CHAPTER 554: CHAPTER 538: CRISIS_1

"Hahaha!"

"Such immense power!"

Is this the Supreme Emperor Realm?

Amidst the magnificent starlight, Tianshu Xingzun spread his arms, utterly engrossed, keenly sensing the power of the Supreme Emperor Realm.

He had a premonition: with a single thought, he could collapse the heavens; with a casual blow, he could tear the earth apart. It was a strength beyond words.

But in the next instant, his clear, bright eyes erupted with intense resentment. This condensed into a hundred-zhang-tall Resentful Spirit, shaped like a demonic ghoul, its eyes blood-red, black qi coiling around it, emanating a hatred for the heavens, the earth, and all living beings.

He resented the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court! If it hadn’t been for the rise of the Saint’s Court, which destroyed the Purple Heaven Holy Land, the Beidou Palace would have enjoyed one-third of the East Border’s Fortune. And he, with that potent Fortune, could have broken through to the Supreme Emperor Realm! It’s all the Saint’s Court’s fault for ruining his opportunity!

"A Heart Demon!"

Tianshu Xingzun, Tianji Xingzun, Yuheng Xingzun, and Kaiyang Xingzun’s faces changed slightly. They were insightful and naturally discerned Tianshu Xingzun’s transformation. That hundred-zhang-tall Resentful Spirit was undoubtedly an embodiment of the Heart Demon! And the Heart Demon was something that made all Martial Artists turn pale at its mere mention.

If one could not overcome their Heart Demon, their Dantian would be damaged and their cultivation would regress at best. At worst, they would become a puppet of the Heart Demon, trapped in an endless cycle of slaughter until death.

The primary reason Tianshu Xingzun had developed a Heart Demon was his forced breakthrough to the Supreme Emperor Realm, which had destabilized his Dao heart. Coupled with the torment of his resentment, this had caused him to lose his sanity.

The solution to this Heart Demon was actually quite simple: he merely needed to disperse his augmented strength and revert to the foundational Great Emperor Realm! With a stable Dao heart, the Heart Demon would be defeated without a fight!

Although Tianshu Xingzun, Tianji Xingzun, Yuheng Xingzun, and Kaiyang Xingzun knew how to dispel the Heart Demon, they all remained silent.

People are inherently selfish! If they dispel Tianshu Xingzun’s Heart Demon now, who will confront Ma Chao? Who will defeat the Qin army?

With the tacit approval of Tianshu Xingzun, Tianji Xingzun, Yuheng Xingzun, and Kaiyang Xingzun, the berserk Tianshu Xingzun’s aura grew increasingly violent. He emitted a low roar as black starlight shot into the sky, exuding extreme evil.

From the hidden Void, Nie Zheng watched Tianshu Xingzun transform into a demon, then looked at the indifferent Tianshu Xingzun, Tianji Xingzun, Yuheng Xingzun, and Kaiyang Xingzun, his heart filled with contempt.

When he had faced danger, Ma Chao and the others had appeared in time, traveling far to rescue him. But when Tianshu Xingzun was in danger, Tianshu Xingzun and the others simply watched coldly as their brother of countless eons fell prey to the Heart Demon. Without comparison, there is no suffering! He was deeply grateful to be a courtier of the Qin Dynasty, with a group of colleagues who valued loyalty and camaraderie.

This is trouble! Ma Chao’s brow furrowed slightly as he felt immense pressure.

Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, and Guan Yu also wore solemn expressions. The pressure pervading the Void made their bodies heavy and their breathing difficult, as if they were shouldering a God Mountain.

The power of the Supreme Emperor Realm was too formidable! Just the four of them were no match at all! Only if they could gather all Five Tiger Generals and set up a complete Formation would they have the power to protect themselves.

"Die! Die! Die..." Tianshu Xingzun roared, his body wreathed in black energy, like a demon god descending. His white hair danced wildly as he raised his resentment-wreathed Star Battle Sword and slashed down with all his might.

BOOM!

A Sword Qi capable of throwing ancient times into chaos and shattering the heavens emerged. It made the heavens and earth overturn, the stars and moon dim, and the universe invert! Wherever the Sword Qi passed, space and time ceased to exist, Reincarnation shattered, and all laws retreated as if encountering a harbinger of plague!

This terrifying, evil energy spread out in all directions from Starlight City as its epicenter. In an instant, all the most powerful experts on the Primitive Continent felt a chilling throb in their hearts.

「In the Demon Saint Temple.」

All-Demon Old Ancestor gazed into the distance, a trace of surprise on his face. No wonder this power is so evil; it turns out Tianshu Xingzun has developed a Heart Demon! However, I’m a bit puzzled. Tianshu Xingzun, Tianji Xingzun, Yuheng Xingzun, and Kaiyang Xingzun are right there; why aren’t they helping?

"Battle on the Blood Sand!" Ma Chao bellowed, his figure imposing, his eyes glinting fiercely. His Tiger Head Gold Spear vibrated, transforming into countless spear images that struck towards the heavens.

BOOM!

The Sword Qi and spear images collided! Several surrounding Dao Domains trembled at that moment, and the sky for thousands of miles around was almost completely annihilated into Voidness.

Ma Chao’s body shuddered as he felt a cataclysmic force slam into him. His battle armor shattered, his arms went numb, and he was flung backward uncontrollably, crashing into the ground and gouging out a thousand-zhang-deep crater. Amidst the dust, he was forced to one knee, trickles of blood flowing from the corners of his mouth. His entire head was buzzing!

"Die!"

In contrast, Tianshu Xingzun was completely unaffected. He continued his dive, endless demonic light surging from him. His eyes held nothing but the desire for slaughter.

Kill, kill, kill! Eradicate every living being in the world!

This was a state of being completely controlled by the Heart Demon, his Dao heart utterly lost, forever fallen to the demonic path. Even if Tianshu Xingzun’s augmented strength were dispersed now, it would be futile; he would remain controlled by the Heart Demon until his complete demise.

Seeing this, of the other four Star Venerables, apart from Kaiyang Xingzun who showed a hint of sorrow, the remaining three—Tianshu Xingzun, Tianji Xingzun, and Yuheng Xingzun—remained expressionless, even revealing a silent, urgent cry in their eyes.

Quick, quick, quick! Kill all the damned Qin soldiers!

"Kill!" Completely demonized, Tianshu Xingzun glared with murderous eyes, locking onto Ma Chao and charging forth to kill. A black demonic sword gradually condensed!

BOOM!

The sword light fell! The world seemed to explode! The unending killing intent sent a chill down the spines of everyone present, making their scalps tingle.

「In the Ninefold Saint’s Court.」

"Die! All of you die!" Dongfang Wendao shouted excitedly. Before him lay a mystic mirror displaying the battlefield at Starlight City. His gaze was fixed on the black Sword Qi, as if he could already see Ma Chao’s body exploding in a shower of blood.

However, just as the Sword Qi was about to descend, a vibrant Azure Dragon Saber Qi slashed out, successfully rescuing Ma Chao at the last possible moment. Ten thousand zhang away, Guan Yu wielded his Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, his expression cold.

"You...are...courting...death..." Tianshu Xingzun roared in fury. He immediately abandoned his attack on Ma Chao and charged towards Guan Yu.

BOOM!

The Sword Qi fell! Guan Yu was instantly sent flying, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His arms were broken, and blood flowed unceasingly from the torn flesh between his thumbs and forefingers, temporarily robbing him of his ability to fight.

Tianshu Xingzun raised his battle sword and strode through the air, preparing to finish off Guan Yu.

Just then, a white Sword Qi materialized out of thin air, piercing Tianshu Xingzun’s body with the speed of lightning, yet no blood spurted out.

Such a formidable physique! Nie Zheng’s figure appeared, a hint of astonishment on his face. His full-powered strike hadn’t even pierced Tianshu Xingzun’s skin; instead, the rebound had numbed his own arm.

"Get lost!" Tianshu Xingzun bellowed, lashing out with a fist.

This punch was utterly ordinary, devoid of any technique, yet the force it generated sent Nie Zheng flying dozens of miles, coughing up blood before he fainted.

Zhang Fei and Huang Zhong’s expressions changed slightly. Without hesitation, they joined forces to attack Tianshu Xingzun. However, facing Tianshu Xingzun, who was both demonized and in the Supreme Emperor Realm, their combined, all-out assault was still thoroughly suppressed.

It was fortunate that Tianshu Xingzun, having succumbed to the demon, had lost his sanity and was unable to execute martial techniques; otherwise, they would have been defeated long ago.

Even so, their situation was extremely critical! If the battle continued, their deaths were certain!