Chapter 482: Reborn Defiant Third Prince, Fierce and Unruly, Slaughters All Gods; a Mortal Ascends to Immortality [Seeking Votes]
The thunder vanished, and everything became exceedingly quiet.
Moonlight fell like water, no longer golden, its hue faded, pouring down from the blue sky, restoring a clear brightness to the world.
The heavenly tribulation that interwove like the aurora disappeared; it was the true tribulation, more terrifying than the three calamities and nine tribulations. Even a being such as the Underworld Ghost Emperor, whose body possessed the utmost strength of a martial immortal, was nearly blown apart by the thunder.
But the Underworld Ghost Emperor was not ultimately blown apart; he survived the terrifying tribulation thunder that rivaled the third calamity.
The Grand Canal, this section, was completely dried up.
The riverbed beneath, stripped of evaporated water stains, was exposed; many swimming fish and creatures had long been subdued by heavenly might and fled the area in frenzy, leaving only a purely clean riverbed.
The purple flames atop the Underworld Ghost Emperor reignited, and his golden skeleton grew even more dazzling, as if ancient golden patterns coursed between the bones.
The charred black began to peel away, revealing flesh that had healed and now contained within it five thousand li of the essence of heaven and earth; the body was crystal‑clear, with golden blood roaring through the meridians like a cascading waterfall.
Everyone's gazes converged, breaths rapid, unable to stay calm, each heart trembling with shock.
Did we succeed?
It seems… we did!
Because the heavenly tribulation above the night sky dissipated, no longer gathering the will of heaven and earth nor raining down punishment, it seemed to merge into this very world.
All eyes turned to the Underworld Ghost Emperor; the purple flames twisted and burned, as if covering a mask, obscuring his features and preventing anyone from discerning his true identity.
Who is the Underworld Ghost Emperor?
Such a being, who strides above the martial path with a demonic bearing, in this era where the martial way is plagued by divinity and cannot achieve Dao and become immortal…
Who could be the true identity of the martial Dao's Heaven's Pride who has attained the martial immortal path?
It is absolutely impossible for them to be nameless!
Everyone began a brainstorming, pondering the specific identity of the Underworld Ghost Emperor; they once didn't care, but now they must.
Because the Underworld Ghost Emperor has attained the martial immortal path!
A martial immortal, though just newly broken through, exists at the same level as a great tribulation of one disaster and one divine tribulation!
But one thing differs: in combat power, a martial immortal absolutely crushes a divine tribulation's great cultivation!
Because the martial immortal's flesh is so powerful that it can ignore divine tribulation secret arts; even a second disaster divine tribulation would not frighten a martial immortal a bit!
Such a being already stands at the pinnacle among mortals, able to have a name known to the world!
Yet no one knows who the Underworld Ghost Emperor is; they scour their minds, make countless guesses, but cannot produce a fitting title that matches him.
Mainly because it is too rare: spanning five thousand years forward and back, seizing five thousand years of mortal martial luck, only then can one become a peerless martial immortal!
It is simply shocking to hear!
A continuous rustling sound echoed endlessly, and around Qitian Cheng countless people gathered, watching a martial Dao Heaven's Pride clash with the martial immortal realm, challenging the martial Dao ceiling of this era. At this moment, their faces flushed crimson, their blood no longer calm, emotions hard to restrain, they chatted with each other.
Monument of the Martial Path!
The Underworld Ghost Emperor now stands as the monument of the mortal martial path!
With pure martial Dao, untainted by any divinity, breaking through to the martial immortal realm—also the divine tribulation realm... this is an almost unparalleled existence!
To resist the lure of divinity, what a ruthless being!
But…
Everyone couldn't help but lift their heads, looking over, their faces involuntarily showing a stunned expression.
"No... not right..."
"It seems the Underworld Ghost Emperor is on guard... could the heavenly tribulation not be over yet?!"
"That's not right, the heavenly tribulation has already dispersed, no threat from heaven and earth's will... what is he guarding?"
……
Many with keen perception had expected the breakthrough Underworld Ghost Emperor to burst with joy, yet he did not, and several even sensed his guard.
Sect Leader Shi Jian of the Zhenwu Divine Sect and the ancient ancestor Shi Yuan also wore solemn and sorrowful expressions.
"Could there still be unresolved tribulations? Even the Underworld Ghost Emperor has reached this, yet the martial immortal realm... is it truly so hard to step into?"
Shi Yuan, the ancient ancestor of the Zhenwu Divine Sect, looked up and sighed deeply, tears streaming in a sorrowful manner.
The martial path... could it be that the road ahead is unseen, an endless darkness?
……
……
Li Che stood still, the charred black receded, his whole being restored, his vital energy drawn back into his body, flesh reshaped, his condition unprecedentedly fine.
Primarily, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao fruit in his chest also endured the tribulation's baptism alongside him.
His spirit also gained considerable enhancement and transformation!
But Li Che did not relax; tribulation fire still coiled above his head, the golden skeleton reflected, and in his eyes, flowing flames still flickered.
The space between his eyebrows split, a star‑plucking pupil appeared, a vertical eye shining in all directions!
The celestial board also howled to life, spiraling in the high sky, seeking the unsettling feeling that came from an unknown source!
Those fine threads, like a poisonous snake lurking in darkness, evoked a terrifying sense of crisis, leaving Li Che no time to savor the joy of just breaking through to the martial Dao immortal.
However, after looking around and finding nothing, Li Che's mind also grew hazy, wondering if his perception was wrong.
Perhaps he encountered an unprecedented great tribulation, the tribulation thunder leaving his nerves in disarray?
This martial immortal tribulation disaster truly is the greatest crisis Li Che has faced since he began cultivation.
An unprecedented crisis!
His flesh was split open with several transparent holes, his body nearly cracking, almost blown apart on the spot; the martial immortal's golden body nearly reached its ultimate.
Primarily, the various factions were too vile; even the emperor of the Dàjǐng court personally intervened, forcing a divine tribulation cultivator to sacrifice his life, directly triggering his own disaster, thereby entangling the martial immortal's tribulation power and dramatically amplifying the threat and intensity.
Fortunately, his flesh was strong enough, and with the Thunder Magnetic Track Body Dao fruit ravenously absorbing the tribulation thunder's power, he safely passed through this tribulation.
But Li Che was also on the brink of death; in the abyss, as if by a single strand of primordial withered‑and‑blooming branch's power, the cycle of life and death turned, and he revived.
Li Che stood still; upon his powerful flesh, his sinews were like coiling dragons, his whole body taut, daring not to relax a bit, because the threat lingered like a shadow, like a maggot on the heel bone, unsettling him.
"Martial Dao Immortal… the immortal path that emerges from the martial way; if this path is taken as an immortal way, its ceiling seems higher than the divine path that exists between heaven and earth today."
"Martial Dao Immortal, beyond the Human Immortal there are other immortal realms; perhaps in the future one can become a Celestial Immortal, leap beyond heaven and earth, and be unbound!"
Li Che's eyes flickered.
At the instant he completed the breakthrough leap, a sound like a great bell rang in his mind, making him understand the level of his own martial realm.
Moreover, Li Che sensed something else.
That is, after attaining the path of a Martial Dao Immortal, although heaven and earth still exert repelling forces, Li Che, while walking among mortals, does not seem to have the threat of the three calamities and nine tribulations that hang over the head in the Divine Tribulation realm.
He can freely exert his martial arts at full strength among mortals, unleashing power.
Li Che was rather pleased; perhaps this is the peculiarity of a Martial Dao Immortal?
Or perhaps pure martial way is the original Dao of the mortal world?
Thinking so, it does make sense; divinity… originally emerged when Guiyi Miao broke out of Qiu Que, infected the world, brought divinity, and formed the cultivation system.
And before that, the martial way was the foundation!
Boom—boom—boom—
Suddenly.
Li Che heard the resonant sound of an ancient bell.
He thrust his head upward, looking toward Qitian Cheng; within the city lay the source of the ancient bell's ringing.
"Qitian Inner City?"
Li Che knit his brows.
Then he saw the sky above Qitian Cheng turning surreal, countless turbulence intertwining, as if massive cracks of immense breadth were interweaving and appearing.
An overwhelmingly strong crisis made not only Li Che's hair stand on end, but every cultivator present felt boundless terror and dread, their hearts swelling with massive fear!
Li Che clenched his five fingers; his golden flesh glowed, golden qi and blood swirled like misty ribbons, a Golden Heavenly Gate spanned above his head, the Martial Immortal Dao essence fused perfectly with his body, granting a massive boost to his power!
Yet, at this moment, the empowered Li Che felt terror.
As if the end of heaven and earth were arriving, a thought of all hopes turning to ash flooded him.
This crisis… is rushing toward him!
Li Che tightened his grip, and a three‑pointed double‑edged knife instantly fell into his hand, golden qi and blood bursting upward to the sky.
Countless strongmen who had rushed from across the world to witness the ceremony turned pale with shock.
Even strongmen from the Western Buddhist Lands, Witch‑God Mountain, and Dàjǐng Court, among others, showed astonished expressions—were there other forces seeking to sabotage the Underworld Ghost Emperor's breakthrough?
To prevent the Underworld from birthing a Martial Immortal, to climb another rung?
Then why not strike earlier?
The Underworld Ghost Emperor has now crossed the tribulation, achieved perfect fusion of Martial Immortal Dao essence with his body, and stepped into the true Martial Immortal Realm!
"What is this?"
Yet everyone's hearts were still shaken.
They also noticed the changes in Qitian Cheng; the walls of Qitian Inner City rose high, but at this moment they could not shield anything.
Endless strange mist intertwined and churned endlessly; when they looked, it seemed as if a piece of land floated out of the boundless hazy fog, and upon that land, countless strands of strange mist swirled…
It was as if another world within Qitian Inner City was slowly approaching!
The void shook violently, the concentration of divinity seemed to surge by thousands of folds at this moment, boiling like water on a hot pan!
Hoo—hoo—hoo—hoo—
It felt as if a gust of wind passed, uplifting everyone's spirits, and the density of divinity between heaven and earth instantly multiplied countless times.
Whirl—whirl—
The dense divinity turned into a tangible liquid, droplets spattering down with crackling sounds, like a torrential rain of divinity!
These countless swirling torrents of divinity rained down rapidly toward the newly breakthrough Underworld Ghost Emperor, enveloping him overhead.
The divinity seemed to revive in an instant, gaining consciousness, like a deity shaking its body, shaking divinity loose, turning it into a sentient will that surged toward the newly risen Martial Immortal to corrupt him!
It intends to parasitize his body, turning his Martial Immortal form into a perfect Martial God body!
"It's Qiu Que… this is a tribulation born within Qiu Que!"
Li Che's hair stood on end.
At this moment, the entire Qitian Cheng seemed shrouded in an immense divine might; the void trembled, almost collapsing, and many warriors trembled all over, struggling to breathe.
Numerous hidden realms rose and fell, with strongmen casting incomprehensible gazes from within.
Whether from the Western Buddhist Lands, Witch‑God Mountain, Dàjǐng Court, or the great sects hidden in minor hidden realms—supreme invincible strongmen unable to set foot in the mortal world—all were alarmed by it!
"Earth Qiu Que!"
"A projection of a corner of Earth Qiu Que?!"
In a minor hidden realm untouched by the Great Sage of Qitian with his Golden Hoop Staff, a phantom emerged, a powerful aura rose and fell, hovering above, casting a scorching, wary gaze toward the projection reflected from Qitian Inner City, which resembled an island drifting over a vast sea.
Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Qiu Que Land!
The mysterious land within Qiu Que!
Legend says there is a place where truly living immortal deities slumber!
Such a mysterious place, at this moment, reflected a corner!
What is this for?
Because the Underworld Ghost Emperor's breakthrough into a Martial Immortal startled a corner of Earth Qiu Que, causing a projection to appear?
Is an immortal deity on the other side of Earth Qiu Que descending its will to personally suppress it?
Not allowing a Martial Immortal to be born in the mortal world?!
Everyone was horrified, their bodies trembling continuously.
The True Martial God Sect rushed over, its warriors who cultivated True Martial let out resentful, mournful cries!
Indeed—indeed!
Back then, I, the founding patriarch of the True Martial God Sect, failed to break through to Martial Immortal, was struck by an Immortal deity within the Mysterious Abyss, and fell into utter despair!
Now, again, in the deepest part of the Mysterious Abyss, the Immortal deity of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths within the Abyss, intends to meddle in the mortal world on Heaven's behalf?!
The ancient ancestor, blood and tears streaming, let out a long howl, his whole body's blood trembling, surged into the clouds, the pale golden blood turning into a blazing golden dragon pillar!
His aged beard and hair fluttered, yet his flesh was filled with terrifying power like steel‑reinforced bones!
Boom—
It seemed his defiant stance toward the Immortal deity was detected; terrifying divinity gathered above his head, extinguished his blazing blood, and forcefully slammed him down to the ground!
Snicker—
His hot blood was doused, spewing thick smoke.
The ancient ancestor of the True Martial God Sect fell to his knees, full of resentment, grinding his teeth.
Boom—
The massive divinity seemed to turn into an extremely dense cloud mass, sweeping toward the Underworld Ghost Emperor; the divinity intertwined like a wandering serpent, occasionally slithering out from the cloud. Purple fire blazed atop Li Che's head, and his eyes burst with gold.
His whole body's sinews trembled, within his chest the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit quivered violently, filled with an intense yearning for battle!
The divine cloud layer covered thousands of miles, pressing over the firmament, so dense it poured heavy rain.
Li Che's gaze was cold and desolate, his five fingers clenched, the Three‑pointed Double‑edged Blade flashing across, held in his hand, his black shirt stained with blood, behind him the Dragon Elephant furnace rose, seven vast suns surged skyward!
His entire being ignited, turning into a ball of golden flame!
"The will of Heaven and Earth has approved me, you deity of the Mysterious Abyss… a half‑hearted trick, trying to corrupt me, assimilate me? You refuse the birth of a Martial Immortal in the mortal world? Then I will become the world's… sole Martial Immortal!"
Terrifying divine might surged in a grand wave, the will of Heaven and Earth reacted instantly, yet took no further action.
Li Che looked up and saw that within the thousand‑mile span of Qitian Cheng, countless Mysterious Abysses rose like bamboo shoots after rain!
Mysterious fog churned, the tiles of the Guiyi Miao flickered in the swirling mist, appearing and disappearing, with Mysterious Abyss territories extending beyond, spanning across the earth!
Then, the massive divinity turned into a pillar of light, soaring into the clouds, making the divine cloud layer even denser!
Boom!
Divinity rose like a tide, striking fiercely at the golden‑aura‑radiant Li Che!
Scattered divinity floating in the air, maddened, rushed at Li Che's body at speed, trying to pierce his pores.
To transform this newly risen Martial Immortal into Divine Martial!
All major forces let out a sigh of relief; if a Martial Immortal appeared in the mortal world, it would be hard to handle, especially for the Underworld side, stationed at the Prison Lotus camp, making matters difficult and causing all parties to be wary.
!. Read
Because the Martial Immortal has passed the terrifying tribulation, gaining Heaven and Earth's certification, he can walk and act in the mortal world; for many forces' divine calamities, this is a dimensional‑reduction strike.
Now, within a projection of a corner of the Earth Mysterious Abyss, an Earth Mysterious Abyss deity intervenes, aiming to transform the Martial Immortal.
Couldn't help but feel schadenfreude.
The Underworld, too, has its day!
Being punished, huh?!
…
…
Qitian Cheng Nei Cheng, atop the city wall.
Xixi's little face's flesh trembled nonstop; she turned her head in disbelief, her big eyes filled with sheer terror.
The soft Hunyuan Silk draped on her seemed to come alive, standing rigid as if facing a great enemy, like a divine spear pointing toward the suffocating projection of a corner of the Earth Mysterious Abyss behind her!
"Boss!"
"What is this thing?!"
Xixi shouted.
The boss held Xixi's hand, also turned to look back, his white clothes brighter than snow, fluttering wildly.
Gou Ye squinted his dog eyes, a hint of disdain flashing within.
He snorted once, but made no further move.
"Immortal deity."
The boss said softly.
Xixi inhaled deeply: "Looks quite powerful."
The boss held an unlit cigarette between his lips, the cigarette bobbing up and down, his words drifting lightly: "Stir‑frying it is good, braising works too, raw marinating might be a bit fishy…"
Xixi: "Ah…?"
Although the boss said that, a trace of worry still appeared on Xixi's face.
"Can the Ghost Emperor withstand it? After such effort to become a Martial Immortal, must it become Divine Martial?"
Xixi asked.
"Don't worry, if the sky collapses, a tall one will hold it up."
The boss replied indifferently.
The next moment, holding Xixi and with Gou Ye, they vanished directly onto the tower of Qitian Cheng Nei Cheng.
They reappeared, back in a restaurant bathed in dim orange light.
…
…
In the void, a delicate pagoda floated.
The Grand Overseer rode a black turtle, slowly casting his gaze.
Beside the Grand Overseer stood a graceful figure in a Dao robe, none other than Fang Shangzhen.
"Grand Inspector, shall we act?"
Fang Shangzhen couldn't help but ask.
This is a rare mortal-world appearance of a martial immortal, who has endured the terrifying Heaven-and-Earth Will tribulation and received Heaven-and-Earth certification; must he now be corrupted by the divine beings within the Di Gui Que?
The Grand Inspector's visage was shrouded in divinity and Dao essence, his eyes unfathomably deep.
He merely shook his head lightly.
He gave no reply to Fang Shangzhen, only gazed calmly.
The Difu Ghost Emperor, having survived the martial immortal tribulation and being the sole martial immortal to achieve Dao certification in five thousand years, indeed surprised him.
However, he knew the methods of the Difu.
The Difu Ghost Emperor still held a trump card; if he were to leave, even a fragment of the immortal divine being within the Di Gui Que could not suppress him.
As for him,
now is not yet the time to act.
……
……
Li Che truly could depart.
Divine clouds descended, and one bizarre temple after another appeared simultaneously around Qitian Cheng, causing the divinity within Qitian Cheng's area to surge manyfold!
The divinity seemed to turn into a torrent of red rain.
Countless people fell silent, and some powerful martial saints sighed deeply; indeed, the path of a martial immortal was impassable.
Even after surviving the dreadful martial immortal tribulation, immortal divine beings in the Di Gui Que still awaited.
The immortal divine beings of the Di Gui Que refuse to let a martial immortal be born in the mortal world; they intend to intervene, transform and crush, leaving humanity in despair.
Those are the divine beings within the Di Gui Que, perched high in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Di Gui Que, an unimaginable existence!
Li Che stood still, his entire body's golden blood burning like fire, his gaze fixed on the corner of the Di Gui Que reflected within the Qitian Nei Cheng's Di Gui Que, staring intently.
Yet his spirit already surged, desiring to retreat into Mo City and Fengdu, to cut off Heaven and Earth.
However, such a retreat would indeed break through the deluge of divinity and avoid its contamination, but it would also forfeit the chance to gain certification of connecting with Heaven-and-Earth Will after surpassing the martial immortal, losing the qualification to walk the mortal world unthreatened by Heaven-and-Earth Will.
Boom—!!!
Suddenly.
A not-very-massive figure stepped in front of Li Che.
Purple‑gold Phoenix Feather Crown, Golden Armor, Gathering Immortal Yellow Banner, Cloud‑walking Holy Boots!
He bore a Ruyi Golden Cudgel, his monkey hair rustling in the wind, and in his mouth he held a rolled cigarette that Li Che knew all too well.
Boom—
It was the Qitian Old Monkey, who, after slaying a strong opponent in the Small Heavenly Cave, rushed out at speed.
The Old Monkey said nothing, merely holding the Ruyi Golden Cudgel horizontally before him.
He turned his head and gave Li Che a glance.
"Young brother, the path of a martial immortal in today's world goes against Heaven… it is forbidden by the gods; whether revived divine beings or the immortal deities of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, none will permit a flawless, untainted martial immortal to appear. They intend to cut this road off completely."
"Moreover, they fear even more that this martial immortal appears within the Prison Lotus camp…"
"That is absolutely intolerable to them."
Qi Dao.
"Young brother… may you agree to a favor for me, Lao Sun?"
Li Che's golden qi-blood blazed like fire, his hand gripping the Three‑pointed Double‑edged Knife at an angle: "Senior, please speak."
"Protect the little girl well, keep her happy forever; don't repeat the same mistakes, that would be too bitter, too cruel for a little girl…"
"All the gods fear her, so they refuse her revival and return; in this life, the little girl may perhaps live in another way."
The Old Monkey lifted the Golden Staff, laughing as he spoke.
Li Che's spirit trembled, knowing that the Qitian was Xixi.
"Then… find a chance to revive that irritable Third Prince; if that fellow revives, it will trouble the gods for a while."
"That irritable Third Prince is far more ruthless than Lao Sun, truly rebellious."
The Old Monkey seemed to be entrusting him.
Li Che heard this and said, "Senior…"
"Don't worry, Lao Sun won't die easily."
"However, it's still too early; the Prison Lotus still needs time to bloom."
"Originally, Lao Sun also intended to charge toward the Di Gui Que, to meet those self‑proclaimed immortal yet death‑fearful divine beings, to buy some time."
"Didn't expect them to jump out themselves, unable to hold back…"
The Old Monkey sneered.
"Lao Sun cannot stand oppression; the more they oppress, the more uncomfortable Lao Sun feels…"
The Old Monkey's spine slowly straightened, his body suddenly rose and expanded, becoming upright and divine‑handsome; his monkey hair blazed like fire, his eyes crimson, and he grasped the Ruyi Golden Cudgel emitting endless divine light.
"Young brother, agree to Lao Sun's request."
"If the chance arises, fight side by side with Lao Sun again, slaughter the gods of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths! Let them know…"
"Mortal world still has immortals!"
Boom—!!!
The words finished.
Transforming into the divine‑handsome monkey Qitian, he took a step, countless clouds piled under his feet, his five fingers splayed, and behind his head—
—to his surprise, a huge handful of monkey hair was brushed out.
In a single breath of wind, countless monkey hairs instantly swirled in the void, transforming into myriad figures clad in golden armor, wielding Ruyi golden hoop staffs, and wearing phoenix‑feathered purple‑gold crowns.
Boom—
One staff points to the heavens, and countless Ruyi golden hoop staffs also point skyward.
The divine clouds that filled the sky surged entirely into the body of the Qitian Divine Monkey.
The divinity that sought to corrupt Li Che's martial immortal golden body was completely eradicated.
The divinity that originally aimed to infect Li Che was unceremoniously seized in total by the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, swallowed cleanly, and even let out a belch; countless belches rang out like thunder across heaven and earth.
"Hahaha—"
"No matter what scheme the gods have set, I, Old Sun, this whole life fear no battle; I must fight! Fight! Victory!"
"After all, I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven!"
Boom—!!!
Countless Qitian long howls, a single somersault, staff shadows intertwine, resembling billions of rays of light slashing through the star river, tearing the sky above Qitian Cheng like a meteor shower, striking a corner projection of the mysterious palace.
"Old Sun, I'm off!"
(End of chapter)
End of Chapter
