To the weaker cultivators—those below the True God Realm—it was like witnessing a dream turn into a nightmare. One moment, they saw their Monarch towering high in the sky, a divine force beyond compare, while Yun Che lay crushed on the ground below. But in the very next moment, that same Monarch—their invincible ruler—was now sliding down the barrier, his figure bloodied and broken, as the Ancient True Gods and True Gods alike turned pale, coughing out blood in unison.
"What...?"
"YOUR MAJESTY!!!"Cries of horror and disbelief echoed across the Pure Land as the Gods surged forward, rushing to check on Mo Su's condition, their movements fueled by panic and dread.
!!!!!!!
"You... YOU!!!"
Big Rage's voice trembled with fury and anguish as he stepped forward, his chest heaving. His heart twisted at the sight before him—Mo Su, their supreme Lord, lay covered in blood, his once-radiant form battered beyond recognition. Blood oozed from countless wounds, bones were shattered, and the very arm that had unleashed the Rage God's Fist… was utterly destroyed—gone without a trace.
Worse still, his soul—his divine, nearly inviolable soul—was in tatters, flickering violently like a candle in a storm.
Ignoring the searing pain from the devastating backlash caused by Mo Su's crash into the barrier, Big Rage's body began to twist and transform. In a matter of heartbeats, his form morphed into that of a terrifying beast, one reminiscent of Dian Jiuzhi's monstrous appearance in the past. But there was no comparison—his power and aura were far more terrifying.
After all, Big Rage was the second strongest existence in the Abyss, second only to Mo Su himself!
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"DIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!"
"BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!!"
The moment he saw his Lord—his Creator—brought to such a wounded, bloodied state, something inside Big Rage snapped completely. An explosion of power erupted from his body, so immense that nearby Gods were thrown back, coughing blood as they struggled to remain conscious. The very sky trembled at his roar.
His colossal, ancient figure surged forward, monstrous and wrathful, charging straight toward Yun Che like a living apocalypse.
To hell with his Lord's plan. To hell with his calm, composed image.
In this moment, there was only one thing in his heart—revenge.
"BIG RAGE, STOP!!!!!!!"
Wan Dao and Liu Xiao cried out in horror, their voices trembling with panic and disbelief. But it was already too late—the Chief Priest had already charged forward!
Blinded by rage, he had discarded all reason. In his thirst for vengeance, he had forgotten the most crucial truth: even without relying on tricks or hidden means, Yun Che was already capable of fighting Mo Su head-on!
With the cultivation of a True God, Yun Che had already surpassed everyone here—even them.
"BOOOOOMMMM!!!!"
"CRACK!!!!!!!!!!!"
Before Big Rage's monstrous figure could even get close, Yun Che struck. He didn't even use the sharp edge—he swung the dull side of the Heaven Smithing Devil Emperor Sword, but that alone was enough.
The blow landed cleanly—and Big Rage was sent hurtling backward, his gigantic frame crashing through the air like a falling mountain. Just like his Lord before him, blood sprayed out in great arcs, dyeing the sky red as his body flew violently back to where he came from.
He, too, had been broken.
"UGHHHHH!!!"
"BOOOOMMMM!!!"
Almost comically—just like Mo Su before him—Big Rage's massive body slammed into the barrier, the impact so forceful that cracks webbed across the entire divine structure. In the next breath, the barrier shattered completely, and his broken form crashed into the second layer—the True Gods' barrier. Bones cracked violently, and blood poured from countless wounds as his body slid down like a crumbling statue, leaving a trail of crimson in his wake.
Those who had sustained the barriers groaned in agony, coughing up more blood from the feedback of the colossal force. But despite the severity of the crash, Big Rage's condition was still better than Mo Su's—after all, Mo Su had taken the full brunt of his own power, with not a shred of defense to protect himself.
"You… YOU DAMNED BASTARD!!!"
Big Rage roared, completely ignoring his broken bones and mangled body as he forced himself upright. His eyes burned red with rage and madness, veins bulging across his blood-soaked face. "This pain… IS NOTHING!" he bellowed, his trembling figure preparing to launch forward once more, his mind a whirlwind of bloodlust and thoughts of how to kill Yun Che.
But then—
"Stop… cough…"
A voice, weak and strained, suddenly echoed through the air. A wet cough followed—blood spilling to the ground. It was soft… yet to Big Rage, it struck like divine thunder.
It was Mo Su's voice.
Though faint, filled with pain and barely audible, to Big Rage—it was like a light breaking through the abyss, pulling him back from the brink of wrath and darkness.
"Lord!"
The Chief Priest's mind snapped back to clarity. Without hesitation, he rushed toward Mo Su, who was struggling to remain upright. Gently but urgently, he caught and supported his Lord, helping him steady his battered form.
"Pffft…!" Once more, a mouthful of blood burst from Mo Su's lips, its crimson hue laced with a faint golden shimmer. He raised a trembling hand, wiping it away with quiet dignity, then slowly lifted his gaze to look at Yun Che in the distance.
Earlier, in Mo Su's eyes, Yun Che had indeed been terrifying—but not someone he truly regarded as a threat. Even now, Mo Su still held one last trump card, something no one else could counter. And through all his encounters with Yun Che, he had observed the young man closely. Smart? Yes. Incredibly so. But not yet someone he would consider a true schemer—not someone who could rival him in foresight or manipulation.
Everything that had transpired so far… was merely allowed to happen. Allowed, because he—Mo Su—had given space for Yun Che to grow, to struggle, to evolve under his watchful eye.
But now…
Since the moment Yun Che returned from the depths of the Endless Fog Sea… from the edge of the Land of the Dead… from within the Well of Samsara—
Though his outward appearance had remained the same, his presence… his temperament… his ability to scheme—had transformed.
He was no longer the same man.
"Heh…"
A low, self-mocking laugh escaped Mo Su's lips—tinged with pity and regret. Now that he looked back, how could he not see it? Everything that had happened… every provocation, every insult, every reckless act—had all been part of Yun Che's plan.
As someone intimately familiar with the Creation God of Elements, Mo Su, though not deeply versed in his elder brother's power, had at least heard of the technique—"Moon Star Restoration."
A divine art capable of reversing and reflecting any Laws or power beneath the level of a Creation God. No matter how overwhelming the force, it would be turned back upon the user, making it the perfect counter against all who were beneath the Creation God realm.
If only he hadn't been consumed by anger… If only he had kept his calm, perhaps he would have seen through it.
But Yun Che had counted on that. That was why… all of those disrespectful acts, those reckless jabs, were deliberate. All to provoke this very outcome.
"Hahahahaha…"The low chuckle turned into open laughter—a laugh filled with self-ridicule, echoing hollowly across the blood-stained air. Mo Su raised a trembling hand, wiping the crimson trail from his mouth as his body began to glow with a brilliant golden radiance, nearly identical to what Yun Che had displayed earlier.
He, the creator of the divine art known as the Great Way of the Buddha, have already reached the very limited of the technique!
These injuries—no matter how severe—they could be healed.
RUMBLEEEEEEE!!!
The sky turned golden as a divine pressure surged outward. Deep within Mo Su's soul, a majestic divine pagoda began to rotate, its movement exuding an ancient might as it radiated divine brilliance. Each rotation sent waves of power pulsing through his body, healing him rapidly—both flesh and soul.
His divine body mended with astonishing speed, broken bones knitting together and torn flesh restored as divine energy flowed ceaselessly through him. Even his damaged soul began to stabilize, glowing faintly with sacred light.
"Protect the Lord!"
The Chief Priest's voice boomed across the heavens. At once, Wan Dao, Liu Xiao, and the other Gods sprang into motion, forming a new array of divine barriers around Mo Su to shield him while he recovered.
And yet… Yun Che did not move.
He remained motionless in the sky, hovering high above, his gaze fixed coldly on Mo Su. He didn't launch another attack. He gave him time.
"So… that's what the Twelfth Stage of the Great Way of the Buddha truly looks like…" Yun Che murmured to himself, his voice calm and detached.
To others, Mo Su's recovery speed would have seemed miraculous. But in Yun Che's eyes… it was a tier slower. Noticeably slower.
Mo Su is at the Twelfth Stage, while he is only at the Eighth — yet his recovery has already surpassed Mo Su's.
"It seems… my recovery speed is tied to the Void Body. "With that realization, Yun Che said nothing more, simply watching in silence, his expression unreadable as Mo Su slowly pieced himself back together.
Time stretched.
What felt like mere moments to others felt like eternity to Yun Che, as he observed every breath, every pulse of energy. And finally—at long last—Mo Su's divine body was completely restored. Though his soul couldn't fully heal just yet, it had stabilized—no longer crumbling, no longer in danger.
Then, as the divine glow began to fade, the golden sky slowly returned to its natural hue. The brilliance dimmed, and the familiar warmth of sunlight pierced through the clouds once more.
Mo Su opened his eyes. His gaze, filled with countless complex emotions, slowly lifted to meet Yun Che's figure hovering high above.
So much was running through his mind—rage, respect, confusion… and something else he couldn't yet define.
"Why didn't you attack?" Mo Su finally asked, his voice calm but heavy. He had expected Yun Che to strike while he was vulnerable, to crush him before he could recover.
But Yun Che hadn't moved. He had simply watched.
If this had been at any other time, Mo Su would have dismissed it as arrogance.
But now… Yun Che was different. In his eyes, Yun Che had changed.
"Because this Emperor has no need to," Yun Che replied, his voice cold, calm, and utterly commanding. "Even if you recovered a hundred more times… this Emperor could still put you down each and every time."
The words cut through the air like a blade.
Mo Su said nothing in return. For once, he had no rebuttal. Only silence.
Around him, the other Gods seethed in quiet fury, their eyes burning with hatred as they turned toward Yun Che—but none of them dared to move.
Seeing the fury still burning in their eyes, Yun Che slowly spoke.
"You're probably thinking that this Emperor played dirty… that I tricked your Monarch into rage and used some unfair technique, aren't you?"
His voice echoed from above, calm yet heavy, reverberating across the silent Pure Land. Countless gazes, still filled with hatred and disbelief, snapped toward him.
For a moment, no one answered.
Then—
"That... right..."A quiet murmur escaped from one of the bolder onlookers.
One voice became two. Then three. Then more.
"You cheated!"
"You tricked His Majesty!"
Voices rose like a tide, each more indignant than the last. The air buzzed with anger and denial, the bitterness of defeat sinking into the hearts of the faithful.
And they weren't wrong—that's what everyone was thinking.
Even if most of them didn't understand the technique Yun Che had used, they could all feel it—Mo Su had been struck down by his own power. His devastating blow had been turned against him.
That wasn't a fair fight. Yun Che hadn't defeated the Monarch by strength alone…
That's what they believed.
Yet, as people angrily pointed their fingers at Yun Che, his cold voice suddenly rang out, cutting through the noise like a blade.
"Hahahaha! I cheated? I used an unfair technique?!!! Hahahaha!"His laughter echoed across the Pure Land, cold and thunderous, laced with mockery and defiance.
"FINE!"
His eyes swept over the crowd—burning with fire and challenge—then turned back toward Mo Su.
"From the very beginning, this Emperor saw through your little act. You've been scheming something since the start.""So how about this—whatever trump card you've been hiding… USE IT AGAINST THIS EMPEROR!"
"THIS EMPEROR SWEARS TO THE HEAVENS—no tricks, no schemes. I will face it head-on!"
"AND IF THIS EMPEROR SURVIVES YOUR STRIKE—THEN ALL OUR GRIEVANCES SHALL BE WIPED CLEAN!"
"How about that?!!!"
Yun Che's voice thundered across the realm like a divine decree, shaking the hearts of all who heard it.
His declaration left everyone stunned.
One by one, the expressions of disbelief below began to shift—shock turning into awe, awe into joy.
Even the most bitter and doubtful among them… couldn't help but feel shaken.
"HAVE YOU GONE MAD?!""YUN CHE, YOU SHOULD KNOW WHY I'M FIGHTING YOU!"
"WHY ARE YOU PUSHING IT THIS FAR?!"
Mo Su's voice thundered inside Yun Che's mind, filled with disbelief, frustration, and a confusion that echoed deep into his soul.
From the very beginning, Yun Che had claimed to understand everything—to know Mo Su's plans, to see through every layer of deception. And yet, when the perfect opportunity to strike had presented itself—when Mo Su was broken and vulnerable—Yun Che had let him recover.
If Yun Che had attacked then, it would have ended it all. Yes, the victory might've been seen as slightly tainted—perhaps not as glorious—but it would've been decisive. The Abyss would have had no choice but to kneel.
But now… Yun Che was daring him to use his final card.
That's right.
From the very beginning, Mo Su had prepared a trump card. Even the scattering of the weaker cultivators throughout the Pure Land—was part of a grand, carefully-laid plan. It was all meant for one moment. One possibility.
But this trump card… was never meant to be used.
Even Mo Su, for all his pride, had no desire to unleash it. Because deep down, even though he could admit that Yun Che might now be stronger than him…
But is he... stronger than the power of a Creation God?!
Then... as Mo Su was in full breakdown, Yun Che voice rang out in his mind.
"You should have told your Gods—and your people—about your trump card long ago..."
"Because if I defeat you even after you activate it, then the entire Abyss will have no choice but to submit completely. They'll know… that you used everything you had, and still lost."
"I don't want a shallow submission," Yun Che's voice continued, calm and resolute, "I want a true allegiance—one born from genuine respect."
Unlike the cold, imperial tone he had shown the world, his voice in Mo Su's mind was warm and composed, carrying a quiet conviction that struck deeper than any blade.
Mo Su's eyes widened slightly.
"You… you… You've truly gone mad!"His voice echoed within Yun Che's mind, trembling with disbelief.
It was true—Mo Su had informed the High Priests of his ultimate plan, while only hinting at it to the others. But even then, he had never truly intended to use it.
And now, Yun Che was telling him—demanding him—to activate it.
Why?
"What?" Yun Che's voice suddenly rang out across the Pure Land, colder now, louder."Do you think this Emperor won't keep his word?"
As his words thundered through the realm, all eyes turned to Mo Su, waiting for his answer… yet the Abyssal Monarch remained still.
His thoughts were a storm.
Then, Yun Che's voice spoke again inside Mo Su's mind—soft, yet piercing through the chaos of Mo Su's heart.
"Don't worry..."
"She… her Life Essence, her soul… they've already returned to this world."
"Even if I die by your trump card… she will still live."
!!!!!!!!!!!!
Like a dying man stumbling upon an endless spring after thirsting in a desert, Mo Su's soul trembled. He understood Yun Che's words.
He understood what it meant.
"Do it." Yun Che's voice rang out in his mind one final time—calm, resolute, absolute.
Mo Su closed his eyes for a moment… and then opened them with renewed clarity. All restraint vanished from his gaze, and his last message echoed back into Yun Che's mind.
"Just remember… you asked for this."
"HMMM!!!"
To the stunned people of the Abyss—who had waited in silence, holding their breath—Mo Su finally spoke.
"How dare you look down on this Majesty!"
"Just because of one trick… you think you're superior? Without that, you are NOTHING!"
"Since you wish so desperately to step into the cycle of reincarnation, then allow this Monarch to show you his true might!"
His voice thundered across the Pure Land, echoing like divine judgment. The air itself trembled as his words ignited awe in the hearts of all who heard them. The eyes of the Abyssal Gods lit up—shining with reverence, with hope, with excitement.
Then, Mo Su narrowed his gaze, his voice turning cold as frost.
"And for your information… that technique you used earlier?"
"It won't work against this trump card of mine."
There was no arrogance in his tone—only certainty. And perhaps… a final warning.
But Yun Che, high in the sky, only let out a booming laugh—unshaken, unfazed, and burning with anticipation.
"Hahaha! Come!"
His voice roared like thunder, echoing across the realm as he gazed down upon all beneath him.
"Activate the formation!" Mo Su's voice echoed like divine thunder, shaking the heavens themselves.
In that instant, everyone present—from the Pure Land Guards, Abyssal Knights, members of the Divine Kingdoms, to even the True Gods and Ancient True Gods—moved as one, sitting into their designated positions with unwavering discipline.
And then—across the entire Abyss—every single tower that had been quietly placed days earlier by the Pure Land Guards and Abyssal Knights suddenly began to glow, radiating with brilliant light.
"It's the signal from His Majesty!" Voices rang out from every corner of the Abyss as people looked up at the glowing towers, their eyes wide with awe and realization. They remembered the instructions, the whispered warnings, the solemn preparations made in silence.
One by one—the people knelt.
Old or young, healthy or injured, weak or strong—it didn't matter.
They all fell to their knees.
And in perfect unison, they praised their Abyssal Monarch, not with words—but with silent reverence that filled the realm.
Their prayer was soundless… but the towers responded.
The light grew stronger—brighter—as if the will of the people themselves was being offered as divine fuel.
Then, back in the Pure Land—
RUMBLEEEEEEE!!!
The sky shook violently as the Grand Formation came to life.