Chapter 821: Divine Melody
Within the Jade Pool, there were clear lakes, towering sacred mountains, magnificent waterfalls, and secluded bamboo-lined paths—a diverse array of scenery.
At this moment, flower petals rained down everywhere, and the sound of a zither rang out, echoing across this pure land, peaceful and tranquil.
Yet, every cultivator was drenched in cold sweat, their clothes soaked through, a chill running from head to toe, for the Heaven-Connecting Platform held an unparalleled deadly killing intent!
Falling blossoms scattered in profusion, a faint fragrance permeating the air. Petals fluttered, crystalline and translucent, swirling around the White-Robed Divine King. He gently plucked the zither strings, playing the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, emitting the aura of the universe's primordial opening.
"Pop"
Another charging Ancestral King shattered, vivid blood staining the colorful rain of flowers, blooming with the flavor of life, dispersing with the wind.
One patch after another, the sky filled with crystalline petals, a light fragrance, flickering with the radiance of life. White petals, stained with blood, drifted down continuously.
"Pop"
Another soft sound rang out. Over a hundred sprays of blood blossomed. A fourth Ancestral King who had charged forward exploded, crimson blood dyeing the sky. His body shattered into pieces, falling onto the Heaven-Connecting Platform.
A magnificent scene, yet one with a blood-stained splendor. Amidst the peace and tranquility bloomed a world-shaking sharpness. The White-Robed Divine King played a divine melody, leaving everyone both shocked and terrified.
In the blink of an eye, four Ancient Kings had been crushed to dust, vanishing like passing clouds. Such killing power, such battle results—how could it not astonish?
He sat alone at the front, as if he could block a thousand armies and ten thousand horses. With one person guarding the pass, a host of kings could not advance, intimidating over twenty Primeval Ancestral Kings.
The White-Robed Divine King remained motionless, letting the rain of flowers fall. His gaze was deep, fixed on all the Ancestral Kings ahead. The world was very quiet, only the sound of falling petals.
The Divine Melody had appeared!
Not only were the humans shocked and awed, but even the various Primeval tribes were stunned, then filled with immense fear.
This melody was not entirely related to cultivation level; it was an expression of one's state of mind, an understanding of the Dao, and even more, a comprehension of the myriad experiences of the mortal world.
The sublimation of the spiritual realm, while not representing total combat power, was a manifestation of a cultivator's strongest potential. Ultimate sublimation might one day illuminate the mortal world.
The White-Robed Divine King could be said to have a fate full of twists and turns—half a life of loneliness, a lifetime of desolation, his beloved gone. He had too many regrets. Perhaps it was precisely because of this that he had comprehended the Divine Melody, which almost no one in history had been able to touch.
After a long silence, Teng Qing, one of the four great Ancestral Kings, spoke, sighing: "Excellent. The Divine Melody appeared once in the Primeval Era, stunning the ages. I never heard of it then, but now I am fortunate enough to see it. Although it is only in its infancy, it is already enough to move heaven and earth and make gods and ghosts weep."
The moment the melody began, it instantly killed four Ancestral Kings. Who was not shocked? This was a world-shaking killing melody, yet it was so peaceful, leaving people unsure whether to enjoy it or tremble in fear.
"He is powerful, but he is only one person. I request Ancient King Teng Qing to make a move and slay this human hero!" an Ancestral King from behind spoke out.
The others also felt a pressure and requested the four great Ancient Kings to act together to kill the human sage.
"I am looking forward to it. All of you, step back." Ancient King Teng Qing stepped forward. The bronze battle armor on his body flickered with a cold, sharp luster. This was a true legendary Saint Weapon, inspiring awe.
He advanced step by step, moving very slowly, his face expressionless, showing no emotional fluctuation. Only occasionally would a flicker of eagerness appear in his eyes, as if he had locked onto his prey.
"Teng Qing is excited to find a worthy opponent. He wants to charge into a higher realm. Is he trying to use the incomplete Divine Melody to undergo tribulation and perfect himself?" Ancient King Tai Ming said in a deep voice.
"He is playing with fire!" Blood Lightning Ancient King, the only female among them, said coldly, gripping a crimson, crystalline dragon spear. Her killing intent was the thickest.
"Clang"
A beam of light appeared in Teng Qing's hand, ten feet long, quickly transforming into a dragon spear, its shape similar to Blood Lightning Queen's, equally soul-shaking.
"Hmph"
Blood Lightning Ancestral King snorted coldly upon seeing him imitate her weapon, saying nothing more, watching quietly from behind.
"A rare hero not seen in a thousand generations. I hope you won't disappoint me. I haven't felt such joy in many years. Even giving me a little pressure would be fine." The Bronze Ancient King stepped forward, an eerie brilliance appearing on his face, eager and yearning, like a hunter finding his prey, almost pathological.
"Hum"
The dragon spear pierced through the void like a bolt of blood-colored lightning, stabbing forward. His movements were too fast, like a ball of light shooting forward, holding the dragon spear as he advanced.
The sound of clashing metal rang incessantly. Sparks flew everywhere. Dao marks appeared in profusion. All kinds of light flickered on the Heaven-Connecting Platform. Countless divine principles surged out as the two engaged in fierce combat.
The Divine King moved his hands, and the ancient zither shot out thousands of strands, transforming into streaks of Dao light, colliding with the dragon spear, producing earth-shaking sounds that spread for tens of thousands of miles.
"What a powerful Divine Melody!"
Ancient King Teng Qing exclaimed in admiration. Holding the dragon spear with both hands, his body transformed into a streak of green light, thrusting forward with force, aiming directly at the Divine King's forehead, trying to nail him dead.
Everyone cried out in alarm. This spear strike was too domineering. Its light illuminated the heavens. No one could open their eyes. It seemed capable of piercing the sun from the sky. Its divine power was unmatched.
It transcended the constraints of space, broke the shackles of time. A moment of splendor, a flash of brilliance, illuminated the ages. Even the light curtain formed by the White-Robed Divine King's zither music could not defend against it.
The dragon spear was unparalleled, piercing through all obstacles. A trace of blood appeared on the White-Robed Divine King's brow, startling and vivid, trickling down.
"Ah..."
The moment the dragon spear's light faded, everyone cried out in shock. Seeing this scene, every human cultivator felt ice-cold all over. Had the Divine King been killed?
The Ancient Clan was shaken. The famous Ancient King Teng Qing from the Primeval Era was truly terrifying. The power of his spear strike was unmatched in the world. He was indeed a King among Sages, dominating the Primeval Era.
"Crack"
A soft sound came. The Divine King extended two fingers and snapped the dragon spear. The spear tip was less than an inch from his brow. Divine principles surged forward but could not approach any further.
"Thump"
The White-Robed Divine King pressed his left hand on the ancient zither. Tens of thousands of rays of light shot out, slashing towards Ancient King Teng Qing, forcing him to retreat like lightning, dodging the attack.
"Very powerful. You did not disappoint me. You are worth fighting." Ancient King Teng Qing said this.
The various Primeval tribes were shocked, while the human cultivators were nearly collapsing with relief, letting out a long breath. The White-Robed Divine King's life and death had just made everyone's heart pound with anxiety.
Now, only one human sage was here. Divine King Jiang had become their spiritual pillar, the only sage they could rely on.
The battle of the ancient sages had begun. They fought in the void. This was the application of the Dao, the comprehension of the principles of heaven and earth. A single strike could destroy tens of thousands of miles of mountains and rivers.
If the Heaven-Connecting Platform had not been carved by the Western Emperor and inscribed with the array patterns of an ancient Great Emperor, it would have long since collapsed into dust. Only such a martial arena could withstand their duel.
"Earthly Rattan King!" In the blink of an eye, five hundred rounds had passed. Ancient King Teng Qing let out a great roar. Forty-nine dragon spears appeared all around him, countless times more terrifying than before.
The sky was filled with spear shadows, divine radiance everywhere, like stars trembling in the sky. This world was collapsing. Chaotic energy filled the air. Nothing remained. The front had returned to the beginning of heaven and earth.
"Ancient King Teng Qing is truly fearsome, worthy of being a King among Sages. Few in the world can match him." Behind him, even other Ancient Kings exclaimed in admiration.
Such a world-shaking strike, aside from Ancestral Kings Hao Yang, Blood Lightning, and Tai Ming, the others admitted they could not withstand it. If they faced it, they would surely die.
"Ding"
A single note from the zither broke through the chaos. The Heaven-Connecting Platform reappeared. The White-Robed Divine King was still sitting there cross-legged, playing the zither. Divine principles burst forth one after another. Aside from the trace of blood on his brow, he was still unharmed.
"What? He is unharmed!" Everyone was astonished.
"Your strength exceeds my expectations." Ancient King Teng Qing spoke calmly, but he became even more terrifying. A Phoenix-Winged Gilded Halberd appeared in his hand. Although it was not a legendary Saint Weapon, it was still sufficiently intimidating, as if a divine phoenix was imprisoned in his grasp.
"Kill!"
At this moment, an even more intense battle began. In the blink of an eye, eight hundred rounds had passed. The two were evenly matched, difficult to separate.
"The battle should end!" Ancient King Teng Qing roared. The Phoenix-Winged Gilded Halberd hummed as it swung, opening up one small world after another, collapsing downward.
This was the power of worlds!
Since ancient times, there had been many Ancestral Kings, but those who could reach this realm were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. Now, chaotic energy surged forward.
"Zheng," "Zheng," "Zheng"...
The White-Robed Divine King played the zither, no longer peaceful. The notes rang out sharply. Each pluck of the strings was like the cry of a sword, echoing through the heavens, shooting out terrifying beams of light, slashing out immeasurable Dao principles.
One could see that the divine sound had transformed into the light of the Primordial Era, crisscrossing, its offensive power defying heaven!
"Ah..."
Ancient King Teng Qing cried out loudly, flying sideways. The Phoenix-Winged Gilded Halberd in his hand was slashed into dozens of pieces, falling to the ground like scrap metal.
"What? Has Ancient King Teng Qing been defeated? How is this human hero so formidable?!"
Not to mention the various Primeval tribes, even those Ancient Kings were horrified. Teng Qing had dominated the Primeval Era. A stomp of his foot would stir the winds and clouds in all directions. Yet now, even his weapon had been destroyed.
"Clang"
Teng Qing leaped up. His face was cold, but he had not a single wound. The bronze battle armor on his body flickered with a cold, sharp luster, soul-shaking.
"I have a legendary Saint Armor, indestructible through a thousand calamities. You can never breach it. Let's see how you continue to fight!" Teng Qing roared. His entire body was glowing, piercing through heaven and earth. Then, he swung his fists, unleashing immeasurable divine principles, charging forward to kill.
Legendary Saint Weapons were rare in the mortal world. Even in the hands of an ordinary person, they could unleash earth-shattering power, let alone on a true Saint King!
With this bronze battle armor, his defensive power was practically invincible. It was difficult for outsiders to breach, allowing him to ignore many attacks.
Behind him, Ye Fan's heart sank. He summoned Li Tian and was about to offer the Divine Maiden Furnace to the Divine King, but the Old Blind Man, who had somehow arrived beside him, stopped him.
"Sending it out like this might not reach the Divine King's hands."
"Your strength has exceeded my expectations time and again, but everything must end!" Teng Qing's voice was like thunder. He unleashed his ultimate divine art, transforming into a beam of light as he charged forward. A single punch shattered the light curtain ahead, striking directly at the Divine King's forehead.
Everyone cried out. The great battle was about to come to an end!
Many human cultivators could not bear to watch. They were filled with unwillingness, and even more so, a sense of powerlessness, anger, and helplessness.
"Zheng!"
The final note of the zither rang out, like a heavenly sword reaching the nine heavens, then gently slicing through. It sounded in everyone's heart, then fell silent.
People saw that the White-Robed Divine King, aside from the trace of blood on his brow, was still ethereal and otherworldly, shrouded in a rain of flowers, sitting cross-legged. But Teng Qing fell backward, staring at the sky.
"How did you... break through..." He fell with unwillingness and full of shock. "Pfft," he shattered, then turned to ashes, leaving behind only a completely intact legendary battle armor.