Chapter 3415: Illusory Destruction Star Sea
“They’re chasing fast. It seems we can’t shake her off!” Qiangu Nüdi said.
Bai Zun’s aura grew increasingly distinct, and even Zhang Ruochen, who was expending energy to condense the sun, could sense it.
Yuyao, holding the Crimson Dragon Divine Staff, said, “I’ve partially repaired the chessboard remnant formation. It should be able to hold Bai Zun back for a short time.”
“To completely refine the Seven Sorrows Qi, it will take at least three more days.”
Chi Xingtian felt he was holding them back and proposed leaving alone to lure Bai Zun away.
“Stop with the nonsense! If I can’t even protect you, am I even worthy of being called a Divine Venerable? Middle-stage Qiankun Infinite, they say—once you enter the Infinite Realm, you can’t defy the hierarchy to strike upward. But I want to try anyway.”
Qiangu Nüdi showed no emotion on her face, but her extraordinary brilliance was undeniable.
The Boundless Divine Sword automatically unsheathed and flew out, hovering above her head. Strands of sword intent radiated outward as her battle intent continuously rose.
Zhang Ruochen had fought against Divine Kings at the initial and middle stages of Qiankun Infinite and knew how terrifying their combat power was. Even with supreme treasures like the Earth Cauldron and the God-Defying Stele, it was hard to bridge the gap in cultivation levels.
If not for possessing Hao Tian’s “Heavenly Venerable Word Scroll,” the consequences would have been unthinkable.
When fighting the Dragon Lord, Bai Zun had seemed fragile, utterly powerless to resist.
But who was the Dragon Lord? A cosmic-level giant capable of suppressing the Lord of the Death Clan Divine City and the First War God of the Underworld Clan.
The fact that Bai Zun could participate in the formation to besiege the Dragon Lord was already a testament to her own strength.
Zhang Ruochen’s expression was grave. “You’re still severely injured, and you have to protect us within your Divine Realm World. Plus, in the Void World, the effects of Time Essence are hard to leverage. I don’t recommend a head-on clash with Bai Zun.”
Though proud and aloof, Qiangu Nüdi was not reckless. “Just hold her off for three days. Once Chi Xingtian refines the Seven Sorrows Qi, it’ll be much easier for us to escape. Then, the sky is high and the sea is wide—we can go anywhere in the world.”
“I have a plan that might severely wound Bai Zun and solve the problem once and for all,” Zhang Ruochen said with a smile.
...
Bai Zun, riding a black leaf, followed the Seven Sorrows Qi and flew into this region.
Snowflakes blanketed an area spanning ten thousand miles, the cold air piercing to the bone. Even the Void World felt less empty.
It was nearby.
The Seven Sorrows Qi suddenly weakened, but it still couldn’t fool a Divine Venerable’s perception.
“How ridiculous. Do you really think the void can conceal your auras and fool the soul perception of a Divine Venerable?”
Bai Zun was actually somewhat impressed by their concealment methods. If not for the Seven Sorrows Qi left inside Chi Xingtian’s body, she might have been deceived.
Bai Zun stood still, raised her right arm, and pointed into the darkness.
The snowflakes began to spin, the cold intensifying, then transformed into countless beams of light that shot outward.
“Bang! Bang!”
The snowflakes struck an invisible wall, creating ripples.
The outline of the wall was spherical, and inside it, a floating island materialized.
On the island were Qiangu Nüdi, Zhang Ruochen, Chi Xingtian, and Yuyao.
The remnant formation left by Tai Shang within the floating island activated, blocking Bai Zun’s attack.
“The remnant formation is already broken. Do you think it can stop a Divine Venerable? How many strikes can it withstand?”
Bai Zun sent the Seven Sorrows Nether Flower flying. On its petals, divine artifact patterns emerged, resembling fierce soul shadows.
These patterns were unique to the Seven Sorrows Nether Flower, a hallmark of a divine artifact.
In an instant, the entire void was filled with dazzling nether flowers, saturated with Seven Sorrows Qi and ferocious soul shadows, pressing down on the floating island like a tidal wave.
Zhang Ruochen quickly judged that Bai Zun’s combat power surpassed that of Guo Shenwang, who was also at the middle stage of Qiankun Infinite.
“Boom!”
The already damaged remnant formation couldn’t withstand a Divine Venerable’s full-force assault.
After just one strike from the divine artifact, cracks appeared in the formation’s light barrier.
Bai Zun said, “The Lord of the Fallen God Island was refined in the Fate Divine Mountain for a hundred thousand years, losing his former might. This so-called formation Tai Shang is somewhat unworthy of his reputation.”
“How dare you! How can you belittle Tai Shang?”
Qiangu Nüdi shouted in anger, a large cluster of Absolute Self Time Imprint light points appearing in her palm as her battle intent surged.
Bai Zun deliberately provoked her. “Did I say something wrong? The Lord of the Fallen God Island is already on the verge of death. The formations he set up reveal his weakened nature.”
“Hua Ying Qingchan, you may have stepped into the Infinite Realm, but your foundation is far from sufficient. I entered the Infinite twenty-eight thousand years ago, experienced every era of the war between the Heavenly Court and Hell, seized countless cultivation resources, and endured countless divine battles to reach my current level!”
“Even if you are an Eon-level powerhouse and a Time Lord, if you want to compete with me, you’ll need at least another hundred thousand years to have a chance.”
“But who will wait for you? In a hundred thousand years, I’ll likely have reached the peak of Qiankun Infinite.”
The Seven Sorrows Nether Flower struck six times in a row, finally shattering the remnant formation outside the floating island.
Bai Zun slowly raised both arms, and a Nether River spread out above her head.
Bai Zun had once been a peerless genius, deeply valued by Yinsnow Heaven. In her youth, she had primarily cultivated the “Nether River Scroll,” drifting in the Santu River for five thousand years, comprehending the “Santu Nether River.”
She was the most dazzling young cultivator of the Underworld Clan in an eon—not only an Eon-level representative but also on the verge of cultivating a Second-Rank Sacred Intent through the Santu Nether River.
“Rustle!”
The Nether River split into three, then three into nine, then nine into twenty-seven... like the Santu River, its branches spread everywhere, the currents swift.
Around the branches, spatial forces were bizarre.
Bai Zun knew it would be extremely difficult to keep Qiangu Nüdi here, so she immediately unleashed the Santu Nether River. At the same time, she used the Seven Sorrows Nether Flower to suppress the floating island. From the very start, she went all out.
Chi Xingtian and Yuyao were suffocated by the overwhelming divine might, deeply feeling the gap between themselves and a Divine Venerable.
Suddenly, Bai Zun’s expression changed drastically. She sensed an unprecedented danger and tried to react, but her body and thoughts became unbearably slow.
Qiangu Nüdi’s true form, clad in the Ancestral Divine Traveling Cloak and wielding the Boundless Divine Sword, was invisible and intangible, standing above Bai Zun’s head.
Countless sword lights rained down like a torrent.
It was the Time Sword Art!
Even though Bai Zun had experienced countless battles, she could only barely summon her Divine Realm World, the “Nether Realm Nation,” at the last moment.
The Boundless Divine Sword specialized in breaking through Divine Realm Worlds, tearing open spatial rifts as countless sword lights struck Bai Zun.
“Bang! Bang!”
Bai Zun’s Infinite Divine Body had astonishing defensive power—unleaking, unbreakable, indestructible. Any sword light that hit her skin was deflected.
But when the blade of the Boundless Divine Sword itself descended and struck her shoulder, Bai Zun’s flesh finally couldn’t hold out. Divine blood seeped through her white robe.
Qiangu Nüdi hadn’t expected Bai Zun’s white robe to have such formidable defensive power, but she couldn’t miss this golden opportunity. She swung her sword horizontally.
“Pfft!”
Blood splattered across the sky.
Bai Zun’s head flew from her neck.
Even more terrifying was that Qiangu Nüdi’s Time Sword Art had severed ten thousand years of her lifespan, causing her condition to plummet rapidly.
Qiangu Nüdi struck again, aiming a sword at the center of Bai Zun’s flying head.
Bai Zun’s head soared through the air, and strands of white hair grew wildly, turning into hair-like swords that slashed at Qiangu Nüdi. At the same time, she spat out a pillar of Nether Flame light.
Qiangu Nüdi, surrounded by countless sword energies, cut through all of Bai Zun’s long hair with one strike and broke through the Nether Flame pillar.
“Boom!”
Bai Zun’s head exploded, turning into a cloud of blood mist and shattered bones.
She had succeeded!
But Qiangu Nüdi felt no joy—instead, her heart sank.
Because Bai Zun’s Divine Sea was not in her head.
Bai Zun’s headless body had already recovered, breaking free from the time suppression. She swung her demon blade, infused with Ancestral Force, in a slashing strike.
Qiangu Nüdi raised the door panel Zhang Ruochen had given her, using it like a shield, and also activated the Ancestral Force.
“Boom!”
The door panel blocked the blade light.
Taking advantage of Bai Zun’s weakness and her inability to recall the Seven Sorrows Nether Flower in time, Qiangu Nüdi attacked again, evolving the Time Sword Art to completely suppress her.
On the other side, Chi Xingtian and Yuyao piloted the floating island and immediately fled far away.
Although they had used a trick to severely wound Bai Zun, they hadn’t pierced her Divine Sea or damaged her foundation, falling short of their expectations.
In the end, the opponent was a Divine Venerable with powerful soul perception. A completely silent ambush was too difficult.
Now, they could only flee. If Bai Zun stabilized her decline, the Female Emperor might not be able to hold her off.
Half a day later, Qiangu Nüdi caught up with them, flew into the floating island, and merged with her blood qi doppelganger.
“Did she follow?” Chi Xingtian asked.
Qiangu Nüdi said, “Bai Zun was already wounded by the Dragon Lord and Thunder Ancestor, so her combat power wasn’t as strong as I thought. Plus, in this battle, I had the upper hand and cut away thirty thousand years of her lifespan. She won’t recover quickly and probably won’t dare to pursue.”
If her injuries didn’t heal, pursuing would be useless—she couldn’t do anything to Qiangu Nüdi.
Chi Xingtian said, “Once I refine the Seven Sorrows Qi, maybe we can hunt her instead. Zhang Ruochen, step it up and break through quickly!”
“I’ll try my best!”
Zhang Ruochen’s tension and worry eased considerably.
Yuyao said, “Speaking of which, Bai Zun has some connection to you, Zhang Ruochen. She and War God Ming Zun both trained in the White Clothes Valley, considered disciples of Yinsnow Heaven. Later, she broke away and founded her own sect, but she still maintains close ties with the Kong family of White Clothes Valley.”
Chi Xingtian snorted. “Yinsnow Heaven has gone missing, but the Kong family still has Nutian Shenzun. White Clothes Valley’s strength is still formidable, enough to uphold the prestige of the nine great cosmic clans. Bai Zun and War God Ming Zun may have grown strong, but compared to Nutian Shenzun, there’s probably still a gap.”
Zhang Ruochen laughed self-deprecatingly. “There’s no connection to speak of! Hatred and grudges might outweigh any such ties.”
The grievances that had tormented two generations had planted so many thorns and hatred in their hearts. How could they simply pass like a gentle breeze?
In Zhang Ruochen’s view, if he truly wanted to build good relations with White Clothes Valley, it would have to wait until all the old fellows were dead. Only then, with him and Jue Miao Channa pushing forward, could it be achieved.
“Female Emperor, are you worried about Tai Shang?”
Zhang Ruochen noticed the gravity in Qiangu Nüdi’s expression.
Qiangu Nüdi shook her head slightly. “Even if something happens to Grandfather, it’s beyond our control. It’s just that earlier, when I fought Bai Zun, I sensed the presence of Jiu Chi Shenwang!”
“What!” Chi Xingtian exclaimed.
Jiu Chi Shenwang was at the peak of Qiankun Infinite, far more ancient than Bai Zun. He had even blocked the heavenly banner left by Si Yang Tianjun. Among those below Great Unbound Infinite, he was definitely a top-tier figure.
Yuyao said, “It’s fine! Bai Zun is in a weakened state, and in the Void World, she might not dare to join forces with Jiu Chi Shenwang. According to Star Heaven Cliff’s intelligence, Jiu Chi Shenwang’s lifespan is nearly exhausted. To extend his life, he’ll do anything crazy.”
Chi Xingtian slowly raised his hand, indicating he had something to say. “Jiu Chi Shenwang used the Ghost King Vessel to take some of my soul. He might not need to join forces with Bai Zun—he could still track us down.”
The other three fell silent.
Chi Xingtian said, “Maybe I should leave? With my cultivation, I might be able to escape from them.”
“What are you talking about?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Earlier, Chi Xingtian had truly risked his life to help them break through and buy time. How could they let him face two titled Divine Venerables alone?
Zhang Ruochen said, “Return to the real world! Different places in Lihentian correspond to different locations in the real world. If we step out into the Heavenly Court Universe, the danger will be greatly reduced. Even if we end up in the Yellow Spring Star River, if we’re in the star territories of the Undying Blood Clan or the Rakshasa Clan, it’s still relatively safe. Should we take the gamble?”
The real world had clearly undergone earth-shattering changes. Returning now was indeed risky.
If they happened to appear in places like the Underworld Clan, Death Clan, Stone Clan, Ghost Clan, or Paradise Realm, it would be a dead end.
“I’ll scout the way!”
Chi Xingtian flew out of the floating island, looked back at the others, and smiled. “If we’re in the Heavenly Court Universe, hide in my Divine Realm World. In the Heavenly Court Universe, I still have some status. If we’re really unlucky and end up in the star domains of the Death Clan or Underworld Clan, you all run.”
Before Chi Xingtian could break through the spatial wall to the real world, Qiangu Nüdi had already swung her sword.
“Whoosh!”
The darkness was torn open.
It was like a knife cutting through black cloth, revealing starlight flickering outside, with countless heavenly and earthly rules flowing in.
As Chi Xingtian stood stunned, Qiangu Nüdi transformed into a streak of light, flew out of the Void World, and stood under the starry sky.
Yuyao led the floating island out.
Chi Xingtian caught up, complaining, “I understand your will to live together and die together, and I’m moved, but you’re too reckless... Where is this?”
Outside, the sky was filled with dense stars, each one twinkling.
The stars were too concentrated, and the light they emitted was eerie, forming halos.
Chi Xingtian had traveled far and wide in his life, visiting many places in the Heavenly Court and Hell, but this star region was completely unfamiliar to him.
He turned to look at a certain part of the starry sky and saw a yellow river hanging at the edge of the sky, seemingly extremely far away.
Between the star region above and the yellow river at the horizon was a vast darkness, with only a few scattered stars glowing.
That yellow river was clearly the Yellow Spring Star River of Hell.
But... why was it so far away?
Zhang Ruochen and Yuyao were also stunned.
Qiangu Nüdi sighed. “This is the border universe, the Illusory Destruction Star Sea! So that’s it, so that’s it. Grandfather must have calculated all the possibilities long ago. That’s why the place we chose to break through in Lihentian corresponds, in the real world, to the Illusory Destruction Star Sea. It’s far from the Heavenly Court Universe and Hell, allowing us to avoid the most brutal slaughter and war.”