The primordial world was vast, desolate, and cold, with trees towering like mountains, embodying colossal magnificence. Here, everything was much larger than normal, seemingly depicting an era of giants.
A black-gold phoenix-winged spear suddenly emerged, entwined with invisible, colorless flames, and ruthlessly lunged toward Gao Lan’s back. This sudden attack caught Gao Lan completely off guard, despite his constant vigilance against Tai Li’s ambush.
Could he have mastered a supreme ability like the “Three Purities Manifestation”?
Or was the “Demon Sage Spear” acting on its own, ignoring Tai Li’s decisions, determined to fight its “archenemy” to the death?
Puff! The void was silently burned through; the spearhead had already reached Gao Lan’s back. Dark flames floated around, melting everything—including light itself. Layer upon layer of flames formed a cage, cutting off any chance of escape.
This was a breathtaking strike.
Not for any other reason, but for its abruptness, like a celestial being descending from the heavens.
As Gao Lan was about to be pierced, suddenly, images of mountains and rivers appeared around him, with the sun, moon, and stars surrounding and supporting, forming the majestic and noble figure of an imperial sovereign, wearing a flat-topped crown and a bright yellow robe.
Innumerable human figures rose up, filling the surroundings. Though dimmed and blurred by the flowing river of illusions, they still exuded an indelible spirit deeply imprinted into heaven and earth.
This was the spirit of passing the torch.
This was the spirit of self-sacrifice and perseverance for the survival of the race.
This was the spirit of forging ahead fearlessly, enduring countless hardships, and striving for the peak.
This was sacrifice, courage, determination, self-strengthening, and unity. At this moment, these adjectives were no longer just empty descriptions, but transformed into tangible sensations, merging into a mighty imperial force.
Majestic and grand, the king descended, and all worlds submitted; all heavens bowed!
As the imperial force emerged, the spearhead about to pierce Gao Lan suddenly trembled, unwilling to harm the emperor, unable to advance even an inch further, as if it had to submit.
The Human Emperor Sword then radiated golden light, with the shadows of celestial beings, demons, immortals, and great demons flickering and shifting, finally settling on the demonic race.
The phoenix-winged black-gold spear immediately slowed, and a figure outlined itself—a five-colored halo floating around him was none other than “Tai Li the Peacock Demon King.” He seemed trapped like an insect in amber, struggling desperately but unable to move.
A flash of sword light, majestic and descending, the phoenix-winged black-gold spear snapped, and Tai Li the Peacock was cut in two.
Yet at this moment, invisible flames rose, burning the broken spear remains before Gao Lan into nothingness.
Gao Lan held the Human Emperor Sword, letting it hang diagonally, his eyes deep and contemplative.
…
A golden sword swept down with overwhelming force. The imperial might pressed down so heavily that even the energy sea solidified, making Tai Li feel sluggish mentally and physically stuck as if in a swamp.
Gao Lan had actually chosen to strike first!
Was he truly mentally unstable, irrational, and mad?
No! I was clearly on guard against him; such a sudden attack should be impossible unless he had mastered the “Three Purities Manifestation”!
The Demon Sage Spear transmitted the Five Virtues’ power, and Tai Li instantly regained his composure. Five radiant beams of red, blue, yellow, white, and black swept down from behind him.
With the five colors flowing, the golden sword and Gao Lan himself were swept into the beams, everything appearing effortless.
This was indeed one of the great demonic techniques.
Yet, the surrounding void still flickered with illusions—countless human figures emerging, like the imprints of past heroic ancestors or the subjects under Gao Lan’s rule.
As long as they existed, Gao Lan would exist!
The Five-Color Divine Light trembled violently, then stilled. The human illusions coalesced, forming the majestic figure of an emperor brimming with imperial might, revealing Gao Lan’s peerless beauty, holding the golden sword.
For a moment, Tai Li felt somewhat dazed, unsure whether Gao Lan was inside the Five-Color Light or right before him.
However, this did not affect his subsequent actions. The Demon Sage Spear had already silently struck out, the phoenix figure forming, engulfing Gao Lan’s imperial figure in roaring flames.
Puff!
The golden sword could not resist, pierced by the spearhead, engulfed along with the phoenix illusion.
The flames spread, and everything turned to ashes.
“This is…” Tai Li the Peacock Demon King placed the Demon Sage Spear behind his back, gazing at the scene before him, seemingly reaching a judgment.
…
Meng Qi waved his sleeve, and “Yin Patriarch” Xu Bei was flung out.
Still in a daze and not yet free from the effects of the “Sleeve of the Universe,” a deep, resonant bell toll reverberated in his ears, shaking his very heart and soul, making his dharma body feel as though it were collapsing.
It was akin to the Soul-Severing Bell from the era of Fengshen… This vague thought surfaced in Patriarch Yin’s mind.
Under continuous daze and control, he could only watch helplessly as Meng Qi raised his left hand, forming a seal, attacking with a heavy and encompassing force, flicking his fingers toward Xu Bei’s forehead.
The heaviness transformed into golden light, the Wu Ji force coalescing into a brilliant, illusory rope. As Meng Qi struck Xu Bei’s vital point, the rope wrapped upward, seeping into his dharma body, binding him tightly.
The Wu Ji Seal was not only the Jade Void Yellow Banner, but also the earth-moving technique and the Immortal Binding Rope.
Meng Qi took the initiative to attack, violating his previous principle of “I won’t strike unless attacked,” because “Yin Patriarch” Xu Bei was a secret member of the Golden Turtle Island, making them enemies. Moreover, this was an opportunity to extract more crucial intelligence.
“Daoist friend, your abilities are impressive. Could they be the legendary Sleeve of the Universe and the Soul-Severing Bell?” Only now did Xu Bei recover somewhat, offering a bitter smile.
Once, he thought himself a standout among human immortals, nearly a terrestrial immortal. Even if not as strong as “Red Emperor” Sun Chuci and “Immortal Elder of Eternal Youth” Zhonglimi, the gap wouldn’t be too large, enough to resist them somewhat. Yet before this blue-robed man’s legendary abilities, he was helpless, fragile like an ordinary person, just like facing “Primordial Fairy” Bi Jingxuan.
More importantly, Meng Qi hadn’t concealed his aura; he was still a human immortal!
A human immortal just like himself!
As for why he was attacked, Yin Patriarch didn’t even consider the question. Competing for the five spots and resisting control by the Golden Turtle Island’s “Nine Revolutions and Ten Transformations Pill” was reason enough.
Surrounded by towering giant trees, Meng Qi stood in the shadows, smiling faintly: “Daoist friend, your knowledge is indeed extensive.”
He indirectly confirmed Xu Bei’s guess about the Sleeve of the Universe and the Soul-Severing Bell.
“Losing to these two abilities, especially the Sleeve of the Universe, I admit defeat wholeheartedly,” Xu Bei exhaled, seeming to regain some confidence.
It seemed that beyond the Seven Seas and Twenty-Eight Worlds, there were still ancient supreme abilities and martial arts techniques circulating, not exclusive to one party. In the future, he must never be arrogant again.
He wasn’t afraid; in dangerous moments, the Golden Turtle Tab would send him back to the “Jade Play Palace.” After all, he had already consumed the “Nine Revolutions and Ten Transformations Pill.”
At this moment, he saw the blue-robed man’s expression turn into a half-smile and heard him slowly speak: “Daoist Xu, as a member of the Golden Turtle Island, did you anticipate today’s events?”
Yin Patriarch, shrouded in black robes, remained silent for a moment upon hearing this, then replied: “What are you talking about?”
“Daoist Xu, your secret joining of the Golden Turtle Island is not unknown to others,” Meng Qi reminded with a smile.
Was it leaked by the Night Emperor? Yin Patriarch remained silent, waiting for the other to act. Whether Meng Qi truly knew or was bluffing was irrelevant; he would say nothing.
“Daoist Xu, you can try the Golden Turtle Tab,” Meng Qi suddenly said.
“What?” Xu Bei looked up in shock, seeing the ancient lamp without color appearing in the blue-robed man’s eyes, emitting black-and-white shifting divine light, spreading continuously, reaching every corner, seemingly omnipresent causal connections, uniquely mysterious from beginning to end.
The black-and-white ethereal light illuminated the blue-robed man like a god or immortal, his streaked temples adding to his aged appearance. Xu Bei’s heart chilled, then was struck by the lamp’s light. Something subtle seemed to change around him.
Then, he saw the blue-robed man raise his hand, drawing out his Golden Turtle Tab. Then, extending his index and middle fingers, he pointed at it.
Black and white illusions; the Golden Turtle Tab shattered, but there was no connection to the outside world, naturally triggering no change.
This… Xu Bei’s heart sank slowly, the sense of danger like a flood breaking loose.
He could actually isolate the Golden Turtle Tab even within the Golden Turtle Island!
At this moment, golden-red specks gathered, and the Golden Turtle Tab reappeared before Xu Bei, seemingly never used, intact.
This was even more shocking to Xu Bei than the previous isolation. Mastering the subtle, returning to the source, forging the tab—these abilities exceeded his imagination, like the Night Emperor’s “Turning Stone into Gold” that day.
Facing such an enemy, would the Immortal Envoy still be able to rescue him?
His body felt as if plunged into an ancient ice cave, cold beyond measure.
“Don’t worry, everything you say will remain confidential, not affecting your acquisition of the antidote for the Nine Revolutions and Ten Transformations Pill,” Meng Qi said as darkness descended, chaos enveloping the surroundings, cutting off all connections.
Moreover, while Yin Patriarch was shaken by his techniques, his mind fluctuating, Meng Qi subtly activated the “Primordial Heart Seal,” amplifying certain emotions in Xu Bei, such as the desire to advance further, and those who desire advancement often fear death.
Xu Bei remained silent for a while, seemingly weighing pros and cons and truthfulness. After a long time, he sighed: “What exactly do you want to ask?”
Meng Qi extended his left hand, seemingly holding a gorgeous purple heart, directly pressing it against Xu Bei’s forehead, lightly laughing: “You know about the Soul-Severing Bell; you should also understand the Primordial Heart Seal. If you conceal or lie, imagine the consequences yourself.”
Without giving Xu Bei time to think, he immediately asked: “What did the Golden Turtle Island send you here to do during this ‘banquet’? To stab in the back or sabotage the alliance?”
“No, the Golden Turtle Island gave no mission to this old man. I merely wanted to do something for the Golden Turtle Island, accumulate contributions, so I planned to ambush other dharma bodies,” Xu Bei rasped, honestly revealing his mindset.
No mission given at all? Meng Qi was instantly puzzled. Was the Golden Turtle Island that confident?
Regarding this description of Yin Patriarch, he leaned toward believing it—not only because of the feedback from the Primordial Heart Seal but also due to the course of events. If the dharma bodies secretly recruited by the Golden Turtle Island were strong enough, they should quickly unite, using their numbers to fight other dharma bodies—that was the best choice. Yet Xu Bei was alone just now. If the dharma bodies secretly aligned with the Golden Turtle Island were neither numerous nor strong, it would be suitable to ambush during the chaos or betray at a critical moment. However, the problem was that if they were too weak, they wouldn’t significantly impact the overall situation. Would the various experts really believe in the five nominal spots, fighting to the death?
Did the Golden Turtle Island have other plans or dependents?
Internally puzzled, Meng Qi spoke again: “Do you know which other dharma bodies attending the banquet are secret members of the Golden Turtle Island?”
“The Envoy did not reveal this,” Xu Bei’s tone carried a hint of sadness at his low status within the Golden Turtle Island. Many things didn’t need to be explained to him; he could only follow the Envoy’s instructions.
As Meng Qi was about to ask further, Xu Bei continued: “However, the Envoy once mentioned one thing. The Golden Turtle Island’s secret members outside have the ‘Four Emperors’ as the highest.”
“The Four Emperors?” Meng Qi asked.
Xu Bei replied: “Not only does the Golden Turtle Island’s leader harbor ambitions to restore the Yin-Shang dynasty and rule the land, but he also wishes for the Yin-Shang to replace the Heavenly Court, becoming the universal sovereign of all realms to survive the great calamity. Thus, he calls himself the ‘Central Heaven Emperor,’ and the secret members naturally are the Four Emperors of the four directions: the ‘Azure Emperor,’ the ‘Black Emperor,’ the ‘White Emperor,’ and the ‘Blood Emperor,’ who avoids the title of a demonic sage.”
The Golden Turtle Island had four mysterious members: the “Azure Emperor,” “Black Emperor,” “White Emperor,” and “Blood Emperor.” Who among the banquet attendees were they?
Previously hidden at the end of the Eastern Sea, with little interaction with the real world, were the Four Emperors dharma bodies from the Seven Seas and Twenty-Eight Worlds?
Meng Qi grew more solemn, speculating on the identities of the Four Emperors, casually saying: “Since the Four Emperor titles are given to members outside the island, while the island itself has celestial immortals stronger than them, terrifying divine beasts and celestial birds, the leader’s intentions are truly unfathomable.”
“Hmph, if celestial immortals could freely go out and act normally, why would the Golden Turtle Island recruit external members?” Yin Patriarch Xu Bei said gravely. “They must have certain restrictions!”
Meng Qi nodded slightly, agreeing with his own judgment.
This was also the opportunity!
At this moment, he felt a stirring in his heart, withdrew the Primordial Domain, and heard a grand voice from above:
“The wild beasts and fierce birds will gradually enter the battlefield. If we don’t decide on the five spots quickly, we’ll gradually be surrounded by them.”
This was forcing everyone to fight seriously, rather than merely testing each other and calmly forming alliances with ample time… Meng Qi slightly furrowed his brows, somewhat unable to guess the Golden Turtle Island’s true intentions.
…
“The Taiyuan Celestial Son” Song Jianjia flickered and dashed among boulders as large as hills.
She had a beautiful face, natural and unadorned, like a clear lake, yet she was the most renowned left-path cultivator in the Seven Seas and Twenty-Eight Worlds, the leader of the Three Evils, second only to the “Primordial Fairy” Bi Jingxuan, and equal in fame to “Seven Seas Immortal Lord” Xun Yin among the Four Marvels.
She was a seasoned Earthly Immortal, her “Primordial Celestial Body” cultivation belonging neither to the Nine Netherworld nor to divine or saintly beings. With an enigmatic origin, she embodied both righteousness and darkness. She once single-handedly defeated the “Eternal Youth Immortal Elder” Zhong Limi, showcasing her extraordinary prowess even among Earthly Immortals.
Suddenly, she felt an omen, bent her finger, and flicked. A cyan-black finger wind, like a sword beam, silently pierced several boulders, striking the hidden enemy behind.
Dang!
The clang of metal rang out. The “Taiyuan Nine Defilements Finger” had actually been blocked. Within Song Jianjia’s spiritual perception, she saw a man in a blue robe—his handsome, masculine features slightly weathered—his body enveloped in a faint golden glow, completely unharmed.
Was he the mysterious human immortal from that immortal ship? As the thought arose in the Taiyuan Celestial Son’s mind, she saw the blue-robed man wave his sleeve, covering the sky.
Sleeve of the Universe? Song Jianjia did not dare to be careless. Suddenly, her two palms clapped together, her body floating and ethereal, like an illusion, swaying in the gale but merely spinning in place without being drawn into the sleeve.
In an instant, she sneered: “This is also called ‘Sleeve of the Universe’?”
Layer upon layer of water light emerged, with talismanic characters forming arrays. Song Jianjia pushed her right palm forward, instantly breaking through the darkness, counter-enclosing and sealing.
The blue-robed man’s foot formed a somersault cloud, seizing the opportunity to flee rapidly. Song Jianjia would not let him off easily. Eight illusory wings grew from her back, and with a gentle flap, she pursued.
But in a flash, the blue-robed man suddenly vanished!
Song Jianjia’s gaze grew heavier. She expanded her spiritual sense, searching the nearby area.
Suddenly, a majestic voice echoed in her ears: “The wild beasts and fierce birds will gradually enter the battlefield. If the five spots aren’t decided quickly, we will soon be surrounded by them.”
As the voice faded, “Taiyuan Celestial Son” Song Jianjia suddenly noticed two figures appearing strangely at a certain location—one was “Yin Patriarch” Xu Bei, and the other was precisely the blue-robed man who had just ambushed her!
Like searching high and low without success, only to find what you seek without effort!
…
After entering the primordial fragment, “Night Emperor” Huo Lishang sat cross-legged, smiling, seemingly without the slightest tension or anger.
Suddenly, he took out the Golden Turtle Tab and activated it directly.
Golden-red light flared, enveloping the Night Emperor’s figure. Then he found himself back in the Jade Play Palace. The enchanting Su Daji was sitting there with one hand supporting her chin, smiling at him, while the celestial envoy “Western Duke” Yin Weiyang stood behind her.
“Prince Lishang, why didn’t you strive for one of the five spots but returned directly?” Su Daji gently asked.
The Night Emperor smiled: “Becoming a subordinate of the Golden Turtle Island, controlled by the Nine Revolutions and Ten Transformations Pill, it must be a unique experience different from my previous life. It should possess extraordinary beauty. Why resist?”
Good, such a perverted fellow… Yin Weiyang was stunned; he had never seen someone with such thoughts before!
Had he vaguely heard something from Yin Bu’er?
Su Daji covered her mouth, laughing enchantingly, for a long time before saying: “Prince Lishang lives up to his reputation, truly unique. Please enter to consume the ‘Nine Revolutions and Ten Transformations Pill.’”
The Night Emperor was unconcerned, appreciating Su Daji’s beauty, and followed her and Yin Weiyang into the inner hall.
However, there was another person inside the inner hall—a fate Daoist with half-black, half-white beard.
He looked dispirited, muttering to himself: “This is all destined.”
“Someone came earlier to take the pill before this prince?” The Night Emperor raised his eyebrows.
Su Daji smiled: “The Six External Sects are not involved in secular affairs, so we originally didn’t plan to invite them. However, this person has deep roots with our Golden Turtle Island, having committed betrayal before, so we couldn’t not invite him.”
“Betrayal?” Huo Lishang was slightly surprised.
Su Daji’s smile was enchanting: “Yes, he once had a title in the Golden Turtle Island, known as the ‘Black Emperor.’”
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