The immense impact and rotational force spread through the air, rippling outwards like waves.
The crowd descended into chaos, scattering in all directions.
The shattered remnants no longer burrowed like worms but gradually melted away, dissipating into smoke.
The demonesses and evil spirits at the forefront were blown into several pieces, yet they continued to move, attempting to reassemble.
But Mo Qi wouldn't give them the chance. He threw more Thunder Pills and struck the Eastern Emperor Bell repeatedly. After several booming sounds, he pulverized the two.
The others, terrified, fled in disarray.
Suddenly, a dark shadow lunged from the chaotic army towards Mo Qi, swooping down from the air like an eagle preying on its victim, a truly terrifying sight.
It was Bai Mei!
He believed Mo Qi's Eastern Emperor Bell was empty and seized this opening to attack.
But he had miscalculated!
Mo Qi flashed a sinister smile and shouted, "Good timing!"
With a sudden strike of the Eastern Emperor Bell, several dark objects whistled out, smashing directly into Bai Mei's body. With several deafening explosions, his body was flung left, then right, crashing to the ground, then flying back into the air.
Sparks continuously erupted from various parts of Bai Mei's body, a dazzling and beautiful spectacle!
After the sparks, a plume of dark smoke rose, lingering for a long time.
Bai Mei was sent reeling, swaying in the air.
Mo Qi intended to press his advantage. He leaped into the air, emerging from the barrier. Simultaneously, he held the Eastern Emperor Bell in one hand and struck its tail with the other. With booming sounds, more Thunder Pills flew out, all hitting Bai Mei's body. His body swayed erratically once more, but Mo Qi relentlessly pursued him.
He was battered until black smoke billowed from his body, and finally, with a resounding boom, his entire form exploded, fragments scattering in all directions.
The surviving demonesses, seeing Bai Mei annihilated, fled in panic.
But was Bai Mei truly annihilated?
That's what Mo Qi thought.
Xue Nu and the others also thought so. They watched the retreating demonesses with excitement.
However, a mass of black, shredded flesh on the ground suddenly pierced upwards, coalescing into a shadowy figure in the air that drifted away, "Hahaha, you cannot kill me. As long as I am not dead, my army will not be extinguished, endlessly."
Mo Qi unleashed a blast of energy, striking the shadow and scattering it.
The shadow let out a pained cry, splitting into countless dark figures that fled.
Mo Qi gazed at the vast wilderness, the air thick with the scent of blood.
"As long as I am alive, you cannot do as you please here."
With that, he spat out a mouthful of blood!
Xin'er and Xue Nu stepped forward, supporting him from either side.
"What's wrong, are you injured?" Xue Nu asked.
"Not injured, just angered by them," Mo Qi replied.
Ancestor Yin stepped forward and sighed, "Judging by his words, he seems to be just a minor figure. If that's the case, what kind of disaster will our world face? Perhaps utter ruin."
"Evil has never triumphed over righteousness since ancient times. I firmly believe that no matter how powerful the enemy, a force of justice will eventually rise to become their nemesis," Xin'er said.
Mo Qi exhaled and turned to Ancestor Yin, "Ancestor Yin, you are the ancestor of the Yin Dynasty, aren't you? The one who appeared in the Yin Dynasty's royal palace and advised the Yin King to abandon the Sky-Opening Axe?"
Ancestor Yin chuckled, "It is I. How did you know?"
Mo Qi also chuckled, "I guessed. I didn't expect you to abandon your prosperous kingdom to cultivate the Dao. I just felt it couldn't be you, so I asked casually, and it turned out to be true."
"Alright, I'm speechless."
"Ancestor Yin, I have an impudent request."
"Speak freely."
"I wish to ask you to make a trip to Dongsheng Continent to retrieve the Investiture of the Gods. We also need to confer divinity here in a timely manner."
"You dare to order me around, young man? However, I am willing to undertake this task," Ancestor Yin said with a chuckle. "I once thought the Sun Moon Sect was destroyed, but seeing your growth, I believe that wherever you are, the Sun Moon Sect is there."
Mo Qi said bitterly, "Don't burden me further. I'm already carrying too much."
Ancestor Yin laughed, "If you don't carry it, do you expect this old man to?" With that, he ascended on a cloud and departed.
Mo Qi stared into the distant sky, lost in thought.
Seeing his pensive expression, Xue Nu couldn't help but ask, "Why have you suddenly become so sentimental? You weren't like this before."
"Yes, Big Brother, you've never feared any enemy, no matter how strong," Xin'er added.
Mo Qi said wistfully, "You wouldn't understand. To bear the nation's hatred and personal grudges, yet be trapped in this place unable to leave, can you understand my sorrow?"
Xue Nu and Xin'er were both bewildered, "What is the nation's hatred? Haven't the personal grudges been avenged?"
Mo Qi shook his head, "I have awakened some memories from tens of thousands of years ago. I finally know that I was once a prince from the Red Leaf Kingdom beyond the heavens. Due to a change in my kingdom, I was cast adrift here, wandering for tens of thousands of years. I wish to return to exact revenge, to see my loved ones again. But I also have loved ones here, struggling in dire straits."
That faint sadness, that heavy tone, made Xue Nu and Xin'er feel breathless.
Tears welled up in Mo Qi's eyes, "Not long ago, my former lover stood before me, and I no longer remembered her. She had been searching for me for tens of thousands of years, and I had been suffering from amnesia for tens of thousands of years!"
Former lover?
Xue Nu unconsciously released Mo Qi's arm, but after a moment of hesitation, she grasped it again, "That's right, in this world, you also have your loved ones."
Xin'er also unconsciously tightened her grip on his other arm.
"You don't need to hold on so tightly, I won't be leaving for now!" Mo Qi said calmly.
Xin'er released his arm, "Even if you leave, I will go with you."
Xue Nu also stated resolutely, "Me too."
Mo Qi smiled, "Then you must strive to improve your cultivation, otherwise, you might not be able to leave, or even if you do, you might not be able to survive."
The two immediately vowed to be diligent and hardworking, striving to elevate their cultivation.
Mo Qi then re-established the outer barrier, and the three of them took up residence in the Spirit Capital Sect, guarding the Investiture Altar while diligently cultivating.
Besides cultivation, Mo Qi also refined some elixirs using Heavenly Pool Jade Dew and other ingredients. After the three of them tested them, they confirmed that they could rapidly enhance cultivation.
Mo Qi's cultivation advanced to Heavenly Saint, while Xin'er reached the first level of Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
With Mo Qi's help, Xue Nu finally ascended to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
The reason Mo Qi was able to reach Heavenly Saint, aside from the miraculous effects of the elixirs he refined, was also due to the sheer volume of spiritual herbs, elixirs, and cultivation-enhancing items he consumed while pursuing Lian Min. Some of these treasures, when ingested, had their spiritual energy not immediately digested but slowly absorbed by his body over time.
During this period, those sent out to distribute spirit stones also returned, including General Duan, General Feng, Ye Zhixun, Linghu Xiaoxian, Kong Xuan, Long Ji...
Meanwhile, Cang Shan, Ming Yue Ye, Lu Xiao Yue, and others encountered demonesses and were killed, entering the Investiture of the Gods.
Furthermore, a portion of people from the staircase also entered the Investiture of the Gods, and surprisingly, Xing Mian was among them.
This time, he finally didn't evade; he didn't shirk responsibility. He faced the enemy directly!
And then he gloriously sacrificed himself!
Alas, Xing Mian was a good person, Mo Qi felt a touch of regret.
He then found it amusing: Good people should become gods, shouldn't that be a reward for the good? What was he thinking?
Not long after, Ancestor Yin returned, fulfilling his mission with the Investiture of the Gods.
At that time, lightning flashed and clouds surged in the sky, marking a milestone moment.
Mo Qi, holding the Investiture of the Gods in one hand and the roster of vacant Heavenly Court positions in the other, solemnly ascended the Investiture Altar.
Around him stood General Duan, General Feng, and others, all with solemn faces and expectant eyes.
The divine positions in Dongsheng Continent had been filled. Everyone was performing their duties, and many had perished in the battles against the Sky City.
This batch, Mo Qi had deliberately looked after everyone, assigning them relatively leisurely divine positions far from the fray, such as Earth Gods and Mountain Gods, to prevent them from being killed immediately upon taking office.
Now, due to the large number of individuals awaiting conferment, many Earth Gods and Mountain Gods were added, essentially one Earth God per village and one Mountain God per mountain.
Of course, Earth Gods were not entirely without danger. If the demon race rampaged and innocent civilians suffered, and you couldn't stand idly by, you might still die if you forced yourself to act.
If you found a way to timely report to the Heavenly Court to request reinforcements, the Heavenly Court would not accuse you of dereliction of duty.
However, in reality, the Heavenly Court currently had no way to deal with the demon race.
It was rumored that the Three Sects were actively discussing methods to combat the demon race, but it was unknown if they had reached a conclusion.
Returning to the matter at hand, a chilling wind blew, and countless spirits emerged from within the Investiture Altar, forming neat lines, their expressions varied – some sorrowful, some joyful.
Mo Qi unfurled the Investiture of the Gods and began to read the declaration from the Three Sects: The heavenly tribulation has arrived. All cultivators, from the four seas and eight directions, with varying depths of root potential, but with a shared heart to punish evil and uphold righteousness on behalf of heaven, though their bodies have perished, their souls remain, illuminating the universe and blessing countless families. You are hereby conferred the positions of the Four Directions' Gods, arranged according to the celestial spheres, to investigate the good and evil in the human world and protect the common people of the Three Realms.
Then, the conferment of divinity began. However, the Three Sects had no specific decrees, and all divine positions had to be arranged and conferred by Mo Qi on the spot.
Mo Qi felt sweat trickle down his forehead!
This was too difficult!
But he couldn't let the momentum falter. Such a significant event could not be treated like child's play; it would be too demeaning for the gods.
Let's start with the Earth Gods!
Jin Dan was conferred the position of Earth God of Fengxi Village, bestowed with divine bones, directly granted Heavenly Immortal cultivation, and a lifespan of eighteen thousand years.
Jin Dan stepped out from the ranks, bathed in the auspicious light of the Nine Heavens and empowered by divine bones, a smug expression on his face. "Mo Ge, I followed you out of Fengxi Village back then, and I knew I had chosen the right person. I'll still be your man!"
Mo Qi kicked him into the sky, "Get lost, stop with the nonsense."
Afterward, Leng Xiao, Xie Yucai, Xie Wenya, Ma Wei, and others were also conferred the positions of Earth Gods.
Xie Yucai expressed some regret to Mo Qi, "Boss, you're not being fair. You should have told me about such a good thing earlier. I would have called all my aunts, uncles, and sisters, and had them all conferred divinity. Such a great opportunity! It's gone once you miss it."
Mo Qi also gave him a kick and sent him away.