Such a dramatic reversal on the outer battlefield made Great Saint Kun Zhou and the Golden King go pale. None of them had anticipated the Battle Saint King to be this heaven-defying. The situation immediately turned — shifting to their extreme disadvantage.
How could this battle continue? Two additional Dao Bodies had appeared; all three Supreme Dao Ancient Imperial Weapons had been activated. More than enough to press them both into the ground and blast them apart!
“Kill!”
Three Battle Saint Apes struck in unison, shattering the heavens. Three Ancient Imperial Weapons all awakened, three figures soaring forward, sweeping toward the two of them.
“Victorious Fighting Buddha!”
The golden holy ape gripping the Demon Subduing Staff called out its own Buddhist title, radiant and solemn, striking with fierce power, Buddha-light flooding everywhere — burying Kun Zhou beneath it in an instant.
Kun Zhou’s expression was grim, but there was no choice but to steel himself and fight back. There was no other option now. To retreat a single step was death. To push forward with all valor was at least a chance to carve out a future.
The immortal radiance within his body erupted with hundreds of millions of threads, blocking the Victorious Fighting Buddha, every ounce of his magical power driven to the fullest, holding nothing back. This was a desperate, all-out fight to the death.
Boom!
The Demon Subduing Staff blazed with boundless Buddha-light, its power beyond all measure. One strike crashed down — this place filled with primordial aura, the heavens burst asunder, becoming chaos.
This was an Emperor-level weapon — the supreme first divine weapon of Buddhism, personally refined by Amitabha the Great Emperor. Its might was evident from its name alone: the supreme holy weapon defending the Dao of the Buddhist path.
“Ahh…”
Kun Zhou let out a long howl, fighting with every last reserve, with no choice but to go all out. If he could not first kill one of the Battle Saint Apes, he and the Golden King would ultimately be destroyed.
This form of the Battle Saint Ape had been entirely forged from Mount Sumeru’s power of thought, merged with the Dao into an indestructible golden form. Gripping the Demon Subduing Staff, it wore the expression of a wrathful guardian deity. A single roar was enough to cause even Great Saint Kun Zhou to stagger, struck with surging blood and churning vital energy.
The Demon Subduing Staff — a supreme Buddhist treasure, channeling every manner of the Buddhist path’s wondrous techniques, made manifest in this moment. Slaying demons and subduing monsters, its divine power was unmatched.
“Kun Zhou — surrender your life!”
The Victorious Fighting Buddha roared. The Demon Subduing Staff transformed into a blaze of resplendent Buddha-light, cascading down, pounding Kun Zhou’s body into trembling and rocking.
A Dao Body forged from Mount Sumeru’s infinite power of faith, gripping Amitabha the Great Emperor’s weapon, the Demon Subduing Staff — the two perfectly complementing each other. It was virtually invincible.
Yet Kun Zhou was equally extraordinary. After all, he had been deemed comparable to Dicue, possessed of more than sufficient formidable means and talent, with extremely rich combat experience. The battle reached a deadlock.
On the other side, the Golden King was not so fortunate. He was matched against another of the monkey’s Dao Bodies, and with every exchange he drew cold breath.
He had been born in the Primordial Age, a witness to the Battle Saint Emperor’s supreme might. Now, once more, he could sense threads of that aura — his heart pounding, every hair standing on end.
This golden holy ape was overwhelmingly powerful and boundlessly domineering, swinging a black iron staff, pressing him back relentlessly — nearly sending him into a full rout.
This was the Saint Emperor’s Great Dao — holding nothing above itself in all the world, combat strength transcending the age. One iron staff sweeping through all beneath heaven, killing with ferocious abandon, like a war immortal descended upon the mortal realm.
The Golden King feared not only the ancient Battle Saint Emperor of former days — he feared even more the true form of that monkey before him now!
To be born in the same age as the Ancient Saint Emperor meant that every person’s Dao was suppressed, unable to break through, unable to approach the Imperial Dao — even fleeing to this age had been of no use.
And now the monkey had walked even this far — stripping away all the influences of the Saint Emperor and forging them into a Dao Body. This was a tremendous act of courage: severing his own past, freeing himself from the constraining track of the Battle Saint Emperor’s Dao marks.
This was a massive breakthrough. From this point forward, he could walk his own path toward immortality. If fortune favored him, perhaps one day he could achieve the ultimate sublimation — attaining the Dao to become an Emperor.
Roar…
The golden holy ape howled in defiance of heaven and earth, the black iron staff rising and descending in slashes and sweeps — the Golden King was driven back step by step, his arms going numb, the Golden Mace nearly slipping from his grasp.
He gripped the Ancient Imperial Weapon with all he had. To lose it would mean being reduced to dust and cinder in the first instant.
This was an agonizing process. The golden holy ape’s aura overwhelmed him completely, and its actual combat power was also a cut above his own — his retreat was constant. Most terrifying of all — the Golden Mace was an Emperor-level weapon requiring a colossal infusion of magical power. Even a Great Saint, forced to sustain it over time, would be drained completely dry.
Clang!
The black iron staff descended in a straight cleave. Great Dao marks trailed down, crashing onto the Golden Mace. A thunderous clang rang out — the star domain rocked, meteorites shattered. The Golden King was wounded, coughing blood, unable to resist.
“Take another strike from my staff!”
The golden holy ape gripped the great iron staff with both hands and smashed it down. The Golden King was forced to take the blow head-on. The Supreme Dao Imperial Mace erupted with ten thousands of threads of light.
Clang!
The black divine iron and the Golden Mace clashed through Dao marks, a metallic ringing so deafening it split the ears. A blazing sphere of light burst outward — and the dark cosmos seemed to explode!
Spurt!
The Golden King spat a torrent of blood, his body sent flying horizontally for hundreds of li. The Ancient Imperial Weapon nearly escaped his grasp. His magical power was nearly exhausted.
“This is bad!” Great Saint Kun Zhou furrowed his brow.
The Golden King definitely could not hold on — and the Battle Saint King’s true form had not even entered the battle yet.
Boom!
Gripping the black divine iron and carrying the Saint Emperor’s aura, the monkey gave chase — intent on delivering a killing blow to the Golden King. And at this moment, the monkey’s true form also moved, body wrapped in the Shencan Clan’s nine-colored Imperial Armor, resplendent in radiance, charging straight toward Kun Zhou.
“Your time has come!” The Battle Saint King’s true form roared.
Great Saint Kun Zhou’s face went green on the spot. He was indeed extraordinary — talent unmatched, no weaker than Dicue in his day. But now, facing two monkeys attacking simultaneously, even a deity would have to weep.
Boom!
The Battle Saint King’s true form unleashed a punch. Clad in the nine-colored battle armor, immortal light blazing brilliantly, he drove forward with the might of heaven and earth — fist intent supreme above all!
Crack!
Kun Zhou steeled himself and fought back, weaving between the two monkeys. But it was not long before the accumulated blows left him coughing blood — struck flying by the Demon Subduing Staff.
He vomited blood in torrents, his essence injured, retreating through the dark heavens, unable to withstand the peerless assault of two monkeys.
In the Central Region, outside Zhenxian City, the Eight Division Divine Generals, the Silver Moon Heavenly King, and the others had gone dead silent. The Ancestor Kings who had followed Great Saint Kun Zhou had also all gone pale. The reversal had come too suddenly, too swiftly.
Just moments ago, people had been declaring they would bathe the Saint Emperor’s Son, Ye Fan, and the Shencan Princess in blood — and now every last one of them had sealed their lips, desperate to flee immediately.
One Saint-level Ancient King was nearly trembling. He had just been saying that the Battle Saint King could not turn the tide — that if he fell in battle beyond the domain, he would be no different from dirt.
“Weren’t you all shouting earlier, inciting the ancient clan factions to act together and wipe us all out? Come on then — strike!” The Black Emperor said in his most gleefully obnoxious manner.
The Shencan Princess pressed forward. The opposing side retreated in unison. Who could now defy heaven? Which Ancient King dared raise a hand?
Even the Silver Moon Heavenly King’s expression had gone dark. He knew that today might bring great disaster upon him. The radiance in his eyes flickered unceasingly — hesitation gripping him.
Screams…
High above, the battle was drawing to its close. The monkey, one person in three forms, had driven both Great Saints into rout — both bearing grievous wounds.
One person, three forms, commanding three Emperor-level weapons — combat power that defied heaven. Whoever came would meet bitter defeat, the advantage absolutely overwhelming.
This was a clash between Great Saints, amplified many times over by the mastery of Ancient Imperial Weapons. Three monkeys acting together — they fought until the heavens themselves were boiling.
Boom!
One golden holy ape, gripping a black iron staff, nearly cleaved the Golden King to his death — leaving him awash in a rain of blood, fleeing in disorder, using the Golden Mace as a shield.
On the other side, the Demon Subduing Staff’s power knew no limit, its demon-subduing force surging so powerfully that nearby small asteroids were trembling on the verge of falling.
Crack!
The monkey’s true form was matchless in dominance. Drawing upon the Shencan Clan’s Ancient Imperial battle armor, it drove Kun Zhou back with bare fists — his body on the verge of bursting, covered in blood.
In this battle, Kun Zhou’s form and soul were both fractured, his wounds severe — Great Dao wounds that would not easily heal, inflicted by the Ancient Imperial Weapons.
Had he not carried a Supreme Dao Imperial Weapon within his own body, he would long since have been reduced to dust. The battle was entirely one-sided. At this point, there was no suspense remaining.
On the ground, people were enraptured. A battle like this had not been seen in how many years? Great Saints driving Imperial Weapons in combat, collapsing the heavens themselves.
By the battle’s end, three golden holy apes had surrounded Kun Zhou and the Golden King. Both Great Saints could become dust and cinder at any moment, ceasing to exist.
Clang!
The black iron staff pressed down; the Golden Mace cried out in agony.
Boom!
The Demon Subduing Staff descended, Dao light like an ocean. Great Saint Kun Zhou groaned — one step, one mouthful of blood.
At this point, the outcome was determined. The Great Saint War was about to conclude.
“Saint King — please show mercy!” An aged voice rang out, arriving from the Eastern Desolation to the outer domain at incredible speed.
It was an old man — of ordinary appearance, looking less like an ancient clan member and more like a human, resembling an old villager from the countryside, his attire equally plain.
“Huntuo the Great Saint!”
In the Central Region, outside Zhenxian City, people shuddered — they recognized this old man.
Huntuo the Great Saint — his might had shaken the Primordial Age. In those days, he had been the only existence who, as a Great Saint, dared to challenge the Battle Saint Emperor. Though the Saint Emperor had suppressed him with just one hand, it was no disgrace.
Who would dare challenge an Ancient Emperor? Setting aside the outcome — the sheer courage alone commanded admiration. The Primordial Age had been shaken to its core that day!
An enormous background — defeated only once in his life, by the Saint Emperor himself. Huntuo the Great Saint appearing now brought enormous variables, making the hearts of many quicken.
“Do you also intend to strike?” The Victorious Fighting Buddha asked.
“Saint King, please do not misunderstand. I have no such intention — I merely wish to serve as a mediator.” Huntuo the Great Saint replied.
“You want me to stand down now? Impossible!” The Victorious Fighting Buddha refused outright.
“I am only speaking casually — whatever decision the Saint King makes, that is entirely his own conscience to follow. However, if they were made to pay a sufficient price, would that perhaps quench the fires of the Saint King’s wrath? If they are all killed outright, the ten thousand races may descend into great chaos — after all, two great Imperial Clans are now involved.” Huntuo the Great Saint said, his brow furrowed.
The Battle Saint King’s eyes flared. One great Imperial Clan naturally meant the Golden Clan. The other great Imperial Clan was no minor power either — they had lent the Ancient Imperial Weapon to Great Saint Kun Zhou.
“In former years, Dicue and my father were the closest of friends. He saved my father’s life twice. This action today was to repay that debt of gratitude — it was not out of resentment toward the Battle Saint Ape lineage.” The Golden King spoke even as he fought.
At this very moment, another figure appeared on the outer battlefield — extremely indistinct, impossible to make out clearly, speaking in a voice that was ancient and worn.
“My clan lent the Ancient Imperial Weapon to Kun Zhou also to repay a debt to Dicue. I ask for the Saint King’s forgiveness — my clan is willing to pay a price.” The newly appeared figure said.
Yet another Great Saint!
The Great Saints of the ancient clans had nearly assembled in full, standing firm on the outer battlefield, appealing to the Battle Saint King.
Dicue — in former days his brilliance surpassed the age, matchless through the ages in radiance, standing as an equal to the Battle Saint Emperor. He had forged a renowned legacy, and had bestowed great kindness upon certain Imperial Clans.
“Please, Saint King, show mercy — so that the ten thousand races may be spared from great chaos!”
At the same moment, several more aged figures appeared. Those on the ground were shaken — though these individuals were not Great Saints, they were the senior Clan Elders of several great Imperial Clans, their standing so immense it defied description.
All of them appearing together to mediate — they feared the Battle Saint King, in his fury, would go on to attack the Golden Clan. Ancient Imperial Clans rarely warred against one another — but once they did, the heavens and earth would be overturned!
The old monkey was powerful enough. But two great Imperial Clans had entered this battle, providing Ancient Imperial Weapons. If the affair truly erupted, the consequences were unthinkable.
The great battle halted. With so many arriving — people from Fire Qilin Cavern, the Primordial Lake, and Scarlet Phoenix Mountain — some even bringing Ancient Imperial Weapons — there was no choice but to temporarily sheathe the blade.
The Battle Saint King’s expression was cold and detached. Gripping three Ancient Imperial Weapons, he surveyed the crowd. Then he looked toward the Golden King and said: “What price will you pay to preserve your life?”
“I…” The Golden King was at a loss. The monkey’s killing intent washed over him — this was a demand for his life!
“At our level of cultivation, what we lack most is nothing but a single life. If I am to leave with my life intact, I naturally must pay the price of a life. I am willing to offer a vial of the divine essence accumulated by my clan’s ancestors over generations.” The Golden King spoke. Everyone was shaken.
The Battle Saint King said nothing, fixing his gaze on Kun Zhou. His eyes were piercing — three Emperor-level weapons raised in unison!
“Saint King, please show mercy…” Someone urged.
“Monkey…” Kun Zhou also shouted.
Boom!
The Battle Saint King’s eyes blazed. He surged forward in a lethal charge, his Imperial Might blasting everyone backward.
A wretched scream rang out…
Kun Zhou let out a cry of anguish. The Great Saint’s skull was struck by the black divine iron — exploding into countless blossoms of crimson — and even the Ancient Imperial Weapon within his body could not shield him!