The Vanguard

“Excellent. A Daofather’s divine power truly makes commanding the Rahu Formation far easier. The power of heaven and earth channeled by ninety thousand Celestial Immortals and eight million Loose Immortals… I can control it all.” Ji Ning felt the might of the Rahu divine body. The difference between a Daofather’s divine power and the True Immortal’s power he had once wielded was night and day. Commanding the formation with a True Immortal’s power had been like a child lifting a stone.

With a Daofather’s divine power, it was like a grown man lifting that same stone. The foundation had changed; naturally, the difficulty had changed as well.

And his soul was far more powerful than before… effortlessly, he took complete control of the entire Rahu Formation.

“The Seamless Gate.” A flicker of killing intent passed through the eyes of the Fiendgod Ji Ning.

…

Within the floating city.

Inside Ji Ning’s residence, a black-robed Ji Ning materialized out of thin air. He looked up at the sky, where goose-feather snow was drifting down.

“It’s snowing,” Ji Ning murmured to himself.

When he had seen the Godking in the Grand Xia world, though it had been deep winter, his heart had been burning hot.

But now, it had long since turned into an iceberg of ice.

“Time to meet Senior轩辕.” The black-robed Ji Ning walked out of his residence and headed towards Emperor Xuanyuan’s palace. The atmosphere on the road was oppressive. Recently, the Seamless Gate had challenged them to battle several times, but Nuwa’s camp had refused to leave the city. This made the immortals and devas on their side wonder… did they truly have no way to deal with the All-Things Emissary? Ji Ning exchanged a few words with some of the Empyrean Gods and True Immortals he met on the road, but he could feel the immense pressure weighing on these friends of his.

After all, in war, Empyrean Gods and True Immortals were the ones risking their lives.

A short while later.

The black-robed Ji Ning arrived before Emperor Xuanyuan’s hall.

“Northmont God.” The golden-armored guard at the hall entrance stopped him.

“Please inform His Imperial Majesty Xuanyuan that Ji Ning is ready,” the black-robed Ji Ning said.

“Understood.” The golden-armored guard nodded.

Ji Ning then turned and left.

Inside the hall.

Sitting there were the avatars of the three Human Sovereigns, the leaders of the Buddhist and Daoist sects, as well as the true bodies of Xuanyuan and Subhuti.

“Ji Ning is ready.” Xuanyuan smiled as he looked at Subhuti. “And his killing intent is remarkably strong.”

“Mm, it is very strong,” Subhuti said softly. “Suppressed deep within his heart, but that makes the killing intent all the more startling. That’s why I told you all to be prepared for failure. Although I’ve always been at ease with this disciple of mine, and he has never let personal emotions affect the bigger picture… this time, we cannot afford to fail.”

“Indeed, we cannot afford to fail.” Divine Farmer sighed emotionally. “Dealing with the All-Things Emissary… there’s no other way. If our strength isn’t enough, we can only make up for it with numbers.”

“That’s the only way.” Suirenshi, Buddha Tathagata, and the others all nodded in agreement.

“If Ji Ning cannot do it, we’ll follow the original plan we set,” Xuanyuan said softly. That plan… would be brutally tragic. Xuanyuan then collected himself and said, “Then I will begin assembling the army.”

“Good.” Everyone present nodded.

Xuanyuan immediately transmitted his orders to his two disciples: “Spread the command. Assemble. Prepare for battle.”

The moment the order was given.

The entire city erupted into motion. A sea of Empyrean Gods, True Immortals, Celestial Immortals, and Loose Immortals rapidly assembled, beginning to form into various grand formations.

“The Seamless Gate hasn’t challenged us today. We’re initiating an attack. Have the major powers found a way to deal with that ape monster?”

“We’re taking the initiative. It seems the major powers truly do have a plan.”

“Mm.”

“If we don’t deal with that ape monster, it will be very hard to win. That monster is impervious to blades and spears. Even Fellow Daoist Jimin’s Pangu Creation Formation couldn’t harm it in the slightest. That ape monster’s mad slaughter… we’ll be in a terrible state on our side.”

“They must have found a way.”

The Empyrean Gods and True Immortals commanding the various formations talked amongst themselves.

Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.

Seven figures—the Three Sovereigns, the leaders of the Buddhist and Daoist sects, Subhuti, and Xuanyuan—all tore through the air. Xuanyuan shouted in a loud voice, “Out of the city!”

Rumble…

The vast, mighty army soared into the sky, flying out of the floating city and towards the distant wilderness.

The seven major powers stood upon the city wall, watching from afar. Their disciples, including Ji Ning, quickly followed and came to the wall.

“My disciples didn’t know you were joining the battle. During the army assembly just now, you weren’t notified.” Xuanyuan turned to look at the black-robed Ji Ning. “Go now.”

“Understood.” Ji Ning nodded.

Boom.

A ten-thousand-zhang-tall Rahu Fiendgod appeared in the sky, its face bearing Ji Ning’s features. Each of its six hands held a Northsea Sword, and one of them had already reached the ‘Chaos Treasure’ level.

The Fiendgod Ji Ning immediately tore through the air, flying towards the distant army.

“The Rahu Formation?”

“Ji Ning’s ultimate move is… the Rahu Formation?” Xuanyuan, Subhuti, the Three Sovereigns, and the leaders of the Buddhist and Daoist sects all changed expression.

They knew very well the strengths and weaknesses of the Rahu Formation, which made them all the more worried.

“Ji Ning… could he truly be so reckless?” Although Subhuti had told the other major powers to be prepared for failure, it was precisely because this war was too important to lose. But seeing that Ji Ning’s final method was merely the Rahu Formation still made Subhuti’s heart grow cold.

“The Rahu Formation…” Fuxi spoke. “I created it. This formation is extremely difficult. Even for a Daofather to command it, few could fully unleash its power. It requires a Daofather with an extremely high level of Heartforce who also understands Heartforce-soul techniques. Ji Ning has not become a Daofather. If he had comprehended a Heavenly Dao, it would have caused a resonance with the Heavenly Dao, and we would have known long ago.”

“Mm.” Everyone present nodded.

Comprehending a Heavenly Dao caused a resonance with the Heavenly Dao; it was very difficult to hide.

“Ji Ning is not a Daofather. He can only unleash a tiny fraction of the Rahu Formation’s power at best. Even if his sword arts are extraordinary, on par with an ordinary Daofather, that would be the best case scenario.” Fuxi shook his head. “The enemy could easily suppress Ji Ning by sending out a single Seamless Limitless Formation. As for that All-Things Emissary… it possesses the strength of a top-tier Daofather.”

“Could it be… that Ji Ning has some other trick up his sleeve?” Xuanyuan couldn’t help but say. A month ago, when Ji Ning had said those words, Xuanyuan had still held some hope.

“We’ll see.” Suirenshi also frowned.

“Prepare another Pangu Creation Formation,” Daofather Three Purities said.

“Mm.” Xuanyuan nodded softly.

Subhuti said nothing more. He just watched from afar, his eyes filled with worry as he stared at the Fiendgod Ji Ning flying towards the distant army.

…

On the city wall of Seamless City.

Daofather Demonhand and the black-robed Godking appeared.

“Nuwa’s camp actually dares to provoke a battle?” The black-robed Godking laughed.

“We’ve challenged them many times, and they’ve refused to respond. Coming out this time is just to boost their morale,” Daofather Demonhand said calmly.

The black-robed Godking nodded. “The Lord of All Demons and I have already figured out their hand. They’ve mobilized another five hundred Empyrean Gods this time, which means they should have set up another Pangu Creation Formation. Since one can’t defeat the All-Things Emissary one-on-one, they’ll use two against one. Two Pangu Fiendgods should be dealing with our All-Things Emissary.”

“I guessed they would respond this way too.” Daofather Demonhand nodded. “Just like when we used two Limitless Fiendgods to deal with Jimin’s Pangu Fiendgod. But this approach has a fatal flaw: it can’t hold up under a protracted battle. No matter how well two cooperate, given enough time, mistakes will eventually happen.”

“Right.” The black-robed Godking nodded.

Two Pangu Fiendgods working together to deal with the All-Things Emissary. If they cooperated well, they could hold out. If they didn’t… it would be dangerous! That All-Things Emissary was impervious to blades and spears, a terrifying puppet that even the leaders of the Buddhist and Daoist sects couldn’t damage.

“Look…” Daofather Demonhand suddenly pointed to a corner in the distance.

Among the many Seven Radiance Empyrean Gods, there was one extra six-armed Fiendgod.

“That is?” The black-robed Godking was momentarily startled, then laughed. “The Fiendgod Ji Ning? Haha, it’s Ji Ning using his Rahu Formation. Haha, back then, with this very Rahu Formation, he forced me to bow my head and agree to his demands. For six hundred years of this war, he never participated, holding onto the hope of rescuing his senior apprentice-sister from me. He’s given up now, so he’s come to fight. By the way, the Lord of All Demons instructed that if there is an opportunity, it would be best to deal with this Ji Ning.”

“Mm.” Daofather Demonhand nodded. “The bigger picture is what matters most. If an opportunity arises, I’ll have the army pay ‘extra attention’ to this Ji Ning.”

“Rumble…”

The Seamless Gate’s army also tore through the air, flying towards the distant wilderness.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Formation after formation descended. Puppet after puppet descended. The very earth trembled. The Seamless Gate’s army surged with overwhelming momentum. At the very front was the ‘All-Things Emissary’, an ape-like monster wreathed in dark red flames. Behind him stood two white-haired, red-eyed Limitless Fiendgods.

The Seamless Gate’s army and Nuwa’s camp’s army faced each other from a distance, a tense standoff.

The major powers on both sides watched nervously.

This was the first time Nuwa’s camp had come out of the city to give battle after many days of refusing to engage. For both sides, this was a war they could not afford to lose.

“Northmont, be careful later.”

“Northmont, don’t go head-to-head with those grand formations.”

“Northmont, those two white-haired, red-eyed Fiendgods both have power close to a top-tier Daofather. That All-Things Emissary is even more terrifying. Don’t get too close.” One after another, the Seven Radiance Empyrean Gods near Ji Ning sent him mental messages. Because he had rescued over two hundred Empyrean Gods, Ji Ning’s popularity had skyrocketed. Many Empyrean Gods and True Immortals were deeply grateful to him for saving their fellow disciples and their closest friends.

Ji Ning just nodded. “I won’t be reckless.”

Deal with the All-Things Emissary?

If he said that, it would probably cause an uproar. During the critical moment of the war, it was best to let these Empyrean God and True Immortal friends of his keep their hearts calm.

“Boom~~”

Suddenly, the entire army of Nuwa’s camp began its charge.

Under Emperor Xuanyuan’s command, each unit had its designated target.

“Ji Ning, you are to act freely.” Xuanyuan’s order came down as well.

Boom.

In the vast wilderness, the Fiendgod Ji Ning suddenly moved. His speed was extraordinarily fast, surpassing all the surrounding Seven Radiance Empyrean Gods. The divine body of a top-tier Daofather level granted this Fiendgod body terrifying power and speed. As he sprinted, Ji Ning shot to the very front of the entire Nuwa camp’s army, leaving everyone else far behind.

“So fast?” The seven major powers on the city wall were all taken aback.

“Hm?” The black-robed Godking stared in shock at the Fiendgod Ji Ning charging at the very front.

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