Xingtian Ao Strikes

“This long slumber has left me in need of nourishment.”

The divine sense of the Supreme of the God-Burying Abyss coldly declared their fate.

“No—!”

Desperate wails echoed across the earth.

At the same time, from the direction of the Godfall Ruins, the figure shrouded within the devouring vortex let out a hoarse murmur. Driven by its hunger, the vortex spun even faster.

By the Sea of Samsara in the Central Region, the two Supremes likewise looked down upon the land teeming with life below.

“Our condition is poor. Why don’t we feast first, recover some of our strength, and then go?”

This brief exchange was like a final sentence, clearly spreading throughout the Eastern and Central Regions.

Everyone understood. Before heading to the Southern Region, these four Supremes intended to carry out a harvest—a mere appetizer.

“It’s over. It’s truly over…”

An old ancestor of a sect collapsed to the ground, his face ashen. He had just thought they had escaped disaster, only to realize that the Grim Reaper had merely changed the order of execution.

The grave threat in the Southern Region certainly had to be eliminated, but in their current wretched condition, going there would be far too risky.

Recovering some of their strength first was the prudent choice.

As for the despair of the “blood food” beneath their feet, what did it matter to them?

Just as the destructive will of the four Supremes completely locked onto the living beings below, and their attacks were about to pour down—

In the Central Region, Daoist Repository Academy.

Ever since the aura of the Supremes erupted from the Bronze Ancient City in the Southern Region, another equally vast yet vibrant and blazing imperial might had already been standing ready here.

It was none other than the Nirvana Emperor, Xing Tian'ao!

He had originally intended to go provide reinforcements. However, Great Emperor of Annihilation had sent him a voice transmission, ordering him to guard the Central Region’s heartland, lest petty villains take advantage of the chaos to slaughter wantonly. He was to protect the foundation of all living beings.

When sixteen terrifying auras shot into the heavens from the various restricted zones, Xing Tian'ao could no longer hold himself back. He nearly crossed the void and rushed over.

But the moment he took a step, he abruptly stopped. His gaze fixed upon the distant Supremes, filled with killing intent.

Especially after sensing the undisguised greed and malice radiating from the directions of the Sea of Samsara and the Void Cavern, the killing intent in his eyes condensed into something almost tangible.

“Abominations! How dare you run rampant?!”

A furious roar that shook the Nine Heavens exploded like the first thunderclap of creation, instantly dispersing the veil of despair hanging over the Central Region.

Across the entire Central Region, countless billions of living beings—ordinary mortals fleeing in tears and panic, as well as cultivators awaiting death in despair—suddenly looked up at that moment, all gazing toward Daoist Repository Academy.

They saw a towering figure, resembling an ancient divine demon, step out from amid the shattered mountains and rivers.

Brilliant, dazzling Nirvana Emperor Flame blazed around him, as though he were a newly born, incomparably radiant sun god, illuminating the dim skies of the Central Region!

That aura was majestic, vast, perfect, and flawless, carrying an overwhelming will that transcended the myriad Dao.

It was entirely different from the rotten, deathly, and predatory auras of the Supremes from the restricted zones, yet it was just as powerful—powerful enough to leave people suffocating!

An Emperor!

A flawless Great Emperor!

“Xing Tian'ao?!”

High above the Central Region, the soul fire in a Supreme’s eye sockets abruptly contracted. His divine sense pulsed with utter disbelief.

“Impossible! Didn’t you suffer the destruction of both body and soul beneath the Emperor Tribulation?”

Another indistinct, half-real figure shuddered violently, then spoke in a cold and astonished whisper.

“Reborn through nirvana? Defying the heavens and changing your fate? How is that possible?”

No matter what, they could never have imagined that a Great Emperor would still be alive in the Central Region.

Even more impossible was the fact that this Great Emperor was Xing Tian'ao—the very man whose body and soul had been destroyed before the eyes of the masses.

“Imperial might?! Is this the aura of a flawless Great Emperor?!”

“Good heavens! It’s an Emperor of our human race! Our human race still has an Emperor alive!”

“It’s coming from Daoist Repository Academy! It’s Senior Xing Tian'ao! He isn’t dead! He succeeded in proving the Dao!”

Below, the cries and shouts of the crowd, mixed with boundless joy and disbelief, surged across the land of the Central Region like a tsunami.

Countless cultivators wept tears of joy, while countless mortals fell to their knees and bowed their heads.

At this darkest hour, with twenty-two ancient Supremes emerging together, the appearance of this imperial might was like a lamp kindled in endless darkness, bringing light to those trapped in despair!

Xing Tian'ao paid no attention to the uproar below or the Supremes’ astonishment. His eyes held only the two figures who were about to unleash an immeasurable slaughter.

Without another word, he simply threw a punch!

This punch contained all the fruits of his Dao and all his will—everything born from breaking and rebuilding, from being reborn through nirvana in the realm of death!

“This is bad!”

“Join forces!”

The two Supremes of the Sea of Samsara and the Void Cavern were both shaken to their cores. From the blazing intent within that punch, they sensed a fatal threat.

Their conditions were already extremely poor. Now that they faced the furious strike of a flawless Great Emperor in perfect condition, fighting spirit soaring to the heavens, how could they dare hold anything back?

The white-bone throne beneath the Supreme of the Sea of Samsara shone with dazzling light. Countless resentful souls wailed as they formed a barrier.

The power of samsara twisted space and time, attempting to redirect the force of the punch into the endless cycle of reincarnation.

The Supreme of the Void Cavern became increasingly ethereal, as though he intended to merge completely with the void and transform into the Dao itself, evading this supreme strike.

And yet—

“Boom—!”

Beneath the Emperor’s fist, all techniques were shattered!

The barrier formed from countless resentful souls and the power of samsara melted away at incredible speed, like snow beneath the sun. The wailing abruptly ceased.

The white-bone throne let out an overwhelmed crack, and fissures appeared across its surface.

The figure that had attempted to merge with the void was forcibly driven out by the surging Emperor Flame. The void power coiling around him ignited and was purified, hissing as it burned.

The two Supremes groaned. The might of that single punch sent them both flying backward, their decaying auras violently roiling and visibly dimming by several degrees!

“An Emperor! It truly is the might of a flawless Great Emperor!”

Amid the ruins of Daoist Repository Academy, Master Qingxu and the remaining elders and disciples gazed at the back of the figure who resembled a blazing deity. Their bodies trembled with excitement, and tears filled their eyes.

“Master truly succeeded! Reborn through nirvana, he has attained the position of Great Emperor!”

Master Qingxu’s voice choked with emotion. He was filled with boundless joy at witnessing his master’s rebirth, as well as overwhelming elation and relief at seeing a pillar capable of supporting the heavens amid this world-ending crisis.

He immediately roared at the top of his lungs:

“All members of Daoist Repository, form the Myriad Dao Guardian Formation! Fellow cultivators of the sacred lands, lend us your strength! Stabilize the mountains and rivers of the Central Region, and do not let the aftermath of the clash between the Emperor and the Supremes harm the innocent!”

At his roar, an Extreme Dao Imperial Armament rose into the sky from the depths of Daoist Repository Academy, scattering a hazy, pure light.

At the same time, auspicious rays spread from the direction of the Spirit Firmament Sacred Land, intertwining with the clear radiance of Daoist Repository as they did everything in their power to stabilize the Central Region’s mountains and rivers, which were trembling violently from the terrifying battle.

“So what if you are an Emperor? You have only just entered this realm. Can you withstand the combined might of the two of us?!”

The Supreme of the Sea of Samsara steadied himself. His voice was hoarse and furious, his soul fire blazing fiercely—he had clearly been driven into a true rage.

The figure of the Supreme of the Void Cavern condensed once more, though it was now even more ethereal than before. His voice was cold.

“Devouring you will be worth billions upon billions of offerings!”

Xing Tian'ao said nothing. He launched another attack, taking the initiative once more.

His Emperor’s fist swept forth, carrying the Nirvana Truth that could incinerate all evil and purify all creation, as he charged directly at the two Supremes.

With his own power, he had utterly suppressed the two weakened Ancient Supremes, leaving them completely unable to strike at the living beings of the Central Region!

Just as the people of the Central Region erupted into ecstatic cheers at Xing Tian'ao’s arrival, the wails spreading across the Eastern Region suddenly reached their peak.

The Supreme of the God-Burying Abyss and the Supreme of the Godfall Ruins in the Eastern Region had already raised their arms of destruction.