On Merfolk Island, Zhenzhu, the Merfolk Queen who had just returned to her tribe’s settlement through water travel, suddenly felt an inexplicable palpitation.
She whirled around to see waves surging up layer upon layer on the sea surface, crashing against the reefs wave after wave, white foam spraying up with thunderous roars.
The entire sea region was turbulent, roaring.
In the far distance, clouds roiled like thick ink in the sky, occasionally lit by lightning.
Such scenes weren’t unusual at sea—Zhenzhu had seen even fiercer storms, and the merfolk had even experienced tsunamis that submerged half an island.
But unlike ordinary natural disasters, Zhenzhu could sense a certain fear, a fear that made one want to prostrate themselves.
It was the fear branded deep in the genes of all living beings.
On the beach, the merfolk who had come to welcome their queen’s return were all prostrate on the ground, faces buried in the sand, trembling.
At the Alsur Archipelago.
Dragon-man Island Lord Angry Wave stood on the top floor of the main hall, gazing northeast.
Behind him were servants and subordinates from the hall, now all showing obvious signs of fear. This place was extremely far from the ancient battlefield, so the impact wasn’t as severe as on Merfolk Island.
Though the divine demon descendants on the island felt fear in their bones, they weren’t so frightened as to prostrate themselves.
“This aura is from the northeast, where the Monster Nation Ruler and that human supreme expert went…”
A thought flashed through the Dragon-man Island Lord’s mind:
“Has he entered the ranks of the strongest divine demons?”
Thinking this, he contemplated both building better relations with the Merfolk Queen and regretted not setting aside his dignity earlier to curry favor with that human expert.
…
From Lei Province southward, past the Southern Borders, the scenery below flashed past as Li Miaozhen rode her flying sword, frantically channeling her true essence while sending her spiritual consciousness into the Earth Book, trying to “private message” Xu Qi An.
In the space permeated with chaos, nine-light clusters representing Earth Book fragments were scattered in different directions, with the cluster representing number three being dim.
This means out of contact.
Damn it, drifting overseas until losing contact, don’t let me find out you’re having a romantic time on Merfolk Island… Li Miaozhen recalled Xu Qi An’s message bragging about meeting Merfolk overseas, each one beautiful as flowers, gentle and charming, especially the Merfolk Queen this and that!
She only needed to get within a certain range of Xu Qi An for the Earth Books to connect.
But she had to find the right direction, otherwise, she’d be going the wrong way, getting further and further off course.
After a while, the endless ocean finally appeared on the horizon.
She immediately streaked southeast, and after a quarter-hour, her spiritual consciousness deposited in the Earth Book fragment sensed that the number three Earth Book fragment had finally lit up.
Flickering, extremely unstable.
Li Miaozhen’s spirits lifted.
…
Xu Qi An was delighted to discover that after essence, qi, and spirit reunified, his primordial spirit’s fishing net had thoroughly merged with his flesh and essence, becoming more tenacious and unshakeable than ever before.
The biggest change was that now, every part of his body could have its thoughts.
Thinking no longer required his brain—it could be his limbs or even the head below.
Every part of his body possessed a portion of primordial spirit, just like Shen Shu before—even if dismembered, the soul would be taken with it.
First-rank warriors also had this characteristic, but the primordial spirit in severed limbs couldn’t think independently.
Additionally, his physical strength and qi had improved terrifyingly—now he could punch his past self (first-rank warrior) into “something else” with one hit.
Besides the comprehensive surge in all attributes, what interested Xu Qi An most about the Half-Step Martial God realm was the microscopic changes—the cells making up his physical body had mutated.
Xu Qi An focused his consciousness inward and found twisted tadpole-like patterns had appeared in the cells.
They existed within the cell nuclei as if they were something inherent in the genes.
Every cell had a twisted tadpole-like pattern, looking similar yet different.
If combined, they seemed like… a formation.
Xu Qi An immersed himself in the terrifying number of patterns, trying to analyze them, and came away with only one discovery:
The characteristic of indestructibility!
These formation patterns had indestructible properties.
Unlike transcendent realm warriors, whose immortal characteristic came from vast, vigorous life force easily achieving flesh regeneration.
The Half-Step Martial God’s indestructible characteristic was about being difficult to destroy.
There was a fundamental difference between the two.
Besides these, what delighted Xu Qi An most was that he had mastered part of the ancient divine demon’s spiritual essence—once activated, his power would receive a tremendous boost.
In pure contests of strength, perhaps even Shen Shu wouldn’t be his match now.
Combined with the Force Gu Blood Sacrifice technique’s amplification, my power has reached this world’s ceiling… Ending his internal observation and opening his eyes, he saw the nine-tailed fox cautiously hiding in the distance, watching him.
Her round, large eyes showed both timidity and excitement.
She had witnessed the birth of a Half-Step Martial God.
Without a doubt, that terrible power just now was no less than Shen Shu’s.
“Whew…”
When Xu Qi An contained his aura, the nine-tailed fox sighed in relief and flew over, wagging her fluffy snow-white fox tails.
“Compared to Shen Shu, the spiritual essence of you gives me extreme pressure.”
The nine-tailed fox forcefully preserved her dignity, finding an excuse for her trembling earlier:
“Divine demon descendants are more sensitive and fearful toward powerful divine demons. So, how does it feel?”
“I can beat your father no problem.”
Xu Qi An laughed.
The nine-tailed fox narrowed her eyes and urged:
“Go on, go on!”
Xu Qi An briefly told her his condition, emphasizing the “patterns” branded in his genes, asking:
“What do you think?”
The nine-tailed fox examined him, surprise flashing in her narrow, enchanting eyes:
“Have you become a divine demon?”
She meant this condition only appeared in divine demons and their descendants.
Similar to my thoughts, am I gradually “becoming divine demon-like”? Damn, can I still have children… Thinking of this, Xu Qi An became somewhat anxious.
Daily intimate activities, yet no response in the belly.
Fuguang wasn’t producing results either.
Lin’an had been married for two months, also with no movement.
Could it be my problem… Well, divine demons could also produce offspring, if worse comes to worst, try with a divine demon descendant… He looked at the nine-tailed fox with an appraising gaze.
“What are you looking at?”
The fox spirit frowned.
The lewd man’s gaze made her uncomfortable.
Nine treasures in one birth, father a Half-Step Martial God… A book title involuntarily floated through Xu Qi An’s mind. He pondered:
“If this is spiritual essence, symbolizing ‘indestructibility,’ is this unique to Half-Step Martial Gods, or do super-rank experts of other systems also experience such changes?”
The nine-tailed fox shook her head:
“No!
“Super-rank experts differ from divine demons, so they can’t directly replace the Heaven’s Dao like divine demons—they need to seize fate and gain recognition.
“This path wasn’t figured out until the Dao Sovereign died three times.
“Additionally, the Supervisor said warriors can’t replace Heaven’s Dao, so becoming divine demon-like doesn’t make sense.
“Your condition isn’t becoming divine demon-like, I think it might be the ultimate secret of the warrior system, related to Martial Gods.”
Her analysis was reasonable and well-founded, similar to what Xu Qi An thought.
He was about to speak when he suddenly felt like his head had been heavily “knocked.”
Oh? A Heaven’s Assembly member has also gone to sea? Xu Qi An’s brows slightly furrowed as his Adam’s apple bobbed, spitting out the Earth Book fragment.
[Two: Xu Ningyan Xu Ningyan Xu Ningyan…]
Li Miaozhen’s voice frantically entered his mind.
[Three: Miaozhen, why have you gone to sea?]
He was now extremely far from the Nine Provinces mainland, having left the Earth Book fragments’ signal radiation range.
Receiving Xu Qi An’s reply, Li Miaozhen felt relieved and transmitted in a “where have you been, you rascal, have you forgotten your surname while fooling around with demon women overseas” tone:
[Two: Where did you run off to, did fooling around with demon women overseas make you forget your surname? Get back here right now, this lady will split you with one sword.]
[Three: If you have something to say, say it.]
Constable Xu wasn’t one to fear women.
[Two: The Buddha is attacking the Nine Provinces.]
One sentence made Xu Qi An’s pupils slightly contract.
Li Miaozhen very quickly informed Xu Qi An of what had happened, saying:
[Two: You can’t imagine how bizarre the Buddha is—He not only merged into the mountains, rivers, and cities but also planned to devour Lei Province. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe it either.]
After Li Miaozhen finished rattling off everything, she asked with a glimmer of hope:
[Two: Have you advanced to Half-Step Martial God?]
[Three: Yes.]
[Two: It’s alright, becoming a Half-Step Martial God takes time, there are days ahead, come back first, Da Feng needs a first-rank warrior…]
Her words grew lighter and lighter, gradually falling silent.
After quite a while:
[You, you did it?!]
[Three: I’ll explain later, I’m coming back immediately.]
Xu Qi An first took out a set of robes from the Earth Book fragment, changed into them, then pressed his hand on the nine-tailed fox’s shoulder, making the “eyeball” on his left wrist light up, and directly teleported away.
…
Between sea and sky, Li Miaozhen stood on her flying sword, her jade-like hands holding the Earth Book fragment, her heart slowly settling back into place.
All anxiety, fear, and various negative emotions instantly vanished like smoke.
He had succeeded, becoming one of the rare Half-Step Martial Gods throughout history.
Entering the ranks of the strongest below super-rank.
Becoming a terrifying figure like Shen Shu.
As the negative emotions disappeared, Li Miaozhen’s heart surged with melancholy, sighs, and emotion at the passage of time.
Three years of knowing you feel like three thousand springs and autumns.
“You did it!”
She muttered, excitedly waving the hand holding the Earth Book fragment.
Hmm, Xu Ningyan shouldn’t be too far, if he’s returning to the Nine Provinces, he’ll pass through the Southern Borders first, I’ll wait for him here… Li Miaozhen put away the Earth Book fragment and sat cross-legged on her sword’s spine.
…
Lei Province.
Asura’s body was slightly hunched as he heard his heavy breathing, his right arm hanging limply, and half his left face damaged.
His pitch-black body was broken and battered.
With him at the lead, behind were Daoist Golden Lotus and Deliverer Arhat, then Yang Gong and Sun Xuanji.
Chu Yuanzhen and Hengyuan had temporarily withdrawn due to severe injuries.
Fighting this group of transcendent experts was Karura Tree, Buddhism’s number one combat force.
As for Luo Yuheng, she alone was holding back two Buddhist Bodhisattvas.
This wasn’t because her cultivation could overwhelm two experts of the same level, but because the Terrestrial Immortal’s characteristic of immunity to all techniques countered the two Bodhisattvas who specialized in control.
Especially Guangxian Bodhisattva’s “Great Reincarnation Manifestation” and “Great Compassion Manifestation” had almost no use.
“Crack crack crack…”
The sound of space collapsing constantly rang out, the colorless crystal barrier surging and spreading like ocean tides, but when touching Luo Yuheng’s protective golden light, it crumbled inch by inch like a shattering mirror.
During this process, Vairocana Bodhisattva’s figure kept appearing and disappearing, circling Luo Yuheng.
Her goal was clear—planning to physically behead this female Daoist leader, former Da Feng Imperial Mentor.
In close combat, Vairocana Bodhisattva was far from a match for the Human Sect leader known for killing power, but nothing in the world could break speed—if she caught an opportunity, at the same realm, beheading a Terrestrial Immortal’s physical body wasn’t difficult.
Not all systems were like warriors.
Though Luo Yuheng’s speed couldn’t match Vairocana who possessed the Arhat manifestation, combining the “Earth Form” and “Wind Form” of her Four Great Law Bodies let her handle it with ease.
She could even spare attention to cast sword techniques targeting Guangxian Bodhisattva and Karura Tree.
The former sat cross-legged, using Chan’s skills to counter the flying swords, while the latter merely found the Terrestrial Immortal annoying.
“After the Heaven-Human battle, Luo Yuheng’s cultivation increased greatly. Give her a few more years, and she could enter first-rank mid-stage. The young are formidable indeed.”
Salun Agu sighed.
Ylbu, however, was struggling to think how to deal with Daoism’s Terrestrial Immortal—the immunity to all techniques characteristic was too difficult to counter.
Most of the wizard system’s methods were restricted.
But the next moment, he stopped thinking about it, because this wasn’t a problem for him to consider.
There was an insurmountable gap between the third rank and the first rank.
A Terrestrial Immortal could kill a third-rank Spirit Wisdom Master with one finger.
“She alone holds back two Bodhisattvas, truly terrifying,” Udabota evaluated.
On the other side, the Gu Tribe leaders’ tense emotions were somewhat relaxed.
Their situation was extremely awkward.
If Da Feng suffered a complete defeat, they would be forced to join the battle, and in fighting at this level, third-rank experts could perish in an instant.
This relatively balanced situation was what they wanted to see.
Salun Agu’s hand gripping the shepherd’s whip applied slight force as he said:
“Whether Guangxian or Vairocana, neither is going all out. Though their manifestations are countered by the Terrestrial Immortal, their power is certainly not limited to this.”
Ylbu was stunned, asking:
“The Great Shaman means…”
Salun Agu smiled:
“They’re waiting for an opportunity.”
As his words fell, that golden sun finally exploded.
Buddha-light several times brighter than before burst forth, shock waves sweeping across dozens of li, directly engulfing Luo Yuheng, Asura, and the others.
The Mahavairocana Buddha manifestation’s power spread in all directions as it collapsed.
Seeing this, Salun Agu’s smile widened.
The opportunity had come.
The pitch-black manifestation Shen Shu had dissolved in the Buddha light, revealing his true form—his upper body had become skeletal, burned into a glowing red skeleton.
Even a Half-Step Martial God’s indestructible characteristic couldn’t maintain complete immunity.
Of course, besides weakened physical strength and decreased aura, Shen Shu hadn’t suffered fatal damage.
Da Feng’s transcendent experts quickly responded, everyone tacitly moving toward Yang Gong.
Yang Gong flicked his Confucian crown, stirring clear light to wrap around everyone:
“Retreat three hundred zhang.”
Words becoming law failed.
Sun Xuanji stomped his foot, a transmission formation rapidly spreading, trying to cover everyone, but before it could spread, it quickly collapsed, purified by the Buddha light.
Where the Mahavairocana Buddha manifestation’s light shone, all techniques would be purified.
Luo Yuheng’s immunity to all techniques and characteristics couldn’t function under super-rank level power.
Guangxian Bodhisattva immediately left his Chan state, the Great Reincarnation manifestation turning “crack,” the Buddhist text-carved “human” character lighting up, and the Great Compassion manifestation raising its gaze to “look” at Da Feng’s transcendent experts.
Karura Tree Bodhisattva charged “thump thump thump” toward Asura and the others like a hungry wolf pouncing on sheep.
Faster than them was Vairocana Bodhisattva—taking advantage of the Mahavairocana manifestation suppressing the transcendent experts, she silently appeared behind Deliverer, fingers pinching a demon-sealing nail, patting toward his back of the head.
As Buddhist members, Deliverer and Asura wouldn’t be purified by Buddha light, but just as seven-colored light wheels rose from the backs of their heads, the scenery around them lost color.
Their movements, and thoughts, including the Killer Fruit position, entered a sluggish state.
Vairocana Bodhisattva patted lightly, and with a “puff,” the demon-sealing nail viciously pierced Deliverer Arhat’s crown, initially completing the seal.
Then, Vairocana Bodhisattva grabbed Deliverer’s shoulder and vanished.
Terrible… Da Feng’s transcendent experts’ expressions changed drastically.
The fate of Deliverer was crucially important, his identity more important—his existence determined whether Mahayana Buddhism could continue in the Central Plains.
He was the link between Supreme Buddha Xu Qi An and Mahayana Buddhist disciples.
Relying solely on Xu Qi An who didn’t understand Buddhism would make it difficult to maintain Mahayana Buddhism, and once Mahayana Buddhism weakened, fate would flow back to Buddhism.
Even an old hand like the Daoist Golden Lotus felt deep powerlessness surge in his heart.
Luo Yuheng’s willow eyebrows stood on end, but she was helpless—she couldn’t support alone, couldn’t save Deliverer.
The next moment, the white-robed Vairocana Bodhisattva appeared in an uninhabited area covered by a dark red fleshy substance.
She rationally hadn’t chosen near the Buddha’s “incarnation” because that was too close to Shen Shu.
“Deliverer, being able to merge with the Buddha is your honor!”
Vairocana lamented:
“You should have been like us, eternally indestructible, becoming one of the Buddha’s spokespersons.”
The deliverer looked down at what was beneath him—the fleshy substance writhing like tentacles, eagerly wanting to devour him.
“Not my way!”
He pressed his palms together, calmly facing his fate.
Vairocana spoke no more, releasing her hand to drop him.
The dark red fleshy substance rose to the sky, enveloping and devouring Deliverer.
“Lei Province can’t be protected anymore.” Salun Agu shook his head, frowning.
Did the Supervisor have no trump cards?
He swept his gaze over the Gu Tribe leaders, finding their expressions all unsightly, only Grandmother Sky Gu’s expression unchanged.
“What did you see?” the Great Shaman asked.
“Heaven’s secrets cannot be revealed.”
Grandmother Sky Gu said with a smile.
Salun Agu pondered thoughtfully.
The grandmother isn’t worried at all, has she seen a future favorable to Da Feng? Chunyan’s eyes brightened, her anxiety and unease largely subsiding.
Does Da Feng have other backup plans? What could they be… the Gu Tribe leaders speculated.
At this moment, the portion of fleshy substance that had devoured Deliverer suddenly began twisting wildly, as if having indigestion.
Then with a thunderous “boom,” the fleshy substance exploded like a cannonball hitting a swamp, mud splattering everywhere.
The sudden change left everyone stunned. Looking closely, they saw Deliverer appear unharmed in the transcendent experts’ vision, with someone else beside him.
This person wore an indigo robe and black hair casually scattered.
His features were handsome, tall, and graceful.
Da Feng’s Constable Xu Qi An.