Chapter 4015: Outbreak
"One of the Heavenly Demon's blades, even after more than ten million years, can still kill the Great Demon God. The ancestral power contained in that stone knife should not be inferior to the Sword Ancestor's sword heart."
Qishier Pin Lian, holding a string of prayer beads, stepped forward until she stood before Di.
Even though Di was sitting cross-legged, his body was far taller than hers, resembling a towering, rugged stone mountain.
Di opened both eyes and said, "The Sword Ancestor was defeated by the Dark Lord back then, was he not?"
Qishier Pin Lian clearly did not wish to comment on the Dark Lord and gave no response.
Di raised the stone knife with his right hand. The blade trembled violently, still containing the powerful spiritual will of the Heavenly Demon, not yet fully refined.
He said, "I think the Heavenly Demon probably never reached the Sword Ancestor's level. The era the Sword Ancestor lived in is far too ancient. Even so, the might of his sword heart is still awe-inspiring."
"I can feel your fear of the sword heart," Qishier Pin Lian said.
Di said, "What I fear is not the sword heart, but the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable's Celestial World combined with the sword heart. The two together can injure the Great Demon God and the Dark Lord. This is power that can kill a Half-Ancestor! Who would not fear it?"
Thinking of something, Di added, "You are the daughter of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable. You should be able to wield the ancestral power within the Celestial World. Why not try to seize it?"
Qishier Pin Lian frowned but remained silent.
"Apologies, I forgot. You long ago abandoned your physical body and no longer possess the bloodline of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable," Di said.
Qishier Pin Lian could feel Di's hostility, constantly scheming against her.
She knew what Di was thinking and therefore took the initiative to make it clear: "In truth, Ancestor Di need not regard me as an opponent. Even if I die, the Time Esoterica you obtain from me would still be far from fifty percent. If you wish to dominate time, you must first break through the Wuding Divine Sea and defeat Huaying Cangjie."
"I am not so impatient about mastering Time Esoterica."
Di's words did not deny his covetousness for the Time Esoterica in Qishier Pin Lian's hands.
Qishier Pin Lian said, "Then, Ancestor Di's more urgent desire should be to replace my position in the Dark Lord's eyes?"
Di was well aware that the Dark Lord could certainly hear his and Qishier Pin Lian's conversation, but he still spoke frankly: "That is correct. I wish to take your place and assist the Dark Lord in managing the affairs of the world."
Qishier Pin Lian remained expressionless, calm and indifferent: "Actually, there is one thing I have always been very curious about. How could someone as talented, ambitious, and unparalleled as Ancestor Di choose to follow the Dark Lord?"
"In this world today, if one does not choose to follow an Immortal, how can one survive? Half-Ancestor, though glorious to speak of, is in fact the most dangerous position," Di said.
Qishier Pin Lian's voice was gentle, not like a sharp verbal duel, but rather like two old friends chatting, as she said, "Why not the more powerful Nether Ancestor, or the God Realm?"
Di said, "In my view, the Immortals have lived for endless ages and have long experienced all the vicissitudes of the world. They must be indifferent to bonds of love and righteousness, treating the cultivators who follow them as mere grass and trees."
"When useful, they are pillars. When discarded, they are weeds."
"But the Dark Lord is different. His feelings for Luo Tong Luo are known to all living beings under heaven! To save her, he was nearly suppressed by the Heavenly Court and the Yama Heaven-Outside Heaven. Only someone with love and righteousness is worthy of following, worthy of trust."
These words were clearly meant for the Dark Lord to hear. How much truth they contained, only he himself knew.
But the last sentence was undoubtedly a veiled jab at Qishier Pin Lian.
Di continued, "Furthermore, the Nether Ancestor Faction and the God Realm are both too powerful. Following them would at most be adding flowers to brocade."
"But helping the Dark Lord return to his peak in times of difficulty is sending charcoal in the snow. In the future, why worry that the Dark Lord will not help me break through to the Ancestor Realm?"
Qishier Pin Lian clasped her hands and bowed, saying, "I only knew before that Ancestor Di was profound in his calculations. Only today do I realize that Ancestor Di's eloquence is also so formidable. To have reached the Half-Ancestor realm and still live to this era, you are truly admirable."
Di said, "You endure silently and hide your emotions deeply. I am also quite impressed."
Qishier Pin Lian said, "Has Ancestor Di ever considered that if I were no longer here, would the Dark Lord place more trust in you, or become more wary of you?"
Hearing this, Di was momentarily stunned, then his gaze softened, and he smiled, saying, "Thank you for the advice! In truth, we are all working for the Dark Lord. We should unite against external enemies."
Qishier Pin Lian gazed into the sky and said, "Such a strong time fluctuation. It should be the Southern Universe."
Di had naturally sensed it as well, but neither dared to release their divine thoughts or spiritual power to calculate or investigate. He said, "It should be the Demon God Realm. The Nether Ancestor Faction cannot possibly abandon the Nether Sea. This is getting interesting!"
Before long, a streak of bright light like a meteor flew from the cosmos and landed in Qishier Pin Lian's palm.
It was a message light talisman.
After reading it, Qishier Pin Lian fell into deep thought.
Lao Mo and Xue Tongling walked over.
Both had reached the Indestructible Infinite realm and possessed Five-Colored Clay Man bodies. They were the most powerful figures beneath Qishier Pin Lian.
Xue Tongling, who looked like a seven or eight-year-old child, asked in a childish voice, "What happened?"
Qishier Pin Lian handed the message light talisman to him and said, "A letter from Yan Wushen, inviting us to join him in dealing with Hao Tian, destroying the Heavenly Court, and sharing the spoils."
"Haha!"
Xue Tongling let out a sharp laugh: "That old bastard Chongming has actually defected to the Nether Ancestor. The Heavenly Court is indeed full of holes everywhere. Hao Tian simply cannot patch them all up. However, relying solely on Yan Wushen, Chongming Laozu, and Ruoshui Zhimu, I'm afraid they are no match for Hao Tian."
Qishier Pin Lian said, "In a frontal confrontation, they naturally are no match. But a surprise sneak attack is certainly enough! Moreover, he has definitely contacted more than just us. He will certainly contact Ba'er as well. Don't forget, there are also six ancient Primordial Beings and A Fuya."
Xue Tongling said, "So, Hao Tian and the Heavenly Court are in danger? This is indeed a good opportunity."
Lao Mo said, "Not to mention the endless treasures and countless gods of the Heavenly Court, even just those great worlds gathered in the starry sky near the Heavenly Court, if we could refine one, it would greatly increase our strength. Is the structure of the universe about to undergo a massive change today?"
Di was still sitting cross-legged on the ground, saying, "Everyone, let's calm down a bit! Not to mention the Heavenly Court's Heavenly Punishment Divine Light and Heavenly Order, even if they succeed in their sneak attack and severely wound Hao Tian, the Yama Clan and the Lower Three Clans of the Hell Realm, including the Wuding Divine Sea, which are closest to the Heavenly Court, will certainly rush to rescue him. They will not allow the Heavenly Court to collapse."
"The Nether Ancestor Faction's attack on the Heavenly Court is to rescue the Great Demon God. If we go to help them, the final result will be that the Nether Ancestor Faction's strength greatly increases. If the Heavenly Court collapses, it will be more harmful than beneficial to us."
Qishier Pin Lian said, "What Ancestor Di says is very reasonable. One Corpse Demon is already terrifying enough. If another Great Demon God appears, the Nether Ancestor's true body will probably have to emerge as well. With the help of two Ancestors, she would already have the strength to sweep across the universe. We would all end up in a miserable state."
Xue Tongling said, "With such a great opportunity, we must do something, right?"
Suddenly, Qishier Pin Lian said, "How about attacking White Clothes Valley?"
Di, Xue Tongling, and Lao Mo all looked at her with strange expressions.
Everyone knew that Qishier Pin Lian was born in White Clothes Valley, and Nutian Shenzun was her elder brother. It was precisely for this reason that no one had proactively proposed this strategy.
Qishier Pin Lian said, "The Corpse Demon and the one from the God Realm have both emerged. We must rescue the Dark Hand suppressed in White Clothes Valley and help the Dark Lord return to the Ancestor Realm before we can have the qualifications to contend with them."
Di said, "Breaking through White Clothes Valley is even harder than dealing with Hao Tian. Currently, Heavenly Mother, Fengdu Dadi, Lady Shiji, and Zhang Ruochen are all there. Furthermore, there are Kong Fan Nu, Xu Fengjin, Shi Bei Ya, Qing Cang, Chan Bing, Feng Caiyi, Xuan Zang, and a host of other top-tier experts. How can we fight?"
Xue Tongling said, "Wen Tianjun and Candeng have encountered calamity in the Southern Universe. Can Zhang Ruochen still sit still? I suspect that, given Zhang Ruochen's personality, he has already rushed over there."
"Once the Heavenly Court is in turmoil, at least two or three of the top experts on the Abyss of Darkness defense line will have to leave."
"For us, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Di remained unmoved, saying, "The Fate Twelve Phase Divine Formation is no joke. I do not think we can break through White Clothes Valley."
Xue Tongling said, "We don't need to fight to the death with Heavenly Mother, Fengdu, and Shiji. As long as we can silently enter White Clothes Valley and break the Nine Heavens Celestial World, with the combat power of the Dark Hand and the Nether River, they can break out on their own."
Qishier Pin Lian held her hands in an empty embrace, and the space between her ten fingers formed a faintly glowing mirror surface.
"Whoosh—"
A blurry figure appeared on the mirror surface, whispering something to her.
Di watched all this calmly. Only after Qishier Pin Lian finished her conversation did he speak: "No wonder the Immortal Envoy is so confident in attacking White Clothes Valley. It turns out you have long planted people inside."
Qishier Pin Lian said, "My people are spread across all realms of the universe. That is why I can be the Immortal Envoy, and you cannot. The latest news is that Zhang Ruochen used the sword heart to severely wound the spirit and soul of the Nether River, and Kong Fan Nu is in seclusion, merging with the Nether River."
Di said, "He wants to use the Nether River to break through to the Half-Ancestor realm. This is good news. At this moment, Kong Fan Nu is definitely at his weakest and cannot make a move at all. Anyone who goes to disturb him could put him to death."
Qishier Pin Lian said, "There is also a second piece of good news. Zhang Ruochen and the four ancient clan emperors have already left the Abyss of Darkness defense line. They may have returned to the Wuding Divine Sea, or they may have gone to the Southern Universe."
Di said, "This is Zhang Ruochen's style! But, is the information reliable? Both of these matters are top secret. Ordinary people cannot possibly have access to them. Don't fall into a trap."
"My people are absolutely trustworthy," Qishier Pin Lian said.
Just as Di was hesitating, his soul spirit trembled slightly.
The words "Where is Di?" sounded in his ears.
Immediately after, the heavenly and earthly rules around his body became active.
"This is... the Death God Sacrifice?"
Di suddenly stood up, his eyes flickering uncertainly.
As a Half-Ancestor who had lived for endless ages, how could he not know the Death God Sacrifice?
"Where is Di?"
The voice sounded again, and even Qishier Pin Lian, Lao Mo, and Xue Tongling heard it.
Qishier Pin Lian said, "It seems that in Lady Shiji's heart, you are the number one threat. The Stone Clan can only allow one person to charge into the Ancestor Realm. The other is destined to be a stepping stone, turning to ashes."
Di said coldly and deeply, "And I, too, wish to get rid of her. Without reclaiming the Stone Head, how can I be invincible in the Half-Ancestor realm?"
"Boom, rumble."
The earth shook and the mountains moved.
In the distance, a roaring sound came, and crimson magma erupted.
The Dark Lord's aura filled the entire planet.
A tall figure walked out from the magma, with mountains and rivers hanging from his body, and chaos and darkness within.
That aura made even existences like Di and Qishier Pin Lian bow their heads, not daring to look directly.
"We pay respects to the Lord!"
No one had expected the Dark Lord to appear in person.
It should be known that not long ago, after failing to merge with his remnant body, he should have been sleeping underground to recuperate.
The Dark Lord's voice, as if coming from outside the vast void, said, "Qishier Pin Lian, you will formulate the plan to attack White Clothes Valley. In this battle, my left hand must be reclaimed."
Qishier Pin Lian said, "My Lord, can you bestow upon Lao Mo and Xue Tongling the ancestral power of Myriad Forms Formless?"
"What do you want them to do?" a soul-shaking voice came.
Qishier Pin Lian said, "Bing Huang has already suppressed the Second Master of Tiannan, but has not yet killed him completely. We can send Lao Mo and Xue Tongling to the Lihentian to intercept and kill him. If Bing Huang is in danger, how can Heavenly Mother stand idly by? Luring away Heavenly Mother will remove one of our powerful opponents."
...
The Life and Death Boundary Star was an extremely rare ninth-level main star, located beside the main channel of the Santu River, between the life star domain and the death star domain of the Hell Realm.
How could such a prosperous and flourishing main star not have a Divine Maiden Tower?
Zhang Ruochen led the four old clan emperors into the Seven Grievances Sacred City and soon found the old drunkard drinking in the Divine Maiden Tower.
The old drunkard, who had been dizzy, instantly sobered up most of the way upon seeing Zhang Ruochen. He sat up straight and said, "How did you know I was here?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Don't you know whose property the Divine Maiden Tower is?"
"Impossible, absolutely impossible. Could anyone in this Divine Maiden Tower recognize me?" The old drunkard shook his head like a rattle-drum.
Zhang Ruochen stopped joking with him and said, "Do you think you can hide your trip to the Tiannan Life and Death Ruins from me? I can find you by following the traces you left behind."
The old drunkard picked up the white jade wine flask on the table, tilted his head back, and took a gulp, saying, "That old man Qing Cang absolutely cannot be a member of the Quantity Organization. Can't you give him a way to live?"
"If we can suppress Di in this battle, he will have a way to live."
Zhang Ruochen told the old drunkard the battle strategy for this war.
The old drunkard's eyes lit up, but then he became vigilant, saying, "You guys, a bunch of Half-Ancestors and Heavenly Venerable-rank experts, have formulated a battle plan. Why are you telling me? I can't help anyway."
"Senior Nine Heavens is a Tiantuan Wuque. How can you not help? Go to the Undying Blood Clan and tell this matter to the Undying War God. The Lower Three Clans and the Yama Clan need to be prepared in advance," Zhang Ruochen said.
"This, I can do."
The old drunkard knew the severity of the matter and stood up to leave, but he saw Zhang Ruochen sit down in his seat and begin to drink, saying, "Aren't you going to make a move?"
"Move where? The Life and Death Boundary Star is in a good position. It can support the Abyss of Darkness defense line when necessary, and it can also wait for Di and the Dark Anomaly to flee back in defeat, cutting off their retreat," Zhang Ruochen said.
The old drunkard said, "If they know you haven't left the Hell Realm, they might not make a move."
Zhang Ruochen said, "As long as they calculate me, they will definitely expose their aura and heavenly secrets. Since they have chosen to seal their heavenly secrets and hide, they will naturally lose their precise grasp of the world's situation. Everything can only be based on guesswork. It is precisely because of this that we have the ability to contend with them."
...
The turmoil in the Heavenly Court erupted faster than Zhang Ruochen had anticipated.
Just one day later, the Heavenly Punishment Divine Light illuminated the star sea, destroying countless stars and several great worlds.
News quickly came. It turned out that as soon as Chongming Laozu entered the Heavenly Court, Hao Tian had struck with lightning speed, and the storm of battle subsequently continued to spread outward.
The Wuding Divine Sea, the Yama Clan, the Undying Blood Clan, the Shura Clan, and the Rakshasa Clan all had large numbers of gods participating.
...
Lihentian.
"Ah Jiu, I said everyone would be buried with you. Now there's only him left!"
Bing Huang manifested his giant divine body. Beneath his feet, blood qi condensed into a boundless sea. He manipulated the Blood Sea Heavenly Dao Esoterica, continuously grinding away the spiritual power thoughts of the Second Master.
The turmoil that had erupted in the Southern Universe and the Heavenly Court seemed completely unrelated to him.
Suddenly.
A childish and sharp laugh came from within the colorful clouds.
Xue Tongling and Lao Mo, who was holding a crescent-shaped curved blade, appeared on the blood sea, each wrapped in a patch of black clouds.
The black clouds contained the power to distort space and a terrifying, eerie force that could corrupt all things in the world.
"Old Second of Tiannan, if you are willing to submit to the Dark Lord, we can save you from this predicament today and even help you kill Xia Huangchao," Xue Tongling said.
The Second Master's voice was weak, saying, "From today onward, I will serve the Dark Lord as my master."
"Xia Huangchao, your Blood Sea Heavenly Dao Esoterica belongs to me now!" Xue Tongling said.
Lao Mo said, "The Undying Bone belongs to me."
The two exchanged glances, each releasing a storm of Rule Divine Marks. Their forms shifted, and they attacked Bing Huang from left and right, closing in for close combat.