Chapter 182: The Snipe and the Clam Grapple; the Fisherman Waits

Li Hentian watched the slowly closing world rift; on that face, unchanged for ten thousand years and icy as a mountain, a flicker appeared for the first time.

That was not panic, but… surprise.

"A formation?"

He whispered softly, his gaze sweeping over the fleeting formation lines in the void, a hint of approval in his eyes,

"Not bad, a bit of ingenuity—able to draw the primal power of a great cosmos. Too bad…"

He shook his head, seeming to find it rather dull.

"Before absolute power, any technique is meaningless."

Having said that, he was about to draw his sword again.

In his view, the world barrier of this shattered universe was like a paper cage.

He could come and go as he pleased.

The array laid down by this bunch of ants trying to trap him? That's a ridiculous joke.

But just as he raised his hand, a sudden change occurred!

This fragment of the shattered immortal domain, already beginning to be gradually merged into Gu Yuan's domain,

suddenly began to tremble violently without warning!

Boom—!!!

A rift far more terrifying than when Li Hentian descended was forcibly torn open from within the immortal domain!

It was not sword qi, nor fist force, but a pure black aura reeking of deep decay and corruption.

Wherever that black aura passed, all things withered and the laws rotted.

Even the Zhou Tian Xingchen Great Array set up by Gu Xuan Ce, its edge formation lines, under the corrosion of that black aura, emitted a sizzling sound and grew dim and dark.

"Huh?"

Li Hentian halted his movement; his icy eyes turned elsewhere for the first time.

Even Gu Cangsheng, who was preparing to fight to the death, froze and instinctively stopped.

What's happening?

How come another one shows up?

What day is it today, that Immortal King‑level powerhouses are gathering for a team‑building exercise?

Amid everyone's doubtful gazes, a figure slowly walked out from the rift torn by the black aura.

That was an existence beyond description.

He had a human silhouette, but wore a black imperial robe woven from countless wailing souls.

His face had no features, only a deep, bottomless black vortex that seemed able to swallow one's mind and spirit.

Behind him trailed a black river paved with endless bones; in its waters, billions of beings sank and wailed.

This aura…

Gu Cangsheng's pupils suddenly contracted.

"It's the person behind that immortal corpse!"

He recognized it at once.

This aura of decay and corruption, treating all things as straw dogs, shares the same source as the previous Netherworld Dark Sovereign!

Moreover, it is stronger than the Dark Sovereign by countless millions of times!

This is another Immortal King!

"Dark Sovereign… dead?"

As soon as that faceless figure appeared, it let out a low, hoarse sound, like countless ghosts wailing in unison.

His divine sense swept out and instantly caught the lingering trace of the Dark Sovereign's final aura in this world.

Immediately after, his gaze—the dark vortex that served as his face—snapped toward Li Hentian not far away.

Because on Li Hentian's person he sensed a pure, ultimate sword intent that had just erupted in a killing frenzy.

And the Dark Sovereign's last aura only completely dissipated after this sword intent appeared.

The logical chain was formed.

"Did you… kill my master's dog?"

In the voice of the faceless Immortal King, there was no emotion at all, only a lofty sense of judgment.

Li Hentian heard this and his brow twitched imperceptibly.

Following his gaze, he also saw that fragment of the shattered immortal domain and felt there a decaying aura not belonging to this universe.

And this newly appeared, neither‑human‑nor‑ghost fellow had come from that very direction.

So this fellow must be an ally of that old ant, or even… their backer.

"Your dog?"

Li Hentian slowly opened his mouth, his voice even colder than the other's: "I don't know what you're talking about. But since you're with them, then you'll die together…"

He couldn't be bothered to explain.

He also never deemed it worth explaining.

In his long life, all who stood in his way needed only one thing from him.

Draw his sword.

"Courting death!"

The faceless Immortal King flew into a rage.

He is the supreme sovereign ruling a realm of fallen immortals—when has he ever been so despised?

A mere sword cultivator dares to spout wild words before him?

Boom!

He moved.

Without any extra words, the river of corpses behind him instantly surged, turning into countless black chains that pierced the void and wound toward Li Hentian.

Each chain bore terrifying curses and corrosive power enough to rot a true immortal's Dao fruit on the spot.

"Trivial tricks."

Li Hentian's gaze unchanged, he simply pointed his fingers together like a sword and lightly sliced at the sky-full of chains.

A plain, unremarkable sword qi flew forth.

Yet within that sword qi lay the terrifying will to sever causality and annihilate all laws.

Screech——!

Countless chains, before that sword qi, were as fragile as grass rope and were cleanly cut through!

One sword breaks the law!

"Somewhat interesting."

On the Faceless Immortal King's dark visage, a ripple seemed to stir,

"It seems you are no ordinary Immortal King. However, in my Eternal Night Heaven, you will ultimately sink!"

He clasped his hands together.

Rumble——

The entire Gu Tian Star Domain was instantly shrouded in endless darkness.

This was not merely the disappearance of light, but a blotting out at the level of law.

Within this Eternal Night Heaven domain, the Faceless Immortal King is the sole sovereign, able to strip an opponent of their five senses, divine sense, and even… perception of the Dao!

However, at the very moment the darkness fell.

A blade of light, brilliant to the extreme, suddenly blazed forth.

That sword light, like the first ray since the creation of heaven and earth, tore through the eternal darkness with an indisputable domineering force, piercing straight to the Faceless Immortal King's core.

"Before my sword, there is no darkness."

Li Hentian's voice came from within that light.

Boom—rumble——!!!

Two supreme Immortal Kings from different worlds, in this tiny Gu Tian Star Domain, launched a deadly, relentless slaughter over a huge misunderstanding!

Sword light and dark aura intertwined, laws and curses collided.

The entire star domain was like a tiny boat in a violent storm, liable to capsize at any moment.

And at the storm's center, someone who should have been the most tense now wore an expression that was somewhat… strange.

Gu Cangsheng stood outside the battlefield shrouded by the two domains, looking at Li Hentian wreaking heaven‑shattering havoc on the left, then at the Faceless Immortal King whose every move was deadly on the right, and for a moment didn't know what to say.

He had already prepared to burn his half‑step Immortal King origin, even if it damaged his Dao foundation, just to retain Li Hentian's Immortal King body.

As a result……

Out of nowhere came a Cheng Yaojin?

And these two Cheng Yaojins seem to be fighting each other?

Gu Lin Tian came over, his face full of the joy of surviving a disaster mixed with bewildered absurdity.

"Father, this……"

"Shh."

Gu Cangsheng made a hushing gesture, then silently pulled out a handful of… melon seeds.

He leisurely peeled one, popped it into his mouth, and it was crunchy.

"Lin Tian."

"I'm here, son."

"You say… if we now cheer them on, would that be a bit improper?"

Gu Lin Tian: "……"

He watched his father's relaxed, almost‑as‑if‑watching‑a‑play‑in‑the‑backyard demeanor, and his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

"Proper?"

"Are you really worrying about whether it's proper or not at a time like this?!"

"Those are two Immortal Kings fighting right at our doorstep! One misstep and the whole star domain will be buried with them!"

"What's there to fear."

Gu Cangsheng seemed to see through his son's thoughts, cracked another seed, and spoke indistinctly,

"Let them fight; the fiercer the better. Best if they both lose, so we can reap the fisherman's gain."

He paused, a sly glint flashing in his eyes.

"Besides, with me watching here, if worst comes to worst we can still take Yuan'er and flee. Moreover… this is a good chance for me to prepare properly."

Gu Cangsheng said this while sinking his divine sense into his body.

The golden Immortal King's spinal bone began to emit a faint glow.

His half‑step Immortal King's immense power was silently accumulating and compressing, preparing for that thunderous……final strike!

The snipe and clam grapple; the fisherman waits.

Today's grand spectacle, the Gu Family is truly the star!