Pangu strode forward, each step making the Chaos tremble.
Among the Demon Gods ranked beyond the top ten, there were plenty too proud to back down. Seeing him charge straight through, several joined forces. Light from their laws wove into a net to stop him.
Pangu did not even raise an eyelid. He gave the Pangu Axe a casual swing.
The axe-light swept past, and the net of laws shattered. Those Demon Gods' Dao bodies failed to last even half a breath before bursting apart into points of light.
The contest for rank had not yet reached the point of fighting to the death. Besides, Shichen had warned them about the Tribulation in advance, so only their Dao bodies had been destroyed. Even so, Pangu's overwhelming might was enough to shake every Demon God.
"Enough."
A cold shout rang out.
A black-robed figure stood across his path, the God-Slaying Spear angled toward the ground. Dark-red killing intent thickened into a tangible blood mist. Luo Hou stood there with the Law of Slaughter boiling around him and a phantom mountain of corpses rising from a sea of blood behind him.
"Pangu, this is as far as you go."
"Slaughter Demon God?" Pangu stopped, his axe blade dipping slightly. "You wish to stop me too?"
"Hmph." Killing intent surged in Luo Hou's eyes. "The Great Dao's ranking has its own order. Being born late gives you no right to run wild. Show me what you're capable of."
Before his words faded, the God-Slaying Spear became a blood-red streak, its tip aimed straight at Pangu's heart. The Law of Slaughter gathered to its utmost, corroding even the chaotic qi in its path until it hissed.
"With just that?"
Pangu gave a derisive laugh. Without dodging, he raised his axe and struck.
There was no fancy technique. The pure Law of Strength condensed along the blade. The axe-light flashed cold and bright, bearing down with the weight of the entire Chaos.
Clang!
The instant spear met axe, an irresistible force surged up the shaft into Luo Hou's hands. The webs between his thumbs and forefingers split, and the God-Slaying Spear nearly flew from his grip. He hurtled backward, his Dao body cracking inch by inch beneath the force.
"How could this be..."
Luo Hou's pupils contracted.
Even with the God-Slaying Spear, I couldn't withstand a single blow?
Before he could recover, a second axe-light arrived.
It struck his Dao body cleanly.
Bang!
His Dao body burst apart, scattering into motes of spiritual light that flew back to his true body.
Far away, a World Tree that propped up the sky floated silently.
The World Demon God sat on a treetop, swinging her snow-white legs as she toyed with a tiny World Seed.
She clicked her tongue and called down to the figure beneath the tree:
"Order, aren't you going to stop him? If Pangu fights his way up like this, you'll fall out of the top ten."
The Order Demon God kept her eyes closed. "I care nothing for rank. I care only for the order of the Chaos."
"Order?" The World Demon God took another bite of a World Fruit.
"Pangu is smashing his way through everyone's territory. Doesn't that count as disrupting order?"
"It does."
"Then you won't do anything?"
"I can't stop him."
The World Demon God swung her legs. Several strange and dazzling little worlds appeared in her palm.
"Tsk, how boring."
"Look, the new little worlds growing on my World Tree have all sorts of interesting creatures. Want me to teach you something fun? You're waiting for Shichen to help you establish order, aren't you? Learn this and I guarantee it'll come in handy."
"Behave yourself in my presence!" The Order Demon God opened her eyes and shot her a stern glance.
"We Demon Gods should pursue the Great Dao. You spend all day learning this nonsense. Where is your dignity?"
"(ˉ▽￣~) Pfft~~" The World Demon God pouted. "You're as stuffy as ever."
While the two chatted, the battlefield changed again.
The Chaos Demon Ape bounded out and landed directly in Pangu's path.
He planted his iron staff on the ground, sending the Chaos surging.
"Hahaha! Luo Hou was useless!" The Demon Ape beat his chest, his roar shaking the sky.
"Pangu, want to get past me? Fight me first! Since you were born last, I'll give you a one-handed advantage!"
Pangu looked at the black ape bouncing about and could not help laughing. He rolled his wrist and turned the axe blade slightly.
"Interesting."
"Better pray I never find your true body, though. Otherwise... chopping you into pieces would spoil the fun."
"Enough talk! Fight me!"
The Demon Ape roared. The Law of War blazed around him as he became a streak of golden light, his iron staff smashing forward with the force to shatter all things.
Pangu neither dodged nor retreated. He raised his axe with one hand and brought it down head-on.
Boom!!
The instant staff met axe, a visible shockwave swept in every direction. The Chaos Demon Ape flew backward like a kite with its string cut, his body plowing a long furrow through the Chaos Space that stretched for billions of light-years.
He steadied himself and wiped golden blood from the corner of his mouth. There was no fear in his eyes. Instead, they shone red with excitement.
"Good! What strength!"
He beat his chest with both hands and howled at the sky. The Law of War raced wildly through him. Rather than weakening, his aura grew even stronger.
Pangu raised an eyebrow.
"Then let's go again."
As the words fell, his second axe blow arrived.
It was faster and heavier than the first. The Law of Strength formed a tangible axe-light that pierced straight through the Demon Ape's protective battle aura.
The charging Chaos Demon Ape froze.
The next instant, his Dao body vanished like smoke.
The battlefield fell silent.
Two Demon Gods ranked beyond the top ten had fallen in succession, each to two axe blows.
Every Demon God watching felt a chill. No one dared step forward lightly.
In the distance, the Fate Demon God Mingyuan stood in the void watching the battle. Space suddenly rippled beside him, and a figure appeared without a sound.
The Fate Demon God turned, frowning.
"What are you doing here?"
The Karma Demon God stood beside him with a broad smile, hands tucked into his sleeves and the look of someone eager to see trouble unfold.
"Don't you want to stop him? You'll fall out of the top three at this rate."
The Fate Demon God shot him a look. "Old Fourth Karma, don't think I don't know what you're after. I beat you up when you were born, so now you want to goad me into getting beaten up? Not happening. Absolutely not."
"Oh, how can you say that? I'm genuinely looking out for you."
"Get lost," the Fate Demon God said bluntly. "Besides, if I drop one place, I drop one place. Look at Creation. She's about to fall from fifth to sixth, and she hasn't said a word."
The Karma Demon God followed his gaze. The Creation Demon God stood in the distance, watching Pangu's back without expression. He could not tell whether she was pleased or angry.
"Tsk, Creation's keeping her composure." The Karma Demon God looked away, then toward Shichen.
"But seriously, isn't Pangu a little too fierce? I wonder whether Shichen can hold him off. I certainly couldn't."
At that, the Fate Demon God also looked toward Shichen.
Shichen still stood in the Chaos with his hands behind his back and his eyes closed, motionless, as though everything happening around him had nothing to do with him.
The Fate Demon God's mouth twitched. "Look at him, standing there with his hands behind his back, showing off. He doesn't need you worrying about him."
The Karma Demon God chuckled and said no more.
As they spoke, Pangu continued forward.
He stopped before Yang Mei's Space Domain and turned to look at him.
Yang Mei reclined against a Willow Branch, slowly sipping wine brewed from Chaos Spirit Liquid.
"Space Demon God." Pangu's voice rang like a great bell. "You stand half a step from the Chaos Realm. Will you not stop me?"
Yang Mei lifted his eyelids and swirled his cup, speaking lazily.
"What fun is there in all this fighting and killing? These old bones just like watching a show. You fight over what you like. I'm staying out of it."
Pangu fell silent for a few seconds and gave Yang Mei a long look. Then he said nothing more and continued on.
At last, deep within the Chaos, he stopped before a figure in blue robes.
He raised the Pangu Axe, its blade pointing toward the figure from afar, and his voice rolled out like thunder:
"Shichen! It's time someone else took first place among the three thousand Demon Gods! Today, I'll show the Chaos World who its foremost Demon God truly is!"
Shichen, who had kept his eyes closed in concentration, slowly opened them.
Blue light flowed through his eyes, and a phantom of the River of Time flashed across their depths.
He raised his head to look at the giant whose overwhelming presence eclipsed all others, and spoke calmly.
"Good. I've been waiting for you."
Before you continue