Chapter 904: Chapter 627: 9 Million Qi-Blood (Requesting Monthly Tickets and Subscriptions)
Shadow Stream Dominator?
Emperor Shitian and the Priest’s expressions hardened.
Although this one is also First Step, he himself wields the incomplete Supreme Treasure left by the Wangliang Ancestor—[Shadow God Blade], so he should be considered as Second Step.
Two Second Step-level combatants, plus the First Step clone of Thunder Realm Venerable, another Second Step powerhouse, and Fang Xingyu... this force is enough to topple most civilizations in the Three Thousand Worlds. Now, all of them have come for the Military Leader. Before the Military Leader fell into a coma, they all lay low; at the news of his accident, they circled like vultures drawn to a scent.
Thunder Realm Venerable and Fang Xingyu’s faces tightened.
This was also beyond their expectations.
Rumor has it Achilles has already pledged allegiance to the Evil God; his appearance meant the Evil God was watching here as well.
This made great pressure for the Divine Alliance.
But if they could use the Evil God’s hand to eliminate Lu Chenzhou, the Divine Alliance would gladly see it. At this thought, Thunder Realm Venerable smiled and said, "Since you too have come for Lu Chenzhou, why don’t we join forces?"
Achilles nodded and said:
"Fine. But the Wangliang Finger Bone on this man is something I must have. That belongs to me. All else, the three of us will divide by merit."
Though the Divine Race has Clan’s Sacred Artifacts, they are all in their own Great Worlds, guarding their clans’ fates. The power Thunder Realm Venerable could muster here was just a thread’s shadow, far inferior to the Shadow God Blade in Achilles’ hands.
Thus, Achilles did not fear the Divine Alliance. In terms of direct fighting power, he was in fact the strongest present.
Heavenly Gu Daoist said with a blank expression:
"I only want Lu Chenzhou’s body and soul, the rest you can split."
"No problem."
"Then happy cooperation."
Seeing these three giants already dividing benefits in front of the Military Leader as if he were dead, the Priest’s gaze only grew colder.
Weakness is the original sin.
He transmitted a message to Emperor Shitian: "As things are, the Mystic Sky Realm is no longer safe. Even hiding within the Star Dome Sea, we may be found. I have one last trump card to get us out. You protect the Aurora Palace and the Military Leader in their escape across the Ruins Sea. I’ll cover the rear."
Scales surfaced layer by layer on the Priest’s face; a vortex permeated with Time Dao Essence roared into shape.
"Space-Time Light Wheel!"
Blinding radiance flashed between Heaven and Earth. The Aurora Palace was sucked into the vast vortex, vanishing in an instant.
"Space-Time Light Wheel—this is Yu Sword Immortal’s signature skill. To think the Priest actually mastered it."
Emperor Shitian was secretly overjoyed.
No wonder the Priest dared to challenge the Eternal Immortal. With the strength he showed now, he was indeed qualified.
After the white light, the Priest lay on the ground.
He was like a dried-up skeleton, thoroughly burned out, only a shriveled heart still beating faintly.
But each beat grew even weaker.
"Lu Chenzhou, you can’t escape!" Achilles tore through the Ruins Sea, pursuing the Aurora Palace to kill.
Heavenly Gu Daoist followed close behind, fearful Achilles would get there first. Thunder Realm Venerable and Fang Xingyu did not pursue, but stared darkly at the Priest.
"To think a dignified Eighth Realm, just to protect a mere junior, would sacrifice his own life."
"Utterly incomprehensible."
With the Divine Race’s worldview, it was unimaginable.
Thunder Realm Venerable raised a finger, Thunder Dao Essence coiling at the tip, and a pillar of lightning blasted down to earth.
"Divine Skill · Thunder Melting!"
Rumble!
Within a thousand-mile radius, everything was instantly vaporized, leaving only a sea of molten magma. At Fang Xingyu’s mental command, the temperature of the fire sea shot up to tens of millions of degrees.
The two inspected the scene; only the twisted armor of an Eighth Rank Spiritual Weapon remained, unrecognizable in form.
"Thunder Fire Joint Attack—soul and body both destroyed."
Thunder Realm Venerable said blandly.
Fang Xingyu gazed toward the Ruins Sea.
"Still going to pursue them?"
"Let them be—there’s only one Emperor Shitian left. Once they’re marked by Achilles and the Heavenly Gu Daoist, their odds are nine deaths to one life. Beyond the Ruins Sea, without the suppression of Mystic Sky Rules, maybe even Demon Saints in the Forbidden Zone will join in. Those from the Three Thousand Realms who have long coveted Lu Chenzhou might act as well. You take the mines, I’ll check the Eastern Extreme Border Tower." Thunder Realm Venerable said.
This battle could be called a great victory for the Divine Alliance.
...
"The Priest is dead? Not bad. Though Lu Chenzhou wasn’t killed, losing an Eighth Realm lifts a huge burden off us. Within five years, I’ll reach the Third Step. Then—even if Lu Chenzhou still lives, I can crush him single-handedly."
Yan Ming Realm Venerable resumed closed-door cultivation.
...
The Aurora Palace sped through the Ruins Sea.
"Check—the Priest’s Soul Lamp, is it still burning?" Emperor Shitian’s Candle Dragon Order couldn’t reach the Priest.
Soon, word came from Tianxia’s side.
"The Soul Lamp isn’t out, but it’s unstable. The soul flame keeps growing weaker, on the edge of extinction."
Emperor Shitian breathed a little easier.
As long as he isn’t instantly dead, an Eighth Realm, as long as there’s breath left, can always find a way to come back.
After seven days and nights crossing the Ruins Sea—
Lu Chenzhou opened his eyes. It was as if he had slumbered for ten thousand years, a dazed look in his expression.
He peered inward; two hearts shone in concert, beating violently. One heart radiated dense Poison Dao Essence. At his mental command, it transformed into a small serpent and slithered from his chest.
The little snake gaped its jaws, inhaling all the poisonous mist enveloping Lu Chenzhou—this mist, even Eighth Realm experts dared not approach—sucking it dry. The warty lesions on Lu Chenzhou’s skin faded, his complexion restored to a bronzed hue.
This was due to a vast elevation in his Poison Dao.
The Martial Arts Tree had quietly grown to 44.4 million zhang tall.
[Please name your new cultivation technique.]
"Let it be called ’Heart of Myriad Poisons.’"
[Heart of Myriad Poisons: Perfection]
[Divine Skill: Myriad Poisons Mysterious Heart]
[Quality: Middle Grade · Twenty-seven Patterns]
[Level: Top Level (Seventh Realm)]
[Divine Power Introduction: Immune to all poisons, can devour poisons of the world. All poisons refined into the heart, giving rise to the most toxic, most sinister, most evil ’Blood of Myriad Poisons.’]
"Didn’t think the third Eighth Rank cultivation technique I created would be such a special Poison Dao secret art."
Lu Chenzhou now had three great Middle Grade Divine Skills:
Butterfly Dream Circulation—kills in illusion, beyond sound or form.
Six Nine Profound Transformation—transforms into powerful True Spirits.
Myriad Poisons Mysterious Heart—kills silently, invisibly, with poison blood.
"Though I’ve detoxified, the curse isn’t truly gone. That bizarre curse technique still lingers within, ceaselessly corroding my flesh."
Lu Chenzhou looked within—tens of millions of miniature toads gnawed at his flesh, only kept at bay because the healing power of Withering and Flourishing Dao eclipsed the destruction. Outwardly, he seemed fine.
This felt like being cast into a region of gravity multiplied by millions, torn apart without end.
"To rid myself completely of the curse, I either need Seventh Rank Causality Dao, or to achieve the Undying Body, so as to fully decompose and renew my flesh."
No matter.
Waking up safely is blessing enough. The curse lingers, but won’t affect his battle ability now.
"You’re all right?"
Emperor Shitian’s voice was thrilled.
Lu Chenzhou nodded, "Nearly. Full recovery will take a little longer."
He conversed with Emperor Shitian for a bit.
Lu Chenzhou’s face grew grave.
"The Guild Leader went to Divine Prison Realm?"
"Yes—should be on the Eighth Layer now."
Lu Chenzhou tried to contact the Eternal Immortal, only to discover the Candle Dragon Order did not respond. In such cases, either trapped in some Great Power’s Cave Heaven, or already fallen.
"The Priest’s fate is uncertain too."
He grew more and more weighed down.
"Don’t worry for them just yet. Our own situation isn’t good either—Heavenly Gu Daoist and Shadow Stream Dominator are pursuing us in the Ruins Sea. Since you’re awake, let’s join hands and figure out a way to shake them off."
Emperor Shitian said.
"Right! Give me another month."
Lu Chenzhou went to see Wang Changming too. After saving Old Wang, Emperor Shitian was quick to feed him Heavenly Immortal Dew—at least his life was preserved.
But he remained in grave danger.
The Wind Dao Rule was blocking healing.
"Yin Jiujiao..."
He drew away the Wind Dao Rule from his master’s wound; the Martial Arts Tree grew ever taller, reaching 45 million zhang.
After some time, the wound began to heal; Old Wang woke groggy, rubbing his eyes.
"Disciple? You’re all right?"
"I’m fine—but you’re badly hurt." Lu Chenzhou channeled Withering and Flourishing Dao Essence to heal him.
"That’s great."
Old Wang breathed a long sigh of relief, his nerves finally relaxing—then passed out again.
...
Compared to Master, Yaochi Immortal’s injuries were worse; the Cosmic Light Sword had drawn far too much of her essence.
Her glossy black hair was streaked with silver, her face no longer girlish, but more mature.
Sensing Lu Chenzhou’s aura, Yaochi Immortal woke, gazing at her exposed black veil.
"You did this?"
"Just wanted to check your wounds. You’ve lost too much essence—you’ve had your life span cut by at least five hundred years."
Yaochi Immortal joked:
"It’s fine. I have the Chang Chun Technique—even shortened five hundred years, I’ll still outlive you all. Honestly, I rather like the way I look now."
She sized up her new face.
Her whole aura was more mature now.
Some places that were flat before, were now much larger.
"I’ll get it all back for you—but you can’t use the Cosmic Light Sword again." Lu Chenzhou said calmly.
Yaochi Immortal nodded gently, then asked:
"Your Master—that injury?"
"No longer life-threatening."
"Little Wang really risked it, so weak, yet dared to intercept Yin Jiujiao’s arrow. Courting death."
"Rest for now."
Lu Chenzhou went to check up on other wounded, including Emperor Shitian; everyone bore wounds. A newly advanced Seventh Realm had fallen—this was the worst loss Tianxia had suffered since the Mystic Sky War began.
Fearing spies within, after contacting the Seventh Realm leaders, Lu Chenzhou did not spread news of his recovery to Tianxia’s soldiers.
After all, there were still pursuers behind them.
Let’s catch them off guard then.
"Eye of Truth, Divine Alliance, Heavenly Gu Daoist, Shadow Stream Dominator..." Lu Chenzhou recited each name, then returned to his secret chamber, pulling out all his High Grade Primordial Stones, converting their boundless Primordial Power into every bone and vessel, using Inner Strength to turn it into strands of Qi-Blood, forging his flesh.
Each stone turned to dust.
This went on for three days and nights. Finally, Lu Chenzhou felt his body was completely saturated, like a balloon about to burst, and stopped. Veins bulged, muscles knotted like dragons and serpents beneath the skin.
At this moment—
In a demon-ruled world somewhere, his Spiritual Embodiment raged, no longer hiding, slaughtering every demon, ghost and monster he could see, unleashing Demon Prison Hand Seal from the sky, smashing into the Human World for three days and nights.
Now, he cared little whether this would stunt his future growth—he just wanted to push his Qi-Blood and spiritual power to his present limit.
Just live—for now.
And with his Immaculate State of Mind, approaching the High Miao Realm, he was in no danger of Qi-Deviation.
...
Time flowed on.
Soon, the year was 2297.
Lu Chenzhou was 92 years old.
Within Mystic Sky, after seizing the ore veins, Divine Alliance went to mad extremes, yanking whole High Grade Ore Veins with brute force, shipping them to the Great Worlds as the four World Venerable’s main bodies refined their bloodlines.
...
Aurora Palace.
In a secret chamber, Lu Chenzhou sat amid a pile of dust, refining the last High Grade Primordial Stone.
He had traded all possessions not Eighth Rank Spiritual Weapons for High Grade Primordial Stones, and borrowed fifty more from Yaochi Immortal, Emperor Shitian, and the Prince Northern Guardian, refining a total of one hundred and eight stones.
His eyes flashed with divine light, penetrating the chamber. As he rose, surging energy shook the entire Aurora Palace, splitting giant waves tens of thousands of li across the Ruins Sea.
Emperor Shitian’s form appeared.
"You broke into Eighth Realm?"
He hadn’t seen Lu Chenzhou endure a tribulation.
Tribulation had to be crossed within the Three Thousand Realms.
Lu Chenzhou exhaled, suppressing his overflowing aura, then said coolly, "No—only pushed my Qi-Blood cultivation to the limit of Seventh Realm."
Emperor Shitian’s eyes lit up in shock.
The limit of Seventh Realm?
You could say Eighth Realm and I’d believe you.
He asked curiously:
"What’s your limit?"
"Not high—nine million, perhaps."
Lu Chenzhou’s tone was calm.
Emperor Shitian was silent.
The normal limit was seven million.
The Eighth Realm standard is only ten million.
And you call this ’not high’?