Bagua Qimen Heavenly Plate Daoist Arts, the Burning Plane Spirit

Chapter 22: Bagua Qimen Heavenly Plate Daoist Arts, the Burning Plane Spirit (4,000 words)

Boom—

Black flames filled the sky and sea. The terrifying heat vaporized a huge amount of seawater, and Guang Biao along with his Black-Grade Mecha instantly turned to ash, as though they had never existed in this world.

Soaring Serpent slowly closed its giant mouth. Its enormous body covered the sky and blocked the sun, its upper half rearing high into the air. Its black scales were hard and icy, while its scarlet vertical pupils pierced through the sea of clouds like two blazing furnaces.

Compared to this spirit of heaven and earth that had condensed the world's flames and Deceptive Power, humans were as tiny as dust. Yet one speck of dust stood atop the Giant Serpent's head, molten gold light blazing in his eyes!

"Come. Let's go meet... God King Tang!"

His voice echoed through the heavens, chilling to the bone. Zhao Xuanzhen was neither soft cotton nor an easy persimmon to squeeze. He did not provoke trouble, but neither did he fear it!

During the battle at Eastsea City's Primary Spirit Ascension Platform, Tang San had disregarded all restraint and tried to plant a Spiritual Imprint in him. Zhao Xuanzhen knew he had been targeted by a dog. Unless he dealt with Tang San's divine sense, he would never know peace in this life!

Tonight, the stars shone brilliantly, making it the night most favorable to Zhao Xuanzhen's Heavenly Plate. He might as well use this good opportunity to end the God King and secure a peaceful future free from divine interference!

Following the Master of Qimen's command, Soaring Serpent roared toward the sky. Its body soared through clouds and mist, transforming into a streak of black lightning that swept through the heavens and shot straight toward its target!

In Zero Class's dormitory at Eastsea Academy, Tang Wulin abruptly stopped meditating. The Golden Trident rune on his forehead became clearly visible, and at some point, his distinctly black-and-white eyes had turned the blue-gold of the sea.

All youthful vigor had vanished from the boy. Tang Wulin's expression was indifferent, containing only cold, emotionless calculation.

Tang Wulin's body, Tang San's soul.

Tang San, hidden within the Sea of Consciousness, took possession of his son's body for one simple, crude reason: he had sensed an overwhelming killing intent directed solely at him, rapidly approaching from afar!

"Must I use another contingency?" Tang San sighed. "Last time, it was the Xingdou Fierce Beasts. That Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King had comprehended the spatial attribute, allowing it to open a Spatial Tunnel and flee with those fierce beasts. I wonder who has come this time..."

A ray of light emerged from between his brows. A four-meter-long Trident floated before Tang San, golden radiance flowing over it like rippling water. The instant it appeared, the sea bordering Eastsea City abruptly boiled, letting out excited, mournful cries.

Holding the Trident, Tang San floated gracefully into the air, prepared to help his son crush every obstacle in his path. Even if he was only a strand of divine sense, the proud God King did not believe anyone on Douluo Continent could stop him!

High in the sky, the stars shone especially brightly. The firmament resembled a vast curtain studded with countless gems. Two figures faced each other from afar as the air currents churned endlessly.

"Who are you?"

Tang San furrowed his brow. Zhao Xuanzhen was enveloped in Deceptive Power, his entire body constantly shifting in bizarre and fantastical ways. Soaring Serpent was even more beyond the God King's understanding. It looked like a super fierce beast, yet its aura differed greatly from that of soul beasts. It seemed to be part of Douluo Continent's heaven and earth itself!

"Have you forgotten?"

Zhao Xuanzhen chuckled. He placed a hand over his forehead and forcibly pulled out the Deceitful Soul that had previously deceived Tang San. With a squeeze of his fingers, a crisp cracking sound rang out, and the Trident imprint vanished.

"Variable of Fate!"

With the Spiritual Imprint rendered ineffective, Tang San's expression turned incomparably grim. As the Sea God's will shifted, towering waves rose from the sea, and terrifying energy continuously gathered in the air.

The Poseidon Trident pointed forward, its sharp blade gleaming coldly. Tang San said icily, "I set things right and gave you the chance to become Wulin's guardian. Offer all your fortune and flesh and blood for him, and perhaps you may one day ascend to the God Realm and become a glorious God Official!

"And yet, you rejected supreme glory!

"Evil one, you deserve to die!"

"Twenty thousand years, and all you know is lofty righteousness followed by 'deserve to die'? How unoriginal."

A mocking curve rose at Zhao Xuanzhen's lips. Tang San caught that unmistakable ridicule, and his grip on the Trident tightened.

"Words are useless. Let strength speak!"

Zhao Xuanzhen's gaze was cold as ice as he shouted in a low voice, "Eight Divine Powers, Soaring Serpent, return to your place!"

Soaring Serpent's mountain-like snake body charged into Zhao Xuanzhen's body. In an instant, the Eight Deceitful Gods transformed into the Eight Divine Powers representing deceit, becoming part of the Master of Qimen!

The drifting clouds were drawn toward Soaring Serpent, coiling like a giant snake and casting spiraling shadows. A scarlet snake pattern mark bloomed between Zhao Xuanzhen's brows like a strange illusory flame burning there!

Boom—

As Eight Divine Power Teng Snake entered his body, a scarlet ring suddenly expanded from Zhao Xuanzhen at the center. It was a field of power formed from the Fire of Deceit!

The sky trembled and twisted beneath the surging Fire Element. Tang San watched the figure at the center of the domain expressionlessly as crack-like blood-red markings gradually spread around Zhao Xuanzhen's dazzling brilliant gold eyes.

"The power of that Giant Serpent has transferred into you."

Tang San believed he had seen through the truth and said dismissively, "This method has not raised your life level. You are still a Quasi-God, utterly vulnerable!

"Quasi-God and god—one word apart, worlds apart!"

He swung the Trident, and seawater in the distance soared into the sky. Massive water dragons condensed in midair, containing the immense power of the deep sea as they roared toward Zhao Xuanzhen. Everything in their path shattered, their howls shrill and piercing!

"You're right. That's why merging with Soaring Serpent is merely the prerequisite for bearing another power."

Countless brilliant starlights suddenly burst across the sky. They crisscrossed and interwove, outlining an enormous star Array Diagram that crushed the water dragons formed from seawater!

With nine stars at its center, runes flowed across the Array Diagram. Every star seemed alive, responding to and drawing upon one another as they constructed a complex, exquisite system of Star Power. A magnificent aura that made one's heart tremble radiated outward.

Bagua Qimen Heavenly Plate Daoist Arts!

Bagua Qimen consisted of the Heaven, Earth, Human, and Divine Plates. Zhao Xuanzhen usually fought with the Earth Plate, which represented Geographical Advantage, while treating the Divine Plate, containing eight forms of Divine Aid, as his trump card.

But on a night of brilliant stars that came once in a thousand years, the might of Heaven's Timing would be amplified dozens of times. The Heavenly Plate Star Power surpassed the Divine Plate, whose Eight Deceitful Gods had yet to fully awaken, in one stroke!

The moment the Heavenly Plate Daoist Arts appeared, Tang San was finally moved. After all, this was only a strand of divine sense, not a true god descending, and the divine power it had retained was limited. Zhao Xuanzhen had absorbed Eight Divine Power Teng Snake and, with the Heavenly Plate enhanced by the stars, now possessed the means to threaten him!

"Nine Stars, Stop and Rest."

Star Power sealed the sky, land, and sea, cutting off all leaking auras. Their battle was bound to shake heaven and earth. Zhao Xuanzhen eliminated all future troubles, preventing Sky Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu from joining in while also severing Tang San's connection with the sea!

Tang San swung the Poseidon Trident. The Sea God's divine weapon, weighing one hundred and eight thousand jin, moved as lightly and freely as a feather in his hand. Its blade traced a circular arc through the air.

Golden Thirteen Tridents, Unpredictable Storm!

Golden rings spread outward one after another, densely packed and layered upon each other. The sky began to constrict, the sea's waves fell silent, and all things became still as the golden rings of Unpredictable Storm enveloped heaven and earth!

As Tang San's standard opening move in battle, once Unpredictable Storm struck an enemy, even a god would be bound for a time. What followed would be the Poseidon Trident's torrential assault!

"Deceitful Soul."

The advantage of foresight was revealed. Zhao Xuanzhen understood Unpredictable Storm's powerful control mechanism. Black flames mixed with Heavenly Plate Star Power surged forth, and Soaring Serpent's treacherous, ever-changing evil fire perfectly blocked every golden ring!

"All stars, gather here!"

Raising his head toward the sky, Zhao Xuanzhen's eyes resembled a boundless starry sky, so deep that no end could be seen. One star after another lit up, and countless golden points of starlight hung high above, as though turning the world's night into day.

The stars poured backward into the Heavenly Plate. Resplendent light accumulated and compressed, with nine stars shining brightest of all. They were the Big Dipper, along with the two stars Left Assistant and Right Assistant. At this moment, they madly absorbed Star Power, the veins of the Heavenly Plate Star Chart growing ever more blazing, ever more blazing, as though they would never reach their limit!

"White Clouds for a Thousand Years, empty and vast!"

Tang San lost his composure, his face turning somewhat savage. On a night when the stars shone brilliantly, Star Power was practically endless. A strand of divine sense could not contend against All the Stars in the Sky.

The Heavenly Plate Star Power had formed a Stop and Rest grand array, preventing him from absorbing the sea's energy and worsening his situation. If he did not resolve Zhao Xuanzhen soon, the divine power left within Tang San's divine sense would inevitably be exhausted. He would then be forced into slumber, unable to influence Douluo Continent's course, and even the Ten Thousand Year Great Plan would slip beyond his control!

The Poseidon Trident danced as layers of golden halos appeared around Tang San. The halos gathered into drifting clouds and mist, ethereal and illusory. Time's flow slowed, and seas turned into mulberry fields!

"Void—"

The Golden Thirteen Trident Divine Skill was interrupted. Tang San's movements suddenly froze as starlight firmly imprisoned him, and time resumed its normal flow!

"The sea lies prostrate beneath the sky's feet, and you have always been illuminated by starlight!" Zhao Xuanzhen slowly revealed the truth.

Astral Phase Control, absolute activation!

My mechanics are above yours!

"Binding the Vicious and Locking the Evil, Nine Luminaries Seal!"

The Earth Plate commanded elements, the Divine Plate contained divine power, but the Heavenly Plate excelled most at sealing!

Zhao Xuanzhen abruptly brought his palms together. Star Power answered his call as the Heavenly Plate Star Chart condensed nine rotating crystalline rings of stars. Vast Star Power surged within them. These energies born from the boundless stars raced along stellar paths, weaving a profound and wondrous Sealing Star Array.

The world seemed to have pressed pause. Seawater no longer surged, air ceased to flow, and Zhao Xuanzhen walked toward Tang San along steps of light woven from Star Power. The sealing star rings began to take effect.

"A seal alone isn't enough, is it?"

A sigh sounded from the void. Zhao Xuanzhen looked toward its source and saw a figure, half black and half white, appear between heaven and earth. Though its aura was chaotic beyond measure, it had clearly surpassed the Quasi-God realm and entered the divine realm.

"You are... the Douluo Plane Spirit!"

Every movement of this figure conformed to the laws of heaven and earth. Aside from the spirit of this plane, Zhao Xuanzhen could find no other answer!

"Yes."

The Plane Spirit looked at Tang San, bound by Star Power. Overwhelming hatred flashed through its eyes, as though it wished to devour his flesh and sleep upon his skin. It said:

"Variable of Fate, I have little time left, so let us speak briefly.

"As long as Tang San remains, Douluo Continent will never know peace. Even if he is only a strand of divine sense, he cannot be allowed a second chance to stir up trouble.

"Before the God Realm was swept into Spatial Turbulence, Tang San sent a human called Tang Hao into the plane core, allowing him to devour my body and consciousness and become the new Douluo Plane Spirit.

"For thousands of years, I have gradually lost control over Douluo Continent. I once considered self-detonating and dragging Tang Hao into annihilation with me, but that would only treat the symptoms, not the cause. As long as Tang San lived, there would be a Zhang Hao or Wang Hao in the future to replace me.

"Until you appeared, I came up with a new idea.

"While my consciousness is barely clear, I will burn myself and drag Tang Hao into slumber with me. That will buy you time to transcend the world's shackles, while also granting you the power to extinguish the Tang San divine sense before us!

"I will bear the heaviest price in your stead!

"I ask only one thing of you: carry my will forward. Help the Douluo Plane escape Tang San's control and be reborn!"

Zhao Xuanzhen did not agree immediately. Instead, he asked, "Plane Spirit, you are placing the future upon me so easily. Aren't you afraid I will become the next Tang San?"

The Plane Spirit lifted its head and laughed loudly. "Of course I am. But look at it another way—no matter what, it cannot become worse than it already is.

"Even if it is a gamble with no certainty, I will seize this sliver of hope to turn defeat into victory. I will do everything in my power to make arrangements for future generations. I will never retreat, and I will never yield even in death!

"I am the Plane Spirit. I must carve out a path to survival for Douluo!"

"I promise you. I will let the continent be reborn."

Zhao Xuanzhen spoke softly, moved by the Plane Spirit's unyielding nature.

To drag Tang San and Tang Hao down from their pedestals at the cost of burning itself? Plane Spirit, you...

Before the Heavenly Plate Star Power and the Plane Spirit, Tang San's divine sense understood that there was no longer any hope of turning things around. His voice was as cold and poisonous as venom. "What you are doing is meaningless. When the God Realm returns, your blood will naturally stain Douluo Continent red!"

"Humanity will never submit, nor will we accept the God King's Ten Thousand Year Great Plan. We swear to fight the evil gods to the very end!" Zhao Xuanzhen's gaze burned.

"Twenty thousand years ago, I was blind enough to believe you were a Child of Destiny for an era. Ten thousand years ago, you used your daughter to bind the second Child of Destiny and destroyed the Soul Beast Clan's Emperor Auspicious Beast." The Plane Spirit's hatred overflowed.

"I remember every one of these blood debts!

"Even if I must risk my life, I will first demand some justice from you!"

The Plane Spirit ignited in flames with a boom. Intense pain struck as beads of blood seeped from the cracks in its skin. The continent wept blood and mourned in grief over the Plane Spirit's self-burning, while the unwilling roar of a middle-aged man faintly echoed from within.

At the ultimate cost of one for two, it extinguished Tang San's divine sense and dragged Tang Hao within its body into a severely wounded, dormant state. The Plane Spirit laughed wildly and freely. After suppressing itself for thousands of years, it had finally found a chance to take revenge on the Tang Clan!

"Variable of Fate, today I have cleared away most of this continent's threats for you. Yet planes such as the Abyss and Demon Hell still eye Douluo greedily.

"Once I fall asleep, I will be powerless against those enemies. You will need to find a way to deal with them."

As its origin gradually burned away, the Plane Spirit's voice grew weaker and weaker.

"One more thing. The plane's Life Core faces the same predicament as I do. The Blue Silver Emperor is devouring its consciousness and energy.

"If possible, please help it. It will give you something in return."

With that, the Plane Spirit turned into specks of light and dissipated. Dazzling seven-colored energy descended toward Zhao Xuanzhen.

"Kill Tang San... this is my final power!"