Chapter 180: Fierce Battle

It had to be the Yin-Yang Devouring Dao Gu.

The gu poison had erupted during Lu Ye’s tribulation to become a Saint—when he was enduring the Myriad Ages Grand Tribulation, facing off against peerless geniuses from across time. Lu Ye, of course, had to fight with everything he had.

So he had unleashed every method he possessed. Each one of them terrifying. Each one of them elevated to the pinnacle of battle.

Because his enemies didn’t fight for friendship. There was no “warm-up” phase. No "spar first, ultimate move later."

Only all-out war from the start.

That was the origin of these so-called “invincible” techniques that Jiang Die had copied.

Boom!

The fight between the two was dizzying. Their clash pulled forth divine techniques beyond comprehension—spells most cultivators wouldn’t be able to grasp even if they spent their entire lives trying.

“Husband—are you starting to feel despair?”

Jiang Die sensed it.

The momentum that Lu Ye had gathered—the power of sheer will and cause—was beginning to waver.

Lu Ye was starting to fall behind.

A wild, ecstatic gleam lit up Jiang Die’s eyes.

She was overpowering him.

She could really beat him!

If she killed Lu Ye here and now, then from this day on, she alone would possess these countless Daos. She would become the new Nine-Life Heavenly Lord. She would stand alone, undefeated. She would attain sainthood.

Jiang Die’s aura surged to even more terrifying heights.

And the foundation for all of this—

Was Lu Ye’s death.

Die... Die...!

Boom!

Another Heavenly Venerable Fist sent Lu Ye flying, shattering much of his momentum on the spot.

“Pffft!”

A mouthful of blood gushed from Lu Ye’s lips.

As it did, all of Second Heaven erupted with euphoria.

This demon—was finally going to fall.

It hadn’t been easy.

If Jiang Die had lost here, darkness would have swallowed all of Second Heaven.

If this monster really began his “settling of accounts,” who knew how many cultivators would become fodder for his Ten Thousand Souls Banner?

Lu Ye suddenly swung the Banner of the Human Emperor.

In that instant, the Heaven-Smelting Ten Thousand Souls Grand Formation materialized, engulfing Jiang Die within it.

But Jiang Die only laughed.

“So weak a banner dares to block my path? Husband, have you gone mad?!”

BOOM!

Countless wailing spirits let out deafening screams.

Jiang Die activated her Immaculate Mixed-Principle Divine Body. Not even the grand soul-refining formation could breach that defense. She slashed her sword again and again—dozens, hundreds of spirits were shredded on the spot.

“Aaaahhhh—!”

All the souls twisted in pain.

Their keening howls turned into a tidal wave of sonic torment, forming a nightmarish spiritual field and launching an overwhelming assault on Jiang Die’s soul.

But clearly—it could only stall her for a few moments.

It couldn’t truly harm her.

In her previous life, she had been an Emperor. Her Dao Heart was immovable. Now, she had divine arts and peerless scriptures. This weak little souls banner? It could at most slow her down.

Black mist veiled Jiang Die’s vision.

From within Lu Ye’s form—another Lu Ye stepped out.

Then a second.

Then a third.

Four Lu Yes.

Based on Silkworm Nine Transformations, reinforced by the Dao itself, and forcibly drawn from his Nascent Soul origin—this secret technique was called Borrowing the Way of Heaven. Once again, it elevated Lu Ye {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} to Heavenly God First Layer.

Vermilion Bird.

Azure Dragon.

White Tiger.

Black Tortoise.

The auras of the Four Celestial Spirits bloomed from the four Lu Yes.

Of the four, the Vermilion Bird's aura was the strongest. Their silhouettes hung behind each Lu Ye—mere projections, save for the Vermilion Bird, which appeared vivid and lifelike.

The Four Spirits return to their place.

The four Lu Yes stood at the four cardinal directions.

Lu Ye’s aura surged again.

So Jiang Die wanted to “play”?

Then he’d play with her.

But that wasn’t the end.

A sudden surge of killing intent exploded from Lu Ye’s body—straight to the heavens.

All that murderous aura condensed into a storm of blood mist, and within that mist crackled crimson lightning.

The lightning split into four bolts—striking each of the four Lu Yes.

The pain that followed was enough to rival the torture of Primordial Dawn Mist.

The murderous aura entered his body—forcing his potential to erupt.

Through agony few could endure, Lu Ye's cultivation surged to Heavenly God Fifth Layer.

And even now—he wasn’t at his peak.

If he erupted again, he’d exceed his body’s limit.

Yes—this wasn’t even Lu Ye’s strongest state.

He hadn’t yet burned his Dao.

To use that against Jiang Die would be a waste.

Back during his tribulation in his past life—why hadn’t Lu Ye used all these techniques?

Because his Dao had fractured.

He no longer knew why he was still fighting.

The eight people closest to him—had all betrayed him.

He was simply... too heartbroken to care.

The Banner of the Human Emperor screamed. Countless souls were obliterated. Five of the eight Main Souls were annihilated on the spot.

It was nearly destroyed.

But the banner wasn’t like regular equipment.

Normal treasures—postnatal or innate—could only advance along one path.

But the Banner of the Human Emperor? It was different.

It evolved from innate → postnatal → innate again—each stage only reflecting its power ceiling, not its true rank.

The black mist dispersed.

Jiang Die's expression carried supreme pride.

Even this infamous, soul-devouring banner—couldn’t withstand her power.

But then she saw it:

Four Lu Yes.

All at Heavenly God Fifth Layer.

Each surrounded by the virtual form of a Celestial Spirit.

Four unique auras—fused into a single, divine rhythm.

The Four Spirits together possessed the power to split chaos and forge creation.

The condition? They had to be gathered.

Though these were only phantoms, even that was enough—for one Jiang Die.

Jiang Die’s smugness froze.

She gasped.

What the hell is this technique? Why didn’t the mother Gu replicate this one?!

All four Lu Yes raised their fists.

Jiang Die screamed, infuriated, and unleashed the Borrowing the Way of Heaven technique herself.

Her aura surged again.

The pain of the technique made her knit her brows—but she pushed forward.

Her form expanded. Two more arms sprouted from her body.

Four fists—each charging Heavenly Venerable Fist.

BOOM!

Eight fists collided in one apocalyptic clash.

A gaping hole tore through the void—an energy storm far more violent than before ripped through the world.

Jiang Die spat mouthfuls of blood.

The Dao of Extinction—black and merciless—coiled around her form, forcibly dragging her cultivation back down.

Dao of Extinction?!

When had Lu Ye gained the Dao of Extinction?!

She didn’t know this one!

Jiang Die was furious. She had always known Lu Ye’s abilities inside and out. But this—this was new. Where had it come from?

The Four Celestial Spirits exploded into four blinding beams of light.

They smashed toward Jiang Die together.

The four Lu Yes merged back into one.

The Stone Sword rose high.

Primordial Dawn Mist wrapped around the blade.

BOOM BOOM BOOM—

The Four Spirit force detonated with full might, blasting Jiang Die into a charred, half-ruined mess.

Blood mist surged from her. She triggered Demonic Blood God Escape, fleeing at maximum speed.

But the sword light flashed—

BOOM!

The blood light raced toward the Jiang Clan—but the sword still struck her mid-air.

Even with her defensive divine arts, Jiang Die was nearly cleaved in two.

Most importantly—Primordial Dawn Mist clung to her body.

“AAAAHHH—!”

“AAAHHHHHHH—!”

Within the blood light came bone-chilling screams. Jiang Die’s wrecked body smashed into the Jiang Clan’s formation.

Lu Ye didn’t pause for a breath. He charged straight toward the Mountain-Sea Void Array.

In the skies above, the last black clouds twisted—

Then formed a pitch-black beam of light—

And blasted straight into the Jiang Clan’s great formation.