Chapter 1542 - I Am Unwilling! Battle Me Once More!

The Five Elements seal flared with overwhelming power. From the heart of the seal, a torrent of five-colored light burst forth, a flood of energy so fast it was beyond comprehension, faster even than a beam of light.

The crowd saw only a flash before the force reached Xu Zimo’s position. The torrent destroyed everything in its path, living up to its name, the Ultimate Kill, an attack that promised certain death.

The moment it appeared, the five elemental beasts coiled around the raging current, charging forward together.

Seeing this, Xu Zimo’s expression grew serious. The Five Elements Saint Sovereign was indeed formidable. The instant the saint began forming the killing seal, Xu Zimo had already started preparing his response.

“Tenth Form: God Demon! The End of Heaven and Earth!”

Divine power and demonic energy intertwined around him, two forces of utterly different origins. Divine power was no weaker than demonic energy; strength itself had no inherent hierarchy. It was the wielder who determined which force reigned supreme.

In Xu Zimo’s case, however, the divine power was not meant to coexist, it was nourishment for the demonic. His demonic energy devoured the divine force, fusing into an even greater, apocalyptic might.

Divinity was majestic; the Infernal Lord’s power was tyrannical. Together they could overturn the heavens and annihilate creation itself.

The two powers rose to the sky, merging into intertwining torrents of divine and demonic force. Upon closer look, one would see that the demonic energy clearly dominated, while the divine power merely sustained it like fuel feeding an inferno.

Finally, the Five Elements Ultimate Kill collided head-on with the God Demon Form.

High above the heavens, two ultimate forces clashed, world-shattering, sky-rending, annihilating all else. Even the revolving Sun-Moon Orb, even the sacred protection of the Primogenitor Feather, paled in comparison.

Yet, the explosion everyone expected never came. Instead, the two opposing powers locked together, frozen in balance.

“Kill!” the Five Elements Saint Sovereign roared, surging forward to crush Xu Zimo.

“Kill!” Xu Zimo answered in kind.

His divine-demonic force reached to the ends of the earth, slaughtering all that stood in its way. The heavens trembled; destruction itself seemed absolute.

Their faces twisted with strain as veins bulged across their foreheads. The spectators below couldn’t help but hold their breath, both men were pushing their power to the absolute limit.

For a long moment, the clashing energies remained locked in the void, refusing to explode. Such a delicate equilibrium could only exist because both wielders had complete mastery over their respective forces.

It was a perfect balance, neither side could overcome the other unless one’s strength was fully exhausted.

Below, Shangguan Xiongba’s eyes hardened.

In the next instant, his saintly aura surged, and he stepped into the air, charging straight toward Xu Zimo.

Though he had only recently entered the Saint realm, his power was not to be dismissed. Sacred energy roared around him as he struck.

The onlookers gasped in disbelief. Shangguan Xiongba, the patriarch of the mighty Shangguan Heavenly Clan, a representative of one of the great clans of the Divine Crow God Realm, was resorting to a sneak attack?

Such an act would stain the family’s honor for generations.

“Despicable! Shameless!” Shangguan Xian shouted furiously from the crowd, her face pale with rage. She tried to stop him, but it was already too late, Shangguan Xiongba was only a step away from Xu Zimo.

He paid no heed to others’ opinions. In his mind, only one thought mattered. Xu Zimo must die.

Once, he had viewed Xu Zimo merely as an upstart junior, a troublesome talent. But now, after witnessing Xu Zimo’s power, his pursuit of Shangguan Wan’er, his defeat of the Five Elements Saint Sovereigns, and his battle against the true resurrected ancestor himself, fear had taken root in his heart.

Yes, fear.

He no longer wanted this threat to live. That was the only thing driving him.

The Five Elements Saint Sovereign also noticed what was happening. His expression darkened.

“Shangguan Xiongba, what are you doing?” he barked.

“Ancestor, I’m helping you!” the patriarch replied.

“I don’t need your help!” the Saint snapped coldly. “Stand down. This is my battle.”

“Can you really win against him?” Shangguan Xiongba asked, his voice trembling slightly.

“Whether I win or not, what does it matter?” the Saint replied.

“If you’re not certain of victory, I can’t let such a threat survive,” Shangguan Xiongba said grimly.

“I’ll say this once more,” the Saint thundered. “Whatever becomes of the Shangguan Heavenly Clan in your era, its glory or its fall, is your concern, not mine. But this fight… this is mine. Don’t stain my name!”

His voice rang with unshakable pride. “After this battle, you can scheme, conspire, or play the villain all you want. I won’t stop you, because I’ll no longer be here to do so.”

“Forgive me, Ancestor,” Shangguan Xiongba said, his tone equally resolute. “For the sake of the family’s future, I’ll sacrifice everything, even honor.”

Power surged from his body as he struck again, descending upon Xu Zimo with overwhelming force.

But Xu Zimo only smiled faintly, showing no fear.

Just as Shangguan Xiongba’s palm was about to crush his head, a massive hand caught it midair.

A cold, booming voice followed: “If you want to fight, I’ll fight you instead.”

Paimon’s towering figure had appeared above the battlefield.

In truth, the Infernal Archons had been surrounding the area the entire time, watching from the shadows. Xu Zimo had ordered them not to interfere unless he faced an impossible situation.

“Who are you?” Shangguan Xiongba shouted.

“The one who’s going to kill you,” Paimon growled, his body erupting with demonic energy.

With a single strike, he summoned a storm of darkness, clouds of demonic miasma rolling across the sky. The aura of a Sage Monarch blazed around him.

The two clashed, their battle breaking off from the duel above.

At that same moment, the Five Elements Saint Sovereign felt something shift within him. His expression softened, tinged with melancholy.

“You’ve won,” he said quietly.

“The fight’s not over yet,” Xu Zimo replied.

“My vessel is about to dissipate,” the Saint said with a faint smile. “I’m afraid I won’t get the chance.”

He raised his eyes toward the Radiant Court high above, a structure that had endured for countless ages.

“This era… it’s a beautiful one. Yet I can’t help but feel unwilling. To have died back then, at the hands of that one within the Radiant Court… it was worthy, I suppose. If Heaven would grant me another chance, I would fight again, against you, against him.”

As his words faded, Xu Zimo felt the pressure of the opposing force withdraw. The power of the five elements dissolved into the air, and the Saint’s body slowly faded from sight.

“A worthy opponent,” Xu Zimo murmured. “If only we had lived in the same age.”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 1547 – Shangguan Wan’er’s Death, the Formation Shattered

The body of the Five Elements Saint Sovereign finally dissipated, vanishing along with his boundless attachment to the world. Yet all things in existence must face death. Whether gods, demons, or spirits, none can escape mortality.

Xu Zimo turned his gaze toward Shangguan Xiongba. The man was truly despicable, he had tried to ambush Xu Zimo at his most critical moment.

In Paimon’s grasp, Shangguan Xiongba was no match at all. Each strike that landed on his abdomen sent him spitting blood as demonic energy rippled outward.

As Shangguan Xiongba was pushed to the brink of collapse, Xu Zimo did not interfere. Instead, his eyes turned to Shangguan Wan’er.

She had been healing and recovering under protection earlier, but now, seeing Xu Zimo approach step by step, her expression hardened. She knew she couldn’t escape this.

“Hand over the Ancestral Flame,” Xu Zimo said calmly.

“If I give it to you, will you spare me?” Shangguan Wan’er asked.

“No. Killing you is my main goal. The Ancestral Flame is secondary,” Xu Zimo shook his head.

“Then I’ll fight you to the death! I, Shangguan Wan’er, am not one who fears dying!” she shouted coldly.

Around them, the Nine Nether Hellfire ignited once more. The blazing flames scorched even the void itself, and an overwhelming force blanketed the world.

The massive figure of Medusa appeared again, roaring furiously as both fire and giant charged at Xu Zimo.

“The same trick again,” Xu Zimo muttered, shaking his head. “Then let me show you one of my Ten Forms of Demon.”

“Seventh Form: Spectral Demon, Specter of Vengeful Souls.”

In that instant, boundless ghostly energy erupted from his body, surging across the heavens. A gigantic ghostly face appeared in the sky, its expression hideous and savage, its mouth wide enough to devour everything. Around it swarmed countless vengeful souls, drawn together by its call.

The ghost face shrieked and lunged toward Medusa.

With one monstrous bite, it devoured Medusa’s head whole.

Medusa struggled violently, but how could it break free from such a terrifying demonic art?

“Die,” Xu Zimo commanded coldly.

A thunderous boom followed as the ghost face bit down and severed Medusa’s head completely.

The giant was annihilated.

Shangguan Wan’er’s body plummeted from the sky.

Xu Zimo swung Shadow Tyrant downward.

With a resounding crash, the sharp blade intent enveloped her figure, and countless sword strikes descended like a storm, shredding her body and soul alike.

Even as her divine soul was being torn apart, Shangguan Wan’er still struggled, her voice filled with hatred.

“I hate it! I shouldn’t have died here!” she screamed.

“You should hate yourself, for provoking me,” Xu Zimo said indifferently.

Then the power of his blade surged once more, utterly obliterating her soul.

Watching this, Shangguan Xiongba’s eyes went bloodshot.

“Wan’er!” he howled.

“You should worry about yourself first,” Paimon said coolly. He stepped forward and stomped on Shangguan Xiongba’s abdomen, kicking him violently into the air.

With a thunderous crash, Shangguan Xiongba slammed into the ground, carving a deep crater as dust and rubble flew everywhere.

He staggered to his feet, trembling. In that moment, he seemed to have aged decades, his hair had turned completely white.

“Brother Shangguan,” a voice suddenly called out from the Hell Tiger Race’s side. It was Celestial Tiger Sovereign.

“How about we join forces? Together, we can challenge the Radiant Court and help you kill that brat,” he said.

“Are you serious?” Shangguan Xiongba asked through clenched teeth, his breath ragged, his eyes filled with cold fury.

He glared at Xu Zimo, his gaze burning with hatred.

Shangguan Wan’er was not just his daughter; she had been the pride of the Shangguan Heavenly Clan. Some even said her future could surpass that of the Five Elements Saint Sovereign.

But now, everything was gone.

Shangguan Xiongba was willing to pay any price to see Xu Zimo dead.

“Of course,” Celestial Tiger Sovereign replied with a sly smile. “But we have conditions. The Divine Crow God Realm and our Hell Fire God Realm must stand united.”

He wasn’t being altruistic. What he truly wanted was the power and influence behind the Shangguan Heavenly Clan and the Divine Crow God Realm. Otherwise, he wouldn’t risk offending Xu Zimo.

To challenge the Radiant Court, they needed the strength of all five God Realms. Only then would they have a real chance.

“If you kill him, the Divine Crow God Realm will fully support you,” Shangguan Xiongba said firmly.

“Patriarch Shangguan, don’t be foolish,” the Light Lord Sage Monarch from above snorted coldly.

“If the Radiant Court helps me kill him, we’ll fully support you instead,” Shangguan Xiongba countered without hesitation.

The Light Lord Sage Monarch let out another cold snort. That was impossible.

…

Celestial Tiger Sovereign glanced at Shangguan Xiongba and then slightly opened a gap in the protective barrier of the Primogenitor Feather.

“Come in, Patriarch Shangguan,” he said. “You can take shelter for now.”

After all, the Sun-Moon Temple was still outside, and with only the forces within the formation, they stood no chance against the Radiant Court.

Without hesitation, Shangguan Xiongba rushed into the Primogenitor Feather’s barrier.

Watching him retreat, the Light Lord Sage Monarch turned to Xu Zimo with a faint smile.

“Lord Xu, shall we join forces?”

“I have no objection,” Xu Zimo replied. “But the Radiant Court’s way of doing things is too slow. You can’t even handle a minor Hell Fire God Realm.”

“What’s the rush? If we end it too quickly, how will we lure out the Sun-Moon Temple?” the Light Lord Sage Monarch said with a grin.

It was clear that their true goal this time wasn’t just the Hell Fire God Realm, the Sun-Moon Temple was also in their sights.

But Xu Zimo knew the truth.

The real boss wasn’t the Sun-Moon Temple.

Among the Nine Heavens, only the Heavenly Court deserved that title, and only it was powerful enough to make so many tremble.

…

As if provoked by the Light Lord Sage Monarch’s words, the Sun-Moon Temple outside the formation erupted in fury.

The Sun-Moon Divine Diagram flared to life, colliding with the Huangquan Wind-Extinguishing Formation and shattering it apart with unstoppable force.

Though the cries of the Yellow Springs echoed and the winds of destruction howled, under the might of the Divine Diagram, everything crumbled like an illusion.

Still, the Sun-Moon Temple paid a heavy price. The disciples who had formed hand seals to drive the Divine Diagram all collapsed, their fates unknown.

“Radiant Court! Your end has come!” Bright Sun Sovereign roared with laughter.

As the Sun-Moon Divine Diagram surged forward, the Light Lord Sage Monarch raised his gaze. With a sweep of his hands, the world within the valley began to change.

It was as if, in that moment, the entire realm was under his command.

Heaven and earth shifted, the stars turned, the skies reversed, and the space once protected by the Primogenitor Feather began to transform.