A group of Ox Demon Kings, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with the physique of tigers and bears, each over ten feet tall, stood together like a group of black hills side by side.
Ye Fan stared at the leading Ox Demon chieftain — it really looked like Laozi’s mount, tall and imposing, brimming with vitality, with a formidable divine might.
But he couldn’t be certain — the Mighty Ox Demon race’s members all looked similar, all rough-featured, all covered in foot-long black fur, all quite alike. Perhaps only once the Vajra Wheel displayed its divine power could its identity be confirmed.
“A stone man taking up half the sky — move aside a bit.” the leader of the Mighty Ox Demon race spoke, his voice ringing like a golden bell.
The hearts of the crowd jumped. The Ox Demon clan truly lived up to its reputation of not being low-key, actively provoking a Sacred Spirit — truly extraordinary courage.
The Stone Man stood upon a small war chariot, alone beneath a patch of sky. This race was extremely formidable, and few dared provoke them.
“Impossible!”
He was only about a meter tall, but exuded an aura like a flood or a fierce beast, silver light flashing in his eyes, coldly glancing at the old Ox Demon King, not moving an inch.
“Months ago, some Stone Spirit killed dozens of my clan. Today I’ll settle accounts with you. Everyone says the Sacred Spirits possess indestructible stone bodies — today I’ll see just how sturdy that really is.” the leader of the Ox Demon clan said.
The crowd understood upon hearing this — so there was an old grudge; no wonder he dared confront a peak Sacred Spirit, wanting to settle it right before the Emperor’s mausoleum.
“Don’t force me to act!” the Stone Man, though short in stature, carried a supreme dignity, two cold rays of light shooting from his divine eyes.
“Moo…” the old Ox Demon was quite short-tempered, striking directly. A bovine roar of might blasted out, black wave patterns spreading, the universe splitting apart in four directions, stars shattering.
This was a terrifying divine skill, its sound sweeping across, nearly roaring apart people’s souls, the starry universe trembling violently, all directions crumbling.
Between the Stone Man’s brows, a vertical eye opened, shooting out a burst of brilliant silver light — a cluster of silver flame that sealed off the heavens, calming the black wave patterns.
The Ox Demon chieftain’s black fur flew wildly, killing intent surging, and with a flick of his hand he sent the gleaming Vajra Wheel flying, hurtling into the depths of the heavens.
A rumbling boom sounded, like a vast waterfall cascading down, like an ocean crashing from above — the sound made even the Human Race Dao Protectors change expression.
The Stone Man’s eyes also burst with light, both hands reaching out to meet the attack — one hand seizing a dragon, the other subduing a tiger, dragon and tiger combined, wind and thunder erupting, shaking even the stars to pieces.
Clang!
With this sound, the gleaming Vajra Wheel, like a vast expanse of white ocean, fell and struck, sending the Sacred Spirit flying sideways, destroying both dragon and tiger.
Everyone present changed expression drastically — this weapon’s divine might was astonishing, far surpassing an ordinary Great Sage weapon, possessing an overwhelming, world-crushing dominance.
Fortunately, this clash between the Ox Demon clan and the Sacred Spirit took place far from the crowd — otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable.
The most powerful Sacred Spirit lineage, said to have indestructible stone bodies, now had cracks appearing on both arms, rare divine blood flowing out, shocking everyone.
What kind of weapon was this? Everyone’s hearts pounded — could it kill a peak Sacred Spirit? So supremely powerful and hard.
“That old man didn’t lie to me. Taking in my clansman as a mount and helping refine a weapon this powerful — had I known, I’d have had him refine a whole basketful, one for each person, how nice that would be.” the old Ox Demon King muttered.
The crowd nearly spat blood, unable to believe their ears — how greedy could one be. But there was more to what the Ox Demon chieftain said — which old man had helped him refine it?
Ye Fan’s heart jolted — this wasn’t Laozi’s mount, but it likely had some connection with him, having helped refine a weapon this astonishing. Of course, it also had to do with the materials — this Vajra Wheel was refined by concentrating the countless treasures of that race’s entire treasury, naturally its divine might would be world-shaking.
Ye Fan searched for Long Ma and quickly found it, swiftly sending a message. Long Ma was one hundred twenty percent unwilling, but still steeled itself and whispered to Baijie Daoren.
This notoriously infamous old Daoist, capable of any vile deed, nodded upon hearing this and spoke to the old Ox Demon chieftain: “Brother Ox, what was that old man’s name? Can he refine one for my nephew too?”
The crowd grumbled inwardly, secretly rolling their eyes — this old donkey was too greedy, even daring to ask such a thing. But no one dared say anything — this master had no shame, bullying the weak without a shred of guilt, always eager to do such things.
“That old bastard wasn’t very honest — gave himself a wicked name, calling himself Laozi. After refining the Vajra Wheel, I shut the door and sent him packing directly.” the Ox Demon chieftain said. Clearly, he was quite familiar with Baijie Daoren, otherwise he wouldn’t speak so casually.
“How many years ago was that?” Baijie Daoren asked.
“Feels like not that long ago.” the old Ox Demon casually replied.
“That’s not right, ancestor — you’ve been in seclusion, just came out. Time has already passed eight hundred years.” a clan member of the ox tribe reminded quietly.
“Oh, I’m confused — so it’s been that long.” the old Ox Demon slapped his own forehead, his foot-long fur trembling all over.
In the distance, Ye Fan pondered — Laozi was still in the world eight hundred years ago, walking the Ancient Road. Where was he now, what was he seeking? His movements were far too mysterious.
The conversation between the two Great Sages indirectly left the Stone Man standing aside, making all the great heroes sigh inwardly — truly, only those at the utmost pinnacle of strength could act so freely.
Baijie Daoren comforted Long Ma, saying: “Nephew, don’t dwell on it. I estimate old Ox won’t give it to you — that fellow calling himself Laozi sounds like no good from the start, don’t get your hopes up.”
Long Ma was furious, being called “nephew” over and over made it want to bite him — being naturally proud and untamed, it very much wanted to kick him.
The Stone Man, divine blood surging through his body, both arms cracking with a crisp sound, radiating undying treasured light, fully healed, then stepped forward one step at a time toward the old Ox Demon.
“Stone, come meet your death!” the old Ox Demon roared, and the Vajra Wheel flew out again — a silvery-white ocean; though the wheel itself was quite small, once flying it seemed the universe itself couldn’t contain it.
This time its radiance was even more brilliant, special Dao patterns within it surfacing — this was a weapon refined by a supreme expert, containing within it a portion of that being’s own life essence!
A rumbling boom, heaven crumbling and earth splitting, ghosts wailing and gods howling, the battlefield shattering, the Vajra Wheel turning that place into a sea of chaos.
“Ahh…” the Sacred Spirit roared loudly, the divine sound piercing his brain.
With a clang, a brilliant green rainbow tore through the misty chaos, charging into the void, streaked with tear stains, brilliant radiance, weaving together, releasing a vast and mighty presence.
Supreme and sacred — a weapon emerged into the world!
In the Sacred Spirit’s hand appeared a Measuring Heaven Ruler, immortal light dazzling, green rainbow radiating in all directions, dotted with tear marks — it was cast from Immortal Tear Green Gold.
“It’s actually a supreme divine treasure!”
People cried out in astonishment. That ruler was quite small and delicate, yet held in the Sacred Spirit’s hand it released overwhelming divine might, the vast chaos scattering, all bursting apart.
“If this divine treasure hadn’t emerged, the Sacred Spirit might have been in real danger — the Ox Demon clan’s weapon is too astonishing, this powerful.”
At this moment, everyone’s gaze focused on the Stone Man’s weapon, its green light gorgeous and beautiful, extremely lovely and radiant, yet also carrying a tragic, sorrowful beauty.
This divine gold was said to have come from an immortal’s tears falling and then nurtured into being. Those who possessed it mostly ended with a mournful fate.
Even the most dazzling and powerful of women in history, the Western Empress Mother, had lived a life accompanied by sorrow, and few knew the outcome of her final years.
Among the many kinds of divine gold, this immortal material was the most mysterious. Many refused to believe it, thinking it merely a coincidence — that Immortal Tear Green Gold itself was not inherently ill-omened.
“Clang!”
The Measuring Heaven Ruler flew up, clashing hard against the Vajra Wheel, one green and one silver light entwining, tearing the heavens into an unrecognizable mess, the starry sky shaking violently.
“This Sacred Spirit is remarkable — the Measuring Heaven Ruler is a divine treasure born together with him, nurtured from his own divine blood. Even though he emerged early, in the future there’s still a chance he could reach perfection.” a Human Race Dao Protector spoke.
The Sacred Spirits, blessed by heaven, had been granted many extraordinary things — some individual Stone Men were born with a divine treasure nurtured within their stone embryo, hidden within, evolving to emerge together as their Dao weapon.
But this was an extremely rare fortune possessed only by the most terrifying of Sacred Spirits, rarely seen since ancient times.
The Divine Lord holding the tripod, his eyes gleaming, and the Underworld’s bronze coffin also trembled slightly — both of these great experts were moved, seeming to want to act, but both restrained themselves.
Such a Sacred Spirit, such a weapon, stone embryo and treasure fused as one — if not separated, they could continually nurture and evolve each other, becoming truly terrifying in the future!
Clang, clang, clang…
The Measuring Heaven Ruler and Vajra Wheel collided repeatedly, various Dao patterns flowing, dazzlingly brilliant, slicing through the star region, trembling violently and intensely.
“Everyone, why have we come here? Let us not delay the timing of entering the secret realm over personal grudges.” a Human Race Dao Protector spoke up.
The great sages nodded — relatively speaking, everything else could be set aside; the Emperor’s corpse was most important. At their level, it was difficult to make further breakthroughs. Perhaps seeing the true form of the ancient Great Emperor, witnessing that supreme and vast trace of Dao, might let them advance further.
Even if a Great Emperor died, if he did not wish to transcend into the Dao, he would remain undecayed through eternity, indestructible by anything, until this world itself ceased to exist.
The Human Race’s Dao Protectors were the first to act, jointly channeling their power, redirecting the Measuring Heaven Ruler and Vajra Wheel in the sky toward the side of the Yellow Springs, piercing through the void.
“Hum-boom!”
Terrifying divine light burst out in all directions, tearing that place open. The original barrier there had long been unstable, and struck by these two mortal-transcending Great Sage weapons, it instantly cracked.
At the same time, the Divine Lord from the Shen Organization drove his tripod — the three-legged, two-eared bronze vessel released its vast divine might, all the various engraved images upon it lighting up, flying toward the crack in the secret realm.
Clang!
The Underworld’s people were not to be outdone either — a bronze coffin lid flew up, dense with Dao patterns, all the green rust glowing, as if with fearless determination to fill the sea, charging into the true entrance of the Emperor’s mausoleum.
The Yellow Springs stretching across the starry sky roared, surging like a breached dam, the aura of the underworld instantly ten times more intense, making even the Great Sages’ hearts pound with alarm.
“Boom!”
The Sacred Spirit, the Ox Demon King, the Human Race Dao Protectors, and the other Great Sages all acted together, temporarily setting everything else aside, bombarding the entrance to the Emperor’s true burial chamber.
A chaotic beam of light shot out, five colors blazing, ten hues radiating at once, crystalline like carved jade — the void broke open, revealing a pair of stone gates tens of thousands of feet tall, standing wide open.
“It’s broken open — with several Great Sages joining forces, no accident occurred, and the secret realm opened this quickly!” people could hardly believe it, not expecting things to go so smoothly. The Yellow Springs flowed precisely from the enormous stone gates.
Mist swirled, and within, it seemed like a divine realm, faintly visible in glimpses — an azure dragon roaring, a crimson vermilion bird soaring through the sky, ancient trees and wolf-filled forests.