Pangu's Heaven-Opening Axe!
That was a terrifying existence capable of tearing apart the Heavenly Dao.
Even though his cultivation had broken through, he absolutely could not withstand a single strike from the Heaven-Opening Axe.
"There's no need to rush. Once I attain Hunyuan, I'll naturally settle the karmic debt with Qing Tian."
He thought bitterly.
Buzz, buzz, buzz...
The entire Immortal Slaying Sword Formation trembled. Boundless sword qi rampaged wildly, attacking friend and foe alike.
Luohu's expression turned ugly. Taking advantage of the World-Ending Black Lotus to hide himself, he hurriedly left the formation.
With the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation combined with the power of the Heaven-Opening Axe, even the Twelfth-grade World-Ending Black Lotus could not withstand it!
The instant he withdrew, Qing Tian let out a loud laugh. The World-Destroying Millstone beneath him suddenly began to tremble and spin wildly, radiating a terrifying gravitational force that firmly pinned down the four Immortal Swords.
With a wave of his hand, he tossed out the Taiji Diagram. It flew up and enveloped the entire formation. The Heaven-Opening Axe stood beside him, so he had no fear of being injured by the sword formation.
"Luohu, from the moment you left the formation, this Innate Killing Formation was destined to belong to me."
Qing Tian's laughter rang out, causing Luohu's expression outside the formation to change drastically.
"Not good!"
He was horrified. The Immortal Slaying Sword Formation was his greatest trump card and an important bargaining chip for killing Hongjun in the future. It absolutely could not be lost!
However, with the Taiji Diagram enveloping the formation, no matter how shocking Luohu's methods were, it was difficult for him to break in.
Besides, given his strength, what would it matter even if he entered? He would only be throwing his life away for nothing.
Through their previous exchange, Luohu already knew that Qing Tian's strength far surpassed his own.
Leaving aside everything else, just the three Innate Supreme Treasures—the Taiji Diagram, the World-Destroying Millstone, and the Heaven-Opening Axe—were enough to make one's scalp tingle.*
Within the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, Qing Tian calmly approached the four Immortal Swords.
He could clearly sense that the four Immortal Swords shared the same origin as the Pangu Axe, and they also emitted a familiar aura toward him.
In other words, if he wished, he could completely claim the Four Immortal Slaying Swords for himself.
"The Immortal Slaying Sword Formation is known as the Primordial Wilderness' number-one killing formation. Its power is extraordinary."
He pondered inwardly as his spirit divided into four strands and entered the Immortal Slaying Swords.
Rumble!
The Immortal Swords trembled. Luohu's imprint surfaced within them, radiating an inky-black light and boundless baleful qi as it tried to block Qing Tian's spirit.
However, Qing Tian ignored it completely. With a tremor of the Pangu Axe, streams of origin qi rose from the Immortal Swords, unexpectedly rejecting Luohu in unison.
This sight gave Luohu outside the formation an urge to vomit blood.
Wuwuwu...
Just then, winds rose and clouds surged. The Immortal Slaying Sword Formation changed once more. The boundless baleful qi completely dispersed, and the dark clouds vanished in an instant. The surface of the Eastern Sea returned to normal.
In the void, Qing Tian gazed calmly at him and said indifferently, "Luohu, do you still wish to continue fighting?"
Luohu's gaze sharpened. Staring at Qing Tian, he slowly said, "Dao Venerable Qing Tian's strength is profound and mysterious. This Ancestor admires you and admits defeat. However, the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation is my lifebound supreme treasure, and it absolutely cannot be lost. I ask that the Dao Venerable return it. Luohu will be endlessly grateful."
Although he knew that the possibility of reclaiming the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation was practically zero, Luohu still wanted to try.
After all, without the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, he would be like a toothless tiger, and his strength would be greatly diminished.
Qing Tian's expression remained indifferent as he smiled. "What does the Demon Ancestor mean by that? The Immortal Slaying Sword Formation took the initiative to recognize me as its master. I can't help it. You want me to return it to you, but what if it refuses?"
Upon hearing this, Luohu's expression abruptly changed. His voice turned icy. "Very well. Since that's the case, don't blame this Ancestor for being discourteous. The karma between us will eventually be settled today."
He knew that the situation was bad.
Without the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, he was certainly no match for Qing Tian. He had to leave first, then return to the Western World and slowly make plans to ensure a foolproof strategy.
If he truly angered Qing Tian and they fought, he might really be trapped here. That would be disastrous.
"You want to leave?"
Qing Tian shook his head. Before Luohu could act, he raised his hand and tossed out the four sword lights. They shot into the heavens, transforming into an ancient killing formation that trapped Luohu within.
Luohu's expression changed drastically. He stared solemnly at Qing Tian, gripping the God-Slaying Spear tightly. The World-Ending Black Lotus appeared, black qi swirling around his entire body and enveloping him firmly. He shouted sternly, "Dao Venerable Qing Tian, what exactly do you want? Do you intend to fight me to the death?"
As Innate Demon Gods, each one possessed a trump card. Even without the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, Luohu still had absolute confidence that he could preserve his life. Otherwise, he would not have remained here earlier.
"What an imposing display."
Qing Tian sneered. Astral winds howled above the firmament, and the sword qi transformed into a tornado that pressed down toward Luohu.
Terrifying power spread out, filled with the baleful qi of the primordial chaos, shaking the hearts and minds of all who sensed it.
Luohu was greatly alarmed. He had not expected Qing Tian to truly dare to attack. He could not help roaring, "Qing Tian, how dare you! Are you not afraid that I'll sever the Western World's earth veins and destroy this Wild Continent?"
He had ruled the Western World for countless years, and with Mount Sumeru as his foundation, his aura had long been connected to the Western World's earth veins. If he truly disregarded all consequences, it was entirely possible for him to sever them.
Of course, the price would be Luohu's own death, leaving him with absolutely no chance of survival.
Qing Tian knew Luohu's methods. According to the legends of the Primordial Wilderness, Luohu had competed with Hongjun for the Saint Position. After his defeat, he detonated the Western World's spiritual veins, turning the West into a barren and frigid land.
Feeling Luohu suppressed by the Immortal Slaying Sword qi, Qing Tian remained calm and composed, without the slightest panic.
Detonating the earth veins was a last resort, much like a nuclear weapon. Its deterrent effect was greater than its actual use.
Unless he was forced into a dead end, Luohu would absolutely not do such a thing.
"Luohu, submit to me and you can avoid death. Otherwise, even if you are an Innate Demon God with world-shaking abilities, you will not escape today's deadly tribulation!"
Qing Tian's cold voice resounded and echoed through the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, striking directly at Luohu's heart.
Killing Luohu was certainly possible. In the current situation, killing him would be as easy as reaching into a bag.
But doing so offered little benefit. Rather than killing him outright, it would be better to bring him under his command.
Luohu's strength was extraordinary. He was an ancient Chaos Demon God from before the Primordial Wilderness had formed, making him the perfect weapon against Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao.
Qing Tian understood his own situation very clearly.
Even if he attained Hunyuan, it would still be impossible for him to destroy the Heavenly Dao. He had to find another way to resolve the Heavenly Dao of the Primordial Wilderness.
As the Heavenly Dao Spokesperson and its chief lackey, Hongjun was clearly a figure who had to be killed.
Luohu and Hongjun were mortal enemies. If he cultivated Luohu and had him kill Ancestor Hongjun, would that not be perfect?
It was precisely because of these considerations that Qing Tian had not suppressed Luohu directly.*
As for detonating the Western World's earth veins...
To be honest, this posed no threat to Qing Tian whatsoever.
"Hahaha... Submit? Dao Venerable Qing Tian, have you gone mad? This Ancestor is a Chaos Demon God who once fought Pangu, a figure who battled the heavens and earth. What methods do you have that make you think you can force me to submit?"
Upon hearing this, Luohu burst into loud laughter. The God-Slaying Spear in his hand trembled, sending out hundreds of millions of blood-colored lights. They transformed into tadpole-like characters that continuously revolved around the void, unexpectedly propping up the sword qi of the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation.
At the same time, the World-Ending Black Lotus beneath him trembled. Thousands upon thousands of streams of black qi surged out and transformed into a gigantic lotus platform. It erupted with immeasurable radiance and faintly showed signs of breaking through the formation.
Luohu was an Innate Demon God after all, while Qing Tian had not yet attained Hunyuan and found it difficult to unleash the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation's true power.
Moreover, Luohu had once been the formation's master. He understood its many transformations and knew where its weakest points were.
"It won't be that easy."
Qing Tian spoke indifferently. He raised his hand and pressed down fiercely. The World-Destroying Millstone trembled, scattering all the light of the World-Ending Black Lotus. Even the God-Slaying Spear trembled incessantly, unable to withstand this force.
"Luohu, don't remain stubborn. Submit to me and you can still live. In the future, you may even have a chance to attain Hunyuan. If you persist in your obstinacy, be careful that I don't turn you into dust with a flip of my hand, making your billions of years of cultivation vanish into thin air."
Qing Tian's cold voice rang out, filled with boundless killing intent and causing Luohu's heart to turn cold.
In the Western World, atop Mount Sumeru.
Billions of demons boiled over at once, each one terrified and uneasy.
The many demon generals under Luohu's command changed expressions one after another and soared into the air.
Across the Western lands, the ground split open continuously. Earth dragons rolled about, bursting straight through the crust and carrying a destructive aura as they completely surrounded Mount Sumeru.
For a time, the entire Primordial Wilderness shook. Everyone turned their gazes toward the Western World, afraid that something major had happened.
Atop Kunlun Mountain, Ancestor Hongjun's gaze grew solemn. His figure vanished in an instant as he headed straight for the West.
He was the Heavenly Dao's predestined spokesperson and the destined Sage, bearing the duty of protecting the Primordial Wilderness. Naturally, he could not stand by and watch something happen to the Primordial Wilderness.
Over the Eastern Sea, Qing Tian also sensed the changes in the West, and his expression shifted slightly.
He had not expected Luohu to truly possess the courage to bring about mutual destruction!
"Dao Venerable Qing Tian, don't force me into a fight to the death. I know your strength defies the heavens. Even if the Western World collapses, it won't harm you in the slightest. But this matter began because of you. If the Western World is destroyed, you will inevitably incur enormous karma with heaven and earth. Nothing short of your death and the destruction of your cultivation will be enough to repay it!"
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