Yuan Zhu ➡️ Yuan Lord
Huang Zhu ➡️ Huang Lord
Ju Zhu ➡️ Ju Lord
Si zhu ➡️ Si Lord
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The pitch-black coffin exploded in an instant, the pale figure within flying out. Countless laws manifested around him and finally transformed into the sharp, overwhelming Lifeless Dao.
As soon as this Dao emerged, it was as if a Yellow Springs that submerged the entire universe had appeared, its waters surging to the sky, reeking with an unbearable stench. All heavens throughout the eternal ages trembled and wept blood. All manner of horrific scenes played out—gods and demons falling, the universe withering, the myriad Daos decaying...
"Break for me!"
His body surged with brilliant light, merging with this Yellow Springs Slaughter Daos. His entire being became the spirit of the Yellow Springs, swallowing billions upon billions of living creatures.
Under such a terrifying aura, every Dao technique decayed and perished. At such a level, Dao techniques clearly held no further purpose; he had already stepped into another ineffable domain.
Faintly, a Lifeless Hall could be seen manifesting behind him. It was a gray land overflowing with ill-fated burials, covered in countless tombstones and grave mounds. The entire world was formed from Energy Beyond Life and Death, and within it, billions of dead souls wept.
Yet that slender, large hand continued its unhurried descent. Its speed was not fast, but it seemed to transcend the power of time across all worlds.
Any rule under this palm would be bound, compressed into a point of origin, an inescapable line, an unknown plane.
Such a method was already beyond the comprehension of the living beings of this age. It was like forcefully dragging a living person into a sheet of paper—no matter how heaven-defying the paper being's methods were, they would remain trapped within that paper, incapable of affecting the outside world in the slightest.
At this very moment, Number Two of the Lifeless Hall felt exactly this kind of terrifying sensation—the Yellow Springs surging skyward, endless slaughter.
His Slaughter Dao had been cultivated to a certain extreme. He was the embodiment of slaughter itself, advocating dominion over the slaughter of all living things. Wherever his gaze passed, every Dao technique, every living being, would meet their doom.
But now... he could not break free from this palm. All of his methods were trapped in place, unable to escape.
Squelch...
As the large hand descended, everything around him began to decay. It was as if the paper imprisoning him was twisting, effortlessly crumpling into a ball.
He let out an agonized sound. His limbs twisted along, as though he himself was being scrunched into a ball of scrap paper and casually discarded.
At this moment, the many End of the Path existences within the various Super Multiverses who watched this scene couldn't help but gasp in shock, feeling an indescribable chill.
An End of the Path existence who had been famous for countless epochs, a supreme figure who grasped the Slaughter Dao, was suppressed so effortlessly.
In the eyes of many existences, Number Two of the Lifeless Hall was now a ball of crumpled scrap paper. Indeed, the scene in their eyes was exactly that—a living person had turned into a ball of scrap paper.
They had not been able to personally witness how the Master of Fate was refined into a pill, but today they had seen Number Two of the Lifeless Hall crushed into a ball of scrap paper.
The Wangwu True Lord and the Savior Bodhisattva felt their scalps go numb, overcome with the urge to prostrate themselves on the ground.
The only stroke of luck was that the ripples did not sweep over them; otherwise, given their cultivation, they would have likely perished there instantly.
Fire God Zhu Rong's eyes contracted sharply, and he nearly lost his voice, his entire body trembling slightly.
Yan Ji had already resigned herself to capture, waiting for the chains to bind her. But the scene unfolding before her left her completely dumbstruck, unable to believe her eyes.
This stretch of spacetime instantly fell silent, and time itself seemed to freeze.
In the boundless spacetime, only that slender, fair, and large hand swept across, striking from some unknown universe.
Yet at this moment, Yan Ji sensed a trace of a familiar aura within it. Her crimson eyes widened slightly as she murmured, "Is it real?"
Abruptly, a sigh resounded in this spacetime. A figure with hair as white as snow and long robes of the same color appeared silently.
His face was gentle, his eyes like a placid lake, as if he could accommodate all the troubles of the world, making one forget pain, sorrow, and afflictions. The space where he stood seemed to transform into a sacred realm beyond the mundane—serene, secluded, untouched by any disturbance, existing independently beyond the myriad red dusts of the world.
Even the Wangwu True Lord and the Savior Bodhisattva, who moments before had been filled with terror, now had softened expressions, no longer as horrified as before.
"Greetings, Senior Wangxian..." The two hurriedly saluted the white-robed figure.
They didn't know if this was his true form, but such an aura could not be mistaken—it was absolutely the master behind the Realm of Wangxian, Elder Wangxian.
This was an existence who had stepped into the Supreme Shattering realm, someone even the Three Pure Ones Dao Lords and the Tathagata Buddha Lord behind them would respect.
At that moment, another figure appeared here. His eyes were filled with murderous hatred and indifference, but they quickly returned to an abyssal stillness, as if the endless ages could never stir a single ripple within them.
He wore a simple, faded gray robe, his hair also gray. A constant, permeating will of slaughter surrounded him at all times.
"Slaughter Hall Master?"
Fire God Zhu Rong's pupils trembled. This was a figure of the True Path Realm who grasped the Slaughter Authority. He had actually appeared as well?
The Wangwu True Lord and the Savior Bodhisattva once again saluted.
With the appearance of Elder Wangxian and the Lifeless Hall Master, many more figures now materialized in this spacetime. There was a spread of purple energy stretching across billions of spacetimes, an old Daoist in a Daoist robe riding in on a green ox.
There was also brilliant Buddha-light illuminating the myriad worlds of the heavens, a resplendent Buddha Kingdom, the chanting of Zen hymns, as a true Buddha descended. Wondrous sounds of freedom echoed as an illusory, blurry figure walked over from the distant Great Unfettered Luotian.
One of the Three Pure Ones Dao Lords, the Current Body of the Tathagata Buddha Lord, the Unfettered Body of the Great Luo Dao Lord, the Barbarian Lord, the Yuan Lord...
Fire God Zhu Rong was greatly shaken inwardly. He had never imagined that each of the various Super Multiverses would have End of the Path existences appear, no lack of them being the very figures who had founded those Super Multiverses.
Among them, the Three Pure Ones Dao Lords were one of the most ancient beings in the primordial chaos, evolved from the initial pure qi of heaven and earth. According to the normal order of development, the Three Pure Ones Dao Lords could be existences representing "Heaven" itself.
If one were to speak of foundations, even True Path existences who grasped the Authority of the Heavenly Dao might not compare to them.
Yan Ji was also stunned by this formidable array of power.
The most top-tier and powerful existences in the current Vast Expanse had all appeared together?
"It seems you all intended to wait for me?" A faint, light laugh sounded.
This spacetime shook violently. Endless nothingness split open, and a white-clothed figure strode through the air.
Beneath his feet, the myriad Daos submitted, and all worlds and the boundless universes of the Vast Expanse retreated. Wherever his gaze passed, the Great Dao shattered and the universe cracked. It seemed the current heaven and earth could no longer contain him.
The instant Yan Ji saw the newcomer, though she had guessed earlier, she still couldn't help being greatly shaken inwardly, unable to regain her senses for a long while.
"The matter of slaying Heaven, after all, is far too momentous. We cannot afford not to be cautious. If we do not know the true depths of the Alliance Leader, how could we dare to easily take sides and place our bets?" Elder Wangxian spoke. His tone was very gentle, without the slightest hint of gunpowder, as if he could accommodate everything.
"So now you know?" Gu Changge said casually, hands clasped behind his back.
Elder Wangxian sighed. "We have learned a little, but still dare not place our bets. Slaying Heaven is an event of eternal significance; how could it be accomplished in a single day? We have lived far too long and have witnessed how many times the decline and fall of those who seek to slay Heaven? This is a dead end doomed to have no hope."
The Lifeless Hall Master did not speak.
The Three Pure Ones Dao Lords, the Tathagata Buddha Lord, the Great Luo Dao Lord, and the other End of the Path existences also did not speak; clearly, they had already reached a unanimous agreement.
"Since you think it is a dead end, why did you seek to test me? To me, there is no such thing as testing in this world. Either agree, or refuse. After all, the decisions you make come with a price to pay."
Gu Changge casually beckoned, and Number Two was drawn into his hand. At this moment, Number Two still retained consciousness and clearly knew his predicament. No trace of his previous arrogance and loftiness remained in his eyes, only shock and terror. He tried to look toward the Lifeless Hall Master, begging him to rescue him.
Unfortunately, the Lifeless Hall Master's eyes were indifferent, devoid of any emotion. He even felt it superfluous to spare him a glance.
Even an End of the Path existence seemed to be dispensable in his eyes.
This indifference had reached a point where even if all ages decayed, heaven and earth perished, and all living beings died, there would not be the slightest ripple.
Of course, the existence of the Lifeless Hall all relied on him. Number Two's End of the Path strength also relied on his Authority. If he took it back, Number Two would become no different from an ordinary person.
"Seeking good fortune and avoiding disaster is the common sentiment of all living beings, and we are naturally no exception. If slaying Heaven succeeds, it would naturally be excellent. If it does not, then the foundations we have built over countless epochs will be destroyed in a single day, and even we will perish and our Daos vanish. Even the entire Vast Expanse will return to the void, and thereafter everything will be renewed, ushering in a new epoch of heaven and earth. Then what meaning would all our efforts have?" Elder Wangxian said unhurriedly.
Even when the Epochal Reckoning arrives, End of the Path existences have many ways to evade it, ensuring the Super Multiverses behind them remain completely unaffected. In other words, even the Epoch Cataclysm cannot affect them. So why take the risk?
If the Heavenly Dao's Will does not awaken, they cannot be discovered.
Gu Changge has completely muddied the waters. They could hide in the deepest layers of spacetime forever, until one day in the future, when there might be a sliver of a chance to thoroughly comprehend the meaning and existence of the Heavenly Dao.
If Gu Changge did not exist, perhaps these End of the Path figures would remain hidden until all worlds decayed and the various True Worlds had alternated and renewed countless times over.
Minor Cataclysms, Major Cataclysms, Epoch Cataclysms... would never affect them, nor the universes behind them.
This was even more so for True Path Realm existences who grasped the Authority of the Heavenly Dao.
Each time the Reckoning Envoys of the Epoch Cataclysm appeared, they would not intervene either. This had become a certain consensus and understanding formed over countless ages in the Vast Expanse.
To say that the many End of the Path existences did not harbor hatred toward Gu Changge would be impossible.
"How foolish and laughable. Where in this world is there any such good thing as reaping rewards without taking risks? If you want to enjoy the benefits without bearing any risks, then you will never encounter setbacks and difficulties. If everything went as you wished and every desire simply fell into place, then there would not be so much suffering in this world." Gu Changge let out a faint, seemingly mocking laugh.
"Since it is a risk, we too have the right to choose. For a wager that is basically impossible to yield returns, we must ask for your forgiveness in not agreeing."
At this moment, a living being among the many End of the Path existences spoke. Behind him, ring after ring of divine halos shrouded him, layer upon layer, countless beyond number, exceeding billions. It was as if billions of divine kingdoms encircled him, forming a sea of divine kingdoms, incomparably sacred.
Gu Changge swept his gaze casually over him. The sea of divine kingdoms behind him instantly surged with boundless waves. In an instant, countless divine kingdoms were extinguished, turning dark and silent forever.
"The right?"
"Do you even have the right before me?"
He retracted his gaze. The Divine Lord's face turned pale. He retreated several steps, crushing terrible marks into spacetime, and for a moment could not speak.
The other End of the Path existences looked at him, and their hearts also went cold.
The Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance seemed like he would be reasonable, but his attitude toward End of the Path existences was just like that of the Lifeless Hall Master—extremely casual, contemptuous, and indifferent.
It seemed that only True Path-level existences had the qualifications to speak and negotiate with him.
Seeing this, Elder Wangxian did not interfere much and still said, "The reason we have appeared today is actually to negotiate a deal with the Alliance Leader."
Although Gu Changge was powerful, this power was still insufficient to cause him any wavering.
The Lifeless Hall Master was the same. Those who grasped Authority could mostly feel how vast and boundless the power of the Heavenly Dao was; what they could utilize was merely the tip of the iceberg, a drop in the bucket, not worth mentioning.
If the true Heavenly Dao's Will were to awaken, any True Path Realm would be mere flying ashes and ants before it.
Gu Changge's origins were mysterious; no one knew how he was born. He might be a true anomaly from beyond the Heavenly Dao, or he might come from a level of spacetime unknown to them.
But no matter what, the power and strength he displayed were insufficient to threaten the Heavenly Dao.
Let alone that above the Heavenly Dao, there are still the three True Ancestors, like great suns that never set, with inconceivable might.
Such an act as slaying Heaven, in their understanding, was not merely like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; it was an ant slightly larger than them trying to move mountains and topple cities, trying to overturn the sea.
Gu Changge did not rush to speak, only looking at Elder Wangxian with an interested gaze.
Elder Wangxian did not waste words and came straight to the point, stating his purpose: "As the Heavenly Dao's Will gradually awakens, in this process, it will inevitably relax its binding force on the Vast Expanse, causing fortune to surge, and the bottlenecks that are difficult to break through will become looser and easier. The faint will of each great universe senses this, and there will be people born to respond to the tribulation, giving rise to Protagonists of Heaven and Earth and protagonists of the epoch. Those who can reach the End of the Path domain are naturally all former Protagonists of Heaven and Earth; there are no exceptions."
"Life springs from sorrow and calamity, and death comes from ease and pleasure. The various Super Multiverses pride themselves on being unaffected by the Epochal Reckoning, able to be carefree and at ease, so they are unwilling to be tainted by the karma of slaying Heaven. But in truth, many times the Vast Expanse restarts and all things renew, it is not because an existence that threatens the Heavenly Dao's Will has appeared, but because those Super Multiverses have matured."
"It's like a farmer planting crops: the potential varies, and the timing of harvest naturally differs..."
"Even if this epoch-ending Cataclysm is calmed ahead of time and does not occur, the end of the heaven and earth epoch will eventually come one day in the future. And that time, it cannot be calmed. Regardless of whether they are End of the Path existences or True Path Realm figures, they will all be unable to escape fate."
"This old man also flatters himself to have comprehended some of the secrets of this world. At this point, there is actually not much left to pursue. The realm has reached its end, and lifespan is just a number. If, at the end of this life, I could truly witness the day Heaven is slain, then I would have no regrets."
"Unfortunately, many do not understand this reasoning. This old man is one of the few who have lived the longest since the birth of the Vast Expanse, and I have some prestige. This time, uniting the many End of the Path existences as well as Daoist Lifeless, we merely hope that the Alliance Leader can give the living beings of the Vast Expanse a chance..."