The legend of the God of Death had been born from the ancient Battle of the Rift.
Now, a man had returned to that sacred ground—the Gate of the Land of the Dead.
This man was none other than Tai Xue Zhu, determined to surpass the God of Death himself.
"Was this the site of the Battle of the Rift?" Tai Xue Zhu asked.
"The God of Death's passing was the only way to open the Gate of the Land of the Dead," Tai Xue Zhu stated.
"To prove I surpass you, there is only one way—I will open this gate without using Yan Wang or Lone Star!" Tai Xue Zhu declared.
"Hah—!" Tai Xue Zhu roared.
With a sweep of his arms, the skies darkened, ghosts wailed, and the world itself seemed to tremble.
"Reverse Heaven and Earth—Forge Sun and Moon—Primordial Twin Vortex!" Tai Xue Zhu chanted.
A swirling maelstrom of yin and yang gathered in his palms, as though he held the sun and moon themselves.
Then, with a thunderous clap, he unleashed a force that pierced the heavens.
"Hah—!" Tai Xue Zhu shouted.
As Tai Xue Zhu's power reached its peak, the rift in the sky reappeared, and the Gate of the Land of the Dead slowly materialized.
"Humanity has but one month before they must face the countless evil spirits from the Land of the Dead," Tai Xue Zhu said.
After Tian Lang Xing and Yan Wang Suo left, how many new masters have emerged from that realm? I look forward to seeing them, Tai Xue Zhu mused.
"As the God of Death, what are you compared to me?" Tai Xue Zhu challenged.
"Hahahaha—!" Tai Xue Zhu laughed.
Amidst his mad laughter, Tai Xue Zhu turned to leave.
Yet, as he took his first step, a sudden formation ignited beneath his feet.
From ten miles away, seven majestic Buddha statues rose one after another, barring his path.
"The Seven Buddhas Demon-Purging Formation?!" Tai Xue Zhu exclaimed.
Instantly, Tai Xue Zhu recognized it—the sacred formation of Xumi Tathagata Treasury.
Before he could react, two sword auras shot toward him.
With a flicker of movement, he evaded them effortlessly.
At the same time, two figures charged at him, divine weapons in hand.
One was Wan Gu Chang Kong, wielding the Sword of Creation and Blade of the Shadow God.
The other was Ye Xiao Chai, the Mad-Blade Sword Maniac, gripping Heavenly Sword and Silence of the Gods.
Seeing them, Tai Xue Zhu summoned his own weapon—Apocalypse Myth.
"You?!" Tai Xue Zhu snarled.
He swung the cursed blade, parrying their strikes.
Yet, Silence of the Gods and Sword of Creation locked against his demonic weapon.
"Chang Kong, you— Hahahaha!" Tai Xue Zhu laughed.
His laughter was laced with self-mockery.
Seeing Wan Gu Chang Kong here, fighting alongside Ye Xiao Chai—it was all a ruse.
His feud with Qian Ye Chuan Qi had been a lie. His submission to Tai Xue Zhu had been a lie.
But one question burned in Tai Xue Zhu's mind: How did they know he would come here?
He had told no one—not even Wan Gu Chang Kong.
Before arriving at Sky Burial Mountain, he had ordered Chang Kong to kill Qian Ye Chuan Qi.
Yet, questions could wait. Survival came first.
"Hah—!" Tai Xue Zhu roared.
He unleashed the God of Death's power, trying to repel them.
But having just expended his strength to open the Gate of the Land of the Dead, he faltered.
In that moment of struggle, Wan Gu Chang Kong and Ye Xiao Chai struck again.
Blade of the Shadow God and Heavenly Sword joined forces—and Apocalypse Myth shattered.
Seizing the opening, they lunged.
Heavenly Sword and Blade of the Shadow God pierced Tai Xue Zhu's defenses, striking true.
The impact sent him reeling, his broken weapon flying from his grasp.
Yet, even wounded, he retaliated instantly.
"Hah—!" Tai Xue Zhu bellowed.
Two devastating shockwaves blasted toward his attackers.
Caught in mid-recovery, Ye Xiao Chai and Wan Gu Chang Kong could only raise their weapons in defense.
But Tai Xue Zhu's strike, even weakened, was overwhelming.
Blood sprayed as they were sent flying.
At the same time, Tai Xue Zhu staggered.
The sword and blade energies he had suppressed erupted within him, forcing him back further.
Before he could assess his injuries, a voice rang out—clear and poetic.
"Neither of Heaven nor Earth, born beyond the Three Realms, undying amidst the Six Paths. A thousand lotus blooms, a legend eternal—the one and only, Qian Ye Chuan Qi," Qian Ye Chuan Qi proclaimed.
Hands behind his back, Qian Ye Chuan Qi strode forward.
"Qian Ye Chuan Qi?!" Tai Xue Zhu gasped.
Before Tai Xue Zhu could process this, another voice echoed behind him.
"And one more," Su Huanzhen announced.
A radiant light flared, forcing Tai Xue Zhu to shield his eyes.
"Half-god, half-sage, yet half-immortal; wholly Confucian, wholly Daoist, wholly virtuous. Ten thousand scrolls of wisdom in mind, mastering both arts and letters—Su Huanzhen," Su Huanzhen declared.
Descending upon a lotus, it was none other than Su Huanzhen, the White Lotus of Purity.
"The White Lotus of Purity!" Su Huanzhen announced.
"Qian Ye Chuan Qi!" Qian Ye Chuan Qi added.
"Today, we end the legend of the God of Death," Su Huanzhen vowed.
Su Huanzhen's tone left no room for doubt.
"A fine game. You are indeed the ones I favored," Tai Xue Zhu admitted.
Even in dire straits, Tai Xue Zhu could not help but admire them.
"But one thing puzzles me—how did you know I would come here? How did you prepare the Seven Buddhas Demon-Purging Formation in advance?" Tai Xue Zhu demanded.
"Not even Chang Kong knew of my plans," Tai Xue Zhu added.
Before battle, he needed answers.
The formation belonged to Xumi Tathagata Treasury—someone must have tipped them off.
"I told them," Yin Shiren revealed.
"You?!" Tai Xue Zhu exclaimed.
"The one who saved Liu Zhu Yi and Ye Xiao Chai that day!" Tai Xue Zhu realized.
It was Yin Shiren.
"Seven days have passed. Why are you not dead yet?" Tai Xue Zhu questioned.
"Do not give him time to recover. Strike now!" Yin Shiren commanded.
Yin Shiren had no intention of answering further.
With that, he stepped back, shielding Ye Xiao Chai and Wan Gu Chang Kong.
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