The expansion of power was so immense it almost suffocated Chen Nan.
This person was undoubtedly the most formidable enemy he had encountered since stepping into the underworld.
Even with his mastery of space laws.
And fire laws.
He could not withstand the opponent's onslaught.
He was immensely fortunate to have reached the Soul Devouring realm, allowing his soul to detach.
Otherwise, he would surely have perished.
However, even with a severely wounded body.
He could still mobilize the wood laws to repair his damaged internal organs.
Although the wood laws he had obtained were extremely weak.
So weak that they were not worth using for offense.
They were more than sufficient for healing.
Looking at a verdant green radiance appearing in Chen Nan's hollow chest.
And within that radiance, a beating heart materialized.
Expansion's eyes widened in shock: "Unbelievable, truly unbelievable!"
"I never imagined you'd obtain the power of three laws simultaneously!"
"Now I'm starting to believe you're not Yue Shan."
"If Yue Shan had such fortune."
"He could have overthrown the imperial rule ten thousand years ago!"
"However."
"Even with the power of three laws."
"You cannot defeat me!"
Expansion roared with laughter.
Then he transformed his finger into a sword and slashed through the air towards Chen Nan.
Chen Nan dodged rapidly.
But his cheek was still grazed by the sword energy.
Tricky!
Too tricky!
He was utterly outmatched by Expansion.
He wanted to escape.
But this time, Expansion was aware of his abilities.
The four Book of Life and Death suspended in the air firmly sealed the void.
Even his spatial laws were insufficient to break free.
A powerful sense of crisis enveloped Chen Nan.
Causing him a touch of despair.
He had painstakingly ascended to the rank of a sixth-level Yin Messenger.
He had painstakingly investigated the bizarre death case of the Monster Suppression Department's director.
He had painstakingly found the five lost pages of the Book of Life and Death.
He was on the verge of a monumental achievement by killing Expansion.
With the prospect of a promotion, perhaps even entering Fengdu City.
But he had never anticipated Expansion's terrifying strength.
Just as Chen Nan was at his wits' end.
The voice of Di Ting resonated deep within his soul: "He can refine one Book of Life and Death, why can't you?"
"Why can't you borrow the power of the Book of Life and Death?"
A simple sentence.
Made Chen Nan's eyes light up.
Right!
Why couldn't he borrow the power of the Book of Life and Death?
With this thought.
He instantly moved to a Book of Life and Death.
And reached out to grab it.
Expansion did not intervene, instead letting out a gloating, mocking laugh: "Ignorant fool, do you think anyone can meddle with the Book of Life and Death?"
"Although I can borrow the power of the Book of Life and Death."
"This is thanks to our Tuo family's ten-thousand-year devotion to the Book of Life and Death."
"If an ordinary person tries to touch it, they will be instantly annihilated by its power!"
"Even a peak Ghost King cannot..."
Before he could finish speaking.
His voice abruptly cut off.
Every hair on his body stood on end.
As if he had witnessed something incredible.
Or as if an invisible hand had grasped his throat.
He watched in astonishment.
As Chen Nan actually grasped that Book of Life and Death.
Simultaneously.
That Book of Life and Death transformed into a golden light and merged into Chen Nan's body.
And Chen Nan's injuries were instantly healed.
His aura rapidly ascended.
"Is controlling the Book of Life and Death that difficult?" Chen Nan's face showed a hint of disdainful amusement.
Of course.
The reason he could so easily control the Book of Life and Death.
Was ultimately due to the Human Realm and Animal Realm within his soul suppressing the Book of Life and Death's might.
Otherwise, he could not have obtained a Book of Life and Death so easily.
"No!"
"Impossible!"
"You haven't even worshipped the Book of Life and Death, how can you control it so easily?" Expansion was beside himself with disbelief and madness.
"Believe it or not, I can also control the other three Books of Life and Death?" Chen Nan smiled slightly, then reached out and a terrifying devouring force enveloped the other three Books of Life and Death.
"Die!"
Expansion roared.
Transforming into a streak of golden light, he lunged at Chen Nan.
He didn't know how Chen Nan had controlled the Book of Life and Death.
But if Chen Nan controlled the other three Books of Life and Death.
It would be a disaster of apocalyptic proportions for him.
Because by then, he would be utterly incapable of contending with Chen Nan.
He had to kill Chen Nan before he became proficient in controlling the Book of Life and Death.
"Scram!"
A cold glint flashed in Chen Nan's eyes.
A vast and boundless aura erupted from within him.
Sending Expansion flying back dozens of meters.
Concurrently.
Chen Nan simultaneously grasped the three Books of Life and Death with one palm.
"Gaining control of three Books of Life and Death simultaneously?"
Expansion was stunned by Chen Nan's actions.
Perhaps others did not comprehend the terrifying power of the Book of Life and Death.
But he had experienced it.
Back when he first attempted to control the Book of Life and Death.
He had nearly been backlashed by its power.
One Book of Life and Death possessed such terrifying might.
Let alone Chen Nan controlling three others at once.
According to the words of the Tuo family's ancestor.
An ordinary person could at most control one Book of Life and Death.
Only the Great Emperor of Fengdu could completely control the complete Book of Life and Death.
Watching Chen Nan simultaneously gain control of the other three Books of Life and Death.
Expansion began to mock him without restraint: "Chen Nan, you are truly too arrogant. The Book of Life and Death is the foremost sacred artifact of the underworld. Even if you previously mastered one."
"I still don't believe you can simultaneously master the other three..."
Before he could finish speaking.
His voice once again abruptly ceased.
Because he saw all three Books of Life and Death vanish into Chen Nan's body.
Chen Nan's aura then climbed to a level that was almost suffocating.
Even with his current cultivation of the Earth Ghost realm.
He felt the air thin in the face of this aura.
And after Chen Nan gained control of the four Books of Life and Death.
Yuan Zun and the others also appeared above the Tuo family.
Upon learning that Chen Nan had gained control of four Books of Life and Death.
Everyone was shocked.
Expansion, recovering from his shock, gritted his teeth: "You are truly filled with too many unknowns!"
"However, you have only just obtained four Books of Life and Death."
"Do you know how to harness this power?"
Chen Nan truthfully shook his head: "No."
"But I also don't wish to know how to harness this power."
"Killing you is enough."
The Book of Life and Death is the foremost sacred artifact of the underworld.
He had no intention of coveting such an item.
"I'm quite surprised you could control four Books of Life and Death simultaneously," Expansion grinned: "But it doesn't matter now, because even with four Books of Life and Death, you will not escape death today!"
As he spoke.
The Book of Life and Death within him flew out.
Suspended before him.
However.
The golden light emanating from the Book of Life and Death enveloped his entire being.
"The reason the Book of Life and Death is the foremost sacred artifact of the underworld is fundamentally because it can erase the lives of others!" Expansion bit his right index finger, squeezing out crimson blood: "Look, I have already written your birth date on it, and even the two characters 'Chen Nan'."
"However, the character 'Nan' is missing one stroke."
"As long as I complete this stroke."
"Unless you are a sage who has transcended the cycle of reincarnation."
"Even gods will perish!"
Saying this, he raised his hand and completed the final stroke of the character 'Nan'.
But Chen Nan remained calmly suspended in the air.
Watching like a monkey with a playful smile.
Expansion screamed: "I have already written your name and birth date on the Book of Life and Death, why are you still not dead?"