A Meeting Gift from the Boundless True God (Happy Start of Autumn)

A strong fortress often began to crumble from within.

Xufeng Divine General's betrayal allowed the five Divine Generals of the Five Abyss Thunder God Department to slip into the depths beneath Mount Pei Yue with ease.

He lured Lu Ya away with delicious food and knew Yan Ao well enough to know where to stab so that Yan Ao's protective measures would fail.

To deal with the guardian Divine Generals hidden in the shadows, the Five Abyss Thunder God Department had specially dispatched five experts: three at the peak of the Divine General level and two in the late Divine General level.

Yan Ao's devouring held out for only a hundred thousand Immeasurable Time before the scales of victory tipped.

Zhao Xing's body rapidly fell into the abyss.

"Pfft~"

Seeing this, Divine General Xu Feng immediately drew his spear and retreated. A violent gust swept him away from Bai Feng Pavilion in Azure God Land.

He did not look back at the battlefield even once.

He had already fulfilled his promise. Whether they could capture Zhao Xing was now the Five Abyss Thunder God Department's problem.

A terrifying purple-black bloody hole appeared beneath Yan Ao's shoulder blade, but he ignored both his wound and Divine General Xu Feng. Golden flames surged from his entire body as he charged straight at the five enemies.

"Crackle~"

Every inch Yan Ao dove, another Thunderbolt Chain abruptly appeared around him.

Thunder Origin targeted Yan Ao completely at that moment. After descending just three zhang, he was already wrapped in black-purple Thunder Origin, bound into an iron ball.

Yet Yan Ao's Tribulation Fire Golden Body emerged from the chains once more, forming layers upon layers of Origin vortices and forcibly holding Zhao Xing in place, preventing him from falling completely into the abyss.

"Yan Ao's strength has exceeded our expectations somewhat." The leading Jade Firmament Divine General wore a grave expression.

Their battle plan had focused on Lu Ya. Although Xu Feng had said he could create a gap in time for them to act, Lu Ya's reputation was simply too great. Thus, their measures had primarily been intended to guard against Lu Ya's subsequent pursuit.

They had never imagined Yan Ao would be this strong.

Zhao Xing, whose lower half had originally been inside the underground abyss, was actually pulled back above the horizon.

Yu Xiao Divine General glanced at Zhao Xing and immediately directed the two companions beside him to fly out from their positions within the abyss.

They had no choice. They had not truly come to assassinate Zhao Xing, but to take him away.

Since they intended to capture him, they had to consider whether Zhao Xing lived or died. They could not cast their techniques without restraint.

The current situation between the five of them and Yan Ao was that one side had seized Zhao Xing's upper body while the other had seized his lower body.

If all their divine power acted upon Zhao Xing, it would be tantamount to tearing him apart with five horses. Even his true spirit would be shredded to pieces.

Killing Zhao Xing was not the goal. Capturing him alive was.

Thus, whether it was spells or the formation realm, everything targeted Yan Ao and had to avoid Zhao Xing.

"Boom!"

Two figures shot into the sky, passing over Zhao Xing's head.

At the center of the decisive battle, Zhao Xing had suffered no injuries apart from a fright.

He only felt time slowing down as he became trapped within an oval barrier.

The upper end was held by golden-red currents, while black-purple vortices dragged the other end downward.

"The black-purple vortex is one of the Five Abyss Thunder God Department's ultimate techniques, called the Five Abyss Universe Shift Formation."

"The moment you fall into it, you will instantly be transferred to countless Space-Time Nodes. Once that happens, it will be nearly impossible to retrieve you."

"Since you have not yet become a god, sending you through ten thousand hidden dimensions would be equivalent to dividing you into ten thousand slices."

"At any point in time among those ten thousand Space-Time Nodes, capturing you would have the same effect."

Bowei's voice sounded in his heart. Zhao Xing appeared calm, but inwardly he was panicking. "Elder, this isn't the time for analysis. If Yan Ao can't hold on and Lu Ya can't make it back, I'm really going to fall into Heavenly Ji Thunder Mother's hands."

Within the Inner World, Bowei glanced at the divination chart on the sand table, then smoothed it over with his hand. His tone remained calm. "Don't panic."

"With the help of that traitor Xufeng, the five Divine Generals made thorough preparations. But most of those preparations were aimed at guarding against Lu Ya."

"Lu Ya can travel the River of Time with ease, so they set up the Five Abyss Universe Shift Formation rather than the Five Abyss God-Slaying Formation."

"They wanted to turn abducting you into an irreversible fact."

"Otherwise, Lu Ya could simply flap his wings and cut through time. Together with Bai Feng Pavilion's space-time formation, he could easily retrieve you."

The flow of time within the Inner World was clearly somewhat different from the outside world, allowing Bowei to continue speaking at leisure.

"However, while they did not underestimate Lu Ya, they severely underestimated Yan Ao."

"Yanwu God, the empire's foremost Martial God, did not earn his name for nothing."

Before his words even faded, the battle outside changed rapidly.

One of Yan Ao's hands burst through the chains and extended from the golden-red flames.

A Seven-Star Treasure Saber appeared in his hand. Each gemstone seemed to contain a nebula vortex, rapidly devouring Thunder Origin.

At the same time, Yan Ao's divine body expanded sharply. Every inch of muscle in his arms devoured all surrounding Origin.

"Roar!"

Like a lion awakening, Yan Ao's Golden Body shone as brilliantly as a blazing sun.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The chains snapped one after another and melted away. They then became fragments, forming armor attached to his arms.

Black-purple Thunder Origin formed scales of armor, with dark-red Tribulation Fire Golden Marrow flowing between the plates.

The mere sight of that arm holding the Seven-Star Treasure Saber was enough to shock Yu Xiao Divine General.

"Yan Ao actually uses a saber?!"

The philosophy of Qi Sect Martial Practitioners was, "No reliance on external objects; the physical body itself is divine."

If a Qi Sect Martial Practitioner picked up a weapon and donned battle armor, it could only be because doing so would greatly increase his combat power.

"Trap him quickly." Yu Xiao Divine General gave a low shout, urging his two companions to act.

Of the two Divine Generals who had already flown out, one was at the peak of the Divine General level. Eight thunder serpents surged from his back, flicking their tongues. Three spiraled around Yan Ao's saber-wielding arm, while the other five coiled around his torso.

Each of the eight God-Fiend Thunder Serpents was comparable to the descent of a Divine Tribulation, yet in merely an instant, they were burned by the tribulation fire and devoured by Yan Ao instead.

As a result, Yan Ao extended his second hand from the Origin lockdown.

The other Divine General was in the late Divine General level. He held a black tower disk in his palm, wore a feathered crown, and his lips trembled.

"God, intent, blaze, Myriad Tribulations Mind Aspect, revolution—"

The tower disk spun. His fingertip pointed at Yan Ao and finally trembled to a stop over an area named Fate Divine Thunder.

Immediately afterward, this Divine General's entire body withered. His divine power was nearly exhausted as he uttered four words: "Fate Divine Thunder!"

"Boom!"

Even Zhao Xing within the barrier felt his heart quake as though some great calamity had descended.

"Not bad, not bad—"

Zhao Xing did not understand what was happening, but Bowei watched with great interest.

"Elder, what happened outside? Let me see it."

Zhao Xing desperately wanted to observe a battle between Divine Generals, but on his own, he could never keep up with it.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Bowei's mouth. "No. You are too weak. Even if I transmitted it directly into your mind, you could not bear it."

"..."

Zhao Xing's heart itched with hatred.

Bowei was truly infuriating.

"However, I can write it out for you to see."

"What, you don't want that?"

"I do, I do. Thank you, Elder."

Bowei waved his hand, and a brush appeared, beginning to write in the void.

The sky split apart, and the earth turned utterly black.

Two black bolts of lightning crossed like a pair of scissors, cutting toward the Dao Ancient Layer space corresponding to Yan Ao.

Yan Ao's lifeline began to waver. His lifespan constantly decreased, and his fortune also declined.

"Shhk~"

Yan Ao's divine body was cut straight across and split into two!

Fate Divine Thunder was another trump-card divine technique of the Five Abyss Thunder God Department.

Combining the Great Dao of Destiny with Thunder Origin, it was known as a method of divine punishment.

Yan Ao had already demonstrated tremendous martial power and was on the verge of breaking free. He had even devoured the Yin Shattering Thunder Serpents, but he could not devour Destiny Origin.

Faced with the Five Abyss Universe Shift Formation laid down by the five Divine Generals, he had charged through several barriers, only to have his divine body severed by a man merely in the late Divine General level, halting his offensive.

Yet Cold Yu Divine General, whose entire body had withered until only skin and bones remained, did not feel the slightest joy, because this supreme killing move had failed to achieve the result he wanted.

Yan Ao should have been chopped into pieces, yet he had merely been split in half.

Yan Ao's upper body still had enough strength to wield his saber and slash, while his lower body shot over like a cannonball.

Seeing this, not only was Cold Yu Divine General surprised, but Yu Xiao Divine General was also shocked.

"Retreat!!"

Yu Xiao Divine General decisively gave the order to retreat, as they were already nearing the end of their safe operation window.

If they did not leave now, not only would they fail to take Zhao Xing, but they would all be left here as well.

After all, this was Bai Feng Pavilion. Counting Lu Ya and Yan Ao, there were a full twenty-nine Divine Generals here. This was not their territory.

The two Divine Generals who had flown out immediately returned to the abyss.

"Rumble~"

The earth trembled as the five abysses rapidly closed. "Bang!"

Zhao Xing suddenly found himself shooting upward, his body appearing beside Yan Ao.

"Quack!"

A piercing Divine Sound exploded beside his ears as a Qu Ru Divine Duck of overwhelming ferocity appeared atop the mountain.

"Rumble~~"

The ground beneath Mount Pei Yue suddenly bulged again, and five cracks flickered in and out of sight.

It was as if time had reversed. The five abysses that had already vanished seemed about to reappear.

"Look, this is the Qu Ru Divine Duck's innate talent," Bowei's voice sounded in Zhao Xing's mind. "If they had not escaped in time, Lu Ya might have reversed time and captured them. Not only would they have failed to take you, but they would have been left here as well. At the very least, they would have lost a Divine Power Incarnation."

Zhao Xing watched carefully and discovered two people flying backward out of the five cracks.

They were Cold Yu Divine General, who had used Fate Divine Thunder, and the one who had used the God-Fiend Thunder Serpents.

"Whoosh!"

Cold Yu Divine General's figure exploded, swiftly escaping into the abyss.

The Divine General entwined with thunder serpents, however, failed to escape in time and was swallowed in one bite by Lu Ya.

"Elder, did that mean they captured one of the Five Abyss Thunder God Department's Divine Generals?" Zhao Xing asked in shock.

"That depends," Bowei said. "If this Divine General came with his entire primordial spirit, then he has been completely killed."

"If not, then it cannot be considered a true death."

"At the Divine General level, primordial spirits are immense and can exist across multiple space-times."

"For example, there is a Lu Ya here. Because he carries the strongest divine spirit and possesses the greatest divine power, he is regarded as the main body."

"There is also a Lu Ya in the 341st era before the Desolate Territory. His power is merely somewhat weaker, so he is regarded as a Divine Power Incarnation."

"Losing one does not count as true death. It merely means losing primordial spirit and divine power."

"However, the Divine General swallowed by Lu Ya had the aura of a peak Divine General. Even if he did not bring over his entire primordial spirit, he should have brought ninety percent of it."

"After being swallowed by Lu Ya, even if he does not die, his realm will fall. He will need a very long time to recover, perhaps he may never return to his former realm."

Zhao Xing understood. It was like when Penglai Divine General departed: all his divine essence had returned to one body, so that counted as complete death.

"True Gods who attain the Dao through Heaven and Earth are different," Bowei explained. "If a True God acted, their methods could affect every version of you across endless space-times."

"If that True God who attained the Dao through Heaven and Earth were a time-type, destiny-type, or history-type True God, it would be even more terrifying. They would be extremely difficult to guard against. Kill one, and it would end everything."

Just then, the Qu Ru Divine Duck atop the mountain let out an enraged cry. "Quack!!!!"

The next moment, its enormous body vanished, drilling into the River of Time.

"Lu Ya, don't pursue—"

Yan Ao had just begun to say not to pursue, but Lu Ya had already disappeared.

His expression darkened. The upper and lower halves of his body surrounded Zhao Xing from front and back.

One half of his remaining body looked at Zhao Xing. "Why didn't you come out to save him just now?"

Zhao Xing knew Yan Ao was not asking him, but Bowei within his Inner World.

Bowei had long prepared an excuse. "His Inner World was sealed during that struggle. I could not come out."

Yan Ao fell silent for a moment, then transmitted his voice again. "Bowei, do not lead yourself astray."

He strongly suspected that Bowei harbored other intentions and had not wanted to act.

"If you do not believe me, there is no way for me to prove it." After Bowei coldly said that, he did not respond again.

Yan Ao wanted to say more, but another Divine General of Bai Feng Pavilion arrived after Lu Ya.

"It is Ruo Xi Divine General of Bai Feng Pavilion. She is a physician god," Bowei reminded Zhao Xing within the Inner World. "You will have to suffer a little later."

Zhao Xing smiled bitterly inwardly, because this Ruo Xi Divine General was the Moon God Palace Master's arranged second assassination attempt.

After intercepting Zhao Xing, Ruo Xi Divine General would flee and use the opportunity to infiltrate an Evil God faction.

"Yanwu God, what happened? Why are you injured?!" Ruo Xi Divine General arrived carrying a medical cabinet on her back, her beautiful face filled with surprise.

"Divine General Xu Feng betrayed us," Yan Ao said grimly. "He contacted the Evil Gods of the Five Abyss Thunder God Department and opened Annihilation Pass."

"What?" Ruo Xi Divine General was greatly shocked.

That was not an act. The script given to her by the Moon God Palace Master had not included this information.

She only knew she was to intercept Zhao Xing, not that Xufeng Divine General was a traitor.

"Zhao Xing, are you alright?" Ruo Xi Divine General asked.

"Reporting to Ruo Xi Divine General, I am unharmed."

"Yanwu God, you were injured by God-Fiend Yin Thunder and must be treated immediately. Let me heal you." Ruo Xi Divine General removed the medical cabinet from her hand and drew eight silver needles.

Yan Ao had not wanted to treat his injuries now, but he was already under the influence of the Moon God Palace Master's Preaching Book and Realm Repairing Brush.

Thus, his thoughts changed as well:

There could not possibly be another traitor in Bai Feng Pavilion. It should be safe now.

Ruo Xi Divine General began treating Yan Ao.

"Puff chirp, puff meow~~"

Eight silver needles danced up and down as countless halos emerged, stitching Yan Ao's lifeline back together. The tangled karma and chaotic origin within him were also sorted out one by one.

Yan Ao had just wanted to thank her when he discovered that the Calamity-Fire Divine Light around him was rapidly drawing inward.

The Seven-Star Treasure Saber slipped free and fell toward the ground below.

Yan Ao's divine body stiffened and slowly drifted away from Zhao Xing's side.

By then, his divine body's injuries had improved greatly compared to before. However, his body had been taken over by the eight divine needles of Ruo Xi Divine General. Even his divinity had been sealed, leaving him lying within his own divine palace.

After being betrayed twice in succession by his own people, disappointment and confusion flashed through Yan Ao's eyes.

"W-why—" Yan Ao forced out a few words with great difficulty.

He could not understand it. He and Ruo Xi Divine General could be considered friends, so why had she betrayed him as well?

"Who wouldn't want to go up Ten Directions Mountain?"

"I'm sorry, Yanwu God."

"Y-you'll regret this." Yan Ao's body trembled as flames continuously rose from his Golden Body. He tried to struggle.

Ruo Xi Divine General remained expressionless. With a gentle wave of her hand, Yan Ao was embedded directly into Moonpei Mountain.

"Hah!"

To make the act more convincing, Zhao Xing had already activated the Nine Marsh God.

Nine Heavenly Change Divine Needles pierced into his body, and his body began its Hou Transformation.

"Heavenly Change Divine Needles? You actually have such fine things." Ruo Xi Divine General was somewhat surprised.

"But don't you know that they are divine needles for physicians?"

"In front of me, the God of Physicians, you actually dare use Heavenly Change Divine Needles!"

Ruo Xi Divine General attacked again. Two streams of black light scattered forth and swiftly enveloped Zhao Xing.

"Aah—"

Zhao Xing let out a miserable cry.

Ruo Xi Divine General's gaze sharpened. The Moon God Palace Master had told her to strike with all her strength, and she had obeyed. But had she truly injured Zhao Xing?

However, Ruo Xi Divine General soon realized that she had overthought it.

Two beams of divine light pierced through the black light. They were so fast that Ruo Xi Divine General did not even have time to react before she was crushed into powder.

The mission is complete— Ruo Xi Divine General thought before she shattered.

The instant Ruo Xi Divine General vanished, Yan Ao regained control of his divine body.

He rushed to Zhao Xing's side, but he could not get close to the writhing black light wrapped around Zhao Xing.

"Bowei, what happened to him?!" Yan Ao roared inwardly. "Speak!"

"He's not dead." Within the Inner World, Bowei lay leisurely on a wicker chair as he replied.

Yan Ao wanted to ask more, but two more figures appeared at that moment.

They were none other than the Demon Race divine generals, Huan Li and Yuanming.

"Yan Ao, what happened?!"

"Stop! Don't come any closer!"

Yan Ao gripped the Seven-Star Treasure Saber once more, and his divine power had already begun to burn.

Yan Ao felt that everything happening today was terribly wrong, yet he could not say exactly what was wrong.

Divine General Xu Feng, who guarded Heavenwind Annihilation Pass, had been a traitor. Ruo Xi Divine General, whom he had known for years, had also been a traitor. He no longer dared trust anyone.

At that moment, Yan Ao's heart contained nothing but fury!

"Yan Ao, what do you mean by this? Why are you pointing your saber at us?!" Huan Li rebuked him furiously.

"Yanwu God, put down the saber," Yuanming Divine General said as well. "What exactly happened?"

Yan Ao remained silent, merely keeping Huan Li and Yuanming in his sights.

Fifteen more divine generals arrived one after another. They were all shocked and questioned him, but Yan Ao did not say a word.

It was only when a Little Yellow Duck landed on his shoulder that Yan Ao finally relaxed.

Lu Ya glanced at Yan Ao's injuries, then at Zhao Xing, whose fate remained unknown within the writhing black light. His eyes turned red.

"Quack!"

The piercing cry made the space around Moonpei Mountain extremely unstable.

The cry carried fury, but more than that, self-blame.

"Yan Ao, it's all because I was too greedy." Tears glimmered in Lu Ya's eyes. "I let you all get hurt."

"Lu Ya, this isn't the time for self-blame. Something still feels wrong. Let's return to Bai Feng Pavilion first." Yan Ao had calmed down by then.

Someone had to stay calm.

"Alright." Lu Ya flapped his wings and reached his claws into the black light, trying to pull Zhao Xing out.

At that moment, Bowei came online again.

"Yan Ao, Lu Ya, you cannot touch Zhao Xing right now. This black light is a powerful Origin Poison, a Devouring Origin Entity among Origin Poisons."

"If you forcibly pull Zhao Xing out of the area enclosed by the Devouring Origin Entity, you will inflict secondary damage on him. Even if you reverse time and space, you won't be able to save him."

"Quack quack quack quack!!!!" Lu Ya grew even more furious, but he still listened to Bowei.

Because he could also sense that moving Zhao Xing would cause his death.

At that moment, Zhao Xing's life force had become faint, like a candle flame in the wind.

The Little Yellow Duck stopped. "Bowei, you're the God of Scholars. You know everything. How can we save him? Tell me quickly!"

"Whatever treasure we need, I'll go steal it!"

Bowei said, "Saving him actually isn't difficult. A divine general in Bai Feng Pavilion has a talent divine skill that can save him."

The Little Yellow Duck tilted his head and looked toward the arrogant demon divine general, Huan Li, in the distance.

Within Bai Feng Pavilion, Huan Li Palace.

Lu Ya and Yan Ao stood below the hall, while Huan Li sat high upon the throne, leisurely drinking wine.

"Lu Ya, Yan Ao."

"Zhao Xing is the one you two were assigned to protect. It isn't my responsibility."

"He is Yan Ao's clansman, not mine."

"Hmph. You want me to expend divine essence to save someone based on nothing but words. Why should I?"

"I won't save him. I won't."

Huanli Divine General waved his hand.

Lu Ya immediately gritted his teeth. However, remembering that he was asking someone for help, he held himself back.

Yan Ao said in a deep voice, "Huanli Divine General, may I ask what you want—"

Huan Li interrupted him with a laugh. "My father is a God King. There is no treasure I lack. It isn't impossible for me to save him."

"However, you may not interfere with my treatment."

"No, I have to watch from the side!" Lu Ya shouted.

"No? Then please seek someone else's help." Huan Li said coldly.

"You—" Lu Ya was about to curse, but Yan Ao stopped him.

"Fine. Please act, Huanli Divine General."

Anyone could betray them, but Huanli Divine General could not possibly betray them. He lacked nothing, and there was practically nothing in this world that could tempt him.

Inside the writhing black-light Devouring Origin Entity on Moonpei Mountain, a snow-white little beast shaped like a Celestial Horse, with a seven-colored horn atop its head, burrowed inside.

After Huan Li entered, he saw Bowei standing beside Zhao Xing.

"Huanli Divine General." Bowei cupped his hands.

"You must be Bowei. I've heard of you." Huan Li put away his arrogant expression, his eyes filled with curiosity. "It's my first time seeing the God of Scholars."

"I heard that scholars are similar to our Primal Chaos Azure Glass Divine Clan and are subject to cosmic shackles. How exactly did you break free from them?"

"To this day, I can only undergo two transformations. I can't reach God King level, much less Dao Master level. I have barely grasped one and a half Origin Daos, and even those are restricted to a specific time and space..."

"Huanli Divine General, give me a drop of your blood essence. If I gain anything from my future research, I will tell you immediately," Bowei said. "But for now, completing the Palace Master's instructions is more urgent."

"Oh, right." Huanli Divine General nodded, then gently blew at Zhao Xing.

"Whoosh~"

Zhao Xing's true spirit was blown out first.

"...There are actually so many of them."

Huanli Divine General looked at Zhao Xing's true spirits. Due to the poison, Zhao Xing's soul body had scattered once again and no longer merged into one. Wrapped in the Devouring Origin Entity virus, they looked like two hundred black bubbles piled together.

"However, this is no challenge for me!"

"Inhale!"

The seven-colored horn atop Huan Li's head shone. He puckered his lips, and halos emerged from Zhao Xing's soul spirits.

The Devouring Origin Entity virus was immediately swallowed by Huan Li.

Zhao Xing also regained consciousness.

"Damn, did you have to hit that hard—? Uh, who is this?"

"This is Huanli Divine General," Bowei said.

"Senior Huanli, my apologies for not recognizing you." Zhao Xing hurriedly saluted him.

"Haha, kid, your act earlier was pretty convincing. It really looked convincing," Huan Li praised. "You nearly made me genuinely angry."

"...Thank you for the praise, Senior Huanli." Zhao Xing did not know what else to say.

"There isn't much time." Huan Li suddenly put on a serious expression again. "Zhao Xing, karma lies not in one's heart, but in one's actions."

"I need to learn some of the contents of the Ten Directions Mountain Scripture from your true spirit."

"Condense a thought yourself, and show me only the unimportant parts."

Zhao Xing thought for a moment, then quickly drew out a strand of thought from his ear.

The Ten Directions Mountain Scripture mainly contained two methods.

The first was the Ten Directions Mountain Opening Spell, and the second was the Spirit Mountain Image Fixing Spell.

What Zhao Xing gave him now was the Spirit Mountain Image Fixing Spell. This technique could identify opportunities while traveling on Ten Directions Mountain and fix the essence of mountains in place.

Its importance was second only to the Ten Directions Mountain Opening Spell.

"Don't worry. Once I see it, only I will know. This is your Heaven and Earth Attainment Method. If you attain the Dao someday, you may come find me to settle this karma," Huan Li transmitted.

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded.

Huan Li then left.

Zhao Xing was awake. Under Huan Li's talent divine skill, he quickly recovered completely.

However, after regaining consciousness, Zhao Xing became taciturn.

Even when Lu Ya and Yan Ao came to visit, his mood remained rather low.

After they questioned him several times, Zhao Xing finally "couldn't hold it in anymore" and erupted.

"Senior Yan, Senior Lu! What is all this supposed to mean?!"

"I came to Moonpei Mountain, and suddenly two divine generals from our own side tried to assassinate me. It even drew out Evil Gods."

"I was seriously injured for no reason, then saved for no reason."

"The Ten Directions Mountain Scripture is my Heaven and Earth Attainment Method. Now, it... it was seen by Huan Li!"

Zhao Xing looked grief-stricken and indignant, as though he had finally erupted after suppressing his resentment for too long.

"What? Huan Li actually dared to do that?!" The Little Yellow Duck's feathers instantly stood on end. "Quack!!!"

"I'm going to find him!"

Yan Ao's expression darkened. He had long heard that Huan Li was interested in Zhao Xing's Ten Directions Mountain Scripture. He had not expected Huan Li to truly take advantage of this opportunity to kick him while he was down.

"Lu Ya, don't act rashly." Yan Ao grabbed Lu Ya, then comforted Zhao Xing. "Zhao Xing, I will report this matter to the Great Emperor and inform the Palace Master as well. The Demon God Hall will definitely give us an explanation."

Zhao Xing smiled miserably. "Senior Yan, what status does Huanli Divine General have? Can we truly get that explanation?"

"Zhao Xing, you have to believe—"

"That's enough, Seniors." Zhao Xing's attitude turned cold. "I have just recovered from a severe illness and need rest. Please leave first."

Yan Ao fell silent for a moment, sighed inwardly, and left Zhao Xing's residence with Lu Ya.

"Zhao Xing harbors resentment now."

"It's all my fault. I failed to protect him." The Little Yellow Duck lowered his head. "If I had eaten less back then, none of this would have happened."

"You can't be blamed." Yan Ao's eyes were somewhat lost. "No one could have imagined that such a thing would happen at Bai Feng Pavilion in Azure God Land in the year 525."

In another time and space, the Five Abyss Thunder God Department.

"Buzz~"

The five divine generals returned together, appearing within the Divine Temple of Heavenly Ji Thunder Mother.

With a single glance, Heavenly Ji Thunder Mother knew that the operation had failed.

Not only that, one of the divine generals had even fallen in realm and was now only at Divine Soldier peak level.

"Leng Yu, Yu Xiao, what happened? Could it be that Divine General Xu Feng went back on his word?" Heavenly Ji Thunder Mother's expression was gloomy.

"No, an accident occurred on Yan Ao's side." Yu Xiao began to review the course of events.

Within Divine Machine City, atop the Bell Mountain Throne, the Boundless True God suddenly awoke.

He discovered that red hairs had suddenly begun growing wildly from his arm. Seven of them were roughly equally thick.

However, one of them far surpassed the others in growth speed, becoming extremely long in the blink of an eye.

Just as the Boundless True God wanted to inspect it, he discovered that this red hair had actually broken and was about to disappear.

"Hmm? There is karma even I cannot take on?"

"Freeze!"

The Boundless True God froze time and space, immediately grabbing that red hair.

A snow-white Celestial Horse with a seven-colored horn appeared upon it, drawing a thought out of Zhao Xing's true spirit.

"The Primal Chaos Azure Glass Divine Clan, Huan Li?" The Boundless True God frowned. "What is he doing?"

Since Huan Li and Zhao Xing were originally in the same camp, the Boundless True God did not forcibly take on that karma. After observing the scene through the karma, he allowed it to break.

Only then did the Boundless True God examine the other seven.

Five belonged to the five divine generals of the Five Abyss Thunder God Department, while another belonged to Ruo Xi Divine General.

"What? Xu Feng betrayed them and brought five Evil God divine generals to raid Zhao Xing?!"

"Ruo Xi Divine General had actually betrayed us."

"This is bad. Could Huan Li be taking advantage of the chaos to seize Zhao Xing's Dao?!"

The Boundless True God was enraged.

"Useless. A bunch of useless Evil Gods from the Wilderness Era, and they couldn't even keep Zhao Xing safe."

"Immeasurable Time and space, karma is predetermined!"

The Boundless True God immediately grasped the six Karma Threads.

"As for the consequences of the traitors and the Five Abyss Thunder Department, I will avenge him myself."

Seven Boundless True Gods appeared within the clock tower. They took different Karma Threads from the true body, then began walking through multiple time-spaces.

Deep within the Five Mounds White Jade Ship, Zhao Xing arrived at the Boundless True God Hall, burned incense, and prayed.

"Disciple Zhao Xing invites the Divine Venerable to reveal himself!"

This time, after only one recitation, the statue reacted.

Before Zhao Xing could speak, the Boundless True God took the initiative to ask:

"Zhao Xing, were you ambushed?"

Zhao Xing was stunned. He had not expected the Boundless True God to learn of it so quickly.

"Yes, Divine Venerable."

So Zhao Xing recounted the course of events, including how part of his Ten Directions Mountain Scripture had been snatched away by Huanli Divine General, who had taken advantage of his plight.

"Such is the vile nature of Evil Gods! Especially Demon Gods." The Boundless True God snorted coldly. "Yan Ao and Lu Ya—I had thought they were at least worth something, but I never expected them to be so contemptible."

Zhao Xing shook his head somewhat dejectedly. "I did not expect it either."

The Boundless True God said, "Zhao Xing, after suffering such injustice, you must have seen the true faces of the Evil Gods clearly."

"Come to my Divine Machine City. Otherwise, who knows how many more times you will suffer things like this."

"Unless you still harbor illusions about them."

Zhao Xing shook his head. "Of course I will not remain stubbornly deluded. I simply do not know how to leave."

The Boundless True God smiled. "That is easy to handle."

Year 526, spring.

Zhao Xing went to Heavenwind Annihilation Pass and activated the Zu Emperor Dynasty.

Yan Ao and Lu Ya, who accompanied him, sensed a qualitative change in Zhao Xing's origin.

At the same time, three Divine Tribulations descended one after another.

Lu Ya and Yan Ao sighed at the depth of Zhao Xing's foundation. Even by merely choosing the path of the Earthly Advantage Institute to become a Free God, he could pass three Divine Tribulations in succession and reach the Divine Weapon Peak.

Lu Ya and Yan Ao had wanted to offer congratulations, but the residual might of the Divine Tribulations remained, preventing them from approaching.

Yet Zhao Xing made a move at that moment.

He threw three historical void divine artifacts out of the Divine Tribulation's range and tossed them to Yan Ao.

Yan Ao looked at the three divine artifacts that had appeared at his feet, and his expression turned exceedingly grim.

"Zhao Xing, you—"

"Senior Yan, there is no need to say more." Zhao Xing said calmly, "I will remember in my heart the favor you and Senior Lu Ya showed in protecting my Dao. But for the road ahead, I want to walk it alone."

Having said that, he gave neither Lu Ya nor Yan Ao a chance to speak.

He then threw out a divine statue.

The divine statue transformed into a clock face. Heaven and earth suddenly froze, and a Solar Yang seemed to fall upon Annihilation Pass.

Yan Ao was frozen, but Lu Ya could still move. He shrieked:

"Zhao Xing, you're going with the Immeasurable Evil God? Do you know what you're doing?!" Lu Ya shrieked. "You are not allowed to leave!"

The Boundless True God watched Lu Ya transform and soar into the air, then lightly pointed with a finger.

Lu Ya was immediately forced back to his original position.

His wings beat as he surged upstream, yet the whole world seemed to be dragging him backward.

Although Lu Ya kept drawing closer, he ultimately could not wrest Zhao Xing back from the Boundless True God's hands.

"Caw—"

All light contracted into a single point, becoming a black dot that disappeared. Lu Ya lunged at empty air, leaving only a grief-stricken, furious cry echoing through the heavens.

Divine Machine City, Boundless True God Palace.

Zhao Xing's vision blurred. Then he saw a throne piled high with countless clocks and watches, as well as the majestic figure seated upon it.

He seemed close enough to touch, yet impossibly distant.

"Your subordinate greets the Divine Venerable!" Zhao Xing immediately came to his senses. He had arrived in the Boundless True God's domain.

The Boundless True God wore a dharma robe patterned with platinum-gold stripes. Upon seeing Zhao Xing appear, a faint smile surfaced at the corner of his lips.

"Zhao Xing, look who this is."

The Boundless True God lightly flicked his index finger, and a door suddenly appeared beside Bell Mountain.

Then another Boundless True God appeared, escorting a silver-haired man carrying a long spear on his back.

"This is—Divine General Xu Feng?"

Zhao Xing was somewhat dumbfounded. He remembered this man all too well.

"Across endless time-space, he only has this one divine body left."

"I have already exterminated all the rest."

The Boundless True God said calmly.

"Now that you have become a god, I will leave this karma between him and you for you to settle personally."

Zhao Xing's pupils contracted. Divine General Xu Feng was a spear god capable of injuring Yan Ao!

After fleeing, he would surely have hidden himself completely. Yet the Boundless True God had actually exterminated him until only one remained?

Zhao Xing could not help but inwardly exclaim, That is incredible!

The Boundless True God was very satisfied with Zhao Xing's expression. Rising with a smile, he said, "This is merely one of the gifts I have prepared for your first meeting."