roccoschili Chapter 534 532: Fellow Daoist, Would You Like to Play Chess? [Super Large Cup!]
Chapter 534 532: Fellow Daoist, Would You Like to Play Chess? [Super Large Cup!]
The Dao of Time.Wu Wang, through the Heavenly Dao, had already deduced countless times the spectacle that would arise from the merging of the Dao of Time and the Dao of Chaos. Yet, when he truly faced such a situation, he still felt a faint pressure.
It was the combination of the supreme beings, the masters of two divine eras joining forces. Right here, right now, they erupted completely!
The black mire expanded with extreme speed, instantly filling the broken light shield and pressing against its thick walls. Emperor Shun's Great Dao trembled. The divine body of the Candle Dragon roared in anger.
"Step back!"
The Martial God bellowed, his aura coalescing into a solitary plume of smoke that shot to the sky. His fist, dragging the power of ten thousand mountains, seemed to stand on an endless ground despite his suspended feet.
BOOM! Divine Light scattered chaotically!
With a punch, the Martial God shattered the light barrier. The black mire within splattered apart, creating a hole several miles in diameter and spraying black rain into the sky.
That black mire was like flesh and blood. A rich, foul stench permeated the air.
From within the black mire came the Candle Dragon's furious roar, "Martial God!"
A flash of golden light, and the black mire expanded with extreme speed again. From the gap in the black mire, a dark-red Dragon Claw smashed directly at the Martial God, beneath which lay boundless Dao Rhythms and profundities!
Chaos devoured; darkness invaded. How could the Martial God fear? How could he retreat?
His divine body gleamed with golden light as his true self's Dharma Idol manifested behind him. This Dharma Idol rapidly merged with his divine body, and then!
Clad in Golden Armor, he unleashed a furious punch; half a low roar shook Heaven and Earth.
The Martial God collided head-on with the dark-red Dragon Claw. The rapidly expanding black mire, struck repeatedly, trembled continuously. Even under the enhancement of the Dao of Time, this mass of black mire piled on the earth paused several times.
But!
Golden light flashed again. The Candle Dragon's claws suddenly accelerated, swinging out dozens of massive afterimages in a single breath. The Martial God's iron fist met them, but his body was sent flying backward, and he spat out a mouthful of blood mist.
How could the frail Heaven and Earth of the Outer Sky withstand such a level of Divine Power collision? Countless tiny cracks appeared in the Heaven and Earth surrounding the black mire. Yet, as golden light flashed continuously, the rifts in Heaven and Earth quickly closed. Heaven and Earth were the very vessel for this black mire!
Everything was accelerating. Emperor Shun had pushed the power of the Dao of Time to its absolute extreme!
The black mire expanded outward at a pace of a hundred miles with each breath. As its volume increased, its rate of expansion also continued to rise. The Candle Dragon hid within the black mire, its pair of dragon eyes coldly observing this world.
In just an hour, it could devour the Martial God World. In twelve hours, it could devour the entire Outer Sky. And then, it would use this to attempt to achieve transcendence!
Even Wu Wang felt somewhat dazed. He sensed that Emperor Shun would not flee this time but was determined to fight a decisive battle—against him, against the prevailing momentum of the world, and against all gods and spirits who opposed him!
A fight to the death?
Wu Wang swung his Longsword. Divine Light sprinkled across the sky as divine swords materialized from thin air, converging from all directions to crash down upon the black mire. Empowered by the Dao of Death, the divine swords turned vast swathes of the black mire into ashen matter. But the golden light flashed again, and the black mire proliferated once more, devouring all tangible things in its path. The void began to spread from beneath it.
Wu Wang pressed his lips tightly together. His body transformed into a streak of light, whirling frantically around the black mire as divine sword after divine sword materialized. The Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth converged towards him incessantly.
"Your Majesty!" The Water God's voice, intertwined with the Dao Rhythm of the Water Dao, erupted. "Do you truly wish to follow this path? Candle Dragon! Open your eyes and see!"
However, the only response to the Water God was a drone from within the black mire: "Begone! All who rebel against me shall perish!"
A hint of bewilderment flickered across the Water God's plump and comely face. His lips parted slightly, but in the end, only a bitter smile remained.
"My million years..."
VMMMM—
Ripples spread out from the Water God. His humanoid divine body suddenly collapsed, transforming into a sphere of water, which then expanded abruptly!
Ten zhang, a hundred zhang, a thousand zhang, ten thousand zhang!
The water sphere seemed filled with the waters of great marshes, carrying the waves of the Four Seas.
Then, the water sphere shattered. A colossal titan burst from within, its face majestic, its form robust and towering. It carried an overwhelming presence and the noble, upright Dao Rhythm of the righteous.
The Five Elements Gods: Water!
"Candle Dragon! Emperor Shun!"
The titan roared, slamming a fist onto the black mire. Simultaneously, hundred-zhang-high water walls sprang up from all directions, curling inward like lotus petals and fiercely crashing against the rapidly expanding black mire.
In the name of Water, purify all things between Heaven and Earth!
"Old Water, be careful!" The Martial God's roar echoed from the horizon.
The stalwart man wiped blood from his face. Divine Weapons floated around him, and his body was adorned with Golden Armor. He yelled at the dozen or so Divine Spirits who wanted to advance and besiege the black mire, "Go save people! The Water God and I can only hold this off for a moment; your attempts are futile! This is a supreme Great Dao! Thousands of miles are not enough! Move all major cities beyond the Luili Realm! I refuse to believe that Emperor Shun has that much Divine Power! Sword! Saber! Shield!"
WHOOSH!
Three streaks of light pursued the Martial God. Three Gods of Weapons displayed their Dao profundities, transforming their bodies into weapons. The Martial God grabbed one, lifted another, and shouldered the third, charging with them toward the water giant's location. There, the Candle Dragon's claw reappeared.
The Water God, however, paid it no mind. The water giant's face flushed with anger as its Divine Power, amassed over countless years, erupted. The massive waves from all directions had just managed to halt the black mire's expansion.
The Candle Dragon's claw smashed down before them!
A shield with Light Wings spread open before the water giant. The Martial God's figure followed closely, shouldering the shield and taking the full brunt of the Candle Dragon's assault!
"AHHH—"
BOOM!
The Outer Sky itself seemed to tremble!
The Martial God's silhouette stood firm. The water giant's descending fist plunged another hundred zhang with the momentum. This mass of black mire, capable of devouring mountains, actually showed signs of being pushed back by the giant waves!
Such were the Water God and the Martial God together!
The Candle Dragon's roars continued unabated as its claw relentlessly pounded the Martial God's shield. The Martial God clenched his teeth and held firm, but fine cracks had begun to appear on his shoulder armor.
SWISH!
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Urgent sounds of piercing air arrived—countless light swords erupting like a galaxy descending from the nine heavens. They struck the Candle Dragon's claw, forcing it to pause repeatedly and giving the Martial God a chance to catch his breath from the direct assault. Wu Wang, Longsword in hand, moved like the wind, yet could only assist the Martial God from the periphery.
That he could even join such a battle was already due to substantial aid from the Heavenly Dao. This painstakingly cultivated avatar still lacked the strength to confront the Candle Dragon head-on.
「In the space of the Heavenly Dao.」
The gods had assembled beneath the grey cloud that projected this scene. Wu Wang had his eyes closed in concentration, his entire consciousness focused on his avatar. His true body had yet to move because, at this moment, the target his true body needed to snipe had not yet revealed itself.
Has venerable Shen Nong encountered trouble? Wu Wang's brows furrowed slightly.
It was unexpected that Shen Nong, the Earth God, and Xiong Ming had been trapped for so long by Emperor Shun's grand formation. It seemed that the Heavenly Dao and the Eastern Emperor's Bell had also misjudged Emperor Shun's strength. Emperor Shun had indeed learned much from Emperor Fuxi.
The Luili Realm. The Martial God World.
To put it coldly, even if the entire Luili Realm were sacrificed, as long as the Candle Dragon was eradicated, it would still be considered a complete victory. But at this moment, Wu Wang had no desire to give up the Luili Realm. Nor did he have the right to forsake its living beings.
Heaven and Earth could be destroyed, but all life could endure. The Heavenly Dao was heartless, but the Human Dao upheld righteousness. Perhaps, this was something a Heavenly Emperor truly needed to learn.
「...」
「In the Outer Sky, beyond the Heaven and Earth Seal.」
The few streaks of Divine Light trapped by the great formation of the Dao of Time were flickering continuously. With each flicker, a layer of the Dao Rhythm of Time would be dispersed, slightly weakening the grand formation's power. However, for these streaks of Divine Light to break free, they still needed a certain amount of time.
"Grandfather Shen Nong, we must have delayed for too long. Can't we open it yet?" Xiong Ming's thought emanated from within the pitch-black Divine Light.
"Emperor Fuxi's great formation resonates with the Dao of Time," Shen Nong mused for a moment. "I can break it in an instant, but that 'instant' has been stretched far too long by the surrounding great formation."
"Human Emperor, please continue to break the formation." The Earth God's thought was as steady as ever. "There is no need to rush; His Majesty will have a way to deal with this."
"Hmm," Shen Nong sighed softly. It's just a bit embarrassing, that's all. I'm not actually rushing.
「...」
The drone of Heaven and Earth shaking. The faint shattering of the Martial God's armor. The crackling of the black mire spreading outward. The roar of giant waves surging from all directions. All these sounds drilled into the ears of Wu Wang's avatar.
More and more Divine Spirits gathered in the distance. Gods tore through Heaven and Earth to arrive, yet they only spectated from afar, their eyes filled with timidity, hesitation, contemplation, and fear.
The Candle Dragon's ferocious aura intensified. The Martial God was beaten back step by step by the Dragon Claw. The Water God, who single-handedly resisted this mass of black mire, was now showing signs of faltering, his strength waning.
In Wu Wang's plan, venerable Shen Nong and Xiong Ming—the two key figures capable of directly influencing the battlefield—should have appeared a moment ago, yet they were still absent.
Perhaps this is what they mean by 'even heavenly calculations can be flawed.'
What should I do? Descend directly and suppress them by force? That would likely allow Emperor Shun to escape again, letting this hidden danger continuously disrupt the Great Wilderness and even brew future great calamities.
Indecision leads to chaos. So what if I bear the responsibility for the deaths and injuries of living beings today?
"Qing Shan, retreat quickly!" The Martial God's roar was heavy with fatigue. The water giant formed by the Water God had begun to shrink.
Wu Wang sharply turned his head, his gaze sweeping in all directions. Within a radius of thousands of miles, there were no longer any obvious towns with concentrated populations of living beings. The Goddess of Fortune and the Goddess of Liuli, accompanied by other gods, were busy rushing about, managing to accomplish some practical tasks.
But it was not enough. Far from enough.
VMM! VMM! VMM!
Within the black mire, ripples of the Dao of Time continuously emanated. The mire had already accumulated tremendous power and seemed on the verge of exploding at any moment. The surrounding waves could no longer keep pace!
"Everyone!" Wu Wang pulled back and shot into the sky, his voice thundering, "Think about what you promised me! Think about why you came here! It's alright to fear the Candle Dragon! I too have feared the Candle Dragon! But the living beings here have nothing to do with this great calamity; they shouldn't pay with their lives for a war between Divine Spirits! Why not help them? Why not assist them in escaping? You don't have to confront the Candle Dragon! Just leading them away will be a great merit!"
Of the gods watching from afar, nearly half made a move, though their actions were not significant, as if merely testing the waters before retreating.
Wu Wang took a deep breath, inwardly cursing those fence-sitters, and yelled again, "Have you gods forgotten what you promised me? What you promised the Heavenly Dao? The Heavenly Dao only asks that you save living beings! Only that you save living beings!"
Several Divine Spirits descended to the earth, directly using their Divine Power to lift an entire city and swiftly fly towards the horizon. More and more Innate Gods continuously descended to the ground. They acted swiftly and, for the most part, decisively. When half of the Innate Gods chose to rescue the living beings of the Luili Realm, the other half, fearing they would be outdone, scrambled to claim cities from the ground.
But before Wu Wang could even smile, the sound of shattering Battle Armor suddenly came from behind him. The Martial God, shield in hand, was once again flung into the air. The blood-red claw of the Candle Dragon, emerging from the black mire, had pierced through the water giant's chest!
A streak of light burst from the water giant's forehead, darting towards the distant horizon with extreme speed. Within the light, the Water God, spitting blood, cried out, "Retreat quickly!"
The gods hurriedly fled. Those with strength to spare casually grabbed the Martial Artists who were tirelessly rushing to save others.
The next moment!
The black mire, suppressed for a moment, surged explosively towards Heaven and Earth! It was like a massive volcano suddenly erupting, the power accumulated by the Dao of Time battering all of Heaven and Earth. The black mire instantly spread for thousands of miles!
Wu Wang transformed into a streak of light, flashing across the distance in the blink of an eye. He rescued a few Divine Generals who hadn't escaped in time, as well as the Goddess of Fortune, who had fallen behind due to her insufficient Divine Power.
"You don't need to worry about me..." the Goddess of Fortune murmured as Wu Wang pulled her along.
Wu Wang grunted in acknowledgment but offered no further response. Pulling the Goddess of Fortune, he vanished, reappearing thousands of miles away in an instant, where he placed her before the Goddess of Liuli.
What the Goddess of Liuli saw was this: the young Martial Artist was enveloped in silvery arcs of light, exuding a uniquely strange and unfamiliar aura. It was undoubtedly the aura of the Dao of Flowing Light.
Wu Wang said, "Gods, save as many living beings as you can. The black mire is currently bolstered by the Dao of Time and cannot be stopped. Emperor Shun's Divine Power will soon be exhausted."
"Venerable Qing Shan!" an Innate God called out. "What are our chances?"
"You may all assess the situation for yourselves," Wu Wang replied calmly, saying nothing more. His figure flickered, transforming into an afterimage. Silvery lightning streaked across the sky, weaving along the edges of the black mire as he tirelessly searched for villages and towns that could still be saved.
The black mire expanded at a terrifying speed. The Spiritual Energy in Heaven and Earth was rapidly dwindling. This Outer Sky was like a punctured balloon, its Spirit Light swiftly devoured by darkness. In contrast, the Candle Dragon's divine body, steeped in the black mire, was rapidly growing stronger.
The Martial God led a dozen or so Divine Spirits to the sky above the mire, attempting to attack the Candle Dragon's divine body. However, the Divine Light they rained down only destroyed portions of the black mire. Like a living organism, the black mire possessed the characteristic of limitless proliferation. Under the enhancement of the Dao of Time, such losses were negligible.
The gods were at their wits' end. The black mire, now like an ocean, had swept over half the Luili Realm in just a short time. Everything in its path was obliterated. Fortunately, because the gods from the Outer Sky had intervened to save the vast majority of living beings, the casualties were not severe.
The Candle Dragon roared incessantly as a colossal dragon head emerged from the mire. The gods gradually gathered behind the Water God, who had transformed into a water sphere. He was regulating his breath and mobilizing the power of water sources within Heaven and Earth, waiting only for the might of the Dao of Time to dissipate before immediately striking to once again confront the black mire head-on.
Very strangely, Heaven and Earth fell into an inexplicable silence. The Candle Dragon's eyes had vanished without a trace. The world was dim and obscure, without moonlight, only a scattering of Stars.
The lightning that was Wu Wang tirelessly shuttled through various parts of the Luili Realm. In the hands of this avatar, the Dao of Flowing Light erupted with a might exceeding its inherent power.
A quarter-hour passed; then another.
"The power of the Dao of Time is weakening!" an Innate God exclaimed excitedly.
The spirits of the gods lifted. The Water God once again rose to his full height, staring at the magnificent dragon body within the black mire. Behind him, over a hundred Innate Gods held their breath, yet they remained prepared to flee at any moment. The Candle Dragon's divine body and its Great Dao had completed their fundamental reconstruction.
「...」
「Inside the Candle Dragon.」
The four flames reappeared. This time, however, the three flames representing the wills of Emperor Shun, the Sanxian, and Fu Xi merged into the figure of Emperor Shun. The serene, blue flame solidified into the form of the Candle Dragon. The two gazed at each other, as if the swiftly expanding black mire outside had nothing whatsoever to do with them.
"You are free now," Emperor Shun said slowly. "I will release the restraints on your Divine Soul. You will regain control over your divine body."
The Candle Dragon's face contorted with anger. "What other schemes are you plotting?"
"Schemes?" A hint of helplessness flickered across Emperor Shun's handsome face. He stared at the Candle Dragon, murmuring softly, "I have experienced it—that helplessness of being plotted against, of being forced away. The bitterness of being abandoned by the grand tide of destiny, of falling from a lofty position to being as reviled as a rat scurrying across the street.
"Candle Dragon, if I have offended you greatly in the past, I offer my apologies here today. It is exceedingly difficult to fight against the grand tide of destiny. Next, I will unleash the full power of the Dao of Time to lend you my strength."
The Candle Dragon's brows knitted tightly, its eyes filled with suspicion.
Emperor Shun sighed. "You must have sensed it. These past ages have been utterly agonizing for me. I've been scheming in the Outer Sky for so long, sacrificing the Eastern Wilderness for a sliver of hope—all for this very moment.
"I want revenge on Wu Wangzi, revenge on those treacherous ministers and traitors who betrayed me. You must have experienced such feelings yourself, haven't you?"
The Candle Dragon's frown lessened slightly.
Emperor Shun continued, "I also wish to completely control the Dao of Chaos, but it's impossible. If I were still in a merged state with you right now, the Dao of Time would be eroded by the Dao of Yin Invasion. I've never had a firm grasp on the Dao of Time; it's not my Original Dao but something I gradually mastered through the Dao of Order. This is the Dao of the Third God King.
"Currently, only by combining the Dao of Time with your Dao of Chaos do we stand a chance of defeating the Heavenly Dao. You shall wield Chaos, and I shall wield Time. As for destroying the Heavenly Dao and Celestial Court built upon the lives of mortals—after that, we shall determine a victor between ourselves!"
The Candle Dragon remained silent.
Emperor Shun took half a step back. Golden chains materialized around the Candle Dragon's body, only to shatter with a sharp PING! Flames immediately erupted in the Candle Dragon's eyes. Emperor Shun, however, simply stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the Candle Dragon with a clear and unwavering look.
"I... will trust you one more time."
The Candle Dragon slowly closed its eyes. Its Divine Soul was suddenly engulfed in firelight, then exploded into countless streaks of light that filled the sky before vanishing from this grey, hazy land.
Emperor Shun let out a long sigh and bowed deeply towards the space before him. Yet, the cold sneer that touched his lips was so mocking, so faint.
「...」
The gods of the Outer Sky did not know what transpired within the Candle Dragon, nor did the gods of the Celestial Court within the Heavenly Dao have any way of knowing. But the black mire, clinging to the earth like a stubborn disease and transforming into a sea of filth, suddenly began to change.
Swelling bubbles appeared throughout the black mire. Within each bubble, a dazzling golden orb of light was concealed. The Dao Rhythm of the Dao of Time suddenly intensified to an extreme! The surrounding black mire began to shrink rapidly, transforming from a pool of sludge into nine enormous 'mud spheres.' Within each mud sphere, a dark dragon shadow seemed to lurk.
"What is the Candle Dragon trying to do?!"
"Only one of them contains the real Candle Dragon!"
Wu Wang suddenly raised his head and shouted, "It wants the Power of Living Beings! We moved the nearby living beings, so it can only devour some plants and beasts, preventing it from completing its Great Dao fusion! Stop them!"
WHOOM—
Almost as soon as Wu Wang's voice fell, the nine mud spheres burst open. Nine dragon shadows lunged in all directions. The Martial God charged out instantly, followed closely by the eleven gods of the Martial God World! The Water God and more than a dozen Innate Gods also rushed out with extreme speed!
In the blink of an eye, these two groups of Innate Gods had shattered two of the dark dragon shadows. The destroyed shadows dissipated like mist, and the corrupting power previously contained within the black mire was nowhere to be found.
Something's wrong. These nine dragon shadows...
Wu Wang's mind raced. He suddenly looked down at the earth, the deductive power of the Heavenly Dao already pushed to its absolute limit!
That instant just now...
"They're all fakes!" the Goddess of Fortune suddenly cried out. "I can sense its aura—to the east! Beneath the earth!"
Beneath the earth?
Wu Wang's mind jolted. He whirled around, his gaze fixed on the place within the Luili Realm where the Power of Living Beings was most abundant and concentrated.
The capital of the Divine Realm.
Liuli City!
FWOOSH—
Wu Wang transformed into a flash of silver light, tearing through Heaven and Earth at extreme speed. The Martial God and the Water God followed closely behind. The Innate Gods streaked across the sky like a meteor shower, hurtling towards Liuli City.
Within Liuli City!
Large numbers of Martial Artists had assembled. Priests and Generals stood upon the city walls, gazing at the dim western sky. They could even see the streaks of light from the approaching gods, but due to the vast disparity in power, they had no idea what was truly happening.
Jingwei stood in the center of the city wall, her small face somewhat pale, but her gaze was incredibly firm. Suddenly, she felt a surge of panic, as if an immense danger was descending.
Instinctively, she looked down. Her eyes filled with an emerald Divine Light. In a daze, she saw through the earthen barrier, witnessing an endless black tide surging through the ley lines beneath the ground. The black tide was silent, appearing almost like an illusion.
That is...!
FWOOSH—
A silver light tore through Heaven and Earth, abruptly appearing above the city wall.
Jingwei jerked her head up and instinctively cried out, "Brother!"
"Get everyone out of here," Wu Wang said in a low voice. He then took a deep breath, gripped his Longsword, his body enveloped in layer upon layer of Dao Rhythm. "Do your best to get everyone away."
Before his words faded, silvery arcs of light burst forth again as Wu Wang's figure vanished into the earth. The land for hundreds of miles around Liuli City trembled three times.
"Retreat!" Jingwei shouted, leaping into the air and hovering. The night wind stirred her beautiful hair and gently billowed her skirt. Her clear voice echoed between Heaven and Earth: "All warriors of the city! Followers of the Goddess of Liuli! Adherents of Lord Martial God! Heed my command!"
The people below nodded subconsciously.
"Leave immediately through the south and east city gates! The old and weak go first! Warriors, assist each other! The city guard will bring up the rear! There must be no chaos!"
The people in Liuli City looked bewildered.
But then—
BOOM!
The ground suddenly began to shake violently. A series of muffled rumbles, like distant thunder, came from deep within the earth. Tall buildings collapsed in an instant. Now, the people no longer hesitated, scrambling to flee towards the south and east.
The Martial Artists leaped over the northern city wall, running along rooftops and soaring through the air, quickly joining the rescue efforts.
Just then!
The ground north of Liuli City suddenly bulged. Its lower layers fractured, and clods of earth disintegrated. Within a few breaths, it had formed into a volcano! Jet-black mire spewed from within. As it flowed, this mire rapidly solidified into countless scaled claws. Each individual scaled finger was a thousand zhang long!
Divine Light shot forth. The Martial God and the Water God appeared north of Liuli City, with the twenty-odd minor gods they had brought landing steadily behind them.
The silvery brilliance reappeared. Wu Wang's figure materialized before Jingwei. He had just executed a sword flourish when the Longsword in his hand shattered with a PING! The Dao Rhythm within this body of his instantly snapped. His legs buckled, and he almost fell to one knee in mid-air.
Several figures hurried forward to support him, but Jingwei, being the closest, steadied Wu Wang's arm.
"I'm fine," Wu Wang said quickly. He turned to look at Jingwei, feeling a little shaken inwardly.
"Mm," she merely responded, then infused her meager Spiritual Power into Wu Wang's body, adding, "This is just a wisp of my remnant soul; don't worry too much about it."
Wu Wang shook his head, staring at the volcano's crater. The Candle Dragon's divine body was continuously reassembling. The Martial God and the Water God attacked repeatedly but were blocked by layers of swirling vortexes surrounding the Candle Dragon. At this moment, the Dao of Time, the Dao of Chaos, and the Dao of Yin Invasion seemed to have achieved some form of perfect coordination.
But Wu Wang keenly sensed a strange resonance between the Dao of Chaos and the Dao of Yin Invasion. The two seemed to be continuously merging, while the Dao of Time merely enveloped them from the outside. It appeared that the Dao of Time was orchestrating the fusion of Chaos and Yin Invasion.
At this point, the Dao of Yin Invasion had amassed the power of hundreds of other Great Daos, barely maintaining a precarious balance with the Dao of Chaos. But it was, indeed, only barely.
Is Emperor Shun a fool?
If this fusion continued, it could only result in the Dao of Chaos devouring the Dao of Yin Invasion. This would be equivalent to sacrificing the Dao of Yin Invasion, with its infinite possibilities, to empower an overly dominant Dao of Chaos. More importantly, the Dao of Chaos was uncontrollable, whereas the Dao of Yin Invasion was controllable.
As expected! Wu Wang's lips twitched forcefully a few times. Emperor Shun is still Emperor Shun—so insidious, so despicable.
Despite the combined assault of the gods, the Candle Dragon's divine body, fortified by the Dao of Time, rapidly solidified. At this moment, the Candle Dragon stood upon the earth, its dragon body stretching only several hundred miles long—its smallest size ever.
But!
The pressure it now exerted on all gods and living beings was unprecedentedly tyrannical.
Empowered by the three supreme Great Daos—Chaos, Time, and Yin Invasion—the Candle Dragon now seemed capable of effortlessly obliterating the Great Wilderness World. It raised its head high, its eyes turning blood-red as it stared down at the many Divine Spirits in the sky north of Liuli City. It was as if victory was already in its grasp, like an arrogant sovereign gazing upon a group of routed soldiers.
It did not speak. It even disdained to speak.
A pale red Treasure Wheel appeared behind the Candle Dragon's uplifted head.
"Candle Dragon?" the Martial God murmured, then took a sharp breath, steeling himself for the great battle to come. The Water God looked up at the pitch-black sky and sighed softly.
Just then, a ball of golden light appeared on the Candle Dragon's chest. It expanded rapidly, imbued with the Dao Rhythm of the Dao of Time. The Candle Dragon's aura grew even more imposing.
Emperor Shun was right. First, obliterate the Heavenly Dao and the Celestial Court. Then, we can have our showdown to decide the ownership of the world.
「Hundreds of miles away, within a certain valley.」
Emperor Shun watched the Candle Dragon's Treasure Wheel with a leisurely gaze. He clicked his tongue softly and muttered, "Brother Candle Dragon, thank you for covering the rear."
Then, Emperor Shun took a step back, slipped into the shadows, and disappeared in an instant.
「In the space of the Heavenly Dao.」
Wu Wang's figure transformed into Divine Light. While the other gods were intently watching the grey clouds, he quietly slipped away.
Just then!
The Candle Dragon outside Liuli City suddenly lowered its head and shook it. The crimson light in its eyes flickered continuously as it exhaled a greyish-white dragon's breath. Its colossal dragon body trembled several times. A grey Divine Light erupted from its forehead, instantly dyeing its entire body grey.
How can this be?!
The Candle Dragon suddenly slumped to the ground. Its body, like a black candle melting under intense fire, transformed into black mire in the blink of an eye. Within the black mire, the Dao of Chaos suddenly surged in power! The Dao of Yin Invasion had become fuel for the Dao of Chaos!
"Emperor Shun!"
"Emperor Shun!"
The Candle Dragon roared, its cries filled with unwillingness and fury. But its divine body once again dissolved into a blackish-red, blood-like mire. Upon this mire, faces began to emerge—the faces of living beings.
"Emperor Shun! You schemed against m—"
The Candle Dragon's voice abruptly cut off.
The Martial God and the Water God exchanged a glance and simultaneously shot forward!
Just as they moved, the golden orb of light condensed from the Dao of Time sank back into the black mire. The next moment, the black mire churned and swelled, threatening to engulf the entire Outer Sky!
The Dao of Time was on the verge of a full-scale eruption! The Dao of Chaos was rapidly awakening! The Candle Dragon's body and its Great Dao had all become fuel for the Dao of Chaos!
Within the black mire, the Candle Dragon's figure reappeared. But now, all that remained of the Candle Dragon was a will of pure frenzy and destruction; it had become a mere appendage to the Dao of Chaos!
Emperor Shun, who had slipped into the void, threw his head back and laughed, his eyes filled with fanaticism, his figure dancing with ethereal grace.
Wu Wangzi! What do you think of this grand gift?!
"HAHAHA, HAHAHAHAHA!"
「Liuli City.」
The Martial God and the Water God were simultaneously sent flying by a Dragon Claw that shot out from the black mire. The other gods were already poised to scatter in all directions, as the roiling black mire, like a sea of fire, was about to erupt. The living beings within the city fled in terror. The Divine Spirits on the city walls wore troubled expressions.
But none of them noticed three points of Divine Light beginning to shimmer in the sky...
They've finally arrived.
Wu Wang's avatar revealed a faint smile. Suddenly, with a reverse grip, he seized Jingwei's arm and flung her into the great city behind them. He took a deep breath and brandished the sword hilt in his hand.
The Water God closed his eyes and sighed deeply, saying softly, "I'm afraid the Martial God World cannot be saved."
The Martial God's face was somewhat pale, but his eyes still burned with fighting spirit. He clenched his fists fiercely. Behind him, the eleven minor gods needed no instruction; eight of them transformed into eight Divine Weapons, circling around the Martial God. The Goddess of Liuli showered down streams of Divine Light, enveloping the Martial God's physique.
"Old Water," the Martial God said in a low voice, "no matter what, I cannot abandon my Divine Realm. The task of besieging the Candle Dragon and the Dao of Chaos later... I leave it to you and Eastern Emperor Taiyi."
The Water God opened his mouth but didn't know how to dissuade the Martial God.
The Dao of Time had begun to erupt! Golden light blazed within the black mire!
The Goddess of Fortune suddenly cried, "Martial God! Don't!"
"Teacher!"
A flicker of silver light, and Wu Wang's figure suddenly appeared before the gods. The sword hilt in his hand now held a long, cyan blade. "In the great battle to come, we still need you to bear the brunt against the Candle Dragon!"
"Qing Shan, what are you doing?! Go back!"
Wu Wang turned to look at the Martial God, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Time and space maintain a certain equilibrium. To resist Time, one can only use the Dao of Heaven and Earth."
"Qing Shan..."
"I must go."
Wu Wang pursed his lips slightly. Brandishing his sword, he charged forward. From a thousand zhang away, he suddenly threw his head back and roared, a dense azure light erupting from his chest.
"With my body, I invoke the descent of the Great Dao! Heavenly Dao, lend me your laws—the Dao of Heaven and Earth!"
The azure light erupted violently. The surrounding Heaven and Earth suddenly condensed into glistening, glass-like crystals. In an instant, these crystals fused together, forming a massive sphere of light hundreds of miles in diameter!
Seal Heaven, Lock Earth!
The black mire surged forth, but the azure light remained utterly unmoved! The power of the Heavenly Dao erupted. The figure transformed into a ball of flame and, with several mighty roars, exploded and scattered throughout Heaven and Earth!
Outside the Heaven and Earth Seal, layer upon layer of Heaven and Earth crystals rapidly formed. In the blink of an eye, the black mire filled the entire seal but could not surge outward even a fraction of an inch!
Just then, a long cry echoed from high above.
Look!
An elderly man, treading upon a dragon, his hair and beard flying wildly! He was clad in a crimson phoenix robe and wielded an ochre whip. Boundless, endless Dao Rhythms erupted from around him!
Originally the Hundred Grass Emperor of the Human Domain, not listed in the Heavenly Dao, nor entering the celestial ranks!
He tasted all herbs to bring prosperity to the Human Domain; his strength alone could battle the mightiest of gods!
The Human Emperor of the Great Wilderness—Shen Nong!
Look again!
A burly, imposing man wore an earth-yellow robe, his body enveloped in a layer of tortoise shell. Yet, beneath that shell, countless sharp edges were concealed! That heavy and scorching Dao Rhythm made Heaven and Earth themselves seem several degrees more substantial!
The Grand Marshal of the Celestial Court's armies—the Earth God!
And see the lovely maiden with a face like frost! Clad in a black gauze skirt and wielding a long scythe, her abstruse Dao Rhythm instilled an inexplicable dread not only in living beings but even in the gods themselves!
The daughter of the Eastern Emperor, the God of Death—Xiong Ming!
The moment the three descended, the boundless power of the Heavenly Dao surged around them, forcefully elevating their Dao Rhythms by a significant measure!
"Martial God!" Shen Nong bellowed. "I have heard tales of your valor! Today, how about a contest with this old man?"
The Martial God replied, "Whoever first beheads the Candle Dragon!"
"Excellent!" Shen Nong declared.
The Earth God declared in a resonant voice, "Any who are not Strong Gods may withdraw!"
The assembled gods exchanged glances and cautiously retreated. Xiong Ming's small, pink tongue darted across her lips, her eyes already gleaming, eager for action.
「...」
I knew it would turn out like this.
「Outer Sky, within the void.」
Seeing this, Emperor Shun chuckled softly and shook his head, no longer wishing to witness the Candle Dragon's miserable plight.
Next, he would slip into the void and walk the path of the Third God King. This was his final path. But as long as he found the secret to transcendence, he would surely return to end this laughable Celestial Court.
The one who laughs last is the one who...
DONG!
Emperor Shun's entire body suddenly tensed. He looked down. The void, which should have been empty, unexpectedly rippled faintly.
A water surface? No, it should be a mirror surface!
Emperor Shun suddenly realized he was standing atop the surface of a thousand-zhang-long Treasure Mirror—its outline and the power it now revealed were unmistakable.
"Queen Mother of the West?" Emperor Shun's expression changed. He had entered the Illusionary Realm of the Queen Mother of the West.
However, breaking free won't be difficult. With the Dao of Time in my hands, I can naturally turn this peril into safety.
DRIP!
It was the sound of another water droplet falling.
Emperor Shun seemed to sense something and turned to look behind him. There, two figures were present—one sitting, one standing.
The standing goddess possessed a strikingly elegant bearing and an almost perfect form, but her gaze was cold and indifferent. She looked at him—the Heavenly Emperor of the Fifth Divine Era—as if he were a lifeless object. It was, without a doubt, the Queen Mother of the West.
Beside the Queen Mother of the West, a young man sat behind a chessboard. He smiled at Emperor Shun and said nonchalantly, "Fellow Daoist, care for a game of chess?"