The Imperial City's Pride

At the same moment, Xiao Chen felt a suffocating presence — as if a colossal beast far across the Death World was watching him with an icy, pitiless gaze.

Keke shuddered involuntarily. "E-ya…" she murmured. "What is that?"

Neither Eternal King Meng Degang nor the True Wood Female Saint had anticipated this. The Otherworld Ancestral Gods changed countenance; the situation was far more complex and grave than they had imagined. It was not simply a matter of seven demon cities.

Then, as suddenly as it had come, that heart-stopping presence receded like a retreating tide, vanishing in an instant, as though nothing had happened.

Yet no one dared to relax. The feeling of being watched by a venomous serpent, the cold that had seized every bone — such a sensation could not be easily forgotten.

The True Wood Female Saint and Eternal King Meng Degang shifted positions, retreating from above the seven demon cities. Even the light curtain that had covered the heavens dimmed somewhat.

Should they continue the assault, or withdraw? It was a dilemma ten thousand times knotted.

"That being is no ordinary creature — he nearly possesses the full might of a Stone Man King's majesty," the Female Saint murmured.

"If we act recklessly, we will pay a heavy price. Yet I believe he, too, is not entirely at ease."

"He has his own reservations. Otherwise he would have already come to kill — not merely displayed his power."

The two supreme beings exchanged glances swiftly. In that moment, they sensed a shared, fervent heat within each other's hearts — a wild, frantic impulse that surged beneath their normally glacial composure.

"The Imperial City guarded by the Big Dipper Seven Demon Cities… that is a prize worth coveting."

"If we can seize it, we may shed our chrysalises and ascend another heaven."

For eons, little in the outer realms could stir the emotions of these two peak powerhouses. But now, both were deeply moved.

"Summon reinforcements." That was their final decision.

They would not abandon this place. They would call on powerful allies to break open the seven cities and seize the mysterious Imperial City.

The True Wood Female Saint glanced behind her and transmitted a thought to the Superior Ancestral God waiting in the rear. He understood instantly and vanished.

Xiao Chen's heart grew cold. The Otherworld Ancestral Gods were formidable indeed — facing such unfathomable seven demon cities, they had no intention of retreating. A great battle was imminent.

Yet Xiao Chen could not charge out; he could only wait passively.

Not long after the Superior Ancestral God disappeared, a terrible pressure spread from the distant lands. From the direction of the Imperial City, that suffocating aura once again surged forth. Clearly, the arrival of reinforcements had been sensed by the city's guardian, and he understood his peril.

Seven dazzling beams of divine light streaked across the sky, like seven great phoenixes trailing beauty as they pierced the light curtain overhead.

At the same time, the seven demon cities below once again surged into the air, on the verge of breaking their restraints, slamming heavily against the light curtain.

The True Wood Female Saint and Meng Degang pressed down with all their might; the Otherworld Ancestral Gods acted in concert. Especially the two incomplete Stone Men — their power was enough to drain the heavens, and they channeled their boundless strength into the great formation.

Yet those seven beams of light ultimately shot into the divine formation, merging with the seven demon cities, solidifying into one. At the same time, the Killing Lights that coiled around the cities sank into their bodies.

The seven demon cities seemed to gain new life, a second vitality, their power surging ever higher. They arranged themselves in the pattern of the Big Dipper, spinning in the sky. The great ladle's handle became like an indestructible blade, severing the firmament and cutting off a myriad worlds.

The great formation that sealed the seven cities emitted crackling sounds as a corner was torn open.

The battle had erupted without warning!

The seven cities shook heaven and earth. Their great dipper handle swept beyond the formation, and the seven cities, having risen from the ground, prepared to break through the sky.

"You underestimate this formation. Unless a Stone Man King descends, it is nearly impossible to break the seal!" Eternal King Meng Degang's voice was cold and clear.

The light curtain above the heavens contracted rapidly, about to sever the dipper handle and split the cities into two parts.

Bang!

The handle spun and slashed across the sky. But these were not mere rods — they were seven great demon cities linked together. Everything in the space they swept ceased to exist; vast stretches of the void collapsed into chaos.

An Otherworld Ancestral God was struck in that instant. His body shattered on the spot, scattering a great rain of blood. Then the blood vanished, and he was utterly annihilated — even his soul did not escape.

Dong!

The great formation shuddered violently. As Eternal King Meng Degang had said, the seven cities could not break out. The three cities trapped outside the formation were forced to retreat swiftly.

This formation could be entered, but not exited! The seven cities settled back to the earth, but their bond with each other grew ever tighter.

"I trouble no one. Why do you disturb my peace?"

At that moment, the seven demon cities rumbled, their tremendous voices like those of a titan splitting heaven and earth.

The Ancestral Gods were stricken with dread. All seven cities spoke with one voice — one will. That meant the seven cities were one — one belonged to a single being!

"This is probably the Imperial City speaking through them!" the True Wood Female Saint said. "We wish to borrow your seven cities for a time." Her response was calm and resolute.

After a moment of silence, the seven cities burst forth with a soul-shaking aura. Their great voices rumbled: "Very well — I'll borrow all of your lives for a time."

Xiao Chen felt a tremendous pressure descend. He covered everyone nearby with the Divine Diagram, anchored three directions with his Heavenly Marks, and the Ancient Scroll rustled and trembled in his hand. The Stone Man King Puppet stood before him, blocking the oppressive force.

From each of the seven demon cities, a black light shot forth. Seven dark figures emerged, merging with the Killing Lights, each becoming a War God of the Abyss.

"It's useless. Unless you manifest your true bodies, you cannot harm this formation in the slightest." The True Wood Female Saint sat cross-legged on the light curtain, suppressing it alongside Meng Degang.

The seven War Gods said nothing. They formed seals with their hands, drawing upon the great power of the outer heavens, shaking the heavenly curtain above.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

It was as though a titan wielding a colossal hammer was striking the very Death World, causing it to tremble. Deep within the continent, several powerful beings awakened from their slumber and watched in silence, their powerful auras hidden flawlessly — no one knew they were observing.

"If I am not provoked, I will not strike. But if I am provoked, I will repay tenfold!"

In that instant, a great voice sliced through every heart like a divine blade. Every being felt their soul-sea shaken, as though struck by lightning.

The terrible aura reappeared. From the direction of the Imperial City, a tidal wave of energy surged forth, sending several Otherworld Ancestral Gods flying.

All were horrified. The powerful being had not yet appeared, yet his might had already driven back the Otherworld experts.

On the horizon, a figure not particularly tall gradually came into view. He walked step by step toward them, his strides not large, very slow. But with every footfall, the entire Death Continent trembled.

That silhouette approached slowly, and the Ancestral Gods felt as though a hand was gripping their throats — they could scarcely breathe. A suffocating weight pressed down upon them.

Closer and closer. The pressure grew ever more vast, more boundless. Each step seemed to represent the very pulse of this world. His gait was overwhelmingly oppressive — each footfall felt as though it landed in their very hearts, stamping on their divine consciousness.

Pfft!

An Otherworld Ancestral God spat out a mouthful of blood, half a shattered heart mingled within it. Then his entire body rapidly cracked.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

In the distance, that silhouette came on, and his footsteps grew ever more rhythmic.

Aaaah!

A scream rang out. The Otherworld Ancestral God completely disintegrated, blood mist flying in all directions. In the blink of an eye, his physical shell was destroyed, leaving only a severely wounded soul.

All changed countenance, retreating until they stood behind the True Wood Female Saint.

That silhouette was so terrifying — one man standing above the will of heaven and earth, master of all the myriad Daos. For this moment, he overlooked the world, coming alone, inspiring fear in all.

At last, he reached the vicinity. This was a shadow entirely formed from soft, radiant light, his features indistinct, but one could tell he was a man.

"I slumbered for tens of thousands of years, and today you have disturbed my rest. Since you covet my seven cities, then use your lives to repay the debt."

With these words, he struck directly. His right hand reached out, and a world appeared between his fingers — within it, countless stars and rivers formed, stars filling the heavens. In that single turn of his hand, he seized the ancestral god who had lost his physical form, drawing his soul into his palm. The soul did not even have time to utter a scream — it was reduced to ash on the spot.

The True Wood Female Saint changed color immediately. She had been unable to stop him, and that realization chilled her heart. This man's power was beyond imagination.

"I see the desolate sky. I see weeping souls. I see withering flowers. Today, the earth will be stained with blood…" The hazy shadow vanished without a trace.

The True Wood Female Saint's expression shifted again, and she vanished just as swiftly, transforming into the origin of the great Dao to chase after that elusive silhouette.

At the same time, Eternal King Meng Degang shook his own great city, covering several of the common Ancestral Gods beneath it, trying to shelter them.

At the same time, the Superior Ancestral God beside them and the two incomplete Stone Men also struck out at once, attacking the immeasurably powerful figure by instinct.

But all of their attacks struck empty air. The hazy silhouette finally appeared atop Meng Degang's great city, lightly passing by. Starlight glittered between his fingers — a true world twined around his digits, and within it he held an ordinary Ancestral God.

Calm and composed, he stood in the void, facing the True Wood Female Saint and Eternal King Meng Degang. He gently closed his fist, and in the world within his palm, countless stars shattered. The Ancestral God trapped within turned to ash at the same moment.

This method defied heaven itself. The True Wood Female Saint's eyes shot forth two sharp golden beams. "He resembles someone from the distant past."

"The Imperial City… Could a new Heavenly Emperor have appeared?" Eternal King Meng Degang's voice was equally cold.

On the ground, Xiao Chen was greatly startled. The Big Dipper Seven Demon Cities guarded the Imperial City. Could the Heavenly Emperor City of old be the same? Was there a connection between them?

"Killing you two is difficult. But killing them is like snapping dry twigs." The hazy shadow spoke calmly.

"It is not yet decided who kills whom," Eternal King Meng Degang rumbled from within his great city.

Bang!

At that moment, the great divine formation was breached. The hazy shadow stepped inside with a single stride. The seven War Gods who had been forming seals charged toward him and merged with him.

"My incarnations have returned. I will now unleash a great slaughter."

With that, he traced a line across the sky, as though tearing a window — and in an instant, he broke free of the formation.

The True Wood Female Saint's eyes shot out two bolts of cold lightning. The two Stone Men beside her were also greatly shocked. Meng Degang's great city shook, and his voice boomed: "It seems we must pay a price to seize the seven demon cities and the Imperial City!"

Bang!

The sky shattered. A man seated cross-legged, eyes closed, slowly descended. He was not a Stone Man — he was flesh and blood, and his beauty was almost demonic.

The Otherworld Ancestral Gods showed joy at once. This was a powerful Superior Ancestral God who had not taken the Stone Man path, but whose divine abilities were the equal of the True Wood Female Saint and Eternal King Meng Degang. He was the leading figure of the Otherworld's Superior Ancestral God path.

"Good. The three of us should be enough to take the seven demon cities and the Imperial City."

The True Wood Female Saint and Meng Degang both relaxed.

The hazy silhouette showed no fear; he was only the more calm and composed. He scanned the surroundings and said flatly, "If you wish to kill me, be prepared to be killed."

Several figures withdrew silently. But a few other powerful beings from the deepest reaches of the Death World drew near without a sound.