The light from Ren Xiaoyao 'Divine Stone clashed violently with the aura of the shadowy figure. The ground beneath his feet was like Glazed Ice being pounded by thousands of heavy hammers at the same time, with spiderweb-like cracks spreading radially at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The Dark Heavenly Emperor's claws tore through the void as he arrived, twisting the air into all-consuming vortexes in his wake. His Dark Robe Hem were shredded into countless fragments, which were crushed into dust in the distorted space before they even hit the ground.
The foul-smelling venom splashed against the rock face like corrosive rain, and the rising white smoke carried a pungent sulfur smell. In an instant, the hard rock melted into boiling black slurry, and the gushing liquid carved out hideous ravines in the ground.
The wailing sounds coming from the depths of the ravine seemed to be distorted by some force, sharp and shrill. The ear-piercing sound of fingernails scratching the rock wall mixed with the sound of bones grinding, as if countless creatures trapped underground were trying to break free of their restraints. Those sounds drilled into Ren Xiaoyao's ears, making his temples throb.
Each wail was like a rusty, blunt knife, repeatedly sawing at his nerves. His eardrums felt as if they were about to be torn apart by the sound waves at any moment. He could even feel warm blood seeping from his nasal cavity, mixed with the smell of rust. The fishy, sweet, and pungent smell surged in his mouth, causing his stomach to spasm.
The metallic taste of blood rising in his throat grew stronger and stronger. He endured the discomfort, biting his lower lip until blood seeped out. The salty blood mingled with the metallic taste in his mouth, making him almost vomit. It felt as if his internal organs were shifting under the pressure of the Dark Heavenly Emperor's power, and even breathing became a torture that tore his chest apart.
"How dare you, a mere ant, covet the Divine Stone?" The Dark Heavenly Emperor's voice carried the chill of the ancient abyss. As the sound waves reverberated, fine beads of blood seeped from Ren Xiaoyao's eardrums, his nasal cavity instantly filled with the taste of rust, and a sweet taste rose in his throat, almost causing him to vomit blood.
The black mist surged like a living thing, condensing into hundreds of chains wrapped with Dark Purple Runes. The ends of the chains were sharp like scorpion tails, and they wrapped around his neck with a sharp whistling sound.
As the runes flickered, Ren Xiaoyao seemed to see countless wronged souls wailing and struggling in the chains. Each chain seemed to have its own independent consciousness as it twisted wildly, and familiar faces vaguely emerged among them—they were his fellow disciples whom he had met on his Cultivation Path but who had unfortunately perished.
Black Blood Tears seeped from those hollow eye sockets, and black blood foam overflowing from the corners of their mouths left eerie marks on the chains, which even condensed into tiny crystals, making a teeth-grinding grinding sound as the chains swayed.
He could even see the frozen look of terror on his fellow disciples' lips, and the lingering resentment and despair in their eyes. That gaze was like a sharp sword, piercing straight into his heart, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
In a daze, he seemed to hear his fellow disciples calling his name in weak voices from within the chains, filled with endless grievances and longing, their voices accompanied by the rattling of the chains, like a death knell.
The sounds grew clearer and clearer, as if echoing right beside his ears, causing his heart to clench and his eyes to well up with tears again. Tears mixed with blood slid down his cheeks, congealing into drops of blood on his chin before falling to the ground.
Every drop of blood that fell to the ground exploded into tiny vortexes within the poisonous miasma, as if even the earth itself was mourning this tragic reunion.
Ren Xiaoyao bit his tongue, and the sweet and pungent blood splattered onto his palm. Using the blood as a guide, the Chaos Spiritual Energy formed a flowing shield of lightning around his body.
The chains struck the shield, sparking blinding flashes of light, and the sharp, grating sound of metal scraping against metal was like thousands of blades scraping against an iron plate at the same time.
Where lightning and black mist intertwined, space twisted and collapsed continuously, forming fleeting Miniature Black Hole. From within these Black Hole came a humming sound of spacetime distortion, mixed with a low, sinister laugh.
Ren Xiaoyao gazed at the glowing fragments at the edge of the Altar. Under the operation of the formation, they emitted an eerie, dark blue light, pulsating rhythmically like a heart, continuously supplying power to the Dark Heavenly Emperor.
As the pulsation continued, ancient sacrificial patterns emerged on the surface of the fragment. Countless tiny human figures were swallowed up within these patterns, waving their arms in vain. The faint light emanating from their bodies gradually dimmed, turning into wisps of black smoke that merged into the fragment. Meanwhile, a distorted human face appeared on the surface of the fragment, opening its blood-red maw and emitting a silent scream.
The faces of those people were contorted with pain and despair. Ren Xiaoyao could even feel their fear as they were being devoured, which made the anger in his heart erupt like a volcano.
He saw that one of the faces was that of his childhood playmate, whose desperate eyes seemed to be blaming him for not coming to save him sooner. The stinging pain overwhelmed his reason like a tidal wave, and tears flowed uncontrollably, mixing with the bloodstains on his face.
His hands trembled slightly with rage, his nails digging deep into his palms, blood dripping from between his fingers. He secretly vowed to make the Dark Heavenly Emperor pay the price.
Blood beads seeping from between the fingers fell to the ground, and upon contact with the poisonous miasma, they instantly emitted wisps of smoke, rapidly corroding away without leaving a trace, vanishing silently like the lives of those sacrificed.
"So that's how it is..." A resolute glint flashed in Ren Xiaoyao's eyes.
He crushed the last Concealment Talisman at his waist, and the talisman transformed into thousands of Silver Light that entered his skin, instantly merging his figure with the void.
The Dark Heavenly Emperor's furious roar caused the poisonous miasma to surge violently, and two scarlet beams of light shot out from his Blood Moon -like eyes, shattering space inch by inch where they were illuminated, revealing pitch-black Space-Time Rift.
The black mist swept over the Altar like a surging tide, turning the air in its wake black. The suspended luminous fragments began to dim under the erosion of the black mist, while the ancient sacrificial patterns became clearer, as if they were thirsting for fresh offerings.
The void where Ren Xiaoyao was hiding was constantly compressed, and he felt a stinging pain on his skin. He could even see the hairs on his body standing on end under the powerful pressure.
Every breath became incredibly difficult, as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping his throat, and if he wasn't careful, he would be completely crushed by this force.
He could feel the surrounding void crumbling little by little. The power of the Concealment Talisman was like a candle flickering in the wind under the pressure of the Dark Heavenly Emperor, and it could be extinguished at any moment. His heartbeat became more and more rapid as the pressure intensified, and his chest felt as if it was about to burst from the pressure.
He held his breath, trying to remain calm, focusing all his attention on every change in his surroundings, afraid that the slightest mistake would reveal his whereabouts.
The sound of his own heart pounding like a drum echoed in his ears, mingling with the distant roar of the Dark Heavenly Emperor, creating a strange rhythm in this suffocating space.
He could even hear the roar of his blood surging through his veins, a sound that resonated eerily with the Dark Heavenly Emperor's roar, as if the entire world was trembling over this life-or-death struggle.
Ren Xiaoyao held his breath and used the Concealment Talisman to circle around to the back of the Altar.
The Divine Stone in the center of the platform emitted a mysterious silver-white light, within which an ancient Star Map could be faintly seen flowing, and each starlight pierced his eyes like a sharp blade.
The Dark Heavenly Emperor's power surged like a raging tide, each attack causing the ground to tremble violently. The Totems carvings on the edge of the Altar even emitted a low groan amidst the tremors, and the eyes of the Phoenix Totems suddenly lit up with a ghostly green light, glancing in Ren Xiaoyao's direction as if warning of the impending danger.
As the Phoenix Totems watched, the black mist on the Altar condensed into dozens of giant pythons, which slithered toward his hiding place, cracking the ground wherever they passed and seeping out Black Slime.
The giant pythons were covered in dark purple runes, and their tongues flickered, emitting a nauseating stench. The slime dripped onto the ground, instantly corroding deep, bottomless pits. Ren Xiaoyao could feel that his concealed state was being threatened by the danger that was closing in step by step.
He could even hear the rustling sound of the python's scales rubbing together, each sound like the footsteps of Death God. Cold sweat streamed down his back, soaking his clothes, and the wound on his back burned with pain from the cold sweat.
His body was tense, his muscles twitching slightly from the intense tension, and he gripped his sword even tighter, ready to deal with any potential crisis.
As the giant python flicked its tongue and slithered past him, brushing against the void where he was hiding, he could even see the dark purple mist swirling on its tongue, within which countless wronged souls seemed to be twisting and struggling.
The faces of those wronged souls appeared and disappeared in the mist, each bearing a despairing expression similar to his fellow disciples, as if they were accusing the Dark Heavenly Emperor of his tyranny.
Just as the Dark Heavenly Emperor was drawn to the afterimage created by Ren Xiaoyao's spiritual power, he rushed toward the stone platform like a ghost.
The instant the fingertip touched the Divine Stone, a Soul-Tearing pain exploded from the point of contact. Dark lines spread wildly along the arm, shattering the meridians wherever they passed, and the crisp sound of bones breaking beneath the skin could be heard.
Ancient runes emerged from the surface of the Divine Stone, forming chains that bound his arms. The runes burned his skin, emitting the smell of burning flesh.
Amidst the excruciating pain, images flashed through Ren Xiaoyao's mind: the former prosperity of the Martial Arts Continent, how the Dark Heavenly Emperor fell from Guardians to tyrant, and the true origin of the Divine Stone —it turned out to be the final shackle that suppressed the Dark Heavenly Emperor.
In the scene, the Dark Heavenly Emperor throws thousands of cultivators into the Sacrificial Formation. The screams of those cultivators intertwine with the hum of the Divine Stone, creating a despairing elegy.
He witnessed the once-prosperous city reduced to ruins under the rule of the Dark Heavenly Emperor, with countless people displaced and families torn apart. These scenes struck his heart like heavy blows, strengthening his resolve to fight against the Dark Heavenly Emperor.
He felt as if he had personally experienced those tragic moments and felt the despair and helplessness of the people. This grief and indignation transformed into a powerful force that supported him in enduring the excruciating pain caused by the Divine Stone. Even though the skin on his arm had been burned beyond recognition by the runes, he did not let go of the Divine Stone.
He gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, and beads of sweat rolling down his face, yet he still gripped the Divine Stone tightly, with only one belief in his heart: he must take the Divine Stone away and change everything.
The excruciating pain made his vision blur and his consciousness begin to fade, but with his unwavering determination, he used his other hand to pinch his thigh hard, using the sharp pain to keep him going.
His consciousness wandered in pain, and in a daze, he saw scenes of cultivating together with his fellow disciples. Those warm scenes contrasted sharply with the Purgatory before him, further strengthening his determination to resist.
"Trying to steal the Divine Stone? Wishful thinking!" The Dark Heavenly Emperor's giant fist, carrying the World-Ending Pressure, crashed down. Before the fist even arrived, the ground was already crushed into a huge crater, and the surrounding space began to distort and deform, forming countless inverted vortexes.
At the critical moment, Ren Xiaoyao mobilized all his Chaos Spiritual Energy, forming a spiritual power vortex within his body to forcibly suppress the Divine Stone.
The moment the Storage Bag absorbed the Divine Stone, he unleashed the Lightning Wings. As the wings unfolded, a deafening thunderclap erupted, and Purple Lightning cascaded down like Milky Way, illuminating the entire Poisonous Miasma Abyss.
Amidst the lightning, a phantom resembling the Dark Heavenly Emperor could be vaguely seen emerging on the surface of the Divine Stone. The phantom opened its blood-red maw, spewing out black mist that echoed the power of the Dark Heavenly Emperor.
The array on the Altar began to go out of control, with glowing fragments exploding continuously. The eerie blue light that burst forth scattered like meteors, and one of the fragments grazed Ren Xiaoyao's cheek, leaving a deep wound that exposed bone.
Blood streamed down his cheek, the stinging pain bringing him to his senses. He knew he had no way out and had to escape with the Divine Stone.
The excruciating pain from his wound nearly made him faint, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stay upright, with only one thought in his mind: to escape, for the sake of those living beings persecuted by the Dark Heavenly Emperor.
His vision blurred with pain, but he still flew resolutely deeper into the poisonous miasma.
His body trembled in excruciating pain, each flap of his wings seeming like an immense torment, yet his eyes grew ever more resolute, filled with a yearning for freedom and justice.
The splattered blood droplets traced eerie arcs in the lightning, exploding into plumes of black smoke as they landed in the poisonous miasma.
It was as if countless eyes were watching him from within the smoke, filled with fear, anticipation, and above all, hatred for the Dark Heavenly Emperor. This hatred became the driving force for his progress, supporting him to continue flying through the desperate situation.
Amidst the Dark Heavenly Emperor's furious roar, Ren Xiaoyao shot into the depths of the poisonous miasma like an arrow released from a bow.
Where the Lightning Wings swept across, long purple streaks of light were drawn through the space. The hurricanes generated by the flapping wings dispersed the poisonous miasma, revealing the terrifying creatures lurking within.
Startled, the giant beasts launched attacks on the Dark Heavenly Emperor. The enormous venomous python spewed corrosive venom, and the pterosaur breathed out Purple Flames, buying Ren Xiaoyao precious time to escape.
However, Ren Xiaoyao noticed the dark purple light flashing in the eyes of those giant beasts—they were deliberately spraying venom and flames along his escape route. One of the giant beasts, which resembled a centipede, even swung out hundreds of long legs covered with sharp spikes, weaving an impenetrable net on the ground.
Ren Xiaoyao manipulated the Lightning Wings to suddenly rise higher, the tips of the wings grazing the giant beast's tentacles and sending Mars flying.
Each time he dodged an attack, he felt exhausted, but he dared not slacken his efforts in the slightest, because he knew that if he was not careful, the Dark Heavenly Emperor would catch up with him.
His physical strength was rapidly depleting, and his spiritual energy was about to run out. Every flap of his wings felt like he was enduring immense pain, but he still gritted his teeth and persevered, traversing the poisonous miasma in search of a way out.
His breathing became rapid and heavy, each breath feeling like it was tearing at the wounds in his lungs, while the poisonous gas in the miasma continued to erode his body, blurring his vision.
His consciousness gradually blurred amidst pain and exhaustion, but with unwavering willpower, he repeatedly adjusted his direction to evade the enemy's attacks, always firmly believing that as long as he persisted, he would surely find a glimmer of hope.
As a pterosaur's flames grazed his back, he smelled the burning of his hair and felt a burning pain on his back.
The searing pain reminded him of the warmth of being protected by his fellow disciples when he was a child, but now he had to face this endless darkness alone. This memory strengthened his belief in living, and even if he was covered in wounds, he would fight for justice.
Ren Xiaoyao traversed the poisonous miasma, constantly changing direction using the speed of his Lightning Wings.
The Dark Heavenly Emperor's attack grazed his body, creating a huge crater in the ground.
Suddenly, a strange plant in the poisonous miasma stretched out its vines and wrapped them around his ankle. The surface of the vines was covered with sharp thorns, and the moment they pierced his skin, a numbing sensation spread along his meridians, and half of his body instantly lost sensation.
Ren Xiaoyao swung his sword and severed the vines. Wherever his blood dripped, the ground quickly crystallized, and Star Map patterns similar to those on the Divine Stone appeared on the surface of the crystals.
As he fled, the crystals continued to grow, forming Dao Crystal barriers, but these barriers were shattered by the Dark Heavenly Emperor's attack as soon as they took shape.
He could sense that the Dark Heavenly Emperor's power was constantly increasing, and his own situation was becoming more and more dangerous; every breath he took might be his last.
His body was covered in wounds, many of which were still bleeding, but his eyes remained firm as he gripped the hilt of his sword, struggling tenaciously in the treacherous miasma.
His clothes were soaked in blood, clinging to his body, cold and heavy, while the light of his Lightning Wings dimmed with each attack, as if it might be extinguished at any moment.
His body shivered in the cold wind, and the pain from his wounds made it almost impossible for him to stand. But he still dragged his heavy body forward, his belief burning like a flame, supporting him through this desperate situation.
When one of the Dark Heavenly Emperor's attacks grazed his scalp, the hair on his head instantly vaporized, and a burnt smell filled the air.
The acrid smell mixed with the stench of poisonous miasma seemed like a harbinger of death, but he turned this smell into motivation. With each step he took, he silently recited the names of the creatures harmed by the Dark Heavenly Emperor, vowing to seek justice for them.
" Ren Xiaoyao, you can't escape! The Divine Stone will eventually return to my hands!" The Dark Heavenly Emperor's roar shook the poisonous miasma, causing the entire space to twist into a huge vortex.
Ren Xiaoyao used his last bit of strength to finally find the ancient cave hidden deep in the poisonous miasma.
The cave entrance was covered with fluorescent vines, with pale golden liquid flowing between them. The air was filled with a rich Spiritual Qi, but Ren Xiaoyao keenly noticed that the vines trembled slightly when he approached, and the tips of the vines secreted a transparent viscous liquid that dripped onto the ground and corroded deep pits.
He gripped his sword tightly and cautiously entered the cave, where he found ancient skeletons scattered on the ground. The skeletons were covered with patterns similar to those on the Divine Stone. Even more strangely, the ten fingers of each skeleton were deeply embedded between their eyebrows.
These skeletons seemed to be telling the story of the tragedy that had happened here. Ren Xiaoyao felt a sense of foreboding, but he knew that he had nowhere to retreat and could only look for a way to fight against the Dark Heavenly Emperor here.
He vigilantly observed his surroundings, every subtle movement making him tense, gripping his sword even tighter, ready to deal with any Potential Danger at any moment.
His heartbeat was exceptionally clear in the silent cave, and the chill emanating from its depths made him shiver.
He moved slowly, each step filled with caution, his eyes fixed on his surroundings, his ears listening intently to every subtle sound, afraid of missing any sign of danger.
As he passed a skeleton, he suddenly noticed a faint, eerie light flashing in the skeleton's eye sockets, which instantly made his hair stand on end and his hand holding the sword tremble slightly.
The eerie light seemed to be the gaze of the dead, carrying endless sorrow and warning. He knew that the secret hidden in this cave might be the key to his fight against the Dark Heavenly Emperor, or it might be the end of his life, but he had no choice but to forge ahead.
Ren Xiaoyao collapsed to the ground, his body covered in wounds, his clothes soaked with blood.
The Divine Stone Storage Bag vibrated incessantly, and wisps of black mist seeped from the bag's opening, attempting to break free from its restraints.
He struggled to sit up, gazing at the Stalactite on the cave ceiling, Stalactite, nourished by Spiritual Qi, took on the shape of Star Map.
A drop of stalactite water fell precisely into the puddle formed on the ground, and Ren Xiaoyao saw his current appearance: his pupils shimmered with the light of Divine Stone, his hair was streaked with silver, and his skin was covered with black patterns, as if they were marks branded by the power of the Dark Heavenly Emperor.
The Dark Heavenly Emperor's threat still echoed in his ears, but Ren Xiaoyao clenched his fists, his eyes burning with an indomitable fighting spirit.
He took a deep breath and began to circulate his Cultivation Method. The Spiritual Qi in the cave gathered into streams of light that swirled around him, and the vibrations of the Divine Stone gradually became regular. The mysterious patterns that appeared on its surface began to resonate with his spiritual power, faintly revealing ancient chanting sounds, as if telling of an ancient Secret Method to fight against the Dark Heavenly Emperor.
Each syllable sounded like a call from ancient times. Ren Xiaoyao concentrated, trying to find the key to fighting the Dark Heavenly Emperor from this mysterious chanting. He knew that this would be the key to whether he could survive this life-or-death struggle and ultimately defeat the Dark Heavenly Emperor.
He closed his eyes, immersing himself completely in the mysterious chanting, feeling the flow of spiritual energy within his body, and attempting to Divine Stone. In this ancient cave, a cultivation concerning life, death, and redemption quietly began.
Outside the cave, the Dark Heavenly Emperor's roar still echoed through the poisonous miasma. Searching for his traces, an even greater crisis seemed to be brewing.
The roars outside the cave were like thunderclaps, constantly crashing against the cave walls and causing rubble to fall from the ceiling. Ren Xiaoyao, however, remained unmoved. He was immersed in his own world, diligently exploring the mysteries of the Divine Stone, preparing to face the even more severe challenges to come. As he circulated his Cultivation Method, the light of the Divine Stone gradually merged with the Spiritual Qi in the cave, forming a faint protective shield around him, while the black mist in his Storage Bag began to be slowly suppressed.
But from the depths of the cave, a mysterious sound emanated, seemingly foreshadowing a greater crisis lurking beneath the surface of tranquility. The sound was like countless chains being dragged, or the deep roar of a giant beast, echoing through the cave with a damp resonance.