Chapter 35 Wang Shan, the Great Spirit Official of the Capital

In the endless Void Realm, Yun Bai traveled with a sword box on his back, his figure moving as fast as lightning. He held the huaying sword, his Divine Thought highly concentrated, constantly on guard against his surroundings.

Just a moment ago, he had tried to strip the silver armor off the Heavenly Gate Guardian, only to find that the armor seemed to possess a spiritual nature, stubbornly "recognizing its master" and refusing to be driven. Moreover, the Heavenly Soldier was as hulking as a giant spirit, standing two people tall, and the armor was like a giant vat to him. Left with no other choice, he had to give up.

"This kind of self-repairing material..." Yun Bai extended a finger, gently stroking a crack on the armor that was slowly closing; the texture was cold and tough. "It's exactly like the 'memory metal' on Blue Star, but this 'catalytic' method of restoration is likely an immortal technique."

He shook his head and abandoned this priceless yet unusable trophy where it lay.

"You have entered the third stage of the first layer." The ancient prompt sounded right on cue.

After traveling about a mile, the space ahead rippled, and four equally tall and fierce Heavenly Gate Guardians clad in silver armor suddenly appeared!

These four wielded different weapons: one held a massive blade like a heavy door panel, one grasped a twelve-foot steel spear, one held two shimmering broadswords in his hands, and the last one hoisted a heavy, long-handled halberd. The moment they appeared, they formed a battle formation, their Qi connected, and an Aura of grim, iron-blooded slaughter rushed toward him!

"Audacious thief, how dare you trespass into the Southern Heavenly Gate! Die!" The spear-wielding guardian roared, like a thunderclap on flat ground. He flicked the spear in his hand, transforming it into a silver venomous Dragon, striking first. It went straight for Yun Bai's center, the cold glint of the spear tip flickering, fast as lightning.

Meanwhile, the other three coordinated seamlessly:

The blade-wielding guardian let out a roar, his massive blade sweeping horizontally to seal off Yun Bai's retreat on the left, the wind from the blade whistling, heavy and powerful!

The dual-sword guardian glided toward the right flank like a ghost, the two broadswords weaving into a dense net of swords, the Sword Qi hissing as it locked down Yun Bai's space for evasion!

The halberd-wielding guardian sank his waist and braced his stance, holding the heavy halberd high above his head like a volcano ready to erupt, waiting only for Yun Bai to be forced into a corner or reveal a flaw before delivering a fatal blow.

The four were adept at both offense and defense, advancing and retreating in an orderly fashion, truly a well-trained, tacitly coordinated army of hundred-battle Heavenly Soldiers!

Their Divine Might was imposing, stifling!

"Cannot fight them head-on!" Alarm bells rang in Yun Bai's heart, and he made an instant judgment. He pushed off the ground with his toes, his figure darting backward like light smoke.

If he were to endure the Divine Sense attacks of all four Heavenly Soldiers at once, he would definitely be beaten into an idiot.

Drawing on his previous combat experience, he knew well that his advantage lay in his flexibility and speed, which far exceeded theirs; he must absolutely not be surrounded and slaughtered.

"huaying sword! Go!" Yun Bai did not hesitate to activate the divine sword once more!

The emerald huaying sword flew out in response, like a nimble swimming fish, tracing mysterious and unpredictable trajectories through the Void Realm, weaving gracefully while carrying lethal sharpness!

"Commanded like an arm!" Yun Bai's mind was tightly connected to the Flying Sword; every posture of the sword, every inch of its position, was clearly reflected in his Sea of Consciousness, as if the sword were an extension of his own limbs!

"Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!" Yun Bai's eyes turned sharp, and his Divine Thought surged out like a tide!

The huaying sword suddenly accelerated! It left behind a dazzling, five-fold afterimage in the air! Its speed was faster than a flash of lightning!

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Four slight, crisp sounds of blades piercing flesh rang out almost simultaneously!

The Flying Sword pierced the core connection points of the four guardians' chest armor with pinpoint accuracy! The emerald sword body passed through their bodies in an instant, leaving behind a fine line of blood, before elegantly circling back and landing in Yun Bai's palm.

Yun Bai looked down; the body of the huaying sword remained translucent and emerald, clean and new, without a single speck of blood or dust, as if the thrilling four-heart-piercing strikes just now were merely a wisp of breeze brushing over the sword.

To ensure nothing went wrong, Yun Bai cautiously stepped forward and gave the four fallen guardians two more stabs in their vital points.

"You have killed the Southern Heavenly Gate Guardians." Only then did the ancient voice slowly sound.

Yun Bai finally let out a sigh of relief, sat cross-legged on the spot to regulate his breathing for a moment, and restored his state to its Peak before continuing on his journey.

...

He did not know how far he had traveled in the endless Void Realm when the ancient voice echoed again:

"You have entered the third room of the second layer."

"Go and defeat the Great Spirit Official of the Capital Heavens, Guardian Deity Wang Shan!"

"Guardian Deity Wang Shan?!" When Yun Bai heard this name, his pupils suddenly constricted, and a chill rushed from the soles of his feet straight to his crown.

Almost without thinking, the spiritual power within his body erupted crazily, and his figure transformed into an afterimage, retreating violently backward.

Guardian Deity Wang Shan, originally named Wang E, was the Daoist Protector and Mountain-Suppressing Divine General, the head of the five hundred Spirit Officials!

In the mortal world, there was a common saying: "Whether going up the mountain or not, first pay respects to Spirit Official Wang." This was a genuine Daoist Protector and Venerable God, a renowned War God of the former Heavenly Court, absolutely not an existence he could confront head-on at this moment.

Just at the moment Yun Bai retreated dozens of feet, the Void Realm ahead shone brightly, and an incomparably majestic figure slowly condensed into shape.

He saw: his face like a heavy date, red beard tangled, eyes wide with rage, a vertical eye growing on his forehead. He wore dazzling golden chainmail, covered by a bright red robe like raging flames. His feet stepped on Wind-Fire Golden Wheels, flames blazing fiercely. His left hand held a treasure seal radiating golden light, and his right hand wielded a heavy golden whip entwined with thunderous electric snakes.

His Divine Might was imposing, his Aura reaching the heavens.

"Little thief! With me here, do not be rampant!" Guardian Deity Wang Shan let out a sharp shout, the rolling sound waves carrying substantial pressure, causing the entire space to hum and the ground beneath his feet to tremble violently.

"Hum——!"

Yun Bai only felt his ears roaring, golden stars dancing before his eyes, and his Qi and blood churning, as if he had been struck hard by an invisible giant hammer. His speed of retreat instantly stalled!

"Another damned Divine Sense attack." Yun Bai cursed inwardly.

In fact, as soon as these Divine Sense attacks touched the source core within his Sea of Consciousness, they were torn into fragments and could not cause actual damage. However, Yun Bai lacked training in resisting Divine Sense pressure, which caused him to lose focus every time he was attacked by Divine Sense; once distracted, obvious flaws would appear in his attacks and evasions.

A cold light flashed in Guardian Deity Wang Shan's vertical eye, his right hand already raising the golden whip high, and with a terrifying shriek that tore through the Void Realm, he swung it out fiercely.

The shadow of the whip was like a golden angry Dragon, instantly crossing the space to devour Yun Bai's head, its speed reaching the extreme!

It was already too late to dodge! A flash of madness crossed Yun Bai's eyes, his expression instantly contorted, and he squeezed out all the spiritual power he could mobilize within his Dantian, along with his potential. Ignoring the excruciating pain of his Meridians tearing, he poured it all into the huaying sword!

"Get—away!" Yun Bai roared, using all his strength to throw the Flying Sword out!

The emerald sword light surged, carrying a momentum of forging ahead without retreat, crashing fiercely into the world-destroying golden whip!

Clang!!!!

A deafening sound of metal clashing, as if it could shatter stars, exploded. The blinding turbulent energy swept outward like the raging waves of an angry sea.

The huaying sword, which had always been invincible, failed to cut the golden whip this time; instead, it was sent flying back with a mournful cry, shaken by the overwhelming and irresistible giant force!

Even more terrifyingly, the moment the golden whip collided with the Flying Sword, the tip of the whip twitched strangely like a living creature, borrowing the force to change direction! The shadow of the whip traced a tricky golden arc, striking down at Yun Bai's head with faster speed and fiercer force, just as his old strength was exhausted and his new strength had yet to form!

Just at this critical moment!

The huaying sword, which had been sent flying, suddenly trembled in its body.

A blinding cyan divine light erupted suddenly. Its speed was so fast that it transcended thought, transcended light and shadow!

In the instant before Guardian Deity Wang Shan could react, it had already appeared at his vital chest point, carrying a sharpness that could pierce everything!

Boom——!!

Almost at the same time!

The golden whip struck Yun Bai's right shoulder solidly.

Crack!

The teeth-grinding sound of bone breaking was clearly audible. Yun Bai's entire right arm instantly twisted and deformed, his bones shattered, and the excruciating pain submerged him like a tsunami.