Chapter 644: The fruit of the Hell Path draws in the origin of death; could it be that you, too

Countless water waves burst open with a roar!

Countless water droplets were condensed and combined by the terrifying power of origin immortality, forming an extremely sharp divine sword, upon which lingered an extremely rich aura of the origin of death.

Like a deadly poison, it spewed terrifying toxins, seeking to poison a powerful being!

Origin of death!

It actually burst forth from the body of the one kneeling on the sea surface, knees as legs, running toward Tongtian Shen Di—Xian Shen Bu Xiu—and then wrapped around the Xian Shen Sword, causing Xian Shen's sword intent to become like a great net, sweeping toward Tongtian Shen Di with a boom!

Tongtian Shen Di was immersed in the sorrow of his four disciples, three of whom had fallen.

Yet he never expected that the sole surviving disciple, Xian Shen Bu Xiu, would erupt so abruptly!

He launched a sneak attack on him!

This origin of death infiltrated the Xian Shen Sword, eroding the sword intent that belonged solely to him within the sword, and at this moment it erupted with a boom.

"Wicked disciple!"

Tongtian Shen Di glared angrily!

His beard and hair flew up, his robes seeming to harden under the impact of sword qi, like an extremely sharp sword edge, ready to cut through air and space!

And the Tongtian Shen Di, who was stationed at the Yin-Yang Mouth, found it difficult to disengage at this moment.

He could only clench his fist, and four streams of divine sword light burst forth with a boom, charging toward the sword net emanating from the Xian Shen Sword; as a heavenly immortal of the imperial level, his terrifying pressure was released, seeking to suppress that sword net.

However, the Tongtian Shen Di's anger surged in his chest.

The Death Sovereign in the Yin-Yang Mouth said that among the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths there were also traitors; after those rebels surrendered to the immortal beings of the Yin-Yang, the Tongtian Shen Di never imagined it would be his own disciple.

And at this moment, Xian Shen Bu Xiu undoubtedly had defected to the Yin-Yang!

How could it be his disciple?!

He, the Tongtian Shen Di, had been wise all his life, his sword way unyielding... how could he have nurtured a traitor?!

Boom!

The great net of sword qi was blocked; the Tongtian Shen Di, ultimately a heavenly immortal of the imperial level, possessed boundless methods; even in a hasty response, his own immensely powerful sword intent actually suppressed the Xian Shen Sword that harbored Yin-Yang power!

However, the Tongtian Shen Di's expression quickly changed.

Because the sword intent of the Xian Shen Sword within the Xian Shen Sword was overcome, the power of the origin of death, like a bone‑deep ulcer, broke through the sword intent of the Xian Shen Sword among the four divine swords he had unleashed.

It was as if a breach had been chiseled out, booming and tearing open the sword intent barrier!

In the Yin-Yang Mouth.

The Death Sovereign laughed loudly to the heavens; terrifying sound waves spread from it, causing the sea water around the Yin-Yang Mouth to surge with an increasingly violent and thunderous roar!

It seemed to be anticipating, waiting; as soon as the Yin-Yang Sovereign chose to shift his form and reveal a position,

he would bring forth the Yin-Yang Ying Dragon he rode, plus the Yin-Yang Dragon Emperor and Yin-Yang Candle Dragon—three beings originally the ancient ancestral dragons of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths—and would powerfully charge out of the Yin-Yang Mouth, tearing it open, letting the death army that followed the Yin-Yang crash down upon the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths with a boom!

This would become the beginning of the Yin-Yang's swallowing of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!

The move he had laid down long ago would finally take effect at this moment!

How could the Death Sovereign not be excited?

Boom—rumble—!!!

The Tongtian Shen Di's visage showed little change; looking at that bone‑deep ulcer‑like sword intent of the Xian Shen Sword tainted by the origin of death, he did not choose to dodge, but thrust out a palm with all his strength, colliding with the Xian Shen Sword intent that had been heightened by the origin of death to the level of an imperial heavenly immortal's power.

Boom——!!!

On the surface of the Endless Sea, a straight water column burst up, as if wanting to charge into the clouds!

After the water column dispersed, Xian Shen Bu Xiu shot forth like a cannonball, flying tens of thousands of li, dragging across the Endless Sea's surface a long‑lasting white spray of water.

At this moment, Xian Shen Bu Xiu's face was full of anguish and pain.

"Master..."

His face was covered with swirling origin of death, seeping bit by bit into his body.

The next moment, he raised his face, his hair flying; the pain on his visage vanished completely: "Master... disciple, I so long to break through to heavenly immortal!"

"Earthly immortal, no matter how strong... it remains merely an earthly immortal, forever unable to become the establisher of the rules of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!"

"How could I be like Master, like Nuwa Huang, Wu Huang, the Immortal God Emperor—existences that establish the rules, supreme, trampling all gods underfoot, ruling over everything!"

Upon Xian Shen Bu Xiu's body rose a dark‑black pattern of the origin of death, a unique motif that looked extraordinarily demonic, out of place with heaven and earth.

But at this moment, Xian Shen Bu Xiu felt his strength was absurdly great.

It seemed he had truly crossed that threshold, stepped into a brand‑new realm, becoming the heavenly immortal he had dreamed of!

The Tongtian Shen Di sat upright at the Yin-Yang Mouth, not moving half a step, not revealing a single position.

As for his right hand, it was completely entwined by the death power that had broken through the Xian Shen Sword intent via the origin of death, slowly corroding the flesh on his arm, as if millions of poisonous insects were gnawing at his arm's skin, flesh, and bones!

This is sovereign‑level power, a trace of deadly poison transmitted from the Deathless Immortal to the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths; now it has become the sharpest spear, breaking through the Tongtian Shen Di's shield!

Even one as mighty as the Tongtian Shen Di must mobilize most of his power to suppress the origin of death on his arm; otherwise, this origin of death would keep spreading, eventually covering his entire body and eroding his vitality.

The Tongtian Shen Di raised his hand and tapped his shoulder blade; instantly his entire right arm was sealed by a sword formation.

It was as if countless tiny sword qi, like sewing needles, sealed the flesh at his shoulder blade.

Boom——!!!

In Xian Shen Bu Xiu's eyes there was no gratitude toward his master, only a craving for power.

Zhu Shen died, Lu Shen died, and his good brother Jue Shen also died; only he remained alive—why could he live?

He clearly could have died together with his three brothers.

But he was unwilling; he wanted to survive, so in that battle he chose to flee, even Jue Shen Bu Xiu gave his life to cover his retreat.

Yet this made Xian Shen Bu Xiu clearer: to survive in this world, to survive at the end of this divine tide,

only by undergoing a qualitative change in his own strength, only by becoming a heavenly immortal, could he truly survive!

Bang——

A powerful force erupted from Xian Shen Bu Xiu's body.

The death source seemed to turn into a black cloak, into black armor, making his immortal source even stronger!

That was the power of the Lord of Death, bestowed from the Netherworld!

"Master… I'm sorry!"

"Disciple wants to prove the Dao of Celestial Immortal, but the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths have no path left… all seized tightly by you old things! I can't, I really can't!"

"Master, do you understand that kind of hopelessness of seeing no way forward?"

"I can't endure it!"

Boom—

The terrifying sword light, as if spreading for tens of thousands of zhang, accompanied by Xian Shen Bu Xiu's swing, instantly raised the sea water a hundred zhang high!

Xian Shen Bu Xiu only needs the Heavenly Sovereign Emperor to shift position, revealing a Netherworld opening, and that is enough.

The Lord of Death will then guide him into the Netherworld, like the Three Great Ancestral Dragons, attaining metamorphosis and rebirth within death!

The Heavenly Sovereign Emperor was utterly cold; beneath him, the Netherworld opening spun violently.

One real divine sword after another, condensed from his Sword Dao origin, tip pointing down, hovered above the Netherworld opening; the four swords each settled at different spots, forming the Exterminating God Sword Formation!

This is the Heavenly Sovereign Emperor's most powerful sword formation!

It is also the strongest backing that suppresses the Netherworld opening.

And when the Heavenly Sovereign Emperor, as the eye of the sword formation, shifts and reveals his position, it creates a huge flaw, becoming a breakthrough for the Netherworld ruler.

The Heavenly Sovereign Emperor does not dodge, intending to forcibly swallow another strike of Xian Shen Bu Xiu's death power!

At this moment.

Xian Shen Bu Xiu has already sealed the entire Endless Sea with the power of the death source.

That is the Lord of Death's power; in a short time, even Imperial‑grade Celestial Immortals find it hard to sense this location.

And most Imperial‑grade Celestial Immortals would not think that anything could happen at the Netherworld opening guarded by the Heavenly Sovereign Emperor, after all, the Heavenly Sovereign Emperor's strength ranks among the top even among Imperial‑grade Celestial Immortals.

The Heavenly Sovereign Emperor coldly watches Xian Shen Bu Xiu.

His eyes carry disappointment, and the deep disappointment makes Xian Shen Bu Xiu even more enraged—a wrath born of shame!

The terrifying sword light, like a single river tide, surged from the far horizon of the Endless Sea, raising terrifying waves a hundred to a few hundred zhang high!

Suddenly.

The continuously slashing sword light suddenly halted!

With a bang, it seemed to strike a massive, weighty iceberg, unable to cut any further!

What?!

The expression on Xian Shen Bu Xiu's face froze instantly, his eyes narrowing slightly.

He suddenly looked toward the direction where the sword light had erupted a towering water column, and found a figure there.

Tall and upright, standing on the sea surface, amid the rolling waves, his five fingers spread outward, reaching forward, the outstretched fingers grasping the sword light that Xian Shen Bu Xiu had slashed.

Upon the white jade mask, a natural brilliance shimmered.

The immensely powerful golden qi and blood, like condensed golden mist, continuously floated around him.

"Dizang Wang!"

Xian Shen Bu Xiu let out an incredulous low roar.

How could it be Dizang Wang?

How did he appear here?

Wasn't Dizang Wang forced back into the Prison Lotus Land by powerful Imperial‑grade Celestial Immortals such as San Shi Rulai, Di Hong Ren Huang, Taiyi Bu Xiu, and thus unable to leave the Prison Lotus Land?

How could he be above the Endless Sea?

Li Che slowly raised his hand, blocking the sweeping sword light.

Under the white jade mask, his eyes shifted slightly, landing on the sword light—this was the sword intent of the Xian Sword.

The three divine swords of the God‑Exterminating, God‑Slaughtering, and God‑Extinguishing Immortals were all obtained by Li Che, and he also comprehended the sword intent that the Heavenly Sovereign Emperor left within them.

He fully mastered these three swords.

However, he still lacks a Xian Sword.

It turned out…

Here.

"Swinging a sword toward one's own mentor… truly worthless."

Li Che shook his head, speaking softly.

He glanced at the Heavenly Sovereign Emperor, whose right arm was being continuously corroded by the death source.

The Heavenly Sovereign Emperor naturally also noticed Li Che, his eyes flashing, silver hair fluttering, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

"Daoist friend."

Dizang Wang is the Daoist friend recognized by the Heavenly Sovereign Emperor. He is the only one among the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths who can understand his sword.

Even though the Heavenly Sovereign Emperor's cultivation far surpasses Dizang Wang's, he still chooses to converse with Dizang Wang as an equal.

Because he believes Dizang Wang will eventually reach the same height as him.

"You call me a Daoist friend, I can't just accept that for free; the Heavenly Sovereign Emperor's Daoist friend… is as heavy as a mountain."

Li Che smiled lightly: "Since that's the case, I'll help you eliminate this wicked disciple."

His words finished.

Li Che snapped his fingers, and the Heaven and Earth Chessboard instantly expanded from beneath him in all directions, like a great net, encompassing the vast area of the Endless Sea.

Xian Shen Bu Xiu's form was instantly enveloped by the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

The Xian Sword intent emphasizes calculation and arrangement…

It is as if sword qi were the pieces and heaven and earth the board, laying out pieces upon the board.

But…

His soul was shaking at this moment, as if he had met his destined foe!

His Xianshen sword intent, at this moment, could not be exerted at all, as if completely seen through by the Ksitigarbha King.

Three chess pieces shot out.

In an instant, they turned into black streams of light, expanding into three figures.

They were precisely the three immortals: Slaughter God, Exterminate God, and Absolute God.

The three great immortals' divine arrest all appeared; Li Che lightly pointed his finger, and three divine swords simultaneously howled forth.

They fell into the hands of the three immortals.

Slaughter God, Exterminate God, and Absolute God, the three immortals, looked in disbelief at the Xianshen Immortal…

"Wicked obstacle!"

The three spoke at once.

They never imagined that the Xianshen Immortal… would actually choose to betray!

Especially the Absolute God Immortal, he sacrificed his life to create a chance for the Xianshen Immortal to survive, but…

The Xianshen Immortal actually betrayed his master; at this moment he became a great calamity, seeking to usher in the death sovereign spoken of by the Netherworld!

It is truly unforgivable!

Boom—

The three immortals were furious, simultaneously striking out; thunderous sword qi raged and intertwined, fiercely slashing at the Xianshen Immortal.

The Xianshen Immortal wore armor forged from the fused power of the death origin; his eyes burst with ferocity; the power of the Death Sovereign gave him immense courage!

The Xianshen Immortal violently hurled his own Xianshen sword.

Upon the Xianshen sword, the death origin surged forth, actually suppressing the three immortals—Slaughter God, Exterminate God, and Absolute God—by sheer force.

"Hahaha! This is power!"

"Senior brothers, junior brothers, I also want to obtain such power; I have no choice, otherwise… my fate will be the same as yours—death! In the end, I will become something neither human nor ghost!"

"I betray?"

"You have died and been reborn; isn't there a price? You joined the Prison Lotus camp… isn't that betrayal?"

"You can join the Prison Lotus camp; why can't I join the Netherworld?"

"For the sake of pursuing higher cultivation and realm, I want to become that Heavenly Immortal, to survive in this divine tide of this age—what wrong have I done?!"

The Xianshen Immortal roared in anger.

His voice was deafening, yet it left the three immortals silent.

Indeed, according to the Xianshen Immortal's words, they too had indeed betrayed the Sovereign of the Heavenly Way; no one can say who.

But…

Was their betrayal something they could choose?

"Very good."

Li Che spoke.

"What you said is excellent; they can join the Prison Lotus, and you can naturally join the Netherworld… but they paid with their lives, while you use betraying your master as the price."

"Your price is too small; since you compare my subordinates to yourself, the price must naturally be equal, a level playing field."

"So, I will impose a price upon you."

Li Che said lightly.

"This can also be considered feedback to a fellow Daoist of the senior Sovereign of the Heavenly Way."

Li Che spoke; the next moment, his sole slowly rose.

He then stomped down, stepping upon the surface of the endless sea, causing the sea surface to explode with violent spray.

Meanwhile, the Xianshen Immortal unleashed his Xianshen sword to block the three immortals; at this moment he could only face Li Che with bare fists.

Li Che took a step, appearing like a cannonball before the Xianshen Immortal; his martial immortal physique opened up with a boom.

He threw a punch; the Xianshen Immortal's expression changed drastically; the sword qi he had unleashed, fused with death origin, was at this moment shattered by Li Che's punch, scattering in chaos.

"How could this…"

"How could it be this strong?!"

A pang of palpitation struck his heart; the Xianshen Immortal let out a low growl.

He crossed his arms before him, trying to block Li Che's punch.

Li Che's punch, which had absorbed a vast amount of origin power from the Prison Lotus, smashed down fiercely, causing his physique to have already surpassed that of an ordinary immortal.

He began to touch the barrier of the celestial immortal, attempting to break through that realm; he could be called a half-step celestial immortal.

Therefore, Li Che's physical might far surpasses that of an ordinary immortal.

Crack—crack—

The Xianshen Immortal's arms directly exploded, turning into thick blood mist.

However, the Xianshen Immortal's eyes were full of madness.

"You are doomed!"

"Crude martial brute!"

But see, within the Xianshen Immortal's exploded arms, a rich death aura surged forth!

That is the death origin granted to him by the Death Sovereign!

It also contains the power of the Death Sovereign!

Although in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, it has been greatly weakened by the will of heaven and earth.

But…

That is the power of the Death Sovereign!

Hiss—

The black death origin, like a poisonous snake, coiled up along the arm that Li Che had blasted open on the God‑binding Immortal, and in just a breath it wrapped around Li Che's whole body.

Like a pattern, it was etched into his flesh and blood, corroding his skin!

In the distance.

The Heaven‑piercing God Emperor seated in the Netherworld's mouth frowned.

He glanced at the death origin on his own arm and couldn't help sighing.

This fellow Daoist of mine seems a bit reckless, a bit careless...

At the same time.

On the face of the God‑binding Immortal, madness filled his expression, and a triumphant laugh rang from his mouth.

Whoever tries to block his advancement, he will make them die!

However...

The smile on his face didn't last long, quickly stiffening, and even within that stiffness a hint of fear spread and appeared.

Because.

Behind Li Che, a death vortex seemed to emerge, and in its rumbling rotation it actually devoured the death origin granted by the Death Sovereign, leaving not a trace.

Behind.

The Hell Dao Fruit rumbled and trembled incessantly.

Watching the Hell Dao Fruit's ripeness rise at breakneck speed...

Li Che slowly closed his eyes, and a look of enjoyment appeared on his face.

The God‑binding Immortal looked somewhat bewildered toward the Earth Store King.

You... are also a traitor?

(End of Chapter)