Chapter 1302: The Sacred Emperor Looks Down, All Beings Are Straw Dogs

On the same Xu Kong Island, there were mixed feelings of joy and sorrow.

As the thunder faded over the Jue Jin Fire Domain, the Nine Deaths Lei Jie was drawing to a close.

Bai Lian bathed in purifying light, his injuries fully healed.

Not only had he survived the Nine Deaths Lei Jie, but he had also leveraged the power of the Jin Zhao Sheng Di to make a breakthrough, truly stepping into the Tai Xu realm and solidifying his cultivation there.

This should have been a moment of celebration.

With Bai Lian's profound foundation, his entry into the Tai Xu realm held great promise for the future.

Yet, at that moment, he couldn't muster even a trace of joy in his heart.

"Wang Ze Sheng Di..."

One of the supreme figures among the five great Sheng Di families, a transcendent existence forgotten on the Heavenly Ladder, the index finger of the "Hand of God" beyond the Sheng Shen Continent, the supreme ruler of the "Wu Rao Di Jing"...

So many titles!

As one of the five key authorities in the Sheng Palace, Bai Lian knew better than anyone what the four words "Wang Ze Sheng Di" truly signified.

He shouldn't have appeared at all, especially not on this rule-restricted Xu Kong Island.

But right now, the Sheng Di had indeed made a move!

Even though Bai Lian's spiritual senses were insufficient to glimpse the distant battle during his tribulation, he could guess with his toes that it was only because Rao Yaoyao faced a life-threatening crisis that there was even a slim chance of provoking the Sheng Di's intervention.

Who could have done it?

Aside from someone as recklessly arrogant as Xu Xiaoshou, who else?

"Too impulsive, way too impulsive!"

Bai Lian's face was filled with worry as he glanced back at his master, Mu Lin, who was now deep in the later stages of her tribulation, engulfed by the holy劫.

He was powerless to do anything.

All he could do now was pray—pray that after his master successfully passed the tribulation and achieved sainthood...

But then, what could she accomplish even after becoming a saint?

Sheng Di!

What a despairing term!

Even if his master succeeded in becoming a saint, and with the addition of his grandmaster Long Rong, would the Sheng Palace, now boasting two saints, be able to stand up to one of the five great Sheng Di families, like the Rao clan?

"Xu Xiaoshou, you've poked a hole in the sky..."

Even so, after a quick glance at his master, Bai Lian gritted his teeth and charged toward the battlefield.

He knew full well that he couldn't do anything, and due to their affiliations, he might not even be able to utter a single word in defense of Xu Xiaoshou.

But could he back down?

Never!

The Jin Zhao lineage had no cowards!

If he couldn't win with strength, perhaps he could outsmart them—somehow. At least, by getting there and staying ready, there might be a way.

"There has to be! There has to be!"

"Boom!"

A terrifying shockwave swept down from the sky.

The Shape-Destroying Finger was on the verge of piercing through Rao Yaoyao's skull, yet it never quite touched her skin.

Though they were mere inches apart, that attack seemed separated from her by countless layers of time and space...

Countless eyes of the storm!

"A wind-attribute Sheng Di..."

"Of course, Rao Yaoyao is wind-attribute..."

Xu Xiaoshou saw it clearly: his attack pressed forward layer by layer right at the tip of her nose, unbound by the Great Dao rules, yet it was as if it had been sucked into a vortex of wind.

It kept advancing.

It kept lingering.

But it simply couldn't land!

Clearly, the overlapping power of that finger had reached the intensity of a Sheng Di's strike, not much less than Wang Ze Sheng Di's.

But while the attack's strength was there, its method was too straightforward!

The invisible storm eyes from Wang Ze Sheng Di had drawn in that Shape-Destroying Finger's power, effectively slowing it down to form an absolute defense.

And as the storm eyes spun faster, that beam of light, caught in the whirl, even started to retreat...

"So, this is a Sheng Di's control over power?"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes widened in frustration, but he had to admit it.

Compared to Wang Ze Sheng Di's defense, his way of unleashing Sheng Di energy was like child's play.

Though it was evident that Wang Ze Sheng Di likely wasn't present in person and had used a clever trick to counter that strike.

Xu Xiaoshou wanted to layer on another attack to break through the Sheng Di's defense, but his body's energy wouldn't allow it.

The Sheng Di power left in his qi sea was already scarce, not even enough to maintain his god-like stance under the Sheng Di's pressure.

"Thud!"

Xu Xiaoshou could no longer withstand the pressure and plummeted ungracefully to the ground.

On Xu Kong Island, after the initial Sheng Di pressure, everyone felt a sudden lightness in their bodies and could lift their heads.

Clearly, Wang Ze Sheng Di hadn't directed his anger toward ordinary people.

Witnessing Xu Xiaoshou's fall from grace, the crowd instantly realized the outcome of the confrontation:

Xu Xiaoshou was exhausted and could stir up no more trouble—Sheng Shen Hall had won!

"Roar—"

Just then, a resounding dragon cry echoed.

A black shadow flashed beneath their feet, and the Mo Di Hei Long, with a large lump on its dragon head, caught the falling Xu Xiaoshou like a pre-prepared cushion, even bouncing him up a couple of times.

" Kid, is that all you've got?"

The Mo Di Hei Long let out a laugh.

This voice, too, carried Sheng Di power, spreading across Xu Kong Island, as if proclaiming to everyone:

It wasn't just Xu Xiaoshou who had Sheng Di power; it wasn't just Sheng Shen Hall that had a Sheng Di's arrival.

The Mo Di Hei Long had been on the field from the start.

Its refusal to retreat meant that the holy slave side hadn't entered defeat.

"Long Bao..." Xu Xiaoshou gripped the dragon horn to steady himself, suddenly feeling all pressure lift, and was deeply moved.

The nature of the holy war had shifted.

From an initial semi-saint battle, it had evolved into a Sheng Di standoff, leaving onlookers gasping in awe.

"Wang Ze Sheng Di against Mo Di Hei Long—yes, Mo Di Hei Long has been here all along..."

"No! That's not right. Mo Di Hei Long is here, but it can't make a move, just like Xu Xiaoshou's current state... Look, I can even call him by his real name without issue!"

"The holy slaves are done for! Just two paper tigers left—how can they stop Wang Ze Sheng Di?"

"I told you, Fairy Rao is pure and untouchable. How dare Xu Xiaoshou deceive her? And try to kill her... Ha!"

From the deep pit, a weak voice chimed in: "Don't celebrate too soon... Eight, eight... Uh, why can't I get up?"

Rumbling sounds echoed from the nine heavens above. Though no Sheng Di form was visible, strange noises continued, as if some invisible entities were clashing beyond sight.

The special voice wasn't from the supreme holy劫 or spatial ruptures; it was like something formless was resisting.

And the Wang Ze Sheng Di, who had left a storm eye to briefly halt the Shape-Destroying Finger, had vanished after displaying his pressure.

Silence...

An eerie silence lingered for a full ten breaths.

Suddenly, a cold hum exploded from the nine heavens, followed by a ethereal holy sound:

"A mere wisp of lingering spirit, daring to block the way."

Upon hearing this, countless people spat blood from their mouths.

This sound wasn't deliberately targeted, or rather, most of its power that could affect mortals had been restrained.

Yet, the faint trace of irritation within it was perceived by the world, making everyone feel they had committed an unforgivable sacrilege, not even death enough to atone.

But before anyone could act, the memory of that voice faded completely.

Some held swords to their necks and stopped, baffled, not knowing what they had intended to do.

On the dragon's head, protected by residual Sheng Di power and the Mo Di Hei Long's strength, Xu Xiaoshou hadn't forgotten.

From that voice alone, he deduced some details:

"Middle-aged male, wind-system Sheng Di..."

"He faces restrictions after entering Xu Kong Island, and the Xu Kong Island spirit must have awakened to resist. Were they just confronting each other?"

"A mere wisp of lingering spirit, daring to block the way... Did the Xu Kong Island spirit lose?"

"But the Rao clan's Sheng Di couldn't have come in person, right? At most, like Long Bao, it's just a trace of Sheng Di will..."

"On the Sheng Shen Continent, even Wang Zuo Dao realm experts must open domain realms to fight, and semi-saints are at their limit, forced to self-imprison. Can Sheng Di act freely?"

Though he wanted to say no, Xu Xiaoshou calmly analyzed two possibilities:

If it was because Sheng Di oppress semi-saints, forcing them to self-imprison, then Sheng Di might act freely.

If continental rules imposed limits, then Sheng Di couldn't move easily—at least, not without restrictions similar to those on semi-saints.

But one shouldn't base plans on mere hopes.

Xu Xiaoshou treated this as if the Sheng Di had arrived in person and began pondering countermeasures...

After reaching a conclusion, he broke out in a cold sweat:

A dead end!

"Shocked, passive points, 1."

"No, I can't think of anything, but Ba Zun An dared to provoke the five great Sheng Di families, so he must have a way to handle it—he's right here..."

"If even the worst outcome can be covered by Ba Zun An, then any other changes are moving in a positive direction..."

"For example, Wang Ze Sheng Di can only strike once... Hiss, what am I thinking? That's just deluding myself!"

"Maybe Old Eight never expected me to provoke a Sheng Di at all?"

Xu Xiaoshou could no longer deceive himself, and cold sweat poured down.

He clearly realized that when the Xu Kong Island spirit was destroyed, it might be the moment of his own death.

This time, he had gone too far...

Just then, from under the supreme holy劫, Shui Gui emerged, supporting the golden beast mask and enduring the thunder, shouting heavily: "Xu Xiaoshou, stand down!"

Xu Xiaoshou instantly regained his composure, his eyes flashing with disdain as he looked over. "Ha, aren't you afraid?"

"Yes, I am."

"Then why come out?"

"Fear is universal, but it varies for each person. Don't you have any fears in your heart?"

Xu Xiaoshou fell silent for a moment, then pursed his lips.

Everyone has fears, but whether to stand and face them is another matter...

Shui Gui gazed up at the sky, his eyes flickering, saying no more, but declaring firmly: "Stand down—let me handle this!"

At this level, few were as fearless in ignorance as Xu Xiaoshou, and even fewer were innately unafraid like Ba Zun An.

Shui Gui saw himself as just an ordinary person with some talents, but many surpassed him.

At least, he wasn't invincible now, so he feared greatly!

Having been in Sheng Shen Hall, he knew all too well the true existence and terror of Sheng Di!

That innate sense of reverence...

How could it be erased without reaching the same level?

Yet, as Xu Xiaoshou had said, if the path of cultivation ended with Sheng Di as the obstacle, should one cultivate or not?

Some people, some things—feared as they were—still had to be faced when the time came.

This supreme holy劫 should have been passed long ago!

In their plan, Rao Yaoyao's semi-saint status, and even she herself, had to be taken or eliminated by him or Ba Zun An!

Xu Xiaoshou had done more than enough, even exceeding expectations...

If even he, an奥义 semi-saint, didn't dare to step up, and left the situation to a junior to handle, who in the world could be a leader?

"Stand down!"

Shui Gui stared straight at Xu Xiaoshou. "Then, help me accelerate the holy劫."

On the dragon's head, Xu Xiaoshou fell silent for a moment.

Was the mess he created going to be cleaned up by someone else?

"Sheng Di..."

While others still revered the Sheng Di's power, Xu Xiaoshou began to wonder: was there a way he could trap Wang Ze Sheng Di?

At the very least, if anyone tried to swallow him, they'd break a few teeth, right?

It sounded absurd, but on Xu Kong Island, it might not be impossible.

"Xu Xiaoshou!"

Shui Gui shouted again, snapping him out of his fantasy.

If Wang Ze Sheng Di removed the obstacles and truly descended before he broke through, it would be true doom.

Accelerate?

Xu Xiaoshou set aside his thoughts briefly, remembered something, and clenched his hand, summoning the Shi Zu Shadow Staff.

"Time acceleration!"

The onlookers saw Xu Xiaoshou point into the void with the staff, and the world's time essence grew dense.

Then, Shui Gui seemed to glitch, moving at a frenzied speed.

His actions became so fast that no one could see them clearly. The portion of the supreme holy劫 targeting Shui Gui struck down wildly, without pause.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom..."

The dense, overlapping thunder made hearts tremble with fear.

Such a way of passing the tribulation—if anyone else tried it, they'd likely be dead already!

Time acceleration...

This only shortened Shui Gui's tribulation time without extending his recovery state.

Perhaps in all the world, only he could pass a holy劫 like this?

"Mid-stage, late-stage, deep late-stage..."

The crowd tallied the thunder strikes, their faces twisting in shock. "Shui Gui is no ordinary man!"

Amid the roaring thunder, the supreme holy劫 quickly reached its end, transforming the horizon into a vast sea of lightning.

In the dead silence, a glimmer of life remained.

Shui Gui hadn't died!

He was still holding on!

As the 129,600 strikes of endless divine lightning, each increasing in power, neared their end and the tribulation accelerated toward completion...

From the nine heavens, layers of ethereal echoes suddenly drifted down:

"Rao Yaoyao, return to the clan for confinement."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiaoshou, holding the Shi Zu Shadow Staff, was struck as if by lightning.

Even with the Mo Di Hei Long's protection, he was sent flying, his body splattering with blood.

The time rules shattered, and the Shi Zu Shadow Staff vanished into the void, returning Shui Gui to normal tribulation speed.

Only the final 300 strikes remained!

Shui Gui was covered in blood, his face twisted in ferocity, yet a hint of despair showed.

He had glimpsed the dawn of sainthood, but with the Sheng Di's pressure descending again, every second felt like an eternity.

"No chance now..."

A wind howled from the nine heavens, tearing through the tribulation clouds and revealing an illusory golden Heavenly Ladder.

A wisp of green smoke drifted down from the ladder, forming a shadowy, indistinct human figure, its features unclear.

"Rao Wang Ze..."

Rao Yaoyao pressed her lips tightly, her face flushed with anger, her expression complex.

Even with the Shape-Destroying Finger still hovering before her, upon seeing that wisp of smoke, she feared nothing.

But Rao Yaoyao despised those who bullied with power, where the young were targeted and the old stepped in.

Little did she expect that today, she had become that very person.

Though, in others' eyes, she might have always been like that...

Rao Yaoyao's heart was bitter as she gazed at Xu Xiaoshou, her eyes full of complexity.

"Wang Ze Sheng Di!"

Some looked up, determined to catch a glimpse of the Sheng Di's true form, even if it meant death.

But they saw no figure—merely lifting their gaze summoned a finger from the illusory Heavenly Ladder.

A finger beyond description, vaster than the sky, heavier than the earth, blotting out the sun as it pointed toward the world!

"The Wu Rao path is not to be profaned."

No questions, no explanations, no inquiries.

Accompanied by that unquestionable, lofty, and indifferent holy sound, the finger pressed down from the heavens, expanding in everyone's sight—larger, and larger still!

"Crash!"

The sky shattered.

"Rumble..."

The earth collapsed.

"Crack, crack, crack—"

All things began to fracture.

The entire Xu Kong Island sank.

Centered on Xu Xiaoshou, encompassing five great forbidden zones, the ground caved in a thousand zhang, plunging like an abyss.

Lives were extinguished, and inanimate objects turned to dust.

Those who withstood the aftermath survived; those who couldn't had their souls crushed, without exception.

With a single finger.

In the eyes of a Sheng Di, all beings were mere grass.