This sword strike shattered the sky and tore apart the universe. The surging water and fire energies transformed into a vast ocean, clashing with the Manjushri Buddha Sword!
As the sword light dispersed, the true form of the advancing True God was briefly revealed! He wore a radiant jade crown adorned with eight precious lights, a crimson brocade skirt, and his colossal body towered to the heavens!
"Lord of the Southern Peak!"
Ji Xiang exclaimed, his sword pressure not diminishing but rather increasing. With a single strike, he forced the Lord of the Southern Peak to retreat half a step!
Although the Southern Peak was a place of division in the main world in ancient times, overseeing the transformations of aquatic creatures and the like, primarily concerned with astral divisions, governing fish and dragons of the water, harmonizing celestial energies, aiding the common people, reviewing immortals, and commanding water deities.
However, during the Song Dynasty, Mount Heng, the Southern Peak, acquired new responsibilities. Whenever the nation launched a major military campaign, envoys were dispatched to offer sacrifices to the Southern Peak, and its presence was felt in all military affairs. During the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, he was enfeoffed as the Emperor of Heavenly Observation and Sacred Illumination.
The Southern Peak Temple of Mount Heng was where the nation invariably sent envoys to offer sacrifices before any major military campaign.
"Thank you, True Person of the Northern Pole, for still recognizing this Lord!"
The Lord of the Southern Peak laughed heartily and swung his great sword forward once more!
The power of the swords clashed again, this time evenly matched. Seeing his attack blocked, the Lord of the Southern Peak decisively unleashed two inscribed texts from his body, transforming into divine and demonic energies that locked the sky, creating a cage to ensnare Ji Xiang!
"The Scarlet Script of Divine Radiance!"
"The Chapter of Sealing Spirits and Restraining Demons!"
"Capture!"
He clenched his fist, and the divine and demonic energies compressed Ji Xiang, turning him into an iron pellet!
"Essence of Heaven and Earth, fortitude of all things! No matter how great your divine powers, even if you have attained immortality, you may not be able to escape. Let alone now! Hahahaha!"
The Lord of the Southern Peak shook his head, confident of victory.
He reached out a large hand, scooped up mountains and seas, and swallowed the iron pellet into his belly!
"He's subdued! We can return!"
Someone among the Five Peaks True Gods spoke. The Lord of the Southern Peak had acted decisively, suppressing the True Person of the Northern Pole with his封禁 (fēngjìn - sealing) divine treasure. However, some questioned the Lord of the Southern Peak's actions: "This True Person of the Northern Pole possesses fierce magical power. Without regaining his immortal body, he could strike down a Celestial Immortal. Now that he has entered the Solar Refinement, his immortal body is about to recover. By turning him into an iron pellet and swallowing him, aren't you afraid he'll tear open your belly and come out from within?"
The Lord of the Southern Peak burst into laughter: "My belly contains its own heaven and earth. Once he enters, he will be unable to distinguish east from west or find the end of the world. My divine duty as the Lord of the Southern Peak is to divide the celestial fields. The reason I became the Lord of the Southern Peak is because I consumed twelve small underworlds. Those who enter my belly as iron pellets have never escaped!"
The questioner was immediately reassured: "Since there are twelve small underworlds within your belly, we need not fear his immediate escape. These are equivalent to twelve small Dharma Realms. Even a true Celestial Immortal would find it difficult to break through their illusions in a short time."
Having achieved their objective, they had no intention of lingering in Joseon. The Lord of the Eastern Peak then issued an order:
"I will continue to possess the King of Joseon. The four of you will take the True Person of the Northern Pole to the first hall of the Underworld..."
Before he could finish speaking.
The smiling Lord of the Southern Peak's expression suddenly contorted! He let out a high-pitched scream!
From his seven orifices, a mighty roar echoed!
"Great!"
Two streams of divine and demonic energy erupted from his seven orifices. In the next moment, his head twisted unnaturally and spiraled into the sky, exploding above!
A demonic light shot out from his headless torso, transforming into a colossal giant, even taller than the Five Peaks True Gods. In its hand, it held a massive divine banner that pierced the heavens, its end unseen. The twelve small underworlds, severed from the Lord of the Southern Peak's neck, flew out one after another and were absorbed by the divine banner!
The Lord of the Eastern Peak's eyes widened in shock. The other three Lords, witnessing the Lord of the Southern Peak's decapitation, rushed forward to assist. The Lord of the Southern Peak's headless corpse also began to move on its own. Waves of energy surged back to the severed neck, and within two moments, a new head grew. However, the Lord of the Southern Peak's gaze was now fierce, smoke billowing from his orifices, his expression contorted in extreme rage!
"You can actually destroy my underworld!"
The Lord of the Southern Peak roared and charged forward!
Ji Xiang tossed the divine banner aside and swung his arm, punching the Lord of the Southern Peak directly in the head!
The punch landed solidly, with all its power concentrated within!
"Transcending Hell!"
The voice did not originate from Ji Xiang. Instead, as the punch was thrown, a voice descended from the ethereal realm, followed by a celestial title!
"Vast Crossing of the Fallen Celestial Venerable!"
With a single punch, the Lord of the Southern Peak's阴气 (yīn qì - Yin energy) was scattered. His head exploded once more. This time, it could not be repaired with Yin energy, causing him to let out a pained howl. He was sent flying dozens of steps back, causing mountains and rivers to tremble continuously. Finally, with a thunderous crash, he landed amidst the mountain ranges!
His wails did not cease, forcing him to draw upon the energy of mountains, rivers, trees, and grass to repair his exploded head. Ji Xiang, meanwhile, had completely transformed into the image of the Vast Crossing of the Fallen Celestial Venerable. He strode forward, raising his leg. His shadow cast a vast darkness across heaven and earth, and he brought his foot down upon the Lord of the Southern Peak once more!
From the ethereal realm, the celestial title arose again!
"Carrying the Immortal Realm!"
"Vast Crossing of the Fallen Celestial Venerable!"
As this kick descended, the surrounding mountains and rivers remained still, not a tremor rising. However, the void instantly shattered into countless pieces. Consequently, the primordial spirit, once destroyed, had no place to go. The Lord of the Southern Peak's newly regenerated head was again crushed by this kick!
With the appearance of this Celestial Venerable, the Five Peaks True Gods were not ignorant. They could wield a portion of the power of the Five Peaks and transform into the Lords of the Five Peaks, possessing vast knowledge and legends of many deities.
Although they could not recognize which deity Ji Xiang had transformed into, the celestial title had already reached their ears from the ethereal realm, entering their minds!
This left them bewildered, yet their hearts were filled with awe!
"Vast Crossing of the Fallen Celestial Venerable? Who is this?"
"I have cultivated for many years and have never heard of such a being!"
The Five Peaks True Gods did not know the origin or history of this Celestial Venerable. However, in the previous exchange, a significant portion of the Lord of the Southern Peak's Yin energy had been shattered. These scattered Yin energies, as if being transcended, could not be restored and had completely perished. Connecting this to the Celestial Venerable's name, they began to form a conjecture!
"We possess the art of sealing demons; does he, a Celestial Demon, also possess a method to kill Yin energy?"
"Where did this Celestial Venerable emerge from, possessing such might?"
One of the Five Peaks True Gods, in a moment of contemplation, suddenly declared, "Could it be a manifestation of the Lord of the Netherworld?"
"Nine Netherworld Sin-Removing Celestial Venerable? Judging by his power, it bears some resemblance!"
However, this answer exceeded their capacity for acceptance. The divine position of the Lord of the Netherworld also pertained to the Yin world and the Underworld, the very things the Five Patriarchs and Three Kings had been searching for. To control all Yin world Dharma Realms, one must possess the divine token of the Nine Netherworld Sin-Removing Celestial Venerable!
Among Celestial Venerables, there were naturally ranks and hierarchies. The Nine Netherworld Sin-Removing Celestial Venerable stood at the apex of all Yin world Celestial Venerables. By mastering his power, all myriad Yin worlds could be unified with a mere flick of the wrist, giving rise to the true Great Netherworld and establishing a divine kingdom of the Underworld.
While the Five Peaks True Gods communicated with each other, they did not forget to rescue their comrade. As the Lord of the Southern Peak's head was shattered for the third time, they joined forces, channeling the might of mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas with the power of the remaining four Peaks, summoning a vast and boundless gale that obscured the sky!
The Lord of the Western Peak, clad in white robes, revealed his true form. He brandished a white divine banner, instantly enshrouding the area in swirling clouds and fierce weather. This immense wind was capable of flaying flesh and shredding primordial spirits and souls!
"Summoning clouds and bringing rain, Heaven opens with a single breath!"
"Cosmic Wind!"
The Lord of the Western Peak, channeling the combined divine might of the remaining four Peaks, unleashed this formidable power. The gale struck Ji Xiang, causing the image of the Vast Crossing of the Fallen Celestial Venerable to momentarily falter. Seizing this opportunity, the Lord of the Southern Peak's body transformed into a stream of Yin energy and fled, reappearing beside the Lord of the Eastern Peak, still headless. From his belly, he emitted a voice filled with both fear and resentment:
"This Celestial Venerable can destroy Yin energy and transcend primordial spirits! After being hit by his punch, my Yin energy scattered and could not recover. After being stepped on by him, I felt as if half of my primordial spirit had gone to some unknown Immortal Realm. If I took another blow, I fear I would truly be transcended to rebirth, my very will vanishing, and I would never be able to return!"
"This Celestial Venerable is peculiar; do not engage him directly!"
Having lost half of his primordial spirit, the Lord of the Southern Peak was now somewhat disoriented. He was filled with fear. If not for the Lord of the Western Peak's timely assistance, he would have vanished from the mortal world with another blow. However, he also felt that his lost half-primordial spirit had not truly disappeared but had been forcibly sent to an unknown Dharma Realm, where it was gradually dissolving and being transformed! Even the Yin world divine power within it was being converted!
That Dharma Realm was so distant that he could not even sense it; he had no idea of its direction. It was illusory and ethereal, seeming to exist yet appearing formless, like a dream, not manifesting in the true realm!
"Lord of the Western Peak, I shall assist you!"
The Lord of the Southern Peak, suppressing his anger, saw Ji Xiang turn. He immediately unleashed his two previously used treasures again, shouting: "No matter what form he takes, he is still using demonic energy to fuel these divine powers. As long as there is demonic energy, we can restrain him!"
"Let's see if his method of killing Yin energy destroys us first, or if our art of restraining demons subdues him!"
"The Scarlet Script of Divine Radiance!"
"The Chapter of Sealing Spirits and Restraining Demons!"
"Capture!"
The Lord of the Southern Peak once again unleashed divine and demonic energies. The surging divine and demonic energies rushed towards Ji Xiang. But in the next moment, divine and demonic energies also erupted from Ji Xiang's body. The two sets of divine and demonic energies merged and transformed. Ji Xiang, in his Celestial Venerable form, pushed forward!
The divine and demonic energies transformed into a storm, pushing back even the Lord of the Western Peak's Cosmic Wind!
The Lord of the Southern Peak did not reveal his intentions, but his actions showed his urgency. He quickly spun his two divine treasures, blocking the surging divine and demonic energies from advancing. At this moment, a smug expression appeared on his face.
"Well done! The Five Peaks True Form Diagram cannot suppress him; we will use even stronger divine powers! Let us combine our efforts!"
The Lord of the Eastern Peak extended his hand, and a gust of celestial wind rose from the ground!
The Lords of the Northern Peak and Central Peak also acted!
The Five Peaks converged, unleashing their divine power once more!
"Golden Cui Jade Scrolls, seize lifespan! Ascend to the Heavenly Ancestors, Authority Resides in the Celestial Venerable!"
The Five Peaks True Gods chanted the divine title in unison. As a golden jade light permeated the area, the heavens and earth were filled with countless ancient inscriptions, recording the lifespans and destinies of all beings. This was the Golden Cui Jade Scrolls!
With the divine power unleashed and the Five Peaks exerting their might, the Cosmic Wind transformed into a wind of life and death. Instantly, this realm became chaotic with life and death. Any being caught within it perished in an instant.
"You bear great sin, seizing all lifespans!"
If this wind of life and death overpowered Ji Xiang's magic, Ji Xiang would immediately be cast into the Underworld, never to be reborn, his lifespan completely erased. No matter what immortal elixirs or miraculous medicines he consumed, he would never recover!
But good fortune did not last!
"Ten Directions Divine Kings, obey my command!"
Ji Xiang circulated his divine and demonic energies. The divine and demonic energies suddenly transformed into the illusory forms of ten Divine Kings, each delivering a punch towards the Lord of the Southern Peak!
This punch carried the power of the Ten Directions Divine King Dharma Realm, along with the distinct might of ten Dharma Realms!
All methods shattered!
"Cough!"
The Lord of the Southern Peak had no time to dodge and was struck by the Ten Directions Divine Kings. The two divine treasures were torn apart, their inscriptions instantly rendered void. Subsequently, from his spirit to his flesh, including his past, future, and root of existence, he was struck by the Divine Kings one by one! Although not fatal, the ten blows combined, shattering all methods, inflicted severe injuries upon him in an instant!
The Lord of the Southern Peak was once again crushed. The formation of the Five Peaks immediately showed a gap. Ji Xiang extended his five fingers forward, and a gust of fierce wind suddenly swirled around him!
"This is the moment we have been waiting for."
Ji Xiang's voice reached the ears of the Five Peaks True Gods, causing their hearts to tremble!
A trap?
But where is the trap...?
Where is it...!
Ji Xiang's large hand slapped forward!
The sky darkened, and the sun and moon lost their light!
"Nine Heavens Gale!"
The Nine Heavens Gale, absorbed from the Great Fulu Li, was one of Ji Xiang's major killing moves. Each use would exhaust his entire magical power. Although he had now reached the Solar Refinement stage and was on the verge of ascending, Ji Xiang dared not easily use such a powerful storm. At most, within the Nine Heavens, he could unleash the Three Heavens Gale. However, the current wind of life and death was clearly extraordinary. These Five Peaks True Gods were vastly different from the Yin world ghosts that had appeared before. The information provided within the Inner Scene Divine Token was precisely...
[Golden Cui Jade Scrolls: A divine power possessed by the deity of the Eastern Peak among the Five Peaks. Mount Tai is the patriarch of the Five Peaks, the grandson of the Heavenly Emperor, and the abode of deities. Since the Qin Dynasty, it has been revered by the people of Qi and Lu. It can facilitate communication between humans and deities, govern the distinctions of status and rank among mortals, the length of official careers, the registers of the eighteen hells and six cases, and the dates of life and death for seventy-five departments.]
[The Golden Cui Jade Scrolls are used to strip away the lifespans of all beings. Once struck by the wind of life and death from the Golden Cui Jade Scrolls, one's cultivation will be lost like flowing water, their primordial spirit will merge into Mount Tai, their physical body will wither and dissipate, and no immortal elixir or miraculous medicine can restore them! This is dictated by "Heaven's Mandate!"]
[However, Mount Tai has the sayings of the Heavenly Lord and Earth Lord. Its nobility dates back to antiquity, and it rose with the Feng Shan ceremonies, becoming the patriarch of the world. Kings offered sacrifices to Heaven and Earth here, worshiping the two Lords of Heaven and Earth. The souls of the deceased return to Mount Tai, which is to say, they return to the Earth Lord.]
[The wind of the Heavenly Lord (Nine Heavens Gale) can break the wind of the Earth Lord!]
The Nine Heavens Gale swept down. The wind of life and death shattered upon contact. The kings offered sacrifices to Heaven, and their souls did not enter the earth. The Five Peaks True Gods had not yet reacted when the wind of life and death and the Golden Cui Jade Scrolls were shattered. In the next moment, they were engulfed by the Nine Heavens Gale, their Yin energy completely torn apart!
Ji Xiang unleashed the Nine Heavens Gale, his magical power dropping. While he could still control the divine power, he waved his hand towards the sky:
"Array the swords in the sky!"
Several divine swords, which had been repelled to the distant sky by the Five Peaks True Form Diagram, now returned. Ji Xiang mixed the divine swords into the gale. The three sword lights charged forward first, directly blasting open the chest of the Lord of the Southern Peak. The Heavenly Feather Feather Slash and the Heavenly Industry Cloud Sword were inserted into the heads of the Lords of the Central Peak and Northern Peak, respectively!
Ji Xiang then hurled the Buddha Sword into the air. The Lord of the Western Peak was pierced through the head by the sword, his magical power sealed. His primordial spirit was struck by the Buddha Sword and could not leave his body. He collapsed to the ground!
With all four swords unleashed, only the Thunder Cut remained sheathed. Seeing this, the Lord of the Eastern Peak remained silent and instantly turned to flee! As Ji Xiang saw him move, a vast expanse of white smoke erupted from his body!
The white smoke was like a vast ocean, surging to cover the sky and earth. The Lord of the Eastern Peak turned, was swallowed by the white smoke, and after a swirl of mist, his Eastern Peak divine power vanished completely. A divine light was dragged back by the white smoke!
"This white smoke is... the Tongtian Ming Yan! Give it back to me!"
The Lord of the Eastern Peak's expression drastically changed. Due to his weakening, a flaw appeared. Now, with the Ming Yan draining his divine power, he could not protect his divine position. Thus, the image of the Eastern Peak True God immediately faded from him. In his panic, he looked up sharply, and Ji Xiang had already arrived before him!
"What kind of creature are you, daring to usurp the divine positions of the Five Peaks?"
"Today, I shall capture you into the Sea of Suffering and end your life in this world, never to be reborn!"
Ji Xiang seized him, like capturing a dead chicken. The Sea of Suffering world immediately spread to this location, and a great wave rolled in, swallowing him!