
They knew he wasn’t lying.
Even before the First Ancient Nation War, he had been like this—the very embodiment of death.
“I have no hope left in other cultivation paths. I have no interest in competing with you. Once this sacrifice is complete, I will enter the Broken Tooth Mountain Range and never return,” the Undying Netherworld Emperor said coldly. “If you know what’s good for you, don’t provoke me. Otherwise… you know what I’m capable of.”
The Xia Emperor’s expression darkened.
A madman.
The Undying Netherworld Emperor was a madman—one with no attachments. He had no nation, no cherished subordinates or factions. If he truly unleashed his wrath, the consequences were unimaginable.
“Alas, Netherworld Emperor, your madness will one day bring you regret,” the Infinite City Lord sighed before vanishing into thin air.
“Let’s go,” the Monarch of the Mo Heaven Nation said with a shake of his head.
The Xia Emperor gave the Undying Netherworld Emperor one last deep look before also disappearing.
They all sensed his determination. This matter was too important to him. Interfering would bring consequences none of them wished to bear.
“Hmph.” The Undying Netherworld Emperor sneered.
With the Xia Emperor and the others gone, the countless souls in the sky resumed their flight toward the three massive black vortices.
“No—!”
“Save us, please save us!”
“I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die!”
The souls, previously frozen in midair, panicked as they watched the three terrifying powerhouses depart. Desperate cries filled the air.
—
Across the Heartworld Continent, powerhouses fell silent.
The Xia Emperor and the others had retreated.
The Undying Netherworld Emperor’s threats were now known to all. Even Dongbo Xueying, observing through Void Piercing, could discern their conversation by reading their lips and the fluctuations in the surrounding air.
For the Xia Emperor and the others, saving the countless lives in those fifteen border nations would mean risking their own nations suffering catastrophic losses. Even the Xia Emperor could only protect a handful of cities. The Xia Wind Ancient Nation was vast, and the Xia Clan had spread across every city over countless eons. Faced with the choice between the lives of those fifteen nations and their own clansmen… they had made their decision.
Even the three invincible existences, who had once shown mercy to the weak, had retreated.
As for the likes of the Monarch of the Moonflower Nation, the Eternal Night Progenitor, and the Realm Beast King? They were even less likely to intervene. Some even relished the spectacle.
“How could this happen?”
Among the Cosmic Deities, some were filled with compassion, anger, and anxiety.
“Are we just going to stand by and watch?”
“Who dares to go? The Undying Netherworld Emperor casually produced a Hunyuan lifeform’s corpse. Even before the First Ancient Nation War, he was the strongest among the invincible existences. Who knows how powerful he is now? Even an Ancient Nation might not withstand his retaliation! Who would dare stop him?”
“Alas…”
Many powerhouses lamented silently as they watched.
“That Daoist Tianxin—isn’t he the one who stops all evildoers? Will he show up this time?”
“This is the Undying Netherworld Emperor! He’s no ordinary fiend. But then again, Daoist Tianxin’s identity is a mystery. He might actually appear.” The whispers spread, though none dared to step forward themselves.
—
In the City of Flying Snow, Dongbo Xueying watched everything unfold. His expression darkened when he saw the Xia Emperor and the others retreat.
“Xueying, you must not reveal yourself. The Netherworld Emperor is a madman—the incarnation of death. Do not provoke him,” the Monarch of the Southern Cloud Nation urgently messaged him. “You once said that if one lacks the strength, they must endure. Only act within one’s means… The Netherworld Emperor’s power is unfathomable.”
“Xueying! The Netherworld Emperor’s methods are unpredictable. According to the Xia Emperor, he has ventured into some of the most mysterious realms in the Hunyuan Space and experienced much. If you reveal yourself, you will be in grave danger,” the Lord of Swords also warned.
Dongbo Xueying continued to watch.
Through Void Piercing, he saw the souls above city after city, region after region.
Some were mere infants. Others were weak youths. Some belonged to powerful cultivators. Men and women, old and young, cultivators of all races—countless in number. Yet none of their struggles mattered. Who in the Heartworld Continent could save them now?
To watch them be devoured helplessly?
“Undying Netherworld Emperor… it seems I must face you after all.” Dongbo Xueying had long considered this possibility when he began slaying fiends across the continent. One day, he might confront the most evil and terrifying existence of legend—the Undying Netherworld Emperor.
—
At the nameless desolate mountain, the massive corpse of the Hunyuan lifeform lay bound, its three black vortices devouring countless souls. The handsome Undying Netherworld Emperor stood coldly in midair, confident that none in the Heartworld Continent could stop him.
“Hmm?” The Undying Netherworld Emperor suddenly turned his head. “Who dares to be so bold?”
A black rift flashed in the void, and a white-robed figure emerged—disguised as the legendary ‘Daoist Tianxin.’
“Daoist Tianxin!”
“Daoist Tianxin has actually appeared!”
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