Staying in the sect, controlling beasts and cultivating immortals

laugh--!
Like cutting paper.

The Netherworld Bone Armor, which was strong enough to withstand the full force of a mid-stage Void Refinement expert, along with the monstrous blood aura protecting it, was as fragile as paper in front of the sword line and was instantly cut through!

The Xuanming Sect Master stiffly lowered his head, looking at his withered chest. A straight, perfectly smooth gray line stretched from between his eyebrows down to his lower abdomen.

No blood gushed out.

Wherever the gray line passed, his flesh, bones, meridians, and even his Void Refining Primordial Spirit, which had cultivated for ten thousand years and contained the Great Dao of the Netherworld Blood Sea, disintegrated, collapsed, and turned into ashes like a weathered sand sculpture! His powerful vitality and boundless divine soul power were instantly and completely erased by the Returning to Nothingness Law contained in that gray line!

"Uh... the sea of ​​blood... never dries up... my soul... forever..."

A lingering regret, filled with endless resentment and unwillingness, struggled to be conveyed in the final moment before it completely dissipated.

boom!
The withered body of the Xuanming Sect Master completely disintegrated, turning into nothingness and dust, instantly swallowed by the surging sea of ​​blood. The Venerable of Refining Void, the Xuanming Sect Master, his physical body—perished!

The entire world fell into a deathly stillness.

The churning Blood Sea and Styx River, having lost control of their core, roared like a headless beast, its power greatly diminished. The light of the Blood Prison Floating Pagoda Formation flickered erratically. The Xuanming Sect elders and elite disciples who formed the formation's foundation were all deathly pale, their souls trembling violently. They stared in disbelief as their sect leader, whom they regarded as a god, was reduced to ashes by the Qingzhou Emperor's seemingly casual sword strike!
Fear, like the coldest venomous snake, instantly gnawed at the heart of every Xuanming cultivator.

"The sect leader... has fallen?" The remnant soul of Elder Locking Soul clung to the dim Nine Nether Soul Suppressing Banner, his voice trembling like a candle flickering in the wind.

Even in its single remaining eye, the faceless one was filled with horror and despair.

At the summit of the imperial palace, Yu Changsheng slowly withdrew his clenched hand, as if merely brushing away a speck of dust. For the first time, his profound gaze truly fell upon the filthy sea of ​​blood that had lost its master and descended into chaos.

"The sea of ​​blood never dries up, the soul lives on forever?" Yu Changsheng's indifferent voice rang out, carrying a hint of cold mockery, "They are nothing but maggots parasitizing blood resentment."

His gaze pierced through the chaotic, churning waves of blood, ignoring the terrified Xuanming cultivators, and fixed its gaze on the deepest part of the blood sea!

There, at the heart of endless bones and filthy blood, a single, eerily dark red light stubbornly pierced through the murky blood. That light contained an ancient, malevolent, yet pure and almost lawful life force. It pulsated slightly, each pulsation causing the entire boundless sea of ​​blood to rise and fall, emanating a sinister yet powerful rhythm.

It was the foundation of the Xuanming Sect that gave birth to this innate treasure—the Netherworld Blood Lotus—by devouring the essence and souls of countless living beings!
At this moment, the demonic lotus seemed to sense a fatal threat. Its petals tightened layer by layer, and dark red light flickered rapidly. An extremely violent, filthy, and resistant will emanated from it, frantically drawing power from the surrounding sea of ​​blood, forming circles of viscous, glue-like dark red barriers covered with the faces of tormented souls around it.

It is the last reliance of the Xuanming Sect Master's remnant soul, and the source of his arrogant statement, "As long as the sea of ​​blood does not dry up, my soul will live on forever!" As long as this lotus is not destroyed and takes root in the source of the sea of ​​blood, the Xuanming Sect Master will have the opportunity to be resurrected through it!

"Trying to hide?" Yu Changsheng's lips curled into a cold, indifferent smile, a dismissive attitude towards the prey's final struggle.

He said no more, his right hand forming a sword shape, pointing at the dark red light deep within the sea of ​​blood!
"Chaotic Tribulation Domain, Ruin and Judgment!"

This time, it was no longer sword light, but the descent of will! It was the concentrated eruption of the will of the entire Chaos Myriad Tribulations Emperor Formation!

The Chaos Purple Spirit Emperor Sword, suspended at the highest point of the Imperial Array, erupted with a hazy divine light that engulfed the heavens! The chaotic divine rune on the sword seemed to come alive, rapidly rotating and extending! The entire Chaos Myriad Tribulations Imperial Array, covering tens of thousands of miles of Qingzhou, suddenly contracted and condensed inward! The vast earth vein dragon energy, the surging chaotic source power, the protective power of the six beasts, and even the indomitable faith and protective will of billions of living beings within the Divine Dynasty's territory in the face of dire straits... all these forces were forcibly integrated, refined, and sublimated by the Imperial Array at this moment!
In the end, all the power converged at the tip of the Purple Spirit Emperor Sword!
A sword shadow, whose "color" could not be described in words, slowly extended from the tip of the sword. It seemed not to be a physical entity, but rather to be formed by the intertwining of two supreme laws: "the creation of chaos" and "the return to nothingness." Wherever the sword shadow passed, space collapsed silently, time froze, and the existence of all things seemed to become blurred and illusory.

This is the ultimate killing move of the Imperial Formation—the Judgment of Return to the Void!
The Sword of Judgment, ignoring space and the barrier of the Blood Sea, carrying the majestic might of the newly established Chaos Divine Dynasty and Yu Changsheng's supreme will to control life and death, fiercely slashed down at the Netherworld Blood Lotus that was flashing wildly deep in the Blood Sea!

The layers upon layers of dark red barriers formed by the blood and vengeful spirits surrounding the Blood Lotus were as fragile as dewdrops under the sun before the sharpness of the Sword of Judgment, shattering and annihilating silently!
“Ouch——!!!”

A shrill, distorted scream, seemingly gathering the resentment of all the souls in the sea of ​​blood, erupted from the depths of the Netherworld Blood Lotus! The eerie dark red light instantly reached its peak, the lotus petals opened angrily, and a blood-red pillar of light, condensing the filth and deathly stillness of the sea of ​​blood, crashed fiercely into the descending Judgment Sword like a dying beast's counterattack!
This is the ultimate rebellion of the filthy source against the chaotic order!
however--

The sword of judgment pierced through the seemingly destructive pillar of blood-red light without any resistance. The filthy, lifeless power, upon touching the sword's shadow, was forcibly decomposed, assimilated, and reduced to nothingness by the chaotic laws of creation and destruction flowing within it!
next moment!
The gray sword of judgment struck the eerily blooming Netherworld Blood Lotus with unparalleled precision!
There was no earth-shattering noise.

There is only one thing that can freeze the souls of all that is perceived—the final sound.

puff!
Like a sharp blade cutting through rotten wood.

The dark red lotus petals instantly lost all their luster, turning gray and withered. A clear gray line spread across the lotus body, and the pulsating, malevolent life rhythm came to an abrupt halt!

"No—!!! My foundation!!!" A desperate, soul-shattering scream rang out from the lotus heart that was about to completely disintegrate; it was the final lament of the Xuanming Sect Master's remnant soul.

The sword of judgment flashed slightly. *Crack!*

The Netherworld Blood Lotus, this supreme treasure passed down for ten thousand years and regarded as the lifeblood of the Xuanming Sect, along with the last remnant soul of the Xuanming Sect Master who resided within it, shattered like weathered rock under the Annihilation Law of the Sword of Judgment, eventually turning into scattered dark red dust and completely dissolving into the surging sea of ​​blood!
Lotus destroyed! Soul annihilated!
The very foundation of the Blood Sea was severed by a single sword strike!
Without the support of the Netherworld Blood Lotus as its core hub, the Blood Prison Floating Pagoda Formation, already in chaos due to the sect leader's fall, collapsed instantly like a giant beast with its spine removed, letting out a muffled wail!

boom--! ! !
The vast, filthy sea of ​​blood, freed from the constraints and control of the array, collapsed and surged inward like a burst dam! The violent waves of blood collided and tore at each other, and countless Xuanming Sect cultivators caught in it were shredded into mincemeat by the chaotic blood energy before they could even scream, their souls and spirits annihilated!

The remnant soul of the Soul-Locking Elder let out a short, sharp shriek, instantly torn apart and devoured by the raging wave of blood. The faceless figure had just merged into the shadows when it was swept up by a chaotic spatial current, churning the shadows together into nothingness.

"The formation has collapsed! Run! Run now!"

"The Blood Sea has backfired! The Sect Master and Blood Lotus are both finished!"

"The Emperor of Qingzhou... he is a demon god! Run!"

The remaining Xuanming Sect cultivators completely collapsed, like ants being doused with boiling water, screaming in terror. They each used their Blood Escape Techniques, transforming into streaks of blood-red light, fleeing desperately in all directions, wishing they had two more legs!
Yu Changsheng coldly watched the sea of ​​blood collapse and the demons flee, a farce like a god looking down on ants. He slowly withdrew his sword finger.

The light of the Imperial Array subsided, the gray array net covering tens of thousands of miles gradually disappeared, and the six beast phantoms transformed into streams of light and returned to the array base. The turbulent energy currents raging between heaven and earth slowly calmed down.

Sunlight, once again, shone unhindered upon the land of Qingzhou, illuminating the mountains and rivers that had just endured the baptism of the founding of the Divine Dynasty and the war that annihilated the sect. The land, tainted by the filth of the Blood Sea, was rapidly losing its ashen color under the purifying power of the remaining chaotic energy of the Imperial Array and the power activated by Chen Xueqing, revealing a more refined and profound Xuanhuang earth energy that had been reborn after the calamity.

"Your Majesty's divine might! May the evil be swept away! May the Divine Dynasty prosper forever!" After a brief silence, Shi Poshan was the first to react. He was so excited that his hair and beard stood on end. He suddenly knelt on one knee, and the Rifting Mountain Blade slammed heavily on the newly repaired command platform, letting out a deafening roar!

"Long live the Emperor! May the Divine Dynasty prosper forever!" Thirty thousand Chaos Divine Guards roared in unison, their voices like rolling thunder, carrying the fervor of survivors and supreme reverence, sweeping across the entire imperial city! The condensed military aura and the power of faith in the Divine Emperor rose into the sky like a tangible golden-red pillar of light, merging into the now calmed but even more profound imperial formation. The imperial formation hummed, like a satiated dragon, its aura becoming even more robust and solid.

Yu Changsheng nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the area below.

"Mo Heng."

"Your subject is here!" Mo Heng immediately bowed, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement and a sense of mission.

"Though the filth of the Blood Sea has dissipated, its remaining essence shares many similarities with the Dao of Annihilation of the Ancient Filth and Remnant Pupa." Yu Changsheng's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable will. "The Heavenly Crafts Academy will immediately ignite the earth's fire to forge the 'Myriad Transformations Returning to Ruins Furnace'! Using the Imperial Array as a guide, we will extract the essence of the Blood Sea's dissipation, refine its filth, and extract its chaotic origin! This origin, when integrated into the nodes of the Imperial Array, will increase its resilience and enhance its destructive power! The core of the furnace will be placed beside the confluence of the Imperial City's earth veins, with the Chaotic Xuan Turtle Origin presiding over and guiding it. This is the foundation for transforming the enemy and the beginning of forging our divine foundation! Within one hundred days, the array's foundation will be as solid as a star!"

Mo Heng's eyes blazed with an almost fanatical, craftsman's brilliance, as if he could already see the magnificent furnace that devoured enemy resources and nourished the divine dynasty: "Your subject obeys! I will not fail Your Majesty's trust. Within a hundred days, the Furnace of Myriad Transformations will be completed! With the blood of the enemy, we will forge the foundation of our divine dynasty for ten thousand generations!" The craftsmen of the Heavenly Crafts Institute behind him responded in unison, their fighting spirit soaring.

Yu Changsheng's gaze shifted to Wang Cheng, whose killing intent was boiling.

"Wang Cheng."

"Your subject is here!" Wang Cheng slammed his remaining left fist heavily onto the Chaos Bone Armor, his eyes blazing with battle fire. Although the newly formed bones of his right arm were rapidly taking shape under the nourishment of chaos and covered with a layer of dark gold bone membrane, the flesh and tendons had not yet fully grown. The exposed bone arm was wrapped in crimson-gold chaotic flames, making it appear even more ferocious and savage.

"The remnants of Xuanming, stray dogs, must not be allowed to defile the territory of the Divine Dynasty." Yu Changsheng flicked his finger, and a dark gold token imprinted with the sword intent of Guixu fell into Wang Cheng's hand. "Hold this 'Demon-Slaying Token' and lead the 'Demon Slayer' and 'Sky Patrol' armies! Search the eight wastelands thoroughly, and exterminate all those tainted with the blood of Xuanming! Unearth all their treasures and secret vaults! Half of the spoils will go into the Divine Dynasty's treasury, and the other half will be distributed to the meritorious soldiers! I want the name of this 'Divine Martial War King' to resound throughout the realms, so that demons will tremble in fear!"

"Hahaha! Your subject obeys the decree!" Wang Cheng grinned, his gleaming white teeth flashing with a cold light. The remaining murderous aura mixed with the newly born chaotic battle intent soared to the heavens. "Your Majesty, rest assured! Your subject will bring back those scum's heads to build a Jingguan! Wherever the divine might points, the remnants of Xuanming will be wiped out, not even a chicken or a dog will be spared!" He turned around, swung his bony arm, and his voice boomed like thunder: "Slay demons! Patrol the heavens! Follow this king—hunt demons!"

Below, the Demon Slayer Army's murderous aura soared to the sky, while the Sky Patrol Army's sharp energy pierced through the air. Led by the crimson-gold chaotic flames carried by Wang Cheng, the two torrents transformed into sharp arrows tearing through the sky, hurtling towards the direction where the Xuanming remnants had scattered! Wherever they passed, the space was left with scorching traces and chilling killing intent.

Finally, Yu Changsheng's gaze fell towards the direction of Qingmu Village, where the emerald green glow of the sunset shone.

"Xueqing."

"Your subject is here," came Chen Xueqing's reply, her voice gentle yet firm. The radiance of the Pure Lotus enveloped the vast, revitalized land, and the newly sprouted spiritual plants unfurled their leaves at a visible speed in the rosy light.

"Although the Netherworld Blood Lotus is destroyed, it has been rooted in the Blood Sea for ten thousand years, and its heart may contain a trace of 'transformation from extreme defilement'." Yu Changsheng's gaze was profound. "The Shennong Palace uses the Purifying Green Lotus as a guide to set up the 'Return to the Origin Array' to draw upon that 'transformation' opportunity at the place where the Blood Sea dissipated and merge it into the Pure Land. If it can produce the 'Purifying Blood Bodhi,' it is a sacred item for dispelling evil spirits and stabilizing the divine soul, and should be a treasure for the Divine Guard to break through realms. This matter concerns the very foundation of the Daoist army and cannot be lost."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xueqing's azure lotus light shimmered, illuminating her beautiful yet solemn face: "Your subject understands! I will draw upon the essence of the azure lotus to cleanse the impurities, transform death into life, and nurture this sacred fruit of the Divine Pilgrimage!" Her graceful figure stirred boundless verdant life force as she drifted towards the filthy land being purified by the power of the Imperial Array, its crimson hue gradually fading. The power of purification and rebirth began to quietly sprout on that desolate battlefield.

Yu Changsheng stood atop the imperial palace, his Chaos Imperial Robe fluttering gently in the breeze. He surveyed his realm: under Mo Heng's leadership, the craftsmen of the Heavenly Craft Academy began sketching the prototype of the Myriad Transformations Furnace around the core of the earth's veins, the ignited earth fire illuminating half the sky; Wang Cheng's Divine Dynasty cavalry had transformed into a sharp edge on the horizon; Chen Xueqing's emerald glow, like the gentlest paintbrush, depicted life on the scars of war. (End of Chapter)