Outside the city of Jingyang, in the suburbs.
Dark clouds rolled over the city, thunder rumbled, and a loud dragon’s roar echoed across the heavens, shaking the earth.
Heavy rain poured down, winds howled, and within moments, the area outside the city became a vast expanse of water.
Yet halfway up a nearby green mountain, inside a quiet Daoist courtyard, a dome of clear light overflowed, repelling the rain and remaining completely unaffected.
“An immortal cultivator of the Devil Sect?”
With a slightly puzzled voice, the door of a room deep within the courtyard, slightly covered in dust, was pushed open, and a gaze as sharp as a sword pierced through the clouds: “The Seven Devils? This will surely cause trouble for my younger sister Wu Zhi!”
A Daoist nun stepped forward. Her skin was as smooth and translucent as jade, her features exquisite, and she exuded a cool, serene aura.
“The followers of the Dao are the least trustworthy. Even those Ninefold Celestial Immortals and Dragon-Transformed Celestial Immortals who received imperial appointments have not shown themselves at all at a time like this!”
Observing the situation, the nun sensed some hidden divine consciousnesses in the void watching the battlefield and shook her head.
The Daoists had always valued freedom and were difficult to control by the imperial court. Even though Wu Zhi had forced some of them into submission through martial might and the imperial mandate, when the dragon’s power weakened, they would still refuse to give their all.
Those who merely watched from the sidelines without stabbing others in the back were already considered to have a conscience.
“But… how can I stand by idly when they’ve dared to provoke my household?”
With a wave of her hand, a crimson magical sword enshrined in the central shrine of the hall suddenly began to hum without wind. Waves of red energy surged forth like an ocean, emitting countless sword beams that pierced through the walls and gathered in the nun’s hand.
“I haven’t drawn this sword in five years!”
With a sigh, she swept her right hand through the air.
Sssk!
A brilliant white sword beam shot into the sky, radiant and dazzling, tearing through the heavens in an instant and rising into the air.
“You scoundrels, take this strike!”
The next moment,
Sword light!
Incredible and blinding, the sword beam surged forth like a white dragon, plunging into the battle above the imperial palace.
“An Immortal Sage!”
Struck by the sword, one of the Devil Immortals failed to dodge in time. His defenses were pierced, and half his body was torn apart, bleeding profusely. Even though he immediately used primal energy to heal, the wound refused to close.
“An Immortal Sage has intervened?”
Numerous divine consciousnesses gathered in alarm.
“Indeed! I recognize her now—it’s Miaoching of the Jade Clarity Sect, Wu Qing. I never expected that this woman, unseen for so many years, would have broken through both the Earth Immortal and Heaven Immortal stages and achieved the ultimate sword cultivation path!”
“She truly is a prodigy, second only to that Nameless Immortal Sage!”
…
“Ah, it’s actually her!”
The Devil Immortals hesitated slightly, but only for an instant. Then they resumed their attack.
At this point, it had already become a fight to the death. It didn’t matter if another Immortal Sage had joined the fray. Even if the legendary Heavenly Emperor or the Nameless Immortal Sage appeared together, they still had to complete their mission of slaying the dragon.
“I never expected my elder sister would come too!”
Golden light flashed, the dragon aura dispersed, revealing Wu Zhi, who remained as majestic as ever. A true dragon aura swirled around her, shifting and merging into her martial arts techniques, making each of her punches capable of tearing the heavens and earth apart—no Immortal Sage dared to block directly.
“I had no choice but to come!”
Wu Qing, who followed the sword cultivation path, was renowned as the most formidable in offensive techniques among the immortals. Her crimson De sword, blessed by imperial mandate and virtue, had already become a celestial artifact. Together, they were unstoppable, capable of facing down an army of immortals.
“Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! I never expected the Great Wu Dynasty to have two Immortal Sages protecting it. Its heavenly mandate is truly terrifying. One family producing three Celestial Immortals—how many in history can rival that?”
Outside the city of Jingyang, several Celestial Immortals appeared.
One looked like a young man with dragon horns, clearly a Dragon-Transformed Celestial Immortal from the True Ascension Heaven. Another was a woman dressed in courtly attire, gentle and charming, a Ninefold Celestial Immortal from the Illusory Yellow River Heaven.
Like Rongcheng and Yunshan Celestial Immortals, they were all free-spirited cultivators. Previously, they had been among the main opponents of the Celestial Sage Juetian. Even though they were now bound by imperial decrees and titles, they had not intervened immediately.
“What do you think, fellow cultivator?”
The Ninefold Celestial Immortal smiled and asked: “That Wu Ming Immortal Sage is an old acquaintance of ours. Moreover, this family’s heavenly mandate is no small matter. Perhaps the rumors about receiving the Heavenly Emperor’s favor might not be false after all.”
“Hmm, although these two women are extremely powerful and no ordinary Celestial Immortal can match them, facing seven opponents at once is still too much to bear.”
The Dragon-Transformed Celestial Immortal shook his head.
These observing Celestial Immortals had already seen clearly that, in one-on-one duels, either Wu Zhi or Wu Qing could easily defeat a Devil Immortal. Even in one-on-two or one-on-three situations, they could barely hold their ground. But now, facing seven opponents, they were at a complete disadvantage and would soon be defeated.
“Then we’ll have to see what Rongcheng and Yunshan think!”
The Dragon-Transformed Celestial Immortal looked toward a certain point in the void: “What are the two of you looking for?”
“Haha! My friend Rongcheng and I were just a bit puzzled, so we’ve been patrolling around. Have any of you noticed how unusually quiet the divine realm has been amidst this great upheaval?”
Yunshan Celestial Immortal appeared and shook his head in question.
“Ah, indeed strange!”
The Dragon-Transformed and Ninefold Celestial Immortals were startled before nodding: “Traditionally, the Central Plains emperor is the Son of Heaven, protected by the Heavenly Emperor’s decree. Wu Zhi especially has received the Mandate of Heaven, otherwise she could never have become a true dragon. Yet at this moment of crisis, not a single heavenly deity has appeared to rescue her?”
Traditionally, a holy emperor was protected by a hundred spirits, meaning that as long as the nation’s fate hadn’t declined into the end times, the emperor would always be guarded by divine protectors while traveling, immune from the influences of ghosts, fox spirits, or sorcerers.
But now, the Great Wu Dynasty had just been established, with many things in need of restoration. There should be no widespread resentment among the people. The situation was truly perplexing.
“Not to mention, there was a heavenly deity possessing the crown prince at his birth…”
The Ninefold Celestial Immortal was deeply puzzled.
This was a matter concerning the divine realm itself. There was no reason for them not to come forward and protect.
“In fact, the reason lies precisely here!”
Rongcheng Celestial Immortal shook his head: “You all may not know, but I have carefully examined the background of the Great Wu crown prince and found no trace of divine intervention. If he were truly a reincarnation of a deity, signs should have appeared by now. After further speculation and considering Wu Ming Immortal Sage, I realized that with his personality, how could he allow such a thing? He must have destroyed the divine soul, leaving no trace of rebirth. Precisely because of this, he incurred the wrath of the heavenly deities. If not for the Heavenly Emperor personally endorsing Wu Zhi as the true dragon, things would not have ended with mere inaction…”
“Ah, so that’s the case! Every action has its consequence, all predetermined!”
The Celestial Immortals nodded in understanding.
It was common knowledge that the Heavenly Emperor was gravely wounded and asleep. Coupled with the heavenly court’s usual detachment, even if the deities chose to remain passive, they had plenty of excuses to avoid responsibility. After all, their duty was only to protect the divine path and the heavenly court. Once events unfolded and the situation became irreversible, what could be done?
As these Celestial Immortals discussed, the battle grew increasingly fierce.
In the battlefield, Wu Zhi and Wu Qing’s hair was slightly disheveled. Although they still fought fiercely, they gave off a sense of a dying glow.
“Jiejie… surviving this long under our seven combined attacks is already quite impressive. This Devil Sovereign has decided to grant you the least painful death possible—how about becoming my meal? Hahahaha…”
A savage brute laughed maniacally, leaping forward with giant steps. He clenched both fists and slammed them down, shaking the heavens and earth.
“Sister!”
Wu Qing felt an unprecedented pressure when suddenly she heard Wu Zhi’s voice in her ear: “A king dies for his country. I cannot escape. Please, elder sister, retreat quickly and take my husband’s bloodline with you…”
Given Wu Zhi’s character, for her to say this meant she had reached the end of her resources.
“No!”
Wu Qing swung her sword, its light illuminating the capital city as she said firmly, “I refuse!”
“I already missed the chance once, unable to follow my younger brother. I refuse to miss the second chance and spend the rest of my life regretting it!”
She pressed her lips together, her expression resolute.
“Very well then…”
Wu Zhi smiled bitterly: “If fate decrees my victory, then victory it shall be. If fate decrees my defeat, then defeat it shall be. At least I have tried my best, striving to restore the world to order. But alas… without my husband, am I truly destined to accomplish nothing?”
Suddenly, the two women sighed, realizing that at this final moment, their thoughts still revolved around that one figure.
“Hahaha… Die!”
The next moment, with the seven Devil Immortals roaring in unison, a massive force surged forth, instantly sending the two women flying backward. The savage Devil Immortal laughed as his hand, as large as a fan, reached directly for Wu Zhi.
“Mother Emperor!!!”
Below, Wu Ding watched the scene unfold with his eyes bloodshot.
Regardless of the rumors, this was still his birth mother.
Bang!
Suddenly, the heavens and earth fell silent.
“Hmm?”
Wu Zhi and Wu Qing looked in confusion and saw a familiar back figure standing before them, and they were both stunned.
“Sorry, I arrived late!”
Wu Ming turned his head, revealing a faint apologetic smile.
…
“It’s him!”
Outside the battlefield, Rongcheng Celestial Immortal and Yunshan Immortal exclaimed in astonishment: “He’s actually back! Wasn’t he rumored to have transcended the world long ago? His return will surely change everything!”
“You are… the Nameless Immortal, Wu Ming, the husband of Wu Zhi, the legendary Immortal Sage!”
The brute-like Devil Immortal, with eyes like copper bells, stared in disbelief but couldn’t recall how this person had arrived here.
“Father!”
Below, Wu Ding stared at the figure and murmured in disbelief.
“My younger brother!”
“My husband!”
Wu Zhi and Wu Qing exchanged glances. Even with their tempered hearts, their emotions at this moment were complex and indescribable: “You’ve finally returned!”
“Yes, I’m back, and this time, I won’t be leaving for a very long time!”
Wu Ming smiled.
The Tenth-Level Eternal Dao lay in existence itself—a process so long it was practically infinite.
And during this time, he had more than enough to travel across universes and settle all his unfinished business.
Starting with these insignificant pests before him!
“Even if he is that Immortal Sage, the legendary Golden Immortal, what of it?”
Black patterns writhed on the foreheads of the Devil Immortals: “At this point, do we still have any escape route?”
“You… back then, we let you slip away, and now you’ve grown so powerful. It seems that was indeed a mistake!”
Wu Ming looked at the Devil Immortals before him, their foreheads exuding a familiar aura, and his smile grew even more enigmatic: “Since it was a mistake, it must be corrected!”
Outside, Jiugong and the other Celestial Immortals watched the scene with tension.
But the next moment, their eyes widened in shock, for the seven arrogant and ferocious Devil Immortals, who had been boasting just moments ago, had vanished without a trace.
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