Slaying Four Kings Barehanded—How Could Such a Being Reappear in This World?
Slaying Four Kings Barehanded—How Could Such a Being Reappear in This World?
Above the Western Immortal Domain, a rain of blood poured down, practically blanketing a vast stretch of the universe, and countless stars were stained crimson.
Many Immortal Kings of the Other Domain had perished miserably in this place, with only King Ming managing to escape by sheer luck.
Every being of the Other Domain who witnessed this scene sank into profound terror and disbelief. Frightened and trembling, they knelt prostrate on the ground, shaking uncontrollably.
To them, this was nothing short of a nightmare. Immortal Kings—eternal and indestructible—had fallen. They had believed that by shattering the Western Heavenly Gate and descending upon this land, they would sweep across the Western Immortal Domain, invincible throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Realms.
But how could they have fallen like this? The blood of Immortal Kings had dyed even the desolate edges of the universe red. Four Immortal Kings in total had perished—something unimaginable even during the Immortal Domain’s most prosperous era.
This news was far too horrifying. Many beings of the Other Domain roared in anguish, unable to accept this outcome.
Many had previously regarded the Immortal Kings as their faith, and now that faith had collapsed—no different from the collapse of their entire world, plunging them into deathly silence and darkness.
“Who exactly is that person...”
Many young people of the Other Domain roared, their eyes bloodshot as they stared at Gu Changge’s figure before the Heavenly Ancient City, desperate to know his origins.
Why was he so inconceivably powerful, single-handedly slaying four Kings of the Other Domain with his bare hands? Such a battle record would shake heaven and earth even in ancient times.
“A Forbidden One...”
Some elderly beings of the Other Domain trembled, faintly catching certain words from the earlier exchanges between the Other Domain’s Immortal Kings.
For ordinary beings, it was impossible to even glimpse the true visage of an Immortal King, let alone witness the details of their battle.
So they had no idea what the Profound Earth Immortal King, Azure Heaven Immortal King, and the others had discussed with Gu Changge, nor why they had all been so utterly terrified and despairing in the end.
However, the one thing they were certain of was that Gu Changge possessed an unimaginably grand origin—even King Ming, upon learning of it, had fled in shock.
In that moment, King Ming had even burned his own Source, fearing he would be half a step too slow in escaping.
Such a sight was simply hair-raising; witnessing it firsthand made it all the more horrifying and unbelievable.
Of course, the many descendants of the Immortal Domain on the Western Immortal Domain’s side were no less terrified and shaken than the beings of the Other Domain.
Jin Yuan’s group in particular was trembling, their words coming out incomplete, not daring to look directly at Gu Changge.
He was already certain that once this news spread, it would absolutely cause a massive uproar, sending all the Immortal Domains into panic.
On the Other Domain’s side, the fall of the four Kings would be like a great earthquake, creating scenes of mountains collapsing and seas roaring.
Those Ancestors of Emperor Families of the Other Domain, slumbering since ancient times, might even awaken because of this.
In the days to come, both the Immortal Domain and the Other Domain would be swept up in this terror.
“M... My Lord...”
As a Quasi-Immortal King, Jin Yuan was among the most powerful beings in this world, second only to the Immortal Kings themselves.
Yet now he could barely stand steady, trembling with fear, his voice quavering, not even daring to let his gaze fall upon Gu Changge.
However, Gu Changge currently had no mind to pay him any attention.
He sat quietly with his eyes closed, strands of radiant light billowing out from his pores.
The Sources of the Profound Earth Immortal King, Azure Heaven Immortal King, and the others were several degrees purer than even the Source of the Corrupted Hou Immortal King.
To him, this was nourishment of the finest quality—utterly incomparable to the Sources of those True Daoists and hidden aces he had devoured and refined back in the Overworld.
Of course, Gu Changge’s current strength was not something that could be greatly improved merely by devouring Sources anymore.
Especially now, after devouring the Sources of four Immortal Kings, he could feel a hazy shackle existing between heaven and earth—a shackle unaffected by cultivation level.
It could even be said to have nothing to do with cultivation at all.
In Gu Changge’s view, this was connected to the current Fortuity of the Mountains and Oceans True World.
Now that the Immortal Domain, the Other Domain, and even the Source World were separated and not unified, once one reached the limit of the Immortal King level, one could clearly perceive this layer of shackles.
Just as the Beyond found it difficult to give birth to Immortal Dao existences, in the current Immortal Domain, the limit of the Immortal King realm was already the absolute peak.
Beings standing at this realm could feel that layer of restriction all the more keenly.
Of course, Gu Changge could only perceive it; his exact realm had not yet reached that level.
On the other hand, his body had not yet been tempered to the point of a flawless Immortal Physique, having not absorbed enough Immortal Dao factors.
This shackle would affect ordinary beings, but it could not affect him. What Gu Changge relied on was not comprehending the rules of heaven and earth, but devouring—taking from the surplus to make up for his deficiency.
Gu Changge estimated that at his current pace, he would still need a considerable amount of time to recover to the level of the Demon Lord.
By then, what he would need would no longer be ordinary Immortal King Sources, but Quasi-Immortal Emperor Sources, Immortal Emperor Sources, and even the Sources of other True Worlds.
Others did not know, but Gu Changge knew well that the Immortal Palace that once ruled over all the heavens of the Mountains and Oceans True World had in fact been founded by Gu Qingyi.
To be precise, the Grand Palace Master of the Mountains and Oceans True World was none other than Gu Qingyi’s incarnation.
As the Original Soul of the Mountains and Oceans True World, her true strength surpassed that of an Immortal Emperor, though she was still a long way from Absolute Detachment.
Only by reaching the level of Absolute Detachment would one be qualified to participate in the Great War Against Heaven, qualified to storm the Source Realm.
In the current Mountains and Oceans True World, there could not possibly be a cultivator at the Absolute Detachment level. If one appeared, the Source Realm would take notice.
Of course, Gu Changge could not be entirely certain.
After all, over the endless ages, prodigies had emerged in droves. Some beings, by splitting their own bodies apart, had sealed portions of themselves in various places, each fragment’s aura just barely able to evade the Source Realm’s perception.
When the complete body fused back together, they could recover the cultivation of their prime—and that prime cultivation might well have reached, or approached, the level of Absolute Detachment.
And the level the Demon Lord had displayed when he once walked the world was precisely that of one who had achieved Absolute Detachment.
“Don’t forget to go back and inform that Queen Lunar behind you of the conditions she promised me. I’ll be waiting. The next time I come to the Immortal Domain, I hope she’ll have everything prepared.”
Gu Changge opened his eyes, his expression already returned to calm. He glanced at the trembling Jin Yuan and spoke casually.
This trip to the Immortal Domain had, at least, allowed him to figure out a few things.
Through this gateway, Gu Changge could descend upon the Immortal Domain at any time; he was not worried that anyone here would block his path.
According to his plans going forward, the Mountains and Oceans True World would sooner or later be unified. Integrating the Beyond, the Immortal Domain, and the Other Domain was a necessity.
Before that, he needed to return to the Beyond and connect it with the Immortal Domain, making the two worlds whole again.
And before that, the Southern Immortal Domain would serve perfectly as the stretch of universe where the two would join.
In ancient times, the Beyond—what the Immortal Domain called the Source World—was connected to the Immortal Domain. There was no so-called Ascension Passageway; they were one enormous whole.
But during the Forbidden Epoch, the Immortal Domain was stripped away, becoming a great domain outside the Source World.
If one were to use an analogy, the Beyond was a vast, boundless continent, while the Immortal Domain was the piece that had broken off and drifted away from that continent.
The Beyond was composed of countless universes and connected to many Overworlds; the Immortal Domain’s side likewise had many adjoining Overworlds.
However, because immortals and mortals were cut off from each other, the Ascension Passageways had long since been severed—just as the Beyond could not produce Flying Immortals.
And what Gu Changge intended to do now was to reenact the Beyond, causing the Immortal Domain’s heavenly rules to begin merging with the Beyond’s.
This did not in the slightest affect his original intention of establishing a Divine Empire. From a certain perspective, the current Immortal Domain still had Immortal Kings holding it down.
Beyond certain barriers, one could even cross the boundless expanse to reach other True Worlds.
Gu Changge could also take this opportunity to make contact with other True Worlds, helping him swiftly take those next few steps.
Besides that, with the emergence of the Divine Empire in the Beyond and the birth of the Sealing Immortals List, on the Immortal Domain’s side...
The Immortal Domain’s rules only suited native beings born within it. For the many beings of the Overworlds, adapting to these rules would require an immensely long period of adjustment.
Now that a great era had descended, few could muster the patience to endure such lengthy ages.
The Sealing Immortals List, for Gu Changge, had originally been created to consolidate the unity of the Divine Empire.
But at this stage, it could instead become a shackle binding his subordinates.
Of course, after figuring out the situation on the Immortal Domain’s side, what Gu Changge intended to do—joining the two worlds—was not simply a matter of letting the Immortal Domain’s rules descend upon the Beyond and fusing the two sets of rules into flawless perfection.
His idea was to refine the Heavenly Ancient City, along with the passageway behind it, into a Flying Immortal Passageway, controlled exclusively in his own hands.
In this way, it would neither hinder the contact and fusion of the two worlds’ rules, nor affect the Divine Empire’s standing.
When the kin and beloved women at Gu Changge’s side reached the limit of the True Daoist realm and sought to step into the Immortal Dao, they could naturally pass through this Flying Immortal Passageway.
Undergoing the tempering of the Immortal Dao rules, enduring the baptism of the Immortal Tribulation, nurturing Immortal Dao energy, and breaking through to the Celestial Realm.
The Sealing Immortals List and the Flying Immortal Passageway.
These were, for now, the two paths to achieving the Immortal Dao for the vast multitudes of the Beyond—and both were controlled in Gu Changge’s hands.
Jin Yuan trembled, understanding the meaning behind Gu Changge’s words, and hurriedly responded, “My Lord... rest assured, My Lord. Once I return to the Southern Immortal Domain, I will truthfully report all of this to Queen Lunar.”
In truth, there was no need for him to report it. With such a monumental event occurring in the Western Immortal Domain, the various Immortal Domains had already sensed it to some degree and learned of it more or less.
Gu Changge paid no further heed to Jin Yuan and the others. His figure transformed into a streak of azure light and vanished before the Heavenly Ancient City.
That towering ancient gateway was pushed open, and a resplendent radiance once again pierced through the firmament, an aura of ancient vastness surging forth.
Immortal King blood rained down across the sky; some splattered before the gate, bursting into ten thousand zhang of divine light.
Everyone was gripped by unease, kneeling prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise their heads. Even though the Immortal Kings had fallen, their residual bloodstains remained supreme weapons of slaughter, capable of annihilating True Immortals at the slightest touch.
After this battle in the Western Immortal Domain, the many clans of the Other Domain began to withdraw, not daring to linger any longer, frightened out of their wits by what they had witnessed.
Whether True Immortals or beings of other levels, all of them wanted nothing more than to get far away.
Even the many descendants of the Western Immortal Domain were trying to find ways to leave this place, deeply unsettled and afraid.
That Heaven-Reaching Gate was, according to legend, a gateway connecting to the Source World.
But now, in their eyes, it seemed more like a passage leading to the Nine Nether Hells, sealing away a peerless great fiend that could slay Immortal Kings at will.
The Heavenly Ancient City once again stood in the Western Immortal Domain, coldly towering at the edge of this land, yet no one dared approach it. For tens of thousands of miles in every direction, Immortal King blood was scattered across the ground, the earth corroded and shattered, broken beyond recognition.
In contrast to the deathly silence before the Heavenly Ancient City, the other Immortal Domains were now in an uproar, with cries of shock ringing out everywhere.
The Northern Immortal Domain could be considered the most prosperous and peaceful region apart from the Central Immortal Domain.
From a certain perspective, it even rivaled the Immortal Domain of ancient times.
In many places, traces of True Immortals could be seen. In some ancient cities, every few thousand years a True Immortal would appear to preach the Dao to cultivators and living beings.
Even during an Immortal King’s birthday celebration, the mighty figures of various universes would be invited to feast, with song and dance in peaceful prosperity.
This was also thanks to the Northern Immortal Domain possessing three Immortal Kings.
Moreover, the Practice Grounds of the three Immortal Kings happened to be situated at three corners of the Northern Immortal Domain.
Together they formed a flawless, stable triangle, guarding the Northern Immortal Domain and rendering it impregnable.
Now, within an ancient city surging with boundless immortal mist, a resplendent ancient tree bloomed, its light raining down like falling petals.
An elderly man with white beard and white hair sat cross-legged in its depths, endless Chaos Mist roiling beneath the Platform under him.
His face was weathered, his expression serene, as though he contained within him thousands of ancient histories. His bearing was profound and transcendent as he now spoke softly, seemingly conversing with someone.
“Just as I predicted, the great upheaval has descended...”
“Four Kings fallen—an event unprecedented in history. Even that ruthless figure of the Other Domain had no choice but to burn his Source and flee.”
“The origins of that mysterious young man truly do involve the Forbidden.”
Rumble—
The void trembled, then split apart, revealing a vast and boundless starry universe.
A red-haired figure strode out, fragments of the Great Dao swirling around him. His features were blurred, and an aura capable of crushing the heavens emanated from him.
The two had discussed this matter here before, but neither had worn such a grave expression then.
“The divine sense I sent to spy back then was annihilated on the spot by a terrifying malice. Had my reaction been even slightly slower, I would have suffered the backlash.”
“But I am certain—that was indeed a Forbidden object. Simply inconceivable.”
“How could such an existence reappear in this world?”
The red-haired figure spoke gravely, his words laden with heaviness.
As Immortal Kings, they had believed that nothing in this life could make them feel fear or unease.
But when he had attempted to peer into the scene in the Western Immortal Domain, his very soul had nearly been shattered by the weapon in that young man’s hand.
This had indeed reached a level that horrified him.
“As for how exactly events unfolded, it seems we can only send people to the Southern Immortal Domain to inquire. The one Queen Lunar sent witnessed everything firsthand and should know quite a bit.”
“The Immortal Domain these days is truly beset by troubles. How could a Forbidden Existence suddenly emerge out of nowhere?”
The white-haired, white-bearded elder sighed. Though he was skilled in the art of divination, he dared not attempt to probe into things of that level.
Slaying four Immortal Kings as easily as lifting a hand—such an existence was simply not something Immortal Kings like them could presume to fathom.