Chapter 393: Peerless Divine King
"Ah..." Jiang Taixu roared in grief, shaking heaven and earth.
Separated for four thousand years, endless sorrow and pain—a hero in his twilight years, a beauty withered away. How could his heart not shatter? How could his spirit not be wounded? The Divine King was desolate, his heart filled with utter misery.
The roar of grief scattered the clouds in the night sky, startling everyone within the Divine City. It was like seawater flooding the nine heavens—boundless anguish, overwhelming sorrow.
Jiang Taixu stood in the arena, his flesh long withered and dry, yet crystal droplets rolled from his sunken eyes. He held the old woman's cold corpse, motionless.
The Divine King seemed petrified. No one knew how long passed—he made no sound, no movement, simply staring quietly at the old woman.
Four thousand years unseen, and the beauty had aged—a face full of wrinkles, pale lips, a stooped body. Time had stolen her youth.
The peerless beauty of bygone days, without regret or complaint, had waited for four thousand years. Her prime had passed, her spirit dimmed, silently enduring until she had completely aged.
Even after four thousand years, the moment Lady Caiyun learned of the Divine King's news, she came without regard for her own life. To save Jiang Taixu, she perished, her fragrance fading.
"After I die... cover my body with white cloth. Tell Taixu... not to lift it and look at me... I don't want him to see me like this. I want his memories... to always hold me as I was four thousand years ago."
The Divine King was sorrowful, yet had no tears left to shed. His body had long withered, and he simply stood there, unmoving, gazing at his departed beloved.
But she would never awaken again. Her body was cold, without a trace of warmth.
The Divine King remained silent. Everything from the past was vivid before his eyes—murmured whispers, tender faces... her departed voice and smile seemed still before him, the heart-to-heart connection of old not yet faded.
Jiang Taixu was heartbroken. He simply held the cold corpse quietly.
"Divine King Ancestor..." someone beside him called softly.
"Caiyun..." the Divine King whispered, his voice trembling.
He bore boundless grief, endless regret. Watching his soulmate die beside him to save him, the pain in his heart was beyond words.
Hatred drove him to madness. The heaven-gifted Divine King choked up, his eyes filled with desolation.
Four thousand years ago, he was whiter than snow, roaming the world, unrivaled by any. Now, returning in his twilight years, he could not even preserve the life of his most beloved woman—she had died to save him.
Emotions uncontrollable, heart wounded, he looked up to the sky and held the cold corpse tightly.
"Ah..."
The Divine King cried out. Boundless grief transformed into sky-piercing killing intent. In that moment, the entire Divine City turned cold, like an autumn wind of slaughter sweeping through.
The Divine City felt like winter had arrived. Leaves scattered wildly, killing intent was endless. The Divine King's rage made heaven and earth tremble.
In that instant, endless essence of heaven and earth surged madly toward this place, covering the sky and earth, converging on the Divine King, drowning him.
He raised his head, standing in the center of the arena, absorbing the essence of the eight directions, devouring moonlight and starlight, his entire body enveloped.
"Why cover the body with white cloth? Why not let me see your face?" Jiang Taixu choked, speaking to himself. "In my eyes, you have never changed, always the same—whether four thousand years ago or now..."
The others all remained silent, watching quietly.
The essence of heaven and earth surged like rivers and seas. The Divine King's aura grew stronger and stronger. Finally, he lifted the old woman with both hands and said sorrowfully, "You loved youth, so I will make you forever young."
A sea of essence, like surging tides, rushed forward wave after wave, entering the Divine King's body.
Jiang Taixu's hands blazed with light, nearly transparent, pouring all the essence into the old woman's body. He could not revive her soul, but he awakened her flesh.
The old woman's body changed rapidly. Her wrinkled skin slowly smoothed, gradually gaining luster. Her sparse hair began to grow.
"I will seize eternal youth for you from the heavens!" Jiang Taixu shouted. His voice was like the might of thunder, piercing heaven and earth, shaking the Divine City until everyone's eardrums buzzed.
Infinite divine radiance manifested. Jiang Taixu used his arms to channel the great Dao of heaven and earth, forcibly pushing a withered body back to youth, slowly restoring its vitality.
The old woman's stooped body straightened completely. Her wrinkles vanished entirely. She was transforming continuously.
Baptized by endless essence of heaven and earth, the Divine King Jiang Taixu's divine arts were unmatched. He continuously vibrated his arms, ultimately forcibly restoring a decayed body to its youthful state.
Lady Caiyun seemed to have come back to life, as if returned to four thousand five hundred years ago. Her hair was jet black, her body crystalline, her peerless beauty fully restored, as if she were merely sleeping.
Jiang Taixu performed a heaven-defying divine art, restoring her youth. He held her, gazing quietly, as if returning to the past.
But the beautiful woman was ultimately gone, her soul severed. The Divine King was despondent, unable to speak a single word.
"Divine King Ancestor, please restrain your grief... do not harm yourself..." those nearby were deeply worried. Jiang Taixu had just been reborn and was already performing such a heaven-defying divine art—they feared an accident.
"Caiyun..." Jiang Taixu called softly, then placed her in the Dragon Transformation Pool.
Then he suddenly stood up, raised his head to the sky, and said, "Since I have been reborn, even the heavens cannot take me back!"
His gaze was sharp and unmatched, his words filled with powerful confidence, as if declaring to heaven and earth.
"Jiang Taixu, even if you have temporarily come back to life, we will not give you the chance!"
Not far from the Dragon Transformation Pool, the three ancient monsters were alarmed and shouted loudly. The thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures also revealed killing intent, urging their divine power and attacking forward.
But the Ancient Devouring Demon Jar stood in this place, and they could not break through the barrier in a short time.
"Divine King Regeneration Art!" Jiang Taixu shouted, majestic and unparalleled, sovereign over the realm. He stood in the arena, receiving essence from all directions, continuously flashing with divine light.
This was a secret art unique to the Divine King physique. As long as his origin was not lost, he could restore himself, nearly possessing an undying body!
The three ancient monsters, who had lived for over four thousand years without decaying, all acted, beginning to seal this space, cutting off everything external, trying to sever the vast essence the Divine King needed.
The thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures also struck with full force. Their comprehension of the Dao was equally profound, imprinting marks in the void to seal everything.
But it was difficult to stop. Endless starlight poured down, a vast white expanse like a giant river of stars, dazzling, drowning the Divine King.
"How is this possible? The Divine City is sealed by an Extreme Weapon, cut off from the greater world. How did Jiang Taixu borrow the power of all the stars?" a Saint Lord-rank figure exclaimed in shock.
"He is using the Eternal Universe Furnace to channel the Dao, seizing the power of all the stars!" an ancient monster said, alarmed. This was not a good sign. Jiang Taixu had just been reborn and was already connected to the Saint Furnace—the mere thought was terrifying.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, the might of an Extreme Weapon erupted. The Saint Weapon contending with the Eternal Universe Furnace seemed to pierce heaven and earth, vibrating continuously, sealing the void once more.
"Good, good, good!" an ancient monster shouted, revealing joy.
"Jiang Taixu, let's see how you recover!"
The three ancient monsters and the thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures were all extremely terrifying, able to look down on the world. They were all top experts of the present age. Together, they laid down Dao patterns, unleashed divine power, and began to scheme for the Ancient Devouring Demon Jar.
Half an Extreme Weapon—unless held by an ancient sage, it could not display its full Extreme might. So they dared to contend with it, even trying to seize it.
"Prepare the Divine Source!" Jiang Yun, a Great Power of the Jiang family, transmitted his voice.
In an instant, several elders stepped forward, taking out several large pieces of Divine Source. The light was brilliant, piled before Jiang Taixu.
This was prepared long in advance, fearing that the essence of heaven and earth and the power of the sun, moon, and stars would be insufficient when the Divine King was reborn. Now, it finally came in handy.
"Hurry, stop him! Don't let him recover!" the thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures shouted.
They sensed the severity of the situation. Jiang Taixu's rebirth was a disaster for them.
The three ancient monsters also shouted, "Friend wielding the Extreme Weapon, what are you hesitating for? Hurry and stop Jiang Taixu!" They were also panicking. They had dealt with Jiang Taixu four thousand years ago, and no one knew better than them how terrifying the Divine King was.
"I am contending with the Eternal Universe Furnace. Otherwise, it would have already flown to Jiang Taixu's side." A cold, deep voice came from the shadows.
"What? Jiang Taixu wants to control the Saint Furnace now? He wants to destroy all of us—this is not simply about self-preservation!"
Everyone present was shocked. Jiang Taixu had great ambition. Just resurrected, he already wanted to kill them all.
"Thud!"
The might of an Extreme Weapon pressed down. The terrifying figure in the shadows controlled the Great Emperor's Saint Weapon, contending with the Eternal Universe Furnace while also sending a surge of divine power.
"Boom!"
The Ancient Devouring Demon Jar was nearly knocked flying. No one could make it fully awaken. Though its power was still terrifying, it could not compare to the Eternal Universe Furnace and the other Saint Weapon.
"Boom!"
The terrifying pressure struck again. The Devouring Demon Jar shook once more, about to be sent flying, no longer able to guard this place.
"Good, keep striking! Break through the barrier!"
"Help us charge in and kill Jiang Taixu!"
The three ancient monsters and the thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures saw hope and were greatly encouraged. As long as they could get in, they could definitely kill the still-weak Divine King.
"Hum!"
The void trembled. The Eternal Universe Furnace blazed with ten thousand rays of light, transforming into a crimson divine phoenix, dancing high in the sky, nearly breaking free from the other Great Emperor's Saint Weapon's restraint.
"Not good!" the terrifying figure in the shadows cried out in alarm.
He ceased all attacks and quickly focused on contending with the Eternal Universe Furnace. Otherwise, if Jiang Taixu got his hands on it, probably no one would survive.
"Chi, chi..."
Before the Ancient Devouring Demon Jar, the Divine Source shattered, turning into beams of divine light that entered Jiang Taixu's body. He sat solemnly, standing in place.
His aura grew stronger and stronger. His withered body gradually became moist, his flesh quickly recovering vitality, his muscles swelling continuously.
The Divine King had already been reborn. All he lacked was essence to replenish himself. Now, with the Divine Source before him, his recovery faced no obstacles.
"Boom!"
The Eternal Universe Furnace and the other Great Emperor's Saint Weapon continuously suppressed each other, occasionally sending down the might of an Extreme Weapon. But all were blocked by the Ancient Devouring Demon Jar.
Half an hour later, the three ancient monsters and the thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures all began to retreat, nearly giving up.
Because by now, Jiang Taixu's flesh was crystalline, no longer skin and bones. His thick black hair cascaded like a waterfall. He had fully revived using the Divine King Regeneration Art!
"Thud!"
Heaven and earth shook. Jiang Taixu absorbed all the Divine Source and suddenly opened his eyes. Two bolts of cold lightning tore through the void, piercing the soul.
With a flash of light, he stepped forward in one stride, facing the three ancient monsters and the thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures alone. He raised his hand and grasped the Devouring Demon Jar.
At this moment, he was whiter than snow, elegant as jade. Where was there any trace of aged decline? He was vigorous and spirited, as if time had reversed, returning to four thousand years ago.
"Jiang Taixu..." an ancient monster trembled, his heart and gall cold.
He suddenly recalled the heroic bearing of Jiang Taixu roaming the world four thousand years ago, no different from now. He knew the Peerless Divine King had returned!
Whether the three ancient monsters or the thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures, all were terrified. Swept by the Peerless Divine King's gaze, they could not help but tremble.
"With so many of us, can we not kill a single Divine King?!" a Saint Lord-rank figure shouted, trying to unite everyone to strike.
Jiang Taixu's eyes were deep, his sword-like brows reaching his temples. He was very calm, but when he acted, he was like a supreme deity walking in the mortal world!
"Hum!"
He almost stepped into the crowd in one stride. This space directly collapsed. He attacked indiscriminately, striking at everyone.
This was the Peerless Divine King, looking down on the world. Facing so many experts, he was still unafraid, possessing the divine might of a sovereign over the realm.