Chapter 384: Mythical Body Opens the Heavenly Kingdom

The earth transformed into a flat surface, like an unfurled ancient scroll, stretching towards the end of history.

The art style of this ancient scroll was not like traditional ink wash painting; it was incredibly realistic, with distinct layers of perspective. Shadows on the scroll changed with the external light source. This was the true form of the Classic of Mountains, Seas, and Ancient Currents.

The battle between Baizang and Ye Changong severely impacted this world. The ancient scroll world, supported by the power of the Headless God, was heavily worn and clearly overwhelmed.

Ning Changjiu drew his bow, his muscles taut, the bowstring creaking as it reached almost full draw.

The invisible string pressed into his finger bones, deforming his fingertips. As the bow and arrow were poised, his Taiyin Eye fixed on Baizang. The arrow shot from between his fingers, the bow recoiled violently from the immense force, and the golden arrow whistled, transforming into lightning once more as it arced towards the sky.

He was also subject to realm suppression; launching three arrows in a row was his current limit.

He glanced at Siming and asked curiously, "Why do you seem a little angry?"

Siming held Shao Xiaoli, channeling a stream of time into her to soothe her chaotic consciousness.

She instinctively wanted to say she wasn't angry, but her long, fiery red hair betrayed her.

Siming said indifferently, "She called me Rainbow Sister."

Ning Changjiu paused, looking at Siming's hair, which had regained its vibrant colors.

Ning Changjiu said, "Xiaoli was indeed wrong; this isn't a rainbow."

Siming couldn't help but ask, "Then what is it?"

Ning Changjiu smiled faintly, "This is my light."

Siming pressed her lips together, her face as cold as frost, yet her hair transformed into a joyful red.

Ning Changjiu said nothing more, keeping his grip on the bow, his Taiyin Eye fixed on Baizang's position.

The first two arrows had left minor wounds on Baizang. Although the third arrow was the most powerful, Baizang was prepared; a sealed power blocked the arrow, dissipating it into ash.

Siming looked up at the sky, her gaze like lightning.

Her long hair turned a gloomy dark purple.

"You hold her off while I place Xiaoli back in the Star Spirit Palace," Siming said quickly.

Ning Changjiu nodded. As he stared at Baizang, intending to draw his bow again, Baizang reacted even faster. Her petite figure condensed into a line, like an arrow, shooting straight towards him.

Ning Changjiu immediately released the tension on the string.

He flashed beside Siming.

Siming asked, "What's wrong?"

Ning Changjiu took the Moon Branch from Shao Xiaoli's hand.

He said, "It's my turn to wield the sword."

Ning Changjiu and Siming acted without any hesitation.

As Baizang's figure crashed down, the two had already separated. Siming sped towards Divided Realm City, while Ning Changjiu received the remaining power from the Moon Branch.

He looked at the figure of the woman in white robes with dark hair in his sea of consciousness, feeling somewhat confused.

Perhaps this was his master's attire from the past.

But when the white veil was lifted earlier, he had clearly seen his master wearing a dark green Daoist robe covered by a white veil.

He had no time to ponder these details.

Baizang descended from the sky, her afterimage merging with her body. With a flick of her hand, countless fragments of molten silver swirled into swords, encasing Ning Changjiu.

This was a long-unseen battlefield.

He was about to face a God Lord here for the second time.

Ning Changjiu shot upwards, as the silver swords swept downwards, pursuing him.

He was currently unsure of his master's full objective, but he had experience fighting the Sin Lord. However, without the authority of 'Infinity,' he was uncertain if he could last until the Year of Baizang passed.

Ning Changjiu flew as high as possible. Beneath him, Baizang's figure was like an upward-flowing stream of snow, cutting through the air, emanating sharp energy all around.

The two figures, one after the other, intertwined as they flew towards the sky.

Ning Changjiu couldn't fly too high before Baizang intercepted him. Moonlight and Baizang's silver, like a lake brimming with moonlight, spilled across the sky, transforming into their battlefield.

"Yi, long time no see," Baizang said, looking at him.

Ning Changjiu replied, "I've never met you."

Baizang said indifferently, "You were a significant figure in the past, so of course you wouldn't have seen me. But today, history might repeat itself."

Ning Changjiu looked at her and asked, "What history?"

Baizang gave him a deep look and said, "Back then, Chang'e and you were in a desperate situation, just like now, intercepted and killed by Yuanfu. She abandoned you and fled then. Today, you might be the sacrifice again."

"Chang'e?" Ning Changjiu was stunned. He looked at the Moon Branch in his hand and asked, "Who is Chang'e?"

Baizang, for once, showed some emotion. She said, "Are you joking with me?"

Only then did Ning Changjiu suddenly understand: his master was not Nüwa, but Chang'e, the one who left behind the legend of 'flying to the moon.'

His master and his past self... were they actually husband and wife?

Ning Changjiu's heart trembled. He realized now that he had always had a premonition about this, but out of respect for his master, he had never considered it.

If that was the case, who was Nüwa then?

In Ning Changjiu's sea of consciousness, the elegant green dress of his senior sister suddenly appeared.

No way...

Ning Changjiu shook his head gently, momentarily unable to accept it. These were not thoughts one should have in a battle of life and death.

Ning Changjiu looked at the Moon Branch and whispered, "Chang'e..."

Baizang was not in a hurry to attack. She looked at Ning Changjiu and continued, "Didn't she tell you?"

Ning Changjiu shook his head.

Baizang said, "It seems she has always been using you, both three thousand five hundred years ago and now. You've been betrayed once; why trust her?"

Ning Changjiu did not harbor any doubts because of her words.

"My master will not betray me," Ning Changjiu stated.

Baizang said, "You have gone through several reincarnations, yet she remains Chang'e. You two are already estranged and exist in name only. She will die for her obsession, and you foolishly follow."

Ning Changjiu lowered his head, looking at the Moon Branch in his hand, recalling a sword strike from his previous life.

Ning Changjiu didn't bother to overthink, simply following his straightforward sense of right and wrong. He said, "She is my master, and also my wife, so I should protect her even more."

"Utterly foolish," Baizang said, not bothering to speak further.

Ning Changjiu held the Moon Branch like a sword. Moonlight permeated his clothes, making them glow as if he were a solitary moon.

He looked at Baizang, puzzled. "Why aren't you attacking yet?"

Baizang said, "You are not easy to kill, so..."

She paused, then looked behind him.

A rainbow arched across the sky, hovering in the air, creating a pincer attack with Ning Changjiu against Baizang.

It was Siming.

Her divine robe was adorned with silver patterns, and a slender moon hung behind her long hair. A black sword whirled around her, flying as if it were a bird reunited with its long-lost master.

Siming extended her hand, grasping the hilt of the black sword, her fingers tightening around it.

The black sword hummed loudly.

Baizang listened to the sword's hum and continued what she had left unsaid: "So I waited for you both to arrive, to kill you together."

The final syllable of 'kill' sharply intensified, like a blade unsheathing, its cold glint striking.

Baizang's shadow floated in the sky, shattered snow and flowing silver swirling around her, as if she were the true moon of this realm.

Three moons in one sky.

Ning Changjiu and Siming exchanged glances.

Even before the battle truly began, they felt a strong sense of unease.

Baizang stood between them, her molten-silver-like robe flowing gracefully. Her snow-silk hair continuously lengthened, and her body underwent bizarre changes.

Ning Changjiu immediately understood.

Mythological Form!

Baizang had already made up her mind: since variables had appeared, she had to act with desperate courage to eliminate them, rather than engaging in a generous but uncertain battle.

For deities of their caliber, revealing their Mythological Form was also a dangerous undertaking.

It would diminish their mystique, and mystique was linked to power. Furthermore, the Mythological Form was chaotic; if her conscious mind couldn't suppress the chaos, she could very well go mad.

This was an irreversible process. Immense power surged forth, pushing Ning Changjiu and Siming a hundred zhang away.

She revealed her mythological appearance.

Silver Snow Palace.

Qiu Yue sat cautiously before the throne, watching the images transmitted through the water mirror, her eyes wide with excitement and greed.

Unfortunately, the water mirror couldn't reach Divided Realm City, so the most thrilling part of the show would be missed.

This made Qiu Yue somewhat disappointed.

She looked at the young girl on the throne.

Qiu Yue was pretty, but compared to this supreme, majestic girl, she was ultimately far inferior, which ignited jealousy within her.

At this moment, Baizang's projection was in the human realm, while her true body had fallen into a temporary slumber.

But Qiu Yue couldn't touch her.

The tiger was merely asleep, not dead. If she were to approach her with rebellious intentions, the Silver Snow Palace's rules would instantly crush her into pulp.

The Silver Snow Palace was exceptionally quiet today.

The divine officials, heavenly monarchs, divine envoys, divine generals... almost all top-tier forces in the palace had left for the human realm. The Snow Palace was desolate and empty, as if only she remained.

Qiu Yue yearned to rally forces within the palace and become the new ruler, but she was both greedy and timid. Her power was insufficient to contend with the Snow Palace's rules, let alone, even if Baizang's projection were defeated, her true body would at most be slightly injured, yet still remain the supreme ruler of this place...

Thinking this, Qiu Yue tightly embraced the Divine Heart of her mother, Tianzang, her eyes filled with jealousy.

Just then, she noticed Baizang suddenly changing.

The snow-haired girl sat on the throne. Silver-gray tiger stripes emerged on her cheeks, and a pair of fluffy ears sprouted from within her snow-like hair... resembling the ears of a snow tiger.

The ears were cute, making one want to reach out and pinch them.

But Qiu Yue didn't find them cute. She glanced at the ears, and then it was as if two steel needles had pierced her pupils. She screamed, clutching her eyes, rolling on the ground as blood seeped from between her fingers.

One must not gaze upon the true form of a deity.

When Ning Xiaoling and the Fish King crossed the Sea of Darkness and arrived at the Ancient Underworld Kingdom, black rain was falling, soaking the earth and rocks, and delicate black flowers swayed in the barren fields.

An aura of destruction permeated the black rain; even Ning Xiaoling could feel that this world was on the verge of collapse.

She and the Fish King ran towards the Underworld Temple.

Along the way, they once again saw those bizarre sects.

In just a few hundred days, countless sects with strange ideologies had almost completely withered away.

Numerous pits piled up by the roadside, like flowers crafted from bones.

A few major sects were still struggling to maintain themselves, but they were already powerless.

The City Cannons of the Destruction Sect were gathering dust, the gigantic instruments of the Immortal Invitation Sect were piled with skeletons, and the Regicide Sect was still training, but clearly lacked passion, each member gaunt as firewood, like true zombies. They didn't even notice the passing fox and cat.

Ning Xiaoling had a bad premonition.

"Will there be difficulties on this journey?" Ning Xiaoling asked.

The Fish King calmly replied, "The path to godhood is never smooth."

Ning Xiaoling noticed the Fish King had become much more serious. She said, "I never wanted to become a god."

"This has nothing to do with whether you want to be a god or not," the Fish King said, looking at the drizzle. "I used to just want to be an ordinary cat, but I have no complaints about my current situation either."

Only then did Ning Xiaoling remember that Di Ting used to be a demon king of the Five Dao realm.

"I don't quite understand what you mean," Ning Xiaoling said.

The Fish King asked bluntly, "Do you want to die?"

Ning Xiaoling replied, "Of course not."

The Fish King nodded. As it did so, a slight double chin became visible, making its serious expression look somewhat comical.

"You don't just resist when oppression comes; you must prepare before danger arrives, that's how you have a chance to survive," the Fish King said, slowing its pace. "You've had it too easy these past few months; I'm afraid you've forgotten."

Ning Xiaoling paused, understanding something.

"You don't trust Jiuyou?" Ning Xiaoling asked.

The Fish King said, "Don't trust anyone."

Ning Xiaoling asked, "Not even my senior brother?"

The Fish King was silent for a moment, then said, "Don't argue."

Ning Xiaoling murmured in acknowledgment and nodded, "I'll be careful."

The Fish King sighed, its long cat fur soaked by the rain and stained with the black mud unique to the ancient kingdom, making it look a bit dirty.

Ning Xiaoling looked at its slightly forlorn expression and asked, "You don't trust anyone?"

The Fish King nodded.

Ning Xiaoling then asked, "Have you been betrayed before?"

The Fish King didn't answer, but it couldn't help but recall that old fish, its bloody figure and miserable cries still echoing in its ears.

One who has been betrayed becomes suspicious, and a betrayer even more so.

It embodied both.

"Don't ask too many questions about what you shouldn't," the Fish King said calmly. "Later, follow my lead."

Ning Xiaoling looked at its deadpan eyes and acknowledged with an 'Oh.'

They walked a long path until they arrived before the Underworld Temple.

Before the temple, Ning Xiaoling saw a shocking sight—on the stone tablet in front of it, only three days remained.

Weren't there nearly a hundred days left?

Had time been thrown into disarray?

As Ning Xiaoling felt uneasy, the grand hall doors swung open, and a pale-faced girl, clad in a black dress, walked out. She looked at Ning Xiaoling and smiled weakly, "You're here?"

Ning Xiaoling and the Fish King entered the Underworld Temple, where Jiuyou greeted them seriously.

She no longer seemed like the naive Princess Jiuyou; she was now much more reserved and dignified.

Ning Xiaoling could tell she had something on her mind.

Ning Xiaoling sat on the stone table, her nine tails gently swaying, silently watching Jiuyou's slightly busy figure.

The Fish King lay curled up in a corner, looking lazy and completely unguarded.

Jiuyou tidied the table, brought Ning Xiaoling a cup of tea, then sat down carefully, saying gratefully, "It's a good thing you came. If you had been a few hours later, you might have met Jiuyou in Jiuyou."

Ning Xiaoling thought Jiuyou was telling a joke, so she politely smiled and said, "Don't be afraid, the authority has been collected. This Ancient Underworld Kingdom will soon be saved."

Jiuyou nodded with a faint smile and said, "I can feel it... Thank you both."

Ning Xiaoling was unaccustomed to her change in demeanor. She asked, "Is something bothering you?"

Jiuyou quickly replied, "No, nothing... Since the authority has been collected, hand it over to me. I will restore the ancient kingdom, and then I will do my best to repay you."

She was the Nether Lord's sole heir, possessing the only body capable of containing all the authority.

Ning Xiaoling subtly glanced at Di Ting, who seemed genuinely asleep, offering no response.

And he said to follow his lead! This fat cat really is unreliable...

Ning Xiaoling looked at Jiuyou and said, "Hmm, if you have any difficulties, you can tell me. Just don't lie to me... I'm a cunning little fox, you can't fool me."

Hearing this, a smile finally appeared on Jiuyou's previously somber face.

"Yes, I would never kill you," she nodded.

Ning Xiaoling carefully placed the two swords, imbued with the power of authority, on the table and asked, "Can you give me my body back now?"

Jiuyou nodded and said, "Once I confirm everything is correct, I can return your body to you."

Ning Xiaoling felt her words were stiff. She recalled the Fish King's admonition and prepared herself for any unforeseen changes.

Jiuyou picked up the two swords, weighed them, and relaxed slightly. "The power of authority is sufficient," she said.

Ning Xiaoling said, "You should fulfill your promise."

Jiuyou looked at her and suddenly asked, "Can I touch you?"

Ning Xiaoling paused, then said, "Hmm... yes, you can."

Jiuyou extended a pale hand, gently stroked Ning Xiaoling's soft fur, rubbed her head, and then proceeded to pinch her nine tails.

"Don't touch the middle tail," Ning Xiaoling said, pulling one in and hugging it with her small paws.

Jiuyou covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

She touched the tails, her mood improving. She extended a finger and gently traced something on Ning Xiaoling's back, then took the swords and turned towards the throne.

Ning Xiaoling sat on the table, narrowing her almond-shaped eyes.

Just now, Jiuyou had clearly written a word on her back.

She recalled the strokes her opponent's finger had made... the word was...

Above Divided Realm City, Baizang revealed her mythological form.

It was a being infused with an eerie beauty.

Baizang's face was sharp-featured. On either side of her jaw, fine silver-gray lines spread across her snowy skin. Her pupils had become two perfectly round silver spheres, and in the center of her brows, patterns converged into the character for 'king'.

The girl's silver divine robe covered her petite frame. Her body size remained unchanged, yet she appeared much more slender—because she had grown a long, silver-whip-like tail that hung down, ending in a lightning-bolt shape. Her body was curved, enveloped in silvery-white light, and silver rings adorned her arms and the bends of her legs.

Her current appearance was beautiful, yet her beauty radiated savagery.

Most striking were the two fluffy ears on her head, resembling cat ears, twitching in the wind. They looked somewhat cute, yet completely incongruous with her overall aura.

The moment she revealed her true form, Siming immediately turned her head.

Though she was a divine official, beholding the true form of the Nation Lord was still blinding.

Ning Changjiu initially wanted to avert his gaze too, but soon, a soft layer of moonlight covered his pupils.

Though thin, this moonlight reflected the terrifying backlash, allowing him to face Baizang directly.

But the backlash was only part of it. In her Mythological Form, Baizang's power surged during this time, instantly breaking through the world's bottleneck and spreading to higher levels.

The sound of collapsing laws rang out piercingly.

The chaos above was instantly split open, and the Void Realm revealed its true appearance, shimmering like water.

She had arrived.

Siming closed her eyes, spread her divine sense, and locked onto Baizang, then suddenly said coldly, "You made a mistake."

"Oh?" Baizang's divine sense was still active.

Siming said, "You broke the rules of heaven and earth to advance your power, but we are also within heaven and earth; our power will increase along with yours."

As she spoke, the silver patterns on Siming's divine robe grew more pronounced, and the black sword in her hand hummed clearly.

Ning Changjiu could also feel his realm ascending.

But he wished Xueci would speak less...

Baizang nodded and said, "You are right."

She had never intended to engage in an evenly matched battle with them.

The victory she sought was absolute.

Baizang asked, "You must be very tired after journeying all this way, aren't you?"

Siming was somewhat puzzled.

Baizang revealed a bizarre smile. She seemed to be waiting for something, so she didn't hesitate to speak: "Don't you understand? Everything you've experienced since entering the Central Lands has been under my control."

"At Luoshu Tower, I used you as a blade to peel open Tianzang's Divine Heart."

"At the Ancient Spirit Sect, I used Ning Xiaoling's destiny to connect with the Underworld Kingdom. If time permits, the Nether Lord's authority will also fall into my hands."

"At Myriad Demon City, I used you to meet Kunlun. Chang'e wasted considerable power for you."

"At Lonely Cloud City, you tested the Sword Saint's loyalty."

"Divided Realm City... everything should conclude here. My only question is what Evil truly told you."

Baizang looked at Ning Changjiu.

On her youthful, beautiful face, the character 'king' revealed an unspeakable dominance.

Ning Changjiu, of course, did not answer.

Nor did Baizang truly expect an answer.

Everything that followed happened in a very short time.

Baizang blinked. When she opened her eyes a second time, they were like glazed orbs.

Divided Realm City sensed something. From its furthest reaches, countless cracks spread towards their location.

In just an instant, Baizang's power far surpassed the limits allowed by heaven and earth.

Not just this world, but even the outside world...

Siming was shaken and bewildered... How could this be...

A terrifying thought surfaced in her mind.

"True body?" Siming blurted out, "You are your true body?!"

Baizang said, "As expected of a divine official; you still have some insight."

She was not a mere projection, but Baizang's true body.

The one currently remaining in the Silver Snow Palace was her projection.

But... how was this possible?

"How can a God King leave her divine kingdom?! You're not the Vermilion Bird, nor a Saint... How could you possibly..." Siming struggled to suppress her doubts.

Baizang said, "You still don't understand the divine kingdom enough."

"A divine kingdom is like a piece of paper in a strong wind; it needs a stone to weigh it down to remain stable, and the God King is that stone," Baizang explained. "Both the Vermilion Bird and Jufu have stones other than themselves. Jufu relies on a unique divine ability akin to an external body, while the Vermilion Bird relies on Xihe's Fire Phoenix Divine Soul."

Baizang spoke unhurriedly.

She didn't need to elaborate further; they already understood.

Baizang's stone was Tianzang's Divine Heart! Her projection carried it, disguised as her true body, suppressing the divine kingdom.

The Nether Lord was dead, Xuanze had become Ji Xuan, and the Torch Dragon's Divine Heart had long collapsed, consumed by its offspring. Tianzang's Divine Heart was the only, and last, 'stone' with such qualifications.

This stone had been acquired by Baizang.

With the God King's personal presence, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

"Sealed by Dust." She pointed her finger at Ning Changjiu.

Ning Changjiu couldn't resist, immediately plummeting into the long river of history.

He couldn't even let out a scream.

Before Siming could react, Baizang was already in front of her.

She was the Headless God's divine official, perhaps useful, so Baizang didn't kill her.

"Unless he possesses the authority of 'Infinity,' there is no way for him to survive," Baizang said, wanting to make Siming completely give up hope.

Siming gritted her teeth, let out a fierce cry, and gripped her black sword with both hands, slashing forward.

Baizang effortlessly neutralized her attack.

She imprisoned Siming and flew upwards with her.

Defeating Yi's reincarnation with one strike, subduing the divine kingdom's official with a single thought.

Baizang felt no pride, for this was the power a deity's true body should possess.

Siming struggled to turn her head, watching Ning Changjiu, enveloped by 'Sealed by Dust,' falling downwards.

She wondered if it was a delusion, but earlier, as Ning Changjiu was being sealed by dust, his lips had moved, uttering a word to her.

She understood that word:

"Don't be afraid."