Ren Xiaoyao's fingertips were still lingering with the Creation Aftermath, and he had not yet recovered from the tremors of the sublimation of power.
Suddenly, a bone-chilling cold burst forth from the Depths of Chaos, and the pitch-black void was torn apart like an old piece of cloth, with a foul wind carrying a putrid stench.
The aura was mixed with millions of years of decay, as if it were the condensed resentment accumulated in the Abyss of Nine Nether, and every breath felt like tearing at the lungs.
The Evil Aura permeating the air even caused the newly formed Heaven and Earth Laws to begin to distort and deform.
Eerie Black Vortex flashed intermittently in the space, swallowing up all the surrounding light.
Under the Erosion of Aura, the newly formed star gradually dimmed, and spiderweb-like cracks appeared on its surface, as if it would collapse at any moment.
On those Life-Nurturing Planets, the vegetation on the surface withered at a visible rate, and the newly hatched elves cried out in despair, dissipating into dust before they could even see the world clearly.
A massive black shadow, carrying Destructive Aura, burst forth, its three blood-red vertical pupils glowing with an eerie purple light, like three ghostly lamps hanging in the Netherworld.
Black Venom dripped from the Three-Eyed Demon Dragon's serrated fangs, causing the space to collapse inch by inch wherever it touched, turning into Light-Devouring Vortex.
The Demon Dragon's enormous body blotted out half the sky, its scales covered with Twisted Runes, each scale resembling a gateway to hell.
The runes shimmered with a dark red glow, as if they were chanting Ancient Evil Incantations.
Its long tail swept across, instantly disrupting the Star Trails. Countless meteorites derailed and crashed into the Newborn Continent, trailing burning flames.
The roar of the meteorite hitting the ground resounded throughout the heavens and earth, and the dust and smoke blotted out the sun. The newly formed mountains and rivers began to crack under this force, and the earth groaned in pain.
In some places, mountains were shattered by meteorites, turning into countless fragments of rock.
Some Plains were smashed into huge, bottomless craters, from which black smoke continuously billowed.
The forest struck by the fire burst into flames, the trees twisting into bizarre shapes and emitting mournful howls, as if the earth itself were lamenting.
The burning tree canopy collapsed with a roar, crushing the fleeing Spiritual Beasts. The charred corpse still bore the expression of fear, and blood seeped into the soil, staining the earth dark red.
"Not good!" Ren Xiaoyao's pupils shrank sharply, and he instinctively held the Chaos Axe horizontally in front of his chest.
The Demon Dragon's claws Sky-Rending Strike, slamming into the axe blade with the force to split mountains and cleave seas. A terrifying shockwave spread outwards from the point of impact, turning the newly formed mountains and rivers within Fang Yuan miles into dust.
The moment the claws collided with the Chaos Axe, dazzling sparks erupted, and space itself was like a shattered mirror, revealing countless fine cracks.
The Purple-Black Dragon Breath spewed from the Demon Dragon's mouth contained the power to Corroding Heavenly Dao Laws. The Body's Protective Divine Light Ren Xiaoyao hissed under the erosion of the Dragon Breath, and spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the surface of his skin.
The protective divine light flickered continuously, attempting to resist the erosion of the Dragon Breath, but it appeared so fragile in the face of this evil power.
Wherever the Dragon Breath touched, All Things in Heaven and Earth withered and decayed rapidly. The once clear river instantly turned as black as ink, and the creatures in the river died in painful struggles, their corpses floating on the surface, emitting a nauseating stench.
Even the soil on the shore began to crack, and black moss grew, spreading continuously, leaving no trace of life wherever it went.
Boneless, withered hands emerged from the mud on both sides of the riverbank; these were the Souls Twisted by Dark Power. They futilely clawed at the air, emitting low, whimpering howls.
Ren Xiaoyao endured the excruciating pain and attempted to Operated the Chaos Bead's Power to fight back, only to discover that mysterious runes shot out from the Demon Dragon's third vertical pupil, like an invisible shackle, tightly locking his meridians.
The runes shimmered with an eerie light, seeping into his body through his skin. With each inch they penetrated deeper, he felt his power diminish.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Demon Dragon bit down on his shoulder, its white fangs instantly piercing through his shoulder blade. Dark Power surged wildly into the wound, scorching his consciousness.
The excruciating pain nearly made Ren Xiaoyao lose consciousness. In his sea of consciousness, the phantom images of his Four Great Avatars also began to blur, as if they would dissipate at any moment.
His mind was filled with terrifying visions, Evil Thoughts from the depths of darkness, trying to destroy his will.
He saw countless distorted faces appear before him, emitting piercing laughter, as if he were in an endless Dark Abyss, bound by countless tentacles, tightening their grip ever tighter.
A sinister whisper came from the darkness, tempting him to drop his resistance and join the ranks of the dark, promising him unparalleled power. But in the moment he wavered, a sharp bone spur pierced his heart, bringing him back to his senses in agony.
"Pfft!" Ren Xiaoyao spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with Golden Blood, and his consciousness began to blur.
Golden Blood dripped onto the ground, corroding deep, bottomless Black Hole, demonstrating the immense power contained within it.
The Demon Dragon, emboldened by its advantage, slammed its massive claw down on his skull once more.
At the critical moment, Ren Xiaoyao Forcibly Gathered the Last Trace of Chaos Qi and condensed Space Teleportation Array beneath his feet.
The Demon Dragon's claws grazed his scalp, tearing away large clumps of black hair and even leaving a deep bloody gash on his forehead.
The teleportation array's light was somewhat dim under the Demon Dragon's attack, but it was still working hard to teleport Ren Xiaoyao to a safe place.
The Array Patterns flickered under the attack, and some parts even began to crack, as if it would stop operating at any moment.
As the Demon Dragon's claws grazed his scalp, Ren Xiaoyao smelled the burning of his hair, a result of the Hell Karmic Fire attached to the Demon Dragon. The intense pain in his scalp almost made him faint, but his survival instinct kept the teleportation array running.
The Space Teleportation Array array shone brightly, Ren Xiaoyao's figure gradually disappeared amidst the Demon Dragon's furious roar.
The Demon Dragon crashed into the teleportation array, unleashing a deafening roar. Wherever the sound waves passed, the newly formed Seven-Colored Rainbow Bridge shattered, and scattered fragments of light fell into the sea, creating towering waves.
The seawater was stained black by the Dragon Breath, and countless strange, dead creatures floated on the surface. Their corpses began to rot and decompose the moment they came into contact with the Dragon Breath.
The Demon Dragon surveyed the ravaged battlefield, its three vertical pupils flashing with hatred, before tearing through the void and disappearing into the depths of darkness.
The black mist it left behind swirled in the air, lingering and constantly encroaching on the surrounding space.
The black mist seemed to have a life of its own, constantly spreading and diffusing. Wherever it went, the space became more unstable, and small Space Cracks appeared from time to time.
Green venom seeped from the cracks, dripping onto the ground with a sizzling, corrosive sound, forming smoky, toxic pits.
Where the venom flows, Deformed Black Plants grow. Their vines are covered with sharp thorns and will actively attack any creature that comes near. Once the thorns pierce a creature's body, they inject Black Liquid that quickly transforms the creature into its own kind.
Meanwhile, cultivators in Other Planes who felt the aftershocks of the great battle all changed color.
As they gazed at the Eerie Runes remaining in the sky, an ominous premonition welled up within them.
Some cultivators were in seclusion trying to break through their cultivation barriers when they were struck by this power and went into a state of demonic possession. Their bodies became twisted and deformed under the impact of the powerful force, and they eventually exploded and died.
Some practitioners were sparring with their companions when this sudden fluctuation caused them to accidentally injure each other, turning the originally harmonious scene into chaos in an instant.
In an instant, chaos descended upon all dimensions.
Strange celestial phenomena appeared in the skies of some planes, with dark clouds gathering and lightning flashing, as if foreshadowing an even greater disaster to come.
In one dimension, blood-red rain suddenly fell from the sky, corroding everything on the earth, turning trees and buildings to ashes.
In another dimension, the earth began to tremble violently, countless volcanoes erupted, and lava surged like rivers, turning everything in its path into Sea of Fire.
In a Plane Known for Ice and Snow, blood-red raindrops fell, causing glaciers to melt. Floods mixed with blood submerged villages on the ice plains. Villagers struggled in the floodwaters, only to be dragged to the bottom by Black Tentacles emerging from the water.
In a world filled with desert, Erupted Lava fused with sand, forming Flowing Glass-like Substance eternally sealed away cultivators attempting to escape.
Meanwhile, the Severely Injured Ren Xiaoyao has fallen into an unfamiliar Star Realms.
This Star Realms was shrouded in gray mist, and the stars were dim and lifeless, as if shrouded in a layer of haze.
His clothes were soaked with blood, and the Chaos Bead's Light dimmed. Before losing consciousness, only one thought remained in his mind: this War Against Darkness is far from over...
His body plummeted rapidly through the Star Realms, the surrounding Gray Mist constantly seeping into his wounds, worsening his injuries.
The moment the mist touched the wound, it felt as if countless tiny insects were gnawing at his flesh, and the pain caused him to convulse even in his unconscious state.
During the fall, Ren Xiaoyao's consciousness wavered between Reality and Illusion. He saw the world he once protected collapse in the darkness, and his trusted companions fall in pools of blood. These illusions were like sharp blades, piercing his heart time and time again, but they also made his beliefs even stronger.
After an unknown amount of time, Ren Xiaoyao awoke in excruciating pain.
He struggled to sit up and found himself lying on a Barren Planet.
The surrounding area was filled with dark red rocks, the ground was covered with strange patterns, and the air was filled with a pungent smell.
He tried to circulate the power within his body, but found his meridians in chaos, with Dark Power clinging to him like a maggot, constantly eroding his life force.
Although the Chaos Bead was still slowly rotating, its light had become very dim, as if it were also resisting the Dark Power.
Every time he circulated his power, he felt as if countless needles were pricking his meridians, a pain that was almost unbearable.
His vision was blurry; he could only see the distorted scenery around him. The rocks seemed to be constantly writhing, and the pungent smell in the air made him nauseous, almost causing him to vomit.
As he struggled to climb toward the water source not far away, he discovered that the so-called water source was just a pool of foul-smelling Black Slime, with the remains of unknown creatures floating in it. He then realized that here, even the most basic survival had become a luxury.
Ren Xiaoyao struggled to his feet, but nearly fell again due to a wave of dizziness.
He looked up at the sky and found that the sky over this Star Realms was an eerie purple, with black lightning flashing across it from time to time.
Just then, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura— the Evil Aura emanating from the Demon Dragon.
He was startled and looked around warily.
His heart pounded uncontrollably, and he gripped the Chaos Axe tightly, ready to face any Potential Danger.
His palms were sweaty, his hand gripping the axe handle trembled slightly, and his throat was parched, yet he dared not relax for a moment.
His gaze swept across the surrounding rocks, noticing they were covered in strange symbols. Against the backdrop of the purple sky, the symbols gleamed eerily, as if recording the tragic end of some Ancient Civilization. This made him even more vigilant, knowing that he was in a place fraught with unknown dangers.
A figure slowly emerged from behind a mountain peak not far away.
It was a Black Robed Man, his face hidden under a hood, making it impossible to see his features. However, judging from the aura emanating from him, he had a close connection with the Demon Dragon.
" Ren Xiaoyao, I didn't expect you to still be alive." The Black Robed Man's voice was icy, as if it came from the Nine Nether Hell.
His voice echoed across the Barren Planet, sending chills down one's spine.
As his voice rang out, the surrounding air seemed to freeze instantly, the temperature plummeted, and a thin layer of frost formed on the ground.
With each step the Black Robed Man took, a black footprint appeared beneath his feet, from which Black Liquid seeped, corroding the ground and creating deep pits. The chill in the air seemed to freeze Ren Xiaoyao's wounds, making the pain even more acute.
Ren Xiaoyao gripped the Chaos Axe tightly. Though his body was weak, his eyes remained resolute. "Who are you? What is your relationship with that Demon Dragon?"
His voice was slightly hoarse, but still full of authority.
He struggled to stand upright, not allowing himself to show the slightest weakness, even though every movement was accompanied by intense pain.
He mobilized the last of his strength, condensing a faint light on his body in an attempt to conceal his weakness, but he knew that it was futile against this powerful enemy.
The Black Robed Man let out a sinister laugh, "Who I am is unimportant. What matters is that you ruined our plans. That Three-Eyed Demon Dragon was merely our vanguard; the True Dark Power is about to descend. You think you can protect this world by yourself? You're dreaming!"
As he spoke, the dark aura emanating from him intensified, and the surrounding air grew even colder.
His black robe fluttered without wind in the darkness, Faint Black Mist seeped from it, forming eerie patterns on the ground.
Behind the Black Robed Man, a Giant Black Phantom gradually emerged. The phantom's outline resembled a giant demon, its gaping maw seemingly ready to devour the entire planet. This made Ren Xiaoyao realize that the opponent's strength far exceeded his expectations.
Ren Xiaoyao snorted coldly, "No matter what your schemes are, I will not let you succeed. Even if it costs me my last bit of strength, I will completely drive out the darkness!"
His words were filled with firmness and determination, as if he were declaring his beliefs to the whole world.
An indomitable flame burned in his eyes, and the Chaos Axe glowed faintly in his hand, seemingly responding to his will.
He recalled the Hardships Along the Way, and the comrades who had sacrificed themselves to protect the light. These memories, like a burning flame, filled his heart with strength.
The Black Robed Man shook his head. "You're courting death. But in your current state, what can you possibly use to fight us? Look at yourself, your meridians are all severed, your power is almost gone, and the Chaos Bead is about to lose its luster."
As he spoke, a ball of Black Flames appeared in the Black Robed Man's hand, from which came the wails of countless vengeful spirits. "This is the Power from the Abyss. Let me show you what it tastes like!"
The Black Flames flickered incessantly, and within them, one could vaguely make out faces contorted in agony, emitting pitiful cries.
The heat emanating from the flames was suffocating; wherever they went, the rocks on the ground began to melt, emitting thick black smoke.
Within the Black Flames, the faces of the vengeful spirits constantly shifted, some transforming into people familiar to Ren Xiaoyao. They wept blood and tears, pointing fingers at Ren Xiaoyao's incompetence and attempting to mentally break him.
The Black Robed Man waved his arm, and Black Flames swept towards Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao gritted his teeth and Swung the Chaos Axe with all his might, barely managing to condense a faint light on the blade.
The light collided with the Black Flames, unleashing a massive energy surge.
Ren Xiaoyao was forced back by the force, spitting out blood again.
His body, impacted by the immense force, left a long gash on the ground, followed by a trail of blood behind him.
His steps faltered, each step backward was extremely difficult, as if a thousand-pound weight was pressing down on him, and blood kept flowing from the corner of his mouth, dripping onto the ground and instantly being evaporated by the Black Flames.
Under the impact of the flames, Ren Xiaoyao's hair was singed and his skin was burned. He could feel his life rapidly slipping away, but he still gripped the Chaos Axe tightly and refused to give up.
Just when Ren Xiaoyao was about to give up, the Phantoms of the Four Great Avatars in his sea of consciousness suddenly shone brightly.
Nuwa's Light of Compassion transformed into a barrier, standing in front of Ren Xiaoyao and temporarily blocking the Black Flames.
The Pangu's Sky-Opening Axe Phantom Split Out an Axe Ray, slashing towards the Black Robed Man.
Fuxi's Eight Trigrams Phantom Evolved into a Defensive Grand Array, protecting Ren Xiaoyao.
The Shennong's Hundred Herbs Phantom exuded Power of Life, slowly repairing Ren Xiaoyao's Damaged Meridians.
The Four Great Avatars worked together to form a powerful defensive line, temporarily halting the Black Robed Man's attack.
Nuwa's Light of Compassion Was Gentle and Warm, contrasting sharply with the evil of the Black Flames.
Pangu's Axe Ray with the power to World Creation and the earth, Sky-Rending Strike.
Fuxi's Eight Trigrams Array Diagram shimmered with a mysterious light, neutralizing the attacks one by one.
Within Shennong's Hundred Herbs Phantom, various spiritual herbs grew, emitting Healing Aura that seeped into Ren Xiaoyao's meridians.
Under the Healing from Shennong's Hundred Herbs Phantom, Ren Xiaoyao's wounds began to heal, but he knew that this was only temporary and the real crisis was yet to be resolved.
The Black Robed Man was slightly surprised upon seeing this. "I didn't expect you to have such methods. However, this doesn't change anything!"
As he spoke, he formed a hand seal and chanted incantations.
The purple hue in the sky grew even more intense, and countless black tentacles stretched out from the void, reaching out to grab Ren Xiaoyao.
The Black Tentacles were covered with sharp spikes and constantly secreted black mucus, corroding large pits in the ground wherever they went.
Tentacles waved in the air, making a "whoosh" sound, and slime dripped onto the ground, raising plumes of poisonous smoke and filling the air with a nauseating odor.
The spikes on the Black Tentacles gleamed with an eerie light. As they approached Ren Xiaoyao, he could feel a powerful suction force, as if trying to pull his soul out of his body, which made him even more cautious.
Ren Xiaoyao knew that this was a Battle of Life and Death.
He took a deep breath and forcefully activated the Chaos Bead, fusing the power of his Four Great Avatars with his own.
The Chaos Bead shone brightly, dispelling the surrounding darkness.
He raised the Chaos Axe and roared, " The Heavenly Dao is Immortal, my My Heart is Eternal!"
Dazzling Light erupted from the axe blade as it slashed towards the Black Robed Man and the Black Tentacles...
His voice resounded throughout the entire planet, as if an Invisible Power was inspiring him.
As his voice rang out, the surrounding space seemed to resonate. The Chaos Bead's Light and the light of the Chaos Axe complemented each other, forming a powerful beam of light that shot straight into the sky.
The instant the beam of light formed, Ancient Heavenly Dao Runes appeared around Ren Xiaoyao's body. These runes shimmered with light, infusing his attack with immense power. However, he could also sense that this was his last strength, and success or failure hinged on this moment.
The battle unfolded fiercely on this Barren Planet, and the clash of power between Ren Xiaoyao and the Black Robed Man caused the entire planet to tremble.
The distant mountains began to collapse, huge cracks appeared in the ground, and magma gushed out from the cracks.
Hot lava flowed across the ground, melting the surrounding rocks, and the air was thick with the smell of sulfur.
Meanwhile, in some corner of the universe, the Three-Eyed Demon Dragon Was Watching, its three vertical pupils gleaming with excitement, seemingly anticipating Ren Xiaoyao's demise and the ultimate victory of the Dark Power.
It would occasionally let out a low roar, the Sound Resonated in the Universe, as if cheering on the Black Robed Man.
The Demon Dragon's roar shook the entire Star Realms, and the surrounding stars seemed to tremble at the sound.
In the aftershocks of the fierce battle, the planet seemed to be torn apart, its once-hard rocks beginning to crumble and shatter. These fragments were thrown into space at astonishing speeds, forming a belt of debris that encircled the planet.
At the same time, magma inside the planet erupted under immense pressure, flowing onto the ground. This scalding magma quickly Converged into a Huge Lava Lake, its waters churning and bubbling, radiating intense heat. The entire lava lake resembled a boiling hell, inspiring awe and fear.
Although Ren Xiaoyao temporarily withstood the Black Robed Man's attack with the help of his Four Great Avatars and the Chaos Bead, he could feel his power rapidly draining away.
The Black Robed Man's strength far exceeded his expectations, and he seemed to have an even more powerful force supporting him.
With each attack, the Black Robed Man could draw upon Dark Power from the void, seemingly inexhaustible.