Refining the Dao into Godhood: A Tale of the Jie Sect
Chapter 193 - 188 [The Fire of Catastrophe Burns, The Universe Perishes] (Subscribe Please)

Chapter 193: Chapter 188 [The Fire of Catastrophe Burns, The Universe Perishes] (Subscribe Please)

Yuxiong Tribe.

Seven consecutive defeats at the hands of the Jiuli had left the Yuxiong citizens deeply disheartened, yet at the critical moment, the Mysterious Bird of the Nine Heavens arrived with several Daluo Golden Immortals belonging to the Heavenly Court, greatly bolstering the morale.

Meanwhile, "Guang Chengzi" returned from Kunlun Mountain and brought with him the "Emperor Sword," allowing Xuanyuan to possess a Magic Treasure capable of contending against Li Tan.

The Mysterious Bird, the Separated Phoenix, the Mysterious Bird of the Nine Heavens, Fu Yuan Immortal, the Barefoot Immortal, the Green-clothed Great Immortal, the Hemp-clothed Great Immortal, as well as the Spirit Dao Avatar and the Plague Dao Avatar of Xuanqing, all had gathered within the lands of the Yuxiong Tribe.

As for the Fire Dao Avatar of Xuanqing, they declined Hao Tian’s decree on the pretext of avoiding suspicion.

After meeting with Xuanyuan, Hao Tian hurriedly left. After all, he was the Heavenly Emperor and could not be expected to stand guard over Xuanyuan like the Mysterious Bird of the Nine Heavens and the others.

Xuanyuan addressed the crowd slowly, "Everyone, success or failure hinges on this one action. Your aid in this critical time is an honor for Xuanyuan, and I am not one to forget kindness nor to betray. A rich reward shall be yours in time!"

He had not anticipated that his and Li Tan’s competition for the title of Human Emperor would escalate to this extent. Too many people’s hopes had been pinned on him; even if he wanted to withdraw now, he simply had no path of retreat!

Hearing Xuanyuan’s words, the assembly of Immortal Gods was overjoyed, except for the Hemp-clothed Immortal, who stealthily departed from the camp and detailed Xuanyuan’s arrangements, as well as the multitude of Cultivators drawing support from different sources, to Li Tan.

Although he sought the Merit and Destiny associated with supporting the Human Emperor, he was more intent on using this opportunity to exploit the Witch Clan and drag down Hao Tian, the Heavenly Emperor.

On the side of the Chan Sect, even though Yuanshi Tianzun had no plans to allow other disciples of the sect to descend from the mountain, he sent the true being of Huang Long to the East Sea to request Ying Long to come aid Xuanyuan.

A fierce battle erupted, and with assistance coming from the Immortal Gods of the Heavenly Court, as well as the Great Divine Ability entities of the Dragon and Phoenix Clans, the Yanhuang Alliance led by Xuanyuan surpassed the Jiuli Tribe commanded by Li Tan in terms of supreme combat strength.

Between heaven and earth, a subtle and imperceptible Tribulation Qi fell upon the battlefield.

"Kill!"

Xingtian aimed to slay the Mysterious Bird of the Nine Heavens first, who was in charge of Xuanyuan’s military formations, a role of utmost importance, but was intercepted by an abruptly appearing Hao Tian.

Thunder rumbled!

Above the heavens, the War Great Dao and the Emperor Great Dao intertwined, Evil Qi and golden light collided, and the void trembled violently; yet in the end, Hao Tian had the upper hand.

Simultaneously, the Ancestor Witch Xuanming was held at bay by both the Mysterious Bird and the Separated Phoenix, two Great Divine Ability entities.

As for Mile and the Pharmacist dispatched by the Buddhist Sect, they were entangled with Ying Long. The remaining Marquis of Wind, Master of Rain and others were also engaged by the Immortal Gods of the Heavenly Court.

Li Tan rode out atop an Iron-eating Beast, clutching the Tiger Soul Saber, and pointed at Xuanyuan: "Today, let us two settle the score!"

"I shall see whether it is you destined by heaven to be Human Emperor, or if I, Li Tan, can triumph against the heavens’ decree!"

"Kill!"

With a roar from Li Tan, a ferocious tiger phantom immediately manifested, sweeping along an endless surge of Evil Qi, pressing down on Xuanyuan and his commanders.

The tiger’s howl shook the heavens, causing all beasts to tremble in fear, but Xuanyuan remained fearless. The Emperor Sword unsheathed, a golden sword Qi struck directly at Li Tan.

Though Li Tan’s cultivation was superior to Xuanyuan’s, the Emperor Sword in Xuanyuan’s hand excelled in quality over Li Tan’s Tiger Soul Saber; their differences were merely by a hair’s breadth.

Thunderous rumbling!

The void across a million miles violently shook, a Golden Dragon phantom collided with the malevolent tiger phantom, and the elements of earth, fire, water, and wind oscillated with the ultimate force of destruction.

This was a clash of Dao against Dao, a confrontation of force against force. Nonetheless, at the critical moment, a Vajra Mallet flew out from the void and harshly struck Li Tan’s back, flinging him away with force.

Xuanyuan seized the opportunity to strike.

Upon seeing this, Li Tan hastily activated his Divine Power to defend. His Martial Arts Qi and blood fusion with the Great Witch True Body, transforming into a Martial Arts True Body that stood towering between heaven and earth.

"Despicable!"

Li Tan gave Guang Chengzi a fierce glare, his face conveying intense anger. A mere Daluo might have indeed suffered a great loss if it had been anyone else.

Despite his formidable physical body, enduring a blow from the Vajra Mallet still resulted in minor injuries.

"Martial Suppression!"

Li Tan forcibly suppressed his injuries, wielding the Tiger Soul Saber, he launched a heaven-shocking strike that caused millions of miles of the heavens to collapse and annihilate.

"Emperor Sword!"

A trace of shock flashed in Xuanyuan’s eyes, quickly followed by the manifestation of the Saintly Virtue Great Dao, gathering Infinite Destiny, and fiercely slashing at Li Tan’s Martial Arts divine power.

In just a moment, the two exchanged over a hundred blows, and vast swathes of the void shattered, the stars above trembled, and even the river of time wavered slightly.

Li Tan’s Martial Arts True Body stood in the void, towering to untold heights, his vitality filling the heavens, making the cosmos tremble constantly.

As Xuanyuan’s Saintly Virtue Dharma Form accumulated limitless destiny, it too burst forth with dazzling golden light, sweeping across the heavens with a sun-like omnipotence.

Meanwhile, Fu Xi and Shennong, while playing a game of Go, watched the scene.

Fu Xi couldn’t help but sigh, "Daoist Shennong, Li Tan has contributed greatly to the Human Race by forging the Martial Arts Dao, and Xuanyuan too has merits in expanding territory. Which one do you think would be better suited to become Human Emperor?"

Upon hearing this, Shennong fell into silence, then slowly said, "Both of them are commendable, but they were born in the same era! Now, this struggle for the title of Human Emperor has evolved into a contest between the Xuan Sect and the Buddhist Sect, a match between the Witch Clan and the Dragon and Phoenix Clans, a game between the Heavenly Dao and the Earth Dao!"

"They have entangled too many causes and effects. Regardless of who emerges victorious in the end, it may not necessarily be a good thing for our Human Race."

"If Li Tan becomes Human Emperor, the Buddhist Sect will inevitably spread its teachings widely within the human domain, using the entire Human Race as a chessboard to engage in a struggle for Destiny against the Three Pure Ones of the Xuan Sect."

"The same goes for Xuanyuan. Should he win, the Heavenly Court is bound to seize the opportunity to meddle in human affairs, leveraging the Destiny of the Human Race to bolster that of the Heavenly Court."

The struggle for the title of Human Emperor had become complex, no longer pure – turning into a gambit among various powers centered on the Destiny of the Human Race.

In Shennong’s view, if Li Tan and Xuanyuan were born in different eras and did not clash, perhaps the Human Race could have produced two Emperors.

"Not necessarily so!"

Fu Xi, however, had a different opinion: "Heaven does not suffer the suns to double, but that is only the usual case. Did not the Demon Clan of old have both an Emperor and a Sovereign coexisting?"

The Emperor was Emperor Jun!

The Sovereign was Donghuang!

In Fu Xi’s view, The Three Pure Ones intentionally maintained the balance between the Heavenly Dao and the Earth Dao. Thus, Li Tan and Xuanyuan might well coexist like Emperor Jun and Donghuang Taiyi of old, jointly seeking methods to strengthen the Human Race.

He knew that the Human Dao had not yet emerged. Whether it was the Heavenly Dao or the Earth Dao, both were simply trying to use the destiny of the Human Race to augment their own origins.

Moreover, Nuwa had recently sought him out specifically, asking him to pay attention to those in the Human Race with immense destiny, to seek the person of Heavenly Fate mentioned by Daoist Ancestor Hong Jun, hoping to enable him to qualify for the status of Heavenly Dao Saint.

But he was clear that whether he joined the Heavenly Dao or the Earth Dao, it would be subject to constraints. If possible, he would rather become a Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal through self-cultivation.

If all else failed, once the Human Dao revived, joining the Human Dao with Shennong, using the power of the Human Dao to balance the two Daos of Heaven and Earth, was also a fine choice.

"That’s indeed a fine idea!"

Upon hearing this, Shennong’s eyes lit up, but then he sighed and said, "If we had arranged it earlier, having Xuanyuan and Li Tan co-rule the Human Race was still a possibility. But now, is there still room for turnaround?"

After several major battles, whether it was the Xuanyuan Tribe or the Jiuli Tribe, many of their people had perished, directly or indirectly, at the hands of the other. The Phoenix Clan, Witch Clan, and Heavenly Court had also lost many cultivators. At this time, to make both sides turn hostility into a peace offering was nearly an impossibility!

"No matter how difficult, we must still strive!"

Fu Xi’s expression sank slightly: "Our Human Race cannot become a chess piece for the Heavenly Dao and Earth Dao. Whether it is Xuanyuan or Li Tan, who has the blood of the Witch Clan, both are dedicated to the Human Race and regard themselves as members of the Human Race!"

"I must communicate with them!"

While Fu Xi and Shennong were conversing, the great battle between Li Tan and Xuanyuan had reached a critical moment—the Jiuli Tribe began to gradually fall into a disadvantage.

The reason was simple!

The Phoenix Clan and the Heavenly Court had too many cultivators joining the battle. Even Hao Tian, the Heavenly Emperor himself, personally entered the fray to help Xuanyuan compete for the title of Human Emperor.

Marquis of Wind and others were already struggling to cope, and immediately yelled out, "Li Tan, quickly return, and help us set up the Twelve Devastating Heaven God Array!"

Upon hearing this, Li Tan showed a look of regret; he had originally planned to directly slay Xuanyuan and thereby cement the victory for the Human Emperor contest.

Although Xuanyuan’s strength was somewhat beyond his expectations, he felt that with a bit more time, he could absolutely slay Xuanyuan directly.

But now, seeing the devastated Jiuli army, he had no choice but to disengage from Xuanyuan first, using the "Twelve Devastating Divine Slaughter Array" to turn the tide.

Boom!

Li Tan broke free from Xuanyuan with a strike and took out a set of Array Flags, joining forces with Marquis of Wind, Master of Rain, and others to set up the "Twelve Devastating Divine Slaughter Array."

Endless Evil Qi converged towards him, integrating into his Martial Arts True Body, and a Quasi-Saint peak aura instantly swept across a myriad of miles of the void.

Meanwhile, in the void unseen by the masses, The Three Pure Ones and Houtu, Jieyin, Zhunti, were each tightly holding the other in check.

This struggle for the Human Emperor title was fundamentally a contest between the Heavenly Dao and the Earth Dao. They monitored each other with the aim of preventing Saints from personally entering the battle.

Watching the "Twelve Devastating Divine Slaughter Array" on the battlefield, Zhunti Daoist said with a chuckle, "My three Daoist friends, it appears you may have miscalculated! With the boost from the great array, Li Tan is now a rival to no one below Saints. The title of Human Emperor is likely to fall into Li Tan’s hands!"

"That’s not necessarily true!"

Taiching Laozi’s expression unchanged, he chuckled and said, "Until the very end, who dares to speak carelessly of victory or defeat?"

Boom!

The very moment Taiching Laozi’s words fell, Li Tan’s Martial Arts True Body, with surging Nirvana flames, rolled towards Xuanyuan and the others.

"The Flames of Tribulation burn through all, destroying the Great Thousand Worlds in entirety!"

This was an ultimate Divine Skill he understood, by using Evil Qi as fuel and Martial Dao’s true essence as the core, it could unleash the power to obliterate the Great Thousand Worlds.

Especially among the Great Witches participating in the array setup, one who mastered the Fire Great Dao, Wuyang, significantly multiplied the power of this Divine Skill.

"Open!"

Li Tan exhaled like thunder, like the resonating sound of the Dao at the dawn of the universe, shaking the Nine Heavens and the Earth, and instantly unleashing the power capable of destroying the Great Thousand Universes.

In his hands, the "Tiger Soul Saber" revealed endless sharpness, obliterating vast reaches of the void, and multiple Great Thousand Worlds turned to ashes under the scorching of the Tribulation Fire.

Mysterious Bird, Li Feng, and other Great Divine Ability wielders were immediately grievously injured, blasted millions of miles away. Had it not been for their possession of "Nirvana Divine Fire" enabling Nirvana Rebirth, they might have perished on the spot.

Seeing this, "Guang Chengzi" immediately shouted at Xuanyuan, "Xuanyuan, why are you not taking action? Use the Emperor Sword to break the Twelve Devastating Divine Slaughter Array!"

Hearing this, Xuanyuan immediately drove the power of the Dao of Saintly Virtue to its utmost, and on the "Emperor Sword," billions of Human Race True Spirits transformed into an overwhelming sword Qi slash.

"Not good!"

Xingtian, who was fighting Hao Tian, could not help but feel a terrible sense of dread: "Damn it! That aura is from the Sorcerer Slayer Sword personally forged by Emperor Jun!"

The original "Sorcerer Slayer Sword," black as ink, was merely a Top Grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure; he had not at all associated it with the "Emperor Sword" in Xuanyuan’s hands, which exuded a Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure aura.

But now, the reminder was too late.

Boom!

A sword Qi burst forth, penetrating Li Tan’s Martial Arts True Body directly, and one of the Great Witches forming the Array was instantly killed by the sword Qi.

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