Deathly silence!
The space was like an abyss, utterly soundless!
The last black mote left by the annihilated phantom of the Thousand-Leaf Death God had yet to fade completely into the misty immortal light on the thirtieth step of the Heavenly Ascension Ladder.
Yet the chaotic death energy that had filled heaven and earth, threatening to freeze their very souls, was already gone, vanished without a trace.
Below, the plaza lay utterly silent.
Countless prodigies stood rooted to the spot, their pupils dilated to the extreme.
Reflected within them was the white-robed figure standing on the steps with his hands behind his back.
Relaxed and composed, sacred and transcendent.
From beginning to end, he had never unleashed his true combat strength. One simple sword strike had been enough to stun them all.
It was as though this horrifying scene would be branded forever into the deepest recesses of their souls, too terrifying ever to forget.
"Uh, h-how is this possible?!"
"The renowned Death God, who once plunged entire eras into eternal silence... was slain with a single sword strike."
"His true body entered the God Sovereign Domain long ago. He was invincible throughout the world, with vast combat experience and supreme divine abilities."
"Even with his cultivation suppressed to the Supreme Realm, fighting at the same level, his experience and divine abilities should have let him fight a prolonged battle, even if he couldn't win!"
"Yet one simple sword strike wiped him out completely!"
At last, a young prodigy swallowed hard and let out a strained, dry whimper.
Overwhelming shock made his pupils tremble.
Everyone began talking fervently, disbelief filling their eyes as they broke the suffocating silence.
"D-dead? The renowned Thousand-Leaf Death God, whose killing intent towered to the heavens, was just... gone?"
A Dark Prodigy from an ancient