Taking an Emperor's Strike Head-On
"Snort."
On the other side of the starry sky, a cold glint flashed in the eyes of the Human Race Martial God, which had always been calm and unwavering.
He saw through the other party's trick.
The Martial God remained expressionless, making no extra movements. He simply pointed at the gray death curse that shot towards him from across the endless starry river.
A golden divine light arrived first, even though it came later.
The divine light seemed to contain the highest order and principles of the universe. The moment it touched the Gray Death Curse, it instantly annihilated 99% of its power into nothingness.
But, after all, it was a blow delivered with hatred from the emperor.
Even if only one percent, or even one-thousandth, of its remaining power remains, it is still beyond the comprehension of those in the Immortal Realm.
A faint, almost negligible wisp of gray aura, like a fish that slipped through the net, finally pierced through the thick World Barrier and quietly descended upon the ruins.
"Not good!"
The Martial God's expression changed slightly, and just as he was about to make another move, the Insect Emperor had already moved, instantly diverting all of the Martial God's attention.
As a result, the Martial God could only watch helplessly as the Insect Emperor's energy descended upon the small world.
Buzz!!
The moment the gray aura appeared, time and space in the entire ruins seemed to be paused simultaneously.
A supreme law, born purely for Annihilation, descended like an invisible Firmament, engulfing every living being present.
Below, the tens of thousands of Human Race Prodigies, including Wen Yuan, were still stunned when their expressions froze.
They were horrified to discover that the Dao Principles within their bodies were groaning, their Divine Souls were trembling, and even their indestructible bodies were instinctively shaking under this aura, with fine cracks appearing on the verge of collapse!
This is absolute suppression on a higher level of existence! It is judgment from the gods!
"Not good!"
Wen Yuan's eyes were bloodshot, and an endless despair welled up in his heart.
At that very moment, atop the altar, the figure immersed in enlightenment suddenly opened his eyes.
Chen Fan's left eye was full of life, while his right eye was eternally lifeless. The Dao Rhythm of Life-and-Death Cycle reflected the slowly drifting gray aura.
He has two choices.
First, disregard everything and forcefully complete the absorption.
In his current state, if he could completely refine this ball of Origin Source light and achieve perfect Dao Fruit fruition, he might be able to withstand this remaining attack by relying on the complete World Dao Mark.
However, the tens of thousands of compatriots behind him will surely be crushed into ashes and their Divine Souls destroyed by this wisp of imperial aura before he can complete the absorption.
Two...
Without the slightest hesitation.
There wasn't even a fraction of a second of hesitation.
A resolute glint flashed in Chen Fan's deep eyes.
"Break!"
He let out a low shout in his heart, forcibly severing the connection with that ball of Origin Source light.
"Puff!!"
The cultivation technique reversed, and the vast Origin Power within his body instantly went out of control. Chen Fan felt a sweet taste in his throat, but he forcefully swallowed back the mouthful of blood that was about to spit out.
He slowly stood up.
He didn't look at the horrified expressions on the faces of the people behind him.
They also ignored the supreme opportunity that was so close at hand, representing the Eighth Grade Secret.
He simply raised his head calmly, facing the gray aura that was enough to annihilate all life in this place.
He raised his right hand.
Within his Dantian, the World Dao Mark, which had just grown several times larger, erupted with unprecedented brilliance under Chen Fan's will.
A phantom world, seemingly a reappearance of the Origin Ancient Realm, slowly emerged from his palm.
Mountains, rivers, Sun and Moon, moon, Stars... everything evolves within them.
This is his path, and this is his result.
Chen Fan, supporting this nascent world, did not flinch in the slightest, but instead actively faced the supreme divine power that represented the Emperor's finger.
He wanted to use his own Dao Fruit as a shield to protect the tens of thousands of compatriots behind him!
The next moment, that wisp of gray aura silently disappeared into the illusory world in Chen Fan's palm.
The phantom world, teeming with endless life, withered instantly the moment the gray aura merged with it; Stars dimmed in an instant, and mountains and rivers crumbled inch by inch...
In the end, the entire phantom world, like a sand sculpture weathered by the elements, transformed into countless specks of light and vanished into nothingness.
"Puff!"
This time, Chen Fan could no longer suppress his emotions.
His body shuddered violently, his face turned deathly pale, and a wisp of crimson-gold blood containing his Origin Source Dao Rhythm slowly slid down the corner of his mouth.
The entire hall fell silent.
Everyone was stunned and speechless by this selfless act.
"Junior Fellow Apprentice!"
Wen Yuan was the first to react. His Dao Heart trembled violently, and he appeared beside Chen Fan in a flash, his voice trembling with extreme worry.
Chen Fan raised his hand and casually waved it to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.
His gaze seemed to pierce through the dome of the ruins, looking into the endless depths of the starry sky.
He appeared calm and collected, but the flickering aura he exuded, and the crimson-gold bloodstain at the corner of his mouth that he could not conceal no matter what, revealed a cruel truth.
He was already severely injured!
With bloodshot eyes, Wen Yuan rushed to Chen Fan's side in a flash.
He flipped his wrist, revealing three emerald-green divine pills radiating a powerful life force in his palm. His fingers trembled as he eagerly offered them to Chen Fan's lips.
Behind them, tens of thousands of Human Race Prodigies intently at the altar.
Worry, guilt, gratitude, and a mix of other emotions weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.
Many people lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at that thin figure, while others gripped their weapons tightly, their knuckles turning bluish-white, their hearts filled with helplessness.
Chen Fan raised his right hand and pressed down on Wen Yuan's arm as he handed over the medicine.
His face was pale and bloodless, but his eyes were unusually calm.
"Senior Fellow Apprentice, I'm fine."
Chen Fan's voice was not loud.
"It's what I should do."
Wen Yuan's eyes stung with tears, and he opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
A strike from an emperor is enough to kill any ordinary person.
Chen Fan forcibly severed his breakthrough opportunity and tried to withstand the attack with his Dao Fruit; it was impossible for him to emerge unscathed.
That glaring streak of crimson blood is the best proof.
Chen Fan turned his head, his gaze passing over the Human Race camp and landing below the altar.
There, the remaining hundreds of thousands of Insect Race soldiers were cowering and retreating.
Several peak Seventh Grade insect generals had a fierce glint of suspicion in their eyes.
They sensed Chen Fan's weakened aura and were trying to suppress their instinctive fear, wanting to step forward to test his strength.
Chen Fan's eyes instantly turned cold, devoid of any emotion.
"Roll."
A single word, spoken, carries the weight of law.
The Void trembled violently, Dao Principles of Death transformed into tangible gray sound waves, sweeping across the endless territory ahead.
Thousands of Insect Race warriors collapsed instantly.
They abandoned their formation and fled frantically towards the edge of the ruins.
A horrific stampede ensued along the way, with countless low-level Insect Race being crushed by their own kind, their green bodily fluids pooling into rivers.
Not a single Insect Race dared to look back, and the few Seventh Grade insect generals who were trying to probe were running at the forefront, completely unaware that their life-bound carapaces were rubbing against each other and sparks were flying.