The golden arc traced a marvelous trajectory, bending its direction unexpectedly to strike the sleeping deity whose navel bore a lotus. All the talismans emerged, layer upon layer, like golden shackles, sealing every innate aperture of that colossal divine body.
Seeing the Divine Striking Whip, which exuded an aura that made his heart tremble, shift its target, the four-faced, eight-armed deity did not relax. Instead, his eight eyes simultaneously shot out long beams of light. No longer waiting for all the bubbles to complete their transformation, he directly triggered their detonation, creating a storm of destructive rays that would obliterate everything in its path, enemy and surroundings alike.
He was the embodiment of the universe. Given sufficient time, he could at least harness a portion of the universe’s power, unleashing a cataclysmic storm equivalent to the collapse and destruction of entire galaxies and star systems. This would annihilate all the explored regions of the cosmos, rendering Meng Qi’s wind-riding transformation, his true soul’s escape, and Han Guang’s time reversal ineffective—like a small boat caught in a storm, capsizing instantly without any hope of survival.
This was even more terrifying than the sheer destructive power described in legends of similar universes!
In legends, each projection equaled the galactic-level might of its respective universe and world. The combined power of countless projections, along with an inner universe, might equal the total force of such a vast cosmos. However, aside from those whose essence was higher, transcending the universe itself, and who could directly alter cosmic laws by leveraging the unique properties of the Real World, the actual displayed power was slightly inferior to that of this four-faced, eight-armed deity. Of course, they could mobilize power more quickly, almost instantaneously, since countless universes were acting simultaneously.
Within this current universe, legends might not even surpass the Creator Deity, for He controlled the river of time here and bore many traits of transcendence. Without the appropriate countermeasures, one could only rely on the indestructibility of projections and one’s own immortality to force an escape.
At this moment, the Creator Deity had not yet fully mobilized the power of the entire universe under his control. The bubble transformation was incomplete, equivalent only to the collision and collapse of a dozen stars, releasing intense energy. But he was confident this was sufficient. After the earlier probing and his understanding of the Nine Primordial Seals, he believed he had gauged the limits of Meng Qi and Han Guang—both possessed strengths nearing the peak of a Celestial Immortal, each with traits surpassing their current cultivation level. But surely, neither could withstand such a pure and terrifying ray storm, which would reduce them to nothingness.
At the same time, his other arms swung forth, using omnipresent power to block in front of the sleeping divine body.
This was His universe, His domain of dominion, a special place not easily altered by the power of the Real World.
Unless one possessed the traits of a transcendent legend or true creation, He would always remain invincible!
Puff!
One by one, the bubbles emitted faint, illusory popping sounds, and blinding lights flared up, about to form a ray storm that would consume everything.
The entire universe seemed to be illuminated, all movement swallowed, the void emitted creaking and cracking sounds, as if it had reached the apocalyptic end.
Meng Qi was not alarmed. He was about to unleash the “One Qi Manifests the Three Purities” technique, setting up the Sword Formation of Slaughtering Immortals, using chaos and boundlessness to delay the storm, allowing the essence of destruction and chaos to dull the deity’s senses, seeking an opportunity to strike the sleeping divine body.
But suddenly, Han Guang moved. From his main dharma body, the Heavenly Emperor’s projection emerged again, while his own form became ethereal and condensed, instantly transforming into a piece of ancient bronze—a fragment of the Donghuang Bell, the very one he had seized before.
But unlike before, this fragment radiated an awe-inspiring, solemn majesty, along with a detached, lofty air, as if it were the Heavenly Emperor himself, the supreme among the Five Emperors of antiquity, descending into this realm.
Han Guang’s four arms—Buddha and Demon—simultaneously grasped the fragment formed by the projection. The Yama returned to him, his third eye radiating with the swastika, the reversed swastika, and the Six Fingers of Destruction, all amplifying the Donghuang Bell fragment infused with the Heavenly Emperor’s aura.
The fragment expanded rapidly, becoming a phantom ancient bell. With a single toll, the blinding light just released receded. The shattered, destructive bubbles reappeared, reforming. The four-faced, eight-armed deity reappeared at his former position. Although omnipresent, he had deliberately erased his presence in front of the sleeping divine body moments ago to avoid being tracked and pierced through essence, striking his higher-level true form—after all, that was a peerless weapon against deities.
Dong!
The bell’s resonance lingered, and everything reverted to its normal state two instants prior.
Time reversed. “Yesterday” returned!
With just this strike, with just a two-instant rewind, Han Guang’s aura plummeted, as if he had personally suffered a full-force attack from an opponent of Meng Qi’s caliber. The Donghuang Bell fragment dimmed significantly, no longer as terrifying as before when it bore the Heavenly Emperor’s presence.
The explosion that could destroy him still had two instants left. The Creator Deity, who had tried to block in front of the sleeping divine being, vanished. Though surprised by Han Guang’s hidden trump card, Meng Qi’s combat experience was second to none. If he failed to seize this opportunity, he deserved to perish today!
Layer upon layer of talismans, golden light sweeping down. With a crack, the Divine Striking Whip struck the sleeping colossal deity.
Crack! Like clay or wooden puppets, the divine body shattered instantly under the whip. The lotus growing from its navel retracted, and the Creator Deity let out a furious, venomous cry, yet could not stop himself from dissolving like a mirage.
The endless, dark, silent universe was also shattering, the cosmos nearing nonexistence, returning to void, returning to true chaos.
At this moment, the swastika flying from the golden Buddha’s forehead of Han Guang suddenly landed on the shattered divine body of the slumbering deity.
Light shimmered. The swastika fused strangely into the body. The fragmented divine form writhed and gathered, reassembling into completeness. Once more, a lotus bloomed from the navel, and the four-faced, eight-armed deity reappeared, opening his eyes.
Instantly, Meng Qi felt a shift in perception, as if he were now gazing down upon the entire universe, grasping every minute detail. This reborn Creator Deity no longer possessed independent consciousness or the Primordial Projection’s traits. Instead, it formed a subtle connection with Meng Qi, becoming one of his projections, ready to be used directly to imprint the foundation of legends.
Within the inner multiverse, the five viscera and six bowels naturally ascended a level within the cosmic hierarchy.
After defeating and destroying the Primordial Projection, it returned to the “Root of All Fruits,” naturally becoming his “Other Self”?
Meng Qi suddenly gained insight. From now on, his “Other Self” imprint had undergone subtle changes—not merely following the Demon Buddha’s footsteps, simulating his image across different universes, but also capable of generating “Primordial” projections. Whichever was more convenient could be used, though only one per universe.
Though “Other Self” should only relate to the Demon Buddha, under the influence of the “Root of All Fruits,” the connection transformed, allowing a link to the Primordial as well…
Could cultivation techniques alter the corresponding “Other Self”?
At this moment, the universe stabilized anew. In the darkness, the God of Destruction was born, but Han Guang acted first, merging his Yama Mark with it.
“Is this one of your goals?” Meng Qi asked calmly, watching the Demon Sage.
Han Guang smiled faintly, “Of course. The ‘Other Self’ is one’s projection across myriad worlds, subtly connected. But if one cultivates special techniques, gains traits, and elevates one’s essence, these connections naturally undergo certain changes. The corresponding ‘Other Self’ may change or multiply. Just like you, relying on the ‘Root of All Fruits,’ gained a Primordial Projection as your ‘Other Self,’ so too have I.”
The sleeping deity, the God of Destruction… Meng Qi and the four-faced deity nodded simultaneously, speaking in unison: “Looks like we’ll have our share of battles in the future.”
The fundamental essence of the universe began to decline, no longer as close to the Real World as before, yet still relatively stable, not easily altered. When Meng Qi and Han Guang’s conflict eventually resolved, there might be further improvement, much like the earlier contest between the Primordial Celestial Venerable and other transcendent beings.
“This matter can wait. Even after reaching legend or creation, it won’t be too late. Of course, we will inevitably clash eventually,” Han Guang and the sleeping deity and God of Destruction spoke simultaneously.
“What are your other goals?” Meng Qi asked casually.
Han Guang smiled, “Some great beings see the Golden Emperor’s flaw and naturally do not wish for it to be mended. Among them, attitudes are divided into two: one supports your success, aiding Gu Xiaosang’s growth to widen the flaw. The other seeks to seize the flaw for themselves—whether to control the Golden Emperor or change his mind, forming alliances would grant them the initiative. Of course, there are also the Golden Emperor’s allies. Tell me, which do you think I am?”
He did not answer directly but analyzed the different attitudes.
Meng Qi nodded thoughtfully. Using his projection—a cosmic-level projection—he instantly located a passage, leaping through and exiting this ancient well.
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