Chapter 432: The God King Meets the God King Again

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Above the boundless desert, black clouds hung as heavy as if filled with lead, and thick bolts of lightning sliced the ink‑black sky like sword light.

Above the sand ridge, a massive thunder eye spun and expanded continuously, resembling the mushroom cloud formed after a hydrogen bomb explosion.

Pangu Ancestor God kept stepping forward, one step at a time, while the White‑haired Elder stepped backward, one step at a time.

Even after retreating dozens of li, the onlookers could still feel the terrifying aura emanating from above the sand ridge. The women of the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace, once as beautiful as blossoms, had already lost their luster; the black‑armored soldiers, bristling with killing intent, had lowered their flags and ceased fighting; Zhao Yunsheng's legs were already trembling, and if his elder brother had not reached out to pull him, he might have collapsed to the ground.

Zhang Xingyu did not tremble, even though his heart pounded like ten thousand horses galloping. He held Tang Yunxi tightly in his arms. He believed that his broad chest could provide his senior sister with a tranquil harbor.

Tang Yunxi buried her head against Zhang Xingyu's chest. From his chest came a steady thudding sound—his heartbeat, strong and powerful. Thus she was convinced that this sincere heart would always be by her side, and that his broad chest was a harbor for her to dock in. She smiled.

Mistress Tang Yanran of the Hundred Flowers Palace wore a very grim expression. Though she feared neither the elder on the sand ridge nor the Pangu Ancestor God whose whole body exuded destruction, she knew her calculations had all failed. That Pangu Ancestor God was ultimately beyond her reach.

Zhao Wují's face was also very grim. It was not because his younger brother had embarrassed him, but because the Pangu Ancestor God was drifting farther away, as if unreachable. Yet just half an hour ago, he had still regarded that dark‑faced Pangu Ancestor God as a mere tumor.

"Damn it!" Zhao Wují cursed inwardly.

In mid‑air, the Pangu Ancestor God took forty‑nine steps forward, while the White‑haired Elder stepped forty‑nine steps back. After forty‑nine steps, the two stopped simultaneously.

Pangu Great Deity did not move further, as if an insurmountable barrier stood before him, blocking his path. He looked forward resentfully, and the massive axe he had been holding fell limp.

"I am not content!" Pangu Great Deity shouted to the heavens. His voice was mournful and long, and the rolling black clouds in the sky stilled for a moment.

At that moment, a silver‑white bolt as thick as a water bucket suddenly struck down from the endlessly rotating thunder eye, instantly hitting Pangu Great Deity.

One after another, bolt after bolt, the lightning formed a thunder net; from afar, Pangu Great Deity had already vanished into a silvery sea of thunder.

The onlookers were terrified to the core. After a while, deafening roars finally echoed in their ears. The fairies of the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace collapsed instantly onto the ground. Zhao Yunsheng's legs went limp; even though his elder brother held him, he still fell to the ground.

Zhang Xingyu tightened his hold on Tang Yunxi. He looked down at her and saw her smiling brightly at him. He smiled back at her. The two continued to smile and gaze at each other, as if everyone around them were merely air and the thunderclaps did not exist.

"Boom! Boom!" The sound of celestial thunder rang through heaven and earth.

Within the thunder sea, the Pangu Ancestor God continued his guttural, lung‑splitting shout: "I am not content!"

Beyond the thunder, the White‑haired Elder wiped the crystalline sweat from his forehead. In tens of thousands of years, it was his first time sweating.

It was a phantom sweat, the kind a gambler sweats after a successful bet. Just now, he had made a world‑shaking wager: he bet that the Pangu Ancestor God could not leave this place, that the Pangu Ancestor God would be bound by the Heavenly Dao. He won, even though the price of the gamble was the lives of billions on Xuantiandalu. Fortunately, he was right.

His hand, still clutching the Seven‑Orifice Stone Man, trembled, yet the White‑haired Elder's heart burned with fervor. The chance to achieve the immortal path lay before him; if he could help the Heavenly Dao capture the lingering malevolent embodiment of the Pangu Ancestor God, the Dao would bestow immense merit. Then his ascension to the Immortal Realm would be imminent.

He thought so, his eyebrows lifting slightly, his mouth curling into a crescent grin. Yet that state lasted only a moment before his brows furrowed.

The White‑haired Elder looked up toward the horizon.

At the edge of the sky, eight golden dragons flickered like shadows within the black clouds.

A moment later, a splendid cloud carriage drawn by the eight golden dragons burst out of the clouds, soaring straight toward the sand ridge.

Seated in the carriage was a stern‑faced, sharp‑eyed middle‑aged man, wearing a purple‑gold crown, draped in a Heavenly Star Robe, and holding a gleaming golden seal.

The White‑haired Elder opened his mouth and spat on the ground: "Xuanqing, that undying old fool really has a dog's nose; wherever there's good news, he can always run into it."

His words barely left his mouth when the eight golden dragons had already brought the cloud carriage to his side. The middle‑aged man stepped down and chuckled at the White‑haired Elder: "Grand Void Daoist, have you been well?"

"What the hell, we just partied two or three days ago and you're already chasing me again. I ask you, Xuanqing, are you of the dog sign?" the White‑haired Elder mocked.

The middle‑aged man named Xuanqing was not annoyed; he simply replied with a grin: "Where in life do people not meet? Three days is nothing. I was fated to meet the Grand Void Daoist in a past life; in this life we are bound to meet often."

"Ill‑omen!" the White‑haired Elder grumbled and fell silent.

The middle‑aged man withdrew his smile and turned his gaze toward the mountain foot. A moment later, his eyes fell on the flower‑like Mistress Tang Yanran of the Hundred Flowers Palace. He stepped forward to stand before her: "Lady of the Hundred Flowers, long time no see, is your phoenix body still well?"

Mistress Tang Yanran glared at him, then replied bluntly: "I am, of course, fine. As for you, Divine King Xuanqing, the Divine Race has been wiped out; why are you the only one still alive?"

Divine King Xuanqing lowered his smile: "Your reprimand is justified. I was already near death, but before dying I still had a person I could not let go of and some unresolved matters, so I willingly shed my divine powers to become a human. Though I now bear the title of Divine King, I am essentially no different from the Human Race."

Mistress Tang Yanran turned her head away and no longer looked at him.

Divine King Xuanqing smiled awkwardly, then turned his gaze to Zhao Wují: "Grandnephew, years have passed; your cultivation has improved greatly! Well done, well done!"

Zhao Wují released Zhao Yunsheng, stepped forward two paces, and bowed: "Zhao Wují pays respects to Divine King Xuanqing. The Divine King's bearing remains unchanged; congratulations!"

Divine King Xuanqing nodded and said to Zhao Wují: "It has been a long time since I saw the Zhennan King. When you return, please convey my regards to your esteemed father."

"Yes!" Zhao Wují replied, stepping aside, his demeanor very respectful.

Divine King Xuanqing smiled, turned and approached Tang Yunxi.

Tang Yunxi quickly knelt and offered a salute: "I have seen the Divine King."

Zhang Xingyu, tugged by Tang Yunxi, also quickly clasped his fists and saluted: "I have seen the Divine King."

Divine King Xuanqing nodded in return. His gaze fell on Zhang Xingyu, the sharp eyes seeming to pierce him completely, inside and out.

After a while, he finally turned his head to Tang Yunxi and smiled: "Princess Yunyan, I never expected to meet you here. The young man beside you is handsome and dashing, with a lofty bearing, somewhat reminiscent of a brother of mine in his youth, and he matches you perfectly. When the princess's grand wedding takes place, be sure to have someone inform me; as an uncle, I will certainly present you both with a grand gift."

"Thank you, Divine King!" Tang Yunxi, pulling Zhang Xingyu along, bowed again in gratitude.

Divine King Xuanqing nodded, turned, and returned to the sand ridge.