228: Chapter 228 Powerless

However, Gao Feng's speed was even faster than his!

The moment the Saint swept across, Gao Feng's figure shot into the sky like a cannonball, and the dark golden blade in his hand transformed into a heaven-shaking rainbow, thrusting straight toward the Saint's chest, which was covered in light armor!

Clang——!!!

A deafening sound of metal clashing exploded!

This thrust, which concentrated the full power of Gao Feng's Human Immortal Realm, struck the Saint's chest armor solidly, but only caused ripples to spread across the surface of the light armor; countless fine runes flowed, actually dissipating the terrifying piercing force entirely!

A huge rebounding force came, and Gao Feng's figure was sent flying; he performed a beautiful flip in the air and landed steadily on a ruin hundreds of feet away.

He looked down at the slightly numb webbing between his thumb and index finger, then glanced at the opponent's unscathed light armor; for the first time, a trace of burning Battle Intent flashed in his cold eyes.

Not a bad turtle shell.

Ignorant Mortal, this is the 'God's Armament'. With your strength, you will never be able to break it! The Saint hovered in the air like a true deity, his voice filled with absolute confidence.

Is that so? Gao Feng's lips curled up slightly, forming an arc filled with dominance and arrogance. Then, I shall crush your turtle shell, along with the bug inside, into pieces!

The moment his voice fell, his figure vanished again!

This time, it was no longer a simple charge, but transformed into countless afterimages, attacking the Saint in the sky simultaneously from all directions!

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The collision sounds, dense enough to make one's scalp tingle, rang out in the sky like a violent storm!

Each appearance of an afterimage was accompanied by an incredibly fierce slash!

Cleaving, chopping, thrusting, lifting, sweeping... Gao Feng brought the martial arts skills he had learned in his life, under the augmentation of his Human Immortal Realm power, to an unprecedented Peak!

Every blade strike landed precisely on different parts of the Saint's light armor, and every strike contained a terrifying power capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks!

In the sky, one could only see a stream of dark golden light conducting a frantic attack like mercury pouring onto the ground around that huge white silhouette! Countless sparks and energy ripples burst continuously in the sky like grand fireworks!

At first, the Saint was still handling it with ease, waving his huge light sword to block and counterattack, but soon, he discovered with horror that the opponent's speed was getting faster and faster! The angles of attack were also becoming increasingly tricky!

That did not look like a newcomer who had just stepped into this Realm at all, but like a battle Grandmaster who had been immersed in this path for thousands of years!

Every one of the opponent's attacks seemed to have been calculated millions of times, always able to launch a fatal strike at the gaps in his power circulation, at the point where his defense was weakest!

Damn it! Holy Shackles!

The Saint roared, and the light armor on his body suddenly erupted with ten thousand zhang of light; dozens of chains made of pure Holy Light, like spirit snakes possessing life, coiled toward Gao Feng from all directions!

However, Gao Feng's figure was as agile as a swimming fish, weaving freely between those deadly chains; the three-pointed, double-edged blade in his hand flew up and down, severing every incoming chain of light!

Is that all you've got? Gao Feng's cold voice rang in the Saint's ear like a death-inducing curse.

You are courting death!

The Saint was completely enraged; he gave up the heavy greatsword, pressed his hands together, and began to chant an ancient and holy incantation.

In the name of God, I grant you... the final purification! Holy Light... Explosion!

A white sphere of light, condensed to the extreme, only the size of a fist, yet emitting an energy fluctuation even more terrifying than that small sun from before, instantly formed in his palm, and then burst open violently!

Boom——!!!

An indiscriminate, destructive Holy Light storm, centered on the Saint, swept wildly in all directions!

This was no longer a simple physical impact, but energy destruction carrying a strong purification attribute!

Wherever it passed, whether it was broken walls and ruins or hard rock, everything was instantly decomposed and vaporized, turning into the most primitive particles!

This was an unavoidable area-of-effect attack!

However, just as that destructive light was about to swallow Gao Feng, he made a move that stunned the Saint.

Instead of retreating, he advanced!

Imperial Dao... Dragon Guard!

With a low roar, the dark golden Protective Aura surrounding him suddenly surged, and on his body surface, it condensed into a set of equally majestic dark golden battle armor with dragon-head shoulder guards and covered in dragon scales!

Immediately after, he held the three-pointed, double-edged blade horizontally in front of him, curled his whole body into a ball, and let that world-destroying Holy Light storm completely swallow him!

Foolish Mortal! You dare to withstand my Purifying Holy Explosion! You, along with your Soul, will be turned to ash! The Saint let out a burst of gleeful, wild laughter.

However, his laughter soon came to an abrupt end.

Because, in that vast white sea of destructive light, a dark golden point of light not only did not extinguish, but instead, like a reef in a raging storm, braving that terrifying energy impact, walked toward him step by step, difficultly yet with incomparable firmness!

This... how is this possible?! For the first time, an emotion named "fear" appeared in the Saint's eyes.

One could see the dark golden dragon-scale armor all over Gao Feng's body cracking and peeling off inch by inch under that terrifying Holy Light purification; on his formidable Physical Body, terrifying burn scars appeared, and blood was instantly evaporated as soon as it flowed out!

But he was still advancing!

His pair of black eyes pierced through that endless Holy Light, like two of the sharpest daggers, locking firmly onto the Saint's true form!

He had actually used his own serious injury as the price to forcefully withstand this must-kill blow, just to trade for this single opportunity to get close!

Madman! This Mortal is a complete madman!

The Saint was afraid; he wanted to retreat, he wanted to put some distance between them!

However, it was all too late.

The moment the light of the Purifying Holy Explosion finally began to recede was also the node where the power the Saint had sacrificed appeared to weaken for an instant!

And this was the moment Gao Feng had been waiting for!

Now is the time!

His body, which had long been ready, erupted like a volcano that had been suppressed to the extreme!

He ignored his body, which was already riddled with holes, and poured all his remaining strength, and all his martial arts will as an Emperor to advance forward and conquer heaven, into the three-pointed, double-edged blade in his hand!

At that moment, the dark golden long blade seemed to have come alive!

The dragon shadow coiling on the blade emitted a roar that shook the Nine Heavens, transforming into an incredibly solid dark golden divine Dragon, wrapping around the blade's edge and thrusting out with a determined Aura of advancing forward and shattering everything!

This thrust was his martial arts Peak!

This thrust was the embodiment of his will!

This thrust was the final challenge launched by a Mortal against a deity!

No——!!!

The Saint let out a scream filled with terror and despair; he frantically urged the little remaining Holy Light in his body to condense one light shield after another in front of his chest!

However, in front of that dark golden dragon-shaped blade radiance which had long exceeded the limits of power, those hastily condensed light shields were easily pierced through, layer by layer, like fragile glass!

Puchi——!!!

A dull yet clear sound of a sharp blade piercing into flesh rang through the entire battlefield, which had already fallen into dead silence.

Time seemed to have been pressed on the pause button at this moment.

That three-pointed, double-edged blade wrapped in a dark golden divine Dragon pierced into the Saint's chest, which was covered in light armor, without any obstruction, and came out through his back!

Ugh...

The Saint's whole body trembled violently; he slowly lowered his head, staring blankly with an expression filled with disbelief at the terrifying weapon in front of his chest that was frantically grinding away his divine Origin.

The "God's Armament" on his body turned into dots of light filling the sky and slowly dissipated, like a phantom that had lost its energy support.

His body also began to become transparent, turning bit by bit into the most primitive particles of light.

He was defeated.

Defeated by a Mortal he had always regarded as an ant.

Mortal... why... can you kill a god?

Before completely dissipating, he used his last bit of strength to utter this final question from the depths of his Soul.

Gao Feng answered with a voice filled with endless dominance and unyielding spirit, "Because, I never believe in gods."

I only believe in...

Man can conquer heaven!

The "Saint" wanted to say something more, but his body, which had already become illusory, finally turned completely into dots of light under the impact of the dark golden dragon-shaped blade radiance filled with a destructive Aura, like gorgeous fireflies in a midsummer night, slowly dissipating in this cold world that had already become fragmented.

A god, had fallen.

The milky white Holy Light barrier that had shrouded the Fanting Holy Capital for days, appearing eternal and indestructible, also shattered and disintegrated silently like a phantom that had lost its energy support, turning into the most primitive particles of light and vanishing without a trace.

The long-lost sunlight, carrying a hint of a bloody smell, once again spilled onto this scorched earth that had long been soaked in blood and the flames of war, casting a long, lonely, and majestic shadow of that black figure standing atop the ruins—he was already heavily injured, teetering, yet still held his spine straight.

The war, had ended.

When the "Saint," who symbolized the final spiritual pillar of the Taixi Empire, was slashed down from the Nine Heavens by their Emperor, Your Majesty, who was like a deity, all the surviving Wu Dynasty soldiers first fell into a dead silence, and then erupted into fanatical cheers that sounded like a landslide or tsunami, enough to overturn the entire firmament!

Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Wu Dynasty!

We won! We won!

Hahaha! What kind of bullshit god! Before our Emperor, it is nothing but worthless rabble!

They laughed, jumped, and roared; many iron-blooded tough men who had long become numb in the nine years of bloody war were now hugging each other, crying like children.

That was the joy of victory, the relief of surviving a disaster, and even more, the most fanatical worship of the supreme existence they believed in!

In stark contrast to this were the few remnants of the Church of Light, hiding in the corners of the Holy Capital's ruins, having luckily survived the previous energy shockwaves.

When they saw the god-like "Saint" fall, and saw the Holy Light barrier that had protected them for a millennium dissipate, the expressions on their faces froze, immediately replaced by endless desolation and despair.

Their god was dead.

Their faith had collapsed.

The Taixi Empire, this massive theocratic Empire that had once ruled the Western continent for nearly a millennium, had its final spiritual pillar brutally and completely shattered at this moment by that devil god from the East!

Gao Feng stood quietly on the ruins, letting the earth-shaking cheers from below reach his ears, his cold eyes devoid of the slightest ripple.

He slowly withdrew the three-pointed, double-edged blade, its light long since dimmed, from the Void Realm, feeling the waves of emptiness and excruciating pain from his overdrawn body, his face as pale as paper.

Although he ultimately killed his opponent, the price he paid was also immensely huge.

The power of the Human Immortal Realm had been almost entirely burned away, and his incredibly formidable Physical Body was already riddled with holes, covered in terrifying scars burned by the Holy Light.

He needed time to recover, to settle, and to truly stabilize this brand-new Realm he had just stepped into.

"Convey my imperial decree."

His voice, hoarse yet still filled with supreme majesty, clearly reached the ears of every soldier below.

"The army shall rest for three days. After three days, divide into sixteen routes to sweep away all remaining kingdoms on the Western continent."

"All who do not surrender shall be executed!"

The cold and overbearing order was delivered without any hesitation.

For Gao Feng, the war was far from over.

Killing a so-called "Saint" was merely clearing away the biggest obstacle.

What he wanted was the complete unification of the entire continent!

He wanted to build an unprecedented, massive Empire on which the sun never sets, encompassing both the Eastern and Western continents!

He wanted his black Dragon flags to be planted in every corner of this world!

"By your command!"

The millions of soldiers below roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens, and that soaring Battle Intent even shredded the clouds on the horizon!

However, just as Gao Feng was preparing to turn back to the central military tent to begin healing and recovering, a gentle and calm voice rang out behind him without warning.

"Not bad, not bad. I did not expect this barren Small World to be able to give birth to a figure as brilliant and talented as you."

Gao Feng's pupils constricted violently!

His powerful perception, which had long since merged with the world, had not detected anyone approaching!

How could this be?!

He turned around abruptly to see a bald young man wearing a simple grey monk's robe, with a handsome face and a temperament as gentle as jade, standing silently less than three zhang behind him, though he did not know when he had arrived.

The young monk was barefoot and hovering three feet above the ground, with invisible lotus flowers seemingly blooming slowly beneath his feet.

There was a compassionate smile on his face, and his eyes, clear as mountain springs, were examining Gao Feng with great interest, as if he were admiring a piece of art that he found quite satisfactory.

Gao Feng's heart sank to the bottom of the valley instantly.

From this mysterious bald young man, he felt a terrifying pressure, even more horrifying and unfathomable than the so-called "Saint" from before, like a vast sea of stars that induced despair!

It was an absolute suppression on the level of life itself!

It was just like a strong ant facing a true Dragon soaring above the Nine Heavens!

"Who are you?"

Gao Feng forcibly suppressed the surging waves in his heart and asked in a cold voice.

As an emperor, even when facing an existence far stronger than himself, he would never weaken his Aura.

However, the bald young man seemed not to hear his question, simply nodding to himself once more, the look of appreciation on his face becoming even more intense.

"Solid Foundation, firm will, and even better Heart-Nature. Not bad, truly an uncut jade."

Having said that, he ceased speaking, simply smiling as he slowly extended his right hand toward Gao Feng and then gave a gentle grab.

It was just that simple grab.

Gao Feng's entire world seemed to have completely collapsed at this moment!

He discovered with horror that the space, time, and even all the rules around him seemed to have been completely imprisoned and solidified by an invisible giant hand!

He could not move!

Let alone dodging or resisting!

He couldn't even move a single finger!

He could only watch helplessly as that seemingly fair and slender palm rapidly enlarged in his pupils!

That was not a hand at all!

It was clearly a boundless, terrifying canopy of heaven capable of covering the entire firmament!

Under that terrifying giant palm that blotted out the sun and sky, he, this so-called Human Immortal powerhouse and supreme emperor who had just killed a god and unified the continent, was as small and insignificant as a humble speck of dust that could be easily ground into powder at any moment!

"Ahhhhh—!!!"

An unprecedented, extreme fear and humiliation rushed instantly to Gao Feng's crown, like the most terrifying magma!

He was unwilling!

He was absolutely unwilling!

He had just stepped onto the Peak of this world!

He had not yet completed his grand ambition of unifying the world!

How could he be easily pinched to death by someone just like an ant?!

"Break for me—!!!"

Gao Feng let out a terrifying roar filled with endless madness and unyielding spirit towards the sky!

He once again frantically burned his already dwindling life and Soul!

Every drop of blood and every cell in his body boiled completely at this moment!

A dark golden imperial Protective Aura, even more violent and pure than when he fought the "Saint" before, erupted from his body like the most terrifying volcanic eruption!

"Crack..."

An extremely faint sound, like glass shattering, rang out!

The invisible spatial shackles binding his body actually showed a tiny, insignificant crack under his desperate, frantic outburst!

Although it was merely a sliver.

But for Gao Feng, it was already enough!

He used all his strength to laboriously lift his three-pointed, double-edged blade, which had become incomparably heavy, just a short inch upward!

However, it was this short inch!

It was the most tragic and fierce final resistance he, as a Mortal, launched against the shackles of invincible fate!

"Hmm?"

The bald young man, who had always maintained a calm and indifferent expression, saw Gao Feng's gaze filled with unyielding determination and the blade that had been lifted an inch with such difficulty, and for the first time, a look of surprise and appreciation flashed in his clear eyes.

"Very good!"

He exclaimed with heartfelt admiration.

Then, his massive palm that blotted out the sun and sky did not pause in the slightest, slowly descending.

Gao Feng only felt an invincible and terrifying force, impossible to describe with any words, instantly engulf his entire body and Soul.

All the power and will he had just unleashed were, under the crushing weight of that absolute power, silently and completely shattered and disintegrated like a laughable, fragile bubble.

Following that, an endless darkness flooded into his mind like the most terrifying tide.

At the very last moment before completely losing consciousness, he only heard the bald young man's voice, full of appreciation, slowly ring in his ears once more.

"Heart-Nature and will are both one in ten thousand; this trip was not in vain."

Subsequently, Gao Feng passed out completely.

When the endless darkness completely swallowed Gao Feng's consciousness, he felt as if his Soul had been cast into an boundless, cold abyss, constantly falling, falling...

He did not know how long had passed; perhaps it was an instant, or perhaps a thousand years.

A faint glimmer of light, like a candle stubbornly burning in the dark night, slowly lit up in the depths of his consciousness.

Gao Feng's eyelids trembled with difficulty, and finally, he slowly opened them.

What came into view was no longer the ruins destroyed by war and Holy Light, but an extremely simple Zen room.

A hard wooden bed, a low table, and a wooden window through which dim daylight shone—other than that, there was nothing else.

The air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood that could calm one's mind.

"I... am still alive?"

Gao Feng struggled to sit up, but a heart-rending, excruciating pain and a bone-deep sense of weakness instantly spread throughout his entire body, causing him to groan and fall back heavily.

He inspected his own body internally, and his face instantly turned incredibly ugly.

His Human Immortal body, which was once strong enough to resist the Holy Light explosion and indestructible, was now riddled with holes, his Meridians severed, and his Dantian completely empty; the dark golden imperial Protective Aura that had once allowed him to stand at the Peak of the world had long since vanished without a trace.

Now, he was even weaker than a normal person.

That bald young man...

At the thought of that figure, as invincible as a god or demon, and that terrifying palm that blotted out the sun and sky, an indescribable sense of humiliation and powerlessness surged in Gao Feng's heart.

It was an absolute suppression on the level of life itself, the despair of an ant looking up at a true Dragon.

He had lost, lost completely, without any suspense.

"Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Wu Dynasty!"

"All who do not surrender shall be executed!"

Past memories surged into his heart like a tide; the roaring cheers and the grand ambition about to unfold now seemed like an incredibly ironic joke.

He, Gao Feng, that supreme emperor who had just personally killed a god and unified the entire world, had in the blink of an eye become a prisoner who found it difficult to even move.