Living in the deep palace

Su Chen nodded slightly and shifted his gaze to the right.

"Giant Spirit One".

"My subordinate is here!"

The tallest of the giant spirit guards, who was nearly four zhang tall, suddenly knelt down, smashing two deep craters into the ground.

"Although you have the bodies of giants and possess brute strength, you lack suitable weapons."

"In the previous battle, if you hadn't had to rely solely on your fists to withstand the heavenly soldiers' magical weapons, the casualties wouldn't have been so heavy."

As Su Chen spoke, he slowly stood up.

In the void behind him, the light and shadow of the [Divine Weapon Branch] suddenly appeared.

"Today, I bestow upon you... fangs!"

Su Chen opened his mouth wide and took a deep breath.

woohoo-

In the warehouse outside the main hall, the mountains of unrefinable discarded divine iron and broken magical treasures transformed into a long dragon and were sucked into his belly.

The Divine Weapon Branch circulated wildly within the body, while the Chaos Furnace removed impurities, leaving only the hardest gold essence.

"The soldiers are coming!"

Su Chen let out a loud shout.

puff!puff!puff!
Countless silver streaks of light shot out from his mouth like a torrential rain!

Those were giant battle axes with ferocious shapes, silver-white bodies, and blood grooves wrapped around their blades!

Each battle axe is two zhang long, with a simplified version of the "Heaven-Opening Divine Pattern" engraved on its surface, radiating a terrifying aura belonging to the level of "acquired spiritual treasure".

Although it is only the lowest-level quasi-spiritual treasure, it can even be said to be a mass-produced standard equipment.

But there are a full three thousand of them!
Under mass production and deployment.

That's equivalent to the battle power of three thousand Golden Immortals!
"This axe is called—[Sky-Splitter]."

Su Chen's voice echoed in the main hall.

"It is not only incredibly sharp, but more importantly, it is connected to the giant bloodline within you."

"Once activated, it can trigger the law of 'gravity,' and a single axe strike will cause mountains to collapse!"

"Three thousand Giant Spirit Guards, one weapon each!"

Bang! Bang!
The sound of three thousand Sky-Splitting Axes hitting the ground made the entire hall tremble.

Giant Spirit One trembled as he reached out and grasped the battle axe that belonged to him.

hum!
As he grasped the axe handle, a feeling of connection to his very being welled up within him. He felt the power within him amplified several times over by this axe!
"Roar!!!"

Giant Spirit One couldn't help but roar to the sky and wave his hand casually.

tear-

The space in front of them was cleaved open by the axe blade, leaving a dark crack!

"Thank you, Dao Ancestor, for bestowing this treasure!!"

Three thousand giant spirit guards gripped their axes and roared, their killing intent soaring to the sky!
With this equipment, this Giant Spirit Guard is enough to crush 100,000 Heavenly Soldiers head-on!

"very good."

Su Chen looked at the heavily armed army and nodded in satisfaction.

"Now that the rewards are given, let's establish the rules."

Su Chen sat back on the throne, his expression instantly turning as cold as ice.

"The Immortal City does not support idlers."

"From today onwards, a 'contribution-based ranking system' will be implemented within the city."

Su Chen waved his hand, and a bronze list appeared in the center of the hall.

"All the people of my Eternal Realm are divided into three classes."

"The lowest class are called 'believers' and must pray to the Dao Tree every day and contribute their faith and vows. They can live in the outer city and be protected by the Dao Tree, thus avoiding the corruption of the Void Qi."

"Those of medium rank are 'families' and must go out to hunt beasts from the ruins, collect resources, and hand over divine gold and rare treasures. Those who contribute enough can live in the inner city, be granted 'longevity offspring', enjoy ten times the cultivation speed, and even... a chance to be resurrected."

"The highest rank is the 'Divine Guard,' such as the Giant Spirit Guard and the commanders of various tribes. They must fight for me on the battlefield and expand our territory. As long as they make meritorious contributions, I can bestow upon them any skills, supernatural powers, lifespan, or cultivation level!"

"on the contrary."

Su Chen lowered his eyelids slightly, his tone chilling.

"If there is any negligence, betrayal, or utter worthlessness..."

There can only be one ending.

"That is the fertilizer that becomes the Tree of Immortality."

There was dead silence in the hall.

Everyone could hear the raw cruelty in Su Chen's words.

This is not a benevolent ruler.

This is a demon god who feeds on all living beings!
But precisely because of this, these simple and brutal rules are the most cohesive force in this chaotic wasteland.

Want to live? Want to become stronger?

Then let's fight to the death! Let's rob! Let's kill! And then present it to the king!

"I will obey the decree of the Dao Ancestor!!"

Everyone accepted the order in unison.

"Go back."

Su Chen waved his hand, "Kugu, go arrange the expansion of the army. Juling No. 1, take your men and get used to the new weapons. I will have a great use for you in three days."

"Yes!"

The crowd retreated like a receding tide.

Inside the main hall, only Su Chen remained.

He didn't rest, but gently stroked his chest.

There, the third branch of the Longevity Tree—the Soul-Capturing Branch—was trembling slightly, as if conveying some kind of longing to him.

"hungry?"

Su Chen's lips curled up slightly.

"That's true. We just ate the arm of the Southern Heavenly King, which is a great tonic for the physical body. But for the soul..."

"Something is still missing."

Su Chen took out a jade slip, which was an ancient map he had found in the lair of the Void Ghost Shadow when he was cleaning up the Chaotic Ancient Abyss.

His gaze fell on the deepest part of the map, an area marked in black.

It is even deeper than the Chaotic Ancient Abyss; it is the true end of the Ruins Domain, a place from which even light cannot escape.

"Forbidden Zone of Eternal Night..."

Su Chen softly uttered that name.

"It is said that it connects to the legendary 'underworld,' the kingdom of the dead."

"The Soul-Capturing Branch reacted so violently there... It seems that something wonderful is hidden there that can transform my soul once again."

"It might even be related to... the development of the eighth branch."

A glint of greed flashed in Su Chen's eyes.

"Those old fogies in Heaven suffered a loss, they're definitely preparing a big move. The Four Heavenly Kings gathering? Or the Haotian Mirror?"

"Whatever it is, my current strength is not secure enough."

"We must have one last big meal before the final battle!"

Su Chen stood up and looked out at the endless void outside the main hall.

"The underworld..."

"Hopefully, we can get some 'ingredients' with different flavors."

……

The Imperial City of Immortality, with its central Taoist Palace.

Several days have passed since Su Chen emerged from seclusion and rebuilt the capital. During these days, the entire imperial city has been operating at high speed in an almost frenzied atmosphere.

Countless standardized magical artifacts flowing from the "Divine Weapon Branch" were distributed, and the strength of the Longevity Guard was expanding at an astonishing rate with the accumulation of equipment and resources. As the mastermind behind all this, Su Chen sat alone on the imperial throne, his expression showing no sign of relaxation.

His right hand was gently pressed against his chest.

There came a series of throbbing movements, like the scratching of a hungry wild beast.

"Hunger..." "My soul...I need my soul..."

A series of vague yet greedy thoughts continuously assaulted Su Chen's sea of ​​consciousness.

That was the third branch of the Longevity Tree—the Soul-Capturing Branch—stirring.

Since Su Chen devoured the Southern Heavenly King's severed arm, his physical body transformed into the prototype of the "Chaotic Longevity Body," and he entered the early stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, a subtle imbalance has appeared in his "essence, qi, and spirit."

His physical body is too strong.

It was so powerful that even his soul could hardly control this body full of "wildness" and "chaos".

For anyone else, this state of physical strength surpassing spiritual power could easily lead to demonic possession, ultimately turning them into a mindless, bloodthirsty zombie. However, Su Chen, with the Longevity Tree suppressing him, doesn't have this worry.

However, this feeling of being "top-heavy" made him very unhappy.

"The Soul-Capturing Branch is dedicated to cultivating the soul. Its current agitation is a reminder that I need to work on my brain."

Su Chen slowly opened his eyes. The black hole in his left eye, which represented "Wu," spun more and more slowly, as if it had become sluggish due to the lack of divine soul power.

"Ordinary souls, even the primordial spirits of Golden Immortals or even Taiyi Golden Immortals, are just a drop in the ocean compared to the current growth of my divine soul."

"I need a qualitative change."

Su Chen flipped his hand, and the ancient leather map he had obtained from the Void Ghost Shadow's lair appeared in his hand.

As the Soul-Seizing Branch's energy was injected into his body, a strange, eerie light began to emanate from a certain area on the map that was originally pitch black.

The light was not the aura of the living, but a ghastly green like phosphorescence in a graveyard.

Location: Deep within the Ruins, in the [Eternal Night Forbidden Zone].

"Eternal Night..."

Su Chen's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest.

In the legends of the Ruins, it is the end of light, the final resting place of all things. Even a long-established overlord like the Nine-Headed Lion Ancestor kept it a secret, listing it as an absolute forbidden zone.

It is said that any living being that enters the eternal night will inexplicably lose its soul, leaving only an empty shell wandering in the darkness.

"Lost soul?"

A playful smile appeared on Su Chen's lips.

"Doesn't that mean... a massive number of unclaimed souls are gathered there?"

"What is a dead end for others is clearly a... free buffet for me, who possesses the Soul-Stealing Branch."

Moreover, the fact that the Soul-Capturing Branch points there is definitely not just because there are souls there.

What the Longevity Tree so desperately desires must be some kind of supreme treasure that touches upon the "origin of the Soul Dao"!

"Someone is coming."

Su Chen spoke calmly, his voice penetrating the hall and resounding through the sky.

"exist!"

Outside the hall, two powerful auras descended instantly.

Lady Bone, dressed in a black and gold robe, exuded an air of elegance and cold beauty; Giant Spirit One, clad in heavy armor and carrying a giant axe, resembled a moving iron tower.

The two knelt on the ground, their expressions extremely respectful.

"Gather three thousand Giant Spirit Guards, plus ten thousand elite Longevity Guards."

Su Chen stood up, his chaotic aura as vast and unfathomable as the ocean, distorting the surrounding space.

"Follow me...on the expedition."

"Target: Eternal Night Forbidden Zone."

Upon hearing this, Lady Dry Bones trembled slightly, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by unwavering fervor.

The Forbidden Zone of Eternal Night? That's a legendary death trap where no one can return!
But since it is the Dao Ancestor's order, we must brave even mountains of knives and seas of fire!
"I will obey the decree!!"

……

Three hours later.

The north gate of the Immortal City suddenly swung open.

An army exuding overwhelming murderous aura surged forth like a black torrent.

At the forefront were three thousand giant spirit guards, each three zhang tall. They all wielded two-zhang-long silver-white battle axes—[Sky-Splitter]—and with each step they took, they created visible ripples in the void.

They had no mounts, for their own bodies were the strongest chariots.

Behind them were ten thousand Longevity Guards piloting bronze flying boats. These flying boats were also mass-produced by Su Chen using the [Divine Weapon Branch]. Although they were not as large as the Heavenly Court's warships, they were more agile and sturdy, and each flying boat was engraved with a spirit-gathering array and a killing array.

And in the center of this large army.

A bronze dragon, a thousand feet long (manifested by Su Chen's magic), pulled the Chaos Emperor Throne, which symbolized supreme authority. Su Chen sat on it, closing his eyes to rest, as if he were not going to a forbidden area, but taking a walk in his own backyard.

"set off!"

Giant Spirit One, as the vanguard commander, roared and swung the Sky-Splitting Axe forward.

Rumbling--

The army set off, heading straight into the depths of the ruins.

As the army continued to advance deeper into the region, the surrounding environment began to change dramatically.

Although the Ruins were originally dark, there was still some starlight and floating continental debris. But after passing the Chaotic Ancient Abyss, the light seemed to be swallowed up by some monster, becoming less and less.

The temperature plummeted, and what floated in the void were no longer rocks, but frozen ancient corpses and broken weapons.

A sense of oppression known as "dead silence" enveloped the hearts of every soldier.

"Is this the path to eternal night...?"

Lady Dry Bones rode a bone dragon beside Su Chen's throne, warily scanning their surroundings.

Now a Taiyi Golden Immortal, she possessed an extremely keen perception of the laws of nature. She could sense that the spatial laws here were extremely chaotic, as if they had been shattered countless times, making long-distance spatial jumps impossible.

Moreover, a black mist capable of eroding the soul permeated the air. If the army hadn't been protected by the [Longevity Seeds], probably half of them would have gone mad before even reaching their destination.

"Dao Ancestor, the 'Dividing Line of Light and Darkness' is just ahead."

Lady Dry Bones pointed ahead and said.

At the end of the line of sight, a neat black line appeared.

On this side of the line, there is still a faint starlight; on the other side, there is absolute darkness, a pure darkness that inspires despair. Even probing with divine sense would be like throwing a stone into the sea, instantly losing all contact.

That is the forbidden zone of eternal night.

"stop."

Su Chen slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes gleamed with two eerie purple lights in the darkness.

The darkness that is invisible to ordinary people is a completely different sight in his eyes, which are a fusion of [Wu] and [Chang Sheng].

It wasn't some empty darkness at all.

That's... the sea!

A black ocean formed by countless fragments of broken souls, resentment, and remnants of spirits!
Within that sea of ​​souls, countless bizarre creatures swam. They had no physical form, resembling wisps of twisted smoke; some had several human faces, others were entirely tentacled, all greedily eyeing the intruding army of living beings.

"So many...snacks."

Su Chen licked his lips, and the Soul-Capturing Branch inside his body emitted an excited buzzing sound.

"Squeak squeak squeak—!!!"

Seemingly sensing the presence of living beings, countless sharp screeching sounds suddenly erupted from the darkness.

Immediately afterwards, the once calm darkness erupted into chaos.

Countless translucent gray monsters surged out of the darkness like a tide, overwhelming the army of immortals!

These monsters have no physical form, are extremely fast, and leave behind a nauseating, foul stench.

"It's the 'Night Beast'!"

Lady Dry Bones' expression changed. "These monsters feed solely on souls; physical attacks have little effect on them! Everyone, be careful to protect your sea of ​​consciousness!"

A slight commotion arose within the army.

Faced with such an invisible and intangible, bizarre enemy, even seasoned cultivators would feel an instinctive fear.

"Why panic?"

Su Chen's cold voice rang out from the throne.

"Physical attacks are ineffective?"

"That's because your strength... isn't enough."

Su Chen's gaze swept towards the Giant Spirit No. 1 at the very front.

"Giant Spirit, show them what it means to... overcome all techniques with sheer force!" (End of Chapter)