NOVPUBThese figures were majestic, emerging from the void like deities of the heavens.
Each was a transcendent being, and each possessed no small measure of strength.
With three such transcendent beings added to the elder we just witnessed, the Extraterritorial Extreme Palace actually brought forth four transcendent beings.
What sort of power was this? It likely surpassed that of some everyday Imperial Rule Immortal Sects.
"Fight," the elder of the Extraterritorial Extreme Palace snorted coldly.
Then, stepping into the air, he stood alongside those three figures, their combined aura soaring skyward.
They seemed to connect faintly, suppressing this part of the world.
Beside them, the Nine Pills Elder frowned slightly.
Four transcendent beings against their three was clearly a disadvantage for them.
Just then, with a thunderous "bang," a black arrow shattered the tranquil firmament.
It broke through all in its path, carrying an aura of destruction as it shot towards the elder of the Extraterritorial Extreme Palace.
The elder from the Extraterritorial Extreme Palace was no ordinary figure either; his overwhelming aura swirled around, attempting to suppress the arrow.
However, he obviously underestimated the arrow’s force.
The black arrow shattered his spiritual energy and pierced directly through the palm of his right hand before vanishing into the heavens and earth.
"It hurts," the elder of the Extraterritorial Extreme Palace screamed.
Logically speaking, with their level of existence, a mere penetration of the palm should not have been felt.
But at that moment, the spreading aura of destruction made the elder of the Extraterritorial Extreme Palace cry out in pain.
Because what pierced his palm was no ordinary arrow.
The other three elders slightly gathered themselves and looked off into the distance.
They saw a figure emerge slowly from the hazy void.
This figure walked very slowly, but around him swirled the River of Time, ancient aura permeating the surroundings.
The Endless Void shattered beneath his feet.
Finally, the figure stepped out from the void, his presence soaring towards the heavens.
He was clad in a white robe, holding a curved bow in his hand.
A quiver was strapped to his back.
Inside the quiver were seven arrows.
Each arrow was dark gold, its sharp edge unmistakable, with wisps of black mist curling around the tips.
And the bow in his hand was likewise black and purple, with the image of a ferocious beast baring its teeth and roaring.
This bow gave off a sense of destruction.
As if it was the very source of ruin.
"Qinghe, you’ve arrived," Ancestor Yuelong said with a smile.
Baili Qinghe, a name steeped in legend.
He was not one of the Great Emperor’s War Generals.
In the ancient past, he was the Saint Heir of the Baili Family of that generation.
During that era, he was hailed as a potential young Great Emperor, with many referring to him as the Junior Heavenly Emperor.
Alone, he had challenged the Saint Heirs of the eight major Imperial Rule Immortal Sects of the Central Continent and emerged victorious.
Unfortunately, in his time, he encountered an existence even more formidable.
Empress Hongtian.
In the end, it was Empress Hongtian who was too dazzling, and Baili Qinghe was one of the few survivors of that Destiny-forged war.
Immense Immortal Might circled around Baili Qinghe.
In his hands, he wielded the World-Ending Bow and Thousand Calamities Arrows, which were the Great Emperor’s True Artifacts left by Emperor Changkong.
"The Baili Family still harbors such a hidden presence as you," the elder of the Extraterritorial Extreme Palace said with a furrowed brow.
"Four against four, now we are equals," Baili Qinghe lifted the World-Ending Bow in his hand.
He spoke indifferently.
On the World-Ending Bow, the aura of destruction spread, shattering the nearby void and interweaving with endless radiance.
The Thousand Calamities Arrow also rose from the quiver, turning into a black streak of light and settling on the bowstring.
"Kill," came a low roar.
All the elders of the Extraterritorial Extreme Palace attacked with overwhelming might.
Spiritual energy surged to the heavens, and the sky was filled with gathering winds and clouds. The Immortal Might was vast and overwhelming; the void shattered and then restored itself, in an ongoing cycle.
The booming sound of explosions echoed continuously.
The battle across the firmament unfolded, as if the very heavens were on the brink of collapse.
The crowds all around were watching this battle, as it concerned their peace of mind.
...
"Why didn’t you kill me just now?" Xu Zimei asked with a smile.
Gong Yuner remained silent for a long time before shaking her head and replying, "That’s not my style of doing things.
I must truly defeat you; otherwise, even if I killed you, you would become my Heart Demon."
"I thought you had feelings for me," Xu Zimei said with a chuckle.
"What are you talking about," Gong Yuner, looking down with her expression obscured, hurriedly denied.
"I just said, you’re very interesting," Xu Zimei stated.
"Actually, you didn’t save me just now; you saved yourself."
"What do you mean?" Gong Yuner asked, confused.
"You’ll understand later," Xu Zimei said with a smile.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the side.
Xu Zimei turned his head to see Baili Xiao’s figure slowly approaching him.
His gaze grew somber; he had too many emotions concerning this woman.
The events of his past life were vivid in his memory.
Even though Xu Zimei had defied destiny to avoid repeating the same mistakes, some things were etched deep into his bones.
"Shall we talk?" Baili Xiao stopped in front of him and asked, looking at Xu Zimei.
"What do you want to talk about?" Xu Zimei inquired.
"Are you still Baili Xiao now?"
"I am Baili Xiao, and I am also Jade Pure Fairy," Baili Xiao replied indifferently.
"That’s good," Xu Zimei laughed to himself.
"Then I can really engage with you."
"Your growth has exceeded my expectations," Baili Xiao continued, her gaze drifting into the distance, her pupils devoid of joy or sadness, a strand of her hair blowing gently in the breeze.
"Unexpected?" Xu Zimei burst into laughter.
"Are you scared?"
"You didn’t understand what I meant," Baili Xiao shook her head calmly.
"Your destiny has been determined since birth.
At this time, you were supposed to be long dead."
"You talk as if you can control my life and death," Xu Zimei shook his head.
"I can’t control your life and death, but someone can," Baili Xiao said lightly.
"The winds of change are rising again in this world, and both you and I are merely pieces on a chessboard.
Destiny and life and death are all at the discretion of the one who holds the pieces.
It’s just that the one who moves the pieces likes the white ones, so I am a white piece, and you are a black piece, doomed to lose."
"I don’t understand what you mean," Xu Zimei said blandly.
"I’ve met many people; they tell me destiny is predetermined.
And yet here I am alive and well."
"You were supposed to die, but you’ve been too erratic, so you’ve upset the one who holds the pieces," Baili Xiao said.
"Your destiny is like a mire, no matter how you struggle, it’s only living on borrowed time.
Yet in the end, you will still be swallowed by the endless filthy mire."
"What, did you come here just to tell me to accept my fate? To stop struggling?" Xu Zimei said with a laugh.
"No, I’m just curious," Baili Xiao shook her head.
She said, "How did you obtain one of your Ten Great Divine Spells, the Heaven-shaking Skill?"
Hearing Baili Xiao’s words, Xu Zimei’s gaze sharpened.
