Heaven-Piercing Nether Treasure

The Demon God Flower was already mature, and the major powers scrambled for it in utter chaos. The timing was just right.

Make a move!

Several quasi-emperors shouted, the corners of their eyes twitching with excitement as they unleashed divine light to melt the Source Art, revealing the ultimate killer moves that had been hidden for a long time.

The moment the great formation appeared, it shook the entire star field. A sound like sacrificial chanting echoed, as though all living beings across endless epochs were weeping and praying, chillingly eerie.

At the center of the formation, ten thousand rays of light surged into the void, revealing the full picture of the imperial formation. A world-shaking aura pervaded the heavens and earth, burning with laws—sacred, brilliant, and suppressing all directions.

This formation was a collection of the Underworld, a complete and flawless imperial formation that incorporated the insights of several supreme beings.

If another imperial dao figure were to expend effort to refine a formation diagram, it would not fall far behind the famed number-one killing formation of ancient and modern times in the future.

It could trap and kill supreme beings!

The star field turned into a roaring furnace. The imperial formation raged, shattering everything. Planets broke apart and cracked, turning into nothingness, and even the Dao marks on the battlefield were erased.

In an instant, a vast star field turned into a living hell, a billion times more terrifying than an apocalyptic vision.

The Underworld intended to refine all cultivators and bury everything here.

Everyone sensed the Underworld's intentions, and cries of shock and curses rang out endlessly.

Even the Supreme Emperor Weapons, which usually looked down upon everything, stopped. They no longer fought for the Demon God Flower, retreating immediately and flying straight back to their clan lands.

They, too, caught the scent of danger and conspiracy, feeling a genuine crisis within the imperial formation.

"Oh my god, they've gone mad!"

The experts of the Hegemon Body Clan widened their eyes and exclaimed, their pitch rising a few notches as if to cover up the terror deep in their hearts.

This clan did not possess a Supreme Emperor Weapon and relied entirely on a forbidden artifact left behind by a Great Accomplishment Hegemon Body, making them even more panicked than the other factions.

"Underworld! By plotting against us like this, are you trying to make an enemy of every power in the universe?"

A Great Sage of the Golden Clan charged up with an Imperial Weapon, braving the flying light of the killing formation, and sternly interrogated the Underworld.

Several quasi-emperors stepped out simultaneously from the deepest core of the ancient star, cold light in their eyes.

"So what? When has our Underworld ever feared you bunch of crawling bugs?"

The Great Sage of the Golden Clan trembled with anger. It was the first time in his life he had been looked down upon as a bug; the people of the Underworld were far too arrogant.

"Very well. Since that is how it is, just wait to regret this."

Uttering the word well three times in a row, the Great Sage of the Golden Clan burned with the utmost fury, striking out first against the ancient star where the Underworld resided.

"Fellow cultivators, we have all been plotted against by the Underworld. Those who want to stay alive, join me in dealing with them!"

Shortly after, the Void Mirror appeared. A Ji Family Great Sage cooperated with the action, shouting to everyone in the star field to contend with the Underworld's Imperial Weapon.

The Eternal Universe Furnace exerted pressure alongside it, two streaks of flowing light blocking the supreme dao killing formation, while the Nine Li Diagram and the Supreme Emperor Sword made their moves in tacit understanding.

"They only have one Imperial Weapon and the killing formation. We have six Imperial Weapons; if we share a common hatred, they cannot trap us."

The deity of the Supreme Emperor Sword said in a cold voice.

Though it was unclear why the Underworld was arrogant enough to think a killing formation could deal with several Supreme Emperor Weapons, matters had reached this point, and breaking free early was of the utmost importance.

Every power here had at least a thousand cultivators, all of them pillars of strength. There were over a dozen Great Sages alone, gathering the vast majority of the universe's mightiest figures.

If they all perished here, even supreme dao forces would feel the pain, unable to recover their vitality for several generations.

Groups like the Hegemon Body Clan would suffer even more disastrous losses, trembling under the protection of their forbidden artifact.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Demon God Flower was uncontested, two Imperial Weapons that had not yet targeted the Underworld successively made their move. One carried a shattered planet and intended to break through the void and leave, abandoning its clan members to be treated as discarded chess pieces.

The Great Sage controlling the other Imperial Weapon had been watching the other party for a long time, moving with quick eyes and nimble hands to intercept the Great Sage who intended to escape with the Demon God Flower.

They were still harboring designs on the Demon God Flower, believing the Underworld could do nothing against several imperial vessels, prioritizing the seizure of the divine flower.

"Isn't the fellow Daoist of the Light Clan a bit too impatient, abandoning us like this?"

The Dao Evolution Divine Robe radiated dreamlike colors, blocking the Light Clan's Imperial Weapon and initiating a supreme dao battle.

"Hmph, do you think I'm afraid of you?"

The Light Clan Great Sage sneered. Neither of the two Imperial Weapons could do anything to the other; what difference would it make if they kept entangling each other? In any case, the Demon God Flower was in hand, and he was not the one suffering a loss.

On the other side, the several quasi-emperors of the Underworld watched as three Imperial Weapons attacked simultaneously.

The Nine Li Diagram and the Supreme Emperor Sword resisted the killing formation while three imperial vessels assaulted them. The Heavenly Halberd Emperor Weapon fought three opponents alone in a difficult defense, holding on by brute force for a short time, but it could not withstand several Imperial Weapons exerting power all at once.

Its defense was about to be breached. The Supreme Dao Aura battered the Five-Colored Altar and rent the domain gate, which looked as though it was about to collapse.

Yet under such perilous circumstances, their expressions did not panic in the slightest. An aura swept away the Supreme Dao Pressure entirely.

A crisp sound rang out, like the clinking of falling copper coins, echoing through the void into everyone's ears.

An anomaly unfolded. All techniques ceased, and immortal Qi intertwined and circled around the star field, chiming with the crisp sound of copper coins.

A deafening roar shook the area, followed by several Imperial Weapons being bounced away. For a moment, even the passage of time paused for an instant.

Before anyone could react, a mythical immortal light appeared in the center of the battlefield, roiling with mist, as an immortal treasure sat within it, having descended from who knew where.

"This is... the aura of immortals! Impossible!"

A Great Sage stared in disbelief at the figure in the center of the immortal Qi.

"Rumor has it that the Underworld possesses an immortal treasure, the weapon of the Underworld's founder left behind within the depths, known as the Heaven-Piercing Nether Treasure!"

The Ji Family Great Sage spoke in a cold voice, his expression unsightly. This immortal treasure had not emerged a few times since ancient times and had always been hidden deep within the Underworld. Legend had it that it possessed unfathomable abilities with shocking battle achievements—it had even attacked the Imperial Venerable!

Innumerable years had passed since its last emergence, so long that it was untraceable.

No one had ever expected it to emerge from the Underworld, and worst of all, descend directly into the Underworld's killing formation.

With its glorious reputation, no one was willing to clash head-on with it. Its unique Immortal Dao Laws were something even Imperial Weapons were unwilling to touch.

Since ancient times, only a few immortal artifacts had ever existed, making them even rarer than Supreme Emperor Weapons. Dubbed supreme treasures, every single one of them had a massive background and represented the highest realm a weapon could sublimate to, terrifyingly strong.

"With an imperial formation, an immortal treasure, and an Imperial Weapon to deal with our seven Imperial Weapons, the outcome is hard to tell."

A Great Sage's face was gloomy. He had not expected the Underworld's plotting and determination in this era to vastly exceed imagination, to the extent that they even invited the Heaven-Piercing Nether Treasure.

They were deeply wary of immortal artifacts. After all, their battle records were right there, and historical records stated that the immortal tower in the Eastern Wasteland had even crushed an immortal to death—such terrifying might that it left them hesitating.

"The Demon God Flower..."

An Underworld quasi-emperor communicated with the Nether Treasure using a secret technique, and the next moment, a reaction occurred. Immortal light flickered, and streaks of divine patterns vibrated, connecting with the dome of heaven and shooting straight toward the Light Clan Great Sage.

Even with his preparations, it was to no avail. The immortal light still pierced his protective barrier, and streaks of divine patterns enveloped him, penetrating his body and taking his life in one fell swoop. At the same time, it tugged at the void, and the next instant, the Demon God Flower appeared beside the Nether Treasure.

"Oh god, this is simply defying the heavens. Even an Imperial Weapon failed to protect a Great Sage's safety."

Someone exclaimed. Although the Imperial Weapon had not fully awakened and was entirely controlled by a single Great Sage, the imperial power was still majestic, yet today, it unusually failed.

"No, that is..."

Following the fall of the Great Sage, the Imperial Weapon he wielded suddenly surged, releasing unprecedented energy and charging out of the formation.

"So that's how it is. The Imperial Weapon actively accumulated power and controlled the imperial power to dissipate, which is why that Great Sage perished."

Many people perceived the inside story behind this. No matter how powerful an immortal treasure was, it was impossible for it to treat Supreme Emperor Weapons—which suppressed the mortal world—as toys.

Imperial Weapons also possessed spirits; this Imperial Weapon had actively delivered both the Demon God Flower and the Great Sage to the enemy!

It did so precisely to seize this moment of detachment, escaping the range of the immortal artifact and the imperial formation to flee.

It succeeded, executing a ruthless and decisive escape before the immortal treasure could exert its power, fearing it would be suppressed right here, and successfully fighting its way out of the star field.

Ruthless in thought and absolute in execution, it abandoned everything to save its own skin.

"It's gone. We have one less Imperial Weapon on our side. As one grows and the other wanes, we are in peril."

The Great Sage holding the Supreme Emperor Sword sighed at the sight.

The Great Sage ancestor of the Hegemon Body Clan looked at the forbidden artifact in his hand and sighed as well; his family's forbidden artifact lacked that kind of capability.

Looking dejected and downcast, he turned back to look at the young bloodline behind him, closing his eyes in lingering pain, unable to bear the sight.

These were the seeds of the Hegemon Star within the century, who had come to the battlefield merely for tempering and to spar with the proud youths of various major powers.

He had originally intended to send them away in recent days, but now it was too late. They could only rely on the forbidden artifact to linger on for a short while—how he regretted his initial actions.

Everyone on the battlefield knew that continuing like this would make the situation even more unfavorable.

If they wanted to completely neutralize the grand formation without being affected, they needed Imperial Weapons to continuously wear down the killing intent within it. One could barely manage it for a short time, and two were required to resolve the killing intent simultaneously.

The Underworld already possessed one Imperial Weapon, plus the Heaven-Piercing Nether Treasure...

The remaining four Imperial Weapons would struggle to fend them off. It was safe to say the odds were heavily against them.

Some Great Sages regretted not making a move sooner; had they known, they would have joined forces at the time to cripple the Underworld's Imperial Weapon first.

"I'll deal with the immortal treasure. You all assess the situation and assist me."

The Void Mirror flashed by, and the Ji Family Great Sage rushed out.

Knowing there was no way left to retreat, the various Imperial Weapons erupted with unprecedented battle intent, awakening to their utmost limits to fight a decisive battle with the Underworld.

"Stubborn resistance. In front of the Nether Treasure, you are all mere clay chickens and roosters, vulnerable to a single blow."

"The foundation of the Underworld is not something ants like you can fathom."

The Underworld quasi-emperor sneered, looking down upon the major powers.

So-called supreme dao forces, one and all, were merely ignorant and arrogant bugs in his eyes, completely incomparable to the Underworld, let alone on equal footing.

If they hadn't wanted to lure them into the trap, when had the Underworld ever been so easy to get along with?

This time, they had even invited the immortal treasure, determined to wipe out all the Great Sages in one net and suppress the Supreme Emperor Weapons for a thousand years.

Once that happened, there would no longer be anyone who could hinder the Underworld, and they could act boldly and freely.

When these Supreme Emperor Weapons finally broke free, no matter how righteous they tried to act, it would be useless—the Underworld would already rule the world, and at that time, they would use them to sacrifice to the banners first.

Imperial Dao Laws intertwined. With a loud boom, the Void Mirror struck the Nether Treasure. The mirror surface shone brightly, revealing peerless killing intent.

The Heaven-Piercing Nether Treasure—that pitch-black, brilliant immortal artifact shaped like a treasure wheel—slowly rotated, exuding an endless scene of blighted earth, within which thousands of immortal symbols manifested.

Dao runes flickered, their terrifying power matchless; even Supreme Emperor Weapons found them difficult to withstand.

"I'll help you."

Imperial Dao Dragon Qi broke through the endless deathly aura and slammed into the Nether Treasure, causing the entire sky to shake for a moment.

The killing power of the Supreme Emperor Sword was not the least bit weak. It charged forward and back several times, fiercely shaking the Nether Treasure in a simple and direct manner, slaughtering with the most violent methods.

The Dao Evolution Divine Robe possessed peerless defense, actively shielding against the Nether Treasure's attacks.

Fighting three against one, the Nether Treasure still did not fall into a disadvantage. Its daoist symbols were bizarre and difficult to restrain, capable of both offense and defense as it continuously exhausted the various Imperial Weapons.

Its hardness was even capable of withstanding the dragon might of the Supreme Emperor Sword head-on, making it exceedingly tricky.

On the other other side, the imperial formation continuously evolved like a quagmire, plunging people deep within it as it unleashed killing intent layer upon layer.

Fortunately, two Imperial Weapons resisted it together, leaving them unharmed for a short time.

The Heavenly Halberd, which was resisting on the other end, was supplied with energy by several quasi-emperors at all costs. A war of attrition was unfavorable to it, and furthermore, it had to spare energy to deal with the Nether Treasure; even risking their lives made it hard to achieve.

The longer it dragged on, the more unfavorable it became for them. Everyone knew this, but they were powerless to act—this star field had long since become impossible to enter or leave.

"Let me out! My clan has close ties to the Primordial Ancient Mine; if you kill me, the Great Emperor will definitely come looking to settle accounts with you."

The Golden Clan Great Sage fighting the Heavenly Halberd lost his battle intent when he saw the situation was bad, charging frantically toward the outside of the formation.

Playing the deserter was shameful, but it was still better than losing his life. He still had two thousand years of lifespan left in this lifetime; dying just like that was far too great a loss.

He voiced his close connection with the Primordial Ancient Mine, using the face of the forbidden zone to threaten the Underworld.

A quasi-emperor looked at the Heaven-Piercing Nether Treasure, then wore a cold sneer on his face.

"What kind of thing are you, worthy of being remembered by a supreme being? Even if this Imperial Weapon were shattered today, that supreme being would not emerge. Keep dreaming."

The Golden Clan Great Sage gritted his teeth, apologizing to him and pleading with the Underworld.

However, the Underworld quasi-emperor had no intention of letting him off the hook. Controlling the Heavenly Halberd, he pursued him, forcing him to continue fighting back.

"You forced me to do this, Underworld!"

Uttering harsh words, he proclaimed that the Underworld had pushed things too far and demanded they pay the price, before turning around and charging back.

"Come over here, we'll help you."

The Jiang Family Great Sage unleashed an imperial might to influence the Heavenly Halberd, putting aside the earlier incident and providing support to the Golden Clan Great Sage.

At this time, they had to share a common hatred; if one suffered, all were lost, and the strength of the Golden Clan was also crucial.

The Golden Mace shook off the Heavenly Halberd and hurried over, converging with the two Imperial Weapons at close range.

"Many thanks. And now... go die."

The Jiang Family Great Sage felt a fierce crisis. In a split second, the Golden Mace flew right before his eyes.

Reflected in his eyes were the Golden Mace cleaving through the void and the smug, triumphant sneer of the Golden Clan Great Sage.

"Careful!"

The Great Sage controlling the Nine Li Diagram shouted out a divine sense warning.

This distance was far too close, and neither had prepared defenses. Before the Nine Li Diagram could unleash a Supreme Dao Light Wave, a heavy blow struck the Jiang Family Great Sage, sending him flying alongside the Eternal Universe Furnace to smash through several star systems.

The Heavenly Halberd flew over, tangling with the Nine Li Diagram.

"You... despicable!"

The Nine Li Diagram Great Sage's white eyebrows reached his forehead, the blood vessels on his head bulging like coiling dragons.

The Great Sage and Imperial Weapon of the Golden Clan had actually suddenly turned on them. To commit such a shameful act filled him with an irrepressible rage.

One imperial vessel resisting the imperial formation, even having done its utmost, still left killing intent un-erased, and on top of having to fight the Heavenly Halberd, it was lacking in strength. In an instant, one flower of blood after another bloomed, life was treated like blades of grass, and the killing intent swept across the entire star field.

"Alas, the Underworld has calculated every single contingency. With just these five Imperial Weapons, it is hard to resist any longer. The outcome is set."

Said a hiding Hegemon Body, his words carrying traces of senile, deathly intent.

"You all wait right here; this old ancestor will go and return shortly."

A few sharp glints appeared within his already turbid eyes as the Hegemon Body took one last look at the descendants behind him.

This forbidden artifact, too, was time to release its own brilliance.