Chapter 1004: 遮天

What's going on? Shouting at a Half-Step Heavenly Venerate to kneel and accept a decree – has Chu Feng truly gone mad?!

But just as everyone was reeling in shock, they felt their scalps tingle, their bodies crack, and blood ooze from their skin. Unable to bear it, they all collapsed to their knees. Involuntarily, all the gods prostrated themselves before Chu Feng! Their bodies betrayed their will, completely beyond their control. This was an instinctive awe, like herbivores facing a beast king, an innate terror. Everyone trembled uncontrollably, unable to stand, shaking violently as they knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing.

This was only because Chu Feng was controlling the Heavenly Venerate's decree to primarily target the front, not wishing to harm those in the fragmented universe. Otherwise, this entire area would have been annihilated, and all the cultivators would have perished!

A golden decree soared forth, wielded by Chu Feng like a blunt weapon, slamming directly towards Ji Hong. Billions of golden light strands and surging fragments of the Great Dao erupted, roaring like a breached dam, sweeping everything away. The power was too overwhelming; who could possibly resist it? Along its path, several deities in that direction trembled uncontrollably, frozen in place. They melted and evaporated instantly, like snowflakes encountering a blazing furnace. This sight made heaven and earth lament. Numerous cultivators lay prostrate, convulsing, their souls quivering and shaking, not daring to lift their heads.

Such a terrifying spectacle astounded everyone! This was the sheer might of the Heavenly Venerate's decree. As it lightly flew by, the Great Dao fragments it unleashed annihilated every deity in its path, without a shred of doubt.

"Argh..."

The eight Golden-Robed God Kings roared, letting out shrill cries. They desperately tried to dodge; who would dare to confront a Heavenly Venerate's decree? That would be suicide. But it was already too late. The Heavenly Venerate's decree, activated by Chu Feng, broke through the limitations of time and shattered certain cosmic shackles, arriving in an instant. Ultimately, the eight God Kings were forced to fight desperately. Their bodies seethed with energy, and their soul light roared as they tried to protect themselves and survive as long as possible. Alas, their efforts were futile. Wherever the Heavenly Venerate's decree passed, even the Golden-Robed God Kings, renowned as supreme experts in their domain, exploded. Their arms, their chests—everything turned into a mist of blood. Simultaneously, even their heads, which they had painstakingly protected, and their soul light developed fine cracks before utterly disintegrating with a bang.

"No!"

How terrifying were these eight powerhouses? Any one of them, walking in the world, would have been revered by all races, esteemed guests in powerful dynasties. Yet now, they were less than scarecrows! In their final moments, they could only let out a roar of unwilling fury, filled with grief, indignation, hatred, and humiliation, before utterly disintegrating and vanishing without a trace. Not a single one of the eight Golden-Robed Kings remained; they had vanished utterly, even the last eight wisps of blood mist evaporated, their bodies and souls completely annihilated.

In every direction, only heavy breathing could be heard; there was no other sound. All the gods remained prostrate, trembling with chilling dread. This was the overwhelming might of a Heavenly Venerate. This decree was equivalent to a full strike from a Heavenly Venerate; who could possibly contend with it? If one was not of that caliber, no number of people would suffice. Rushing forward to fight would only result in a pointless death, with no hope whatsoever.

All of this transpired in a flash, transcending the bounds of time. It happened so quickly that the gods were still bewildered when the eight Golden-Robed God Kings had already met their end.

"Roar!"

The Divine General-level fierce beasts roared—these were the divine creatures pulling Half-Step Heavenly Venerate Ji Hong's chariot. Now, they all rose onto their hind legs, desperate to flee or fight, but to what avail? If even the God Kings had perished, what chance did they have? Not even Ji Hong's protective runic light could save them! The six lion-like beasts, covered in green scales, instantly exploded, and then their blood and bones combusted, turning to ash. As for the chariot, it fractured inch by inch, rapidly turning into dust. This was a treasure vehicle crafted from rare heavenly materials of the Yang Realm, yet now it was as fragile as paper.

"Heavenly Venerate, save me!"

The young attendant who had previously reprimanded Chu Feng now shrieked in terror. Of course, he was transmitting his plea through soul light, as there was no time to speak aloud; the decree had already broken through the speed limits of this universe. Ji Hong certainly wanted to save him, but he was too preoccupied with his own peril. He was locked in by billions of golden lights, enveloped by the terrifying and vast decree, and was struggling to escape himself!

"Argh..."

The young attendant screamed as his soul light shattered. Without a hint of surprise, he disintegrated from head to toe, becoming a mist of blood before dissipating. The other young attendant also met a tragic end, his body and soul utterly destroyed!

With a loud bang, Ji Hong's chariot exploded. Fragments of heavenly materials and earthly treasures flew into the air, only to instantly turn to ash. The terrifying essence of the Half-Step Heavenly Venerate surged forth, yet it, too, was burning. This sight was enough to shake the entire world! Not to mention others, even Chu Feng himself felt a shiver of dread. He had already estimated the terrifying power of the golden decree, but he hadn't realized he had still underestimated it; it was unbelievably potent. The eight God Kings, the Half-Step Heavenly Venerate's chariot, and everything else were as fragile as porcelain, shattering upon contact!

Now it was Ji Hong's turn! Cold sweat trickled down Chu Feng's back. He was fortunate to have immediately used the stone box to retrieve the Heavenly Venerate's decree back then. Otherwise, if his opponents had found an opportunity to use the decree against him during his ambush of the Yang Realm gods in the chaos, the consequences would have been unimaginable!

Ji Hong seethed with rage. A dignified Half-Step Heavenly Venerate, descending upon this fragmented universe, should have been worshipped by all beings. Instead, he was now facing utter disaster! Powerful as he was, had he been cautious and vigilant, he certainly could have evaded it. But he had been arrogant, looking down upon all things and beings in this world; how could he have taken an "aborigine" seriously? As a result, cruel reality dealt him a severe blow! From the very beginning, once the decree was activated, it had locked onto him, making his scalp prickle. Everyone else was merely collateral damage, not the decree's primary target. Once the golden decree entered the passage connected to the Yang Realm, it expanded boundlessly, leaving Ji Hong no room to maneuver. No matter how he roared or unleashed his divine power, he was utterly suppressed by the Heavenly Venerate's might. While he was indeed a Half-Step Heavenly Venerate, he had only just entered that realm and was not yet a true being of that caliber. Consequently, he was covered in blood, his bones shattered, his flesh disintegrating, having suffered grievous injuries.

"Alas, this decree is incomplete after all!" Chu Feng sighed. Otherwise, a complete decree would likely have been capable of killing Ji Hong.

Ji Hong was enraged. He was already in such a wretched state, and that kid was still making sarcastic remarks. The golden decree erupted, its assault far from over. It was breaking apart, yet in this process, it became even more terrifying, releasing boundless energy and runes as it utterly disintegrated, inflicting severe damage upon its target. The passage roared, the chaos exploded, and even the world membrane was breached.

"Argh..." Ji Hong screamed as his body was torn asunder. Even someone as powerful as he could not endure it; his physical body was utterly destroyed. Even if he could regenerate from a single drop of blood, the grievous injuries he sustained were unimaginable. Had an opponent of equal standing inflicted such harm, he would have accepted it; in struggles between peers, there are victories and defeats, with nothing to lament. But this was the doing of a minor "aborigine" from the Netherworld, who had nearly caused his demise, blasting him into the world membrane and almost bringing about his downfall, leaving him in utter disarray. How could he possibly tolerate this?

The passage connecting to the Yang Realm was almost entirely destroyed. For a long time afterward, it remained a maelstrom of turbulent energy and surging chaotic qi. Ji Hong laboriously carved a path, with immense difficulty reopening a narrow passage, reappearing once more, covered in blood and with disheveled hair. For a Half-Step Heavenly Venerate, this was utterly humiliating; he had never experienced anything like it. Such a predicament was truly abysmal!

"Chu Feng, you filthy aborigine from the mass grave, what more do you have to say? If I do not torture you for ten thousand years, I swear I will never become a Heavenly Venerate!" Ji Hong roared in fury. When a Half-Step Heavenly Venerate rages and makes a vow, it is destined to cause rivers of blood and turn the earth crimson—an exceedingly terrifying event in this world. However, what enraged him was that everyone else in the secret realm was suppressed by his aura, kneeling and trembling, yet that "aborigine" remained perfectly unharmed, standing there, completely unmoved.

Chu Feng, holding the stone box, resisted the Half-Step Heavenly Venerate's formidable pressure, unswayed by his aura. He stood firm in the field, head held high and utterly fearless. "Ji Hong, you talk too much!" Chu Feng stated calmly, his eyes cold. He stood in the arena, his tall, powerful physique like a statue of a god or demon, steady and composed.

Ji Hong immediately raised his hand, wanting to slap Chu Feng dead. How dared this person speak to him like that? Who was the Half-Step Heavenly Venerate here, after all? This "aborigine" had the audacity to call him by name, remaining so calm and utterly fearless, even adopting a condescending posture. Anyone unaware of the situation might think Chu Feng was the Heavenly Venerate! This enraged Ji Hong; the audacity was a clear sign of contempt and humiliation! By what right did a mere "aborigine" dare to be so audacious and reckless?

"So-called ants have no right to gaze upon the heavens. I shall torment you for ten thousand years!" Ji Hong declared, his profound voice reverberating, fragments of the Great Dao swirling, like the resonant clang of a grand bell, suppressing the entire world.

Chu Feng, however, merely sneered, completely unmoved. "Ji Hong, kneel down," he commanded, "and continue to receive this king's decree!"

Before he finished speaking, his hand flashed with golden light, radiating boundless divine brilliance. A complete Heavenly Venerate's decree shot out from the stone box, hurtling forward to strike. The newly reopened passage was very narrow, not wide at all. Ji Hong's pupils constricted; it was difficult to evade, and there was no time left. At this very moment, he desperately wanted to utter a crude expletive: "What the f***!"

A single golden decree blotted out the sky!