Primordial Era: Starting with slaughtering all the gods and Buddhas in the sky

At the end of the Blackwater Ancient Road, the sound of the tide does not come from the open sea.

Instead, it was breathing out in bursts from inside the mountain.

Huang Chen descended the slippery stone steps, his boots crushing shell powder and bone fragments with a soft cracking sound.

Just past midnight, the chill in the ancient road was even more intense than outside, as if countless cold hands were rubbing against the skin and drilling into the bones, and even breathing carried a bitter, fishy smell.

Suddenly, a patch of eerie blue light appeared ahead.

It was neither fire nor lamp, but a series of mirrored, illusory walls suspended in mid-air. The walls were like water, yet more solid, and from time to time, distorted human figures would emerge from within, their mouths open but making no sound, leaving only ripples spreading outwards.

Huang Chen paused for a moment.

He didn't rush in; instead, he lowered his eyes and brought up the system panel first.

A pale golden light screen unfolded in his field of vision, the handwriting cold and hard, the realm column still unmoved. The depletion of qi and blood, the fractures of tendons and bones, and the shocks to his internal organs were still there, reminding him that his journey from the Abyss Eye Sacrifice Ground to the Mirage Water Mansion was by no means easy.

"It's not broken yet."

Huang Chen let out a low breath and wiped away the dried scabs from the corner of his mouth.

His gaze swept down and landed on the section on techniques and methods.

The insights gained from the "Supplement to the Ancient Body Forging Scripture (Volume 4)" are still fresh, like a branding iron just inserted into the body, faintly resonating in the meridians.

The [Pulsefire Battlefield] can be opened again, but the time is short and enough.

"That's enough to fleece you."

'

He put away the panel and raised his hand to touch the broken seal of the North Sea Mirage Palace on his chest.

The thing was pressed against the skin and flesh, and was slightly warm.

The first illusionary wall in front of him suddenly swayed, revealing a familiar face. It was none other than Huang Chen himself.

The person in the mirror was covered in blood, with blackened eye sockets, but his mouth was stretched wide open, as if he was about to pounce out of the mirror at any moment.

Huang Chen didn't even look, and threw a punch.

boom!

The mirror tide exploded, scattering blue and white water light in all directions. Before the shattered pieces of the tide even hit the ground, seven or eight illusionary walls lit up behind them in succession, vibrating simultaneously as if they had been startled awake.

The entire water corridor was suddenly filled with low cries, laughter, and curses, creating a chaotic scene that pierced the ears.

"Huang Chen—"

"Help me—"

"Don't come any closer!"

He's behind you!

The voice was a mix of real and fake, and even the tone of voice was imitated perfectly.

Huang Chen's expression remained unchanged, but his pace quickened.

He crossed the corridor and entered the main hall, where his gaze suddenly darkened.

The entire Mirage Water Palace resembled the hollowed-out abdomen of a sea monster, with countless black corals hanging upside down from the dome, each one sharp and covered with runes and chains; below was a churning black water, stinking and swirling, with living people hanging on the surface.

There are older ones.

There are fewer.

Some had already fainted, hanging by their wrists only by chains; others were still awake, their eyes unfocused, their toes barely half a foot above the water.

Bubbles rose from the black water from time to time, and when the bubbles burst, they revealed half of a rotting human face before quickly sinking back down.

Huang Chen's eyes twitched violently.

At the far end of the dome, a coral altar was erected high, upon which the Mistwalker sat cross-legged, his long robe trailing to the ground, shrouded in mist. His pale, narrow face emerged from the black mist, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, but his eyes held no hint of a smile.

"I thought you would hide first."

The voice of the wisp-scented man was light and airy, like a snake's tongue scraping against the eardrum.

"They chased us in at midnight, they were in a more urgent situation than I expected."

Huang Chen looked up at him.

"Stop talking nonsense."

"Put him down, and I'll make you die faster."

'

The mist-shrouded man was silent for a moment, then he laughed.

The laughter echoed in the hollow water palace, refracted through the illusion walls into more than a dozen layers, resounding simultaneously from all sides, sending chills down one's spine.

"Hurry up and die?"

He slowly rose, the hem of his black robe seemingly melting into the mist.

"Huang Chen, you think you can beat me after you broke my game at the Abyss Eye Sacrifice Ground? This is the Mirage Water Palace, not the ancient road outside."

Water, fog, mirror, tide—these are my eyes, my hands, my life.

As he spoke, the surrounding illusion walls lit up simultaneously.

Three figures emerged from the mirror-like waves.

The same black robe.

The same fog.

Their breaths almost overlapped.

Even more insidious was the fact that, in addition to the three illusory figures, fine black lines began to spread throughout the entire hall, crawling like living creatures along the stone walls and coral, and up the hands and feet of the suspended humans. Some people awoke on the spot, letting out hoarse screams, their bodies convulsing violently.

Huang Chen felt a slight heaviness in his chest.

The Fog Guest is trying to force him into chaos.

If he saves people first, he will be dragged to death by the three fake bodies; if he kills the Venomous Guest first, the black lines will directly drag people into the sacrificial pool.

"Don't you like saving people?"

'

The Fog Guest spread his hands, his face showing a mocking expression.

"Come on, pick one."

"Save them, or kill me?"

Huang Chen did not answer.

He simply raised his left hand slowly.

With a flick of his palm, the twelve-grade Karmic Fire Red Lotus (a replica) floated up, its flames initially dark red, then suddenly flaring up, like a lotus flower burning from blood.

The entire water palace, which was originally cold and icy, suddenly felt as if a furnace of charcoal had been stuffed into it. The air became scorching hot, and even the surface of the black water began to steam.

Huiwuke's smile froze.

"you--"

Huang Chen pressed down with his five fingers.

"Burn it for me."

'

boom!

The fiery red lotus shot into the sky, directly engulfing the dome.

Instead of falling downwards, the flames spread wildly along the hanging corals and mirror tides above. The karmic fire did not burn stone or water, but only resentment, illusion, and the power of sacrificial runes. One after another, the mirror tide illusion walls were scalded and twisted, emitting a buzzing sound like the screams of living creatures, before exploding one after another.

"Burn it for me."

'

boom!

The fiery red lotus shot into the sky, directly engulfing the dome.

Instead of falling downwards, the flames spread wildly along the hanging corals and mirror tides above. The karmic fire did not burn stone or water, but only resentment, illusion, and the power of sacrificial runes. One after another, the mirror tide illusion walls were scalded and twisted, emitting a buzzing sound like the screams of living creatures, before exploding one after another.

boom!boom!

boom!

The cracking sounds came one after another.

The temperature of the entire water palace suddenly soared, the black mist was evaporated, the dampness was forced back, and even the black threads wrapped around the human laborers sizzled and smoked as if branded with a hot iron, and quickly retracted.

The mist-shrouded man's expression finally changed.

"madman!"

He shouted sharply, and the three fake bodies pounced down at the same time.

One left, one right, one forward.

Three streaks of dark light tore through the heatwave, each conjuring a poisonous spear in its palm, aimed directly at Huang Chen's vital points: his brow, chest, and lower abdomen.

Before the spear even arrived, the stench of poison hit the ground first, and even the stone surface beneath their feet was corroded with black spots.

Huang Chen advanced instead of retreating.

The shattered seal of the North Sea Mirage Palace suddenly heated up and pointed at one of the figures.

It's the one in the middle!

Huang Chen's feet trembled, his Mountain and River Boots slamming into the ground with a loud bang. He was like an iron hammer that blasted through the ground, smashing through the left-side avatar. That figure instantly exploded into black mist, and the poisoned spear from the right-side avatar followed closely, slicing a deep gash across Huang Chen's shoulder with a soft thud.

As blood gushed out, Huang Chen's eyes became even more ferocious.

"I've found you."

'

He twisted his body and lowered his elbow, letting the poisoned spear in front of him pierce half an inch into his ribs with a thud, while his right fist slammed out fiercely!

boom!

The figure in black robes in the middle raised his arm to block, and his hand bones shattered on the spot.

The Misty Traveler let out a muffled groan and stumbled out of the mist, his composure shattered for the first time.

He clearly hadn't expected Huang Chen to take a spear thrust in exchange for close combat, nor had he anticipated that the Mirage Palace Shattered Seal could directly lock his true form amidst such chaotic causal disturbances.

"retreat!

'

He shouted sharply, and the coral altar beneath him instantly lit up.

The entire hall was filled with churning black water, and more than a dozen soul-locking corals shot out from all directions like a forest of spears.

Blood splattered from Huang Chen's shoulders, waist, and legs, and his Xuanhuang armor was scratched in several places. All he could hear was the sharp whistling of coral cutting through the wind.

He refused to budge an inch.

Pulsefire Battlefield, open!

With a bang, a dark crimson energy wave exploded from Huang Chen's body, spreading out like a burning chakra.

Within a few dozen feet around, the stone walls turned red, the black water receded, and even the Soul-Locking Coral that was thrusting towards them was momentarily suppressed.

Taking advantage of the pause, Huang Chen leaped onto the edge of the sacrificial plate and kicked it.

Click!

The entire coral offering plate burst open from the middle.

Countless runes shattered instantly, the chains binding the humans suspended above the black water swayed violently, and the surging resentment within the sacrificial pool became chaotic. The Venomous Guest lost his balance, his face paled, and he staggered backward half a step.

It's just this half step.

Huang Chen had already pounced on him.

The two were so close they were almost face to face.

The mist-wielder's pupils contracted sharply, and a slender black blade shot out from his sleeve, aiming straight for his throat.

Huang Chen raised his hand to grab it, his palm bleeding profusely from the blade's edge, but he managed to firmly hold the knife in place. His other hand was already gripping the neck of the Venomous Fog Guest.

"you--"

The mist-wielder's voice was hoarse, and the mist around him swirled wildly, with fine scales faintly appearing on his face.

Huang Chen didn't give him a chance to finish speaking.

The first punch landed on his face.

boom!

The snake's nose and facial bones collapsed, and blood spurted from its teeth.

The second punch landed squarely on the chest.

boom!

The sternum caved in, and the cracking sound was as crisp as breaking a bundle of dry firewood.

The third punch is a backhand strike to the spine.

Huang Chen grabbed him by the neck, forcefully turned him around, and punched him squarely in the back, right down his spine. The Viper's body arched instantly, spitting out a mouthful of black blood, and even his screams became distorted.

Those hanging in the main hall were dumbfounded.

Some people's lips trembled, as if they wanted to shout, but dared not actually make a sound.

The fog-wielder is still struggling.

His true form was finally revealed. His black robe shattered, revealing a strange body that was half human and half mirage. Membranes grew under his ribs, and his back was covered with misty white fleshy fins. His neck and behind his ears were covered with wet, slippery scales.

The three illusory causal bodies reformed and pounced from behind, trying to engulf Huang Chen and his true body in the mist.

Huang Chen didn't even lift his eyelids.

"Still acting?"

His arm veins bulged, his fingers tightened even more, and he slammed the Venomous Guest down onto the sacrificial plate.

boom!

The two crashed into the edge of the Blackwater Sacrifice Pool one after the other, sending waves soaring into the sky and a stench filling the air.

As soon as Huiwuke raised half of his head, Huang Chen pressed down on the back of his neck and slammed him hard against the edge of the pool.

a bit.

Two times.

Three times.

boom!boom!

boom!

The edge of the Black Stone Pool was smashed and cracked, with debris flying everywhere. The skull of the Venomous Guest also crumbled inch by inch.

White scales mixed with blood and flesh fell down, and the faces of the wronged souls in the black water surged wildly, only to be scorched by the Pulse Fire Battle Domain and screamed and scattered.

Huang Chen!

Stop! Stop—

The Fog Guest finally panicked.

"I'll give you a way! I'll give you Zhao Wuji a way!"

I--"

Huang Chen picked him up and punched him through the chest cavity.

The arm strikes in from the front of the chest and comes out through the back.

The light in the Venomous Fog Guest's eyes dimmed considerably, his body twitched twice, and only gurgling sounds of blood and foam remained in his throat. Huang Chen dragged the man to the center of the sacrificial pool, pressed down on his head, which was already half cracked open, and slammed it violently into the black water.

Huang Chen stood in the churning black water, his chest heaving, with half of the poisoned spear still stuck in his ribs.

The next moment, a system notification suddenly sounded in my mind.

[Ding! Slaying a wicked person has earned you a large amount of karma points!]

】

[Ding! Rescued dozens of humans from forced labor, gaining a large amount of merit points!]

】

A familiar warmth and cold, hard numbers surged in at the same time.

Huang Chen closed his eyes, suppressing the churning pain in his internal organs, and pulled out the poisoned spear.

Blood gushed from the wound immediately. He slapped the Blood Suppressing Seal on his hand and swallowed a Rejuvenation Pill. Only then did his breathing stabilize slightly.

"Can they still move?"

'

He looked up and shouted.

The sound echoed in the empty water palace, making all the laborers tremble.

A moment later, an old man with white hair, supporting himself against the broken stone pillar, spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Can...can move."

'

His legs went weak, and he knelt down after taking just one step, but he still tried his best to look up at Huang Chen.

"My benefactor, there are still Soul-Locking Nails at the bottom of the pool. The two children fell in and haven't surfaced..."

Huang Chen turned and left.

He stepped into the sacrificial pool, the lingering power of the Pulsefire Battle Domain still present, the black water hissing and receding at his feet. Soon, he found two small figures entangled in coral at the bottom of the pool, pulled them up one by one, shattered the Soul-Locking Nails with a palm strike, and then threw them onto the shore.

A boy choked on a mouthful of black water and coughed desperately.

The other one, even younger, was trembling all over. When he opened his eyes and saw Huang Chen's blood-stained face, he was so frightened that he shrank back.

Huang Chen didn't say anything, but pulled over the broken chain next to him, twisted it a few times, and cleared a place to stand.

"Those who can walk should help those who cannot."

'

"Let's get out of here first."

Those laborers seemed to truly come alive at that moment.

Some cried, some stared blankly, and some clung to their companions. Others stared at the sinking remains of the Misty Traveler in the pool, their eyes vacant for a long time before suddenly squatting down and retching violently, as if trying to vomit out all the bitterness and blood they had endured in recent days.

Huang Chen didn't urge him.

He turned and went up to the ruins of the sacrificial altar to begin searching the core of the Water Palace.

After the death of the Venomous Guest, the main array eye had collapsed by more than half, but a hidden compartment remained in the ruins, sealed by three layers of water-patterned restrictions. Huang Chen took out the broken seal of the North Sea Mirage Palace and pressed it on. The broken seal trembled slightly, and the restrictions peeled off layer by layer as if they had been touched by a key.

There were two things in the hidden compartment.

A black and blue jade seal with crisscrossing cracks.

A secret scroll wrapped with water threads.

Huang Chen first picked up the jade seal. As soon as he touched it, the other Mirage Palace Crack Seal on his chest started to heat up. The two resonated with each other, emitting a very faint buzzing sound.

Clearly, this is the second Mirage Palace Crack Seal.

He put away the jade seal and then unfolded the scroll with its swirling patterns.

The secret book's inner pages weren't filled with words; instead, they appeared as flowing water ripples. A touch of the fingertip caused the ripples to slowly coalesce into lines of information. It contained records of troop rotations along the ancient road, transaction times, escort lists, and a separate page detailing Zhao Wuji's movements.

Huang Chen glanced at it, and his eyes immediately darkened.

Zhao Wuji had already led his men to approach the other end of the ancient road.

We're not far from here.

The laborers in the water palace also sensed something was wrong, and a disturbance arose again.

An elderly man with white hair struggled to help a man with a broken leg walk over, his voice trembling.

"My benefactor, are there... are there still pursuers?"

'

Huang Chen closed the secret book.

"have.

'

He looked towards the back wall of the main hall.

That area was originally a sealed-off rock formation, but the faint roar of an undercurrent could be heard behind it, suggesting it was connected to another drainage channel.

"If you want to live, stick close to me."

After saying that, he picked up the sea bone spear, walked to the back wall, and first struck it with the spear.

boom!

A crack appeared in the stone wall.

Then came the second and third kicks, and the crack grew wider and wider, immediately spewing out icy water vapor mixed with the smell of mud and moss. Huang Chen kicked it one last time, and the entire back wall collapsed with a roar, revealing a rushing underground channel more than half a person's height.

The black water swirls outwards, and the wind rushes in along with it.

The laborers were blown about, but for the first time, their faces showed expressions that were almost like those of living people.

"One by one!"

Huang Chen stood beside the gap and pushed the first few people in.

"Keep your head down, hold onto the wall, and don't run around!"

The white-haired old man quickly responded and turned to shout to those behind him.

"Listen to our benefactor! Send the child first!"

Send the kids to school first!

Crying, coughing, and rapid breathing suddenly mingled together.

Huang Chen stayed at the back, glancing back every now and then at the way they had come. The Mirage Water Palace was collapsing, the coral dome was breaking off piece by piece, the fragments of the Mirror Tide were curling and turning black in the fire, and the old lair that the Viper Fog Guest had built up over many years was crumbling into ruins inch by inch.

Huang Chen bent down and followed the last laborer into the culvert.

He threw a punch, completely breaking the swaying stone beam behind him.

With a loud bang.

The entrance was buried under rubble and black water, and the entire culvert was shaken and dust fell.

Ahead came the sound of a crowd running, their cries muffled by panic; the narrow waterway was filled with hurried footsteps and heavy breathing.

Huang Chen wiped the blood from his face and whispered:

Don't stop.

'

The boy he had pulled from the sacrificial pool looked back at him, his lips pale, but he nodded emphatically and pulled the child beside him to continue running forward.

At the end of the culvert, a faint sliver of cold, white moonlight shone through.