Chapter 180

Facing the fully exposed Zhuxian Four Swords, although Hongjun had sufficient confidence in himself, the pressure inevitably doubled.

If you had not intended to use my hand to harm them, and Yang Mei and the others had not left, this formation could not have undergone such a change, nor could it display its true power.

Being able to let the formation's sharpness be revealed to the world, I truly ought to thank you, fellow Daoist, for holding back earlier.

Hongjun's expression grew solemn as the Jade Disc of Creation emitted a lustrous light; within that light, three figures emerged from his body.

The three looked identical to Hongjun in appearance, though their forms differed slightly.

One had a kind countenance, eyes filled with compassion and pity, wearing a white Daoist robe and holding a plain-colored cloud-realm flag.

One had a ferocious countenance, wearing an angry and resentful expression, eyes emitting a vicious light, clad in a black Daoist robe, and holding a long chi — this is none other than one of the Heavenly Emperor's relics, the Primordial Measuring Heaven Ruler.

One had an expressionless face, cold and indifferent, seeming to have no desires or pursuits, indifferent to all things; in his gaze, all things were equal, nothing could enter.

He wore a purple Daoist robe, with heavenly auspicious clouds swirling around his sides.

Meanwhile, Hongjun stood outside the three, the Jade Disc of Creation still atop his head as before, like a lustrous jewel.

Among the four, their realms were equal, yet their cultivations differed; their divine senses were linked, though their vital energies were not the same, but they were tightly united.

Rahu saw this scene, put away his earlier confidence of certain victory, grasped the God‑Slaying Spear, stood upon the Annihilation Black Lotus, and responded composedly.

"Fellow Daoist, your magical arts keep appearing, astonishing beyond measure; now let us see how this Daoist's immortal methods fare."

Hongjun said with a smile.

"Hmph, I, too, wish to see what lofty tactics your immortal Dao will produce."

In the midst of speech, the Zhuxian Four Swords all emerged, but were directly intercepted by the two clad in black and white robes; the plain-colored cloud-realm flag and the Primordial Measuring Heaven Ruler burst forth with divine light, making it hard for the Zhuxian Four Swords to break free.

Hongjun, meanwhile, raised the Jade Disc of Creation and attacked Rahu together with the purple‑robed Daoist.

The two coordinated with flawless tacit understanding, subtly suppressing him so that he could not move at will.

The divine light of the twelfth‑grade Annihilation Black Lotus was shaken to the point of nearly falling, and the God‑Slaying Spear could not be unleashed under the suppression of the Jade Disc of Creation.

"What you said earlier, fellow Daoist, does have some basis, but it is rather one‑sided."

"Although I have held back, I did not intend to harm Fellow Daoist Yang Mei and the others; the fate of the Five Elements fellow Daoist likewise grieves me deeply."

"Merely, fellow Daoist, this Zhuxian Sword Formation is excessively vicious; if no one breaks the formation, even though I possess the Three Corpses method, I would still be unable to withstand its sharpness."

"The Five Elements fellow Daoist departed by merging with the Dao, draining the lethal qi of the Immortal‑Slaying Gate from within the sword formation, rendering the formation incomplete; although there was later replenishment, compared with before the replenishment time was still brief—a mere drop in the bucket—thus reducing the formation's power by thirty percent."

"Fellow Daoist Yang Mei possesses heavenly‑reaching divine power, actually able to directly break the Zhuxian Gate, damaging the Zhuxian Sword itself, thereby restricting the formation and preventing the four swords from exerting their full power."

"Although it did not directly destroy it, it also makes the current formation's changes unable to exert full effect, further reducing the formation's power by another thirty percent."

"Otherwise, how could I, relying solely on the Good and Evil Corpses, possibly block your meticulous preparations after having survived one calamity?"

"Nevertheless, I still must thank you, fellow Daoist, for refusing Yang Mei's proposal of a siege; otherwise I would hardly escape this calamity."

At this moment Hongjun wore a smile; Rahu was already injured, in poor condition, and kept making foolish moves, so everything proceeded even more smoothly than he had anticipated.

Thereafter, as he had expected, Rahu could only suffer successive defeats.

"Hongjun, you are quite the schemer; my preparations spanning a hundred million years now seem like child's play."

"But you made the Five Elements Old Ancestor a scapegoat to drain the killing qi of the Zhuxian Sword Formation; in this tribulation, you will probably not have an easy time."

"The friendships between Yang Mei and Yin‑Yang, Five Elements, and Qian‑Kun, accumulated over countless ages, are not something you can measure." "Are you not afraid that, by contending too fiercely with me, you will let him reap the benefits as the idle fisherman?"

While Rahu was speaking, the Annihilation Great Mill on Mount Sumeru spun wildly, incessantly grinding the calamity and killing qi gathered from heaven and earth into fine particles, leaving only their essence.

These essences faintly condensed into a sword shape, but unfortunately had not yet taken form, so their final appearance could not be seen.

Nevertheless, the killing intent dense on the sword's body was enough to make all things feel panic.

"Fellow Daoist, you are not even afraid; how could I possibly worry about this?"

"Fellow Daoist Rahu seems to have forgotten that, although the Five Elements fellow Daoist's merging with the Dao involved my fault, it was ultimately you who slew him."

Hongjun paid no heed to Rahu's words; as he himself had said, Rahu was the true murderer, and at that time he was feeling proud and satisfied.

If Yang Mei and the others truly intended an ambush, they ought to have prioritized Rahu.

The Primordial Measuring Heaven Ruler burst forth with divine light, almost piercing the Zhuxian Sword Formation; this sight made Hongjun sense that something was amiss.

Although the Primordial Measuring Heaven Ruler is indeed powerful, compared to the Zhuxian Sword Formation its attack is still somewhat lacking.

How could it possibly produce such an effect so easily?

Hongjun carefully considered the crux, suddenly realizing that the Zhuxian Sword Formation had not received any killing‑qi replenishment for a long time.

Or rather, the destruction of Xifang Dalu's earth veins could not have produced merely this amount of killing qi; even after a thousand years its power has not been restored in the slightest.

You must know, this is still within the great calamity, and moreover the destruction of the western earth veins constitutes a great disaster affecting the entire wilderness.

Regardless, such a meager killing‑qi replenishment simply defies reason.

Rahu noticed Hongjun's sudden change in expression, realizing that his hidden move could not be concealed, and while trying to devise a counter, he saw Hongjun fiercely intensify his assault.

The Primordial Measuring Heaven Ruler continually struck the Zhuxian Sword Formation, warping the formation diagram and causing the space within to teeter on the brink of collapse.

Hongjun did not know what Rahu was scheming, but breaking the Zhuxian Sword Formation was always beneficial, at least it would not confine him to such a range.

Rahu could only say helplessly:

"It is time and fate; it seems you, Hongjun, possess great fortune, your destiny not meant to end here—only regrettable that my backup is not yet finished, so I can only let you escape this calamity for now."

Having spoken, the long‑unseen Annihilation Great Mill finally appeared before Hongjun; its frantic spinning made him secretly tremble.

From it he sensed a terrifying threat, a lethal threat.

Hongjun's brows knit tightly; the three corpses of Good, Evil, and Obstruction instantly gathered at his side, his gaze locked firmly upon the Annihilation Great Mill.

"Hongjun, after this strike, if you still retain the strength to fight again, I will have no choice but to seek another way."

Rahu waved his hand; the Annihilation Great Mill ceased its rotation, revealing the object being polished within.

A black jade sword no longer than nine inches in length and not an inch in width appeared within the sword formation.

As soon as the jade sword appeared, it absorbed all the killing qi within the Zhuxian Sword Formation, causing the formation to collapse naturally.

But Hongjun paid no heed to the formation's meaning, his gaze fixed firmly upon the jade sword.

The jade sword turned into a flowing light and vanished, and alarm bells rang loudly in Hongjun's heart.

(End of chapter)