Chapter 153: True and False
"False."
A calm voice suddenly resounded!
All the False Gods only felt an extremely bizarre force sweep across their bodies, and an intense wave of weakness abruptly surged forth!
As if they had been sitting in meditation for hundreds of thousands of years!
The old man who had survived the destruction of the Sacred Land felt even more as though he were a mortal about to be lowered into a grave!
Utterly fragile!
Everything was simply too bizarre!
The member of the Li family had merely uttered a single word, yet they and the others had instantly become so feeble!
It was simply too bizarre!!
Could it be that he was a God?
Apart from deities, the False Gods truly could not imagine what kind of person could achieve such a degree??
Yet, deities had long since become a thing of the past and vanished into oblivion, while this person was merely a humble cultivator.
Puff...
Puff...
Just as everyone was filled with shock in their hearts, Liu Ruyuan had already arrived with her sword in hand!
Her delicate hands turned gracefully, slaying two people in succession!
"You're courting death!!!"
Daring not to hesitate any longer, the crowd successively summoned their magical treasures, looking as though they would fight to the bitter end!
They swarmed toward Liu Ruyuan to kill her!
Bang...
Puff...
Crack...
Puff...
The next scene was one that no one had anticipated.
The magical treasures summoned by the False Gods shattered instantly upon touching the longsword in Liu Ruyuan's hand!
Immediately afterward, the sound of tearing flesh rang out.
Another two people perished.
After roughly three breaths of time, of the seven False Gods present, four had fallen.
The remaining three were in an extremely wretched state.
The most miserable among them was because he had previously summoned his natal magical treasure.
He now collapsed flat onto the ground, blood continuously spilling from his mouth, already half-dead.
As for the other two, one was a matron in court dress with a mole at the corner of her mouth.
The other was the gloomy-faced old man who had plotted the most beforehand.
"Could it be that you truly wish to fight us to the bitter end!"
Noticing Liu Ruyuan's longsword slashing directly toward her, the matron's face had already turned extremely gloomy.
As a chilling voice escaped her lips, she hurriedly fled into the distance!
To stay meant certain death, and only by fleeing!
Could there be a glimmer of survival!
However, she had not even run for two breaths.
Bang.
She was pounced upon and killed by a Dao-realm bone dragon, her soul and body completely destroyed!
!!!
This gave the last surviving old man a tremendous fright.
With extreme terror filling his eyes, the old man hurriedly dropped to his knees before Li Changsheng!
He kowtowed repeatedly.
"It's all this lowly slave's fault for being blind and failing to recognize Mount Tai. My lord, just treat me like a fart and let me go..."
"This slave is a dog, this slave is not a human..."
"Magnanimous lords do not remember the faults of petty people, and this slave is a genuine, dyed-in-the-wool petty person..."
The old man was a mess of snot and tears, his face full of heartache.
That tearful, sorrowful appearance also left the members of the Immortal Forest Sect dumbfounded.
Wasn't this person acting like an unmatched expert aloof from the world just a moment ago...
This young lord is actually so formidable...
It seems the Sect Master is on intimate terms with this person...
Could they be cultivation companions...
Thinking of this, the gazes the crowd cast toward Li Changsheng gradually grew fanatical...
Revering the strong is an eternal truth in this world.
"Ding~ Host's aura and presence have increased, rewarding extra Destiny Points."
The system's voice rang out, but Li Changsheng's expression did not betray the slightest change.
He looked at the scene before him with a calm face.
Seeing this, Liu Ruyuan paused slightly before bringing her sword down in a slash!
Puff...
The sound of tearing flesh rang out, and the old man crashed headfirst onto the ground, making no further sound.
At this moment, outside the grand protective array of the Immortal Forest Sect, tens of thousands of cultivators stood stunned as chickens.
Slaughtering False Gods like butchering chickens and dogs?
Most of them didn't even reach the realm of communicating with the Dao...
Surely this person won't be so cruel as to slaughter all of us, right...
After all, these are tens of thousands of lives...
If they are all slaughtered, how is he any different from a demonic overlord...
The crowd dared not be certain in their hearts.
"Leave none alive."
Li Changsheng appeared far more composed.
Since they chose to attack the sect's mountain gates, they must have already prepared themselves for their own demise.
Since their minds were made up, let them all die.
Giving a calm command, Li Changsheng lingered no longer, taking a step forward to scoop Liu Ruyuan up by her slender waist.
The figures of the two suddenly vanished...
Immediately afterward.
Screech!!
Excited, ferocious roars rang out as hundreds of Dao-realm bone dragons surged past.
Three breaths later, the void above the Immortal Forest Sect trembled, and the hundreds of bone dragons returned successively to the Underworld River.
Only the disciples of the Immortal Forest Sect remained, staring blankly outside the sect.
Within a radius of several thousand miles, it was a bloody purgatory...
Such a scene was simply too terrifying!
That young lord was simply too formidable!
He and the others felt nothing less than profound admiration!
......
"Master, are you... leaving again..."
In the main hall on the master peak of the Immortal Forest Sect, Liu Ruyuan knelt on one knee.
Her eyelashes fluttered lightly, light rippling within her beautiful eyes.
In her slightly alluring voice, a lingering reluctance was faintly discernible.
"This sword is named 'Seal'."
"Take it and unify all the sects in the Eastern Domain."
"The formidable enemies of Qingling are approaching, and we cannot afford any delay."
Looking at Liu Ruyuan before him, Li Changsheng wore a calm expression and gave his instructions indifferently.
Li Changsheng was well aware of Liu Ruyuan's feelings.
However, this was not the time to discuss matters of romance and affection.
With the ancient Immortal Venerable still alive, a thorn remained deep within Li Changsheng's heart.
His thoughts could never truly settle.
Let alone pondering matters of romantic affection.
On the other hand...
Zhao Wan'er had already given him her heart.
Though the two of them technically maintained the status of master and servant, Li Changsheng had never truly treated Zhao Wan'er as a mere maid.
How could eight years of affection be cast aside so easily?
Besides, was he really the type to be fickle in love?
Li Changsheng felt somewhat bitter.
Liu Ruyuan depended on him, and Wu Yao held an incomparable admiration for him.
He likewise lacked the heart to leave either of them adrift without a home.
Care and shelter bestowed out of kindness had yielded such a harvest...
So be it...
Pausing slightly, Li Changsheng let out a soft sigh.
Slowly shaking his head, he took a light step.
His figure abruptly vanished.
For a time, within the grand hall, only Liu Ruyuan remained.
Her eyelashes fluttered lightly, her gaze somewhat desolate.
After a long period of silence, Liu Ruyuan bit her lower lip.
Suppressing the tumultuous thoughts in her mind, she picked up the "Seal" sword resting beside her.
With light lotus steps, she walked out of the grand hall...
Draped in crimson gauze, her cold sword flashed with a piercing sharpness...
......
Roughly two hours later, Immortal Forest Sect Master Liu Ruyuan shattered the mountain gates of the Cold Heaven Dao Academy.
With a single sword strike, the higher-echelons of the Dao Academy were completely wiped out...
Four hours later, the grand protective array of the Yellow Heaven Sacred Land shattered, and its upper echelons were entirely eradicated...
Six hours later, the martial arts Zhang clan suffered the annihilation of their entire lineage...
Eight hours later, the head of the array-master Ji clan fell, and the entire clan submitted...
......
In the span of a single day, the upper echelons of every single sect, sacred land, dao academy, and great family within the entire Eastern Domain were completely wiped out!
And the one who accomplished all this was a single person!
Liu Ruyuan of the Immortal Forest Sect!
One person and one sword, subduing great families and eradicating dao factions!
In a single day, she settled the destiny of the Eastern Domain!
As for the behind-the-scenes Boss Li who prompted all this, he was currently sitting quite leisurely on a bamboo chair, quietly sipping tea.
Beside him, a woman radiating a wild charm and wearing daring attire served him respectfully.
This woman was none other than Wu Yao.
"Ding~ Liu Ruyuan has unified all sects in the Eastern Domain. Rewarding the host with 100,000 Destiny Points."
The system's voice rang out, but Li Changsheng's expression remained entirely unchanged.
Everything was proceeding precisely as expected.
For now, he would first consolidate the Southern Frontier.
The Heavenly Crow Tribe was growing increasingly powerful day by day.
That favored daughter of destiny who had fled to become the young matriarch of the Tianlan Greater Tribe was likely losing her patience as well.
As he pondered inwardly, he suddenly sensed a tremor ripple through the Underworld River.
Still not giving up?
Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow, a bizarre sensation rising in his heart.
Pausing slightly, he stood up and stepped forward.
His figure abruptly vanished!
At that very moment, a bizarre fluctuation flashed through the void, and Li Changsheng's figure dissolved into nothingness!
When he reappeared, Li Changsheng had already arrived at the very center of the Qingling Realm.
This place was a modest lake.
Surrounding trees grew vigorously, and a gentle breeze swept through the mountain forest.
Though the spiritual energy was not particularly dense, it gave one a picturesque and breathtaking scenery.
"Young master, what is unusual about this place?"
Ripples in the void stirred, and the two figures stepped out.
Zhao Wan'er swept her gaze across her surroundings, confusion flashing in her eyes as she asked.
"The Heavenly River Sea leaves no trace to be found, yet it traverses the entire Qingling Realm."
"It is merely because it exists underground, nurturing all living things."
"And this place is the sole entrance to the Heavenly River Sea."
Li Changsheng shook his head slowly and explained.
"My avatars reside within the Sword Sect, the Heavenly Crow Tribe, and the Cold Moon Kingdom."
"They will require another two years of time to remain safe."
"I know not how long my journey will take; if any unexpected events occur, remember to look after them."
Contemplation flickered deep within Li Changsheng's eyes as his voice slowly drifted out.
Pausing slightly, he pulled Zhao Wan'er into his arms and gently kissed her lips.
"Wait for me."
His gentle voice resounded once more, and Li Changsheng delayed no further.
Turning around, he took a light step and plunged instantly into the lake!
Zhao Wan'er, with a blush blooming across her cheeks, nodded obediently.
She slowly descended to the lakeside, crossed her legs, and sat in silent meditation.
Waiting.
As for Li Changsheng, upon entering the lake, he descended continuously.
Though the scene before his eyes grew increasingly pitch-black, with a sweep of his divine sense, nothing could escape Li Changsheng's eyes.
Just as expected.
The lake above was merely a facade.
As he continued his descent, the space below grew progressively more immense!
So much so that it was boundless!
To say boundless was somewhat inaccurate.
After all, with a sweep of his divine sense, Li Changsheng could still locate the ultimate boundaries capable of containing the seawater here.
Beyond this distance, the seawater surged toward all directions along the rocks and caverns.
Connecting his mind with the Underworld River, Li Changsheng had already perceived it.
The Heavenly River Sea was an underground subterranean river winding across the depths of the Qingling Realm!
This subterranean river was infinite and overwhelmingly majestic.
Even if the other five seas were combined, they would not equal one-tenth of the Heavenly River Sea!
However, the memories left behind by the sixth-generation Underworld God stated.
Only the True Lord of a realm possessed the qualifications to open the Starry Sky Road!
And only by opening the Starry Sky Road could Li Changsheng find the Immortal Gang Continent!
This was precisely the reason for his arrival here this time.
He needed to take control of the Heavenly River Sea!
Not control in a simple sense.
Rather, fusing his will with the sea and transforming his body into the very origin of the Qingling Realm!
This was the only method by which he could gain mastery over the Heavenly River Sea in the shortest possible time.
To transform into the True God of this realm!
At that time, the Starry Sky Road would open, and this war would be settled.
He would enter Immortal Gang and pursue his own Dao!
By that time, even the mastermind behind the ancient Immortal Venerable could do nothing to him!
Pondering thus, Li Changsheng continued his descent.
It took a full day before Li Changsheng finally landed at the bottom of the lake.
Sitting quietly in cross-legged meditation, he waved his hand to set up numerous arrays, and even summoned the Supreme Bridge, before his mind and spirit gradually settled into tranquility.
Spirit-fusion was not a matter accomplished overnight.
The slightest misstep in between would inflict severe trauma upon Li Changsheng's mind and soul.
And the ancient Immortal Venerable still required a measure of precaution.
Thinking of this, Li Changsheng's pupils suddenly contracted sharply as he realized he seemed to have forgotten something. When he looked up again, a figure draped in black-and-gold embroidered robes appeared before him.
As if it were identical to himself...
"Who... are you..."
Li Changsheng was somewhat startled. As profound depths flashed deep within his eyes, revealing an unprecedentedly grave expression, he spoke indifferently.
"You are me."
The Underworld Emperor shook his head slowly. As profound depths flashed deep within his eyes, he gazed at the Li Changsheng before him and spoke indifferently:
"This world was originally derived by me from the Six Paths."
"First, to bury souls; second, to mend the origin of ghosts..."
"Now, the ghost origin is complete, and the time for you to return has arrived..."
The Underworld Emperor's voice was very soft and light, yet as it fell into Li Changsheng's ears, it felt as though it had stirred up towering waves across an ocean!!
As an intense crisis of life and death surfaced in the depths of his heart, solemn depth flashed deep within his eyes, and a blinding white light abruptly erupted around his body!!
The white light seemed to exude an endless, chilling intent as it violently expanded and swept toward the surroundings!!!
"The ghost origin is revealed, and the time for the final layout has arrived..."
Not long after, as the white light gradually dissipated, profound depths circulated deep within Li Changsheng's eyes, and as a faint aura of suspense lingered around him, his entire body suddenly burst apart!
Transforming into a majestic aura that expanded outward toward the distant surroundings!
"Has another will been born..."
As for the Underworld Emperor, seeing this, profound depths circulated in his eyes as he gazed into the distance at that chilling aura that had fled into the void the very instant. After pondering slightly, he slowly shook his head.
With a slow raise of his hand, he gathered the white light scattered across the place, and walking forward slowly, his figure likewise gradually vanished...
......
Bong!
Bong!
Bong!
In the Eastern region of the Supreme Immortal Realm.
Immortal Cloud Dao Palace.
The rich and melodious bell toll drifted across the mountains, rivers, and endless pavilions within a radius of tens of thousands of miles, echoing and lingering through the vast and boundless skies for a long time.
"Three tolls of the bell, enter the origin..."
"Six tolls of the bell, enter the Dao..."
"Nine tolls of the bell, the Dao Lord..."
"This bell tolls endlessly. Could the newcomer be a Dao Venerable..."
Inside the Dao Palace, atop an extremely lofty peak, an immortal-like old man gazed into the distance toward the mountain gates, his eyes filled with grave solemnity. As the aged murmur escaped his lips, his heart leaped right into his throat!
He was Yun Cang, the Palace Master of the Immortal Cloud Dao Palace.
"Qinglin Dao Palace of Yunzhou, Jian Jingxian, offers one million top-grade spiritual stones as a gift, and humbly asks the Immortal Cloud Dao Child to grant the honor of an audience!"
Immediately afterward, as an aged voice rang out, an old man carrying a sword, dressed in simple robes and exuding a terrifyingly monstrous aura, stepped through the void.
Stopping a hundred paces outside the mountain gates of the Immortal Cloud Dao Palace, he landed slowly, making a deep, cupped-fist bow toward a towering peak within the Dao Palace.
The old man was somewhat frail, but between his brows, a sharp, piercing edge faintly radiated invisibly! It gave one the feeling that a single thought of his could draw a sword and tear the firmament apart!
Clearly, this was an unrivaled powerhouse!
Enhanced by spiritual energy, the old man's voice carried extremely far, and his demeanor was beyond description in its respect.
The disciples outside the mountain gates grew even more solemn upon seeing the old man's posture, subconsciously glancing toward the tallest and most majestic peak within the Dao Palace, awe faintly leaking from their eyes!
That was where the Dao Child of the Immortal Cloud Dao Palace resided.
The Dao Child of their palace was an infinitely mysterious and formidable figure! Ever since his sudden appearance not long ago, all sorts of heavenly phenomena had frequently manifested throughout the entire Immortal Cloud Dao Palace!
Following that, people came to pay their respects from time to time, but what baffled people was that no matter how high a price the visitors offered, the mysterious Dao Child never once showed his face.
Shortly after, news spread that the former Dao Child had climbed the peak to pay a visit and willingly chosen to become his follower!