287: Ling Tian emerges from the mountain

Han Xin knew that the person before him was not threatening, but stating a fact.

He dared not speak further, quickly retreated, and loudly commanded:

"All troops—retreat!!"

"Immediately! Right now! No lingering!!"

The five hundred thousand strong army receded like a tide, not even having time to carry away the wounded.

Han Xin had no temper left and quickly nodded, "Alright, Immortal Master, I’ll get out of here right away!"

With that, Han Xin led his five hundred thousand strong army and quickly retreated.

In any case, Chu Yu was already dead, and the Chu Kingdom had fallen, so there was no need to remain here and offend an otherworldly expert.

"Ding!"

A crisp sound like a bell suddenly rang out by the Wu River.

A golden light slowly ascended from Chu Yu's broken corpse; it was a crystal-clear fragment, about the size of a fingernail, with ancient and mysterious runes flowing all over it.

Most striking was the faint White Tiger phantom imprinted at its core, roaring towards the sky, its tiger eyes slightly open, as if containing endless Battle Intent and unwillingness!

Lu Chen's gaze sharpened, and he reached out his hand—

The fragment, like a bird returning to its nest, gently landed in his palm.

A vast and desolate aura instantly surged into his Sea of Consciousness, as if countless scenes of ancient battlefields flashed before his eyes:

The Battle of Peng City, Chu Yu roaring with his halberd;

The snowy night at Location, Yu Ji dancing her sword and committing suicide;

By the Wu River, the Hegemon's blood stained the sky...

Immediately after, a cold and mechanical voice rang in his mind:

【Ding!】

【Obtained: Fragment of Destiny (White Tiger · Xiang Yu)】

【Current collection progress: 2 / ?】

】

Lu Chen's pupils constricted slightly.

Sure enough!

As early as ten years ago, when he slew "God of Slaughter" Bai Qi in the Southern Barbarian Abyss, he also obtained a similar fragment, on which was carved a black wolf totem, symbolizing the ultimate "Dao of Slaughter."

At that time, he suspected that this might be some kind of hidden "main quest."

Now, with the second fragment in hand, the clue was finally clear—

He had to collect these "Destinies" and, ultimately... change his Heaven-Defying fate!

The wind and snow gradually subsided, and the Wu River resumed its roar.

Lu Chen no longer lingered; he formed hand seals and cast the "Nine Nether Soul Returning Art," gently drawing Chu Yu and Yu Ji's remnant Divine Souls from their corpses.

Two faint soul lights circled in his palm, carrying endless attachment and sorrow.

"Let's go."

Lu Chen whispered, "I'll take you two home."

Lu Chen, carrying Chu Yu and Yu Ji's bodies, flashed, transforming into a streak of light, traversing a thousand miles of mountains and rivers, directly to the depths of the Southern Barbarian—Lu Family Village.

At the village entrance, the thousand-year-old locust tree still stood tall, its branches like Dragons, its canopy shading the sky.

Lu Chen personally dug open the earth beside the tree roots and buried Chu Yu and Yu Ji's bodies side by side.

He set up the "Twin Life Soul Reversion Array," permanently sealing the two souls within an independent mental space.

There, there was no war, no betrayal, no separation by life and death.

Only a bamboo house, a peach grove, a small stream, and an eternally setting sun.

Chu Yu and Yu Ji's souls awakened within it, looking at each other, tears streaming down their faces.

Although they could not perceive the outside world, they could vaguely sense Lu Chen's presence—

The brother who had shared hardships with Chu Yu but ultimately failed to save him.

Yu Ji softly said, "It was him... who saved us."

Chu Yu was silent for a moment, then knelt on one knee, bowing deeply towards the Void Realm:

"Lu Chen... This kindness, I will repay in the next life."

That bow carried the Hegemon's last dignity and gratitude...

God Slaying Pavilion, Netherworld Hall.

Blood mist permeated, yin winds howled furiously, nine giant bone pillars supported the dome, inscribed with countless Divine Soul imprints of devoured strong Cultivators, their wails unending.

This was the most terrifying Evil Path Holy Land on the Tianqi Continent—the God Slaying Pavilion, specializing in the "Soul Devouring Body Seizing" art, feeding on the flesh and blood of strong Cultivators, using the Divine Souls of Prodigies as medicine, walking a Heaven-Defying path to immortality paved with countless bones.

And at this moment, in the "Nine Nether Body Transformation Pool" in the center of the Netherworld Hall, black mist churned, and lightning intertwined.

A man sat cross-legged in the center of the pool, his naked upper body covered in bizarre runes, three distinct auras violently clashing within his body—

The Azure Dragon roared on his left shoulder, stirring wind and thunder;

The White Tiger roared on his right shoulder, Evil Qi soaring into the sky;

The Black Tortoise floated behind him, suppressing the eight directions!

This person was none other than the God Slaying Pavilion's foremost Prodigy of the younger generation—Ling Tian!

Half a year ago, he personally went to the Wu River and, using the "Soul Devouring Secret Art," devoured the remnant "White Tiger Hegemon Body" after Hegemon Chu Yu committed suicide!

Although Chu Yu was dead, his Battle Intent had not dissipated, condensing into a "Hegemon Remnant Soul," which ordinary Cultivators simply could not refine.

But Ling Tian used the "Nine Nether Body Transformation Pool" as a furnace and his own body as a cauldron, forcibly merging this violent Battle Intent and Evil Qi completely!

Now, his cultivation had not only surged to the half-step Nascent Soul stage, but he also possessed the strength to contend with a Nascent Soul True Lord!

With every move, mountains collapsed and earth cracked, his Spiritual Pressure was like a prison; ordinary Golden Core Cultivators could barely maintain their breathing in front of him!

He had already gathered the three ancient Physiques: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise!

These three were originally the most top-tier Bloodline talents in the world; a single one would allow an ordinary person to sweep through their generation, yet Ling Tian had forcibly devoured and merged them with Evil Path secret arts, forging an unparalleled Physical Body!

The only regret—

The Vermilion Bird Phoenix Physique had not yet been acquired.

Legend has it that Taixu Sect's Saintess Liu Lanyan possessed the innate "Nine Yang Departing Fire Phoenix Physique"; once awakened, she could incinerate mountains and boil seas, trigger Heaven and Earth resonance, and even temporarily control the "Southern Bright Departing Fire," making her a Heaven-Defying Physique rarely seen in ten thousand years!

What concerned Ling Tian even more was—

The name Liu Lanyan had haunted his mind like a curse for the past decade.

Whenever he Cultivated to a critical point, his Divine Soul would violently tremble, as if some ancient Karma was entangled with him.

"Slaying her can sever the Karma!"

"Seizing her Phoenix Physique can achieve the Unity of the Four Symbols!"

Two birds with one stone, why not?

Thus, Ling Tian stepped out of the God Slaying Pavilion, his black robe fluttering, his killing intent soaring to the sky!

He traveled north, and wherever he passed, mountains and rivers lost their color, and Yao Beasts prostrated...

Taixu Sect.

Nine peaks floated in the sky, a sea of clouds churned, Spiritual Veins coiled like Dragons, immortal cranes cried clearly, and jade steps shone.

The Taixu Sect, this Cultivation Holy Land with a Legacy of ten thousand years, was like nine white lotuses blooming above the firmament; every stone tablet was inscribed with ancient true words, and every wisp of mist contained Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

Before the mountain gate, nine hundred ninety-nine "Ascension Steps" led straight to the clouds; on either side of the steps stood white jade divine statues, holding mudras, guarding the mountain gate with inviolable majesty.

At the foot of the mountain, there was a sea of people.

Tens of thousands of Mortals knelt on the ground, dressed in rags, gaunt, yet their eyes were fervent, their hands clasped together, piously kowtowing.

They came from all corners of the world, traversing mountains and rivers, just to seek an opportunity to enter the Dao; even if it was just to be a sweeping attendant, they were willing to spend their entire lives!

"Immortal Master above, please accept me as a Disciple!"

"My son has pure Yang bone structure, a natural spiritual body; please, Immortal Master, have mercy!"

"I am willing to offer all my family's wealth, just for one spot!"

Pleas rose and fell, echoing through the valley.

Above the mountain gate, dozens of Taixu Sect Disciples stood with their hands behind their backs, their white robes whiter than snow, treading on spiritual light, looking down upon all beings like gods.

They chatted and laughed, their tone arrogant:

"This year, less than a hundred people met the Spiritual Root standard; the Sect Head said no more will be accepted."

"These Mortals can't even guide Qi into their bodies; letting them in would just be a waste of Spirit Medicine."

"Heh, mere ants, what right do they have to covet the immortal Dao?"

A young Disciple sneered, waving his hand and sending out a spiritual force that knocked a child who had knelt too close several feet away, leaving him with a bleeding head.

"Get out! Don't dirty the ground of my Taixu Sect!"

The Mortals trembled, yet no one dared to be angry; they could only lower their heads and kowtow, tears mixing with dirt, dripping onto the cold stone steps.