Chapter 1278: 1246: This World Will Soon Be Destroyed

Chapter 1278: Chapter 1246: This World Will Soon Be Destroyed

That terrifying phenomenon vanished without a trace.

Jiang Ding could not comprehend what kind of existence this was, only feeling as though it was a predator of all living beings, utterly irresistible.

He looked around at Mu Tiansnow, Ye Yue Heavenly Monarch, Gong Caiyu, and the others, who appeared completely unaware.

However, Han Lin and Great Love Heavenly Monarch seemed as if they were facing a formidable enemy. With a sharp sound, they retreated several hundred miles in an instant, staring intently at this side, as if poised to flee into the starry sky at any moment.

Mu Tiansnow and the others were baffled.

Jiang Ding remained silent.

After a long time, the blood sea vortex continued to expand, hiding something extremely frightening within.

Han Lin and Great Love Heavenly Monarch hesitated for a long while but eventually returned.

Jiang Ding watched them with a probing gaze.

“Little Uncle Master…”

Han Lin smiled sheepishly, “I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of danger, one even more terrifying than death. I lost control for a moment. Please, forgive me.”

“I felt the same way…”

Great Love Heavenly Monarch immediately answered.

Buzz!

A dreadful pressure intertwined with the Six Paths Order radiated across heaven and earth. Gazing upon it was akin to witnessing the entire cycle of reincarnation, countless beings wailing, dying, and eternally unable to escape their fate.

Jiang Ding’s gaze remained calm.

Great Love Heavenly Monarch’s words halted abruptly.

He revealed a hint of hesitation.

The Great Sun Sword Master was always one to honor his promises, refraining from acting against anyone who did not violate the Tushan Law. Would this instance be an exception?

Especially since this concerned… his life and death.

“Heavenly Monarch,”

Great Love Heavenly Monarch hesitated for a very long time, and at last reluctantly said, “It might, perhaps, relate to the great calamity in the Upper Realm… It’s possible that all life in this world will be consumed in several thousand to tens of thousands of years…”

“Of course, this is merely my wild speculation, not to be taken seriously.”

He quickly offered an ingratiating smile.

“The world will perish in ten thousand years?”

“What nonsense!”

Mu Tiansnow was stunned for a moment before erupting in anger, rebuking fiercely.

Such a notion was utterly absurd!

The world had existed for so long—how could it randomly undergo extinction? Great Love Heavenly Monarch, as a Heavenly Monarch, how could he sound like those cultivators who succumb to madness, worship deities, and spout apocalyptic theories?

“Yes, yes, Miss Mu is absolutely correct.”

Great Love Heavenly Monarch nodded repeatedly, bowing and smiling apologetically. “I was momentarily foolish; please forgive me.”

“Extinction…”

Jiang Ding revealed a contemplative expression.

Later, he turned and left, leaving the congregation of Heavenly Monarchs staring at one another in silence.

…

In the Dark Demon Palace.

Jiang Ding sat on the Six Dao Throne, quietly observing the sky.

He raised a hand to summon.

Buzz!

Within the Primordial Magnet of the Yin Yang Magnetic Absolute Spirit Mountain Formation, undulating azure waves churned, the earth quaked, and countless beams of gold light appeared in the skies over the tens of thousands of miles of the Tushan Central Court. The air resonated with the sharp cries of swords slicing through the heavens and earth, dispersing the clouds into fragments. Golden lotuses bloomed in the sky, their Dao Yun spreading far and wide.

These celestial phenomena immediately triggered panic among the cultivators in the Tushan Central Court, as many emerged from their secluded retreats.

“A rare treasure is born…”

“A Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, nurtured naturally, destined for a virtuous individual…”

An experienced elder cultivator instinctively uttered, having guessed what had occurred.

Whoosh!

Nearby, many gazes shifted toward him, showing admiration.

“Misunderstanding.”

“This is a misunderstanding…”

That elder cultivator sheepishly ducked into the crowd, vanishing from sight.

“Investigate him—whether he’s ever killed and stolen treasures, or whether cultivators have mysteriously disappeared where he’s been…”

Faintly, whispers of inspection hall cultivators could be heard.

A rare treasure has appeared!

And it’s within Tushan Central Court!

Is that not completely normal?

This is the dwelling place of Heavenly Monarchs from across the world, the natural gathering point of innumerable Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

However, such terrifying phenomena were unprecedented, exceeding even those seen when a Heavenly Monarch ascended to the Spirit Transformation stage in the past. Despite the presence of great formations to mitigate the effects, the oppressive force was suffocating, preventing coherent thought.

After an indeterminate amount of time, amidst the trembling earth, a massive boulder-sized lump of earthy-yellow Spirit Gold rose from the ground. Cultivated over 1,200 years, through the nourishment of world energy, it radiated an aura that could instill fear in even Spirit Transformation Heavenly Monarchs.

Primordial Spirit Treasures unleashed upon it could not even leave a mark.

A Sixth-rank Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure—Earth Mother Gold!

This was created using the Great Sun World Defining Array, drawing upon the breath of the Minor Thousand World to cultivate Sixth-rank Spirit Gold, critically valuable even for Refining Nothingness cultivators, with only one batch produced every 600 years.

Now, after 1,200 years, two batches of Earth Mother Gold had formed.

These materials could serve as the primary ingredient for producing Grade-One Synthetic Geng Metal and for refining treasures at the Refining Void Space level, such as Taiqing Flying Swords.

For now, they were useless and merely stored as reserves.

They would only have use when Taiqing Flying Swords achieved breakthroughs.

Jiang Ding lifted his hand to summon.

Countless Sword Qi forged from Six Paths Order blossomed around the Earth Mother Gold, isolating the oppressive aura and neutralizing the naturally emitted Spiritual Light capable of wounding Nascent Soul cultivators. The Sword Qi sealed the gold, which was then stored within his jade pendant.

1,200 years of accumulation had culminated in these rewards.

“I have a premonition that I’ll become extremely poor in the future—like Xi Yuan… No, even poorer than Xi Yuan.”

Jiang Ding muttered softly to himself.

To this day, even the Spirit Gold synthetic industry of the Xianmen Sect was incapable of synthesizing Sixth-rank top-tier Spirit Gold like Grade-One Synthetic Geng Metal from Fifth Order materials.

Even basic synthesis of Sixth-rank Spirit Gold was exceptionally difficult, requiring immense energy while producing extremely limited results. A significant number of lower-tier Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasures served as critical supplements but could not fully replace higher-tier materials.

This implied that Jiang Ding was following the well-trodden path of many high-level cultivators, where lower-tier treasures eventually became mere numbers—abundant yet largely insignificant.

Supplemental, but not decisive.

Thus, poverty seemed inevitable.

“Heavenly Monarch.”

Mu Tiansnow and Lieyang Heavenly Monarch approached, bowing respectfully.

The two had been summoned.

“Hmm, as usual.”

“The Tushan Central Court has grown corrupt again. Such matters seem unavoidable as time passes, which is truly frustrating.”

Jiang Ding nodded slightly and handed them a jade slip. “Follow the list written here. Everyone listed needs to be executed. Be mindful of proper procedures, declare their crimes, and present evidence. Do not disrupt the cultivation lives of other cultivators… These are the usual instructions. You performed well in the past, so follow the same methods now.”

The sword cultivators of Tushan Central Court always handled such executions effectively and zealously. Their results were consistently flawless, so Jiang Ding relied on them whenever needed.

Purging corruption was essential for restoring Tushan Central Court and revitalizing industrial growth.

Next would come development of production and improvements in planting techniques, alchemy technology, breeding techniques, and refining technology—aiming to further the world’s productivity sustainably while benefiting all cultivators.

“Yes, Swordsman.”

Lieyang Heavenly Monarch and Mu Tiansnow probed the jade slip with their Divine Sense, seeing over a hundred thousand names inscribed within. Their hearts trembled as they respectfully bowed once more.