Chapter 4054: Baal Falls
Baal protected himself with twelve Gates of Destiny, his feet condensing demonic Qi into a liquid ocean beneath him. Coldness filled his eyes, but he dared not underestimate his opponent.
If he were at his peak, even if Bone Yama launched a sneak attack, he could not break through the defensive order before him.
He was indeed far weaker than he had estimated himself to be.
The more critical the moment, the more he needed to adjust his mindset. If he continued to place himself in the position of a Half-Ancestor and underestimated his enemy, it would be very dangerous.
The successful sneak attack made Bone Yama shed all restraint, seeing through the essence of Baal's weakness. Thus, large amounts of Divine Qi dispersed from his bone body, once again driving the Red Stain Tower.
At the same time, rings of dim light were released from his eye sockets, launching a soul attack.
The dim light was obscure, emitting all kinds of harsh sounds.
"Soul Purification Art!"
The two attack methods were executed almost simultaneously.
After the Red Stain Tower flew out, it rapidly expanded, transforming into a towering pavilion as massive as a mountain, pressing down heavily.
With a thought, Baal manipulated one of the Gates of Destiny, suspending it above his head to block the Red Stain Tower.
Rippling patterns appeared on the surface of the Gate of Destiny, continuously pulling the Red Stain Tower inside.
The Soul Purification Art pierced through Baal's defensive order and protective divine light, attacking his soul.
"Just you?"
Baal decided to teach Bone Yama a lesson in the soul domain, making him understand the gap between a Heavenly Venerable rank and a Half-Ancestor.
A demon soul rushed out from within Baal, shaped like a centipede, covered in human hands with eyes on the palms, confronting Bone Yama's soul attack.
Bone Yama's bone body belonged to the Primordial Ancestor "Yama," while his soul was a remnant soul of the Primordial Ancestor "Great Demon God."
He possessed over fifty percent of the "Bone Emperor Heavenly Dao Esoterica." With the blessing of this Esoterica, his soul strength was not much less than that of a Half-Ancestor, and he was actually fighting Baal to a stalemate at this moment.
As the saying goes, "The sovereign's soul is invincible," referring to the advantage of the Bone Emperor Heavenly Dao Esoterica in soul combat.
Jiusi Yitianhuang struck out all eight phases of the Nether Law: the majestic Nether City, the boundless Nether Kingdom, the dignified Nether Ancestor, the surging Nether River... Eight light shadows, eight kinds of power, overturned eight of the Gates of Destiny guarding Baal.
Now, only three Gates of Destiny remained, guarding three directions of his body.
"Boom!"
Jiusi Yitianhuang's true body stepped into the demonic Qi ocean condensed by Baal. Nine pairs of eyes released the power of Nine Lives and Nine Deaths, tearing apart Half-Ancestor rules and order.
Even the demonic Qi ocean was forcibly split open into a channel.
The Red Stain Tower and Soul Purification Art had at least tied up seventy percent of Baal's power. Seeing Jiusi Yitianhuang constantly closing in, he had no choice but to burn Half-Ancestor substance, harming himself to stimulate greater combat power.
"Bang!"
The power of Nine Lives and Nine Deaths released by Jiusi Yitianhuang was dispersed by Auspicious Ruyi.
Baal's hair flew up in anger as he shouted, "Source of All Evil."
A Half-Ancestor mark containing all kinds of evil power flew out from between his eyebrows. Sounds of slaughter, malicious laughter, and mournful weeping filled the space under the Night Curtain.
"Boom!"
Bone Yama was struck by the Source of All Evil mark, his bone body sent flying, emitting a low, muffled sound, clearly his soul was injured.
"Swish!"
Baal stomped heavily on the void with his right foot, and a straight, bright River of Time extended beneath him to Jiusi Yitianhuang's front.
Almost without taking any time, when Jiusi Yitianhuang sensed the danger, Baal had already appeared before his eyes.
He swung Auspicious Ruyi, smashing one of Jiusi Yitianhuang's heads to pieces, blood splattering everywhere.
Jiusi Yitianhuang endured the severe pain and fought back, but only blocked four moves before Baal broke through his defense again, smashing another head.
Seeing that Bone Yama had recovered and was moving quickly toward him, Baal knew that in his current state, it was impossible to kill these two.
Continuing to burn Half-Ancestor substance was not a solution either; it would only damage his foundation more severely.
"Whoosh!"
He summoned the twenty-one Demon God Stone Pillars, and the demonic Qi in the ocean beneath his feet continuously poured into the pillars.
The pillars grew rapidly like bamboo.
"The Night Curtain is boundless and formless; it cannot be broken by Demon God Stone Pillars."
How could Jiusi Yitianhuang give Baal a chance to escape the Night Curtain? He summoned three fist-sized seals: the Corpse Seal, the Bone Seal, and the Demon Seal, all of which were Divine Artifacts.
The three seals hovered in the void, releasing profound formation inscriptions, operating in mysterious trajectories.
This seal formation divine array was personally refined by Jiusi Yitianhuang.
His spiritual power was profound, and he was one of the current Heavenly Circle Without Defect.
As the formation operated, the three seals shone like three blazing suns, and even Baal's Half-Ancestor divine power could not break them.
"Heavenly Special Gourd!"
Bone Yama released another Divine Artifact he had taken from Feng Tian, absorbing the demonic Qi, rules, and order released by Baal. At the same time, he closed in, turning his arm into a bone blade, slashing horizontally at Baal's waist.
"Bang!"
Baal was far faster than Bone Yama.
Before the bone blade arrived, his hand seal had already landed on Bone Yama's chest, breaking four of his ribs.
Bone Yama was sent flying, but Baal's back was also struck by the Demon Seal, leaving a three-inch-long wound.
No blood flowed out, because his body was withered, most of his Half-Ancestor blood having been absorbed by the Golden Scepter.
Baal did not counterattack Jiusi Yitianhuang. Instead, he leaped upward, flying along the twenty-one Demon God Stone Pillars, with the twelve Gates of Destiny accompanying him.
"Supreme Pillar, you are a Half-Ancestor, and you're fleeing like this? Where is your prestige?"
Jiusi Yitianhuang drove the seal formation divine array and chased upward.
"Break open for me."
Baal used his arm as a bow and Auspicious Ruyi as an arrow, drawing a full moon.
"Twang!"
Auspicious Ruyi dragged a long tail, shooting toward the Night Curtain, colliding with ripples in the pitch-black space.
A roar!
The Night Curtain was pierced, creating a hole hundreds of feet in diameter, connecting to the starry sky outside.
Baal laughed, "How could your Night Curtain trap a Half-Ancestor?"
Carrying the twenty-one Demon God Stone Pillars and the twelve Gates of Destiny, Baal rushed out of the Night Curtain, only to find that the Auspicious Ruyi he had shot had disappeared!
The starry sky shook, and all the flow of Heaven and Earth Rules accelerated, rapidly converging.
The Heaven and Earth Rules of the Nine Eternal Paths converged into nine broadest Daoist rivers, suspended above Baal's head, extending billions of miles.
The Supreme Sacred Dao, the Three Thousand Great Daos, and the Hundred Thousand Minor Daos also converged into tributaries, flowing around the nine Daoist rivers.
Bone Yama hovered in these Daoist rivers, transforming into the Bone Emperor Overlord, with powerful fluctuations of Esoterica on his body.
Baal squinted his eyes and said, "This technique of yours comes from the Primordial Ancestor Yama, right? It's a pity that you only obtained over fifty percent of the Bone Emperor Heavenly Dao Esoterica, not over fifty percent of the Bone Emperor Earthly Dao Esoterica. Otherwise, I might actually have to be wary of you."
Bone Yama let out a low, excited laugh.
Although Baal did not understand why, he sensed an inexplicable danger. He was about to strike and break the Daoist rivers in the starry sky to escape from this place.
But then, a bolt of lightning tore through the starry sky, falling vertically.
Like a bright heavenly blade cleaving the universe.
Instinctively, Baal mobilized the twelve Gates of Destiny to block it. But these Gates of Destiny, which could withstand the full-force attacks of a Heavenly Venerable rank, were instantly shattered by the lightning.
It was a warhammer!
The Thunder God Hammer!
Baal stared fixedly at the headless figure holding the Thunder God Hammer, sensing the deathly aura released from within her. This feeling made even him, a Half-Ancestor, tremble with fear.
This sensation, he had only felt from the Great Demon God and the Corpse Demon, like a prey encountering the bloodline suppression of a natural enemy.
But clearly, the headless figure did not have the power of the Primordial Ancestor level.
"Pfft!"
Under the Thunder God Hammer, Baal's Half-Ancestor body exploded, turning into bloody fragments.
Much of the flesh was struck by lightning, turning charred black and losing life activity.
The Dark Remnant quickly broke Baal's Dao, found his hidden Divine Sea and Divine Source, and collected them in her palm.
Her hands were both gaseous, with rules and order intertwined like blood vessels inside.
Jiusi Yitianhuang and Bone Yama were both extremely shocked.
It was not that they were stunned by the Dark Remnant's combat power—after all, Baal was weak, and the Dark Remnant was well-rested, catching him off guard. It was understandable that she could smash him with one hammer blow.
What shocked them was that Baal was a Half-Ancestor, and the Dark Remnant's current combat power was also at the Half-Ancestor level, yet she could break his Dao and seize his source in an extremely short time.
Other Half-Ancestors, no matter how strong, would need at least ten thousand years to break Baal's Dao or completely annihilate and kill him.
Without a doubt, although the Dark Remnant was down and out, her methods were superb, her understanding of Daoist principles, and her research into all things in the universe were simply incomparable to a Half-Ancestor.
The Dark Remnant could smash Baal with one hammer blow, break his Dao, and seize his source, which also meant she could kill them in a short time.
Jiusi Yitianhuang and Bone Yama both lowered their proud heads. Whether sincere or not, their eyes were now filled with awe.
The Dark Remnant directly absorbed Baal's Divine Sea and Divine Source into her body, her aura continuously strengthening, the refinement speed astonishing.
She asked, "Has the aura been concealed?"
Bone Yama replied, "Reporting to Venerable Lord, the Heaven and Earth Rules in this starry sky are entirely under my control. Cultivators at the North Marsh Great Wall might be able to sense the auras of Emperor Yitian and me, but they absolutely cannot sense the Venerable Lord's aura."
The Dark Remnant's voice came from her abdomen: "The news of our alliance cannot be known to Zhang Ruochen for now. At the critical moment, you two are my most important hidden cards. Just now, you also contributed to suppressing Baal's self-destruction of his Divine Source. His remnant body is left for you."
Jiusi Yitianhuang and Bone Yama showed great joy, repeatedly thanking her and flattering the Dark Remnant.
"Refine Baal's remnant body first. Wait for my telepathic command to act at any time and help me. In this battle, we will be the oriole, waiting for them to both be wounded."
The Dark Remnant collected the twenty-one Demon God Stone Pillars, her figure disappearing into the darkness, sneaking toward the North Marsh Great Wall.
After Jiusi Yitianhuang and Bone Yama divided Baal's remnant body, they began a secret discussion.
Bone Yama said, "The Dark Remnant is more sensible than the original Dark Anomaly, generous in action, and knows how to share benefits. After refining Baal's remnant body, our cultivation will surely reach a higher level."
Jiusi Yitianhuang's shattered head reformed, and the green-faced, fanged demon head spoke: "Are you really planning to stay here and wait for her orders?"
Bone Yama's eye sockets flickered with flames, his tone strange. "Whether it's the Nether Sea Spirit or Zhang Ruochen, both have many trump cards. The battle in the Nether Kingdom is very likely to result in both sides being wounded. If we can catch them all in one net, even if we only get to drink the soup behind the Dark Remnant, the benefits we gain will be enough to accumulate resources to break through to Half-Ancestor. Such an opportunity is rare and not to be missed!"
Seeing Jiusi Yitianhuang smile, Bone Yama said, "What, Brother Yi has a different opinion?"
Jiusi Yitianhuang said, "In the Nether Kingdom's eighty thousand towers, with eighty thousand Nether Generals and eighty thousand gods, the Nether Sea Spirit is invincible there. For the Dark Remnant to scheme against him is no different from seeking death."
Bone Yama said, "Zhang Ruochen brings the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable's twenty-seven layers of heavens and the Golden Lion Ancestor, and he possesses heavy treasures like the Nine Cauldrons, Sword Heart, Mani Pearl, and Golden Scepter. He is no easy opponent. The appearance of Pan Yuan shows that Zhang Ruochen is well-prepared and thoughtful, definitely a formidable foe for the Nether Sea Spirit."
Jiusi Yitianhuang said, "If Zhang Ruochen truly defeats the Nether Sea Spirit in the Nether Kingdom, wouldn't that make him even more terrifying? If we face him head-on, we will surely die without a burial place, following in the footsteps of Chongming Ancestor."
He continued, "Even if we set aside ten thousand steps and say Zhang Ruochen and the Nether Ancestor faction both suffer losses, and we reap the benefits as the fisherman, the greatest gains will still be taken by the Dark Remnant. Can we really find the resources to break through to Half-Ancestor? Are you willing to always be subordinate to the Dark Remnant, obeying her orders?"
Bone Yama was greatly moved. "You mean the benefits do not match the risks?"
"With our current cultivation, the risk of opposing Zhang Ruochen and the Nether Sea Spirit is too great. One misstep, and we will be annihilated."
Jiusi Yitianhuang's head, resembling the Moon God, spoke: "The Jade Desolate Realm has opened. Hao Tian will definitely go there to take charge. The Heavenly Court is empty. Why don't we set our sights on Meng Ge? He has refined quite a bit of the Primordial Ancestor substance from the Nine-Headed Stone Man and has Heavenly Venerable rank cultivation."
"The Heavenly Court? The Heavenly Punishment Divine Light and Heavenly Order of the Heavenly Court are no joke. Once activated, they are definitely more terrifying than a Half-Ancestor." Bone Yama said.
Jiusi Yitianhuang showed a disdainful expression. "That's only if they can sense someone intruding! In the entire Heavenly Court universe, only Hao Tian and the current Pan Yuan can make me wary. The rest, like Xuan Yuan Taizhen, Meng Ge, and the Two Heavens of Paradise Realm, I truly do not take seriously. Hao Tian letting the Kunlun Realm leave has already caused the entire Heavenly Court universe to collapse by nearly half."
"Once we enter the Heavenly Court and reach the Truth Divine Temple, we only need to unfold the Night Curtain. Under the Night Curtain, we can slaughter freely."
Bone Yama said, "The Jade Desolate Realm has opened, and both the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom and the Nether Kingdom are erupting in great battles. This is indeed a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. But if we leave like this, the Dark Remnant will cause us great trouble in the future."
Jiusi Yitianhuang said, "As long as our cultivation reaches Half-Ancestor, why fear the Dark Remnant? By then, the Dark Remnant will probably have to rely on us even more, because in the entire universe, only you and I would ally with her."
Bone Yama's eye sockets flickered with bright flames, and he smiled. "The current Heavenly Court is indeed our hunting ground, with much less risk than going to the Nether Kingdom. However, we should still be cautious. We need to find a way to test whether Hao Tian has truly gone to the Jade Desolate Realm."
"That's simple. I have a puppet I subdued earlier. I can send it first to assassinate Hao Tian's daughter." Jiusi Yitianhuang said.
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