Chapter 536: Beheading the Emperor! (Thanks to...)

Chapter 536: Slaying the Emperor! (With profound gratitude to Xinsu Qiyu for the six Grandmaster donations!)

Yet, before all else, he had to bellow a single sentence to declare his identity.

Otherwise, among the city's myriad commoners, civil officials, and military lords, who would know he had arrived?

"The Judgment descends! Diwu Bufan, meet your death!"

The voice resonated like vast thunder, spreading across the entire royal capital in an instant.

Bolstered by divine power, Qi Yuan’s voice traveled far faster than the speed of sound.

Suddenly, within the capital, countless commoners raised their heads to the heavens, their faces reflecting a kaleidoscope of emotions.

Old men rejoiced, the youth grew bewildered, and some stood struck with astonishment.

Heaven-rank Weapon Masters surged with exhilaration.

"To think we would actually have the chance to witness a battle of the gods!"

"No matter the outcome of this war, it shall be etched into the annals of history!"

"The God of Judgment... has returned? I am bitter. When I was weak, the Judgment had already fallen, and I suffered endless bullying. After striving for a century, I finally became a man above men. Before I could even enjoy my fortune, the Judgment returns?"

To the resurrection of the Judgment, the responses of those within the royal capital varied wildly.

Just like that grey-robed, middle-aged man who drew his blade from its sheath and swung it toward Qi Yuan: "The world fears the Judgment, but I do not!"

He was a descendant of the founding dukes and marquises; his ancestors had already endured all hardships for him, so he was meant to enjoy a life of ease.

He lacked his elder brother’s ambition, yet he did not lie flat to relish pleasure like his younger brother. Well... he was a pure pervert, chasing cheap thrills.

Ultimately, he broke the law. The grand son of a duke was sentenced by the Judgment and reduced to a eunuch.

Toward the Judgment, he harbored a bone-deep hatred.

The old emperor, Diwu Bufan, had wiped out the Judgment; thus, he viewed the emperor as his sovereign father and was willing to die for him.

"You fatherless, kingless scoundrel, die!"

He drew his sword, utterly fearless of death.

He wanted to tell the high-and-mighty, cold and ruthless Judgment that even a great villain feared not death.

Yet, at this very moment, that young silhouette did not spare him a single glance.

Instead, he soared up into the high vault of heaven.

Ignored!

This was naked, unadulterated disregard!

The grey-robed man burned with fury. He glared at the carriage and slashed his sword toward it.

Meeting him was the blade of the old woman washing silk.

Alas, even unto death, he never managed to catch the gaze of that young man.

It was as though he were nothing more than an inconsequential ant.

This contempt infuriated him far more than death itself, yet he was utterly powerless.

In the eyes of the Judgment, he simply did not exist, and It would never remember such an insignificant figure.

"Deity Descent!"

"Be as My Judgment."

"With Robes Entwined."

Flying into the sky, Qi Yuan silently chanted within his heart.

Facing the gods of the Rakshasa Empire, Qi Yuan concealed nothing. Under the witness of the realm’s commoners, he would slay the emperor of the Rakshasa Empire, the very sun of Rakshasa.

In a flash, blood-red light and shadow cast themselves upon the earth, and atop the vault of heaven, a terrifying titan nearly a thousand feet tall materialized.

His entire body was enveloped in blood-red crystalline armor, his breastplate adorned with intricate, complex patterns; the sharp, distinct edges of his pauldrons were carved with a pair of scales; his vambraces revealed a hint of gold amidst the deep crimson, linking into golden threads like roaming divine beasts.

A synthesis of 'Be as My Judgment' and 'With Robes Entwined', the present Qi Yuan was infinitely majestic.

Holiness, malevolence, and wickedness fused into a singular whole.

One entity, three visages.

He was the holy one, full of pity for the heavens and the world!

He was the demon of the abyssal raging torrents!

He was the sinister entity, treacherous and unpredictable!

In the blink of an eye.

Blood-colored shadows and holy radiance enveloped the entire royal capital.

The whole of heaven and earth was a mixture of blood and sanctity.

Where they overlapped lay pure darkness.

Everyone raised their eyes to look at that majestic figure in the high vault of heaven.

Whether ordinary mortals or Weapon Masters, the moment they beheld that majestic silhouette, fear, awe, and a sense of insurmountable defeat arose inexplicably within their hearts.

Their legs trembled uncontrollably, and their hearts raced frantically—this was born of biological instinct, or perhaps megalophobia.

Yet no one knelt, because... the holy radiance gently held them up.

"Is this the Judgment?"

"The God of Judgment?"

Some chattered their teeth, while others wore faces of sheer terror.

Within the imperial palace, the six gods gathered.

Prince Dingyuan narrowed his eyes, a complex expression flitting through them: "The Judgment... why does It seem somewhat different from the past?"

The Judgment of old was merely a divine weapon that would alter its form during battle, transforming into a human guise.

However, that had been a faceless, holy man.

Now, blood-red hues laced the sanctity, striking terror into the heart.

"It... is even more powerful than before." The old man trembled with fear.

The Judgment of the past was like a blade suspended over one's head.

Even when he had cultivated to the rank of a Divine Weapon Master, he still shook and remained anxious.

Now, that very feeling had returned.

"A century ago It was suppressed and slain. Now... It too shall surely die!"

"Even if It revives, It cannot endure for long. This is It's strongest form."

"Indeed, this old man also sees through It. This state of It is strong on the outside but hollow within, estimated to... only last for a hundred breaths of time."

"As long as we stall, he will undoubtedly die."

These men were, after all, veteran Divine Weapon Masters; their discernment remained intact.

That towering figure exuded a terrifying aura that made one tremble; even as divine-level weapon masters, they felt an insurmountable sense of inferiority.

But that aura could not last long.

"Now, He is stronger than ever before," spoke the silent Fifth Bufan, his expression stern. "If I had not made preparations, in this battle, within a hundred breaths, He would have killed at least three of you.

Therefore, you must remember my grace—this time, I saved you!"

The five divine-level weapon masters present quickly showed grateful expressions.

Dingyuan Wang, thick-skinned as ever, though a divine-level weapon master, was sycophantic: "Your Majesty is the reborn parent of this old servant!"

Fifth Bufan nodded, a fierce battle intent blazing in his eyes.

He stared at the colossal being approaching the palace, his gaze burning with fervor.

A majestic and commanding voice resounded across heaven and earth at that moment.

"Mere divine artifact, a craftsman's creation, how dare you act insolently!"

The aura emanating from Fifth Bufan was also terrifyingly fearsome.

The divine might surged, the majesty of an emperor striking awe into hearts.

For a hundred years, Fifth Bufan had trained madly, neglecting state affairs.

He gathered all the rare treasures of the world to nurture himself alone.

His strength had reached the limit of the Three Steps to Heaven, infinitely close to the Divine Descent of old.

Thus, facing the current Divine Descent, he had the confidence to fight.

Not to mention, he still had a hidden card to play.

On the other side, the vast and boundless figure approached swiftly, silent, staring at the old emperor.

"Since you see your sovereign, why do you not bow?" Fifth Bufan was brimming with pride.

At this moment, he was no longer the emperor who a hundred years ago dared not even watch a battle.

Now, he was radiant and proud, the sun of the Raksha Kingdom.

The colossal giant remained silent, his actions speaking for his words.

A mighty fist descended, making heaven and earth tremble.

Seeing this fist, Fifth Bufan's pupils sharply contracted.

An emotion he had not felt in ages—fear—spread within him.

He grew furious, his voice even more thunderous.

"All beneath the sun and moon is my royal land.

Within this land, all things and beings are my subjects!

You… dare to defy me? I will personally slay you.

I shall tell the world that the Fifth Dynasty shall endure for millennia, and they shall have the honor of being my subjects for generations, under my protection."

Fifth Bufan shouted boldly, but his body was honest.

When that fist descended, his form dodged sharply.

He dared not face Qi Yuan head-on.

In the distant lands.

The insect girl Caidie fluttered her wings, gazing southward with regret on her face.

"By now, the Raksha Kingdom's capital should have witnessed a divine battle. What a pity, we likely won't have a chance to see it."

Shen Lingxuan, clad in a black dress, exuded an icy aura. Though a veil obscured her peerless face, a mere glimpse revealed a breathtaking beauty.

Her long skirt, embroidered with plum blossoms, trailed to her ankles, tightly covering her porcelain-like slender legs.

Even dressed somewhat conservatively, her curvaceous figure—long legs, narrow waist, full bosom—still drew the eye.

Especially those long legs.

"Speaking of which, the wielder of that divine artifact shares a name with your husband—both called Qi Yuan," said Caidie.

Hearing that name, Shen Lingxuan's brow, with its faint teardrop mole, trembled slightly: "Perhaps it's just a coincidence."

"It must be a coincidence," Caidie sighed. "The Divine Descent was once the number one divine artifact in the world. Even shattered, it cannot be wielded by just anyone—at least a heavenly-level weapon master. Your husband… is only eighteen."

Even if he had trained since birth, reaching the heavenly-level weapon master realm at eighteen was impossible.

Shen Lingxuan nodded in agreement.

In her past life, she had been a heavenly-level weapon master, so she understood the difficulty of reaching that level.

Even with memories of her former life and extraordinary talent, with Caidie's help, she had only just reached the heavenly level.

But then she recalled the words Caidie had heard in the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss.

Her husband was coming to find her.

She quickly dismissed that thought.

Of course, back then in the Strange Domain, after obtaining the Cursed Source, she had been secretly refining it, lost in slumber, utterly unaware of what had happened there.

Otherwise, she might have realized that this Qi Yuan could indeed be her husband.

"What a pity, we are too weak, barely able to protect ourselves. Otherwise, we could go and help the Divine Descent," Caidie said. "The master of the Divine Descent, its creator, is named Sheng Nu, also a Fate-Bearer."

"Will he win?" Shen Lingxuan looked toward the Raksha Kingdom's capital.

"He won't… Even if he wins, with such ostentation, what awaits him… is death," Caidie said. "The Divine Descent itself… bears a fate."

Shen Lingxuan felt disappointed, a faint melancholy rising in her heart.

Fate-Bearers, favored by heaven and earth, must always be on guard, fleeing from pursuers.

"Let's go. We'll head to the Divine Wood Abyss, refine the Cursed Source, and with my help, we can hide there for a few hundred years.

By then, when you become a divine-level weapon master, I'll take you beyond the heavens!"

Caidie had already formed a plan.

Though Fate-Bearers are hunted, beyond the heavens, there are places where they can find refuge.

It is safe there.

But Shen Lingxuan would need to reach the divine-level weapon master realm to go.

Apart from the two of them, countless eyes across the world were watching the battle at the Raksha Kingdom's capital.

A message appeared in the Divine Wood Token.

"If Brother Qi survives this tribulation, I will recommend him to join the Void Paradise and escape this cage."

"Brother Qi? Who is that? Never heard of him." Ji Wuyun was confused.

Just after sending these messages, she regretted it and wanted to recall them.

Because clearly, this Thornblood staff member had sent the message to the wrong place.

If she continued lurking and spying, she might uncover even more scandalous and explosive secrets.

The Thornblood staff member wore a helpless expression.

This person was truly adorably naive.

“Naturally, it’s Brother Cleaver.”

“Ah?” Ji Wuyun felt a pang of regret; he actually went on speaking.

And… how did he know Brother Cleaver’s surname was Qi?

The Thornblood staff member gave a resigned smile: “These past months, a young man named Qi Yuan, wielding the Divine Presence, has traveled through all twelve provinces of the Raksha Kingdom, slashing blade demons with his sword. Do you know of him?”

“I know,” Ji Wuyun answered hastily.

“He is Brother Cleaver.”

“You… how did you find out… no, Brother Cleaver is now facing a siege by the gods—he won’t die, will he?” Ji Wuyun asked, worried.

“This calamity is dire, very dire. In the *Green Mountain Chronicle*, only a few brief lines record this event.

The vessel is destroyed, but Raksha endures.”

“Wait, the vessel destroyed… and the person?” Ji Wuyun spotted the blind spot.

“The *Green Mountain Chronicle* does not record him. Perhaps… he is not worthy.”

“Is it possible… he won?”

“The chance is slim. If he loses, there might be a sliver of hope for escape,” the Thornblood staff member sighed.

The events recorded in the *Green Mountain Chronicle*, though subject to minor changes, cannot alter the overall course.

Just as the schemes of Thornblood cannot fail.

The divine tree will transform into a spectral spirit, and the Green Mountain Realm will become a spectral domain.

And the task he accepted in the Void Paradise was to hasten this process.

“I wonder… how the outcome will be,” he murmured softly.

Meanwhile, within the royal capital.

A towering figure stood, like a jade pillar holding up the heavens, a golden beam bridging the seas.

His cold, majestic gaze made him seem even more like an exalted celestial deity.

Diwu Buyan’s lips seeped crimson blood, his face etched with surprise.

“I never thought the gap between us would be so vast. I fled with all my might, yet you still wounded me.”

Facing Qi Yuan’s attack, he mustered his courage… to dodge, hoping to test his own strength in battle.

But even swift evasion was useless.

He was still grazed, bearing not insignificant injuries.

“Since that’s the case, I’ll hide no longer… I’ll give you no path to survival!” Diwu Buyan was weak yet verbose.

His tone suggested he was about to unleash his hidden power.

Yet everyone knew he was likely already at his peak.

His “unleashing hidden power” merely meant bringing out the Dark Light Spirit.

In an instant, a cerulean radiance manifested before Diwu Buyan.

A smug look crossed his face: “You should know… what this is!”

Qi Yuan’s expression remained unchanged.

He saw at a glance that it was the Dark Light Spirit, specially designed to corrupt divine artifacts.

“With it here, you are doomed today,” Diwu Buyan barked coldly.

In that moment, the single droplet suddenly spread.

The world seemed to rain blue.

This rain… filled the entire royal capital, leaving no escape.

“See how you flee now!”

“If you were any other divine weapon master, you might use divine power to slightly block and isolate it.”

“But you are a divine artifact—the slightest touch of divine power will be polluted and corroded.”

The torrential rain fell, as if to flood the entire capital.

The rain, imbued with the Dark Light Spirit, could not only corrupt divine artifacts but also corrode… ordinary mortals.

This rain was like true “sulfuric” rain.

If it fell, countless lives would be devastated.

Tall buildings corroded and collapsed.

The rain continued to descend swiftly.

Qi Yuan’s expression was calm; he glanced at the people below, like ants beneath his feet.

They were so fragile, yet they clung stubbornly to life.

Playing the role of the Divine Presence, as the Divine Presence, at this moment, his choice was…

“Suck!”

Qi Yuan opened his colossal maw.

A powerful suction force gathered in that instant.

The rain of heaven and earth!

All return to my body!

This behemoth, facing the blue rain, opened its mouth.

All the rain in the world, in that moment, entered his belly.

The divine power within him steadily dissipated.

The white radiance and golden threads in his blood-colored armor were stripped away, drained continuously.

In the distance, Liu Sheng saw this and said hoarsely to Liu Chudong, “He is just like you… a foolish child. To keep this poisonous rain from harming the innocent, he chose to drink it all!”

He did not know what was in the poisonous rain.

But it was clearly meant to target the Divine Presence.

He could have dodged, only being touched by a little, yet for the sake of the people, he took the injury and swallowed the poisonous rain entirely.

Liu Chudong’s face showed worry and guilt: “I… measured a gentleman’s heart with a petty man’s mind.”

Before coming, she had thought Qi Yuan might lose himself to power.

But at this moment, sacrificing himself for the people and all living beings—this was the foolish and selfless Divine Presence she admired and respected.

She gazed into the distance.

Behold that vast and boundless blood-colored figure, as if struck by lightning, scorched by fire, corroded by venom.

A sizzling sound ceaselessly arose.

Divine power turned into thick smoke.

His form shrank without pause.

As if being dissolved.

And at this moment, the common folk sheltered by Divine Presence seemed to sense something, gazing at the swiftly weakening silhouette in the sky, they could not help but cry out "Divine Presence."

"Divine Presence!"

"Divine Presence!"

More and more voices called out.

Even if a hundred years could wash away all memories,

the people of Raksha had never ceased their longing for "Divine Presence."

A cold smile flickered in Diwu Bufan's eyes: "I didn't expect another wielder, yet you remain so foolish.

These base rabble, cut down one year and regrown the next, how could they compare to the lives of us?"

Qi Yuan did not avoid the dark light spirits, even swallowing all the poisonous rain into his belly—this caught him off guard.

His original plan was to use the poisonous rain to force Divine Presence into hesitation, slowly wear him down, and finally slay him.

Instead, Divine Presence swallowed it all outright.

This saved him trouble.

He already saw Divine Presence's divine power crumbling.

In a few breaths, He would fall completely.

But just then, from within the ever-shrinking body, a languid voice rang out.

"With so many calling for Divine Presence, if I were an Armored Hero or an Ultraman, I might borrow the power of their hearts, unleash my inner universe, and slay you."

"Alas, I am not—I am only myself, a game player playing the role of Divine Presence."

As his voice faded.

Boom!

The hundred-zhang giant collapsed and scattered.

Before the world appeared a young man of extraordinary handsomeness.

Diwu Bufan looked at him, surprise in his eyes.

"Divine Presence is destroyed, your greatest reliance is gone. Who gave you the courage to spout nonsense before me?"

Diwu Bufan gazed at this excessively young man, his eyes holding both longing for youth and murderous intent.

In his view, this Qi Yuan was indeed gifted.

Young as he was, he had likely touched the threshold of the Celestial rank and mastered the nation-guarding artifact, Divine Presence.

But talent aside, without Divine Presence, what was he?

Any Divine-level Armament Master could easily cut him down.

"Without Divine Presence... can I not kill you?" A smile spread across Qi Yuan's face.

Without playing Divine Presence, he felt the world had become brighter.

Yet... he still had to continue playing Divine Presence.

Under the astonished and shocked gazes of Diwu Bufan and the many Divine-level Armament Masters,

a voice resounded through the royal capital.

"Your Divine Presence... has returned."

"I... am the God of Judgment!"

"If there is injustice, call upon me, Divine Presence!"

"Today, I slay a god!"

A fierce, terrifying aura swept forth, soaring into the clouds.

Then the peerlessly handsome man spoke: "I, too, am a god!"

"Divine-level Armament Master!"

"He is actually a Divine-level Armament Master!"

"How can this be!"

The six Divine-level Armament Masters present were all stunned.

They had never imagined that the wielder of Divine Presence was a Divine-level Armament Master.

And this Divine-level Armament Master was terrifyingly young!

"You are actually a Divine-level Armament Master—good, good, good!" Diwu Bufan said three goods in succession.

He was surprised, a little fearful, yet full of confidence.

Such a young Divine-level Armament Master... astounding, but surely just entered the Divine rank.

Fortunately, this one, having obtained Divine Presence, grew arrogant and came to the royal capital to kill him.

Otherwise, if he had hidden away to cultivate for a hundred years, would he not be invincible?

"Today, I will cut you down, root and branch!"

Diwu Bufan struck fiercely, the power of the peak of the Heaven-striding Three Steps surging forth.

Then a hurried voice rang out.

"Attack together—we must keep him here."

He not only bullied the weak but also outnumbered the lone.

Instantly, the other five Divine-level Armament Masters also struck, surrounding Qi Yuan.

Facing the siege of six, Qi Yuan remained unmoved.

"Sigh, holding this pose is truly tiring."

"Now let me show you what a technique-based player is—one who clears the game on a single life!"

In an instant, Qi Yuan's figure vanished.

A blood-red light appeared, the trace of a giant blood sword revealed.

Myriad Transformations!

In a flash, a thousand Qi Yuans appeared across heaven and earth.

Each held a giant blood sword and struck forward.

Death Radiance!

Overwhelming power!

Heaven-Splitting Sword-Drawing Art!

At this moment, Qi Yuan was utterly unrestrained.

His combat skills and techniques—among mortals, transcendents, gods, and immortals—were of the highest order.

Seven gods ganging up on him?

In truth, it was he alone who besieged and slaughtered the seven gods!

Without descending as a god, merely playing a role, he need not hold back; his power might be less than a god's descent, but his lethality far surpassed it.

Every kind of dirty trick and underhanded move, none were beyond his reach.

"Kill!"

"Kill, kill, kill!"

"All of you, die!"

"BGM, start!"

Countless drones soared into the sky; some transformed into speakers, others into heavenly soldiers beating drums and gongs, and still others into demons playing suonas.

All manner of strange, pleasant, and resounding sounds arose.

Qi Yuan felt as if aided by gods.

The face of Diwu Bufan showed a look of terror: "What are these?"

The other divine-level weapon masters also felt unease in their hearts.

For in this clash, they realized that this Qi Yuan... seemed even more terrifying than a divine presence.

"This is my BGM."

"And also your funeral dirge!"

(End of chapter)