Chapter 467: The Final Assault (Part 2)

Meng Chuan, Molten Fire King, Thousandwood King, Anhai King, Peng Mu, and other Godfiends were quietly following the demon army.

Thousandwood King gazed into the distance, his eyes lighting up. "Demon Sage Chongxuan has appeared."

"Appeared?" Meng Chuan held a black mirror, which clearly displayed the core of the demon formation. Ancestor Poison Dragon, Peacock Demon Sage, and Thread Weaver Holy Lord were gathered around a figure: 'Demon Sage Chongxuan'.

"If Demon Sage Chongxuan is going to draw the map of connection points, it must show itself. It seems the demon race doesn't want to delay any longer," Molten Fire King said excitedly.

"With it appearing, we can make another attempt," Thousandwood King stared into the distance.

"It's fake."

A voice rang out.

Meng Chuan, Molten Fire King, Anhai King, Thousandwood King, Peng Mu, and the others all turned to look.

True Martial King sat cross-legged, black and white energy currents swirling around him, forming a sphere that completely enveloped him. Meng Chuan and the others could only see this 'black and white energy sphere,' unable to discern True Martial King within.

"Have no doubt, it is fake," True Martial King's voice continued from within the black and white energy sphere. "It's a ploy to lure us into attacking and exhaust our treasures."

"You're right," Peng Mu said. "This war has lasted over eight hundred years. Now that it's at its most critical juncture, how could the demon race suddenly lose patience?"

Within the demon army, Peacock Lord transmitted, sounding puzzled, "Have they seen through it?"

"Both the demonic power and primordial spirit auras are perfectly disguised, and we're over a hundred miles away. How could they possibly see through it?" Ancestor Poison Dragon transmitted.

Thread Weaver Holy Lord observed from afar: "This group of Godfiends are humanity's strongest King Godfiends, and many are very old. If we drag this on for twenty to thirty years, most of them will reach their lifespan limit and die of old age. Humanity will weaken during the fighting in the World Gap. And with them constantly tracking us, unable to relax for a moment... King Dongning also won't have time to cultivate. If we prolong this for another twenty or thirty years, the situation will actually become more favorable for us."

For instance, Molten Fire King only has a little over ten years of life left. Thousandwood King, Peng Mu, and others will all die of old age within thirty years. Humanity's secret techniques allowed many older King Godfiends to awaken after long slumbers, but these elder King Godfiends are already very old. They spent considerable time defending cities before, and have now been in the World Gap for sixteen years.

"If they fall for it and attack proactively, exhausting their treasures, that would naturally be good. We might even be able to kill a few Godfiends in retaliation," Ancestor Poison Dragon transmitted. "If it comes down to attrition... then we'll do as the Demon Emperor commanded and prolong it for twenty to thirty years. We've waited over eight hundred years; another twenty or thirty won't make a difference."

"Hahaha, if humanity fights desperately only to discover that this Demon Sage Chongxuan is merely Ancestor Poison Dragon's disguised 'clone,' that would be truly spectacular."

They transmitted their thoughts quietly.

However, as time passed, the human Godfiends continued to follow but never launched an attack.

The demon army flew forward at extremely high speed, heading to various locations within the World Gap. The humans continued to follow them. Both sides remained highly vigilant, daring not to relax their guard in the slightest.

One day, two days, three days passed.

"We've been pretending to draw the map of connection points, yet the human Godfiends still haven't made a move," Ancestor Poison Dragon transmitted. "Normally, mapping the entire World Gap would take about ten days, and three days would be enough to draw a significant portion, which should be sufficient. Are they just going to watch?"

"There's no way they would allow Demon Sage Chongxuan to draw the map without intervention. Their inaction for three days clearly indicates they are certain this Demon Sage Chongxuan is fake," Peacock Lord transmitted.

"How did they figure it out?" Ancestor Poison Dragon wondered. "I have a treasure bestowed by the Demon Emperor; the disguise should be excellent."

"Do not underestimate humanity," Peacock Lord transmitted.

In the human group, Meng Chuan glanced at the black and white energy sphere. "It's been three days. Senior Brother should be ready."

The black and white energy sphere had enveloped True Martial King for these three days. Among the King Godfiends, only Meng Chuan and True Martial King were privy to the most detailed plan for the World Gap war.

Inside the black and white energy sphere, True Martial King sat cross-legged, a peculiar straw doll floating before him. Every strand of grass woven into the doll was covered in intricate runes, emanating a strange, heart-pounding aura.

'Om.' True Martial King touched the straw doll with a finger, and a blood-red spot immediately appeared where he touched it.

"Three days of ritual sacrifice are complete." Through this straw doll, True Martial King could remotely sense another life—Demon Sage Chongxuan, hidden within a small grotto-heaven. This was how he had identified the 'Demon Sage Chongxuan' outside as fake. The destinies of this straw doll and Demon Sage Chongxuan had begun to converge, allowing him to pinpoint the true Demon Sage Chongxuan through the doll.

"This is the final gamble," True Martial King murmured.

Sixteen years ago, before departing for the World Gap:

"If the possessing Demon Sage hides where you cannot reach it, then there is only one method," Li Guan said, flipping his hand to reveal a straw doll. "This is a 'Destiny Straw Doll.' It can only be used by someone with insight into causality. With it, you can slay the possessing Demon Sage from a great distance."

"I have no study in the path of causality," True Martial King hesitated.

"In terms of cultivation realm, you are the highest among King Godfiends. Even in terms of skill, you can rival me and Qin Wu," Li Guan smiled. "With your realm, you can clearly sense causality. With a little study, you will be able to use this Destiny Straw Doll." Indeed, it was true. The True Martial lineage, reaching 'late Grotto-Heaven realm,' was comparable to other Creation Realm Venerables' 'perfected Grotto-Heaven realm.' From the moment one enters the Grotto-Heaven realm, one can gradually sense causality. The higher the realm, the clearer the perception. True Martial King's perception was indeed exceptionally clear, and with a slight comprehension, merely wielding a treasure was not difficult.

"The detailed instructions are in this booklet," Li Guan handed True Martial King another booklet. "For this campaign in the World Gap, your strength is the greatest, and your ability to preserve your life is also the strongest. Therefore, many treasures like the Thunderblasting Pearl, Destiny Straw Doll, and Soul Nurturing Pot will all be entrusted to you."

Beside Li Guan stood the illusory figures of Qin Wu and Luo Tang, along with Meng Chuan. Clearly, the use of these treasures required the approval of the four command holders.

"Understood," True Martial King accepted them.

"We will do our utmost to resist in the human world. If we cannot stop them, we will have to rely on you," Li Guan said, looking at True Martial King and then at Meng Chuan.

"Venerable, rest assured," Meng Chuan replied.

"Master, rest assured," True Martial King said.

True Martial King looked at the straw doll before him and immediately pointed his finger at its head, stating solemnly: "Demon Sage Chongxuan, today, you shall die!"

With that one finger, there was no hesitation. Terrifying power was fully transmitted through his finger, channeling into the straw doll's head.

Inside the small grotto-heaven:

"The Demon Emperor instructed me to wait patiently, so I shall wait patiently," Demon Sage Chongxuan sat cross-legged on the grass. It was the only living being within the small grotto-heaven.

Suddenly, a mysterious attack descended. It was bizarre and unfathomable, striking directly at its primordial spirit.

"This is—"

Demon Sage Chongxuan felt its consciousness rumble. Before this mysterious and terrifying attack, its primordial spirit directly disintegrated and shattered, instantly killing it. It remained sitting cross-legged, but without any vital signs.

Meng Chuan and the others saw the black and white energy sphere disperse. The 'straw doll' before True Martial King also completely exploded into dust.

"It's done." True Martial King smiled.

Meng Chuan and the others immediately saw that True Martial King, who was sitting cross-legged, now had white hair instead of his usual black, his face had become incredibly aged, and he even began to exude an aura of death. He smiled as he looked at Meng Chuan and the others.

"True Martial King," Molten Fire King, Peng Mu, and the others stared in disbelief.

"Senior Brother," Meng Chuan, however, rushed forward.

"Demon Sage Chongxuan is dead," the incredibly aged True Martial King said with a joyful smile. "Junior Brother Meng, to ensure his death, I burned my primordial spirit."

"You didn't have to do this," Meng Chuan's eyes welled up. To use the Destiny Straw Doll and sacrifice his life to kill the opponent, True Martial King would have had a high chance of success just by expending a hundred years of his lifespan. With any remaining lifespan, he could have transformed into a 'Dao Protector body' and lived for over a thousand more years. However, True Martial King feared insufficient power and failure. He poured out all his remaining lifespan and even burned his primordial spirit, holding nothing back.

"I've done everything I could," True Martial King's primordial spirit was dissipating, yet he continued to smile. "The rest is up to you."

True Martial King's consciousness faded, and his body slumped. In the moment his consciousness vanished, he saw his entire life flash before his eyes. He had once shone brilliantly in his generation, even more dazzling than Xue Feng or Meng Chuan in their youth, more astonishing than the two most brilliant Venerables in a millennium, Venerable Qin Wu and Venerable Bai Yaoyue, in their younger years. He had thrilled Venerable Li Guan, and Yuanchu Mountain had opened the 'Cangyuan Grotto-Heaven' for him, recognizing him as an unparalleled genius with the potential to save this era.

He had also suffered emotional setbacks, doubted his cultivation path, questioned life, and fallen into despair. Yet, amidst the relentless march of time, he rose from the ashes, audaciously advancing upon the Emperor-level ultimate art 'Yinyang Art' to create the 'Seven True Martial Arts.' The moment the Seven True Martial Arts appeared, he was immediately recognized as the strongest King Godfiend in the world, capable of fighting Creation Realm Venerables despite being a realm lower.

However, his life also held regrets. Something he could never let go of. And it had left him alone for life.

"I never truly understood it in this life," he sighed, and his consciousness completely dissipated.

Meng Chuan, Anhai King, Peng Mu, Molten Fire King, Thousandwood King, and the others all watched True Martial King's lifeless body, each one consumed by grief. Another companion had died, and it was the most powerful King Godfiend of their generation, who had died fighting for humanity.

"Senior Brother Wang, rest well!" Anhai King whispered.