The Immortal Sword World finally came to a halt—frozen in place—before the Shenwu World.
After all, that world stood at the forefront.
It possessed a path to immortality; now that the system had enhanced it, a high ranking was only natural.
Then Longkui, Hongkui, Xi Yao, and Xue Jian—
The four set out for the Eternal Shrine.
Sedum remained behind to cultivate in their home world. He had received word that as soon as his strength broke through to the level of a god, he would be permitted to fight on other planes.
Xue Jian had originally been just a mischievous little girl.
Later, her spiritual power awakened in Tangjiapu; eventually, she was discovered by Hongkui. After half a year of training, she had become extraordinarily well-behaved.
The four were received by Shi Feixuan and Wanwan.
When they saw Longkui arrive, the two women stepped forward from opposite sides.
"Good sister, we've been waiting for you for a long time!"
"You're Sister Wanwan and Sister Shi Feixuan—how do you do, both of you!"
"What are you being so formal for, younger sister? Would you like to join my faction?"
Wanwan extended an invitation to Hongkui, who agreed without even a moment's hesitation.
Xi Yao and Xue Jian joined Shi Feixuan's camp.
A word had to be said:
If you could get out from under Hongkui's control—truly, you had the heavens to thank.
After a brief pause to consider, Longkui chose Wanwan as well.
Though Sedum's long-term guidance had tempered her, the darkness within her heart did not permit her to grow weak; even so, she no longer killed casually as she once had.
Her temperament had leveled out.
"So, can I choose a plane to join the war now?" Hongkui asked Wanwan.
She could hardly wait to reach the Cemetery of the Saints to have some fun. In her own world there wasn't even an enemy—she was bored to death.
"You can," Wanwan said, "but, Sister Hongkui, don't you want to serve the God?"
Killing the enemy was exhilarating—
But serving the God was even better. You could fill your heart with longing each day,
And your strength would grow besides.
Hongkui leaned toward Wanwan's ear and whispered, "I do want to serve the God. But there are so many sisters—when will it be my turn? Rather than waiting around like a fool, it's better to do more for the God. That way, I'll linger in His heart."
She had no desire to be a vase on a shelf.
That wasn't Hongkui's nature at all.
With so many people around now, it was better to head to battle: let the God see her efforts—perhaps she would even be able to share His bed.
Wanwan bowed her head with a smile.
So the girl had that idea after all.
"All right. You and Longkui come with me. I hope you can adapt quickly to the fighting in the Cemetery of the Saints—the battle there is blazing hot right now…"
She herself had passed through not long ago.
Her evaluation of the battlefield's importance was very high.
Because there were many enemies there.
At present, Yang Jian had recovered three provincial cities; they were ready to fight against the gods.
However, before they departed to war on another plane, Longkui and Hongkui needed to accept the God's gift.
For to offer a world in sacrifice was a deed of merit—
And these were their earned rewards.
The two women entered the Ziwei Palace.
They nodded and saluted as they recognized familiar faces.
At last they bowed before Liu Che.
"We greet the Eternal God."
"Rise," Liu Che said mildly. "You want to go to the Cemetery of the Saints?"
"My sister wants to go there," Hongkui replied, "but I want to go to the Star-Moon Plane first—if that's all right?"
"It is," Liu Che said. "Just don't go too far."
His hint was faint but clear.
Both women nodded.
"You two were originally one," he said. "Though divine power separated you, let me now bestow a gift."
He took one of the nine Yams of the Eternal Divine Star and planted it within both women's bodies.
This was not from the Tilian he had once purchased—
It was a masterpiece nourished by divine irrigation for a very long time.
And with the Bingdilian blood flowing within them, the two could live so long as one remained alive.
Such heaven-defying racial talent—
Was exceedingly rare.
Originally, that bloodline was meant to be fused into a single person,
Used to split a soul.
But for these two women, it was just right.
Once the blessing took hold,
Hongkui and Longkui's divine power climbed steadily, only halting at the Eight-Star stage.
When they opened their eyes,
Kikyo, standing nearby, couldn't help her surprise.
Were these truly the two beings who had possessed less than a single star of power just a moment ago?
How terrifyingly strong—
Their souls were synchronized,
Their auras synchronized,
Even their expressions could synchronize.
"Thank you for the God's gift," both said at once.
"Try your fusion," Liu Che said. "I think you can reach the level of a god."
"Yes."
Longkui and Hongkui stood, their bodies turning to light—
One crimson, one jet black.
When the two lights overlapped,
A brand-new woman stood before the God.
She had Hongkui's wicked charm and Longkui's gentle warmth; her hair gleamed gray, her eyes crystal-clear.
Her aura had reached the God stage.
Such was the terror of the Bingdilian bloodline.
It also owed to Longkui's unique nature.
Still, after maintaining the form for a short time, the body dissolved.
Although they had grown used to each other's thoughts,
Merging entwined their consciousness; it left Longkui miserable.
It would likely take a while to adapt!
"It seems your strength is not bad," Liu Che said. "Go—do what you wish to do."
"Thank you for the God's gift."
Led on by divine light, the two women vanished from the hall.
There were two portals to the Cemetery of the Saints—
One at the Eternal Shrine, open to all,
And another on Earth.
No sooner had Hongkui transported into the world of the Cemetery of the Saints
Than a familiar figure appeared before them both.
The newcomer wore a black vest; his pale complexion carried a hint of evil.
Hongkui recognized this old acquaintance at a glance.
"Well, well… isn't this the egg-incubator!"
"Damn—blackened girl Longkui—no… wait, that hair color—so you're Hongkui!"
Orochimaru started, then grinned.
It seemed she too had sacrificed a world.
How else would she be here?
Hongkui looked him up and down and asked with a smile, "So—have your eggs hatched?"
"Ahem… can we not bring up egg-hatching? Please! I'm the great Orochimaru—address me properly, sister! But with your achievements, you could be a goddess by now. Why come here and suffer?"
The two walked the void-tunnel as they spoke.
Orochimaru's question carried genuine curiosity.
Hongkui flicked her fingers; a phantom long sword spun at her fingertips. She snorted. "Do you take me for a vase? If there are godless fools out there, then I'm going to cut them down upside-down."
Truly, she was no peaceful soul.
May the God's followers be able to withstand her.
They passed through the Gate of Time and Space and arrived at base headquarters in Qingzhou.
A colossal rent split the heavens—
More terrifying than the Scar of Heaven in the Xuanyuan Sword World.
It ran on for hundreds of millions of miles.
More than a dozen figures fought in the sky.
When Orochimaru saw Tanjiro battling a blood-phantom, he could no longer hold back.
"Hongkui, I'm going on ahead—"
"Mm. Go."
She dipped her head slightly.
Orochimaru summoned a beast; the Purple Jade Python soared into the air.
"Spirit Summoning Technique: Snake-Shadow Slays the Sky!"
This was the special cultivation of Orochimaru's world—Soul Summoning.
Don't be fooled because Ten Thousand Snakes had bullied him in the God-Domain; in a real fight, they dared not put on airs.
Especially not against the godless.
"Hiss… Disrespect the God, and you deserve death…"
Manda's body flowed into Orochimaru like smoke.
Then, the violet figure
Speared into the heavens.
"Tanjiro, your Snake-brother is here!"
The white-browed elder battling Tanjiro started in shock when another voice sounded from below.
Before he could react,
A lance of red light pierced his body.
"Ah— You… are you also a servant of the evil god beyond the border?"
"No. I am Orochimaru, priest of the Eternal God Cult… Is this the so-called divine blood? Bah… Disgusting…"
Tanjiro, beside him, stared at the opponent who had just been cursed to death.
"Damn it—Snake-bro, you're stealing my monster! I've been playing with him for ages!!!"
"Hey, my apologies… I'm here to paint the sky with blood this time."
Orochimaru pulled back his finger.
The white-browed old man's body was already turning splendidly bright.
963, the Seed of Curse, had spread through his genes.
All with his bloodline were now locked onto by Orochimaru.
In an instant, Orochimaru vanished.
A thousand miles away on the battlefield of the Gods, a figure suddenly shrieked. A crimson hand clutched his heart and wrenched it from his chest.
"Hiss— Remember this: the one who killed you is named Orochimaru~~~"
The Battlefield of the Gods—
Had been torn open by six goddesses wielding supreme divine power.
When the divine realm appeared before everyone's eyes,
All understood.
They themselves were but toys in others' hands.
Join the cult and slay the gods.
Seize mastery.
That was what the people sought to do!
Thus the present situation came to be.
There were so many in the divine realm—
It had even split into one territory after another.
The Unknown was among these forces.
They had no wish to see this world blossom and bear fruit—so they poisoned cultivation with grotesqueries!
They poisoned a swath of the world,
And even an entire era.
Chu Xuanfeng, Tan Zhilang, Murong Fu… and the other chief priests who had come to the battlefield, upon hearing this, launched war at once.
Now the sky ran red with blood.
The Sky-Scar of Qingzhou had been torn away.
Elsewhere, the heavens were blood-crimson.
No one knew how many gods had been slaughtered; the very sky had been dyed red by countless lives.
Immortals, sprites—
Show your face, and you were cut down!
Tsunade, who had just absorbed vitality and killed three gods, heard Orochimaru's eerie cry and muttered through clenched silver teeth,
"Why doesn't that guy ever rein himself in? His brain—grown that big—and for what—what kind of 'forbearance' is that!"
Bai Suzhen, at her side, smiled. "Less commentary—more killing. By the looks of it, these gods can hold out for quite a while today."
Every day, more than a million of the gods' side marched to battle.
Once their losses turned heavy, they would employ a seal,
Shuttering the entrance.
Who knew what conspiracy they were brewing.
So they had to hurry and kill as many as possible.