Chapter 725: Tilting of the Supporting Heaven (Combined)

Chapter 725: Propping Up a Collapsing Heaven (Combined)

The Fifth Layer of Kunxu.

Above the battlefield where Nascent Soul cultivators clashed.

Swirling nebulae, dreamlike and ethereal, enveloped the boundless expanse of the entire battlefield.

Within them, Divine Lords from the Ten Academies and the Righteous Alliance fought ceaselessly—so fiercely that heaven and earth overturned, mountains shattered, and rivers ran dry. Both sides constantly calculated each other’s movements, revised optimal strategies in real time, and adapted endlessly to their opponent’s shifting tactics.

Two vast battle formations, each composed of numerous Divine Lords, functioned like two colossal warriors through seamless information exchange and flawless coordination. They continuously altered techniques and formations, concealed weaknesses, and relentlessly targeted the vulnerabilities of the enemy.

Objectives, methods, styles—every aspect of warfare evolved moment by moment, replaced as swiftly as tides.

Any cultivator below the Divine Transformation realm who dared join this fray would likely be overwhelmed merely by the sheer volume of battlefield data—unable to process it, let alone keep pace with the rhythm of combat among Divine Lords.

In such a chaotic theater of war, where every move could ripple across thousands of miles, erratic weather patterns and meteorological penalties had become routine.

Artifacts, arcane constructs, puppets—all were shattered without end, raining down like debris from the sky.

Factories and structures sprang up sporadically, erected on-site by Divine Lords harvesting local materials to manufacture fresh armaments.

Yet these temporary installations often ignited fresh skirmishes. In repeated cycles of assault and defense, they were either obliterated or abandoned due to unsustainable maintenance costs.

Every second of this battle consumed resources so vast that, converted into spirit coins, they would stagger the mortal world.

Amidst this ferocious stalemate, Nie Lian, Divine Lord of Tianmo University, sensed his condition deteriorating rapidly.

His gaze swept over his ocular artifact, which displayed his current statistics:

Artifact reserves below 30%.

Arcane constructs damaged beyond 60%.

Even counting backup spiritual energy, his remaining power hovered under 500,000 units…

He glanced toward a nearby nebula, his consciousness already piercing through the Spirit Realm to communicate with fellow Divine Lords: “Has anyone devised a way to break this formation?”

Though the celestial dome’s lockdown had severed most connections between the Fifth Layer and lower realms, the Divine Lords still maintained ultra-high-speed communication via the Spirit Realm of Kunxu’s Fifth Layer, stabilized by their myriad artifacts.

In the group chat named “In the Same Boat,” messages cascaded like a waterfall—Divine Lords sharing battlefield intelligence in real time.

Upon Nie Lian’s query, Zhi Pan of Vajra University sighed: “This Zhou Tian Milky Way Formation is a strategic-grade immortal sect array. Breaking free? Easier said than done.”

Zhi Pan had once personally refined Zhang Yu’s Nascent Soul at Qing Mu’s request—the resulting soul was hailed as the finest among the Ten Academies, and his cultivation ranked among the elite even among Divine Lords.

Yet even he had already cycled through eight primary combat bodies over nearly two months of war. His current vessel was his last reserve.

His outlook on the situation grew ever grimmer.

Yu Feng of Tianjian University interjected: “Our reconnaissance confirms the Zhou Tian Milky Way Formation spans the entire battlefield with exactly 360 nodes. It serves both to trap us—and to detonate the Fifth Layer itself.”

Though Yu Feng had once lost a chunk of flesh to a mere flick of Zhang Yu’s finger—and sacrificed a disciple to shoulder public blame—he’d secured a lucrative contract for Tai Xu Thunderbolts.

Before assaulting Layers Four and Five, he’d brought ample stock of his own factory’s thunderbolts.

Over the past two months, these weapons had proven invaluable, keeping him in relatively strong condition among the Divine Lords and bolstering his influence.

“The rebels invested immense effort into this array,” Yu Feng continued. “They planned meticulously long in advance. We rushed headlong into their trap—hence these catastrophic losses.”

Qing Ming of Wanfa University snapped: “Yu Feng, share something we don’t already know! Stop your snide remarks!”

Yu Feng retorted: “I speak plainly. Had someone not breached the celestial dome without warning and pressured everyone into attacking Layer Five immediately, how could we be trapped here?”

Qian Kui of Xianbing University lamented: “I kept saying during meetings—‘We’re unprepared! Unprepared!’ What was the rush? Even if they blew up Layer Five, so what? Knowing there was a trap above, yet charging in anyway—now look! We’re all stuck!”

He sighed heavily. “Ci Ji, you’re a master artificer, but a complete novice at warfare. How could you fall for such a simple scheme?”

Qing Ming shot back: “Hmph, Qian Kui—you didn’t complain half as much when looting spoils. Now that things turn sour, you stir trouble daily. Planning to surrender to the Righteous Alliance, are you?”

Watching the endless stream of messages in “In the Same Boat,” Ci Ji sneered inwardly. She knew these old foxes were merely using the crisis as pretext to gang up on her, hoping to force her and Old Gao to bear disproportionate burdens in future operations.

Just then, Nie Lian steered the conversation back: “Enough bickering—arguing won’t defeat the Righteous Alliance.”

“We’ve already mapped the approximate locations of all 360 array nodes,” he continued. “Destroy them one by one, and the formation collapses.”

Po Yao, Headmaster of Tianjian University, replied grimly: “Difficult. All 360 nodes lie outside the array perimeter.”

Po Yao (Yao) added: “This Zhou Tian Milky Way Formation was designed specifically for entrapment—easy to enter, near-impossible to exit. Not only can we barely escape, but even the Righteous Alliance’s Divine Lords struggle to leave once inside.”

Yu Feng pressed: “Yet even if they can’t exit, their production lines and corporations continuously supply them with spiritual energy, constructs, elixirs… replenishing war expenditures endlessly. We, however, only deplete—never replenish!”

“At this rate,” he warned, “they’ll bleed us dry until we perish!”

Nie Lian sighed. “Have you at Tianjian found any method to bypass the barriers and contact lower layers? If reinforcements could ascend from outside to dismantle the array, our predicament would resolve instantly.”

Yu Feng: “After nearly two months of relentless efforts, we’ve barely managed to send messages beyond the array and locate those 360 nodes. That alone was Herculean.”

“To pierce through the two celestial domes separating Layers Three, Four, and Five?” he concluded. “Without a year and a half of dedicated research, it’s utterly impossible.”

Nie Lian’s heart sank. A year and a half? By then, everything would be decided.

Meanwhile, Qian Kui of Xianbing muttered: “Even if we reestablish contact—after so long disconnected, without our central command, the lower layers are surely in chaos.”

“They’ve either been crushed piecemeal by the Righteous Alliance,” he predicted, “or splintered and fled. Everyone’s probably gone.”

Yu Feng added coldly: “Even if forces remain intact, without mastery of advanced spatial techniques to breach the celestial dome, receiving our message changes nothing. They simply can’t ascend.”

Watching the chat flood with pessimism, Ci Ji thought: “Yu Feng, Qian Kui… what scheming nonsense are you two peddling now?”

Sensing morale crumbling, she resolved to rally spirits.

Ci Ji typed firmly: “There are those below who possess profound spatial mastery—even rivaling my own. With him, breaching the celestial dome is certain.”

Nie Lian perked up instantly: “Who?”

Ci Ji: “My disciple—True Lord Zhu Yi. Zhang Yu.”

Skepticism erupted: “Zhang Yu? A cultivator who broke through to Nascent Soul less than a year ago? What ‘profound’ spatial mastery could he possibly wield?”

Yu Feng scoffed: “Ci Ji, I understand you seek to boost morale—but such baseless claims do more harm than good.”

Undeterred, Ci Ji shared evidence: “Zhang Yu participated in developing the Boundary-Piercing Spire from the start. Without him, I couldn’t have built it.”

“Later, during the creation of the Tai Xu Cloud Vault,” she added, “he worked alongside me from inception to completion.”

Qing Mu affirmed: “I vouch for this. Every word Ci Ji speaks is true.”

Ci Ji pressed on: “Zhang Yu has already cultivated Palm-Sized Kunlun to Level 40 and gleaned insights from the Righteous Alliance’s spatial techniques. If we hold out just a little longer, he will breach the celestial dome.”

Truthfully, Ci Ji wasn’t certain Zhang Yu could succeed.

But in this dire hour, she chose to believe—and hoped this intelligence might steady their resolve, reduce surrender temptations, and buy precious time.

Her words and evidence left the Divine Lords wavering between doubt and hope.

Yu Feng countered: “Even if Zhang Yu grasps the theory, his lack of seniority makes rallying support nearly impossible. He lacks the resources to mobilize manpower for such an endeavor.”

Ci Ji replied decisively: “I’ve entrusted him with control over my vast assets—sufficient to organize a team capable of breaching the dome.”

Qing Mu added: “So have I.”

The revelation stunned the assembly. Few could fathom such trust—especially from Ci Ji, notorious for her stinginess.

Qian Kui cried out in anguish: “You two old fools! How could you hand your wealth to a disciple? Better die than surrender it!”

“He’s probably fled with the money already!” Qian Kui lamented bitterly. “Jin Cang’s faction, even in death, preserved their assets. You may survive—but what good is life without wealth?”

Jin Cang had been a fallen Divine Lord of Xianbing University—whose inheritance Qian Kui had long coveted.

Lord Magnetic Pole sneered, speaking cold words: You still harbor thoughts of returning to consume the legacy left behind by Yun Zang and the others, so naturally you hope their wealth remains untouched.

Just as the deities of the ten academies were thick in discussion, a sound like a hundred thousand thunderclaps erupted across the heavens; Lord Chain Pivot, once of the Department of Finance, let out a long howl and charged into the fray once more, whipping up a relentless chain of fierce combat.

The furious roars of Lord Chain Pivot exploded continuously across the sky, spanning the battlefield and echoing both within and without the formation.

"Everyone, the tide has turned. Do you still intend to struggle in vain?"

Lord Chain Pivot shouted in a resounding voice: "After Lord Vast Devourer and his companions surrendered, we did not mistreat them in the slightest. Every privilege remains at the Deity level. In the future, they will no longer suffer the extortion of the Heavenly Court and the sects, living in carefree bliss from this day forth—how delightful that must be."

Lord Magnetic Pole rebuked him angrily: "Who exactly is struggling in vain? When the Heavenly Court descends, I shall see how delightful and how carefree you remain."

Lord Chain Pivot smiled faintly and said: "Magnetic Pole, do you truly believe you can endure until the Heavenly Court arrives? Beneath the Cosmic Galaxy Formation, you have nowhere left to flee."

"As for the ten academies below, let alone the fact that they cannot break through the firmament to support you with resources, they have already fractured and collapsed by now."

With those words, the Righteous Alliance projected image after image of the third and second layers of Kunxu, all showing various vocational students and demon-blooded students rioting, alongside scenes of the Nascent Soul experts of the Heavenly Demon University staging a rebellion.

However, during this period, the Righteous Alliance had been broadcasting similar images continuously, and the many deities of the ten academies had long since grown accustomed to the sight.

Yet in the next instant, their countenances shifted in unison.

They beheld within the images that Zhang Yu had breached a hidden treasury of a Deity. Lord Chain Pivot laughed and said: "Gentlemen, those disciples and descendants of yours are not only lacking any intention of coming to your aid, but they have already begun plotting against your assets."

"This Zhang Yu of the Wanfa University indeed possesses remarkable spatial techniques to have actually broken open a Deity's hidden treasury."

As scenes of Zhang Yu breaching one hidden treasury after another came into view, the minds of the gathered deities shook in unison.

Lord Chain Pivot added fuel to the fire, saying: "Gentlemen, the assets you left below have already been stolen and plundered away by Zhang Yu and his followers, nearly divided to the last coin."

"With things as they are, do you still intend to hold out here to the death?"

"Whether it is the Heavenly Court and the sects above, or the disciples and students below in this Kunxu, which of them does not wish to sink their teeth into your flesh? What is left to protect? What is left to defend?"

"Why not rebel along with us? From now on, the world will be vast, with no one left to restrain you, and no one left to oppress you..."

Within the chat group named 'In the Same Boat', Lord Thousand Puppets cursed in a furious rage: Magnetic Pole! This is the fine disciple you taught! We are fighting to the death up here, and he is stealing our money down there?!

Lord Imperial Blade: That wretched scoundrel! We have fought for so long, yet our losses are likely not as grand as the damage caused by this bastard.

Lord Magnetic Pole: Do not be deceived by Chain Pivot's false rumors; those people from the Department of Finance are most adept at fabricating fake news.

A certain deity spoke up instead: The opponent has even provided a detailed inventory of the hidden treasuries. If the treasuries were not truly breached, how could they know so precisely?

Lord Sinister Lotus likewise bore a grave expression, beginning to worry about the vast wealth he had left behind at the Heavenly Demon University.

The peril of the situation, compounded by the immense threat to their personal assets, caused the atmosphere among the deities of the ten academies to grow tense as never before.

Lord Imperial Blade spoke: Everyone, things having reached this pass, we can no longer afford to delay. I propose that we concentrate our strength into a single person, attempting to have them break through the array to shatter it from the outside.

Lord Imperial Blade: The sword arts of my Heavenly Sword University are best suited for slaughter and breaking formations. Though this venture is fraught with absolute peril, to salvage the falling sky, I am willing to take this risk.

The suggestion put forth by Lord Imperial Blade had been mentioned by someone before, but whether such an act could truly break the formation remained a question. Moreover, deciding upon whose shoulders to concentrate their power was an exceedingly difficult matter to resolve.

The moment Lord Imperial Blade spoke his mind, each university immediately put forward their own candidates, and for a time, they argued back and forth without resolution.

Lord Thousand Puppets spoke up at this moment: I happen to have another proposal. Why do we not select a few responsible individuals to break the formation with their Primordial Spirits?

Lord Thousand Puppets: Doing so offers but a single chance of survival against nine deaths, but the situation now is perilous in the extreme. To salvage the falling sky, someone ought to step forward.

Though Lord Thousand Puppets spoke obscurely of breaking the formation with a Primordial Spirit, everyone present understood that he wished for someone to detonate their own Primordial Spirit.

As for the so-called candidates, everyone had a fair idea in their hearts; it would bound to be those currently in the worst condition.

Lord Magnetic Pole vetoed it immediately: This course of action is absolutely unacceptable. Thousand Puppets, speak of this no more.

Lord Magnetic Pole did not believe for a moment that any among these deities would willingly sacrifice themselves to save the grand situation. Forcing someone to detonate their Primordial Spirit would likely only drive them to surrender in the end, causing the entire camp to fracture and collapse without a fight.

Just as the deities were locked in dispute, another deity suggested: Why do we not feign surrender for now, wait for an opportunity in secret, strike back when least expected, and salvage the falling sky?

Lord Magnetic Pole sighed inwardly, knowing that those few in the poorest condition were already wavering, harboring thoughts of surrender.

Looking at the continuously updating messages in the group, Magnetic Pole thought to himself: "The hearts of the people have scattered; this team is no longer easy to lead."

While the debate raged on endlessly within the group, Lord Cloud Rest of the Wanfa University suddenly narrowed his eyes.

Situated in a corner of the battlefield, he was able to observe certain scenes outside the formation through the deciphering methods of the Heavenly Sword University.

And at this very moment within his observation, he beheld a multitude of red dots emerging upon the earth outside the formation.

"What on earth is that?" Lord Cloud Rest felt a chill in his heart: "Could it be some manner of offensive measure by the Righteous Alliance?"

Lord Cloud Rest immediately shared the intelligence to the group.

At the same time, he gradually discerned what those red dots truly were.

"It seems to be... a projection of the Spiritual Realm?"

"But what kind of ghostly thing is this projecting? Red envelopes?"

"Someone is scattering red envelopes?"

Soon, besides the red envelopes, Lord Cloud Rest also beheld many objects resembling flickering firelight.

He spoke in the group: Some strange things have appeared outside the great formation.

Lord Cloud Rest: It is fists, candle-glow, and fire.

Lord Cloud Rest: There are more and more of them.

Lord Imperial Blade: Cloud Rest, what exactly are you talking about? What does it have to do with Candle-Glow? Has he surrendered as well?

Lord Thousand Puppets: Screenshot, send a screenshot.

Just then, Lord Anchoring Town of the Wanfa University spoke: I see it too.

Lord Cloud Rest: [Screenshot]

Staring at the dense, firelight-like cluster within the screenshot, Lord Thousand Puppets froze slightly. As the screenshot was continuously enlarged, he finally discerned that it was line upon line of script floating in the air.

It was precisely a vast number of cultivators, bearing the words [Fist] Candle-Glow [Fire] above their heads, crashing against the firmament between the fourth and fifth layers.

Lord Cloud Rest: So many people, they are storming the firmament!

Lord Cloud Rest sent another screenshot. With every new image, those dense red dots, shining like a sea of starlight, were expanding, threatening to ignite the entire firmament like heavenly fire.

Simultaneously, cracks gradually formed upon the firmament within the image, shattering traces spreading frantically like a spider's web...

Beholding this sight, the minds of the many deities trembled: "The firmament... is about to shatter."

Lord Sinister Lotus said in astonishment: "From where did so many experts come to be able to storm the firmament?"

Lord Imperial Blade was filled with immense doubt: "Candle-Glow? What on earth has happened below?"

Lord Clear Abyss asked: "These fellows all bear the two words 'Candle-Glow' upon their heads. Could this be the handiwork of Perfected Lord Candle-Glow?"

The hearts of the crowd shook. Could it truly be as Magnetic Pole had said, that Zhang Yu was coming to shatter the heavens?

In the next instant, an earth-shattering roar echoed through the fifth layer of Kunxu.

Within the observations of the numerous Deity lords, beneath them—in the direction of the earth—the layer of firmament that separated the fourth and fifth layers collapsed with a resounding crash.

Immediately following, a dense crowd of people surged forth like a tsunami, rushing onto the land of the fifth layer like a volcanic eruption.

At the same time, more and more Deity lords beheld those two words, 'Candle-Glow', understanding instantly that this extraordinary anomaly was indeed connected to Zhang Yu.

Beholding this scene, a deity cried out in excitement: "It is broken! It is truly broken!"

Lord Anchoring Town spoke with elation: Principal, Perfected Lord Candle-Glow has succeeded.

The Sovereign of Magnetic Poles smiled faintly and said to the group, “Everyone, this is what it truly means—to uphold Heaven as it topples.”

Sovereign Nielian replied, “Magnetic Poles, when it comes to artifact forging, I’ve never conceded to you. But in teaching disciples… this time, I admit defeat.”

Sovereign Yufeng added, “It really was True Sovereign Zhuyi who shattered the firmament! Sovereign Magnetic Poles, I never imagined you’d foreseen even this! I’m convinced as well.”

Sovereign Qiankui chimed in, “Excellent, excellent! Magnetic Poles! I knew trusting you was the right call!”

Ignoring the flood of praise in the group, Sovereign Magnetic Poles spoke calmly, “Everyone, it’s our turn to strike back.”

At that very moment, the severed Spirit Realms—Layers Four, Three, and Two—reconnected with the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Ten Academies.

Through this restored link, they instantly accessed a torrent of information; within their Eye Sockets, profiles of the Heaven-breaking cultivators immediately materialized:

Chang Buxiu: college graduate, assembly-line worker.

Wei Youye: current college student.

Zhao Tianxing: undergraduate transfer student, soul cultivator…

One after another, those who had pierced through the heavens were merely college students, junior academy pupils, soul cultivation trainees—even high schoolers. The gathered Nascent Soul cultivators were utterly astonished.

Yet they had no time to dwell on it. The moment the Spirit Realm reconnected, the Nascent Souls swiftly began auditing their assets in Layers Two and Three and reclaiming their runaway power left stranded in Layer Four.

Countless spirit-bound artifacts, soul cultivators, and production lines—previously halted—sprang back to life.

Treasure artifacts, puppets, skyships, spatial gear—all surged heavenward at the Nascent Souls’ command the instant the connection was restored, racing toward the battlefield.

Zhang Yu immediately contacted his two masters.

“Master, are you both unharmed?” he asked.

“We’re fine, Zhang Yu,” replied Sovereign Magnetic Poles. “You’ve done exceptionally well this time. All our efforts in nurturing you have not been in vain.”

Just then, Sovereign Qiankui posted in the group: “Magnetic Poles! Did Zhang Yu really distribute all our academy’s Nascent Soul inheritance?”

Having finished auditing his assets, Sovereign Magnetic Poles remained silent—but his aura rippled violently, and even his divine radiance seemed to tremble.

Beside him, Sovereign Qingmu had already completed his data collection, now fully aware of the situations in Layers Two and Three, the matter of the Grand Void Red Packets, and the countless cultivators’ Heaven-breaking feats.

Even with Sovereign Qingmu’s profound cultivation and steadfast Dao-heart, seeing the expenditure records sent tremors through his resolve—he was left momentarily speechless in shock.

(End of Chapter)