Chapter 2386: King of the Wheel of Rebirth

On one side of the world, blood flames surged, and countless skulls formed from black mist howled and danced within, their claws bared.

On the other side, the world was lush and verdant, filled with the silhouettes of trees and vines, while countless multicolored butterflies fluttered and circled in the air.

The two worlds clashed like tidal waves along a central boundary—sometimes the blood flames ignited the trees and butterflies, reducing them to ashes, and other times the trees and vines grew thicker and stronger within the flames, engulfing countless skulls and absorbing them as nourishment.

The collision of these two vastly different worlds formed a massive vortex at the center, spinning wildly yet eerily silent, as if it were all but an illusion.

“Interesting. These two are quite formidable—they’ve already grasped some rudimentary methods of manipulating a spiritual domain. Though it’s only superficial, ordinary Mahayana cultivators would be no match for them. Jin’er, go and kill that lizard beast. I’ll handle this Ghost King.” Han Li’s eyes gleamed as he murmured to himself before his voice turned cold with an order.

The golden figure beside him flashed a cold light in its eyes, nodded, and then transformed into a golden streak, diving straight toward the two-headed giant lizard below.

Meanwhile, Han Li himself rolled forward, his body enveloped in countless silver arcs as he transformed into a thunder roc over a hundred zhang in length. With a flap of its wings, it became a hurricane, charging directly into the sea of blood below.

The moment the barrier shattered, Wen Xinfeng and the skeletal figure, locked in battle, immediately noticed Han Li and the Golden Devouring Beetle King.

Wen Xinfeng was naturally overjoyed.

The skeletal form of the Underworld Ghost King, however, was startled. Seeing the Golden Devouring Beetle King and Han Li descending from the sky as a giant roc, it refused to sit idly by and await death.

Its eyes flared with green flames as it hurled the alms bowl in its hand high into the air. Instantly, countless blood-red runes surged out, swelling into a mountain-sized mass that shot toward the golden streak transformed from the small golden figure. At the same time, the blood sea beneath it roared, and over a dozen enormous blood dragons burst forth, lunging toward the giant roc with claws bared.

The skeletal figure’s other hand swiftly formed a seal and pointed solemnly toward the two worlds locked in battle in the distance.

With a deafening explosion, the blood-flame world, previously locked in stalemate with the green world, suddenly self-destructed without warning. A colossal blood-red sun emerged from the collapsing void, pressing relentlessly forward as countless blood flames rolled across its surface.

Under this self-destructive assault, the green tree world trembled—its trees and vines distorted and blurred, while most of the butterflies shattered into dust.

Wen Xinfeng’s heart clenched in alarm. She quickly formed hand seals, her fingers moving like a spinning wheel as she directed her power toward the green world, momentarily unable to assist Han Li in attacking the skeletal figure.

Two muffled thuds rang out as the blood-red alms bowl unleashed a tremendous suction force, forcibly pulling the golden figure from its golden streak. Two dazzling beams of crystalline light erupted from the figure’s eyes.

The massive alms bowl, struck by the intersecting beams, was pierced clean through, revealing two gaping holes. Severely damaged, the bowl spun wildly before shrinking rapidly like a deflating balloon. After a few more slashes from the golden figure’s crystalline beams, it shattered into countless fragments.

Without pause, the golden figure merged with the two beams, transforming into a thick, dazzling streak that flashed toward the two-headed giant lizard. In a blur, it encircled the beast in a frenzied whirl.

The giant lizard, sensing imminent doom but restrained by the giant marten, could only summon a crimson fire barrier before being sliced into several pieces by the streak.

Yet, the lizard’s vitality was astonishing. Its severed limbs writhed, spewing black mist as they attempted to reattach.

At that moment, the giant marten pounced, pinning one of the severed limbs with its forelimbs before tearing into it with its jaws. Despite the lizard’s violent thrashing, the marten devoured the limb in a few bites before turning eagerly to another.

A flash of crystalline light—the golden figure reappeared in the void, watching coldly without interference.

Within moments, the two-headed lizard was completely devoured by the marten.

Meanwhile, Han Li’s thunder roc, faced with the blood dragons, flapped its wings, unleashing a deafening roar as thick golden lightning arcs erupted from its body, forming a net that ensnared the dragons.

The skeletal figure atop the black lotus sneered inwardly. If the opponent thought these blood dragons were mere illusions to be easily dismissed, they were sorely mistaken.

The blood sea beneath it had been refined from 981 types of tainted blood, and the dragons it conjured were far from ordinary. Though not equal to true flood dragons, they were nearly as fearsome.

But before this thought fully formed, a thunderous crack echoed in the sky. The skeletal figure looked up in shock to see the blood dragons, engulfed in golden lightning, wail and disintegrate within moments.

Unimpeded, the thunder roc dove down with ferocious momentum.

“Evil-Warding Divine Lightning!”

The skeletal figure’s green flames flickered intensely as it slapped the blood river beneath it. The river surged into a towering wave, crashing upward.

Meanwhile, the black lotus beneath it spun rapidly, its petals expanding into a black sphere that encased the skeletal figure.

With a whoosh, the sphere vanished into the void.

By the time the thunder roc dispersed the blood wave with another burst of lightning, the skeletal figure was long gone.

This Underworld Ghost King was quick-witted—realizing it couldn’t contend with both Han Li and Wen Xinfeng, it had fled via teleportation.

Without the Ghost King’s support, the blood-red sun soon collapsed under Wen Xinfeng’s suppression.

She withdrew her technique and rose with a smile.

“Thank you for your assistance, Brother Han. Otherwise, it would have taken much longer to settle things with this Bone Buddha King. But we can’t let it escape—if it joins forces with other Ghost Kings, the others will be in grave danger.”

“Naturally. We’ll pursue immediately.”

The thunder roc’s golden arcs faded as its wings folded, restoring Han Li’s human form. His reply was calm.

The golden figure and the now-bloated giant marten returned to Han Li and Wen Xinfeng in a flash.

Without further delay, the two took to the skies with their spirit beasts.

The fleeing Bone Buddha King was already visible atop the central peak, its golden halo transforming into boundless demonic flames that pressed down upon the barrier below.

After a few strikes, the barrier shattered with a muffled boom.

The Bone Buddha King, enveloped in black light, descended silently onto the peak.

Wen Xinfeng and Han Li shot forward as two streaks of light.

In a few flashes, they arrived above the central peak.

But as they scanned the scene below, they froze in astonishment.

There was no sign of battle. Instead, a refined middle-aged man sat cross-legged opposite Bi Ying, a pristine white stone table between them.

On the table lay a golden chessboard, its pieces black and white.

Bi Ying and the man stared intently at the board, seemingly locked in a critical moment of the game.

Behind the middle-aged man stood the Bone Buddha King, rigid and obedient.

Though surprised, Han Li and Wen Xinfeng exchanged a glance before descending calmly and approaching Bi Ying.

The Golden Devouring Beetle King and the flying marten vanished into their sleeves.

“You’ve arrived. I was somewhat concerned earlier, but now I’m fully at ease,” Bi Ying said, looking up with a faint smile.

“Brother Bi, what’s going on here?” Wen Xinfeng frowned.

“Nothing much. After a brief clash with King Zhuanlun, we realized our techniques counter each other. Unless we fight to the death, neither can easily prevail. So we agreed to settle this with a game of chess. Of course, if others determine the outcome first, this match won’t need to conclude.”

“Did you kill the Savage Ghost King?” The middle-aged man—King Zhuanlun—lifted his head, his pupils flashing crimson as he spoke in a chilling tone.

“The Savage Ghost King did fall by my hand. Do you seek vengeance?” Han Li replied coolly, unperturbed.

“Hmph. If he died in a fair duel, it proves his own inadequacy. His death is his own affair—why should I care?”

“Brother Zhuanlun, since Fellow Daoist Han has slain the Savage Ghost King, that counts as our victory in one round. And the Bone Buddha fled his peak, conceding another. Do you dispute this?” Bi Ying placed a chess piece with a faint smile.

“If they were useless, then the first two rounds are yours. But now that these two and the Bone Buddha are before me, I won’t let them leave to disrupt other battles. They’ll remain here until the other peaks are decided.”

“Keeping all three here… Very well, I accept on their behalf.” After a brief pause, Bi Ying agreed.