Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 269 - 182: Nine-Meter Golden Man, Majestic as the Great Sun

Chapter 269: Chapter 182: Nine-Meter Golden Man, Majestic as the Great Sun

The Ba Snake Demon Saint was long and slender, its head sharp like a spear, even more like a thousand-zhang flying arrow rushing towards Gu Wen at extreme speed.

A streak of blue-purple sword light fell from the sky, and Xiao Yunyi cleaved his sword onto the top of the Ba Snake’s head, sparking dazzling light between the tip of the sword and the snake’s head.

Clang!

A deafening collision sound echoed through the Grotto Heaven in an instant, Xiao Yunyi’s arms fractured, spewing fresh blood, while the Ba Snake Demon Saint halted, its eyes darkened, and its body coiling and winding as it charged towards Gu Wen from another direction.

Xiao Yunyi naturally wouldn’t let him do as he wished, using thought to control the sword. The Demi Immortal sword moved and shifted, its sword light extending ten thousand zhang, dispersing the devil beasts wherever it passed.

Then he turned his head to look at the ghostly figure of Tushan Yun, his right severed arm flew out, turning into a stream of light like a peerless Immortal Sword, aiming straight for her face, scraping past her neck and leaving a trail of blood.

"What kind of swordsmanship is this?"

Tushan Yun clutched her neck, watching the severed arm dance in the air like a flying sword, her divine soul contaminated.

Crackle!

Thunder roared into her right ear, Chan Xi’s palm struck, wrapped in the power of ten thousand bolts, forcing Tushan Yun to halt her steps again.

She could only turn her head and shout, "Dragon Palace’s Long Tai, I’ll hold them off, you go kill that person from the Red Dust. He must not be left alive, fear he will cause great calamity later, and you will also be cut off from your invincible path."

In fact, Ao Heng was the strongest here, with an Eighth-Transition foundation and True Dragon bloodline, bursting with the power akin to half a Demi Immortal. However, this cunning youngster had been shirking, and they refrained from forcing him due to their status.

Ao Heng’s eyes were slightly cold, pondering for a long time, not taking immediate action.

Because by now, the tide had turned, from the moment Baidi Xun was defeated by Gu Wen, the morale of the devil clan had dissipated.

The major forces served at the command of the great Grotto Heaven leaders, to run away directly would incur severe punishment, but at least their lives would be spared. Sometimes a stand taken by one is enough to hold back thousands, often it’s all about momentum.

Gu Wen might not be invincible, but there were very few from the devil kind who dared to besiege him now.

Was he supposed to go forward alone and be a sacrificial pawn?

Naturally, Ao Heng was unwilling. This mentality could apply to any prodigy of the Devil Clan; their lives were lives too, and everyone possesses spiritual wisdom.

"Kill him, and I will grant you an opportunity."

The voice of the Vine Demon came, almost at the same moment, Ao Heng shot out like a flying sword, while on the other side, Jun Yan, who had regrown his body, hurled out pearls of blood.

Boom!

Blood explosions spread throughout the Grotto Heaven in an instant, the aftermath killing countless devil kind.

Ao Heng was dragged by the sticky blood, but it lasted only a few moments, his body surrounded by red mist, regaining his mobility disregarding his injuries and continuing to charge forward.

Jun Yan threw out even more Blood Burst Pearls, creating a series of successive explosions.

Had he slaughtered all the Human Race? How could there be so many sacrificial objects?!

Ao Heng was exasperated. His opponent, a demon cultivator was not a match for him, but had numerous tricks up his sleeve, as if mastering countless skills.

From his fight with the Fox Clan Demon Saint, it was apparent that he wasn’t very strong, lacking the almost perverse offensive power of Gu Wen. Yet he was troublesome; you could beat him, but never kill him.

If Gu Wen represented the ultimate in offensive power, and Chi Yu Zi was sanctified through physical prowess, then Jun Yan specialized in Daoist skills.

He had the divine souls of the great powers from the Buddhist, Taoist, and Demon sects within him, apart from the core of cores like Immortal skills, Jun Yan knew all the Cultivation Techniques and methods of all sects.

Jun Yan’s eyes dimmed slightly, his forehead covered in sweat, he transmitted his thoughts, "Red Dust, it’s time to go. Are you thinking of taking Chi Yu Zi with you? She’s barely breathing now, even if you bring her back, she’ll likely be a corpse, it’s not worth it."

Not worth it?

Indeed, it was not worth it.

Gu Wen could weigh the pros and cons and also best understood Jun Yan.

As previously assessed of him, Jun Yan was the ’Marquis Wen’ of the Cultivation World, a profit-seeking predator. However, unlike Gu Wen, Jun Yan clearly was not good at interacting with others.

Darker at heart than even himself.

He transmitted his thoughts in response, "A monarch who has wise counselors will not lose his dominion; a father who has wise children will not ruin his family. Jun Yan, you are indeed a wise child, but I must save her, even if it means dying after drawing my last breath."

"I am your wise father," Jun Yan’s face darkened. Then he added, "Let’s stick to the case. Harsh as these words may sound, you must listen. I can only slightly delay Ao Heng; everyone else is at their limit, not everyone has your ability to triumph beyond their level."

Gu Wen was an exception, they say being invincible within one’s level is a talent, triumphing over higher levels shows genius, and surpassing two levels was the hallmark of unparalleled genius.

But in reality, from two levels above, what was discussed was no longer defeating the enemy, but holding out.

To put it bluntly, surviving without getting killed already made one unparalleled, there was no comparing to Gu Wen, who would go up and slay someone with a single strike and then be compared to unparalleled geniuses.

"Give me a quarter of an hour."

Far off, Gu Wen had already reached the foot of the steps, and then without hesitation, he stepped up, the immense pressure causing his knees to slightly bend, only able to lift his leg by gathering the Golden Light Spell.

Seeing this, Jun Yan added:

"These ninety-nine extreme realm steps are just like the Ten Thousand Sword Path of Heavenly Spring Mountain back then, the manifestation of the Dao rhythm of that Nine Revolutions Golden Core Saint, requiring a Nine Revolutions Golden Core to ascend. Do you think you can make a breakthrough on the spot?"

"I can’t break through, but I can ascend."

Step by step, Gu Wen climbed the steps, his battle-torn black robe emitting threads of golden light.

The requirement for the ninety-nine steps was the Golden Light Spell, but saying it required a Nine Revolutions Golden Core wasn’t wrong, as only that could fully manifest the Golden Light Spell.

Gu Wen had only an Eighth-Transition Golden Core. Logically, he shouldn’t be able to ascend, likely reaching only halfway at most.

Devil kinds surged like a tide, with the Ba Snake Demon Saint and the Nine-tailed Demon Fox attacking frequently.

Ao Heng, with a flick of his dragon tail, knocked down Jun Yan, the ground splitting with a crash, Jun Yan coughed up fresh blood, shouting angrily, "We don’t have your skills, delaying too long might indeed get us killed. Chi Yu Zi is already ruined, she’s beyond saving, how long will you be willful?!"

"Jun Yan, it will be your turn later, and you’d hope I’d be willful too. If you run within the quarter hour I won’t blame you, but if you run after that, in the future, I will save you just the same."

Gu Wen continued forward, his voice calm yet resolute.

He needed to bring Chi Yu Zi down, as long as there was a breath left in her. This wasn’t about benefits or morality, it was simply something that had to be done.

We exercise power and are accountable for its source, as is our responsibility as leaders.

A team must distribute benefits when profits are made and relinquish them when risks arise.

"I must save her, regardless of whether the benefits are good or bad."

Jun Yan was stunned; he had not expected Gu Wen’s reasons to have shifted from personal favors or exchanges to the Demon Path’s most disdained concept of "putting oneself in another’s shoes."

If it were him in the future, would he hope that Gu Wen would save him?

Naturally, he would hope so, but Jun Yan wouldn’t believe anyone would save him at all costs. He was born orphaned; how could he possibly still believe in others now?

Yet, at this moment, Gu Wen was fulfilling Chi Yu Zi’s promise.

At this time, Ao Heng flew towards the Heavenly Altar again. Jun Yan fell silent for half a moment, sighing slightly, his eyes swirling with infinite demonic shadows.

"Old man, help me one more time."

At the sound, demonic, corpse, and evil auras enveloped Jun Yan. His aura stepped from the Seventh Level Dao foundation up to the Eighth in one stride, capturing the Azure Dragon’s tail in one motion and fiercely throwing it backwards.

The Azure Dragon turned its head to bite him, its bite clanging upon Jun Yan’s body as if it had encountered refined iron. Endless corpse qi burst into its mouth, filling Ao Heng with a bitter taste, corroding his flesh and Divine Soul.

"A Demi Immortal?"

Ao Heng swiftly retreated, his face filled with gravity.

The strange human in front of him seemed completely transformed, as if possessed, and the possessor was a Demi Immortal.

At this moment, Jun Yan had drastically changed. His eyes were pitch black, his face pale, his skin lined densely with blue veins, and his hands grew black nails.

He stuck out his tongue, licked the Dragon Blood remaining in his fingernail seams, and issued a mad laughter:

"Hehehe, who would have thought that our young Jun Yan still retains humanity, even capable of trust, how ridiculous and pitiful! I want to see who it is that would earn your trust."

Raising his head, he saw a man dressed in a simple black robe ascending the Heavenly Altar enveloped in a golden light that visibly pressed and twisted the surrounding space.

It seemed as if powers from beyond the heavens were cast down, and the Dao charm crushed the void into dark cracks instantaneously.

The surrounding Dao charm formed an invisible silhouette, as if a giant used its palm as a wall to block his path.

The Heavenly Corpse laughingly said, "A Eighth-Transition Golden Core seeking to ascend the heavens? Even more so when the Immortal-in-the-making with the Golden Core of utmost sanctity casts down Dao charm, even with a Nine Revolutions Golden Pill you would likely not ascend."

His mouth shape shifted, and Jun Yan’s voice returned to normal, "Old man, just take care of this long worm."

"Hehehe, how I laugh does not matter. You young ones, always so proud and arrogant due to your talents, wasn’t everyone a prodigy in their youth?"

In the eyes of the Heavenly Corpse, Gu Wen’s attempt was like fighting rocks with eggs. Although he had cultivated an Eight-Transition Golden Core demonstrating immense talent, challenging the Dao charm of the Golden Core of utmost sanctity was foolish.

In terms of longevity, asking about the path to Immortality from Golden Core of utmost sanctity, how could others surpass him?

In the next moment, a deep, sonorous tone rang out.

"Heaven and Earth of the Mysterious Sect, the origin of all Qi; cultivate through countless calamities, proving my Divine Skills. Within and beyond the Three Realms, only Dao is supreme. "

Golden light burst forth on Gu Wen’s body, the golden light weaving like silkworm threads, covering his shins, thighs, abdomen, and chest.

Gu Wen had already mastered the Golden Light Spell; he merely lacked a Nine Revolutions Golden Pill as a basis, werewithout the mana exceeding others by eighty-one times, it was difficult to execute.

Difficult to execute wasn’t absolutely impossible, at least for Gu Wen,

for what defines a peerless being is undertaking what the ordinary cannot, reaching heights beyond others’ reach.

He intended to employ Divine Skills of a Nine Revolutions with an Eight-Transition Golden Core body.

"Flesh covered in golden light, reflecting upon me."

At his words, the golden light spread to his face. The Golden Body appeared, punching through the Dao charm, stepping across thirty steps in one stride onto the Heavenly Altar.

The Golden Body stood atop the Heavenly Altar, glancing back with a peripheral glimpse.

At this moment, the Heavenly Corpse silently closed his mouth; the killing intent of both the Ba Snake Demon Saint and Tushan Yun peaked and subtly turned into fear.

Gu Wen withdrew his gaze, stepped forward, walking towards the girl lying in a pool of blood, his Divine Thought reaching out to touch the weak Human Soul enclosed within her body.

"Chi Yu Zi, are you still alive?"

"I’m not dead yet."

Chi Yu Zi’s Divine Thought was devoid of emotion.

"But I probably won’t live long. You shouldn’t have come up here. The Three Pure Ones could have taken you away."

Gu Wen approached Chi Yu Zi, now the girl’s hollow chest, where blood no longer flowed, was writhing with flesh as dense blood vessels formed.

Even without a heart, the blood could still circulate through the body.

Such a formidable vitality and survival instinct, just as she had risen to the top ranks as a prodigy with an incomplete soul and spirit.

Even without his climbing up, Chi Yu Zi wouldn’t have died from her wounds. Until this moment, she was still alive, still struggling to breathe with all her might.

Gu Wen softly said, "I’m here to take you with me."

"I don’t want to move."

"You don’t have to move; I will carry you down."

Gu Wen bent down to pick up Chi Yu Zi, her roughly five foot tall frame small enough to curl completely within the Golden Body’s embrace, golden light enveloping her. As she fully integrated with the golden light, she involuntarily burst forth with golden light.

The golden light soared to the sky, and while the Golden Body was initially only nine meters tall, it began to climb higher and higher: ten meters, thirty meters, sixty meters, ninety meters!

At first, those beneath the Heavenly Altar could no longer see Gu Wen, but now, with the expanding Golden Body, they could see half of its body.

Nine is the extreme, the ninety-meter Golden Body, the Golden Light Spell achieving its pinnacle.

The ninety-meter Golden Body glancing back, its gaze like the scorching sun, its boundless authority crushing down, the Eight-Seven Dao foundation!