Shrouding the Heavens: The Ultimate Daoist Venerable

Chapter 689 Lien Zhan
Tai'an missed and did not witness these battles because he was engrossed in the solar law sealed within his body. However, upon learning of this later, Tai'an was filled with rage.

The Golden Clan of Jinhuang already had a strained relationship with the human race, with old grudges remaining. Therefore, during the first half of the Ultimate Ancient Road, they fought many battles. Although there were no life-or-death struggles between them, and most of the battles were brief skirmishes, many of their followers died as a result. This added a new layer of hatred to their already existing feud.

However, after entering the Quasi-Emperor Realm, their followers could no longer keep up with them, so only the ten of them explored the ultimate ancient road at the very front.

During this time, they were busy with their cultivation, so they were no longer so competitive with each other. But before he could even cause trouble for Jin Huang, the other party had already struck first with ruthless force.

Although his relationship with Qingque was not particularly close, they were both human and there was still some affection between them.

Therefore, Tai'an immediately emerged from seclusion, intending to challenge Jin Huang. However, after that great battle, Jin Huang successfully improved his cultivation and further developed his potential, thus entering seclusion. Tai'an could only be turned away.

Even so, Tai'an has decided to fight Jinhuang in the years to come.

As time went by, another hundred years passed. The remaining seven people all cultivated to the fourth level of Quasi-Emperor, and could break through to the fifth level at any time. They had also reached the end of the ultimate ancient road.

Although the Supreme Yuanqing and Supreme Huanling also engaged in literary debates and life-or-death martial battles with them, they were both Supremes who had been reborn and were focused on immortality and becoming immortals. They had no intention of getting involved in the cause and effect between them. And now it was obviously not the time for the final battle, so they left directly and disappeared into the vast universe.

In stark contrast to their nonchalant attitude, the remaining five were completely different. They already harbored various grudges, and now, having reached the end of the ultimate ancient path, it was time for them to settle their karmic debts.

The Heavenly Demon King said, "Human King, you and I must fight each other eventually. The time has come to fulfill our past agreement."

Under the Heavenly Demon King's locked aura, Tai'an had no time to spare and could only focus on the present. He said, "Do you really want to challenge me at this moment?"

The Heavenly Demon King said, "Yes."

Tai'an said, "Can I ask you a question?"

The Heavenly Demon King said, "You want to ask me why I chose you as my first opponent when we have no grudge against each other, right?"

Tai'an nodded and said, "Yes."

The Heavenly Demon King seemed dazed for a moment, then said, "Back then, the Taiyin Human Emperor used his overwhelming strength to make Ziwei Star the domain of the human race. Since then, my demon race has only been able to live in a corner of Ziwei Star, and has never dared to compete with the human race. You are the hope of the human race, so I will naturally defeat you and open up a new world for my Ziwei Star demon race."

Tai'an remained unmoved: "Is that so? Is that really what you think?"

The Heavenly Demon King revealed a maniacal smile, greatly ruining his scholarly demeanor: "No, this is just what my people want me to think."

"As for my own thoughts, I just want to challenge you and prove that I am better than you."

Tai'an laughed and said, "I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Come on, let's fight it out today and put an end to that agreement we made six hundred years ago."

The Heavenly Demon King's blood surged, shaking the starry sky, and he transformed into an unparalleled demon god; the five secret realms of Tai'an burst forth with intense and dazzling light, like a great sun shining across the sky, illuminating all directions.

The two engaged in a fierce battle that shook the entire Ancient Road, as if it were about to face annihilation. Countless stars in the surrounding area teetered on the brink of collapse or even disintegrated under the constant collision and dissipation of their energy.

Tai'an held the Sun God Seal in one hand, where the supreme yang energy that burns all things and purifies the human world converged and evolved with the life-giving yang energy that generates all things and nurtures all spirits, bursting out with astonishing divine power. In his other hand, he used the Humanity Divine Fist, which the Taiyin Human Emperor had left behind in human forces all over the universe.

After comprehending the solar law sealed within his own body, Tai'an's Dao and Dharma became even more powerful, and his development of his solar body reached a completely new level. The Heavenly Demon King, on the other hand, formed the Demon God Seal with one hand, gathering endless demonic energy and condensing it into the shadows of ten thousand demons, all worshipping him and stimulating his Heavenly Demon Body to its limit. With his other hand, he developed his self-created Heavenly Demon God Fist, transforming himself into an unparalleled demon god.

As time went on, Tai'an grew stronger with each battle, constantly unleashing rays of divine sunlight that crushed and evaporated the myriad demon shadows formed by the countless demonic energies unleashed by the Heavenly Demon King. The Heavenly Demon King gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.

In the end, Tai'an delivered a powerful Sun God Fist that pierced through the Heavenly Demon King's chest, shattering him into pieces and securing final victory.

However, although the Heavenly Demon King had lost his fighting ability, Tai'an did not continue to make a move.

The Heavenly Demon King struggled to rebuild his body and said, "If you don't kill me, I might allow the demon race to develop further and then compete for the Ziwei Star."

Tai'an said, "Then you should try. With me here, you'll never have this chance."

The Heavenly Demon King said, "Even if you can attain enlightenment, you will only exist for tens of thousands of years. What will happen after that?"

Tai'an remained silent, but then said, "After the Taiyin Emperor, I am here. How can you be sure that there won't be someone else after me?"

The Heavenly Demon King shook his head and said, "Truly terrifying. I'm afraid I won't have the courage to be your enemy again in my lifetime."

Tai'an said, "Really? Then I'm going to be disappointed."

The Heavenly Demon King rose and left, leaving behind only one sentence: "You understand me best. I will challenge you again."

Tai'an turned his gaze to the other side, where Jin Huang and Cang Nan were also engaged in a fierce battle.

Almost immediately after his battle with the Heavenly Demon King concluded, the outcome of their fight became clear. Although Cang Nan possessed immense talent, bordering on true dominance, he was still no match for Jin Huang. After all, Jin Huang was the Golden Ancient Emperor from the original timeline.

However, due to the powerful bloodline of the Overlord lineage and the secret technique of the character "者" (Zhe), the battle between Jin Huang and Cang Nan lasted longer. Jin Huang only defeated Cang Nan after the Heavenly Demon King left.

Jin Huang did not kill him. Instead, he looked at Tai An and said, "If I were to kill him, you would turn against me, wouldn't you?"

Tai'an said, "Maybe, you can give it a try."

Jin Huang abandoned Cangnan and shifted all his attention to Tai'an.

Two golden beams of divine light shot into the sky. Although they had just defeated a powerful enemy and were not in good condition, they unleashed even greater power by taking advantage of this momentum.

Jin Huang held golden immortal light in his hand, and countless divine runes of laws converged into a golden divine sword, while Tai An condensed the immortal light of the sun, and countless laws and rules formed a great sun.

The two immediately engaged in a life-or-death struggle, focusing solely on offense and neglecting defense, seemingly determined to perish together.

In the end, half of Jin Huang's body was crushed, turning into a cloud of golden blood mist, while Tai An was cut in half at the waist by this sword.

Jin Huang burned his life force, transforming into a golden light that disappeared into the horizon: "Tai'an, we will meet again."

(End of this chapter)