Chapter 563: Great Extinction Dark Hole Execution Heaven Light

As the prolonged battle continued, the Nascent Soul Dharmic Idols of both sides eventually shattered.

Meanwhile, outside the realm.

Jail King Spirit Official sensed the situation within the Inner Realm. He wasn't anxious about his two late-Nascent Soul subordinates, but he felt considerable apprehension towards the increasingly abundant special power accumulating around Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable. According to Sword Child, shouldn't the Demonic Dao's ultimate method rely on the Ancient Demon of Life? Why does it now seem to be accumulating a different kind of power, one that could resolve him?!!

Considering the inherent cunning of the leaders of both the righteous and demonic paths, it was possible they had long detected his informant among the Sword Children and were deliberately feeding him false information. Whether he chose to believe or doubt would determine the outcome of the situation.

However, as a Spirit Official of the True Spirit Realm's Immortal Palace, he possessed not only formidable strength but also immense resources and heritage. In this situation, he could choose to turn the tables and use their own plan against them!

Considering this, Jail King Spirit Official brushed the Universe Ring on his index finger, and a wisp of ethereal Pure Qi appeared in his palm. This treasure, named Pure Lotus Transformation Immortal Qi, was of the sixth rank. It could be used to cast a clone divine ability, creating a perfect Void Refinement stage clone with a "real" physical body, soul, and shared consciousness. This clone could even bleed and be injured, appearing identical to the main body. Its only drawback was a limited duration, lasting at most three days, or until the Pure Lotus Transformation Immortal Qi sustaining it was completely exhausted, at which point it would vanish.

At this crucial moment, he no longer cared about cherishing the treasure. The special power constantly accumulating around Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable continuously sent warnings to his spiritual senses, indicating a definite hidden agenda behind it and a potential severe threat to him. He had to guard against it! Disrupting everything the enemy intended to do would certainly not be a mistake.

And so, the wisp of Pure Qi quickly transformed. In mere moments, another Jail King Spirit Official appeared vividly in the external void. Not only was the appearance identical, but also the attire and even the subtle details of his expression were consistent. Nascent Soul cultivators were simply not capable of discerning the divine effects of this treasure.

After preparations were complete, the main body remained hidden in the void, while he sent the Pure Lotus clone into the Ice Prison Realm. This action did not trigger a backlash from the Immortal Rules. Everyone believed his strength exceeded the upper limit set by the Immortal Rules, preventing him from entering the realm and forcing him to suppress the natives from afar. In reality, this was not the case. This was merely a false impression intentionally created by generations of Jail King Spirit Officials. Upon closer thought, every time an Ancient Demon broke its seal and emerged, "Immortals" would descend to eliminate them. How could they display the power of the Dao Integration stage within the Ice Prison Realm? It's important to remember that aside from the very first entity who descended to establish order, who was a True Immortal, all subsequent figures recorded in ancient history were merely cultivators on the path to transcendence. Whether they were at the Void Refinement, Dao Integration, Mahayana, or Tribulation Transcending stage remained unknown, but their cultivation certainly exceeded the Nascent Soul stage. Therefore, the Immortal Rules primarily restricted beings within the world, rather than outsiders. As long as one did not display power far exceeding the rules, entering or not would not trigger a rule backlash. Such an information asymmetry could be perfectly utilized at a crucial moment.

As the Pure Lotus clone entered the realm, an anomaly also arose in the Realm-Suppressing Turtle's Black Sea world. Old Ancestor Turtle's voice echoed in the sky, sounding incredibly urgent: "Everyone, that villain's true body is crossing realms to arrive! Please quickly deal with these two traitors!"

Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable, hearing this, immediately accelerated the process of refining his opponents.

Meanwhile, within a demonic cloud above the Black Sea, Wang Yu was awkwardly conversing with the two Demonic Venerables, Azure Dragon and White Tiger. Beside them, the Poisonous Flood Dragon stood respectfully in the background, casting a somewhat peculiar gaze at Wang Yu.

"Two seniors," Wang Yu began, "why not seize this opportunity to join forces with the heroes and resist this enemy from beyond the heavens? If we can break free from these cage-like restrictions, the Great Dao will be within reach, which would truly be a great benefit to all living beings."

Azure Dragon Demonic Venerable's face was a deathly gray. His thousand years of secluded cultivation in the Heavenly Palace Secret Realm had not only failed to fully heal his foundational injuries but also led to him being ambushed by Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable upon exiting. With injury piled upon injury, his lifespan was now limited. This was also greatly due to his advanced age, with his physical body and vital energy beginning to decline, making his self-healing ability far inferior to that of younger demonic venerables.

In contrast, White Tiger Demonic Venerable, who was the main force in the life-or-death battle against Refining Heaven back then—a formidable Omen of Death Fierce Tiger who had been reduced to skin and bones—had now grown plump and robust over the years. He appeared to be in the prime of his life. This was the recovery ability of a peak Demonic Venerable in his prime. Although both expressed approval of Wang Yu's words, the chasm of hatred between humans and demons still prevented them from directly standing in the same camp.

"Human Nascent Soul cultivators have suppressed the demon race for nearly ten thousand years," said White Tiger Demonic Venerable. "In this vast Ice Prison Realm, only the Broken Realm Mountain Range serves as our refuge. Such a blood feud cannot be abandoned overnight."

"Young friend Wang," he continued, "you don't need to worry about us causing trouble. If humanity falls, our demon race certainly won't stand idly by; we will definitely fight that enemy from beyond the heavens again." The implication was clear: direct collaboration was impossible. However, out of concern for the greater situation and the hope of breaking free from their prison, they would still act, just not fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with human Venerables.

Wang Yu raised an eyebrow. These demonic beings were truly more obstinate than humans. "If that's the case, then I, Wang, have nothing more to say."

The brief conversation ended. The next instant, the entire Black Sea world trembled as countless rifts opened in space. Chains formed by spatial power shot out from within, appearing quite similar to Wang Yu's Secret Art of Heavenly Chains. However, their application was entirely different. The wedges of these purple chains were like sharp knives piercing through flesh. After piercing into space, they violently tore backward, ripping off large chunks of spatial fragments. Endless void replaced the normal environment, and spatial storms immediately arose.

For a cultivator primarily focused on the Spatial Dao, this environment was Jail King Spirit Official's true domain. A young Spirit Official, clad in purple robes, wearing a tall crown, and with an uncommonly handsome face, descended across realms. Several purple patterns on his brow formed an eye-shaped marking. He held a Void Banner in his right hand. The banner fluttered, brimming with battle intent! Upon entering, he immediately fixed his gaze on Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable.

"Do you know, next year this very day will be your death anniversary?"

"Hmph." "Ridiculous." "What arrogance!" The Nascent Soul cultivators of both the righteous and demonic paths all expressed their disdain. Dragon Zen Venerable, however, who had been struggling to hold on, his eyes lit up, and he quickly shouted, "Your Lord has arrived in person! Why do you mere mortals not quickly surrender? If you can slay Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable, my Lord will surely not be stingy with rewards!"

Is that all? He still wants to incite Venerables to switch sides mid-battle... Wang Yu wondered what this fellow was thinking; he was increasingly acting like a mere clown. Sure enough, his words drew even greater mockery.

Jail King Spirit Official's face turned ashen. No longer bothering with verbal arguments, he firmly planted his banner. All cultivators present felt an immense force exerted upon them, as the chaotic spatial powers seemed to press down, rendering them immobile.

Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable and Old Daoist Taixu exchanged glances, their lips moving, having decisively chosen this moment to strike. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Although it differed slightly from their initial plan, the opponent daring to enter the Inner Realm with his true body had created the most perfect battlefield.

"—Turtle Ancestor!"

Old Daoist Taixu roared, and instantly the entire Black Sea world erupted with towering waves, so immense that it seemed the entire Qiankun Minor Realm was about to be annihilated. Not only did it suppress Jail King Spirit Official's divine might, but Dragon Zen and Heavenly Mother Su also faced their imminent end. But… even though this was the Realm-Suppressing Turtle's domain, it still couldn't completely suppress the power of a Void Refinement cultivator. Jail King Spirit Official brandished the Void Banner in his hand, using it as a spear, and fiercely thrust it towards Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable. Despite the considerable distance, it arrived in an instant.

Demonic flames rose, transforming into a coiled dragon shield to protect him, but it was still directly pierced by the banner-spear. Amidst the shattered demonic flames, Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable was surprisingly impaled through the chest with a single strike, leaving a basin-sized hole in his chest cavity. While such an injury would be fatal for an ordinary person, it meant nothing to him. Fine black flame threads emerged from his flesh, rapidly filling the gaping wound. He licked his lips, and after sensing the unparalleled power of this strike, he nodded to Venerable Taixu and said, "The power far exceeds that of a Nascent Soul cultivator, like an uncrossable chasm. It can be confirmed that this is the true body personally present." His words explicitly proved that he had actually deliberately taken this strike head-on. Jail King Spirit Official's brow furrowed slightly; he seemed surprised that this person would act in such a way. He naturally had countermeasures for secret arts resembling an "undying body," but the previous strike was only a test, so he hadn't used his full power. He hadn't expected it to become a means for the opponent to verify his authenticity. Still, it was a good thing.

A slight arc curved at the corner of his mouth. Jail King Spirit Official's figure instantly vanished from his spot, and the Void Banner traversed space, returning to him. When he reappeared, he was already by Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable's side. With a sweep of the banner-spear, a blade of light that tore space apart appeared. It resembled silver snakes dancing wildly, or falling heavenly stars.

"Wuji!"

Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable roared, and a special spiritual treasure—the Return to Netherworld Cease-War Gauntlets—forged from Northern Darkness silkworm silk combined with ancient silver scales, swiftly covered his hands. This treasure had only one, perfected effect: the suppression of spatial power! For spatial power to exert lethality, it must revolve around tearing, and the gauntlets' function was to solidify space. Thus, the banner-spear's spatial slash was immediately dissolved into nothingness, even being seized by Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable himself. He revealed an evil smile.

"—Refine!"

The power of demonic flames then invaded the interior of the banner-spear, refining it into the most primitive world power, which continued to accumulate by his side, awaiting the moment of its eruption. At the same time, the "Wuji!" he had just roared was not a call for rescue, but rather the activation of a pre-arranged countermeasure. The moment they engaged in close combat, Wuji Demonic Venerable threw out several fifth-tier formation flags, swiftly deploying the Heaven Refining Grand Formation. As its name suggested, this formation was one of the Demonic Sect's ultimate trump cards. Once activated and presided over by Wuji Demonic Venerable, an alchemist highly proficient in both blood and human elixirs, Dragon Zen and Heavenly Mother Su—already severely weakened—were the first to suffer. Their Dharmic Idols were instantly drained and extinguished in a flash.

Dragon Zen Venerable's physical body melted at a visible rate, making him the first Nascent Soul Venerable to perish in this battle. Heavenly Mother Su, proficient in formation arts, sacrificed a full set of gourd formation treasures. By forming a formation within a formation, she barely managed to block the refining power, which had been greatly enhanced by the Heaven Refining Grand Formation. But it was merely a struggle for survival. Then… Venerable Taixu appeared outside the Seven Gourds Protective Formation and, without mercy, unleashed a full-power sword strike that directly extinguished the formation's spiritual light. At the moment of facing death, there was no fear in Heavenly Mother Su's eyes. Instead, there was a sense of… release?

The battle situation reversed multiple times in a flash. Jail King Spirit Official sensed trouble and was about to retreat when he was astonished to discover that the Realm-Suppressing Turtle's Black Sea world seemed to offer no resistance to the Heaven Refining Grand Formation. In fact, it provided even more space for it to refine. This action caused the power around Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable to instantly surge by more than a hundredfold. The Demonic Venerable immediately revealed a triumphant smile. His body suddenly exploded, transforming into countless black demonic flame dragons that completely coiled around and bound Jail King Spirit Official.

Simultaneously, a massive magical artifact appeared. Indeed, it was a war-type artifact resembling a spirit boat, composed of countless intricately designed spiritual treasures. It was Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable's ultimate trump card for dealing with Jail King Spirit Official, originating from a research achievement of the late Ancient Immortal Dynasty. Legend had it that the Immortal Palace of the True Spirit Realm possessed a world-destroying spiritual treasure, specifically designed for conquering other realms. This treasure was the Ancient Immortal Dynasty's imitation of it and a path to survival. The lack of a future for the Ice Prison Realm had been a consensus since ancient times. Burdened with the heavy task of demon suppression and unable to contend with the High Immortals, the Immortal Dynasty secretly developed this treasure. They hoped to use it to traverse the void outside the realm, reach other worlds, and continue their pursuit of the Dao. By chance, Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable obtained this peerless masterpiece, a culmination of the Ancient Immortal Dynasty's efforts.

Although this treasure was said to possess world-destroying power, it could by no means be activated by ordinary energy. Neither top-grade spirit stones nor the magic power of Nascent Soul cultivators were sufficient. Therefore, after much deliberation, Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable chose the product of the Heaven Refining Dao: world power! All previous accumulations were for the purpose of instantly activating the attack divine ability of the Chaos Cavern Celestial Pivot Warship at a critical moment.

—Great Annihilation Chaos Cavern Realm-Slaying Heavenly Light!

Jail King Spirit Official's pupils constricted. He stared in disbelief at the deadly heavenly light instantly formed by the dharma wheel, exclaiming, "Impossible… impossible… This is the Xuanhuang War Immortal Division's realm-destroying warship! How could it be controlled by a mere native like you? Could it be… you are from outside this realm?"

Jail King Spirit Official spoke with extreme haste, but time had already run out. He didn't even wait for Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable's response before vanishing into ashes under the terrifying heavenly light. Wang Yu and the others watching from afar were also stunned, their pupils trembling with disbelief at the terrifying heavenly light. In Wang Yu's eyes, this thing was like a nuclear weapon from his previous life. Harmless if not used, but once unleashed, it was earth-shattering! All things and beings would be obliterated into ashes under this heavenly light; even Void Refinement cultivators were no exception. It was truly terrifying.

After the heavenly light faded, the demonic flame dragons reformed into the likeness of Refining Heaven Demonic Venerable, but his face was very pale. Clearly, activating this treasure had also caused him no minor injuries. This was by no means a supreme treasure that a Nascent Soul cultivator could drive, and choosing such a cunning method naturally came with a corresponding price.

At the same time, the entire Black Sea world was also utterly annihilated by the heavenly light's power. This Qiankun Minor Realm began to crumble, and the Realm-Suppressing Turtle's voice rang out with immense excitement. "Hahahahaha, that villain is finally dead!" it cried. "He dared to look down on us; now he gets to taste his own bitter fruit!"

Immediately after, space shifted. Everyone had been transferred out of the Black Sea world. The Realm-Suppressing Turtle floated weakly above Taihu Lake; with its internal world destroyed, it would not live much longer. But Refining Heaven and Taixu did not show joy after their victory; instead, they became even more vigilant. As ancient, legendary enemies, they knew that completely eliminating Jail King Spirit Official would not be so simple. Both were guarding against methods of soul possession and reincarnation, vigilantly eyeing the Nascent Soul cultivators present.

However, what no one expected was that the Jail King Spirit Official who had just been eliminated was, from the very beginning, merely a Void Refinement stage clone.

At this very moment, outside the realm.