Chapter 1479: Where Did They Go?

A generation-famous Dao Merging Divine Lord, the Skin-Painting Divine Lord, had died just like that.

"Heaven's Heart Imprint…"

Jiang Ding gently closed his eyes, then opened them again.

He vaguely sensed that, at the instant the Skin-Painting Divine Lord died, something akin to the origin of a divine soul escaped, completely returning to the brand she had once merged into the Heavenly Dao.

Ten thousand years later, when the Heaven's Heart Brand recovered once more, the Dao Merging cultivator would revive again.

This was what a Dao Merging cultivator was.

Every Dao Merging cultivator possessed a Heaven's Heart Brand—nearly undying.

This was why even peak Dao Merging cultivators had to respect the will of early-stage Dao Merging cultivators; otherwise, rule would be hard to maintain.

"For now, it's still not possible."

"I don't have the ability to directly obliterate the Heaven's Heart Imprint."

Jiang Ding said with some regret: "Perhaps, only when I possess the power of a quasi-eighth tier can I consider this matter."

"Ten thousand years from now, will I be able to reach such a height?"

"No. My sword intent carries the Law of Destruction of Dharma. It will take at least twenty thousand years before they revive."

"Twenty thousand years from now, even if I cannot obliterate the Heaven's Heart Imprint, if these monsters and demons dare to affect the Immortal Gate's rule between the realms, they will be nothing more than a single sword—no cause for fear."

Jiang Ding waved his hand, collecting the Skin-Painting Divine Lord's skin husk and storage dharma treasure.

After sweeping away the karmic ties and lingering aura, his figure vanished once more, just as it had come.

This stretch of starry sky had always been this peaceful, never changing.

……

Jiang Ding flashed through the realms, unknown like a ghost of the starry sky—even to the members of the Immortal Gate's Political Participation Council.

No one knew where he was,

no one knew what he was doing.

One month later, Jiang Ding appeared in the Black Ice Minor Realm, slaying with one sword an early-stage Dao Merging cultivator, the Frost Giant Divine Lord of the Myriad Races Alliance.

Three months later, Jiang Ding appeared in the Tumbleweed Flower Minor Realm, slaying with four swords a mid-stage Dao Merging cultivator, the Mountain Rock Divine Lord of the Myriad Races Alliance.

Seven months later, Jiang Ding appeared near the Spiral Sea Minor Realm, slaying with one sword an early-stage Dao Merging cultivator, the Tree Demon Peak Tree Demon Divine Lord of the Demon God Sect.

Nine months later……

Twenty-seven months later……

Jiang Ding's figure drifted silently through the Demon Heaven Realm, moving slowly like an invisible dark cloud, devouring the lives of Dao Merging cultivators in utter secrecy.

One after another.

Thirty-nine months later, in the Scale Mountain Minor Realm near the Demon Heaven Realm of the Zhong Senior Qian Shi Gao Jie.

Boom!

The Solar Sword Dao rule net spread out in all directions; a sun rose and fell, blasting the head of a mid-stage Dao Merging three-headed dragon beast into shards, leaving only its star-sized headless dragon body swaying unsteadily as it plunged through the starry sky, blood gushing from its neck like the Tianhe waterfall.

"The

fourteenth."

Jiang Ding sheathed his sword, expression calm.

"Central Array Spirit Computer, I have a question."

He was not particularly elated as he asked calmly.

"Great Sun Political Participant, please proceed."

The Central Array Spirit Computer's voice was an emotionless mechanical tone—rigid, impartial, never deviating for anyone's sake.

"Why,"

"are there no late-stage Dao Merging or peak Dao Merging cultivators among the coordinates you gave me?"

Jiang Ding said quietly: "As well as the ones I most wished to see—Heaven God Divine Lord, Heaven Fortune Divine Lord, Grand Void Sword Lord, and the others."

The way of the sword has never been about the weak!

Mid-stage Dao Merging cultivators, early-stage Dao Merging cultivators—those are the weak!

They should not linger so long on the Great Sun Sword Lord's hunting duel list.

They did not have the qualification to enjoy such an honor!

"Lord Great Sun Political Participant,"

"this is the resolution of the Immortal Gate Military Committee."

The Central Array Spirit Computer stated: "The way of war is to use the strong against the weak, the many against the few. Since early- and mid-stage Dao Merging cultivators can be slain steadily, one should not abandon this for any reason, nor take any risk."

"Risk?"

"This is wrong. There is no risk whatsoever."

Jiang Ding said in a low voice, raising his objection: "I can face all the Ancient God Alliance Dao Merging cultivators head-on. I possess absolute certainty of slaying them all, without any aid."

"I request this resolution be overturned."

"This is where my Dao lies!"

A trace of crimson, burning color appeared in his gaze.

"Lord Great Sun Political Participant,"

"your political opinion is being submitted to the Immortal Gate Military Committee. Please wait…"

The Central Array Spirit Computer offered no opinion.

Faster than expected—in almost an instant—the Immortal Gate Military Committee had rendered its full resolution.

"Lord Great Sun Political Participant,"

"your battle plan has been rejected by the Immortal Gate Military Committee, by a vote of eight to one."

Central Computing Array announcement: "Your battle plan has not been approved. The Immortal Gate Military Committee still decides to execute the original battle plan — advance steadily, strike the strong with the weak, use numbers against the few. There will be no change."

"Do you wish to apply for convening an expanded meeting of the Immortal Gate Military Committee?"

The Central Array Spirit Computing Array inquired.

The expanded meeting of the Immortal Gate Military Committee will no longer be confined to the nine great Councillors, but will incorporate numerous Soul Transformation cultivators into the meeting to jointly decide on a new resolution.

This kind of expanded meeting typically occurs after irreconcilable contradictions arise between the Immortal Gate Councillors.

"…

…"

"No need to apply."

Jiang Ding fell silent.

He could not possibly gain the support of the many Soul Transformation generals.

"Then please respect the original battle plan."

The Central Array Spirit Computing Array stated clearly: "This is a legitimate resolution made by the Immortal Gate Military Committee. Any Immortal Gate soldier must obey!"

"Do you acknowledge it?"

Jiang Ding was silent for a moment.

"Acknowledged."

He brought his legs together, stood at attention, and saluted.

The crimson blaze in his eyes slowly receded.

……

Demon Heaven World.

One after another, terrifying auras appeared here once more — each aura deep and profound, masters at the center of the Heavenly Dao rule-law web, each a terrifying existence that had dominated the winds and clouds of their realm for tens of thousands of years.

Today, they once again came to this place — a critical transit node of the Eastern Extreme Demon Sect, the Zhong Senior Qian Shi Gao Jie Demon Heaven World.

In just a few years' time, Dao Merging cultivators from distant star domains had already arrived. In realm wars that typically span hundreds or thousands of years, this speed could be called divine — no one had delayed.

Someone had already arrived ahead of them.

It was precisely the Weaving Heaven Spider God-Lord, the Heavenly Fortune God-Lord, the Three-Faced God-Lord, the Dark Nether Black Heaven God-Lord, and other ruling-tier powerhouses of the realms — peak Dao Merging cultivators.

They did not idle in chatter. With eyes closed, they waited, their divine senses scanning the Eastern Extreme Demon Sect's Demon Heaven World formation.

"No change. Still the Eastern Extreme Demon Sect's Ten Thousand Mechanisms Third Front Fleet, and the Peach-Green Fourth Front Fleet."

"Compared to over a hundred years ago, their forces have not increased."

The Weaving Heaven Spider God-Lord and the Heavenly Fortune God-Lord joined hands in divination, then informed the others.

The many Dao Merging God-Lords breathed a sigh of relief.

A moment later, they drew breath again.

Expressionlessly, they looked at the two peak Dao Merging God-Lords.

"You…"

The Weaving Heaven Spider God-Lord and the Heavenly Fortune God-Lord's faces looked somewhat unsightly.

But they had nothing to say.

The last time, and the time before that — how the Nine Spirit Domain's Heavenly Mechanism God-Lord and the Central Array Spirit Computing Array had toyed with the two of them like monkeys — was still fresh in everyone's memory. No one had forgotten.

"What we see is exactly this!"

The Heavenly Fortune God-Lord snorted coldly: "If you do not believe it, you may join forces to attack and probe. The truth will be plain at a glance."

"It should be so."

The surrounding Dao Merging cultivators nodded slightly.

In battles where life and death hung in the balance, no one would spare another's face.

All around, Dao Merging God-Lords continuously flew in from outside, dropping into the Ancient God Alliance grand formation, adding another measure of might to the Ancient God grand formation.

But as time passed, one Dao Merging God-Lord after another gradually sensed something was wrong.

The numbers seemed sparse — something was missing?!

"Where are the Painted-Skin God-Lords and their group?"

"Where are the Grass Dragon God-Lords and their group?"

The Weaving Heaven Spider God-Lord and the Heavenly Fortune God-Lord spoke almost simultaneously.

These two voices, like a cold water wave, spread in all directions. Even the dullest Dao Merging God-Lord reacted.

"Are they afraid to fight and refusing to come?"

"Or are they still on the way?"

The Heavenly God God-Lord asked with a trace of侥幸.

No one paid him any heed. Nearly all the Dao Merging God-Lords hurriedly sent transmissions to every Dao Merging God-Lord who had not yet arrived, asking where they were and when they would come.

"They…"

"They…"

After several breaths, the Weaving Heaven Spider God-Lord said, somewhat trembling.

The many Dao Merging God-Lords exchanged glances — each could see the horror in the others' eyes. Even the firm Dao hearts forged by tens of thousands of years of experience were shaken and trembling without cease.

Where had they gone?

Why had not a single one replied?