Chapter 440: Extinction of a Nation

In mid-November, a torrential downpour poured down from the Central Land.

The breached sections of the Luo River had been repaired with rocks, and the ruins of Guhuang were covered by settled dust and sand, no longer emitting spiritual energy.

Ji Xuan was organizing the cultivators in the pavilion to repair the Divine Painting Pavilion. Under the successive impacts of the Prime Monarch and the Sword Saint, the historical layers of the Divine Painting Pavilion had been worn away during the great battle, proving difficult to restore. Many historical elements were destined to forever exit the stage of history.

The nearby, loose mountain slopes that had survived formed mudflows in the heavy rain. Ning Changjiu and others descended the slope on their swords, looking as if they were riding on the backs of mud dragons.

The Luo River swelled in the downpour. The normally clear river was laden with vast amounts of silt and sand, churning turbidly as it surged northward towards Beiming.

Shao Xiaoli stopped by the riverbank. She gazed at the already desolate shores, glancing around, her softly arched brows occasionally furrowing or relaxing, as if she were searching for lingering traces of the past.

Siming watched the girl, whose gaze wandered, and asked, "Do you still remember this place?"

Shao Xiaoli gently shook her head and said, "I don't remember it very clearly."

Siming took her clenched fist, gently loosening it. She smiled and said, "When one leaves home young and returns old, things are often no longer the same. It's like when Baizang took me back to the Yuanfu Divine Kingdom last time; I didn't feel the same familiarity. I even wondered if the beauty of the Divine Kingdom from so long ago was just an illusion, continuously beautified by my memory over seven hundred years."

As Siming spoke, she couldn't help but recall Baizang's misdeeds. At that moment, Baizang was by the river, completely engrossed in practicing fishing, splashing at the rising water with her paws. Siming walked up behind her and kicked her into the river.

Baizang let out a "meow," fur bristling, and scrambled out of the water. She awkwardly flopped back onto the bank, not daring to glare at Siming, and simply hid silently by Ye Changong's side.

Shao Xiaoli watched this scene and chuckled softly, whispering, "Sister Xueci is truly..."

"Truly what?"

"Truly enjoys punishing evil and promoting good!"

"Indeed, Xiaoli, you also have keen insight."

Baizang listened to their disingenuous conversation and silently folded back her round ears.

She looked at Ye Changong, who stood nearby. The girl's calves were incredibly slender, yet not bony, possessing only the beauty of youth.

Ye Changong gazed at the river, lost in thought.

As Shao Xiaoli and Siming drew closer, Ye Changong lowered her eyes and collected her thoughts, then suddenly said, "When the Luo River Goddess parted ways with us, she said something."

Shao Xiaoli's expression flickered, and she immediately said, "What the Luo River Goddess said has nothing to do with Xiaoli."

Ye Changong smiled faintly and said, "It wasn't anything bad. She simply said that the Luo River is always here, and it will always be there whenever you come."

This time, it was Shao Xiaoli who was lost in thought.

Ye Changong smiled sweetly and said, "Returning to an old place inevitably brings feelings of sentimentality; don't dwell on it too much."

Siming looked at Ye Changong's cheek and asked, "Master, are you still practicing smiling?"

Ye Changong paused slightly, then said, "Did Ning Changjiu tell you that?"

Siming also paused, "No, not at all. Actually... everyone can sense it; Master tries very hard to express herself."

"Is that so..." Ye Changong reached out and touched her cheek. Her lips pursed slightly, then lifted, before returning to their natural state. Finally, Ye Changong shook her head gently, perhaps feeling a sense of loss.

Shao Xiaoli glanced at Siming, complaining softly, "Things like this, it's better if we just know about them secretly. Why did you have to say it out loud?"

Siming said confidently, "Master has extraordinary bearing, so of course she wouldn't mind. Unlike you, Xiaoli."

Ye Changong looked at Lu Jiajia and said softly, "Jiajia, come here for a moment."

Lu Jiajia, who was talking with Ning Changjiu, walked over, somewhat puzzled. "Master, what is it?"

Ye Changong said, "Jiajia, from now on, you will be the undisputed Senior Sister of this generation."

Siming froze in place. She looked at the serene and beautiful girl and, for the first time, felt an impulse to "betray her master and destroy her ancestors." But with the moon now reappeared, she dared not act recklessly. She could only watch helplessly as Lu Jiajia gave her a provocative smile.

Shao Xiaoli was also secretly smiling, pressing her lips together.

"What are you laughing about, Xiaoli?"

Siming, ever the one to bully the weak and fear the strong, narrowed her eyes and looked at Shao Xiaoli.

"Oh, Xiaoli isn't laughing," Shao Xiaoli said, running to Ning Changjiu's side for protection.

Siming's light-colored long hair swayed in the wind by the Luo River. She sighed, looked around, then slowly withdrew her gaze and walked over to Ning Changjiu. She asked, "After this, should we go to the Tianji Divine Kingdom or the Prime Monarch's domain first?"

Ning Changjiu said decisively, "Tianji Kingdom."

He explained, "If the Prime Monarch wasn't lying, then his ties to this land are very deep. If we were to kill him, it would likely have immeasurable consequences for the world. Moreover, he is one of the Six Primeval Gods and should know many secrets unknown to us."

Siming nodded, "Yes, but the location of the Prime Monarch's Divine Kingdom is still unclear."

Ning Changjiu said, "Now that the Divine Kingdoms are no longer concealed, finding them is only a matter of time. Before that, we might even be able to go to the Heavenly Ranks and meet Evil."

Siming looked at him and asked, "After meeting Evil, will we go to the Western Kingdom?"

Ning Changjiu said, "It's time to go. My intuition tells me I can obtain something there."

Siming's icy gaze sharpened, and she said flatly, "You'll get a fiancée."

Ning Changjiu laughed, "In Lonely Cloud City, I thought you all got along quite well?"

Siming bit down slightly, "How dare you bring that up?"

Ning Changjiu said, "Alright, aren't you still planning to find Xiang'er to use the Phoenix Fire to burn away her hair color? I think that's quite important too."

"It's fine," Siming said nonchalantly.

Ning Changjiu said, "Just 'fine'? You erased all the crosses in the Ten-Eyed Kingdom because you found them displeasing."

"Don't you dare bring that up," Siming said, clenching her fists.

The two began to bicker softly.

By the Luo River, Ye Changong had already bid everyone farewell.

"When a thousand sails have passed, remember to return to the monastery and visit," Ye Changong said, looking at Ning Changjiu.

Ning Changjiu bowed to his master with the reverence of the monastery and promised, "Your disciple will certainly return."

Ye Changong let out a very soft hum of affirmation.

Like Chang'e flying to the moon, Ye Changong's figure floated gently upwards, as if vanishing into thin air, disappearing in an instant.

Baizang disappeared along with her.

From time to time, fragmented leaves drifted across the gray sky.

Ning Changjiu and the others walked along the Luo River for a while, recovering their spiritual energy, vitality, and spirit.

In the former site of the ancient Luo River Goddess tribe, Ning Changjiu also saw a statue of the Luo River Goddess that had toppled due to loose earth veins. He set it upright, wiped away the mud and water with spiritual energy, and subconsciously compared it to Shao Xiaoli.

Shao Xiaoli felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze.

The girl averted her gaze and continued looking at the Luo River, saying, "I always feel that there's still a connection between me and it."

Ning Changjiu said, "The cultivation technique Master gave you is the 'Luo River Goddess Ode', Xiaoli. You can try to control the Luo River and re-ascend to a divine position. After Third Senior Brother's reincarnation, the authority over rivers and seas became masterless. You can use the Luo River as a starting point and have the potential to become the next co-ruler of rivers and seas."

Shao Xiaoli had anticipated this, but her emotions still rippled slightly with the river.

"Alright, Master, please take the two Elder Sisters to kill Tianji," Shao Xiaoli said solemnly. "I'll stay here for now to try and establish a connection with the Luo River and wait for your return."

Lu Jiajia worriedly asked, "Xiaoli, can you truly manage alone?"

Shao Xiaoli looked at them and said, "Time is of the essence right now, and everyone has almost recovered. We shouldn't delay another moment. Besides, if I can't even control a mere Luo River, how can I ever become the ruler of rivers and seas and truly journey with you all?"

Ning Changjiu looked at the serious-faced girl in the white dress and nodded, "I trust Xiaoli, but if you encounter any unexpected dangers, do not force yourself."

Shao Xiaoli nodded vigorously.

Ning Changjiu stopped. The Golden Crow flew out. Lu Jiajia and Siming exchanged glances, then their figures together darted into it, ascending their respective divine seats. The Snow Porcelain Hall and the Sword Lord Hall glowed brilliantly, and they merged their minds with Ning Changjiu.

"The Scarlet Line is Tianji's Divine Kingdom," Lu Jiajia reminded them. "Even with Qitian's influence, we should still be careful."

"Yes, those three divine steeds are still quite strong," Siming said, recalling the scene of the Bronze Divine Steed fighting Baizang by the Luo River.

Ning Changjiu brought forth the slender silver sword.

The sword light streaked across the sky, heading straight for the Scarlet Line Divine Kingdom.

Ning Changjiu's figure vanished from his spot. He acknowledged Lu Jiajia and Siming's concern with a sound of assent. But he knew well that when the Dark Lord was still active, Tianji commanded three divine steeds. Now, with the Divine Kingdom's authority gone, what remained beneath the divine throne were merely three donkeys.

Western Kingdom, Three Thousand Worlds.

Zhao Xiang'er shattered a water mirror with a flick of her finger, distantly withdrawing her gaze.

Not long ago, the Invisible Senior Sister and Second Senior Brother had also bid her farewell.

The Taoist temple, shrouded by the bright moon, reopened. World order was subtly being reconstructed, and humanity was gradually reclaiming control of the world. Everything was moving back onto the right track.

Zhao Xiang'er sat amidst white clouds, with ethereal light floating among the myriad worlds. She swung her fair, slender legs, which were soft and agile, her small toes appearing as if solidified moonlight. Beneath her partially open phoenix gown was a cotton-colored nightgown, clinging softly to her jade-like body, adorned with doodles she made to relieve boredom.

If Shiyu and Xueyuan had seen this scene, they would have felt even more the increasing distance between themselves and the divine.

Xueyuan had even regretted many times having caused trouble at the Zhao Imperial City back then.

She felt she had bungled it.

If they had married back then, and that young man had taken Zhao Xiang'er's virgin Yin energy, she would not only have lost her pristine purity but might also have been unable to maintain her status as a goddess. Was this... also Mother's test?

Whenever she thought about it, Xueyuan would attribute everything to that omnipotent empress.

But she didn't know that the girl swinging her legs on the cloud had already marked the ruler of the Vermilion Bird Divine Kingdom as an inevitable enemy.

Amidst her leisurely thoughts, a white flower drifted from afar.

Zhao Xiang'er crooked her finger, and the white flower seemed to be caught by the wind at her fingertip before dropping in front of her.

She gently twirled the flower between her fingers, looking at its delicate petals, and observing the four characters 'Happy Birthday' inscribed upon it, she smiled with pursed lips.

This flower had drifted from the east; it was picked by Ye Changong that night and sent on the wind.

"Happy Birthday..."

Zhao Xiang'er murmured, then tucked it into her dark hair.

A delicate fragrance diffused like flowing water.

Zhao Xiang'er grasped the red umbrella buried in the clouds, drew out its slender umbrella-sword, and plunged straight down from the cloud, continuing her sword practice.

These days, the girl practiced her swordplay even more diligently. After all, when Ning Changjiu eventually arrived in the Western Kingdom's Three Thousand Worlds, she would need to entertain him properly.

Within the Three Thousand Worlds, phoenix fire blazed, and sword light illuminated the world brightly.

After the world was freed from the Dark Lord's control, its laws also subtly changed.

Ning Changjiu's cultivation realm didn't experience major fluctuations, yet his sword-riding speed was more than twice as fast as before. Compared to the new world, the old world seemed to be separated by an invisible layer of mud; they had been swimming in that mud. Now that this layer of mud had receded, people realized how clear the world truly was.

Having lived in this mud since birth, they never found it strange; they simply believed that the world was supposed to be this way.

Ye Changong was the only one who had survived from the old world into the new.

In the past, though she had sensed subtle anomalies in the human realm and guessed they were related to the Dark Lord, she never realized their root cause was a change in the world's fundamental rules.

It was time to correct this world and let it return to its original state...

While people were still gazing up at the Scarlet Line Kingdom, which seemed like a divine miracle, Ning Changjiu's silver sword had already struck it.

The hum of the sword traveled across the Divine Kingdom's walls, and the once impregnable barriers of the Divine Kingdom instantly fractured. As the walls of the Divine Kingdom shattered, Ning Changjiu's sword energy swept in, appearing almost instantaneously in the high heavens.

The entire Divine Kingdom heard the sound of the walls shattering.

Beneath the walls, the beings born from the Divine Kingdom's spiritual energy collectively raised their heads, all gazing at the white-robed young man with a sword on his back.

These beings were young colts, all products of condensed spiritual energy. A significant part of their minds was inherently bestowed by the Divine Kingdom, so in their perception, the Scarlet Line Divine Kingdom was a complete world. Beyond its borders lay the polluted Dust Realm, inhabited by base creatures that needed to be ruled by them.

Only warhorses that distinguished themselves from these colts could reach higher places within the Scarlet Line Divine Kingdom and learn more hidden secrets.

At this moment, as they gazed at the shattered walls, ingrained beliefs such as 'the Divine Kingdom is inherently noble' and 'you are the true spirits of the world' wavered with the appearance of the white-robed young man. They showed expressions of fear and confusion.

The white-robed young man also looked at them.

The Scarlet Line Divine Kingdom was not excessively wide; his Lunar Eyes could perceive its farthest reaches.

Within the Divine Kingdom, many colts crawled out of the Mother Well. They were born knowing how to run, and following the instructions in their minds, they arrived at the initial racetrack and then ran continuously forward.

According to the rules of the Divine Kingdom, every hundred foals would undergo a selection process through a race. Ultimately, only three would be chosen, while the rest would be completely eliminated, their spiritual energy returned to the Mother Well for reshaping.

The young horses in the distance were unaware of the Divine Kingdom's damage and continued to gallop wildly.

Ning Changjiu ignored the beings looking up at him from below.

He looked in the direction the foals were running and rode his sword away.

In the very core of the Divine Kingdom, Tianji sat motionless on his throne, as if stunned.

By his side, two warhorses, one of bronze and one of gold, lay prostrate. The Silver Divine Steed knelt by the entrance like a dog; its body had been severely damaged in the battle in Naming, and the Divine Kingdom's power was currently repairing it.

Today, a horse race to determine divine generals and divine envoys was about to begin. Tianji had always been fanatically obsessed with this; he enjoyed the thrill of watching colts race on the brink of life and death, and he also delighted in torturing and killing defeated warhorses.

But at this moment, he remained motionless on his throne.

If the Bronze and Golden warhorses had looked more closely, they would have noticed that this supremely noble ruler of the Divine Kingdom seemed to be trembling.

A tremor sounded from afar, growing closer.

Tianji raised his hand and issued a command to the Silver Warhorse.

The Silver Divine Steed, dragging its damaged body, left without hesitation and charged forward.

This divine steed, which had once held back Ning Changjiu in the Southern Ocean, was no longer a match for him after Ning Changjiu perfected his Asura body and ascended to the position of kingdom ruler. It was as weak as a lamb awaiting slaughter.

The Silver Warhorse let out a tragic shriek.

With a crash, the last grand gate of the Divine Kingdom was forced open.

What smashed open the gate was the corpse of the Silver Divine Steed.

The divine steed's blood splattered on the walls, a horrifyingly pale stain.

Tianji, crowned like an emperor, sat on his throne. His pupils, behind the golden mask, opened and stared directly at the young man before him.

Ning Changjiu lightly landed on the ground, blowing the blood from his sword.

"Back in the Void Realm, I destroyed your projection," Ning Changjiu said. "I never imagined we would meet again here."

Tianji also hadn't expected that the damned Saint still had such reserves of power, not only temporarily severing the Dark Lord's influence but also leaving the authority of 'Qitian' in the human realm.

Within the Divine Kingdom, he should have been an omnipotent and unconquerable being. But under 'Qitian,' the Divine Kingdom's influence was erased, and all spirits returned to their origins.

The one now sitting on the throne was no longer the ruler of the Scarlet Line Divine Kingdom, but a spectral general born from the casualties of war. Although he was still powerful, what stood before him was a true god, and he had no confidence he could survive the silver sword.

"Long time no see," Tianji slowly stood up and said. "You truly exceeded my expectations. Even reaching this position, you still haven't become ignorant or incompetent. I... am very angry."

Ning Changjiu said, "There has never been an eternal dynasty in this world. The moment you submitted to the Dark Lord, considered yourselves rulers, and viewed the people of the world as lowly, you should have been prepared to be impaled on your thrones by the swords of humanity."

Tianji said with dignity, "We follow the Way of Heaven! As you've seen, under the Divine Kingdom's cycle, all things are harmonious. But once the Divine Kingdom is gone, the Godless Month begins, and evil spirits and malevolent ghosts roam freely in the human realm without restraint."

Ning Changjiu shook his head, saying, "The evil spirits and malevolent ghosts of the Godless Month are inherently products you cultivated, like venomous insects. The Dark Lord needs spiritual energy to sustain itself, and it consumes cultivators, so it eliminates anything that hinders their cultivation. Those evil spirits and malevolent ghosts are suppressed for an entire year, devouring each other in the shadows, becoming several times stronger than they originally were. During the Godless Month, they kill countless common folk, and it is cultivators who slay demons and banish evil to save them, not your so-called Divine Kingdom."

Tianji stared at him. After a long moment, the Divine Ruler sighed.

He raised his hands.

The Golden Divine Steed and the Bronze Divine Steed opened their eyes, glaring furiously at Ning Changjiu.

Then, both divine steeds screamed in agony.

It wasn't Ning Changjiu who killed them, but Tianji.

Tianji personally snapped the necks of both divine steeds.

"I surrender," Tianji said.

He did not want his subordinates to see him surrender, so he killed them all.

Ning Changjiu looked at the two tragically dead divine steeds, and still shook his head decisively, "I refuse."

Tianji's voice was low, "You are indeed very strong. I even believe you can defeat the Dark Lord. I chose the Dark Lord then, and now I wish to choose you. I think you shouldn't abandon every potential powerful ally."

Ning Changjiu calmly said, "Not everyone can be a friend. The Scarlet Line is the center of the world, and I intend to kill you here to shatter the myth of the Divine Kingdom's supremacy and uplift the hearts of the people. Similarly, I must also kill the Six-Eared Macaque of Jufu Kingdom next month. That will be an explanation to the Saints in heaven and the demon race heading to Uranus. This is non-negotiable."

Tianji angrily said, "Must you fight to the death?!"

Ning Changjiu ceased his idle talk. He closed his eyes, and within the Golden Crow Divine Kingdom, Siming and Lu Jiajia gripped their swords together.

Sword energy surged from the ground, tearing through the hall walls on both sides. Simultaneously, the vibrant caisson ceiling above the divine hall was instantly destroyed, exploding into fireworks. Pure white sword intent crisscrossed through the Divine Kingdom, cleaving through the myth of its invincibility.

Tianji also drew his Nation-Guarding Sword and struck towards Ning Changjiu.

They had once fought through Naming, and were already intimately familiar with each other's moves.

Tianji, wielding his Nation-Guarding Sword, remained as majestic as a sky god. But this time, the sky god was destined to die in this glorious cemetery that had stood for thousands of years.

The Scarlet Line Divine Kingdom began to shake.

Three days later, early in the morning, Liu Xixuan returned to the Sword Pavilion with her senior brothers and sisters.

When they had departed several days earlier, they never imagined that the journey to Guhuang would end this way.

All fourteen disciples of the Sword Pavilion, after receiving the Sword Saint's final gift, had entered the Five Paths.

Liu Xixuan and Liu Junzhuo emerged together from the Seventy-Two Heavenly Caves, gazing at the Scarlet Line Divine Kingdom, watching its distorted, trembling world, and waiting for the battle to conclude.

"Senior Sister," Liu Xixuan asked curiously, blinking her eyes, "from now on, you'll have to call that annoying guy the Pavilion Master. Don't you feel strange about that?"

Liu Junzhuo said, "Master passed on the Sword Pavilion's legacy to him. I don't think that choice was wrong. Besides, I'll call him Pavilion Master, not 'Master' like you do."

Liu Xixuan's eyes widened, and she bit her lip fiercely, saying, "Senior Sister, don't talk nonsense!"

Liu Junzhuo looked at her blandly, "What nonsense did I talk?"

Liu Xixuan said, "What 'master' or not 'master'? I won't be ordered around by him."

Meanwhile, in the Scarlet Line Divine Kingdom, the battle, whose outcome was predetermined, finally reached its end on the third day.

Tianji had exhausted all his means and strength; even his Nation-Guarding Sword was difficult to lift.

Ning Changjiu stood before him. Lu Jiajia and Siming had locked down his sides, and behind him was the heavily damaged wall of the Divine Kingdom.

Ning Changjiu's silver sword pierced his divine body.

As expected of a divine body personally bestowed by the Dark Lord, Ning Changjiu's silver sword failed to cut through it.

Tianji looked up, staring at him. "Your sword is too dull. Is such a blunt sword even worthy of severing my head?"

Ning Changjiu remained indifferent, not answering.

His gaze fell upon a certain spot in the human realm, then he stretched out his hand and said, "Xixuan, come."

The girl, who had just been speaking so confidently with Liu Junzhuo, felt the summons. Her body uncontrollably floated up, transforming into a spiritual form, and flew upwards.

Liu Junzhuo watched her with a half-smile, as if mocking her earlier words.

"Yes, Master..." Liu Xixuan covered her face and weakly responded.

The true Silver Sword instantly appeared in Ning Changjiu's hand.

The short-haired girl coiled around his body, like a beautiful mermaid.

Tianji looked at the sword's keen edge and finally felt true despair.

Tianji uttered his final curse:

"You are the descendants of demons! One day, you will push yourselves into the abyss... Ah!"

Amidst the shriek, the Silver Sword pierced his neck and twisted off his head.