Chapter 1747: Forced Retreat

High in the heavens, the ancient, mysterious Pardon Word trembled violently, radiating a pressure so intense that even King-realm experts felt their hearts seize up—and this pressure was aimed squarely at Li Li Lingjing, because the power she was channeling had already reached the rule-limit set by the Heavenly King Pardon Word.

But Li Li Lingjing's expression remained indifferent, her pitch-black, vortex-like eyes betraying not the slightest ripple of emotion. In her hand, the "Withering-Flourishing Visage," densely covered in eerie black patterns and emanating an ominous, supremely evil aura, suddenly spurted forth a streak of light.

The light was a dual jade-yellow hue; from within it, a thin ray was born, swelling against the wind and transforming into an ancient, unadorned giant umbrella that blotted out the sky.

The moment the giant umbrella unfurled, a special, majestic power surged upward, and the region sheltered beneath it seemed to become a separate, isolated world.

Yet what caused the most drastic change in everyone's expression was this: when the giant umbrella unfurled, the Heavenly King Pardon Word that had been hovering above Li Li Lingjing's head, as if about to descend at any moment, gradually grew illusory.

That sense of intimidation vanished along with it.

"She actually severed the Heavenly King Pardon Word's perception?!"

Qi Huang and the others paled in shock. The ancient, unadorned giant umbrella that Li Li Lingjing had manifested through the power of the "Withering-Flourishing Visage" could actually deceive even the Heavenly King Pardon Word?

Such heaven-defying means were simply inconceivable!

"This must be a technique once wielded by that legendary sect master!"

Qi Huang's brows knit tightly. After all, the Withering-Flourishing Visage originated from the most dazzling figure of all antiquity, so possessing such unimaginable means was hardly surprising.

Moreover, what worried Qi Huang most was—if Li Li Lingjing could truly sever the rule-influence of the Heavenly King Pardon Word, wouldn't she then be able to unleash even more terrifying power?

She was... taking advantage of the current situation in Outer Shenzhou where there was no Heavenly King, intending to borrow the power of the Withering-Flourishing Visage to eliminate Li Luo and Li Taixuan!

What vicious, ruthless methods from this Return-to-One Society!

And just as fury and shock surged in Qi Huang's heart, Li Li Lingjing had already raised her hand to form a seal. The next moment, beneath the Withering-Flourishing Umbrella, an immensely vast and terrifying rank-power came surging in.

It was the complete Withering-Flourishing Rank—and moreover, the Divine Fruit Rank!

The jade-yellow rank-power, carrying a pressure that inspired dread, gathered entirely at Li Li Lingjing's fingertip, ultimately condensing into a torrent.

The torrent was jade-yellow in color, and wherever it flowed, even the void itself gradually rotted and crumbled.

Li Taixuan stared at that jade-yellow torrent, his expression also changing drastically. "This is 'Withering-Flourishing God-Rotting Water'! I once seen records of it in some ruins of the Faceless Holy Sect on the Wang Hou battlefield. That legendary sect master once used this art to rot away many Great Demon Kings!"

Li Luo's scalp also went somewhat numb. That damned Oblivion Visage—could it really be that, by borrowing the Withering-Flourishing Visage, it had even managed to unleash that legendary sect master's signature killing move?

Although due to various limitations, its power was far inferior to when the legendary sect master himself wielded it, judging by that dangerous aura, even a true Heavenly King present today would feel dread.

But the Withering-Flourishing Umbrella had isolated this stretch of heaven and earth—how could they evade it? Moreover, behind them stood countless allied forces experts; if those people, with their strength, were to face this "Li Li Lingjing" head-on, it would undoubtedly be an indiscriminate slaughter.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh!

The Withering-Flourishing God-Rotting Water flowed across the void, its trickling sound crisp and pleasant, yet it sent an endless chill rising in the heart.

"This is troublesome. Your little cousin here wants to turn us father and son into a puddle of rotting blood, it seems." Li Taixuan's face turned solemn as he said.

Li Luo said dejectedly, "She's just a vessel shell housing the power of the Oblivion Visage right now—not the Cousin Li Lingjing I know."

His gaze fixed on Li Li Lingjing's familiar yet strange, indifferent cheeks. He drew a deep breath and said, "As long as there's even the slightest chance, I will save her."

"You'd better think about how us father and son are going to get through this trial she's set for us."

Li Taixuan said helplessly, because at that moment the torrent formed by the Withering-Flourishing God-Rotting Water had already swept across the horizon, like a water dragon, surging toward the two of them.

Li Taixuan stepped forward. The Peerless Divine Throne manifested in the void, inhaling and exhaling the energies of heaven and earth. The "Purple-Gold Divine Pearl" formed from the Heavenly Dragon Rank, carrying a weight heavier than mountains spanning a million miles, descended into his palm.

Peerless Art, Blazing Heavenly Dragon-Destruction Fist!

He threw a punch, and the purple-gold fist-light formed from the Heavenly Dragon Rank roared forth, the space continuously collapsing into black holes.

This punch, unleashing the full power of Li Taixuan, was enough to clash head-on with a Heavenly King.

But this time, when that magnificent fist-light collided with the Withering-Flourishing God-Rotting Water, it failed to achieve the same results as before. Instead, it was swept up and spat out by the jade-yellow torrent, and more than half of it dissolved away.

The Heavenly Dragon Rank-power contained within it was also washed away by the God-Rotting Water.

Li Taixuan's Heavenly Dragon Rank was admittedly powerful, but before the rank of the Divine Fruit "Withering-Flourishing Visage," it was clearly a notch weaker.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh!

The jade-yellow torrent surged forward, steadily forcing back Li Taixuan's fist-light.

"Dad, I'll help you!"

Seeing that Li Taixuan was struggling to hold on alone, Li Luo knew he had to act. However, he understood the terror of the Withering-Flourishing God-Rotting Water—ordinary means would have absolutely no effect on it.

Therefore, with a thought, the grand and mysterious Ten Thousand Visages Wheel manifested in the void behind him.

Accompanied by the rumbling rotation of the Ten Thousand Visages Wheel, the power of the myriad visages flowed out, pouring into the central fire cauldron. The next moment, the vast and immense Great Faceless Fire surged forth, sweeping across the void.

Boom!

The Great Faceless Fire possessed the special ability to refine all things. Now, with Li Luo channeling everything he had, its sheer magnitude was more majestic than ever before.

The sea of fire formed by the Great Faceless Fire collided with the Withering-Flourishing God-Rotting Water.

An invisible erosion erupted.

Yet the effect was remarkably clear. As the Great Faceless Fire blazed upward, the hitherto unstoppable Withering-Flourishing God-Rotting Water was gradually held at bay.

"Son, you've got some moves there."

Li Taixuan's eyes lit up at the sight, and he laughed in praise.

This Withering-Flourishing God-Rotting Water that even he was helpless against had actually been countered by Li Luo using fire. That skill was quite impressive.

This made Li Taixuan unable to help feeling a touch of gratification. Back when he had left House Luolan Mansion, Li Luo was still troubled by the Hollow Visage problem. Yet after all these years, that Hollow Visage youth had become a top-tier expert no inferior to himself, possessing the ability to turn the tide.

Father and son joining forces finally managed to hold back this killing art from "Li Li Lingjing."

However, "Li Li Lingjing" clearly had no intention of giving up this once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. Although the power of the Withering-Flourishing Visage had been blocked, she still had the Oblivion Rank.

She extended her slender, pale hand, and the dark, abyssal Oblivion Rank-power surged forth, forming a thousand-zhang-long black scythe in the sky.

On the scythe flowed an oblivion that could devour even light.

And this scene, falling into the eyes of Qi Huang, Zhen Linshuang and the others below, caused their expressions to change drastically.

But just as "Li Li Lingjing" was about to swing that Oblivion Scythe, suddenly a resplendent, dazzling pillar of sacred light erupted violently into the sky.

"Li Li Lingjing" lowered her head, and in her vortex-like eyes was reflected a breathtaking figure with twelve wings of light flapping behind her.

It was Jiang Qing'e.

Only now, the latter's exquisite, holy visage was covered in frost. Her golden eyes seemed to flow with endless killing intent, and at her smooth brow, the "Rank Divine Visage Tree" seemed to have been ignited, beginning to burn fiercely.

The Sacred Flame churned, transforming into a pillar of holy fire that roared forth.

But Jiang Jiang Qinge did not attack Li Li Lingjing, nor did she aid Li Luo or Li Taixuan. Instead, she hurled that utterly sacred holy-light flame at the "Withering-Flourishing Umbrella."

Boom!

In terms of sheer magnitude, Jiang Jiang Qinge's Light Origin could not match Li Taixuan and Li Luo at this moment—after all, she had not yet stepped into the true Unparalleled Ninth Rank. Yet her Light Origin possessed a unique advantage in terms of tier.

After all, she was one of only two pseudo-Tenth Phase existences in the world!

Therefore, when the Sacred Light Flame made contact with the Withering-Flourishing Umbrella, the latter immediately began to tremble violently, and the power of withering and flourishing flowing across its surface showed signs of being purified.

Fractured holes began to appear on the Withering-Flourishing Umbrella.

"Once I deliver this slash, I will burn the Withering-Flourishing Umbrella and summon the descent of the Heavenly King's Edict, destroying your vessel of power." Jiang Jiang Qinge's gaze locked onto Li Li Lingjing, her icy voice ringing across the heavens.

Within Li Li Lingjing's vortex-like pupils, ripples faintly surfaced, and the Reaper's Black Scythe she was about to unleash slowly ground to a halt.

The clamorous battlefield seemed to fall silent at this moment.

Qi Huang, Zhen Linshuang, Wang Xuanjin, and others all showed tension in their eyes.

No one had expected that, in such a disadvantageous position, Jiang Jiang Qinge could actually threaten the "Li Li Lingjing" who held the upper hand.

However, this frozen standoff did not last long, for Li Li Lingjing's figure began to slowly retreat. At the same time, the Withering-Flourishing Corrupt God Water also receded, and she dispersed the Reaper's Black Scythe.

In the end, she gripped the Withering-Flourishing Phase, and her figure was gradually swallowed by the dark space.

Swallowed along with her were those powerful experts of the Guiyi Hui.

Yet, just as her figure vanished completely, an exceptionally hoarse, muffled, and terrifying voice seemed to pierce through spacetime, echoing from afar.

"Light..."

"Your end is not far off."