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The words fell.

Hong Qitian had already landed on the sea surface, creating a large splash.

Fortunately, the surrounding fifth-tier generals reacted quickly and flew towards Hong Qitian's landing point, rescuing him in the first instance.

Hong Qitian's face was deathly pale, and a trace of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, making him look like he was seriously injured.

Despite his injury, Hong Qitian's expression remained calm.

It was as if he hadn't been the one shot down from the sky, his breath weak and exhausted.

He slowly dismounted from the back of the fifth-rank general who was carrying him.

My feet were on the gently rippling sea.

His figure was still somewhat hunched, but he was as steady as a rock.

He raised his head.

Calmly watching the black crack in the sky, which had opened slightly due to the internal impact.

There was no fear or anger in his eyes.

There is only a kind of detached indifference that comes from seeing through the ways of the world.

And a hint of hidden resilience.

The old man's voice echoed across the suddenly quiet sea, clearly reaching the ears of every living creature: "It's not that I don't respect you."

"But it seems you don't treat us like your children."

The words fell.

Hong Qitian seemed completely unprepared for the person above to recover.

Instead, he slowly straightened up.

This action is very slow.

It was as if every joint was groaning under the strain.

But it was during this process of him slowly straightening up that...

Sudden changes occur.

An indescribable, terrifying aura erupted from Hong Qitian's hunched figure.

"boom--!!!"

The invisible shockwave spread wildly in all directions like a tsunami.

The sea surface was forcibly pressed into a huge depression, creating terrifying ripples that rose in layers, reaching heights of tens of meters.

The fifth-level generals who had just rescued him and were still nearby suddenly changed their expressions. Under the impact of this sudden and overwhelming aura, they were forced to retreat like fallen leaves in a storm, and only managed to stabilize themselves after retreating hundreds of meters away. Their faces were filled with horror and disbelief.

And the imposing aura emanating from Hong Qitian.

It is still climbing at an unbelievable speed.

His faded old cotton-padded jacket was instantly reduced to dust by the force of the impact, revealing that his lower body was not as thin as one might imagine, but rather a robust body with muscles that shimmered with a bronze luster, like coiled dragons.

The muscle fibers seemed to come alive.

His blood and qi surged like the Yangtze River, producing a thunderous roar.

The previous listlessness vanished instantly.

The sheer power of this pressure was so immense that it subtly rivaled the supreme majesty emanating from the Heavenly Rift, even surpassing it.
It continues to rise, attempting to suppress it.

The cold female voice rang out again from the sky.

This time, his tone carried a clear hint of surprise, uttering a short syllable: "Huh?"

Then, the female voice spoke again, with a hint of inquiry and confirmation: "Even if the martial path is severed, it can still temporarily reconnect the Divine Ladder!?"

He saw through the true nature of Hong Qitian's current state.

Hear this.

His aura continued to rise, his muscles bulging, making him look like a war god descending upon the world.

The corners of his mouth were slightly raised.

He revealed a smile that was a mixture of arrogance and despair.

He replied in a firm and resolute voice: "There are many things you don't know!!"

After speaking, Hong Qitian's eyes widened, as if golden flames were burning within them, and his aura surged once again.

The aura of blood and qi soared into the sky, stirring up the wind and clouds. At this moment, the glorious martial will, as bright as the sun, actually briefly overwhelmed the majesty emanating from the Heavenly Scar.

It was as if he were to use a mortal body.

To issue the final challenge to the high and mighty god.

Everyone was stunned by this earth-shattering change.

The soldiers on the Great Wall, the allied forces on the sea, and the surviving ghosts all looked up at the figure on the sea that was as dazzling as the sun.

Hope was rekindled from the depths of despair.

However, just as Hong Qitian's momentum was about to reach its peak, as if he were about to unleash a devastating attack,
A figure appeared without warning above the sea between him and the Scar of the Sky.

She just stood there quietly.

With his back to Hong Qitian, he faced Tianzhihen.

She wore a black robe, her black hair cascaded down her back, and she had a slender figure.

Despite the absence of any powerful aura emanating from him, Hong Qitian's surging momentum, which was like a volcanic eruption, suddenly froze.

Hong Qitian's pupils contracted slightly as he looked at the figure so close to him.

A complex and unreadable expression flashed across his face, and he subconsciously murmured softly, "Lord Zhulong!?"

Not only Hong Qitian, but everyone around who could see this scene clearly, whether human generals or ordinary soldiers, couldn't help but turn their gaze to that figure in black.

"It's her! That person has appeared again!"

"Last time, it was she who reversed the tide of a million-strong army with just one glance!"

"General Hong addressed her as 'Lord Zhulong'?!"

"My God! Is that Zhulong from mythology, who controls the order of day and night?!"

"No wonder he possesses such supernatural powers!"

Whispers spread rapidly through the crowd, carrying with them shock, awe, and rekindled hope.

The people of the A7 war zone are no strangers to this figure. She has appeared in times of crisis several times, turning the tide of battle with incredible power.

However, no one knows his true identity.

Upon hearing Hong Qitian's whisper, everyone suddenly realized what was going on.

It turns out that the mysterious and powerful figure who had been secretly protecting them was actually a renowned and powerful deity from ancient Chinese mythology.
Candle Dragon!

According to legend, the Candle Dragon's open eyes represent day, its closed eyes represent night, its exhaled breath represents winter, and its inhaled breath represents summer. It neither drinks nor eats, nor sleeps nor rests, making it an ancient being comparable to a primordial deity.

Its power is absolutely at the top of the pyramid in the mythological genealogy.

With her intervention, could she possibly confront that terrifying being within the Heaven's Scar?
This thought made everyone's hearts leap into their throats.

Their gazes were fixed intently on Zhulong.

After Zhulong appeared, he seemed completely unaware of Hong Qitian's overwhelming aura that seemed to consume him entirely, as well as the whisper behind him.

She didn't even turn around; she simply kept her back to Hong Qitian.

Said softly:

"He hasn't come out yet, you shouldn't be risking your life at this time."

Upon hearing this, Hong Qitian's resolute and tragic expression froze slightly.

His expression then turned into a helpless, bitter smile.

The boiling, burning aura around him seemed to have been doused with cold water, and began to slowly subside.

He sighed and said softly:

“I know, but I promised that kid that I would look after his house while he’s not here.”

Upon hearing this, the Candle Dragon hovering in front of him remained silent for a long time.

The sea breeze ruffled her long, dark hair, and her black robes fluttered slightly.

After a long silence, she spoke again, her voice still calm:

“He is my believer, and his family is naturally under my protection.”

She turned her head slightly, glancing out of the corner of her eye at Hong Qitian behind her, whose imposing aura was gradually subsiding but whose face was growing paler, and finally said:
"give it to me."

After saying that, Zhulong's figure instantly became blurry.

The next moment, it disappeared from the sky above the sea.

When she reappeared, she was high in the sky, facing the slightly open rift in the heavens.

She hovered in the void, her black robes fluttering in the fierce wind.

His gaze was icy as he looked at the crack that seemed like a scar on the world, and his clear, cold voice rang out again, this time with a hint of confrontation:

"Sister, in three years, can't you even stay still for a moment?"

姐姐？！
This title sent a huge shock through everyone who heard it.

The fact that someone can be called "elder sister" by Zhulong speaks volumes about their status and strength.
it goes without saying.

Could it be that the one trapped in the Scar of the Sky is a god even more ancient and powerful than the Candle Dragon?
From within the world of "Heaven's Scar," came the woman's cold laughter.

The laughter was filled with disdain and mockery.

After the laughter subsided, the woman's voice rang out again, her tone playful and teasing, like a cat toying with a mouse:

"Heh. You don't really think this place can trap me, do you?"

These words resounded in the hearts of all the human soldiers!

Ordinary people may not know, but these high-ranking officials and elites who have been fighting on the front lines for years know more or less some information.

This celestial scar was a scheme devised by the righteous gods, including Houtu, after the collapse of the Heavenly Court two years ago.

Its sole purpose is to temporarily trap this most terrifying being, at any cost.

To buy precious breathing time for humanity.

This is one of the biggest advantages that allows the human faction to maintain its defensive line from collapsing.

And now, judging from what this being says...
This seal, which embodies the hard work of several top-tier experts, couldn't even contain her?!
She can come out anytime?!
Were all those sacrifices, all those efforts, all that so-called three-year period just a joke?
A bone-chilling cold instantly shot from the soles of everyone's feet to the top of their heads.

However, when faced with this statement...

Zhulong's reaction surprised everyone.

She showed no sign of panic or anger.

Her expression remained completely unchanged. She simply nodded calmly, as if stating a perfectly simple fact, and replied:

"I share the same view as my sister; I also believe that this place can't hold you back."

After saying that, Zhulong actually took a step forward.

The void beneath her feet seemed to solidify into tangible steps.

She is now closer to the Sky's Scar.

Then, she spoke again:
So, I came here.

The voice just fell.

Before anyone could react, or before the beings within the Heaven's Scar could speak again, it was all over.

The figure of Zhulong suddenly transformed into a strange stream of light interwoven with pure black and white, with dark red halos flowing around its edges. Like a shooting star shooting against the sky, it plunged headlong into the slightly open Heavenly Rift without hesitation.

"boom!!!"

Just as the figure of the Candle Dragon disappeared into the crack, the entire Heaven's Rift suddenly trembled violently.

What was originally just a tiny crack suddenly burst forth with an indescribable, dazzling light.

Black, white, and red.
They collided and intertwined wildly inside.

Even from a great distance, the terrifying fluctuations still sent shivers down everyone's spines.

Immediately following, under the gaze of countless horrified eyes...

The Heavenly Rift, which had slightly opened due to the internal impact, began to slowly close at a speed visible to the naked eye under the forceful intervention of the three-colored light.

The crack is getting smaller.

The explosions coming from inside gradually became muffled.

Finally, as the last crack disappeared, the Scar of Heaven completely returned to its previous static black state.

The sky has temporarily returned to calm.

But the entire sea and the entire Great Wall were plunged into a deathly silence.

Everyone was looking up, mouths agape.

Looking at the sky that seemed to have never happened, my mind went blank.

Lady Zhulong...she rushed in?
She used herself as a price to reinforce the seal, sealing that terrifying being, along with herself, inside the Heavenly Rift?!

sacrifice?!
This word is like a heavy boulder, pressing down on everyone and making it hard for them to breathe.

An ancient god, in order to buy time for humanity, actually chose such a drastic method?!
A mix of emotions swirled in everyone's heart.

Even Hong Qitian, the instigator, stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief.

He never expected that Zhulong would choose this method to solve the problem.

The price is far too high!
"Lord Zhulong...this..."

A fifth-rank general muttered to himself.

However, just as this somber atmosphere began to spread, a few figures silently appeared around Hong Qitian as the air rippled slightly.

The leader was none other than the young Heavenly Emperor, dressed in imperial robes, with a handsome face yet bearing an air of majesty and world-weariness beyond his years.

Beside him stood the kind-faced but solemn-eyed old man from the South Pole, and a goddess in palace attire, Houtu Huangdiqi, who was shrouded in a hazy halo and exuded an earth-like aura.

In addition, there were several divine figures whose auras were either fierce or majestic.

The old man in Antarctica looked at Hong Qitian's shocked and remorseful expression.

He spoke softly, explaining, "Don't worry, Lord Zhulong won't die."

Upon hearing this, Hong Qitian slowly concealed the overt surprise on his face, but he did not look at the Antarctic Elder or the Young Heavenly Emperor; his gaze remained fixed on the now-closed Heavenly Rift.

Without turning his head, he said in a low, soft voice:
"I'm not afraid of Lord Zhulong dying."

He paused, a hint of bitterness in his voice: "I'm afraid that when that kid gets out, I won't be able to explain it to him."

"I'm such a wretched old man, I should have died long ago."

"Being alive until now and seeing hope is already a blessing."

……

at the same time.

In another completely different time and space.

The primordial world within the Primordial Martial Arts Wall, deep within the Mirage Dragon Swamp.

Fang Qingyu transformed into a dim yet agile bolt of lightning, speeding through the eerie plants that blotted out the sky and the pervasive multicolored miasma.

He moved with incredible speed, his figure flashing and leaping among the thick roots and huge leaves.

However, unlike his previous calm expression, there was a lingering look of surprise and doubt in his eyes.

"That's so weird."

Fang Qingyu maintained his maximum speed while rapidly thinking in his mind.

Just a while ago.

After that profound cultivation of the return of all laws to their source, his strength greatly increased.

I have also gained a deeper understanding of the rules of this swamp.

I thought I could find a way out relatively easily.

Or at least, it can avoid most of the dangers.

However, reality dealt him a heavy blow.

From the moment he finished his cultivation and set off again into the depths of the swamp, the atmosphere of the entire swamp underwent a dramatic change in just a few days.

The previously eerie but mostly safe environment has completely disappeared.

Danger is ever-present.

Almost every moment, extremely terrifying creatures would appear out of nowhere and launch relentless attacks on him.

These creatures come in various shapes and sizes; some resemble giant pythons but have wings and spew highly corrosive poisonous mist.

Some look like insects magnified millions of times.
Others were simply twisted, shapeless energy masses, radiating an aura of chaos and madness.
And these creatures are all terrifyingly powerful.

Even the weakest of them is comparable to a peak fifth-tier Life Demon King from the outside world.

The stronger ones even made Fang Qingyu, whose strength had greatly increased, feel apprehensive. He couldn't even muster the thought of confronting them head-on, and could only rely on his exquisite movement techniques and lightning escape skills to turn around and run away.

The stark contrast between safety and danger before and after gives off a strong sense of conspiracy.

Moreover, Fang Qingyu could also sense that these attackers were not all native to this swamp.

A large portion of them seem to have come from different places outside.

There is only one goal.

We're going to pin him down here.

"why?"

Fang Qingyu frowned.

"What exactly did I trigger? Or rather... what is it about me that attracted them?"

Was it that wisp of ancient primordial energy that I had accidentally absorbed before?
Or is it the identity of oneself as an outsider?

Or perhaps it's related to the legacy I'm seeking?

He couldn't figure it out.

But without a doubt, he has become the target of public criticism.

Just as Fang Qingyu's mind was racing...

The miasma that was spreading ahead suddenly surged violently.

A colossal shadow slowly emerged from the depths of the miasma, and expanded at a speed that appeared slow but was actually incredibly rapid.

The shadow was so enormous that when Fang Qingyu looked up, the entire sky within his sight was filled with its silhouette.

Thick miasma swirled around it.

However, it could not conceal the terrifying pressure emanating from it, like that of a prehistoric behemoth.

It's just the shadow that's projected.

It almost completely covered the area where Fang Qingyu was located.

The light dimmed.

In a swamp, where rules are suppressed and everything shrinks, to have such a massive, sky-covering projection suggests that the creature's true size must be unimaginable.

His actual strength far surpasses that of all the attackers he has encountered before.

Fang Qingyu's expression instantly turned extremely serious.

His intuition told him that this was an existence he could not currently contend with.

Trying to force your way through would mean certain death!
Without any hesitation, Fang Qingyu made a decisive move, his inner lightning power surging wildly as he prepared to use lightning escape once more to dodge to the side and avoid the path of this terrifying being.

In places like this, survival and finding a way out are the top priorities.

However, just as he was about to move...

The instant the lightning flashed across the body's surface
Not far in front of him, on the broad leaves of a plant that resembled banana leaves, the air rippled gently like water.

next moment.

A figure appeared there without warning.

The newcomer wore a seemingly simple blue Taoist robe, with white hair and beard, a ruddy complexion, and an air of otherworldly grace. He wore a gentle smile that seemed to know everything.

He just stood there casually.

With his hands behind his back, he looked on with a smile at Fang Qingyu, who had just stopped his escape and was now on high alert.

Fang Qingyu's pupils suddenly contracted.

His muscles tensed instantly, and the Blade of Chi You had silently slipped into his hand.

The dark red blade trembled slightly, emitting a low hum.

Fang Qingyu stared intently at the suddenly appearing old man, his mind racing with alarm bells.

To be able to appear in such a place, in such a way, and without one's prior notice...
The old man's strength is self-evident.

The old man seemed oblivious to Fang Qingyu's wariness and hostility.

She still looked him up and down with a smile, her eyes full of curiosity and inquiry.

It's like admiring a rare treasure.

He nodded slightly and spoke slowly in a gentle and melodious voice:

"Young friend, why the rush? The road ahead is treacherous. Why not pause for a moment and listen to this old Taoist's words?" (End of Chapter)