Starting with the Earth God, the path to immortality is deduced!

click-

It was a teeth-grinding cracking sound.

It's not a bone.

Rather, something harder and more fundamental is collapsing.

As Uncle Liu's jade pendant, which contained the secrets of the Wukong Sect, shattered.

Deep beneath the City God Temple, the rumbling sound that had been like a heartbeat abruptly ceased.

It was as if an invisible hand had forcefully choked my throat.

silence.

A deathly silence.

What followed was a frantic counterattack.

"roar--!!!"

From the depths of the earth came a roar of defiance.

The sound was extremely muffled, as if separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, or by a thick barrier between worlds.

That is an existence from the Void Abyss.

It was angry.

It roared.

Its meal, which was about to be devoured, was overturned!

But it's no use now.

The node is broken.

The passage between the two realms is severed!

They lost the continuous replenishment of the evil god's power.

Lin Xuan's body, which was still frantically repairing itself, instantly deflated like a punctured balloon.

"No……"

"My power..."

"Come back...all of you, come back here!!"

Lin Xuan lay prone in the ruins, his hands gripping the ground tightly.

The nail broke off.

Blood was everywhere.

He tried to catch the black energy that was emanating from his body.

It's like a drowning person trying to grasp at the last straw.

But he couldn't catch it.

The evil god powers that had previously obeyed him were now fleeing his body as if they had seen a plague god.

Without the support of power.

That imposing and ferocious demonic armor began to rapidly turn gray.

The luster is dull.

The surface is covered with cracks.

It's like a rock that has been weathered over millions of years.

pat.

A shoulder pad fell off, crashed to the ground, and turned into a handful of black ash.

Next is the breastplate.

Leg protectors.

helmet.

Lin Xuan's body is shrinking at a rate visible to the naked eye.

From the original giant who was twelve feet tall and resembled a demon god.

It's collapsing little by little.

The skin became loose, like dried tree bark.

Large clumps of hair are falling out.

It was a kind of depletion of vitality, pushed to its absolute limit.

"Ahhhhh!"

Lin Xuan let out a desperate roar.

He was not reconciled.

He had been planning this for thirty years.

He endured it for thirty years.

She even went so far as to transform herself into this appearance that is neither human nor ghost.

He was only half a step away from that supreme divine position!

We're just one step away!

"I refuse to accept this!"

"I refuse to accept this!!!"

Lin Xuan suddenly raised his head, his single eye filled with frenzied bloodshot veins.

He stared intently at Zhou Yuan, who was not far away.

If looks could kill.

Zhou Yuan had already been torn to pieces by him.

"You dare glare at me?"

Zhou Yuan snorted coldly.

Although the attack on his soul just now had left him extremely weak.

But he knew.

This is your only chance to kick a dog when it's down!

While you are sick, I will kill you!

"The Blue Ghost Lamp!"

"Burn it!"

Zhou Yuanqiang took a breath, and the green lamp in his sea of ​​consciousness shone brightly once more.

call--

This time.

It is no longer a gentle purification.

Instead, it was a domineering burning!

A blue flame flew out from Zhou Yuan's fingertips.

Like a blue fire dragon.

It roared and pounced on Lin Xuan, who was already at his last gasp.

This is no ordinary fire.

This is karmic fire specifically targeting the soul and evil thoughts!

sizzle-

Flames touched his body.

Lin Xuan let out an even more piercing scream than before.

The remaining evil thoughts within him popped like beans as the blue flames burned them.

"Connecting to the spirit world!"

Zhou Yuan stepped on the Seven Stars and roared.

This is the Taoist technique he unlocked in "Strange Tales of Gods and Monsters"—[Communication with the Netherworld].

It leads to the azure sky.

It extends down to the deepest hell.

This moment.

Zhou Yuan's eyes turned into a deep, dark black.

He saw it.

He saw the already riddled foundation within Lin Xuan's body.

It was a false godhood forcibly constructed using countless wronged souls and evil magic.

now.

Above this false divinity.

It was covered in cracks.

"Turns out it was just for show."

"Since the foundation has been severed..."

"Then let it collapse completely!"

A fierce glint flashed in Zhou Yuan's eyes.

A single hand grasps at the air.

"break!"

As this word was uttered.

The already precarious balance within Lin Xuan's body was completely shattered.

boom!

A muffled thud exploded inside Lin Xuan's body.

That was the sound of the foundation collapsing.

"puff--"

Lin Xuan coughed up a mouthful of black blood.

He collapsed to the ground, limp as a rag doll.

The enormous, faintly visible phantom of the evil god behind him also began to tremble violently.

That was the hub connecting him to the City God Temple.

It was also his last resort in controlling this world.

"Ma Ling'er!"

"That's the key point of the formation!"

Zhou Yuan roared.

"knew!"

"Look at my grandma!"

Although Ma Ling'er was also in a sorry state, with blood still hanging from the corner of her mouth.

But then they heard Zhou Yuan shout.

The fighting spirit in the girl's eyes, however, did not diminish but rather increased.

"Get out!"

"Don't be shy this time!"

"Tear that ghostly figure to shreds for your great-aunt!"

"If you can't tear it apart, the milk tea in the bowl tonight will be halved!"

hold head high--!

Upon hearing that they were going to spit out the milk in a basin.

The iron-eating beast, which had been somewhat dizzy, instantly perked up.

A resolute light, as if fighting for food, burst forth from those dark circles under their eyes.

Who dares to touch my breasts!

I'll take whose life!

Boom!Boom!Boom!

The surging people stood up.

Golden lightning crackled around the two enormous bear paws.

That's the Ma family's Divine Thunder Technique!

"Awoo!"

Rolling let out a ferocious roar that was completely at odds with its adorable appearance.

Take a leap.

It felt like Mount Tai was pressing down on you.

It lunged fiercely at the dissipating phantom of the evil god behind Lin Xuan.

Tear!

It's like tearing a rag.

The rolling claws, imbued with lightning magic, pierced fiercely into the illusory figure.

then.

Suddenly pull it to both sides!

Sizzle—

Lightning exploded.

The evil influence dissipated.

That illusory image of an evil god that once filled the entire city of Fengcheng with fear.

In front of this panda that went berserk for a bowl of milk.

It was so fragile that it was easily destroyed!

It was torn in two!

boom!

The phantom image shattered.

It turned into a sky full of black rain.

at the same time.

The entire City God Temple seemed to tremble slightly.

That oppressive feeling that constantly enveloped the main hall, making it hard to breathe.

In that instant.

Vanished without a trace!

light.

A long-awaited ray of sunshine.

Sunlight streamed in through the large opening in the dome.

It landed right in the center of the ruins.

There.

Lin Xuan lay there quietly.

The hideous armor had completely disappeared.

Even that sinister black robe had been replaced with his original plain clothes.

He returned to his original form.

An ordinary-looking, even somewhat thin, middle-aged man.

His face was as pale as paper.

His breath was faint and barely perceptible.

If it weren't for the surrounding ruins proving the devastation that had just occurred...

Who could believe that?

This is the man who looks frail and old.

I almost dragged the entire city of Fengcheng down with me.

tread.

tread.

tread.

Uncle Liu clutched his chest and walked over step by step.

Every step taken.

He had to stop and catch his breath.

The strike that severed the earth's veins had almost exhausted all his energy and spirit.

But he still insisted on walking up to Lin Xuan.

Looking down at this former... old friend.

"Cough cough..."

Lin Xuan struggled to move his eyes.

Looking at that aged face.

His eyes were complicated.

There is resentment and malice.

There was resentment.

But more.

It was a relief, a sense of liberation.

"Liu Changqing..."

Lin Xuan's voice was hoarse, like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.

"You're getting old..."

Uncle Liu looked at him, a hint of pain flashing in his eyes.

"You're getting old too."

"Lin Xuan".

We're all getting old.

Lin Xuan's lips twitched, revealing a bitter smile.

"yes……"

"Thirty years have passed..."

"Ever since the day the Wukong Sect was destroyed."

"I've been waiting for this day."

"I'll wait to reopen the divine path, and I'll wait to trample you traitors under my feet..."

Speaking of it.

His voice suddenly lowered.

The light in his eyes began to dim.

"after all……"

"Did it still fail?"

"Human calculation..."

"It's all in the hands of fate..."

Two lines of clear tears.

It slipped from the corner of his eye.

I don't know if she's crying over the absurdity of her life.

They are still crying over their unfulfilled ambitions.

"You didn't lose to fate."

You lost to yourself.

A young voice rang out.

Zhou Yuan dragged his heavy steps to Uncle Liu's side.

In his hands.

The mysterious book "Tales of Gods and Monsters" has appeared out of nowhere.

The pages of the book are turned.

It made a rustling sound.

In Zhou Yuan's eyes.

At this moment, Lin Xuan was no longer alone.

Instead, it was a huge, alluring ball of light.

That was the essence left over after the collapse of the divine laws.

It's also the best tonic for him!

"I am the local deity of Fengzhou."

"This territory is under my jurisdiction."

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath.

His expression became solemn and dignified.

He raised the earth god seal in his hand.

The small seal was now emitting a faint yellowish-brown glow.

Although faint.

Yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

That is the authority of orthodox deities!

"Lin Xuan".

"You have usurped the divine throne and wreaked havoc upon the region."

"today."

"In the name of this land, I will strip you of everything!"

hum!

The divine seal falls.

It covered the void.

It was as if some rule had been broken.

Lin Xuan's body was already in disintegration.

Suddenly, a final, extremely dense stream of black energy surged out.

That was the remaining, and most crucial, essence of the evil god within him.

"rise!"

Zhou Yuan raised one hand.

The black mist, like an obedient child, obediently flew into the book of gods and monsters in his hand.

boom!

With the infusion of this source.

The original, simple and unadorned "Strange Tales of Gods and Monsters".

Suddenly, an unprecedented golden light burst forth!

The radiance was magnificent.

It even blocked out the sunlight streaming down from above!

slam-la-

The pages were flipping wildly.

finally.

It stopped on a brand new page.

Zhou Yuan stared intently.

On the page of the book was a ferocious-looking deity.

Clad in black armor, with a single, angry eye, he treads on a sea of ​​blood and holds wronged souls in his hands.

It was Lin Xuan after his demonic transformation!

And next to the portrait.

Three blood-stained characters appeared—

【Ghost Land】!

"Is this his divine attainment...?"

Zhou Yuan was startled.

Ghost land.

This is a heretical form of Shintoism.

Although it is extreme, although it is evil.

But it cannot be denied.

It truly touched upon a sliver of the essence of the divine way!

[Sacrifice successful!]

[Unlock the page: Ghost Land!]

[Reward received: A massive amount of Yin energy!]

In my mind.

The familiar mechanical beeping sounded.

But this is not the end.

Followed by.

A surge of pure energy so immense that it made Zhou Yuan feel suffocated.

It rushed wildly into his body through the book!

That's yin energy!

It is extremely pure Yin energy that has been tempered by the laws of the divine!

One.

Two paths.

Ten paths.

One hundred paths!

It only lasted for a moment.

Zhou Yuan felt that his mana, which had been completely depleted, was now fully replenished.

It's even skyrocketing at an alarming rate!

Click.

It was as if some bottleneck had been broken through.

Zhou Yuan was startled.

He could feel it clearly.

His own nocturnal spirit was nourished by this yin energy.

A qualitative transformation is taking place.

It has become more concise.

More resilient.

even.

It has a faint golden sheen!

"call……"

Zhou Yuan let out a long breath.

This breath of turbid air, like a white ribbon, condensed in the air and did not dissipate, flying more than three feet away!

Cool!

So cool!

This feeling of sudden surge in power is simply intoxicating.

But that wasn't the biggest gain.

Just when Zhou Yuan thought it was over.

The first volume of "Strange Tales of Gods and Monsters".

The image of the "Ghost Land" on that page suddenly became blurry.

Followed by.

It transformed into countless complex runes and flooded into Zhou Yuan's mind.

[Special reward triggered!]

[Extracting Insights from Shinto - An Analysis of Shinto!]

boom!

Zhou Yuan's mind went blank.

Countless pieces of knowledge about Shinto.

Regarding incense offerings, vows, rules, and domains...

They surged in like a tide.

That was the divine experience that Lin Xuan had painstakingly explored throughout his life, taking countless detours.

Even though he was wrong.

But the lessons learned and the insights gained from them.

For Zhou Yuan, who had just embarked on the path of divinity and was completely clueless about everything, this was a completely new experience.

But it is a priceless treasure!

"I see……"

"So this is what Shinto is all about..."

"The incense is poisonous, and the power of vows is lacking..."

"No wonder the ancient divine path collapsed..."

A glint of wisdom shone in Zhou Yuan's eyes.

This moment.

His understanding of the world.

Understanding of self-cultivation.

It has reached a new level!

If before he was just a kid who got a gun but didn't know how to use it.

So, what about him now?

They've already started to understand how to disassemble and reassemble this gun!

"Cough cough..."

Lin Xuan on the ground.

It seemed to have sensed something as well.

He looked at the divine light flowing around Zhou Yuan.

In those cloudy eyes.

A hint of envy even appeared on his face.

"Is this... orthodox Shinto...?"

“That’s great…”

"Clean..."

"purely……"

His voice grew softer and softer.

Their bodies also began to become transparent.

Like a candle flame about to go out.

"I'm leaving..."

Lin Xuan muttered to himself.

His gaze swept over the shattered hall one last time.

I glanced at Uncle Liu, then at Ma Ling'er.

At last.

The image was frozen on Zhou Yuan's face.

In the final moments of his life.

In this moment when a lifelong obsession dissipates.

Lin Xuan seemed to have regained a sliver of his human rationality.

He struggled.

Using every last bit of strength.

He reached out his hand to Zhou Yuan.

It's like trying to grasp something.

It's as if it's trying to convey something.

"Kid..."

Lin Xuan's voice was very soft.

It was so faint that if Zhou Yuan hadn't been so sharp-eared and sharp-eyed, he wouldn't have been able to hear it at all.

"Don't get too excited..."

"You think...?"

"Is this all the Wukong Sect is capable of?"

Zhou Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

He suddenly squatted down.

"What do you mean?"

"Explain yourself clearly!"

Lin Xuan's face.

He revealed a strange smile.

That was a mockery of death.

It is also out of compassion for the living.

"I……"

"He's just a pawn they've pushed out..."

"It's not even a chess piece..."

"Just a stepping stone..."

His voice was broken and intermittent.

It looked as if he might stop breathing at any moment.

"careful……"

"Beware of the true power of the Wukong Sect..."

"That's beyond your imagination..."

"That is..."

"From outer space..."

The sound stopped abruptly.

Lin Xuan's hand.

It fell limply to the ground.

His body.

It transformed into countless points of light.

It completely dissipated into the air.

All that remained was that tattered cloth garment.

In this cold, late autumn.

It looked particularly desolate.

Zhou Yuan remained in a squatting position.

His brows were furrowed.

Alarm bells rang in my mind.

What did Lin Xuan mean by his last sentence?

Beyond the heavens?

Could it be that behind the Wukong Sect...

Does it also involve the Outer Heavens?

Or……

Is it that extraterrestrial anomaly that caused the collapse of the divine path and the transformation of the Yang God?!

An unprecedented chill.

They climbed up Zhou Yuan's spine.

The joy that originally came from the sudden increase in strength.

It was diluted almost entirely in an instant.

"It seems..."

"This pool is deeper than I imagined..."

Zhou Yuan stood up.

Looking at the still somewhat gloomy sky above.

He gripped the book "Strange Tales of Gods and Monsters" tightly in his hand.

No matter what lies ahead.

Since we've chosen this path...

Then there's nothing we can do.

God blocks and kills God.

I'll kill anyone who gets in my way!

"it's over?"

Ma Ling'er walked over carrying Gun Gun, who had shrunk back to the size of a palm and was fast asleep.

Looking at the clothes on the ground.

His eyes held a complex expression.

"Um."

"it's over."

Zhou Yuan snapped out of his thoughts.

He turned to look at the girl who had been through thick and thin with him.

He gave a tired but sincere smile.

"At least."

"We've made it through this hurdle."

Uncle Liu also came over.

He patted Zhou Yuan on the shoulder.

They didn't say anything.

But the warmth emanating from those aged hands.

It speaks louder than a thousand words.