Lord of the Earth

"This water is extraordinary..."

Wang Yuyan gazed at the vast starry river before her, her eyes filled with solemnity.

With a light touch of her slender fingers, a barely perceptible divine power tentatively touched the water's surface. The water didn't even ripple; instead, it silently "swallowed" her divine power, as if it had been plunged into a bottomless abyss.

"Could this one really be the legendary Milky Way?"

"And that palace on the other side, could it be the 'Weaver Girl's Palace' recorded in the ancient books? It is said that there are supreme immortal garments that can weave the threads of destiny there."

After being promoted to a prodigy and becoming the "Queen Consort" of Qianxia, ​​Wang Yuyan obtained a book called "Bai Ze Treasure Mirror" from the "Marriage Treasure Vault" of the human race, which recorded all things in the world, and recognized the things in front of her!
"What? The Milky Way? The Heavenly Garment of Destiny!"

Qin Liangyu gripped the white-handled spear tightly in her hand. The spear trembled slightly as she poured her divine power into it, emitting a low hum, and a cold glint flickered at the tip.

Her eyes sharpened as she scanned the palaces on the opposite bank, which were faintly visible amidst the misty, ethereal atmosphere.

“The delicate clouds weave patterns, the shooting stars convey sorrow… The Milky Way stretches far and wide, a secret crossing, a single meeting in the golden wind and jade dew… surpasses countless encounters in the mortal world.”

Huang Rong gazed at this magnificent and mysterious scene and softly murmured a poem.

"What a beautiful poem! What beautiful lines!"

A clear, slightly unrestrained voice rang out.

"However, while the words are apt, at this moment, this 'Milky Way' before us seems to have lost some of its romance and gained more mystery and danger!"

Li Bai lay languidly on a cloud of sword energy, holding a golden wine jug. He tilted his head back and took a big gulp, the cool wine sliding down his lips, but he didn't seem to care.

His gaze shot towards the vast galaxy like lightning, as if trying to pierce through its deepest mysteries.

During the Qianxia Dynasty, there were quite a few people who reached the second realm of "top-level deities".

To maximize exploration efficiency, the army split into several groups. Besides Qin Liangyu and her elite White-Spear Soldiers, Li Bai, a master of poetry, swordsmanship, and wine, who had reached a certain level of "half-step into the third heaven," was also tasked with exploring this "galaxy" region, providing escort!
Just because, as the vigorous, dragon-like branches of the Jianmu tree reached in, this river, which was originally in a "grayish-white" state and frozen by time, seemed to be unfrozen!
The river began to flow with a gurgling sound, no longer deathly still.
"Perhaps we can use the power of this Jianmu tree to cross the river directly and get closer..."

Yan Lingji's eyes darted around as she surveyed the wooden bridge spanning the Milky Way, her tone filled with eager anticipation.

"You have all heard the legend of the 'Thirty-Six Palaces and Seventy-Two Halls' of the Heavenly Court, especially the Weaver Girl's Office, which has a deep connection with us women. Perhaps our destiny lies within it."

Upon hearing this, A'Zhu smiled sweetly.

"Absolutely! Perhaps we'll even get to meet the legendary 'Imperial Princess.' I wonder, compared to you ladies, who is more beautiful, you or the Seven Fairies…"

She spoke lightly, trying to ease the somber atmosphere.

Wang Yuyan gently shook her head, her gaze never leaving the Milky Way.

"Don't be naughty. I've read in the ancient books that this Milky Way is truly extraordinary; legend has it that it's a tributary connected to 'lifespan' and 'fate'!"

“Look at the reflection in the water. Don’t you feel your mind being drawn in? Every drop of water in it is incredibly heavy, containing fragments of the laws of fate and time. Generally speaking, living beings cannot directly glimpse or interfere with this shadow of fate. But ancient texts record that the fairy robes sewn by the seven fairies in the ‘Weaver Girl’s Palace’ possess a strange power, enough to influence or even manipulate these trajectories of fate to a certain extent!”

"So it is..."

Qin Liangyu replied that, as a general, she was more focused on practical matters.

"If we can obtain this immortal garment, it may give our soldiers wings and even help them avoid certain misfortunes. We are determined to get this item."

After discussing and deciding, the group carefully stepped onto the natural passage formed by the Jianmu tree.

This wooden passage is wide and sturdy, with a warm, blue luster flowing across its surface, isolating it from the strange pulling force of the Milky Way!
"This Milky Way is truly magical..."

Azhu looked down curiously at the ever-flowing Milky Way at her feet, where her reflection seemed to be smiling at her.

However, the smile carried a hint of unfamiliarity, causing her heart to skip a beat.

"No, there are some problems."

Huang Rong also frowned and observed carefully. With her keen senses, she was the first to notice the abnormality.

"Have you noticed that the surroundings seem to be getting warmer? This heat... doesn't seem to be coming from the outside, but rather from the bottom of the river."

Before she finished speaking, the calm waters of the Milky Way began to surge, no longer reflecting the cold indifference of fate, but instead exuding a scorching and violent aura.

Beneath the river's surface, clusters of dazzling light suddenly shone forth, like miniature suns igniting in the deep water!
"Is there something underwater?"

The women were suddenly shocked.

A deafening roar was heard, and the "sun" beneath the river surface suddenly erupted.

One after another, blazing golden pillars of fire shot into the sky, carrying dark red, magma-like liquid fire streams, and crashed hard against the protective light of the Jianmu passage, stirring up a dazzling yet dangerous rain of light!

"Could this be the legendary 'Magpie Bridge' connecting the two banks?"

Looking at the towering pillars of fire, Azhu subconsciously made the connection, but her face showed no romance, only astonishment.

"It's definitely not the Magpie Bridge!"

Qin Liangyu shouted sharply, brandishing her spear, and the military formation erupted with a fierce aura, helping to stabilize the surrounding trembling blue light of the Jianmu tree.

"This is an enemy attack! Everyone be careful!"

From afar, it looks like a depressing "burning cloud" rising from the river, but upon closer inspection, it is actually a group of magnificent crows that are entirely black except for their blood-red pupils and golden flames burning on the edges of their wings!
"Yes, Vulcan Raven..."

Wang Yuyan's expression changed.

This is because the "Illustrated Compendium of All Things" inherited from the "Treasury of Marriage" of the human race contains a pattern of this kind of creature.

They are not ordinary birds, but powerful creatures with the bloodline of ancient divine birds - "Fire God Crows". Legend has it that their ancestor was the ancient divine bird that shook the heavens - the Three-Legged Golden Crow!
"A three-legged golden crow?"

Even the "Poet Immortal of the Tang Dynasty," with his sword hanging at his waist, had a slightly furrowed brow as he gazed at the group of uninvited guests, a face that was usually carefree and unrestrained.

"Caw—!" Finally, a sharp, piercing bird cry, seemingly capable of tearing apart the soul, pierced through the air, causing the Jianmu passage to tremble slightly!
With this cry, the surface of the Milky Way exploded with a roar, and the most intense and enormous "sun" burst forth from it... No, it was not an ordinary sun, but a huge god who was like the incarnation of the sun!

That fire god raven was exceptionally magnificent, with a wingspan of several thousand feet. Its three sharp claws under its belly gleamed with a cold light, as if they were forged from divine metal. Its body was surrounded by surging true solar fire, which scorched and distorted the void around it.

It was indeed a true "god-level three-legged golden crow," whose aura had reached the terrifying level of a "third-level deity"!

Its sharp gaze swept over Li Bai, and it uttered ancient and obscure language, which, through divine thought, transformed into a meaning that everyone could understand, and then exploded with a thunderous roar.

"Caw—Human! It was you who shot down my race's pride! I came here for revenge, but instead I was imprisoned by the Heavenly Court and trapped here for countless years..."

This three-legged golden crow seemed to have stirred up ancient memories, its voice filled with condescending arrogance and deep-seated hatred.

"Do you know that this Celestial Court region beneath your feet was originally the ancestral land of my Three-Legged Golden Crow clan in ancient times? It was forcibly seized by your human race!"

Behind it, thousands of fire crows, all with strength above the Saint Realm and even dozens of divine realms, cried out in unison, forming a sky-burning fire cloud. The intense heat made the space sizzle, and the terrifying pressure rushed towards us like a tangible tsunami!

"Back then, my demon race's divine court was forcibly occupied by your human race... Now, I will take it back!"

The killing intent of this three-legged golden crow was undisguised.

"Shut up!" Qin Liangyu's phoenix eyes flashed with murderous intent, showing no fear in the face of a powerful enemy.

With a tremor of her white-handled spear, a chilling light and the baleful aura of the white-handled soldiers behind her surged into the sky. This time, it did not transform into an ice bird, but instead coalesced into a gigantic phantom of a snow-white beast with a single horn on its head and covered in cloud patterns of wisdom—Bai Ze!
The phantom's eyes gleamed with a light that seemed to see through everything, staring directly at the sky full of fire crows.

"Whether it's your ancestral land or not! The ruins of the Celestial Court are a treasure of the human race. How dare you demons interfere? The battle for the ruins should be decided by each of us with our own abilities! If you want to fight, then fight! There's no need for further words!"

"Bai Ze?!"

The three-legged golden crow's crimson eyes suddenly contracted, then erupted with even more intense rage and mockery, "Caw—it's the aura of that traitorous clan! Very well! I didn't expect to encounter the remnants of those traitors here!"

"In the past, the Bai Ze clan prided themselves on their wisdom and chose their masters wisely. They betrayed my Golden Crow Divine Court and joined your human race, which was tantamount to courting their own destruction! My clan almost wiped them out long ago, and yet today someone still dares to use this power of rebellion!"

"Perfect! I'll slaughter you humans who have inherited the power of rebellion first, and let your souls be scattered, to prove once again how foolish and laughable the Bai Ze clan's choice was!"

"Caw—arrogant human, prepare to die!"

The three-legged fire god crow, which was the leader, was furious. With a sudden flap of its wings, the true fire of the sun poured down like a golden waterfall, instantly dyeing half the sky a crimson gold color!

That flame was no ordinary fire; it contained extreme high temperature and the law of destruction. Wherever it passed, even the void crackled and showed black cracks!
Within these flames lies a violent will to settle old scores and burn away traitors!

"Form ranks! Bai Ze, retreat!"

Qin Liangyu shouted sharply, and the white-pole soldiers behind her instantly formed a mysterious battle formation.

Streaks of clear light rose from the soldier's body, merging with the illusory image of Bai Ze, and transformed into a huge, semi-transparent barrier flowing with countless ancient runes and a torrent of knowledge!

This barrier wasn't a direct confrontation; rather, it seemed to "understand" and "analyze" the trajectory and laws of the flames. The moment it struck, the runes on the barrier rapidly shifted, deflecting and guiding most of the flames' power, like a stream flowing around a solid rock!

The flames collided with the barrier, emitting a strange buzzing sound. Although they stirred up a shower of light, they failed to break through immediately!

This is no coincidence.

The core of the Qianxia Dynasty's legion has long been closely linked to the ancient auspicious beast "Baize".

Legend has it that Bai Ze is knowledgeable about the nature of all ghosts, gods, and spirits, knows their weaknesses, and can ward off evil spirits.

The legion takes its name from this, inheriting this power of "insight" and "evasion".

The white-handled spears in their hands were made of a material that originated from a frozen region discovered in the Eternal Land, where a large number of Bai Ze corpses were found, and this "Bai Ze Wood" grew from their bodies!
Its own attributes can be freely transformed according to the enemy's state, and it has natural insight and resistance when facing demons, evil spirits and abnormal energy!
At this moment, they were using the power derived from the auspicious beast of wisdom to outmaneuver the enemy with skill, bringing the defense of the general's formation to its fullest potential.

However, the power of the gods of the three realms far surpasses that of ordinary beings!
Despite skillfully deflecting the continuous impact of the sun's true fire, the absolute power difference still caused the runic barrier to tremble violently, its radiance rapidly dimming, and it was on the verge of being forcibly broken through!
"Foolish! The power of Bai Ze is nothing more than a delaying of your death in the face of absolute power!"

The three-legged golden crow roared wildly, its flames intensifying, carrying the will to crush everything.

"Once I break through this tortoise shell, I will burn you all to ashes, ensuring that Bai Ze's legacy is completely severed here!"

Just as Qin Liangyu and the White-Spear Soldiers were under increasing pressure and the barrier was about to break—

Clang——

A clear and melodious sword cry, like a dragon's roar echoing through the heavens and earth!

Li Bai, who had been standing quietly to the side, finally moved. He didn't even draw his sword; he simply pointed his fingers together as if they were swords and casually slashed at the sea of ​​fire.

"Kill one person in ten steps and leave no trace in a thousand miles!"

The poem is finished, and the intent of the sword arises!

An invisible and intangible yet extremely sharp sword aura appeared out of thin air, as if it were falling from the Milky Way in the heavens, or like a blue lotus quietly blooming in the void!

The sword energy was not vast and mighty, but it carried an absolute intent of severing cause and effect and destroying all laws, and it cut into the sea of ​​fire in an instant!

There was no earth-shattering explosion, but the true fire of the sun, which seemed capable of burning the world, was as if it had been "severed" by an invisible force. The flow of the flames and the connection of the laws were precisely cut off by this sword, and it instantly lost its inner coordination and most of its power, becoming flickering and greatly reduced in power!

"Leisurely drinking at Xinling, I lay my sword across my knees!"

Li Bai took another swig of wine, then laughed loudly, his voice echoing across the land.

He took a step forward, and his soaring sword intent, like an invisible shackle, firmly locked onto his strongest enemy.

In an instant, the imagery of the poem, the intoxicating aroma of wine, and the unparalleled sword intent blended perfectly within him, unleashing a transcendent yet incomparably sharp aura.

"Your opponent is me!"

He said it casually, his tone calm, yet with a confident eagerness to try.

The overwhelming aura of the half-step third realm was released without reservation, actually rivaling the ferocious power of the "three-legged golden crow" without being at a disadvantage in the slightest! (End of this chapter)