Chapter 107

Chapter 107: Regretless Even in Death

Xu Changqing’s tone was filled with helplessness.

If he weren’t utterly desperate, how could he possibly hand over the item to an outsider?

After all, it was a treasure Emperor Venerable Buzhou had paid for with his life. But among those present at Unsurpassed Fairy Island, the quasi-emperors were unfit for the grave responsibility; Lin Qianmo alone was capable of getting the item out.

Lin Qianmo felt a stir within and sent a voice transmission in response: "The item you just acquired?"

Xu Changqing nodded.

Only he knew where the item had been hidden; that was why he had seized the moment under the pretext of examining the Emperor Venerable’s corpse to retrieve it.

"Daoist friend, I don’t know the origins of this item yet and dare not rashly accept responsibility for it," Lin Qianmo replied.

"Even this old man doesn’t know this item’s origins," Xu Changqing stated.

"But the reason the Emperor Venerable perished," Xu Changqing continued, "was precisely because, after obtaining it, the news leaked, and he was hunted down by the Taihao Heavenly Sect. His grievous wounds proved incurable."

"And the annihilation of Unsurpassed Sacred Ground," Xu Changqing added, "had its roots here too."

"Daoist friend, aren’t you afraid I might take the item and keep it for myself?" Lin Qianmo inquired with a light laugh.

Xu Changqing shook his head. "If the Daoist friend has such an intention, she must first swear a Heavenly Dao vow. Bound by the Heavenly Dao vow, the Daoist friend will surely honor her promise."

"What benefit is there for me?" Lin Qianmo asked.

She was no philanthropist and wouldn’t undertake a loss-making trade.

"The Daoist friend may examine this book, even cultivate the Techniques and divine abilities recorded within," Xu Changqing offered. "This old man has only one demand: this item must be delivered intact into Qin Changsheng’s hands."

This was the utmost concession Xu Changqing could make.

"Agreed," Lin Qianmo acquiesced at once and invoked the Heavenly Dao vow.

Anything that Emperor Venerable Buzhou had been willing to sacrifice his life to preserve undoubtedly held immense value, and Lin Qianmo was naturally intrigued.

"Daoist friend, please examine it."

With a mere thought from Xu Changqing, silently traversing the void, a scroll emitting a yellow glow – the Ancient Scrolls – was passed to Lin Qianmo.

Lin Qianmo stored the ancient scroll within her Purple Palace.

Her Divine Sense surged with a thought, flooding into the scroll.

This ancient scroll possessed an exceptionally dreadful aura. It emitted a presence of the Dao, yet was permeated with an intense, cloying aura of death that refused to dissipate.

"Is this Emperor Venerable Buzhou’s skin?"

Lin Qianmo’s expression flickered slightly. Emperor Venerable Buzhou had fused the Ancient Scrolls with his own skin. To obtain the scrolls, one had to flay it off. Truly a ruthless individual.

"Ten Thousand Ways Enlightenment Scriptures…"

The script on the human-skin manuscript was extraordinarily ancient. It was no Ancient characters, nor even primeval script, but something older still, containing boundless mysteries of the Dao.

Lin Qianmo scanned the contents line by line, muttering the five words slowly…

"Sister, did you discover something?" Lan Youruo turned her head to look at Lin Qianmo; she had heard her sister’s murmuring and thus asked.

"Nothing," Lin Qianmo replied, her expression unchanged.

Even someone like her had been shocked by the human-skin manuscript, the words escaping her lips involuntarily.

"Daoist friend, can you recognize the characters above?" Xu Changqing stared intently at Lin Qianmo, his expression shocked.

"What’s going on with those two?"

Ao Bing looked toward Xu Changqing and Lin Qianmo. Though their Divine Sense communication couldn’t be sensed by outsiders, subtle signs could still be seen in their expressions.

Yue Ruyi shook her head and said, "Daoist brother, some things are better left unknown."

As a perceptive person, she could guess that Lin Qianmo and Xu Changqing were conversing via Divine Sense but chose not to mention it.

"These characters are ancient writings from the Primordial Era. It’s only natural you don’t recognize them," Lin Qianmo transmitted via Divine Sense.

Not even Lin Qianmo could imagine stumbling upon the Ten Thousand Ways Enlightenment Scriptures within Emperor Venerable Buzhou’s mausoleum.

This scripture was famed throughout the Upper Realms.

Its profound techniques were one reason, but the more crucial factor was its creator – the most peerlessly brilliant individual throughout all ages and all realms.

The Mad Daoist!

This person’s genius eclipsed all past and present. A lifelong seeker of the Dao, he had lived from the ancient times straight through to the present era, and almost no one was unaware of his existence.

However, the Mad Daoist was very elusive, his whereabouts difficult to trace.

"This human-skin manuscript records a technique," Lin Qianmo explained.

"Many thanks, Daoist friend."

Xu Changqing’s mind was trembling. At the moment of his death, learning the secrets of the human-skin manuscript meant he could die in peace.

"Daoist friend, this is a portrait of my disciple. It carries his soul aura. I entrust you with the lifelong wish of this old man."

Xu Changqing bowed deeply.

Lin Qianmo accepted the item, receiving the gesture with composure.

Lian Jiuyou, Bai Yuehong, and Yuan Daokong looked baffled.

Boom!

A thunderous crash sounded as countless divine patterns vanished into nothingness. Emperor Venerable Buzhou’s Divine Sense shattered completely. The heavenly formation strained under the pressure, destined to collapse entirely within less than an hour.

"Old poison slug, I’ll tear you apart!"

Lian Jiuyou roared in fury. Sensing the disturbance, he instantly saw the Poison Emperor transform into a black mist that coiled around and slowly devoured Emperor Venerable Buzhou’s massive corpse.

The gargantuan, mountain-like body was already more than half consumed.

This heavenly formation relied entirely on the power of Emperor Venerable Buzhou’s physical form to sustain itself. The Poison Emperor’s actions were pushing all of them inexorably toward death.

"Anyone who stops me from killing Him, beware my ruthlessness."

Bai Yuehong activated the True Martial Emperor Sword. The momentum of this imperial weapon surged forth, manifesting a colossal, illusory figure of a Great Emperor adorned with an imperial crown, treading on a turtle and snake as he stepped across the sky.

Clang!

Bai Yuehong thrust his sword. Emperor Venerable Buzhou’s head was severed.

He extended a big hand, seizing the head and storing it within his Purple Palace.

"……"

The scene left everyone stupefied.

Ao Bing’s face twitched violently. That scoundrel acted under the pretext of executing a traitor, aiming to seize the head of Emperor Venerable Buzhou!

"Despicable!" Lan Youruo’s eyes turned icy cold.

"How dare you insult our Unsurpassed Sacred Ground like this?" The peak quasi-emperor from the Unsurpassed Fairy Island was furious. He madly channeled his magic power, and an enormous primordial spirit soared from his head.

This primordial spirit had the head of a divine bird and the body of a man, with wings sprouting from its back. It held an ancient bronze bell suspended in its hand.

The ancient bronze bell shuddered, sending a thick, resonant chime to every corner of the emperor’s tomb. The void disintegrated inch by inch.

Bai Yuehong swung his sword towards the void, slicing into a sonic wave.

Boom!

Instantly, countless sonic waves exploded. The sound of the bell pierced through heaven and earth, penetrating everyone’s eardrums and stabbing straight into their souls.

"Hiss!"

Ao Bing, Ji Xinyu, Liu Ningmei, Ye Hongchen, and others immediately clapped their hands over their ears.

Lin Qianmo and Lan Youruo instantly channeled their magic power, erecting a temporary barrier to shield Qi Ruyu and the others.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The void exploded violently.

The True Martial Emperor Sword struck the bronze bell.

Clang!

The bronze bell was knocked flying, ringing out clear and resonant, each peal shaking the heavens.

The Poison Emperor, right in the center of the battle, showed no concern. He continued frantically gnawing on the flesh of Emperor Venerable Buzhou.

Bai Yuehong stood tall and immovable, not shifting a single step.

In contrast, that peak quasi-emperor staggered back seven steps in succession, his face slightly pale.

"Disciple Chen Nephew, stand down," Xu Changqing commanded, his face showing no ripple.

"Elder, he stole the Emperor Venerable’s corpse, a crime worthy of ten thousand deaths…"

"Stand down!" Xu Changqing barked.

The Chen quasi-emperor stepped back, his expression filled with resentment.

"With a great calamity imminent, your lord still harbors a thief’s heart? Truly unaware of his approaching death," Xu Changqing said coldly. He made no move to retrieve the Emperor Venerable’s head, appearing utterly indifferent.

Bai Yuehong was a sharp-witted person and noticed the strangeness immediately.

"Elder Zhao, take the head." Bai Yuehong handed the Emperor Venerable’s head to the one-eyed elder.

The one-eyed elder, visibly displeased, stored the Emperor Venerable’s head within his Purple Palace.

Xu Changqing responded with a cold sneer.

Boom!

At this moment, the heavenly formation was utterly destroyed, and the entire Imperial Mausoleum started collapsing bit by bit; a scant few stars shattered and fell continuously.

Emperor Venerable Buzhou’s limbs also ignited, turning into ashes little by little.

The Nine-headed Great Emperor and the Seven-tailed Celestial Fox of the Taihao Heavenly Sect escaped their confinement.

"Damn it, to be trapped by a dead man for so long!" the Nine-headed Great Emperor cursed and grumbled.

"The heavenly formation is one of the strongest formations in the Spirit Realm, so it naturally has many mysteries," the Seven-tailed Celestial Fox said coldly. Legends said the heavenly formation in Emperor Venerable Buzhou’s hands was only a fragmentary version.

A complete version of the heavenly formation could refine the Heavenly Dao; it was a top-tier formation.

"Xu Changqing, you have no way out. Hand over the item, and I’ll grant you a quick death," the Nine-headed Great Emperor said, his eighteen eyes fixed on Xu Changqing, making it chilling.

"If you have the skill, come and take it," Xu Changqing laughed heartily, facing death without fear.

"What should we do with this group?" the Seven-tailed Celestial Fox swept her gaze over the crowd, her brow furrowed slightly.

"Kill them all, of course," the Nine-headed Great Emperor licked his lips.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Imperial Mausoleum kept collapsing, and in the blink of an eye, everyone reappeared in the world of the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain. There were no stars, no sun or moon—just desolation and deathly silence.

"Hurry, leave!" voices came from Yuan Daokong and Lian Jiuyou; they had already transformed into two streaks of escaping light, charging deep into the void and fleeing madly toward the exit of the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain.

"Want to leave?" the Nine-headed Great Emperor sneered disdainfully.

Those who weren’t Great Emperors were all ants.

Only by mastering the power of the Great Dao could one know how powerful they were.

He flipped his palm and struck, the Qian Kun Cauldron spinning downward, growing larger until it completely enveloped the entire Unsurpassed Divine Mountain. Streams of mysterious light penetrated the void, like a celestial wall, cutting off all retreat.

Yuan Daokong, Lian Jiuyou, and others exerted all their strength but still couldn’t shatter the mysterious light wall, returning dejectedly.

"That poisonous creature devoured all of Emperor Venerable Buzhou’s flesh; the item might be on him," the Seven-tailed Celestial Fox said, staring into a dark void as she spotted Poison Emperor’s hiding place.

"That woman had contact with Xu Changqing, so both could be hiding that thing."

"Seniors," Bai Yuehong said respectfully, "We didn’t have contact with Xu Changqing. Could you let us leave this place?"

"Nonsense!" Lian Jiuyou shouted angrily. "You beheaded Emperor Venerable Buzhou. In my opinion, you’re the most likely to be hiding it."

"Lian Jiuyou!" Bai Yuehong gnashed his teeth, wishing he could chop Lian Jiuyou to bits.

"Stop arguing," the Nine-headed Great Emperor chuckled darkly. "This emperor will send you all on your way together, so you’ll have company on the road."

Boom!

The Nine-headed Great Emperor thrust his palm downward, his five fingers like pillars supporting the heavens, his palm lines transforming into mountains and rivers. As if the entire sky had collapsed, it covered the entire Divine Mountain.

"Daoist Friend Lin, I entrust this to you," Xu Changqing looked at Lin Qianmo, his gaze resolute.

"Farewell, Daoist friend," Lin Qianmo’s eyelashes fluttered, her expression showing a hint of emotion.

From the moment Xu Changqing entrusted her with the human-skin manuscript, she had already known Xu Changqing’s fate.

"Emperor Venerable, master, Yun’er, I’ve survived for nine hundred and twenty thousand years. Today, I finally fulfilled my last wish; though I die, I have no regrets," images flashed through Xu Changqing’s mind.

"I am coming," Xu Changqing’s body erupted with blazing light.

It was as if a star had expanded to its limit.

Instantly, the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain was engulfed in blinding aurora light.