In the Dragon Transformation Pool, Jiang Taixu lay in the water without moving — he had not risen. Yet the divine radiance blazing from within his eyes was harrowing to behold, as it fixed itself coldly upon the thirteen Saint-level figures.
Step, step, step…
The thirteen figures who each dominated a region of their own could not stop themselves from retreating step by step — overawed by that presence. Despite themselves, a chill ran through each of them, and they all fell back involuntarily.
Jiang Taixu’s power of attack was known throughout the world. In all five thousand years, who could compare? If he were truly reborn, even a Saint-level figure who faced him would be beaten to death!
“Old Divine King, you have truly awakened — how wonderful!”
“Old patriarch, you have finally been revived!”
“Heaven has opened its eyes — our Jiang Family’s peerless Divine King has returned to the world!”
Every member of the Jiang Family was shaken and overjoyed beyond all expectation. Each of them called out, their expressions brimming with agitation — some were so overwhelmed with joy that tears flowed down their faces.
Jiang Taixu had not been particularly old when he disappeared, yet today he was being called their great ancestor. One might say he had slept through thousands of years in a single dream — and in the mortal world, tides had risen and fallen. Things had long since changed, and almost nothing remained as it was.
The people he had known were almost all gone from the world. The vast majority of his own descendants had long since exceeded, in years of age, the age Jiang Taixu had been when he vanished. Those of his own generation he could almost never hope to see again.
The Divine King had been reborn into the mortal world. He swept his gaze across every person, carefully studying the descendants before him. He said nothing — no one knew what he felt in that moment.
At last, when his gaze reached Ye Fan, it was the first time a ripple appeared in his expression. He seemed to pause for a brief moment — and then his face quickly returned to calm.
“Jiang Taixu — what does it matter that you have returned to life? This is not four thousand years ago. Your age has long since passed!” one of the shrouded great figures called out, his voice deep and low. His eyes were like abyssal depths, staring coldly forward.
In that moment, the other terrifying figures had all composed themselves as well. Each of them was an extraordinary individual — they regained their calm in an instant. No matter how great Jiang Taixu’s reputation might be, he was still a hero at the end of his road — sealed for four thousand years, his lifespan long since dried up. The fact that he had awakened at all was already a miracle. Surely he could not truly fight?
The Jiang Family members felt as if they had been doused in cold water — in that same instant, the same realization struck them all, filling their hearts with a reluctance they could not accept.
“Unless he is a Great Emperor reborn — how could he rise and strike down the enemy?!” yet another Saint-level figure shouted.
“One generation of Divine King, never having shared an era with you — we meet only in your twilight years. I do not know whose regret that is. Today, so many of us have come to see you off — consider it a form of respect. If you were to die by one person’s hand alone, that would be the true tragedy of a dying king.”
The thirteen Saint-level figures advanced together — the underground palace shuddering violently in their wake, water from the Dragon Transformation Pool splashing in all directions.
“Slay the Divine King!”
Those four words were like a ten-thousand-pound hammer, striking each person’s heart — carrying within them endless killing intent, pressing down upon the old Divine King.
In that moment, every person in Divine City was shocked. Those words reached every ear clearly, leaving no heart unmoved. The assembled overlords were truly moving to strike.
“How dare you!”
Jiang Yun stepped forward. The ancient pagoda hovered above his head. The black battle halberd was in his hand. He planted himself before the Dragon Transformation Pool — the divine weapon vibrating ceaselessly — dissolving that world-shaking killing intent.
At the same time, the many elder figures of the Jiang Family also struck out — intercepting and scattering that four-word killing intent, dispersing it into the air.
Splat, splat…
Aside from Jiang Yun, every other elder spat up mouthfuls of blood. The killing intent released by thirteen Saint-level figures in unison was enough to kill powerful cultivators outright — precious few could withstand it.
Many people staggered backward, nearly falling to the ground. The thirteen figures before them were all overlords of their own regions — absolutely none of them could be resisted.
One of the powerful figures stared coldly at Jiang Yun and said, “Even the Jiang Family’s own Saint-level figures have not come. Why do you insist on seeking your own death?”
“So many of you — each one dominating a region and ruling a domain — have joined together today to kill one desolate old man. Do you feel no shame?!” Jiang Yun bellowed.
“We have come for the secret of the Beginningless Emperor, for the Nine Secrets’ Battle Art — killing the Divine King is merely third on the list.”
“One generation of Divine King — having so many powerful figures come to see him off is a form of reverence toward him. To die by a single person’s hand alone — that would be the true tragedy of a dying king.”
Jiang Yun retorted sharply, “Fine words. But even great figures have their twilight years — are you not afraid of being treated the same way?”
“In eight hundred years’ time, I will gladly wait for the next generation to come and kill me,” one voice replied with a cold laugh, surveying the younger and middle-generation Jiang Family members. “I only fear that you all will not live as long as I.”
“Jiang Taixu — speak the secrets of the Purple Mountain, write down the Battle Art of Conquering All — and I will spare your descendants’ lives!”
“All those before you are your direct blood descendants. Surely you do not wish to watch them be killed before your eyes?”
“The Eternal Universe Sacred Furnace is already blocked, and even if the entire Jiang Family came, they could not save you. Besides, your oil is long since spent and your lamp long since burned out — why go on enduring?”
The thirteen Saint-level figures unleashed another wave of bone-chilling killing intent — piercing through the wall of people and driving it straight into the old Divine King.
Splat!
Even the powerful Jiang Yun could not help but spit out a mouthful of fresh blood. He was the only one among them capable of standing on equal footing with these people — how could he hold back thirteen of them?
“Since Jiang Yun wishes to die, we grant the wish — then we kill the Divine King!”
The thirteen powerful figures advanced together — the underground palace nearly cracking apart. Their terrifying pressure surged like a boundless ocean, sweeping aside all that stood in their way.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Water sounds arose from the Dragon Transformation Pool. That withered body slowly sat up — and then, slowly, stood. The divine light in those eyes grew more brilliant still — enough, it seemed, to pierce straight through a person’s body.
Jiang Taixu stepped out of the pool, one foot at a time, climbing onto the bank. He was still just skin and bone — looking incomparably frail and gaunt — yet his movements were resolute and steady.
“Old patriarch!”
“Divine King Patriarch!”
“What are you doing? What do you intend?”
The Jiang Family cried out in alarm. None of them had imagined that Jiang Taixu could stand on his own, let alone step ashore alone and walk directly toward the thirteen powerful figures.
In that moment, each step he took sent a pulse resonating through heaven and earth — not particularly heavy, not even causing the underground palace to shake. Yet the rhythm was like the divine drums of the ancient Celestial Court — silent for ten million years, now sounding again — striking into every person’s heart. Even the hearts of the powerful figures contracted with each beat.
Thoom, thoom, thoom…
It was an inexplicable and terrifying rhythm — as if the primordial Great Dao itself were resonating. Without thinking, the Jiang Family members parted to open a path for him — every one of them acting entirely on instinct.
“Hmph!”
One of the Saint-level figures snorted, intending to break that terrifying rhythm. But the attempt failed to interrupt it — and the beats grew even more heart-stopping.
“A man on the verge of entering the earth — what is left to fear?!” one of the powerful figures advanced, striking out directly — surging forth like a bolt of black lightning.
Jiang Yun raised his battle halberd to intercept, but two other powerful figures struck simultaneously — cutting him off, denying him the chance to move forward.
“Divine King Jiang — I will send you on your way!”
The figure closed the gap in the blink of an eye. He raised his great hand and brought it crashing down — and this was not merely a hand. It was a force of natural law. Even faintly visible, between the approaching fingers, Dao patterns interlaced and wove together, forming a web of order, manifesting the tangible power of law!
The Jiang Family members felt their minds nearly fracture with despair — they wanted to block it, but it was simply impossible. This was an overlord; aside from Jiang Yun, no one here could stop him.
Yet Jiang Taixu showed no fear at all. He continued walking forward, step by step — the rhythm beneath his feet unchanged.
Suddenly, two beams of crimson light shot from his eyes — the same color as the phoenix blood red-gold, becoming the singular radiance of heaven and earth in that moment — brilliant and eternal, as if the Eternal Universe Sacred Furnace itself had erupted forth!
“Aaah…”
The powerful figure let out a cry of agony. The palm crashing down was pierced through by the light from Jiang Taixu’s eyes — the web of the laws he had woven was destroyed in an instant. The crimson light was like drifting smoke as it arrived before the attacker.
Splat!
Blood splattered. That powerful figure’s eyes were pierced through by the crimson light, which bored straight out through the back of his skull — a spray of blood blossoming outward. He let out a great cry as he was sent flying.
“What?!”
“How can this be?!”
“The twilight-aged Jiang Taixu can still fight?!”
…
Those gathered behind — the other Saint-level figures — were utterly shocked at the sight of it. A dying old Divine King still possessed such divine might!
“Old patriarch!”
“Old Divine King Patriarch…”
The Jiang Family was thunderstruck — astonished and overjoyed in equal measure, completely unable to foresee that Jiang Taixu had barely woken and yet could command such combat power.
From this, one could imagine what sort of force Jiang Taixu must have commanded four thousand years ago. Surely his bearing must have been magnificent and peerless beyond all words!
The powerful figure who had his eyes pierced through had not died. At a cultivation level of this depth, physical regeneration was possible — it was very difficult to kill such a person outright. However, he had suffered grievous damage and lost the ability to continue fighting.
“In all my life, Jiang Taixu, no one has ever pushed me to this point.”
The Divine King finally spoke. His voice resonated like a sacred bell, reverberating through the underground palace — and transmitting to every corner of Divine City above.
“Heavens — Jiang Taixu has been revived! He has recovered his combat power!”
The many cultivators of Divine City heard his voice, and every one of them was shaken.
“That is Jiang Taixu speaking — an old Divine King nearly five thousand years of age… Was he not supposed to have burned through his last reserves? How could he be so terrifyingly powerful the moment he woke up?!”
The people of Divine City were stunned, almost unable to believe what was happening. So many Saint-level figures had gone to kill the Divine King — and in the end, they had facilitated his return to life.
Within the underground palace, Jiang Taixu continued walking forward — his rhythm unchanged. With each step, that aura grew ever more terrifying.
“Not good!” the leading powerful figure cried out — his heart suddenly seized with agony, nearly shattering. He flew backward at speed.
Boom!
Jiang Taixu’s final step fell — enormously heavy. The underground palace nearly collapsed entirely. The powerful figure let out a great cry and spat a mouthful of blood.
All thirteen Saint-level figures were truly shaken. Every one of them flew back — instantly putting great distance between themselves and the Dragon Transformation Pool — staring at the old Divine King with uncertain and wary eyes.
Jiang Taixu stood there like an ancient pine — upright and unmoved. Then, with a sudden sharp exhale, he pressed both hands into the void and moved them in swift strokes.
“Great Emperor formation patterns!”
Everyone was stunned. Between Jiang Taixu’s hands, the order of natural law materialized — branded into the void — as one mysterious rune after another was carved into existence, shimmering like the stars of the heavens.
All of this had happened impossibly fast. In moments, the old Divine King had already restored the formation patterns that Jiang Yun had laid down, and was continuing to evolve and expand them — making the formation patterns more terrifying still, unfathomably deep.
But at that very moment, his body suddenly stiffened. From the corner of his mouth seeped a thread of black blood — and he fell straight down.
“Old patriarch!”
“Divine King Patriarch!”
The Jiang Family members were horrified. They rushed forward and caught him, then carried him back into the Dragon Transformation Pool.
Jiang Taixu had no fresh blood left to cough up — only a thread of thick black blood at the corner of his mouth. He was nearly completely burned out. Had those nine tiny dragons not still been moving within his body, his vitality would have already been extinguished.