Against the Gods - Volume 08 - Cloud's End Mirage

by Mars Gravity

  Just as Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou were about to charge out of the barrier, an elderly roar resounded. An immense, formless energy assaulted them from behind, ruthlessly pushing them back. At the same time, three elderly figures, with purple light enveloping their entire bodies, flew out of the barrier and charged straight towards Xuanyuan Wentian.

  “Gra… Grand Elders!!” Yun Qinghong was hurled back into the city. Seeing the three figures who flew out, his pupils intensely shrank, as he let out a loud blood-weeping roar.

  The three of them, were actually the only three surviving Grand Elders of the Yun Family—Yun He, Yun Xi and Yun Jiang.

  “Patriarch, you must properly live on. As long as you’re still alive, the Yun Family will never fall!”

  “Old Patriarch, we’re coming to accompany you now!!”

  Their voices were vigorous and they even carried intents of joy. The profound light on their bodies had already been unleashed to the absolute limits and like three purple bolts of lightning, they smashed onto Xuanyuan Wentian’s body.

  Caught off guard, Xuanyuan Wentian fiercely staggered from the full power attack of the three Yun Family Grand Elders; even the black aura on his body had slightly scattered. He fiercely raised his eyes, the irritation that he had been holding in his stomach had finally found something to vent on. With the Eternal Night Devil Sword, a pitch-black arc was sliced out.

  They were powerful level six Monarchs whom people looked up to, however, the moment they made contact with Xuanyuan Wentian’s dark sword light, their protective profound auras were instantly torn apart like blisters. Like countless ice-cold claws, the dark profound energy brutally rushed into their bodies.

  “Die… You three undead farts!!!”

  Xuanyuan Wentian’s devil sword once again smashed out, completely engulfing the three Grand Elders in abysmal darkness. Then, with a dull explosive sound, they turned into three masses of black powder.

  The pause in Xuanyuan Wentian’s attacks had allowed the jeopardizing cracks on the barrier to quickly heal. In the instant the three Grand Elders fell, all of the cracks had completely disappeared and the barrier which protected the city was once again restored to perfect condition.

  Chapter 859: Return

  The crisis was temporarily dispelled. The price, however, was the lives of three Grand Elders of the Yun Family. The entire Yun Family was filled with sad cries, while the Under Heaven Family and the crowd of Illusory Demon profound practitioners were misty-eyed as well… Carrying revered statuses of Grand Elders of a Guardian Family, not only were they unable to pass away in bed due to old age, their deaths were so tragic, where even their corpses were not left behind.

  “Xuanyuan… Wen… Tian!!” Yun Qinghong shivered intensely, his face had turned even more ferocious than the enraged Xuanyuan Wentian. He shouted out Xuanyuan Wentian’s name, yet these short two words carried resentment that could envelop the entire sky.

  “Don’t be anxious,” Xuanyuan Wentian sinisterly said. “You all will soon follow them down to hell!”

  A pitch-black sword beam rose out of the Eternal Night Devil Sword and under Xuanyuan Wentian’s wild laughter, it bombarded the surface of the barrier. A ray of black light charged towards the sky and on the barrier, dozens of fine cracks were instantly blasted open.

  “Brothers… No matter what, we must hold on!! Especially our sons and daughters of Yun Family… You definitely mustn’t let the lives of our three Grand Elders go to waste!!”

  Yun Qinghong roared out hoarsely. A seemingly wild energy once again poured into his initially half-expended body as he desperately bombarded the barrier. Under their sorrows and pain, all the Illusory Demon profound practitioners unleashed their powers as well. Using their increasingly depleted bodies, they released powers that resisted the Eternal Night Devil Sword.

  Facing Xuanyuan Wentian whom even the Little Demon Empress was unable to defeat, them being able to resist this long was already an incomparably difficult feat. However, Xuanyuan Wentian, who was now wielding the Eternal Night Devil Sword, was too frightening. The deaths of the three Grand Elders of Yun Family had won them an opportunity to take a short breather. In the face of profound strength that far surpassed theirs and power at an unimaginable realm, they bitterly held on for less than one hundred breaths, yet the barrier which had endured countless tribulations, was once again facing the danger of shattering.

  As the Eternal Night Devil Sword continuously bombarded down, the number and length of the cracks increased. Its restoration speed was far behind the speed of the spreading cracks. Xuanyuan Wentian looked at the barrier which had already formed spiderweb shapes from the cracks. He did not feel the least bit of joy, merely intense rage and humiliation.

  “Detestable trash!!”

  Xuanyuan Wentian charged into the skies. An enormous devil shadow appeared in the air and a black sword light of several dozen meters in length suddenly stretched above the Endless Night Devil Sword. Then, carrying an apocalyptic aura, it pierced straight towards the barrier that was nearing its collapse.

  Cra!!

  The barrier that was covered in damage in the first place once again shattered open several thousands cracks yet it still did not collapse completely; the sword beam was firmly obstructed. Xuanyuan Wentian glared with widened eyes. With a growl, the pitch-black sword beam once again grew explosively.

  Crack!!

  The tip of the dark sword light ruthlessly pierced into the barrier. A dark tornado that felt as though it had descended from purgatory itself, instantly swirled up a large half of the formation region.

  A large sea of terrified screams reverberated within the barrier. A large amount of Illusory Demon profound practitioners were swept into the darkness and nearly a thousand profound practitioners were instantly killed. Their bodies instantly turned into pitch-black withered bones and amidst the screaming, even more profound practitioners had fainted. Their lives and deaths were uncertain.

  This unprecedentedly terrifying strength had left all the profound practitioners, who had witnessed everything that transpired, shaken, as though they had fallen into a cave of ice.

  “Hahahahaha…” Xuanyuan Wentian’s arrogant wild laughter came from the sky above. “With such trash like you, how can you possibly resist this sovereign who has already become a Devil God! All of you… Go to hell!!”

  Even though they put everything into resistance, in the end, the city barrier was still penetrated through. Perhaps, in another few more breaths, it would completely collapse. Yun Qinghong looked at the sword beam which had pierced through the barrier and did not feel the slightest bit of anxiety or fear. With a solemnly cold expression, an incomparably heavy sigh rang in his heart.

  Against such a terrifying Xuanyuan Wentian, for them to be capable of holding him off until now could already be considered a miracle.

  Now, they had truly reached the absolute limit.

  Every single breath was spent on defending with all his might. As a level five Monarch, more than seventy percent of his profound strength had already been expended, let alone the others.

  Initially, he had thought that rely on this mythical formation left by the former Demon Emperor would make it possible to block Xuanyuan Wentian out of Demon Imperial City. However, Xuanyuan Wentian’s strength was too frightening. Even after expending all of Illusory Demon Realm’s trump cards and powers, they could only resist until now.

  “Patriarch, what do we do?” Yun Waitian roared out as he heavily panted.

  “…” Yun Qinghong lightly breathed in and slowly said. “Inform the people in the rest of the formation regions, prepare to engage.”

  The way he said the three words “prepare to engage” sounded exceptionally calm and indifferent, however, every single one of them could hear the determined dying will carried within.

  Crack!!

  Yet another ear-trembling crackle. The biggest crack so far appeared on the barrier, as the pitch black sword beam fiercely pierced even deeper. The protectio
n barrier shook… It was completely at the very verge of collapse.

  Yun Qinghong retracted his energy at this moment as well. Holding onto the Sudden Lightning Sword in his right hand, a crimson lightning glow began to encircle the sword’s blade.

  Right at this moment, a clear and bright light suddenly shone down from above the dark sky. Everyone present instinctively raised their heads to look… In the northern direction, a ray of golden light, like a meteor from space, sliced apart the tumbling dark clouds above Demon Imperial City and amidst a long, sky-piercing cry, descended with a bang.

  “That’s… the Golden Crow’s flames!!” Number One Under Heaven shouted out in pleasant surprise.

  Boom!!!

  Like a falling boulder, the golden flames smashed earth-shakingly onto Xuanyuan Wentian’s pitch-black sword beam. The pitch-black sword beam that had pierced into the protection barrier was instantly burnt to smithereens while Xuanyuan Wentian was pushed far back as well. He let out a roar and then screamed out. “Ah!! Little Demon Empress, you finally dare to show yourself!!”

  The barrier escaped its fate of collapse at the very last moment. Under the immense profound energy of the Illusory Demon profound practitioners, it began to quickly mend the countless lines of cracks.

  The dark clouds in the sky quickly scattered apart, revealing a petite figure dressed in a fluttering rainbow dress. Her eyes were like cold stars as they coldly gazed at Xuanyuan Wentian. In her hands, a cluster of golden flames was blazing intensely.

  “Little Demon Empress… It’s the Little Demon Empress!!” Looking at the figure that had suddenly appeared in the sky, earth trembling cries exploded from within Demon Imperial City. Because this person, was the Little Demon Empress who had been out of contact for three full months.

  “It’s the Little Demon Empress… the Little Demon Empress has returned!” Xiao Yun shouted excitedly.

  At the moment of impending despair, the Little Demon Empress had suddenly returned. Undoubtedly, it brought huge excitement and hope to all the people of Demon Imperial City. The solemn and tense atmosphere was sunk beneath the world encompassing cries of joy and that was the case even at the northern formation region which was directly facing Xuanyuan Wentian. However, Yun Qinghong still carried a heavy expression.

  Because with such a terrifying Xuanyuan Wentian, it was basically impossible for the Little Demon Empress to be his match either. Furthermore, the place she appeared at was outside the barrier, making it impossible for her to rely on the protection of the barrier!

  “Hahahaha.” Looking at the Little Demon Empress who had made her appearance, Xuanyuan Wentian laughed out wildly. “This sovereign had even thought that you had already fled with your tail between your legs. It seems you still have a little bit of backbone. Are you prepared to obediently hand over the Mirror of Samsara and then kill yourself or do you want this sovereign to personally turn you into pitch-black ash!?”

  “Tch, trash that would even throw away his own face and shamelessly steal the strength of someone else actually dares to act this wildly and arrogantly. It sure is laughable!”

  Amidst the scornful ridiculing laughter, the dark clouds behind the Little Demon Empress were also quickly being scattered apart by a blazing fiery light. Yun Che and Feng Xue’er walked out from it side by side, arriving next to the Little Demon Empress.

  “Big… Big Brother!!” Xiao Yun was excited to the point of leaping up straight up.

  “Che’er… Che’er!” Mu Yurou shouted out twice and she was this close to fainting from excitement.

  “Asgard Master!” The girls of Frozen Cloud Asgard were even more exhilarated than ever.

  Standing side by side with the Little Demon Empress and Feng Xue’er, Yun Che carried a light smile which they could not be more familiar with. His eyes were as deep as the abyss and from head to toe, not the least bit of injury or frailty could be seen.

  “Brother Yun, he… He seems to have completely recovered!” Number One Under Heaven shouted out.

  “But of course! I already said so… With the Golden Crow Divine God’s divine power, Big Brother will definitely make a full recovery.” As Xiao Yun spoke, his nose could not help but turn sour and tears were this close to falling from his eyes. In these silent three months, he had been passing every day in a nervous manner.

  “Yun Che?” Xuanyuan Wentian’s eyes flashed with a dark light. “You’re actually still alive!?”

  Yun Che coldly laughed. “Even someone as shameless as you is still alive, how can I possibly have the nerve to die!?”

  “Heh… You’re still alive.” Xuanyuan Wentian’s face revealed an incomparably terrifying savageness. “Then that’s truly great! I can finally return to you the humiliation I have suffered under that red-clothed demoness a million-fold!”

  Though he already knew of Xuanyuan Wentian’s mutation, looking at “Fen Juechen” in front of him, Yun Che still let out a sigh in his heart.

  “Though I don’t really like Fen Juechen,” Yun Che lightly said, “a dirty soul like yours isn’t worthy of his body! This face of yours is truly the biggest humiliation to Fen Juechen in his entire life!”

  “No, it’s the biggest honor in his entire life!” Xuanyuan Wentian twisted his face, while he slowly raised the Eternal Night Devil Sword. “Yun Che, even in your dreams, you definitely can’t even fathom just how strong this sovereign has become now! Even this sovereign can’t believe that I could actually be this powerful!”

  “Because this is the physique of a Devil God, the power of a Devil God. You mortals will never be able to understand such power in your entire lifetimes. However, out of good fortune, you get to taste the fear and death it brings!”

  “Especially you, Yun Che!! This sovereign will bestow you a death that will have you sink into endless fear even after hundreds and thousands of reincarnations!!”

  “Big Brother Yun, he… has become really terrifying.” Feng Xue’er tightly held onto Yun Che’s sleeves.

  “The degree of strength of his aura has nearly doubled since the last time we exchanged blows.” The Little Demon Empress’s eyes were filled with bone-piercing hatred yet her milky white face still showed complete calm. “But, with how he was trying to take down the protection barrier in such a forceful manner, he has expended quite a bit of energy. With the powers of us three, victory is not impossible. Xue’er, this empress needs to borrow your strength.”

  “Mn!” Feng Xue’er nodded strongly.

  “Talking anymore is unnecessary.” The Little Demon Empress raised her hand. The golden blazing image of the Golden Crow appeared from her body as she raised the Golden Crow flame energy to the absolute limits right from the very start. “Xuanyuan Wentian… Die!!”

  The Little Demon Empress pushed out her small hand and the surrounding area of fifty kilometers instantly turned scarlet-gold. Though there was an extremely strong barrier isolating them, the Illusory Demon profound practitioners below still felt an extremely searing heat wave blowing towards them, causing them to condense their energy to put up defenses in a flustered manner.

  “What should we do!? Che’er… Che’er is still outside!!” Mu Yurou tightly held onto Yun Qinghong’s arm, she was anxious to the point of being helpless.

  Their utterly bitter resistance earlier had allowed them to witness the terrifying strength comparable to the Devil God of legends that Xuanyuan Wentian possessed. Not only were Yun Che and the Little Demon Empress both outside the barrier, they were even facing Xuanyuan Wentian head on. She felt that her entire heart was suspended above a mountain of blades.

  “…” Yun Qinghong did not speak. His two fists were tightly clenched.

  “Brother Yun’s aura…” Number One Under Heaven looked skeptically at Yun Che up in the sky and expression suddenly changed as he exclaimed. “Tyrant Profound Realm… level six!?”

  “What?” Xiao Yun was thrown into shock. “You’re talking about… Big Brother?”

  “That’s right. His profound aura is indee
d already at the sixth level of Tyrant Profound Realm.” Greatest Ambition Under Heaven sighed in astonishment. “It truly is an astonishing aptitude. I never expected that in just a single year, he would actually gain such a huge rise in power.”

  “No.” Number One Under Heaven shook his head. “Three months ago, when Brother Yun was heavily injured, his profound strength was merely at the middle levels of the Emperor Profound Realm. This time… Not only has he recovered from his injuries, his profound strength has actually… has actually risen directly by an entire huge realm!!”

  “Could it be that the reason why he had stayed in Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley for the past three months was because he was training under the divine guidance of the Golden Crow Divine Spirit?”

  It was impossible for Number One Under Heaven to stay unagitated. As a level eight Overlord, a level six Overlord was still below him. However, he knew without a doubt that Yun Che’s strength basically could not be estimated using the conventional profound strength levels. When his profound strength was at the middle levels of the Emperor Profound Realm, he could already defeat Fen Juechen, who was at the middle stages of the Sovereign Profound Realm!

  Now that he had made a reappearance, his profound strength had actually miraculously surged to the sixth level of Tyrant Profound Realm… Just how powerful could his actual strength be now!?

  Boom!!

  Sounds of exploding flames intensely shook space within a fifty kilometer radius. Especially right in front of Xuanyuan Wentian; space had already distorted into an irregular swirl by the searing heat of the Golden Crow flames. Though this was her first attack, she was already unleashing her power to the utmost limits without holding anything back.

  Because in front of her was Xuanyuan Wentian!

  Not only were these the Little Demon Empress’ strongest flames, they were also flames standing at the peak of this plane. Facing flames like this, Xuanyuan Wentian however, did not give the slightest sign of retreat. Instead, he quietly laughed and took the flames on with a smash of his sword.