Chapter 1022: Heaven and Earth Rise

The Azure Vine Sword, which had pierced through the demon king's heart, flew back to Ji Yuan's hand. Taking a step forward, he swung the sword repeatedly, and streaks of sword light, like bolts of silk, instantly scattered, striking down the demons that had escaped.

Those who could escape the overwhelming power of the Sky-Shattering Sword were certainly not ordinary. Indeed, these demons could often withstand one or two of Ji Yuan's sword strikes. However, Ji Yuan was now fighting without reservation, and with the sharp immortal sword, even a demon king could not escape his third strike.

This was the formidable killing power of a sword immortal. Immortal swords were rare in the world, and pure sword cultivators were few. However, a true immortal-level sword cultivator wielding an immortal sword displayed destructive power far beyond that of ordinary immortal magic.

As Ji Yuan flew swiftly, wind-borne, slaying demons, a streak of immortal light rapidly approached him. Within it was the old beggar.

“Hahahaha, Mr. Ji, you’ve arrived after all,” the old beggar exclaimed. “It’s a pity this old beggar hasn’t had enough fighting, and you’ve already wiped out all the demons around!”

Ji Yuan struck twice, slaying a powerful demon, then sheathed his sword, holding it reversed behind his back, and shook his head, looking into the distance.

“There’s no need to worry, Old Mr. Lu,” Ji Yuan replied. “The demons I’ve slain are insignificant compared to what the Two Barren Lands hold. You still have plenty of fighting to do.”

“That’s true!”

The old beggar stopped his banter, his expression turning serious as well. In the distance, the inky darkness spread once more, but it veered widely around them, as if aware that Ji Yuan, a formidable and difficult-to-provoke figure, was present.

Ji Yuan’s gaze followed the direction of the dark flow, where a brilliant golden Buddhist light formed a barrier connecting the sky and the sea.

A Manifestation of the Wisdom King continuously struck with its palms. Each strike produced a golden light far larger than its already immense hand, possessing the power to shatter mountains. It relentlessly crushed hordes of demons and paid special attention to those powerful enough to evade its colossal palms.

“No wonder Manifestations of the Wisdom King are rarely seen,” the old beggar remarked. “What is called a Wisdom King statue is, in fact, a manifestation of Buddhist wrath. The clay statues in temples are much gentler.”

Ji Yuan chuckled, a rare occurrence, at the old beggar’s comment.

“It’s good that Old Mr. Lu still has the spirit to joke,” Ji Yuan said. “Just don’t let the Wisdom King hear you.”

“That’s not a complaint, Mr. Ji. Have you rested enough? If the demons won’t come, we can go find them.”

“Very well.”

As soon as he spoke, Ji Yuan and the old beggar swiftly flew off again, heading in a different direction.

In Ji Yuan’s presence, the old beggar seemed even more energetic than before, almost as if competing. He unleashed his immortal magic with broad, sweeping movements, constantly crushing demons. Ji Yuan, however, did not intervene. Instead, he kept watching the clouds gathering in the sky and soon began to move through the air alone, not walking alongside the old beggar.

Although the Heavenly Dao had long since collapsed, Ji Yuan now exuded a terrifying divine might that made demons tremble. Therefore, wherever he passed, even cunning demon kings and mighty devils, or frantic and violent demonic creatures, instinctively avoided him.

The old beggar and some observant righteous cultivators naturally noticed Ji Yuan’s actions, and no one disturbed him.

Above the clouds, thunder rumbled, and lightning continuously struck. Some of these thunderbolts came from immortals controlling lightning, but demons also had methods to do so, leading to an intense struggle for control over the lightning.

The Edict Lightning Talisman slipped from Ji Yuan’s sleeve. Its lightning glow had not fully recovered over the years, but Ji Yuan didn’t mind. He gently tossed it skyward, and the talisman transformed into a streak of light, flying into the heavens.

“Rumble… Rumble…”

Thunder rumbled simultaneously in the black clouds, both within and beyond sight. The Edict Lightning Talisman shattered directly in the sky, and streaks of purple lightning streaked across the firmament, as the dark clouds grew increasingly thick.

“Heavenly tribulation lightning still exists, it seems!”

Ji Yuan murmured to himself, with one hand behind his back holding the immortal sword and the other forming a lightning incantation. Then, he lowered his hand and softly whispered.

“Lightning spell: Heavenly Tribulation descends.”

The thunderclouds in the sky subtly formed a vortex, and terrifying pressure continuously extended outwards from the zenith, centered on Ji Yuan.

The next moment.

“Crack… Rumble…”

“Rumble…”

Rolling heavenly thunder fell like rain, and even the densest concentrations of demons lost their darkness, illuminated by endless lightning.

Ji Yuan took a step, his speed increasing. Ignoring all the surrounding demons and monsters, he directly charged towards the south, where the demons were arriving from.

“Fellow Daoists,” he transmitted, “Ji Yuan is going to meet the master of this affair.”

As he transmitted the message, Ji Yuan’s figure was already far away, causing the old beggar, who heard his telepathic message, to first be surprised and then instinctively give chase.

From afar, Dao Yuanzi watched Ji Yuan step across countless demons in mid-air, and then looked at the endless divine lightning falling from the sky. Although the authority to control lightning in his area was in his hands, the moment the Edict Lightning Talisman ascended, he willingly relinquished that authority, allowing Ji Yuan to cast his lightning spell. However, he had to coordinate a significant number of righteous cultivators, so he would not accompany Ji Yuan.

“Mr. Ji, this old monk will also come to assist you!”

The Buddha Seal Wisdom King, now merged with its manifestation, was a colossal two-hundred-zhang golden-bodied Wisdom King. With a thunderous roar, it kicked away massive waves, and a mere sweep of its hands could clear a swath of demons, who were currently panicking from the heavenly lightning.

Besides the old beggar and the Buddha Seal Wisdom King, a considerable number of other righteous cultivators followed the immortal and Buddhist lights ahead. They surged forward like a gigantic arrow formed by converging multicolored light, rushing together towards the landmass of Hei Meng Spiritual Continent.

Ji Yuan naturally noticed the fellow cultivators following behind. This area was now enveloped by his lightning magic, and the pressure was much lighter, so he figured they could follow if they wished.

However, Ji Yuan wouldn’t deliberately wait. He flicked the Azure Vine Sword forward, then pointed with his sword-finger. The immortal sword’s light burst forth, tearing through the darkness ahead. His figure vanished into the sword light, directly penetrating deep into the hordes of demons.

A few days later, the lightning gradually faded because Ji Yuan had moved beyond the range of the Edict Lightning Talisman. Ahead, the scene once again transformed into an all-encompassing darkness, with demons like a vast sea and devils like an overwhelming tide.

The immortal, Buddhist, and even divine lights from behind had long since disappeared. They hadn’t fallen to the demons, but Ji Yuan was too fast, and the density of demons increased greatly outside the talisman’s range, so they were likely entangled once more.

Ji Yuan often sensed extraordinary great demons and devils passing by in the sea or at high altitudes. However, at this moment, he wasn’t specifically seeking out those demons who avoided him; he merely struck down the monstrous creatures directly in the path of his sword light.

The density of demons didn’t always increase as Ji Yuan approached the Black Barrens. Instead, it sometimes thinned out, as hordes of demons would often deliberately steer clear of Ji Yuan.

After all, even if many demons were agitated, it was still better to avoid an immortal with such an aura if possible.

“Hahahahaha… Mr. Ji, have your injuries healed?”

A demon that had been flying high overhead had already passed by, but suddenly its eyes became unfocused. It turned and asked Ji Yuan with a laugh.

“Whoosh—”

Sword light flashed, and the demon was cleaved in half, while Ji Yuan’s escape light continued its journey towards the Black Barrens.

“Oh dear, Mr. Ji has quite a temper!”

Nearby, another demonic creature flew over, mocking him as soon as it opened its mouth, only to fall into the sea after another flash of sword light.

“Hahahaha, Mr. Ji, why are you in such a hurry? Although this world is on the verge of collapse, it can still last for many years. We have plenty of time to play.”

“Hmph, it’s a pity I don’t want to play with you,” Ji Yuan retorted.

Ji Yuan pointed a finger to the side; his arm and finger seemed to extend with a blurry phantom, as if a finger from an afterimage touched the demon’s glabella.

“Pfft…”

The demonic creature’s primordial spirit instantly disintegrated, and it plummeted into the sea.

“If you don’t want to play, perhaps there’s only a dead end for you, Mr. Ji? Won’t you reconsider?”

“A dead end sounds about right,” Ji Yuan replied, “but it’s not for me to walk. Instead, I’ll send you on your way.”

Ji Yuan was too lazy to kill another demonic creature that approached him. He maintained his sword-light escape, instantly leaving it behind.

Afterward, more demons, controlled by malevolent devils, continuously spoke around Ji Yuan. However, whether it was mockery or curses, Ji Yuan seemed to turn a deaf ear to them.

It wasn’t until he spotted the Black Barrens coast that Ji Yuan suddenly flickered, approached a small demon high in the sky, then gripped the Azure Vine Sword and pierced it through.

The immortal sword’s blade passed through the demon’s body, bringing out a surge of murky demonic energy within its light.

“Ah…”

A shriek emanated from the demonic energy, and then its aura dissipated.

Ji Yuan scoffed and flew above the landmass of the Black Barrens. He lightly patted his chest, and an inner world materialized, forming a giant alchemy cauldron. Its lid lifted, and endless flames surged forth.

The Samadhi True Fire transformed into a sea of flames, engulfing the Black Barrens coast. As Ji Yuan flew deeper into the Black Barrens, the sea of flames surged like a tide, continuously devouring the land and extending forward.

Some demons intending to cross the sea retreated in disarray. Even those demons who leaped into the sky, flying high enough, were still scorched by the Samadhi True Fire at high altitude, letting out agonizing screams.

“Ji Yuan!”

The voice of Xie Zha from his sleeve sounded. Ji Yuan let out a long breath, ceased channeling his magic, and continued flying forward. The Samadhi True Fire along the Black Barrens coast also eased, its spread slowed, and its intensity was no longer exaggerated, yet there was no sign of it extinguishing.

Ji Yuan knew, without Xie Zha’s reminder, that he needed to conserve his magical power. His continuous display of powerful immortal sword arts and the use of Samadhi True Fire were both acts of vengeful fury and a demonstration for others.

Xie Zha knew that when Ji Yuan attacked like this, without cover from fellow cultivators, his magical power recovery couldn’t match his expenditure. His opponents would naturally be aware of this. Although they clearly understood that, given Ji Yuan’s intellect, he would never dig his own grave, this was an open account, clearly visible and calculable.

The Black Barrens were vast. One could say that Hei Meng Spiritual Continent was the largest continent in the world; few could accurately describe its exact geographical extent. As Ji Yuan continuously delved deeper, he still saw demons constantly fleeing outwards from its depths.

After ten days of penetrating deep into the Black Barrens, Ji Yuan stopped advancing. He stood atop a high peak, overlooking the surrounding Black Barrens.

“I, Ji, have arrived here. Do you still dare not show yourselves? You hide even better than turtles and tortoises!”

Ji Yuan’s clear voice echoed in all directions, but there was no response. Even the malevolent devils no longer showed any presence.

However, Ji Yuan was very patient. He stood there, waiting. Apart from this mountain, the surrounding terrain was flat, consisting of thousands of miles of forests and countless swamps, making it indeed a suitable location.

In the late summer of that year, the war between righteousness and evil was incredibly intense across the world. Besides the Two Barren Lands, more and more demons and monsters appeared in various regions. After all, not all demons in the world originated from the Two Barren Lands, and places like Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven were not unique. The number of hidden demons scattered throughout various locations was equally countless.

It was under these circumstances that the aquatic race, pushing a great tide, reached the depths of the Barren Sea, and the speed of the tide grew increasingly rapid.

Even though the Two Barren Lands erupted after the Dragon Race had pushed their tide and departed, with so many true dragons amidst the dragon tide, it was naturally impossible for them not to sense it. Thus, the Dragon Race now appeared somewhat anxious.

Although the Dragon Race and Immortals/Buddhists were often at odds, they had at least coexisted peacefully for many years. Moreover, the Dragon Race dealt with demons far more ruthlessly than the righteous path, and their influence was indispensable in the ancient balance of power concerning the Two Barren Lands.

With the Heavenly Dao collapsing and the righteous path weakening, the Dragon Race would also bear the brunt. Therefore, they were now exerting all their might to forcefully drive the great tide towards the Barren Sea, intending to use this unprecedented tide to clear the wilderness, thoroughly shake the world’s water essence, and “cool down” the heavens and earth.

The world’s water essence represented a life-giving force. At that time, tens of thousands of dragons would control its qi, then traverse all corners of the world, suppressing evil beings, allowing the world to be reborn from the brink of death. They could even straighten out the destiny of heaven and earth, and once the destiny was aligned, the world’s qi would become pure and clear. In the theory of the Heavenly Dao, this was considered the restoration of the Heavenly Dao, and everything would naturally develop in a positive direction.

Ji Yuan had not mentioned this, nor had he thought this way, but the Dragon Race had many ancient dragons and never lacked wisdom. They could deduce this themselves and repeatedly calculate the remaining destiny, holding a considerable degree of certainty.

It could be said that at this moment, the Dragon Race had positioned themselves as saviors of the world, charging towards the Barren Sea with immensely powerful winds, thunder, and other forces.

“Your Majesty!” the female dragon beneath Ying Ruoli exclaimed, “Ahead is the place of sunrise we saw back then. I wonder if the tide will simply pass through, or if there will be any other changes?”

The female dragon beneath Ying Ruoli spoke, and similar voices continuously echoed along the long waterline of the Dragon Race. True dragons from all directions were also aware of this place.

However, the tide showed no sign of stopping. It was daytime, the former Fusang image had not appeared at all, and there was no reason for the tide to stop because of it.

Indeed, the tidal force surged past the location where the Fusang scene had once appeared, and nothing happened. Ahead lay the boundless Barren Sea.

At this very moment, Ying Ruoli’s heart suddenly skipped a beat; she felt something was amiss. A few breaths later, she suddenly looked up at the sky.

“The sun…”

Originally, an evil sun was in the Black Barrens and a righteous sun in the sky. But now, in the Dragon Girl’s sight, the positions of the two had undergone an extremely exaggerated change, pulled far behind them, as if in that instant, the tide had crossed an unimaginable distance.

“Ruoli, something’s wrong…”

The old dragon’s voice had barely reached them from afar, but in the next instant.

“Rumble rumble rumble rumble…”

“Splash splash splash…”

Instantly, the earth shook and mountains swayed. The aquatic race and the tide, stretching for tens of thousands of miles, seemed to collide with something and shattered in an instant.

“Roar—” “Howl—”

“Ah…”

Countless aquatic creatures and dragons roared or shrieked. Innumerable whirlpools appeared in the sea, an exaggerated earthquake occurred beneath the waves, and the converging water essence became turbulent.

The chaotic aura here was exaggerated. True dragons and some highly cultivated old Jiao dragons flew up one after another. However, more than half of the aquatic creatures couldn’t escape the earthquake, and countless more were continuously sucked into the endless whirlpools.

“What’s happening?” “Why is this happening?”

“Everyone, don’t panic! Stabilize your water essence, we…”

“Crackling… Crackling…”

A sharp, ear-piercing creaking sound interrupted the Dragon Girl. The aquatic creatures who could still manage themselves instinctively looked in the direction of the sound. Cracks began appearing in the distant sky, and then they realized these cracks extended to the sea, and even down to the seabed, revealing the culprit behind the whirlpools.

A black silhouette appeared in the sky, growing increasingly distinct.

“Watch out!” “Run—”

The true dragons and old Jiao dragons fled one after another. The next moment.

With a reverberating “Clang—” that shook the world, the black silhouette pressed down directly. Its might and pressure far surpassed Ji Yuan’s Sky-Shattering Sword technique. The celestial barrier shattered and exploded like a mirror struck by an impact.

The black silhouette was the ancient Fusang tree. It had fallen, directly shattering the heaven-and-earth barrier. The elemental qi turbulence, more than ten times more exaggerated than before, formed a storm that swept away the aquatic creatures, like leaves being blown away by a falling giant tree.

“Wh…at…”

The Dragon Girl’s body trembled continuously, her hands clutching her folding fan tightly, her chest heaving uncontrollably. The old dragon was not much better, and the other true dragons were utterly stunned.

But this wasn’t all. Just a few breaths later, the true dragons realized they were moving further and further away from where the Fusang tree had fallen. The speed of this departure reached an exaggerated degree almost instantaneously; in the blink of an eye, they could no longer see the Fusang tree.

“The heavens and earth are expanding!”

The Old Yellow Dragon cried out, but besides expressing astonishment and even terror, he seemed somewhat at a loss.