I Am Them...

Beside the Head Society Master of the Divine Flower Society, more than twenty Yin Gods stood with cold, grim expressions. All of them were Yin Gods of the Youtian Domain who had long since followed the Head Society Master in secretly pledging allegiance to the Dark Sun. Every one of them looked at Qi Yuan as though looking at a corpse. "Never did I imagine we would have the fortune to witness the fall of such a peerless Great Venerable!" They were mere Venerables, abjectly lowly before a Great Venerable. Before the master of the Dark Sun, they were reduced to dust. Now, catching sight of Qi Yuan, they took the opportunity to scoff and sneer. "Cultivating for so many years, yet your vision is still this narrow—no better than common street scoundrels." Qi Yuan raised the banner of broad horizons high as well. Refusing to waste further words, he bellowed, "Enemies of mine, come forth and meet your deaths!" The sound rang out like rolling thunder, shaking the entire secret realm of Wind Thunder Valley and sending visible ripples through the fabric of space. The reverberation was vast and mighty, potent enough to wipe out the population of an entire mortal nation. The faces of the Yin God Venerables turned deathly pale. The mere sound shook their spirits and threw their divine spiritual power into turmoil, making them feel as if they were confronting a monstrous, world-shaking archfiend. The Head Society Master of the Divine Flower Society underwent a swift series of expressions. He had known the gap between himself and the Blood-Robed Sword God was immense, but he had never imagined it would be this vast. Most likely... the Blood-Robed Sword God was not far from the Mythological stage. "Since you are so eager to throw your life away, this old man shall grant your wish!" The Head Society Master shouted, and in the sky above him, a mechanical bird materialized. "You may be strong, but I have thirty-six pig slaves comparable to the Four Generals of the Lei Family. Come forth!" At his command, the earth of Wind Thunder Valley trembled violently. Fissures split across the ground, and one horrifying figure after another emerged. A two-headed man gripped a golden spear, his eyes hollow sockets without pupils, clad in battered armor that looked decayed beyond belief, as if it had endured a million years of decay. A colossal dragon-elephant roared, each of its hooves the size of a small hill. One terrifying powerhouse after another stepped forth, their auras suffocating to the utmost. A cold, resolute glint flashed in Qi Yuan's eyes as he carved the appearance of every single puppet into his memory. In life, these puppets had all been Mythological-grade powerhouses who resisted the Great Tribulation. Tragically, after their deaths, they were refined into puppets to bring disaster upon the common folk. Today, once they fell, perhaps not a soul left in this world would remember them. "Are these pig slaves enough to kill you?" the Head Society Master roared arrogantly. Thirty-six powerhouses comparable to Six Steps of Sky Treading—such a foundation of reserves was truly terrifying. He had learned from those lords of the Upper Realm that even up there, not every world possessed such a foundation. Without Mythological experts taking the field, these thirty-six Six Steps of Sky Treading puppets were sufficient to sweep across the mortal realm. Even a Mythological powerhouse would have no choice but to yield before thirty-six fearless combatants at the level of Six Steps of Sky Treading. "First, they are not pig slaves. Second, it's not enough. And finally, I'm pressed for time—I have my own funeral banquet to attend, so hurry up!" His Innate Seed avatar was on the verge of death; if he didn't partake in his own funeral feast, wouldn't that be a waste? Besides, he didn't even know if a funeral would be held for him, or if anyone would show up. "Madman!" The Head Society Master's eyes held mocking disdain. "In that case, this old man shall see you off to your grave. "Come forth, Four Heaven-Conquering Divine Generals!" The Head Society Master roared, a frenzied expression on his face. In life, the Four Heaven-Conquering Divine Generals were all mighty Mythological figures who had stood within reach of the Yang God stage. Otherwise, even after being refined into puppets, they could never have retained Mythological-tier combat prowess. The four of them were the supreme trump card of Wind Thunder Valley! Qi Yuan looked ahead to see a sudden ripple pulse through the void. Space was torn apart like a wall with four windows ripped open, and four formidable figures emerged. Looking upon them, Qi Yuan's gaze turned chillingly cold once more. Upon their robust physiques, not a scrap of clothing remained. Two men and two women, unclad, their skin either resembling ancient bronze or smooth white satin. Yet upon them were countless traces of brutal destruction. One long-haired man had a gaping hole in his throat that seemed plugged with some manner of metallic material, yet blood still appeared to seep outward. Others had limbs that had long been severed, crudely stitched back together with thick thread to cobble them into their present shape. The Head Society Master wore a look of delirious fervor. He slid a finger into the mouth of one Mythological puppet, behaving as though he were a god ruling the world, forcing even Mythological powerhouses to become his thralls. "Once these four Mythologicals take the field, who in the Canglan Realm dares defy me!" In his manic state, it was as if he himself had become a Mythological being. "Hmph!" Qi Yuan gave a cold grunt. At that moment, his divine spiritual power erupted. The entire Wind Thunder Valley was dragged wholly into the Void Realm. The Head Society Master was not surprised in the least. Instead, he shrieked with savage glee, "Kill!" Under his command and control, the thirty-six Great Venerables at Six Steps of Sky Treading all turned their gaze toward Qi Yuan in unison. Their eyes held no trace of emotion. Thirty-six Divine Domains unfolded simultaneously, surging toward Qi Yuan as one. The combined pressure of thirty-six Divine Domains was a ferocious assault that even a Mythological powerhouse would have to evade. "So what if you killed the Four Generals of the Lei Family? Here, there are thirty-six at Six Steps of Sky Treading!" "Such a one-sided slaughter is simply too dull," the Head Society Master said casually. For once, Qi Yuan agreed with someone he intended to kill. "Dull indeed. "However, this isn't your one-sided slaughter. It's mine!" The longsword in Qi Yuan's hand let out a clear, resonant hum. "Divine Domains, open!" He let out a tremendous shout. Instantly, the more than five thousand Divine Infants within his body resonated together. Every single Divine Domain unfurled at once. Uniting as one, they formed a miniature Divine Domain. This miniature Divine Domain was the sum total of all his Divine Infants, and a scaled-down version of the Divine Domain Qi Yuan possessed in the Mortal Heart Realm. When the Divine Domain emerged, heaven and earth shook! The world of Wind Thunder Valley was utterly transformed. "What is this?" The Head Society Master was struck with sudden terror. He, too, was a Great Venerable and naturally understood what a Divine Domain looked like. Yet the Divine Domain before him defied everything he knew. Wind, fire, thunder, lightning... pestilence, childbearing, calamity... A Divine Domain was always the embryonic form of a specific rule. A Great Venerable could typically wield only one variety of Divine Domain. With every additional kind mastered, the difficulty of advancement doubled. How many kinds did the Blood-Robed Sword God's Divine Domain contain? Ten? A hundred? A thousand? Innumerable—it was impossible to count. How could any Great Venerable possess such a Divine Domain? He could neither comprehend it nor fathom it. "Your Divine Domains... hand them over to me!" Qi Yuan swung his sword. The Divine Domains of all thirty-six Great Venerables seemed to be pierced by this single stroke. Qi Yuan's Divine Domain immediately invaded the domains of all the puppets. The expected collision of Divine Domains never occurred. Like a monstrous beast lurking in the dark, Qi Yuan's Divine Domain began devouring the Divine Domains of the thirty-six Great Venerables. When had the Head Society Master ever witnessed such a spectacle? "What kind of monster... are you?!" A clash of Divine Domains was a raw collision of force, an effort to shatter and destroy. Where had anyone ever heard of devouring them?! Devouring a Divine Domain was entirely beyond comprehension. No matter how brilliant a prodigy was, they could only ever control one or two differing types of domains. Recklessly consuming domains of varying attributes would only cause their own domain to shatter and their divine spiritual power to be snuffed out. Yet now, the Blood-Robed Sword God was truly devouring them! Qi Yuan's Divine Domain was the One born of the Dao. All Beings Are Me. Even if these puppets were not his people, and even if they were not innate deities, Qi Yuan was still assimilating and devouring their Divine Domains all the same. Looking at the Head Society Master, he gave a grim, chilling smile. "I am them..." Frightened by that look, the Head Society Master's heart skipped a beat. For some inexplicable reason, he felt as though those thirty-six pig slaves were also staring at him with the very same smile as the Blood-Robed Sword God. An uncanny dread rose within him. A terror of the unknown. "Four Heaven-Conquering Divine Generals, strike! Kill him!" the Head Society Master bellowed. It seemed only the four divine generals could grant him a shred of safety. Receiving their orders, the four divine generals turned their colossal bodies toward Qi Yuan, sweeping forward with an endless aura of ruin and death. In life, any one of these four had been a peerless powerhouse with hopes of reaching the pinnacle of the Yang God realm. Tragically, they had fallen resisting the Great Tribulation. And even after death, their corpses were refined into puppets by vile wretches, suffering endless degradation at the hands of scoundrels. Now, facing the Four Heaven-Conquering Divine Generals, Qi Yuan remained completely unruffled. "With this sword, I bestow armor upon you four!" The wind stirred, and a sword swept out, its crimson radiance severing the mundane from the divine. The entirety of Wind Thunder Valley was glazed in a layer of red. Over the bare bodies of the four divine generals, suits of blood-red armor suddenly materialized, enfolding their forms. At that exact instant, the bodies of the four divine generals abruptly grew rigid. Gripping his blood sword, Qi Yuan looked on with an indifferent expression, resembling a god of slaughter. "Some people don't deserve to die with their clothes on!" He struck again. Empowered by the miniature Divine Domain, Qi Yuan's sword was no longer a mere weapon; it was a sword of the Divine Domain. As the sword slashed through, thunderous roars erupted incessantly. The robes of the more than twenty Yin God Venerables present tore to shreds in an instant, and deep fractures split across their flesh. The Head Society Master could not escape either. A look of pure terror filled his eyes. "Just... what kind of monster are you?" Living beings inherently feared the unknown. Every single feat displayed by the Blood-Robed Sword God surpassed his understanding. How could such a Divine Domain exist? How could such a sword strike exist? What was more, he felt a creeping sense that the four Mythological puppets were slipping from his control. Yet Qi Yuan didn't spare him a single word. He cleaved downward, sword strike after sword strike. His Divine Domain steadily infiltrated and spread into the Divine Domains of the four divine generals. "Block him! Hurry up and destroy him!" the Head Society Master shrieked. Yet the Divine Domains of the Four Heaven-Conquering Divine Generals seemed entirely undefended against Qi Yuan's devouring, letting him swallow them whole. The Head Society Master was terrified to his core. He suddenly recalled what the Blood-Robed Sword God had said—that he was those puppets. Could it be... A dreadful thought struck his heart. Could the Blood-Robed Sword God be a collective amalgamation of the remnant souls of these ancient powerhouses? Endless speculations raced through his mind. He would never guess that Qi Yuan's miniature Divine Domain was an amalgamation of the Three Pure Ones, the Innate True Spirit, and the Devouring Primordial Physique. Three terrifying elements, each potent enough to astound a Yang God, were what had forged Qi Yuan's Divine Domain. "No... You were slain once by the Great Tribulation; you will only be slain a second time!" the Head Society Master stammered in terror. He could tell that the resistance from the pig slaves in his grasp was growing weaker by the moment. Qi Yuan's Divine Domain continued to devour relentlessly. This was not a fair fight in the slightest. If this continued, his defeat was absolute. His only hope of cowing the Blood-Robed Sword God was to invoke the Great Tribulation. "Laughable. It's not like I grew up on probiotic drinks—do you think you can frighten me? "Never mind the Great Tribulation; even Taihuang Palace behind it will be wiped out by my own hands!" Qi Yuan spoke in a quiet voice, his gaze unwavering. Invincible under heaven, so enemies come from the heavens, was that it? Once he slew the Great Tribulation, he would march straight to Taihuang Palace and destroy their very nest! The battle raged on, yet it remained an entirely one-sided affair. In just a few dozen breaths, Qi Yuan's Divine Domain seemed to swallow every domain present. The puppets appeared to lose all combat capability. The Head Society Master could endure it no longer. "Spare me! I am willing to offer you the art of controlling these meat pigs! "From now on, you will possess four Mythological-grade servants and thirty-six Great Venerables at Six Steps of Sky Treading!" He naturally had no puppet control art; he was merely stalling for time, desperate to save his own life. Qi Yuan glanced at all the puppets, a complex emotion in his eyes. "In life, these seniors refused to be trapped within the Canglan Realm and fought for freedom. "Now that they are dead, how could I seize control of their remains and deny them eternal peace?" Qi Yuan considered himself lawful good; he could never bring himself to commit such an atrocity. His words left the Head Society Master utterly baffled. He only found Qi Yuan hypocritical, or outright foolish. To cast aside such astronomical benefits purely for the sake of reputation? "If Senior is unwilling to control these pig slaves, this old servant is willing to serve as your hand and control them in your stead!" the Head Society Master said hurriedly. He had long since abandoned all pride, valuing his life above all else. He figured the Blood-Robed Sword God was merely posturing for glory, so the filthy, grueling work could simply be left to him. "Killing you would only dirty my hands." Qi Yuan looked at the Head Society Master with blatant revulsion. A look of delight surfaced on the Head Society Master's face, thinking Qi Yuan intended to spare him. Instead, he heard Qi Yuan's chilly voice follow: "Fortunately, I wash my hands diligently every day, so I'm not afraid of getting them dirty!" As Qi Yuan's voice fell, the blood-red longsword slashed across the sky of Wind Thunder Valley. None of the Yin God puppets offered any resistance, permitting the blade to plunge directly toward the Head Society Master. Seeing this, the ordinary Yin God Venerables fled in sheer panic. Yet how could their speed match the brilliance of Qi Yuan's sword, or outpace the expansion of his Divine Domain? These Yin Gods of the Youtian Domain had long lost their prior smugness. Without even uttering a sound, they died quietly within Qi Yuan's Divine Domain. As for the Head Society Master of the Divine Flower Society, Qi Yuan's sword ran him straight through. "Your Divine Domain is too filthy. I won't bother devouring it—better to just churn through you with a sword." Saying so, Qi Yuan twisted his hand clockwise and then counterclockwise, as though the blood-red sword were stirring the Head Society Master's guts into mush. In an instant, his body shattered into powder, disappearing into nothingness. The Head Society Master's face still bore a look of utter disbelief. He could not understand why the Blood-Robed Sword God would rather throw away such staggering power just to kill him. In a single breath, all the Yin Gods of the Youtian Domain perished at Qi Yuan's hands. Gripping the blood sword, Qi Yuan looked upon the thirty-six Sky Treading Great Venerables and four Mythological powerhouses before him. A trace of sorrow lingered in his eyes. "Qi Yuan of the Divine Light Sect sends you seniors on your way today." A single sword strike went out, turning heaven and earth a uniform shade of blood. It was as if heaven and earth were weeping tears of crimson. None of the puppets made a move, quietly allowing the sword light to descend upon their bodies. *Crack.* They shattered to pieces. The bodies of the forty powerhouses finally vanished without a trace. Dust to dust, earth to earth, extinguished within Canglan. Qi Yuan's gaze deepened as he murmured softly, "Now... their Divine Domains have become a part of me. Doesn't that mean slaying the Great Tribulation is avenging myself?" Of course, these powerhouses who had died in ancient battles could not transform into his Divine Infants the way his own people did. Claiming that slaying the Great Tribulation was avenging himself was a bit of a stretch. At the thought, a smile touched Qi Yuan's lips. He was certainly busy. Not only did he have to rush to attend his own funeral banquet, but he also had to avenge himself.