A World in White

When an emperor is angered, a million corpses fall and blood flows for a thousand li. When a common man is angered, two corpses fall, blood flows five steps, and the world dons white.

Xiao Chen led hundreds of ancient soldiers, sweeping across the allied army until the dead covered the plain. He was an enraged commoner in truth, shaking the world, and the half-ancestor disciples trembled. Though no emperor, he waged war across a thousand li, blood flowing like rivers.

For a day and a night, he pursued and slaughtered. The half-ancestor disciples suffered casualties beyond counting, their dead so numerous they choked the waterways. A great defeat was dealt, and the allied forces scattered, fleeing to the ten directions.

The hundreds of celestial soldiers and underworld soldiers remained fused as one, never separating, their combat strength unparalleled, suffering no losses. Xiao Chen defeated the strong enemies of ten directions, shaking the world. His fame swelled until none under heaven could match it.

After the great battle, the demonic pattern at the center of his forehead pulsed continuously. A few drops of fresh blood fell, and the pitch-black space opened once again. The hundreds of living war effigies raised their bronze weapons, roared toward the heavens, and marched into the darkness. From afar came the rumbling of the city gates being pushed shut. The celestial soldiers and underworld soldiers had returned to the Dead City.

Hundreds of ancient soldiers could sweep all under heaven. To face them made even those below half-ancestor tremble.

In the ruined mountains outside Jinling, corpses littered the ground, blood staining the valley crimson. Xiao Chen returned but found no trace of Su Ying. After the battle, he felt no sense of accomplishment, only weight.

He had slaughtered enough to fill the plains—a true demon king in name. But he had no retreat; he could only kill forward, stepping over the corpses of enemies, to finally bring death to the half-ancestors.

What was there left to understand? Illusion and reality were reversing. On the land of the Nine Provinces and the four worlds, many things were illusions, soon to return to truth and shatter. The false gods born from human hearts, who nonetheless saw humans as ants, would eventually vanish—even if he perished alongside them, he would not hesitate.

In the distance, Qingqing and Keke flew over.

Qingqing had not sullied herself with slaughter, but she had fought as well, driving back many strong foes. In a sense, she had saved those people, for otherwise the Dead City's ancient soldiers would have killed most of them.

Keke had profited greatly from the war. She opened Paradise Lost wide, collecting treasures from the fleeing soldiers on all sides. Nearly every fugitive was stripped bare—their alchemy bottles, spatial rings, storage bracelets, all looted. She also gathered a mountain of flying artifacts, piling them high in Paradise Lost like a small hill.

The cultivators who narrowly escaped cursed under their breath: even a little beast that looked harmless had turned heaven-defying, leaving them all stripped to poverty.

Blood had flowed a thousand li, corpses covering the plain. Qingqing said nothing, only sighed softly. She did not like bloodshed and hated to see slaughter, but she knew it could not be stopped. Xiao Chen needed to survive, and the enemies had plotted against him.

They left the dreadful battlefield and came to a plain where wind bent the grass, revealing cattle and sheep. A jade-clear river wound through the fields, the scenery beautiful, flowers fragrant.

They rested there. No one was happier than Keke. The little creature was easily satisfied, as if she had no cares at all.

She proudly displayed all her war spoils, piling a mountain of artifacts by the river. The pile of flying swords, spirit ropes, divine shields, and spirit banners glittered—but she cared little for them. Instead, she rolled excitedly among the bottles and jars, her happy "Ya-ya" cries filling the grassy bank.

Most of the artifacts were flying swords, though there were also spirit ropes, divine shields, and banners, but in smaller numbers. Xiao Chen smiled, thinking that if he ever needed money, he could sell relics full-time. But Keke was less delighted after rummaging through the bottles. She found few true divine pills; many elixirs were weaker than ordinary fruits in Paradise Lost. She grumbled and then began eating the elixirs as if they were candy. The taste seemed pleasant, so she grinned again.

Xiao Chen and Qingqing both laughed at her adorable antics.

"Nourishment! Nourishment! Give us all this scrap metal and broken jade!" The spiritual fluctuations of the Dark-Iron Seal and the Golden Divine Halberd rang out from within Xiao Chen's acupoint spaces. They seemed to drool over the mountain of artifacts.

Xiao Chen's heart stirred. He summoned them both and tossed them into the pile.

"A grand feast! Wahaha!" The two ancient demonic treasures plunged in, and light immediately flickered as they began voraciously devouring the spiritual energy of the artifacts. Cracking sounds came. Many flying swords shattered on the spot, their essence swallowed, while the dross burst out as metal shards.

Had other cultivators witnessed this, they would have cursed at such profligacy. To destroy so many treasures was a terrible waste.

Vast spiritual energy gathered, madly devoured by the two treasures. The cracks on their bodies slowly healed, as if they were mending their wounds with the power of the artifact mountain.

Little Keke chewed her "candy" while eyeing the two demonic weapons enviously, almost wanting to bite them too.

"Haha, little one, stick to your candy. This kind of feast is not for you," the Dark-Iron Seal laughed, melting another dozen flying swords.

"Ya-ya!" Keke was very displeased, as if saying it was her loot. She grabbed a War Sword from Paradise Lost and stabbed at the two demonic weapons. The War Sword's attack did startle them; they shut up immediately.

Within half an hour, the mountain of artifacts was completely devoured by the Dark-Iron Seal and Golden Divine Halberd, leaving only a ground of scrap metal and broken jade, their spiritual essence gone.

Xiao Chen considered for a moment, then retrieved the Undying Imperial Heavenly Divine Bell from his acupoint space. He asked the two demonic weapons, "Can you devour its spiritual power?"

"Yes, but you'll need to help. It is currently sealed and sleeping, with only instinct to protect itself." The Dark-Iron Seal and Golden Divine Halberd seemed eager, their fluctuations excited.

Xiao Chen said nothing. The Hand of the Supreme Being slammed down fiercely. The radiant divine bell rang with a sound that carried hundreds of li. Strike after strike came down. The Hand of the Supreme Being fell continuously until cracks appeared in the bell's body, and finally, with a thunderous explosion, it shattered.

This was indeed an unimaginable holy relic. Each time it was broken, it reformed stronger, and the terrifying power sealed within was gradually released.

Golden shards lay on the ground, dazzling like rolling pearls. The Dark-Iron Seal and Golden Divine Halberd cried out in excitement and charged forward, madly devouring the spiritual power.

Little Keke watched with deep envy, which made Qingqing smile and offer her a spirit fungus.

After the spiritual power was absorbed, all the golden shards dimmed. But then, a brilliant divine light burst forth as all the shards moved together, rapidly reforming.

"Is it truly indestructible?" Xiao Chen asked.

The Golden Divine Halberd replied, "This bell is called the Undying Imperial Heavenly Divine Bell. Even a half-ancestor cannot destroy it. It has always been sealed. Each time it is shattered, spiritual power leaks, but it also breaks the seal. One day it will fully awaken, and its spiritual power can be replenished."

"So I'm helping it?"

The Dark-Iron Seal said, "Yes. Unless you slowly refine it, by the time it awakens, you would have completely mastered it. But do you have that time?"

"I truly do not have time. Otherwise, why would I want to destroy a holy relic? I need you to recover as soon as possible."

"I knew there was no good deed," they grumbled. But the two demonic weapons had already accepted the coming battle.

The Undying Imperial Heavenly Divine Bell was indeed a sacred object. Shattered several times in a row, each time providing unimaginable spiritual power. In the end, Xiao Chen had to use the Reverse Dragon Seven Steps, the Hand of the Supreme Being, and the War Swords simultaneously to break it. The Dark-Iron Seal and Golden Divine Halberd absorbed enough power that the cracks on their bodies nearly healed. At that moment, the Undying Divine Bell turned into molten gold, sank into the earth, and vanished.

"Probably after one or two more breaks, it will fully awaken," the Golden Divine Halberd estimated.

After this battle, the world spoke of Xiao Chen with fear. Though not the strongest, there was none who could oppose him under heaven. No one dared to challenge him again. He was a peerless champion in a class of his own.

Xiao Chen did not delay long. He directly appeared at the imperial palace, holding the Golden Divine Halberd, murderous intent surging. It was clear he had come to kill.

But the palace was draped in white. Everyone wore mourning clothes; weeping filled the royal grounds.

Zhao Lin'er was dead. She had died suddenly overnight.

Xiao Chen naturally did not believe it. He strode toward the mausoleum. No one dared block his way. By now, who under heaven did not know the fiendish star Xiao Chen? Even half-ancestor disciples avoided him, let alone others.

He split the coffin with a single stroke of his divine halberd. Inside lay a bloodied female corpse. He frowned, probing with his spiritual sense. Not a shred of residual spirit remained—it had been utterly wiped away.

"How did Zhao Lin'er die?"

Those around him braced for disaster. A trembling guard said, "Last night, a beam of divine light fell from the heavens. Her Majesty was struck and perished on the spot."

"Died so conveniently? I don't believe it!" Xiao Chen snorted heavily.

Within a day, the news spread across the Nine Provinces. A generation of empress had fallen; the world donned white.

Zhao Lin'er's sudden death had almost no other explanation. Everyone believed unanimously that Xiao Chen had killed her.

Though powerful cultivators were not restrained by mortal monarchs, they rarely killed them lightly—the impact was simply too great. Now Xiao Chen was killing on all sides, unstoppable. Half-ancestor disciples fell in countless numbers, blood flowed a thousand li. Then he had forged alone into the imperial palace, and the world wore white. His murderous aura reached the ninth heaven; his ferocious reputation topped the world. The name of "Demon Star" rivaled ancient titans.

At that moment, Xiao Chen broke through another death tribulation, advancing to the Seventh Heaven of Nirvana. The doors of the body's treasure vaults opened wide, releasing great potential. The first thing he did after this breakthrough was to take his War Swords and smash temples. Across the Nine Provinces, every temple of the half-ancestors was shattered within days, utterly eradicated.

At the same time, he tracked down and assaulted the half-ancestor disciples on all sides. He swept the world, and none who dared face him escaped defeat. Though not a supreme expert, he truly had no equal under heaven.

For three full months, the world fell silent. Xiao Chen had silenced the great sects. No one dared to stand against him.

For countless cultivators, this was a dark age. One man swept across the world, beating all under heaven into silence—a terrifying epoch. This was the era of a single man.

On the land of the Nine Provinces, no challenger remained. Xiao Chen had fought every enemy under heaven.

But now, he felt time was running out. He had not found all his enemies. He wanted to clear the hidden dangers for Keke and his friends. He knew his days were numbered.

Hu Ben deserved death. The Sun God's Son should be killed. Ye Xiao must be eliminated. The Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect remained great threats—and many others. But they all hid, filling him with worry.

Moreover, Zhao Lin'er and her like had not all been rooted out. That was a regret.

Enemies could never be fully killed or exterminated—this was his lament. Even now, when he could sweep all under heaven, he could not destroy all his foes.

Above the Nine Provinces, nine ancient lamps shone continuously. Spiritual energy flourished in the mortal world, as if the seal over the Nine Provinces had been fully lifted. Xiao Chen felt clearly that the great change was near, perhaps coming at any moment. He sighed. There was still much to do, but he could not.

That day, he was very silent.

Qingqing always wore a smile, but now she sighed. "Many regions of the four worlds belong to the mortal realm. They are slowly returning, the real world gradually being restored. Master Taihao said that the reversal of illusion and reality is not the most frightening thing—the most terrible lies in the Primordial Celestial Realm."

Xiao Chen thought for a moment, then said, "Qingqing, go find Senior Taihao. I have something to discuss with him."

Qingqing shook her head, smiling. "Don't try to trick me. I know you want to send me away. The great change is about to begin. I don't want to miss it."

She was too clever. Xiao Chen could not send her away. He had to tell the truth. "It is too dangerous. I don't want you to come to harm." Then he woke Keke, who was sleeping drowsily. "From now on, don't cause trouble. Find a place to hide. Don't come out until you reach half-ancestor."

He worried deeply about the little creature. After the half-ancestors fell, few in heaven and earth could harm her—but she was still a child. In this world, the most terrifying thing was not power, but the complexity of the human heart.

"Beware of the three-headed Golden Lion King," he continued. "I have always felt he is a great threat. He may have come to the mortal world long ago." Xiao Chen knew how terrifying the Golden Lion King was; his potential seemed no less than Keke's.

"Yellow Fur?" The little beast rubbed her eyes and fully woke. "Ya-ya ya-ya," she said, meaning she was not afraid.

"Qingqing, you must keep her in line from now on."

Qingqing nodded, saying nothing. All was understood without words.

"Farewell!"

As he spoke, Xiao Chen vanished, gone so suddenly that even Qingqing and Keke, with their extreme speed, could not catch him.

"Ya-ya ya-ya!" The little beast called anxiously, crossing space to chase, but already Xiao Chen's trace was lost.

Qingqing called softly, but she could not catch him.

Xiao Chen wanted to face death alone, unwilling to add to their sorrow.

"Illusory half-ancestors… I have come to send you off!"