Chapter 1769: Laying the Array

Hearing Jiang Li Tianwang address her as "Divine Lady," the many Outer Shenzhou Li Tianwang present also cast slightly curious gazes toward Jiang Jiang Qinge.

Now that the Outer Shenzhou Li Tianwang all knew, the breathtakingly beautiful woman before them, radiating a sacred aura, was the incarnation of the "Pseudo Ten-Grade" Light Aspect left behind by that legendary sect master.

And the reason that legendary sect master had been invincible in that era, even leading the Faceless Holy Sect into the Dark World to slay numerous Great Demon Kings, was largely due to this "Pseudo Ten-Grade Light Aspect."

As for the other Pseudo Ten-Grade Aspect of Annihilation, it had only undergone a bizarre mutation after that great battle, corroded and polluted by the Source of All Evil, evolving into a Pseudo Ten-Grade.

If a Li Tianwang is like a deity to all living beings, then a Ten-Grade is the truly supreme, paramount Divine King.

Yet that realm existed only in legend.

Throughout the ages, only that legendary sect master had forged two Pseudo Ten-Grade Aspects, but even bearing the prefix "pseudo," their inconceivable might still inspired awe among many Li Tianwang.

After all, for an Aspect to evolve into a true living being—such a bizarre thing was a first even for the extraordinarily experienced Li Tianwang.

If Jiang Jiang Qinge before them could truly awaken completely, restoring the grade of her "Pseudo Ten-Grade Light Aspect," then she might well be Outer Shenzhou's final stabilizing pillar.

Meeting the gazes of the many Li Tianwang, which carried a trace of respect, Jiang Jiang Qinge's exquisite porcelain-white cheeks remained perfectly calm. She did not feel elated by her so-called "Pseudo Ten-Grade Aspect"; on the contrary, she actually did not much like this identity, because it always made her feel a little different from Li Luo.

As her gaze lowered slightly, a warm sensation reached her palm—Li Luo had taken her hand, wrapping those slender, soft fingers entirely within his own.

Meeting Li Luo's gaze, brimming with tenderness, Jiang Jiang Qinge's mood quietly eased, and the corners of her lips curved into a faint arc.

"Everyone, our preparation time is running short. I can feel the Great Demon Kings of the Dark World already stirring; they may soon begin their formal descent."

"Therefore, we must begin laying down this 'Primordial Divine Ruins Demon-Trapping Array.'"

Jiang Li Tianwang slowly raised the "Primordial Covenant" in his hand, and with a smile, looked toward Li Luo, Qi Huang, and the others, asking: "But before that, I wonder if the newly ascended Li Tianwang here would be willing to imprint your own station upon it?"

The answer, naturally, was beyond doubt.

In this time of peril, the moment called for unity of purpose; any personal grudges or interests now seemed utterly trivial.

The next moment, Li Luo, Jiang Jiang Qinge, Li Taixuan, Dantai Lan, Qi Huang, and the other newly ascended Li Tianwang present all unhesitatingly activated their stations, transforming them into imprints deeply engraved within this "Primordial Covenant."

The instant the imprints took shape, Li Luo and the others immediately sensed a sense of constraint surging from the world; upon closer examination, it contained a single rule.

That rule consisted of only four characters.

Protect Outer Shenzhou.

This was the sole binding the "Primordial Covenant" imposed upon Outer Shenzhou's Li Tianwang.

And with the sudden addition of the station-blessings from the many newly ascended Li Tianwang, the "Primordial Covenant" in Jiang Li Tianwang's hand instantly erupted with vast divine light; the mighty pressure it radiated also intensified, causing the entire world to seemingly emit a low, rumbling roar at that moment.

Boom!

The "Primordial Covenant" suddenly shot skyward; its boundless light pierced straight through the Spirit Aspect Cave Heaven, reaching the firmament, and expanded outward at an unimaginable speed and scale.

At this moment, the living beings of the Ten Outer Shenzhou raised their heads and could all see that divine light, imbued with boundless might, sweeping across the horizon; in mere moments, it enveloped all Ten Outer Shenzhou entirely.

The world's energy surged and churned, condensing into countless ancient divine seal-script characters that poured down like a torrential rain, drenching every inch of the Ten Outer Shenzhou's land.

The next moment, a strange change occurred.

On the vast earth, the ground trembled; towering mountains rose from the plains, piercing straight into the clouds; abysses emerged across the land like dragons coiling in brushstrokes; and surging rivers shifted their courses—the very terrain of the Ten Outer Shenzhou underwent a dramatic transformation.

And if one looked down from the edge of the firmament, one would see that these terrain changes across the Ten Outer Shenzhou seemed to be countless great array-traces being sketched out, and the flow of the world's energy shifted accordingly.

An unprecedentedly grand great array faintly revealed its embryonic form.

The bulk of this world's energy converged toward the Ten Outer Shenzhou, forging them into ten magnificent and colossal "Demon-Trapping Platforms."

Within them, the power of Outer Shenzhou's strong would receive a blessing.

At this moment, the living beings across the Ten Outer Shenzhou all gazed upon this unprecedented, magnificent spectacle; the surging, boundless world's energy told them that Outer Shenzhou's Li Tianwang were preparing for the final life-or-death decisive battle.

Countless living beings wore solemn expressions; although three years ago Outer Shenzhou had initially repelled the Dark World's invasion, everyone understood that the previous attack had been merely an appetizer.

The Dark World's peak power had only watched from above as living beings wailed and struggled beneath the corruption of the aberrant.

But this time, they would swarm out in full force.

Although the Ten Outer Shenzhou, through the ten-year Heavenly Fortune settlement, witnessed the birth of newly ascended Li Tianwang, this still could not bridge the gap in overall strength between the two sides.

Therefore, in this final decisive battle, no one could afford an optimistic mindset.

As countless living beings' hearts grew heavy, a gentle, grand voice rang out like the words of a deity, echoing into every corner of the world.

"Though the Dark World is terrifying, at every moment of life and death, Outer Shenzhou has always had strong ones step forward to turn the tide at the brink of collapse. Fear not, everyone—in this battle, we Li Tianwang of Outer Shenzhou shall do our utmost to defend."

It was Jiang Li Tianwang's voice.

Finally, there came his low murmur.

"My heart knows no fear."

"Our kind endures forever."

His voice seemed to carry a calm, composed power, causing the fear in countless living beings' hearts to quietly recede.

Countless living beings offered prayers and blessings, murmuring softly.

My heart knows no fear.

Our kind endures forever.

Boom!

Amid the devout prayers of countless living beings, the world's energy across the entire world seemed to boil and churn in response—it was the unity of countless hearts stirring the world, drawing forth its resonance.

As the vast energy roared, countless divine seal-script light-patterns shot skyward from the Ten Outer Shenzhou, and a world-shaking, unprecedented divine array, taking the Ten Outer Shenzhou as its foundation, was completely formed.

This was the Primordial Divine Ruins Demon-Trapping Array!

Spirit Aspect Cave Heaven.

The moment this great array took shape, all the Li Tianwang felt their own power faintly blessed and amplified.

Jiang Li Tianwang extended his palm and sliced through the void; a spatial rift opened, and an ancient body, vast as a mountain range stretching ten thousand miles, slowly drifted out from within, hovering in the Spirit Aspect Cave Heaven.

Li Luo recognized it at a glance—it was the body of Wang Taixi, hidden within the Celestial Mirror Pagoda.

And at Wang Taixi's brow, there also hovered that ancient bronze lamp he had once obtained.

The faint, dim flame within swayed gently, as if it might disperse at any moment.

And upon seeing this once-familiar body, Yan Changsheng and Su Ying's expressions grew slightly complex; clearly, they had not expected that after such long ages, they would still see their former companion.

"Banquet Heavenly King, Su Heavenly King, and the resurrection of this Wang Taixi Heavenly King—it all depends on you. This step of yours is crucial. If it fails, even with the support of this 'Ancient God Ruins Demon-Subduing Formation,' our Outer Shenzhou Heavenly Kings will find it hard to hold the line."

Jiang Heavenly King extended his palm, and the "Ancient Covenant" slowly descended, then floated before Li Luo.

Gazing at the ancient page before him, Li Luo's expression also grew solemn. He understood how heavy the burden Jiang Heavenly King had placed on him, but he had no intention of shrinking back. Instead, he stretched out both hands and slowly received the "Ancient Covenant."

"Then, let's begin."