Chapter 443: Behind the Underworld Stands the Court—I, Li Shengshou, Make a High‑Profile Move【Seeking Monthly Votes】

Boom—!!!

A terrifying aura spread across the heavens, a colossal black city rendered in ink‑like hues, stretching across the sky above Guangling Dao City.

Oppressive, cramped, terrifying, death…

All manner of auras continuously wafted from that city, and the dread, ferocious colossal beast, swinging nine heads—two of them distinctly clear—radiated overwhelming savagery, like a monster in the vast desert stirring up world‑shattering tempests!

Guangling Dao City fell into a death‑like silence in an instant.

"Underworld..."

Gu Qianchi's expression grew complicated, and a hint of bewilderment and palpitations surfaced deep in his eyes.

Indeed…

It's the palpitations!

He took a step back, gazed at Xie Yunshen, and deep within his eyes roiled stormy waves, now tinged with a few more apprehensions, fear and the bristling of hair!

The National Preceptor and the Underworld… could they have been allied from the start?!

This campaign against the Qian Yuan sect was merely a grand play?

A grand play targeting the Dàjǐng Court's loyalist Divine Sect?

After all, in this war against the Qian Yuan Divine Sect, too many strong cultivators have fallen.

Gu Changqing, the head of the Heavenly Pill Sect, Zhao Chunqiu, the head of the Divine Sect, and also Bai Bu Yi, the master of Jiangnan Dao Haoran Academy…

And Zhao Beidou, a Grandmaster‑level Divine Tribulation powerhouse, suffered unprecedented devastation in this battle; even the Tribulation Wheel cracked with massive fissures, hard to mend, and he may well fall prematurely because of it.

One could say all major Divine Sects were severely wounded by this war.

Beyond that, the Dragon God lineage saw its pillar, the Old Dragon God, fall—he had reached the one‑disaster, two‑tribulation realm, a massive Divine Tribulation refinement!

In short, the Dragon God lineage is essentially ruined.

And what of the Court?

It seems only Ji Mo Li had his mortal body shattered, but… as a Grandmaster of the Divine Sect, Gu Qianchi naturally knows some details about the Peace‑Restoring King Ji Mo Li.

That Peace‑Restoring King is battling the Corpse God Cult in Jeju, perhaps scheming something, and the Court may already intend to deal with him…

As for the death of the Heavenly Ruin Earth Scar under the National Preceptor, that gave Gu Qianchi some hesitation.

But that hesitation quickly vanished, for the Heavenly Ruin Earth Scar seemed to have betrayed the National Preceptor.

Gu Qianchi inhaled deeply, so… could this whole situation be the scheming of National Preceptor Xie Yunshen?

National Preceptor Xie Yunshen and the Underworld have long been allied, their goal to trap and kill the Divine Sect's strongmen who serve the Court?

If so, Gu Qianchi feels only palpitations and horror.

Bashu Sword Pavilion…

Could it be the next Divine Sect targeted?

Xie Yunshen gave a wry smile at Gu Qianchi, as if he read his thoughts: "Grandmaster Gu, you needn't overthink…"

"Had I already cooperated with the Underworld, I wouldn't have even employed the Fortune Lotus; using it would drain Dàjǐng's fortune… which the Emperor forbids, and it would also consume my own life."

"The reason I allied with the Underworld is that the Heavenly Pill Sect offended people they shouldn't have."

Xie Yunshen lightly waved his feathered fan, chuckling as he spoke.

"The intel I obtained: some time ago, the junior head of Qian Yuan, Li Shengshou's daughter Li Nuanxi, appeared in Guangling Dao City, pursued by a Martial Saint of the Heavenly Pill Sect…"

"You also know Li Nuanxi's importance; she's the prized protégé of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect and Divine Eagle Master Li Che, and likewise a prized protégé of the Underworld; so I reached out to the Underworld."

"As long as I don't attack Qian Yuan Dao City, why wouldn't the Underworld cooperate with me?"

"The Underworld wants to avenge Li Nuanxi, and I aim to crush the Heavenly Pill Sect, so we clicked and joined forces."

Xie Yunshen looked at Gu Qianchi and said softly.

Gu Qianchi's eyes flickered, his brows furrowed, feeling something was off…

Is it really so?

Xie Yunshen said no more, gently swaying his feathered fan, and looked toward the terrifying ferocious beast that had struggled out of the Underworld's Fengdu.

One of the Underworld's Ten Fiends, the Sea‑Turning Nine‑Infant!

It seemed as if a mythic monster had descended into reality!

The Underworld's brand‑new weapon!

Its first appearance in the mortal world!

Gu Qianchi followed his gaze, having already detached his mind from the National Preceptor's alliance with the Underworld, no longer shocked or palpitating.

Thus, he also saw the Sea‑Turning Nine‑Infant, the Underworld's ferocious beast.

Faintly, Gu Qianchi sensed familiarity, but that familiarity was swiftly shattered by the Sea‑Turning Nine‑Infant's roar.

Sound waves rose like tides across the heavens, forming concentric ripples that spread outward, the very space seeming momentarily unable to bear them, about to burst apart!

Rumble—

Above the sky, calamity clouds churned, the power of Three Disasters and Nine Tribulations brewing and releasing.

Behind the Nine‑Infant, a massive ink‑colored Dragon Pearl emerged, resembling a Dragon Emperor Pearl but dark, engraved within with the image of the Ancestor Dragon.

Two colossal ink‑streaks of disaster‑tribulation force swirled on the Dragon Emperor Pearl!

"One disaster, two tribulations!"

Gu Qianchi's eyes narrowed; this Underworld beast had actually reached the one‑disaster, two‑tribulation realm!

"Underworld... is it truly this strong?!"

Gu Qianchi's tone turned hoarse.

The Underworld of old was strongest merely as a single Underworld King, not even a Divine Tribulation.

Now, the Underworld seems to have revealed its true power; not only a Underworld Ghost Emperor capable of slaying the Old Dragon God, but also summoning a mythic beast comparable to the one‑disaster, two‑tribulation realm!

Underworld... just how strong is it?!

I can't see through it, completely can't see through……

This force that seems to have jumped out abruptly in the present era is like a black hole, full of mystery, making it impossible to grasp its upper limit.

Behind the Underworld, which force exactly stands?

As the patriarch of the ancient divine sect Ba Shu Sword Pavilion, Gu Qianchi is very clear that in today's world, many major powers have even greater powers behind them, and those powers share a common point: they all come from the Mysterious Que.

Like the Western Buddhist Land, whose backing is the 【Black Sumeru】 divine camp; like Wu Shen Mountain, whose backing is the 【Strange Demon Lair】……

Behind Dàjǐng, what actually stands is the 【Dark Heavenly Court】.

And the Underworld?

Behind the Underworld, which divine camp exactly stands?

Gu Qianchi took a deep breath, his heart slightly trembling.

Xie Yunshen then looked at Gu Qianchi: 'Gu Patriarch…… are you going to make your choice?'

Xie Yunshen's voice was faint, but in fact Gu Qianchi understood that he had no room for choice left.

Just like Zhao Beidou, who fought for the Imperial Court until he was heavily injured and on the verge of death, even knowing the truth, what could he do?

Turn hostile? If they turned hostile, the final fate of the Dragon Tiger Divine Sect would likely be completely crushed by the Imperial Court.

Ah...

「National Preceptor, good move. 」

All that can be said is that Xie Yunshen is truly not ordinary, genuinely ruthless and vicious.

「Gu Patriarch…… please. 」

Xie Yunshen lightly pointed with his feather fan.

Gu Qianchi said no more, clenched his five fingers, and sword qi burst forth with a clang, shooting into the clouds and blooming instantly.

Toward the Heavenly Elixir Divine Sect.

Gu Yin Xuan fixed his gaze on this enormous black ferocious beast; the fierce qi rushed at him, the void trembled, and the power of the Three Calamities Nine Tribulations seemed about to be stirred.

「This is a terrifying evil beast on the verge of the One Calamity Three Tribulations realm! 」

Gu Yin Xuan narrowed his eyes.

「Underworld……」

His heart sank slightly.

Beside him, Gu Yang Xuan's face had already turned extremely grim: «Underworld…… Xie Yunshen is actually colluding with the Underworld?! How could this be? How dare he, how can he do this?! »

Gu Yang Xuan felt somewhat stifled, extremely stifled, utterly miserable.

After all, the Underworld and the National Preceptor have no reason to cooperate, right?

Could such great enmity simply be ignored in an instant?

Boom——!!!!

A deafening roar, somewhat like a dragon's cry, yet filled with terrifying shockwaves and soul‑trembling ripples!

The disciples of the Heavenly Elixir Divine Sect's mountain gate all went weak in the knees, trembling uncontrollably.

The Overturning Sea Nine Infant lashed out violently, its fleshy wings flinging a furious surge that seemed to shatter space, and it charged straight at Old Ancestor Gu Yin Xuan to kill him.

Gu Yin Xuan's face sank and grew grim; in the mortal world he could not unleash the power of the One Calamity Two Tribulations, his strength suppressed, facing this fierce evil beast he was actually being pressed and beaten for a moment.

Meanwhile, Gu Qianchi remained silent, attacking with a hint of hostility and anger.

The sword light tore through the sky in an instant, bursting forth with countless rays.

As a sect patriarch, although he had been in seclusion for years, he was no fool, and vaguely he had already sensed something.

Perhaps he would become, with all his might, the sword in Xie Yunshen's hand; perhaps, the future Ba Shu Sword Pavilion would still retain a sliver of hope.

Because, Gu Qianchi felt, the relationship between Xie Yunshen and the Underworld……

Perhaps it was not, as Xie Yunshen claimed, a cooperation achieved using Li Nuanxi as an excuse.

Basically, Xie Yunshen had already joined forces with the Underworld long, long ago.

Perhaps……

Behind the Underworld, could it be that the Dàjǐng Imperial Court stands?!

It all makes sense……

Exactly, everything now makes sense!

So far, who are the fallen powerhouses, the injured powerhouses, and the beneficiaries?

It's the Imperial Court!

Upon thinking this, Gu Qianchi felt his hairs stand on end.

「Using this overt‑and‑covert method to make the world submit and unify the fortune, right?! 」

Gu Qianchi only felt that those who play power politics have dirty hearts!

「Ah——! 」

「Slash!!! 」

Gu Qianchi let out a long whistle, all his pent‑up anger bursting forth at this moment.

He suppressed his cultivation, not daring to fully draw upon the Three Calamities Nine Tribulations, but he had almost touched the bottom line of heaven and earth's will.

Boom——!!!!

The terrifying sword light twisted the sky and slashed toward Gu Yang Xuan to kill him.

That frenzied, desperate posture made Gu Yang Xuan's face almost turn black.

「Crazy! 」

「Gu Qianchi, you damn crazy! 」

Is it worth it to sacrifice one's life for the court like this?!

Gu Yangxuan shouted.

However, the only reply was Gu Qianchi's even more overbearing sword light: "Not selling life… want to die!"

Boom—!!!

A terrifying earth‑shattering roar exploded!

Above the entire gate of the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect, an enormous cloud burst open in an instant, and a dreadful aura kept surging and churning.

Gu Yinxuan's body, like a cannonball, was violently slammed away, his bones and muscles exploding, spewing thick blood mist, then smashing hard into the gate of the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect.

Smoke and dust roiled and surged upward.

Above the heavens, the Sea‑Overturning Nine Infant raised its head and let out a long howl, its flesh wings flapping, its dragon claws sharp as knives.

Rumble—!!!

Above the sky, the Three Calamities Nine Tribulations seemed at this moment to be fully triggered, a massive thunder tribulation crashed down with a roar!

Because the Sea‑Overturning Nine Infant cultivates the Ancestor Dragon Tribulation, the calamity it summons can only be a Thunder Tribulation.

Bang—!

Struck by a thunder tribulation's blast, the Sea‑Overturning Nine Infant's body erupted with blood that spread like ink stains!

"What a mad fool!"

Gu Yinxuan surged skyward from the ruins, his eyes filled with rage.

In the mortal world, bearing the calamities that stir the will of heaven and earth, one must also unleash power beyond limits.

Precisely because of this, Gu Yinxuan was violently slammed away during the battle.

For example, he can now only show half‑step divine tribulation power, whereas this beast disregards the thunder strike and directly unleashes the power of the First and Second Calamity realms.

Thus, Gu Yinxuan was crushed outright!

The beast's claws rang, sharp as five divine swords, tearing down fiercely, ripping space apart.

Bang—!!

The entire mountain of the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect was smashed to fragments, Gu Yinxuan rose skyward, his complexion extremely grim.

He does not wish to continue fighting this mad beast; it is meaningless.

This mad beast will eventually be struck dead by lightning!

"Gu Yangxuan, run!"

"Stop the entanglement! Heavenly Pill Divine Sect… has given up!"

Gu Yinxuan barked coldly.

Now he only wants to call his brothers, flee immediately, and run far away.

He already feels Qitian Cheng opening, and the inheritance of Qitian Temple about to surge forth…

He must hurry to Qitian Cheng!

He must enter the Earthly Strange Gate, even step onto the Heavenly Strange Gate, and from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Strange Gate, seek his opportunity.

To become a true god, to verify the Dao of a true immortal!

Gu Yangxuan also wore a grim expression, repeatedly forced to retreat by the maddened Gu Qianchi.

He heard Gu Yinxuan's roar; Gu Yangxuan was actually a bit hesitant.

After all, Gu Yinxuan entered a pseudo‑death state millennia ago, feeling little belonging to any sect, but Gu Yangxuan is different.

Gu Yangxuan is a patriarch, venerated by the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect for a thousand years, receiving countless blessings…

Most importantly, Gu Yangxuan's Human‑Head Toad Secret Technique still requires the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect as a resource‑gathering tool!

To let him abandon the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect like this…

He is unwilling!

But Gu Yangxuan also knows the tide has already turned.

As Gu Yinxuan is suppressed, Gu Yangxuan, fighting desperately, still cannot surpass the now frenzied Gu Qianchi…

The era of the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect has already ended.

Without the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect…

A flash of madness flickered in Gu Yangxuan's eyes.

"Human Medicine, that supreme Human Medicine!"

"Without the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect… then I must swallow and refine that supreme Human Medicine, Li Nuanxi!"

"Only then will I have hope!"

…

…

Golden Light Mansion.

Divine Eagle Ridge.

Great snow rolled down from the ten‑thousand‑foot sky, drifting and scattering.

Li Che's ink‑black robe fluttered, his jet‑black, sturdy hair whipping in the wind, his face bearing a gentle, honest smile, just as when he first arrived at Golden Light Mansion and when he left it years ago.

Nan Li Huo, the branch sect leader of the Divine Sect, and Hu Yingyue, Chief Inspector of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, among others, looked at Li Che and felt a vague sense that Li Che seemed only to have just left.

But now Li Che truly is not quite the same as before.

Li Che warmly greeted everyone, recognizing each person; everyone was astonished and honored, because the Li Che of today is far different from before. Today, Li Che is the Divine Eagle Holy Hand, the Fifth Elder of the main sect of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect!

A Divine Embryo Cultivator, whose status is extremely revered!

Looking across the entire Golden Light Mansion, no one could compare.

Everyone was restrained, yet Li Che remained very gentle.

After chatting with everyone, Li Che's gaze fell upon the delighted and enamored Tang Sanjia; Tang Sanjia stared at the Tongbi Qitian Jia, and his whole being sank into a feeling called infatuation.

Even though his figure was infinitesimally small before this hundred‑zhang‑tall Qi Tian Armor, his pats and touches could only reach the armor's toes.

But Tang Sanjia couldn't put it down.

Suddenly, the still‑clutched Tang Sanjia slapped the Qi Tian Armor hard, his massive, robust body stepping back several paces, then burst into laughter.

"Ah Che, this Divine Machine Tongbi Qi Tian Armor… take it with you. If it stays with me, it will only be buried. You completed its construction; you are its true master, and only you can unleash its power, truly… to become renowned across the world!"

Tang Sanjia's eyes glittered with bright light.

Li Che was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected Tang Sanjia to let go so decisively.

"Ah Che, promise me that the world will once again hear the name of Tang Machinery, and give the world a shock unique to Tang Machinery!"

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"For example, back when Tang Machinery developed a peerless mechanical beast, its debut caused a shock across all factions…"

"A single mechanical beast can rival a supreme warrior… what a world‑shaking marvel that is."

"And now, Tang Machinery has even reached a level where a mechanical beast rivals the grand event of a Divine Calamity's great refinement!"

Tang Sanjia spread his arms wide, his face full of excitement and frenzy.

"Moreover… I heard Supervisor Hu say that Qitian Cheng is about to open; you should go to Qitian Cheng, right? The Tongbi Qi Tian Armor was inspired by the Patriarch in Qitian Cheng, and I heard that the materials for forging the Qi Tian Armor were all brought out from Qitian Cheng."

"So, you go to Qitian Cheng, bring the Qi Tian Armor… just right."

Hu Yingyue, the Supervisor of the Qin Tian Office of Jinguang Mansion, who enjoys playing the erhu, plucked the instrument and chuckled: "Just now the Supervisor transmitted a message to all the cities of Dàjǐng's Eleventh Dao, the Qin Tian Office…"

"Announcing a piece of news to the world."

"Qitian Cheng has indeed opened; within a month, the Qi Tian Temple, once a supremely glorious divine sect inheritance, will reappear!"

"Qitian Cheng will inevitably become the gathering place of the world's heroes."

Hu Yingyue looked at Li Che, her eyes flashing: "Li Saint Hand, with your current cultivation, trying to get involved in this gathering of heroes still leaves some gap…"

"After all, with Qitian Cheng opening, those gathered there will inevitably be the hidden Divine Calamities and Martial Gods of the great sects, and top‑level supreme warriors and deities will also come…"

"Now, with the aid of the Qi Tian Armor, that opportunity exists."

Li Che, hearing this, turned his gaze to Tang Sanjia, who nodded, his eyes showing a stirring excitement.

"The Qi Tian Armor needs to go to this gathering of heroes, to display its splendor; only by going there can it shock all sides!"

"Li Saint Hand, I beg you."

Tang Sanjia clasped his fists in a bow.

Li Che, hearing this, let out a soft sigh.

"Alright…"

"I've always been a low‑key person; I really don't like such high‑profile matters."

Everyone found Li Che's words perfectly reasonable.

Li Che truly was low‑key, never flamboyant.

"But now, I'll be flamboyant once."

"Fine, I will make the Tongbi Qi Tian Armor famous across the world…"

Li Che agreed to Tang Sanjia.

Afterwards, Li Che chatted casually with the others for a few sentences, then left without staying.

After sheathing the Tongbi Qi Tian Armor, he bid farewell to the crowd, clenched his five fingers, and vanished in an instant before their eyes.

Between heaven and earth, wind and snow swirled wildly.

Many of Jinguang Mansion's strongmen lingered within the snowstorm.

Hu Yingyue played an exhilarating erhu piece.

Laughter echoed endlessly through the snow.

"Jinguang Mansion is about to produce a real big figure!"

…

…

Buzz—

A shooting star leapt across; Li Che instantly appeared hundreds of li away.

Hovering in the air, his black robe fluttered.

Li Che's eyes showed indifference and coldness; his spirit connected with the celestial chessboard, naturally seeing the battle situation of the Tiandan Divine Sect.

Regarding the Tiandan Divine Sect, Li Che intended to crush them to death.

After all, that sect once bullied Xixi.

Besides that, the sect… was indeed disgusting; colluding with the Ascension Pavilion, Ascension Pills, and Temple Gods, among other methods, was utterly sinful.

Since it's sinful, Li Che felt no pressure at all in wiping it out.

Just as Li Che did back in Fēiléichéng, he may not be a hero, but when facing evil, he also has iron fists that strike with double blows!

"Besides… Gu Yin Xuan…"

"A talent."

"Since he's talent, our underworld naturally must honor the worthy and humble the inferior."

Through the celestial chessboard, one can see the battle situation.

After the fearless, death‑defying Fan Hai Nine Infant joined the fight, undaunted by the heavens' will and the fierce thunder of calamity, the Tiandan Divine Sect was essentially one‑sidedly defeated.

Li Che also saw that Gu Yin Xuan intended to flee with Gu Yang Xuan.

Gu Yin Xuan, the poison saint valued by Li Che, decisively abandoned the Tiandan Divine Sect.

"How can we let you both leave?"

Li Che spread his five fingers wide, then clenched them tightly.

If a Poison Saint like this were to escape…

That threat would be enormous.

Covert poisoning, impossible to guard against.

Only by turning such a person into one of our own can we be safe.

Moreover, the Divine Tribulation has set its eyes on Xixi, and although Li Che watches over Xixi at every moment, …

Faced with this danger, Li Che still leans toward eliminating it in advance.

His five fingers clutched like a divine spear, unleashing a murderous aura.

He vanished instantly.

When he reappeared, he was already inside Mo Cheng.

He appeared in Guangling Daocheng, on the battlefield of the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect.

……

……

Boom—

Above the heavens, a massive tribulation thunder, like a lifelike true dragon, roared as it poured down, and its flash in an instant suppressed all brilliance.

But the thunder struck the gigantic, nine‑headed, demon‑chi‑soaring terrifying beast, erupting ink‑black blood, and then nothing more followed.

Fan Hai Jiu Ying went berserk, roaring to the heavens, its flesh wings flapping, raising a howling gale; the power of a disaster and two tribulations burst forth, tearing the space apart inch by inch!

Gu Yin Xuan's mask kept trembling without cease.

He kept sprinkling poison, each poison pill exploding in the air, yet these pills had no effect on the mad beast!

Boom—!!!

He stubbornly took the blow; Gu Yin Xuan was slammed into a shattered space, spitting black blood, glared fiercely at Gu Yang Xuan and snarled, "Not leaving yet?!"

Gu Yang Xuan's flesh‑filled body trembled; after making a decision in his heart, he unhesitatingly abandoned the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect and chose to retreat with Gu Yin Xuan.

Gu Yin Xuan drew a black pill from his hand, flicked it with a finger, and it instantly swelled and exploded in the air!

Nine‑turn Ascending Dragon Pillar!

Boom—!!!

A terrifying poison fog burst in mid‑air, enveloping the entire Heavenly Pill Divine Sect and the whole Guangling Daocheng.

Gu Yin Xuan showed no hesitation for the so‑called innocent lives.

The Heavenly Poison Pill detonated.

It whirled nine times in an instant.

Compared with Li Che, Gu Yin Xuan was far more adept at activating this Heavenly Poison Pill, and it seemed even more terrifying than the one forged by Gu Changqing.

Nine black dragons roared across, turning into nine chains that coiled around Fan Hai Jiu Ying's body.

It's unclear whether the old dragon god in life fell to a Nine‑turn Ascending Dragon Pill attack, but now Fan Hai Jiu Ying, despite possessing the power of a disaster and two tribulations, is completely restrained by the poison pill's force, bound in mid‑air.

Gu Yin Xuan's eyes lit up: "He's afraid of my Nine‑turn Ascending Dragon Pill?!"

"Go!"

With such a good escape chance, Gu Yin Xuan would never give it up.

The main toxicity of the Nine‑turn Ascending Dragon Pill restricts Fan Hai Jiu Ying.

Thus, a small portion spreads through Guangling Daocheng and the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect.

Inside the sect's mountain gate, cultivators screamed in agony as their skin turned black and they died outright; even Grand Masters and Divine‑Origin cultivators could not hold out long.

Only Martial Saints and Divine‑Fetus cultivators could withstand the poison's erosion, and even then only to stall time.

The toxicity spreads to their meridians, limbs, and bones, and ultimately they too fall dead.

On the sedan chair, Xie Yunshen's complexion shifted slightly.

He gave his feather fan a light shake and shouted, "Master Gu!"

Gu Qianchi still intended to chase down Gu Yang Xuan to demonstrate his dedication.

But hearing Xie Yunshen's fierce command startled him.

Sword light swept, blocking the direction from which the Nine‑turn Ascending Dragon Pill's poison fog advanced; the blade fell like a waterfall, shielding all the fog.

Sizzle—

Even the sword light turned black under the pillar's erosion.

"Truly a Poison Saint… such poison…"

Gu Qianchi's cold sweat dripped.

Seeing the disciples of the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect dying from the poison, he could only sigh at Gu Yin Xuan's insidious cruelty.

He, as always, is insidiously cruel, caring not for lives, even those of his own sect's disciples.

Gu Yin Xuan and Gu Yang Xuan converged.

Their bodies shattered space, leaping away.

However…

Gu Yin Xuan, while controlling his mind to wield the Nine‑turn Ascending Dragon Pill, fled.

Suddenly, a chill rose in his heart.

A black shadow loomed, revealing an enormous black city that abruptly blocked their escape.

It was the pitch‑black Feng Du City that had released the mad beast!

"Underworld!!!"

Gu Yang Xuan reacted instantly, his eyes tearing wide!

But when he saw the figure standing atop the city towers of Mo Cheng's Feng Du, his terror faded by more than half in an instant.

Because the figure standing there was a silhouette wearing an utterly cold horse‑face mask, its jet‑black, fierce hair wildly flailed above the mask!

Underworld Horse Face?!

Gu Yang Xuan was startled.

The identity of the Underworld Horse Face has already spread across the world; most people now know its true identity.

The Underworld Horse Face… is the Divine Eagle Saint Hand of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect, Li Che!

And Gu Yang Xuan narrowed his eyes.

He recalled another identity of Li Che in his mind.

The father of that top‑grade human‑pill Li Nuanxi…!

"I heard… you intend to use my daughter to refine a human pill?"

The detached, icy, emotionless words drifted out from beneath the horse‑face mask.

Gu Yang Xuan sneered.

"So what of it?"

"What? You as a father, what can you do for your daughter?"

Gu Yang Xuan gave a cold smile; the Underworld is indeed unfathomable, but the Underworld Horse Face… is rather ordinary.

However.

The next moment, Gu Yang Xuan saw the Underworld Horse Face, which leapt down violently from the city tower.

It swooped down from the city wall at speed, charging toward him!

Like a frenzied wild horse galloping a thousand li!

"Looking for death!"

Gu Yang Xuan's obese body quivered, his tightly pressed features trembling, murderous intent surging!

Such a mere Horse Face dares to swagger before him!

If the Underworld Ghost Emperor intervened, he would still be wary; but a mere Horse Face that isn't even a top‑tier pinnacle—what arrogance is that?

Is anyone bold enough to piss on the founder of the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect?!

Gu Yang Xuan's face twisted grotesquely, and the alchemical furnace behind him roared, spewing terrifying blood‑Qi!

He intended to smash this Horse Face to pieces!

The Underworld Horse Face…

It's just trash that isn't even a top‑tier pinnacle; apart from some remote mechanisms, what else does it have?!

The next moment.

Gu Yang Xuan then saw the Horse Face abruptly hurl a statue from his hand.

His face instantly showed shock and horror!

Because…

The statue swelled violently with the wind!

In an instant, it transformed into a hundred‑zhang massive terrifying Mechanism Beast!

Buzz—buzz—buzz—buzz—buzz—buzz—

Millions of Myriad Phenomena Mechanism Seals activated simultaneously, flashing with blazing blood‑light!

A terrifying aura, possessed only by a War God, erupted and detonated as if to destroy heaven and earth!

Gu Yang Xuan's eyes were filled with sheer terror.

"What… what is this?!"

"Mechanism Beast?!"

"How could there be a War‑God‑level Mechanism Beast?!"

The Horse Face's form vanished; when it reappeared, it was already inside the Mechanism Beast's head, as if it had become the beast's brain.

The Divine Base Demon Ape clenched its five fingers, and ten‑million Myriad Phenomena Nine Gods Mechanism Seals rang on its arms.

Then, scorching currents surged, and Dao Essence roared forth!

Purple Dao‑Tribulation Fire covered the Demon Ape's fist.

Space itself shattered inch by inch within that punch!

It hammered hard onto the terrified, caught‑off‑guard Gu Yang Xuan!

Bang—!!!

Heaven trembled, earth roared!

Flesh and blood burst outward, scattering!

(End of Chapter)