The great battle of the Divine Domain had begun — a cataclysmic confrontation, so tremendous that even from the outer domain one could witness the sheer horror of what was happening there.

Three imperial weapons joined together and slashed toward the Forbidden Zone of the Divine — the Divine Refinement Cauldron, the Ten-Thousand Dragon Bell, and the Battle Saint Staff — striking until heaven collapsed and earth shattered, ghosts wailed and gods howled, and blood rained in torrents.

The extreme-path divine radiance surged skyward, breaking into the vast star domain, causing even Ye Fan and the others to pale. This was the imperial might of the extreme path — three weapons fully awakened.

Within the Divine Domain, a formation diagram stretched across the heavens. Four killing swords floated into view, shaking the sky and moving the earth, emanating extreme-path immortal might. One streak of sword energy after another swept in all directions, battling the three imperial weapons.

The four killing swords were blurred and somewhat unreal — but the formation diagram was extraordinarily special. With it present, it was as though a portion of a Great Emperor’s primordial spirit was here to direct the battle.

This was the supreme manifestation of the killing formation — internally sealing the “Combination” character secret art, which united the extreme-path imperial weapons of the entire world, arraying them together to form an unparalleled divine might, crushing all things beneath heaven.

One could say that the power a Great Emperor could display while alive could only be partially manifested in this way.

The full-scale battle erupted.

Even though the fighting was taking place in the airspace above the Divine Domain, even this place would be obliterated — the invisible formation and ancient formation platforms could no longer protect the mountains and rivers below.

At the critical moment, from within the Divine Domain, the most ancient divine mountain blazed with brilliant radiance. The faith power of all living beings accumulated over countless ages poured forth.

RUMBLE!

Mountains and rivers were stabilized. Sun and moon were held in place. These pure forces surged like a vast ocean, fixing the fires of earth, water, wind, and earth in position, steadying all things, and protecting this ancient domain.

An incomparable force — not inferior to a fully awakened imperial weapon — simply because it was too vast. From ancient times to the present, who could know how much sacred divine power had been accumulated? Today it awakened in its entirety. Otherwise, not only this place but the entire ancient star might have been shattered to dust.

The Divine Domain had reached a moment of life-and-death peril — never before had it faced such danger. Three imperial weapons battering the gate simultaneously; even if a god were alive, it could not have withstood this.

“Pop!”

Sword energy crisscrossed everywhere. Ten million streaks arose together, and a single horizontal slash swept through — all three imperial weapons gave a light ring, having sustained massive impact.

Spatial rifts in the void spread into the far distance, extending directly into the outer domain, devouring several small meteorites into their depths — utterly terrifying.

Ye Fan and his companions stood in the vault of heaven watching this scene, and their expressions all changed. If this continued, the Immortal Shore of the Divine would certainly be destroyed — even with the faith power of that most ancient divine mountain, it would be unable to hold.

“Brother Monkey is putting in the appearance without the effort.” Pang Bo grinned.

Looking down at the ancient star, the imperial weapons blazed most brilliantly of all — but the Battle Saint Staff was comparatively dim. Each attack was made with tremendous fanfare, yet when it came time to actually strike, the monkey always hung back.

It was obvious: the monkey was deeply displeased. He had been dragged into this fight against his will and harbored resentment — but he could not overpower the two Great Sages wielding the other imperial weapons, so he simply dragged his feet.

Given enough time, it would not be surprising if he defected on the spot. The Battle Saint Ape lineage was the most fierce and unyielding of all — they answered to no one and obeyed no authority.

“The nine-tiered coffin sarcophagus from the Age of Myth has been carried into the Divine Domain!”

An enormous stone coffin, with a Great Sage using heart’s blood to perform sacrificial refining — opening it layer by layer — released a terrifying flood of imperial death energy.

“The Divine Domain has lost,” Ji Haoyue knew. Barring the unforeseen, the outcome could no longer be changed.

Three imperial weapons were holding down the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable’s supreme killing formation. At this moment, there was no one to suppress the imperial coffin. The imperial death energy could ignite the faith power and utterly annihilate this place.

And indeed — once the ancient coffin entered the Divine Domain, it ignited the faith power in its entirety. This was a terrifying reversal: it was as if a sky full of fires were burning, heaven and earth boiling alike, rolling like a surging sea, radiant and blinding.

The sacred faith power evaporated, burned, and was seared dry. The brilliance was extreme, more terrifying than the explosion of countless suns.

In that moment, the Divine Domain suffered devastating losses. Many people died, transformed directly into blood mist. Still more Shrine Masters let out long cries and fled into the distance.

The blazing radiance, like a burst dam of floodwaters, surged rampantly across the vast earth, sweeping toward ever more distant mountains and rivers. All the great clans trembled — this was a catastrophic consequence.

“Crack!”

The Divine Domain fractured in all directions. If this continued, it would certainly be reduced to flying ash — and after that, with this as the breach point, the entire ancient star would explode.

Clang!

An immortal sword rang out softly. A distinctive silver formation array flashed and shimmered, and from within it surged four ancient swords, pitch dark red throughout, archaic yet concealing an incomparable killing intent.

Every Great Sage drew in a sharp cold breath and froze completely. These were the four killing swords from within the Heavenly Venerable’s life-spring — having crossed the void to arrive, now real and manifest, no longer blurred phantom images.

This meant serious trouble.

The formation diagram hung overhead. Four swords hung suspended to the east, south, west, and north — guarding the four gates — once again stabilizing the Divine Domain, suppressing all things, sweeping the enormous stone coffin aside.

And during this process, the two Great Sages who had been pouring heart’s blood to consecrate the divine coffin had not even managed a single groan before they were sliced apart by sword energy into shattered bone — dying in a stroke of ill fate.

Everyone’s scalp went numb. The real four swords had crossed through the Ancient Heavenly Venerable’s life-spring and arrived here at the Immortal Shore of the Divine — merging with the formation diagram to achieve a true state of invincibility under all of heaven.

Could the battle continue?

Three imperial weapons were not inferior to four killing swords — but the formation diagram was too mysterious. With the part-living, heaven-defying might of a Great Emperor behind it, the imperial weapons could be driven with greater precision. Even if a god stood in the way, that god would be slain.

“It would take four imperial weapons to break this formation — but where would one find a fourth right now?” Everyone was anxious, their faces pale. They had not anticipated that success would slip away at the last moment — the four immortal swords had appeared in their true forms at the most critical juncture.

At this moment, forget attacking the Divine Domain — even whether the Great Sages without imperial weapons could escape alive was questionable. The tide had completely turned.

In truth, the people within the Divine Domain were all dumbfounded. No one had anticipated that at the final moment the four imperial weapons would appear, instantly turning the tables and reversing the outcome.

“Bring that emperor coffin here — use it as a fourth imperial weapon for now. And you, monkey — if you keep putting in the appearance without the effort, don’t blame me for putting you down first!” one Great Sage roared.

The Holy Emperor’s son gave a cold laugh — but now was not the time for arguments. He truly did have to fight with everything he had. Otherwise, he himself might be finished here.

The killing formation diagram was extraordinarily fearsome. It arrayed the imperial weapons in formation — combining offense and defense, crushing all things — as if it sought to destroy this entire expanse of the universe.

Four killing swords hung at the four directions. The Divine Domain stood solid as a fortress, and moreover it actively struck outward, advancing continuously, hacking at the Great Sages until their hearts ran cold with dread.

At the four sword gates, Chaos churned and billowed. Each strike released tens of thousands of streaks of brilliant light — each single streak sufficient to slay a Great Sage. The fear was absolute.

The immortal swords turned vivid red, as though blood were flowing through them — deeply disturbing. Each sliver of their radiance shattered the vault of heaven as Chaos energy surged.

“This is going to end badly — how can this killing formation be so terrifying? Could it truly suppress four imperial weapons?” One of the ten great sages said with a trembling voice.

“It is merely a dying burst of brilliance,” Ji Haoyue said.

This was the result of the faith power erupting — but it could not sustain itself forever. The faith power would eventually be exhausted, consumed entirely by the imperial weapons.

When that moment came, the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable’s killing formation would be unable to resist four imperial weapons for long. After all, those four were the crystallized efforts of four Ancient Emperors — weapons that had accompanied them throughout a lifetime of battle.

“BOOM!”

Suddenly, a heaven-shaking blast rang out. The enormous stone coffin was carried into the Divine Domain. When blood was poured upon it and each layer was blasted open, everyone nearby was hurled aside — imperial death energy spilled forth and ignited the faith power.

This was a great catastrophe. The people of the Divine Domain, dense and numerous, fell from the sky like raindrops — countless bones and bodies, incinerated into ash and cinders in the light of the flames.

The scene was extremely bloody. Even powerful Shrine Masters could not endure it — their bodies exploded directly, blood mist rose in all directions, and faith power burned.

“Holy Maiden!”

A young woman in blue clothing, transcendent and unworldly — now with tears streaming down her face — exploded amid the flames, blood showering in all directions.

She was a Holy Maiden of the Divine Domain, a woman who had transcended the mortal and entered the sacred — yet she could not withstand this overwhelming pressure. She died an undeserved death.

Many people wept in anguish. This was a burden beyond all bearing. The Divine Domain had been breached this day, its casualties devastatingly heavy — it was truly a tragedy written in blood and tears.

“Ah…!”

A divine elder opened his eyes wide in fury. His hair stood on end in every direction and the corners of his eyes split open and bled — but none of it changed anything. He was struck by a wave of imperial weapon killing energy and was reduced to flying ash.

Within the Divine Domain, all four great Holy Maidens perished. Two of the divine elders were killed in battle as well — their flesh and blood evaporated and they were turned to dust.

The situation here had been decided and could no longer be reversed. The Divine Domain was destined to suffer great defeat. The casualties in this battle were devastating and profoundly cruel. They were beyond salvation.

“Abandon everything here — leave it all!” A Shrine Master shouted and led the survivors in breaking out to escape.

Every war is bloody and cruel. Sometimes there is no question of right or wrong — only different stances.

The Divine Domain had lorded over all living beings, accepting the offerings of ten thousand kinds of living things, transcendent like gods — to the various clans on this ancient star, it had been like an enormous colossus towering above the clouds, impossibly high. For so many years, they had held the power of life and death over all, everything within their grasp. Never had they imagined that such a day would come — that they too would become the pitiful ones, their fate completing a full cycle.

On the Immortal Shore, the leaders of many great clans were elated. This great colossus, the Divine Domain, had finally fallen — the mountain that had pressed down upon their heads had collapsed with a thunderous roar, and could no longer constrain them.

“Grandfather, you may rest in peace beneath the spring of wine. Long ago, the Divine Domain destroyed our clan and seized our ancestral scriptures — and now a similar thing has befallen them.”

“This is a cycle come full circle. The Divine Domain has been overthrown. Our people need no longer worship there — we will revere our own ancient ancestors!”

Outside reactions differed. Ordinary people were thrown into panic and anxiety. But the rulers of each clan were overjoyed, their fists clenched tight.

“Those who slay others shall themselves be slain in turn!” These were the cold words of some old clan leaders. Unlike their clanspeople who were at a loss, all of them harbored their own ambitions.

Within the Divine Domain, bones lay in piles everywhere. Blood had splattered high — wherever the eye landed, it was crimson.

“BOOM!”

Several Shrine Masters, eyes filled with hot tears, led a group of survivors and fought their way out, fleeing the Divine Domain. This place had truly ended — there was no protecting it any longer.

At this moment, the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable’s killing formation finally became unstable as well. The formation diagram spun ever more slowly. The four killing swords dimmed, no longer vivid red — their killing intent gradually withdrawing inward.

Some rushed toward a sacred mountain, preparing to seize the Ancient Tree of Life. Others moved to claim the immortal swords. Still others, wielding imperial weapons, surged toward the high heavens — seeking to obtain the supremely rare formation diagram.

The great tide of the Divine Domain had turned. It was on the verge of destruction and defeat. Even the killing swords and the formation diagram were on the verge of being seized by those with imperial weapons and divided up among the victors.

With a thunderous boom, the formation diagram took flight. The four swords became unstable. All four gate positions were completely lost. The Chaos energy blasted outward — the great formation collapsed, falling apart entirely.

The formation diagram dimmed and descended, pressing upon the vault of heaven — no one could approach it. The four killing swords transformed into several streaks of divine light, dancing and flying through the air, clashing from time to time with the imperial weapons, terrifyingly powerful.

And yet the four killing swords were nothing like they had been moments before, when their brilliance had been fully unsheathed. Originally a unified whole, they now fought separately — how could they resist four imperial weapons?

“Dao Yi is over there!” Ye Fan opened his Source Heavenly Eye and peered into the Divine Domain’s landscape — capable of seeing through all things in this world.

Now that the great formation had been broken, nothing remained to block the Source Heavenly Eye. He saw through Dao Yi’s disguise — as expected, it was not the person wearing the Dao-Tribulation Gold divine garment.

“Enter the Divine Domain!”

With the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable’s killing formation broken and the four killing swords each scattered in different directions, this place no longer had the suppressive force of Dao-traces. Even entering the formation would not trigger the immense pressure that would cause the green bronze cauldron to glow.

Dao Yi had ascended the ancient mountain. Atop it grew a precious tree — azure and jade-green, as though carved from divine jade, emanating powerful life essence: an immortal medicine of undying nature.

Ye Fan and his companions, concealed within the Heaven-Deceiving Formation, approached in complete silence. They arrived there as well. Dao Yi evidently carried some secret treasure, for he suddenly raised his head and looked in their direction — sensing that someone was closing in from the shadows.

At the same time, the Great Sages not far away who had been fighting over the four killing swords spotted someone approaching the Ancient Tree of Life and gave cold laughs, moving to strike with imperial weapons. Of course, they dared not slash directly toward this direction while holding the imperial weapons — doing so might destroy the precious medicine tree.

They were held back by their reluctance to harm what they coveted. But Dao Yi dared to make a bold move. He let out a sudden roar that shook the sky, twin beams of terrifying light shooting from his eyes toward the vault of heaven.

BOOM!

A terrifying catastrophe descended. The vast five-element life essence beyond the outer domain boiled and surged, cascading down from the five great continents like an overwhelming flood, flowing toward this ancient star — the Divine Domain taking the brunt of it first.

This was the five-element life essence generated within the Dao Palaces of the ancient Great Emperor — and now it had been summoned down at this moment, making it a heavenly disaster compounded by human disaster.

In that instant, the entire ancient star shattered in all directions, rapidly disintegrating, and then exploded with a deafening blast.

Except for the Divine Domain, which had several imperial weapons suppressing it — everywhere else was utterly helpless against this force. This was the immortal energy born within the Great Emperor’s body. It directly destroyed this ancient star.

Without a doubt, living beings perished in untold numbers. Blood flooded the heavens. Mountains of bones rose up. Nearly every soul on the ancient star died.

Just moments before, all the great clans had been filled with hope — the Divine Domain had been overthrown, they would rise to meet a new era — and then, in the very next instant, this ancient land was destroyed and every soul in the entire world perished.

Every ten thousand years, the five-element continents of the outer domain would erupt once. The cycle had come round again — and yet this was the result.

Many people died unable to close their eyes in peace, not knowing that someone had exploited this eruption of five-element immortal energy, guiding and amplifying it to create this immeasurable slaughter and tribulation.

“Dao Yi is vicious to the extreme!” Pang Bo’s pupils contracted sharply. This person, in pursuit of his goals, was truly unscrupulous — brutal and ruthless beyond measure.

Ye Fan too felt a chill in his heart. This young imperial son — who appeared refined and elegant on the outside, yet had lured the Great Sage of the Flame Qilin Grotto to his death — was even more terrifying than he had imagined.

The Divine Domain was struck by a devastating impact as the five-element immortal energy nurtured within the Great Emperor’s body cascaded down like a sky-blotting flood, blocking the advance of the imperial weapons.