Why can't I move?
A ridiculously absurd thought flashed through the Demon God's mind, gone in an instant. Its scarlet, terrifying eyes reflected the silhouette of another soul.
"It's you!"
"It is me."
The same mouth, yet with entirely different tones, speaking consecutively without pause.
The Demon God was instantly enraged: "Ghost Infant, you were formed from a drop of my blood, scattered by me. You were born into this world because of me, yet you were bewitched by Gu Junshi and betrayed me!"
"Betrayal? If you want to understand it that way, then yes."
With Ghost Infant's meager cultivation, he couldn't possibly restrain the Demon God's primordial spirit, let alone render it immobile. The difference in their soul strength was as vast as the heavens and the earth. Thus, he also utilized the divine artifact gifted to him by Gu Junshi for self-preservation, the Soul-Locking Chain, taken from the Underworld.
It directly acted upon the soul. It was once used by the Underworld to apprehend fleeing fallen immortal souls. It could firmly bind a soul, rendering it incapable of resistance.
"But I am not you, nor do I wish to become anyone!" Ghost Infant said coldly.
Because the Demon God could easily see through anyone's thoughts, it contemptuously and arrogantly controlled everything with an unhurried manner. It believed it had completely seen through Ghost Infant.
"You clearly possess immense ambition in your heart. You have always yearned to become a peerless existence, even more so than Liu Jiangfusheng. You hate this world and want to trample everyone beneath your feet. You want revenge for all the suffering and grievances you've endured. But what are you doing now? Are you willing to sacrifice yourself like this, to never have the chance to realize your ambitions again?"
The Demon God continuously questioned him. It refused to believe that Ghost Infant, who possessed its bloodline, would make such a choice. When it merged with him, it had clearly seen the insatiable greed in his heart, like a bottomless abyss. When a person has infinite desires, they crave eternal life and power.
Ghost Infant remained unfazed by its words, merely stating calmly, "Have you truly seen my true desires?"
The Demon God faltered, recognizing the sarcasm in Ghost Infant's words. However, instead of dismissively disregarding it as before, it followed his wish and truly investigated with its demonic eyes.
The components of desire within Ghost Infant's consciousness were very chaotic. These fragmented and numerous desires were easily overlooked if not examined carefully. But once suspicion and doubt arose in its heart, and it used its "heart" to see, it discovered that although they were chaotic and fragmented, they were all closely related to one person – Gu Junshi.
The Demon God was both surprised and unsurprised.
"You… you desire her?"
Previously, in Ghost Infant's memories, Gu Junshi's existence carried significant weight. She was a teacher and a friend, with some emotions the Demon God couldn't comprehend mixed in. But to the arrogant and emotionless Demon God, these were not comparable to merging with it again and restoring its supreme demonic god status.
Therefore, it believed him, but the result was being outmaneuvered by Ghost Infant.
Upon hearing the Demon God's words, Ghost Infant did not respond directly, merely saying indifferently, "I am not worthy."
You desire her?
Yes, but I am not worthy.
Besides their initial vocal exchange, all their communication was through their souls. Although it seemed like a lot was said, it happened in the blink of an eye.
Upon hearing that Ghost Infant, who possessed its supreme demonic god bloodline, so humbly and timidly referred to itself as "unworthy," the Demon God's rage was even greater than when it heard of his betrayal.
Did he truly not know what a domineering and formidable existence an ancient Demon God was? At its peak, it didn't even care about the Heavenly Dao, let alone a lowly immortal like Gu Junshi.
If anyone was unworthy, it should be Gu Junshi who was unworthy of Ghost Infant!
"When you want something, you snatch it, you seize it, you possess it. Yet you are so foolish as to sacrifice yourself to fulfill her desires? Are you trying to move yourself, or do you think you can move a woman like that, a soulless monster?!" The Demon God was furious at his lack of progress.
In the Demon God's eyes, Gu Junshi was a cunning and deceitful human. She was full of schemes but utterly devoid of heart.
Ghost Infant, however, said calmly, "What Liu Jiangfusheng could do, why can't I? I am not trying to move myself; it is simply that she is meant to be that revered, majestic Golden Dragon soaring in the nine heavens. I will not let her fall."
His words were as firm and loyal as his resolve, bordering on stubbornness.
His previous actions and words had not been discussed with Gu Junshi beforehand, as he knew no more than her initially, and was unaware of the relationship between the Demon God and himself.
It was only later, when the Demon God's descent awakened the memories within his bloodline, that he understood the entire truth.
Upon learning that he was merely a vessel, a fusion candidate for the Demon God's final choice, Ghost Infant, who already had other plans, silently began this scheme.
For this moment, to secure a sliver of hope for her, he would pay any price!
Seeing Ghost Infant using all his soul power along with the Soul-Locking Chain to lock its primordial spirit within this body, the Demon God's body turned as stiff as ice. It could no longer evade Gu Junshi's killing intent-filled strike.
"I should not have existed in this world, but you created me. Since I was born from you, let us both return to nothingness together."
Ghost Infant said these words with a peaceful heart. He looked in Gu Junshi's direction. He had always felt his life was meaningless. Since birth, he had never lived a single happy day. Before arriving at the Dayan Sect, he didn't even understand what happiness was.
Numb, lonely, and highly vigilant, he lived day after day merely to survive, to live for unforgivable hatred, living in cynicism and blaming the heavens and others.
Later, it was her appearance that changed him.
First, from that incomplete and lowly body, then his twisted and broken heart, she mended them both.
When the intense light from the sky transformed into a starlit long river, engulfing almost the entire spiritual realm, and finally enveloped it, that world-shattering, all-destroying power fell upon it like a thousand arrows piercing its heart.
The Demon God was thus completely consumed. Under the crushing force of infinite destruction, its condition was unknown.
Everyone's eyes could not bear to directly witness this grand cleansing battle. They had to close their eyes, but though their eyes could not see, their ears heard the deafening roars that shattered everything.
It was agonizing. Bones were being crushed, and internal organs felt as if they were about to be pulverized. This power, even though not directly directed at them, its residual heat alone felt like it could bake them, these ants, until they were scorched.
But fortunately, this was not directed at them. Therefore, as long as they gritted their teeth and endured this pain, if fate allowed, they would survive.
Is it over?
Their hearts, filled with anxious anticipation and prayer, pounded so hard they felt like they would leap out of their throats.
Should…
Only after the light, hotter than the daytime, gradually faded did they, with excited, trembling hearts, look up at the sky.
They saw that in the position where the Demon God had been, its majestic and divine figure… was gone.
"We won?"
"Gu Junshi killed the Demon God?!"
However, before their faces could break into expressions of ecstatic joy, they saw Gu Junshi's expression change slightly. She moved again.
She transformed into lightning, rushing forward, her figure condensing into billions of light beams, colliding with another mass of chaotic black light. The fierce confrontation had begun anew.
In the eyes of others, they appeared like two celestial bodies from different galaxies colliding and then separating due to the impact of their forces. But in their own time, they had already exchanged countless blows, with unending immortal arts, divine lights, formations, and treasures. The continuous killing seemed to have lasted for a long time, yet it also seemed to have ended quickly.
The sky was no longer the familiar color and appearance. It had long been destroyed and torn. Behind the crimson ripples was the shattering and disintegrating void.
Demonic runes and law runes combined to form a vast domain. This was power that only gods could wield.
*Bang—*
A figure, like shrapnel, was struck and sent falling to the ground. The violent destructive force it carried, capable of collapsing mountains and overturning the firmament, made everyone gasp.
An intense intuition screamed at them: they absolutely could not dodge or escape.
They would die!
They would absolutely die!
The overwhelming sense of crisis choked their breath, their pupils dilated, like helpless drowning individuals awaiting death.
But at the critical moment, fortunately, the person who had already suffered a heavy blow managed to awaken and consider their safety. During the descent, layers upon layers of nearly ten thousand formations opened in an instant, offsetting this world-destroying power that could flatten the spiritual realm.
And upon final impact with the ground, the formations were mutually offset and completely shattered, revealing the defeated and tragic figure of the one who had fallen.
"Gu Junshi, do you have any other trump cards you haven't used? A single Ghost Infant caused you to expend half of my primordial spirit, but with only this remaining half, you can only kneel and defend yourself!"
The Demon God's body within the dark mist was already disfigured beyond recognition, like severed limbs and shattered flesh crudely stitched together with thread. It was tattered, riddled with holes, yet it still stood like a colossal entity.
He, no, *it* was still alive?!
Unbelievable, yet impossible not to believe. Their hearts tightened. At that moment, a profound despair and unwillingness seemed to envelop everyone's hearts.
Previously, Gu Junshi and Ghost Infant, in perfect synergy, had indeed heavily injured it.
But was Gu Junshi unharmed?
She had used almost all her trump cards, even sacrificing Ghost Infant, yet…
Now that it was not dead, she would be the one to die!
Gu Junshi's situation was clearly worse than the Demon God's. She had just formed an alternate dimension, transferring the destruction it brought with it, but at the same time, she had to endure even greater damage.
"I still can't kill you…"
She wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand. It wasn't just her mouth; her entire body was like delicate porcelain that had been cracked, with fragments clinging precariously within the fissures. Her injuries could no longer heal as quickly as before, indicating she was nearing the end of her strength.
The gap between an immortal and a god was like her hanging by a steel wire, painstakingly walking ninety-nine steps, while it only needed to take one steady step forward to easily bridge the distance, even surpass it.
But she was not defeated or disheartened. At this point, she had nothing left to lose.
"Do you know why you, a mere immortal, are forcing me to go all out?" Gu Junshi beckoned, and formation seals transformed into steps. She leaped upwards like a cannonball.
"Because you underestimated me."
The Demon God's gaze fixed on Gu Junshi: "Yes, I underestimated you. So this time…"
Its scarlet demonic eyes suddenly projected onto the sky above, vast and malevolent, just as Gu Junshi had first seen them.
It was emitting terrifying demonic power, causing space-time to warp and distort. The astonishing destructive force rapidly spread, destroying everything around it, devoid of life: "I will seriously tear you to shreds and turn you into dust and ash within the chaos of the Great Dao."
With that said, it unleashed a divine light from its demonic eyes. All sound seemed to vanish in an instant. Large swathes of red pierced her vision.
Gu Junshi felt a tremor. She even had a premonition that this time, she might truly die.
"Plead to the Heavens, offer the wicked soul as sacrifice, my sins my will, no more reincarnation, slumber in the Yellow Springs—Six Paths of Netherworld—Substitute Curse!"
Within the red light, a tall yet dim figure was sharply projected from behind and overlapped into Gu Junshi's body. Simultaneously, a strong killing aura transformed into a solid shield in front of her.
Gu Junshi was not unfamiliar with that voice; in fact, she was very familiar with it.
"Human Emperor…"
However, he no longer had the strength to respond. He only used all his might to protect her soul from being destroyed until it vanished.
Although the Human Emperor gambled everything to exchange for a moment of immense power to slightly block the Demon God's full-force strike for Gu Junshi, it was still like a drop of water in a raging inferno. She looked down. The Human Emperor's physical body, like clay molded and soaked by rain, quickly melted into the earth.
He offered his wicked soul as a sacrifice, intending to block that divine light for her.
But it was no use…
Gu Junshi's eyes were bloodshot. Indescribable emotions assailed her nerves: "Why did you do this?"
He didn't answer. Perhaps even if he could speak, he would only say, "Your life is mine to give to whomever I please. Are you benefiting from this and yet complaining?"
His last act was to leave a divine consciousness imprint in her mind.
"Gu Junshi, you must live. You must live, even if it means stepping on the bones of others to build a staircase to the supreme divine court."
His expectations for her were so high.
Oh, perhaps not expectations, but rather that he understood her inner ambitions and desires. Regretting that he could no longer witness them firsthand, he offered his most sincere blessings.
Gu Junshi's heart was shrouded in dark mist, unfathomably deep, stained with blood.
"I will…"
Her body, within the red light, was like a burning candle, continuously melting. The divine power directly melted her flesh and bones…
She did not know that when the Human Emperor decided to protect her at all costs, he had said to the people of Fengdu City: "Open your eyes and look carefully. Who destroyed your homes, killed your relatives, annihilated your sects, and even sought to make this small world cease to exist? And who is it that protected you with all their might, saving you again and again?"
"She may not be the savior you yearn for and sing praises of, but she is the only one who can save you."
At this moment, the ghosts summoned from the Underworld had pupils that flickered with a faint violet glow. They strained to hold up the barrier. Their solid, massive bodies were already covered in scars. After all, even the residual embers of the battle between the Underworld King and the Demon God could ignite a prairie fire, enough to incinerate and cause disaster.
They shouted in unison, as if brainwashed: "Believe in her as a god. This will be your only path to survival!"
"Believe in our Lord as a god, make her your faith, and pray to her!"
"This is the only thing you can do."
Everyone was shaken.
At this time, they were close to mental breakdown. If someone threw them a piece of driftwood, they would eagerly reach out to grab it.
Their voices not only reached the world of the living but also echoed through the realm of the dead.
When they saw Gu Junshi fighting fearlessly, when they saw her, even with more injuries piled upon her, still setting up a barrier at the last moment to lessen the impact on them, when they saw her, knowing she was outmatched, yet not retreating, their human emotions and impulses stirred.
Knowing that she might not be a saint in terms of morality, but seeing that she too had lost loved ones and endured sacrifice and dedication like them, it somehow made them willing.
When the world is filled with darkness, and only a single light illuminates the way, people who are drawn to the light naturally approach it like pilgrims.
No one wants to fall into hell forever.
No one wants to lose their homes, the land they depend on for survival, their most cherished relatives and friends. For this, they could ignite the strongest will and faith within them.
At this moment, countless silent dead souls on the earth seemed to be summoned, transforming into faint orbs of light, all floating towards her within the red light. Instantly, a shimmering glow surrounded her, like countless stars.
In addition, the survivors in this small world, at this moment, felt as if their boundless faith had all been connected.
In their minds, they thought in unison: if the gods and Buddhas in the heavens could not let them and their most important people live, then what was wrong with betraying their faith and believing in demons!
Humans are the most realistic and pragmatic.
At this moment, they had only one wish in their hearts.
If someone could let them live, that person… would be their faith, their god!
In this small world, the human realm, the demon realm, the spiritual realm, the netherworld, and even the demonic realm, there were countless beings. They all watched this battle between the Demon God and the newly appointed Underworld King.
They also saw those who, fearless of sacrifice, used their own flesh and blood as a foundation to aid in the battle.
They were not brave, nor could they do what others could do. They could only be filled with anxiety over their powerlessness, yet they yearned for strength. Thus, they placed all their hopes and wishes on Gu Junshi.
Win.
Must win.
For this, I am willing to lose ten years of my life.
I am willing to trade my most precious possessions for this victory.
If possible, I would rather sacrifice myself.
… Various wishes and prayers transformed into念力 (nianli - power of thought/will). These came from the faith of various realms and heavens. When they converged into a whole, falling upon one person, they could create an unparalleled miracle.
The念力 of countless people transformed into immense power. Gu Junshi's body, which was already dissipating in the Demon God's divine light, was reforged from a pile of embers like a single spark.
Ten thousand beams of golden light descended, like golden-yellow divine swords slicing through the darkness. Their radiance was so bright that even the sun could not rival it. In an instant, the entire primal world trembled, followed by a rare and astonishing scene that occurred only once in millennia.
Towering lightning bolts, as vast as mountains, struck down. Not one, but countless bolts converged into a vast ocean of lightning. Such a sight made even the Demon God tremble.
For the first time, the Demon God showed an expression resembling shock on its rigid face.
"This… this is the Divine Tribulation?!"
It roared out, as if spitting blood from its throat.
Under the baptism of the lightning tribulation, Gu Junshi's missing limbs were reforged amidst the melting. Simultaneously, a terrifying pressure, superior to all world wills, emanated.
Belief can create gods. This was the power provided by immense faith.
"What kind of lightning tribulation is this? Immortals only have forty-nine bolts at most. These countless bolts, could they be…"
"Ascending to godhood?!"
Nearly dazed murmurs gradually coalesced into a dense chorus of voices. They could not articulate whether they felt more shocked or excited at this moment.
"Is something like this… truly something a human can accomplish? Becoming an immortal in years, and a god in a day."
The cultivators felt as if they were dreaming, not knowing what they were saying.
It shouldn't be.
After all, no matter how amazing someone was, they wouldn't do something so monstrous.
The Demon God was also stunned. It refused to believe, yet it had no choice but to believe.
Because within the divine light of Gu Junshi's ascension, its body was suppressed by an invisible force, preventing it from making any interfering or surprise attacks.
Unless it was of the same divine rank, it absolutely could not have affected it.
Compared to everyone else who was stunned into place, Gu Junshi, within the lightning tribulation, did not seem like a person undergoing tribulation. Never before had she felt her body so full and abundant, like an inexhaustible ocean, allowing her to freely wield and suppress divine power.
She opened her eyes amidst the lightning. Her eyes were no longer mortal eyes; they could now penetrate the barriers of time and space. Her entire aura seemed to be as if she were newly created, with a mind as clear as the heavens and earth, her heart within, and outside, the insurmountable Guixu Divine Mountain, majestic and imposing, extremely perilous.
"So, this is what it feels like to become a god."
The world is in my hands. This was not an arrogant statement, but a real experience.
She couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"Congratulations, you have become a god."
At this moment, the voice of the Heavenly Dao suddenly appeared in her mind.
But Gu Junshi was not surprised, because by this point, it no longer needed to hide behind the scenes.
Gu Junshi had never met the Heavenly Dao. This was the first time it had spoken to her so clearly. Previously, she could only know of its existence and communicate mentally, but direct dialogue was impossible given their hierarchical difference.
But now she could.
She had made herself valuable, a value that even the Heavenly Dao had not estimated.
A torrent of emotions surged within Gu Junshi's heart. Her blood boiled with passion, yet it was instantly calmed by her immense self-control.
Her mind, however, was completely calm. Whether god, immortal, or mortal, she was still Gu Junshi.
She remained composed, like a traveler who had journeyed for a long time and finally reached the shore she was seeking: "Yes, thanks to your careful guidance and reminders, I was able to ascend to godhood using the power of faith."
After speaking, she shifted her tone: "And the Demon God will be the first achievement of my godhood."
The Heavenly Dao always spoke steadily and calmly, like a mechanical heart devoid of emotions. Unlike another Heavenly Dao, the latter's excessive humanity had led to a series of troubles and calamities.
Having received Gu Junshi's assurance, the Heavenly Dao then said, "Then I wish you success. However, I must remind you of one thing. Gods cannot remain in the Three Thousand Small Worlds for too long. Firstly, the God Realm will summon you, and secondly, your existence will bring unbearable destruction to this small world, so your time is limited."
Gu Junshi replied softly, "It won't be too long."
After cutting off the hypocritical and pale mutual probing with the Heavenly Dao, Gu Junshi finally returned to reality, returning to the interrupted battlefield.
Now, after becoming a god, she had undergone a complete transformation.
All the strange or deified symbols on her body from before had disappeared. The vast ocean of lightning also receded after completing its purification. She had returned to her original self.
In the vast and clear sky, all impurities and residues seemed to have been purified by her divine tribulation and rebirth divine light. It was the familiar blue sky and white clouds, serene and tranquil.
The black-haired, black-eyed, fair-skinned, fleshy Gu Junshi, at first glance, seemed like the mortal Gu Junshi from the beginning. She stood in that peaceful and serene, beautiful sky.
It was incredible and defied all reason.
After becoming a god, she had become so ordinary and plain, like water without flavor or color.
Everyone was stunned, some doubting their previous judgments and speculations. They even wondered if the terrifying lightning tribulation before was Gu Junshi's pretense.
But if one looked closely, or if someone of equal rank looked, they would know what it meant to fall into an abyss and be terrified.
The Great Dao is like water.
Water nurtures all life and is contained within all things. It is ubiquitous and permeates everywhere. In the square, it is square; in the circle, it is round.
Gu Junshi wore a fitted dark-patterned robe with cuffed sleeves. As light flowed over the fabric, captivating runes rippled. The calmness and indifference in her eyes were like clouds and mist, concealing the deepest killing intent as she looked at the Demon God.
But how could the Demon God not know Gu Junshi's thoughts at this moment?
There's a saying: your truest understanding often comes from your enemies.
She said, "You said that an immortal can never kill a god. Then what about a god?"
The Demon God stared at her intently, its face gradually becoming demonic. The demonic patterns on its body writhed like living smoke: "Gods too! Even the Heavenly Dao cannot do what you can, relying on you?"
It responded arrogantly.
It had recovered from its initial shock. Perhaps it had witnessed Gu Junshi's abnormal leveling speed from the beginning, and thus had long deemed this woman as someone who could not be judged by ordinary standards. Therefore, it did not lose its composure for too long.
But to accept this matter calmly was impossible. The Demon God's nerves were now stretched taut, and a slight pressure could cause it to break its banks like a flood, driving it into complete madness.
"You must remember, I am not the Heavenly Dao that manages and manipulates order, nor am I the Buddha who advocates that all things have a fate. I am the god of the Underworld, specializing in slaughter, purgatory, and judgment. The Underworld has always only had an Underworld King, so it cannot constrain the status of a god. But I, Gu Junshi, am the only god position in the Underworld since its inception."
As she spoke, she saw the Demon God's expression change as desired, from confusion and surprise to coldness and gravity.
"Demon God, do you remember what I said?"
She spoke word by word, her gaze chilling: "You and I are mortal enemies. Either I am buried forever in the Yellow Springs, or you will forever fall into Yama's hell."
As she spoke, the "Gate of the Yellow Springs" shot out like a stream of light. It was no longer just a passage connecting the Underworld to other realms; it had transformed into a divine artifact in Gu Junshi's hand, a Nine Dragon Scepter forged by her will.
It was originally a divine artifact, but no one in the Underworld had been able to fully activate it, so it had remained dormant. This was its active state.
At that moment, a great fear gripped the Demon God's heart. It finally panicked.
"Although you are a god, your divine body is not present, and your divine power is not even two or three-tenths of its peak…"
*Bang—*
A phantom scepter projected above the Demon God. It was covered by Gu Junshi's divine power, its entire body stiffened. Even with its desperate resistance, it could not change the fact that the enemy was stronger than the self.
The tides had turned. This time, it was its turn to fall violently from the sky.
Miserable, furious, panicked… various sharp waves crashed upon it, making it react sluggishly like a maddened wooden statue, its body trembling.
It wouldn't lose. How could it lose to her!
Demonic energy surged, piling up like the waves of the sea, surging and rolling, but then a cage descended around it, and the flames of its aura were doused from above.
"Kneel!"
*Bang—*
Its knees struck the ground heavily, the force so great that it created a depression like a small lake.
At this moment, the hearts of everyone who was focused on the outcome of this battle suddenly leaped, as if this "kneel!" struck their heads simultaneously, making their knees involuntarily weaken, bowing in reverence.
It felt an unprecedented humiliation. This humiliation made the Demon God roar like a collapsing beast.
"Impossible, how is this possible! I am the Demon God, and you, a mere minor god, cannot possibly defeat me!" It shrieked hoarsely, as if this would allow it to roar out its fear and despair.
"Get down!"
*Bang—*
Prostrating itself, its voice abruptly ceased. The Demon God's scarlet demonic eyes widened, as if blood were flowing from them.
This was the judgment of the Nether God.
Since it was judgment, then naturally one had to kneel to hear its crimes.
Gu Junshi looked down at the Demon God beneath her, which was incapable of surging up. She could now easily crush it under her feet, not by accident or overnight success, but as a result of her meticulous planning.
"Nothing is impossible. For this moment, the Heavenly Dao has been planning for thousands of years. I have reincarnated for nearly a thousand years to accumulate strength, solely to annihilate you. The Underworld lost its order because of you, causing chaos for a thousand years. Several realms were thrown into disarray in their reincarnation and destiny because of you. It can be considered as the cycle of heavenly justice. You should descend to hell to repay your karmic debts."
The divine staff in Gu Junshi's hand transformed into an ice-blue mountain peak, soaring tens of thousands of ren. It was like a sharp sword, commanding submission from all directions, piercing into the firmament. In the eyes of the Demon God, however, it was a soul-devouring sword.
The victory and defeat between them had been decided the moment she became a god.
But it thought it would not perish, at most, it would be imprisoned and confined again, just like when it had opposed the Heavenly Dao before.
But there was no such easy escape. Between Gu Junshi and it, besides the struggle for victory, there was also the hatred of losing loved ones and friends. She intended to make it utterly perish, to make it completely disappear, without a trace in heaven or earth, past or future.
"Demon God, everything is over."