The Annihilator’s End
1,739 words
The Blackclad Godking stood on the island, gazing into the distant sky. Ji Ning had already departed this world.
“Hmph.” The Blackclad Godking let out a cold laugh. “To feel such deep emotion yet be able to sever it—that makes him something of a man. In ordinary times, I would need to pay attention to him. But now?” A cruel smile crossed his lips. “The Great Calamity is descending. Paragons will die by the thousands. A mere Empyrean God or True Immortal? A small fry.”
Whoosh.
The Blackclad Godking vanished from sight, leaving only the beautiful island behind, its myriad flowers still in full bloom.
Atop the Seamless City walls, Demonhand Daofather and the Blackclad Godking watched their armies massed across the wilderness. The Seamless Gate forces had been taunting the enemy, but Nuwa’s camp refused to take the bait.
“That little fellow,” the Blackclad Godking muttered, a cold chuckle escaping his lips.
“Hm?” Demonhand Daofather turned to him.
“Ji Ning,” the Blackclad Godking said with a smirk. “My avatar just paid him a visit. Toyed with him a bit.”
Demonhand Daofather said calmly, “The contest for fortune’s favor has reached this stage. That minor Empyrean God and True Immortal is no longer a threat to us.”
“I know. That’s why I would never give him Yu Wei’s soul. Even if it were utterly useless, I would never let Ji Ning have what he desires.” The Blackclad Godking smiled coldly. “Don’t worry, Uncle-Master. I won’t waste my attention on this brat. The big picture is what matters now. The struggle for fortune and fate is paramount. As for Ji Ning… if the opportunity arises, I’ll dispose of him on the spot. If not, there’s no need to bother. Spending any more thought on him would be a waste.”
“Mm. As long as you understand the stakes,” Demonhand Daofather replied with a calm nod.
Boom… boom… boom…
The Seamless Gate army howled as it flew back through the skies, flooding into Seamless City.
“Oh?” The Blackclad Godking raised his head, spotting a streak of black lightning flashing through the void in the distance. A stream of light shot into the floating city of Nuwa’s camp. The Godking grinned. “There goes Ji Ning.”
…
Inside the floating city of Nuwa’s camp.
Ji Ning’s residence.
“Whew.” The white-robed Ji Ning waved his hand, and the black-robed Ji Ning standing before him was absorbed into his estate-treasure.
Within the estate-treasure, an independent world took shape.
Three hundred and nineteen towering peaks pierced the skies. These mountains were the ‘pillar-foundations’ of this world, reinforcing its stability.
At this moment, a white-robed young man sat atop each peak, all of them cultivating the Icefire Golden Core Refining Art.
Whoosh.
Seventeen black-robed avatars of Ji Ning appeared as well. Ji Ning’s Primaltwin also had eighteen clones; one was accompanying his daughter Brightmoon, and the other seventeen were all here.
Whoooosh. Whooooosh.
Nine-Yang Magma and Iceheart Marrow flew out.
The seventeen black-robed Ji Nings each chose a mountain peak. Then, they too began cultivating the Icefire Golden Core Refining Art.
…
The white-robed Ji Ning stood in the courtyard of his residence. With a wave of his hand, a bustling crowd of figures filled the spacious yard.
“Northbrother!”
“Where is this?”
“Northbrother, we waited hundreds of years! You finally let us out!”
“Hey. Where are we?”
The boisterous crowd of Empyrean Gods appeared in the courtyard. There were Sin God, Throat-Sealing God, the Seven Dragon Gods, Xiuke God, Chunyi God, Feiyou God, Wuqi God, Yunhen God, and more—over two hundred Empyrean Gods in total. Each of them possessed extraordinary strength.
“This is… Zhuolu Major World?” Xiuke God asked in shock.
“The Three Realms.”
“We’re back.”
Within moments, the two hundred-plus Empyrean Gods were overcome with excitement. As they released their heartforce to probe their surroundings, the over two thousand Empyrean Gods and True Immortals on Nuwa’s side who were participating in the war also detected the disturbance. To their astonishment, they recognized heartforce signatures they had not felt for ages—the signatures of brothers and friends long thought lost.
Soon, many Empyrean Gods hurried over to Ji Ning’s location.
“Ah! Wuqi, it really is you! I thought my senses were playing tricks on me.”
“Senior apprentice-brother! You… you’re still alive?”
Ji Ning’s residence quickly became a scene of celebration. Yet, amidst the jubilation, no one noticed that Ji Ning had quietly slipped away.
…
Ji Ning walked alone toward the palace where the Yellow Emperor, Xuan Yuan, was holding court.
Guards stood before the palace entrance.
“Empyrean God Northlord. The Paragons are in the middle of discussing important affairs. You may not disturb them,” a golden-armored guard said.
“Please announce my presence. I have an extremely urgent matter to discuss with my master,” Ji Ning replied.
The golden-armored guard hesitated. If Ji Ning had requested an audience with Xuan Yuan, he would have blocked him outright. But a request to see his own master was another matter. He nodded. “Empyrean God Northlord, wait here. I will deliver your message.”
Ji Ning nodded and stood silently.
His master, Xuan Yuan, Suiren, and the other Paragons were all gathered here. Ji Ning could not simply sweep through with his heartforce to send a telepathic message—that would be far too presumptuous. He had to observe proper protocol.
After a moment, the golden-armored guard returned, looking at Ji Ning with curiosity. “His Majesty has granted you entry.”
When he had announced Ji Ning, Xuan Yuan, Lord Three Purities, and the others had simply said, “Let Ji Ning in.” This puzzled the guard, a mere Celestial Immortal, greatly.
Ji Ning nodded and ascended the steps.
He walked down a corridor, crossed a vast plaza, and arrived at the main hall. Even before entering, he could see the figures seated inside—all of them Paragons of the Three Realms. There were not many present. After the “appearance of the Annihilator” battle, a large number of Paragons had arrived, deliberated for a day, and then many had departed.
“Come in,” Xuan Yuan’s voice rang out.
Ji Ning stepped into the hall.
The number of True Gods and Daofathers in the hall was indeed small—only eighteen. But the most powerful among them were all present: Lord Three Purities, Buddha Tathagata, Divine Farmer, Fuxi, Suiren, and Patriarch Subhuti, who sat to one side and nodded at Ji Ning. Because he had been monitoring the Seamless Gate’s movements, Subhuti was already aware of what had happened between Ji Ning and the Godking.
He sighed inwardly. He knew that his disciple’s path was one he would have to walk alone.
“Ji Ning,” Xuan Yuan said with a smile. “We just learned that you brought over two hundred Empyrean Gods out of the Moon Underwater Abyss. I can sense that each of them has a powerful aura—peak-level Empyrean Gods with astonishing strength. Adding this batch of formidable gods to our side will be a great help in the contest for fortune’s favor.”
“Emerging in six hundred years—that is much faster than even Jueming,” Buddha Tathagata added with a gentle smile.
“Disciple.” Subhuti spoke up. “Why have you come to see your master?”
All the Paragons in the hall turned their attention to Ji Ning. Every single one of these eighteen cultivators possessed at least top-tier Daofather-level power. Before Ji Ning’s arrival, they had been racking their brains for a way to deal with the “Annihilator.” Although Ji Ning’s rescue of over two hundred Empyrean Gods brought them some psychological relief—after all, some of those gods were their own disciples—they knew full well that two hundred Empyrean Gods would have negligible impact on the overall situation. The previous battle alone had cost nearly six hundred Empyrean Gods and True Immortals.
Moreover, to fight the “Annihilator,” Empyrean Gods and True Immortals were utterly useless. Only by relying on formations could they unleash sufficiently terrifying power. True Immortal Baiji leading the “Pangu Creation Formation” was already the peak of what they could imagine for such a formation. They could not conceive of any other, more powerful method.
“The Annihilator,” Ji Ning said.
“The Annihilator?” Subhuti was startled. All the Paragons in the room were shocked. They had only intended to greet Ji Ning and thank him for rescuing the Empyrean Gods. Now, however, they immediately turned serious.
“Can the Seamless Gate detect our conversation here?” Ji Ning asked.
“Rest assured. This hall is warded by the combined efforts of many Paragons of the Three Realms. Even the Heavenly Dao has been isolated,” Subhuti said.
Ji Ning froze, then realized it was true. He could no longer sense the Heavenly Dao. His heart was still not calm enough; he had failed to notice even that.
“Speak,” Subhuti said, looking at his disciple.
“The Annihilator is indeed powerful. However, my clones spent six hundred years in the Moon Underwater Abyss. Now that their memories have merged, I believe I have a way to deal with it.” Ji Ning spoke solemnly.
“You have a way?” The God of Thunder, seated nearby, frowned. Despite his personal dislike for Ji Ning, the survival of their entire camp was at stake. He had been desperately searching for a solution to the Annihilator himself, but none of the Paragons present could think of one. For Ji Ning to now make such a claim… “Do you realize that the Annihilator’s power rivals that of a top-tier Daofather? And you, an Empyrean God and True Immortal, have a way to deal with it?”
“When the Annihilator appeared, I was on the city walls with my master,” Ji Ning replied respectfully.
The message was clear: he was fully aware of the Annihilator’s strength.
“You truly have a method?” Xia Yu, the founder of the ancient imperial clan, could not help but ask.
Ji Ning nodded, his eyes blazing with unprecedented confidence and resolve. “Seniors. Give me one month. One month from now, I, Ji Ning… will deal with the Annihilator.”
“War is no joke. Countless immortals and demons depend on the outcome,” Xuan Yuan, who commanded the army, said solemnly.
“I would not dare joke about matters of war,” Ji Ning replied with equal gravity.
“Very well.” Xuan Yuan nodded. “You should know that in war, there is no room for falsehood. Since you have spoken, one month from now, I will once again order the army to engage the Seamless Gate in battle.”