Chapter 454

As Su Chen and others were setting up arrays on Huaguo Mountain.

Deep within the Shattered Star Abyss, the ancient primordial fragment had completely collapsed.

Zhenyuanzi stood beneath the Earth Book, his sleeves billowing as the Earth Book unfurled, the phantom mountains and rivers continuously contracting—each inch drawn in caused a further collapse of the space around Kunpeng.

Doumu Yuanjun stood on the opposite side, the Star Constellation Divine Seal hanging high above her head.

Three hundred and sixty-five beams of starlight descended, piercing the eight directions of empty space, sealing every possible escape route Kunpeng might use with his supreme speed.

On the shoulder of the Ancient Buddha Ran Deng, the Spirit Coffin Lamp cast a pale green glow, fixing the space in all four directions.

The Ancestor of the Ming River stood atop the Twelve-Petal Karma Fire Lotus, the Yuan Tu and A Ni swords circling his body—appearing to guard against the others, yet their tips never strayed far from Kunpeng.

Kunpeng was surrounded at the center, the Demon Master’s Palace hovering above him, its gates wide open as countless demonic shadows roared incessantly.

He gripped the North Sea Sword, his chest rising and falling; the axe scar on his brow had finally stopped bleeding, though it had not yet healed.

Kunpeng slashed with his sword—the North Sea Sword’s light struck the Mountain-River Prison, carving only a shallow crack.

In the next instant, starlight descended and the crack sealed shut again.

Doumu Yuanjun’s voice was cold: “If you do not surrender, I shall use the power of the Zhou Tian Stars to strip away the foundation of your Dao.”

Kunpeng glanced up at her and sneered.

“So the former Jie Sect immortal has become Hao Tian’s lackey?”

Doumu Yuanjun paid no heed to Kunpeng’s provocation; she raised her hand and formed a seal, causing the Star Constellation Divine Seal to spin as more starlight rained down.

The Ancient Buddha Ran Deng’s Qian Kun Ruler subtly blocked Zhenyuanzi’s attempt to suppress Kunpeng.

He sent a mental whisper to Kunpeng: “Demon Master, I ask you one final time—where has the Primordial Purple Qi gone? If you tell me, I shall help you escape.”

“I’ve said it before—the Primordial Purple Qi was startled away by that little brat Su Chen.”

The Ancient Buddha Ran Deng shook his head.

“I do not believe you. Since you refuse to speak, then I must suppress you.”

With that, Ran Deng retracted his Qian Kun Ruler, no longer obstructing Zhenyuanzi’s technique.

Zhenyuanzi’s Mountain-River Prison began to compress inward; the Demon Master’s Palace trembled violently, and one by one, the demonic shadows within its gates exploded.

Kunpeng’s shoulders sank, his feet pressed deep into the void.

Facing so many peak quasi-saints alone, he finally sensed danger.

Once suppressed by the Earth Book, he would be crushed by the very essence of the Earth Immortal Realm—he would have no chance of escape.

Fury churned within Kunpeng’s chest; he had been defeated in the most humiliating way.

Su Chen had severed his path to sainthood; Ran Deng, Minghe, all of them treated him like prey on a plate.

He, the great Demon Master—how had he sunk to this?

His gaze shifted to Minghe, who had done nothing, and he sent a silent mental whisper into Minghe’s ear.

“Minghe, help me escape.”

Minghe showed no outward reaction, but whispered back: “What are you willing to pay for your life?”

Kunpeng whispered: “I swear upon my Dao—the Primordial Purple Qi truly vanished. But that little brat Su Chen possesses the Primordial Chaos Bell. If you help me escape, I will aid you in seizing it.”

Minghe’s eyes flashed crimson as he sneered: “Demon Master, you’re clever indeed—you’re using my hand to exact revenge. This offer isn’t enough.”

Kunpeng gritted his teeth: “I’ll give you one more piece of information—in the North Sea, a primordial deity is gestating. I intended to use it to forge an external body. If you help me escape, I’ll tell you its location.”

Minghe fell silent for half a breath, then laughed: “Demon Master, you truly have vast resources. Agreed!”

At that moment, Zhenyuanzi’s Earth Book had descended to Kunpeng’s very crown; the Demon Master’s Palace teetered on the brink of collapse.

Zhenyuanzi’s gaze sharpened.

“Recollect!”

The Mountain-River phantom snapped shut—and in that instant, the Ancestor of the Ming River struck.

Beneath his feet, the Twelve-Petal Karma Fire Lotus burst into full bloom, igniting the entire Shattered Star Abyss with karma fire.

Simultaneously, boundless blood sea surged from the depths of void, crimson waves crashing into the Mountain-River Prison.

The Yuan Tu and A Ni swords flew out simultaneously—one slashed at the Earth Book, the other cleaved toward the Star Constellation Divine Seal.

“Minghe, what are you doing!” Zhenyuanzi roared.

Before he finished speaking, the killing swords struck the Earth Book, granting Kunpeng a momentary reprieve.

Doumu Yuanjun’s expression changed instantly—the A Ni Sword had pinned the Star Constellation Divine Seal, causing the three hundred and sixty-five starlights to briefly misalign.

Though only for an instant, it was enough for Kunpeng.

He forced the Demon Master’s Palace to smash through a corner of the Mountain-River Prison.

Kunpeng transformed into his Great Peng form, wings spread wide, black feathers glowing as he activated his Kunpeng Supreme Speed technique.

“Don’t escape!”

The Ancient Buddha Ran Deng no longer feigned neutrality—he roared low and brought down his Qian Kun Ruler.

The Qian Kun Ruler transformed into a golden river, severing Kunpeng’s path ahead.

This strike was perfectly timed—if Kunpeng dodged, he would fall back into the encirclement.

If he didn’t dodge, he’d take a direct blow from a quasi-saint. Kunpeng’s eyes blazed with ruthless determination.

He did not dodge—he met the Qian Kun Ruler head-on with his Great Peng true form.

“Boom!”

The Qian Kun Ruler slammed into Kunpeng’s back, flesh exploding, clouds of black feathers scattering.

Kunpeng’s spine shattered, his demonic blood sprayed out, staining the void crimson.

He let out a piercing, malevolent shriek—but used the force of the Qian Kun Ruler’s blow to accelerate further.

The black light pierced through Doumu Yuanjun’s starlight blockade.

Seeing this, Doumu Yuanjun immediately activated the Star Constellation Divine Seal to summon the power of the Zhou Tian Stars and block Kunpeng.

“Seal!”

The Star Constellation Divine Seal descended—but it was too late.

Kunpeng’s figure had already plunged into the outer chaotic currents of the Shattered Star Abyss.

Zhenyuanzi, enraged, flipped the Earth Book, sending the Mountain-River phantom in pursuit.

The Ancestor of the Ming River laughed aloud, his blood sea spreading across the middle.

“Friend Zhenyuanzi, why rush off? Let us discuss the Dao together.”

Zhenyuanzi’s eyes blazed with murderous intent.

“Get out of my way!”

He slammed down the Mountain-Shaking Seal, unleashing the force of ten thousand mountains into the blood sea, which exploded—but instantly reformed.

The Ancestor of the Ming River, standing atop the red lotus, stepped back as the Karma Fire Lotus blocked Zhenyuanzi’s attack.

Ran Deng’s gaze darkened as he looked at Minghe.

“Minghe, you’ve ruined everything.”

Minghe sneered.

“Ran Deng, if you’d truly wanted to capture Kunpeng, you wouldn’t have repeatedly blocked Zhenyuanzi.”

“We’re all the same—don’t pretend you’re clean.”

The Ancient Buddha Ran Deng’s expression remained unchanged, but his grip tightened on the Qian Kun Ruler.

The True Martial Emperor now approached from the periphery, coldly stating: “By letting Kunpeng escape, you’ve invited future trouble.”

Minghe glanced at him.

“Trouble? That’s not my trouble.”

With that, the blood sea behind him churned, swallowing the Yuan Tu and A Ni swords, then tore open the void. The Ancestor of the Ming River activated the Twelve-Petal Karma Fire Lotus, spun once, merged into the blood sea, and vanished into the outer realms.

Zhenyuanzi stood in the void, his face grim.

Doumu Yuanjun retracted the Star Constellation Divine Seal, her gaze sweeping toward the direction Kunpeng had fled.

“He’s badly wounded—don’t give him time to recover.”

The True Martial Emperor looked toward the Three Realms.

“He’ll go to find Su Chen.”

Doumu Yuanjun nodded, agreeing with the True Martial Emperor.

Su Chen had severed Kunpeng’s path to sainthood—Kunpeng would never let him live.

Zhenyuanzi swept his sleeve, storing the Earth Book within it.

“Go.”

The Ancient Buddha Ran Deng looked at him: “Where is Master Zhenyuanzi headed?”

Zhenyuanzi replied with only two words.

“East Sea.”

…

Deep in the outer void, a black figure shattered through layers of chaotic currents before collapsing into a dead, silent star ruin.

Kunpeng resumed his human form, landing on a meteorite.

He spat out a great gout of black blood, laced with Dao principles.

The Qian Kun Ruler’s strike had wounded his origin, nearly forcing him to regress in realm.

Kunpeng inhaled deeply, activating his Devouring technique—swallowing and dissolving countless spiritual energies and malevolent energies from the entire star ruin to heal his wounds.

He transformed into his Kun form, a black hole devouring everything around him to mend his injuries.

Having barely suppressed his internal injuries, Kunpeng looked up toward the Three Realms, his fury threatening to erupt.

"Su Chen, I will make you beg for death but be unable to die!"

He spoke each word slowly, forcing them through clenched teeth.

The next moment, the Peng’s form vanished into the Star Ruins.