Chapter 618: Plea for Mercy

Within the passage of time.

A black-skinned man clad in a green robe was swiftly advancing, his face adorned with intricate patterns and two protrusions on his forehead—this was none other than ‘Sage Ye,’ one of the Twin Sages of the Mo Clan.

“Brother, hurry, hurry! He’s completely suppressing me and has trapped me with his domain. I can’t escape!” Sage Zhu frantically pleaded for help.

“Hold on a little longer. I’m coming at full speed,” Sage Ye transmitted back, his tone calm and composed.

The two were of the same clan, bound by brotherly affection. Sage Ye was well aware of Sage Zhu’s strength—it was exceedingly difficult for anyone below the level of a Venerable to kill him in a short time. Even landing a direct hit on his true form was a challenge! Countless branches and leaves swirled around him, forming layers of defense. Suppressing him was one thing, but reaching his body was another matter entirely. And as for killing him? His body was forged from Dark Ink Bamboo, capable of rapid regeneration even if slightly damaged.

—

Above the Dark Ink Bamboo Continent.

A partially damaged, enclosed pocket realm hovered in the sky—this was the ‘Sky-Mist Prison’ conjured by Dongbo Xueying.

Inside the Sky-Mist Prison.

Nine world avatars relentlessly besieged Sage Zhu, who wielded a crimson staff spanning thousands of miles, its surface covered with bamboo leaves and branches. These leaves and branches executed intricate staff techniques, while swirling black currents formed defensive rings around him. The nine avatars wielded ordinary weapons, barely managing to suppress Sage Zhu’s staff and land occasional blows on his body. His pitch-black form bore minor cracks from the impacts, but they healed almost instantly.

“Even if I can’t escape, my weapon blocks most of the attacks, and my body can endure the rest,” Sage Zhu reassured himself. “Besides, pure brute force is something my physique is well-suited to withstand!”

Despite his self-assurances, Sage Zhu couldn’t help but feel a chill. These were merely world avatars attacking him, wielding no Bloodforged Divine Weapons, yet they still managed to wound his Dark Ink Bamboo body. If the true body were to strike… the damage would be far more severe!

Thus, Sage Zhu remained vigilant, his senses locked onto Dongbo Xueying’s distant true form.

“What’s happening?” Sage Zhu suddenly noticed that all probing senses toward Dongbo Xueying’s true form had been severed, and his vision was obscured by the gray mist.

Though puzzled, Sage Zhu continued to brandish his crimson staff, its countless leaves and branches spreading out to shield him from all directions, forming an impenetrable defense.

Nine massive spears relentlessly hammered down, suppressing Sage Zhu with overwhelming force.

Then—

*Whoosh.*

Standing far away, Dongbo Xueying coldly observed Sage Zhu. Though the latter couldn’t see him, Xueying’s domain allowed him to perceive everything clearly. In his hand, he held a throwing dagger—and with a flick of his wrist, it vanished the moment it left his grasp.

The dagger disappeared completely.

It vanished from space and time.

It ceased to exist in this world, beyond the perception of ordinary mighty experts.

This was the power of a True Divine Artifact!

The dagger was crafted for assassination. It embodied two Daos—the ‘Illusory Dao’ and the ‘Slaughter Dao.’ One could imagine the formidable assassin who had once mastered these Daos and forged this weapon. The Illusory Dao transcended the laws of the world, rendering the dagger undetectable to those bound by them.

In truth—

The dagger traversed the normal world, but from a higher plane of existence. If the ordinary world was the first floor of a building, the dagger existed on the second. Those confined to the first floor could never touch what lay above.

By all reasoning—

The Illusory World was a reflection of the real world.

The real world, the Illusory World, the Shadow World, the World Gap—together, they formed a complete existence.

Yet the ‘Illusory Dao’ had surpassed this completeness, creating a vaster ‘Illusory Heaven and Earth’ above it. Though still imperfect, this Illusory Heaven and Earth already stood superior to the real one. If it were ever perfected and made eternal, one could ascend to become a Paragon, wielding unimaginable power.

Dongbo Xueying was merely a Four-Heavens expert—such feats should have been beyond him. Yet, with the True Divine Artifact, he achieved the impossible.

True Divine Artifacts possessed such wonders, though merely refining one was a monumental task. Xueying had spent considerable time mastering it. Seven hundred thousand years of cultivation had deepened his comprehension of the ‘Illusory Dao’ and ‘Slaughter Dao,’ allowing him to unleash the dagger’s full might.

*Whoosh.*

The dagger flew unseen, arriving before Sage Zhu in an instant.

Then—

*Swish.*

It descended from the higher plane into the real world. Sage Zhu, who had been oblivious to its presence, suddenly paled. He looked down at his chest—where a dagger had materialized inside his body.

*BOOM!!!*

The dagger had been hurled by Dongbo Xueying, infused with his terrifying strength. Upon entering the real world, it unleashed the ‘Slaughter Dao’s’ power—a killing move Xueying had devised by merging the Slaughter Dao’s profundities with his own world insights. It was one of his five supreme world techniques: ‘Blood on the Blade’s Edge.’

At this moment—

The dagger’s tip pierced Sage Zhu’s body from within. Time seemed to freeze.

“No!” Sage Zhu felt sheer terror, but there was nothing he could do.

*BOOM!!!*

His entire body exploded.

This strike far surpassed any attack Xueying could deliver with a Bloodforged Divine Weapon. The True Divine Artifact’s assassination technique, empowered by the Slaughter Dao and Xueying’s monstrous strength, erupted inside Sage Zhu’s body without any obstruction. No matter how resilient his form, it was instantly reduced to dust.

Though the particles attempted to reform—

“Trying to recover?” Dongbo Xueying sneered. “I won’t give you the chance.”

*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!!*

With the crimson staff now uncontrolled, the nine world avatars mercilessly pummeled the scattered particles, preventing any chance of reconstitution.

For a powerful cultivator, once their body was utterly shattered, death was all but certain. The enemy would relentlessly attack, draining their energy without respite. At Xueying’s level, there was no room for error—no opportunity for Sage Zhu to reassemble his form. Without a complete body, there was no hope of turning the tide.

“Dongbo Xueying, I surrender!” A projection of Sage Zhu materialized midair, his voice desperate. “Spare me! Please, spare me!”

Though utterly bewildered by his defeat, he wasted no time in begging for mercy.

*Hmph.*

Xueying showed no mercy. The nine avatars continued their onslaught, depleting Sage Zhu’s remaining energy.

“I’ll return the Solar Star Core Stone!” Sage Zhu cried out.

“One stone? Even if you offered two now, it’s too late,” Xueying replied coldly, as the dagger silently returned to its sheath.

“Dongbo Xueying, don’t push me too far!” Sage Zhu roared in fury.

The one who had ventured out was merely his avatar.

His true body remained in his lair—where he had believed himself safe. All the treasures he had accumulated over countless ages, his most prized possessions, were stored with his true form. If it perished, his losses would be…

“Push you too far? You know what that feels like now?” Xueying’s voice dripped with icy mockery.

“You—you—!” Sage Zhu sputtered in rage. “Don’t go overboard!”

“Overboard?” A cold glint flashed in Xueying’s eyes. “You’re just too weak.”

Sage Zhu froze.

Not long ago, he had said the same words to Patriarch Redflame.