Chapter 1856: Descent

“Hey, Sang, what do we do now?!”

The chaotic spatial and temporal currents, accompanied by whistling spatial and temporal storms, seemed to be tearing apart even the remaining spatial and temporal laws within the currents.

Yet, a golden Buddha sat calmly amidst the dark storm.

Its body glowed with iridescent light, exuding golden power of vows that brought warmth and somewhat illuminated the dark spatial and temporal currents.

Behind the Great Buddha, within the currents, were seven conjoined blood trees, with flourishing crowns and drooping branches from which white bones dangled, forming a scene of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

Below the blood trees lay a colossal azure prison. Countless chains, like tentacles, rooted themselves in an unknown place, anchoring the space and direction to prevent getting lost.

To the left of the blood trees burned the blazing Jinzhao Baiyan. Within the cascading heavenly fire resided an elder with white hair and a white robe, hands and feet bound in shackles. His power surged wildly, pouring into the Buddha.

To the right of the blood trees coiled a colossal black dragon. A pearl hung from its head, and the dragon breath it exhaled blocked unknown arrivals from the front. At the same time, it had to continuously pour out power from beneath its body to maintain the Four Divine Pillars.

There were two manifestations of grievances.

One manifestation was the embodiment of grievances, and the other was Wuxiu.

What was presented to the Shengshan Continent was a scorched, cracked body, the Wuxiu manifestation of a Sheng Nu. This manifestation borrowed the grievances from the inverted Buddha pagoda at the crossroads and was crucial.

However, in reality, after the Melting Sky Ladder, the more important entities were one tree, one fire, one dragon, one prison, and one Buddha—the five Great Shengdi, who had been imprisoned in the spatial and temporal currents for over half a year.

What they were dealing with were various attacks from the power above the Sky Ladder over these past six months.

Like a protective dam, once their defenses were breached, the torrent of unknown powers, led by Hua Changdeng, would pass unhindered and reach the Shengshan Continent.

At that time, it would be a true descent of gods!

“Half a year!”

“It’s already been half a year, we’ve done more than enough!”

“Heaven knows how I, the Emperor, spent these six months. Bazun’an, that cursed man, doesn’t even treat dragons like dragons… If you ask me, let’s count to three and retreat together, shall we?”

For the past six months, the situation had been somewhat manageable, with everyone supporting each other.

But in recent days, the attacks from above the Sky Ladder had intensified dramatically, and the five Great Shengdi were clearly struggling to hold on.

A sudden wave of attack just now contained the power of three Primal Ancestor Gods, as if the Ancestor Gods themselves had arrived, nearly tearing apart their defenses.

Even though they managed to fend it off collectively, protecting the spatial and temporal current defense line from falling, the residual shockwaves crashed onto the five Great Shengdi.

It hurt!

It hurt terribly!

It was a heartbreak kind of pain!

The Mo Di Heilong genuinely wanted to retreat.

Glimmering spatial and temporal blades, like shards of glass, sliced across its dragon body.

Even as a Shengdi, it saw fragmented images of the past and future.

Like a rapidly flickering lantern, the Mo Di Heilong saw itself as a child, outside the dragon cave, consuming a black fruit that gave birth to its demonic power.

Since then, its might was unstoppable. Wherever it went, all dragons retreated. Coupled with the subsequent awakening of its Ancestor Dragon power, it grew to the Shengdi realm simply by eating and sleeping.

This kind of dragon life was true enjoyment.

Another mirror shard swept past, carrying traces of time and space, reflecting the future.

The Mo Di Heilong saw an unrecognizable figure drinking dragon blood and eating dragon meat, with black dragon scales scattered on the ground. Its mind was about to explode.

This kind of dragon life, with crossed claws, was unacceptable!

“Sang Qiye, speak up!

“Youyuan Fozuo, speak up!”

These two were key to the final outcome.

One was the host of the Four Divine Pillars, like Xu Xiaoshou on Void Island at that time, but at a higher level.

With various powers imbued, Youyuan Fozuo’s Shengdi foundation could barely be pushed to the Ancestor God realm.

It was naturally not enough to deal with true Ancestor Gods.

But to deal with newly revived Xieyin and the like, it could hold for three to five years, as long as they didn’t exert their full power.

The other was even more crucial.

In terms of combat power, Sheng Nu Wuxiu, a mere Ban Sheng, was insignificant in this situation and could be sacrificed at will.

However, he was the only one, besides Bazun’an, who knew the “plan” and was responsible for its execution.

And regarding the “plan”…

Let alone the three Ancestors of the Bai Clan and Mo Di Heilong.

Even Youyuan Fozuo, to this day, did not quite understand what path Sheng Nu intended to take.

He was only responsible for cooperating.

If the inverted Buddha pagoda couldn’t hold, and if he didn’t cooperate, his body and power would be usurped by the Demon Ancestor.

It was a foregone conclusion.

— All-in!

In the dark spatial and temporal currents, the Buddha’s eyes opened, a faint golden light showing.

A wisp of Youyuan’s will residing in this body knew that Sang Qiye’s Ban Sheng cultivation caught in this situation was suffering even to live, let alone speak.

Facing the questioning gazes of the Great Shengdi, he could only speak on his behalf:

“Patron Wuxiu, please explain. The enemy is at our gates, and we have no retreat.”

At the old site of Guizhe, the scorched Great Buddha trembled, as if borrowing a wisp of vitality from somewhere.

In the spatial and temporal currents, the golden Buddha remained, Youyuan’s voice faded, and Old Sang’s voice emerged.

Compared to the former, he sounded like a dying man, his voice hoarse and weak, like burning wood:

“The Three Ancestors’ manifestations, I believe you all have seen them…”

The three Ancestors of the Bai Clan and Mo Di Heilong all listened intently, nodding slightly.

The Three Ancestors that Sheng Nu Wuxiu referred to were naturally not their three Ancestors, but the three Great Ancestor Gods.

When that great offensive was launched just now, the Old Huai Tree, the Eye of Xieyin, and the Coffin Under the Pagoda were all clearly visible.

This situation was not just Hua Changdeng; the Ancestor Gods had also intervened. This could not be faked.

Old Sang spoke a sentence, paused for a long time, and after a considerable delay, could only weakly continue: “The rest, I also don’t know. I only know that what you all need to do is to intercept them one by one… As long as they don’t all enter the Five Regions, we still have a chance to maneuver…”

After saying this, he was as silent as if he were dead.

The Great Shengdi waited for a moment, but no more words came. Mo Di Heilong, completely baffled, was the first to lose patience:

“How do we intercept them one by one?

“It’s been half a year. If they launch a general offensive now, with Youyuan’s remaining power, I’m afraid we can only take one last wave of attacks before the Four Divine Pillars collapse.”

Jinzhao Laozu followed, speaking: “We’ve done our best. Next, we’ll return to Void Island and wait for death, one by one?”

Qi Shu Dadi remained silent.

To this day, he still didn't understand how to fight this battle.

In plain terms, it was nothing more than delaying death—they could hold for half a year, a year, but could they hold for ten years, a hundred years?

Better to surrender now, and maybe they could leave the inner island of Void Island, go to the Sky Ladder, and get a small official position.

But Bazun’an was just like that.

From beginning to end, he never revealed any details of the plan, treating his own people like thieves.

He was like this, and so was Sheng Nu Wuxiu.

One could only say that this was the nature of the entire Sheng Nu organization. They, the Shengdi of the black and white veins, were never considered insiders from the beginning; they were merely tools.

Youyuan whispered in his heart: “I’m afraid everyone has thoughts of retreating, fearing that if the Four Divine Pillars collapse, they won’t be able to block Hua Changdeng’s single sword strike. Brother Qiye, perhaps you can elaborate more?”

Old Sang sighed faintly after a long while: “Bazun’an said beforehand, ‘Half of the hidden pieces cannot be revealed’.”

Youyuan immediately lost the will to persuade.

He had spent half his life in the inverted Buddha pagoda and had paid no attention to the Shengdi of Void Island, completely unaware of the backgrounds of these monstrous figures around him.

He had thought they were allies fighting side by side, but unexpectedly, at least half of them were enemies?

Then what was the point of maintaining the Four Divine Pillars for half a year…

Youyuan was speechless. Since it was Bazun’an’s words, he would just listen. Bazun’an always had his own considerations.

“Here they come!” Shenyu Qingshi wasted no words.

He was in charge of vigilance. When the azure chains he extended detected sword qi, he immediately called out a warning.

However, after just one sentence, his voice took on a hint of surprise, changing to: “Someone’s here!”

For half a year, the five Great Shengdi guarded this place. They saw sword qi but never the person wielding the sword, only knowing it was Hua Changdeng.

This was the advantage of melting the Sky Ladder; at least, they didn’t have to face him directly, which allowed them to prolong the battle.

But this time…

Could a person materialize?

“Whoosh—”

As expected, no sooner had Shenyu Qingshi finished speaking than the normally silent spatial and temporal currents even echoed with a faint, mournful wail of a vengeful spirit.

This sound resonated deep within everyone’s souls, causing an involuntary shiver.

In the darkness, a flickering point of firelight appeared, illuminating a diminutive figure.

Compared to the golden Buddha, the seven blood trees, the boundless heavenly fire, the Mo Di Heilong, and the vast, boundless azure divine prison.

The figure was too insignificant.

Yet, he slowly stepped forward from the end of the spatial and temporal currents, dressed in white, with a broken sword at his waist, and carrying a bronze lamp, neither fast nor slow.

“Ancient Sword Cultivator…”

“Hua Changdeng…”

Different people, different reactions.

The three Ancestors of the Bai Clan and Mo Di Heilong, who had been abused by the ancient sword cultivators, felt their heads ache at the sight of anyone carrying a sword.

Youyuan and Old Sang, however, recognized the person clearly.

Hua Changdeng stepped forward, stopping before the five Great Shengdi.

The whistling temporal blades passed by him, causing his robes to flutter. He rested his hand on the Hunting Ghost at his waist, showing no intention of drawing his sword, and merely spoke slowly to the massive entities:

“Half a year of stagnation, a slow grind, and I have finally broken through the barriers you have built.”

“Today, I carry my lamp here, merely passing by. I do not wish for a major conflict, only to borrow a path. I wonder what you all think?”

How could they possibly let him pass?!

The Mo Di Heilong had no will to fight.

However, seeing the ancient sword cultivator's pretentious demeanor, it was the first to become annoyed.

Did he really think everyone was Bazun’an?

Could anyone step on its head, the Mo Di Heilong’s?

Moreover, as a fellow Shengdi, its self-important dignity would not easily allow it to yield—if it let him pass, wouldn’t its half-year of defense be in vain?

“Come on!”

The Mo Di Heilong swung its tail, battle flames igniting in its eyes, “Fight! Until death!”

Just then, Old Sang’s hoarse voice transmitted:

“Let him pass.”

This sentence instantly stunned the Great Shengdi present. The three Ancestors of the Bai Clan and Mo Di Heilong all looked at the golden Buddha in disbelief.

“What are you doing? Sheng Nu Wuxiu!” Qi Shu Dadi demanded.

“I said, let him pass.”

Old Sang repeated, then was utterly exhausted and silent.

The four Great Shengdi were all agitated, completely unable to fathom Sheng Nu Wuxiu’s thoughts. Was this part of the “plan” too?

But wasn’t the plan to melt the Sky Ladder and stop Hua Changdeng?

“Let him pass.”

In the end, Youyuan had to speak.

Although he too did not know if Wuxiu was still conscious, at this time, in this place, there could only be one commander.

If everyone acted recklessly, the Ancestor Gods would arrive, and a disorganized group would be useless.

“Whoosh—”

Ghostly wails, like the sorrowful cries of a resentful infant.

Hua Changdeng nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then said no more, slowly walking under the gaze of the massive Shengdi…

Towards the Golden Buddha!

Into the Golden Buddha!

Out of the Ghost Buddha!

“Why?!”

When Hua Changdeng used the Ghost Buddha as a conduit, borrowing the path of the spatial and temporal currents, and stepped from the Sky Ladder into the Shengshan Continent.

Mo Di Heilong, knowing what kind of existence had just been allowed in, could no longer contain himself. He was practically ready to attack this unreasonable Sheng Nu Wuxiu:

“You’d better have an explanation!”

Old Sang offered no explanation, nor did he have the strength to.

In fact, the situation had developed to this point completely out of control; it was simply not something a mere Ban Sheng could have planned.

Even the arrival of the Three Ancestors was not within Old Sang’s expectations.

He no longer knew whether his path and Bazun’an’s were right or wrong, but since things had come to this, he could only act according to Bazun’an’s thoughts and his plan.

When he entered the game, Old Sang had only received three sentences of instructions:

“First, melt the Sky Ladder.”

“Second, half of the hidden pieces cannot be revealed.”

“Third, within your power, allow them to pass one by one, and intercept the rear.”

For the past six months, all plans and actions had been strictly executed, and now those who should pass have passed.

Old Sang roughly understood what Bazun’an was worried about: he was only afraid that the Ancestor Gods would flood into the Shengshan Continent all at once.

If they came one by one, perhaps this seemingly precarious situation might have a glimmer of hope?

But where was that hope?

Old Sang could not see the future; before his eyes, there was only darkness.

Even they, these roadblocks, were at most Shengdi. How could they stop several Great Ancestor Gods?

Hope…

Was it with Bazun’an?

Was it with Xu Xiaoshou?

Or rather, in each other, as they believed?

“Buzz!”

Shenyu Qingshi’s chains trembled again.

This startled the several Great Void Island Shengdi, who were now overly sensitive to any movement—every time Shenyu Qingshi sensed something, it was definitely not good news.

“Now what?”

Mo Di Heilong looked towards the dark source of the spatial and temporal currents.

Hua Changdeng had entered the Shengshan Continent, but there were no Ancestor Gods following behind him.

Loud thunder, but little rain.

The powerful attack just now was actually only Hua Changdeng’s desire to enter the Five Regions, and the Ancestor Gods were just providing cover for him?

Shenyu Qingshi, however, spoke in a deep voice:

“A feint!”

“The Ancestor God’s power here was merely a fleeting phenomenon. The Sky Ladder we melted can protect most of the Shengshan Continent.”

“But there is one place where spatial rifts in other dimensions constantly appear. I can enter the Shengshan Continent through there, and they probably can too.”

At these words, the several Great Shengdi were all startled:

“North Region?!”

In the far north of the North Region, interdimensional spatial rifts were rampant, causing continuous disasters, a fact well known throughout the Five Regions.

Previously, when the Shengshan Hall governed, most of the White-robed and Red-robed figures had to guard the extremely cold and impoverished land of the North Region year-round.

Taixu and Bansheng from the North Region were even more compelled, either actively or passively, to almost all join the Tianmeng, contributing their efforts to guarding the interdimensional space.

Of course, in a land of war, heroes emerged.

For many years, Bansheng from various parts of the Five Regions had self-imprisoned, their names obscure.

But it was not entirely so in the North Region; long ago, through warfare, renowned top Bansheng such as the “Seven Stars of the North Region” and the “Twelve Shengjun” were cultivated!

“The power of the three Great Ancestor Gods has all surged towards the North Region, attacking the Qiduan Jinshijing Rift,” Shenyu Qingshi sighed.

“Then us…”

Even Mo Di Heilong fell silent.

What should they do, should they move to another place?

But if they moved to guard the more chaotic spatial nodes near the Shijing Rift, what about the Sky Ladder side?

What if they moved back again?

“No matter.”

After a long while, Old Sang finally spoke softly: “The Shijing Rift is guarded by others.”

The five Great Shengdi were all surprised.

Besides us, who else could possibly resist the Ancestor Gods?

North Region, Shijing Rift, one of the Qiduan Jin.

This was the most frequent area for interdimensional rifts in the North Region, known as the “front-line battlefield” by the North Region populace, where battles raged year after year.

A shattered world, a dim sky, an overcast palette.

If one were to look down from above, the Shijing Rift was essentially a broken quadrangular platform, connected to various unknown planes through interdimensional rifts appearing in various places.

One after another, deformed and non-ghostly Xushou,异种, and nameless and race-less monsters emerged from the rifts.

“Look, what’s that?”

Amidst the overwhelming cries of battle, someone quickly noticed an anomaly.

As they looked towards the gloomy horizon, beyond the Shijing Rift, an ancient huai tree, a gigantic purple eyeball, and a coffin pressed under a pagoda suddenly materialized.

“What kind of creatures are these again?”

“They feel like they’re at least Taixu level. If they truly descend, I’m afraid many more people will die…”

Even though they were accustomed to strange creatures in the Shijing Rift, such an oppressive presence was rare throughout history.

Could they have reached that supreme realm—Bansheng?

Even Taixu were trembling.

When directly facing those illusory, blurry anomalies, whose power and influence seemed to be veiled, the only ones who could still stand upright were the Bansheng who had fought in the Shijing Rift for many years.

There were still people who could resist!

Seeing this, many hardened warriors of the North Region regained their resolve:

“Don’t be afraid, brothers, we still have the Seven Stars of the North Region!”

“The leader of the Seven Stars, Alliance Master Yansheng, happens to be here right now. These mere monsters, Alliance Master can take on three at once!”

“Exactly! The Tianmeng Alliance Master is the First Alliance Master, the First Bansheng. With him here, what can’t be dealt with?”

“Look, the Alliance Master has left his tent…”

From the rear encampment, several Bansheng figures suddenly soared into the air, led by a tall, long-haired middle-aged man.

“It’s Alliance Master Yansheng!”

“Look, Alliance Master Yansheng is making his move, he’s rushing out!”

“So strong! This aura…”

Countless people watched this scene, watching Alliance Master Yansheng charging directly towards the three monstrous phantoms in the void, their hearts surging with excitement and their eyes filled with expectation.

Dao Xuanji’s power had waned, and the Jiang clan had been exterminated. The only survivor, Jiang Nayu, forced to hide in the front-line battlefield, also watched from afar, her blood boiling, her fists clenched, and her heart filled with resentment, treating those three monsters as despicable rats like Ai Cang Sheng and Xu Xiaoshou:

“With Alliance Master Yansheng making a move, these monsters will surely come and never return!”

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