Slay!

A single cry that the Earth Gate was nothing special shook the surroundings in all directions! What utter arrogance! Yet a super-tier powerhouse had just been swiftly slain by Su Yu's group. For Su Yu to speak such words, he indeed possessed the right! At Su Yu's level, counting across the entirety of the past, present, and future, very few could truly best him. One could count them on two hands: the Eight Saints of the Human Gate; Qiong, Shi, and Kong from the Heavenly Gate; the Lord of Chaos and the Human Ancestor within the Earth Gate; the Lord of Dead Spirits in the myriad realms; plus the true bodies of the three gates themselves, as well as the vanished Lord of Time. Looking across all of history and eternity, Su Yu easily ranked in the top twenty. Even if the Human Sovereign were restored to his peak, he would at best be on even footing with Su Yu. A peerless twenty-four-year-old expert who had cultivated to such heights—saying the Earth Gate was nothing special seemed entirely justified. Moreover, the number of super-tier experts he had slain likely surpassed everyone else's count. …… At that moment, Su Yu's eyes shone like the sun and moon, seeing through all four quarters. He beheld an ancient tree of colossal proportions, brimming with rich vital aura, resembling an ancient tree that had attained spirithood. Su Yu had not expected the Lord of Chaos to be a spirit manifested from an ancient tree rather than an ancient beast. The Ageless Root... Su Yu now had a general idea of what it was; it was likely the entity's true form. To the west, he saw a realm resembling hell itself, with an inferno suspended in the void. That was the Prison King. For now, she did not seem to be approaching, merely observing from afar. To the south, he saw an old man who looked somewhat familiar, with a long beard fluttering in the wind, accompanied by another figure. They, too, were observing the battle across the expanse. That should be the Human Ancestor. To the north, powerful auras surged, rising from faint to formidable with terrifying speed. Those had to be the Great Saints of the Human Gate descending, piercing straight through heaven and earth as they arrived from within the Human Gate. Experts still existed! And quite a few of them! The Great Saints of the Human Gate were all exceptionally formidable beings. Even with Su Yu and Wen Yu joining forces, they could at best contend with a single Great Saint. And this time, just as others had guessed, three Great Saints descended upon this world! Three was the absolute limit the Earth Gate could endure. Any more—if four or five showed up—and launched an attack from the inside, even the Earth Gate would weep. As three Great Saints descended, the entire Earth Gate plunged into turmoil. At this moment, the number of thirty-six-Dao powerhouses gathered within the Earth Gate exceeded even those within the Heavenly Gate. There were the three Great Saints, along with the Human Ancestor watching from afar—who, by Su Yu's estimation, might also possess thirty-six-Dao strength. There were also the Lord of Chaos, Qiong, and Su Yu and Wen Yu combined, who counted as another. Counting them up, there were a full seven! Across all of history, only ten or so experts could claim victory over Su Yu, yet six besides himself were gathered right here. Factoring in the Earth Gate itself and the Lord of Dead Spirits outside, half of all the supreme powerhouses since the creation of heaven and earth were assembled in this place. In the north, the three Great Saints landed inside the Earth Gate. One Great Saint exuded joy, one exuded sorrow, and one exuded wrath. Those distinct emotions pierced through heaven and earth. The Human Gate! The seven emotions and six desires! In that instant, Su Yu felt as if he were seeing Wan Tiansheng, and his heart gave a faint jolt. The Dao of Seven Emotions and Six Desires! The Great Saints of the Human Gate actually walked the Dao of Seven Emotions and Six Desires! Was this a coincidence? Or could it be that Wan Tiansheng... Su Yu refused to dwell on it! The Dao of Seven Emotions and Six Desires was an extraordinary path—a Dao of human nature, a Dao of humanity. As long as one was human, one had emotions. It was an exceptionally fundamental Dao, easily overlooked, yet unimaginably powerful. Back then, once Wan Tiansheng opened his Dao, he had grown strong at terrifying speed, even stirring the River of Time. "Su Yu!" A furious roar echoed through heaven and earth! "You truly live up to your name as the final hope of this era!" It was the Furious Great Saint! "To deal with you, exceeding even what was deployed against the Heaven-Opening Era, the three of us have descended into the Earth Gate! Su Yu, you can die content!" Su Yu was confirmed to be inside, and he had already slain a Unity-tier expert. Three Great Saints had arrived! At this moment, each of their auras pierced the firmament, frighteningly powerful! Even the Lord of Chaos halted his steps, ceasing his advance with a grave expression. He was a very old man, resembling an ancient, weathered tree with deeply wrinkled skin. At this juncture, the Lord of Chaos was grim. The Human Gate had truly spared no expense to eliminate Su Yu. With three Great Saints descending, were they not afraid the Earth Gate might fully awaken now? Even if they routed Su Yu's group, could they truly leave safely? Entering was easy; leaving was hard! If they wanted to depart, it was not as simple as taking the Heavenly Gate or Human Gate. They had to exit through the Earth Gate. …… The entire Earth Gate trembled. Yet Su Yu, like a blazing sun clad in snow-white robes, illuminated the entire Earth Gate era. His voice was calm, like a sacred divinity descending, and utterly indifferent as he said, "State your names, lest you die without leaving them behind, departing with empty regrets!" "What bold courage!" The Great Saint of Joy laughed uproariously. "I am Hong Tian!" The Furious Great Saint barked, "I am Qing Tian!" The Sorrowful Great Saint sighed softly. "This old one is Bei Tian." Su Yu smiled. "Locked in a contest with Heaven? This heaven was opened by the Lord of Time! It seems the rumors were true after all: the Human Gate bears a grudge against the Lord of Time, suffered defeat at his hands, and was sealed within this river! Now, I find myself inclined to believe it!" He also knew of a Ji Tian. The eight Great Saints were likely all named after some aspect of 'Tian.' Hong Tian, Qing Tian, Bei Tian—mastering joy, anger, sorrow, and delight. Hong Tian represented joy and delight, with little practical difference between the two. Moreover, this was the fellow who had taken the Heaven-Cleaving Sword, and he had indeed come! At this moment, Su Yu could even sense Qiong's burning impatience! Three Great Saints! Could they be matched? No! If the Lord of Dead Spirits and the others entered, Su Yu would not be afraid, but the Lord of Dead Spirits could not enter. If he did, the Earth Gate would seize the opportunity to cause chaos. On Su Yu's side, even including Qiong, there were only two thirty-six-Dao combatants, and the Human Sovereign had not yet recovered. Meanwhile, the Earth Gate held a full five thirty-six-Dao experts! There were also Taotie and the Prison King, both super-tier. The disparity was massive! Yet Su Yu felt no fear! Gazing into the distance toward the Lord of Chaos, Su Yu's voice thundered through heaven and earth: "Are you going to assist the Human Gate in destroying me, or sit on the sidelines and watch?" Su Yu's voice rang like a great bronze bell, resonant and clear. "Do you think that if the Human Gate crushes me and leaves you alone, their Great Saints won't turn on you? I don't need your help, but let me ask you: do you intend to act as the vanguard for the Human Gate?" In the distance, the Lord of Chaos furrowed his brow. This powerhouse who had roamed unhindered grew increasingly troubled. A massive dilemma! He feared both sides. He knew Su Yu was troublesome and the Human Sovereign was difficult, but he also understood that once Su Yu and his companions fell, the three Great Saints of the Human Gate would be unwelcome guests whose departure would be impossible to compel! As for helping Su Yu... forget it! He had taken in Tiangu, who had advised him either to be decisive and join forces with the Human Gate to kill Su Yu, or simply withdraw and refrain from provoking Su Yu altogether. Otherwise, he would suffer catastrophic losses! Tiangu was merely a weakling. Yet, as someone who had fought Su Yu multiple times and still managed to lead his clan to safety, the Lord of Chaos was not careless enough to belittle Tiangu or dismiss his counsel entirely. Some words were worth heeding. Thus, he found himself in an excruciating bind. The three Great Saints flew rapidly toward Su Yu's position. The furious Great Saint Qing Tian roared, "Foolish! Su Yu is the enemy we must unite against! The Heavenly Gate was thrown into chaos by him, numerous Unity experts were slain, and his strength grows by the day! If we do not kill Su Yu, the three gates are in peril! "At the end of an era, prodigies inevitably emerge, and Su Yu is the most terrifying existence of this era! If he is not slain, peace will never return to the myriad realms!" Though enraged, his words were orderly and reasoned, not a mindless outburst! That bellow stirred rage within many cultivators across the Earth Gate. Kill Su Yu! Su Yu must die! If Su Yu did not die, the myriad realms would know no peace! That burning wrath influenced countless cultivators! Such was the terror of the Human Gate—every word and deed swayed hearts and minds, an influence that even experts could scarcely resist. Even the Lord of Chaos was faintly affected before swiftly suppressing it, feeling a twinge of shock. This was merely one of them! If all eight Great Saints descended together, would it mean that even someone like him might be reduced to a puppet dancing to their emotional whims? Forced to rage when told to rage, made to rejoice when told to rejoice? This... was terrifying! Meanwhile, the joyful Hong Tian laughed heartily. "Zhou, the Sovereign asked me to convey his welcome upon your return! Our descent today serves two purposes: first, to slay Su Yu; second, to congratulate Brother Zhou on his return!" True or false, in that moment, Hong Tian claimed the Human Ancestor as an ally of the Human Gate. They understood Zhou to some degree. To be safe, it was better to pacify him first so he would not disrupt their plans. Slaying Su Yu was the only decree in years that the Sovereign had issued to all eight Great Saints simultaneously. Kill Su Yu of the myriad realms! Because of this, even Great Saints who normally despised one another did not dare shirk their duty. Were it not for the fact that the Earth Gate might resist, far more than three would have descended! To mobilize three thirty-six-Dao powerhouses just to deal with a thirty-five-Dao cultivator was extraordinarily rare! …… At Mount Bihua. The Human Ancestor remained silent, offering no response as he looked toward Zhou Ji. Zhou Ji smiled. "Three descending is the limit. Great Saint Ji Tian will not easily descend; only if the three fail to bring down Su Yu or suffer casualties might more Great Saints descend!" He then looked at the Human Ancestor. "If you wish to kill Su Yu, now is the best opportunity!" What choice would the Human Ancestor make? The old man said nothing, merely staring into the distance at the brazen youth. What trump card did Su Yu possess to stand against three Great Saints? Even he, after lying low for countless years, did not possess the strength to confront three such figures. The Human Gate truly attached immense importance to this! Perhaps even excessive importance! Back when the Earth Gate and Heavenly Gate went to war, the Human Gate had stirred trouble from the shadows, yet never had three Great Saints appeared together to surround and kill a single person. This was truly unprecedented since the dawn of creation! …… At that moment, the Human Sovereign was absorbing the ancient bull's power, rapidly mending his injuries. Yet a single ancient bull, at best, could only restore him to thirty-two Dao. As for thirty-six Dao, one only had to look at how Su Yu and the others had slain the bull to see that thirty-two Dao fell vastly short. He lacked the power to hold off a thirty-six-Dao combatant; he would need to reach thirty-five Dao, and that required treasures. The Ageless Root, the Longevity Bamboo, or Myriad Dao Stones! As the Human Sovereign rapidly absorbed the energy, he looked toward Su Yu. Even with Qiong summoned, they were still outmatched. Yet this time, Su Yu had not consulted them before exposing himself, making no effort to hide. After slaying their foe, instead of fleeing immediately, he stood tall between heaven and earth, as if waiting for their pursuers to arrive for a grueling battle. According to their previous discussions, Su Yu should have led them away at high speed to avoid entanglements with these Great Saints. Guerrilla warfare! Su Yu was not a reckless or impulsive man, so why had he not withdrawn? Countless thoughts raced through the Human Sovereign's mind. Yet at this juncture, he chose to trust Su Yu. As he himself had stated, Su Yu was the one calling the shots. In a matter of life and death, the greatest danger was having two conflicting voices in the group! There should not even be doubt! Except when it came to matters concerning the Prison King, the Human Sovereign remained as decisive as ever. He remained completely composed, continuing to devour, absorb, and refine. He had to recover to thirty-two-Dao combat strength before the enemy arrived! Below thirty-two Dao, the gap between him and a thirty-six-Dao powerhouse was simply too vast. Once at thirty-two Dao, he would at least stand a fighting chance of holding one back. …… "Su Yu, we're not running?" The Time Master was feeling tense as well. Were they taking them head-on? They truly couldn't win! Among the three foes, she and Su Yu together counted as one thirty-six-Dao combatant, and Qiong was another. That still left one unaccounted for, and the Human Sovereign was no longer in his prime; he could not stop one on his own. Moreover, once the battle erupted, what if others intervened? Were they abandoning guerrilla tactics? Wasn't guerrilla warfare what Su Yu excelled at most? Su Yu replied with utter calm, "Who told you we were joining forces?" "..." The Time Master's heart gave a slight jolt. Su Yu continued evenly, "At this point, why run? Since we made our move, we came to fight! I will achieve a breakthrough in this life-and-death battle! "The Human Gate regards me so highly? Then I will step over their corpses to reach thirty-six Dao! As long as the Great Daos of my 108 apertures merge into one, I will be at thirty-six Dao! You and the Human Sovereign can team up to stall one. Even if you cannot defeat him, a thirty-two-Dao and a thirty-four-Dao working together can at least obstruct a thirty-six-Dao!" Su Yu glanced in that direction. "Leave Bei Tian to the two of you to hold off. As for Qing Tian, that furious bastard—I will fight him!" The civilization chronicle in Su Yu's hand morphed into a long blade. He gave a chuckle. "A scholar? To hell with books! Pretending to be a scholar for so long was pointless! Today, I'll be a reckless brute, a pure martialist!" Gritting his teeth, Su Yu's long scholar's robe gradually condensed into tight martial attire. "I have fought a hundred battles, clashing relentlessly ever since I set out on this path! These fellows sit idle inside the Human Gate enjoying the fruits of others, never facing true life and death. I opened a heaven with thirty-five Dao, while they merely accommodated Daos to reach thirty-six... Can I truly not match them?" Su Yu refused to believe it! At this moment, he exuded an overwhelming confidence so intense that Wen Yu felt dazed. Such towering self-assurance made one wonder if he had grown excessively arrogant. Yet Su Yu swept his blade aside, saying coldly, "Over the past six years, I have killed without end and fought without pause. Across the myriad realms, who has slain more people or beasts than I? "You? The Human Sovereign? Or them?" He leveled his blade at the three figures in the distance. "If a thirty-six-Dao cultivator who has been in seclusion for hundreds of millions of years is inherently stronger than a battle-hardened thirty-five-Dao Heaven-Opener... then we might as well stop fighting in the future. Everyone can just count their Great Dao power, and whoever has more wins!" Over these six years, how many times had Su Yu fought? Even he had lost count! How many had he killed? He had forgotten that too! These Human Gate fellows were adept at conspiracies and schemes, but when it came to fighting... Su Yu feared nothing! Besides, he had to break through! He had to! If he did not break through, someone would be unwilling to place a bet. Indeed, Su Yu was waiting for someone to place a wager—none other than the Human Ancestor! The moment he looked at the Human Ancestor, the Human Ancestor was also watching him. In that shared gaze across the distance, Su Yu instantly read his mind. The Human Ancestor was a powerhouse of the myriad realms! Yet he had also colluded with the Human Gate. Now, a good horse refused to eat old pasture. Furthermore, the Human Gate held grudges. If Su Yu demonstrated sufficient strength and capital, the Human Ancestor would wager on helping him. At the very least, his conflict with Su Yu was limited to Hundred Battles. And Hundred Battles... had little to do with the Human Ancestor; that had been the work of the Human Gate's influence. The Human Ancestor needed to see Su Yu's strength! Wen Yu remained apprehensive, looking at Su Yu again. Su Yu wore a calm face. "Stop staring. You're old, but I'm still young! Being young means my blood still runs hot! Once our battle begins, the Lord of Chaos won't dare intervene recklessly; both sides will reject him!" Wen Yu took a deep breath. "If things look grim, I can temporarily lend you the Time Book..." A fusion! "No need!" Su Yu didn't need it. What was the point of fusing? Wen Yu was a Heaven-Opener; if they fused, her heaven would be lost. Would she then enter Su Yu's heaven to cultivate a single Great Dao instead? At that moment, Su Yu seemed brimming with high spirits, smiling. "Wen Yu, today I'll show you that overcoming the strong as the weak holds true even at the thirty-six-Dao level! I am a Heaven-Opener, trailing by merely a single Dao. If I still cannot hack down a thirty-six-Dao powerhouse... then I, Su Yu, have lived in vain!" Previously, he simply had been unwilling to risk his life recklessly! It wasn't a fear of death, but a refusal to let others fall into disappointment and despair. Raising his blade high, Su Yu chuckled, then abruptly barked, "Hong Tian is yours! Qing Tian—I will kill him!" Behind him, Qiong was momentarily stunned. What do you mean... no hiding? He couldn't quite fathom Su Yu. Yet, as a sword cultivator, he harbored no desire to conceal himself either. Since Su Yu had said so... he wouldn't hold back! In truth, Su Yu had no other choice. Qiong's aura was violently fluctuating with excitement; an old monster who had lived for countless ages was acting like a hot-blooded youth, unable to suppress his aura in the slightest! If this continued, once the enemy drew near, they would discover Qiong anyway! Rather than that, it was better to let Qiong show himself. A sword cultivator fighting openly and honestly might unleash even greater combat power! …… "Qiong?" Sensing a towering sword intent, the three Great Saints were slightly startled! Hong Tian's expression shifted as he shouted, "Qiong, last time because of you, the Heavenly Gate suffered catastrophic casualties! Are you truly hell-bent on making an enemy of the three gates?" Qiong had actually come! Qiong's chilling voice shook the heavens: "Hong Tian, hand over my Heaven-Cleaving Sword, or today I will slaughter you without fail!" Hong Tian's countenance shifted slightly, and he quickly said, "If you kill Su Yu, I guarantee I will give it to you—" Seeing Qiong flying straight toward him, he immediately added, "As long as you stay out of the fight, once we kill Su Yu, the Heaven-Cleaving Sword will definitely be yours!" He needed to pacify Qiong first! Yet Qiong remained completely cold. Do you take me for a fool? After you kill Su Yu, you'd still give it to me? What a joke! "Die!" With a sharp cry, Heaven-Cleaving sword qi erupted, a magnificent slash that pierced straight through heaven and earth! The three Great Saints advanced together. Just as the other two were about to strike, Su Yu's heaven power swept out, carrying an icy chill: "Qing Tian, wasn't it? Why don't you come play with me instead!" A fiery glint flared within the furious Qing Tian's eyes. "You want to fight me?" He roared in anger, "A thirty-five-Dao wet-behind-the-ears brat like you wants to battle me?" Whom do you think you're looking down on? "Alas!" A sigh drifted over. Just as the sorrowful Great Saint Bei Tian was about to intervene, two figures materialized in an instant. The Human Sovereign's aura had barely reached thirty-two Dao, still somewhat unstable, while Wen Yu's aura sat steadily at thirty-four Dao. The Human Sovereign smiled faintly. "Senior, I have long heard of the Human Gate's might! Seeing that Senior cultivates the Dao of Sorrow, why not exchange pointers with us? Senior favors sorrow, whereas I prefer laughter... I hope Senior will not withhold your guidance!" Looking at the two powerhouses blocking his path, Bei Tian let out a woeful sigh. "Why bother?" One at thirty-four Dao, one at thirty-two Dao. Not weak! Yet could they truly match him? Furthermore, Su Yu, a thirty-five-Dao cultivator, was actually taking on Qing Tian in a one-on-one duel. This defied their expectations; they had anticipated Su Yu teaming up with the Time Master, but he hadn't! He had chosen the far riskier course! And Qiong's arrival had granted him the opportunity to take that gamble! The Human Sovereign flashed a brilliant smile and murmured, "Oh, it is quite necessary!" He glanced sideways toward Su Yu and chuckled softly. "Wen Yu and I working together are likely no match for Senior Bei Tian, but we will do our utmost to stall him. Provided no one else interferes, we give you ten minutes! If you can kill Qing Tian in ten minutes... we stand a chance! If you can't... we'll admit defeat!" "Admit defeat?" Su Yu laughed. "Admit defeat to what? If it truly comes to that... today, we smash through the Earth Gate and force an all-out war!" Admit defeat? To whom? Out of the question! If it reached that point, Su Yu would find a way to have the Lord of Dead Spirits and the others shatter the Earth Gate, allowing today's battlefield to spill across both the myriad realms and the Earth Gate! No admitting defeat! In that moment, Su Yu pulled his heaven inward, drawing all Great Daos into his apertures like a blazing sun illuminating past and present! Armed with his long blade and clad in martial attire, his long white hair snapped away, leaving behind a short, cropped cut. Under the shocked gazes of the onlookers, Su Yu was completely transformed, resembling a savage barbarian—a pure, unadulterated martialist! "Wearing the skin of a scholar made it too inconvenient to strike!" "Pretending for so long, I almost forgot... I haven't read that many books, not even as many as this glutton Wen Yu. If she doesn't dare call herself a scholar, I won't put on airs anymore!" Su Yu strode toward Qing Tian step by step, smiling. "Ten minutes to decide victory and defeat. Today's battle ends with either your death, or the deaths of the Human Sovereign and Wen Yu! If you want to kill me... show me what you've got! Today, I, Su Yu, will wager the lives of these two on a single gamble!" To the side, the Human Sovereign and Wen Yu were speechless. Those words... stung like a dagger! The Earth Gate fell deathly silent. The next instant, terrifying auras abruptly erupted to their absolute peak. In the blink of an eye, seven unimaginably powerful presences spanned past and present. "Kill!" This time, Su Yu discarded all tricks, bringing his battle intent and killing intent to an absolute pinnacle as his wrath surged through heaven and earth! A blade! From the very first day he cultivated martial techniques, he had wielded a blade. Even when forging his civilization weapon, it had taken the form of a blade. Now, the civilization chronicle had transformed into a blade—it was still a blade! Qiong knew the Heaven-Cleaving Sword, and Su Yu knew the Heaven-Cleaving Blade. His Yuan apertures merged: thirty-six apertures fused in rapid succession, followed by the thirty-seventh, the thirty-eighth, advancing toward seventy-two apertures. Su Yu had judged that once 108 apertures achieved Daos in unity, he would definitely step into thirty-six Dao! Reaching 144 apertures might push him to thirty-seven Dao. Reaching 180 apertures might mean thirty-eight Dao. Naturally, the further he went, the harder it would become, perhaps requiring even more apertures to fuse. If all 360 physical apertures achieved Daos in unity, Su Yu might become a forty-Dao powerhouse! And once his Divine apertures all fused, Su Yu was certain he could surpass the three gates! Thus, today, he would break through amidst battle—a path beloved by martialists, regardless of the peril. Civilization Masters rarely chose to break through during battle, but martialists relished shattering bottlenecks in the heat of combat. "First Slash of Heaven-Cleaving!" With a thunderous cry, a blade slashed downward. Simultaneously, Qing Tian roared with boundless rage, throwing a punch steeped in the flames of wrath. Those flames engulfed Su Yu, spreading across heaven and earth in an instant! Su Yu was instantly consumed by the flames of wrath. Yet Qing Tian's eyes remained clear. Wrath was only meant to disrupt his opponent. When Su Yu's mind was clouded by rage, no matter how strong he was, flaws would inevitably appear. …… Boom! Su Yu's clash had only just begun. Yet at that moment, absolute chaos erupted within the gate. In a gathering ground of ancient beasts, a beast's eyes suddenly turned blood-red with uncontrollable fury. Its razor-sharp fangs sank viciously into the surrounding beasts, its enraged howls stripping away its sanity! "Roar!" A roar shook the world as the giant beast ripped a smaller beast apart in one bite, plunging into a frantic slaughter! Madness! Its mind had been overrun by wrath. "No..." Some ancient beasts struggled in fury, desperately attempting to suppress the spreading emotion. At that moment, another beast was overwhelmed by immense grief, suddenly feeling that the world was bleak, the road ahead hopelessly dim and utterly despairing! "We... have no way forward, no future!" Boom! An ancient beast detonated itself in despair—without hope, it was better to die. A dual disruption! A third layer followed immediately as another ancient beast began laughing maniacally: "I have attained the Dao! I have unified the realm... Hahaha... Wonderful... Hahaha!" As it laughed, it lost all personal will, knowing only how to cackle frantically. The next moment, it was blasted to pieces by a despairing self-detonation, laughing hysterically until the very moment of its death! …… Powerhouses all around blanched. The aged Lord of Chaos's expression shifted, and he let out a low bark that reverberated across the firmament: "Silence!" He was expelling the interference! Otherwise, the emotional interference of three thirty-six-Dao powerhouses could reduce the entire Earth Gate to ruin! Unless one reached an extraordinarily high tier—at least first-rank—anyone beneath that could be controlled and turned into a Human Gate puppet. This was the terrifying nature of the Human Gate! The Lord of Chaos looked grim. With so many experts fighting inside the gate, the stray ripples alone disrupted countless ancient beasts. In just a breath, at least a hundred had died, including ten to twenty at the Ruler of Rules stage! The weakest creatures, conversely, felt very little. "Terrifying!" Even he could not help but murmur to himself. It was truly dreadful! If the three Great Saints joined forces against him, he would not escape death. In a one-on-one duel, he felt he might hold a slight advantage, but one against three... he would surely perish! …… "Cleave Heaven!" Su Yu roared again, his long blade descending. Consumed by the flames of wrath, his eyes remained astonishingly lucid. Wrath could drive an ordinary man mad. Yet when one was already thoroughly mad, wrath became nothing more than fuel for power. A Dao of emotion? Seven emotions and six desires? So what? I was already furious; making me angrier only spurs my desire to slaughter you! So what if you are one Dao stronger than me? Su Yu's gaze was crystal clear—clearer even than that of Qing Tian, who wielded the Dao of Wrath! Qing Tian's expression finally altered. He stared at Su Yu as his Dao of Wrath erupted to its absolute peak! Yet... the only outcome was that Su Yu grew even more enraged, delivering slashes steeped in monumental fury without losing a shred of composure! The Dao of Wrath abruptly lost its efficacy. Facing this unexpected resistance, the thirty-six-Dao Qing Tian found himself plunged into crisis. Su Yu unleashed tens of millions of slashes, each one capable of cleaving heaven and earth! The two instantly broke out of the initial three-way battlefield, sweeping across the surroundings. Ancient beasts that failed to flee were incinerated by the flames of wrath or torn to shreds by Su Yu's blade qi! Rumble! Qing Tian lost the initiative in an instant, continuously forced backward under the onslaught of Su Yu's blade! They smashed through countless shattered dark landmasses! Boom! Like a ravenous beast, every slash of Su Yu's was lethal. Laced with madness, he grinned. "Give me more! I'm not angry enough—I want more fury!" Qing Tian's face warped with genuine alarm, shedding every ounce of disdain. Did a thirty-six-Dao combatant truly hold a guaranteed victory over a thirty-five-Dao Heaven-Opener? A moment ago, he had been certain! Now, his conviction shattered. He felt a looming sense of crisis—a suffocating killing intent so dense that it even spilled outward, driving some ancient beasts to madness purely from the murderous pressure! "The Dao of Seven Emotions and Six Desires?" Su Yu unleashed a cataclysmic slash that tore away his sleeves, exposing his sculpted, sinewy muscles. He sneered, "Toying with the human heart? Manipulating emotions? Petty parlor tricks!" Boom! The Heaven-Cleaving Blade came down, driving Qing Tian back again and again. Su Yu's voice remained freezing cold: "So what if you draw closer to the Lord of Chaos? Do you think he will step in to help you? Or do you believe that because he accepted benefits, he'll actually sell his life for the Human Gate? Does the Human Gate rely entirely on playing mind games like this?" Die! Su Yu's eerie voice echoed through the world, draped in monstrous murderous intent. Everyone could see the two silhouettes shattering the firmament, turning the gloom of the Earth Gate into blinding light. Blade light reflected across heaven and earth, while towering flames illuminated the entire domain. Boom! With an enormous crash, Qing Tian was sent flying once more, a fresh blade wound carving across his chest! The thirty-six-Dao Qing Tian was actually being suppressed, falling into a disadvantage against Su Yu—an outcome no one could have anticipated. It was unimaginable! The Human Gate... seemed... not quite as invincible as presumed! No! Both the Human race and the Lord of Chaos understood: Qing Tian was being countered—or rather, the Human Gate was being countered! The Human Gate's terrifying Dao of Seven Emotions and Six Desires had remarkably little effect on Su Yu! …… Zhou Ji sighed softly. "A madman... does he even fear anger? The Sovereign's wariness of Su Yu... was never because of sheer raw power. At thirty-five Dao, Su Yu isn't overwhelmingly strong. What the Sovereign truly feared... was that Su Yu would counter the Human Gate's strongest Dao of Seven Emotions and Six Desires!" At this moment, the Human Ancestor understood as well. Looking in Su Yu's direction, he murmured, "Joy, anger, sorrow, and delight—is he completely unaffected by them?" The Human Gate's formidable Dao seemed to be acting as a catalyst for Su Yu instead, making him stronger and more adept at slaughter! This was the truly terrifying part! Under normal circumstances, this should never have happened. Zhou Ji continued watching, then suddenly asked, "Ancestor, the Human Sovereign and Wen Yu cannot hold out for long. Do you think Su Yu can finish off Qing Tian within that time?" Ten minutes! That was the time the Human Sovereign and Wen Yu could buy for Su Yu. For two top-tier beings fighting with their lives on the line, that was their absolute limit. Furthermore, they had to consider the Earth Gate's potential entry into the fray! "I don't know." The Human Ancestor shook his head and smiled. Indeed, he didn't know. Could he? Su Yu appeared to have the upper hand, but Qing Tian had suffered no fatal blow. What could ten minutes accomplish? If Su Yu had only this much and possessed no greater trump cards, even if he could suppress Qing Tian, killing him... would be as difficult as ascending to heaven! Yet even so, the Human Ancestor was astonished! What a remarkable Su Yu! What an extraordinary Heaven-Opener from the end of an era. Powerhouses rising at the close of an era truly were formidable—the Lord of Dead Spirits was another terrifying example. A stalk of jade-green bamboo materialized in the Human Ancestor's hand. Zhou Ji's expression shifted slightly. You intend to strike now? Against... whom? The Human Ancestor smiled, looking at him. "Whether you are Zhou Ji or Ji Tian... do not interfere right now." He chuckled. "If you are Zhou Ji, I look forward to seeing you grow strong! If you are Ji Tian... should you descend at this moment, I will slay you!" Zhou Ji's expression flickered. A slight smile crept onto the Human Ancestor's lips. "A good horse refuses to eat old pasture. Between subservience and cooperation, there is, after all, a distinction. One takes orders; the other calls his own shots. Zhou Ji, how do you think I should choose?" "Ancestor... will you not wait a little longer?" Zhou Ji's expression fluctuated. "The battle is undecided. Even with Qiong present, they are still at a disadvantage! The moment you join the fray, the Lord of Chaos will definitely enter as well. He will never allow either side to gain complete dominance..." "Indeed!" Nodding, the Human Ancestor smiled. "So what?" What? Before Zhou Ji could finish his thought, the Human Ancestor vanished, his laughing voice drifting back: "That is precisely why I must strike! Just as you said: either strike from the start, or... don't strike at all!" In that very instant, a brilliant emerald light burst forth across heaven and earth! The Lord of Chaos's expression drastically shifted! In the distance, within Avici Hell, the Prison King's face turned icy cold! Even the warring powerhouses, including Su Yu, experienced a slight shift in expression. An emerald glow radiated across the world! The Earth Gate was bathed in green! The Human Ancestor's weathered laughter echoed: "A war between the three gates, a war between the realms, a war between eras... In the end, it is still a battle of humans! Beasts are mere beasts; why bother getting involved!" That emerald light pierced the void at blinding speed! "No!" A shrill, agonizing shriek rang out. With a tremendous boom, a massive bamboo stalk capable of shaking the heavens suddenly manifested, skewering an enormous ancient beast: Taotie! The Lord of Chaos's expression warped, and his Ageless Root instantly surged out! "How dare you!" "Why wouldn't I dare?" The Human Ancestor's laughter rang out. "The Longevity Bamboo seeks longevity. How does one achieve longevity? By slaying all enemies—that is longevity! This bamboo is nourished by the blood of Unity experts; it relishes the flesh of Unity!" Boom! Under the shocked gazes of everyone present, the giant bamboo unleashed a crimson radiance that overpowered the green! "Crimson blood stains the azure sky!" A light chuckle rattled the heavens once more as countless branches sprouted from the colossal bamboo, binding the massive Taotie tight! It locked the beast in place! Taotie thrashed wildly, its Great Dao and devourer power erupting as it bellowed in fury, "Bastard! You dare kill me!" "Why wouldn't I dare?" "A beast is just a beast—forever foolish and conceited!" The aged Human Ancestor stepped through the void, appearing before Taotie in an instant. In the next breath, the Lord of Chaos charged over, his branches spreading across heaven and earth as they lashed toward the giant bamboo and the Human Ancestor! The Human Ancestor chuckled teasingly. "You cannot beat me! Because... I have no scruples, while you... do!" At that moment, countless incarnations of the Human Ancestor materialized across all directions! Boom! One ancient beast after another was blasted to pieces! Countless ancient beasts were slaughtered in an instant! With a smile on his face and cold indifference in the depths of his eyes, the Human Ancestor said, "This is your era, so I will slaughter your era! Choose between protecting it or saving those beasts... The choice is yours! If you entangle with me to the very end... it will mean the extinction of your beasts!" A ruthless man! The Human Ancestor had stripped away his kindly facade. Could an expert who had wandered among the three gates and survived to this day ever be benevolent? "Bastard!" The Lord of Chaos flew into a berserk rage, roaring, "You dare!" "Why wouldn't I?" The Human Ancestor chuckled. Blocking the Lord of Chaos's attacks with a radiant smile, his avatars spread everywhere, unleashing wholesale slaughter! Blood, agonized shrieks, and mangled corpses covered all directions in an instant! The Human Ancestor smiled brightly. "Will you yield?" "No! Chaos, save me..." Taotie struggled frantically, bound so tightly by the massive bamboo that it couldn't budge, howling in utter panic! Don't leave! If Chaos left, it would surely die! The Lord of Chaos's face twisted repeatedly. Every passing minute saw countless ancient beasts slaughtered; having lain dormant here for years, the Human Ancestor had made ample preparations. Shattering a lashing branch with a single punch, the Human Ancestor grinned. "Chaos, will you save him or save them?" "Damn you!" With a furious roar, the Lord of Chaos vanished, instantly reappearing elsewhere. His avatar Dao was not as formidable as the Human Ancestor's; different experts excelled in different Daos, and he could not fight through avatars while safeguarding both fronts simultaneously! The Human Ancestor had no reservations! He, however, was bound to this era; he could not stand by and watch his ancient beasts get slaughtered to extinction! "Invading the myriad realms... would yield the exact same result..." The Human Ancestor chuckled softly. That was the difference of where one fought. Fighting in the myriad realms, fighting in the Human Realm—that was when the powerhouses of the myriad realms would be constrained! "Quite amusing, isn't it?" With a light laugh, the Human Ancestor watched the Lord of Chaos depart. Taotie's colossal eyes contracted in sheer terror: "No, you cannot kill me! If you kill me, the Earth Gate will never forgive you..." "Alas, the Human Gate said the same, and the Heavenly Gate said the same..." The Human Ancestor sighed. "Let the Earth Gate say it too. Offending all three gates will give me peace of mind!" Under Taotie's despairing gaze, the Human Ancestor unleashed punch after punch with feral intensity! As the founder of the Human race's physical body Dao, his physique was terrifyingly powerful! He threw tens of thousands of punches in succession. While the Lord of Chaos was busy obliterating his avatars and rescuing beasts, Taotie was battered into pieces by his fists! The carcass was drawn into the giant bamboo, its Dao power, rule power, and chaotic power absorbed completely into the blood-red stalk! Rumble! The Earth Gate shuddered! A second super-tier expert was effortlessly slain by the Human Ancestor. Straightening his back, he suddenly appeared remarkably young, brimming with vitality and strength, stripped of all former frailty! "Fighting the three gates is quite fun!" He smiled. A moment later, the Lord of Chaos reappeared, radiating boundless fury! Yet the Human Ancestor paid him no heed, his laughter shaking heaven and earth: "Su Yu, do you want this Longevity Bamboo to heal Xingyu, or would you prefer I lend a hand and use it to wound Qing Tian so you can take his life?" Su Yu's pupils contracted, and his voice boomed through the sky: "Heal him!" "Hahaha, I hope that proves a wise choice!" Boom! The Longevity Bamboo pierced through heaven and earth, vanishing in an instant. Just as the Lord of Chaos moved to intercept it, the Human Ancestor materialized before him, laughing: "Take ten thousand of my punches! If you survive, then you may go!" Rumble! A pair of colossal fists filled the sky, their sheer presence outshining the other three battlefields! The blood-red bamboo tore through the void, shooting straight toward the Human Sovereign. Qing Tian and Hong Tian both roared, "Bei Tian, seize that treasure!" That was the Human Ancestor's weapon of enlightenment, nurtured for countless ages, having fed on more than one Unity expert! If the Human Sovereign got hold of it, he might recover completely! That bamboo was truly terrifying! The Human Sovereign's expression shifted drastically as well. Gritting his teeth with a roar, he flew frantically toward the giant bamboo. An opportunity! A chance at full recovery! Once he reached thirty-five Dao, he wouldn't fear this Bei Tian. As a Heaven-Opener who had unified the heavens, he feared no one! The Human Ancestor's intervention had defied all expectations, and the bamboo had just absorbed a Unity expert! The prospect of returning to his peak was greater than ever! At this moment, all eyes turned toward that stalk of bamboo!