Chapter 1473: Three Corpses Curse Severs the Road to the Firmament, One Bite Shatters Ye's Half Body

Sheng Huan Dian.

In the vast, empty hall, the only figure on the main seat was Dao Qiong Cang, who had been sitting with a smile, exuding composure and grace.

Suddenly, his eyes bulged outward, instantly covered in bloodshot veins.

The sudden onslaught of pain made him instinctively clutch his forehead and let out a muffled groan.

It took a long while before he recovered.

"Huff..."

"Finally, it's over."

Letting out a long sigh, Dao Qiong Cang rose from his chair.

The surroundings were utterly quiet; even Xiao Qi was absent, leaving only the creaking sound of the chair being pushed back to echo faintly.

Leaning forward, Dao Qiong Cang placed both hands on the silver table, lost in thought, his gaze unfocused.

Soon, he smiled wistfully and began tidying up the messy documents left by Xiao Qi on the table.

Stacks upon stacks of papers, bundles upon bundles of jade slips...

After quickly sorting them into categories, he packed them one by one into his spatial ring, intending to tuck it into his sleeve.

But after a moment's thought, Dao Qiong Cang set the spatial ring back on the table.

He turned slightly, straightened the main seat, and pushed it under the table.

Then, he stepped back to one side, lifted his eyes, and gazed absentmindedly at Sheng Huan Dian, which had been his companion for nearly forty years.

The silver table gleamed as if new.

The surrounding chairs varied in size—some large enough to accommodate divine envoys like Tian Ji Shen Shi, others suited for ordinary humans.

"Jin Guang, this is good fortune!"

"Yu Lao, please reel in your fishing rod; it's poking me..."

"That can't be right; how could it explode?"

"Everyone, quiet down and listen to Dao Xiao Zi's ideas first; don't speak out of turn."

"All in favor!"

"You've worked hard, Dao Dian Zhu..."

With a blink of his eyes, the scenes shattered.

Without exception, all ten seats were empty now.

"Is this what they call 'qing,' the common human emotion?"

Dao Qiong Cang lifted his gaze, deeply contemplating something, when suddenly, dao rhymes swirled around him, and sacred power surged.

With a flip of his palm, he suppressed the fluctuations.

"Jiao my human essence, exhaust my body, drench my sleeves in sweat..."

"Scorch my bones, deprive my spiritual longevity, leave me frustrated..."

"Boil my soul, foul my destiny, cast me out..."

He looked toward the door, where the sky was bright as day, everything bathed in light, and Dao Qiong Cang silently marveled:

"What a curse, what a fine curse!"

"So, it was waiting for me here... Focused outward, I forgot trouble could arise from within."

"What a pity, just a little more time—half a day would have sufficed, not so rushed an end."

"If Xu, Shen, and Cao were all subdued, even if Ba Zun An were to seal the swords successfully, I only needed to offer one Hua... Ha!"

His thoughts broke off, and Dao Qiong Cang let out a low laugh, a myriad of emotions culminating in a single phrase:

"You truly are my good sister!"

Tap, tap...

The sound of footsteps faded away.

In the silence, the backlit black figure walked calmly toward the doors of Sheng Huan Dian.

He appeared somewhat aged, with an air of desolation and solitude.

Yet, there was also a sense of relief.

Just beyond the door.

Gui Zhe Sheng Shan was bustling with people, full of activity.

"Look, look! Someone's coming down the heavenly ladder!"

"Hiss, is that... one of the new Three Emperors, Xuan Ji Ban Sheng? And who are the people following her?"

"Gold robes, jade crowns, left collar with white patterns, right with red... No doubt about it. Are you new here? They must be from Pan Duan Si!"

"Pan Duan Si?"

"You've never seen them before, kid? The last time they came down the ladder, Wu Yue Jian Xian was stripped of his position, lost an arm, and was thrown into the Dead Sea—still no word from him. And now..."

"Someone's in trouble again? Who?"

"Don't know, but it won't be Dao Dian Zhu. Still, this must be serious, or they wouldn't call a Sheng Shan assembly... By the way, aren't these assemblies happening a bit too often lately?"

Snow and osmanthus, wind and voices blended.

The figures descending the heavenly ladder gradually came into focus.

Leading them was Dao Xuan Ji, dressed in black robes, her long hair tied back, with faint brows, thin lips, and empty eyes.

She held a duster, expressionless, followed by three people from Pan Duan Si.

One held a decree, one a sword, and one a seal, all with an air of arrogance, looking down on everyone as if they were ants.

Whoosh, whoosh...

As the four landed, a wave of Ban Sheng fluctuations arrived from outside, and the crowded peak of Gui Zhe Sheng Shan fell silent.

"Look, look!"

"It's Kun Peng Shen Shi, Yu Lao, and Yuan Su Shen Shi, Zhong Yuan Zi..."

"Huh, including Jiu Ji Shen Shi, that's only three. Where are the others? For such a big event, only three?"

"That one in red... Hiss! What a terrifying presence. Who is this elder? I've been on Sheng Shan for years and never seen him."

"That's Fang Wen Xin, the elder Fang. How is that possible? Even he has come out of seclusion..."

"He's that strong?"

"Kid, it's not just about strength. He's from the original generation of red robes—what do you think that means?"

"Hiss! The original red robe? The one who suppressed the initial Six Xu..."

"Shh..."

Though the Ten-Person Council was rare, people had seen them before.

But in this wave of Ban Sheng fluctuations, the most eye-catching was the elder in red robes, exuding unmatched killing intent.

His face was full of wrinkles, his temples white, his red robes concealing half his body and hands, with nine copper coins hanging at his waist that drew attention.

The coins were strung on a thread, each one reddish, faintly echoing with ghostly wails and wolf howls that seized the mind.

"Fang Lao, this way, please."

After landing, Dao Xuan Ji unhesitatingly stood in Dao Qiong Cang's usual spot and gestured to the side.

Whoa.

The noisy discussions on Sheng Shan stopped abruptly.

Everyone felt a sense of peril, falling silent like cicadas in winter, not daring to move.

Dao Dian Zhu's position had been taken?

Right next to it was the Ten-Person Council.

Though the others weren't there, Dao Xuan Ji was flanked by Zhong Yuan Zi and Yu Kun Peng.

Even Zhong Yuan Zi, who was absorbed in studying element fusion, sensed something amiss at that moment.

After a slight frown, he still stepped aside.

Others might not show respect...

But Fang Wen Xin deserved respect from everyone on Gui Zhe Sheng Shan.

The original red robes were the purest; they had laid the firmest foundation for the stability of the Sheng Shen mainland!

"No need."

Fang Wen Xin, the elder in red, didn't even lift his brows at the invitation.

He kept his eyes half-closed, walking straight past Dao Xuan Ji without a glance, positioning himself in the back corner.

He gave no face at all.

Dao Xuan Ji remained expressionless.

Yu Lao, the Kun Peng Shen Shi, glanced around and sighed, putting away the several-zhang-long fishing rod on his shoulder, which seemed out of place.

He stood solemnly, realizing things were about to get serious.

It had come so suddenly; he hadn't even changed into a proper new pair of shoes, and now his restless toes were exposed, which was awkward.

"Can we begin?"

The lead figure from Pan Duan Si, the one holding the decree in a gold robe, turned and asked.

"Wait a bit longer."

Dao Xuan Ji looked into the distance.

Not long after, a sword cry echoed from the far sky, and a light rain fell over Sheng Shan.

Clang—

A rainbow light pierced the heavens, transforming into an elder with a sword, who nodded remotely to Dao Xuan Ji before landing on one side of the assembly.

"This is..."

The people below stirred; some found him familiar, others were sure he wasn't from Sheng Shan.

At that moment, a child's voice rang out:

"Observer: Qi Jian Xian, Gu Yu."

As the words fell, low exclamations rose on Sheng Shan:

"Gu Lao?"

"He's Gu Yu, the foremost of the new Seven Jian Xian?"

"I heard Gu Lao is from the same era as Tong Yu... that one, and Si Ren, an ancient sword cultivator, just a Ban Sheng title short of Jian Sheng..."

"Really? Gu Lao has joined Sheng Shen Dian Tang?"

"Gu Lao was like a half-teacher to me. I never thought I'd see him at a Sheng Shan assembly—wonderful!"

"But why would an outsider like him attend? What's his role?"

"Observer... Even for council changes, there's no observer group..."

The noisy discussions hadn't subsided when more sacred and spiritual lights descended from all sides, with the child's voice announcing from time to time:

"Observer: Ban Sheng Hong Shi, Hong Quan."

"Observer: Ban Sheng Min Shi, Min Ti."

"Observer: Ban Sheng Jiang Shi, Jiang Na Yi."

As over a dozen figures arrived and took their places as observers, everyone at the assembly sensed the danger, like storm clouds gathering.

Because these observers, without exception, greeted or nodded to Dao Xuan Ji upon landing.

Clearly, they were all here to support her!

Combined with San Di Dao Xuan Ji standing in Dao Dian Zhu's spot and the three serious figures from Pan Duan Si behind her...

"This can't be, right?"

"But she's his sister!"

"Even if they're playing it this way, the Ten-Person Council isn't even full—how could they... Wait, maybe that's exactly how it's done?!"

Everyone was shocked, their thoughts racing like tides.

Once the observers from the Tai Xu families and Ban Sheng families were in place, all eyes saw Dao Xuan Ji turn around and nod to the three gold-robed figures behind her.

The one holding the decree stepped forward immediately, channeling spiritual energy to make his voice resound everywhere, declaring solemnly:

"Bring forth the accused, Dao Qiong Cang!"

Boom!

The void shattered, and a massive beast emerged.

When this terrifying white-furred monster suddenly appeared in the skies above Qing Yuan Shan, Ye Xiao Tian reacted swiftly.

"Space seal!"

He spun around, layers of light and shadow overlapping as he nested spaces together, attempting to trap the ghostly beast first.

The space rift was as vast as a shattered sky mirror, and the saints present were already on guard!

But to their surprise, before the spaces could seal, the massive beast opened its maw and sucked...

Boom!

The spiritual energy over Qing Yuan Shan's vast expanse vanished in an instant.

The compounded space seal turned into energy and was utterly devoured by the beast.

"Impossible!"

Ye Xiao Tian's pupils trembled in shock as he dodged away.

In the nick of time, he barely escaped the beast's maw.

Yet, as soon as he pulled back, his eyes met the beast's crimson gaze...

Buzz!

His mind went blank.

All colors in his sight disappeared.

Three gray spots swirled and flowed, engulfing everything...

"Watch out!"

On Qing Yuan Shan, no one expected the ghostly beast to appear so abruptly, without any warning!

What was even more shocking was that in just one encounter, Ye Xiao Tian, master of space mysteries, was stunned.

As Yu Zhi Wen cried out in alarm, it was already too late.

Ye Xiao Tian's controlled form paused briefly in midair.

In the beast's eyes, the brilliant mystery array under his feet was like the finest supplement in the world.

Whoosh!

White fur shot forward.

Nine tails closed in.

Ye Xiao Tian regained his senses, not because he broke free, but because the control had shifted.

His sacred thoughts scanned the scene: the beast hadn't changed targets; it was charging straight at him!

It wanted to devour him!

With its maw wide open, fangs dripping, breath foul, it lunged for his waist!

"Instant teleport!"

Ye Xiao Tian's heart skipped a beat in terror.

What kind of ghostly beast was this—acting like a mad dog, biting at anything in sight?

The mystery array lit up, space principles pulled, and Ye Xiao Tian left an afterimage as his form shifted toward the outer sky...

But at the same moment, he froze.

Hiss!

The beast opened its maw, not to bite, but to suck again.

In an instant, the surrounding heavenly dao collapsed, Ye Xiao Tian's technique was interrupted by backlash, leaving him suspended and pulled back by the terrifying suction.

As if anticipating this, the beast opened its maw wide and snapped forward!

Boom!

Blood sprayed.

Ye Xiao Tian had only partially teleported.

Even so, it wasn't enough; the beast was too massive. He managed to free one leg, but intense pain shot through him as his upper body was severed and flung away.

"Ah!!!"

The agony nearly numbed his mind.

The unexpected defeat made Ye Xiao Tian, who had been proud since his sealing, nearly shatter his dao heart.

I... got bitten?

Before he could process what happened...

Whoosh!

A bloody object flew over and hit his face. Ye Xiao Tian grabbed it and realized—it was his own leg!

A sacred thought scan revealed that in a single encounter, the beast had eaten one of his legs, flung another, and his remaining half-body, trailing bloody intestines, was hurtling away.

"Ah—"

Qing Yuan Shan fell into dead silence!

Mei Si Ren, Tian Ren Wu Sui, Cao Er Zhu, Yu Zhi Wen—all stood frozen in place.

What kind of monster was this?

It was utterly terrifying!

Space mysteries were said to be the fastest in the world.

Space teleportation was supposed to be unstoppable.

Even if Ye Xiao Tian was overconfident or unguarded, how could he be bitten in half with just one touch?

"Swallowing body..."

"San Yan pupils..."

Under his mask, Tian Ren Wu Sui's eyes flashed red as he recalled the scene, finding it unbelievable.

This technique, this tactic...

Wasn't it basically a ghostly beast version of himself?

"Attack!"

Mei Si Ren dared not delay any longer.

This beast's destructive power was too extreme; it had bitten off half of Ye Xiao Tian right after appearing. If it escaped Qing Yuan Shan and entered the densely populated cities of the central domain, it would cause a river of blood!

But as soon as he gripped Tai Cheng Jian and showed a hint of hostility...

Roar!!!

In the sky, the white-furred nine-tailed beast turned its gaze and let out a massive roar.

In an instant, the heavens and earth shattered, rocks tumbled, and even Mei Si Ren nearly got blown away by the force.

Qing Yuan Shan's grand array was supposed to protect everything around.

But after this roar caused disorientation, when everyone regained their senses, the beast's sharp claws were already sweeping down.

In panic, the group rushed to counter from the sky.

Tian Ren Wu Sui's pupils contracted as he roared:

"Close your eyes!"

"Everyone, close your eyes!"

Everyone was stunned and didn't react in time.

Yet, in that crucial moment, the world in everyone's eyes darkened simultaneously.

In that instant of darkness, three blood-red spots formed in the white-furred beast's eyes, flowing into its pupils.

But it failed to control anyone...

Boom!

The darkness created a gap in defense.

When they regained consciousness, the beast's claw had already slammed into Qing Yuan Shan.

Rumble!

Qing Yuan Shan shattered on the spot!

The grand array hadn't even activated its full defenses; it was just passively held by Tian Ji techniques, so it was utterly destroyed.

Yu Zhi Wen spat blood from his mouth, blood bursting from his seven orifices as he collapsed from backlash.

Mei Si Ren only managed to raise Tai Cheng Jian in front of his chest and summon half of his sword manifestation.

The beast's sharp claws pierced through the gap, slashing a wound across his chest and sending him crashing into a deep valley thousands of zhang below.

"Divine Punishment and Tribulation!"

In the darkness, the only one who reacted instinctively and ignited his own power was Cao Er Zhu.

He didn't know what was happening.

He knew that in a critical moment, someone had to step up.

As his vision cleared, Cao Er Zhu, having gathered his strength in the darkness, unleashed a thunderous sea above his head.

He punched toward the beast's claw.

Hiss!

That strange suction appeared again.

Cao Er Zhu heard nothing, felt all his power being swallowed, and saw lightning course through the white-furred beast's body.

The next second...

He was blasted into the spatial currents by that claw.

"Don't hurt it; it's Tan Shen!"

An urgent shout came.

Xu Xiao Shou's second true body, stepping on a space dao disk, quickly emerged from the Apricot Realm and landed on Qing Yuan Shan, stunned for a moment at the sight.

He hurriedly corrected himself, facing the out-of-control monster:

"Tan Shen, don't hurt anyone!"