Chapter 3781: Making a Move
Under the refining of the nether demonic flame, the seals that Murong Tailai had arranged on the sundial continuously melted, and the talisman patterns gradually faded.
The light shadow of Xiu Chen Heavenly God appeared on the sundial, impacting the seal from the inside out, saying, "Qi Jingting, if you help me break free today, I will surely help you defend the Jie Realm. From now on, you will be the master of the Jie Realm!"
"Both of you, if you have any trump cards left, use them quickly! If Xiu Chen breaks free, with the combined power of two Great Unbound Infinites to activate the Jie Realm's world-protecting grand formation, then it will be uncertain who will emerge victorious!"
Krysa's voice came from within that miniature black hole, distorting the surrounding space and diverting the descending formation fire pillars.
The Jie Realm's world-protecting grand formation grew stronger and stronger, pulling the countless stars of the surrounding star domain into rotation. The entire universe seemed to be moving with the Jie Realm as its center.
Qingcheng Yun stood within the Shang Heavenly Divine Temple, saying, "Rest assured, the Paradise Realm is the dominant world of the Western Universe. Qi Jingting, do you think you have absolute control over the Jie Realm? You may not have complete authority over the Nether Demon Sect either."
Qingcheng Yun released his divine thought, sending out secret transmissions.
Immediately, within the territory of the Nether Demon Sect, a series of seven temples where evil gods and their followers were stationed ceased activating the formation. The formation light pillars above the seven temples extinguished, disconnecting from the world-protecting grand formation.
Elsewhere in the Jie Realm, in various sacred cities, palaces, and divine lands, formation light pillars also went out.
Clearly, many gods in the Jie Realm were secretly loyal to the Paradise Realm, or had long been controlled, or had vested interests, or dared not oppose the Paradise Realm.
When a major world cannot achieve complete unity, it becomes easy to breach from within.
With these formation light pillars extinguished, the Jie Realm's world-protecting grand formation developed numerous vulnerabilities, and its power sharply declined.
Qingcheng Yun laughed, "The Jie Realm is the most important ally of the Paradise Realm. How could we let you few have the final say? The Immortal-Worshipping Cult Leader and the Determined Discussion Buddha both understand this; they are truly wise men. That's why they never thought of resisting. After you die, I will naturally support a new demonic cultivator to become the master of the Jie Realm. Rest assured, the Jie Realm will continue to exist, and the demonic path will be passed down forever."
"Passed down forever, to do the dirtiest and darkest deeds for you? To bear all the infamy?"
The Nether Demon Cult Leader seemed to have known all this long ago, remaining very calm, and continued, "Any major world that threatens the Paradise Realm's dominant status, you want to destroy, don't you? Thirty thousand years ago, when the Evil Emperor was still alive, the Jie Realm was not much weaker than the Paradise Realm."
"For thirty thousand years, you have secretly stirred up discord among the three sects, causing them to wear each other down, irreconcilable, turning the Jie Realm into a heap of loose sand. Finally, the world's power grew weaker and weaker, and we all had to follow your lead. Do you think I, the Cult Leader, really didn't know all this? It's just... I was powerless to resist! Haha!"
The Nether Demon Cult Leader's laughter was filled with helplessness and bitterness.
Qingcheng Yun said, "After the Immortal-Worshipping Cult was destroyed, the Jie Realm's world power had already fallen behind the Blade God Realm, ranking only fifth in the Western Universe."
A Fuya stood atop the Evil Emperor Underground Palace, her long hair flying like a waterfall of fire. In her pale white palm appeared a drop of ancestral blood. The blood dispersed, blooming like a delicate flower. Then, it condensed into a blood arrow!
As the bowstring was drawn, the space and light for ten thousand miles around were pulled toward it.
"Bang!"
The blood arrow dragged a tail dozens of miles long, flew to the Red Tide Cliff, and with a roaring sound, pierced through all the formation light curtains in front of the cliff.
The blood arrow landed behind the Nether Demon Cult Leader in a training ground, and the residual force leveled the entire ground, sinking it into the earth.
The Treasure Canopy Divine Mountain shook violently, and many cultivators were sent flying by the shockwave of the divine arrow, turning into clouds of blood mist.
Qingcheng Yun flew out of the Shang Heavenly Divine Temple, taking the lead to ascend the Red Tide Cliff.
"Hua!"
The Heavenly Desolate Flowing Light Finger struck, and his body directly turned into a beam of light, breaking the speed of light rule and the boundaries of space, disappearing from the spot.
Qingcheng Yun reappeared at the position where the Nether Demon Cult Leader had just stood.
The Nether Demon Cult Leader could not block this strike at all; his chest was pierced by the finger, and he fell into the ruins of the training ground a hundred zhang away.
Divine blood splattered all over the ground, extremely vivid.
Seeing that the situation was settled, Qingcheng Yun immediately struck out a divine qi chain to retrieve the sundial.
Now, his greatest opponents had become A Fuya and Krysa. Qingcheng Yun was extremely wary of these two; the sundial must not fall into their hands.
Just as the divine qi chain wrapped around the sundial, the seal on the sundial automatically disappeared, and countless time imprint light points burst forth from the gnomon.
Qingcheng Yun let out a soft exclamation and immediately retreated back into the Shang Heavenly Divine Temple to resist the invasion of time power.
A Fuya and Krysa, who were rushing toward the Red Tide Cliff, both turned to look at the distant sea. There, Murong Tailai had already re-formed his physical body, floating on the sea surface.
It was he who had just voluntarily undone the seal on the sundial.
At the same time, the artifact spirit of the Stainless Dust Whisk was summoned, rushing out of the Red Tide Cliff and flying toward Murong Tailai.
"Heh heh!"
The miniature black hole that Krysa had transformed into suddenly changed direction, intercepting the Stainless Dust Whisk and wrapping it in dark qi.
"Murong Tailai, you are severely injured. It would not be difficult for the First Queen and me to join forces and take your life. I advise you to take this opportunity to flee and not meddle in the affairs of the Jie Realm."
Krysa revealed his true form, gripping the Stainless Dust Whisk in his hand, using dark power to corrode the artifact spirit.
Murong Tailai's Daoist crown had long been shattered, his hair loose, his face extremely pale, but a sharp light shone in his eyes, and his aura was even stronger than before.
If he stayed, he could join forces with Xiu Chen Heavenly God and the Nether Demon Cult Leader, and they might have a fighting chance today.
But Murong Tailai had long seen that A Fuya, Krysa, and Qingcheng Yun each harbored their own agendas, all hiding their strength and being wary of each other. If they truly fought, they would have absolutely no chance of winning.
Moreover, he and Xiu Chen Heavenly God had a grudge; they could never work together in harmony.
"Once I have healed my injuries, I, the Heavenly One, will surely come to retrieve the Stainless Dust Whisk. I hope to witness the true strength of the Xi Heavenly One then."
Murong Tailai found the severely injured Shanhe Divine King, held him, and transformed into a beam of light, soaring into the sky.
His last words were undoubtedly meant for A Fuya and Qingcheng Yun.
"Lord Tailai Tian, you should first get past the Unconfused Ancestor's hurdle! Farewell!"
Krysa called out.
Seeing Murong Tailai flee the Jie Realm, Xiu Chen Heavenly God and the Nether Demon Cult Leader felt their hearts sink like lead.
The three before them, even the weakest, Qingcheng Yun, was at the level of Divine Ancestor Divine Lord, far beyond what they could contend with.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God's eyes were icy cold as he looked at A Fuya, who had just descended onto the Red Tide Cliff, and said, "Bitch, do you know the consequences of betraying Zhang Ruochen?"
A Fuya ignored the sea of time imprints spreading across the Red Tide Cliff, her long legs moving through the time rules, her cloud sleeves waving as she dispersed the time attack power Xiu Chen Heavenly God had struck, saying indifferently, "I am the First Queen of the Elf Clan, never having submitted to anyone, so naturally, there is no question of betrayal. If you submit to me, I will not refine your spiritual will."
On the other side, Krysa had already suppressed the Nether Demon Cult Leader.
Krysa said, "First Queen, how about I exchange him for the sundial?"
"Roar!"
The Nether Demon Cult Leader, kneeling on the ground, raised his head and let out a long roar, releasing green flames from within his body...
"Bang!"
Krysa struck his head with a palm, shattering a piece of his skull, scattering countless divine souls, and his body fell to the ground.
A Fuya's eyes were calm and unruffled, her red lips crystalline, and she said, "A Great Unbound Infinite mid-stage cultivator and a tenth of the fire path esoterica seem far from matching the value of the sundial, don't they?"
Krysa laughed, "The sundial is in my hands, but the First Queen can still use it to cultivate. We are the same kind of people; we should trust and rely on each other. Only then can we survive in these chaotic times and rise again to stand at the pinnacle of the universe."
A Fuya's gaze was clear but devoid of emotion, and she said, "You want to control the sundial and take the initiative? Fine! But what about the thing you promised me?"
"The First Queen's current strength is already above mine. If you also gain the fire path esoterica, you will surely reach an even higher level. If I were to give you that thing now, you would have the full ability to take the sundial back."
Krysa proposed, "How about this: let me first retrieve the divine feather from Xiu Chen and refine it, gaining some self-protection, before I respectfully offer that thing to the First Queen?"
A Fuya said, "Alright, agreed! I will first use the divine feather to exchange for the fire path esoterica within the Nether Demon Cult Leader's body. As for the sundial, it's better to keep it with me for now."
Suddenly, the Red Tide Cliff fell silent.
A Fuya and Krysa locked eyes, neither backing down.
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Qingcheng Yun said, "Two seniors, Murong Tailai has definitely not left; he's waiting for us to fight among ourselves! I suggest we first control the formations within the Nether Demon Sect, then discuss the ownership of the sundial, the Evil Emperor Underground Palace, and the Stainless Dust Whisk, and divide the interests of the Jie Realm."
Krysa said, "Are you waiting for the Shang Heavenly One to arrive? The Stainless Dust Whisk is a divine artifact I collected; there's no need to discuss its ownership further."
Inside Qingcheng Yun's divine realm world, Chi Xingtian roared, "Fight! Fight, stop being so damn slow! I hope all three of you beat each other bloody and die together!"
Zhang Ruochen glanced at him.
"What are you looking at me for?"
Chi Xingtian felt that this monk's gaze was completely different from before, very familiar, and a strange feeling arose in his heart.
Zhang Ruochen summoned the Eternal Spear and said, "I think you have a point!"
Zhang Ruochen had been waiting for the three to fight among themselves so he could reap the benefits. But with Murong Tailai lurking in the shadows, the three would likely not fight, and continuing to wait was pointless.
Moreover, Krysa's speculation was very reasonable; for the sake of the sundial, the Shang Heavenly One might personally come.
Seeing the Eternal Spear in "Jingxiu's" hand, Chi Xingtian and Yu Cangsheng were both stunned, momentarily speechless.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God, holding the sundial, sensed that the three before him had locked onto each other's auras, each restraining the other. Seizing the opportunity, he transformed into a white time divine dragon and flew straight toward the sky.
"Slap!"
The tail of the time divine dragon swung, immediately creating a time tide that struck A Fuya, Krysa, and Qingcheng Yun.
A Fuya and Krysa each used their divine abilities, breaking through the time tide and flying straight into the sky, chasing the time divine dragon that enveloped Xiu Chen Heavenly God.
But the moment they left the ground, they sensed it—a thought of extreme danger struck their divine souls.
Krysa looked down and saw Qingcheng Yun lying in a pool of blood, his body severed in two.
"Jingxiu Monk" stood beside the two halves of the bloody divine body, his eyes deep and powerful, staring straight at him.
"Rip!"
The heavens and earth were torn apart, space splitting to both sides. The terrifying power of space esoterica fell upon Krysa, burrowing into his body.
Krysa's physical body was not strong, only at the Qiankun Infinite level. With a cracking sound, he was torn in two along with the surrounding space, blood cascading down like a waterfall.