The Real Jiang Hao
That was the name the pantheon used for the Dark Old God.
Ancestor is both creator and Destruction.
It is both a beginning and an end.
"There are fragments of the Ancestor within you," Jiang God said. "Isshiki told me that there is his wedge within you."
"That wedge is a fragment of the Ancestor."
"Because the Isshiki is itself a part of the ancestor."
Uchiha Kei was stunned.
Is the Isshiki part of the ancestor?
"The Ancestor divided himself into twelve parts and created twelve apostles," Jiang God continued. "The Isshiki is the ninth."
"You killed him, and that fragment entered your body."
"Now, you have a fragment of your ancestor within you."
"Adding my False Ancestor Fragment, plus the Ancestor Fragment within Jiang Hao's body..."
"The three combined can awaken those three thousand warriors."
Uchiha Kei remained silent.
He finally understood.
Why is the Isshiki here?
Why did so many of Jiang Hao's obsessions arise when he killed Isshiki?
Because it wasn't just about killing one apostle.
That was part of reclaiming our ancestors.
"So, you're going to give me the False Ancestor Fragment?" Uchiha Kei asked.
Jiang God looked at him and remained silent for a long time.
Then he smiled.
"No."
"You can only take it if you defeat me."
As soon as he finished speaking, his aura suddenly surged.
Two hundred rules erupt simultaneously!
Time, space, cause and effect, reincarnation, creation, Destruction, life, death, light, darkness...
Two hundred rules coalesced around him into a pillar of light that shot straight into the sky.
That is the pinnacle of true immortals.
That is an existence infinitely close to God.
Uchiha Kei gripped his Black Blade tightly.
He knew this would be the toughest battle of his life.
It's more difficult than the Isshiki.
More difficult than inflammation.
It's a hundred times harder than those nine good-for-nothings combined.
But he had no way out.
Because taking a step back means failure.
Failure means the 380th time.
The 380th time, I can't afford to fail again.
He took a deep breath, raised his head, and looked at Jiang God.
"Bring it on."
Jiang God nodded.
The next instant, his figure vanished from the spot.
It didn't disappear.
Instead, it is integrated into those two hundred rules.
Two hundred rules were simultaneously pressed down on Uchiha Kei.
That's the weight of two hundred worlds.
That was the crushing power of two hundred laws.
Uchiha Kei gripped the Black Blade tightly, unleashing the full power of the Three Worlds.
A single slash—
Boom--
Two hundred rules collide with the three worlds.
Uchiha Kei coughed up blood and flew backward.
Jiang God's figure emerged from the rules, and he unleashed another punch.
Two hundred rules coalesced into a pillar of light, piercing through heaven and earth.
Uchiha Kei gritted his teeth and swung his sword again.
Boom--
It flew backwards again.
He vomited blood again.
Jiang God gave him no chance to catch his breath.
The third punch.
The fourth punch.
The fifth punch.
One hundred punches.
Jiang God threw a full one hundred punches.
Uchiha Kei took a hundred punches.
Each punch displaced his internal organs.
Every punch shattered his bones.
But he did not fall.
They did not escape.
He simply stood there, blocking each strike.
Jiang God stopped and looked at him.
Why haven't you fallen yet?
Uchiha Kei wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and grinned.
"Because I'm waiting."
"Wait for what?"
"Wait until you get tired."
Jiang God was taken aback.
The next moment, his expression changed slightly.
Because he discovered that his two hundred rules were gradually weakening.
It wasn't consumed, but... it was stolen.
He looked down at his body.
Dozens of small blade fragments were embedded in his body.
That was from the hundred punches just now; every time Uchiha Kei his sword, he left a mark.
Each shard of the blade was imbued with Uchiha Kei's Blade Intent.
Those Blade Intent were gradually eroding his rules.
"You..."
"I told you," Uchiha Kei stood up, gripping his Black Blade tightly, "I'm waiting for you to get tired."
"Now, you're tired."
"My turn."
He slashed out with his sword.
It wasn't aimed at Jiang God, but at the fragments of the blade.
Wherever the blade's edge passed, all the blade fragments simultaneously glowed.
Two hundred rules were forcibly extracted from Jiang God's body and poured into those fragments.
The fragments merged, transforming into a brand new sword.
The Blade of Two Hundred Laws.
Uchiha Kei gripped the sword and looked at Jiang God.
"Thank you for your rules."
Jiang God looked at him and remained silent for a long time.
Then he smiled.
"Excellent swordsmanship."
"I lost."
He opened his arms and let his body slowly dissipate.
A glittering shard drifted down from where he vanished.
False Ancestor Fragment.
Uchiha Kei reached out and caught it.
The two fragments glowed faintly in his palm.
One piece, a fragment of the ancestor—that one.
One of them is Jiang God's fragment— False Ancestor Fragment.
One more is needed.
The Ancestor Fragment within Jiang Hao's body.
Uchiha Kei put away the two fragments and looked up into the depths of the palace.
There is a door there.
Behind the door was Jiang Hao's refuge.
He strode forward.
Step inside.
Behind the door was a small room.
Approximately ten square meters.
A bed, a chair, and a table.
On the table, there was a picture frame.
Inside the frame is a faded, yellowed photograph.
In the photo, a young man is embracing a young woman, both smiling broadly.
The man is Jiang Hao.
The woman, Uchiha Kei didn't recognize.
But that face felt very familiar to him.
I feel like I've seen this somewhere before.
"You've come."
A voice came from behind.
Uchiha Kei turned around.
Jiang Hao was standing right behind him.
It is not an illusion, nor an obsession.
It's the real Jiang Hao.