Chapter 1238 - Battling the Hall of the Dead
Chapter 1238: Battling the Hall of the Dead
As the grey sea of clouds churned, the fog gradually dissipated, revealing a group of people.
This group was entirely clad in black robes. The man at the front was tall in stature; the hood of his cloak concealed his features, but his terrifying Mana signature showed that he was a Way of the Virtual Entity-level master.
The sub-Hall Hallmaster of the Hall of the Dead, the strongest of the Ten Kings of Hell, the loyal confidant of the Emperor of the Dead – King Yanluo.
Standing side by side with him was two others. The one on his left was a young man, clad in a gold-rimmed black robe. He was holding a huge brush, with a black shaft and a gold head – the materialization of the Original Soul of the Mahayana-realm magic treasure, the Brush of the Emperor of the Dead.
To the right of King Yanluo, meanwhile, was an old man, clad in black robes as well. However, he has removed the hood of his cloak, revealing his face.
This old man’s hair and beard were entirely crimson, his features powerful. Although it was the first time Yang Qing, Li Yuanfang, and the others saw him in person, but they recognized him instantly. This old man was none other than the current Sect Leader of the Samsara Sect, and the old Leader of the Path of Asura, Mo Xiuluo.
In the old days, he was the Samsara Sect’s other Way of the Virtual Entity-level master apart from the ex-Sect Leader of the Path of the Heavenly Man, Shi Tianfang, and the ex-Sect Leader of the Path of Humanity, Zhang Enrui. His powers and Mana far exceeded Zhang Enrui, and not even Shi Tianfang dared to underestimate him. It was exactly because of Zhang Enrui’s treachery that Mo Xiuluo fell into Shi Tianfang’s plot and was finally defeated and captured, leading to the final unification of the Samsara Sect.
However, Shi Tianfang did not know that it was all because of the concerted design of the Emperor of the Dead and the ex-Hallmaster of the Hall of the Dead, Xu Anda, that he was able to unify the Samsara Sect. Meanwhile, Xu Anda fell into the scheme of the Emperor of the Dead as well.
Whether it was Mo Xiuluo or Zhang Enrui, they have both secretly pledged allegiances to the Emperor of the Dead.
Lin Feng, the Celestial Sect of Wonders, and the Great Void Sect were all, indistinctly, aware of this. However, they did not make any hasty moves, but rather hoped to take advantage of it to find the whereabouts of the Emperor of the Dead.
After losing the Wheel of the Six Paths, Shi Tianfang, and Zhang Enrui in a row, the strength of the Samsara Sect was greatly diminished. All these years, the Samsara Sect have been lying low; Mo Xiuluo, who hailed from the Path of Asura and took pleasure in slaughter, seemed to have put down the knife and embraced pacifism after taking up the position of Leader of the Samsara Sect.
Even during the War of the Two Worlds, whether it was Lin Feng or the Great Void Sect, they were actually still keeping an eye on the activities of the Samsara Sect.
However, after the reappearance of the Hades Tribe in the Greater World, the situation of the war deteriorated rapidly. When the entire Divine Lands was facing immense pressure, the surveillance of the Samsara Sect was inevitably weakened.
Mo Xiuluo, the new King Taishan of the Hall of the Dead, and Shen Qifeng, the Leader of the Path of the Heavenly Man of the Samsara Sect, as well as the new King Songdi, have their discreet ways as well. They secretly sneaked out of the headquarters of the Samsara Sect, to come here and regroup with the Emperor of the Dead.
Only the two of them came, and did not alert even the others of the Samsara Sect. With their arrangements and concealment, no one realized something was amiss.
To the Emperor of the Dead, seizing the Supreme Heavenly Mirror was doubtlessly the most crucial task at the moment. Even him started to activate all forces he could mobilize at the moment.
If this battle was to succeed, the balance of power of the entire Divine Lands, and even the entire Grand Celestial World, will be changed.
Behind Mo Xiuluo, there was a teenager, clad in black robes as well. Below the black robes was white clothing; he took off the hood of his cloak, revealing his face. None other than Shen Qifeng.
Beside Shen Qifeng, there was an old man with a thin face, clad in black robes and at Cultivation of Virtual Entity-level cultivation. Another of the Emperor of the Dead’s loyal confidants, one of the Ten Kings of Hell of the Hall of the Dead – King Wuguan, Sikong You.
The several other black-clad men standing with them were followers of the Emperor of the Dead as well, the other members of the Ten Kings of Hell and the Hall of the Dead.
Apart from King Zhuanlun, King Biancheng, and King Pingdeng, there was also the new King Qinguang, who took the place of the dead Zhang Lie
On the eve of the War of the Two Worlds, the then-King Chujiang and King Doushi were captured as a result of the united effort of numerous Divine Lands powers to annihilate the Hall of the Dead. Now, outstanding cultivators have been selected from other Immortal Soul-level Envoys of the Hall of the Dead to take the positions.
The current Ten Kings of Hell, along with the Mahayana-realm magic treasure, the Brush of the Emperor of the Dead, stood silently in front of Gu Yuankai, Yang Qing, Li Yuanfang, and the others, on high alert and ready to move.
In the distant Void behind them, it was as if the sense of direction has disappeared. Where it appeared to be a stone’s throw, but also far as the distant stars, a massive, black three-level altar stood.
On top of the altar, streaks of light flashed. Mana signatures, arcane and vast like the Heavens and the Cosmos themselves, emitted from within.
Looking at King Yanluo and the others in front of them, Gu Yuankai did not bother with the empty words. He raised his head and looked at the projection in the Void above. “Sorry to trouble the South Pole Elder.”
The projection slid out from the Void, revealing the form of a purple-gold calabash large as a mountain. An old man, his face hale and healthy, appeared beside the purple-gold calabash and nodded. “Go.”
Light flowed from the calabash, releasing Gu Peng and the others. Then, the form of the old man disappeared, merging with the huge South Pole Treasure Calabash.
Gu Yuankai tapped the South Pole Treasure Calabash with his finger, and together, the man and the calabash charged at the black altar.
King Yanluo, entirely enveloped by the black robe, did not speak as he strode forwards. Beside him, the teenager form that was the Original Soul of the Brush of the Emperor of the Dead disappeared as well, fusing with the actual body of the magic treasure. King Yanluo reached out with his hand, grabbing the Brush of the Emperor of the Dead and met Gu Yuankai and the South Pole Treasure Calabash.
King Yanluo let loose with his brush and ink, making millions of strokes in the Void. Immediately, millions of black currents of light criss-crossed, blocking Gu Yuankai and the others’ path.
Gu Yuankai’s expression did not change as he lightly patted the South Pole Treasure Calabash. The opening of the Calabash opened, and instantly, like a black hole, an impossibly strong attractive force emerged and pulled the black currents of light into it.
However, as King Yanluo wielded the Brush of the Emperor of the Dead, the black light currents seemed to be infinite and never-ending, becoming a vast ocean of black that still obstructed the party’s path.
The two Way of the Virtual Entity-level cultivators, and the two Mahayana-realm magic treasures, met, and instantly, a great battle begun in the Void.
King Yanluo’s body was concealed in the black robe. Under the black robe, the body seemed to become a gray fog, vast and permeating. It leaked an aura of death that caused all Life to wilt.
Beside Gu Yuankai, meanwhile, a desolate, ancient air permeated. Longevity, unending and continuously, could transcend even Life and Death.
White lotuses bloomed, blocking the gray air of death. Simultaneously, gold flames erupted, flickering with red and blue light as they started to incinerate the gray air of death.
One of the Seven Legendary Primordial Fires of the universe – the Nanming Primordial Fire. Although it wasn’t known for the aggressive might of its flames, but unleashed by the Way of the Virtual Entity-level master Gu Yuankai, it seemed ready to incinerate the entire world. The vast expanse of fire was boundless, seemingly never-ending.
The Cang Heaven Spell Blade unleashed its sword radiance as well. Releasing Yang Qing and Li Yuanfang, it became rolling sword radiance, instantly sweeping up all of the Ten Kings of Hell apart from King Yanluo. Its air was domineering and earth-shaking.
A blinding, murderous crimson-red light lit up in Mo Xiuluo’s eyes as he slashed at the Cang Heaven Spell Blade, using his palm as a blade.
The momentum of the blade was terrifying. It emitted threads that resembled black threads of gas, with an aggressive, murderous air. It was the result of the extreme coagulation of the will to murder and the air of death – the Lunar-Destroying Deathly Gas. Wherever it passed, not a single blade of grass will grow, and All Life withered.
The streaks of black thread-like deathly gas permeated the Void, covering the entire sky. Although much light could penetrate it ostensibly, the world instantly darkened, falling into a dead silence, as if all Life was going to breath their last.
However, the vast sword radiance of the Cang Heaven Spell Blade was unleashed, continuously slicing the terrifying black threads apart. The brilliant sword radiance brought color back to the Void and the world.
The Cang Heaven Spell Blade has found its Tao since the Antiquity Age, and, having not experience any major calamities these years, it has long since reached the peak of Mahayana-realm. Even a Way of the Virtual Entity-level master who excelled at battle, like Mo Xiuluo, was inferior compared to it.
As the majestic sword radiance suppressed Mo Xiuluo, it swept across the Void as well, enveloping Sikong You, Shen Qifeng, and the others as well.
King Yanluo, who was battling Gu Yuankai right now, glanced at the Cang Heaven Spell Blade. “It is indeed a magic treasure that found its Tao in the Antiquity Age. Although the Brush of the Emperor of the Dead is peak Mahayana-realm as well, one to one, it is also slightly inferior in terms of battle prowess.”
“However, I will not allow you to foil my Emperor’s plan.” As King Yanluo spoke, his black robe billowed, and from within the thick black fog, shocking roars sounded.
Several crimson-red dots lit up amidst the expansive black fog. Being targeted by these crimson dots was like being stared at by several primordial beasts.
An expression of surprise came across the faces of both Gu Yuankai and the Cang Heaven Spell Blade. “This feeling…”
These crimson-red dots became more and more clear amidst the black fog. Several massive shapes charged out from within the black fog – indeed, several large beasts.
These giant beasts included the Heavenly Demon Ape, the Bastille Black Dragon, the Kun Peng, and even the True Hou.
Although they belonged to different Tribes, at this moment, these Great Demons radiated the same air, violent and bloodthirsty. However, their expressions were stiff and hard, like zombies.
Regardless of the original colors of their bodies, right now, they were all entirely a deep black, and crimson-red light swirled indistinctly. The fiery-hot Qi and blood permeated, inspiring fear and shock.
Gu Yuankai, the South Pole Treasure Calabash, and the Cang Heaven Spell Blade were all somewhat astonished. “This feeling, it’s somewhat similar to the God-Slayer Puppet made by the ancient Satanic Way Sect, the Puppet Sect. However, they were all made using Demons…”
The Puppet Sect was an ancient Satanic Way Sect, who used to be extremely powerful and acted with impunity. They were arrogant and aggressive, and used other cultivators’ bodies to forge puppets; because they incurred public wrath, they were targeted and attacked by everyone and was quickly destroyed. Still, they left a heavy mark on the history of human cultivation, and as such, Gu Yuankai and the others naturally knew about them.
“In the Middle Ages, there was a Satanic Way Sect in the Divine Lands, called the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. They improved the mantras of the Puppet Sect and used the bodies of Demons to forge puppets instead; could it be these things?” Although the line of the Emperor of the Ancients was hidden within the Ancient Longevity World and was rather secluded, and did not exchange much information with the outside world, but they weren’t completely cut off.
The line of the Emperor of the Ancients knew about some more famous, more significant events as well. They have heard of the name of the Ten Thousands Beasts Sect, for example; naturally, they also knew that this major Satanic Way Sect was most famous for using Demon bodies to forge puppets.
The puppets that the Puppet Sect made with Human Immortal Soul Martial Way cultivators were known as the God-Slayer Puppets. Meanwhile, the puppets that the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect made with the bodies of Undying Demon Soul Demons were known as the Beast God Puppets.
As a puppet only has the martial power of the physical body left, the Demon Tribes targeted for their corpses were also the Demons who excelled in physical strength.
After the Ten Thousand Beast Sects were destroyed in the Middle Ages, its disciples were almost entirely killed, and most of the Beast God Puppets stored in the Sect were destroyed as well.
However, at this moment, it was a group of Beast God Puppets that appeared before Gu Yuankai and the party.
“When was this sort of thing prepared…previously, no information was leaked at all…” What caused Gu Yuankai and the others to frown was that among them, there were two Beast God Puppets forged using the bodies of Syncretic Star Soul-level Great Demons. Like two Way of the Virtual Entity-level Martial Way cultivators, the power of their Qi and blood was earth-shaking as they charged towards the party!
The two strongest Beast God Demons targeted, primarily, the Cang Heaven Spell Blade, who was suppressing and dominating Mo Xiuluo and the others!