Xiao Ping'an stared coldly at the eight Dark Supremes and said nothing more. With his cultivation at his current realm, he had absolute confidence in his strength.
In the more than fifty thousand years since he had attained the Dao, who had dared contend with him?
Since someone was courting death and wanted to devour his Heavenly Venerable essence blood, Xiao Ping'an had no need to hold back. He could simply slaughter them all.
He had accumulated the essence blood of five Dark Supremes, but it was still far from enough to complete a transformation and live a new Lifetime.
If he killed these eight Dark Supremes and extracted their origin essence blood, that should be enough for Xiao Ping'an to live a new Lifetime.
Aside from Source God and Source Ghost, who were recorded in later ages, he had never even heard of the other six Dark Supremes.
He fixed his gaze on the eight Dark Supremes as though they were prey.
His gaze suddenly sent a chill of terror through the Dark Supremes.
Source God and Source Ghost in particular felt their hair stand on end when his gaze swept over them, as though a great calamity were about to befall them.
"We've already worked it out. You really are in the twilight of your second Lifetime now."
"Your second Lifetime is about to end. You're going to die."
"The Immortal Essence of longevity nurtured within your body might let you live a new Lifetime, but you won't have the chance."
"That's right. Only at the instant you truly die can you truly live a new Lifetime."
"Who do you think you're frightening with that act?"
"From this day forward, there will be no Overlord Heavenly Venerable in the world!"
The four Dark Supremes from the mysterious Blood Sea spoke in icy voices.
The mysterious Blood Sea was also a dark forbidden zone of the Mythological Era, and the four Dark Supremes within it were known as the Blood Demons.
It was said that as long as the Blood Sea did not run dry, the Blood Demons would never die.
As long as they were in the Blood Sea, they would possess inexhaustible divine power and stand undefeated.
Whether the tale was true or not, the scarlet Blood Sea always gave people an uncanny feeling. It was cold and deathly still, and no one was willing to deal with the Blood Demons.
Their origins were shrouded in mystery. There was even a legend that they had fallen into this world from a crevice between the Immortal Domain and the mortal world.
In any case, there was no record in this world of when they had attained the Dao. It was as though they had appeared out of nowhere.
Blood-red light surged from the four Blood Demons, illuminating hundreds of millions of miles. At first glance, they were as resplendent as if they had been cast from Phoenix Blood Red Gold. Scarlet light stretched across the starry sky, sacred and powerful.
But on closer inspection, their scarlet blood Qi carried a cold, deathly stillness.
Xiao Ping'an stared at the four Blood Demons and said, "I've heard that you aren't from this world, that you accidentally fell into it through a rift in another world. Judging by the presence you carry, it seems the rumors are true."
All four of the Blood Demons' Extreme Dao Weapons had actually been cast from Dao Tribulation Gold. They gleamed with golden light, positioned across the Lingbao Heavenly Venerable Formation Diagram and radiating a terrifying pressure.
The four Extreme Dao Weapons carried astonishing killing intent and emitted an icy divine light, all aimed at Xiao Ping'an.
Xiao Ping'an looked at the four Extreme Dao Weapons, a cold smile appearing on his face.
"As it happens, my Dao-attaining weapon is still missing Dao Tribulation Gold, and you've delivered it right to my door."
Xiao Ping'an's Dao-attaining weapon had been cast from Divine Mark Purple Gold, Immortal Tear Green Gold, Eternal Blue Gold, Feathered Green Gold, Dragon Marked Black Gold, and Phoenix Blood Red Gold.
It brought together six of the nine divine metals, with a generous quantity of each: one cubic measure of every kind.
One cubic measure of divine metal was enough to forge an Extreme Dao Weapon, and even enough to upgrade it into an immortal weapon.
Xiao Ping'an's Tyrant Bell, however, had used a full six cubic measures of divine metal.
Looking at the four golden Extreme Dao Weapons forged from Dao Tribulation Gold, he reckoned that breaking them apart and reclaiming the metal would yield at least five cubic measures. He could forge one measure into the Tyrant Bell and leave the rest to his descendants as part of the family's foundation.
One of the Blood Demons said, "I hear your Tyrant Bell used several cubic measures of divine metal. When you're dead, it'll be ours."
"Don't even dream of coveting our Dao Tribulation Gold."
"The one who's going to die is you!"
Xiao Ping'an said coldly, "You don't have the fate for it!"
At that moment, the Desolate Pagoda, controlled by Lust Ghost and Lust Demon, suddenly blazed with light. The entire universe trembled, surging chaos flowed like a river, and hundreds of millions of rays of radiant light soared into the sky.
The Desolate Pagoda had become translucent and resplendent throughout. It had evidently incorporated at least nine kinds of divine metal, along with treasures such as chaos Divine Marrow.
It was a weapon forged by the Desolate Heavenly Emperor in ages past. For some unknown reason, it had been left behind in this world.
By rights, the Desolate Pagoda's weapon deity should have been alive like that of an immortal weapon, not sleeping as it was now.
Moreover, like the Desolate Heavenly Emperor, the Desolate Pagoda's weapon deity should have had a strong sense of justice. How could he possibly submit to Lust Demon and Lust Ghost, two things whose names alone showed they were no good?
It seemed the Desolate Pagoda's weapon deity really had fallen asleep for some reason and could not wake for the time being.
Beneath the Desolate Pagoda, sheets of light rained over the two Dark Supremes, Lust Demon and Lust Ghost. Within every ray of that light was a beauty without a stitch of clothing.
No one knew how many beauties those two things had killed to collect their primordial Yin Qi, forcibly attaining the Dao through crooked and unorthodox methods.
This world had actually produced two monsters like them. Birds of a feather to begin with, and close in strength, the two had become a pair of good partners, like close brothers.
Even more shocking, they had taken possession of the Desolate Pagoda, and it looked as though they had been refining it for a long time.
Although they had not refined it completely, they could indeed control it to attack their enemies.
"Overlord Heavenly Venerable, you're in the twilight of your years. I don't know where you get the confidence to turn the tables and kill us."
"Don't think of playing any petty tricks. We've already worked everything out. Today is the day you die."
Source God and Source Ghost also sneered. "Overlord Heavenly Venerable, your comprehension defies the heavens. Perhaps you really could succeed in living a third Lifetime, but you can only attempt it at the moment of death. If your nirvana succeeds, you live on. If you die, you have nothing left."
"But with us here now, do you think we'll give you time for nirvana?"
As it turned out, the eight Dark Supremes had long since become allies and agreed to ambush and kill Xiao Ping'an together.
They had joined forces to calculate when Xiao Ping'an would truly reach the twilight of his life.
They had been preparing for many years, using the Desolate Pagoda to conceal their presence and keep Xiao Ping'an from detecting them.
They had not come after Xiao Ping'an for revenge, but to seize his Heavenly Venerable imprint and collect his Heavenly Venerable essence blood.
That might let them undergo nirvana and live a new Lifetime, or take their strength a step further. Even in the worst case, it could let them live a few thousand years longer.
They were right. Like the Sacred Body, the Heavenly Tyrant Body's blood Qi dried up in its later years, and Xiao Ping'an had indeed reached the twilight of a hero's life.
His essence, Qi, and spirit had long since fallen from their former peak.
"Ever since I was very weak, I've been a careful and cautious person," Xiao Ping'an said. "Relying on that caution, I stumbled and struggled my way to where I am today. I admit I really didn't expect anyone to scheme against me in my later years."
"Even now, I still think that way."
"I am the Overlord Heavenly Venerable. Even if I am in my later years, dealing with a few Dark Supremes like you is merely a small dish I can seize with one hand."
When Xiao Ping'an finished speaking, brilliant divine light suddenly burst from his body.
His voice was like thunder, and the entire Nine Heavens and Ten Lands rumbled.
Countless cultivators heard Xiao Ping'an's voice. The purple blood Qi that erupted in that instant made the entire universe once again feel the suppression of his bloodline.
The Overlord Heavenly Venerable of old had returned!
Having cultivated to this point, Xiao Ping'an had gained incomparable confidence. He had already laid out every detail of his path to becoming a Red Dust Immortal in nine Lifetimes.
Anyone who tried to stop him from becoming a Red Dust Immortal could only become his stepping stone.
Though his body was withered and thin, his hair white as snow, and his blood Qi dried up, he was still the invincible Overlord Heavenly Venerable, still able to look down upon the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands.
The battle erupted almost without warning.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Ten thousand rays of divine light shone as the four Extreme Dao Weapons within the Lingbao Heavenly Venerable Formation Diagram fired golden sword Qi. It swept back and forth like boundless chaos, incomparably sharp and fearsome to behold.
Trapped within the Lingbao Heavenly Venerable Formation Diagram, Xiao Ping'an unleashed a Tyrant Fist. Heaven and earth cracked apart, and the diagram immediately shook violently. Even the four Extreme Dao Weapons let out mournful cries.
A tremendous crash, like the opening of heaven and earth, awakened every being in secluded cultivation throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands.
Lust Demon and Lust Ghost made their move. Together, they controlled the Desolate Pagoda, which released hundreds of millions of rays of divine light as boundless chaos swept down over heaven and earth.
He came above the Lingbao Heavenly Venerable Formation Diagram, reinforcing it with countless immortal Dao runes. A terrifying sound of worship rang out, stirring terror in all who heard it.
Hummm!
Xiao Ping'an's Tyrant Bell soared into the sky, flashing with divine light of six colors and releasing towering waves of chaos.
Vast sheets of immortal Dao runes streamed from the Desolate Pagoda, each rune as incomprehensibly intricate as a heavenly scripture. Yet the Tyrant Bell drew them into its mouth, forcibly devouring them and refining them into itself.
It was hard to imagine that the Tyrant Bell could already devour immortal Dao runes.
With a thunderous crash, he collided once with each of the four Extreme Dao Weapons. Then he soared upward, charging at Lingbao Heavenly Venerable's formation diagram with an incomparably tyrannical force, as though intent on mutual destruction.
The Tyrant Bell was known as Tyrant Heaven. Within it were countless Great Dao Runes Xiao Ping'an had personally inscribed. The runes of the Nine Secrets: Zu and the Source Heaven Great Dao, as well as the Great Emperor Formation Patterns Xiao Ping'an had comprehended, were all densely inscribed upon it. Its offensive power could be said to be unmatched under heaven.
No wonder it had forcibly inscribed some of the immortal Dao runes emitted by the Desolate Pagoda upon itself.
With a thunderous crash, Lingbao Heavenly Venerable's formation diagram suffered a terrible impact. It shook violently and was knocked straight off its original course.
The four Blood Demons were shaken to their cores. Clearly, they had not expected Xiao Ping'an to be so powerful.
Even on the verge of death, he still possessed such might.
Legend held that Lingbao Heavenly Venerable's formation diagram was the greatest killing formation of all time. If a Dark Supreme personally presided over it, even a True Immortal trapped inside might fall after enough time had passed.
An ordinary Dark Supreme, meanwhile, would quickly be slain within it.
Yet Xiao Ping'an had only just begun fighting and had already nearly smashed Lingbao Heavenly Venerable's formation diagram apart. How could his strength be so overwhelming?
All of this was naturally connected to the Nine Secrets: Zu. Xiao Ping'an was indeed powerful, but after carefully studying the Nine Secrets: Zu, he had also discovered many secrets within it.
When he attacked the Lingbao Heavenly Venerable Formation Diagram, the Nine Secrets: Zu, which shared the same root and origin, also interfered with the diagram's workings to a certain extent.
In the eyes of the four Blood Demons, Xiao Ping'an naturally possessed heaven-defying combat power. With absolute strength, he was forcibly breaking open the Heavenly Venerable Formation Diagram, trying to burst out.
Rumble!
The Desolate Pagoda immediately shook. Countless rays of chaotic light flashed, sealing the gap and frantically reinforcing the Lingbao Heavenly Venerable Formation Diagram to continue suppressing Xiao Ping'an.
Xiao Ping'an let out a great roar. A True Dragon flew from above his head, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws as it roared overhead.
Then the Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, Huashe, Qilin, and the others appeared, nine immortal spirits in all.
These were the nine great Divine Forms Xiao Ping'an had refined.
The nine great Divine Forms merged into one, becoming a Battle Immortal.
The True Dragon became the Battle Immortal's dragon head, the Phoenix its wings, the White Tiger its limbs, and Huashe its tail...
Using a forbidden method, Xiao Ping'an broke down the nine great Divine Forms and recombined them, merging unique Great Dao laws into them and forcibly transforming the Battle Immortal into the Tyrant Body Ancestral Form.
The monster had a dragon's head, a serpent's tail, a tiger's claws, a Phoenix's wings, Qilin Armor, a Xuanwu's back...
It combined the various strengths of the immortal spirits and Divine Forms in one body. Supremely firm and powerful, it could destroy anything.
Xiao Ping'an did not want to name it the Tyrant Body Ancestral Form, preferring to call it the Tyrant Body Battle Immortal.
Yes, he did not want anyone to misunderstand the term "Tyrant Body Ancestral Form" and think the Heavenly Tyrant Body's ancestral bloodline was a muddled mixture.
In truth, the Heavenly Tyrant Body also possessed a pure human bloodline. No one should think that a Battle Immortal formed from several monsters meant its ancestors had possessed multiple bloodlines. That was not the case.
Xiao Ping'an was actually the First-Generation Tyrant Body, so since he had named the Tyrant Body Ancestral Form the Tyrant Body Battle Immortal, it would be called the Battle Immortal from then on.
The moment the Tyrant Body Battle Immortal appeared, the world erupted into turmoil. It was as though this were a monster tempered in blood and fire, one the whole of heaven and earth refused to acknowledge.
Amid countless layers of divine lightning, it was as though heaven and earth were about to split apart. Its incomparably mighty power was terrifying beyond measure.
With a casual grab, the monster tore apart a region of the universe. With a light sweep, it caused another region to collapse.
Heaven and earth truly did split apart, while ghosts and gods wailed.
The Tyrant Body Battle Immortal charged at Lingbao Heavenly Venerable's formation diagram and forcibly knocked it askew.
"What kind of monster is that?"
"Could it be the legendary Tyrant Body Battle Immortal?"
The invincible imprint Xiao Ping'an unleashed nearly shattered that region of the universe.
Several Dark Supremes cried out in alarm. Was the Overlord Heavenly Venerable still an old man dying in the twilight of his life? How could he still possess such overwhelming and tyrannical strength?
The Tyrant Body Battle Immortal in particular had made everyone's hearts pound the moment it appeared, as though their souls were about to be torn apart.
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(End of chapter)