Chapter 227: Accidental Rebirth

"Jun Zaitian, if you surrender now, you can still live."

Jun Mochen finally spoke.

"No! I'm just one battle away from a perfect record—how could I surrender!" Jun Zaitian shouted stubbornly.

As he finished speaking, he was blasted away again by the Flame Clone.

Jun Mochen watched this calmly, his expression cold, his eyes devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

Watching the clan's Heavenly Pride about to be beaten to death, he had no intention of intervening.

The Jun Clan values rules above all; interfering in the battles of juniors violates their rules—he could not possibly intervene.

According to Family Rules, countless Jun Clan Heavenly Prides have challenged others across the land, and countless have been killed for losing their challenges.

The Jun Clan has never reacted violently because a Heavenly Pride died; today, of course, they would not make an exception on his watch.

The Jun Clan can afford to lose—they're not short of one Heavenly Pride—and besides, the chance to live was already given to him.

Seeing Jun Zaitian stubbornly insist on walking the path of death, Jun Mochen ceased his warnings, turning his gaze away with a heart of iron—then suddenly his expression froze as his eyes locked onto one object among the scattered corpses.

Not everyone can fight their way seven times in and seven times out of a two-hundred-thousand-strong army, let alone when that army includes ten thousand Gu Cultivators as support.

The Western Lands' Heavenly Prides had already suffered losses; one even had his Storage Bag shattered, spilling its treasures across the ground—including a Heaven Mending Fruit.

As a Gu Cultivator from a Great Clan, how could he not recognize this thing?

Seeing it, his breathing instantly quickened, his eyes filled with greed—even as a Spirit Sea Stage powerhouse who never panicked, he could not remain calm before this treasure.

One's Aptitude is destined by Heaven; enhancing it is to defy Heaven itself—how many methods exist in this world to raise Aptitude?

This thing was simply too rare—it was something any powerhouse would spare no cost to obtain.

He could no longer control his greed, dashing forward at top speed toward the Heaven Mending Fruit.

At this moment, Long Xuan's battlefield also ended; gazing at Jun Zaitian's blood-soaked, lifeless body on the ground, Long Xuan sighed helplessly.

Originally, he had refrained from killing him out of caution for the Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator beside him.

But Jun Zaitian insisted on rushing over to die—he had already lost all capacity to fight, yet still charged forward recklessly; fists and feet show no mercy, and Long Xuan, unable to fully retract his force, punched him dead.

After Jun Zaitian's death, Long Xuan was startled and immediately turned to look at the Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator.

Unluckily, that Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator was also looking at him—their gazes met.

When he saw the Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator now holding several Storage Bags belonging to Western Lands' Heavenly Prides, Long Xuan's heart sank—he realized things had turned grim.

"Kid! You're impressive. Across the entire Gu World, few of your cultivation stage can kill Jun Zaitian—you've earned the title of world-class Heavenly Pride."

"Jun Zaitian died in a fair and just duel. The Jun Clan always upholds rules—we can accept defeat. I won't kill you to avenge him."

Just as Long Xuan began to relax, Jun Mochen suddenly shifted tone, snapping: "But! Treasures belong to those strong enough to claim them. You took something you had no right to take—my striking you is justified and in accordance with the rules."

As he spoke, a third eye split from Jun Mochen's forehead; beneath that eye, Long Xuan instantly felt as if a mountain had crushed onto his shoulders, threatening to bend his knees.

This sudden gravity was far stronger than before—even with his two Dharma Idols enhancing him, he felt each step agonizingly difficult.

He felt trapped in a cage, barely able to move; and the consequence of immobility was certain one-hit death from the approaching opponent.

Long Xuan's face turned pale with terror, sweat instantly drenching his skin.

He recalled Li Laodao's premonition before coming: an accident would happen, likely leaving him severely injured—but he would definitely not die, and without him, everyone here would die.

Since arriving, he had been guessing what Li Laodao's premonition meant.

Now he saw—it wasn't the mysterious National Preceptor, nor Bai Youran's pointless destruction of the Straw Gu Hut, nor even the Heaven-defying combat prowess of Jun Zaitian.

The true accident was this outsider, this Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator—it fit perfectly. If this Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator from the Central Region struck, then yes, everyone here would die, including Long Dan.

Long Dan's flawless plan had already encountered four accidents—and this final one was the one that could kill Long Dan.

But Li Laodao's meaning was: if he wasn't here, everyone would die; if he was here, they could live.

What did that mean? That he could kill a Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator?

What nonsense! That's a Spirit Sea Stage powerhouse—what ability does he have to kill one? Is he overestimating himself? Is his premonition even accurate?

Is this what he meant by "one hundred percent safe, you won't die"? He's insane!

He's been completely screwed by this Li Youdu! If Li Youdu hadn't insisted there'd be an accident but he'd definitely not die, he'd never have come here in the first place!

Long Xuan's face grew darker by the second; as his opponent drew near, sweat beaded on his forehead.

In the split second of life-or-death urgency, Long Xuan's mind suddenly flashed with clarity—he remembered a long-buried memory and finally found a way out.

Long Xuan's eyes gleamed—no, he still had a chance. He still had a thread of survival.

There was no time to think further—he activated a power he had never used before: the Life and Death Gate.

"Xuan Gate, open!"

"Wu Gate, open!"

"Ling Gate, open!"

"Shen Gate, open!"

"Xing Gate, open!"

"Tian Gate, open!"

In an instant, Long Xuan's blood, Qi and Blood, Spiritual Power, Spiritual Sense, Vitality, and Lifespan all ignited.

A powerful force surged into his limbs; his aura began climbing steadily.

His body flooded with immense energy, making him feel as if he would burst apart, every inch of him screaming in agony.

He grimaced in pain—only because the Water Bear Gu granted him Immortal Power could his body withstand the trauma of opening six Gates.

Enduring power far beyond his own cultivation stage inflicted catastrophic damage on his body.

Long Xuan roared—and with his sudden surge of power, he shattered the gravity binding him.

At that moment, Jun Mochen had just reached his side; sensing Long Xuan's aura rising steadily, he showed surprise, then deepened his grim expression.

"A powerful Forbidden Technique that boosts power temporarily? But is this boost… a bit too extreme?"

His expression was stunned, but there was no time to ponder further—Long Xuan's heavy fist was already swinging toward him, and he instinctively raised his own fist to meet it.

"Crack!"

The two fists collided, emitting a deafening muffled boom.

Jun Mochen felt a cunning force seep through his skin, striking straight for his internal organs.

His face turned pale; he immediately used the Displacement Gu to redirect that cunning force to his feet.

"Boom!"

The ground beneath his feet shattered instantly under the force, kicking up a storm of dust.

"You're asking for death! Boosting so much power! I don't believe you'll survive after this!"

Jun Mochen flew into a rage and charged forward again.

The two exchanged countless blows in an instant; Long Xuan's momentum kept rising, braving the gravity and clashing head-on with this Spirit Sea Stage expert, holding his own for the moment.

Fist against fist, foot against foot—he gave him a punch, he kicked him back, every strike landing flesh on flesh.

Jun Mochen, facing this lower-cultivation opponent, would never dodge his attacks; thus, whenever Long Xuan's fist came, he met it head-on, striking straight back without an inch of retreat.

The residual shockwaves from their brute-force battle were terrifying—houses around them collapsed in wave after wave; the air rang with the muffled thuds of colliding fists, deafeningly loud.

All onlookers of this battle were stunned.

"A Cultivation Stage: Essence Refining fighter can hold his own against a Spirit Sea Stage expert? Did I see wrong? Is this really Long Xuan's true combat power?" Long Dan stared blankly at the scene, utterly shocked.

"A Cultivation Stage: Essence Refining fighter crossing a grand realm to fight a Spirit Sea Stage expert—and not losing? Such a thing has never happened since ancient times!" Li Laodao gasped, his expression deeply moved.

The woman in the golden robe no longer wore a smile; her expression had grown grim beyond measure.

Seeing he could not subdue this Spirit Sea Stage Gu Cultivator in a short time, Long Xuan grew anxious inside.

He could not maintain this state for long—especially the third spiritual gate; keeping it open too long would cause him to drop in cultivation realm.

No more delay—he must subdue him at the fastest speed, or the consequences would be unimaginable.

Long Xuan gritted his teeth, his face twisting into a mad expression; he finally stopped caring about the consequences and opened the final two gates.

"Seventh Gate—Dragon Gate, open!"

"Eighth Gate—Ghost Gate, open for me!"

Long Xuan roared, his eyes blazing red as powerful energy surged again, flooding wildly into his limbs and body.

He let out a pained scream; a mighty aura burst forth, and suddenly his entire body erupted in crimson flames, a staggering shockwave radiating outward from him in wild fury.

The crimson fire burning on his skin was not flame—it was energy so intense it overflowed.

When Spiritual Sense, Soul Power of the Soul, Lifespan, Spiritual Power, Blood Qi, Qi and Blood, Vitality, and Aptitude Potential—all eight energies—burned together, they merged into one, undergoing a qualitative transformation to form Ghost God Power.

The fused Ghost God Power was far more than the sum of eight individual units.

Its energy level far surpassed Spiritual Power—even exceeding it by a hundredfold.

This energy was simply too terrifying.

Long Xuan still remembered the introduction of the Life and Death Gate regarding Ghost God Power.

Ghost God Power can merge with a Dharma Idol; a Dharma Idol infused with Ghost God Power can strike its opponent.

Anyone struck by such a Dharma Idol—even one a full grand realm above the caster—would die.

This was the Life and Death Gate's description of Ghost God Power—and its ultimate technique; once unleashed, anyone without a Water Bear Gu would surely die.

Long Xuan no longer hesitated; he condensed the Divine Dragon Dharma Image above his head, and under his control, Ghost God Power surged wildly into the Divine Dragon Dharma Image.

In an instant, the Divine Dragon Dharma Image was wrapped in crimson energy, becoming as solid as flesh, suddenly coming alive, vivid and lifelike.

Suddenly, its dragon eyes snapped open, releasing a gaze that devoured souls and shattered spirits, radiating boundless Dragon Might.

The Divine Dragon roared in fury, sweeping its eyes across the front with a look of supreme disdain, scorning all.

At this moment, the Divine Dragon seemed as if painted with the final dot—the eyes brought it truly to life.

The boundless pressure blew Jun Mochen's hair wildly; he raised his arms to shield himself from the staggering shockwave.

"This is..."

His expression turned utterly terrified...

"This energy..."

The woman in the golden robe leapt to her feet, her face pale with shock...

(End of Chapter)