Chapter 457: Before Qitian Cheng Opens the Martial Saint Heavenly Gate, Beyond the Golden Heavenly Gate One Can See a Martial Immorta

Underworld…

It's the Underworld again!

Moreover, it's that familiar cute bull mask; even though two scratches have been carved into it with a knife, the cute bull mask is still the same.

Bull One, Bull Two…

He consecutively slew two top‑tier demon kings!

In an instant, the atmosphere turned murderous and icy, a terrifying killing intent roared like a rolling thunder, pouring down from the city tower.

Seated atop the city tower, the Heavenly Crane Demon God wore an expression of utmost severity; this was a top‑tier demon king, even under his command, a highly important elite force!

As a result, two fell at once; for the Heavenly Crane Demon God, this was a massive loss, causing his standing among the ten thousand great rivers of the mortal world to plummet rapidly.

He lost the qualification to compare his status with other demon gods.

Within the demon race, the forces under one's command are crucial; the number of demon kings and the quantity of great and minor demons are extremely important.

"Underworld!!!"

The Heavenly Crane Demon God was incensed beyond control, his two crane eyes seemed about to burst from their sockets, his roar nearly pierced the heavens!

He suddenly rose, countless sword qi raging and intertwining, his crane robe fluttering continuously.

He turned his head toward Bull One, not far from the city tower.

Bull One, Bull Two… are they really the same person?

The Heavenly Crane Demon God's visage was ice‑cold to the extreme.

However, Li Che, who had slain the Primordial Leopard Demon King below, leisurely devoured the demon pill, feeling elated.

Flashes of light streamed before his eyes.

【Dao Fruit: Ten Thousand Demon Emperor (lv5, 70%)】

The demon aura of one demon king directly raised the Ten Thousand Demon Emperor Dao Fruit's maturity by 10%; a few more would likely boost it straight to level 6.

Thus, Li Che couldn't suppress the smile at his lips; he was in high spirits.

Continuously cultivating a Dao Fruit's maturity is, for Li Che, an extremely important and rare endeavor.

Between heaven and earth, the atmosphere grew exceedingly strange.

Even over Qitian Cheng, the massive black bull head formed from countless demon auras showed a slight hint of anger.

After all, Bull One and Bull Two are truly… too much to speculate; could it be one person deliberately causing trouble?

But…

The Black Bull Demon God Sovereign's terrifying, space‑freezing celestial Dao soul swept over, passing over Bull One's body, and his brows furrowed again.

Because Bull One stood on the city tower, flesh and blood, it was impossible to discern real from fake.

The Heavenly Crane Demon God was resounding with sword qi.

Yet under the Black Bull Demon God's pressure, no movement was dared; a higher official can crush a life, let alone within the demon race, the high‑rank suppresses the low‑rank absolutely.

"Enter the city."

The Black Bull Demon God Sovereign said lightly.

Li Che, wearing the Bull Two mask, felt no fear and entered the city directly.

After choosing a house inside the city, he went up to the city tower and stood shoulder to shoulder with Bull Two.

The Heavenly Crane Demon God sat on the city tower, his sharp gaze fiercely sweeping over the masked figures of Bull One and Bull Two.

But Bull One and Bull Two's expressions remained unchanged; after all, they were merely painted celestial avatars now.

Below Qitian Cheng.

Among the many onlookers, some cultivators couldn't help letting out a soft laugh.

The demon race's move, one must admit, felt like smashing one's own foot with a stone.

The strong indeed have the right to set rules.

The Black Bull Demon God Sovereign, wishing to uphold Qitian's will, perhaps intends to establish such a rule, using it to let demon race strongholds brutally kill some invading human cultivators, thereby deterring humanity.

While preventing the humans from jointly subduing the demon race of Qitian Cheng, it can also kill the humans' vigor.

Result…

Instead, two demon kings were slain.

The spirit of Qitian Cheng's demon race actually weakened a bit.

The human cultivators gathered beneath Qitian Cheng felt exhilarated; they had been suppressed for far too long.

Clearly, Qitian Cheng should belong to the human domain, yet these human cultivators couldn't even set foot there, barred by the demon race.

"Hahaha! Exhilarating!"

Lu Taibai burst into laughter.

Silver‑hair pouches fluttered, his eyes bright and dazzling.

The Tai Bai Sword in his sleeve was already clanging, as if eager to draw and step out to confront the demon god.

However, Lu Taibai was not in a hurry, for he knew… the Underworld had acted.

Since the Underworld has intervened, just watch for now.

When the Underworld handles matters, it's the most reassuring.

And it's not only Lu Taibai; cultivators from virtually all factions share the same thought.

To see how many tactics the Underworld still has.

In the Western Buddhist lands, many monks wearing conical hats had flickering gazes.

On Witch God Mountain, witch god cultivators also wore conical hats and black robes, their eyes dim.

This time, the number of strong ones gathered at Qitian Cheng was truly considerable; if they united, a joint assault on Qitian Cheng could very likely break the demon race's domination and blockade.

The Black Bull Demon God Sovereign deliberately set an entry rule, perhaps for this very purpose.

But under this rule now...

Yet two top-tier demon kings have already died.

Heavenly Crane Demon God's expression was grim to the extreme, but the rule set by the Black Ox Demon God Venerable—he could not simply disregard it.

So, he could only stir his mind and summon the last top-tier demon king under his command.

That was an extraordinarily burly humanoid strongman—a black bear demon king, bare-chested, shouldering a black axe, with eyes violent and ferocious.

"Black Bear Demon King, come assist this seat in guarding."

The Heavenly Crane Demon God spoke in a deep voice.

However, after he spoke, his gaze suddenly shifted, looking toward the bustling crowd of onlookers gathered in Dàjǐng.

Sure enough, another martial artist wearing a bamboo hat stepped out from the crowd.

His muscles bulged all over; even a loose black robe could not conceal the massive, stacked muscles.

Terrifying qi and blood surged like a flood!

Martial Saint Four Openings—another Martial Saint Four Openings!

Numerous gazes all fell upon that burly figure stepping out.

Under the gaze of the multitude, Li Che gave a light smile and took off his bamboo hat.

"Underworld Niu San, I've come to seek instruction."

A faint laugh lingered beneath Qitian Cheng.

However, no one laughed.

Niu San?

Is this real or fake?

Now even Lü Taibai, a cultivator who had great confidence in the Underworld, faintly felt something was off.

Are there so many oxen in the Underworld?

"Good, good, good, Niu San, right?!"

The Heavenly Crane Demon God was so angry he laughed, looking at the Black Bear Demon King, his strongest demon king under his command.

"Kill him for me!"

"I want you to bring his head to see me!"

The Heavenly Crane Demon God's tone was grim.

The Black Bear Demon King hoisted the black great axe, threw his head back and laughed, took a step forward, descended from the city tower, and in an instant transformed into his true black bear form, a black bear tens of zhang tall, like a mountain, filling the air with oppressive pressure.

Demonic qi surged heavenward, the power of the Demon-Witch Tribulation intertwining and coiling.

Humans cultivate the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, dragons cultivate the Ancestral Dragon Tribulation, demons cultivate the Demon-Witch Tribulation……

Li Che watched calmly; this black bear demon king was indeed much stronger than the previous two demon kings, but……

That's all.

It's not a divine tribulation; for Li Che now, dealing with it is basically not difficult at all.

Five fingers spread, in an instant, countless air currents seemed to gather in his palm into an extremely black axe head, which seemed to swallow countless light.

Only endless darkness remained!

Immortal Craft Dao Guide!

Ghost Axe!

The Black Bear Demon King also wielded the great axe, stepping down with an aura that seemed to swallow mountains and rivers, terrifying qi surging like a tide.

However, the black axe in Niu San's hand suddenly swung out, soundless and traceless, while countless qi-blood radiance on Niu San shone bright and flickering, as if the void itself rippled.

A clash!

Extremely terrifying boiling qi and blood raged wildly between heaven and earth.

Li Che had no intention of fighting the black bear demon king on equal footing.

After the first collision, Li Che's heart and mind felt the Myriad Demon Emperor Dao Fruit tremble slightly.

Embryonic divine ability, Demon Subjugation!

The Black Bear Demon King only felt his heart sink, his whole body trembling involuntarily, fangs exposed, yet unable to hide the terror in his eyes.

He stared in shock at Niu San; before him was no longer merely a human, but as if a demon god hid beneath a mask.

The powerful suppressive force made the Black Bear Demon King suffer so much he almost vomited blood.

It made him involuntarily want to kneel.

What kind of method is this?!

He recalled the miserable state of the previous two demon kings.

This Black Bear Demon King also couldn't help but panic at this moment.

Roar!

The Black Bear Demon King roared, trying to break free from the Demon Subjugation and retreat toward the city.

However, Li Che closely followed, and the Victory Over Heaven Dao Domain opened.

This black bear demon king actually felt a weakness surge in his heart, as if he had just mated with a hundred female bears, his legs going soft.

Then his cultivation kept dropping, and the ink-black axe, like a black dragon emerging from the depths, directly severed his head.

Another slash, a vital‑force cleave.

Blood splashes like a tide!

Demon pill extracted, demon body withdrawn, every motion flows like clouds and water.

Black Bear Demon King, fall!

An overwhelmingly rich scent of blood drifts through the air, and across heaven and earth even the resentful spirits of the fallen demon king roar in fury!

Wah— Wah— Wah— Wah—

Above the heavens, clouds intertwine, and under the thunder that crackles with a "ka‑tsah" sound, it seems as if the continuous fall of Demon Kings has stirred a celestial upheaval.

Bean‑sized raindrops continuously pour down at high speed from the sky.

They burst on the ground with a "pat‑da pat‑da" sound, splashing into a misty spray.

It seems as if it intends to wash away all the lingering demonic aura left by the fallen Demon King before Qitian Cheng.

The icy rain lashes the face.

Heavenly Crane Demon God stares dumbfounded at the scene before him.

The three Demon Kings under his command have all fallen…

Instinctively, he lifts his head and looks toward the sky above Qitian Cheng, where the Black Ox Demon God Lord's demonic aura churns.

The Black Ox Demon God Lord also falls into silence.

His gaze narrows, landing on three masked Underworld cultivators.

This is…

Has a loophole been exploited?

But that's not it…

Because the Underworld truly brought forth a strong one, who decisively slew the Demon King.

The Black Ox Demon God Lord naturally trusts his own Heaven‑and‑Earth Dao Soul; as he scans, Ox One, Ox Two, and Ox Three are all living beings, and the other three displayed different martial techniques during the clash.

One can only say…

The Demon Kings under the Heavenly Crane Demon God are inferior in skill.

The Heavenly Crane Demon God seems to understand something, and a hint of resentment shows on his face.

"Indeed, the Demon Kings under my command… are a bit weak."

"However, Lord Demon God, I have no top‑tier Demon Kings left, and cannot continue the gate‑keeping duty…"

"Rest assured, I will have the top‑tier Demon King commanders under the South Gate Golden‑winged Demon God take over the garrison."

The Black Ox Demon God Lord says lightly.

His voice booms and reverberates continuously.

Ox Three also entered the city and ascended the tower.

The Heavenly Crane Demon God closes his eyes, his breathing rises and falls, and he is no longer as angry, for the matter has already occurred and anger is useless.

He also has no top‑tier Demon King to dispatch for wanton slaughter.

Li Che does not feel regret.

The Demon Gods stationed at Qitian Cheng's three gates are the Heavenly Crane Demon God of the West Gate, the Jade‑horn Rhinoceros Demon God of the North Gate, and the Golden‑winged Demon God of the South Gate…

These three Demon Gods…

Li Che's eyes flicker; perhaps it's time to start acting against the Demon Gods.

On the tower, Li Che, wearing the Ox Three mask, shifts his spirit with a single thought, completing a transposition and leaving behind Ox Three's painted‑immortal avatar on the tower.

Rumble—

The rain pours down as if washing away the death of the top‑tier Demon King, and the lingering demonic aura, though not a celestial anomaly, still indirectly influences Heaven and Earth's will.

The Heavenly Crane Demon God sits upright on the tower, his eyes lowered, not shielding himself from the rain.

The deaths of the three top‑tier Demon King commanders under his command are a huge blow to the Heavenly Crane Demon God…

He suppresses the raging fury and murderous intent within him.

Suddenly.

The Heavenly Crane Demon God senses something, and his eyes snap open!

He sees the void before Qitian Cheng slowly cracking open, with countless block‑shaped void fissures interweaving and stacking.

Then, a cold, dark portal emerges, as the void continues to fracture; on both sides of the city gate, walls spread endlessly, countless in number, disappearing into the distance, as if pressed out from the void.

That is…

Fengdu of the Underworld!

A black city rises from the torn fissure, standing opposite Qitian Cheng!

Hoo— Hoo— Hoo—

Chaotic winds rage, waves surge, and countless raindrops are shattered by a terrifying force!

Seated atop the tower, the Heavenly Crane Demon God, together with the will of the Black Ox Demon God Lord whose demonic aura piles over Qitian Cheng, cast their gazes outward.

The Heavenly Crane Demon God's hair whirls wildly, and his eyes brim with raging malice.

Looking at—

He stares at the tower of Ink City Fengdu, where a towering figure as massive as a mountain stands.

The figure wears a cute, adorable Ox mask, its jet‑black, sinewy hair wildly whipping, and a black tight‑fitting robe outlines the true shape of its muscular body.

"Underworld!"

"It is the Underworld Bull Demon!"

"One of the Underworld's true fiends, the Bull Demon!"

…

The many human cultivators watching the battle all narrowed their eyes and let out exclamations.

After Ox One, Ox Two, and Ox Three…

Is the Underworld Bull Demon finally about to appear?!

The Heavenly Crane Demon God suddenly rises, spreading his arms, his crane robe fluttering, murderous intent surging!

He knows that this Bull Demon… is coming straight at him!

At this moment, the Heaven Crane Demon God suddenly let go, and Bull One, Bull Two and Bull Three were indeed strong subordinates under the Bull Demon.

Just as White Mantis, Yuan Leopard and Black Bear, the three great demon kings, were top‑level demon kings under him.

And now, the top‑level demon kings are all dead.

It is time for a showdown between the strong!

If Li Che considered the Heaven Crane Demon God's thoughts at this moment, he would probably exclaim, "The demon race is truly straightforward."

However…

Li Che's eyes flickered; countless sword qi surged from the Heaven Crane Demon God's body, as if innumerable souls were howling, and the lives that fell by his hand were as countless as a flood!

The murderous nature was terrifyingly fierce and powerful.

"Come!"

"Underworld Bull Demon!"

The Heaven Crane Demon God took a step forward, and behind him seemed a white crane spreading its wings; two swords of black and white hue encircled him.

"If you wish to enter Qitian Cheng, you have already defeated me!"

"Your subordinates have slain my three demon kings; therefore… it is reasonable for me to kill you!"

In the Heaven Crane Demon God's pupils, three blossoms seemed to swirl, and demon qi rose like a towering Qi column.

Boom—

The many human cultivators watching the battle all felt an overwhelming surge of wind‑like vigor, and many changed complexion.

The Divine Tribulation War?

Everyone looked at the Underworld Bull Demon; Lu Taibai, Fang Hanshu and others showed a hint of astonishment— the Underworld Bull Demon… actually dared to confront the Divine Tribulation!

Lu Taibai and his companions knew the Underworld Bull Demon's background; this bull demon had been growing, and now had risen to a level bold enough to clash with a demon god.

"Master Bull! Keep it up!"

Xixi was so excited that her whole body trembled, her little flesh quivering at an extremely high frequency!

Only Yun E and Zhou Peng wore strange expressions, yet their eyes were filled with confidence.

The admiration in Yun E's eyes flowed like the endless waters of the Milky Way.

No one expected that before Qitian Cheng, the demon race's rule would face such a massive shock.

Yet many felt a slight stir, because for them it was good news.

Since the three top‑level demon kings under the Heaven Crane Demon God were killed, other demon gods sending their top demon kings would not truly bring powerful demon kings to the summit.

Thus, the Heaven Crane Demon God's sect would become a missing link, easily becoming an entry point to the city.

Mo City Fengdu.

Li Che wore a cute cow mask, slowly stretched his body, his muscles and bones grinding with a crackle, and gradually golden Qi and blood seeped from his body.

"My Martial Immortal Golden Body has reached 11%; I have entered the Martial Saint Fourth Opening realm, and my Qi and blood are fully stable… perhaps I can try to open the Heaven Gate."

Martial Saint Fourth Opening, open the Heaven Gate!

It has two stages: one where the Heaven Gate is unopened, and one where it is opened.

A standard for the ultimate pinnacle is opening the Heaven Gate!

Yet Li Che has not yet opened the Heaven Gate, and he does not know how his Heaven Gate will differ from the normal Heaven Gate cultivated by divine martial saints.

Indeed, Li Che felt a bit of anticipation.

His gaze shifted to the soaring Heaven Crane Demon God.

Within the bounds of Qitian Cheng, strange mist churned, and under the second calamity, Divine Tribulation cultivators could act with full force.

So Li Che wanted to see whether this Heaven Crane Demon God's value could be completely drained.

Give him some pressure, make him open his martial Heaven Gate!

The sound of bones grinding was like thunder exploding.

Under the gaze of all, the Bull Demon moved.

With a single step, rolling golden Qi and blood surged like an ocean!

Boom—

Air within several hundred zhang trembled violently, a terrifying force burst forth!

The earth shook, mountains cracked!

The Bull Demon launched from above Mo City Fengdu, as if leaping forward in the void, fists clenched, suddenly punching.

Boom—

The rolling airflow exploded in a wail; on the Bull Demon's massive muscles, golden light interwove like patterns, instantly tearing the raging storm‑qi flow!

The punch spanned several hundred zhang, sounding like a dragon‑elephant's roar!

Dragon Elephant Fusion!

It was as if an extremely brilliant blazing sun rose from behind the Bull Demon, dazzling and melting all specters and demons!

The crane robe on the Heaven Crane Demon God clung tightly, countless hairs hanging upside down.

"Martial God?"

Such aura!

Such Qi and blood!

On the Heaven Crane Demon God's face, crane‑shaped eyebrows flickered like swords, his spirit trembling slightly: "What a magnificent Qi and blood, golden Qi and blood… pure martial!"

"Such a mortal body, even a demon god cannot compare!"

The Heaven Crane Demon God grew solemn, his spirit stirred, and the two crane swords instantly rose, humming with a bright, soaring crane cry!

Then, the two black‑and‑white crane swords vibrated, soaring through the void!

Sword Qi sprang forth, cutting the void into cracks, splitting the ground, piercing the soil; beneath Qitian Cheng, the mist‑shrouded area for several li was as if enveloped by sword Qi!

A terrifying calamitous force surged, merging into the sword qi.

The thick eerie mist hissed and rose up!

The Heavenly Crane Demon God also exercised restraint, not daring to exceed the range of the eerie mist enveloping Qitian Cheng; if it did, it would invite the wrath of heaven and earth.

Clang clang clang clang——!!!

Sword cries exploded one after another; the dragon-elephant fist aura swept across and smashed in, colliding with the sword light, the black-and-white crane swords intertwined like a tide, the clanging sounds rang out endlessly!

In an instant, the Ox Demon and the Heavenly Crane Demon God had already closed in.

The Ox Demon's five fingers twitched and clenched, like divine spears emitting a piercing sonic boom; however, the Heavenly Crane Demon God's eyes were utterly cold.

He faintly sensed something was off, for he had never felt any calamitous force from the Ox Demon.

This is not right!

Could this Ox Demon before me not be a War God?

No matter what, just kill it!

The Heavenly Crane Demon God's left arm trembled slightly; instantly the crane sword shot forth, stabbing straight at the brow beneath the Ox Demon's mask.

With this sword, myriad demonic energies and the lich's calamitous force converged into the sword qi; the sword qi unified, hidden yet unreleased, and the sword light spread like a crane unfurling its wings, elusive and hard to grasp when unleashed!

In an instant, it touched the brow upon the Ox Demon's mask.

Boom——

The dragon-elephant cauldron crashed down with a boom, and in an instant was cleaved apart by the Heavenly Crane Demon God.

"Ox Demon…… that's all."

The Heavenly Crane Demon God felt confident; this Ox Demon…… was not as strong as imagined.

The calamitous force remained hidden; though his qi and blood were mighty, they were not strong enough to overwhelm and crush him.

Even, he could feel the Ox Demon enduring immense pressure under his demon god's might.

A strange smile welled up in the Heavenly Crane Demon God's eyes, and in the next moment it turned into unparalleled greed.

Such a pure and powerful fleshly body, if it could be devoured as blood food, would be far stronger than devouring the common folk of several cities!

Beneath the Ox Demon's mask.

Li Che's body rang with incessant clanging, the immense pressure brought by the demon god's oppression.

Because Li Che had detonated only seven divine seeds, the eighth wondrous immortal seed remained undetonated, and what Li Che wanted was precisely this sense of oppression.

His bones and sinews trembled!

The powerful flesh trembled; instantly the flesh torn by the crane sword's qi healed swiftly, whole and unblemished, flashing with golden light!

The dragon-elephant furnace struck again; myriad transformations of dragon-elephant, a single fist pushing sideways, a divine true martial fist, driven by pure martial qi and blood, overwhelming and peerless!

However, the Heavenly Crane Demon God showed no fear, dual swords intertwining, sword qi raging.

Boom——

Sword qi slaughtered like a surging tide!

Even the void was sliced with countless rifts; breaking through space, for a Divine Tribulation realm expert, is no difficult feat!

Sword qi clanged down in a shower, instantly enveloping the Ox Demon.

The Ox Demon continually threw punches, its golden qi and blood like a terrifying surge rising from the ocean.

Yet it was continually suppressed by the sword qi.

Among the watching crowd, many felt both surprised and unsurprised at this sight.

"The growth of the Netherworld Ox Demon has already been swift, but alas…… his opponent is ultimately a Divine Tribulation-level demon god!"

On Qitian Cheng, many demons who had leapt onto the city walls burst into cheers.

After three consecutive defeats, even three demon kings had fallen; for many demons, this was a blow to morale.

And now, the time to turn the tide has finally arrived.

Rumble——

That black ox demon god, whose myriad demonic energies piled up, hovering above Qitian Cheng, had its eyes slightly narrowed.

In the depths of its eyes, a faint tremor, even a hint of astonishment.

A thought that even a being of his stature could scarcely imagine welled up in his heart.

This Ox Demon……

Was he using the Heavenly Crane Demon God to temper himself?!

Boom——!!!

Sword qi clanged down, countless golden qi and blood exploded.

The Ox Demon's black robes had long been shredded, revealing a terrifying golden‑cast fleshly body; the Martial Immortal golden body manifested between heaven and earth at this moment.

Nine great tendons were like nine golden dragons clinging to his spine.

His spine quivered, like a divine dragon roaring at the heavens!

Li Che's golden hair flew wildly; beneath the Ox Demon's mask, his eyes seemed to burst with golden lightning!

"Hahahaha——"

"Exhilarating!"

Beneath the Ox Demon's mask, the voice exploded like a tide!

The next moment.

Within the Ox Demon's dragon-elephant cauldron behind it, the eighth Grand Sun rose upward!

As if the eight blazing suns were smelted together in a furnace, merging myriad martial arts into one!

Myriad Transformations Dragon-Elephant, Blood Crocodile Heaven-Splitting Palm, Ten-Foot Demon Python Spear, Weeping Blood Divine Phoenix Life‑Death Arrow, Six Desires Slay Evil Pure Yang Sword……

One after another, Divine True Martial arts were smelted into one.

Buzz—!!!

Pure golden Qi surged upward, like a massive golden Azure Dragon, a pillar soaring to the heavens!

Such Qi seemed to stir the very will of heaven and earth into restless agitation.

The overwhelming celestial aura transformed into endless mist, roiling around the golden Azure Dragon.

Heavenly Crane Demon's twin swords clanged, and its expression darkened slightly.

But then.

Behind the Underworld Niu Mo, an immense golden portal abruptly spanned across!

Niu Mo's back was triangular, its massive tendon like a wild dragon; terrifying power slammed fiercely onto that colossal portal…

Creak—

The portal opened a fissure, as if scorching golden Qi poured over the world, burning heaven and earth.

Faintly, beyond that immense, sky‑blocking portal, a vague golden immortal seemed to sit beyond the Heavenly Gate.

Golden Qi swirled like mist, a hazy veil.

Martial Saint Golden Heavenly Gate…

Open!

It seemed as if opening the Heavenly Gate revealed the true immortal of the martial path!

The crane robe on the Heavenly Crane Demon clung tightly to its body.

Its two crane swords clanged tremblingly.

Even the power of calamities seemed suppressed, unable to shine.

It gazed at the pure golden portal spanning heaven and earth…

For a moment, it felt bewildered.

This is…

Martial Path Heavenly Gate?

(End of chapter)