Chapter 2557: Despair Takes Turns

Ten suns hung in the sky, their fiery flames scorching the heavens; the earth cracked into scorched ruins, the seas boiled dry. The Fusang branches turned to ash, and myriad spirits cried out to the vast sky. I will draw the crimson bow and shoot the celestial abyss, with a thunderous string, startling the cloud peaks! Arrows pierced the Golden Crows, blood flowing like rivers, falling like fiery stars, burning the desolate plains.

The struck Golden Crow shrieked, countless feathers exploding and falling in disarray. Blood rained down across the sky, falling onto a mountain in the west, creating a huge crater. As time passed, this place would eventually form a deep chasm, named Feather Abyss, which was where Zu'an first appeared when he entered this secret realm.

Entering the secret realm this time, Zu'an had wondered why he hadn't seen Feather Abyss. He never imagined that the historical Feather Abyss was something he had inadvertently created.

The myriad despairing beings across the land erupted in astonished cheers when they saw one of the suns in the sky shot down. They wept with joy, for even though only one sun was gone, they all saw hope, and their pent-up anger found an outlet.

However, some individuals of higher status and power thought more deeply. They pondered which fellow Daoist had accomplished such a feat, slaying the sons of Di Jun and Xi He. How could Di Jun and Xi He possibly let this matter rest?

Those on Wushan Mountain knew more about the inside story. The Six Enlightened Witches were filled with dread: "Could the archer be our young brother?"

The Mermaid Queen naturally knew it was Zu'an. Anxiously, she asked the Wushan Goddess: "Goddess, my elder brother killed the Golden Crow Crown Prince, will they come seeking revenge?"

The Wushan Goddess's expression was solemn: "Most likely. Not only the Golden Crow Crown Prince's father, but also their mother, the Sun Goddess Xi He, who dotes on her sons the most."

However, deep down, she felt a trace of admiration. Zu'an must have known all this, yet he still chose to act without hesitation, displaying the valor of a true hero.

"What should we do then?" The Mermaid Queen was extremely anxious. In her own world, she would have many connections to turn to for help, but here, with no one to rely on, she truly felt helpless.

"Wait for me on Wushan Mountain. Don't go anywhere. I'll go contact some people for help," the Wushan Goddess said before transforming into a cloud of mist and swiftly flying away.

Witnessing this, the Six Enlightened Witches were somewhat astonished:

"The Goddess has always been aloof. Let alone asking for help, it's rare for her to even speak with others. Now, she's so enthusiastic, she must be going to ask some of her elders for assistance."

"If even the Goddess is doing this, how can we do nothing?"

"Right! Even if it means sacrificing our old reputations, we must find more old friends to come and help!"

As the Six Enlightened Witches spoke, they too flew off in all directions.

Only the Mermaid Queen remained atop Wushan Mountain, anxiously twisting the hem of her clothes, her gaze fixed on the distant situation.

On the distant battlefield, the mocking laughter of the Golden Crows in the sky abruptly ceased. They were all shocked and enraged: "How dare you kill our Ninth Brother!"

Rage points from the Golden Crow Crown Princes: 888,888,888...

Seeing the rage points surging wildly in the background, Zu'an remained expressionless. Their reaction was so extreme just for the death of one brother, but what about the countless families wiped out and tribes annihilated along the way?

Having no interest in exchanging insults with them, he continued to draw his bow and nock an arrow.

He wondered if it was a delusion, but he felt that not only had the previous shot not depleted his energy, but he actually felt stronger.

Such a thing was somewhat illogical. Normally, even though his cultivation was much higher now than when he first entered the secret realm, and despite not having the Ten Witches of Lingshan, Yun Jianyue, or Yan Xuehen to assist him, he should have been utterly exhausted after barely firing ten such powerful arrows on his own.

Yet, he was remarkably energetic. He could feel that this wasn't the devouring ability of the Kunpeng and Taotie Devouring Heaven Art, but rather a completely new kind of power.

He recalled learning that one difference between gods and mortal cultivators was that gods possessed a divine core, allowing them to absorb powers like faith or votive power.

That strange feeling earlier seemed to be the reception of the votive power from billions of beings. They harbored an intense desire for revenge against the ten suns and to resolve this apocalyptic crisis.

What he had done had coincidentally given hope to all living beings in the world. Thus, everyone was blessing him, praying for him, and cheering him on.

As he pondered, a white light, carrying the world's elemental energy and the collective power of sentient beings' vows, shot forth.

Another Golden Crow shrieked and plummeted from the sky. The dazzling sunlight from above diminished further, and cheers erupted in various places across the vast land.

The remaining eight Golden Crows now dared not underestimate him in the slightest. They scattered, and several of them had already launched a counterattack.

A rain of meteoric fire descended directly from the sky, saturating the land where Zu'an was located. Terrifying rumbling sounds echoed, and a massive crater spanning a hundred li appeared, with even the earth and rocks turning into slowly flowing lava.

"That fellow is utterly annihilated!" Several Golden Crows cheered.

"Dying like that is too easy for him."

"I think I just saw a rainbow flash by."

"You must be mistaken. How could there be a rainbow at such high temperatures?"

However, they soon realized they weren't mistaken. A white light flashed, and another Golden Crow shrieked, plummeting directly from the sky.

"What?!" The remaining seven Golden Crows bristled with alarm. While dodging, they launched a counterattack, with countless sword formations forged from Golden Crow feathers enveloping their opponent.

This time, they learned from their previous mistake. The sword formations sealed off all evasion routes, and all seven Golden Crows simultaneously locked onto his aura. No matter where he dodged, the golden sword energy would relentlessly pursue him.

Their opponent was an archer. If he was relentlessly pursued and unable to draw his bow, he would face an overwhelming onslaught.

They were determined to make him suffer a fate worse than death!

Zu'an stood on the ground, feeling remarkably tiny compared to the dense, golden feather-swords filling the entire sky.

But he showed no panic. He knew his aura was locked on, and dodging would only make him lose the initiative, so he didn't dodge at all!

A seven-colored divine light flashed, and all the incoming golden feather-swords vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye.

The Golden Crows' eyes nearly popped out: "???"

They had no time to think; three white lights met them. Three Golden Crows shrieked, their bodies ablaze as they plunged from the sky.

"That's Zhuan Xu's Crimson Bow and White Arrows!"

"How did it get into his hands?"

The remaining four Golden Crows were finally struck with terror. The first two being shot down could still be explained by carelessness, but now, even after attacking together, several brothers were still consecutively slain. They no longer had the courage to continue fighting.

They frantically fled into the distance, transforming into four streaks of golden light, each heading in an opposite direction.

"Better for a fellow Daoist to die than for me to!"

Each of them now prayed that it would be their brother who got shot, giving them more time to escape.

Hearing two successive shrieks from behind, the Eldest Golden Crow Crown Prince knew that his two unfortunate brothers were doomed.

Gritting his teeth, his face contorted, he thought, "Once I escape this ordeal and return to gather my forces, I will surely tear this person into ten thousand pieces!"

At this moment, he had no worries whatsoever, believing it was impossible for his opponent to catch up after having just shot down two brothers.

One had to understand that the Golden Crow Streamer was one of the finest movement techniques in the world. Apart from the Sky-Roc Soaring Technique and the Rainbow Transformation Art, no other movement technique could possibly catch up.

"Wait, the Rainbow Transformation Art?"

Recalling the rainbow that had just appeared, the Eldest Golden Crow Crown Prince's pupils constricted with a jolt.

Just then, a reflection of a rainbow flashed in his eyes. The bringer of death was already blocking his path. He finally understood the despair that the beings on the ground had felt earlier.