175: Chapter 175 Echoes of Time and Space

After leaving the hall, the group entered the depths of the second level.

The scene on the second level was even more bizarre than the first. It was no longer ruins, but a distorted space.

The ground would sometimes bulge like mountains and at other times sink like valleys; the sky was sometimes clear as if washed, and at other times covered in dark clouds.

The flow of time was also extremely unstable; sometimes a single step would take half an hour, while other times running a hundred yards would only take a single breath.

Ling Hao used the Space-Time Rules to stabilize the surrounding spacetime fluctuations, leading the group forward with difficulty.

"Fellow Daoist Ling, how much further is the entrance to the third level?" Manager Nangong He asked.

"According to the compass, it is about eight hundred miles," Ling Hao said, "but given the degree of spatial distortion here, the actual distance may exceed two thousand miles."

"Two thousand miles?" Manager Nangong He gave a wry smile. "At this speed, we won't make it in three days."

Ling Hao did not speak, simply quickening his pace.

However, after walking only fifty miles, the group encountered trouble.

The space ahead suddenly began to "echo."

So-called spacetime echoes refer to events that occurred at a certain point in time being repeatedly "played" due to spacetime disorder. Walking through them, one would see illusions of the past and could even be dragged into that point in time.

At this moment, a great battle was unfolding in the Void Realm ahead.

Countless figures were slaughtering each other; Magic Treasures flew everywhere, and Divine Abilities raged. Although those figures were merely illusions, the pressure they emitted was terrifyingly real.

"Is this? The great battle between the Huangtian Divine Dynasty and the Heavenly Dao?" Manager Nangong He murmured.

Ling Hao gazed at those illusions.

He saw Emperor Huangtian. It was a burly middle-aged man wearing a nine-colored divine robe, holding a Chaos-colored longsword. His face was blurry, but his eyes were like two stars, dazzling and bright.

Emperor Huangtian was engaged in a fierce battle with a golden phantom. The aura of the golden phantom was similar to the Heavenly Dao Palace, yet even more vast and terrifying.

"Heavenly Dao..." Ling Hao whispered.

In the illusion, Emperor Huangtian struck with a sword, the Chaos Sword Qi tearing through the Void Realm, splitting the golden phantom in two. But the golden phantom instantly reformed, striking back with a palm that knocked Emperor Huangtian back a thousand miles.

The two fought hundreds of rounds; space collapsed, and stars fell.

The illusion dissipated at this point.

The group remained silent for a long time.

"Emperor Huangtian," Nangong Xuan said softly, a trace of pity flashing in her eyes, "he did it for this world."

Ling Hao did not speak, simply watching the direction where the illusion had dissipated.

The war between Emperor Huangtian and the Heavenly Dao was more tragic than he had imagined. And the "Heavenly Dao" served by the Heavenly Dao Palace might be related to that golden phantom from back then, or perhaps, it was its Incarnation.

"Let's go." He withdrew his gaze and continued forward.

After walking another hundred miles, the group encountered a spacetime storm.

The storm came without warning. The space, which had been relatively stable, suddenly trembled violently, and countless spacetime cracks spread like a spider web, tearing the space within a ten-mile radius into fragments.

"Retreat quickly!" Ling Hao shouted sharply.

But it was already too late.

A spacetime crack exploded in the center of the team, swallowing two Nascent Soul experts. The moment the crack closed, those two disappeared completely; not even their Qi could be sensed.

"No!" Manager Nangong He's eyes were bloodshot with rage and grief.

Ling Hao gritted his teeth, formed seals with his hands, and unleashed the Space-Time Rules with all his might.

"Spacetime, freeze!"

The phantom of a clock reversed, and time within a hundred-yard radius suddenly stagnated. Under the effect of the time freeze, the raging spacetime cracks temporarily stopped spreading.

"Go quickly!" Ling Hao yelled.

The group used all their strength to dash out of the storm's range.

After confirming they were safe, Ling Hao withdrew the time freeze, his figure swaying.

"Fellow Daoist Ling!" Nangong Xuan quickly supported him.

"It's nothing, just excessive consumption; I'll be fine after a moment of meditation."

He sat cross-legged and took out a restorative Medicinal Pill to consume. Manager Nangong He then tallied the losses.

Two Nascent Soul experts were missing, one Soul Transformation retainer was severely injured, and everyone else had sustained injuries to varying degrees.

"We are only on the second level, and we've already lost two people," Manager Nangong He said in a low voice. "The seventh level..."

He did not continue, but everyone understood what he meant.

Ling Hao opened his eyes, his gaze calm. "If you turn back now, there is still time."

"We won't turn back." Manager Nangong He gritted his teeth. "Since Wanbao Pavilion has come, we will never give up halfway. Fellow Daoist Ling, continue leading the way!"

Ling Hao nodded, stood up, and continued forward.

On the third day, the group finally arrived at the entrance to the third level in the depths of the second level.

The entrance was also a stone gate, but this stone gate was even more magnificent than the first two. The gate was thirty yards high and twenty yards wide, with the door frame carved full of spacetime runes. The runes flowed with nine-colored brilliance, emitting a vast pressure.

"The third level..." Manager Nangong He murmured.

Ling Hao was about to step inside when he suddenly stopped.

He turned his head and looked toward the Void Realm behind him.

There, three figures were rapidly approaching.

They were the three Heavenly Gods: General Tian Zhen, General Tian Fa, and General Tian Ming.

"Ling Hao!" General Tian Zhen's voice was like thunder. "You run fast!"

Ling Hao's eyes turned cold as he turned to face the three.

"You three Heavenly Gods are truly like persistent ghosts."

General Tian Fa sneered. "The Temple Master has decreed that the Huangtian Divine Dynasty Legacy must never fall into the hands of others. Ling Hao, if you are sensible and hand over the Star Map and compass, this General can spare your life."

"Spare my life?" The corner of Ling Hao's mouth curled up. "Just based on the three of you?"

General Tian Zhen's expression darkened. "Arrogant! Last time you escaped, it was because this General underestimated you. This time, you won't be so lucky!"

He raised his hand, and the Three Talents Space-Locking Formation unfolded once again!

But this time, Ling Hao did not retreat.

He turned to look at Manager Nangong He. "Shopkeeper Nangong, you all go into the third level first; I will stop them."

"Fellow Daoist Ling!" Manager Nangong He said anxiously. "You alone..."

"Rest assured." Ling Hao interrupted him. "I know what I'm doing. You go in first, and I will follow shortly."

Manager Nangong He gritted his teeth and looked at Nangong Xuan. Nangong Xuan was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Fellow Daoist Ling, take care." Manager Nangong He cupped his hands and led the group into the stone gate.

Seeing this, General Tian Fa shouted angrily, "Don't even think about leaving!"

He struck out with a palm, the power of thunder transforming into a giant Dragon that lunged toward the stone gate!

Ling Hao flashed in front of the giant Dragon. He threw a punch, and the Chaos Power collided with the thunder, erupting with a heaven-shaking roar.

"Your opponent is me," Ling Hao said calmly.

General Tian Fa's face turned livid.

General Tian Zhen narrowed his eyes. "Ling Hao, do you think one person can stop the three of us?"

"How will you know if you don't try?" Ling Hao raised his hand, and the Chaos Dragon Domain unfolded!

The Chaos-colored Domain expanded instantly, enveloping all three Heavenly Gods. Within the Domain, ten thousand laws returned to their source, and rules were suppressed.

General Tian Zhen sneered. "The Chaos Dragon Domain is indeed extraordinary, but how long can you, on your own, hold out?"

"Long enough for them to get far away is enough," Ling Hao said calmly.

The three stopped talking and attacked simultaneously!

General Tian Zhen waved his Formation Flag, and the Three Talents Space-Locking Formation operated at full power; the Void Realm felt as if it had solidified, intending to lock Ling Hao to death.

General Tian Fa held his thunder scepter high, and the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Prison descended; countless dark golden bolts of thunder poured down like a rainstorm.

General Tian Ming rotated his Fate Wheel, and threads of fate shot toward Ling Hao, attempting to disrupt his Karma.

The coordination of the three was seamless; even a Peak Void Refining expert would have to give way.

However, Ling Hao did not retreat.

He took a deep breath, unleashing the Primordial Chaos Force with all his might.

"Spacetime, reverse!"

The phantom of the Chaos clock in his palm reversed.

The thunder of the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Prison began to retreat, shrinking back into the scepter; General Tian Ming's threads of fate also withdrew one after another; even the runes of the Three Talents Space-Locking Formation began to operate in reverse.

"What?!" The three Heavenly Gods were horrified.

Seizing this opportunity, Ling Hao retreated rapidly and crashed directly into the stone gate!

The moment the light curtain swallowed his figure, he heard General Tian Zhen's angry roar: "Chase!"

But he knew that for the three Heavenly Gods to catch up to him, it would take at least ten breaths.

Ten breaths were enough.