Chapter 1616: Soldier God Tomb

Xu Yang's imposition of these thoughts on his companions proved to be an immense help, instilling in each warrior a stronger conviction and greater motivation.

"By my command, the army advances! Forward!"

Countless roars, cries, and howls reverberated throughout the army of hundreds of thousands of demon beasts, shaking the heavens.

Xu Yang, leading his core team of powerful experts, charged ahead, followed by hundreds of thousands of demon beasts sweeping across the blood-stained path amidst swirling sand as they bravely pressed on.

They had finally overcome the first of the five forbidden zones on the Path to Heaven.

After the Undead Emperor's demise, no tangible legacy items were left behind. After all, the Undead Power he cultivated was primarily used to imprison the souls of human experts who had perished on the Path to Heaven, thereby aiding his own cultivation.

After Xu Yang utterly destroyed him, a portion of the power source had to be absorbed by Xu Yang himself. The remaining undead spirits and accumulated grievances, however, were entirely purified by the Law of Light.

Being bathed in the power of light was tantamount to indirectly granting the hundreds of thousands of demon beasts their deserved gains. Consequently, as they advanced, the hundreds of thousands of demon beast powerhouses had already reaped their share of the spoils.

The team continued their journey, unhindered.

In the blink of an eye, three more days passed. At the pace of Xu Yang and his companions, three days were more than enough for the army to traverse hundreds of thousands of miles along the Path to Heaven.

With this continued progress, however, the landscape they encountered had changed. They had finally entered the domain of the second forbidden zone.

Xu Yang and his group recognized this change because the second forbidden zone, like the entrance to the Path to Heaven, bore distinct markings indicating a restricted area.

"The Tomb of Divine Weapons!"

Demon Saint Qitian uttered these three words in a hoarse voice. Unbeknownst to many, these words were far from unfamiliar to him. This was because Demon Saint Qitian's innate divine weapon, the golden staff capable of shifting its form at will, was rumored to have originated from a place called the Tomb of Divine Weapons.

However, Qitian and the others had never imagined that the Tomb of Divine Weapons would actually appear on the Path to Heaven. Judging by the powerful energy fluctuations within this domain, there was no doubt that this place was indeed one of the five forbidden zones of the Path to Heaven.

"Boss! To my knowledge, this place is said to contain countless ancient divine weapons from the era of the Kunlun Old Gods. An endless variety of armaments are all sealed within this location. Moreover, powerful individuals are personally stationed here to suppress these divine artifacts! If we intend to pass through this forbidden zone, we will inevitably face suppression from various divine weapons."

Demon Saint Qitian shared some of his experience with Xu Yang, hoping to help his leader make the most accurate decisions and guidance.

However, Xu Yang merely responded with a disdainful sneer. "If we were to encounter other opponents, it might still be somewhat interesting. But this is merely a collection of scrap metal piled together; I truly have no inclination to entertain them. Very well. Upon arriving here, we simply need to first subdue the master who controls these divine weapons, and then we can generously share the artifacts found here with our comrades. Whichever artifact you are capable of mastering and subduing, I shall bestow upon you as your personal divine weapon."

Upon hearing Xu Yang's words, everyone instinctively became excited.

Aside from Long Kun, Xiao Hua, and a few other top experts who had followed Xu Yang in his campaigns for years, the rest of the group, including the young women Jiu'er and Xiaoxiang—though esteemed talents from the Six Veins of Human Spirit—still lacked their own exclusive divine weapons. This was because, according to the rules of the Six Veins Royal Family, to forge one's own exclusive divine weapon, one's innate artifact had to reach the peak of Kunlun Immortal cultivation—the level of an Enforcement Elder—before they were permitted to enter the Royal Forbidden Land to craft their own divine weapon. Prior to that, the sole mission for all cultivators of the Royal Family was to advance their cultivation realms as swiftly as possible. Consequently, most cultivators within the Royal Family would likely never attain the privilege to enter the forbidden land, extract divine materials, and forge peerless artifacts for themselves throughout their entire lives.

Yet now, everyone who followed Xu Yang on his campaign along the Path to Heaven had been granted such an opportunity in one of these five forbidden lands.

"Since we've entered this area, there's no reason to hesitate. Let's first activate the artifacts hidden within this place, then select them one by one."

Xu Yang's tone was remarkably light and calm, as if he were casually strolling through his own backyard, picking a flower. His composure, however, inadvertently exerted immense pressure on those around him.

"Holy moly! Boss, while your strength is undoubtedly formidable, you could at least show some respect to the guardian master of this place. After all, it's one of the forbidden lands on the Path to Heaven, yet you make us feel as if you're casually picking peaches in your own backyard."

Long Kun's words, far from being flattery, truly echoed the sentiments of everyone else.

Xu Yang burst out laughing, gently smoothing his cascading hair. He then spoke calmly, "Perhaps the reason I exhibit such an attitude is that, to me, these divine weapons are truly as worthless as common weeds. For any divine weapon I possess is capable of overwhelming eons. Nevertheless, you likely haven't seen my personal divine artifact. Today, I shall grant you a glimpse."

With these words, Xu Yang unhesitatingly summoned the Ice Emperor Pagoda. In that instant, an artifact that once belonged to Sword Immortal Yun Wangji—a peerless expert who stood at the pinnacle of the continent hundreds of thousands of years ago—manifested. What kind of power would such a personal divine artifact embody?

As the Ice Emperor Pagoda's nine hundred and ninety-nine layers of Ice Emperor Barriers appeared one by one, the warriors of the hundreds of thousands of demon beast legions behind them were utterly dumbfounded. Even the Four Demon Saints, with eyes wide in shock, could only gaze up in awe at the majestic presence of the Ice Emperor Pagoda before them.

And all of this occurred while the Ice Emperor Pagoda's spirit remained unawakened. If it were truly deployed in a critical battle and the Pagoda Spirit of the Ice Emperor Pagoda were to fully awaken, this primary divine artifact's defensive capabilities would ascend to an even higher realm.

"My heavens, Boss, I finally understand why you possess the means to traverse and dominate the entire great world! Even when facing the will of a Supreme God, you could still contend with it head-on. If I, too, possessed a primary divine artifact of this caliber, I daresay I'd be even more audacious than you!"

Demon Saint Qianmo couldn't help but quip, a playful jest. Those nearby also burst into laughter. Who wouldn't desire to possess a primary divine artifact of such a caliber? Yet, everyone was well aware that they did not possess the immense fortune of multiple reincarnations like Xu Yang, who had cultivated independently for countless millennia, transcending several eras, all while leaving behind a monument-like legend uniquely his own. Such a figure, and everything he possessed, was truly worthy of universal reverence.

As expected, the very instant the Ice Emperor Pagoda, the primary divine artifact, unveiled its complete form, countless artifact spirits throughout the entire Tomb of Divine Weapons, previously in deep slumber, were forcibly awakened by the immense pressure, emitting whimpering, trembling sounds. And it was precisely due to the emergence of this incredibly powerful primary divine artifact's aura that the master slumbering within the Ice Emperor's Tomb also opened their eyes from a dark, hidden depth.