"The Heaven-Slaying Alliance has indeed created an unprecedented grand spectacle. For cosmic civilizations of such scale to gather together is truly rare..."
A streak of golden light, bathed in endless true fire, traversed the cosmic spacetime. In an instant, it spanned billions of units of distance.
Massive stars receded into the distance. The universe was deep and vast, but compared to the boundless Vast Expanse, it was like a solitary boat upon rivers and seas, utterly insignificant.
Amidst those surging waves, who knew how many small worlds were born and extinguished with every breath.
Within these endless gigantic waves of the Vast Expanse, only the auras of those Super Multiverses were more distinct and clear.
If small worlds were the foam and Newly Born True Worlds were small boats, then Super Multiverses were colossal warships. The difference in scale was immense.
Fire God Zhu Rong stood upon Buting Huyu, bringing Yan Ji along. He was deeply moved. Wherever his gaze reached, the distant regions were all the magnificent sights of the current Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
The rolling fortune surged and steamed, like raging fire boiling oil, flourishing to a certain extreme.
Along the way, he did not conceal his End of the Path-level aura.
Wherever he passed, countless shocked and trembling gazes swept over him. He even sensed the presence of many beings of the same level.
Within those Super Multiverses, there was no lack of existences comparable to the End of the Path.
However, Fire God Zhu Rong showed no hostility. He was merely traveling to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance on behalf of the Strength Master this time. No one foolishly tried to obstruct him along the way.
He could actually vaguely guess the Strength Master's thoughts.
This time, numerous End of the Path existences had returned. Even the Life Master, the Emptiness Master, and the Black and White Envoys' master had successively sought him out, wanting to invite him to emerge and discuss great plans together.
If there was no power pushing this behind the scenes, Fire God Zhu Rong would not believe it.
The existence of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, by its very nature, should not have appeared. From the very moment of its establishment, it defied the Heavenly Will, and sooner or later, it would suffer heavenly punishment and backlash.
It was just that the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was too powerful. With his own supreme might, he distorted the Heavenly Will, allowing the Heaven-Slaying Alliance to take root and reach its current scale...
But the greater the scale and the more prosperous the momentum, the more it would attract the attention of the Heavenly Dao.
Clearly, even the Strength Master was now uncertain of the next step. Contacting the Heaven-Slaying Alliance would inevitably entangle one in karma.
Existences like the Life Master and the Emptiness Master, after all, grasped the Authorities of the Heavenly Dao. They had the ability to communicate with it, to look clearly upon themselves, and could sever this part of karma in the future.
But the Strength Master was different from them. He had actually suppressed that part of the Authority of the Heavenly Dao. In the truest sense, he could also be considered an existence that should not be in the world, someone rejected by the Heavenly Will...
"In such a difficult position, he could only send me out. It might be because Yan Ji has some karmic entanglement with the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance that Lord Strength Master said such words."
"He wants to let the Alliance Leader know he harbors no ill will, but he won't easily enter the fray either."
Fire God Zhu Rong thought to himself.
Buting Huyu's colossal form shuttled through the Vast Expanse, continuously stirring ripples in spacetime.
"This reality is truly inconceivable. One thinks they've reached a certain peak, but there are always unknowns and broader universes awaiting them..."
Yan Ji felt the scenery vanishing around her. Leaving that Endless Fire Domain for the first time, she was truly setting foot into the Vast Expanse for the first time.
With her current Void Dao Realm cultivation, she still felt her own insignificance. When she was in the Shanhai True World, only those at the Immortal King realm were qualified to traverse the Vast Expanse.
And now it seemed, even Immortal Kings were nothing more than tiny shrimp in this boundless, infinite Vast Expanse, utterly insignificant.
She couldn't help but sigh softly in awe, feeling even more anticipation for the journey to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
"Fellow Daoist Zhu Rong, please halt."
But at that moment, a Dao shout echoed out. Boundless purple energy spread forth, as if dyeing this entire slice of spacetime purple.
An old Daoist with the bearing of an immortal, hair done up in a Daoist bun and wearing a Daoist robe, appeared riding a Nine Abyss Prison Beast. Endless purple energy swirled around him, and ten thousand Daos resonated.
He held a horsetail whisk in his hand. Substances akin to countless streams of air filled the surroundings. On closer inspection, one would find those were stars, numbering in the billions upon billions.
"Who are you?"
Fire God Zhu Rong frowned.
The old Daoist smiled and said, "My master is the Three Pure Ones Dao Lord. I am the Master of the Wangwu True Mansion, one of the Ten Great Daoist True Mansions established by my master. I call myself the Wangwu True Lord."
Fire God Zhu Rong's frown deepened, and his expression turned cold and indifferent.
Boundless flames raged to the sky, as if illuminating all the heavens and universes. Those flames were colorless and formless, burning the void to ashes, capable of incinerating and roasting everything. Even the Great Dao retreated before them.
Although he had only recently set foot in the Vast Expanse, he clearly knew the current power of the Three Pure Ones Dao Realm. It was a Super Multiverse created by the Three Pure Ones Dao Lord. Within it, each of the Ten Great Daoist True Mansions was comparable to a Supreme True World, even surpassing them.
The Wangwu True Lord before him naturally hadn't reached the End of the Path in cultivation, but as the master of a True Mansion, he was a figure who had weathered nine Heavenly Decline Tribulations and had a chance to touch the End of the Path domain in this life.
"You intend to obstruct me?"
"On what basis do you presume to call me 'Fellow Daoist'? If your master were here, I might pay some attention. What kind of figure are you?"
Fire God Zhu Rong said coldly. As a towering figure at the End of the Path level, he was by no means someone the Wangwu True Lord could compare to. How could he be obstructed by him?
Yan Ji was also secretly alarmed and on guard.
They had only just left the Endless Fire Domain, and already they were intercepted by such a figure. What was the intention?
It was said that there were three Three Pure Ones Dao Lords in total, each an End of the Path-level existence. Together, they could set up the Three Pure Ones Three Talents Grand Array, even unleashing supreme power comparable to the True Path Realm.
Their methods were numerous, their strength far surpassing ordinary End of the Path figures. To this day, their legacies and legends still existed across the myriad heavens and countless cosmic civilizations.
During her time in the Shanhai True World, she had also heard of the legends they reflected. Like the eternal blazing suns that never set, their light shone into every corner of billions upon billions of spacetime universes across the myriad heavens.
She was actually going to see such figures one day.
Even facing an End of the Path figure like Fire God Zhu Rong, the Wangwu True Lord wasn't overly concerned. He bowed and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhu Rong, there's no need for anger. This humble Daoist means no harm."
As his words fell, a surging Buddha-light manifested, and boundless Brahma sounds resounded, as if all the great universes were responding in harmony. A brilliantly radiant Buddha Kingdom emerged, within which there seemed to be three thousand Buddhas, billions of Bodhisattvas, and countless Arhats.
That light spread across billions of universes, converging with compassion, thorough understanding, wisdom... all kinds of profound truths, making one sigh in admiration and submission, unable to resist kneeling in worship.
Just by looking with the naked eye, one could see the dense and brilliant silver substance condensing into a real ocean—this was the thick power of faith amassed in the Buddha Kingdom over billions upon billions of years.
Fire God Zhu Rong's pupils constricted. That vast, brilliant Buddha-light spread, sparkling and translucent. A Dharma-form figure whose body seemed level with the universe manifested. Around it, the boundless Brahma sounds materialized, revealing a sea of suffering for all beings, a paradise on the Other Shore, and also endless suffering and a sorrowful hell.
"Fellow Daoist Zhu Rong, be at ease. The woman behind you is entangled in tribulations, surrounded by boundless suffering, abandoned by the Heavenly Will, and detested by all Buddhas. Please hand her over to us. Our Buddha will purify her, freeing her from all this, without harming a single hair."
This immeasurably vast Dharma body manifested, stirring everything around. The Brahma sounds surged like an ocean. Countless small Buddhist worlds could be seen revolving around it, and within each Buddhist world, billions of faithful believers could be seen praying day and night, reciting scriptures.
"Savior Bodhisattva..."
Fire God Zhu Rong let out a cold snort. "Your Tathagata Buddha Kingdom also intends to obstruct my journey to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance? If you want to make a move, feel free to try. But if the Buddha Lord behind you won't come out, sending just you, a Bodhisattva—are you really underestimating me?"
This was a genuine Bodhisattva, whose cultivation had reached the peak of the Ancestral Dao Realm, just like the Wangwu True Lord, with a chance to touch the End of the Path domain.
However, in Fire God Zhu Rong's current eyes, those who hadn't reached the End of the Path were ultimately no match for him.
These existences were looking down on him too much.
Yan Ji's dark brows furrowed tightly, secretly shaken. Could this be aimed at her?
The Wangwu True Lord and the Savior Bodhisattva blocked Fire God Zhu Rong's path. "Fellow Daoist, why remain so stubborn? At a juncture like this, why still try to go to that forbidden and taboo place, to be tainted by ominous karma? Your Dao arts were not easily cultivated—why squander them?"
"The Heavenly Will is difficult to defy. It is the righteous principle for us to comply with it. We hope you and the one behind you won't take the wrong path, lest before this epoch of heaven and earth ends, you meet your death, your Dao extinguished, left with nothing but empty sighs."
Fire God Zhu Rong understood their meaning and sneered. "What? You think you can lecture Lord Strength Master behind me? Even if the Buddha Lord or the Three Pure Ones Dao Lord behind you came, they wouldn't be qualified."
The Strength Master, after all, grasped the Authority of Power. His might far surpassed the other eight Authorities of the Heavenly Dao.
No matter who it was, they would be wary.
The Wangwu True Lord and the Savior Bodhisattva sighed softly, as if they had anticipated this. "Fellow Daoist, you truly are stubborn."
A sky-piercing killing intent erupted. Endless spacetime and countless universes seemed to collapse under this single strand of killing intent. A being with a blurred face, whose true form could not be seen, silently appeared here.
It wore only a thin grey robe, with some kind of pitch-black chains on its wrists and ankles. As it walked, sounds like worlds colliding rumbled out.
Its eyes were withered, a mess of hair covering its face, as if within lay buried billions of universes and trillions of living beings. The Great Dao seemed to lament. And behind it, it dragged an enormous black coffin. It seemed the very forces of heaven and earth could not bear that coffin. It was not open, yet all light was absorbed and devoured, leaving nothing behind.
"Fire God Zhu Rong—once just a minor Innate Five Elements God—has actually stepped into the End of the Path domain."
From within that pitch-black coffin came a voice, indifferent and deathly still, as if countless universes and worlds were collapsing and shattering. It made one's soul feel like it would splinter.
The Wangwu True Lord and the Savior Bodhisattva clearly held the figure within that coffin in great fear, both falling silent now.
"Number Two?"
Fire God Zhu Rong erupted. Sky-piercing flames burst from him, every wisp capable of incinerating the universe. He was utterly furious, not even bothering to conceal the murderous intent in his eyes. Even Buting Huyu beneath him reacted the same, becoming extremely irritable and enraged.
"It seems you remember me. Do you wish to avenge Rushou? However, even though you've reached the End of the Path, in my eyes, you're no different from a toddling infant."
The voice from the pitch-black coffin seemed disdainful, sounding very indifferent.
Above Fire God Zhu Rong's head, a dazzling, scorching fire pot appeared. Wisp after wisp of fiery light sprayed and cascaded down. Chaotic mist churned, and within it was the Dao that commanded all flames. All the light and heat of heaven and earth converged there, and the boundless galaxy fell silent and extinguished.
At this moment, Fire God Zhu Rong resembled a magnificent giant standing within endless darkness, bathed in the fires of all the heavens. That tyrannical and surging aura intimidated billions of spacetime.
"Rushou was actually killed by this person?" Yan Ji was greatly shaken. No wonder Fire God Zhu Rong was so enraged.
Of the former Innate Five Spirits, only he remained now. The other four had long since fallen and died, not even a trace left. Even Lord Strength Master could not reflect them back to life.
It seemed the death of the Innate Five Spirits was indeed related to the force behind the figure in this coffin?
"It appears the Slaughter Hall also intends to intervene?"
In the end, Fire God Zhu Rong did not strike. He could already see that the Three Pure Ones Dao Realm, the Tathagata Buddha Kingdom, and now the Slaughter Hall behind Number Two were all determined to stop him from going to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
This was clearly a stance—or perhaps a test. As for whether it was a test for the Strength Master behind him or for the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, that was unknown.
The only thing he could be certain of now was that without full assurance, the Strength Master would not easily enter the fray.
"It seems we can't go to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance today, the two of us."
"If I were to take a few more steps forward, would other existences jump out to block my way?"
Zhu Rong suppressed his anger and said to Yan Ji behind him. Yet the second sentence was clearly directed at the three before him.
"Ancestor?" Yan Ji's jade-like hands clenched tightly, a feeling of powerlessness washing over her. Her strength was far too weak. To these existences, she wasn't even an ant.
An indifferent voice came from the coffin. "It seems you're somewhat sensible, Zhu Rong. Then hand over the woman behind you."
"Why are you targeting her?"
Fire God Zhu Rong did not answer, instead coldly asking back.
This is the intention of the several lords. Even if the Strength Master were here today, the result would be the same." Number Two inside the coffin spoke indifferently once more.
Yan Ji's face paled.
Fire God Zhu Rong's expression turned heavy. He had just revealed his aura. An End of the Path existence could not go unnoticed. Yet this area of spacetime remained utterly still, as if dead silent.
This indicated that this stretch of heaven and earth spacetime had been sealed off.
Which existences had acted? There was no need to think too much.
"Did Lord Strength Master foresee this situation? Which is why he said to me that only if I could safely bring Yan Ji to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance would we consider the matters beyond..."
Fire God Zhu Rong looked at Yan Ji. At best, he could fight Number Two to a standstill. And although Buting Huyu was an Innate Being and his mount, he would be no match for either the Wangwu True Lord or the Savior Bodhisattva individually.
Yan Ji's own cultivation strength was practically negligible.
"Ancestor..."
Yan Ji also understood the situation by now. Although she didn't know why she had suddenly been dragged into such a matter, she understood that her ancestor probably couldn't protect her.
"Ancestor, don't blame yourself. This is perhaps the great tribulation I foresaw would befall me." She spoke out, not showing overwhelming fear or terror, but even a degree of calm and composure.
The Wangwu True Lord and the Savior Bodhisattva couldn't help but praise at this. "With such intelligent wisdom and roots, if you were to purge your karmic forces and misfortune and return to the right path, your future would be limitless."
"Rest assured, we harbor no ill will towards you. We only wish to borrow your identity."
Number Two inside the coffin had fallen into silence and did not speak again.
Fire God Zhu Rong sighed deeply and ultimately chose silence, not making a move.
Clatter...
The sound of pitch-black chains rang out. Above the coffin, a flash of light transformed into a series of chains, flying towards Yan Ji to bind and restrain her.
The great waves of the Vast Expanse surged. Although this region of spacetime was deathly still, seemingly completely isolated, at this moment, from within many of the Super Multiverses, different gazes were cast over, closely watching this scene. Clearly, this had been premeditated.
At a certain end of spacetime, a figure seated within a great abyss even revealed a hint of surprise, then broke into a smile.
In another distant universe, in the deepest layers of spacetime, an existence let out an indifferent sneer.
Yan Ji resigned herself to her fate, not struggling.
However, just as that chain was about to bind and fall, the sound of shattering resounded throughout this spacetime, like the collapse of a barrier, a universe crumbling, and all realms breaching their dikes.
The expressions of the Wangwu True Lord and the Savior Bodhisattva changed. In the withered pupils of the grey-robed figure dragging the coffin, an overwhelmingly large hand, as fair as jade and slender, was suddenly reflected.
That large hand seemed to reach over from a distant spacetime. Everywhere it passed, everything collapsed. All laws fell silent, one after another shattering. The pitch-black coffin shuddered violently, as if trying to open, and boundless murderous aura shot into the sky. But as that large hand casually descended, the coffin—and the figure with it—was instantly pierced, defeated, and disintegrated in a single strike.