# Chapter 4016: A Battle That Decides the Life and Death of the Hell Realm
The Dark Abyss defense line stretched over a thousand light-years, with one Yin Realm or one main star located every light-year.
The extreme south and extreme north were naturally the focal points of the Hell Realm's defense.
Tiannan Life-and-Death Ruins stood guard over the extreme southern star region.
As for the extreme northern star region, there was a World Tree, with Fengdu Ghost City at its very top.
After the Dark Remnant and Corpse Demon had successively emerged a hundred years ago, White Clothes Valley had become the most dangerous place in the universe. Most of the power of the Middle Three Clans had been relocated to the Dark Abyss defense line to deal with the complex and perilous situation there.
"Buzz!"
The cosmic space of the extreme northern star region suddenly trembled violently.
The experts in various Yin Realms and Ghost Cities within the star regions surrounding the World Tree all sensed it. They walked out of divine temples, crawled out from underground, or flew out from their cave dwellings, ascending to the sea of clouds.
"Buzz!"
The spatial tremor came again.
All the Yin Realms and planets swayed like floating objects on the water's surface.
Gradually, a terrifying figure as tall as the World Tree emerged from the dark cosmos. Mountains and rivers hung all over its body, and its interior was chaotic and dim—it was humanoid.
It resembled a cosmic giant, or even more so, a bizarre human-shaped world.
All the cultivators standing on the planets and the sea of clouds of the Yin Realms, regardless of their cultivation level, were stunned by the sight before them.
"Flee, flee quickly!"
The Black and White Daoist flew out from Wuchang Ghost City, releasing Rule Divine Patterns to wrap around the city, storing it within his Divine Realm World. Then, at the fastest possible speed, he fled toward the core area of the Dark Abyss defense line.
How could he not know who this was?
Precisely because he knew, he was very clear that any resistance would be futile.
Fleeing might still offer a glimmer of hope.
But the other cultivators, including some gods, were all stunned by the dark and eerie aura, frozen like stone statues, unable to move.
Some of them even fell directly from the sea of clouds.
The Black and White Daoist glanced toward Fengdu Ghost City at the top of the World Tree, gritted his teeth, but ultimately did not rush over. He had no desire to be the first tough guy of the Middle Three Clans.
He knew that the Great Emperor was not in the city.
Fengdu Ghost City's defenses were indeed very strong, but without the Great Emperor presiding over it, how many strikes could it withstand from the Dark Eerie?
"Damn it, why would she attack the Ghost Clan in the extreme northern star region first? Shouldn't she be attacking White Clothes Valley?"
"That's right, the Dark Eerie isn't stupid. Knowing full well that all the experts are gathered at White Clothes Valley with a Heaven Net Earth Trap laid out, how could she just charge straight in?"
The Black and White Daoist felt the storm of destruction coming from behind and looked back.
He saw the Dark Eerie, holding a Thunder God Hammer, smash a Yin Realm to pieces with a single blow.
"Boom!"
It was like a cosmic explosion. The world's continental plates shattered into rubble, flying off in all directions.
Each piece of rubble was the size of a planet.
What a spectacular meteor shower!
That was Qingkong Yin Realm, a true great world, home to countless trillions of Ghost Clan undead, and hundreds of billions of Corpse Clan, Bone Clan, and living servants.
But with just one hammer blow, they all perished, their souls scattered.
Even the several gods stationed in Qingkong Yin Realm did not escape.
The Dark Eerie's massive body flickered with chaotic light. She opened her mouth and inhaled, forming a cosmic hurricane.
All the soul fragments of the dead and living flew into her body.
The Dark Eerie's attack on the extreme northern star region was naturally intended to draw all the experts of the Dark Abyss defense line over here, while also devouring souls to heal her wounded divine soul, preparing for the next condensation of the Dark Remnant.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
...
With every strike the Dark Eerie made, a Yin Realm was destroyed, drawing her ever closer to Fengdu Ghost City.
In no time, seventeen Yin Realms had been shattered, and the ghosts of seventeen great worlds had turned into soul mist, devoured and absorbed into her body.
The aura emitted by the Dark Eerie grew stronger with every passing moment.
The cultivators in Fengdu Ghost City looked up and saw not the starry sky, but half of the Dark Eerie's massive torso.
It was so grand, so magnificent, like the incarnation of heaven and earth itself.
How could cultivators possibly be a match for heaven and earth?
For a time, many Ghost Clan cultivators forgot their fear, replaced only by awe. They knelt on the ground, unable to muster any thought of resistance.
Of course, true gods were not so feeble. They hurriedly moved about, activating formations and organizing divine armies.
"All gods, hear my command—light up the World Tree."
"Where are the Spiritual Power gods? Activate the City-Protecting Grand Formation."
"All gods, together, communicate with the Star Soul Divine Thrones and use them to build the first line of defense."
...
Zhouqi Ghost Emperor and Yangyun Ghost Emperor were stationed in the city. The moment the spatial fluctuations first appeared, they had already begun deploying troops and commanders.
Hunqi Divine King activated the Ancestor Realm left behind by the Yellow Spring Great Emperor, leading the Ghost Clan cultivators in the city to retreat into it continuously. Even if Fengdu Ghost City were destroyed, the Ancestor Realm should still be able to hold out for a while.
Zhuque Huowu, Yaoguang Imperial Consort, and other Infinite-level experts went to the various planets on the World Tree to guard the most important formation platforms.
Zhuque Huowu stood at the top of the formation platform, holding a long spear, looking at the Dark Eerie's colossal body in the cosmos. Feeling the might she released, her arm trembled involuntarily.
In the Sword Realm, after reaching the Great Unbound Infinite realm, this was the first time she had felt fear.
She tried to suppress her fear with battle intent, but her body was completely beyond her control.
"Can I withstand even one blow?"
Not to mention a ten percent chance—Zhuque Huowu didn't have even a shred of confidence in her heart.
Watching the Thunder God Hammer descend, every Ghost Clan cultivator in the World Tree held their breath.
"Rumble!"
Thousands of Star Soul Divine Thrones, each the size of a star, formed a formation diagram, but they exploded one after another under the Thunder God Hammer, blooming like fireworks.
On the ground, no one knew how many gods were injured, collapsing to the ground.
The combined power of all the gods could not withstand a single blow.
But the earth-shattering hammer blow they had anticipated did not fall upon Fengdu Ghost City.
A majestic and stalwart figure stood at the place where the lightning was densest, using both arms to hold up the Thunder God Hammer.
In front of his hands was the rapidly spinning Soul-Suppressing Ring, like a halo.
"It's the Great Emperor!"
"The Great Emperor has returned!"
...
Whether in Fengdu Ghost City or among the Ghost Clan cultivators throughout the World Tree, they were all immensely uplifted.
All fear was swept away.
"Boom!"
The Thunder God Hammer and the Soul-Suppressing Ring separated.
Fengdu Dadi plummeted downward at great speed, crashing heavily into the formation light barrier of the City-Protecting Grand Formation. His black robe was already riddled with holes, crackling with electric light.
He appeared somewhat disheveled, but his posture was upright, his spirit vigorous, and his tiger eyes brimming with endless battle intent.
"Your remnant body hasn't successfully fused. Where do you get the courage to attack the Dark Abyss defense line?" Fengdu Dadi said.
The Dark Eerie's true form appeared at the brow of her chaotic body, the size of a normal person.
But because the dark aura on her was too intense, devouring all light, only Fengdu Dadi could see through the darkness and discern her form.
The Dark Eerie's voice sounded, as if coming from beyond time and space: "There's no need to fuse my body. You can't withstand three of my strikes."
The massive chaotic body opened its mouth and spat out a stream of red-gold magma flame.
Fengdu Dadi summoned billions of miles of Yin clouds beneath his feet, unleashing the divine ability "Thousand Stars Stringing Pearls," mobilizing the power of the entire star region to clash head-on with the surging magma flame.
The Dark Eerie's true form pierced through the magma flame, shattered the Thousand Stars Stringing Pearls, and pointed a finger at Fengdu Dadi's brow.
At that moment, space seemed to disappear.
Fengdu Dadi felt as if his body no longer belonged to him. The other party's power pierced through the rules and order, directly targeting his soul and consciousness.
"Thirty-Three Layers of Yin Realm."
Layer after layer of Yin Realm surged out from the top of Fengdu Dadi's head, infused with Ancestor Divine Power, colliding with the Dark Eerie.
After blocking the Dark Eerie's most terrifying finger strike, Fengdu Dadi let out a deep roar, circulating Half-Ancestor Divine Qi, carrying the Soul-Suppressing Ring, and threw a heavy punch.
"Bang!"
The Dark Eerie shifted her form, stepped through the Thirty-Three Layers of Yin Realm, and stomped Fengdu Dadi, along with the Soul-Suppressing Ring, down toward Fengdu Ghost City.
This time, even the City-Protecting Grand Formation of Fengdu Ghost City could not withstand it. Fengdu Dadi crashed through it.
Fengdu Dadi fell to the ground, and a large area of the city sank, forming a crater over ten thousand miles in diameter.
The Dark Eerie swung her arm like a whip, pressing down with a five-fingered hand seal.
A Myriad Forms Formless Seal descended together with the five-fingered hand seal, devouring all matter and erasing all rules.
Fengdu Dadi lay at the center of the crater, his back already transformed into ghost mist.
Wisps of ghost mist, like roots, burrowed deep into the ground beneath Fengdu Ghost City, then spread into the World Tree.
At this moment, Fengdu Dadi, Fengdu Ghost City, and the World Tree became one integrated whole.
He rapidly formed hand seals with both hands, thrusting both palms toward the sky, colliding with the descending Dark Five-Fingered Seal.
"Boom!"
Countless cracks appeared in the body of Fengdu Ghost City, sinking thousands of feet.
On the World Tree below, hundreds of planets exploded.
Fengdu Dadi's arms exploded, but more arms grew from the ground, making him look like a thousand-armed demon god embedded in the city.
"Open the Ancestor Realm Gate and welcome the Yellow Spring Malicious Evil Qi."
Zhouqi Ghost Emperor and Yangyun Ghost Emperor stood on either side of the Ancestor Realm Gate, continuously drawing the Ancestor Qi and Ancestor Rule Divine Patterns from within the realm, surging like a tide into the city.
With the power of the Ancestor Realm supporting him, Fengdu Dadi's might continuously rose: "You said I couldn't withstand three of your strikes. It seems you've overestimated your own strength. The Fate Twelve Phase Divine Formation has arrived. Today, you won't escape!"
The Black and White Daoist's voice came from the starry sky: "Ghost Clan gods, do not fear. This clan leader has brought back reinforcements. Today, we slay the Dark Eerie, to the death, never stopping. We cultivators will never bow our heads; our proud bones will endure forever."
Above the Dark Eerie's chaotic body, twelve bright Gates of Destiny appeared.
The Twelve Divine Palaces of the Destiny Temple were situated within the Gates of Destiny.
The figures of the Black and White Daoist, Void Heaven, Stone Heaven, Gong Xuanzang, Hu Shang Old Woman, Desolate Heaven, Bai Qinger, Lian Xi, Jue Miao Chan Nu, Hai Shang You Ruo, Blood Butcher, Que, and other Hell Realm experts appeared within the twelve Gates of Destiny.
Within each divine palace, there were also twelve Infinite Realm cultivators.
Including the leaders of each palace, there were a total of one hundred and fifty-six Divine Kings and Divine Venerables.
It could be said that the most top-tier experts of the Dark Abyss defense line were all gathered here.
This battle could only be won, not lost.
If they lost, most of the Hell Realm would be gone.
The Dark Eerie glanced at the twelve Gates of Destiny, not seeing Heavenly Mother or Lady Shiji. "Without a Half-Ancestor to preside over it, what can the Fate Twelve Phase Divine Formation do to me? Fine, I'll use you all as great medicine to restore my supreme and unparalleled cultivation."
The Fate Twelve Phase Divine Formation was above in the heavens, while Fengdu Dadi, bearing Fengdu Ghost City, was below on the earth. Both forces erupted simultaneously, launching an attack on the Dark Eerie.
Whether it was the Hell Realm gods or the Dark Eerie, both had the same thought in mind: to keep the other party here.
A great battle that would decide the fate of the Hell Realm officially began.
...
Extreme Southern Star Region, Tiannan Life-and-Death Ruins.
"Where is Di?"
Qingtian and the Death Clan gods were still bowing.
They had already bowed over two thousand times, getting closer and closer to three thousand bows.
A deep divine voice came from the top of the Death God Temple: "No need to bow. I have come to see you in person."
Qingtian stood up unhurriedly, looking toward the temple's peak. Amidst the hazy death mist, he saw Di.
No one knew how Di had entered the Life-and-Death Gate or when he had ascended the Death God Temple. He appeared as if out of thin air, displaying an unparalleled mastery of the Dao.
Di held a stone knife, with the Demon Shrine floating above his head. The Half-Ancestor might he released pressed down on all cultivators below the Great God level, making it impossible for them to stand.
He said, "Qingcang, following Shiji will not lead to a good outcome. She couldn't even protect Tiannan's Second. Of course, it's also possible that she simply didn't want to protect him and had already traded Tiannan Second's life for benefits."
"After today's battle, the structure of the Hell Realm will inevitably undergo earth-shattering changes. How about you lead the Death Clan and follow the Dark Sovereign?"
Qingtian said, "If you had come two days earlier, when Tiannan was in trouble, I might have agreed. But you came today. Is this to recruit me? Or is it to use me and the Death Clan?"
Di's head was placed outside the Death God Temple.
What Qingtian had been bowing to earlier was precisely this head.
"Whoosh!"
Qingtian's form shifted, intending to collect the stone head immediately.
Di was far faster than Qingtian. Almost without spending any time, he appeared before the stone head, slashed out with his knife, and sent Qingtian flying.
Countless talisman patterns covered Qingtian's body, yet he was still injured, spitting blue blood from his mouth.
"Master!"
"Qingtian!"
...
The Death Clan gods simultaneously struck out with their war weapons and divine artifacts, raining down like a storm upon Di.
Di neither dodged nor avoided. He let these war weapons land on his body, shattering them all into scrap metal, which he absorbed into his body.
Two of the divine artifacts were collected by him.
"Qingcang, do you think I can kill all the Tiannan gods by myself?" Di said.
Qingtian summoned a staff and struck it heavily on the ground.
"Hua—"
In an instant, the entire Tiannan Life-and-Death Ruins lit up. The formation inscriptions and talisman patterns left by the Tiannan masters of various eras simultaneously emerged.
The Death Clan gods all released their divine qi, spiritual power, and Rule Divine Patterns, forming a combined attack formation.
Di's expression turned solemn as he raised his knife above his head.
Blue flames burned on Qingtian's body as he raised his staff, pointing it at Di.
"Hua!"
Countless death thought forces twisted together, surging out from the top of the staff, transforming into a blue-gold beam of light.
No matter how arrogant Di was, he dared not touch this death thought force. He swung his knife and slashed.
The blade light clashed with the blue-gold beam of light, continuously tearing apart the space outside the Death God Temple.
"Not good!"
Di sensed an extremely dangerous perception. From the corner of his eye, he clearly saw strands of Lady Shiji's hair.
Lady Shiji had walked out from within the Death God Temple, appearing behind Di.
Her jade-like finger pointed out, striking Di's back.
"Snap!"
Four or five cracks appeared simultaneously as Di was sent flying forward.
But after all, he was a Half-Ancestor, with incredibly quick reactions. He immediately manipulated the Demon Shrine to strike at the attacking Lady Shiji, trying to buy time to gather power and counterattack.
Having succeeded with a sneak attack, how could Lady Shiji give Di any chance to catch his breath?
With a flick of her sleeve, the Dark Cauldron flew out, knocking the Demon Shrine away.
"Boom! Boom! Boom..."
Lady Shiji pursued closely, unleashing a series of twelve hand seals, each one landing on Di.
Di's form shifted ten times in space and twice in time, briefly entering the past and future, but each time, Lady Shiji's hand seals struck him back.
With both being Half-Ancestors, the one who struck first gained complete suppression.
After the twelve seals were completed, Di's stone body was already riddled with holes. Even his Half-Ancestor divine soul had suffered severe damage. Holding his knife, he knelt on one knee beneath the Light and Death Divine Tree. The surprise in his eyes had faded. "I understand now. From the very beginning, this was a trap you set. Luring the enemy in?"
Lady Shiji continuously mobilized the rules of heaven and earth with her esoterica, suppressing Di. "Every time, it's you who set the traps. It's rare for us to have an opportunity, so naturally, we're going to crush you."
"Just you alone cannot suppress me."
Di's body actively exploded, transforming into a Vanishing Star Sea.
"Boom!"
The energy formed by this spatial expansion broke through the constraints of the rules of heaven and earth, then shattered Tiannan Life-and-Death Ruins entirely. Over a hundred Death Clan gods were torn apart into bloody mist.
Except for Lady Shiji, even Qingtian, with all his power, could not stabilize his form. He was sent flying trillions of miles by Di's body-transforming-into-a-star-sea technique.
Even more shocking was that the Vanishing Star Sea transformed into a bizarre and exquisite scroll painting, with a hundred formation flags suspended in the starry sky.
All the twinkling stars revolved around these formation flags.