Chapter 1479: Strangers on a Road

A stunning figure in a white dress stood atop the Lapis Lazuli Mountain, her skirt billowing, giving her an ethereal, almost immortal appearance. The moment this figure appeared, the world around them seemed to grow heavy, filled with an ineffable pressure that permeated the very Genesis Qi of heaven and earth. At this instant, everyone present, from Saints to Law Domain experts, felt a heart-palpitating pressure envelop their bodies, causing their very souls to tremble slightly. Many gazes, filled with trepidation, turned towards the figure.

"That's..." Su Youwei, Wu Yao, Zhao Mushin, and the others stared intently at the figure that inspired both awe and fear, and their expressions immediately shifted.

"Is that Yao Yao?" Su Youwei's beautiful face became solemn.

Wu Yao, however, slowly shook her head. "I'm afraid it's not the Yao Yao you know," she murmured.

"Tun Tun has now fully evolved into the Ancestral Taotie..." Zhao Mushin's gaze fixed on the distant purple-gold beast, his expression complex. "But I feel it's also become much more unfamiliar than before." He shared a unique connection with Tun Tun, yet now, seeing the purple-gold beast again, he found it powerful but also strangely unfamiliar.

Su Youwei spoke softly, "I've heard that the Ancestral Taotie is the guardian sacred beast of the Third God. Now that it has fully awakened, that means... she is indeed not Yao Yao, but the Third God." She turned her head towards Zhou Yuan in the distance. He stood silent, like a statue, a sight that wrung Su Youwei's heart. She understood Zhou Yuan's feelings perfectly at this moment.

"Only the awakening of the Third God could so easily subdue and kill a Three-Lotus Saint," Wu Yao murmured with a sigh. "Yet, this is likely a scene countless people across the All-Heavens have longed for. It's just... for him, perhaps it's not something he wished to witness."

Zhao Mushin remained silent for a moment before saying, "His personal feelings are at odds with the will of the All-Heavens. He's truly suffering because of this." Su Youwei bit her red lips, her delicate hands clenched. Wu Yao beside her remained silent.

In another direction, Chu Qing, Li Chunjun, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Lu Luo, and others also watched the scene with complicated expressions. They could only imagine the torment Zhou Yuan was enduring. The two individuals who had once been so deeply intertwined now seemed like strangers, a truly cruel twist of fate.

High in the sky, Cang Yuan's gaze lingered for a moment on the god-like figure. He then stepped forward through the air, stopping a hundred zhang away, and bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Third God, for your timely intervention in subduing and slaying the Ancient Saint of Thunder Command," he said. He then scanned the surroundings with his gaze and spoke in a deep voice, "Everyone, this is the Third God, the greatest hope for our All-Heavens in our fight against the Sacred Race! Pay your respects!"

The many Saints and Law Domain experts exchanged glances, then respectfully bowed, proclaiming, "We pay homage to the Third God!" Many among them showed expressions of joy and anticipation, knowing that the Third God's appearance would turn the tide of the All-Heavens' disadvantage.

As countless individuals paid homage, not a single ripple disturbed the exquisite features of the white-clad figure. A pair of eyes, as profound and indifferent as the starry sky, calmly observed the multitude of beings. Under her gaze, even Cang Yuan felt a sense of detached oppression. That was the true pressure of a deity; before such sequential power, even the might of Saints was completely suppressed.

The Third God's indifferent, detached gaze settled on Cang Yuan. An ethereal, majestic voice resounded: "Summon all those in the All-Heavens who are capable of managing affairs." Her voice remained crisp and pleasant, yet devoid of any emotional fluctuation, instilling an ineffable sense of dread.

Hearing this, Cang Yuan nodded in acknowledgment. He understood that with the timely awakening of the Third God, the Sacred Race's offensive strategy had already failed. Upon receiving this news, the Sacred Race would undoubtedly choose to retreat, fortify their Four Great Heavenly Domains, and await the awakening of their Saint God. Only the awakened Saint God could contend with the Third God.

"Please await a few days, Third God. The three Ancient Sovereigns will arrive as soon as they receive the news," Cang Yuan said.

The Third God gave a slight nod, her jade hands clasped behind her back. Her long eyelashes slowly lowered, closing her eyes.

Cang Yuan bowed once more, then turned to the many injured individuals. "Cangxuan Heaven has persevered until now thanks to all your contributions and arduous fighting," he announced. "With this brief pause in the battle, I urge you all to tend to your injuries immediately."

Throughout the land, many responded with bows of their own, then unceremoniously collapsed to the ground. At this moment, even the Saints couldn't help but let out a collective sigh of relief, slowly sitting down to alleviate their physical and mental exhaustion. The great battle had finally been weathered. If the Third God had appeared even a day later, they would likely have been forced to retreat into Cangxuan Heaven.

Standing on a ruined mountain peak, Zhou Yuan had no inclination to rest or tend to his fatigue and injuries. His gaze remained fixed on the figure, so familiar it was etched deep into his very soul. The style of the dress she wore was unmistakably that of her wedding gown, yet its vibrant red had transformed into pure white. Beside her, Tun Tun—no, the Ancestral Taotie—a massive purple-gold beast, lay slowly prostrate, its immense body exuding astonishing pressure.

He silently watched the figure and the beast. They had once been so close, having braved countless storms and hardships together, journeying from the small Great Zhou Dynasty to ultimately achieve fame that echoed throughout the All-Heavens. Now, however, they were like strangers. Zhou Yuan tried to force a smile, but it wouldn't come. Finally, he took a deep breath, as if having made a decision. He stepped into the air and began walking towards the Third God and the Ancestral Taotie. He ultimately wanted to confirm certain things for himself.

His movement instantly drew the attention of many observant individuals across the battlefield, including Su Youwei, Wu Yao, and Zuoqiu Qingyu. A multitude of complex gazes turned towards Zhou Yuan. In the sky, Cang Yuan also noticed Zhou Yuan's actions. He considered stopping him, but after a moment of hesitation, he ultimately let out a bitter sigh.

Under the watchful eyes of many throughout the world, Zhou Yuan approached the Lapis Lazuli Mountain, where the Ancient Saint of Thunder Command had been subdued, step by step through the air. The purple-gold beast, which had been prostrate beside the Third God, suddenly turned its eyes, filled with a malevolent aura, and locked onto Zhou Yuan. As the man drew closer, a flicker of confusion crossed the Ancestral Taotie's eyes. It vaguely sensed a degree of kinship and familiarity emanating from him. It was this feeling that prevented it from issuing a warning roar, halting the approaching man's steps for a moment.

Zhou Yuan's steps drew closer and closer, finally entering the hundred-zhang range. And at that very moment, the Third God, her jade hands clasped behind her back and her eyelids lowered, slowly lifted her exquisite face, her eyes opening. A pair of utterly cold eyes fixed on Zhou Yuan, causing his steps to freeze.

Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth, his gaze meeting hers. In that instant, he felt a bone-chilling cold that threatened to freeze the Saint power flowing through his veins. From those once profoundly familiar eyes, Zhou Yuan felt not a single trace of recognition. Even though the face was etched indelibly in his memory, the sense of unfamiliarity and detachment it conveyed was as dense as ink. Her gaze held an indifferent condescension, like a deity observing mortals. Furthermore, from the depths of her eyes, Zhou Yuan even detected a faint trace of killing intent. That single moment clarified her identity.

The name "Yao Yao" froze on Zhou Yuan's tongue before it could be uttered. He simply stared at the once familiar face, his heart assailed by a torrent of emotions. A painful ache rose in his nose, and his eyes grew slightly moist. He stood there, somewhat lost, unable to move forward or back.

In the distance, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Qingchan, and others looked away, unable to bear the sight. Su Youwei's delicate hands were clenched so tightly that faint blue veins appeared on her pale skin. She then turned her head, wiping the corner of her moist eye with the back of her hand. Seeing Zhou Yuan's desolate appearance caused her a wrenching pain; she had never seen him look so utterly lost since they first met. Wu Yao gently patted her shoulder, sighing inwardly. Having witnessed the sweetness between Zhou Yuan and Yao Yao, she understood just how cruel this current scene was.

The battlefield, where many seemed to subtly grasp the situation, fell silent for a time. Even the tumultuous wind seemed to quiet down.

Ultimately, Cang Yuan clasped his fists toward the Third God, approached, and then, taking the distraught Zhou Yuan by the arm, slowly guided him away. The Ancestral Taotie shook its massive head, watching the man being led away. For some unknown reason, a wave of sadness washed over it. It then let out a low growl and looked at the Third God beside it. However, the Third God remained utterly placid. Instead, her eyes, filled with indifference, cast a glance at the beast. That single look sent a shiver through the Ancestral Taotie, and it obediently lay prostrate.