At that moment, the entire world fell silent.
The onlookers had already retreated far away, watching the scene unfold from a distance, gasping in awe.
Even watching from afar, they were horrified by the sheer force of that strike. Heaven only knows what kind of agony the people trapped inside the golden cymbals must have experienced.
"Whoosh!"
Soon after, Qin Chuan waved his right hand, and the two massive golden cymbals separated, shrinking rapidly as they returned to his body.
Up in the sky, over a hundred bloodied figures appeared, their bodies mangled beyond recognition, falling like lifeless meat down to the earth.
"Thud! Thud!"
As the broken bodies hit the ground, they shattered upon impact, turning into pools of blood.
"Arghhhh...!"
"Ughhh...!"
Golden spiritual bodies began to rise from the remains, as if shadows were standing up from the earth itself.
But these spirits were filled with anguish, their eyes hollow. Trembling violently, they exploded one after another.
Their souls were utterly annihilated!
At the same time, the blood from these fallen experts evaporated rapidly into the air, transforming into a massive lake of blood.
The spiritual energy emanating from the blood lake was overwhelming.
Nearby plants began to grow at an incredible rate, their tendrils stretching toward the sky, blocking out much of the sun.
The scene was one of apparent vitality, but it was tinged with a deep sorrow, sending chills down the spines of many who witnessed it.
"Hmph, Qin Chuan truly lives up to his reputation as the pinnacle of this era. Such ruthless methods!"
A cold snort suddenly echoed across the sky.
Whoosh!
As the voice resonated, the temperature of the world dropped sharply, as if the onlookers had been plunged into an icy abyss.
At the same time, Qin Chuan felt an overwhelming pressure descend from the sky, like an entire world pressing down on him. The divine power carried an unmatched, oppressive force.
"A Heavenly God!"
Qin Chuan's expression grew serious as he looked up. High above, the white clouds churned like boiling water, parting to either side.
A figure with white hair and a flowing black robe stood with hands behind his back, looking down coldly from the sky.
"A Heavenly God! It's a Heavenly God!"
"Now things are getting interesting."
"The Demon King Qin might be finished this time."
Many in the crowd began to gloat. After all, in a world where the strong devour the weak, people often take delight in the misfortune of powerful figures.
To them, every strong individual was a mountain looming over them, always threatening their lives.
"By the way, do any of you know who this old Heavenly God is?"
"No idea. He's probably just a nobody."
"Exactly. In the ancient times of Xuanyuan Heaven, there were countless powerful figures. Many Heavenly Gods were obscure, ruling only small territories. Now, in these weakened times, they are even less significant."
Some sighed as they recalled the glory of the past and the stark contrast of the present decline.
Meanwhile, Qin Chuan looked up at the old Heavenly God, his tone calm as he asked, "Are you planning to intervene?"
The old Heavenly God replied coldly, "The ones you just killed included several of my disciples. Do you think I won't act?"
"But if you do, you might end up dead."
Qin Chuan said calmly.
"Hahaha! You dare threaten me? Do you think you can shake the power of a Heavenly God?"
The old Heavenly God sneered. With a flip of his hand, a massive crimson palm imprint descended from the sky.
This palm strike was like the hand of a divine being reaching down into the mortal realm, causing the clouds to roil and even burst into flames!
Below, the ground trembled violently under the pressure, cracking open with a terrifying force.
"Go!"
Several broken treasures flew out from behind Qin Chuan. These treasures were covered in cracks as they slammed into the massive crimson palm.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A series of explosions rocked the sky, as mushroom clouds stacked on top of one another, shaking the heavens and the earth.
The crimson palm, now translucent, disintegrated into nothingness amidst the explosions.
"Hmm? You managed to block my strike?"
The old Heavenly God's brow furrowed slightly, a trace of surprise flickering across his face. His expression then turned cold as he declared, "But this ends now!"
Rumble!
Light erupted from the center of his brow, and a vast, radiant world emerged from the top of his head. The illusionary world rapidly expanded, occupying the entire sky before crashing down like a collapsing heaven.
"The Power of the Sky!"
"Run!"
Many in the crowd screamed in terror, fleeing as fast as they could, fearful of being caught in the overwhelming force.
When the sky falls, it crushes everything!
"Father, this..."
Qin Zi trembled, staring up at the sky in terror. This time, he truly understood the meaning of a sky-darkening calamity.
The sight of the descending sky seemed capable of crushing all hope, leaving only despair.
"Don't be afraid."
Qin Chuan said in a low voice, though his eyes held a trace of seriousness as if he was waiting for something.
The massive sky illusion was about to crush down upon them.
"Wait, fellow Daoist!"
At that moment, an ancient voice rang out, and the sky illusion seemed to halt, as if a force had caught it.
From the distance, a dazzling golden light rose into the sky, like the sun rising over the horizon!
"Who are you?"
The old Heavenly God's face darkened as he asked.
"I am Qingxuan Sanren. Perhaps you've heard of me," the golden light replied with a graceful smile.
"Qingxuan Sanren?!"
The old Heavenly God's expression changed dramatically, a look of respect appearing in his eyes. He had indeed heard of this name before.
Although he didn't know much about the specifics, anyone with a notable name in the ancient Xuanyuan Heaven was not to be taken lightly!
"But… what is that smell?"
Suddenly, the old god's nose twitched, a suspicious look crossing his face.
"You old wretch, how did you escape?! Weren't you supposed to be stuck in..." Qin Zi shouted in surprise.
"Shut up!! You little brat, last time you tricked me into a deathtrap and left me severely injured. I will not forgive you!"
Qingxuan Sanren roared, interrupting him with righteous indignation, leaving no room for rebuttal. He bellowed, "Die!!"
Boom!
A terrifying aura filled with murderous intent descended upon Qin Zi, as Qingxuan Sanren aimed to silence him for good, fearing that his humiliating time in the cesspool might be exposed.
He not only wanted to eliminate the brat to save face but also to vent his long-suppressed anger. His hatred for being trapped in the cesspool exploded in that moment.
"Ding! A Heavenly God expert has developed killing intent toward your son. In line with the system's 'Fatherly Love is Strong' principle, your cultivation will temporarily rise to the first level of the Heavenly God Realm, where you will be invincible!"
The system's voice rang out.
The next instant, Qin Chuan felt his consciousness soar from the Lingxiao Hall up into the Jade Pool. Above the Jade Pool, an extraordinary vision unfolded.
A vast and ancient sky slowly manifested above the Jade Pool, emanating an aura of dominance and power capable of suppressing everything.
Vast, majestic, and sacred!
"The Nine Refinements of the Sky, First Refinement."
A low, genderless voice reverberated, seemingly composed of countless sounds combined into one, carrying an overwhelming sense of authority.
Suddenly, a massive white pillar of light cascaded down like a waterfall, enveloping the entire Jade Pool.
This was the power of destruction.
In truth, the Sky's Refinement was a terrifying ordeal, akin to a tribulation. Many who attempted it had been reduced to dust!
But Qin Chuan had no reason to worry. His cultivation was guaranteed by the system, and this "refinement" was more of a formality.
There was no chance of failure.
Soon, Qin Chuan completed the Sky's Refinement. Both his spiritual essence and physical body underwent a massive transformation, advancing him to the Heavenly God Realm!
"Hmph, who gave you the audacity to try and kill my son in front of me?!"
Qin Chuan snorted coldly.
Boom!
It was as if thunder had cracked in the sky. The divine pressure Qingxuan Sanren had unleashed suddenly vanished.
At the same time, Qin Chuan's presence expanded outward like a tidal wave, filling the entire sky as if a sovereign had arrived.
"A Heavenly God? That's impossible!!"
Qingxuan Sanren cried out in shock. He turned to flee without hesitation, disappearing in a flash of green light.
Having already been tricked once, he knew better now. The moment things went wrong, he ran without a second thought.
As for his pride…
Could anything be more humiliating than being trapped in a cesspool?
The old Heavenly God, however, stood there in stunned silence, eyes wide, unsure how to react.
A Heavenly God? So what if he's a Heavenly God?
After all, they were both Heavenly Gods. What was there to be afraid of?