Half a minute ago …
"Something happened in the Flooding Sea!"
Looking at the trembling black hole, the faces of the Cloud Dragon God Monarch and the others warped in horror.
All along, they had thought that the Flood of Spiritual Energy would come once every decade. However, it was only upon seeing the situation before them that they realized that the Flood of Spiritual Energy was bound to disappear and collapse.
If the Firmament were to collapse, it would be no different from losing its sun. The spiritual energy in the Firmament would gradually deplete, turning it into a lifeless world.
"Stop it!"
The six God Monarchs, the Deathless Monarch, and Little Chick raised their hands and infused their strength into the black hole.
They were hoping that they could use their strength to delay the collapse of the Flooding Sea.
Kacha! Kacha!
It didn't take long for a huge crack to appear in front of him. The barrier that had been sealing the God Realm shattered, and the chaotic spiritual energy formed a massive vortex that devoured the energy that had just entered the God Realm.
As the cracks spread out, the sky of the God World began to crack like a piece of porcelain. Inch by inch, it was impossible to stop the cracks.
"Let's stop the calamity in the Firmament first!"
The Cloud Dragon God Monarch bellowed.
At this time, they could no longer care about comparing with each other. The only thing they wanted to do was to protect the God Realm and their home.
Seven surges of energy burst forth, and the crack in the sky was sealed by the surging energy. However, due to the spiritual energy being sucked dry in an instant, the Firmament was already in a state of turmoil.
The ground shook, and the stars dimmed. It looked as if they would fall at any moment.
Countless buildings collapsed, and the world seemed to be coming to an end.
"The Firmament is doomed …"
"I knew that this day would come, but I didn't think that it would come so soon …"
"There's no need to run anymore. If the Firmament really collapses, we'll die no matter where we run to!"
…
Countless cultivators stood in the middle of the city with lifeless eyes. Their hearts were filled with sorrow.
Ever since the calamity that had befallen the Firmament fifty years ago, they had known that it was only a matter of time before something even bigger happened. They just didn't think that it would happen so soon.
"Just wait and see. If the Nine God Monarchs can save the Firmament, we'll be able to survive. If not, we'll die no matter what.
There's no need to be so conflicted … "a high-tier God King explained as he looked at the chaotic crowd. But before he could finish his words, a voice suddenly sounded in his mind, as if the Firmament had given its permission.
"Today, I am the Emperor!"
"Monarch? Someone has become a God Monarch … It's Emperor Zhang Xuan! "
"Isn't Zhang Xuan selling elixirs? How did he break through to the Great Emperor Realm? "
"That's right, it must be him. Back then, when the Heaven Subjugation Monarch was making a breakthrough to the God Monarch realm, I also heard that voice …"
…
Everyone was in an uproar. No one dared to believe that this was true.
Twilight City, Twilight Academy.
Recalling the voice that had appeared in his head, Mo Yuan's eyes widened in shock, and his mouth was agape.
"God Monarch Zhang Xuan …"
More than a month ago, when Zhang Xuan first met Zhang Xuan, Zhang Xuan was still a weakling, only at God realm primary stage. Yet, just a month later, Zhang Xuan had already become a God Monarch, standing at the peak of the world.
"He became … an Imperial Lord?"
The teapot in Qi Ling-er's hand had fallen to the ground, but she was completely unaware of it.
He knew that Zhang Xuan's identity was extraordinary, and he knew that he would grow stronger and stronger. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that he would really become a God Monarch, and at such a fast pace at that!
"As expected of the Conferred God King of the Nine Skies … Just like the Heaven Subjugation Monarch, he managed to make a breakthrough as soon as he entered the Flooding Sea …"
Fairy Linglong looked in the direction of the voice with a complicated look on her face.
At this moment, the Flooding Sea had already collapsed. In the depths of the pitch-black space, a young man stood proudly in the air. His hands were placed behind his back, and his eyes were cold and aloof.
It was the young man whom she had seen on the moon.
Back then, when she met him in the Sky of Linglong, she had wanted to kill him for the matter regarding Baiye Qinghong. Who could have thought that in just a few short days, he would be able to overcome the bottleneck of a Conferred God King and become a God Exalted?
Given his current strength, it was likely that he would become the most dazzling shooting star in the world, just like the Heaven Subjugation Monarch.
"It's no wonder the Deathless Monarch acknowledged him as his master and God Monarch Lingxi fell in love with him … He's indeed extraordinary!"
It was at this moment that she finally understood what had been bothering her all this while.
She was far from being able to match up to the other party's eye of discernment.
"The people we took in were all his students. He possesses the body of a mortal, but he possesses the disposition of a God Monarch … He's indeed another Heaven Subjugation Monarch!"
The Cloud Dragon Monarch, God Monarch Zhuoyang, God Monarch Acheron, and the others remarked in awe.
It was just a moment ago that she was still thinking of suppressing the other party to prevent him from becoming a God Monarch, but from the looks of it now, it seemed like she was unable to stop him at all.
"He didn't make use of the Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies to achieve a breakthrough!"
Demon Monarch Qiankun's voice suddenly sounded.
Everyone was taken aback.
They had thought that the reason why the other party was able to become a God Monarch was because of the Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies, so they did not think too much about it. However, with the collapse of the Flooding Sea, they immediately noticed the blossoming lotus in the air.
It was as dazzling as a piece of jade, and it exuded a powerful allure.
"Since he didn't use it, it means that we can use it as well. Once we use it, our strength will surely soar!"
God Monarch Fumeng roared.
His heart was filled with the desire to grow stronger. It was one thing for someone else to consume the Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies, but now that it was floating in the air, how could he possibly give it up?
"He has just achieved a breakthrough, so he's still in the midst of raising his cultivation. He won't be able to assimilate the lotus in time.
Without any hesitation, God Monarch Fumeng charged toward the Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies.
"Don't run! It's mine!" Demon Monarch Qiankun also rushed over anxiously.
In an instant, Fairy Linglong, Demon Monarch Qiankun, Acheron God Monarch, God Monarch Zhuoyang … The four God Monarchs also rushed over.
Even before they could reach the lotus, they had already gathered their powers to form massive palms that pressed down on the Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies.
All of them wanted to snatch the Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies before anyone else, so that they could overcome their current bottleneck and reach the pinnacle.
Boom!
Before the might of the six forces could land on the golden lotus, a massive barrier had already formed around it. Following which, before everyone's bewildered gazes, the lotus blossomed further and further. Nine rays of light lit up the entire Firmament, as if a new sun had appeared.
Peng peng peng peng peng!
The rays of light pierced through the barrier and collided with the might of the six forces, causing the six God Monarchs to retreat several steps simultaneously. Their faces paled.
Clearly, they had suffered greatly from the clash with the Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies.
Weng!
Amidst everyone's bewildered gazes, the golden lotus wriggled and morphed into the appearance of a young man.
As soon as the young man appeared in the sky, he turned to look at Zhang Xuan with a stifled look on his face.
"I actually allowed you to make a breakthrough first … How am I supposed to act cool now?"
A voice resounded in everyone's ears at the same time, filled with anger.
"From today onward, I'm a God Monarch too!"
"Two God Monarchs?"
"Two God Monarchs?"
"It's not two, it's just one. Haven't you noticed? That's his clone!"
"His clone has become a God Monarch too?"
Fairy Linglong, the Cloud Dragon Monarch, and the others were dumbfounded.
God Monarchs were the pinnacle existences of the world. For countless years, they had thought that there were only nine God Monarchs in the Nine Skies, and it was impossible for there to be another one. It was only when the Heaven Subjugation Monarch appeared that they realized that it was possible to become a God Monarch!
Even so, they were still filled with confidence, thinking that no one would be able to replace them. But in the end …
Two God Monarchs appeared in a single day, and they were the main body and clone at that. Just what in the world was going on?
When did it become so easy for a God Monarch to become a God Monarch?
More importantly …
The crucial moment of becoming a God Monarch was the best time to establish one's authority, so one had to build a proud image. Why did it feel like this clone of his was flying into a rage out of humiliation after failing to show off?
I'm a freaking God Monarch too …
What's the difference between a high-class person and a street performer now that you've put it that way?
The God Monarchs were not the only ones who had such a look on their faces. Even a God Monarch could swear?
Furthermore, it was God Monarch Zhang Xuan just a moment ago, and now, there was another one …
Of the two Zhang Xuan's, which one was the real one?
"A man with two God Monarchs to be conferred the title of God Monarch from the Nine Skies! That's my master! "Little Chick's eyes lit up in excitement.
That was the authority that a master should have!
Paying no heed to the narcissism of his clone and the astonishment of the crowd, Zhang Xuan exhaled deeply.
He had thought that he would die for sure, but who could have thought that he would comprehend a God Monarch realm sword art at the very last moment and slay the Epitome Monarch Pill, thus becoming a God Monarch?
Coming back from the jaws of death.
Closing his eyes, Zhang Xuan could feel the immense power coursing through his body, and he clenched his fists tightly.
Those who had crossed this door and those who had not were two completely different concepts.
Right now, he seemed to be in control of an entire world, and a single thought from him could cause heaven and earth to collapse.
"My strength is twice as strong as I expected. It should have something to do with my clone …"
A thought flashed through his mind.
Initially, Zhang Xuan had a rough idea of the strength of a God Monarch who had just achieved a breakthrough to the God Monarch realm. However, at this moment, it was clear that Zhang Xuan's strength was more than twofold than he had expected. Without even thinking about it, it was clear that it had something to do with his clone.
Xiao Chen's clone also broke through to Sovereign Emperor, which was equivalent to becoming a Martial Emperor with two souls. His soul, physical body, and even Veritable Energy far surpassed that of an ordinary Sovereign Emperor, reaching an unimaginable level.
Rumble! Rumble!
Just as Zhang Xuan was feeling his newfound strength, dark clouds suddenly gathered in the sky, and it felt as if the entire Firmament had been plunged into darkness. The rift that they had sealed earlier began to spread once more, and just like the Flooding Sea earlier, the Firmament looked as if it would explode at any moment.
"It's the Sovereign Lord Tribulation …"
Zhang Xuan narrowed his eyes.
When one's cultivation reached a level that a dimension was unwilling to bear, a calamity would descend upon it, just like the Ancient Sage Ordeal of the Master Teacher Continent and the Semi-Divinity Ordeal of the Azure.
In the God World, it was the Sovereign Monarch Tribulation!
If one wanted to become a Martial Emperor, one had to face the tribulation first.
"Isn't this God Monarch Ordeal a little too powerful?" Fairy Linglong muttered with quivering lips.
"To turn the entire Firmament into a calamity … Even the Heaven Subjugation Monarch didn't summon such a powerful lightning tribulation back then," the Cloud Dragon Monarch muttered.
"The Heaven Subjugation Monarch only managed to become a God Monarch on his own, and he managed to make his clone into a God Monarch as well. While his strength has been doubled, the calamity will surely be doubled as well …"
Demon Monarch Qiankun said with a bitter smile.
It was both a good and a bad thing for his clone to become a God Monarch at the same time.
The good thing was that his clone's strength had been doubled. Even though he had just achieved a breakthrough, he could already be considered as one of the strongest cultivators in the Firmament.
The bad thing was that the calamity would be even more difficult to deal with.
For all he knew, he might very well die as soon as he made a breakthrough.
"The lightning tribulation is indeed powerful, but it's nothing much …"
Looking at the massive storm in the sky, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Under normal circumstances, it would be difficult for one to overcome such a massive lightning tribulation right after achieving a breakthrough to the God Monarch realm. However, he was different.
Having comprehended a God Monarch realm sword art, his fighting prowess had already reached the very pinnacle of God Monarchs. A mere lightning tribulation was nothing to him.
Hula!
The Crimson Heaven Sword materialized in Zhang Xuan's hand, and he flicked it lightly.
Come back in life, Long Yearning in death!
The might of a single sword strike was reminiscent of a ray of light piercing through the veil of darkness, blinding everyone in the Firmament for a short period of time.
The lightning tribulation in the sky vanished without a trace.
The God Monarch Ordeal had been swept away with a single sword strike!
Si la!
With the end of the calamity, Zhang Xuan heard the sound of fabric being torn apart. Turning his head over, he saw that the crack in the Firmament had grown even larger.
Earlier, when the crack had extended from the Flooding Sea, the seven God Monarchs had already failed to stop it. Now that the God Monarch Ordeal was so powerful, the sky of the Firmament was already shaking, threatening to collapse at any moment.
Just like the Flooding Sea, the Firmament had already reached an irreversible state.
"Seal!"
With a tap of his finger, Zhang Xuan infused his zhenqi into the crack in an attempt to mend it, but it was barely enough.
It was as if a crack had appeared on a piece of glass. No matter how strong the glue was, it was impossible to mend it back to its original state.
"Is there any other way?"
Seeing that the crack was still expanding, Zhang Xuan could not help but turn to look at Little Chick.
He was a God Monarch from the Ancient Era, so he might have a better idea.
"I don't know either …" Little Chick shook his head with a bitter smile.
Earlier, the six God Monarchs had gone to snatch the Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies, but Little Chick had not done so. He had been trying his best to stop the crack from expanding, but it was a pity that he was unable to do so no matter how hard he tried.
"There's no other way …"
Just as Zhang Xuan was at a loss for what to do, a calm voice suddenly sounded. Turning his head over, he saw Lozosy standing by the side with a deep frown on her face.
"What's going on with the Firmament? Even though my previous slash wasn't weak, it shouldn't have been able to cause such a massive crack, right? "
Knowing that Luo Ruoxin was the one who knew the most, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask.
Even though the crack in the Flooding Sea had extended all the way to the Firmament before his breakthrough, it had not caused such a huge damage. Why did it seem like there was no way to mend it after his breakthrough?
Hearing Zhang Xuan's question, Lozosy replied with a bitter smile, "The Firmament is like an antique that has reached the end of its lifespan. It can no longer hold on any longer, and a powerful force has been born. Not to mention, you and your clone have given birth to two God Monarchs. It's already a blessing that the Firmament didn't explode on the spot … "
"Our foundation has been taken away?" Zhang Xuan was perplexed.
"Indeed. The Firmament has already lost a portion of its heavens, so it can no longer function as one. It can no longer afford to give birth to any more experts …" Lozosy shook her head.
"Are you saying that … if I don't make a breakthrough to the God Monarch realm, the Firmament will be able to hold on for a very long time?" Zhang Xuan frowned.
Could it be that he had made the wrong breakthrough?
"Of course not … If you don't make a breakthrough, the Firmament will collapse within a month …" Lozosy sighed.
"It won't last a month?" Zhang Xuan narrowed his eyes. The other God Monarchs also clenched their fists tightly upon hearing the news.
Clearly, they were not aware of this matter.
With the collapse of the Firmament, no matter how high one's standing was, it would only be an illusion.
Even the God Monarchs would become a laughingstock.
"Do you know where the Flooding Sea came from?" Lozosy asked as she pointed to the shattered Flooding Sea.
"I think it suddenly appeared fifty years ago. Back then, something happened in Spirit Origin City, and the Deathless Monarch disappeared without a trace …" the Cloud Dragon Monarch interjected.
All along, he had been thinking that it was forty years ago, but now that he thought about it, it had already been fifty years since then.
Fifty short years was not even the entire lifetime of a mortal, but the Firmament had undergone a massive transformation.
"That's right," Luo Ruoxin said. "That's exactly when the Tidal Sea appeared. Look, doesn't the entrance of the Tidal Sea look like a huge hole in the God World?"
"It does …" Zhang Xuan nodded.
He had noticed it as soon as he arrived at the Flooding Sea, and it felt as if the Firmament had been torn apart. However, he did not think that anyone would have the ability to do so.
After all, the Firmament had the ability to regenerate itself. Even if it was torn apart, it would recover swiftly.
He had no idea what was going on with such a permanent scar.
Noticing Zhang Xuan's confusion, Lozosy shook her head grimly and said, "It was caused by a human."
"Caused by a human?" Everyone froze.
Given their strength, they were indeed able to leave a scar in the sky, but it would not take long for it to recover, as if it had never been there in the first place.
Given that the Flooding Sea had been here for fifty years, and it was only getting bigger and bigger. If it was really caused by a human, just how powerful was that human?
Could there really be beings that were even more fearsome than God Monarchs in the world?
If there really was such a being, how did it come into existence? Where did it come from?
Why would it make a move on the Firmament?
While everyone was shocked, Zhang Xuan suddenly recalled the massive palm print he had seen in the Flooding Sea.
Back then, he had also harbored such doubts, but he had found it hard to believe.
Could it be that … all of the nonsense he had been imagining was real?
"Fifty years ago, a massive palm suddenly appeared and struck a massive hole in the Firmament. Large swathes of land were devoured by the hole, forming the Flooding Sea. The Deathless Monarch of the Sky of Spirit Origin was killed on the spot, and Spirit Origin City fell into the turbulent space. "
Lozosy did not hide anything from Zhang Xuan. "In fact, the heavens of the Firmament were also stripped away, and the Heavenly Order and Heavenly Imperfection fell into a spatial rift. There, they drifted for countless years, eventually forming you and the Heaven Subjugation Monarch!"
Zhang Xuan's body jolted in astonishment.
It seemed like his guess was right.
When he first saw the Flooding Sea, he had thought that it might have something to do with his Heavenly Imperfection, but who could have thought that it would really be caused by a human?
Who was the one who had created that palm? How did it wield such immense power?
"I don't know where that palm came from or why it would attack the Firmament, but I do know that it's not a power that a God Monarch can withstand!" Lozosy placed her hands behind her back as the fear in her eyes deepened. "Furthermore, the other party's power is capable of neutralizing the heavens!"
"This …" Zhang Xuan suddenly recalled the unique energy he had encountered in the abyss of Spirit Origin City. His Heaven's Path zhenqi would neutralize it, and it would dissipate into a streak of green light.
There was such energy in the Flooding Sea as well.
It was no wonder the hole in the Firmament had not recovered even after fifty years. Given how destructive the energy was, there was no way to repair it.
It was similar to consuming spicy food every day when one was injured. It would be a miracle if one could recover from it.
If it could not be repaired, it would always be a loophole. As time passed, the Immortal Realm grew weaker and weaker.
"The heavens have already been damaged in the first place, and the energy that the Flooding Sea has been consuming has already reached its limit. Based on my calculations, the Firmament will collapse within three months after the Flood of Spiritual Energy. However, you and your clone have managed to achieve a breakthrough to the God Monarch realm at the same time, and the energy that you have absorbed is simply too great. On top of that, the swordsmanship that you executed during the Heavenly Tribulation has far exceeded the limits of the heavens, thus pushing the time forward … "
Lozosy shook her head.
There was no reason for her to blame the other party.
If she wanted to save the Firmament, she would have to make a breakthrough to the God Monarch realm and grow her control over the heavens to the maximum.
If she did not make a breakthrough within three months, the Firmament would still collapse.
Since that was the case, it would be better for her to bring it forward.
At the very least, she would be able to deal with it sooner.
"Is there any way to stop the collapse of the Firmament?" Zhang Xuan asked anxiously.
If the Firmament were to collapse, all life would cease to exist. Even if he were to continue living, it would be meaningless.
"There are two ways. Firstly, you can remove the unique energy that is capable of destroying the heavens. Secondly, you can restore the integrity of the heavens, "Lozosy said.
"This …" Zhang Xuan was taken aback. "How can we remove the destructive energy?"
He had seen that aura before. It had formed a massive barrier beneath Spirit Origin City, and it would require a vast amount of Heaven's Path zhenqi to remove it.
But … would it really be effective to clear it?
"After fifty years, I suspect that the aura has already gained sentience and taken on a human form. Otherwise, the cracks in the Flooding Sea wouldn't have spread so quickly. If we want to resolve the issue once and for all, we'll have to find the other party and kill it. That way, the turmoil in the Firmament will cease. As long as we restore the integrity of the heavens, we'll be able to bring the situation under control and save the Firmament, "Lozosy said.
"It took on a human form?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.
That unique energy could take on a human form too?
"That's right," Lozosy nodded. "That's just my deduction. I'm not too sure about the specifics …"
"I see. If your deduction is correct, how powerful is it? Where is it located? "This was what Zhang Xuan was most concerned about.
If the other party was not too powerful, with the help of the nine God Monarchs and his clone, they might be able to put up a fight.
"It's unfathomably powerful. I don't think we'll be a match for it. In fact, even with the help of the eight God Monarchs and you, we still won't be able to defeat it," Lozosy said. "It's only with such strength that it is able to tear apart the Firmament and render us helpless."
Zhang Xuan clenched his fists tightly.
If it was that easy to defeat it, he would not be so helpless right now.
Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan asked, "Restoring the integrity of the heavens … Is that the will of the heavens?"
"That's right. Both you and Kong Shi possess a portion of the heavens in your body. The only way to restore the integrity of the heavens is to die," Lozosy said grimly.
She was unwilling to say those words aloud, but that was the truth.
No one could escape from it.
"I understand," Zhang Xuan said with a bitter smile. "Kill me then. Kong Shi is already dead, and the Heavens' Order in his body should have been restored by now. Now that I have reached the God Monarch realm, I'm qualified to vie for the will of the heavens … "
"Since it's the will of the heavens, how can I possibly court death?" Lozosy shook her head. "If killing is the only way to resolve the situation, I'd rather be killed by you."
If one did not fight for the will of the heavens, how could one make up for the will of the heavens?
"You aren't qualified to fight for the Mandate of Heaven just because you've become a Monarch. Instead, you must possess the ability to fight for it … The first requirement for this ability is to obtain the acknowledgement of the Nine Heavens!"
Lozosy continued.
"Acknowledged by the Nine Heavens? You mean … to challenge the Nine Thearchs? "Zhang Xuan was stunned.
As far as he knew, there were only two ways to obtain the recognition of the Nine Heavens. The first was to become an Emperor of the Nine Heavens. Secondly, he would challenge the Nine Thearchs and gain their recognition.
He had achieved the title of King of the Nine Skies, but becoming an Emperor of the Nine Skies was definitely not that easy. Otherwise, Kong Shi would not have challenged the other eight emperors consecutively just to gain their recognition.
Lozosy nodded.
Hearing the conversation between the duo, the faces of Demon Monarch Qiankun and the others twitched. Could it be that … they were going to be pummeled once more?
You guys are fighting for your own destiny … Why are you beating us up?
It was like hitting your own parrot when someone hit you … What the hell was this!
You can't play like this …
Just as he was feeling stifled, the young man suddenly turned around and looked at him.
"Alright then, all of you can come at me together …"
Having achieved a breakthrough to the God Monarch realm together with his clone, coupled with his God Monarch realm swordsmanship, the young man had no reason to fear any one of them.
Perhaps, he might still be lacking compared to Kong Shi at his peak, but against these people, he was more than capable enough to deal with them.
"…"
"The heck …"
The God Monarchs burst into tears.
Big Brother, even if you want to show off, you don't have to go this far, right?
It's already embarrassing enough for you to be defeated one by one. To challenge all of us at once …
Don't you have any shame?
We are God Monarchs! Is it really appropriate for us to do this?
Their faces turned crimson. For a moment, they were at a loss as to what to do.
"There's no need to fight anymore. I admit defeat!" Little Chick said.
The young man before him was his master, so there was nothing shameful about admitting defeat.
"This …" Seeing that the Deathless Monarch had admitted defeat, awkward looks appeared on the faces of the others. A moment later, they sighed and said, "We admit defeat as well …"
They had no choice but to admit defeat. If they were to admit defeat, it would be even more embarrassing for them.
His main body and clone were both God Monarchs, and they were Conferred Kings of the Nine Skies as well. On top of that, they could even bring their tamed beasts with them … How could they possibly fight them?
That would be equivalent to fighting against three God Monarchs at once.
More importantly, they had all seen how the young man had broken through the lightning tribulation earlier. Even the combined strength of all of them was insufficient to withstand it, let alone one on one.
After all, they were all people who cared about their pride. It was impossible for them to form a formation to gang up on one another.
"This …" Seeing that everyone had admitted defeat, Lozosy's eyebrows twitched uncontrollably.
When Kong Shi challenged the God Monarchs, he had presented his name scroll and arranged the time of the duel. Even though he had lost, there was still a sense of formality to it … Yet, you actually said that you should come at me together …
You are really not treating the God Monarchs as rations at all …
Anyone else would have felt so stifled and stifled that they would have lost their composure.
God Monarch Fumeng, the Cloud Dragon Monarch, the Zhuoyang Monarch, the Qiankun Demon Monarch, Fairy Linglong, the Acheron God Monarch, and the Deathless Monarch — the seven God Monarchs — had admitted defeat simultaneously. The jade seals of the Seven Skies emanated a unique energy that shrouded Zhang Xuan within. In an instant, he felt as if he had gained the acknowledgement of the Seven Skies.
If he were to walk within the Seven Skies once more, he would not suffer any rejection, and he would receive the Anima of Yearning from the cultivators of the Seven Skies.
"Hmm? No, it's not the Seven Skies but the Eight Skies. I have already gained the acknowledgement of the Eight Skies! "
Zhang Xuan was taken aback.
Under normal circumstances, if the seven God Monarchs had admitted defeat, he would only have gained the acknowledgement of the Seven Skies. However, he could sense that the Eight Skies of the Firmament did not reject him at all.
It was as if the Sky of Heavenly Sword had already acknowledged him.
"It's the Crimson Heaven Sword. When the Sword God of the Sky of Heavenly Sword gave you the Crimson Heaven Sword, the Sky of Heavenly Sword has already acknowledged your strength and potential …"
Sensing Zhang Xuan's doubts, Lozosy explained.
Zhang Xuan widened his eyes in realization.
It was no wonder the young man from the Sky of Heavenly Sword had said that he had spent several decades forging this sword. Even if the sword was not a jade seal, it was not too far from it.
"I have already gained the acknowledgement of the Eight Skies. Am I qualified to compete with you?"
Feeling the acknowledgement of the Eight Skies, Zhang Xuan turned to look at Luo Ruoxin.
Back then, Kong Shi had challenged Lozosy at the end of the Eight Skies.
"Have you made up your mind?"
Lozosy's eyes reddened.
Once the battle began, one of them would have to die.
"I've made up my mind …" Placing his hands behind his back, Zhang Xuan turned his gaze downward. Amidst the chaos, the Firmament had already descended into chaos. There were all kinds of massacres, battles, and plundering of resources. Not even the God Kings were able to stop it.
He would be able to live a little longer if he delayed the battle for the heavens, but as time passed, more and more people would die in the Firmament.
He was not a selfless person, but he was not a selfish person either.
If he could resolve the situation as soon as possible, he would not drag things out for his own benefit.
"Let's begin then!"
Taking a deep breath, Lozosy flicked her wrist, and a sword appeared in her grasp.
Even though she was reluctant to part with him, she knew that there was nothing she could do about it.
From the moment she agreed to be Zhang Xuan's girlfriend, their fates had already been decided. There was no way to change it.
It was destined to be a tragedy.
"Let's begin," Zhang Xuan said with a smile.
The two of them pushed their cultivation to their limits, and just as they were about to make their move, they suddenly felt the world trembling violently. A boundless energy was gushing toward them.
Boom boom boom!
The rift that had been extending for a while now grew larger, and the pitch-black hole in the Flooding Sea began to revolve slowly, turning into a bottomless abyss that devoured everything in its path.
Spiritual energy, land, and even lifeforms were devoured by the black hole in the blink of an eye, turning into dazzling rays of green light.
"This is bad. It's a monster formed from that unique gas!"
Lozosy exclaimed in shock.
"A monster?"
Zhang Xuan clenched his fists tightly together.
Zhang Xuan had said earlier that the unique gas that was capable of destroying the world might have developed sentience and taken the form of a humanoid monster. He had no idea when he would be able to see it, but who could have thought that it would appear so soon?
Hong long long!
As the black hole devoured more and more energy, the space in the Firmament began to distort.
Ao Feng and the others who were closest to the black hole were already on the verge of being devoured.
Zhang Xuan reached out to grab the black hole and placed it behind his back. Then, he raised his sword and thrust it forward.
Another surge of Sword Intent burst forth, stopping at the black hole for a moment before being torn apart as well.
"How powerful!"
Zhang Xuan's face turned livid.
He had been able to sweep away all of the lightning bolts in the sky with a single slash, but now, not even a black hole was able to do anything to him. Just what in the world was that thing formed from the unique gas?
"It's coming out!"
Lozosy's eyebrows shot up as her zhenqi churned furiously. She was ready to launch her strongest attack at any moment.
As she spoke, a black figure walked out of the revolving black hole step by step. Wherever he went, even the strongest weapons were instantly turned to dust, neutralized into a green light, and disappeared without a trace.
"Unique gas …"
Zhang Xuan's heart turned cold.
He had seen the unique gas with his own eyes, so he knew just how fearsome it was. It was able to neutralize even the Heaven's Path zhenqi, and even the strongest artifacts in the Firmament would be corroded as easily as metal under sulfuric acid.
After walking out of the black hole, the black figure looked at Zhang Xuan with narrowed eyes. "Zhang Shi, it has been a long time since we last met …"
"How could it be you?"
Zhang Xuan narrowed his eyes in astonishment.
The silhouette that had appeared before him, formed from the substance that could neutralize the Heaven's Path zhenqi, was actually an old acquaintance of his … Vicious!
He hurriedly took a look at the golden page in his head, only to see that it was completely empty. Vicious had already disappeared without a trace.
He had no idea when the other party had disappeared!
He remembered clearly that he had met the other party when he first entered the Flooding Sea. How could the other party suddenly disappear and become so powerful?
"Aren't you curious as to how I was able to leave without anyone noticing despite being suppressed by your golden page?"
Vicious chuckled softly, seemingly noticing Zhang Xuan's doubts.
Zhang Xuan narrowed his eyes.
"The golden page of Heaven's Path is indeed a fearsome existence, but have you ever thought about the fact that the golden page of Heaven's Path that was formed on the Master Teacher Continent should have been able to break free of it easily after reaching the Pseudo Immortal realm in the Azure.
Vicious said.
Zhang Xuan's heart skipped a beat.
He had indeed overlooked this point.
The Library of Heaven's Path was different from the world that he had entered.
Back on the Master Teacher Continent, it had formed a golden page that was compatible with the heavens of the Master Teacher Continent. In the Azure, those beneath High Immortals were nothing more than ants.
As for the Firmament, as long as one was not a God Monarch, even Conferred God Realm cultivators would not be able to escape death.
From this, it could be seen that the golden page of Heaven's Path was slowly growing stronger along with the environment of the Library of Heaven's Path.
If the golden page of Heaven's Path were to be used on the Master Teacher Continent, the entire Master Teacher Continent would not be able to withstand its might.
Vicious had already reached the God King realm by the time they entered the Flooding Sea. With such strength, how could he possibly be unable to break free from the golden page of Heaven's Path on the Master Teacher Continent?
This was the greatest contradiction that Zhang Xuan had failed to notice.
"Ever since I came to the Firmament, I have told you that my body is more suited to the Firmament. It isn't absorbing the spiritual energy of the Firmament that allows me to advance faster but absorbing the destructive energy of the Firmament! This is especially so after you brought me into the depths of the abyss. I realized that I was able to absorb the energy even faster than before. Of course, even absorbing all of the energy in the abyss wouldn't be enough for me to evolve completely. The Flooding Sea is where I can spread my wings and soar!
"Without the restrictions of the heavens, the golden page of Heaven's Path won't be able to suppress me anymore. So, while you were searching for the Monarch Spirit Grass, I secretly left the Flooding Sea to absorb the unique energy once more," Vicious said.
Vicious looked at Zhang Xuan and said, "I was the one who brought the Epitome Monarch Pill to the Flooding Sea. Otherwise, it would have been unable to retrieve the Monarch Spirit Herb even after spending so many years in the Flooding Sea.
Zhang Xuan widened his eyes in realization.
If the Epitome Monarch Pill could really take the Monarch Spirit Grass away, it should have done so a long time ago. Why did it remain silent all this while? Instead, when his clone was fusing with the Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies, it was devouring the Monarch Pill instead?
It turned out that someone had helped him!
The space where the Monarch Spirit Grass was located was filled with chaos and danger. Even he had to borrow Luo Qiqi's strength to enter it. Without her help, it would have been difficult for him to succeed, let alone the Epitome Monarch Pill!
If it was that easy, the three medicinal herbs would have long been assimilated by someone else instead of waiting until now.
"I am the Vicious of the Master Teacher Continent. Back then, even Kong Shi nearly lost his life because of my schemes. Yet, you took me in as your subordinate and ordered me around like a dog … If I don't kill you, I won't be able to quench the hatred in my heart!"
Vicious bellowed furiously.
Tens of thousands of years ago, he had already dominated the Master Teacher Continent. It had not been easy for him to come back to life, but he ended up being subdued by a junior.
It was just that he was in a disadvantageous position back then, so he could only swallow his anger.
"You aren't sentient because of the unique energy but because you have gained control over the unique energy?" Zhang Xuan widened his eyes in realization.
Previously, Lozosy had said that the unique energy had gained sentience after many years of dormancy. However, from the looks of it now, that was not the case. Vicious had absorbed the unique energy and gathered it into his own power.
"You are right. Our Otherworldly Demonic Tribe originates from the gods of Spirit Origin City. Fifty years ago, we were knocked into the spatial turbulence by a massive hand. We thought that we would be able to return to the Firmament with our strength, but who could have known that the unique energy would accompany us and consume our strength?"
Vicious spat through gritted teeth. "Back then, I was wondering how I could make the unique energy my own. However, even after I was killed by Kong Shi, I was still unable to succeed!
"It was only after I came back to life that I realized that the unique energy is the complete opposite of the zhenqi that we cultivate. It's nigh impossible for us to tap into the power of the unique energy unless we give up all of our strength and start anew!
"That's why I willingly allowed myself to be killed by Kong Shi. Otherwise, do you really think that he would have been able to kill me with his strength back then?"
Zhang Xuan fell silent once more.
He had browsed through many books back on the Master Teacher Continent, but there was not a single book that recorded how Kong Shi killed Vicious. It only stated that the battle had been extremely intense, but there were no details about the details.
Furthermore, Vicious had said that he could not remember anything about it either.
Could it be that … he had intentionally allowed himself to be killed?
Was his motive just to give up his cultivation so that he could absorb the unique energy that could neutralize his Heaven's Path zhenqi?
That made sense.
No matter how weak the gods were, they were not existences that could be destroyed by Ancient Sages.
Perhaps, even Kong Shi had been fooled back then.
After Kong Shi's death, he had left behind a contingency plan. How could Vicious, who had fought with him for so many years, allow himself to be slaughtered without a choice?
"Since you are a lifeform of the Firmament, you should be working together with us to stop the collapse of the Firmament. You shouldn't be controlling this black hole and devouring it! What benefits does the destruction of the Firmament bring to you? "
Zhang Xuan asked. Knowing that Vicious was trying to stall for time so that the black hole could devour more energy, Zhang Xuan could not help but ask.
Since he was a lifeform of the Firmament, he should have been infuriated by the palm strike. If he wanted to protect the Firmament, why was he controlling the black hole to devour more energy and accelerate the destruction of the Firmament?
"So what if I am a lifeform of the Firmament? Back then, when I fell into the spatial turbulence, did any of those God Monarchs care about my life or death? Such a corrupted Firmament should have long been destroyed and rebuilt. There's no point in keeping it around! "
Vicious sneered coldly.
When he was in dire straits, no one had ever paid him any heed. He had tried all sorts of means to ask for help, but all he had gotten in return was silence and disappointment.
From that moment on, he knew that the only way to grow stronger was to save himself.
However, it was impossible for him to become a God Monarch through normal cultivation. Only by absorbing that unique energy would he be able to surpass the other party!
In the end, he succeeded!
"Alright, I have already said everything that needs to be said. Since you insist on destroying the Firmament, you should just die!"
With a furious bellow, Vicious released a powerful might from his body, causing cracks to appear all around him. A glint flashed across his eyes as he prepared to charge at Zhang Xuan and the others.
"Hold it for a moment! I have signed a soul contract with you, and there's no way to nullify it.
Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up.
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