Soaring Palace Hall’s plaza, Borderless Heavenly Capital:
“The Ten Rising Suns Ritual Array? A stronger one than what I witnessed eight hundred thousand years in the past?” Gu Hai’s expression darkened as he observed the ten golden crows in the distance.
“The golden crows’ ritual array takes the form of a cauldron, and the internal temperature is something even ordinary consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators might not withstand,” said Vairocana, his eyes narrowing.
“Oh?”
Gu Hai examined the ritual array, and indeed, the arrangement of the ten golden crows resembled a ma.s.sive cauldron with golden fire in the center. Although Gu Hai could not tell its temperature from this distance, he trusted the discerning eyes of Vairocana. Even consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators might not be able to endure it?
“Is Hou Yi finally taking action?” Chen Xianer’s expression turned serious, as she recognized Hou Yi from her memories as the White Emperor.
------
Far away, Hou Yi drew his bow until it resembled a full moon. A dazzling purple glow emanated from the arrow. His eyes grew cold, and he released the bowstring.
Bang!
The purple divine arrow streaked across the sky like a shooting star, illuminating the sky with boundless purple radiance. It instantly reached the barrier around the Ten Rising Suns Ritual Array.
“The cauldron barrier is unbreakable. Even I can’t shatter it with all my might, let alone an arrow you are not connected to?” Xiong You scoffed dismissively.
Boom!
Contrary to Xiong You’s expectations, the purple divine arrow struck the fiery barrier outside the Ten Rising Suns Ritual Array with a deafening report and instantly pierced it.
Caw!
One of the golden crows let out a miserable screech and plummeted from the sky when the arrow pierced its head.
Boom!
That dazzling golden crow blasted open a colossal crater in the ground.
The Ten Rising Suns Ritual Array was no match for Hou Yi’s divine arrow.
“This is impossible! How can Hou Yi’s arrow possess such incredible strength?” Xiong You exclaimed in astonishment.
------
Far away in Borderless Heavenly Capital:
“What an impressive shot! It destroyed even the spiritual souls with one arrow?” Vairocana marveled in surprise.
“What incredible archery skills! This arrow managed to hit the golden crow’s eye with astonis.h.i.+ng precision after breaking through the barrier, piercing through its heavenly palaces,” Gu Hai exclaimed in amazement.
With the loss of one golden crow, the Ten Rising Suns Ritual Array instantly crumbled, and the ritual array’s barrier disappeared, leaving the remaining nine golden crows exposed.
Caw! Caw!
Despite their diminished numbers, the nine golden crows continued charging Chiyou and the others.
“Humph!” Hou Yi’s lips curled into a cold smile as he drew his bow again, fully extending it to resemble a full moon.
Fire!
Whoos.h.!.+
With a swift release, the arrow coursed the sky. The second divine arrow hit another golden crow, pierced its eye, and exited through the back of its head.
Another golden crow fell, lifeless.
However, the arrow did not halt its flight, pressing forward relentlessly.
Bang!
A third golden crow plummeted to the ground.
“Two birds, one arrow?” Gu Hai’s expression turned serious as he observed from a distance.
Bang!
A fourth golden crow met the same fate.
“Three birds, one arrow?” A hint of solemnity appeared on Vairocana’s face.
Bang!
A fifth golden crow fell.
A sixth golden crow followed suit.
Bang!
The strange and chilling scene unfolding made everyone’s hair stand on end.
When the divine arrow pierced through the last golden crow’s head, a collective gasp escaped the onlookers.
“One arrow, nine birds? Hou Yi’s archery skills are truly remarkable!” Gu Hai exclaimed in awe.
The feat of shooting down nine targets with a single arrow was not solely reliant on strength but also on exceptional foresight. It required antic.i.p.ating the flight paths of the nine golden crows and aligning the arrow to strike them one after the other.
While the golden crows flew in various directions, the arrow’s path followed a single trajectory—rather, a parabolic curve. Hou Yi’s ability to precisely predict the positions of the crows at different times was astonis.h.i.+ng, surpa.s.sing even Gu Hai’s formidable mental calculations.
Hou Yi’s proficiency seemed almost instinctual—a testament to his mastery of the bow. Shooting nine birds with one arrow was simply divine.
“This is termed ‘stringing nine stars,’ the highest level of archery. To think Hou Yi can execute it?” Chen Xianer marveled.
The fall of the nine golden crows resembled nine descending suns, leaving the spectators in awe.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The consecutive impacts shook the ground, causing everyone’s eyelids to twitch wildly.
“Stringing nine stars? Hou Yi has attained the zenith of the archery Dao!” Chiyou praised, acknowledging the exceptional display of skill.
Hou Yi, however, modestly waved off the accolades. “It is but a humble technique. Nine Li Imperial Emperor exaggerates my achievements.”
Whoos.h.!.+
With a swift motion, the two distant divine arrows flew back to Hou Yi’s hands. Then he returned them to his quiver. While he made it look easy, the others all felt awed.
------
The emperor’s study, Xuanyuan City:
“Hou Yi shot down the suns?” Emperor Kong’s eyes narrowed in thought.
“I can’t believe the golden crows were so easily vanquished,” Bing Ji said, her eyes flas.h.i.+ng in disbelief.
“Your Holy Eminence, Hou Yi poses a great threat! This official is willing to lead our troops to confront him!” Dahong, who had previously offered his services, spoke up again.
However, Ji Dihong narrowed his eyes and shook his head. His eyes glinted as he observed the eight figures in the distance. Then he declared firmly, “There is no need for your intervention at this time.”
“Ah?” Everyone appeared perplexed.
Ji Dihong stepped forward.
“Huang Heavenly Dynasty, we face an imminent threat at this critical moment. We—Ji Dihong—call upon all our loyal subjects to raise your right hands and lend us your boundless energy. Together, we shall crush these insignificant enemies and restore glory to our nation!” Ji Dihong’s resounding proclamation filled the air.
“Roar!”
A thunderous dragon roar came from the blessings cloud sea above.
Ji Dihong’s voice reached every corner of the Huang Heavenly Dynasty. The people were taken aback at first; then they swiftly and unwaveringly raised their right hands in response.
“Your Holy Eminence, please use my energy!”
Amid the unified voices of the countless citizens, an overwhelming surge of energy converged on the blessings cloud sea above Xuanyuan City.
“Roar!”
Ji Dihong’s incarnation in the blessings cloud sea above suddenly turned into a humongous golden dragon, taking in the boundless energy from the citizens. Then it rushed down towards Ji Dihong.
Boom!
The dragon entered Ji Dihong, and he took to the sky while unleas.h.i.+ng an immense and awe-inspiring aura. s.p.a.ce folded in layers, as though pushed away by the aura, and nearly shattered.
All within Xuanyuan City who witnessed this spectacle felt an overwhelming urge to bow in reverence, their hearts filled with admiration.
Xiong You, Ao Ying, and Feng Bo had already arrived nearby, while Chiyou and his four companions trailed close behind.
Whoos.h.!.+
With a sweep of his wide sleeve, Ji Dihong conjured a gust of wind out of thin air to draw Xiong You, Ao Ying, and Fengbo into Xuanyuan City.
“Your Holy Eminence!” These three found themselves before Ji Dihong and promptly bowed in deep respect.
Ji Dihong ignored them, fixing his gaze on the five pursuers.
Boom!
Chiyou and his companions halted abruptly, stopping just outside Xuanyuan City. A tense standoff ensued as they locked eyes with Ji Dihong.
Ji Dihong gave off a powerful aura, appearing stronger despite facing five consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators.
“Ji Dihong?” Chiyou snarled ferociously.
A sly smile played on Ji Dihong’s lips. “Chiyou, you are quite audacious!”
A hint of uncertainty flickered in Chiyou’s eyes, but he soon made a ferocious face.
------
Divine Flame Hall’s entrance, Great Desolation City, Yan Heavenly Dynasty:
“Humph! Ji Dihong is truly cunning!” A trace of anger flashed in Ba’s eyes.
------
Soaring Palace Hall’s entrance, Borderless Heavenly Capital:
“Ji Dihong is indeed cautious. He saw through Chiyou’s probing!” Ge Hai’s face darkened.
“Saw through it?” Chen Xianer frowned.
“Ji Dihong realized that Chiyou intended to expose his secrets. That’s why he concealed everything and only drove the power of his nation!” Gu Hai said sullenly.
Chen Xianer quickly grasped the situation. “Ji Dihong saw through Husband and Ba’s plan, which is why he drove the power of his nation?”
Gu Hai nodded.
------
Xuanyuan City:
At the gates of Xuanyuan City, Ji Dihong glanced briefly at Chiyou before his gaze crossed a vast distance, fixing on Boundless Heavenly Capital.
An uneasy feeling gripped everyone in the Soaring Palace Hall’s plaza, as if they were being targeted.
Vairocana’s expression turned cold.
Chen Xianer’s anger flared. “Husband, is Ji Dihong provoking us?”
Gu Hai remained silent but engaged in a cold stare-down with Ji Dihong, despite the immeasurable distance separating them.
Ji Dihong glanced at Gu Hai, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Then, he s.h.i.+fted his gaze towards Great Desolation City, specifically fixing on Ba standing before the entrance of the Divine Flame Hall.
Ji Dihong looked at Ba, showing a provocative expression.
At the Divine Flame Hall, Ba locked eyes with Ji Dihong, radiating icy hostility and murderous intent in waves.
Ji Dihong had taunted Gu Hai and Ba, a slight smile lingering on his lips, seemingly mocking them for their obvious schemes. He dared them to confront him head-on if they had the courage.
Gu Hai and Ba narrowed their eyes. They were resolute individuals who were not easily swayed, so they simply stood their ground, unyielding, their eyes reflecting a chilling determination.
Having provoked Gu Hai and Ba and seeing their restrained response, Ji Dihong s.h.i.+fted his gaze back to Chiyou and his companions standing just outside the city.
“Ji Dihong, it has been three thousand years. Hah! You s.n.a.t.c.hed everything from me with the help of that old fogey Jiang Lianshan, seized the territory of my Nine Li Imperial Dynasty, and comfortably occupied my throne. How satisfying it must be,” Chiyou uttered coldly.
“The winner reigns and the loser is evil. Chiyou, it has been three thousand years. To think you are now fond of finding excuses for your defeat? A victory is a victory, and a loss is a loss. We spared you back then on account of Jiang Lianshan. To think you dare to cause trouble in our Huang Heavenly Dynasty?” Ji Dihong said coldly.
“Cause trouble? Hahaha! You weren’t even worthy of carrying my shoes back then. Since you’ve decided to make a move today, let’s settle everything once and for all. You can not take what belongs to me!” Chiyou retorted, his voice filled with a chilling edge.
After speaking, Chiyou threw a palm strike at Ji Dihong.
Boom!
The palm strike unleashed a ma.s.sive black manifested palm. At its center was a crimson mouth filled with menacing fangs. It shattered the surrounding s.p.a.ce as its ferocious aura pressed down on Ji Dihong.
In response, Ji Dihong waved his hand, activating a defensive ritual array to s.h.i.+eld Xuanyuan City. However, he faced the incoming palm strike head-on.
“Not bad. In these three thousand years, your cultivation has improved significantly. Did Jiang Lianshan seal you away to aid your training? Hah! However, you’re not the only one who has made progress!” Ji Dihong shouted coldly.
Ji Dihong flung out a hand, and a golden sword flew out of his sleeve. When the sword appeared, a boundless white light flooded the world.
“n.o.ble spirit! Xuanyuan Sword!” Ji Dihong shouted coldly.
s.h.i.+ng!
Accompanied by surging n.o.ble spirit, a golden sword light soared into the sky and swung at the mouth in Chiyou’s manifested palm.