Four thousand Nascent Souls rushed in for a self-detonation, which was definitely not fun, even though these Nascent Souls were merely mass-produced entities with relatively low cultivation.
The Golden Deity's body was riddled with large holes. Although the Celestial Essence surged up to fill the gaps, the energy from both sides canceled each other out, causing the golden skin of the Great Deity to quickly dim. More suicidal explosions charged toward the Golden Deity. Soon, the Celestial Essence was insufficient to compensate for the massive holes created by the explosions, and large, honeycomb-like deep wounds began to form. In the chest area, through several combined large holes, one could even see a blurry energy black hole formed by Li Hong Tian Zhu deep within.
Li Hong now had two choices: the first was to withdraw the Vermilion Bird Nine Li Blade to eliminate the swarm of Puppet Immortals that were incessantly harassing him with self-explosions before turning to kill Shin Yao; the second was to press forward and continue attacking Shin Yao, as he was now only a hundred feet away from reaching Shin Yao's true body!
Most people would certainly choose the first option for safety. Once these fly-like Puppet Immortals were dealt with, Shin Yao would be like meat on a chopping block.
But Li Hong did not hesitate and directly chose the second option.
Even though he had already exposed himself and faced the danger of being directly attacked by Puppet Immortals, Li Hong still resolutely chose the second option!
Charge forward without obstruction! Kill gods if they block your path, slay Buddhas if they stand in your way!
The booming sounds of self-explosions grew increasingly dense; the entire Great Deity was in tatters, and even its divine eyes lost their light. However, its arms never stopped; they continued to strike fiercely.
The Vermilion Bird Nine Li Blade had vanished from sight, plunging deep underground, relentlessly advancing.
One hundred feet, fifty feet, ten feet...
Just as it seemed about to penetrate through the hard soil layer and reach the space that locked away Shin Yao's true body, a sudden loud explosion shook Li Hong's entire being; all his main body and avatars staggered momentarily.
A cunning Puppet Immortal had flown straight into a large hole and detonated itself just inches away from Li Hong.
Even though Li Hong's body was incredibly sturdy and protected by the Void Flame Armor, all his main body and avatars still bled from their seven orifices and felt dizzy. His Awareness surged like boiling water, tumultuous and chaotic; he nearly lost control due to this explosion. Only Heavenly Torch, with its dragon form and tougher physical body, managed to hold on better, but it too shook its head violently, clearly dazed from the blast.
Without Li Hong's main body and avatars maintaining control, the Great Deity began to falter, on the verge of disintegrating.
The fiery blade tip of the Vermilion Bird Nine Li Blade was stuck just one or two feet above where Shin Yao's space lay.
Li Hongxiu has experienced many adventures that have contributed to his current cultivation, but the main reason is his unwavering determination.
Unyielding and courageous, he grows stronger when faced with challenges, embodying the true nature of Li Hong.
In just half a breath, Li Hong calmed himself. Although his mind was still buzzing, he focused his thoughts and swiftly resumed his movement. His body surged forward, instantly activating his clones and then summoning Heavenly Torch. Soon, the formation was reestablished. The remaining Celestial Essence surged from all directions. The Vermilion Bird Nine Li Blade once again received energy, its blade radiating brilliantly as it was wielded by the Great Deity, who thrust it down with great force.
A deep, painful roar echoed from the depths of the Underground, as large amounts of black malevolence erupted through the fissure pierced by the Vermilion Bird Nine Li Blade, creating a whirlwind on the surface. Dust and stones flew as the wind howled wildly.
The sky suddenly darkened, so much so that one could not see their hand in front of their face.
The Golden Deity had vanished, leaving only Li Hong and Heavenly Torch gasping for air in midair.
Li Hong's Divine Consciousness swiftly descended through the deep fissure created by the Vermilion Bird Nine Li Blade, quickly revealing the situation in the Underground space.
The powerful strike of the Vermilion Bird Nine Li Blade had coincidentally pierced right through the center of Shin Yao's head. Shin Yao met its end with that single blow!
However, while its main body was dead, its Demon Baby surely remained in the Underground space.
Without hesitation, Li Hong flew down into the Underground space, followed closely by Heavenly Torch. They reached the fissure above in just a breath and jumped down.
The appearance of Shin Yao beneath the Desolate South Celestial Palace was not much different from that in Sunrise City, except that this one was even uglier. Its dragon face was marred by numerous large black growths, making it particularly grotesque.
Now that this Shenlong was thoroughly dead, its two demonic eyes were no longer eerily red but a lifeless white. Right at the center of its massive dragon head, behind its horn, was a wide black gash that nearly split its entire head in two.
The search for this Shenlong's Demon Baby yielded no results.
The Demon Baby of a Shenlong is composed of a special energy cultivated by itself, existing between reality and illusion—mysterious and elusive. Because the Dragon Cultivator refines this peculiar type of Demon Baby, the Shenlong clan is nearly immortal unless one can find and completely annihilate their Demon Baby.
The Demon Baby of Shenlong has already escaped from its body. Where it has fled to is currently unknown. However, Li Hong looked at the hundred-foot-long shell of Shenlong on the stage and couldn't help but smile slightly. He was worried about finding good materials for refining Spatial Treasures, and such a large Shenlong shell could certainly be used to forge a storage space Celestial Artifact, if not the legendary artifact that can hold living beings.
But how to collect it?
Li Hong glanced at the egg-sized Exotic Silver Chains that were intertwined with Shenlong's bones. These Exotic Silver Chains passed through every bone of Shenlong and extended deep beneath the Black Jade Platform into an unknown depth of hard soil. Shenlong was completely bound by these Exotic Silver Chains, unable to move at all. To collect its shell, he would either have to cut Shenlong into pieces or find a way to take the Exotic Silver Chains along with it.
Li Hong naturally preferred the latter option. Given how sturdy these silver chains were, the only way to attempt removal would be to use his innate fire.
Li Hong's innate fire was a mix of Flame Emperor's innate fire, Heavenly Torch's Divine Dragon True Fire, Phoenix True Fire, and Star Sect Fire Saint Body Fire, making it nearly indestructible. Li Hong was confident that there was nothing in the world that couldn't be melted down by his innate fire. However, melting the tightly bound Exotic Silver Chains without harming Shenlong's body would be somewhat challenging. Li Hong extended his Divine Consciousness towards the Black Jade Platform below, carefully discerning its structure, and suddenly felt a surge of joy.
At the same time, a tremendous change had occurred within the celestial palace.
Large sections of halls, towers, and flower gardens had vanished, leaving only Endless Yellow Sand in their wake. Even more bizarre were the Puppet Immortals. One moment they were clamoring about self-detonation to kill enemies; the next moment, they silently melted away into thin air.
Yes, they melted—standing still for a moment before starting from their heads, gradually dissolving without leaving a single fragment behind.
Ling Yanzi and Aurora Tianqizi were engaged in a fierce battle against Great Opportunity and Seasoned Master. Ling Yanzi had just ascended from the lower realms and was already at a higher cultivation level than Seasoned Master, who hadn't replenished his Spiritual Energy for thousands of years. However, Seasoned Master had an array of magical treasures that dazzled Ling Yanzi, making it difficult for him to gain an advantage. Thus, Ling Yanzi and Aurora Tianqizi struggled to maintain a stalemate against Seasoned Master and Great Opportunity.
In the midst of this fierce struggle, Tianqi Zi was caught off guard and ensnared tightly by a Nether Web Artifact thrown by Seasoned Master. This Nether Web Artifact was made of an unknown material that was incredibly flexible; Tianqi Zi struggled within the web but couldn't escape even after transforming back into her original form and tearing at it with all her might. As the Nether Web Artifact continued to tighten around her, if not for the Kirin clan's natural armor-like scales, Tianqi Zi would have already collapsed on the ground in defeat.
Aurora was terrified upon seeing this; tears began welling up in her eyes as she grew increasingly fearful of Great Opportunity's attacks. As a result, Great Opportunity even found time to sneak attack Ling Yanzi, putting immense pressure on him.
Fortunately, Ling Yanzi had asked Li Hong for three Extreme Treasure Flying Swords. At that time, Li Hong joked that these three swords could counter two of Yandao Demon Lord's Six Paths of Reincarnation and Bagua Crown. Now, these three swords moved like rolling dragons. Meanwhile, Seasoned Master unleashed an endless array of Extreme Treasures against them; however, they were no match for these three flying swords that could retreat at a mere touch.
Just then, a deep roar echoed from underground—a sound filled with immense pain that abruptly cut off halfway. The Immortal Emperor and Seasoned Master immediately changed their expressions; their previously swift attacks suddenly lost power and slowed down significantly. Ling Yanzi seized this opportunity to glance hurriedly towards Li Hong.
He happened to see the enormous dark golden figure slowly disappearing into the air. Following that came a gust of wind that kicked up sand and stones, obscuring everything in sight.
But the battle continued. Aurora sensed that Li Hong had succeeded, and the familiar aura of the Demon Dragon below had vanished! The Candle Dragon was overjoyed, tears quickly drying up as it focused all its energy, gritting its teeth and unleashing a large array of colorless needles, swiftly directing them towards Great Opportunity.
These twenty-six Aurora Needles were no ordinary weapons; they were forged by the Candle Dragon using the power of Lightning from the Human Realm, mixed with its own Essence Blood, which is why it never used them lightly. Once lost, it would mean a loss of its own Essence Blood.
Now, however, Aurora could not afford to hesitate. Seeing the world around darken, it recognized this as the perfect opportunity for a sneak attack and quickly summoned the twenty-six Aurora Needles to shoot towards Great Opportunity.
Suddenly, Aurora halted, its eyes widening in shock. While others could not see it, it could see clearly!
The twenty-six Aurora Needles flew towards Great Opportunity, and suddenly, Great Opportunity began to collapse in fragments. The Aurora Needles passed through Great Opportunity without any obstruction and continued forward.
Ahead stood the Immortal Emperor and Seasoned Master.
The sudden collapse of Great Opportunity shocked Aurora immensely. It stared blankly at the strands of Great Opportunity dissipating into darkness, completely unaware that its twenty-six Aurora Needles had silently reached Seasoned Master’s side in an instant.
Seasoned Master had just sensed something unusual beside him when the twenty-six Aurora Needles pierced through his body. In an instant, they transformed into a rapid surge of Lightning power that coursed throughout Seasoned Master’s body. With a crackling sound, countless fissures appeared on his surface, and his entire form froze. He looked down in horror as an eerie bluish-white light emanated from within his body.
At the same time, three brilliant sword lights descended upon him like rolling dragons.
Seasoned Master’s eyes widened in terror as he shouted, “Don’t kill me!”
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