The Last Sentinel

At the summit of Mount Everest, wind and snow rage, and icy winds tear through the sky.

Mo Lijie stood with his hands behind his back in the wind and snow, his white robes spotless, surrounded by an aura of immortal light that reached to the heavens and the earth. His golden eyes were sharp and cold, like those of a celestial being looking down on ants, and he locked his gaze firmly on Zhao Changcheng in front of him.

His expression was extremely arrogant, and his eyes were filled with utter contempt. The Great Wall Watcher in front of him, who had once guarded Blue Star and dominated a region, was naive and shallow in his eyes. He could see through all his tricks and moves at a glance and he was not worth fighting.

"Junior brother, you are no match for me." Mo Lijie's voice was cold and carried an unyielding pressure. "Hand over your original will and leave Blue Star completely. This is my final ultimatum."

Before the cliff, Zhao Changcheng stood silently, his dark blue watchtower armor covered with a thin layer of snow, his figure as upright as the ancient Great Wall. He nodded calmly, his eyes showing no fear, only a solemn and dignified expression. Under the watchful gaze of Mo Lijie, who looked down from above, he slowly raised his hand, his palm hovering in the air, and an ancient, weathered bronze token slowly rose into existence.

The moment the token appeared, the entire Mount Everest trembled violently, rocks crumbled, snow surged, and the vast, ancient, dormant power beneath the earth slowly awakened. A heavy, boundless aura swept across the land, causing the blizzard to abruptly stop.

Seeing this, Mo Lijie curled his lips into a confident sneer, assuming that Zhao Changcheng had already compromised. His tone was lazy yet arrogant: "Those who know when to yield are the heroes. Junior brother is sensible, so I can tolerate you. Once I restart the origin of Blue Star and the mission is completed, you and your child Zhuge Tingfeng can leave this mortal planet and return to the myriad realms, joining the ranks of the Four Brahma Heavens Immortal Sects. You will be baptized by the true blood of the Heavenly Venerable, stepping into the orthodox lineage of the Immortal Race. Your future will be limitless."

Behind the snowy cliff, Zhao Donglai, severely injured and writhing in pain, struggled to his feet, his face ashen and his lips bloodless, but his eyes burned with a fiery red, filled with anxiety and despair.

He was all too aware of the consequences of restarting the origin: the collapse of the Great Xia's foundation built over thousands of years, a catastrophe for hundreds of millions of people, and the destruction of the lineage that countless ancestors had sworn to protect with their lives.

"Master! You mustn't!" His voice was hoarse and torn, a blood-curdling roar. "The origin has been restarted! The Great Xia lineage is destroyed, its foundation is gone, and the chaos and calamity will surely repeat itself! The blood and sweat of our ancestors have been wasted! We, their descendants, cannot afford to lose again! Stop now!"

He endured his injuries and staggered forward, trying to stop Zhao Changcheng and break the seemingly compromised stalemate.

But the next second, a colorless fist wind, condensed to the extreme, suddenly tore through the air! There was no smoke or fire, no strange phenomena, but it carried the crushing power of a celestial being, and its speed was so fast that it transcended time and space, leaving no room for anyone to react.

A dull, deafening roar echoed through the cliff!

With his meridians severely damaged, Zhao Donglai was utterly unable to withstand this supreme strike. His body flew backward a thousand meters like a broken meteor, crashing heavily into the deep snowy cliff ravine. A flurry of snow instantly poured down, completely burying his figure. His presence vanished from the cliff face in an instant, his fate unknown.

The wind and snow surged and gathered again, and a tall figure in black silently approached through the snow.

Zhuge Tingfeng was dressed in a neat and stylish combat outfit. He stood tall and aloof, his steps were steady, and he landed without disturbing the wind and snow.

He walked up to Mo Lijie, knelt down on one knee, his posture extremely respectful, yet a subtle, complex coldness lurked between his brows.

"Zhuge Tingfeng pays respects to Young Master Jie, the Seven Absolute Prodigy."

Mo Lijie lowered his gaze, his golden pupils slightly contracting, a hint of amusement and scrutiny in his eyes, and said calmly, "You've been back on Blue Star for a long time, yet your father has never sought you out? It seems the rift between you and your father has already penetrated to the bone."

Zhuge Tingfeng lowered his head, his long eyelashes concealing the emotions in his eyes, and his voice was steady and respectful: "Young Master, my father is stubborn and insists on the mortal tradition. He has long been brainwashed by the Xuanyuan Guardian Path. He does not recognize the great trend of Heaven, nor does he recognize me as his offspring, and he has never acknowledged you as his senior brother."

He slightly raised his eyes, glancing at Zhao Changcheng standing quietly on the cliff top, his tone becoming more solemn: "He appears to be bowing down and compromising today, but in reality, he harbors a murderous intent and has been gathering strength for a long time, determined to fight you to the death."

Mo Lijie walked slowly through the snow, his white robes fluttering in the wind, his immortal aura growing heavier with each layer. His gaze pierced through the swirling snow, locking onto Zhao Changcheng's figure, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Do you know that you will never gain your father's approval?" he suddenly said softly, his tone calm, yet revealing the root of the problem.

Zhuge Tingfeng froze, his brows furrowed with confusion and bewilderment, his mind filled with doubts. He bowed and asked, "Please enlighten me, sir."

"You only talk the talk, follow the trend, seek shortcuts, and avoid harm; he only walks the walk, upholds his original aspirations, shoulders the burden of the common people, and fights to the death without retreating." Mo Lijie chuckled lightly, recalling the seven hundred years of their time as fellow disciples. A sigh flashed across his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by pride. "I have been his fellow disciple for seven hundred years, cultivating together day and night. I understand every slight change in him, whether he frowns, concentrates, gathers strength, or endures."

"At this moment, he awakens his origin, not to submit, but to borrow the power of the eternal origin of Blue Star, to build the strongest killing move of his life, and to risk everything to fight me to the death."

Zhuge Tingfeng's heart trembled, and he instantly understood what kind of resolute will to die was hidden beneath the silence on the cliff top.

"You think this is just camaraderie among fellow disciples, holding back for each other?" Mo Lijie's golden eyes suddenly shone brightly, his overwhelming confidence sweeping across the area, his tone suddenly sharp and domineering, "Not at all! This is the absolute confidence of the strong! The weak choose their path, fearing hardship and avoiding disaster, while the strong forge their own path, breaking through adversity, each step blossoming like a lotus, opening up all avenues!"

"Seven hundred years ago, in the battle between our sects, he was defeated by me. Today, we fight again on Mount Everest. Fate has come full circle, and he still is not worthy to defeat me!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Mo Lijie took a step forward!

Boom—!

The heavens and earth trembled violently, echoing across the vast snow-covered land! The immortal pressure accumulated around him surged skyward, breaking through the shackles of wind and snow, and a supreme immortal light, a thousand meters high, suddenly rose behind him.

The magnificent and vast light connected with the heavenly Dao and fortune above, and suppressed the primordial chaos awakening on Mount Everest below. The entire world was instantly enveloped in pure white immortal light.

The surging snow waves were instantly swept away and scattered by the intense light, and the wind and snow stopped and the gale ceased within a hundred feet.

A terrifying shockwave swept across the entire area. Zhuge Tingfeng was powerless to resist this supreme pressure and was sent flying several feet away, crashing heavily onto the thick snow.

His chest heaved violently, his meridians throbbed with unbearable pain, a strong, metallic taste rose in his throat, and he nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Before he could even manage to stand up, a chilling, bone-piercing glint of light suddenly burst forth from beneath the collapsed snow cliff! The coldness locked down the surrounding space, sealing off all escape routes, and the killing intent was pure and violent!

Pfft!

Zhao Donglai returned, his armor shattered and his robe stained with blood, covered in wounds yet brimming with fighting spirit.

He gripped a cold iron horse-slaying saber tightly with both hands, the blade imbued with a death wish, its body radiating the ultimate sharpness of martial arts, and precisely slashed towards Zhuge Tingfeng's vital neck.

He was blasted away and buried deep in the snow, but he did not perish. Instead, he used the momentum to lie low, adjust his breathing and gather strength. He seized the fleeting moment when the power of the Demonic Tribulation Immortal was shaking, grasped this once-in-a-lifetime killing opportunity, and launched a desperate attack. Every move was ruthless and every step was a fatal blow, leaving no room for retreat.

Zhuge Tingfeng's expression changed drastically. In a haste, he spun back rapidly, and a burst of immortal light erupted from his palm as spiritual energy condensed into a form.

A crystal-clear, jade-like immortal sword shot out from the sky, moving with the user and aiming straight for Zhao Donglai's vital point between his eyebrows, switching between offense and defense with extreme speed.

The piercing clang of metal against metal was incessant! Blade flashes swirled like a tidal wave of snow, fierce and domineering; flying swords darted through the air like meteors, agile and cunning. One martial artist, one immortal, two peak experts fought a desperate battle in the snow below the cliff, their moves ruthless and dangerous. Each collision unleashed terrifying shockwaves, layers of snow exploding and shards of rock flying everywhere. The battle instantly intensified, neither side gaining the upper hand.

Meanwhile, the main battlefield atop Mount Everest has undergone dramatic changes and upheavals.

Zhao Changcheng stood silently in the wind and snow, his aura suddenly surged, and a magnificent momentum that had been accumulated for seven hundred years and protected for millions of years rose into the sky, instantly shaking away the remaining wind and snow.

His once long, white hair, weathered by time, turned black at a visible speed, the ink-black strands flying freely, breaking free from the shackles of age. His aged face, etched with wrinkles and marked by the vicissitudes of life, instantly shed all weariness and vicissitudes, his skin firm and sharp, his eyes and brows regaining the peak vigor of his thirties.

His sword-like eyebrows stood erect and sharp, his starry eyes were cold and deep, and his eyes held a thousand years of unwavering commitment and a resolute determination to die.

His body was covered in bulging muscles and strong, sharp lines, with every inch of his muscles exuding extreme power, completely revealing the posture of an ancient war god who roamed the heavens and guarded the blue planet.

The vast and boundless primordial will of the blue star enveloped his body in layers, and the rocks beneath his feet cracked inch by inch, spreading across the entire peak.

The primordial flames, dormant for millennia beneath the earth, surged forth, their crimson inferno carrying the life force of the land. They transformed into ripples of Daoist energy that spread in all directions, warm and profound yet infinitely powerful, creating a stark contrast with the cold and domineering immortal light of the Demonic Tribulation.

The void above his head trembled slowly, and a divine crown of blazing flames took shape. Crimson-gold flames burned brightly, illuminating the eight wastelands. The divine fire was vast and majestic, like an ancient fire god reborn to guard a region and awe all the immortals.

Reborn at his peak, Zhao Changcheng raised his eyes to look directly at his senior brother, his eyes devoid of any emotion—no hatred, no anger, no fear. His voice echoed across the vast snowy region: "Senior brother, there's no need for any more fancy moves. We've been fellow disciples for seven hundred years, our grudges and struggles on the path of cultivation have been intertwined. Today, let's settle this with our ultimate techniques, a single move to decide life and death!"

"Just what I wanted." Mo Lijie slowly raised his left hand, his palm covering the top of his head, and firmly gripped the pure white pillar of fortune that connected all the heavens and the myriad realms and carried endless immortal fortune.

Immortal light swirled wildly in his palm, domineering power raged unrestrainedly, and killing intent surged like a tide in his eyes. "To see my junior brother at his peak again, and to personally kill you and sever your obsession with this mortal realm, is the greatest honor of my life."

Zhao Changcheng said, "Please, Senior Brother, begin your journey!"

Mo Li demanded, "Junior Brother, please begin your journey!"

As soon as they finished speaking, they attacked simultaneously!

Mo Lijie waved his left hand downwards, and the terrifying pillar of destiny connecting heaven and earth behind him suddenly collapsed and crashed down on Zhao Changcheng.

Zhao Changcheng raised his arms, and a terrifying primordial will surged up from beneath his feet. The vast and mighty flames, like a blazing fire, merged with the divine crown behind him, and suddenly transformed into a Yin-Yang Tai Chi fish. Tai Chi gives rise to Yin and Yang, Yin and Yang give rise to the Three Powers, the Three Powers give rise to the Four Symbols, the Four Symbols give rise to the Five Elements, the Five Elements give rise to the Six Harmonies, the Six Harmonies give rise to the Seven Stars, the Seven Stars give rise to the Eight Trigrams, the Eight Trigrams give rise to the Nine Palaces, the Nine Palaces determine the Ten Directions, and the Ten Directions give rise to all phenomena!

Rings of flames, like wildfire spreading across the land, soared into the sky, and from within those rings of hexagram wheels, divine powers and spells of the I Ching emerged.

[Traditional Chinese Studies - Bazi], [The Theory of Five Elements], [Enlightenment], [Golden Formula], [Great Six Lines Divination], [Small Six Ren], [Plum Blossom Divination], [River Diagram Numerology], [Auspicious Date Selection], [Seven Principles and Four Auxiliary Elements], [Weighing Bones], [Destiny], [Shaobing Song], [Taiyi Divine Calculation]...

One after another, the words "supernatural powers" transformed into phantom images resembling Zhao Changcheng: an aged white-haired old man, a young child, a naive teenager, and a middle-aged man...

In an instant, Zhao Changcheng seemed to summon all the illusory aspects of his life and unleash all his moves.

Facing Zhao Changcheng's all-out attack, Mo Lijie did not underestimate him and went all out as well!

Mo Lijie also raised his right hand, manipulating the pillar of destiny behind him with both arms to soar into the sky. The power of the pillar of destiny surged by three times as it collapsed, and the pure white immortal light crushed all the wind and snow along the way. With irreversible pressure from the Heavenly Dao, it crashed down.

"What a genius of the I Ching! What a fine Junior Brother Zhao! Even your master might not be able to match your master's mastery of the I Ching!"

"Unfortunately, Senior Brother, I don't follow the path of destiny; I follow the path of strength!"

"Why does the frosty sky and full moon seem to mirror the endless sorrows of life flowing eastward like water?"

"Success or failure is not determined by fate; when the water ends and the clouds rise, the spring breeze will break through!"

"Powerful Killing Move - Slicing Spring Breeze!"