Chapter 1296: Who Claims to Be Invincible?

Opposite them, figure after figure stood motionless and silent, all clad in ancient armor. Each figure emanated astonishing blood energy, dyeing even the mountains and rivers a deep crimson. Although they remained still, like ancient fossils, their presence was incredibly terrifying. Mountains and rivers cracked, the starry sky trembled, and the atmosphere was tense and oppressive.

These beings from the forbidden lands were defiant. They had looked down upon era after era, watching the rise and fall of great epochs in the Yang World. After so many years, no one had ever dared to treat them with such contempt.

"Sacrifice us, to pay homage to that legendary person?" someone said, their voice chilling. At that moment, their pupils transformed into terrifying silver cross symbols.

He smiled, revealing a mouthful of pure white teeth, which only made him appear more chilling. "I'd like to see," he said, "what's so remarkable about a past that should have long vanished, a history buried in the graveyard. And what gives him the right?!" Behind him, a vast and boundless starry sky emerged—a grand cosmic galaxy filled with shimmering stars that slowly rotated with a rumbling sound, and clusters of black holes. This scene materialized with the intent to suppress the First Mountain!

Beside him, another figure stood on a golden feather over two meters long, looking down at Number Nine and the others on the crimson plateau with an indifferent, equally arrogant expression. "Heaven and earth have been extinguished several times," another voice declared. "Who can truly live in eternal glory? What has passed will ultimately be eliminated. His name isn't even circulated in this world; he should have been swept into the ruins, into the ashes of history long ago! If anything remains, if there are still traces—including his name—then simply erase them!"

The entire group was chillingly cold. Hailing from the forbidden lands, each of them had dominated an era; there was no way they would be intimidated by a few words from Number Nine. Now, these top-tier beings revealed their full murderous intent, determined to overturn this place. They all had contingencies and powerful backing, confident that if they fought to the bitter end, they could obliterate the legends of this place.

Number Nine was enraged. He believed these individuals had desecrated this ancient land that spanned eons and, even worse, had humiliated that person. This pushed them beyond endurance!

"Kill them all, leave none alive!" roared Number Two, his temper so explosive it seemed he might burst.

"But those traces left by that era... do they really think they can approach them?" Number Six interjected. "They're not even worthy." His voice was low and quiet. He turned back to gaze at the smooth cross-section, a hint of sadness in his eyes, knowing that each time this place was opened, a tiny trace would be consumed, destined to eventually fade.

Opposite them, the eyes of the beings from the forbidden lands all narrowed. Some were furious; to be told they were unworthy! Others' indistinct faces grew very cold. No one had ever dared to speak of them in such terms. What could this place possibly hold that even the combined might of all the forbidden lands wasn't worthy?!

Number Nine nodded. "True," he said, "we'll just handle it ourselves and kill as many as we can!"

"Heh heh, ha ha..." The Four Calamity Sparrow burst into laughter. Although he had been injured not long ago, his aura was now even more dangerous, as if some unseen substance had been infused into his body.

"Hmm, there really is something behind them!" Number Three's expression shifted, and he softly warned his companions beside him.

"Although I typically abstain, I still want to personally slaughter them!" Number Seven declared.

"You try it then!" challenged one of the beings from the forbidden lands, who stood wreathed in flames that seemed capable of incinerating the thirty-three heavens. His temper was frighteningly immense.

"Move aside, I'll kill him!" At that moment, Number One, who had been silent since his awakening, finally spoke. With a roar, he soared forward. As his human skin swelled, his gray hair fanned out, making him resemble a master of the Grand Dao, ruling over heaven and earth. As his hands moved, his entire body became covered in symbols of order and fragments of the Grand Dao. These patterns transformed into supreme armor, covering his form.

"Kill!"

At this moment, both sides unleashed their powerful attacks, commencing a decisive battle. In terms of numbers, the First Mountain was outnumbered. Even with the addition of Number One and Number Seven, they only had six great experts. On the opposite side, eight individuals had appeared, meaning each forbidden land had sent at least one or two representatives! Whether there were other hidden beings from the forbidden lands remained unknown.

It must be said, this battle was terrifyingly fierce. Even the interior of the First Mountain roared and trembled, transforming into a world of blood. For after fighting to the death, all the beings were releasing their vigorous vitality, their blood energies surging like vast oceans throughout the area.

"Darkness will eventually cover the earth, engulfing era after era," declared the expert from the Chaotic Abyss. Boundless darkness encroached upon the area, and coldness and deathly silence became the only things in heaven and earth as he pointed an entirely black jar at Number Nine and the others.

"Interesting," Number Nine said coldly, "is the path connected behind the forbidden lands finally showing signs? Darkness returns, revealing the tip of the iceberg." At this moment, he shed his demonic nature, instead becoming bathed in golden light. Operating his breathing technique, he absorbed the energy from the cross-section behind him, bursting forth with dazzling brilliance. He remained overbearing, charging forward and plunging alone into the darkness.

"Back then, someone tore apart darkness with bare hands; do you still dare to come again?!" Number Nine erupted, his body emitting billions of golden rays that pierced through the dark zone. He then struck the jar with his bare hands, resisting its black hole-like devouring power.

Boom! The area exploded, and the expert from the Chaotic Abyss was sent flying backward. The jar in his hand cracked, spilling endless black mist.

"Heh heh..." Yet, after the jar shattered, a chilling laugh echoed, as if a malevolent spirit millions of years old was cackling. Through the black mist, the outline of a monstrous, indistinct half-face appeared.

"Connecting to the source of darkness?!" Even Number Nine was alarmed, realizing the problem was extremely serious. This time, it was no longer merely a trap to catch powerful prey. "The jar contains coordinate imprints," Number One realized, even his usually stoic demeanor shifting, "connecting to the most mysterious source beneath the Chaotic Abyss. Are they trying to summon something over?!" He even suspected that it connected to other realms.

"Argh..." he roared at that moment. He threw heavy punches one after another, each strike seemingly tearing through eternity, causing the middle-aged man standing amidst monstrous flames in front of him to cough up blood violently. Finally, with overwhelming power and dominance, he moved as if traversing the river of time, advancing at extreme speed. With a series of thudding sounds, he unleashed nine consecutive punches, tearing through his opponent, sending blood splattering. Afterwards, Number One urgently rushed towards Number Nine, blasting into the darkness to kill the outline of that indistinct half-face. At that moment, Number Nine was also making a dominant move, repelling the enemy from the Chaotic Abyss while simultaneously attacking the monstrous face in the darkness.

Unfortunately, it was formless. The so-called connection to the depths of the Chaotic Abyss, leading to the source of darkness, was only just beginning to open, and the entity itself had not yet arrived. What they saw was merely its projection.

Meanwhile, battles in other areas grew even fiercer. The Four Calamity Sparrow's aura was completely different, as if some unknown substance had been injected into his body from an unknown source.

"I possess the Four Swords of Creation; one sword can slay ten thousand immortals!" the Four Calamity Sparrow roared again.

"With just you, it won't work even if you use it ten thousand times!" Number Three shouted. "This isn't a technique you can activate; it's your ancestor's offensive method." He was locked in combat with the Four Calamity Sparrow, his every move emanating immense fist intent. He unleashed the ultimate fist technique without reservation, its boundless power and light inundating the entire world. However, this time, the Four Calamity Sparrow's silver pupils were incredibly terrifying, then grew even deeper, as if he had become a different person. Some will was reviving, awakening within him.

"Heh, is someone speaking of me? I am one of the ancestors of the Four Calamity Sparrow clan, and I am approaching," the Four Calamity Sparrow brazenly announced. Although his face remained that of a middle-aged man, the voice now emanating from him was terrifyingly ancient. This was using his physical body as a medium to summon an incredibly ancient Four Calamity Sparrow ancestor. From where had this entity been summoned? This realization sent shivers down everyone's spines.

However, even though the power of this sword increased dramatically, it was still absolutely impossible to achieve the so-called "one sword slays ten thousand immortals."

Boom! Heaven and earth exploded as the ultimate fist technique's intent collided with the sword's light. The void annihilated, a truly terrifying sight. Chaos overflowed and churned, as if the world itself was being forged. Number Three was solemn; he suppressed the sword, but he truly felt an astonishing, incomparably sharp aura, as if it could cleave apart ten thousand immortals!

"I possess the Four Swords of Creation; I borrow an epoch from heaven!" The Four Calamity Sparrow spoke again, his voice growing increasingly indifferent and ancient, as if something had entered his body, empowering his flesh and blood to wield the sword on his behalf. This was horrifying. The Four Calamity Sparrow clan had endured four great heavenly calamities, and their ancestors had actually created such a profound technique. This was only the second sword, yet it sought to borrow an epoch from heaven. Although the sword light had not yet appeared, it already sent shivers down one's spine; this second sword would likely be utterly terrifying.

Boom! The sky collapsed, time flowed, and heaven and earth disintegrated, crashing forth like waves. Was this still considered mere sword light? This was the Four Calamity Sparrow clan's second sword: borrowing an epoch from heaven! It was a world-shaking sword light, stirring the power of the great heavenly calamity, sweeping across the sky, and carrying fragments of time, as if truly unleashing the grand imagery of an entire epoch upon this place.

However, at the crucial moment, the Four Calamity Sparrow suddenly coughed up a large mouthful of blood, and cracks appeared on his body. This sword was too terrifying and consumed immense energy; his physical strength was insufficient to sustain the second sword. Number Three didn't laugh; instead, a shiver ran down his spine. If that sword had been successfully unleashed, it wasn't aimed at him, but at the smooth cross-section world. Their opponent was clearly ambitious, truly aiming to unveil the sealed veil of this place. Although, in Number Three's opinion, the opponent didn't understand the true nature of this ancient land and was essentially courting death, he was still horrified. He could not tolerate anyone casually disturbing the still cross-section world.

Just then, trouble arose for Number Nine and Number One. In the darkness, the indistinct outline trembled violently, finally transforming into half a face that truly materialized. Its mouth dripped with liquid, and with a boom, it seemed poised to swallow the entire heaven and earth.

"Ominous evil creature, you dare to bring such a thing to desecrate this place?!" Number Nine roared. "Aren't you afraid of being corrupted yourselves?!" At that moment, even he and Number One were greatly wary. Behind him, the great banner fluttered and roared, its surface dripping blood as it suddenly rolled over, covering the terrible, half-rotted, dripping face.

"Once ruled countless starry seas, invincible for an epoch..." the terrifying face muttered unconsciously, clearly abnormal, as if in a trance. Even the forbidden land experts were dodging, not daring to touch its flesh and blood.

"You were once invincible, sweeping across heaven and earth, looking down on ancient and modern times, and the future," an ancient voice whispered from the shadows, tempting the half-face. "Go retrieve everything that belongs to you; your body, your weapons, they are all in that cross-section world."

That half-rotted face was utterly sinister; it flashed past, breaking through and evading all resistance, as if traveling against time, shaking fragments of the epochs. At that moment, both Number One and Number Nine were alarmed; they realized they had encountered great trouble. The half-rotted face, whose power in life was unknown, remained incredibly sinister. It bypassed the tattered banner, its target clearly the cross-section world. It was too bizarre, seemingly omnipresent, traveling through tearing time itself; no one could stop it.

"Reclaim everything that belongs to you, your glory, invincible throughout ancient and modern times!" the voice echoed from the shadows, prompting the half-face to advance.

"Who dares claim invincibility?"

As this rotting face approached the cross-section, Number Nine and the others were too late to stop it. But at that very moment, a faint sigh seemed to echo from several epochs ago. The voice was very soft, yet it shook the entire place as if it would explode, and made all the powerful beings feel as if they would burst apart!