The words carried undisguised provocation—open contempt for the Nine Heavens Dao Venerables.
Not a shred of fear or respect, only disdain and burning battle intent.What of the Nine Heavens Dao Venerables? If they dare provoke me, I'll dare fight them, dare to point at their noses and curse them, dare to stand openly against them.
I may die, but I will never kneel.
"Seeking death!!"
The void twisted violently, and one after another, massive faces manifested out of thin air. At a glance, it was clear they were the faces of the Nine Heavens Dao Venerables, each brimming with uncontrollable rage and icy coldness.
Yi Tianxing not only showed no respect, his words were tantamount to trampling their faces underfoot. Even Saints could not endure such insult—how could they? Even a Buddha would burn with fury. Their expressions darkened to the point that water could drip from them, yet as if held back by some scruple, they did not strike personally.
The time had not yet come where they had to make their move.There was still room for maneuver.
Rumble—!
Dense thunder rolled across the heavens, a reflection of the Nine Heavens Dao Venerables' suppressed wrath.
"A bunch of gutless cowards, and you dare to covet my Great Yi?"
Yi Tianxing could see their thoughts with absolute clarity. They coveted the supreme position of the Great Yi as a Dao Destiny Dynasty. Too bad—they miscalculated. The Great Yi was never soft, and he, Yi Tianxing, was no pushover. As long as they survived this calamity and ascended to an Immortal Court, then even if their true destiny as a Dao Dynasty was revealed, they would no longer need to fear the encirclement and schemes of the myriad races. The authority of an Immortal Court alone was deterrent enough.
Of course, he would not publicly declare this. He would even forbid others from investigating. And even if someone did learn the truth, by then, it would be too late to matter. With the Nine Heavens Dao Venerables as cautionary examples, who would dare act rashly again?
"Yi Tianxing, today you must die."
Xuetian Dao Venerable's voice was icy cold, brimming with killing intent.
In the Bitter Sea, the Destiny True Dragon darted again and again in desperate pursuit of the Immortal Gate. Several times it had nearly reached it, but each time, as the moment came, the Immortal Gate vanished and reappeared elsewhere. That sensation of something within reach only to vanish—repeatedly—was enough to devastate the heart. For an ordinary cultivator, such repeated blows would shatter the mind.
Meanwhile, the Destiny True Dragon was shrinking. By now it had diminished to only 1.5 million zhang in length. The rate of consumption was terrifying. If this continued, the damage would be irreparable.
"The Bitter Sea is endless, the Immortal Gate nearly impossible to find. Yi, surrender to us. Perhaps we can help you find it."
Xuantian Dao Venerable spoke coldly, eyes fixed on the Bitter Sea.
The key was whether Great Yi could find the Immortal Gate, whether they could enter. If not, Great Yi was no threat, and could later be easily disposed of. If they did… then they must not be allowed to live.
Great Yi had already become an enemy. If it could not be used, then it must be destroyed. What use was treasure that did not belong to oneself?
"You really think this Holy King has no means to deal with you?"
Yi Tianxing's gaze flashed cold. He could not interfere with the Destiny True Dragon's search for the Immortal Gate, nor did he believe the others could. All he could do was watch. But that did not mean he had nothing else he could do. After all, he came here to slay the heavens.
"An ant dares to spy upon Heaven!!"
Motian Dao Venerable sneered.
"Then let's try."
Yi Tianxing's face was calm, his voice sharp and unyielding. This time, he would settle accounts with the Nine Heavens Dao Venerables for all the years past. Did they think he was raised to be frightened?
Light flashed in his hand—a jet-black fishing rod appeared, with a translucent fishing line and a hook gleaming with cold light. With a flick of the wrist, the hook was cast out.
The hook was almost invisible, moving through the void with uncanny speed, its path unfathomable, slipping through the intangible. It instantly locked onto Demon Heaven Dao Venerable's qi signature. The projection of his giant face was a divine thought incarnation, but once locked on, it was like seizing his very soul. Through a mysterious link, the hook slipped across space and directly appeared in the Demon Heaven Realm, right before Demon Heaven Dao Venerable himself.
"The Death God's Fishing Rod!!"
Motian Dao Venerable's face turned black with fury. How could he not recognize it? This was the death clan's exclusive life-bound treasure, used to hook souls—an unmatched weapon, fierce beyond compare. Once caught, escaping was nearly impossible.
Ordinarily, with his cultivation, he could never be caught. But this strike came too suddenly, riding the channel of his projection. The hook stabbed into his very presence, sinking straight into him.
"Heh, trying to fish my soul? Who gave you that courage? My primordial spirit rests in the void itself—how could you possibly reel me in?"
Motian Dao Venerable laughed coldly. At the Saint level, the primordial spirit could be anchored in the void, reflecting across the heavens, existing between heaven and earth itself. To harm it was nearly impossible. Unless one could shake the entire Eternal World, it was futile.
Still, a stab of soul-pain lanced through him, unmistakable. The Death God's Hook had indeed pierced him, though it could not uproot his spirit. Outside, a thin fishing line extended into the void, with the hook buried in his soul.
"Break!!"
With a chilling word, a magic saber appeared and slashed down at the line.
Clang!
A crisp ring echoed. His body jolted with pain as a terrifying pulling force surged from the hook. This time it wasn't tugging at his soul—it was dragging at his flesh, trying to haul his very body out of the Demon Heaven Realm. The force was overwhelming, as if a boundless god-demon were reeling him in. His body staggered, nearly pulled out.
Then—the fishing line snapped apart with a thunderous twang.
"What a pity, couldn't reel in that old turtle of a body."
Yi Tianxing reeled the line back in, watching the broken strand. The hook flashed and reformed, whole again.
He had hoped to catch Motian Dao Venerable by surprise and haul him out. But a Saint was still a Saint. Even with the innate spirit-treasure-grade Death God's Hook, it was not enough. If the hook were to reach innate supreme treasure level… then perhaps he could have pulled out even the primordial spirit from the void.
"Yi Tianxing, you court death!!"
Motian Dao Venerable's fury exploded. Though Yi Tianxing had failed, the humiliation was real, indelible. To be treated like a fish, hooked and reeled in—this was beyond provocation, this was an outrage.
He had not intended to act so soon, but now his restraint was gone. Without hesitation, he raised his foot and stomped down.
Boom!!
A massive vortex tore open in the void, whirling madly. Its oppressive might flooded out like a tidal wave. The very heavens seemed enraged.
"Well done, Saint King Yi. Truly admirable. Just this courage alone surpasses imagination—enough to scare others to death. To use the Death Hook on the Nine Heavens Dao Venerables… treating them as fish. But I like it."
The wandering cultivator Xiaoyao Sanren grinned, eyes gleaming with appreciation.
"Incredible. Motian Dao Venerable can't hold back. Everyone, get ready."
Ming He smirked. Before, he had worried how to lure the Dao Venerables into personally acting. Their perception of danger was too keen—they would never step in lightly. But now, the matter seemed resolved.
Across the battlefield, the great powers stirred, their auras sinking deeper in readiness.
The vortex swelled wider. A gigantic foot thrust out, descending toward Yi Tianxing. That stomp blotted out the sky, brimming with unrestrained demonic will:
If I want you dead, heaven cannot forgive. If I want you destroyed, earth cannot protect.
I am Demon. Demon means to run rampant, demon means to be lawless.
The stomp plunged the heavens into blackness, an apocalyptic sight.
"To trample me with your foot?"
Yi Tianxing's eyes flashed with killing cold. In his hand appeared a verdant war spear, its shaft inscribed with the words Breaking Heaven—its aura sharp enough to pierce the sky itself.
The Heaven-Opening Divine Artifact—Heaven-Breaking Spear!!
The Heaven Emperor's Creation Hand—Heaven-Breaking Spear!!
Divine artifact and spear-intent merged, surging with the power of heaven and earth's origin.
With a thrust, the spear streaked forth like lightning, meeting the descending giant foot head-on, stabbing straight toward its sole.
Rumble!!
The deafening clash shook the world.
Even a Saint's casual strike could bring forth power enough to annihilate heaven and earth.