Chapter 671
Evil Gods Gather
"Ancient and Sacred Land..."
Within the temporary evil god's dojo, created by the supreme power that forcibly imprisoned several desolate stars and distorted spacetime, the Heavenly Punishment God stood with his hands behind his back at the top of the void.
He was like an ancient, towering demonic mountain, radiating a terrifying aura that made even the surrounding star debris tremble.
A pair of eerie eyes, deep and unfathomable, seemingly containing countless worlds mired in blood and fire, pierced through layers of spatial barriers, gazing into the distance at a place in the starry sky protected by layers of ancient formations.
That is the ancient sacred land!
However, the God of Heavenly Punishment simply watched quietly, showing no sign of making any immediate move.
The immense demonic energy surrounding him was like a dormant volcano, waiting to erupt. Only the subtle space around him constantly twisted, vanished, and regenerated, revealing that his heart was not entirely at peace.
He is waiting.
Because the Heavenly Punishment God Lord knew very well that now was not the best time to take action.
Not long ago, the Heavenly Demon God Lord fell!
He was killed by that Heavenly Emperor Xuan Tian using an avatar!
Completely destroyed, not a trace remains!
This news was like a bucket of icy water mixed with ice shards, poured harshly into the hearts of all the powerful evil gods.
It shattered Gu Qingfeng's illusion that he was nothing special under the suppression of the secret realm, and coldly revealed that even under the suppression of the rules, that human emperor still possessed unfathomable strength and terrifying combat power.
Although the Heavenly Punishment God Lord held the Heavenly Demon God Lord in contempt, he had a clear understanding of the latter's strength.
The Demon God Lord is a true peak Ninth Tribulation God Lord. Although he has not yet stepped into the Half-Step Immortal realm, his foundation is solid. If he were to fight to the death, even an ordinary Half-Step Immortal would have to put in a lot of effort.
Yet even such a being had no chance to escape before Gu Qingfeng's avatar, and was cleanly and decisively annihilated!
What does this mean?
This shows that even though the secret realm's rules suppressed him and prevented him from displaying the true power of an immortal, the strength of that Xuan Tian Emperor had already surpassed that of an ordinary Nine Tribulation Heavenly Venerable, and even exceeded that of most half-step immortals, reaching a terrifying state that was infinitely close to true immortality!
The God of Heavenly Punishment took a deep breath, and the icy airflow composed of pure destructive energy surged into his chest, but it could not suppress the indescribable solemnity deep in his heart.
He admitted that he was now almost certain of defeating Gu Qingfeng in a one-on-one fight.
Even though he was one of the oldest god lords of the evil god race, and his cultivation had already reached the top level of half-immortality, he seemed to be only one step away from true immortality.
But that step was an insurmountable chasm!
Gu Qingfeng, however, is someone who has truly crossed that insurmountable barrier and ascended to the realm of immortality!
It was only because of the forceful suppression of the secret realm's rules that he had to temporarily retract one foot, remaining on the edge of immortality.
Even so, the height he stands at is incomparable to that of other half-step immortals.
To use a more intuitive analogy.
If the distance to immortality is likened to a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters), then the Heavenly Punishment God Lord may have already reached nine chi (approximately 3.3 meters), making him a top-tier half-step immortal, only one chi (approximately 3.3 meters) away from immortality.
Gu Qingfeng, on the other hand, had already walked a full zhang in the outside world and stepped onto the Immortal Steps. Now, suppressed by the rules of the secret realm, he had retreated to a position only an inch, or even half an inch, away from the Immortal Steps.
Such a difference may seem small, but in a life-or-death struggle, it can be enough to determine the outcome.
Therefore, the Heavenly Punishment God Lord was well aware that if he, alone, or with the help of one or two ordinary God Lords, rashly went to the Ancient Nether Holy Land to cause trouble for Gu Qingfeng, it would be pure suicide and would only add another glorious chapter to that Heavenly Emperor's record list.
"We must wait until all the other half-step immortal level guys arrive!"
The eyes of the Heavenly Punishment God Lord flashed with bloodlust, cold and rational.
"Only by gathering all the top forces of our clan that have entered the secret realm this time, and setting up an inescapable net, can we hope to completely bury this major threat here!"
Otherwise, it would be a pointless loss of life, merely adding to the ridicule of others.
He slowly closed his eyes, withdrawing his gaze from the location of the Ancient Netherworld Holy Land, no longer observing or thinking about anything else.
The boundless divine sense, like invisible mercury, extended from the dojo to the more distant starry sky, serving both as a warning and a silent sensing and call upon the aura of powerful members of the same race.
The temple was plunged into a deathly silence and darkness, with only the faintly fluctuating aura of destruction emanating from the Heavenly Punishment God Lord, a destructive aura that even made the Great Dao groan, indicating the terrifying existence lurking here.
……
In the days that followed, the atmosphere in the Ancient Sacred Land became more and more oppressive and suffocating.
An invisible pressure, like a rising, icy tide, seeped in from all directions of the starry sky, engulfing every inch of the holy land and weighing heavily on the hearts of every cultivator.
The visible changes fueled panic, which spread like a plague.
Every day, even every hour, the disciples patrolling the outskirts of the holy land could sense a new, powerful being, filled with evil and ominous aura, arriving from across the starry sky.
The aura of the evil god was terrifying, making one's soul tremble.
The number of evil gods arriving is increasing, and their strength is also growing.
Instead of immediately attacking the Ancient Netherworld Holy Land, they, like a greedy and patient pack of wolves, occupied barren stars in the outer reaches of the Holy Land, establishing temporary strongholds.
One after another, malevolent and probing divine thoughts, like invisible venomous snakes, constantly probed the protective array surrounding the holy land, stirring up ripples.
Looking into the distance, the starry sky, spanning hundreds of millions of miles and even further, centered on the Ancient Netherworld Holy Land, was already shrouded in a layer of thick, filthy, dark purple evil clouds that could be seen with the naked eye.
Within the evil clouds, shadowy figures lurk, concealing countless terrifying demonic shadows.
A chilling wind howled, a demonic roar echoed, and the stars lost their light—a scene of impending doom.
The ancient sacred land is no longer the celestial aura and tranquil peace it once was.
Panic spread among the disciples like wildfire.
The lower-ranking disciples were pale and filled with fear. They found it difficult to concentrate during their cultivation and often found themselves looking involuntarily at the despairing evil clouds outside the holy land, as if countless ferocious monsters would break through the formation and devour them at any moment.
"I heard...I've heard that many terrifying extraterrestrial demons have arrived! They're a hundred times more terrifying than the monsters of the Dark Ages!"
"More than that! My master said that many of those demons possess an aura even stronger than that of the elders of our holy land!"
"It's over... With so many demons surrounding us, our Ancient Nether Holy Land is probably doomed this time..."
"What countermeasures do the Holy Lord and the elders have? Are we just supposed to wait here to die?"
Whispers echoed in every corner, filled with unease and despair.
Even the high-ranking members of many holy lands who had cultivated for countless years had solemn expressions and deep worries between their brows.
They understood better than their disciples the terrifying aura of those evil gods outside; it was something no ordinary force could withstand.
Although the Ancient Netherworld Holy Land is strong, how long can it hold out against such a large number of powerful enemies from outside the region?
Even some of the holy land elders, who usually held high positions and were used to seeing storms, were somewhat flustered at this moment.
The atmosphere inside the council hall was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
"Holy Lord!"
An elder in a gray robe, with white hair and beard and a withered face, but whose eyes occasionally gleamed with a sharp light, could no longer hold back and stepped forward from the crowd. His voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly, due to his urgency and fear.
"Now that the evil gods are besieging us, they are becoming increasingly rampant, and their forces have already formed a complete encirclement!"
Judging from their aura, there are at least two of them who are comparable to us Celestial Venerables!
Deeper still, there may be even more terrifying beings lurking!
Although the outer formation of the holy land is strong, it is not foolproof!
"We...were we to decide what to do? To fight, to make peace, or...to plan our escape? We implore Your Majesty to make a swift decision to reassure the people!"
His words revealed the anxiety and fear in the hearts of many elders present. All eyes were focused on the Ancient Nether Saint Lord, who sat solemnly in the main seat.
Sensing the panic and doubt permeating the hall, the Ancient Nether Saint Lord frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.
He slowly raised his head, his gaze like cold lightning, sweeping over the gray-robed elder who had spoken, and the many uneasy-looking people behind him.
"What's the panic?!"
A deep, authoritative rebuke resounded like thunder in the hall, instantly silencing all the noisy discussions and uneasy whispers.
As the Ancient Nether Saint Lord stood up, the immense pressure of a Six Tribulation Heavenly Venerable naturally emanated from him. Although he was not as powerful as the top evil gods outside, he carried the aura of a superior who had long ruled a holy land and held the power of life and death, as well as a kind of inexplicable confidence.
"Look at you all! Panicked and at a loss, where is even a trace of the demeanor and responsibility of the Holy Land elders?"
Before the evil spirits even arrive, the mind is already in turmoil! With such a mind, how can one cultivate? How can one uphold the lineage?!
His voice was stern, carrying an unquestionable reproach, causing the gray-robed elder and the other elders who looked fearful to involuntarily lower their heads, their faces burning with embarrassment.
Seeing that he had intimidated everyone, the Ancient Nether Saint Lord softened his tone slightly, but it was still powerful and resounding.
"The evil god clan may seem powerful, but they are nothing but chickens and dogs, a rabble! Why panic so much?"
Have you all forgotten who reigns supreme in this holy land?
He looked around at everyone and said, word by word, "That senior once used the power of an avatar to wield a supreme treasure and on the Xuan Gang Continent, he killed a top evil god who was comparable to a supreme being on the spot, annihilating both his body and soul!"
Even before that, he personally went to the forbidden zone of the ancient gods and, with unparalleled power, completely annihilated that ancient, perilous region that had claimed the lives of countless supreme beings, utterly destroying it!
"Such a mighty force, which reaches to the heavens and the earth and is rarely seen in ancient and modern times, would not be afraid of the encirclement by these petty villains outside."
Faced with absolute power, quantity is nothing but a joke!
The words of the Ancient Nether Saint Lord resonated like a great bell, striking the hearts of every elder and awakening memories that had been almost submerged by fear.
Yes!
That mysterious and powerful senior from beyond the realm is deep within the Holy Land!
The news of the fall of the Heavenly Demon God had already spread, and the destruction of the Ancient God Forbidden Zone shook the starry sky.
With such a powerful figure in charge, their Ancient Netherworld Holy Land certainly has the confidence to resist or even ignore the siege by the evil gods outside!
Seeing the light return to the elders' eyes and the fear that had mostly dissipated, the Ancient Nether Saint Lord felt somewhat at ease.
He abruptly changed the subject, his voice becoming deep and alluring, his gaze becoming distant, as if piercing through the hall and looking towards the end of the starry sky.
"Moreover, you should know that this is not a calamity for our Ancient Netherworld Holy Land, but an unprecedented opportunity!"
A heaven-reaching opportunity to break free from the cage and glimpse the true path to immortality!
"A cage? The path to immortality?"
The elders looked at each other, somewhat puzzled.
The Ancient Nether Saint Lord slowly sat down, his voice carrying a sense of vicissitude and passion that revealed his insight into the truth: "The starry sky in which we live seems vast and boundless, but in reality, it is a cage that has been built by man!"
An invisible shackle has been placed upon us since birth!
You all cultivate diligently, striving to become Heavenly Venerables, yet your lifespan is no more than five hundred billion years; even the Supreme Venerables, no more than one trillion years! Is this ordained by Heaven? No! This is the rule of the cage!
It is the supreme being that created this world, setting the lifespan limit for all living beings!
No matter how exceptionally talented or brilliant you are, in the end, you will all turn to dust, and the great path will come to nothing!
These words were like a thunderclap, cleaving through the fog of confusion in the minds of many elders.
Their cultivation was profound, and they had a clearer understanding of the approaching end of their lifespan than lower-level disciples. This invisible shackle and despair had long been the greatest fear and helplessness deep in their hearts.
Now that the Holy Lord has so bluntly exposed him, he feels an even more chilling and resentful feeling!
"but!"
The Ancient Nether Saint Lord suddenly raised his voice, his eyes flashing with a scorching light.
"That senior came from outside the cage! He came from the truly vast and boundless outside world, where the Great Dao is complete!"
There, in the realm of the Celestial Venerable, one can enjoy longevity and live as long as heaven and earth!
There, the Supreme Being is not the pinnacle; above that lies Immortality, and even higher levels!
And that senior was one of the strongest individuals standing at the pinnacle of the outside world!
His gaze swept intently over the crowd: "Follow him, serve him, and as long as we satisfy him, he might be able to take us with him when he leaves this world!"
At that time, we will be able to break free from this damned shackle of lifespan, escape this cage of starry sky, and step into the vast world of true longevity and boundless Dao!
This is the true destiny that our ancient sacred land has awaited for billions of years!
Immortality!
outside world!
Break free from the cage!
These three words, like the most powerful stimulant, were injected into the hearts of every elder.
The fear in their eyes was completely replaced by a burning desire and longing!
If one could achieve immortality and see a wider world, what would the current crisis matter?
It's just a small test on the road to heaven!
The gray-robed elder who had asked the question was now trembling with excitement. He asked in a trembling voice, "Holy...Holy Lord, beyond the starry sky, are there truly...existences stronger than the Supreme Being? Is immortality...truly attainable?"
The Ancient Nether Saint Lord looked at him, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips: "If there is an existence even stronger than the Supreme Being, where did that senior's astonishing and unparalleled power, which far exceeds our understanding, come from?"
He could easily suppress an evil god comparable to a supreme being, and single-handedly wipe out the ancient god's forbidden zone that had caused a supreme being to bleed. Isn't that the best proof in itself?
Upon hearing this, the elders suddenly understood!
Yes, the undeniable facts are right in front of us!
The very existence of that senior is the most powerful evidence of the supreme being and the hope of immortality!
The doubts and fears in my heart completely vanished, replaced by an unprecedented determination and fervor!
The Ancient Nether Saint Lord looked at the changes in everyone's expressions with satisfaction and said in a deep voice, "So, put away your fear and unease!"
He then explained the key points to the core disciples of the holy land to stabilize their morale.
This serves as a warning to everyone: do not panic in the face of adversity, but diligently cultivate your character.
Everything outside is under the control of that senior in the Holy Land... no, it is completely under the control of that senior!
All we need to do is fulfill our duties and wait for the right opportunity!
"Yes! I will obey the Holy Lord's decree!"
The elders responded in unison, their voices loud and clear, without the slightest hesitation or fear, and in each of their eyes burned a flame of hope.
As they left the main hall, their steps were firm, a stark contrast to their anxious demeanor upon arrival.
The Ancient Nether Saint Lord sat alone in the main hall, gazing at the increasingly dense evil clouds outside the holy land. His eyes were cold, but a faint, expectant smile curved his lips.
Catastrophe!
It's often accompanied by chance!
And the calamity before us—
This is the opportunity of the Ancient Netherworld Sacred Land. (End of Chapter)