Swallowing the Stars: Heart of the Martial God

Chapter 223 In the next life, one step and one bow; on the road to rebirth, sins are halved!

The fear of death instantly overwhelmed the Blood Blade Master's mind. He dared not hold back in the slightest, and frantically burned his divine body, pushing his divine power to its limit!
He quickly formed hand seals, and layers of blood-red crystal walls instantly condensed in front of him. These crystal walls had a perfect hexagonal structure, were closely connected to each other, and exuded an aura of indestructibility.

This is the ultimate defensive technique he created after cultivating for countless epochs—the "Blood Crystal Barrier"!
At the same time, a ferocious-looking blood-red battle blade appeared in his hand. It was a high-level offensive treasure. Although its grade was not high, after hundreds of millions of years of comprehension, it had long been integrated with his mind and spirit.

He unleashed his full power from his battle blade, employing his secret attack technique, "Blood Shadow Thousand Layers"!
Countless crimson blade shadows surged toward the Heaven-Slaying Blade like a raging storm. Each blade shadow contained terrifying power capable of tearing apart galaxies. The millions of blade shadows combined to form a devastating torrent of attack!

The sins of this life can be redeemed in the cycle of reincarnation.

The sound of the Heaven-Slaying Blade was like a final judgment. The dark golden light on the blade suddenly became incredibly intense, like a cold, dark golden divine sun illuminating the boundless star field and also illuminating the despairing face of the Blood Blade Master:

"May you be sent to your next life! In your next life, may you prostrate yourself with every step, and may your sins be halved on the path to rebirth!"

"No—! I am the Lord of Blood Blades, my clan has already sided with the demon race, how dare you kill me!" The Lord of Blood Blades roared in despair, pushing the Blood Crystal Barrier to its limit, and the storm of Blood Shadow Thousand Layers' blade shadows became even more violent, trying to resist this fatal blow.

However, everything is in vain.

The Heaven-Slaying Blade moved.

There was no earth-shattering energy burst, no terrifying momentum that tore apart galaxies; it was simply the most basic and pure horizontal slash.

The blade traced a perfect and mysterious path, as if it were not cutting space, but rather the threads of fate and cause and effect.

The moment the blade touched the blood crystal barrier, it couldn't even hold out for a moment before it shattered into countless blood-red crystal fragments with a crisp cracking sound, completely annihilated in the starry sky!
Immediately afterwards, the storm of blood-red sword shadows was also shattered inch by inch in front of that heaven-slaying sword light, and countless blood-red sword shadows shattered and dissipated as if they had encountered their nemesis.

The battle blade in the Blood Blade Lord's hand let out a mournful cry, its brilliance completely dimmed, and it was instantly shattered, turning into specks of starlight that floated and spun helplessly in the starry sky.

Finally, the blade swept past the Blood Blade Lord's massive divine body, which was burning with crimson divine flames, without any hindrance.

"Well"

The Blood Blade Master's roar abruptly ceased, his eyes widening in disbelief, terror, and despair.

His divine body, before that seemingly ordinary blade of light, was like ice and snow thrown into a raging fire, silently melting and disintegrating.

His roar, his struggle, the traces of his existence, all his past glories and sins, all vanished into utter nothingness in that flash of light.

The place was empty.

The entire starry sky fell into a deathly silence.

All the cosmic lords who were watching from afar, regardless of their race, were now deathly pale and trembling with fear.

Some with weaker wills were even more disoriented, almost falling from the stars.

Looking at that black figure standing in the center of the starry sky, all that remained in my eyes was the deepest fear and awe.

"Bloodblade... he's dead just like that?"

"His Blood Crystal Barrier technique couldn't even withstand a single attack?"

"And his blood-stained battle sword was shattered too! One strike, just one strike."

"Is this the strength of the Human Emperor Yan, Ling Xuan?"

Several fifth-order universe lords from the pinnacle races exchanged glances, all seeing the shock and solemnity in each other's eyes.

They asked themselves, even if they went all out, they might be able to defeat or even kill the Lord of Bloodblade, but there was absolutely no way they could so easily break through his strongest defensive secret technique and annihilate him in an instant.

This is no longer a difference in strength, but a difference in levels.

Ling Xuan slowly turned around, his cold gaze sweeping over the silent onlookers in the distance, like that of an emperor surveying the world.

His voice remained calm, yet it was colder than ten thousand years of icy ice, clearly reaching the ears of every being:

"Who else wants to see us make a fool of ourselves?"

The starry sky was desolate, with only the emperor's might surging.

No one dared to utter a single word, not even daring to send out a divine telepathic message.

Faced with this absolute, overwhelming, and utterly overwhelming extreme power, all curiosity, mockery, and schadenfreude transformed into the most primal fear and submission.

The Heaven-Slaying Blade transformed into a stream of light, disappeared into Ling Xuan's body, and vanished.

However, the terrifying imperial might that enveloped the entire star field did not completely dissipate. It still hung like the Sword of Damocles over the hearts of every powerful onlooker, silently proclaiming an ironclad rule.

The highest principles cannot be insulted! The Emperor's authority cannot be violated!
Ling Xuan's gaze was like lightning as he slowly swept his eyes over the direction of the demon race's camp in the distance.

Wherever his gaze passed, the space rippled, as if unable to withstand the majesty contained in his eyes.

"Just now, this scoundrel kept saying he had surrendered to the demon race." Ling Xuan's voice was as cold as ice, each word clearly penetrating the depths of the souls of every powerful figure present. "Lord of the Forbidden Realm, will your demon race stand up for him?"

The Lord of Annihilation, who was named, trembled. Under the pressure of the vast imperial might, this renowned cosmic lord of the demon race even found it difficult to stand.

He quickly lowered his head, not daring to meet Ling Xuan's gaze, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

"Emperor Yan is joking," the Lord of Annihilation said hoarsely. "What does the Lord of Bloodblade's nonsense have to do with my demon race?"

After he finished speaking, he seemed completely exhausted.

The other powerful demons present didn't even dare to breathe loudly, for fear of attracting Ling Xuan's attention.

The entire starry sky of the primordial star fell into a deathly silence, and all the powerful beings held their breath.

Some of the weaker races' cosmic rulers quietly retreated, attempting to distance themselves from this place of trouble.

The mechanical race's several universe lords exchanged glances in secret, but none of them dared to utter a sound.

The mountain dweller, hidden in the shadows, watched this scene with a complex expression in his eyes.

He had come to observe secretly after learning that his disciple Cao Benqi had clashed with the Ice Peak Lord of the human race on the Primitive Star.

Although he appeared indifferent to his disciples, he ultimately could not truly sit idly by.

"What a formidable figure, Emperor Yan Lingxuan," the Mountain-Sitting Guest murmured to himself, sitting thoughtfully atop his azure peak. "If he so desired, he could have wiped out all the universe masters of this primordial universe. Such power would make him a formidable force even on the Origin Continent."

His gaze lingered on Ling Xuan for a moment, a hint of doubt appearing on his face: "However, this kid's cultivation path is quite peculiar. I've never seen such a cultivation method in the Primordial Universe. It's somewhat similar to the Hunyuan Bloodline cultivation system from the Origin Continent, yet it's different. It's truly unfathomable."

Thinking of this, the Mountain-Sitting Guest couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "That Giant Axe fellow really had incredible luck to have such a disciple. If only he had..."

His thoughts were interrupted by Ling Xuan's cold voice.

Have you seen enough?

Ling Xuan looked around, and his chilling imperial aura surged once more.

The entire starry sky was trembling violently, the distant stars were flickering, and spatial rifts were spreading like a spider web.

Some of the weaker cosmic lords trembled, almost kneeling on the ground.

Sensing the displeasure in Ling Xuan's words, the powerful figures from various races dared not linger any longer.

The Lord of Annihilation was the first to tear through the void and leave, not daring to utter a single polite word.

Other powerful individuals followed suit, not daring to linger for even a moment.

In the blink of an eye, the once bustling starry sky became empty, leaving only Ling Xuan, the Lord of Ice Peak, and the suppressed Cao Benqi.

After all the powerful figures from various races had left, Ling Xuan turned his gaze to Cao Benqi, who was unable to move due to the pressure of the Emperor's might.

The Lord of Ice Peak stood to the side, his face cold and stern, the Ice Peak Sword still sheathed in his hand, clearly still furious with Cao Benqi's previous actions. "Cao Benqi, do you know your crime?" Ling Xuan's voice was calm, yet contained an undeniable authority.

Cao Benqi struggled to raise his head, his face full of resentment: "What crime have I committed? The treasure belongs to whoever is entitled to it. Marquis You stole the treasure while I was fighting a fierce battle. What's wrong with me seeking justice?"

"Insolence!" the Lord of Ice Peak roared. "Soliciting nonsense! If I hadn't arrived in time, Marquis You would already be dead!"

Cao Benqi retorted, his neck stiff with arrogance: "If I hadn't fought so hard at the front, how could Marquis You have possibly seized this treasure? This treasure should rightfully belong to me!"

Seeing Cao Benqi's attitude, the mountain hermit in the shadows broke out in a cold sweat.

This kid is really arrogant and doesn't know his own limitations. Even at this point, he still dares to be stubborn!
He subconsciously clenched his fists, ready to intervene if Ling Xuan tried to kill him.

Although he has limited means at his disposal, he is, after all, a genuine God-King, and he has long since mastered the methods of some of the strongest beings in the universe.

He wouldn't dare say he could beat Ling Xuan, but he was confident he could hold off Ling Xuan in the primordial universe and save Cao Benqi.

Ling Xuan's eyes turned cold, and his imperial aura intensified, making Cao Benqi almost unable to breathe: "You forcibly seized a treasure from your own clan, murdered your own kind, and made yourself a laughingstock among the alien races. Which of these three charges is insufficient to convict you?"

Cao Benqi wanted to argue, but under the oppressive power of the emperor, even speaking became extremely difficult.

The veins on his forehead bulged, clearly indicating that he was struggling against the suppression of the emperor's power.

Ling Xuan continued, his voice carrying an undeniable authority: "Considering this is your first offense and that no irreparable damage has been caused, I will grant you leniency today."

He paused, his voice echoing across the starry sky: "You are now imprisoned in the First Star Region Prison, with a sentence of one million epochs! During this time, reflect upon your mistakes!"

Upon hearing this, the mountain dweller in the shadows finally breathed a sigh of relief, and his clenched handshake loosened slightly.

A million epochs is indeed not a long time for the Lord of the Universe, which is just the right time to temper Cao Benqi's unruly nature.

Cao Benqi outwardly stopped arguing and lowered his head, but a hint of resentment and malice flashed in his eyes.

At this moment, a tidal wave of emotions surged within him:

"Ling Xuan, you're just lucky! If I had your luck, I'd be standing there today!"

"Why? Why do you rule the Heavenly Court and receive the worship of all races, while I must suffer this humiliation in prison?"

"How unjust this judgment is! What virtue or ability does that Marquis You possess to deserve such a priceless treasure? If it weren't for my arduous battle at the front..."

In his view, Ling Xuan was clearly using this as an excuse to suppress him, a potential competitor.

A deeper ambition began to grow in his heart:

"Humans? Heavenly Court? Heh... Since you are so ruthless, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Why should I, Cao Benqi, submit to anyone? With my strength as a fourth-order universe master, and with Master Zuoshanke as my backer, where can't I reign supreme?"

"Once I break away from humanity and establish my own power, I will make you all regret your actions today!"

Soon, the Heavenly Court's enforcement team arrived at the scene.

The enforcement team, composed of three cosmic venerables, respectfully bowed to Ling Xuan.

"Greetings, Emperor Yan!" the leading enforcer bowed and said, "Your subordinate has been ordered to escort the criminal Cao Benqi."

Ling Xuan nodded slightly: "Keep a close eye on him; this person is unruly."

"Yes!"

These chains are entirely black, their surfaces engraved with intricate sealing patterns, gleaming with a cold, eerie light under the starlight.

This is a standard piece of equipment specially developed by the human race to restrict the cosmic sovereigns; each rune contains exquisite sealing power.

The strongest being currently imprisoned in the Star Domain Prison is the Cosmic Venerable.

The human race has not yet considered punishing a cosmic ruler, and therefore has not prepared higher-level confinement equipment.

They hadn't even considered imprisoning the Universe Venerable before; it was only after the Heavenly Court was established that the Universe Venerable was captured.

However, this was basically just a formality. Ling Xuan intentionally allowed Cao Benqi to escape so that he could deal with him slowly. The other powerful figures also had no intention of putting up with a universe lord.

Cao Benqi stretched out his hands expressionlessly, allowing the Enforcement Venerable to wrap the chains around his wrists.

The moment the chains touched his skin, he could clearly feel the sealing power within them attempting to penetrate his divine body. However, this power was to him like a trickle trying to stop a river, utterly insignificant.

Cao Benqi let them put chains on him, outwardly cooperating but inwardly sneering:
"You think you can trap me with these tattered chains? How laughable!"

"Once I find a chance to escape, I will make sure you, Ling Xuan, know the consequences of offending me, Cao Benqi!"

"Teacher Zuoshanke is definitely keeping an eye on things from the shadows. Even if things escalate, he'll have my back..."

Just as the enforcement team was about to escort Cao Benqi away, Cao Benqi suddenly turned around and stared intently at Ling Xuan: "I, Cao Benqi, will remember this humiliation!"

He secretly vowed in his heart:

"Once I become the strongest in the universe, I will definitely come back to settle this score with you!"

"Then I'll see whether you, the Flame Emperor, are more powerful, or I, the Lord of the Blazing Sun, am stronger!"

Just as the enforcement team was about to escort Cao Benqi away, Cao Benqi suddenly turned around, stared intently at Ling Xuan, and said, word by word, "I, Cao Benqi, will remember this humiliation!"

The Lord of Ice Peak flew into a rage, his body radiating an intense chill: "Stubborn fool!"

Ling Xuan merely glanced at him indifferently, his gaze chillingly calm, as if he were looking at an insignificant ant.

This disregard angered Cao Benqi more than any scolding.

The enforcement team escorted Cao Benqi, transforming into three streaks of light as they flew towards the First Star Region Prison.

The chains clanged crisply as they flew, each sound seeming to mock Cao Benqi's predicament.

As they got further and further away from the original star, Cao Benqi's calculations became clearer and clearer:

"A million epochs? What a joke! How could I, Cao Benqi, tolerate such an insult!"

"Once I've escaped, I'll return to the Yan Shen Clan and lead the entire clan to establish a separate sect. With my prestige, which of my clansmen would dare disobey?"

"With Master Zuoshanke here, even if Ling Xuan comes after me personally, what can he do to me?"

The hidden mountain hermit followed all the way, and as he watched his disciple being escorted away, he felt a mix of emotions.

He hoped that Cao Benqi could take this opportunity to temper his character, but he was also worried that this stubborn disciple might do something foolish.

Just as the enforcement team was passing through a space disordered star field and was about to arrive at the star field prison guarded by the Star Prison Demon Lord.

A glint flashed in Cao Benqi's eyes; he knew his chance had come.

"Now! The chaotic space here presents the perfect opportunity to escape!"

"Hmph, three mere Universe Venerables dare to escort me?"

"Today I'll show you what it means to be the Lord of the Universe!"

"You bunch of trash, do you think you're worthy of escorting me?" Cao Benqi suddenly burst into wild laughter, his divine power erupting, and the specially made chains were instantly shattered inch by inch!

The leading law enforcement venerable was shocked: "Lord of the Blazing Sun, what do you intend to do? Emperor Yan personally ordered you to be imprisoned in the Star Domain Prison. Do you intend to disobey orders?"

(End of this chapter)