harleyscars Chapter 116 Siege 2
Chapter 116 Siege 2
The secrets of the star field were covered by a dense and heavy layer of spiritual power. Three figures slowly walked out from the gap in the void. With each step, the laws of the entire starry sky became stagnant. A deep and chilling killing intent, like a tide, crushed towards the lone figure in the center.
Ling Che stood amidst the starry sky, his robes flowing gracefully, his aura as steady as an ancient divine mountain. Upon seeing the newcomer, there was no trace of panic in his eyes, but rather a faint smile. His gaze fell directly on the leading figure, whose aura was gentle and whose Daoist charm was profound. He greeted him, his voice piercing through the stagnant void: "Senior Fu Lu, how have you been?"
The God of Fortune and Prosperity, clad in a greyish-blue robe woven with runes of destiny, held the Original Lamp in his palm. The lamp's flame flickered softly, its warm light seemingly gentle, yet capable of illuminating the causes and effects of the past and present, and penetrating the very essence of the divine soul. He gazed intently at Ling Che, first nodding slightly, then a deep surprise hardening his brow. His tone was calm yet inquisitive: "I am truly surprised by your progress. In such a short time, you have already reached the Undying Boundless Realm. It seems my assessment of you in the past was far too conservative."
His mind was filled with doubts that he could not calm down for a long time.
The universe has its own ironclad laws. Living beings exist within the flow of time, and their very souls inevitably bear the marks of that era. Those powerful beings who have slumbered since ancient times and are now reborn through possession, their souls are invariably shrouded in a dense aura of death and decay, the mottled marks of time clearly visible. But Ling Che is entirely different. His soul is crystal clear, without a trace of the decaying aura of countless ages, clearly not the possession of an ancient powerhouse or a remnant soul borrowing a body.
Yet this speed of cultivation was so extraordinary that it defied all reason. The God of Fortune and Prosperity, a master of the Great Dao of Destiny and possessing supreme spiritual power, could deduce heavenly secrets and uncover profound mysteries with instinct. He had secretly investigated Ling Ché several times, but to no avail. For a moment, even this man of supreme spiritual power, who had lived for countless years, began to waver in his judgment.
Ling Che ignored the other party's speculations and shifted his gaze to the two people beside the God of Fortune and Prosperity. He saw that their divine bodies possessed powerful auras, but the surging, decaying death energy within their souls was difficult to conceal; they were ancient powerhouses who had found new bodies through remnants of their souls. The two men's violent and ferocious auras intertwined, causing the surrounding void to tremble slightly, clearly indicating that they had not yet adapted to their current physical forms.
"I am an old acquaintance of the God of Fortune and Prosperity, but I am meeting these two fellow Daoists for the first time," a chilling female voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence of the star field.
A seventy-two-petaled lotus stood amidst the starry sky, its single hand wielding the Heaven-Supporting Pillar, a powerful artifact that cast down divine radiance, sealing off all of Ling Che's escape routes. Its phoenix eyes were frosty, its brows filled with killing intent, as it coldly rebuked from its lofty position: "These two are both top-tier powerhouses who dominated the world in ancient times. It is your honor to join forces to kill you today. Demon Refiner, this place will be your final resting place."
"Haha, honored?"
Ling Che laughed loudly, his laughter sweeping away the oppressive killing intent that filled the sky. He gripped the God-Slaying Spear tightly in his right hand, the black shaft humming incessantly, its murderous aura of annihilation soaring into the sky. The spear tip pointed directly at the four people opposite him, his fighting spirit rising steadily. Even surrounded, he remained arrogant and awe-inspiring.
"Kong Fanning, I think you're getting senile!"
Ling Che no longer concealed his identity, revealing the true identity of the Seventy-Two Lotuses in a single sentence. His words were sharp and merciless: "You are the direct daughter of the Immovable King, bearing the bloodline of the progenitor, yet you collude with these ancient remnants who are barely clinging to life and continuing on through remnant souls. A group of old fogies eliminated by the times, are you even worthy of your assistance? You have utterly disgraced the Great Venerable's illustrious reputation and the face of the Kong family of White Robe Valley for eighteen generations."
He knew in his heart that there was no turning back in today's battle. The Seventy-Two Lotus was ruthless and unscrupulous in its actions, while the God of Fortune was cunning and calculating, willing to pay any price to achieve his goals. If he couldn't completely suppress these four people today, they would surely turn their evil intentions on his relatives and friends in the future, using them as leverage to coerce him. After all, he had a wife.
Thinking of this, the last trace of gentleness in Ling Che's eyes vanished, replaced by a chilling killing intent.
"You rely on the God of Fortune and Prosperity's isolation from heavenly secrets, thinking you can assassinate me silently. You certainly have a good plan." Ling Che's tone grew colder. "Unfortunately, you are all delusional!"
With a thought, Ling Che's divine world within his body roared and trembled. Twelve Dutian Divine Banners, engraved with various secret patterns, burst forth from the sky and arranged themselves in the starry sky according to profound trajectories, instantly forming the Twelve Dutian Divine Fiend Array.
In the past, when this formation was activated, the twelve divine banners each performed their duties, drawing upon the primordial evil energy of the universe to enhance their combat power. But today, Ling Che poured all of his own Great Dao into it, causing the primordial essence of the twelve banners to merge. Twelve completely different primordial evil energies of the universe intertwined and entangled, transforming into a churning mass of chaotic energy.
"Boom!"
The heavens trembled violently, and the Milky Way seemed to reverse.
A colossal, sky-covering, and star-spanning phantom slowly materialized from the center of the grand formation. Standing amidst the chaos, its head touched the edge of the universe, its feet shattered ancient star rivers, and its entire being was enveloped in the primordial Daoist aura of the beginning of time. Within its gigantic palm, a colossal axe, formed from pure chaotic power, slowly took shape, its blade radiating an unparalleled sharpness capable of creating the world.
The instant the chaotic phantom appeared, spacetime across trillions of miles of starry sky was completely distorted and wrinkled, with the void constantly collapsing and repeatedly reforming. Chaotic lightning crisscrossed the sky, various world-destroying arcs of lightning tearing through the darkness and exploding in every corner. The oppressive force originating from the source of the Great Dao flowed out along every strand of law, shaking all things.
"To force me to summon the true form of Pangu is an honor for you all." Ling Che's figure soared into the air, completely merging into the great formation and the phantom, becoming one with the formation. "Today, I will show you what true creation of heaven and earth is!"
He unleashed without reservation, pouring out ninety-nine percent of his cultivation and divine soul power. The twelve kinds of calamity-inducing primordial power burned fiercely, reflecting the three thousand great rivers of the heavens, and billions of chaotic divine lights spread out, illuminating trillions of star fields. The entire universe trembled slightly, and the three thousand great laws bowed and hummed, as if paying homage to this incarnation of the source of the great laws.
Originally just a phantom formed by an array, it gradually developed nascent intelligence under the nourishment of Ling Che's primordial power. The chaotic phantom opened and closed its eyes, and wherever its gaze swept, the void became silent, the laws stopped turning, and an overbearing will that transcended all the heavens and universes swept across all directions.
The ancient remnants of souls on the battlefield, as well as the gods of hell trapped in the formation, witnessed this scene and were instantly annihilated. Extreme fear arose from the depths of their souls, permeating their entire bodies. Faced with this supreme illusory image of the Dharma, they couldn't even muster the thought of raising their hands to resist; their divine bodies trembled uncontrollably.
In the center of the battlefield, the Seventy-Two Lotus, the God of Fortune and Prosperity, and two other reborn ancient immortal beings all looked ashen-faced.
After the chaotic phantom appeared, an ultimate power surpassing even the Great Dao completely sealed off the entire star field. Time, space, fate, light, darkness... all the rules seemed to freeze under the pressure of this power.
The four immortal and boundless powerhouses were also captivated by this ultimate power. Their divine power stagnates, and their divine bodies tremble violently uncontrollably, like lambs trapped in a cage, unable to move an inch.
This was the first time Ling Che had unleashed his ultimate technique after breaking through to the Undying Boundless Realm. The Twelve Capital Heavenly Banners absorbed the power of various calamities and origins from the evolution of the universe, summoning the true form of Pangu, carrying the supreme power of creation. The power of this move had already surpassed the ordinary Heavenly Venerable realm, approaching the level of a Half-Ancestor. Even a Heavenly Venerable-level expert who directly took it head-on would find it difficult to escape severe injury and death.
The illusory image reflected the deepest fears in the hearts of all beings, plunging the gods present into inner demons. In the eyes of the Seventy-Two Lotuses, this was the Ancestor of the Underworld who laid the curse and overturned all her destiny; in the eyes of the God of Fortune and Prosperity, this was the Ancestor of Destiny who imparted his skills to her and controlled her entire life; the two ancient remnant souls, along with all the gods present, were also trapped in the greatest inner demon dilemma of their lives. Despair enveloped everyone, leaving them with no courage to face the true form of Pangu.
"A creation of heaven and earth!"
Ling Che's shout resounded throughout the ages. The phantom of Pangu raised the Chaos Axe high, carrying the supreme power to destroy the universe and reshape the world, and slashed down with a bang!
"Click!"
Three hundred billion miles of void instantly returned to its origin, all stars, laws, and spacetime were annihilated, returning to the chaotic state before the separation of primordial chaos. The entire star field transformed into a void origin, with no longer any distinction between heaven and earth, or between yin and yang.
The next instant, a deafening explosion shook the universe!
The primordial chaos exploded violently, unleashing an immense power that swept across all directions. Shattered laws began a frenzied reorganization, light and darkness diverged once more, the flow of time surged anew, and spatial barriers were erected layer by layer. Stars coalesced and took shape from the chaos, mountains and continents emerged one after another, and a vibrant, pure, and ethereal new starfield was born. The old and new starscapes intertwined and collided, enacting a magnificent spectacle of cosmic change and the rebirth of heaven and earth.
The chaotic energy storm gradually subsided.
Two figures, their auras weakened and their divine bodies broken, floated out from the remaining chaotic energy.
The seventy-two-petaled lotus emitted a nine-colored divine light that protected its body and blocked the devastating power of the giant axe that split the heavens. However, its soul had already cracked, its origin had been severely damaged, its eyes were closed, and it had fallen into a deep coma.
The God of Fortune and Prosperity survived only thanks to the protection of the Original Lamp, the treasure of the Ancestor of Life. However, the lamp's flame had dimmed considerably, indicating significant damage. His soul was severely injured, and he too was on the verge of death and lost consciousness.
As for the other two ancient powerhouses who were reborn through possession, they had no supreme treasures to protect them, nor any ancestral foundation to rely on. Under this axe, they were completely reduced to ashes. Their divine souls, divine bodies, and origins were all annihilated, turning into nourishment for this new star field, and completely dissipating into the passage of time.
The phantom of Pangu gradually faded, transforming back into the chaotic energy that filled the sky and merged into the Twelve Heavenly Banners. Ling Che's figure fell from the void, his divine power exhausted, his aura extremely weak.
Exhausting 99% of his power came at a tremendous cost, but the rewards were equally astonishing. Under the baptism of the Great Dao, the barrier of his long-standing spiritual power shattered, and the final hurdle to the Perfect Heaven Realm was overcome in an instant, a natural and effortless achievement.
A harmonious and perfect Daoist aura flowed through his body, allowing him to control the world at will, and to manipulate time and space at a mere thought. Ling Che closed his eyes and regulated his breathing for a moment, feeling completely relaxed, and his cultivation foundation reached a new peak.
He raised his hand and waved it back into the Divine Realm to nurture the twelve dimmed and powerless Heavenly Banners. He looked up at the unconscious Seventy-Two Lotus and the God of Fortune and Prosperity, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and was about to suppress and seal them on the spot.
Unexpected changes occurred suddenly!
The entire starry sky was suddenly swallowed by boundless darkness. A shadowy figure, profoundly deep, traversed from the abyss of darkness, its speed surpassing the limits of space and time. The laws of darkness surged, and a massive hand reached out from afar, instantly enveloping the divine body of the Seventy-Two Lotus in darkness.
Almost simultaneously, three divine lamps of different shapes lit up around the God of Fortune and Prosperity, their flames connecting to form an indestructible protective barrier. The Dao patterns of destiny spread out, tearing through space and opening a deep, dark passage.
Ling Che's gaze suddenly sharpened, and he understood.
The one who took away the seventy-two lotuses was the Dark Lord behind them; the three divine lamps protecting the God of Fortune and Prosperity were the natal artifacts of the Ancestor of Destiny, and the person behind it is probably the Ancestor of Destiny who is still hiding in the Temple of Destiny.
Two powerful figures behind the scenes quietly appeared and intervened in the battle. These two old monsters, who have lived for countless years, have unfathomable strength. Even in their incomplete state, ordinary half-ancestors would find it difficult to gain an advantage when facing them.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz!"
The four divine swords, Zhu, Lu, Xian, and Jue, were drawn from their sheaths and spun rapidly around Ling Che. Their fierce killing sword energy tore through the surrounding darkness, spreading out in layers. He was on high alert, knowing he had to be wary of these two.
Hundreds of millions of miles away, on the vast and boundless Sea of Destiny.
The powerful beings from both Heaven and Hell felt the terrifying shockwave of that earth-shattering attack. Their hearts trembled, their faces filled with horror. The power of that strike likely surpassed that of a Heavenly Venerable, enough to terrify the entire universe.
Two supreme figures pierced through the sea of clouds and descended above the Boundless Divine Sea.
It was none other than Haotian, the ruler of the Heavenly Court, and the Fengdu Emperor, the strongest being in the Underworld who ruled the Ghost City of Fengdu.
Haotian's divine might enveloped all directions, his gaze piercing through billions of stars, locking onto the battlefield. His expression was extremely solemn as he said in a deep voice, "This divine power has already surpassed the limit of a Heavenly Venerable, and its power is no weaker than that of a Half-Ancestor. Mo Lian is truly unfathomable."
Before he finished speaking, the Heavenly Punishment Armor materialized on his body, lightning and divine light coursing through him, and he gripped the Xuanhuang Divine Halberd tightly in his hand. Haotian took a step forward, transforming into a streak of lightning, and rushed towards Ling Che's direction.
The Emperor of Fengdu moved even faster. He held the Yellow Spring Seal, the supreme treasure of the Ghost Clan, in his palm. The Daoist aura of the Netherworld permeated his entire body. With the help of the divine artifact, he traversed the endless galaxy in one step and arrived at this newly formed star field in an instant.
Sensing the aura of the Fengdu Emperor, the dark shadow knew there was no room for further delay. Without hesitation, it enveloped the seventy-two-petaled lotus and vanished completely into the dark void.
The three divine lamps guarding the God of Fortune and Prosperity also ceased their presence, carrying the unconscious God of Fortune and Prosperity into the spatial passage, disappearing in an instant.
He ignored the departing crowd, activated the newly perfected power of the Heavenly Perfection, condensed and compressed this trillion-mile-long nascent star field into a pure and dazzling nebula, and slowly absorbed it into his own divine realm world, transforming it into his own foundation.
The Emperor of Fengdu stood in the void, quietly watching his actions without intervening. His gaze swept over the four swords of Zhuxian that were roaring around Ling Che, a trace of apprehension flashing in his eyes. He then turned and followed the spatial trajectory of the God of Fortune and Prosperity as he went to hunt them down.
Before long, Haotian arrived with the strides of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, stepping through the air.
He gazed at the void where traces of creation remained, feeling the immense power still lingering in the air. His expression grew increasingly solemn, and he had already clearly deduced the entire course of the great battle.
Haotian raised his eyes and his gaze fell on Ling Che.
Ling Che raised his head to meet his gaze, his posture as upright as a pine tree, neither humble nor arrogant. The four swords of Zhuxian rang out in succession, their killing aura soaring into the sky, facing this number one person in the world who reigned supreme over the Heavenly Court.
The two locked eyes. The starry sky was silent, and invisible energy fields collided and intertwined in the void, creating a turbulent undercurrent.
For a long time, Haotian did not utter a question. His Heavenly Punishment Armor erupted with billions of lightning bolts, and he transformed into a bolt of lightning that traversed the Milky Way, chasing after the Dark Lord's trail.
After all the two had left, the vast starry sky finally returned to calm. Ling Che sheathed his sword energy, stood in the center of the Milky Way, and looked at the distant horizon.
Seeing this, Ling Che's tense nerves relaxed slightly. However, he also knew that with the Dark Lord and the Ancestor of Life's current cultivation levels, even if Haotian and the Emperor of Fengdu pursued them with all their might, they could mostly only force them back, not completely eliminate the threat. His divine power was currently nearly exhausted; if Haotian and the Emperor of Fengdu were to launch an attack on the spot, the situation would be extremely dangerous. Fortunately, the two supreme beings of the heavens, mindful of the bigger picture, did not take advantage of the situation and immediately chose to pursue the fleeing Seventy-Two Lotus and the God of Fortune.
However, Ling Che also knew that with the current cultivation levels of the Dark Lord and the Ancestor of Life, even if Haotian and the Emperor of Fengdu pursued them with all their might, they could only force them back and would not be able to completely eliminate the threat.
Ling Che raised his hand and gently stroked the God-Slaying Spear before him, his eyes deep and profound. In today's battle, he had used his Pangu True Body Dharma Form to defeat four indestructible enemies, and in the process, he had broken through to the Perfect Heavenly Circle. His fame would surely spread throughout the heavens. However, at the same time, he had also thoroughly offended the Dark Lord and the Fate Ancestor faction. But it was better to have his avatar on the table, so that others wouldn't scheme against him all the time. With a flash of divine light in his eyes, Ling Che's figure disappeared into the void.