Heart Survey

Chapter 2734 Of a hundred trees, three bear fruit; of ten flowers, nine wither.

I raise my sword to question the moon, but the heavens remain silent; the same moon reflects the past and present.

The cool light shone on Siliang, but even though he was used to the dampness of Mount Shituo, he still felt a bone-chilling cold.

Admittedly, with his towering corpse emperor body and the "Heavenly Fiend Army in command," he withstood the Yellow-Faced Buddha's fists without showing any signs of weakness for the time being, but the strategic objectives of the Jing Kingdom... had already been achieved.

"The True Lord of Yao" is a supreme Yang God with limitless potential and an innate inclination towards the demon race. However, having originated in this world and been nurtured by the Divine Firmament, He possesses His own will and has not yet recognized the ferocity of the human race, thus failing to truly make a choice. He should be allowed to suffer some setbacks before fully siding with the Allied Forces of the Heavens.

But the newcomer was too fierce, and the growth of "Yaozhen God Lord" was relatively slow - this "minor setback" alone caused His divinity to collapse and scatter throughout the world.

If any other supreme expert from one of the four races were to wield this power, they would not have perished so hastily.

"The gods are no longer to be contended with, the moon is no longer to be taken away."

Si Liang had no choice but to send a message: "The enemy's momentum is overwhelming; fighting them will be pointless. Let's retreat for now and plan for the future."

"The Immortal Emperor's words are mature, prudent, and wise. However—"

The voice of the ruler of the Eternal Darkness Cave resounded in the hearts of the Allied Forces of the Heavens: "For me, Rat Duqiu, the heavens are still vast. For my demon race of hundreds of millions... we have no way out, and we have no way to retreat."

These are not words of excitement, but words of sorrow.

Therefore, it can't be described as generous, nor does it have any tragic or heroic posture.

He calmly made the decision, refusing to let the battle end like this—

The grand opera of Shenxiao begins.

The human audience has already enjoyed a great feast!

As the first performer to take the stage, the Heavenly Pillar of the Demon Clan, how could he allow his demon audience to see only despair and pain?

"What a beautiful moon!"

"It makes me constantly recall old poems."

"I was born in the demon realm and grew up in the underground caves. I have rarely seen even the crimson moon since I was a child, let alone such a snowy color!"

The moon, as bright and clear as snow, was quietly shrouded in a thin mist.

A pair of scarlet eyes were reflected in it, as if the fog on the mirror had been gently wiped away.

The beautiful woman, Huang Meiren, who was sighing under the moon, turned around in surprise.

Shu Duqiu's figure emerged from the mirror: "Thank you, Miss Huang, for pushing the moon, allowing me to witness this magnificent scene... I am truly gratified."

Most of his face was devoured by the [Demon-Eating Flower], revealing flesh and bones, a truly gruesome sight. Yet, his dark brown eyelids remained clear, drooping slightly, revealing a hint of gentleness: "Would you mind sharing a drink?"

At this moment, the moonlight shone on his blood-stained body. The thirteen holes on his body, ravaged by the ominous star, showed no signs of healing, and starlight and moonlight flowed through them... gurgling like a spring.

He reached out as if to take the wine pot containing the yellow relic, but as soon as his five fingers spread, a shadow appeared like a curtain, obscuring the river of time.

The tender words had barely left his lips when his sharp teeth bared out, revealing his ferocious nature, and he snapped them into the Thunder Tower with a loud crunch!

His actions appeared ferocious and lewd, lacking the dignity of a domain lord and the demeanor of a celestial demon; all he showed was a thirst to fight with everything he had to regain a sliver of advantage.

He held the Thunder Tower in both hands, like a bloodied, starving rat holding a crispy pork knuckle.

A rustling sound accompanied the splashing of shattered Buddhist light.

His cravings and greed are all part of the crumbs of food.

As the ruler of the Eternal Darkness Cave, Shu Duqiu's title is... "The Devourer of the Dao"!
Not only is he adept at concealment, but he is also born with the power to devour. No defense can last long in front of him, and his teeth can crush the very essence of the Dao.

This is why he was able to break through those protective measures and appear silently behind Lü Yandu.

When Huang Sheli pushed the moon and seized the heavens, he had drunk all the wine in the pot of Chang Le Yu Lu and had no strength left to reverse time. This was indeed the weakest time.

This person is a banner of the Jing Kingdom, an important representative of the Taixu Pavilion, and a prodigy of the human race who emerged during the Great Contention Era, a product of destiny.

If we can kill her here, then this battle won't be considered a loss. The death of Yao Zhen, the defeat in terms of Heaven's will and timing, can also be tolerated.

When Huang Sheli turned back, he was still surprised. But the moment Shu Duqiu bit Leiyin Tower, his surprise turned into a smile: "There's no need to drink together. Wanhua Palace has a certain threshold."

Her tone was somewhat flippant, openly telling her opponent that she wasn't taking her acting seriously.

But sitting alone atop the Lingcha Pagoda, draped in snow-white blossoms, she simply smiled radiantly, and in that instant, her spiritual light shone forth, making her resemble a legendary, holy female bodhisattva!

The Bodhisattva lowered her brows, calmly observing the visitors climbing the tower, making no other move, only speaking in a leisurely tone: "But what exactly makes you think that I am that weakness?"

Aligning the time scale of the Divine Firmament World with that of the present world did indeed exhaust her power.

But she deliberately sat there idly to show absolute confidence, treating it as a high vantage point for viewing the scenery.

She will not back down an inch.

"Miss Huang is never a weakness, but I'm afraid I won't find another opportunity to take you away."

Shu Duqiu's voice resounded from his belly drum, the sound waves spreading out in concentric circles, establishing his first line of defense.

His protruding, sharp teeth were as white as jade, constantly intersecting like short daggers dancing.

Crumbs flew everywhere as he gnawed, and the lotus flowers fell. Suddenly, he bit into a radiant pearl and slammed his hand down on it! For a moment, only teeth marks remained; he hadn't managed to break through it—

It was a perfectly round, golden relic.

The golden light within resembled the shimmering of a sea.

Upon closer inspection, in the golden sea of ​​Brahma, there is a vision of the Buddha sitting in meditation in the center, with Dharma protectors from all directions beside him, and believers from ten lifetimes listening to the sutra.

The moment the rat, Qiu, knocked on the relic, the Buddha in the Brahma Sea opened his eyes, and the boundless golden light temporarily subsided, revealing the face of Huang Fu.

He bared his teeth, stood up defiantly, and instantly transformed his Buddhist appearance into a menacing one: "You son of a bitch! You dare to provoke us, running wild in the temple! You're going to have to pay for the whole clan's debts!"

Huang Fu Zhenjun, who was fighting with Si Liang, has disappeared.

Yet, it surged forth from the relic, forcefully slamming its golden fist into Shu Duqiu's mouth! It blocked the sharp buck teeth, lifting Shu Duqiu high into the air.

Parents who love their daughter have far-reaching plans.

Whether it's a false Buddha or a fake Zen master.

Huang Fudu "erected a thousand temples and enshrined Buddhas in ten thousand households," becoming one of the most powerful figures in Buddhism, destined to live for ten thousand years and reach the Vulture Peak. He even placed his own Zen relic within the Thunderclap Pagoda of Huang Fudu's relics, illuminating his path and protecting him!
This great general of Huanglong Prefecture, a regional lord of the Great Jing Empire, and a prominent figure in the world, seems to have spent his entire life striving and seeking enlightenment, all for the sake of his flesh and blood.

His wife had died, and his daughter was his only treasure.

If you touch it, you will die.

Originally, the Buddha's light suppressed the Corpse King, forcing Si Liang to retreat continuously. Now, forcibly jumping out of the way, he inevitably got punched in the back by Si Liang... even the golden body showed a five-finger fist imprint.

Despite his injuries, Huang Fu was undeterred and became even more courageous. The Buddha-like light emanating from his body intensified, illuminating even the sharp teeth of Shu Duqiu!
He wanted to break these teeth, dismantle this rat-clan celestial demon, and lay a forest of celestial demon bones in front of his beloved daughter's Thunderclap Tower as a warning to those who would come after.

Shu Duqiu's teeth were locked in a fierce struggle with Huang Fu's fist.

Just then, a knife suddenly appeared—

This knife is long and straight, with the power to cut through the sun and moon.

The woman wielding the knife was like moonlight, flowing freely and illuminating all directions.

Only by having an absolute advantage can one come and go so easily, withdrawing from the war whenever one wishes.

The ferocious celestial demon from the Dark Abyss was cleaved in two with a single strike. She raised her hand to suppress it with the [Extreme Fiend Heavenly Wheel], then descended from the moon, slashing down with her blade—

The cold, long blade slashed down on Shu Duqiu's back.

It cast a long, silvery-white dotted line across the vast land.

Shu Duqiu suddenly looked up.

This ruthless and resilient celestial demon, who ruled over a region, seemed to be in pain for the first time, and howled at the sky in an almost uncontrollable manner!
Dark ripples spread out from him, and everything within that range slowed down, as if sinking into a dark and eternal abyss...

There was a faint sound of ghostly wailing.

Heaven grieves, earth weeps; this agonizing scream has an unimaginable power of infecting, causing time and space to distort with pain.

【The Song of the Heavenly Demon's Burial】!
Tang Wenxue suddenly drew her sword!

This death formation melody is quite fitting here. However, if the goal is to assassinate Huang Sheli, then choosing this secret technique becomes less precise.

In fact, she had already sensed something was wrong the moment the blade touched its target.

Huang Fu, who was struggling with Shu Duqiu, also turned his head with a serious expression—but was hindered by the killing melody of the Heavenly Demon's Soul-Splitting Burial, and his power was delayed for a moment, so he only had time to look over.

The direction he turned to look in... was towards Grand Marshal Lü Yandu, the Pride of the Gods!

Zhen Liangfeng, who had been cleaved in two by Tang Wenxue's blade, actually withstood the attack of the [Extreme Fiend Heavenly Wheel], spitting out a mouthful of internal organ fragments and flying blood, and charged towards Lü Yandu.

He had the ferocity of a mad tiger, his twin blades dancing wildly like butterflies, scattering even the finest starlight and tearing through Lü Yandu's already strained defenses.

But a vertical slash struck where the two swords crossed—

Gong Xiyan, fully armored, brought his sword down squarely!
This Commander-in-Chief of Jing, Hongwu, demonstrated his strength in commanding the strongest army in Jing.

The blade, like a raging sea engulfing a divine mountain, not only intercepted Zhen Liangfeng but also trapped Hui Tianmu, suppressing both of the most ferocious and poisonous Dark Abyss Venerables!

It is said that when poison meets viper poison, there is no cure, no matter how high or low the heavens or earth.

The combined attack of Zhen Liangfeng and Hui Tianmu is definitely one of the most dangerous offensives on the battlefield of the ultimate peak.

He took it upon himself and crushed it with a single blow.

Suddenly, a dazzling array of colors streaked across the sky, the shimmering hues seeming to emit a noisy clamor that was both irritating and dizzying.

Gong Xiyan turned around and swung his sword, intending to trap the attacking Extreme Demon within his blade's reach.

The shimmering, iridescent light seemed to flutter like a ribbon, detaching itself gracefully.

Daring to intercept the Yellow Relic in the River of Time, the Heavenly Demon Cai Xing naturally possesses unique skills in movement techniques. Although he was unable to catch up with the time, maneuvering amidst the overwhelming sword light was not difficult for him.

She did not get involved in Huang Sheli's murder plot, nor did she try to do anything to Gong Xiyan. Instead, she suddenly turned her body, as if dancing and singing.

The thousands of colorful ribbons spread across the battlefield resembled a festive wedding room.

She dressed in red makeup and a red dress, intending to bring good fortune to the bride, but she wanted Lü Yandu to be her groom for the night!

A sky full of phantoms, a dance of celestial demons.

The demon's face, which had been concealed by thick fog, finally revealed its features. Yet, in each pair of eyes, they were all different.

It is the face that best suits one's desires and thoughts, the face that everyone finds most irresistible.

She smiled gracefully and raised her cup, saying, "Young Master Lü! Drink this wine of union, and we shall live and die together!"

Looking at the elite warriors from Jing Kingdom who went to fight against Shenxiao this time.

The one who should be killed the most is actually Huang Sheli.

However, the Jing Kingdom will undoubtedly provide her with the highest level of protection, and anyone will come to her rescue immediately. A false Buddha like Huang Fu would even risk his life for her.

With a heart full of Bodhi and a heart embracing the beauty of nature, she sits serenely in the Thunder Sound Tower, her back against the long river of time... In addition, having just made an unparalleled contribution, she is bound to receive much attention from the powerful figures of the Jing Kingdom in her weakened state, making her actually the most difficult one to kill.

If we exclude her, the one who should be killed the most is Lü Yandu.

This grandmaster of astrology is the most accomplished astrologist in the Jing Kingdom. He signed an unprecedented contract concerning thirteen ominous stars, yet he kept it secret until today.

He has long been stationed in the demon realm, where he has fought against Mi Zhiben and Chan Jingmeng. He has a deep understanding of the demon race and is also very good at making decisive moves, making him a very troublesome opponent.

Killing him would be tantamount to gouging out one of the eyes of the State of Jing.

There has never been a better opportunity than today.

The Kingdom of Jing has seized the opportune moment today, and the bright moon has risen. If Lü Yandu were given more time to recover from his injuries, he could guide the thirteen ominous stars to reside eternally in the Divine Firmament...

That would be an even more formidable and terrifying opponent.

While killing Huang Sheli is unacceptable, her importance can be used to control the powerful figures of the Jing Kingdom.

Therefore, the two Venerable An Yuan sacrificed themselves to kill, and the Supreme Demon Cai Xing made a sudden attack.

They all completed their tasks well and did their best.

However, Yao Zhen Shen Zun was already dead, and Rahu, who was mixed in with Yao Zhen Shen Zun's body, had also regained his freedom.

The assassin was particularly sensitive to killing intent. He sensed that Lü Yandu was also in danger of being attacked, so instead of immediately rescuing Huang Sheli, he moved closer to Lü Yandu.

Just in time!
The Heavenly Demon King had decorated the wedding hall with lanterns and colorful banners. The door was pushed open, and a person wearing a gray-white robe rushed in, bringing with him a gust of reckless wind.

Blow the ribbons open, and they flutter and make a crisp sound in the air.

"Governor Lü is married!" said the man shrouded in the gray mist. "Why don't I take over?"

Therefore, there are dark colors within that flowing color.

The dark color started as a dot, then became a circle.

It seemed to have become a bottomless black hole with enormous suction, swallowing up the colorful, boiling river.

An invisible suction force, like countless threads, pulled down the Supreme Demon in his red robes.

After Rahu eclipses the stars, it eclipses the intention.

Every move he makes comes at the most crucial moment.

However, at this moment, the Sea Clan's Evil Immortal Emperor, who had withstood the "Heavenly Fiend Soldier's Command" and punched Huang Fu, pushed the blood-red guillotine and the great formation, crashing towards them like a war chariot.

This man truly possesses boundless courage and strength. While wrestling with the great formation and restraining the formation's leader, Lü Yandu, he also reached out his palm towards Rahu from afar!

The blood-red guillotine suddenly sank, piercing his skull. The "Heavenly Fiend Soldier Command Formation" was activated with great force, suppressing his Corpse Emperor body.

Lu Yandu is rapidly revising the details of the "Heavenly Fiend Soldier Command Formation" to make it more suitable for killing a peak corpse cultivator.

Despite this immense constraint, the Demonic Immortal Emperor still opened his blood-red maw and declared, "Between us...!"

In the colorful, bustling river, pale, stiff fingers leap out of the water like small white fish, like a school of fish swimming upstream in the ocean current.

They were cold and damp, arranged in a circle like a sword formation, and actually landed on the edge of the black hole, circling around it, briefly trapping the Dark Star leader, who was corrupting the demonic energy, there.

And I grant Cai Xing the empty gate!
Shu Duqiu's earth-shattering stab at Huang Sheli and the encirclement and killing of Lü Yandu by the pinnacle of the heavens were actually two separate events that happened in a short span of time.

The ever-changing battlefield at the summit is a great test for every person who has painstakingly climbed to this point.

Normally, even in fierce battles where the heavens and earth seem to darken, it's hard to see who is alive or dead. But in the ultimate melee, every opponent has a path that touches the limits of the heavens, and one careless move can lead to eternal damnation.

The Great Jing Empire's proud Grand Commander had a layer of skin torn off his body, his clothes stained with blood. His neck was particularly gruesome, revealing flesh and veins.

But he remained calm throughout, smiling as he watched the Ultimate Demon King charging towards him: "This might sound a bit out of place—but we might not be a good match."

"I have long heard of your reputation for being a womanizer; the Demon Palace has three thousand male concubines."

"I have remained chaste since my wife passed away. I befriend pine trees and cranes, and live among the stars."

"Hey—don't rush!"

He reached down and the light of the thirteen ominous stars crisscrossed before him, instantly forming a cage that blocked the colorful and noisy river!
"I said... don't rush."

He smiled and said, "Although I did suffer a minor injury."

“If you want to kill me, Lü Yandu, you should at least call upon a Demon Lord to appear.”

He grasped those countless strands of starlight, as if he were pulling up his catch: "You just rushed up here without saying a word... what's the meaning of this?"

Cai Xing's path of cultivation might give the people of Jing some unpleasant ideas, but she and Rakshasa Mingyuejing are indeed masters of different paths.

Rakshasa Mingyuejing controls "color," while she controls "emotions."

When passion reaches its peak, it manifests as colorful light.

At this moment, the thirteen ominous stars loomed overhead, their killing intent consuming everything. No matter how she urged her Dao path, she could hardly see the "ultimate intent" and could not disturb the battlefield.

The broken thread has been reconnected, and a newly unfolded [Shangzhan Qianluo Binding God Net] has ensnared Caixing and her path in the air.

He didn't need to defeat the Ultimate Demon King; he only needed to react quickly enough to stop the enemy for a moment. Therefore, an old net, which wasn't particularly effective but could be picked up easily, was the most appropriate choice at the moment.

Starlight formed a curtain, separating the two supreme figures who had just been drinking and celebrating together.

They bound the gods with a net, turning what was once a short distance into the ends of the earth, and from then on, they were separated by vast distances.

Within the net, the Supreme Demon, using only the face that clearly belonged to Lü Yandu's deceased wife, smiled sweetly: "I think of you every night, yet I cannot see you; how can I not be anxious?"

It was at such a moment, beyond the colorful and bustling river, amidst the raging starlight, that a shadow emerged.

This shadow, like a dim part of starlight, blends seamlessly into the scene, catching no attention. Now it emerges, first like mist, then gathering like dew, and finally falling like drops from a leaky window.

This is the very first hiding place of "The Devourer of the Dao," Shu Duqiu!

At that moment, Zhen Liangfeng and Tang Wenxue walked towards each other, one attacking Lü Yandu and the other going to rescue Huang Sheli.

When the shadow fell in front of Lü Yandu, the Rat Duqiu, whose spine had been severed by Tang Wenxue, had just howled out the [Heavenly Demon Burial Song].

The figure of that deity grew fainter and fainter with each howl, but the shadow that dripped onto Lü Yandu twisted and bulged, transforming into a form... a truly real, increasingly bloody, Shu Duqiu.

The one who attacked Huang Sheli was his avatar in the meditation cave, a part of his soul, which did indeed demonstrate his full power at a certain moment. But that ferocious posture of picking up and devouring the Thunderclap Tower was only for the sake of turning back to the Star Sea at this moment!
"Lü Yandu!"

His crimson eyes could clearly see Lü Yandu's appearance—he could see that this man controlled the formation to trap the Corpse Emperor with one hand and controlled the stars to imprison the Heavenly Demon with the other. His blood-stained clothes must have weighed several pounds, yet he could still be seen fluttering gracefully.

The celestial demon, manifested through the dripping water clock, was somewhat satisfied with his chosen target during the time he had fought so desperately for. His voice was faint: "Although I have hated and cursed you, I have to say—only a character like you is worthy of being the finale of this underground story, a fitting end to my life."

This is the story of a rat-clan cultivator who rose from the deepest level of the Eternal Darkness Cave.

They drank muddy water and ate copper balls, yet they grew up well and have reached where they are today.

Of course, there is more bloodshed, but there is also warmth in the mud, and breaths and kisses in the darkness.

The memories of a supreme expert in his final moments were filled with beautiful things.

There aren't that many when you count them all.

Yet they relied on it to get through their long lives.

The world has four seasons. He cherishes the desolate scenery and rejoices in the bountiful harvest, but he alone retains autumn, while spring, winter and summer are all devoured.

The Yongming Cave is only in autumn.

The most barren region in the demon realm is blessed with abundant harvests every day.

Even so, only three out of a hundred trees bear fruit, and nine out of ten flowers wither. A thousand spirit pools can only gather enough dew for two jugs a year.

But with abundant stalactites and acrey of moss, raising children would not be a problem.

Even in the dark and sunless underground world, there is still autumn full of hope.

Shu Duqiu's body quickly withered!
From a supreme celestial demon, he withered into a skin covered only in terrifying dark patterns. Blood and qi swelled within, barely maintaining his demonic form.

He still managed to barely assert his dignity.

Lu Yandu's body, which had already been skinned, was covered with strange patterns again, which broke through the neck and climbed up the face!

The Dark Annihilation Demon Mark on his body had already been torn off by Huang Fu, skin and all, but that was just a temporary measure on the battlefield. To cure it completely, he would have to wait until after the battle to receive specialized medical treatment, or kill Shu Duqiu completely and sever the source of the Dark Annihilation Demon Mark's power...

At this moment, the Rat Duqiu transformed into a living being, summoning others and burning away life to hasten death, causing the remaining poison to resurface. The extinguished demonic patterns were rekindled from the ashes, their power even greater than before.

Lu Yandu had barely seen Shu Duqiu when the final attack began.

The eerie demonic markings had spread to below his eyes, twisting and becoming grotesque, further highlighting the beauty of his phoenix eyes.

He had a thousand tricks up his sleeve and countless schemes. At this moment, he thought of too many ways, but he didn't even have time to realize it... In the end, he just lowered his eyes.

The world is like a game of chess, with all realms vying for supremacy—what a grand and magnificent era!

He, Lü Yandu, actually withdrew from the game so hastily. He had no further chance to make a move.

Shu Duqiu arrived too quickly, at the perfect time, and with such decisive action.

This stinking rat, unable to escape his grasp, delivered a fatal blow. The pawn that had crossed the river was now forced into the inner palace!
The proud Grand Commander of Jing Kingdom sighed: "What kind of story are you telling, and now the curtain falls... You didn't even ask me if I wanted to."

He looked down at his hands, which were holding the large array and the starlight: "I'm sorry... I thought the story had a long way to go."

"Does someone like me not get any more screen time?"

The rat, alone in autumn, sacrificed its life to exchange for a celestial divination.

The demon race didn't earn much, and it couldn't even be considered a profit.

He just didn't want to lose too badly today.

I don't want today's situation to repeat itself.

They do not intend to give Lü Yandu another chance to make a move.

The bulging skin covered in eerie patterns floated gently in the night breeze. The ruler of the Eternal Darkness Cave, like a kite with a broken string, drifted aimlessly into the distance.

He didn't say anything to Lü Yandu at the end of his life.

Speak only of this vast heaven, speak only of this fertile land of hope, unseen in the eternally dark earth—

"Spring plowing, summer weeding, and winter storage are all within my grasp."

"Therefore, the four seasons are never missed, the five grains are never exhausted, and even the monsters have surplus food!"

……

Some people are watching the kite with its string broken, some are gazing at the moonlight, and others... are swimming in the colorful river.

Just as Lü Yandu had accepted the final result, Rahu, dressed in a gray-white robe and shrouded in mist, appeared from the great formation pointed out by the Corpse Emperor.

Fingers touching fingers, the body rises above the water.

Like a lonely, ghostly water spirit, it crawled out of the dark well opening.

He did not break through the Siliang Corpse Finger Formation, because there was simply no time to do so in that instant.

He lifted his robe halfway up, revealing a face that was surprisingly youthful, though overly pale... His features were delicate.

The most notorious assassin in the world looks like just a boy next door.

What he had to do was simple—in the colorful river, amidst the dark, shadowy stars, calmly raise his head and look up at the high heavens…and then starlight would gather.

Among the thirteen ominous stars that stretched across the sky, one named "Rahu" shone brightly in the heavens, pressing down on all the other stars!
Starlight fell upon Lü Yandu, seemingly washing away the dust from his body and temporarily easing his brow. Although it failed to remove the fading demonic markings, their continued spread manifested on Luo Hou's face.

"Does the Rat Celestial Venerable wish to enjoy autumn alone? However, a bountiful harvest is not unique to the Demon Land."

The leader of the Dark Star of Jing Kingdom also addressed him respectfully as "Heavenly Venerable," but this did not hinder his actions. Another meteor strike to the moon reversed the tide of battle. At this crucial moment, he calmly proclaimed, "Rahu will disappear, the Killing Star will take his place."

Shu Duqiu traded his life for another, and he also traded his life for another!
Shu Duqiu wanted to replace Lü Yandu, while he wanted to bring Lü Yandu back.

Shu Duqiu is already dead, otherwise he definitely wouldn't have been able to figure it out.

Lu Yandu looked at Luo Hou, his eyes asking why.

Comrades should naturally do their best to help each other, and taking some risks is only right. But to go to the point of exchanging lives... he asked himself if he had such a deep relationship with Luo Hou.

In fact, they never had any relationship.

Dark Star is an organization controlled solely by the King of Jing, while Rahu is a malevolent god of death passed down through generations.

Colluding with the Dark Stars is a grave taboo, and a clever man like Lü Yandu would never cross that line.

Crossing thousands of mountains to reach the summit, is it just to exchange one's own life for someone else's?

Luo Hou's face was covered with Dark Extinction Demon Marks, but he simply said in a low voice: "The second task His Majesty gave me before I left was to protect the lives of the several lords at all times and in all places, at all costs."

"In the past, the six armies united to destroy the He clan, and the Great Jing was among the thirteen stars."

His body, like ice and snow, gradually melted away, the Taoist form beneath his grey-white robe slowly merging into the dark star beneath his feet. And the most malevolent starlight in the world was his final greeting: "Hidden stars may be annihilated, but bright stars will never perish. Thus, the banner can be raised throughout the universe, illuminating my land."

At such a moment, Lü Yandu remained silent. What else could he say?

To eat the king's food and be loyal to him... is nothing more than a death sentence.

He endured the soul-destroying pain brought by the Darkening Demon Mark, slowly, slowly combing through his starlight.

When is the most desperate moment?
Si Liang initially thought it was the day Gao Jie failed to ascend, then he thought it was the moment when the ancient heavenly road suddenly appeared and he was faced with a desperate situation in the vast ocean, then it was the time when Huang Sheli pushed the moon... until this moment.

He saw Rahu die for Lü Yandu!

One immortal lord, destined to live ten thousand years, died for another immortal lord who had traversed the pinnacle of worldly existence. They did not face the crisis of national ruin and family destruction; in the first round of clashes on the battlefield of the Divine Firmament, they gained the upper hand.

There wasn't a very deep affection between them.

It was all because of an order from the Emperor of Dajing. And so they went forth one after another, their starlight never ceasing.

Is this the kind of surging torrent that constitutes a system called "nation"? Humanity surges, all currents change course. Human power shines brightly, the heavens are dimmed.

Your opponent is stronger than you, has more potential than you, is richer than you, grows faster than you, and works harder than you!

Where does the hope of victory lie?
Si Liang didn't want to say that he couldn't see it.

He would rather say that he lacked the wisdom to see and the vision to see.

Let's stop here!

The Evil Immortal Emperor moved within the [Heavenly Fiend Soldier Command Formation], letting the blood-red guillotine blade pierce deep into his body.

"The sea creatures have shown me the virtue of providing for them."

"I hope that the Dragon Buddha can help me transcend."

"I am like a piece of the vast ocean... truly lacking the talent to save the world."

Realizing one's own powerlessness is a truly painful thing.

His figure suddenly straightened, pulling the great formation as he rushed into the sky.

The hands that controlled Lü Yandu's formation were all raised high.

Facing the fiercely shining star, he raised his wet, cold fist and slammed it into the star! At that moment, a powerful surge of corpse energy erupted, like a sea-blue cloud obscuring the star!
He polluted the starry sky with dense, sea-blue corpse energy, forcibly halting the process of Rahu's life-sustaining transformation.

He allowed the [Heavenly Fiend Army] to ravage his body, and allowed the thirteen ominous stars, especially Rahu, to inflict devastating damage upon him.

The dense cloud of corpse energy was constantly dissipated, and he was constantly replenished.

This body of the Corpse Emperor, a being rarely seen in the heavens, was ablaze with blazing white corpse fire.

It was rapidly shrinking amidst the surging torrent of starlight.

Thousands of feet, hundreds of feet... until it was only four inches high.

From a towering giant to a dwarf swallowed by a single wave.

So this is how a monarch can become so short, and how a rotting corpse that staggers up from Mount Shituo can one day become so majestic.

He has become stronger.

Although his strength was constantly waning, his will grew stronger.

At this moment, he did not despair, nor did he think about the future of the sea tribe... because whatever the future may be, it requires his current battle.

His death was split in two: one half was the blade that severed the life of the killing star, and the other half was a sacrifice offered to the distant starry sky.

Back then, the Taoist and Buddhist sects joined forces to wipe out all the corpse cultivators in the world.

Among the corpse cultivators, there was one named "Qingyan," also known as the "Ancestor Corpse."

He was the first being in the world to enter the Dao through a corpse.

The lineage of corpse cultivators in the world was severed, and his path to transcendence was cut off. In that battle, he was killed by the great sage Bodhisattva Guang Sheng of Mount Sumeru, who cleaved his seven corpses in reverse.

But he didn't actually disappear.

Death was his gateway.

He escaped through that door to the depths of the Chaos Sea, where he fell into a long slumber.

This time, the allied forces of the heavens jointly attacked the mortal world, and the various races exchanged resources to strengthen each other.

Si Liang obtained information about "Qing Yan" from the Bodhisattva Peng Erlai, who had crossed the Chaos Sea.

Originally, he hoped to grow further in the Divine Firmament War, find the coroner who had once been the Underworld God and then escaped, and then find an opportunity to eat the corpse phoenix Jia Xuan that Huang Weizhen had imagined. After he was perfected, he would go to the Chaos Sea, swallow the sleeping ancestral corpse, and ascend to heaven in one step, adding a transcendent being to the sea race.

And now, he offers himself as a sacrifice to the Chaos Sea.

Use perhaps the strongest Corpse Emperor of our time to awaken the slumbering ancestral corpse.

My name is Si Liang.

"It is for the sea creatures to wait for the right time."

Finally, there was this last sound, just like when he first became emperor.

Born of the sea, unfortunate to be a sea creature, yet fortunate to also be a sea creature.

If I cannot pave a new road, then I will lie down and pave it!

In the blink of an eye, as Huang Fu looked back during the [Heavenly Demon's Burial Song], all of this had already happened.

They were saved from a dead end, but their path to survival was cut off.

He went through several brushes with death, a truly dramatic journey.

Lü Yandu, however, did not experience much emotional fluctuation.

Of course, no one wants to die, but when the outcome comes, one has no choice but to accept it. Players must face victory and defeat.

If you were to play chess with Shu Duqiu a thousand times, Lü Yandu would always be the winner.

But this was the 1001st time... Shu Duqiu abandoned his pawn and killed the general.

That's a pity.

But isn't that part of the charm of the game?

No matter how outstanding or talented you are, one wrong move can lead to total defeat.

The [Heavenly Fiend Soldier Commander Formation] he was holding, consisting of thirteen ominous stars, was gradually slipping out of his control.

Just like the kite that flew further and further away, it was like a kite that he released.

In his eyes, the beautiful world was like a flower in full bloom.

“My son, Lü Jingxing, is sixty-seven years old. He is of average appearance and is not suitable for military service.”

"General Wei, Zang Yuanjia, is a loyal and diligent man. Left Assistant Minister Xue Huairen is a man of great talent. With these two assistants, we can continue the legacy of peace and prosperity."

"However, Heaven's will is not on our side, and we are now in a time of great struggle. I beseech Your Majesty to select other virtuous and capable men, and not to let the gods become arrogant and dim their light. Our soldiers should fight with their lives, displaying their prowess beyond the heavens, striving for merit with swords and spears, and leaving a legacy for future generations."

"Jingxing had a grandson named Lü Qian, who was thirteen years old and had exceptional talent."

"After the great victory of Shenxiao, if Your Majesty sees his talent, you may make a preliminary assessment. If he is not capable of being cultivated, let him live as a wealthy old man. Then I will be content."

"—Respectfully presented to Your Majesty by the Divine Pride Commander Lü Yandu."

After saying all this in one breath, Lü Yandu bowed to the bright moon as if bidding farewell to Emperor Jing.

Then he straightened up, opened his arms, and laughed, "Shenxiao is so proud!"

His body fell backward, shattering into a wisp of starlight, which was then scattered by the wind.

One by one, the star contracts within his body flew out, scattering starlight across the distant sky, making the night of the Divine Firmament World hazy with starlight.

If you count them carefully, there are more than thirteen!
It was an extremely brutal battle!
Yao Zhen, Shu Duqiu, Siliang, Luo Hou, and Lü Yandu, five supreme masters, died in battle one after another.

The supreme master of this world, Yao Zhen, will fall into eternal slumber the moment he opens his eyes. The last four, truly peerless warriors who fought their way out of blood and fire, died in a fleeting moment of intertwined light.

In protecting "Yaozhen God Lord", the Allied Forces of the Heavens are definitely not weak. In particular, Cai Xing, Zhen Liangfeng, and Hui Tianmu are mobile forces that roam the entire Shenxiao battlefield and were able to reinforce here immediately.

However, they clearly underestimated the determination of the Jing Kingdom.

They also underestimated the intentions of the State of Jing.

The assassination attempt on the Supreme God Lord was merely a prelude; what the Jing Kingdom truly sought to disrupt was the opportune moment for the entire Divine Firmament World.

There was a certain tacit understanding among the gods and immortals during the great battle.

Based on past intelligence and the current situation, the six hegemonic states, including Jing and Qin, enjoy the most resources in the present world and should naturally bear the responsibility for the present world and strive to be the best for the human race.

Just like the demon race, the sea race, and the asura race, as the strongest races below the human race, they must also stand up and prove to the Allied Forces of the Heavens that they have the courage and strength to withstand the human race on the front lines, so that those wavering weaker races can have the courage to fight back.

The opening of the Divine Firmament Gate signifies a bloody battle.

This vanguard battle was between four tribes and six kingdoms.

If you can't even hold your ground in the first round, there's no point in playing any more.

Qin's Marquis Zhen, Xu Wang, has already taken command and ascended the stage, his power reaching the heavens. Qin Zhizhen has brought the armies of "Ge Lu" and "Ba Rong" with a single stroke.

The State of Qi conscripted two soldiers named "Tianfu" and "Chunsi," and appointed the military genius Jiang Mengxiong as their commander.

Jing Guo dispatched two armored soldiers, named "Shence" and "Dou'e," and the Southern Celestial Master Ying Jiang Hong led the army with his sword.

The two riders who governed the country were named "Azure Sky" and "Iron Pagoda." Tu Hu, the High Priest of the Divine Crown, held the divine staff and received the military tally, personally taking command of the army, and set out to conquer the Divine Firmament.

The two generals of Chu, named Yanfeng and Chiying, were personally led by Zuo Xiao, the Duke of Huai, who was the number one general of Chu and had not commanded troops for many years.
Judging from the initial confrontation, it seems that the Jing Kingdom is led by Gong Xiyan, who is joining forces with the new generation of peerless Huang Sheli, and bringing [Hongwu] and another army, perhaps the [Huanglong Guard].

But now the Jing Kingdom has suddenly dispatched six supreme experts!
The Qin state never fought a war unprepared.

Jing Kingdom is the most magnificent and central state in the world.

And the State of Jing... is a war-crazed nation!

Despite being a powerful nation with a history spanning millennia and the right to challenge the world, it still acts like a gambler with bloodshot eyes, betting everything at the table that determines the fate of the nation.

Back then, Tang Yu gambled on the future in the Northwest with a knife; later, Tang Xiangyuan shaved his head to bet against the He family; and now, Tang Xianqi has pushed his chips off the table.

The spirit of the people of Jing seems to have never dissipated.

Hui Tianmu and Zhen Liangfeng were of one mind and had already decided to back down.

Both "Devouring Daoist" Shu Duqiu and "Evil Immortal Emperor" Si Liang died in battle. In any case, Shu Duqiu's final goal was accomplished.

They should also retreat temporarily and avoid the deadly blade of the State of Jing, rather than engaging in a pointless and futile fight.

But then the sound of cicadas startling them from their dreams rang in their ears—

"Go up there."

"If the Jing Kingdom wants to prolong the conflict, let them prolong it here; if they want to fight, let them fight!"

“If the Jing Kingdom collapses, the border regions will need support, and the Li Kingdom will inevitably rise. Jing and Mu will both have to share the spoils.”

Even if the human race in the present world does not descend into chaos for the sake of the greater good, conflicts are inevitable.

"Who will go first and who will follow? Who will take the fall? We should take the State of Jing as a cautionary tale!"

"Hui Tianmu, Zhen Liangfeng, from this moment on, don't think about sacrifice. The path to victory is right here—"

"At all costs, we will wear down the Jing Kingdom at Shenxiao!"

"Let them know that a country, however large, will perish if it loves war."

"Let the other powerful nations know that the Divine Firmament War is not a game of military merit for them. To fight to the death here... will lead to the destruction of their nation!"

"If we don't destroy a powerful nation here, they won't even dare to think twice!"

The aged and decrepit Chan Jingmeng, whose true form had reached the Divine Firmament World, stood atop that giant bronze cauldron, mobilizing for war against the entire demon realm and the allied forces of the heavens.

He twirled prayer beads in his left hand and shook the divination tube in his right, constantly calculating the gains and losses of each battlefield. And in the bright moon that Jing Kingdom had raised, in the most tragic defeat, he saw an opportunity!
If Lü Yandu had not died and Rahu were still alive, this opportunity would not have existed.

Only the Jing Kingdom lost two of its most powerful figures in the battle, and the current world order shifted, allowing him to glimpse the madness of the Jing Kingdom, but also to glimpse its hope.

He believed this was the future that Shu Duqiu had soared to—

The swollen, strangely patterned sac finally reached its maximum height, and with a loud thud…

Like fireworks exploding.

Two days ago, my brow bone was a little red and swollen, and I had some herpes. I was thinking of updating today, so I would go to the hospital to get it checked out after I finished writing.

These past two days, I've been typing while experiencing sharp, throbbing pain—it's been an incredibly bittersweet experience. Inspiration comes in fits and starts, like a series of pauses. But once I get into writing, I forget all about the pain.

I woke up this morning to find my eyes so swollen they were barely open...

This morning, One-Eyed Dragon was writing!
I've booked an appointment with a specialist this afternoon; I'll grab some food and then go.

See you on Friday!