Dong dong dong dong dong dong!
The battle drums boomed.
As if echoing thunder from the nine heavens.
Each beat struck the world like a drum, shaking its very foundations. Glorious heavenly might covered billions of li, silencing myriad beings in sheer terror.
Gazing toward the horizon,
A terrifying Yao aura soared into the heavens, an endless expanse of dark clouds pressing down.
Ooh——
With every drumbeat, the endless dark clouds surged closer. As they drew near, one could hear the ceaseless blare of trumpets, echoing throughout the world, reverberating in one's ears.
A crushing pressure bore down.
It felt as if the world itself was on the verge of collapse.
Mei, however, remained calm and unperturbed.
She smiled broadly.
"The spectacle is certainly grand enough."
Even the Taikyoku of the current era had never displayed such a terrifying show of force. And this was merely one of the Yao race's marshal armies. The entire Yao race commanded twelve Yao marshals and twelve Yao armies.
One could only imagine,
How immensely powerful the Yao race truly was.
Boom!
Suddenly, mountains collapsed and the earth split open.
Towering giant figures materialized from all directions, encircling Mei. Each figure represented a different variation of supporting the heavens and treading the earth—some with six legs, some with six arms, some bearing three eyes, some possessing three heads.
All displayed ferocious visages.
Their true forms manifested.
Heavenly Manifestation!
Dong dong dong!
Ooh——
Listening again,
The thunder of the battle drums was now upon them. Vast, profound trumpets echoed globally. Everywhere one looked, Yao soldiers and Yao generals, all with ferocious visages, completely filled the view.
Above, auspicious clouds layered, Yao kings and generals surrounded them, their eyes gleaming with fierceness, murderous intent soaring to the heavens. There were countless banners, stretching beyond the ninth heaven.
Wild winds howled.
Battle flags swayed violently.
The incalculable Yao army pressed upon the world. The sun, moon, and stars obeyed their command, and the myriad beings of the world fell silent. Their might was irresistible; even wind, fire, thunder, and lightning were commanded by their will.
Such a grand spectacle,
Naturally drew the gaze and scrutiny of many from across the great wilderness.
Those who witnessed it visibly changed color.
"The Yao race is this powerful?!"
"What has transpired? Why is the Yao race displaying such force?"
"The Yao race... the world faces immense peril!"
Dong!
As one drumbeat ceased, the world instantly fell silent. Only the sound of countless banners fluttering in the wind remained. Within the Yao race's three armies, beyond the ninth heaven,
A figure clad in golden armor, radiating an overwhelming, domineering aura, appeared.
It was Bang.
With military might, his voice echoed throughout the world, like glorious heavenly power.
"Bold madman! Daring to invade my Yao race's territory and taking the lives of my people! No matter your methods or schemes, you shall not survive this day!"
The Yao army was endless.
Their pressure soared toward the ninth heaven.
In comparison, Mei stood alone, appearing utterly isolated, like a praying mantis attempting to halt a chariot. The wild winds flapped her robes. She confronted Bang from a distance.
A prompt sounded at this moment.
【Transcender detected】
【Elimination mission activated】
【Elimination Mission: Transcendent Space is the rival faction of Hyperdimensional Space. Transcendents are mortal enemies. Please eliminate all Transcendents before you.】
【Mission Reward: 2 trillion Points】
Bang's pupils constricted. Mei's eyes, however, flashed with light. Setting aside other calculations for now, purely for this unprecedentedly immense Mission Reward,
Mei was determined to subdue the entire army before her.
"Seize this person!"
Bang was somewhat surprised. The individual before him was indeed a Void Wanderer, but it wasn't entirely unexpected. After the momentary surprise, he issued the command without further hesitation.
He wanted to witness precisely how capable this person was.
And how audacious!
Wind, rain, thunder, and lightning!
Rumble!
At his command, the Yao army, wielding heavenly might, summoned divine thunder from the nine heavens. Even Mei dared not underestimate this onslaught. Without reaching Tier 8, she had to exert her full strength just to face the Yao army.
"Today,"
"It is I who shall subdue all of you!"
Mei waved her sleeve, unleashing streaks of crimson light that swirled around her. In an instant, the Five Elements evolved, and Yin and Yang inverted. The divine thunder from the nine heavens descended, entirely nullified by these crimson lights.
Hum—
"Go!"
Mei launched these streaks of crimson light into the Yao army, numbering exactly a dozen or so. As the crimson light dispersed, it revealed ten Innate and Acquired magical artifacts.
All Tier 8 treasures!
Each of the ten magical artifacts possessed wondrous uses. Under Mei's control, they displayed their divine powers: some shattered formations, some scattered souls, some slew enemies, and some blocked assaults.
One person wielding ten treasures simultaneously.
The scene grew even more magnificent.
Such cultivation and methods naturally astonished onlookers. In the great wilderness, no one had ever heard of someone who could simultaneously control so many magical artifacts in battle.
Truly formidable.
But,
This was no time for admiration.
The overwhelming military might was almost impregnable, transforming into a vast Dharma idol that clashed violently with the ten magical artifacts. Bang saw this, snorted coldly, and threw out a dazzling, colorful large umbrella.
This was the Primal Chaos Parasol.
It possessed the ability to subdue all manner of things.
Yet, that wasn't all.
"Formation, Battle, Engage, Array, All, Formation, Line Up, Ahead!"
"The Nine Generals, heed my command—slay this foe!"
Upon hearing this, the Nine Generals—the combatants representing Formation, Battle, Engagement, Array, All, Formation, and Line Up—simultaneously mobilized.
"Your subordinate receives the command!"
A vast, profound voice shook the clear sky.
As he spoke, the Primal Chaos Parasol revolved from the nine heavens, raining down beams of light. The wind gradually picked up, stirring up vast amounts of sand and dust, attempting to draw Mei into the umbrella's vortex.
Seeing this,
Mei conjured an object, unleashing the Stillness Orb, which instantly anchored the sandstorm. All things are mutually reinforcing and restraining. Even with the heaven-piercing power of the Primal Chaos Parasol, it struggled to exert its full effect before the Stillness Orb.
Boom!
The next moment,
It was as if mountains collapsed, the earth split, and the sky fell.
The nine colossal Yao generals, who had been circling, boldly advanced. Each stood firm, propping up the sky and treading the earth, their feet resting upon mountains and rivers, their heads beneath the clear sky. Amidst the swirling mists, their forms were vaguely discernible.
The nine generals either possessed three heads and six arms, or glaring eyes and fangs, or were wreathed in fiery clouds, or wrapped in mists like flowing gauze. Some wielded gigantic pitchforks, others massive hammers that shook heaven and earth.
The nine made their move.
Looking from afar,
Nine towering colossal figures bowed their heads. Their movements were as swift as wind and thunder, their momentum grand, stirring up winds and clouds, causing the firmament to change color. The one wielding the gigantic pitchfork took a large stride, thrusting the pitchfork directly toward Mei.
Such a spectacle,
How could it not inspire terror?
In the distance,
Those who heard the commotion and approached were terrified out of their wits. Seeing the Yao army, their numbers covering the sky and earth, their boundless pressure permeated the world, striking fear into everyone.
A Daoist's face turned pale.
Incredulous: "Who on earth is engaging the Yao army?"
It was difficult to accept.
The Yao army's might was so grand, yet it was merely to subdue a single person. Was that individual a Taikyoku? To necessitate such an exaggerated battle formation.
Boom!
Instantly,
Mountains collapsed and the earth split.
The nine towering generals attacked simultaneously, then collectively paused, advancing no further. Mei, maintaining her composure, conjured another magical artifact: a glazed pagoda hung suspended above her head.
It cast down streams of light, successfully resisting all of the nine generals' assaults.
An Innate magical artifact.
The Heavenly Pagoda!
If one could not bring an Innate offensive treasure, this item was practically impregnable. It could externally safeguard the physical body and internally protect the soul, making it the world's foremost protective magical artifact.
Boom!
The Heavenly Pagoda shuddered violently.
The nine generals were all repelled, staggering back step by step, causing landslides and rupturing rivers, utterly discomfited. Looking up toward the nine heavens, Bang's expression remained unchanged.
Dong dong dong dong!
The battle drums thundered ceaselessly. Without any explicit command from Bang, the Yao army's momentum pressed down automatically. The fierce and crazed Dharma idol of the army charged toward Mei.
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At the same time,
Millions of divine lights and streaking glows shot out from the army.
Countless magical artifacts, like a sky full of flying feathers, were conjured simultaneously. The roars of the Yao army shook the heavens.
"Up!"
Mei praised.
"Truly formidable!"
"Roar!"
The Yao race's army Dharma idol roared skyward, crashing into the Heavenly Pagoda, causing the pagoda to subtly tremble, on the verge of collapse, incredibly difficult to withstand.
The Yao army was powerful. No ordinary force could resist it. Once this battle formation manifested, if truly judged by sheer strength, it was indeed irresistible to anyone below Taikyoku. Even possessing self-preservation within the Taikyoku realm was rare.
The Dharma idol appeared ferocious and crazed.
Its eyes glared like a tiger's.
Killing intent surged.
The pervasive Yao aura acted like wind fanning flames, amplifying its savagery.
Mei remained utterly fearless.
Seeing this, she merely waved her hand and conjured two more treasures. Two streams of light flew back: one a brocade pouch, the other a mottled stone tablet.
The Innate magical artifact, the Twenty-Four Tribulation Brocade Pouch.
The Innate magical artifact, the textless heavenly book, the Great Self-Contained Mind Scripture.
Mei knew in her heart,
Without achieving Taikyoku, it was genuinely difficult to forcefully contend against the Yao army's formation. She needed to break the stalemate with calculated intelligence. Yet, she dared to face the enemy, possessing a degree of confidence.
At the same moment,
Millions of magical artifacts flew out from the Yao army, borrowing the world's power as if they were stars filling the sky, exerting the might of stellar constellations to magnificently suppress her with the world's inherent strength.
Thousands of km away,
The onlookers were utterly terrified.
"How can anyone not of Taikyoku resist this army formation?!"
"Only a Taikyoku can resist!"
The group of Daoists only wished to know how that person would navigate this situation. With no Taikyoku present, they wondered if he could somehow deploy his specialized techniques beneath this massive army formation.
Regardless, this individual had endured so long within the Yao army; he already possessed exceptional skill. This Yao army's might was fundamentally irresistible to a lone entity.
"This person's methods are truly formidable!"
"To possess so many Innate magical artifacts!"
Within the army formation,
Under the suppression of the Stellar Constellation Power, the Heavenly Pagoda gradually buckled under the strain. Various magical artifacts continuously flew back to provide assistance, and though they retreated inch by inch, they barely managed to temporarily hold their ground.
Mei's expression remained composed.
She opened the brocade pouch, and immediately, twenty-four streaks of light flew out, descending directly into the Yao army's formation. Above the nine heavens, Bang attempted to intervene, but unfortunately failed.
Bang frowned.
"What is this?"
Soon,
He detected a weakening across the three armies. Many soldiers suddenly exhibited signs of the Five Decrepitudes of Heaven and Man, their magical power rapidly diminishing, and their divine powers and cultivation levels dropping significantly.
The world has four seasons, totaling twenty-four solar terms. For cultivators who seize the world's fortune and possess extended lifespans to already be defying the natural order of spring departing and autumn arriving.
The Twenty-Four Tribulation Brocade Pouch contained the twenty-four solar term calamities. Those affected by it would suffer the five decrepitudes of heaven and man, falling into the cycle of birth, old age, sickness, and death.
Great Yaos might resist, but the army mostly consisted of minor Yaos. With the Twenty-Four Tribulations descending, they had no power to resist and could only yield to the five decrepitudes of heaven and man, enduring this calamity.
"Insignificant trick!"
"We do not fear mere decrepitude!"
The Nine Generals roared in unison,
Their voices shaking mountains and earth.
The one wielding the steel fork took another step, traversing countless mountains, rivers, and lakes in a single stride, each step covering hundreds of thousands of li.
"Look at the fork!"
Simultaneously,
The Nine Generals displayed their various divine powers.
Bang's gaze was icy. He granted Mei no chance to retaliate. Unable to halt the Twenty-Four Tribulations, he dismissed them, judging that even if the three armies were slightly weakened, they were still far superior to this single individual.
Waving his hand,
He conjured a magical artifact.
An Acquired magical artifact, the Scarlet Coin.
This item, when striking a person, could shatter the Indestructible Vajra body. It could also strike magical artifacts, with an even greater effect. Regardless of the magical artifact, if struck repeatedly by the Scarlet Coin, it would suffer varying degrees of damage.
It was specialized in countering magical artifacts.
There were talented individuals within the Yao race. After utilizing an unknown quantity of heavenly treasures, they forged this magical artifact, which, through the world's grace and the Yao race's power, was finally successfully created.
Bang declared coldly, "With so many magical artifacts, let's see how many you can afford to destroy!"
With that decree,
He hurled two Scarlet Coins from the ninth heaven, which transformed into two streaks of fiery red and golden light, hurtling toward Mei's ten magical artifacts. Their momentum was fierce.
Suddenly,
"The Great Sovereign of self-attainment, only I..."
The sound resonated like a grand celestial bell.
A wondrous scripture echoed throughout the world, directly penetrating the soul and consciousness. Mei held the textless heavenly book in her hand, seemingly able to perceive the scripture hidden within.
The textless heavenly book manifested differently for each observer. Anyone could perceive unique doctrines within it. Mei perceived something even more exceptional: the Great Self-Contained Mind Scripture.
This scripture aided in cultivating the mind, helping one confront the seven emotions and six desires. While it appeared to be a heaven-piercing Great Dao for forging a supreme mindset, it secretly held immense peril.
If one failed to subdue the seven emotions and six desires, they would instantly sink into them, losing self-control until their physical body perished and their soul scattered. Subduing these internal conflicts was something most cultivators could not achieve in their entire, endless lives.
Easy to say, you might think.
It easily dragged them into their minds to face internal turmoil, no different from claiming their lives. Under normal circumstances, they might have resisted, but this was after the Twenty-Four Tribulations had already inflicted the five decrepitudes of heaven and man.
At this moment, the Yao army's morale was weakened, their minds fragile. How could they possibly subdue the seven emotions and six desires? With this scripture deployed, the entire Yao army instantly fell into a profound silence.
Magical artifacts rained down from the sky, dropping one after another.
Thump!
Clank clank!
Beyond the ninth heaven, Yaos fell sequentially, their consciousnesses drawn into their own minds by the Great Self-Contained Mind Scripture, forced to confront their inner selves on the path to the Great Dao.
Mei had bestowed upon them a destiny and fortune of unparalleled magnitude!
The Scarlet Coins, before even reaching Mei, began to falter. Even Bang, as a Yao Marshal, could not help but be momentarily affected mentally by the surge of the seven emotions and six desires.
But how could someone with his level of cultivation be easily drawn into such a mental state? Yet, even that momentary lapse was enough to unleash a flash of killing intent, startling Bang.
Not to mention the Nine Generals.
As the Nine Generals' minds wavered,
Mei directly summoned the Soul-Reaping Banner. The Nine Generals were utterly defenseless. Three of the Nine Generals possessed protective magical artifacts for their souls and managed to escape this immediate calamity. The souls of the remaining six were all drawn into the Banner by Mei.
Whoosh—
The Yin wind howled.
Six dazed souls were thus captured by Mei.
Mei had intended to capture Bang's soul as well, but he possessed a protective magical artifact. Mei had no choice but to conjure another artifact: a white jade pure bottle.
An Acquired magical artifact, the Weak Water Jar.
At the dawn of the world, in the south of the great wilderness, there was a river named Weak Water. This river could support absolutely nothing; even a feather, light as it was, would sink to the bottom.
Hence, it was called Weak Water.
This water not only failed to support objects, but its nature could also seal the seven orifices, its suffocating sensation piercing the soul. If submerged for too long, one would dissolve, body and soul obliterated, leaving nothing behind.
"Seal!"
Mei manifested the Weak Water Jar, drawing the completely unprepared Bang into it. Regardless of his protective magical artifact, he was directly submerged to the bottom of the Weak Water.
Bang was not insignificant; he certainly wouldn't perish immediately, but he would be tormented to the point of madness.
The Yao Marshal was neutralized.
Six of the Nine Generals were gone.
The Yao army was leaderless, no longer capable of organized fighting.
Gazing toward the ninth heaven, all the remaining Yaos were disoriented. Mei, wielding the Soul-Reaping Banner, waved it against the wind. Immediately, myriad Yao souls left their bodies, entering the Banner one after another.
Instantly,
The world darkened perceptibly.
Those watching from thousands of kilometers away felt their scalps tingle with sheer dread.
The Yao army.
Defeated!
...
The myriad Yao souls completely entered the Soul-Reaping Banner. The Yao army was routed, its vast momentum vanishing in an instant. The remaining Great Yaos struggled bitterly but were utterly powerless to resist.
This time, it was an unprecedented explosion of spoils. Even the weakest cultivators within the Yao army were not to be underestimated, and their sheer numbers guaranteed innumerable equipment and items dropped.
Spatial prompts continuously rang in her ears.
A contingent of Great Yaos yielded many powerful magical artifacts for Mei. Several were Innate magical artifacts; the rest were Acquired.
【Item Acquired: Sea Quelling Stone】
【Item Acquired: Spirit of Sand Calling Bell】
【Item Acquired: Jade Pinnacle】
"..."
And so on.
Although not yet officially classified within Hyperdimensional Space, their power alone indicated that all were Tier 8 items. Now, all these spoils belonged to Mei.
She extended a hand.
Bang's remaining Scarlet Coins fell directly into Mei's grasp. Since Bang himself was contained within the Weak Water Jar, he hadn't been truly annihilated, meaning this particular item wasn't dropped.
Witnessing the utter defeat of the Yao army, those who managed to maintain their composure—those not dragged into the mental landscape by the Great Self-Contained Mind Scripture—were consumed by sheer terror. They immediately turned and fled with great haste.
"Run!"
"How fearsome is this individual!"
Three Yao Generals, protected by their magical artifacts, miraculously survived. Recognizing the total rout of the Yao army, they decisively retreated. Those who escaped possessed considerable skill, otherwise, they could not have maintained their composure against the Great Self-Contained Mind Scripture.
Among the escapees were quite a few Transcenders. These Transcenders were either lone operatives, affiliated with other Legions, or perhaps part of Decussate Star under Bang's command.
Their individual strength was considered decent.
Having entered this primordial world during this era, they possessed at least Tier 7 strength. The Tier 3 battlefields existed elsewhere; they were reserved for a later period characterized by the decline of the Dharma.
Mei didn't show much concern for the nuances of their affiliations. Seeing the remnants of the army attempting to escape, she immediately conjured the Weak Water Jar. She cared little for their identities; all were submerged to the bottom of the Weak Water to keep Bang company.
"Ah—"
"Show mercy!"
"Do you truly intend to annihilate us all!"
"I refuse to yield!"
"..."
Amidst a cacophony of desperate wails, each Great Yao was captured by Mei into the Weak Water Jar. Without the backing of the Yao army's formation channeling the world's power, how could the Yaos resist this potent magical artifact?
"Run!"
A Transcender's soul chilled. Relying on its protective magical artifact, it momentarily escaped from the mouth of the jar. Just as it was attempting to drag several other Transcenders along, Mei pressed down with her hand.
Immediately, a colossal black monument descended. This was the newly acquired Sea Quelling Stone, which instantly crushed several Transcenders until their very souls scattered. As the saying goes, "there's always a stronger hand." Mei’s collection of magical artifacts was steadily growing, and her means of dealing with adversaries were multiplying.
Before long,
Boom!
A towering Yao Marshal fell, crushing thousands of mountains and shaking the earth. Its massive body, whose head and tail were obscured, transformed into an immense mountain range upon impact.
The Yao Marshal's protective magical artifact was a large bell. He had hidden inside, believing he could escape. However, Mei used the Sea Quelling Stone to strike the large bell, killing him directly within his own protective magic.
【Item Acquired: Confining Dragon Bell】
The other two Yao Generals.
One was eroded into a pile of yellow sand by the Spirit of Sand Calling Bell, leaving absolutely no remains. The other was transformed into liquid jade by the Jade Pinnacle, its soul scattered.
The protective magical artifacts of these final two naturally fell into Mei's possession.
...
Far away.
The Daoists observing the battle were struck into complete silence.
"Hiss, this person's cultivation and methods can only be described as heaven-piercing! That Yao army formation, which only a Taikyoku could hope to resist, was actually shattered by him alone!"
If his cultivation weren't so unfathomable, even with so many magical artifacts, he couldn't possibly control them all. Everyone understood that while more powerful magical artifacts were better, controlling numerous ones simultaneously was exceptionally rare.
Even commanding two or three at once was considered incredibly formidable.
Yet, this individual,
Wielded what seemed like an entire sky full of magical artifacts, making anyone who merely glimpsed the scene from afar tremble.
"This person is certainly formidable."
Another Daoist commented, "Looking at this, the Yao race has truly unleashed something monumental. Even a single Yao army displays such might. I heard the Yao race commands a total of twelve Yao armies?"
Upon hearing this revelation,
Everyone's expressions grew solemn.
The Yao race largely consisted of individuals who neither cultivated good deeds nor accumulated virtue; they were belligerent, warlike, and thus responsible for countless sins. Once they amassed such power, this situation was unequivocally not beneficial for the world.
"Heh heh."
Someone gloated, "I foresee the Yao race still has quite the spectacle ahead. If this continues, even if Immeasurable and Evasion of Unity choose not to intervene, the Western Sect certainly won't stand idly by."
Wheel Celestial Venerable had made a grand vow to achieve merit-based Taikyoku, carrying the accumulated sins of myriad generations of this world. The more evil generated by the Yao race, the heavier the Western Sect's debt became.
No one knew when this debt could finally be cleansed.
His disciples performed one meritorious deed daily, accumulating virtue and merit, all dedicated to repaying this massive debt. If the Yao race persisted in such atrocities, Wheel Celestial Venerable would certainly not tolerate it.
"Wise counsel."
The grand battle concluded swiftly.
Bang's Yao army ceased to exist, leaving behind only corpses strewn across the desolate ground. They had arrived in overwhelming force, yet failed to achieve even the minor victory of a scattered retreat.
The entire army was annihilated.
Mei held the Weak Water Jar, continuously receiving notification chimes. At the bottom of the Weak Water, every moment, bodies and Dao dissolved, souls scattered. Completing the elimination mission was now merely a matter of time.
Bang, this Transcender, was immensely powerful and should be capable of persisting until the very end. Mei had no desire to deal with them individually, so she simply submerged them all at the bottom of the Weak Water.
With a sweep of her sleeve,
All the magical artifacts suspended in the sky were collected. Her movements were fluid, her figure ethereal as smoke, like an illusion, exiting without leaving a discernible trace.
This calculated maneuver had deviated slightly from Mei's original plan. The involvement of the Transcendents compelled her to prioritize completing the elimination mission immediately.
But ultimately, it didn't matter.
What needed to be accounted for was not missed; all crucial elements remained within her grasp.
At the same time,
In the Western Sect.
High above the vast nine heavens, upon a platform made of green lotus petals, the golden light signifying merit descended. Wheel Celestial Venerable let out a long sigh: "The world is plagued by numerous calamities; all sentient beings suffer."
...
"Senior Brother, I have returned!"
A loud shout echoed through the mountains. A youth, wielding a red and gold long spear, returned to the foot of Heaveng Mountain. Doan was eager to reach home, but unexpectedly, he encountered a scene completely transformed.
Below Heaveng Mountain, the familiar sights and sounds of old were gone. Only chaos remained, with eerie white bones shockingly visible everywhere, stripped entirely clean of flesh.
A Yao monster, carrying a person on its shoulder,
Was complaining aloud, "Sigh, the Great King's appetite is truly immense. If he keeps eating like this, never mind Heaveng Mountain, the humans within eight hundred km will soon be completely consumed..."
"..."
Doan froze instantly.
He had no idea what had become of Heaveng Mountain, where his comrades and elders had vanished, or whose skeletal remains those were.
In a flash,
Towering killing intent surged toward the nine heavens. Instantly, the wind and clouds shifted color. His eyes turned bloodshot, his face contorted like that of an Asura Yaksha. With a single spear thrust, he pinned the Yao monster before him to the ground.
"Who is your Great King?"
"Ah—"
The Yao monster screamed. It had intended to use its Great King's name to intimidate the opponent, but Doan’s ferocious appearance instead turned its face pale with dread.
"My... my Great King is Blaze Great King of Mount Ignis!"
