Chapter 346: Sixty Years of Peace!
Chapter 346: Sixty Years of Heavenly Peace!
With a thunderous explosion, Hong Yun's body shattered violently, revealing a soul enveloped in golden essence, utterly enraged to the extreme.
Failed again!
Though he'd grown accustomed to failure over five thousand years, this had been his most promising attempt—on the verge of success—yet he'd still let it slip through his fingers!
Unlike ordinary Foundation Establishment True Persons, as a reincarnated True Lord, Hong Yun wouldn't degenerate into a Dao Calamity even if his Golden Core pursuit failed. His soul would remain protected by the golden essence, guided by the Netherworld into reincarnation. But how long would it take to regain his current cultivation level?
'Chong Guang... Chong Guang!!!'
Hong Yun roared inwardly, his defenses breached as chaotic thoughts surged forth—resentments so deep not even endless rivers could wash them away.
Yet he dared not linger.
Facing so many True Lords, his soul—now merely a wisp of golden essence—would surely perish if he didn't swiftly heed the Netherworld's summons!
'...Go!'
In the next instant, the Netherworld yawned open, and Hong Yun vanished from the scene in a flash—far too quickly for anyone to intercept his fleeing soul.
This was precisely why True Lords were so difficult to kill.
To utterly erase one required at least three strikes: First, destroy their cave heaven, stripping them of their Fruit Position and True Lord realm.
Second, annihilate their soul, preventing escape into the Netherworld for reincarnation.
Third, eradicate their golden essence, ensuring it couldn't latch onto another entity and grant them a chance to revive.
Meanwhile, within the Heaven of Non-Existence...
Unconcerned with Hong Yun's demise, Chong Guang stood silently atop the steps, lips moving as an exotic fragrance naturally emanated from his body.
Within the scent, figures of women materialized.
Each woman bore unique features and attire, their every smile and frown capable of swaying mortal hearts—as vivid as living beings.
"[Essence of All Flowers]!"
The fragrance shifted, conjuring a sea of smoke that ensnared the mind. All who glimpsed it seemed to see their own sorrows reflected within.
"[Sea of Sorrow Infusion]!"
With each divine ability Chong Guang manifested, the Heaven of Non-Existence rose higher, while other Fruit Positions in the world correspondingly diminished.
Witnessing this, Ang Xiao acted without hesitation—with a beckoning gesture, he retrieved a golden lamp aflame with light from across space. It was none other than the Great Forest Wood Fruit Position treasure, the Sun-Shielding Golden Lamp, previously lent to Chong Guang. Simultaneously, a mighty force descended from the heavens.
"Boom!"
In the cave heaven fragment at Jiangnan's Sweet Pear Tree Dao, Chong Guang's physical form was ruthlessly obliterated by Ang Xiao, reduced to dust.
Yet—it was futile.
Ang Xiao's efforts earned only a calm glance from Chong Guang before he continued channeling magic power, unveiling another divine ability.
"[Ferry Across the Lost Ford]."
As the words fell, the scenery within the Heaven of Non-Existence transformed again.
The mist parted, revealing a vast ocean—ten thousand fathoms deep, spanning a thousand miles—where black waters roared like thunder.
Golden Core True Lords viewing this ocean remained unaffected.
But Foundation Establishment True Persons below each saw their recent cultivation dilemmas reflected in those dark waters, breaking into cold sweats.
Some, however—those with steadfast Dao hearts and exceptional insight—crossed the "ford," resolving their stagnation, feeling suddenly refreshed and clear-minded. This proved Chong Guang hadn't intended hardship, but deliberately used his divine ability to help them overcome confusion.
Yet would he offer benefits freely?
Every True Person who gained from the Ferry Across the Lost Ford had effectively been converted under the Heaven of Non-Existence's Fruit Position, severed from their original lineages!
"Boom!"
In the next instant, the radiance of a Fruit Position star abruptly faded—unlike the Overturned Lamp Flame, this one had been held by a Golden Core True Lord.
Yet now, it too withdrew.
As the Fruit Position vanished, that True Lord's form rapidly dimmed, scattering like stardust before disappearing completely within a single breath.
It was the Precious Vase Water Moon Bodhisattva.
This Pure Land True Lord's cultivation had been shallow, and having just attacked Chong Guang, her Fruit Position became his deliberate target—making her the first to retreat from the world!
"So this is it..."
"The Heaven of Non-Existence... what an immense scheme! What towering ambition! And Chong Guang—I knew such upheaval had to involve the Demon Sect..."
"The millennium calamity approaches. The world descends into chaos again."
"Good. Let it be chaos!"
Reactions among the world's True Lords varied, but all had undoubtedly discerned Chong Guang's—and Mu Changsheng's—grand design.
Even Ang Xiao showed surprise: "You remain unaffected?"
Having reclaimed the Sun-Shielding Golden Lamp, Chong Guang should have lost protection, forced to wrestle with the Innate True Person's consciousness for dominance.
Yet that wasn't the case.
"Was my guess wrong?" Ang Xiao's astonishment grew. "Did Mu Changsheng truly sacrifice himself for you?"
"Not just for me."
Chong Guang remained calm. "This fulfills him as well. So long as I endure, the Heaven of Non-Existence will draw all hostility as the new target."
His voice began normally, but with each word, echoes multiplied into an endless murmur—stirring the deepest hatred in every heart: hatred toward all injustice under heaven, an eternal, unceasing wrath!
"[Song of Eternal Regret]!"
So long as evil exists, this song would never cease. Flames of hatred erupted from the soul, incinerating flesh, enough to shatter a True Person's spirit.
"My lords, accompany me skyward."
Chong Guang clasped his hands deferentially, yet the four divine abilities he'd manifested now converged into a single crimson hue.
"[Contest of Freedom]!"
As the words fell, all sounds ceased.
Only when a crisp shattering rang out did the eerie silence break.
"Crack!"
Like bursting bubbles, another True Lord dispersed, their Fruit Position withdrawing—a phenomenon rapidly spreading to all True Lords.
In that moment, though the gloomy heavens still loomed over the land, cracks appeared. True Lords vanished one after another, Chong Guang's form growing ever more translucent until barely visible—only his majestic voice resounded universally:
"I, Chong Guang, Achieve the Heaven of Non-Existence in Jiangnan."
"Forging the Morning Truth Taixu Cave Heaven to ascend as True Lord, severing heaven from earth—to seize one thread of hope for all cultivators. Henceforth, heaven and earth shall know sixty years of peace..."
His proclamation echoed across the world.
When it faded, only two True Lords remained: Ang Xiao and the Clear Snow True Lord, Xue Feihong.
"......"
Ang Xiao offered no reply, merely casting a profound glance at Chong Guang before voluntarily dissipating—leaving only Xue Feihong.
"Chong Guang pays respects to the True Lord."
He bowed as always, while Xue Feihong shook her head: "Not bad. You've accomplished something noteworthy."
Then she solemnly returned the gesture:
"Xue Feihong greets you, fellow Daoist."
With those words, a breeze swept through—Xue Feihong's form vanished, her Fruit Position withdrawing, leaving Chong Guang alone.
But only briefly.
Withdrawn Fruit Positions meant limited interference in the mortal realm—not that True Lords couldn't clash. One could imagine how universally opposed he'd soon become.
Thus, he needed allies.
'Using the Heaven of Non-Existence's illusory nature, I can delay at most sixty years. Only if someone ascends to True Lord within that time will this calamity pass.'
'Yet who can say how the world will change?'
'It shall be... a Great Contention Era!'
Chong Guang closed his eyes, his form dissolving.
From that moment, no True Lords walked the earth!
After a brief silence—across Jiangdong, Jiangxi, Jiangbei, Jiangnan, and overseas—long-suppressed auras, previously hidden, began to rise!