Heaven's Will Cannot Be Defied

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Heng, leave me. You're only at the peak of Great Luo, while they have six quasi-saints. If they attack you together, you won't be able to stop them. Go, quickly."

Red Cloud came up behind Xuan Heng, gently tugged at his sleeve, and urged him.

"Whether I can win or not, we'll only know after we fight!"

With a shake of Xuan Heng's sleeve, the Taiji Diagram unfurled behind him. The Purifying White Lotus emerged above his head, its petals slowly spreading as purifying white radiance poured down, restoring a trace of clarity to Red Cloud's eyes.

Red Cloud stared blankly at the figure standing before him. Only now did he finally understand why he had appeared here.

"I... was drawn out by the tribulation aura!" Red Cloud's voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of helpless bewilderment.

Xuan Heng heard Red Cloud's words, but he did not turn around. The six before him had already formed their battle array.

Di Jun activated the River Map and Luo Script. Boundless star patterns spread out, and the light of the surrounding heavens transformed into a vast net that completely sealed off Xuan Heng and Red Cloud.

The Chaos Bell above Taiyi's head slowly revolved, and an incomparably heavy pressure swept toward Xuan Heng.

At the side, Kunpeng and Minghe stood ready to strike at Xuan Heng at any moment.

The Seven Treasures Wonder Tree in Zhunti's hand shone with seven-colored treasure light.

Receiving Guide also activated the Receiving Guide Treasure Canopy in his hand. Golden light descended from the canopy, carrying an indescribable force of attraction as it pointed directly at the Primordial Violet Qi in the center of Red Cloud's brow.

"Suppress!" Xuan Heng shouted in a low voice. Profound blue qi surged from the Calamity-Suppressing Gourd, forcibly suppressing the aura of lethal tribulation enveloping himself and Red Cloud.

The Purifying White Lotus bloomed above him, constantly scattering white light to protect Red Cloud's already battered body.

The Eastern Blue Lotus Treasure-Color Flag unfurled, its blue lotus treasure light forming layer upon layer of barriers that firmly shielded Xuan Heng and Red Cloud.

The Northern Black Origin Water-Control Flag appeared once more, profound water hanging like a curtain before Zhunti's Seven Treasures Wonder Tree.

In almost an instant, Xuan Heng had brought forth every treasure he could use.

Seeing this, Taiyi hesitated no longer.

"Dong—"

As the Chaos Bell rang out, the chaotic currents before Xuan Heng exploded violently. Bell waves bearing an irresistible might crashed toward him.

Xuan Heng raised a hand and brought forth the Taiji Diagram. Black and white qi churned violently, and he felt his chest tighten, sweetness rising in his throat before he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"As expected of the Chaos Bell."

Xuan Heng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and murmured.

Although the Taiji Diagram was also a supreme innate treasure, Xuan Heng was not Taiqing after all. Whether in cultivation or in his compatibility with the Taiji Diagram, he was far from capable of wielding it perfectly.

The moment Di Jun saw Xuan Heng injured, he struck again. With a sweep of his hand, he activated the River Map and Luo Script once more. The star patterns around Xuan Heng, originally meant for sealing, instantly transformed into star blades and slashed toward him.

Without the slightest hesitation, Xuan Heng hurled out the Heaven and Earth Ruler, fixing a patch of star patterns in place. Yet before he could even catch his breath, Minghe's Primeval Slaughter and Avici had arrived.

The Calamity Severing Sword collided head-on with Primeval Slaughter and Avici. Profound blue sword light clashed with blood-red sword light, and in a single breath, the Calamity Severing Sword was sent flying back.

Minghe was, after all, a quasi-saint wielding supreme weapons of slaughter. For Xuan Heng to block this blow was already the utmost he could manage.

But at that moment, the golden light descending from the Receiving Guide Treasure Canopy bypassed Xuan Heng and fell toward the center of Red Cloud's brow. The instant it touched the black qi there, the black qi seemed to ignite, madly drilling deeper into Red Cloud's Primordial Spirit.

Red Cloud let out a muffled groan, and his eyes began to cloud over once more.

Xuan Heng's expression changed. The Calamity Severing Sword rose again and forcibly slashed at the black qi. The sword light tore open a seam in the black qi, but Xuan Heng also grunted, suffering backlash for forcibly obstructing the Heavenly Dao.

Yet in that brief instant, Kunpeng moved.

A phantom of the great peng tore through chaos. It was so fast that Xuan Heng could barely hear anything beyond a shrill howl of wind. Kunpeng did not reach for Red Cloud—his attack was aimed at Xuan Heng's back.

"Xuan Heng, die!" Behind Treasure Distribution Cliff, Kunpeng had heard Xuan Heng's final warning to Red Cloud. Thus, his hatred for Xuan Heng was no less than his hatred for Red Cloud. If not for Xuan Heng's warning, he might have already killed Red Cloud and seized that wisp of Primordial Violet Qi.

At this moment, one of Xuan Heng's hands pressed down on the Calamity-Suppressing Gourd while the other controlled the Taiji Diagram to resist the Chaos Bell. The Calamity Severing Sword was still cutting away at the black qi in the center of Red Cloud's brow.

He sensed Kunpeng's attack, but if he turned around, Receiving Guide's golden light would immediately draw the Primordial Violet Qi out of Red Cloud.

Yet if he did not turn around, he would have to take Kunpeng's claw head-on. Xuan Heng did not hesitate. The Profound Pure Treasure Robe upon him flared with light as he prepared to withstand the blow by force.

Just then, Red Cloud suddenly reached out and pressed a hand onto his shoulder.

"Enough, Fellow Daoist Xuan Heng. With your current cultivation at the peak of Great Luo, if you continue forcibly opposing them for my sake, I fear neither of us will be able to leave today."

As Red Cloud's words fell, his entire body transformed into a mass of crimson cloud light and burst out from beneath the protection of the Eastern Blue Lotus Treasure-Color Flag.

The Nine-Nine Soul-Scattering Gourd rose into the air. Red sand poured from its mouth, turning into crimson clouds that filled the sky and blocked the space behind Xuan Heng.

Kunpeng's sharp claws tore open the crimson clouds. Minghe's twin swords pierced through the cloud light. The lingering waves of the Chaos Bell slammed viciously into Red Cloud's origin.

"Boom!"

The crimson cloud light exploded within chaos.

Xuan Heng was blasted several steps back by the shockwave, and the fury in his eyes could no longer be suppressed.

"Red Cloud!"

The Calamity-Suppressing Gourd shook frantically, profound blue pure light sweeping toward the scattered cloud light in an attempt to gather back Red Cloud's remaining origin.

But Red Cloud's lethal tribulation had come to pass. The black qi coiled deep within his Primordial Spirit erupted completely, tearing his Primordial Spirit apart bit by bit.

Just as the final wisp of Red Cloud's true spirit was about to scatter into chaos, black and white qi suddenly streaked across from afar.

"Taiji Diagram, return!"

Taiqing's voice rang out from the depths of chaos.

The Taiji Diagram before Xuan Heng suddenly trembled. Black and white qi surged brilliantly as it flew from Xuan Heng's side and landed in Taiqing's palm.

The next instant, the Taiji Diagram unfurled.

The black and white qi transformed into a river of yin and yang, forcibly sweeping up the final wisp of Red Cloud's true spirit before the crimson cloud-light could completely disperse.

The Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Pagoda descended as well, streams of Mystic Yellow merit qi falling from it to shield both Xuan Heng and that wisp of Red Cloud's true spirit.

Taiqing appeared before Xuan Heng. His gaze first fell upon the place where Red Cloud had vanished, then turned to Xuan Heng.

"Little brother, we came too late."

At those words, Xuan Heng's heart turned sour, and an endless sense of grievance welled up within him.

Almost at the same moment, an ancient banner tore through chaos and arrived beside Xuan Heng.

With a light sweep of the Pangu Banner, the star-patterned blockade Di Jun had formed with the River Map and Luo Script was forcibly ripped apart. Yuanshi strode forth, Jade Pure immortal light spreading out as his icy gaze swept across everyone present.

On the other side of chaos, Sword Qi shot into the heavens as Tongtian strode over. He said nothing.

Clang!

The Green Duckweed Sword in his hand left its sheath in an instant. A streak of azure sword light, carrying unparalleled sharpness, cleaved across chaos and slashed straight at Kunpeng.

Kunpeng's expression changed drastically. His figure transformed into a great peng as he retreated rapidly, but the sword light was too fast. It still sheared off half a wing, blood-light scattering into chaos.

Kunpeng gave a muffled groan, the hatred in his eyes instantly turning to terror.

Tongtian stood with his sword in hand, the Immortal-Slaying Four Swords suspended behind him. Their killing intent was so crushing that even the chaotic currents stilled for a moment. He glanced at Xuan Heng, then at Kunpeng, his voice frighteningly cold.

"You dare hurt my fourth brother? Do you take Kunlun for empty, or do you think I, Tongtian, cannot cut you down?"