Guhe clenched his fists, too nervous to speak.
Among the onlookers, he was the weakest, but that didn't mean he was the only one who was nervous.
"Retreat quickly!"
"With this unleashing of sword energy, we will all die!"
"The Soul Emperor has gone mad! This is even more terrifying than the self-destruction of a Nine-Star Dou Sheng..."
Huang Tian, the patriarch of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, was the first to flee. His pair of golden, majestic eyes revealed boundless fear. His figure in purple-gold robes flashed through the void, but under the pressure of the Emperor-Slaying Ghost Blood Blade, space seemed to condense, and he was forced back the moment he broke through the air, only able to escape by flying with his physical body.
The Heavenly Phoenix Clan and the Ancient Dragon Clan are relatively better off, since their physical bodies are strong, and even if space is sealed off, they can quickly move away with their powerful bodies.
As for the ancient tribe, everyone's face was covered in green, and after a brief moment of shock, they began to evacuate in an orderly manner.
Almost simultaneously, numerous powerful figures from the ancient race flashed into the sky, their fierce shouts echoing across the heavens and earth. Then, streaks of light swept through the vast mountain range, revealing all the ancient race's experts. Instantly, a vast aura surged in the sky. The sheer scale of their power caused those who hadn't yet fled to gasp in astonishment. Was this the power of the ancient race?
It wasn't that the powerful members of this ancient clan didn't want to escape, but that they couldn't. Behind them lay the entrance to the ancient realm. If that blood blade flew into the ancient realm, the very foundation of the ancient clan would be completely destroyed.
Now, under the leadership of Clan Chief Gu Yuan, the strength of the Nine-Star Dou Sheng might, should, or possibly be able to withstand the aftershocks of the Emperor-Slaying Ghost Blood Blade!
Amidst the blood-red killing intent and surging battle qi, Gu Yuan remained suspended in the sky, his hands behind his back, calmly gazing at the giant blade that released endless blood-red light, showing no intention of looking away.
Now that things have come to this, all we can do is fight with all our might.
In an instant, the surrounding light intensified, and a surge of powerful, awe-inspiring energy transformed into pillars of light that roared upwards. Finally, it swiftly condensed in the sky into a colorful ancient mirror, its surface shimmering and overflowing with astonishing energy fluctuations.
The Mirror of the Ancient Emperor!
All the ancient clan powerhouses supporting the great formation turned red-faced at this moment, and their angry roars resounded throughout the heavens and earth. Then, the enormous, colorful ancient mirror roared out, and finally, under the tense gazes of everyone, they prepared to sacrifice themselves!
The scene was completely silent. Many people felt a chill run down their spines and developed goosebumps. That blood-stained blade was far too eerie and terrifying.
"Can he stop it?"
"We must stop them. If we don't, most of the people here will die, and my ancient clan will suffer a great loss of strength..." Gu Yuan seemed calm and collected, but in fact he had already mobilized all his fighting spirit and was preparing to fight to the death.
Behind him lay the ancient realm, allowing him no room to retreat even a step.
Jiang Liu calmly watched the blood-red blade, waiting for it to completely absorb the blood and soul of the Soul Emperor and the entire Soul Clan.
"What a fine Blood Soul Blade! Let's see if I can subdue it..."
Amidst the surge of blood-red light, Jiang Liu extended his palm...
Chapter 403 How Lonely It Is to Be Invincible
The blade swept across the sky, its blood-red light filling the heavens. The blade's intent slashed at everyone beneath this sky. Gu Yuan, the Pill Tower Ancestor, Huang Tian, the Northern Dragon King, and many other powerful figures from the ancient clans seemed to be having their souls sliced by the boundless, sharp blade intent, their bodies and souls about to be cut into pieces.
This was merely the aftermath; the true blade was aimed directly at the river. A single slash cleaved the sky, carving out a hundred-mile-long abyss that transformed into a black hole, swallowing everything in its path.
A single strike could shatter the void; such power was terrifying enough for even the strongest warriors in the Battle Through the Heavens.
The ancient clan powerhouse who was in charge of the Ancient Emperor's Mirror suddenly discovered that the enormous, colorful ancient mirror had developed a crack. Even though the target was not himself, the mere leak of a faint blade aura caused the defensive array jointly activated by the ancient clan powerhouses to collapse on its own.
Not to mention the powerful individuals from various races who came alone; at this moment, they wished they could slap themselves across the face.
Curiosity killed the cat!
Jiang Liu looked back at the powerful figures from various races who had fled in disarray, then at the ancient race powerhouse who had been suppressed by the Soul Emperor's sword, which was unleashed with his own soul, and finally at the Blood-Slaying Demon Blade before him.
Shaking his head and sighing, he thought, "This strike must be the strongest attack in the Doupo world right now! But since it wasn't unleashed by a Dou Di, it hasn't achieved a qualitative leap. Without that qualitative leap, no matter how much energy is unleashed, it might be able to injure Jiang Liu, but killing him is simply impossible."
In an instant, Jiang Liu's physical body emitted a dazzling light, and all three hundred and sixty acupoints were opened, from which jets of something that resembled clouds and mist, both tangible and intangible, shot out. Behind Jiang Liu, these jets condensed into points of light, seemingly corresponding to the stars in the sky.
Then, each photoelectric change produced a hundred rays of light, which transformed into a dragon!
A dragon's roar resounded, and three hundred and sixty celestial dragons swam around the river. This was not merely a resemblance, but an exact replica, imbued with divine beauty. The dragon-shaped light spots seemed to possess life, emitting dragon's roars.
The human body has 129,600 acupoints, but there are actually only 1,296 major acupoints. However, there are acupoints within acupoints. As the saying goes, if you understand one acupoint, you understand all acupoints. There are 1,296 major acupoints in the human body, but each major acupoint contains 100 minor acupoints. If you can become familiar with and understand all the minor acupoints within the major acupoints, that is the peak of the human immortal realm.
Jiang Liu has now refined 360 acupoints in his physical body, and has even mastered the connection between acupoints and all acupoints, reaching the point where his fist intent has become substantial. Although he is still some distance away from flesh and blood, even in the Journey to the West world, there are very few people with such physical strength.
At this moment, he was incredibly powerful, his body brimming with vitality, his blood energy like a vast ocean, overwhelming everything and releasing unparalleled terror!
Then, the river opened its mouth and spat out a small bronze cauldron that suppressed the vast world!
"A peerless, deadly blade forged with the sacrifice of the entire Soul Clan, not bad, I can have it!"
Jiang Liu stretched out his palm, tearing through the void. His palm pressed down as if wielding a knife, the blade energy clashing repeatedly with his hand. Dark cracks appeared in patches, like the creation of a new universe, as if the heavens and earth were being split open. Jiang Liu's palm was covered in deep, bone-revealing gashes, seemingly about to be shattered into white bones, severing his life force completely. But if Jiang Liu were so easily injured, then all his years of cultivation would have been in vain.
The energy of destruction and regeneration surging from his palm was like a tide. Every time the Bloodthirsty Blade of the Emperor Slayer made a wound, Jiang Liu's immortal body would heal.
The Emperor-Slaying Ghost Blood Blade is incredibly powerful; even Jiang Liu's current cultivation level cannot easily suppress it. Fortunately, no Dou Di (Battle Emperor) is wielding this blade. If a Dou Di were to wield this blade and sacrifice countless souls, Jiang Liu would certainly not even consider subduing this malevolent weapon.
It seemed like a fleeting moment, yet also like a very long time had passed.
This period was a long and agonizing ordeal for everyone, as they awaited the moment when that terrifying blade intent would strike, a moment of life or death, a desperate struggle. Everyone had unleashed their full strength, their battle aura condensed, ready to fight to the death.
A moment, eternity!
It felt like a hundred lifetimes had passed, yet also like only a fleeting moment; time was eternal, impossible to discern.
For Jiang Liu, a blink of an eye is too long; it should be an instant, a snap of the fingers, sixty instants. One-sixtieth of a moment is enough for a person to lose their life, and enough to determine victory or defeat.
The terrifying blade energy did not scatter or fly away, nor did it impact all directions after slashing towards the river.
He had already prepared himself for certain death, unleashing all his fighting spirit. But now, he hadn't suffered a single injury, nor had he been struck by a single blade of intent. Finally, everyone turned to look at the sky, and instantly they all saw the terrifying blood-red giant blade in the sky shrinking continuously, actually projecting towards Jiang Liu's palm.
Suppress and subdue!
The crimson giant blade trembled incessantly in Jiang Liu's hand, and the Soul Emperor's will was being eroded. With the Soul Emperor's will, how could he possibly be a match for Jiang Liu? He could only let out painful screams.
Jiang Liu's eyes became deep and indifferent, a divine light emanating from between his brows, like a vertical eye, seemingly gazing down upon the heavens. This majesty was the awe-inspiring power of a god-king who ruled over all the heavens.
With the soul obliterated, the will of the Heavenly Emperor on the Demon Blood Blade of the Emperor Slayer ultimately vanished into nothingness.
"Zheng..."
Jiang Liu gripped the blood-red blade and slashed it towards the sky. In an instant, a blade aura carrying boundless power flew out of the clouds, swallowing up all the light within a radius of dozens of miles, turning everything pitch black.
The terrifying attack shattered space, leaving the sky filled with dark spatial cracks, and a devastating energy wave swept in all directions like a raging tidal wave.
Everyone's expression froze; whether it was the joy of the newborn or the immense worry, it all froze at that moment.
"The Soul Emperor's strike, which cost him his life, not only failed to harm him, but also subdued him, turning him into his weapon..."
"Unmatched, they are simply too strong!"
After Jiang Liu put away the Emperor-Slaying Ghost Blood Blade, everyone involuntarily swallowed hard. It was incredibly powerful!
The old patriarch of the Dan Tower, who was riding on the back of the blue ox, dismounted and asked Gu He in front of him, "Gu He, just how strong is your master?"
"I think he must be very strong... at least he's never lost!"
"Could you introduce me? Master Guhe, our Pill Tower and your Qianlong Temple have had a very good history of cooperation!"
Guhe nodded and said, "Please follow me!"
Jiang Liu looked at the respectful Gu Yuan and the powerful figures from various races before him. Upon scanning them, he found that no one dared to meet his gaze directly. Whenever his eyes fell on someone, that person would stiffen up and become timid, like a schoolchild who had made a mistake.
Being invincible is so lonely!
The vast world is where one can truly showcase their abilities.
"After I've ravaged the world of Battle Through the Heavens, and then shattered the void to ascend to the world of The Great Ruler, I'll see just how magnificent this Great Thousand World, comparable in scale to the Journey to the West world, truly is..."
Chapter 404 Hand over all the strange flames!
"Senior, do you mean you want our ancient clan to hand over the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame?"
Gu Yuan's face was very unpleasant, but he didn't dare to leave. Not only did he not dare, but he also stayed in a lower position and served him the best tea.
The three Supreme Elders of the Ancient Clan clenched their fists instantly. They were all white-haired old men who held extremely high positions in the Ancient Clan. Apart from the Clan Chief and a handful of others, no one could compare to them, but they still dared not give Jiang Liu any face.
As for the Medicine Clan Chief, the Flame Clan Chief, and the Pill Tower Ancestor sitting behind them, they all felt a tightness in their hearts, and then looked at each other with bitter smiles.
"I need all the strange fires in the world. Hand them over! You will be rewarded handsomely!"
What if we don't pay?
Jiang Liu stared at the imposing figure who appeared in the main hall, his forehead beaded with cold sweat and his back soaked through. Only then did he ask Gu Yuan, "Who is this person?"
"Ancient Clan Black Annihilation King Gu Lie!" Gu Yuan winked at Gu Lie and said, "Step back now!"
Black Annihilation King Gu Lie wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, daring not to speak again. The look Jiang Liu had given him just now was like a bottomless abyss, swallowing him up and plunging him into eternal night. In those few short seconds, he had already experienced several brushes with death.
Jiang Liu's cold gaze swept over the many powerful figures, sending chills down the spines of many.
Among the ancient clans, Gu Yuan is the strongest, and below him should be the outspoken Black Annihilation King Gu Lie. According to Jiang Liu's calculations, the Black Annihilation King's strength has reached the early stage of the Eight-Star Dou Sheng. Although he is somewhat inferior to the patriarchs of the Flame and Thunder clans who arrived later, he is still a formidable existence.
Below the Black Annihilation King Gu Lie are the Three Immortals of the Ancient Clan, all of whom are at the Seven-Star Dou Sheng level. Following the Three Immortals are numerous Elders of the Ancient Clan, including no fewer than five Dou Sheng powerhouses who have reached the Four-Star or Five-Star level.
Such a lineup, if placed in the entire Doupo world, would be absolutely invincible. It's not a rumor that the Ancient Clan became the nominal head of the eight ancient clans after the Xiao Clan; their strength justifies such a position. Of course, this is assuming the existence of the notoriously enigmatic Soul Clan.
However, now that the Soul Clan has been completely wiped out, the Ancient Clan's current strength can indeed be called the most powerful force in Battle Through the Heavens.
Of the eight ancient clans, excluding the Xiao clan which was the first to fall, the Gu clan and the Hun clan should be the strongest. After them, the Yan clan and the Lei clan should be the strongest. The bloodline power of the two clans has not been exhausted for many years, so the clans are full of talents. Although they are still not as good as the Gu clan and the Hun clan, they are far superior to the Yao clan, the Shi clan, and the Ling clan.
Most of the world's strange flames have fallen into the hands of the eight ancient clans, with the Flame Clan having the most, possessing a total of five strange flames. The known ones are the eighth-ranked Red Lotus Karmic Flame, the sixth-ranked Eight Desolate Annihilation Flame, the sixteenth-ranked Fire Cloud Water Flame, the seventh-ranked Nine Nether Golden Ancestral Flame, and the seventeenth-ranked Volcanic Stone Flame.
The Medicine Clan, whose profession is alchemy, possesses two kinds of exotic fire: the Nine Nether Wind Flame and the Tortoise Spirit Earth Fire.
As for the ancient clans, they have always inherited the Golden Emperor's Burning Heaven Flame, which ranks fourth.
The ninth-ranked Three Thousand Starry Sky Blazing Fire is located in the Pill Tower.
"Xun'er, take out the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame..." After a fierce internal struggle, Gu Yuan finally gave in. He couldn't let the entire Ancient Clan perish for the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame. Although this strange flame had been the Ancient Clan's inherited flame since ancient times, if anyone dared to covet the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, the Ancient Clan's army would crush them to ashes without him even lifting a finger. However, Jiang Liu's strength, which he had just revealed, made him weigh the pros and cons instantly.
Jiang Liu's persistence convinced him that even if he disagreed, Jiang Liu would take it himself.
He can't stop it, not even all the powerful members of the ancient clan combined could stop it, so... let's surrender! For the sake of the ancient clan, for the sake of Xun'er... let's surrender!
“Father…” Gu Xun’er was filled with sorrow. Her beautiful face, as lovely as a flower, was full of reluctance. In the end, she knew what was important. Then she looked at Jiang Liu with a resentful expression, took a step forward with light steps, and with her jade hand slightly bent, a golden, liquid-like flame suddenly appeared.
The golden flames flowed slowly between Xun'er's jade fingers like liquid, and as they flowed, the surrounding space also showed winding, dark traces.
Those who could sit in this hall were at least at the level of Dou Sheng. Apart from Gu He, everyone's eyes were fixed on the golden flame, and the shock in their eyes was hard to hide.
These powerful figures were not unfamiliar with strange flames, but the golden flame in Xun'er's hand caused even these Dou Sheng experts to feel a sense of unease. Even the Nine Nether Golden Ancestral Flame and Volcanic Stone Flame within Yan Jin, the patriarch of the Yan Clan, trembled slightly the moment the golden flame appeared!