Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin: I Set Taboos in the Heavens

Many ancestors gathered together.

This gathering is not only about choosing a leader.

Under the leader of the alliance, there are two envoys, one in charge of internal affairs coordination, education and pacification, and resource management; the other in charge of external conquest, suppression of rebellion, and administration of punishment.

The two envoys held high positions and wielded great power, second only to the alliance leader, and were his right and left arms.

Below the two messengers, there are nine great Dharma Kings who protect the path.

Each Dharma King must possess profound cultivation, govern a region, and be in charge of different war zones and major affairs of the alliance, such as defense, offense, intelligence, formations, alchemy and artifacts, and inheritance. They have great autonomy and decision-making power and are the nine pillars of the alliance.

Below the Dharma King are twenty-four guardian deities. These deities must be brave and skilled in battle, adept at commanding troops, and serve as the direct commanders and frontline commanders of the allied army. They wield significant military power and are the key figures who truly charge into battle and determine the outcome of the war.

The rest, based on their cultivation level, merits, and abilities, may obtain positions such as elder, protector, or inspector, enjoying corresponding rights, responsibilities, and resources.

This is the core power structure, consisting of thirty-six core seats. The first is the Alliance Leader, the second is the Envoy of Light and Darkness, the ninth is the Nine Great Dharma Kings, and the twenty-four are the Twenty-Four Divine Generals, totaling thirty-six.

Once acquired, one will hold supreme power over the alliance and rule over all living beings in the myriad realms. The power and glory associated with it far surpass that of a celestial lord, making it a momentous event that will be remembered for eternity!

Thirty-six core seats! The pinnacle of power!

The hearts of all the strong were set ablaze.

This is not just about status, but also about real power, resources, and... luck.

Fang Qing even keenly sensed that the moment the Grand Ancestor Taixu announced this power structure, the Heavenly Dao Operation Temple and even the entire Guardian Alliance, whose originally scattered fortunes were drawn together by an invisible force, gathered together, and boiled over.

Like rivers flowing into the sea, they surge toward the soon-to-be-determined core of power.

He was absolutely certain that once someone truly established himself as the leader of the alliance and gained recognition for the alliance's righteous cause, the immense fortune that gathered from countless immortal realms, billions of living beings, and boundless resources and beliefs would surely be concentrated upon him.

What a terrifying blessing that would be!

It's enough to cause any cultivator's realm to break through unimaginably in an instant!

This is like an emperor of a secular dynasty ascending the throne. Once he has power in his hands, his words carry the weight of the law, and the power and fortune of the entire empire are at his disposal!
For cultivators, this is an unparalleled opportunity.

Just as countless people were filled with excitement and making their own plans, a cold, direct, and domineering voice suddenly rang out, drowning out all the whispers.

"If no one can withstand my swordsmanship, then I'll become the alliance leader myself, no objections! In short, our election for alliance leader must be a grand martial arts competition. Whoever has the higher cultivation level is the stronger, this is an irrefutable truth. Enough with the nonsense. I am one of the candidates for alliance leader, now that we've arrived at the center, who will challenge me?"

"Buzz!"

As soon as the words were spoken, a sword light so sharp it could pierce the soul, radiating golden light yet carrying an aura of eternal desolation, flashed and tore through space, landing steadily in the central circular area of ​​the vast temple, which had been deliberately left empty, resembling an arena.

It was none other than the ancestor of the Burial Sword.

He remained seated cross-legged atop the illusory sword mound, but his entire being had merged with it, transforming into a peerless, deadly sword that stood tall and imposing.

Every pore on his body was spewing out subtle yet incredibly sharp sword energy, cutting through the surrounding space with a hissing sound, leaving countless fine black cracks.

At this moment, the patriarch stood majestically in the center, his gaze like a sword drawn from its sheath, sweeping across all directions. Naturally, an invincible aura that pierced the sky, broke through the chaos, and made him the only one worthy of respect spread out.

His cultivation level was beyond the comprehension of most people present. They felt it was unfathomable, and he was definitely at the peak of the Hongshen Realm, or even a powerful figure who had begun to climb the Immortal Ladder.

Every time he glanced at someone, some of the lower-level Hong Shen, and even many Hao Shen and Tuo Shen realm ancestors, felt a stinging pain in their souls, as if an invisible sword aura was pressed against their throats and brows. Their expressions changed involuntarily, and they trembled inwardly, finding it difficult to even muster the courage to meet his gaze.

The entire temple fell silent for a moment because of his domineering entrance and terrifying sword intent!

In fact, all the elders present knew exactly what was going on.

Ultimately, this election for the leader of the alliance comes down to the word "strength".

Having prestige or wisdom is one thing, but without invincible qigong and the power to subdue all heroes, the position of alliance leader is a hot potato, as one cannot command these unruly and powerful beings from all realms.

A grand competition is the only fair and effective option.

Whoever can outsmart all others and subdue everyone else will be the undisputed leader of the alliance.

However, the reputation and ferocity of the Sword Burial Ancestor were so deeply ingrained in people's minds.

As early as 100 million years ago, he was already famous throughout the heavens, and his sword had slain countless demons, evil gods, and chaotic beasts.

Afterwards, he secluded himself in the depths of chaos to cultivate for a hundred million years. Who knows how many chaotic adventures and ancient miracles he obtained? And how unfathomable his swordsmanship became?
At that moment, he was the first to jump out, and his indomitable spirit and disregard for the crowd truly intimidated many people.

"What? Not a single person dares to come up and fight me?"

Seeing that no one responded for a long time, the Sword Burial Ancestor couldn't help but sneer. His voice was like the friction of metal, grating and full of pressure. "So, does that mean I'm the leader of the alliance? That's a bit too boring."

His gaze swept over the powerful ancient artifacts, as if searching for prey.

Just then, a calm, gentle, yet equally clear voice rang out, reaching everyone's ears.

“Brother Zangjian, your swordsmanship is divine, truly admirable. However, the position of Alliance Leader is of great importance, how can there be no one to test your skills? I am willing to learn a few moves from you, Brother, and also to contribute my humble efforts to the selection of capable individuals for our Alliance of Protectors.”

Before the words were finished, a figure in a green robe appeared silently at the other end of the circular area, facing the Sword Burial Ancestor from afar.

It was Fang Qing.

He appeared calm and composed, with a smile on his face. He did not exude any imposing aura, but his natural composure and unwavering demeanor made everyone wary of him.

"Oh? It's you? The newly promoted Celestial Master Fang?"

The Sword Burial Ancestor's gaze was like a sword, instantly locking onto Fang Qing, as if he wanted to dissect him from the inside out.

"Your courage is commendable. However, my sword has no eyes. Swords have no eyes; if you are injured or even... perish, you have no one to blame but yourself."

"Let's discuss and debate, but stop when we've reached a point."

Fang Qing smiled calmly, but she had her own plans in mind.

Now that his Hongshen Realm is stable, the chaotic inner world within his body has become a nascent universe, and with the secret support of six Zhuxian King Tokens, his control over the Myriad Realms King Map has greatly increased.

More importantly, he has cultivated the profound mysteries of countless divine-level qigong techniques. The Chaos Devouring Heaven Dao encompasses all things, and he also possesses the "Chaos Devouring Heaven God-Slaying Sword Light" within his body, which can devour all laws and grow as a trump card.

He wanted to take this opportunity to fight against such a top expert, firstly to test his own strength, and secondly... he had a bold idea!

Since this election for the leader of the alliance is a grand contest, there will inevitably be direct clashes of power.

His chaotic inner world and the Way of Devouring Heaven are best at containing and transforming external forces.

If we can skillfully guide the attacks of these top experts to become, to some extent, a source of pressure and energy like an "enlightenment," helping him to further refine his inner world, solidify his foundation as a divine being, and even peek into the path to the immortal ladder, wouldn't that be a win-win situation?
There are risks, but the opportunities are equally huge!
"Well said, 'stop when you've got it right!' Take this sword!"

A fierce glint flashed in the eyes of the Sword Burial Ancestor. He was warlike by nature and disliked Fang Qing's seemingly mild attitude even more.

In his view, the way of the sword is to forge ahead relentlessly, cutting through everything. Once you step onto the stage, you must be prepared to fight to the death. Without him making any move, the illusory image of the Sword Tomb, where he sat cross-legged, suddenly trembled, and countless illusory swords resounded in unison!

"Bury the heavens! Bury the earth! Bury the gods! Bury the immortals! The four burials combined into one, all ages vanish!"

The cold voice of the Sword Burial Ancestor emanated from the center of the dark sword mound, like a sigh from an ancient cemetery.

The next moment, he pointed his fingers like a sword and gently slashed at Fang Qing.

"Whoosh!!!"

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a pure and exquisite sword aura, radiating golden light yet containing endless sorrow and deathly stillness, which appeared out of thin air.

This sword energy, which started as a single line, instantly expanded into a vast, boundless golden river of sword energy.

In this long river, it seems that countless civilizations are born, flourish, and fall, and hundreds of millions of lives are praying, struggling, and returning to silence.

There is also a grand and contradictory principle of righteousness that is both meant to bring peace to all generations and to bury everything with its own hands, and that is being condensed and manifested.

This sword strike, seemingly righteous and awe-inspiring, ushering in a golden age, actually contains the ultimate death sword intent that will bury all ages. It is the ultimate unity of opposites between life and death, and the essence of the sword cultivation of the Sword Burial Ancestor for a hundred million years!
Wherever the sword energy passed, the incredibly stable space of the temple was silently cut open, leaving a dark ravine that stretched for thousands of miles and could not be healed for a long time.

The terrifying sword intent locked onto Fang Qing, as if it wanted to completely erase and bury him, along with all traces of his existence, from this world!
Countless veteran spectators gasped in astonishment.

The power of this sword strike has already surpassed the realm of ordinary Hongshen Realm cultivators, and has definitely reached the level of half-step immortality.

Many experts at the Hongshen Realm thought to themselves that if they were to face this sword, they would have almost no chance of directly withstanding it, except for either dodging in a sorry state or using their life-saving trump cards to withstand it.

However, facing this earth-shattering sword strike, Fang Qing neither dodged nor avoided it, and even took a step forward!
"Chaos is the furnace, the heavens are the cover, all laws return to nothingness, take it all in!"

"Boom!!!"

In an instant, the space in front of Fang Qing distorted violently, and a huge vortex, deep and mysterious, with chaotic energy and dark gold devouring runes flowing around its edges, appeared out of thin air.

At the center of the vortex lies the vast, chaotic inner world within his body.

This is precisely the defensive and devouring divine power he unleashed, "Chaos Returning to Ruins Devouring Heaven Domain," based on the Chaos Inner World, combined with the origin of the Devouring Heaven Talisman Array and his profound understanding of space and the Great Dao of Devouring.

The vast, boundless river of golden swords plunged headlong into this suddenly appearing chaotic vortex.

The terrifying sword energy, capable of annihilating stars and destroying worlds, seemed to vanish into thin air the instant it entered the chaotic vortex, its speed decreasing drastically.

Within the vortex, the chaotic air currents spun wildly, like the most precise millstone, beginning to decompose and wear down the supreme sword intent and boundless energy contained in the golden sword energy.

At the same time, the dark golden devouring runes deep within the vortex shone brightly, emitting a greedy suction force, actively tearing and devouring the sword energy that had been initially softened by the chaotic airflow!

"Huh? What kind of divine power is this? It can actually devour my Burial Sword River?!"

The Sword Burial Ancestor's expression changed slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He had cultivated for hundreds of millions of years and had seen countless supernatural powers and magical treasures, but he had never seen anyone like Fang Qing who could directly swallow his full-force sword strike in the form of a vortex.

Moreover, he felt his connection with that sword energy was rapidly weakening, as if that sword energy had truly been thrown into a bottomless abyss.

"Break!"

The Sword Burial Ancestor snorted coldly, and his sword finger changed again!

The golden river that surged into the vortex suddenly contracted and condensed, transforming into a small, dark golden sword that was extremely solid, only about ten feet long. The Dao patterns of death and end were clearly visible on the sword's blade. Its power not only did not weaken, but instead increased dramatically due to its extreme condensation.

The small sword spun wildly like a drill, relentlessly piercing through everything, hurtling towards the deepest part of the vortex. It aimed to break through the surface, forcefully piercing this bizarre, devouring domain!

Fang Qing remained expressionless, his primordial divine power surging like the sea within him as he did his utmost to maintain the "Chaos Returning to the Void Devouring Heaven Domain".

"Perfect timing! I can borrow your power to temper my inner world crystal wall!"

Fang Qing was not alarmed but delighted. With a thought, the chaotic vortex suddenly contracted inward, as if it had actively "swallowed" the dark gold sword into the deepest part of the vortex—the entrance to the passage connecting his chaotic inner world.

Boom!!!

The dark gold sword darted into the edge of the chaotic inner world, instantly unleashing a terrifying storm of sword energy! It was about to tear this unfamiliar world apart!
However, Fang Qing's chaotic inner world possesses a complete system of laws and spatial structure, making it far more stable than the outside world. More importantly, this is Fang Qing's absolute home ground!
"Chaos Suppression! Primordial Chaos Suppression! Refinement of All Laws!"

Fang Qing's divine soul manifested within the inner world, mobilizing the primordial power of the entire inner world.

Endless chaotic energy transformed into chains that entwined the sword, while primordial purple energy formed a mountain to suppress it. The law nodes formed from the origins of the seventy-two special constitutions within the inner world also shone brightly, each releasing law power of different attributes, working together to refine this foreign, peerless, and ferocious sword.

At the same time, the chaotic vortex outside Fang Qing's body, which had become dazzling due to absorbing a large amount of sword energy, suddenly spewed out in reverse.

However, what was spewed out was no longer sword energy, but a gray torrent containing the essence of the Burial Sword after its initial refinement and Fang Qing's own chaotic killing intent. Like a reversed river of swords, it surged back towards the Burial Sword Ancestor himself!

This is a brilliant application of using their own methods against them!

The Sword Burial Ancestor's expression finally changed drastically!

He sensed that his dark gold sword, which contained the essence of his life's sword intent, was being rapidly refined and devoured within the strange inner world of the other party, and the connection between them was rapidly weakening.

The gray torrent that came towards him, though not as powerful as his original form, was still formidable, and contained a devouring and chaotic attribute that made his heart tremble.

"Sword Burial Coffin, emerge!"

At the critical moment, the Sword Burial Ancestor shouted, and the illusory sword tomb beneath him suddenly materialized, transforming into an ancient, broken bronze sword coffin that exuded an aura of eternal annihilation.

The lid of the sword coffin was lifted slightly, revealing an endless darkness and a tomb of swords inside. It emitted a tremendous suction force and the intent of annihilation, which barely managed to draw the oncoming gray torrent into the coffin. It made a muffled roar, and the sword coffin trembled violently. Several fine cracks even appeared on the coffin!
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Fang Qing moved with lightning speed, taking a step forward and passing through the still-dissipating energy turbulence to arrive in front of the Burial Sword Ancestor.

He simply threw a punch!
This punch condensed all of Fang Qinghong's physical strength from his divine realm, the burst of primordial divine power, and a trace of the holy king's will to rule over all paths.

Chaotic energy swirled around the surface of the fist, with dark gold runes appearing and disappearing, and the space in front of it automatically collapsed.

"Chaos Saint King Fist!"

The Sword Burial Ancestor had just suppressed the backlash of the gray torrent, the sword coffin was injured, and the connection between his mind and the dark gold sword was almost severed. It was a moment when the old power was exhausted, the new power had not yet been generated, and his mind was in turmoil.

Faced with this sudden and domineering punch, he could only hastily raise his arm, turning it into a sword to meet it head-on!

The fists and arms clashed, producing a deafening sound like divine metal colliding violently.

The terrifying ripples of power spread wildly in all directions like a tangible shockwave, cracking the ground in the central area of ​​the temple with countless spiderweb-like fissures. Some of the weaker elders nearby retreated in horror!
The Sword Burial Ancestor felt an unparalleled, immense force, mixed with a weight as heavy as an ancient divine mountain, as ancient as the beginning of chaos, and carrying an overbearing will to devour everything and rule over all paths, crashing fiercely into his arm.

His sword-wielding arm, powerful enough to cleave stars, snapped under the strain, instantly bending and writhing in agony!
"puff--!"

He groaned, his body involuntarily flying backward like a kite with a broken string, tracing a pathetic arc in the air before crashing heavily into a thick pillar of chaos in the distance.

The Sword Burial Ancestor has been defeated! (End of Chapter)