Chapter 617: Myriad Dragons

Three distant sighs, carrying endless sorrow, came as if from a faraway time and space.

As if crossing time and space, it came from all directions of the Endless Sea, bursting forth from the deep layers of each drop of seawater.

Dragon corpses floated up one after another, dragon blood continuously dripped down, striking the sea surface and bursting into a mist of blood.

Countless dragon corpses drifted, among them even three corpses of immortal god‑dragon level!

The scene at this moment brought an intense impact and shock.

Li Che's eyes narrowed slightly; the will of the Martial Immortal sensed an extremely terrifying threat, for a dreadful pressure had already descended, as if permeating time and space, about to engulf everything.

That was the power of the Heavenly Immortal level!

Boom—

The seawater exploded, blood‑colored water formed a vortex, constantly swirling and churning the entire Endless Sea.

Li Che gripped the three‑pronged two‑edged blade, his expression grim; the flesh between his eyebrows split open, he unleashed the Star‑Plucking Pupil, instantly seeing through all falsehood and gazing upon reality.

Within the blood‑colored vortex, a mighty dragon shadow coalesced from the vast expanse, the clatter of chains rang in the ears, bringing a terrifying, overwhelming deathly aura.

Exactly…… it's deathly aura!

Li Che's heart trembled slightly; his Star‑Plucking Pupil was nearly driven to the extreme, staring at the vortex formed by converging dragon blood, he saw within it a tall, slender figure, extraordinarily strange and ferocious, with arms impossibly long, and behind it countless black shadows spread and intertwined into wings.

Standing deep within the blood‑colored vortex, as if at the exact center of the vortex's rotating hollow eye.

Who is that?

Like the embodiment of death, symbolizing the end of life, a ruler about to freeze all vitality!

Li Che's eyes flashed with light, his expression grew extremely grave.

Earth‑shaking divine might surged from within the blood‑colored vortex, as if endless battle cries echoed, like a terrifying war erupting at the vortex's far end.

And along the edge of the blood‑colored vortex, within the rolling walls of blood‑colored seawater, a terrifying dragon shadow seemed to coil.

In the distance.

Qi Tian and the Third Prince also halted their assault on the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, while the God‑Slaying Immortal and God‑Slaughtering Immortal's clash paused temporarily.

Everyone's gazes turned toward the blood‑colored vortex in the seawater.

"This is……"

"The aura of the Netherworld?!"

The God‑Slaughtering Immortal and the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's expressions suddenly changed, becoming extremely grim.

The two exchanged a glance, as if both sensed something, their hearts churning like stormy waves.

"Not good! We've been schemed by the Ancestral Dragon Lineage!"

The two immortals of the Dark Heavenly Court roared aloud at this moment!

"How ruthless!"

"No wonder…… no wonder the Immortal Dragon Emperor has never appeared!"

The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's scalp went numb; at this moment she was covered in wounds, her jade‑white skin bruised black and blue, with torn wounds oozing agate‑like blood beads.

But at this moment she had no time to worry about her own condition.

Her heart pounded, yet she secretly felt glad, for the murkier the water grew, the greater her chance to escape successfully.

"The Ancestral Dragon Lineage…… has colluded with the Netherworld?"

The God‑Slaughtering Immortal's heart pounded; the sword qi bursting from his whole body, at this moment, seemed to slightly stagnate and stiffen.

"Never mind whether they've colluded with the Netherworld; we seize this chance to break through and leave!"

The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden sent a mental transmission to the God‑Slaughtering Immortal, saying:

"If we don't flee now, later it will be hard to escape."

The two of them had been sold out by the immortals of the Black Sumeru and the Ghost Demon Cave; if they don't flee now, they may never escape!

The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden let out a long cry; nine divine lights turned into a silken sash, dancing wildly around her, then the lights receded, as if becoming nine divine swords piercing the void, continually rolling, carving out a vacuum around her.

"Slaughter God! Go!"

The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden transmitted mentally, shouting:

Boom——!!!

The terrifying blast caused the void above the Endless Sea to continually crack.

The God‑Slaughtering Immortal received the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's mental transmission, but he gave a wry smile and shook his head, as if retreating were that easy.

Qi Tian, the Third Prince, plus the Immortal Bird Emperor and the God‑Slaying Immortal…… what a formidable lineup.

Do they really think they can escape unscathed?

How could it be that easy?

The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden…… still just wishful thinking; in fact, among the myriad things in heaven and earth, there aren't that many assumptions that hold true.

Although the dragon‑blood vortex pierced and connected to the Netherworld……

But that was ultimately the Ancestral Dragon Lineage's scheme, not the Dark Heavenly Court's; the gods of the Hell Lotus Faction could ignore this vortex for now and deal with them before the vortex brings great calamity.

The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden is a top‑tier existence of the Dark Heavenly Court, the daughter of the Immortal God Emperor, and a truly qualified heavenly pride capable of becoming a Heavenly Immortal.

Given such an existence, if the Hell Lotus Faction has a chance to kill the opponent, why would they not act?

"You go."

The God‑Slaughtering Immortal spoke in a low voice, gripping the God‑Slaughtering Sword; his divinity and origin began to boil incessantly, then surged rapidly into his body.

As if being swiftly devoured by some terrifying entity, feeding a great horror lying in wait!

The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's body shuddered violently; a hundred feelings surged in her eyes, her emotions roiled.

"Hurry up and go; if you don't leave now, it'll be too late."

The God‑Slaughtering Immortal spoke in a low voice, holding the God‑Slaughtering Sword at a slant; his body trembled, his membranes seemed to disintegrate into countless fine particles that scattered into the void.

The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden knew very well what the situation really was.

Slaughter God Immortal intends to use his own immortal origin and divinity to nourish the Heaven‑Traversing God Emperor's sword intent hidden within the Slaughter God Sword!

Let the Slaughter God Sword take command of this battle!

"You……"

Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden never expected Slaughter God Immortal would sacrifice himself to cover her retreat.

In the present situation, once one chooses to cover the retreat, it is certain death with no chance of survival!

Slaughter God Immortal is not even a top‑tier existence among Earth Immortals; his own strength struggles against Extermination God Immortal, let alone the present situation where Qi Tian and the Third Prince, two beings capable of clashing with Heaven Immortals without dying, are present.

Slaughter God Immortal……will surely die!

Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden's eyes were filled with ruthlessness and anger as she swept her gaze over Qi Tian, the Third Prince, Li Che, and the other gods of the Prison Lotus camp.

In the next instant, her body lunged backward, shattering the void and blasting open a spatial passage that stretched out as she departed.

"Want to leave?"

Qi Tian narrowed his eyes, and the Ruyi Jinguang Staff swept out fiercely.

However, Slaughter God Immortal instantly transformed into a sword light, letting out a long roar, and bodily blocked the Ruyi Jinguang Staff.

With a bang, countless blood mist exploded; the particles emanating from Slaughter God Immortal began to disperse at an accelerating rate, yet the faster they dispersed, the more congealed and terrifying the sword intent on his body became.

Fresh blood sprayed into the air—it was the blood of an immortal, continually soaring!

Heaven Immortals indeed have a suppressing power over Earth Immortals, and the gap is large, but for a Heaven Immortal to slay an Earth Immortal is not something that can be done in the blink of an eye.

After all, they are all existences of the immortal level, having comprehended and mastered the power of the world's origin!

"Stay here!"

The sword light of Slaughter God Immortal swept past, expending his life to the fullest to block Qi Tian's staff strike.

But the Third Prince gave a cold snort, his eight arms flailing wildly, three heads furious; as his feet kicked the fire‑wind wheel, it shot forth, the Prison Lotus fire trembled, and curses like maggots on bone burned the void, entangling toward Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden.

The Third Prince also understood that an Earth Immortal of Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden's caliber would surely become a major obstacle for the Prison Lotus camp; an immortal‑level obstacle should be eliminated as soon as possible.

To eliminate future troubles!

Boom!!!

A earth‑shattering roar exploded; within the spatial passage through which Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden retreated, nine divine lights surged forth like flood dragons, colliding with the fire‑wind wheel and triggering a terrifying explosion.

It was as if the heavenly river had been severed; terrifying power erupted, instantly filling the vast expanse of void above the endless sea, raging violently, surging tumultuously.

Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden let out a muffled groan, leaving behind a large mass of spraying blood and immortal origin, dragging her nearly shattered flesh as she tore through space and departed.

And Slaughter God Immortal's long roar rose to the heavens; his body's sword light shimmered and trembled, his form blurring as if he had become countless writhing sword pellets, each pellet containing terrifying sword intent energy!

"He is resolving himself through the sword! Using his origin, sword intent, sword qi, and divinity to nourish the Slaughter God Sword's intent!"

Extermination God Immortal held the Extermination God Sword horizontally and spoke coldly.

At a glance one could see Slaughter God Immortal's present condition, after all, he too has experienced this state.

This is precisely feeding one's own sword intent and origin to nourish the Heaven‑Traversing God Emperor's Slaughter God Sword intent!

Abandoning his own immortal cultivation, discarding everything, to cultivate and strengthen the Heaven‑Traversing God Emperor's Slaughter God Sword intent, in exchange for terrifying and mighty power!

Boom——!!!

Terrifying sword intent exploded; the instant it burst forth, it manifested as an ultimate straight line.

As if it were splitting heaven and earth in two, cutting everything apart!

Containing the ultimate killing sword intent, it surged forth, condensed into a beam, fused with endless killing intent, piercing heaven and earth, slaying all!

It slashed viciously toward the Third Prince!

Bang——

At the same moment, Slaughter God Immortal raised his head and let out a long howl, within which lay boundless sorrow.

Who would have thought that the esteemed second disciple of the Heaven‑Traversing God Emperor would die and fall in such a manner!

Yet, he harbors no regret!

In Slaughter God Immortal's eyes, countless flowing scenes inevitably appeared—scenes of him as a child when he first met Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden.

That was the most beautiful time in his memory.

However, after he entered the Heaven‑Traversing God Emperor's sect and attained the Dao as Slaughter God Immortal, he initially felt a glimmer of hope, but ultimately the Immortal Emperor betrothed Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden to Extermination God Immortal, to his senior brother.

He dared to be angry but not to speak, only able to watch helplessly as, in the endless night, he was filled with resentment and fury.

And now, in dire straits, he finally chose to step forward, no longer suppressing his feelings.

Slaughter God Immortal, in the act of sword resolution, had his gaze turn infinitely sharp.

He looked toward Extermination God Immortal and spoke with utter coldness.

"Senior brother, all along I have envied you……envied you for gaining the master's favor, obtaining the qualification to wield the Extermination God Sword, envied you for being able to marry Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, envied your sword‑dao talent surpassing mine by a notch……"

"But you……why would you feign death to betray the master? Why join the Prison Lotus camp, becoming an entity opposed to the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths?"

"Why?!"

A shrill voice, a raging roar that shook, carrying an ethereal sound that surged vast and mighty.

Slaughter God Immortal's entire form became blurred, as if he had turned into countless sword lights fused together.

He stared fixedly at Extermination God Immortal, unable to contain his fury!

Sword intent rang out, his chest full of resentment.

Extermination God Immortal gripped the Extermination God Sword and fell silent.

And in the distance.

Li Che wore a white jade mask, floating on the sea surface, one side scanning the blood‑colored vortex that communicates with the netherworld, the other side gazing upon the conflict between Extermination God Immortal and Slaughter God Immortal.

The feud between the senior and junior brothers now resembled a decisive battle of fate.

Li Che felt a slight sense of regret.

Even if Extermination God Immortal were to slay the present Slaughter God Immortal, Li Che would find it difficult to summon and resurrect the Slaughter God Immortal's soul.

After all, that Netherworld Sovereign has long been lying in wait at the other side of the Divine Seizure.

Li Che probably won't find it so easy to seize divinity in a short time.

At the very least, he must wait for a breakthrough in his cultivation before he can give that Netherworld Sovereign a big surprise.

Otherwise, Li Che still looks forward to making Slay God Undying his loyal Seized Divinity; if he also seizes Sever God Undying and Trap God Undying as Seized Divinities, he might be able to gather the four chief disciples under the Heaven-Piercing God Emperor and form the Slay God Sword Formation.

When the time comes to face that Heaven-Piercing God Emperor, a peak Heavenly Undying, he will use this Slay God Sword Formation to deal with him.

This is using his own method against him!

However, Li Che glanced at Slay God Undying's condition, but his eyes held little interest.

After dealing with Slay God Undying, leave his corpse flesh, then later seize divinity.

An immortal's corpse is something Li Che could never waste.

"Resolve it quickly, then come investigate this Netherworld Dragon Blood Vortex."

Li Che said in a deep voice.

His words fell.

Slay God Undying immediately nodded solemnly.

"As you command… Master."

The heavy words, like lightning tearing the heavens, caused Slay God Undying's body to shudder violently; even his body undergoing sword release trembled fiercely, as if about to burst apart.

Master?!

This is not Slay God Undying!

At this moment, Slay God Undying could be certain that the figure before him, gripping the Slay God Sword and bearing the likeness of Slay God Undying, was absolutely not the true Gods Undying! Absolutely not!

"Junior Brother..."

"Your senior brother is dead; I am no longer the senior brother you remember."

An indifferent voice echoed from Slay God Undying's mouth.

"Why?!"

Slay God Undying let out a long whistle, and countless sword intents burst forth from his body.

"Junior Brother wants to know why? When you become immortal like me, you will understand."

Slay God Undying said with a faint smile.

After his words fell, Slay God Undying's will suddenly fell silent.

The next moment, after closing and opening his eyes, the sword intent and light on his body suddenly grew somewhat.

Each sword pellet throbbed, spewing sword qi.

His opened eyes seemed to have chaos swirling within; within the sword light, it seemed to contain the whole world, yet utterly different from Slay God Undying's sword intent.

At this moment, after Slay God Undying's sword release, he entrusted everything he had to the Heaven-Piercing God Emperor.

In other words, the one now controlling Slay God Undying's flesh is the Heaven-Piercing God Emperor, a Heavenly Undying.

The Heaven-Piercing God Emperor opened his eyes, as if sword light burst forth from his pupils.

Heaven and earth fell silent; time and space seemed to freeze at this moment!

Wind ceased, clouds stalled, the sea seemed frozen, with no waves rising!

Even the mist formed from each tiny burst of water vapor exploding in the sea became motionless, completely frozen in the void.

Slay God Undying's body, after sword release, stood at the brink of collapse and yet, at this moment, achieved perfect fusion with the Slay God Sword, able to perfectly unseal this blade.

But the Slay God Undying of this moment is no longer him.

The Heaven-Piercing God Emperor's gaze was deep and complex; as his eyes swept over, he saw Qi Tian, the Third Prince, and Li Che.

He lingered a few more glances on Li Che, as if sensing a familiar aura from him.

That was someone who had comprehended his sword Dao.

"So... it's you."

The Heaven-Piercing God Emperor spoke lightly.

Li Che hovered in midair, naturally understanding what the Heaven-Piercing God Emperor's words meant.

Boom——!!!

"Hehe, old Heaven-Piercing geezer! Take a stick from this old monkey!"

Qi Tian didn't waste a word; with a shake of his staff, ripples spread through the void, and he swept his staff horizontally toward the Heaven-Piercing God Emperor's Slay God version.

Slay God, Slay God, Sever God, and Trap God—the four divine swords were all created by the Heaven-Piercing God Emperor, and he has fully comprehended each sword intent.

At this moment, the Heaven-Piercing God Emperor is precisely the Heaven-Piercing sword intent hidden within the Slay God Sword, aroused and nurtured to its utmost.

This is the true way of sword release.

Sword release: free oneself, unseal the divine sword!

Dang——

The Golden Hooped Staff was blocked by a sword; within the sword intent, the will surged vast, as if piercing the clouds and penetrating all!

This is a sword intent refined to return to simplicity and authenticity!

The Golden Hooped Staff and the Slay God Sword collided, like a substantive explosion bursting in the void; fine cracks spread at a speed visible to the naked eye.

After one exchange, Qi Tian raised his eyebrows; at this moment, the Heaven-Piercing God Emperor, though merely a descent of will, was indeed formidable, worthy of his reputation as a Heavenly Undying famed for attack.

He is indeed quite formidable!

And the Heaven-Piercing God Emperor, gripping the Slay God Sword, even if he can only use that sword now, is still the supreme sword god of heaven and earth.

He blocked Qi Tian's staff, his gaze sweeping over to fall upon the blood-colored vortex of the endless sea, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"So that's how it is..."

The Myriad Dragon Grand Formation has been deployed; ostensibly to suppress and refine the Third Prince, but actually to communicate with the Netherworld, using it as a medium to summon the slumbering immortal Yinglong and immortal Zhulong, as well as two other ancestral dragons!

Heaven-Reaching God Emperor spoke lightly.

But……with this method, opening the Netherworld, what terrible calamity does it bring!

The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths will begin to tremble due to the Netherworld's intrusion, and the will of heaven and earth will be furious!

Ancestral Dragon lineage, you are too extreme!

Heaven-Reaching God Emperor spoke.

In the next moment, he actually did not slay Qi Tian, did not fight the Third Prince, and did not even care about the Earth Store King Li Che; his target was aimed directly at the vortex formed by the convergence of myriad dragon corpses and dragon blood.

The God-slaying Sword in his hand instantly transformed into an ultimate swift sword light, exploding forth with a howl, shooting toward the blood-colored vortex that connected to the Netherworld, and toward the tall figure standing deep within the vortex!

"Lord of Death! Do you think you can descend upon the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths? You're dreaming!"

"Get lost!"

The Heaven-Reaching God Emperor gave a cold shout.

The God-slaying Sword in his hand actually burst forth with ultimate brilliant radiance; the blinding sword light at this moment even startled the God-slaying Immortal.

Above the Endless Sea, it seemed as if the heavens had split open!

Vast clouds surged for ten thousand li, and the mighty sword light erupted from the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor's body; in an instant it filled heaven and earth, like an endless river pouring down.

A true heavenly immortal's method!

Whether it be Heaven-Equal or the Third Prince, although they can fight heavenly immortals, facing these ancient heavenly immortals still feels extremely taxing.

Even the Third Prince, who now fused with the Hell Lotus and restored to the identity of the first Hell Lotus's son, is no exception.

After all, the Third Prince is no longer the true son of the Hell Lotus; he has fallen once and is not a being favored by heaven and earth.

The celestial phenomena above the Endless Sea all changed; a sword light spread, unprecedented in its ferocity, stretching across, and the heavens were literally cut away!

The God-slaying Sword suddenly shot forth, tearing apart the void for myriad zhang!

It split the Endless Sea in two, shocking heaven and earth, piercing the air currents, the void, and traversing heaven and earth.

Countless dragon corpses, suspended like dried sausages, were all chopped to pieces!

Next, it directly slashed into that dragon blood vortex.

Roar——!!!

"Heaven-Reaching!!!"

A deep, angry dragon roar exploded!

The next moment, the sea wall of the dragon blood vortex burst open, and an old dragon burst forth, roaring and howling.

The Heaven-Reaching God Emperor paid no heed to Heaven-Equal, the Third Prince, or Li Che, nor to the traitor God-slaying Immortal; his sword light loomed, a terrifying killing intent pressing straight into the dragon blood vortex.

Among the three ancestral dragon phantoms, the Immortal Dragon Emperor's form was directly forced out by the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor!

He had no choice but to give his all to block the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor's sword.

"The Immortal Yinglong and Immortal Zhulong fell into the Netherworld, becoming the Netherworld Ancestral Dragon; you now wish to summon them back—do you intend to bring endless calamity upon the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths?"

The Heaven-Reaching God Emperor was utterly ruthless; the God-slaying Sword was smashed aside by a rolling wave of deathly energy.

With a flick of his palm, the God-slaying Sword steadied, turning into an obedient sword light that hovered beside him.

The Heaven-Reaching God Emperor and the Immortal Dragon Emperor who had slashed out of the dragon blood vortex actually stood locked in confrontation.

The changes in the standoff made everyone feel strange.

Li Che also felt somewhat bewildered.

Never would I have thought that the God-slaying Immortal's arduous sword liberation of himself would actually lead to this situation.

The God-slaying Immortal probably didn't expect this either.

Li Che's brows also furrowed slightly.

Are the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths and the Netherworld also in opposition?

No, one should say the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths and the Netherworld may be a situation of eternal enmity.

Whether it is the Netherworld opening sealed by the Empress Wa, or the very instant the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor's sword intent was born, directly slashing at the ancestral dragon lineage, constructing a Netherworld opening from dragon blood with myriad dragon lives…

All of this suggests that in the minds of the gods of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the Netherworld may be an entity even more hated than the Hell Lotus.

In terms of priority for dealing with and suppressing, the priority to suppress the Netherworld is clearly higher than that of the Hell Lotus.

"Play is play, chaos is chaos; whether it's the Hell Lotus curse or the Hell Lotus maiden, they are merely a divine-tide calamity forged by the will of heaven and earth of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths."

"But the Netherworld is different."

"Just as water and fire cannot mix, and life and death cannot join, the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths govern life, the Netherworld governs death; well water does not offend river water, but once it does…"

"It is intolerable to heaven and earth!"

It seemed to know Li Che's thoughts.

The Heaven-Reaching God Emperor directed the near-collapsing flesh of the God-slaying Immortal.

He clenched his five fingers, then flicked a finger.

The God-slaying Sword actually transformed into a crimson sword light, shooting toward Li Che.

Li Che's heart jolted.

However, as this God-slaying Sword shot forth, it bore no killing intent of sword will.

It hovered three feet before Li Che, quiet and still, its blade exhaling sword qi, sinking and condensing like smoke.

"Keep this sword… fellow Daoist."

The words fell.

The Heaven-Reaching God Emperor took a step.

His entire body transformed into terrifying sword light, boring straight into the dragon blood vortex's Netherworld opening!

The God-slaying Immortal's flesh exploded with a boom, turning into countless sword pellets, each containing the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor's sword intent, all bursting forth.

Condensing into the substantive form of the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor!

Turn body into sword to block the netherworld!

(End of chapter)