Boundless as Heaven and Earth

Xiao Chen blazed with light. Sacred artifacts draped him like a second skin, their radiance so dazzling it stung the eyes. To behold such a collection of peerless treasures gathered on one person was almost dreamlike. To wear supreme saintly weapons like clothing could only be described as… monstrous.

What is a sacred artifact? A receptacle of power no less than a Half-Ancestor!

Sacred artifacts all possessed sentience and autonomous will; they could be regarded as independent lifeforms. Had their original consciousness not been sealed by their former masters, they would be a unique form of life. A few exceptional artifacts had indeed been utterly effaced of awareness—yet their strength still rivaled a Half-Ancestor.

If Xiao Chen could unleash the full might of so many sacred artifacts, even a true Half-Ancestor would have to weigh victory or defeat. But was that possible? Obviously not.

He had not yet reached the Demigod realm and could not truly command a single saintly weapon. He could only draw out a fraction of their power. But even that was terrifying enough.

At that moment, more cultivators flew over, surrounding Xiao Chen in a tight ring. Many began to chant softly, trying to summon back their respective masters' sacred artifacts.

"O merciful Lord…" "O almighty Holy Spirit…" "Sun Most High above…" "Lord Tongtian…" "Primordial Saint…"

Contrary to everyone's expectations, the sacred artifacts hanging on Xiao Chen had not the slightest reaction. They could not be summoned back.

Cold sweat broke out on Xiao Chen's forehead. If Zhuangzi had not ground away the residual spiritual imprints left by Tongtian, the Buddha, Primordial, the Three Holy Spirits, and others on these artifacts, the sacred weapons would have already flown from his body, and he would likely have been beaten into oblivion—his consciousness shattered into nothing.

"Little beast, what have you done?" "How can the Ancestral Gods' spiritual imprints be gone?"

The older experts stared coldly at Xiao Chen. The younger ones could no longer hold back, cursing him incessantly. Their various patriarchs had been killed in an unexpected disaster, and they hated Xiao Chen to the bone.

Slowly calming down, Xiao Chen looked at them coldly. "Don't bother praying! I killed your patriarchs, and the spiritual imprints in the sacred artifacts have been thoroughly crushed."

"Little beast, hand over the patriarchs' bodies at once, and return the sacred artifacts to us!" "Wretch! Surrender immediately, or we'll suppress you for ten thousand ages and make you suffer in a blood hell for eternity!"

"Are you people sick?" Xiao Chen felt deeply irritated by the jeers from the younger and middle-aged generation. He said coldly, "I dared to kill your patriarchs—do you really think I would return the sacred artifacts to you? Surrender? That's as laughable as telling you all to commit mass suicide. Your patriarchs' remains are indeed with me. I originally planned to give them back, but now I've changed my mind. I'm going to refine them into magical weapons. If you want them back, come and take them by force!"

Xiao Chen had completely thrown caution to the wind. He no longer cared if Half-Ancestors or all the experts under heaven were his enemies. There was little difference between a thousand more foes and ten thousand more.

"You're asking for death!" "Kill him!"

Many hot-blooded young and middle-aged experts could no longer hold back and charged forward. The old-timers frowned, afraid that Xiao Chen might truly unleash the sacred artifacts in indiscriminate slaughter, which would bring disaster on everyone present.

Without another word, Xiao Chen shook the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords. The air tore with sharp screeches as chaotic sword-qi swept in all directions, irresistible and devastating, tearing apart everything in its path.

Twenty figures in the sky were cut in half at the waist. They didn't even have time to scream before their severed bodies shattered into dust.

The Immortal-Slaying Formation Diagram drove the four swords; their power was unimaginable. The four murderous blades stood guard over the four directions, and not a single person could cross the thunderous boundary by even half a step.

"Fall back! Everyone, fall back!"

At this moment, Chengzi, the leader who had spoken, gave the order. He was a celestial being of extremely high seniority and profound cultivation—a top-tier expert below the Half-Ancestor level. The younger and middle-aged cultivators naturally dared not disobey.

Chengzi held the Heaven-Overturning Seal and called out to the distant sky, "Friends Daoists, why not show yourselves now?"

"Greetings, Elder Brother Chengzi." Figures flickered as three beautiful women with gauze veils over their faces materialized before Chengzi.

"Greetings, Three Cloud Fairies." Chengzi returned the salutation.

Beside him, Xiao Chen's heart stirred with turbulent waves. He had not expected to meet legendary figures one after another.

Chengzi was a favored disciple of Primordial. The Three Cloud Fairies were the proud apprentices of Lord Tongtian. Chengzi wielded the Heaven-Overturning Seal, enough to shake heaven and earth. The Three Cloud Fairies were even more fearsome. Not only did they possess profoundly mystic powers, but they had also absorbed the essence of heaven and earth and the radiance of the sun and moon, perfectly attuning themselves to two supreme treasures bestowed by Lord Tongtian. One was the Golden Dragon-Slaying Shears, which could effortlessly sever the bodies of immortals and buddhas. The other was the Chaos Origin Golden Dipper, capable of receiving all things in heaven and earth and refining them into dust.

Soon after, several old monks broke through the air, reciting Buddha's name as they lined up in a row.

Shua, shua. The sounds of breaking air continued as more than twenty Western experts appeared on the scene.

Although he did not know their exact identities, Xiao Chen could guess that most were personal disciples of Half-Ancestors—formidable figures he would normally have to look up to.

In the past, he would have been far inferior not only to such people but even to their disciples and grand-disciples. Yet today, he was facing them in battle.

Fortunately, only a limited number of Half-Ancestors' direct disciples had come. If they had all arrived, even with all the sacred artifacts on his body, he would surely have been annihilated.

"Friends Daoists, please surround the four directions. I will subdue him." Chengzi's tone was utterly emotionless. He stepped forward and struck out with the Heaven-Overturning Seal.

This legendary treasure of myth was far more terrifying than Xiao Chen had imagined. It expanded with the wind, transforming into a colossal mountain that blotted out the sky, casting a shadow darker than fear across the land.

Rumbling sounds filled the air endlessly. Heavenly thunders roared. Bolts of violet lightning crackled around the giant mountain, and violent waves of energy surged in all directions.

Below, the ground of the Demon Plain split apart. Fissures spread for dozens of miles, each crevice a dozen yards wide.

The Heaven-Overturning Seal truly possessed the power to shake heaven and earth. It shattered the void, and an ocean of energy cascaded down upon Xiao Chen, obliterating all tangible substance.

If not for the sacred artifacts protecting his body, Xiao Chen would have been reduced to ashes by now. Yes—even the mere blast of wind from that attack was beyond what he could withstand.

There was nothing to hesitate about. Even if an Ancestral God wanted to kill him, he would fight back. Xiao Chen controlled the Immortal-Slaying Formation Diagram, and the four murderous swords vibrated continuously, sweeping out devastating chaotic sword-qi to block the mountain-like Heaven-Overturning Seal.

At the same time, the Twelve-Tier Lotus Throne shone with brilliant splendor, filling Xiao Chen's surroundings with flowing radiance. The defensive holy artifact was fully activated, protecting him from the terrifying fluctuations of the Heaven-Overturning Seal.

Xiao Chen was extremely cautious. How could he operate only two sacred artifacts? Simultaneously, the Ancient Sage Scripture flipped through its pages with a rustling sound, sending golden talismanic characters hurtling toward the Heaven-Overturning Seal like bright, blazing stars.

Meanwhile, the Taiji Diagram appeared before him, slowly rotating and emitting waves of tremendous energy.

Although he could not unleash the true power of the sacred artifacts, activating four or five of them at once produced a force that ordinary people could not withstand.

"Boom!"

Continuous thunderclaps echoed through the sky. The misty chaotic sword-qi driven by the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation relentlessly swept across the descending Heaven-Overturning Seal. The golden characters that flew from the Ancient Sage Scripture, like stars, struck the giant mountain in the sky again and again.

Even Chengzi's expression changed. Sacred artifacts were truly fearsome and could not be judged by common sense.

At that moment, the Taiji Diagram shot into the sky, slashing directly at the Heaven-Overturning Seal.

Amidst the hazy primordial energy, the entire sky shattered.

"Boom, rumble!"

The Heaven-Overturning Seal was knocked away. The Taiji Diagram returned to Xiao Chen's front. The Four Immortal-Slaying Swords revolved around him, and the Twelve-Tier Lotus Throne blazed with glorious light.

Chengzi could not be wounded. His magic power was immense; he might not be able to breach the defenses of the sacred artifacts, but he could certainly not be hurt by a controller like Xiao Chen. Still, it was a blow to his dignity—a direct disciple of Primordial of the Chan Sect, unable to take down a junior of insignificant cultivation.

"Elder Brother, let us handle this."

The Three Cloud Fairies spoke at once, their faces veiled in gauze. The Golden Dragon-Slaying Shears shattered the void, soaring upward and transforming into two golden flood dragons that crisscrossed as they flew, shearing toward Xiao Chen! This was a genuine divine weapon for beheading gods and immortals. If not for Tongtian's unexpected death, the Three Cloud Fairies would never have appeared in the world.

Xiao Chen had just withstood the Heaven-Overturning Seal and now had some confidence. He no longer feared them. With his left hand, he swept out the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, its colorful light flowing like a rainbow, striking the Golden Dragon-Slaying Shears and immediately dimming their radiance. With his right hand, he swung Satan's Staff, rolling black demonic energy—dark clouds surged like a furious sea—wrapping around the shears. Of course, the Twelve-Tier Lotus Throne shone brilliantly throughout, serving as his primary defensive artifact.

"Bam!"

The Golden Dragon-Slaying Shears were knocked back by the combined force of the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, Satan's Staff, the Twelve-Tier Lotus Throne, and the Immortal-Slaying Formation.

The Three Cloud Fairies' faces changed abruptly as they simultaneously unleashed the Chaos Origin Golden Dipper. It grew in the wind, turning into a giant bronze furnace suspended in the sky, emanating a strange, heart-shaking power that sought to swallow Xiao Chen. A tremendous gravitational pull came from above.

Xiao Chen had heard of the Chaos Origin Golden Dipper—capable of reducing immortals, gods, and buddhas to blood and mud—since his time in the Mortal World. He had never imagined that one day he would confront it in person, wielding Half-Ancestors' sacred artifacts.

The Immortal-Slaying Formation Diagram rotated slowly, the four murderous swords vibrating continuously to emit chaotic primordial energy. The Ancient Sage Scripture turned its pages rapidly, sending golden talismanic characters like blazing stars smashing into the Chaos Origin Golden Dipper.

Xiao Chen mounted the Twelve-Tier Lotus Throne and shot into the sky. The Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree in his left hand swept out seven rainbows of divine light, all striking the Chaos Origin Golden Dipper. Satan's Staff lashed out nine waves of black fury. The Sun Sacred Stone was also hurled, hitting the Chaos Origin Golden Dipper with a resonant clang.

Compared with the Three Cloud Fairies, Xiao Chen was indeed weak in magic power and could not fully unleash the sacred artifacts' true might. But he had so many of them! Each one exerted only a fraction of its power, yet together they formed a terror that defied all reason.

With all the sacred artifacts attacking and defending simultaneously, Xiao Chen was like an impregnable fortress.

"Clang!"

Using the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, Satan's Staff, the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, and the Sun Sacred Stone as his main offensive weapons, he forced back the Chaos Origin Golden Dipper with a tremendous impact.

A deathly silence fell across the sky. Everyone stared coldly at Xiao Chen. The younger and middle-aged experts had already withdrawn to the far distance. Only the truly fearsome figures remained on the scene, yet they realized… they could not do anything to Xiao Chen. This was a bitter mockery of the highest order.

They wielded magic power that could overturn the heavens, yet they were stymied by a junior wrapped head to toe in sacred artifacts.

"Hahaha…"

Laughter came from the distant sky. Three colossal beasts, each dozens of yards long, were watching. One resembled a jackal covered in black scales, surrounded by blood mist and wreathed in murderous aura—it was Yazi, recorded in ancient texts. Another looked like an angry lion, wreathed in smoke, its body sheathed in dense scales—this was Suanni. The third had a dragon's head, a horse's body, and unicorn feet, resembling a lion, covered in white scales, fierce and majestic—this was Pixiu.

Yazi, Suanni, and Pixiu were all legendary savage beasts, their origins impossibly ancient. According to legend, they were sons of the Ancestral Dragon—offspring from the Ancestral Dragon's unions with other races.

Whether these three were true dragon sons or descendants of those dragon sons, they showed no fear of Chengzi, the Three Cloud Fairies, or anyone else, laughing to themselves.

On the other side were seven or eight Winged Dragons, each dozens of meters long, their scales gleaming with bright light and radiating dragon qi that formed an immense pressure.

Farther away were shadows of Fallen Angels and Phoenixes.

Clearly, many powerful beings in the distance were watching, their purposes varied. Some had come purely for the spectacle, while others hoped to fish in troubled waters.

"Xiao Chen, come to us! We guarantee your safety!"

Yazi, Suanni, and Pixiu spoke simultaneously, their enormous voices shaking the entire sky.

"Yazi, mind your own business!" Cloud Fairy of the Three Fairies reprimanded.

"We see injustice on the road and draw our swords to help. We just don't like the look of you," said Suanni, his voice like thunder.

Yunxiao said coldly, "Humph! Don't pretend. If you want to seize Half-Ancestors' sacred artifacts, at least come up with a less flimsy excuse."

Pixiu's voice boomed like celestial thunder, "You are measuring a gentleman's heart with a petty man's measure!"

Xiao Chen felt helpless. So many had come for him; he could imagine how hard the road ahead would be. Remember that of the legendary Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, only Chengzi had come. Of Lord Tongtian's favored disciples, only the Three Cloud Fairies had appeared. If they all arrived, even with the sacred artifacts on his body, escaping would not be easy.

He had no intention of staying here any longer. The most urgent task was to break out and find a place to go into hiding.

Light flickered. Xiao Chen mounted the Twelve-Tier Lotus Throne and shot into the sky, preparing to tear through the void. The Eight-Aspect Worlds divine ability had already merged with the lotus throne, granting him extreme speed.

But too many people besieged him. Several old monks happened to be blocking that direction. They chanted Buddha's name and said, "Stop him!"

Figures flickered as Five Hundred Arhats abruptly appeared in the sky, as if stepping out of some illusory world.

The Arhat Formation took shape, trapping Xiao Chen.

At the same time, the people on the other side shouted, "O merciful Lord, grant your servants the power to destroy heaven and earth!" Dozens of Western tribesmen rushed over.

"O Sun Most High, your servants will avenge you!" Hundreds of Sun God Church experts mobilized.

"Roar… Xiao Chen, we will reduce you to ashes!" Tiger roars shook the heavens as descendants of the White Tiger Saint Emperor appeared, dozens of white tigers crossing the sky.

Someone said coldly, "He might escape today, but what about tomorrow and the day after? Even with sacred artifacts protecting him, he probably won't live long."

Beside the speaker, a butterfly fluttered its wings, emitting faint spiritual fluctuations. "There is no turning back."

Sun Wu's eyes were deep and unfathomable as he scanned the battlefield, his gaze drifting toward the distant horizon. "I fear that these Sixteen War Swords might really be seized by that world's people. The risk is too great."

The butterfly beat its wings slowly. After a long, long pause, it said, "We must be willing to… let go… in order to… obtain."

Figures flew everywhere. All the various powers charged toward Xiao Chen. Of course, the Heaven-Overturning Seal, the Golden Dragon-Slaying Shears, and the Chaos Origin Golden Dipper could no longer be used now—otherwise they would indiscriminately slaughter their own people.

Xiao Chen had no such concerns. The Sword Formation Diagram hovered above his head, and the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords guarded the four quarters, hacking and slashing at those who rushed at him. Chaotic sword-qi swept across, mowing down crowds of people.

The Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree brushed again and again, stripping many of their weapons. Satan's Staff swept horizontally, surging demonic energy rampaging in all directions, shattering wave after wave of people. As the Ancient Sage Scripture flipped, golden talismanic characters filled the sky, and many people's souls were forcibly drawn out of their bodies.

Even the Five Hundred Arhats Formation could not trap Xiao Chen, clad as he was in sacred artifacts. He finally broke through the encirclement. But ahead, more than a dozen Fallen Angels blocked his path.

"Leave behind Satan's Staff and the Sun Sacred Stone!"

"Leave your head!" Xiao Chen shook the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords and swept with Satan's Staff. The Three Holy Spirits Crown, the Taiji Diagram, and the Twelve-Tier Lotus Throne protected his body. For those who were taking advantage of the chaos and had come solely for the sacred artifacts, Xiao Chen had no reservations and struck without mercy.

Chaotic sword-qi and surging demonic energy crossed the sky. Black feathers flew, blood splattered, and Fallen Angels' corpses littered the sky, soon disintegrating like fading light until they vanished completely.

The scene stunned everyone on the spot.

Even Yazi, Suanni, and Pixiu in the distance showed a hint of shock and did not dare act rashly.

At this moment, Xiao Chen picked out a ruler from among the sacred artifacts. He had never known its purpose. He waved it casually, and a passage through space appeared. He stepped out in a single stride. When he appeared again, he stood dumbfounded—he was already in an entirely unfamiliar environment.

A thousand miles in the blink of an eye!

He suddenly remembered the sacred artifact the Sun God Church's Saintess Zhao Lin'er had mentioned: Boundless as Heaven and Earth.

He had once wanted to use this artifact to return to the Mortal World, but after speaking with the Devil, he knew it was impossible for at least the next decade.

"Where is this? It looks familiar…"

Xiao Chen stood suspiciously in the sky, scanning the primitive mountain ranges below.

"This is… the Southern Wastes!"

From the desolate peaks and vegetation, he recognized that it was indeed the Southern Wastes. If this were true, then the artifact's power was terrifying beyond measure—it had brought him from the Demon Plain of the Central Plains Buddhist Kingdoms all the way to the Southern Wastes of the Eternal Continent in a single step. Boundless as Heaven and Earth was certainly worthy of its name!

"Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar…" An aged voice echoed through the primitive mountain ranges. "The Old Dragon of the Southern Wastes and Sage Kong hereby open the dragon vein…"

In the Great Xia Kingdom, purple qi came from the east. A newborn child, eyes deep as the ocean, gazed through the window at the distant horizon, silent and thoughtful. In the Great Shang Kingdom, a child born clutching a blood clot had eyes as sharp as drawn swords. With no one else in the room, he muttered to himself, "When will they come…"

In the Roman Empire, an illegitimate son of the fallen noble Toti, with shining golden hair and eyes as beautiful as sapphires, gritted his teeth and said, "I hate being forced into the game…"

In the Buddhist Kingdoms, an ordinary family's child, from the moment of birth, pointed one hand at heaven and one at earth, walking in all directions and saying, "Heaven above, earth below—I alone am supreme." He sat like an old monk silently reciting scriptures, occasionally letting his gaze flash with two rays of light toward the sky beyond the window.