Under One Person: Starting from the Inheritance of Gods

Chapter 457 Zhang Zhiwei Makes His Move, Celestial Master's Mansion Surrounds and Kills Chen Zhibao

As Fan Xian had predicted, Chen Zhibao led a small group of men, along with Dian Xiongchu, Ye Xizhen, Yao Jian, and others, out of Liangzhou City and headed south.

Fan Xian pondered for a moment, then handed the Zhenwu Black Carved Banner to Zhang Zhiwei, bowed and said, "Old Celestial Master, I beg you, you must ensure Chen Zhibao's death."

Zhang Zhiwei sighed, "I never thought I would do such a thing, let alone lead the disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion."

He turned to look at Zhang Lingyu, Zhang Chulan, and the group of disciples.

"Let's go, intercept and kill Chen Zhibao!"

Lightning flashed in the old celestial master's eyes, and with one step, the world changed color.

With a flick of his sleeve, Zhang Zhiwei conjured up a storm, with lightning flashing in the air. Behind him, Zhang Lingyu, Zhang Chulan, and other disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion stood solemnly, their auras as deep and unfathomable as a abyss.

"Chen Zhibao is a man of great fortune and an extremely strong destiny. He is also the reincarnation of the Celestial Emperor Qingdi. If he cannot be killed in one blow, there will be endless troubles in the future."

The old master said calmly, "Lingyu, Chulan, you two lead your disciples to seal off the four directions, so that he has no chance to escape."

Zhang Lingyu nodded slightly, golden light flickering around him. Zhang Chulan grinned, lightning flashing at his fingertips: "Don't worry, Master, he can't escape."

Thirty li outside Liangzhou City, the official road winds its way.

Chen Zhibao rode his horse forward, his expression calm, as if he had already anticipated today's situation. Behind him, Dian Xiongchu, Ye Xizhen, and the others looked on warily, glancing around frequently.

“General, the battle at Huaiyang Pass showed that the young master is extremely cunning. His easy release of us this time is probably part of a larger scheme,” Ye Xizhen said in a low voice.

Chen Zhibao said calmly, "Perhaps, but I must thank you all for being willing to leave with me."

Dian Xiong bowed and said, "Your subordinate swears to follow the general to the death!"

Before he finished speaking, a figure stood with his hands behind his back on the official road ahead, his white robes fluttering in the wind—it was Fan Xian.

"General Chen, why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Fan Xian smiled slightly, but his gaze was as cold as frost.

Chen Zhibao reined in his horse and stopped, calmly saying, "I am truly flattered that the young master has personally escorted me."

Fan Xian shook his head: "It's not a farewell, it's a send-off."

The atmosphere suddenly froze.

Dian Xiong roared, "Xu Fengnian! Do you really intend to exterminate us all?!"

Fan Xian sighed, "Chen Zhibao, I know that you left to fulfill my wishes, to fulfill the wishes of Beiliang, and also to seek another place to restrain Liyang."

"What a pity. If you were just Chen Zhibao, why wouldn't I let you go?"

Chen Zhibao's eyes narrowed: "What do you mean?"

Fan Xian didn't explain, he just stared intently at him.

Chen Zhibao was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "It seems you are more decisive than I thought. That's right, only in this way are you qualified to be the King of Beiliang."

He dismounted, placed one hand on his plum wine spear, and his aura suddenly surged, as deep and boundless as the ocean.

"If that's the case, then let's fight."

Fan Xian shook his head: "Unfortunately, I'm not the only one who fought you."

Suddenly, lightning crackled across the sky, followed by billowing, dark clouds. A massive banner, obscuring the sky and covering all directions, was unfurled.

"boom--!"

A dazzling golden light cleaved down from the clouds, pointing directly at Chen Zhibao.

Chen Zhibao's pupils contracted, and he suddenly raised his gun to meet the attack head-on.

"clang--!"

The clang of metal echoed across the field, and Chen Zhibao staggered back three steps, the ground cracking. He looked up and saw Zhang Zhiwei standing in mid-air, his sleeves billowing, his eyes flashing like lightning.

"Taoism, thunder magic, is it Wudang Mountain or the Celestial Master's Mansion?" Chen Zhibao asked in a deep voice.

The old master said calmly, "General Chen, this road is blocked today."

Chen Zhibao sneered: "Young Master, you've even managed to get the Daoist sect involved. That's quite a feat."

Fan Xian stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "To deal with you, I naturally need to be fully prepared."

Before the words were finished, figures appeared in the surrounding void. Zhang Lingyu and Zhang Chulan led the disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion to form a great formation, sealing off all directions.

Zhang Lingyu and Zhang Chulan further stirred up the black and white thunder energy, condensing it into a Yin-Yang diagram in the air, which served Zhang Zhiwei on both sides.

Dian Xiongchu, Ye Xizhen and others' expressions changed drastically. Although they were fierce generals of Beiliang, they still felt immense pressure when facing the elite troops of the Celestial Master's Mansion.

Chen Zhibao remained calm and slowly raised his gun: "Since there is no way out, then let's fight our way out!"

The plum wine spear's intent was rich and sharp, its light as white as snow, its killing intent soaring to the heavens!
Zhang Zhiwei's eyes narrowed, and with a flick of his sleeves, thunder magic was unleashed once more!
"Five Thunder Orthodox Method - Heavenly Punishment!"

"boom--!"

Lightning bolts, like dragons, pierced straight down. Chen Zhibao let out a long roar, his spear thrusting like a rainbow, forcefully piercing through the lightning.

Seeing this, Fan Xian no longer hesitated. He flashed and instantly closed in on Chen Zhibao. A golden crow dharma image like Haoyang appeared behind him, and he struck out with a palm.

The palm strike was powerful, like the sky collapsing and the earth overturning!
Chen Zhibao parried with his spear, but the blow caused his blood to surge and blood to trickle from the corner of his mouth. A look of seriousness finally appeared in his eyes; his opponent's strength far exceeded his expectations.

"You've been hiding it well," Chen Zhibao said coldly, wiping away the blood.

Fan Xian said calmly, "Likewise."

Just then, Zhang Chulan suddenly shouted, "Master, the formation is complete!"

Zhang Zhiwei nodded, formed a hand seal, and in an instant, the power of heaven and earth gathered, forming a huge golden array that enveloped the surrounding area!

"Celestial Master's Mansion Demon-Sealing Formation!"

A golden array of light enveloped the surrounding area like a net covering the heavens and the earth, and crisscrossing Taoist inscriptions appeared on the ground.

Zhang Lingyu stepped into the Bagua position and flicked out thirty-six golden talismans from his sleeve. Each talisman transformed into a golden chain as thick as a bowl, which clattered and wrapped around Chen Zhibao's limbs.

Chen Zhibao's spear tip trembled slightly, the plum wine tracing a mysterious arc. Wherever the spear's intent passed, the chains melted away like spring snow meeting the sun.

Ye Xizhen suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, and the compass in his hand shattered. The Qimen Dunjia he had secretly set up was destroyed by the force of the backlash.

"interesting."

Zhang Zhiwei raised his white eyebrows slightly and formed the Five Thunder Seal with his hands. Suddenly, five thunder dragons emerged from the clouds, each dragon scale shimmering with different Dao patterns.

Eastern blue thunder governs birth and death, southern red thunder burns away karmic obstacles, western white thunder severs cause and effect, northern black thunder suppresses the netherworld, and central purple thunder breaks all laws.

Chen Zhibao finally changed his expression.

In the moment of crisis, he planted his spear in the ground, and blue flames rose from his body.

Amidst the blazing light, celestial palaces and pavilions were vaguely visible, eventually coalescing behind them into a twelve-tasseled imperial phantom. Dian Xiongchu and the others were forced to their knees by the oppressive force, their armor groaning under the strain.

"The Azure Emperor's Dharma Form?" Zhang Chulan's fingertips suddenly crackled with lightning. "Master Uncles, be careful!" Fan Xian's golden mark between his brows shone brightly, and the Golden Crow Dharma Form behind him suddenly unfurled its fiery wings. Each feather flowed with a Daoist aura like molten gold, scattering countless sparks as it flapped its wings. The sparks ignited upon hitting the ground, turning the area into a sea of ​​fire.

The Azure Emperor's image stood motionless in the sea of ​​fire, becoming even more verdant.

"Zhenwu!" Chen Zhibao's voice suddenly resounded, as if a million people were speaking at the same time, "You want to plot to kill me? With just these people?"

The plum wine suddenly emitted a dragon's roar, and densely packed immortal seals appeared on the gun barrel.

Where the spear tip pointed, space shattered like glass. Zhang Lingyu groaned, a burst of blood erupting from his left shoulder, wounded by the spear intent that pierced through from afar.

The old master was furious.

He removed his Taoist crown and tossed it into the air, where seven precious pearls transformed into the Big Dipper. The starlight mingled with the thunder dragon, evolving into the Heavenly Thunder Pool. Thunderous magma surged within the pool, each fluctuation causing wind and thunder to roar for a radius of a hundred miles.

"Five thunder strikes!"

With this decree, the Thunder Pool poured down. Chen Zhibao roared to the sky, and the illusory image of the emperor, with a blue dragon coiled in its hand, roared out and collided violently with the Thunder Pool!
A blinding light erupted between heaven and earth, as if a blazing sun had exploded. The shockwave swept across the land, instantly turning the rocks on both sides of the official road into dust. Dian Xiongchu and the others were thrown dozens of feet away by the shockwave, coughing up blood.

Amidst the smoke and dust, Chen Zhibao knelt on one knee, his plum wine bottle deeply embedded in the ground. His chest armor was shattered, revealing skin covered in lightning patterns, yet he still stared intently at Zhang Zhiwei in mid-air.

"What a brilliant lightning technique..." Golden blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and it ignited into blue flames as he landed.

Fan Xian suddenly erupted!

The Golden Crow's wings closed, transforming into a giant sword burning with the essence of the sun. Space distorted where the sword's edge passed, piercing straight for the Azure Emperor's illusory brow.

Chen Zhibao suddenly looked up, his eyes gleaming with a bright blue light. The plum wine sprang up from the ground, and the spear shot out like a dragon. This spear seemed to be a simple straight thrust, but in fact it contained the meaning of the cycle of the four seasons.

The spear tip evokes the first thunder of spring, the shaft the torrential rain of summer, the spear's edge the chilling frost of autumn, and the spear's power the snow-covered sky of winter, precisely striking the sword's edge.

"clang--!"

Amidst a deafening roar, Fan Xian's tiger's mouth split open, and his Golden Crow Dharma Image flickered erratically. Chen Zhibao was equally badly injured; the ground beneath his feet caved in three feet, and tiny cracks appeared in the Emperor's illusory image.

Zhang Chulan seized the opportunity and formed hand seals: "Yang Five Thunders - Crimson Palace Thunders - Hundred Dragons Subdue Demons!"

A dazzling bolt of lightning shot out from his palm, splitting into a hundred lightning dragons, baring their fangs and claws, their scales menacing, and swarming towards Chen Zhibao.

Zhang Lingyu attacked simultaneously, and the Yin Five Thunders transformed into jet-black, dirty water thunder, slippery and cold, eroding the heart and clouding the will, like a group of overwhelming Yin demon thunder tigers descending from the sky.

Two opposing forces of lightning clashed within his body, causing the emperor's illusory image to dim further.

"You... are looking for death!"

Chen Zhibao suddenly roared, and his body surged with azure flames. The lightning that had invaded his body was forcibly forced out, forming a halo of intertwined lightning and fire around him.

The immortal seals on the plum wine spear lit up one by one, and a faint, unsettling light gathered at the tip of the spear.

Zhang Zhiwei's expression changed drastically: "Retreat quickly!"

Before he finished speaking, Chen Zhibao had already spun around and thrust his spear. This thrust appeared slow, but in reality, it defied the constraints of time. Wherever the eerie light from the spear tip passed, space shattered layer by layer like a mirror, revealing the pitch-black void behind.

"Azure Emperor Technique - Breaking Boundaries!"

Zhang Chulan, who was the first to be hit, had his pupils constrict as the golden light protecting him was instantly torn apart.

At the critical moment, the old Celestial Master flashed in front of him, and the Three Pure Ones Bell flew out from his sleeve. The bell grew taller in the wind, transforming into a giant bronze bell over ten feet high.

"Boom--!"

A ghostly light struck the bell, emitting a mournful cry that shook the heavens and earth. Countless cracks appeared on the surface of the giant bell, which finally exploded with a deafening roar.

The blast wave sent the two flying, and Zhang Zhiwei's Taoist robe sleeves were torn to shreds, revealing his arms covered in lightning patterns.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Fan Xian attacked again, his hands forming a hand seal that blossomed like a lotus flower. Suddenly, the Golden Crow Dharma Image split into nine, each carrying a burning talisman, and pounced on Chen Zhibao from different directions.

"Nine Luminaries Burn the Heavens!"

Nine pillars of fire shot into the sky, intertwining in the air to form a crimson-gold cage. Chen Zhibao swung his spear repeatedly, each impact causing the fire cage to tremble violently, yet he could not break through.

Zhang Zhiwei steadied himself, then suddenly bit his fingertip and drew a blood talisman on his palm: "Thunder Ancestor, lend me your power!"

Suddenly, a crack appeared in the heavens, and a giant sword crackling with purple lightning slowly emerged. Even before the sword was fully revealed, the aura it emitted caused all the birds and beasts within a hundred miles to faint.

Chen Zhibao finally revealed his astonishment. The illusory figure of the Azure Emperor clasped his hands together and began to burn his own essence. The tip of the Plum Wine Spear glowed eerily again, this time with a resolute determination to perish together with the enemy.

"cut!"

The old celestial master pointed downwards, and the Purple Heaven Thunder Sword crashed down. At the same time, Chen Zhibao's spear technique reached its peak. The moment these two world-destroying forces collided, the entire world seemed to fall silent.

The blinding white light swallowed everything.

When the light faded, the official road was gone, replaced by a charred, deep pit a thousand feet in diameter.

At the bottom of the pit, Chen Zhibao knelt on one knee, the plum wine broken in two. The blue flames on his body gradually died down, and the emperor's phantom vanished like smoke.

"In the end... it was just a hair's breadth short..."

He looked at Fan Xian as he approached and suddenly laughed, "But do you think this is enough to kill the reincarnation of the Immortal Emperor?"

Before he finished speaking, a burst of azure light suddenly erupted from the top of his head. A phantom figure broke free from his physical body and was about to disappear into the void.

"The wait is now!"

Fan Xian suddenly threw out the Zhenwu Black Carved Banner, which unfolded into a curtain that covered the sky.

Zhang Zhiwei simultaneously threw out seven copper coins engraved with wings. The coins formed the Big Dipper Demon-Sealing Array in the air, and the blue light struck the seal, producing a teeth-grinding friction sound.

"Lingyu! Chulan!"

As the old Celestial Master called out, the two disciples, each holding a talisman, leaped to the center of the formation. Yin-Yang thunder poured into the formation, forcibly suppressing the azure light back into Chen Zhibao's body.

Fan Xian walked up to him, and seven small arrows covered with strange black runes appeared in his palm: "These are the Seven Nailhead Arrows, specially prepared for you."

The seven small arrows pierced Chen Zhibao's brow and instantly transformed into countless apotropaic talismans, spreading across Chen Zhibao's entire body. The azure light around him receded like a tide.

The once-renowned general's eyes gradually glazed over, and he finally collapsed to the ground.

The Azure Emperor's position was also locked within Chen Zhibao's body by the Seven Nail-Headed Arrows.

The wind stopped and the thunder ceased; the world was silent.

Zhang Zhiwei put away the copper coins. His Taoist robe was soaked with sweat. He looked at Chen Zhibao's corpse and said, "I will take his body back to the Juntian Realm and hand it over to Lord Juntian for disposal. The death of a reincarnated Immortal Emperor may alarm some beings."

Fan Xian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze deep: "It's alright, I have my own way of dealing with it."

"Two of the Five Celestial Emperors have already left. The remaining one is the Western White Emperor, who has been reincarnated as Wang Xianzhi. The Southern Red Emperor and the Central Yellow Emperor are still in the Celestial Realm. They will probably be difficult to deal with in the short term."

Fan Xian looked up at the sky, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

Zhang Zhiwei replied, “It’s alright. Before I came, the Heavenly Dao Venerable instructed me that as long as you have all the fortune of the mortal world, plus the status of three Immortal Emperors, that will be enough.”

Fan Xian nodded. As for Dian Xiong and the others, they had already died in the aftermath of the fight between the two sides, so there was no need to pay them any attention.

(End of this chapter)