123: Occupying four royal domains

Shen Xiaochuan knelt in the ruins, his halberd inserted into the gap between the floor tiles, barely supporting his body.

His left arm was numb, his right leg was bleeding continuously, and the thick stench of blood filled his mouth.

Higashino Guitian lay ten paces ahead of him, his chest collapsed, blood bubbles constantly welling from his mouth, yet his fingers were still clutching the ground tightly, inching forward.

The wind blew in through the broken window lattice, making the tattered flag on the wall rattle.

Shen Xiaochuan raised his hand to wipe the mixture of dust and blood from his face.

The Gear Pendant on his chest pressed tightly against his clothes, scorching hot like a piece of red-hot iron.

He did not reach out to touch it, only staring coldly at Higashino Guitian.

"You're not dead yet?"

The voice was hoarse, as if squeezed from the depths of his throat.

Higashino Guitian did not look back, his forehead pressed against the ground, gritting his teeth as he said, "I can hold on until they arrive."

Shen Xiaochuan sneered and tried to stand up, but his knees went weak, and he fell to his knees again.

He gasped a few times and used the halberd to prop himself up bit by bit.

The sole of his boot crushed a tile, making a crisp cracking sound.

"Who are they?"

Higashino Guitian finally looked up, his face covered in blood, but his eyes were terrifyingly bright: "Three Kings-level deities. You killed one, and there are three left."

Shen Xiaochuan steadied himself, held the halberd horizontally in front of him, and gasped for breath.

He lowered his head to glance at the System panel; faith points were increasing at a rate of 1 point per second, and he currently had over twenty-three thousand seven hundred points—enough to cast a skill.

"You say they'll be here soon?" He took a step forward, his boots stepping on the gravel, "But have you ever thought that even if they come, it will just add a few more corpses?"

Higashino Guitian's mouth twitched, and he suddenly raised his hand, drawing a streak of blood on the ground.

The bloodstain glowed red and quickly seeped into the gaps in the floor.

The entire hall trembled slightly.

Shen Xiaochuan frowned: "You sent a signal?"

"Yes." Higashino Guitian coughed up a mouthful of blood and smiled, "I have already notified them. Even if you kill me now, they will know it was you. You will be hunted by the entire Waguo Divine Domain."

Shen Xiaochuan did not speak, pressing his palm against his chest.

A warm current surged within his body, as if something was about to burst out.

"Wanted?" He said in a low voice, "From the day Tang Long was captured, I knew you wouldn't let me go."

He raised his head, his gaze like a blade: "You want to stall for time until they come to save you? But you forgot—even if they come, they won't be able to save you."

As soon as he finished speaking, three rifts suddenly tore open in the air.

A figure in black robes walked out from the left, holding a pair of rotating black and white blades; in the middle stood a burly man carrying war drums on his back and a giant hammer on his shoulder, with thunder patterns painted on his face; on the right was a woman veiled in shadow, holding a pitch-black bronze mirror high.

The three landed, surrounding Shen Xiaochuan in a triangular formation.

No one spoke, only the bronze mirror slowly rotated, reflecting his silhouette from behind.

"That's him." Higashino Guitian lay on the ground, his voice weak but filled with hatred, "Kill him."

The black-robed figure sneered: "Does a single heavily injured person really require all four of us Kings-level to make a move?"

Shen Xiaochuan ignored him, his gaze locked tightly on the black mirror.

His own reflection in the mirror was pale, with only his eyes shining shockingly bright.

"The four of you." He spoke, his voice icy, "Come at me together, so I don't have to kill you one by one."

The burly man roared and raised his giant hammer, about to bring it down.

Shen Xiaochuan closed his eyes and pushed open that door in his Sea of Consciousness—[Heavenly Punishment], activate.

A golden vertical pupil split the sky, and a beam of light crashed down, enveloping the four of them.

The black-robed figure froze in place just as he raised his arm; the burly man was unable to move while holding his giant hammer high; the woman's bronze mirror hovered in mid-air, her fingertips just a hair's breadth from the mirror's surface.

Everyone was unable to move.

Shen Xiaochuan opened his eyes, breathing rapidly.

This move could not last long; it consumed five hundred faith points per second, meaning fifteen thousand for thirty seconds.

And his current faith points were just barely enough.

He felt dizzy, his Sea of Consciousness was in excruciating pain, and he could barely stand.

But he still walked toward Higashino Guitian step by step.

"You said they would come to save you." He looked down at him, "Look, they can't even move now."

Higashino Guitian's eyes bulged, his lips trembling: "What... what evil magic did you use?"

"This is not evil magic." Shen Xiaochuan raised his halberd, the blade pointing directly at his throat, "This is Heavenly Punishment. Specifically for people like you—who refuse to admit defeat even to the death."

As he finished speaking, the tip of the halberd pierced his throat.

Blood gushed out, splattering onto Shen Xiaochuan's lapels.

The System prompt appeared: [Defeated Higashino Guitian, obtained control of "Yingjing"].

A crystal appeared in the center of the hall, flew toward Shen Xiaochuan's chest, and merged into his skin.

In an instant, images appeared in his mind: a cherry blossom forest, a lonely city, countless Believers whispering prayers.

He did not stop, turning to walk toward the black-robed figure.

The halberd swept across, piercing through the heart.

System prompt: [Killed Transcendent A, obtained control of "Wudao"].

A crystal appeared and merged into his body.

Then it was the woman on the right.

He struck with a backhand thrust, piercing through her chest.

System prompt: [Killed Transcendent B, obtained control of "Yangu"].

Finally, the burly man in the middle.

Shen Xiaochuan walked up to him, staring at the face painted with thunder patterns.

"You shouldn't have come in the first place." After speaking, he swung his halberd down.

The head flew into the air, and the body crashed to the ground.

Four beams of light shot into the sky, circling around Shen Xiaochuan.

His robes rattled in the wind, the Gear Pendant was scalding, and the runes under his skin lit up one by one.

A full-screen announcement popped up:

[Congratulations to the deity "Shen Xiaochuan" for conquering four Kings Domains in succession, completing a devastating blow to the Waguo Transcendent forces!]

Shen Xiaochuan listened to the announcement, feeling no joy in his heart.

His mind was filled with the images from just a moment ago—the blood-soaked appearance of everyone who died under his halberd made him frown.

He stood motionless, his halberd stuck in the ground, gasping violently.

His whole body trembled, his knees wanting to buckle several times, but he forced himself to stay upright.

He had just over eight thousand faith points left; "Heavenly Punishment" had just ended, and the bodies around him had not yet fallen, but were already cold.

He looked down at his hands, covered in sweat and bloodstains.

His vision was slightly blurred, but he never closed his eyes.

Fighting was still raging outside.

Explosions came from afar, occasionally mixed with screams.

But here, there was only scorched earth and silence.

He raised his hand and gently stroked the Gear Pendant on his cuff.

It was still scalding hot.

"Mom, Dad," he whispered, "I didn't disgrace you."

After speaking, he looked up toward the door.

Dawn was about to break, and the grey-white light spilled in, falling upon the four corpses.

Their godhood had dissipated, and the control of their Divine Domains had completely returned to him.

He could clearly perceive those four territories, as if branded into his power.

He did not smile, nor did he heave a sigh of relief.

He just stood there.

The wind blew in, carrying the scent of smoke, dust, and blood.

His shadow was stretched very long, crossing over the rubble and broken beams.

Footsteps came from afar.

He did not move.

The halberd was still stuck in the ground, blood dripping from the blade, one drop, then another, seeping into the cracks in the floor, merging into a thin, dark red line.