The Gathering at Moon Garden

Totti's golden hair seemed to flow with rippling light, his appearance sacred yet tinged with arrogance—the obvious aura of a pious charlatan.

"No, no, no, don't try to compete with bro. A cool guy will always be a legend in your eyes," Jin Sanyi said, waving his hand arrogantly at Totti. "Hurry up and come pay your respects."

"Take this stutterer out and chop him up for the pigs," Totti said with a solemn, holy expression. He turned to Samo, who stood nearby. "I am the Solar Saint Father."

"I fuck your mother—you're even more brazen than your brother," Jin Sanyi said, squinting at Totti. "Rogue, wait and see."

Totti had many people behind him, all Solar Knights. Regardless, he was the nominal Solar Saint Father, even if the powerful figures of the Solar Religion did not take him seriously. His status was established, and if he were publicly humiliated, the entire Solar Religion would lose face.

"I have come to convey a message: the fairy Hai Yunxue invites outstanding contemporaries to a gathering at Moon Garden," Totti said, glancing at Jin Sanyi. "Stutterers and pets are not allowed."

Jin Sanyi narrowed his peach-blossom eyes. "Isn't that as obvious as lice on a bald man's head? Pig—pig—pig's fur! I, I can go wherever I want, and no one can stop me."

Not far away, the bald Bo Shi's face turned somewhat green as he glared hatefully at Jin Sanyi.

Equally displeased was the little beast Keke, who pouted and tossed the half-eaten sticky cake she was holding, flinging it directly onto Totti's golden hair. It stuck there, gooey and impossible to shake off.

"This is blasphemy against the Sun Holy God! Insulting me is insulting the Sun Holy God! Seize it!"

Two Solar Knights walked over, picked up Totti, and carried him away without giving him a chance to shout.

Of course—the master behind them had even beheaded the Sun Holy God himself. He was probably ready to kill this cheap father of the Sun God now. If Totti kept spouting off here, he wouldn't even know how he died.

Xiao Chen watched Totti's retreating back and said to Jin Sanyi, "Being the father of the Sun Holy God—that's quite a gimmick. Capture him, train him well, and see if we can sell him."

"Confucius says! I say! Selling the father of a Half-Ancestor—have you lost your mind, or have I?" Jin Sanyi looked cautiously around. "You, you, you're the enemy of the world. I, I am an innocent man in broad daylight. Don't, don't drag me into this."

"I wasn't planning to sell that rogue at a high price anyway—just sell him directly to a black coal mine as coolie labor. The Solar Religion always troubles me, so finding trouble with the Sun God's father isn't too much."

The enchanting, peerlessly beautiful Yao Yao smiled, her face like a blossoming city, revealing snow-white, jade-like teeth. "If you dare to openly put a price tag on him under broad daylight, then I dare to buy him."

"You really won't rest until the world is in chaos," Xiao Chen said. He knew what the demoness was plotting—she wanted to see him stir up a huge storm.

Liu Mu, Xiao Chen, Jin Sanyi, Jue Dao, Bo Shi, Huo Niao, Samo, Yao Yao, Xuan Xuan, and others walked together toward Moon Garden. On the way, they saw many cultivators gathering there.

In Moon Garden, Hai Yunxue stood in a sea of colorful peonies, wearing a purple floor-length gown. She was truly a beauty outshining the flowers. A cold smile curved her lips. "I hope he has already reached the capital. I want to see him bleed out and die in terror."

Fang Tianqi asked, "What if he doesn't come?"

"He will definitely come," Hai Yunxue said with absolute certainty. "If he has the chance, he will not hesitate to strike at me with his war sword."

Ye Tian sighed. "Xiao Chen's existence truly threatened the Half-Ancestors. Even if he's dead, he can be proud of that."

Near Moon Garden, Xiao Chen parted ways with Liu Mu and the others. "Go on in. I'll look around nearby first."

Liu Mu's body shimmered with faint cyan light—the power of space. His hands traced and condensed all light into two points. He fixed one cyan point onto Xiao Chen's palm. "This is a spatial coordinate. If something unexpected happens, you can instantly escape to my location."

Though Xiao Chen also possessed spatial divine power, he was clearly not as specialized as Liu Mu, whose ability had reached a miraculous level.

In Moon Garden, it was a grand gathering of young cultivators from the World of Immortality. Many outstanding figures of the same generation had come, and of course, many powerful cultivators from the Cultivation World had mixed in.

Peonies bloomed; it was a sea of flowers, filled with rich, fragrant scents. The gathering under such circumstances was a feast for the eyes.

"We come from the same world. If we want to live better in the Mortal World, we should naturally work together in unity," Hai Yunxue said with a light smile, standing in the garden and raising her glass. "Each sect has its own views, but we can seek common ground while reserving differences. I hope the strong from our World of Immortality will not grow divided."

Pleasantries were necessary. Everyone drank a few cups together, and the garden gradually became lively.

"Here, I must mention one person—a man who stirred up storms in our World of Immortality, who massacred Half-Ancestors of our world for his own selfish desires, nearly plunging us into the disaster of annihilation."

At these words, everyone knew whom Hai Yunxue was referring to.

"That's right. You all know who I mean: the enemy of the world, Xiao Chen. Now he has stirred up more trouble, unearthing deadly artifacts from the primordial ancient village and scheming to make the Half-Ancestors of both worlds fall. Such wolfish ambition is a heinous crime, unforgivable by heaven and earth. All heroes of the world should rise up against him."

There were far too many rumors about Xiao Chen. Whether in the World of Immortality or the Mortal World, he was a figure whose name shook the world. Everyone in Moon Garden immediately began discussing him.

A coldly cruel smile curled the corners of Hai Yunxue's mouth. "Such a vile wretch deserves to be smitten by heaven and destroyed by earth. We must do our part to slay this fiend."

At that moment, Xiao Chen was strolling among the pavilions behind the garden, clearly hearing every word Hai Yunxue said.

Once, he had blocked the Ancestral God with twenty-four War Swords piercing his body. Now, his remnant soul was still sealed in the colossal stone statue at the border of the Ancient God Wasteland in the World of Immortality. Yet he had now become the greatest criminal of ten thousand ages.

He could not speak of the scheme Shennong had set to kill the Otherworld Half-Ancestors.

In truth, he did not want to say anything. He walked between heaven and earth, slaying Half-Ancestors as he pleased. He had long ceased to care about empty reputation. Xiao Chen sneered.

"Who goes there?" Moon Garden was filled with many experts invited by Hai Yunxue, including several outstanding figures from the Cultivation World.

Light flashed, and a graceful, seductive woman appeared out of thin air on the pavilion, blocking Xiao Chen's path.

"You should know who I am."

The seductive woman nodded. "I know who you are. I am Shui Fuyun, Ye Tian's fiancée. I've long wished to duel with you."

"Ye Tian is already my defeated opponent. If you don't want to die, disappear immediately."

Shui Fuyun smiled radiantly. "I only wanted to exchange pointers with you. If I am defeated, I hope you will show mercy."

But her actions were far from her words—deadly fierce. Golden light filled the sky, and the sound of buzzing wings filled the air. Hundreds and thousands of golden centipedes attacked Xiao Chen.

Each golden centipede was over a foot long, with transparent wings on their backs that could tear the sky in flight, and they spewed black mist from their mouths—one of the deadliest venomous insects in the world.

Xiao Chen had heard of these Flying Centipedes. Even a demigod would die instantly if bitten by one.

Shui Fuyun dared to strike because she relied on these venomous creatures. Even cultivators with higher cultivation than her would flee in panic when faced with them.

Xiao Chen slapped out a palm. The fierce gale roared against the bodies of the flying centipedes, producing a clanging sound, but did not shatter them. Each golden centipede seemed forged from gold essence.

In the blink of an eye, the sky was blanketed with golden centipedes charging toward him. Though unafraid, Xiao Chen had no desire to fight them in close quarters. The syllable "Om" came from his mouth, resonating with his soul. The countless flying centipedes in the sky were instantly struck by lightning, their vicious souls shattered in an instant, followed by their bodies disintegrating into blood mist that scattered away.

Shui Fuyun had long fled far away. Seeing Xiao Chen destroy all her golden centipedes with a single syllable, her face changed color, and she fled without looking back.

But clearly, she had underestimated Xiao Chen. Xiao Chen and Keke crossed the poison mist like two beams of light, catching up in an instant.

The Hand of the Supreme Being rose high, a millstone-sized palm manifesting in the sky. Shui Fuyun was so terrified her soul nearly fled. She had already rushed into the peony garden ahead and could see Ye Tian, Hai Yunxue, and others, but it was useless.

Her immortal armor shimmered with light—a precious armor bestowed by the Three-Infant Taijun, naturally no ordinary item. But it was utterly useless against the Hand of the Supreme Being. With a "bang," the millstone-sized hand heavily slapped Shui Fuyun's back.

The immortal armor shattered. Shui Fuyun spat a fountain of blood and fell before Hai Yunxue and the others, turning into a pulp of flesh.

"Xiao Chen!" Ye Tian's hair stood on end with rage. The Imperial Heavenly Divine Bell resounded through the sky, suspended above his head, emitting vast annihilating sound waves that attacked Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen spoke the syllable "Om," directly shattering the overwhelming waves of deathly sound.

Ye Tian's eyes were bloodshot. The golden divine bell was nearly transparent, its sound enveloping him as it crashed toward Xiao Chen, brilliant golden light piercing the clouds.

Having undergone another transformation, Xiao Chen was now far stronger than in their last duel. He pushed his power to its limits, unwilling to prolong the fight, ready to settle it with a single supreme blow.

He charged forward like lightning, the Hand of the Supreme Being almost translucent, growing larger and larger, and slammed one palm firmly onto the golden divine bell.

"Dong!"

An ear-splitting sound shook heaven and earth. The golden divine bell trembled violently, then exploded with a booming roar. Golden fragments scattered everywhere.

Ye Tian's body was nearly shattered too, hurled hundreds of meters away through the air.

This did not mean that the gap in cultivation between Ye Tian and Xiao Chen was like heaven and earth. It was only because both had revealed their strongest attacks; such a collision would inevitably produce an immediate victor.

Many cultivators knew the terror of this innate spiritual treasure. Xiao Chen slapping the legendary Imperial Heavenly Divine Bell to pieces left them dumbstruck with shock.

"It claims to be indestructible? Let me smash it and see if it can revive," Xiao Chen said, standing tall in the sky.

The shattered pieces of the Imperial Heavenly Divine Bell actually re-formed, as if it possessed life. They reassembled in an instant, radiating an even more powerful aura.

The moment Xiao Chen rushed toward it, the bell had already enveloped Ye Tian's scattered body and then tore through the void, disappearing.

"I will be your lifelong enemy," Ye Tian's voice faded into the distance.

"Your whole life? You're just a tragedy," Xiao Chen said, gazing into the distant sky.

Hai Yunxue shouted, "Xiao Chen, you treacherous wretch who slew Half-Ancestors and harbored evil designs, how dare you come here?"

"What I do here is none of your concern." Xiao Chen stared at her coldly.

"What have you come for?"

"Didn't you want me to come? Why waste so much pointless talk?"

Xiao Chen's direct, cold rebuke infuriated Hai Yunxue. "You madman!" she shouted.

Xiao Chen pointed at Hai Yunxue and the people behind her, like Fang Tianqi. "You set up a killing formation and waited for me to walk into the trap, yet still speak so sanctimoniously. You should be like me—otherwise, you only seem pretentious." He shouted down to the crowd below, "I came today to kill!"

The crowd erupted in commotion. This man was truly blunt, his purpose clear, stated outright.

"Xiao Chen, do not be arrogant. You vainly sought to slay Half-Ancestors, and in the end, you cannot escape death."

Xiao Chen landed, looking at Hai Yunxue. "I already heard the crimes you have fabricated for me. Let me ask you, what are Half-Ancestors?"

"Half-Ancestors are supreme sages and saints. We should hold them in reverence and worship them," Hai Yunxue said, her face cold as she shouted, "But you are arrogantly bold, committing treason and rebellion, actually plotting to kill the Half-Ancestors of heaven and earth—an unforgivable crime!"

"Is that the Half-Ancestor you speak of? If those Half-Ancestors regard themselves as high above, look upon all living beings as ants, and treat the people of the world as weak aliens to be slaughtered, what of it?" Xiao Chen stepped through the peonies, striding forward as if walking on waves.

Those words "What of it?" were spoken so casually yet carried immense impact, rolling like thunder through Moon Garden.

The crowd immediately erupted in an uproar. These truly were soul-stirring words. No one had ever dared to speak such treasonous language so openly in a public gathering.

"You—truly beyond redemption!" Hai Yunxue shouted in reprimand. "Harboring evil schemes, plotting to slay the ancestors—no one can save you. Even heaven and earth will destroy you!"

"No need to pin such a grand hat on me." Xiao Chen stood atop a peony, his clothes moving with the wind, lending him an ethereal, airy quality. But his words were heavy as Mount Tai, echoing through Moon Garden: "True Ancestral Gods do not require worship. In their hearts, the people of the world are as heavy as Mount Tai. They are willing to die for those whom you call ants in the eyes of Half-Ancestors."

Xiao Chen looked at Hai Yunxue and the others with a cold smile. "I admit that beings like the White Tiger Saint Emperor are very powerful. But you can worship him all you want—that doesn't include me. If I have the chance, I do want to cut off his head."

"Kill him!" Hai Yunxue shouted.

Over ten experts of the Tiger Family flew into the sky. Several dozen Solar Knights surrounded them. Over a dozen disciples of the Three-Infant Taijun arrived on flying swords, dozens of them encircling Xiao Chen in the center of the field—all of them formidable.

"If I dared to come, I am not afraid. No matter how many are against me."

Facing the encirclement, Xiao Chen took up a War Sword. The syllable "Om" left his mouth instantly. In front of him, over ten Tiger Family experts shattered in an instant—their souls vanished, their bodies collapsed.

At the same time, the little beast Keke, whose power had surged, also struck. As swift as lightning, her speed matched Xiao Chen's current pace. No one could evade her. Paradise Lost expanded, and all the Solar Knights and cultivators were sucked inside.

What followed was a scene of cold blood—a massacre. Xiao Chen stood outside Paradise Lost. With each sword fall, a head flew. The disciples of the Three-Infant Taijun and over ten Solar Knights were slaughtered in an instant.

Corpses fell from the sky. Blood stained the green grass—a bloody image more shocking than anything.

"Haha..." Hai Yunxue was not angry at all; she laughed loudly and coldly. "Xiao Chen, you are dead for sure."

Just as the blood splattered onto the earth, an ancient stone bridge slowly broke through the ground and rose into the air. Three War Swords leaped and danced on the bridge's surface.

A strange power locked this space in place.

It was... the Heaven-Reaching Death Bridge!

Xiao Chen knew clearly: a Half-Ancestor was trying to kill him. Otherwise, why would the Heaven-Reaching Death Bridge appear here?

The Heaven-Reaching Death Bridge shook. The War Swords chopped and slashed. Lines of words were etched into the void: