Li Mu’s words were like a spark thrown into solidified despair, instantly igniting a prairie fire. The gazes of all the Peak powerhouses, carrying their last sliver of hope, focused on him.
“Lure it out? Cut off its roots?” The Blood Prison Demon God’s blood-red pupils constricted, and the churning blood sea beneath his feet paused. He stared intently at Li Mu, his voice hoarse with disbelief: “Little Friend Li, do you know how cunning that strange thing’s true body is? Even Star Dome Old Ancestor’s Star Chains couldn’t bind it! To lure it out, the price might be to sacrifice one or even several beings like us!”
“Are you certain… are you certain you have a way to collect its Origin? Rather than just repelling or weakening it?” The Blood Prison Demon God stared at Li Mu, emphasizing the word “collect” even more, which was even more inconceivable than mere destruction or Seal.
The Netherfire on the Bone Emperor Demon God’s white bone throne flickered violently, his hollow eye sockets seemingly trying to see through Li Mu: “Collect? This thing is an aggregation of twisted will, formless and quality less, eroding all things! The Chaotic Great Dao is indeed mysterious, but how will you… collect a polluted Star Domain, a annihilated will… into your possession?”
“Senior, this matter is of no small import, and allows for no falsehoods!” The Bone Emperor Demon God stared intently at Li Mu, his questioning sharp and direct. It concerned life and death, allowing for no chance.
Mingxin Holy Monk clasped his hands together, an unprecedented solemnity flowing with the Buddha Light: “Amitābha. Li Shi Zhu, it is not that this old monk does not believe, but rather that the strangeness of the strange path of dao tree transcends common sense. What method is this ‘collecting’ that Li Shi Zhu speaks of? Are there any precedents, or how confident are you?”
Mingxin Holy Monk’s question represented the doubts in everyone’s hearts—it sounded too fantastical.
Li Mu met these gazes that could crush a Star River, yet his eyes were exceptionally calm, like a deep pool without ripples.
“Seniors’ doubts, Li deeply understands. The Dao of Chaos encompasses everything and is also the Home of all Daos. The will of this Strange Tree, no matter how its form changes, its foundation is a twisted, annihilated, and erosive ‘will of existence’. It erodes all things, assimilating them to strengthen itself, seemingly without solution.” Li Mu smiled confidently.
Li Mu paused, then raised his hand to summon the Chaotic Dao Domain. Chaos Qi silently flowed around him, and a vast, ancient aura, seemingly encompassing everything yet transcending everything, faintly emanated: “However, Chaos can also encompass, can also dissolve, and can also… return to the Void Realm! My Chaotic Great Dao has touched a trace of the true meaning of ‘all Daos returning to the Void Realm’.”
“It is not to disperse it, nor to Seal it, but at the moment its will core is lured out and its connection with this assimilated Star Domain is most intimate and active, to forcibly ‘strip’ and ‘contain’ its existence with the power of Chaos returning to the Void Realm, incorporating it into my Chaotic Dao Domain Sea! Like a drop of polluted ink thrown into the boundless ocean of Chaos, the ‘traces’ of its existence will be assimilated, decomposed, and finally… its independent will erased, reverting to the most primal Chaos Origin!”
Li Mu’s gaze swept over everyone, speaking with conviction: “With this method, I once, in the Chaotic Dead Realm, used weakness to overcome strength and collected a wisp of ‘Void Realm Annihilation Will’ that was close to annihilation. Although extremely dangerous, it certainly has its Dao! Today, though the Strange Tree’s will is strong, its essence is still within the embrace of Chaos! This is a strategy to draw fire from under the cauldron, cutting off its roots! However, it requires the full assistance of all Seniors, especially…”
At this point, Li Mu looked at the Azure Emperor: “It requires a sufficiently ‘delicious’ bait that can trigger its deepest greed, and only when it is most lost in ‘devouring’ is the time to act! This is the only feasible method, and also… the opportunity to break the situation!”
“Chaos returning to the Void Realm… collecting will… transforming into Origin…” Celestial Venerable Fentian murmured to himself. The Golden Crow Lamp flame in his palm seemed to sense some supreme Law truth contained in Li Mu’s words, actually resonating slightly, and the flame light flickered more intensely.
Recalling the various battle achievements Li Mu had displayed with his Chaotic Great Dao before, those seemingly impossible miracles, it seemed possible to achieve this goal, and only he could be trusted.
Star Dome Old Ancestor’s cloudy old eyes burst forth with brilliance, staring intently at Li Mu: “Little Friend Li, do you… do you truly have the confidence to ‘collect’ it?”
“Seven or eight tenths!” Li Mu said without hesitation, his eyes as clear as the stars.
As soon as these words fell, there was a brief silence. Everyone’s spirits lifted.
“Good! With sixty percent confidence, we can give it a try, let alone eighty or ninety percent!” Star Dome Old Ancestor cheered happily.
“Hehehe…” The Soul Devouring Demon God suddenly let out a sharp laugh, looking at Li Mu with surprise, a strange light flickering in his scarlet pupils: “Good! What a Chaos returning to the Void Realm! Kid, you’ve got guts, you’re crazy enough! This venerable one will believe you this time! If it truly succeeds, you will be the first to claim credit in this battle!”
“Amitābha.” Mingxin Holy Monk proclaimed a long Buddhist chant, and the Buddha Light around him seemed to solidify a bit more. “Since Shi Zhu possesses such a world-shaking method and past verification, this old monk… is willing to pledge his Buddhist heart to assist Shi Zhu!”
The Blood Prison Demon God stared at Li Mu for a full three breaths. The churning blood sea beneath his feet suddenly receded, transforming into viscous blood plasma that swirled around his body. He bared his pale fangs in a grin and praised, “Good! Kid, remember your words! If you fail, this venerable one will tear you apart first! If you succeed… hehe, this venerable one owes you a life!”
The Bone Emperor Demon God’s white bone knuckles heavily knocked on the armrest of his throne, producing a metallic clang: “…Alright! My Bone Domain can isolate some of the residual erosion for you!”
The profound darkness that was the Eternal Night Demon God rippled slightly, and a low voice sounded, carrying a sense of resolve: “Eternal Night Concealment can protect the bait, and… can also provide you with a momentary opportunity for your final strike.”
Celestial Venerable Fentian took a deep breath, and the Golden Crow Lamp flame in his palm shot up into the sky, illuminating a gloomy Starry Sky: “Heavenly Incineration and World Refinement, I will arrange it! Kid, do not disappoint our trust, and… do not disappoint Old Friend Azure Emperor!”
Everyone’s gaze ultimately fell upon the Azure Emperor. He was the core of the plan, the most crucial “bait”!
The Azure Emperor met everyone’s gazes without the slightest fear, instead revealing a carefree smile. The azure light around his body was purer and more boundless than ever before, and seventy-two leaves, like emerald stars, revolved around him, exuding the Origin of the Great Dao that nurtured endless life.
The Azure Emperor looked at Li Mu, his gaze filled with trust and entrustment: “Little Friend Li Mu, go all out! This old man’s Azure Wood Origin shall be the fragrant bait to lure out the world-destroying demonic whale today! Even if ten thousand tribulations befall me, this heart will not regret!”
“Seniors…” A warm current and a heavy sense of responsibility surged in Li Mu’s heart. He clasped his fists deeply: “Li will certainly not fail your trust!”
No more words were exchanged; the decision had been made, and trust had been placed!
“Move!” The Eternal Night Demon God’s low voice was like a command.
“Eternal Night, Conceal!” The profound darkness instantly contracted, completely enveloping the Azure Emperor along with the boundless Azure Wood Origin vitality, like the ‘Heart of the Jianmu Tree’, isolating inside from outside.
“Heavenly Incineration and World Refinement, open!” Celestial Venerable Fentian roared. Nine Golden Crow phantoms, carrying the True Flame of Annihilation, intertwined into a massive golden fire net, crashing down and forcibly opening up a scorching “vacuum” zone within the Sea of Strange Mist, as if creating a seemingly fragile and penetrable passage for the “bait” in the darkness.
“Blood Sea Turbid Qi, draw!” The Blood Prison Demon God grinned ferociously. A filthy, viscous river of blood coiled around the outside of the Eternal Night’s shroud, emitting a strange and deadly mixed aura.
“Starry Sky Star Guidance, ambush!” Star Dome Old Ancestor strained his spirit, and countless intricate Star Light Chains silently merged into the space around the core area.
The Bone Emperor’s Bone Domain expanded menacingly, the Soul Devouring Demon God’s Soul Banner flickered with ghostly light, Mingxin Holy Monk’s Buddha Wheel shone brightly, stabilizing the mind, and Grand Profound Sword Revered’s Sword Intent soared, poised for attack… All the powerhouses performed their respective duties, their power contained to the Peak, like taut bowstrings, locking onto the core area enveloped by Eternal Night, golden flames, and foul blood!
Silence descended once more.
However, beneath this silence was a destructive storm about to erupt! The deadly “fragrant bait” was already in place, just waiting for that greedy hunter… to walk into the trap.
The deadly “bait” was already in place. The Peak powerhouses standing in the Three Realms held their breath, their power contained to the extreme, like hibernating primordial beasts, waiting only for the hunter lurking in the endless strange mist to reveal its fangs.
Silence was the last calm before the storm.
This silence did not last long.
Buzz—!
An invisible, Soul-shaking tremor, without warning, swept across the entire strange Star Domain! It was not a sound, but a wail at the Law level, a silent roar from billions of twisted and assimilated wills driven by a single cold will!
“It’s here!” The Eternal Night Demon God’s low voice echoed in everyone’s minds, carrying an unprecedented solemnity.
Almost simultaneously!
Rumble rumble rumble—!!!
The viscous, gelatinous gray-white strange mist, isolated by Celestial Venerable Fentian’s “Heavenly Incineration and World Refinement” array, suddenly boiled like enraged myriad sea snakes! They no longer merely eroded the Golden Crow Fire Net, but condensed into countless thick gray-white giant vines, as massive as mountains and covered with phantom faces of suffering, carrying terrifying power capable of crushing stars, fiercely lashing at the golden flame barrier!
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!
The Golden Crow True Flame and the strange vines violently collided and dissolved, emitting an extremely harsh corrosive sound! The flame barrier vibrated violently, its light visibly dimming! Celestial Venerable Fentian’s face paled, the Golden Crow Lamp flame in his palm swayed wildly, he grunted, his Immortal Qi surging around him, forcibly stabilizing the great array, but a trace of golden-red blood had already spilled from the corner of his mouth!
“Hmph! Mere dead things, daring to be so rampant!” The Blood Prison Demon God roared. The filthy blood river surrounding the Eternal Night’s darkness suddenly churned, transforming into countless ferocious blood-colored demonic shadows, roaring as they charged towards the strange vines that had broken through the gaps in the fire net!
The blood shadows and strange vines collided, the Blood Qi fiercely corroding the gray-white substance, emitting sizzling sounds. However, the corroded parts of the strange vines instantly fell off, and more strange mist immediately filled in from behind, as if inexhaustible! Even more terrifyingly, the blood shadows contaminated by the strange vines began to be stained gray-white, and their movements became sluggish and stiff!
“Damn it! It’s assimilating my Blood Spirit!” The Blood Prison Demon God’s blood-red pupils constricted violently, and the blood sea beneath his feet surged as he tried to recall the eroded blood shadows, but he felt a cold, viscous will counter-eroding along the connection, causing a sharp pain in his Divine Soul!
“Starry Sky Star Guidance, lock!” Star Dome Old Ancestor’s hair and beard bristled, and his withered fingers rapidly pointed! The countless Star Light Chains that had previously been hidden in the Void Realm suddenly appeared, coiling around the strange vines that had broken through the defense line like spiritual snakes, attempting to fix and crush them!
However, as soon as the Star Light Chains touched the strange vines, the brilliant silver light on the chains was visibly eroded and dimmed by the gray-white! Star Dome Old Ancestor was hit hard, and his already withered aura plummeted again! “It… it’s polluting the power of the stars! This old man… can’t hold on!”
“Om Mani Padme Hum!” Mingxin Holy Monk’s Buddha Wheel behind his head burst forth with brilliant light, and the majestic and solemn six-character mantra transformed into a torrent of tangible golden Sanskrit characters, crashing into the surging strange mist! The Buddha Light shone universally, and wherever it passed, the gray-white mist violently evaporated, and countless twisted phantom faces let out silent, mournful wails!
The Buddha Light seemed effective! But after only a few breaths, deep within the churning strange mist, countless twisted, blurry gray-white Sanskrit phantoms also appeared, carrying a blasphemous evil aura, counter-eroding the Buddha Light!
Mingxin Holy Monk’s face sank, and the Buddha Wheel’s light was actually suppressed and slightly contracted by the gray-white Sanskrit. He suddenly accelerated the speed of his chanting, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, clearly enduring a huge mental impact!
“Slash!” Grand Profound Sword Revered’s eyes flashed with cold light. He pointed his fingers like a sword, and the Grand Profound Ancient Sword let out a clear sword cry that pierced the Starry Sky! An invisible Sword Qi, condensed to the extreme, instantly split into thousands, precisely striking the core of every strange vine that broke through the defense line!
The Sword Qi was incomparably sharp, easily severing the strange vines. However, the severed strange vines did not disappear; more viscous gray-white substance instantly surged from the severed ends, reconnecting, and even splitting into more numerous and thinner vines! Moreover, wisps of cold will surged upward along the Sword Qi, attempting to erode his Sword Heart!
Grand Profound Sword Revered frowned deeply, his ancient sword trembling slightly, constantly shaking off the invading wills, but the frequency of his slashes noticeably slowed down.
“Bone Domain · Annihilation!” The Bone Emperor Demon God’s white bone throne exuded monstrous Death Qi, and the menacing white bone Domain suddenly expanded. Within the Domain, countless white bone spikes appeared out of thin air, fiercely piercing the strange vines!
The Death Qi of the bones and the annihilation power of the Strange Tree violently collided, annihilating each other! But the number of strange vines was simply too great, endless, and the edge of the Bone Domain actually began to be stained gray-white, emitting a grating “crunching” sound! The Netherfire in the Bone Emperor Demon God’s hollow eye sockets flickered erratically, and his throne trembled slightly.
“Myriad Souls Devour!” The Soul Devouring Demon God seized the opportunity and violently shook the Soul Banner! The gray-white patterns on the banner surface wriggled wildly, and countless polluted yet still ferocious vengeful spirits shrieked as they rushed out, pouncing on the strange vines, frantically gnawing at their will!
However, as the vengeful spirits gnawed at the strange vines, their own gray-white patterns also deepened, becoming more chaotic and violent, even faintly showing a tendency to backlash against the Soul Devouring Demon God!
“Bastard!” The Soul Devouring Demon God roared, forcibly suppressing the backlash from the Soul Banner, a trace of pain and madness flashing in his scarlet pupils.
The nine Profound Fiend Dragons controlled by the Profound Fiend Demon God churned and charged through the strange mist, their Dragon Breath spewing, freezing and corroding large areas of the strange mist. But fine gray-white patterns also began to crawl onto the black scales of the Profound Fiend Dragons, their movements becoming stiff and slow, emitting painful Dragon roars.
The battle instantly entered a white-hot stage! Every Peak powerhouse poured out their full strength, displaying their Divine Abilities, engaging in a desperate struggle with the ubiquitous, endless strange mist vines and the cold will contained within them!
However, the situation was not optimistic! (End of Chapter)
