East King Duke took a step forward, and a vast, surging aura of imperial power burst from his body.
In an instant, the world stopped. All matter, tangible and intangible, froze solid, becoming a palpable pressure that bore down on Di Jun and Taiyi.
The Heavenly Emperor Seal shimmered with Great Dao Laws. It held the purest power, embodying East King Duke's Dao and techniques—the manifestation of his Dao Fruit.
Without another word, the three clashed.
The Eastern Emperor Bell rang out with thunderous booms. It seemed to be attacking with all its might, yet it also seemed as though its laws were shattering beneath the blows.
The Heavenly Emperor Seal seemed to contain an entire world. With each shift and movement, an overwhelming force came crashing down. Its supreme might made the Primordial World groan in pain, shattering the void for millions upon millions of miles until they reached Chaos.
Yet even after they left the Primordial World, the scattered shockwaves still left all living beings trembling with fear.
"Donghua!"
Ripples appeared in West Queen Mother's beautiful eyes. She gazed into Chaos with worry. East King Duke's might was peerless, and his hands had manifested the Heavenly Emperor Fist, suppressing Di Jun and Taiyi.
But he still couldn't defeat them completely. If the fight dragged on, he would likely begin to lose ground.
"East King Duke!!!"
As the Eastern Emperor Bell was sent plunging billions of miles into the depths of the void by another punch from East King Duke, anger and killing intent twisted across Taiyi's face. A furious roar powerful enough to destroy a small world burst from his lips.
"East King Duke, I truly miscalculated this time. I never imagined that, besides an Innate Supreme Treasure, you would also possess such a powerful divine ability."
Di Jun was far calmer than Taiyi, but blood stained the corner of his mouth, and a fist mark radiating overwhelming power marred his chest.
"But your cultivation is only barely at the Great Luo level. In the end, you've already lost this battle!"
"My elder brother is right. Until you reach Quasi-Saint, no matter how strong you are, you're still an ant. Once we grind away your Origin Source, we'll pull out your soul and burn it on the Sun Star for tens of millions of years! Hahahaha!"
The Three Pure Ones, who had been watching closely, heard Di Jun's words but made no comment.
They were Quasi-Saints themselves and naturally understood its wonders. The greatest advantage was that they could survive all tribulations and never perish, completely transcending the River of Time and Space.
Compared with the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, which merely gathered its timelines and stepped out of the River of Time and Space, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.
"East King Duke is about to lose."
Taishang shook his head and sighed.
Through the black hole in the sky, the other living beings saw what was happening and felt despair on East King Duke's behalf.
How could a Great Luo Golden Immortal fight a Quasi-Saint?
"I'm going to lose? What a joke."
East King Duke sent the two flying with another punch. The Heavenly Emperor Seal hovered above his head, shielding him as it radiated countless rays of golden light, bathing the dark Chaos in gold.
"Anyone can boast! What else can you do?"
Taiyi's arrogant laughter rang out as he charged from the depths of Chaos, raising the Eastern Emperor Bell and swinging it straight at East King Duke.
Di Jun was also setting up a formation. The River Diagram and Luo Book spun wildly, transforming Chaos Qi into power he could wield.
"It's simple. I'll just become a Quasi-Saint!"
East King Duke's gaze remained calm. Taiyi's attack stopped three feet from him, blocked by the divine light cascading from the Heavenly Emperor Seal.
After the Eastern Emperor Bell struck, a deep, distant chime rang out, annihilating all matter in Chaos. The souls of all living beings froze for an instant, but when the chime reached East King Duke, it only stirred faint ripples in his protective light.
"Hahahaha! Become a Quasi-Saint? What a joke!"
"Who do you think you are? You're only a mid-stage Great Luo Golden Immortal, yet you dare claim you can reach Quasi-Saint in the middle of a battle against us!"
Di Jun and Taiyi burst into laughter. To them, East King Duke was merely struggling in his death throes.
But in the next moment—
Their smiles froze, and a chill rose in their hearts.
All living beings stood rooted to the spot, unable to believe what they were seeing.
"I offer the Heavenly Emperor's Auspiciousness as a sacrifice and summon the River of Time and Space! Future Self, come forth!"
East King Duke resolutely summoned the Auspicious Golden Wheel. Dao flames rose, igniting his vast Auspiciousness. His hands formed a seal, and a terrifying aura that shook the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths swept forth from the void.
The Heavenly Emperor Seal shone across the myriad Daos. Footsteps resonating with the Great Dao's rhythm sounded from the distant reaches of time.
At Hongjun's first lecture on the Dao, the system had helped East King Duke comprehend the Great Dao of Faith.
Naturally, the second lecture hadn't disappointed him either.
Though Hongjun had taught the Method of Three Corpses this time, East King Duke had gained a secret technique from it.
The Three-Life Body!
The Past Self, the Present Self, and the Future Self.
Each incarnation had its own distinct qualities.
The Future Self was especially remarkable. As long as one was willing to expend enough Auspiciousness, even a Future Self at the Saint realm could be summoned.
The Heavenly Emperor's Auspiciousness burned at a visible rate. A figure emerged, treading upon the myriad Daos, majestic and dignified, wearing an imperial crown and bearing an imposing air.
"This poor Daoist, East King Duke, greets fellow Daoist."
The aura of a Quasi-Saint spread from the Future Self, making the void tremble.
Watching someone identical to him bow in greeting, East King Duke felt a strange sensation rise within him.
"Fellow Daoist, I'll leave this to you!"
East King Duke nodded. He gripped the Heavenly Emperor Seal, suppressing the Auspiciousness as it rapidly dissipated.
"Very well!"
The Future Self smiled and nodded. But as soon as he turned his gaze to Di Jun and Taiyi, it turned icy cold.
"Die!"
The Future Self's gaze was indifferent. The Heavenly Emperor spoke with the authority of Heaven, as though exercising the supreme power of the Heavenly Dao, leaving others unable to summon even the slightest will to resist.
The Sky Measuring Ruler became a razor-sharp sword beam, powerful enough to pierce a small world with ease.
As soon as the words left his mouth, the sword beam seemed to cut through time itself. In an instant, it was upon them.
"No!"
Taiyi roared and tried to charge forward, but the moment he began to move, he froze in place.
Then his body split in two. Even the Eastern Emperor Bell failed to react before he collapsed into Chaos.
Yet even then, Taiyi did not die.
He roared again and again, activating the Golden Crow Secret Method. Blazing True Sun Fire engulfed him as he tried to be reborn in its flames.
But the cleanly severed edges were infused with a sword intent sharp enough to destroy the world. Order Divine Chains formed from the Dao's laws continually prevented his wounds from healing.
"Taiyi!"
Seeing this, Di Jun's expression changed, and he tried to rush to his aid. But after the sword beam cut Taiyi down, it turned and came straight for him.
"Pfft!"
The sound of a sword piercing flesh rang out. Di Jun looked down at his chest and saw a gaping, bloody hole. He could even see half his heart beating violently within it.
"They lost? Di Jun and Taiyi actually lost!"
Seeing the two spill blood across Chaos, the Three Pure Ones and the others finally snapped out of their daze and spoke in disbelief.
"The Three Corpses can be used like this?!"
As the leader of the Three Pure Ones, Taishang had gained a whole new perspective from this battle. When East King Duke summoned his Future Self, Taishang had become especially thoughtful. Wisdom glimmered in his eyes, as though a secret technique were taking shape.
Chaos.
"Elder Brother!"
Seeing Di Jun badly wounded, Taiyi returned to his original form and forcibly fused his two severed halves together.
The Golden Crow, as radiant as the Sun Star, stood before Di Jun. Boundless, searing True Sun Fire poured from his body, forming a massive ball of flames.
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