Chapter 516: Time Is Running Out

"Well done! This group of traitors who abandoned the Nine Heavens and gladly became Inauspicious lapdogs should have met this fate long ago!"

"The Thunder Clan ran rampant and tyrannical in Yong Heng Tian, committing countless evils; its annihilation today truly manifests heavenly justice and greatly pleases the people!"

"Thank you, esteemed gentlemen, for the thunderous strike that removed this tumor from the Nine Heavens Ten Earths!"

From afar, the Yong Heng Tian beings who had been watching for a long time, after the initial shock, erupted in cheers and applause like mountain roars and ocean waves!

The Thunder Clan's usual tyranny had already drawn widespread resentment, and its collusion with the Inauspicious Clan crossed the line; its present annihilation naturally drew a chorus of acclaim.

Ji Clan leader Ji Changkong, standing alone in a void, gazed at the scorched, blood‑flowing ruins of the Thunder Clan below; his eyes were complex—thrilled by the great vengeance fulfilled, yet recalling and mourning the former ally Wind Clan—ultimately turning into a long sigh:

"The Wind Clan's deep blood‑sea grudge… today, at last, has been avenged. Thunder Clan… guilt is self‑inflicted."

In the center of the battlefield, Feng Caichen stood sword‑in‑hand, sword aura still swirling around him, his white robes stained with specks of blood—of course, all enemy blood.

At his feet lay piles of Thunder Clan cultivator corpses as high as a mountain.

That day, he did not know how many Thunder Clan lives he had slain; the souls fallen beneath his sword were countless.

Yet, even if this clan were eradicated, the deep‑seated blood‑feud and endless sorrow from the Wind Clan's annihilation and its entire tribe's slaughter could not be easily resolved.

His gaze remained icy, his hand gripping the hilt turning slightly white at the knuckles.

A warm, strong hand gently patted his shoulder.

Ye Wuque stood at his side, his eyes also scanning the ruins, his voice low and resolute:

"Lao Feng, the annihilation of the Thunder Clan is only a beginning."

"The true mastermind is the Inauspicious Clan behind us, the stir‑up of the Other Shore."

"Our road is still long."

Feng Caichen slowly exhaled a puff of foul air, the chill in his eyes easing a bit, and he nodded heavily.

Seven Yu Elder stood shoulder to shoulder with Heavenly Sword Master, gazing at the tragic and grand scene of annihilation, filled with countless emotions.

"A peak clan so vast and profound, yet due to a single misguided thought, walked the path of betrayal and ultimately saw the whole clan perish, leaving eternity empty… lamentable, even hateful!" Seven Yu Elder shook his head and sighed.

"Fortunately, we acted in time; the thunderous force gave them no further respite or chance for greater devastation. Otherwise, given how deeply this clan had infiltrated and how profound its foundation was, a full activation would have yielded consequences… unimaginable," Heavenly Sword Master said gravely.

The figure of the Universe Master of the Great Thousand Divine Universe appeared silently above the crowd.

He still wore that dark robe, his aura as deep as the sea.

He looked down upon the now forbidden lands of the Thunder Clan, spoke slowly, his voice calm yet carrying a weight and warning that pierced through the ages.

"The Thunder Clan's annihilation is not the end. It precisely shows that the Other Shore and the Inauspicious have infiltrated and corrupted our Nine Heavens Ten Earths and the Zhutian Wanjie far more severely and deeply than we imagined."

His gaze swept over every powerhouse present, including the Heavenly Ancestor of the Ye Clan, Ice Sword Immortal, Great Universe Elder, and others:

"Beyond the Thunder Clan, there must be other, more deeply hidden traitors and conspirators. They may be lurking within any faction, any corner. Exposing them and cleansing the gates will be a long and arduous task. Gentlemen, the road ahead is heavy with responsibility."

At those words, Ye Jinghong, Great Universe Elder, Ice Sword Immortal, the Heavenly Ancestor and others all wore a stern expression, their faces solemn.

Indeed, even a clan of the Thunder Clan's caliber can be fully infiltrated and corrupted; how can other forces guarantee absolute purity?

This invisible battlefield may be more dangerous and complex than direct combat.

With the self‑detonation of the Thunder Punishment Celestial Venerable, the core of the Thunder Clan's territory turned into a forbidden zone saturated with terrifying residual energy and chaotic laws; any ordinary being stepping in would instantly turn to ash.

Originally, some factions or lone cultivators who intended to loot the Thunder Clan's leftover resources could only stand back, sighing in helplessness.

The various participating forces and strong individuals began to depart one after another.

Ji Clan leader Ji Changkong led his people to the Universe Master and others, bowed respectfully, and spoke with gratitude:

"Thank you, Lord Universe, thank you, senior masters and Dao companions, for the thunderous strike that eradicated the Thunder Clan's treacherous tumor! My Yong Heng Tian, and even the Nine Heavens Ten Earths, are grateful for your great kindness! Yong Heng Tian has suffered the Thunder Clan for long; today, at last, the clouds part and the sun shines!"

The Universe Master gave a slight nod, accepting the tribute.

Heavenly Sword Master and Ice Sword Immortal also came to Feng Caichen's side.

Heavenly Sword Master looked at his beloved disciple, his eyes showing concern and satisfaction: "Caichen, the Wind Clan's vengeance has been fulfilled, but the sword path is long; do not let hatred completely blind your sword heart. Your journey lies at a higher place."

Ice Sword Immortal still bore that cold demeanor, but when speaking to Feng Caichen, his tone was much gentler: "Wind kid, today's slaughter is both causality and trial. Your sword is sharper than before, yet it must also be steadier. Cultivate patience; the Origin Ancient Road is near, and there… is truly where you test your sword."

The two sword masters then bowed to the Universe Master and others, and transformed into two dazzling sword lights, cutting through the void and returning to the Ancient Sword Tomb.

Ye Jinghong and the Heavenly Ancestor of the Ye Clan also approached Ye Wuque.

Ye Jinghong's expression was solemn as he warned: "Wuque, today you have also seen that traitors are everywhere, impossible to guard against. In the future, be extremely cautious and never trust anyone lightly. The Ye Clan will always be your backing, but you yourself are your most reliable safeguard."

The hunched, elderly Heavenly Ancestor, however, smiled broadly, gave Ye Wuque a hearty pat on the shoulder, and boomed: "Little guy, well done! This old man believes in you! Keep cultivating and get stronger quickly! Our Ye Clan's future now rests on you young ones! Hahaha! I'm off, off, back to sleep!"

Having said that, without delay, he tore the void together with Ye Jinghong and returned to the Ye Clan.

Finally, only the group from the Great Thousand Divine Universe remained in the arena.

The Universe Master rolled up his sleeves, and a gentle, vast force enveloped Ye Wuque, Feng Caichen, Great Universe Elder, and Seven Yu Elder, causing them to vanish instantly from the spot.

…

Great Thousand Divine Universe, core forbidden land, the summit space of Tai Gu Shen Yu Ta.

It is a mysterious place seemingly situated at the nexus of the Zhutian Wanjie, the source of time and space.

The interior is simple, with only endless Dao Rhythm and the radiance of wisdom flowing.

Ye Wuque and Feng Caichen stood respectfully beneath the hall.

Great Universe Elder and Seven Yu Elder stood beside them.

The Universe Master sat atop a chaotic straw mat above, his blurred visage and gaze seeming able to pierce past, present, and future.

He spoke slowly, his voice echoing through the Dao Palace with unprecedented gravity:

"The Thunder Clan matter is concluded, but the real storm has only just begun."

"Time… is running out."

His first sentence set a heavy tone.

"The situation deep within the No Return Road is a hundred to a thousand times more severe than you know."

The Universe Master's voice was deep.

"The Inauspicious Clan is brewing an unprecedented, world‑shaking conspiracy that will affect the Zhutian Wanjie."

That seemingly prematurely revived ultimate being is merely the tip of the iceberg.

There, it is the true front line, a slaughterhouse, and also a heroes' tomb.

The Universe Lord's tone, unusually, carried a hint of world‑weariness and respect.

For countless epochs, generation after generation of supreme beings have gone forward and back, stepping onto the No Return Path, using flesh and spirit to build a defense, shielding the Zhutian Wanjie behind them from far more unimaginable Great Terror and great despair.

Their names may have already faded into the long river of time, but their sacrifice must not be forgotten.

Ye Wuque and Feng Caichen, upon hearing this, felt their spirits tremble, as if they saw the tragic scene of blood and fire intertwined, heroic souls weeping blood.

The Universe Lord's gaze fell upon the two of them, becoming sharp and full of expectation:

Therefore, you must understand that the time left for you, for your generation, is truly not much.

The soon‑to‑be opened Origin Ancient Road is a crisis, but also an opportunity.

It is the ultimate Trial Ground that gathers the monsters of the Zhutian Great Thousand Divine Universe, confronting the Darkness surrounding the No Return Path—bloody and cruel—but also containing unimaginable destiny and honing.

Seize this chance on the Origin Ancient Road, sparing no cost, to raise your strength at the fastest possible speed!

Only by being sufficiently strong can one have the right to struggle, protect, and even… counterattack in the future torrent of Darkness.

His words, like a heavy hammer, struck Ye Wuque and Feng Caichen's hearts, making them feel a weighty responsibility and an unprecedented sense of urgency.

The Universe Lord paused briefly, his tone turning to deeper seriousness, even with a hint of coldness:

Furthermore, there is one more matter you must constantly remember—be wary of… traitors.

His eyes were deep, as if trying to see through all illusion:

Today's Thunder Clan incident is by no means an isolated case. In the current Nine Heavens Ten Earths, and even the entire Zhutian Wanjie camps, any faction—from the pinnacle clans down to the smallest sects—may conceal Other Shore or ominous insidious plots and traitors.

Including… the Ancient Sword Tomb, the Ye Clan, and even… within my Great Thousand Divine Universe.

Upon hearing this, Ye Wuque and Feng Caichen's pupils contracted slightly, and waves rose in their hearts.

Even one's own sect could be infiltrated?

"I will employ every means to conduct covert investigations," the Universe Lord continued. "But traitors often hide extremely deep, disguising perfectly, making them hard to detect. You yourselves, while traveling outside and interacting with others, must stay vigilant, think and observe more. Sometimes, the deadliest knife often comes from… behind."

Finally, the Universe Lord rose slowly, his vague figure seeming to merge with the surrounding Dao Palace, his voice grand and distant:

"That is all I have to say."

"The road ahead is thorny, Darkness approaches. Whether you become the torch that lights the Darkness, or sink into the dust of despair… is up to you."

"Take care of yourselves."

As the words faded, light swirled within the Dao Palace; Ye Wuque and Feng Caichen felt a gentle spatial ripple, and were instantly transported back, each returning outside their Holy Son Dongfu in the Great Thousand Divine Universe.

The two exchanged a glance, each seeing in the other's eyes the lingering tremor, the heavy pressure, and an increasingly steadfast light.

Without much exchange, any words now seemed pale.

They faced the direction of the Universe Lord's Dao Palace, bowed solemnly once more, then each turned and entered their own Dongfu.

The Dongfu sealed, and a barrier rose.

Outside, the earth‑shattering news of the Thunder Clan's annihilation swept across the Nine Heavens Ten Earths at storm‑like speed, provoking endless clamor and shock.

Inside the Dongfu, Ye Wuque and Feng Caichen sat cross‑legged, clearing their minds of distractions.

Their spirits, on one hand, were digesting what they had seen and heard today: the Supreme Boundless Great Perfection's supreme Great Power, the tragic fall of the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable, and the looming shadow of the traitor threat.

On the other hand, everything converged onto the increasingly clear and scorching sensation within their bodies—

That which comes from the unseen, mysterious and unpredictable, where danger and opportunity coexist…

Origin Ancient Road!

They waited, awaiting the moment when the gate leading to the Dark Blood Fire Trial and infinite possibilities would fully open.