Chaotic World Book

"Boom!" Wang Daoning couldn't bother to ponder how Zhao Changhe had managed to escape his bindings so swiftly, as he hastily swatted away the incoming arrows, feeling his Soul Sea shudder with the impact.

The golden arrows were indeed outrageous; they were merely shot by a martial artist from the Second Layer Secret Treasure, yet the power imbued by the Dragon Vein Divine Wood and the arrows' Soul-breaking Power were hardly inferior to that of one at the Imperial Realm.

Had he not perceived this foe as a significant threat and known that a swift resolution was impossible without the desperate alliance with Tang Wanju, Wang Daoning would not have chosen to entrap and rush into battle. At this moment, he was paying the price for his miscalculation.

He had just deflected the arrow when the monstrous claw of the Vermilion Bird reached for his neck. The claw itself had not yet arrived, but the demonic flames were already scorching him... Not only that, but his heart's anger was ignited, his emotions became extremely volatile and aggressive, impairing his thinking.

The Four Symbols Sect had spread rumors on minor channels for propaganda, claiming that both the Vermilion Bird and Xuanwu Venerable had reached the level of the Heavenly List's Third Layer Secret Treasure. In the battle at sea, Xuanwu was indeed mighty, but to think that Vermilion Bird was no less fierce, and even more ferocious in its attacks.

When Xia Longyuan bore such offensive pressure, others felt little; but now, as Wang Daoning faced Zhao Changhe's arrow and the Vermilion Bird's claw, with his own Sword Array thrown into disarray, he found himself in a tight spot.

Wang Daoning swiftly parried the claw strike of the Vermilion Bird, but then a cold light flashed above his head as Zhao Changhe's slashing attack bore down upon him.

There was a peculiar sentiment in the heart of the Vermilion Bird—it was actually the first time fighting alongside Zhao Changhe while embodying the form of the Vermilion Bird... Although the battle was a chaotic mess, with the fighting spirit nearly gone, just for the sake of this moment it was necessary to bolster that spirit, unwilling to let the little man think poorly of the Vermilion Bird Venerable!

As the Vermilion Bird surged with vigor, Wang Daoning's mind teemed with unvoiced exasperations; damn it, the Vermilion Bird's blows felt even more vigorous than those dealt to Xia Longyuan!

On the other hand, Zhao Changhe was not as committed to besieging Wang Daoning as the Vermilion Bird was. He had a strange premonition and widened his focus, surveying the entire battlefield.

Logically, this was not the moment Snow Eagle should continue fighting here... A missed strike combined with retreating thousands of miles is the principle of a top assassin; he should not be entangled here with Xia Longyuan, especially in what was briefly a one-on-one bout.

Though Xia Longyuan appeared increasingly weakened... Originally an image of a robust old man, he now seemed as aged and feeble as Hai Pinglan, who had burned his lifespan; his face, now grim and stooped, bore clear age spots and deep wrinkles.

A tremor of realization struck Zhao Changhe—he awakened to the fact that Xia Longyuan had lived through several decades already; battling Hai Pinglan for supremacy had happened over thirty years ago, and by the time Chichi became emperor, Xia was already an old monarch that had long unified the realm. His current age was indeed advanced. The vigor of his cultivation had once concealed that age, but once cultivation faded, the frail body would drag him down, making a prolonged battle increasingly disadvantageous.

Was this what Snow Eagle saw? Thinking that stalling a while longer would lead to the slaying of a dragon? But, even with Xia Longyuan's weakness, defeating him should still not pose a problem—where did this confidence stem from?

Reliant on Li Gongsi and Yang Jingxiu? Observing the two of them, they were contending with the Sword Array, with Yang Jingxiu seeming to edge closer to an exit, ready to flee at any moment—a rational act, clearly seeking an escape upon sensing danger.

And what of Li Gongsi?

He, on the contrary, was closing in on Xia Longyuan's position, seemingly attempting to assist Snow Eagle in attacking Xia Longyuan.

Something wasn't right... Considering Snow Eagle's rank at the forefront of the Heavenly List, having some confidence to stall a weakening Xia could be excused, but where did Li Gongsi, merely a practitioner from the Second Layer Secret Treasure, muster such audacity to think of ambushing at such a time? With such bravery, would he even need to collude with barbarians?

A subtle notion arose in Zhao Changhe's mind—Li Gongsi was proven to have conspired with barbarians to breach the pass. Had the barbarians truly just plundered and left? Was it possible someone remained hidden there, silently participating in this battle with Li Gongsi? Earlier they lay concealed, fearing to provoke a backlash, but now, with the truth unveiled, was there any need for further secrecy?

As his thoughts stirred, so did a premonition of danger.

From the shadows, a figure nimble as a fox, swiftly launched a palm strike aimed at Xia Longyuan's back!

Ranked second on the Heavenly List, from the Longevity Temple, the Great Shaman Bo'e!

It all made sense now, with a mole inside feeding information about the grand affair, how could he miss out!

He was the one who should be the nearest challenger to Xia Longyuan; Zhao Changhe would not believe it if people claimed Bo'e wasn't at par with the Imperial Realm! His intervention now could almost certainly determine the outcome!

"Whoosh!" Zhao Changhe's blow, intended for Wang Daoning, suddenly shifted direction, targeting Bo'e's back. Regardless of whether his own strength sufficed to threaten Bo'e, he had to gamble everything on this strike!

This sudden change of direction was perilous for him as well—Wang Daoning's palm had already reached his chest.

With a "snap," the Vermilion Bird swiftly switched from offense to defense, blocking the blow for Zhao Changhe. He himself took a hit from Wang Daoning's elbow to the ribs, and grunted as he retreated.

Meanwhile, Bo'e's assault struck something unyielding.

Through the smoke and dust, the steely figure of Li Shentong stood behind Xia Longyuan. Bo'e's mountain-cleaving palm blasted against Li Shentong, only slightly pushing him back, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, yet his face revealed a semblance of relief, "You came... good... very good."

It seemed Li Shentong had guessed it too, waiting for this very moment.

His powerful arms grabbed Bo'e's withered hand, while Zhao Changhe's blade had already struck at Bo'e's neck.

A perfect instance of tacit cooperation, yet totally ineffective.

Bo'e's body, sinuous as a serpent, slipped past, and Zhao Changhe's strike glided off as if slashing against an octopus, ineffectual. The grasped hand suddenly swelled, slapping Li Shentong in the chest.

Li Shentong grunted, determined not to back away.

Li Gongsi's sword also arrived at Zhao Changhe's back, mere inches away... yet he found he couldn't penetrate.

Startled, he turned to see the usually smiling Ying Wu, his eyes now ferociously cold, "You... have embarrassed me... deeply embarrassed me."

Li Gongsi was shocked to find he could no longer move; the space around him seemed severed, immobilizing him. He was unable to make a sound, watching helplessly as the spatial slicing opened crack upon crack across his body as if enduring a slow dismemberment.

Li Gongsi screamed in agony, but within the entire environment, no one could hear his cries as he instantly became a bloodied man.

If Wang Daoning could know what Li Gongsi was thinking at that moment, he would surely agree—if these people felt that their strength wasn't anything impressive when they were fighting Xia Longyuan, it was only once they faced the same situation that they understood what "abnormal" meant. Xia Longyuan's ability to solve the situation didn't mean they could. This odd method, a difference in Level, was unsolvable!

But that was no longer important. What mattered was that Li Shentong, along with Zhao Changhe, still couldn't stop Bo'e.

Bo'e seemed to pull a curved saber from nowhere, slipping past the blockage of Li Shentong, and slicing across Xia Longyuan's back.

Originally, this should not have caused injury to Xia Longyuan. Facing a Snow Eagle alone, he shouldn't have been so constrained. However, to everyone's surprise, this strike made contact!

Because he didn't dodge at all, letting the curved saber slice across his spine.

What shocked everyone even more was that although he was clearly injured, the power he was losing started to grow instead. His momentum soared incessantly, surging violently!

Bo'e felt a jolt in his heart as he saw Xia Longyuan swiftly return a slap.

The Snow Eagle, which had been elusive as light and shadow and caused Xia Longyuan much trouble, now couldn't dodge this slap. It was smacked solidly, like a fly, spinning 360 degrees in the air, spewing out a mouthful of blood mist, and vanishing with a flicker.

At the same time, the four Divine Swords stopped biting back and attacking Xia Longyuan. It was as if they were responding to Xia Longyuan's call, the four swords striking together, darting towards Bo'e!

Bo'e finally understood why Xia Longyuan would deliberately endure his strike.

Prior to this, Xia Longyuan had not received any injuries. The first time he was injured, he was wounded by the hands of the foreigners.

At this moment, he still represented the Qi Veins of Great Xia!

Hence, the lost Qi Veins momentarily returned. The rebellious Four Spirits Sword heeded his command, and everyone had a common target, and that was him, Bo'e!

"You shouldn't have come," Xia Longyuan said with a hint of sarcasm. "This time, their dragon-slaying endeavor would have succeeded without the collusion between you and Li Gongsi, I would have truly lost. Because it wasn't them who would kill me, but the people of the world who thought I shouldn't be in this position... But unfortunately, once you showed up, they had to recognize my authority, even if they had to hold their noses."

"Clang!" A terrifyingly sharp light from the four simultaneous sword strikes barraged upon Bo'e, letting out a ringing sound of clashing metal.

Bo'e's calm voice resounded, "So what, you're just in a fleeting resurgence. They pose no threat to me. As for the concentrated attack of the four swords, it indeed is quite troublesome, but it's a pity you have Spirit Swords in Central Earth, while my grassland isn't without its own."

Staring intently, the four Spirit Swords were simultaneously stuck on a giant axe, which was engaged in a clamorous battle around the axe.

Bo'e's figure had disappeared, with the curved saber appearing very abruptly at Xia Longyuan's back.

"A brief resurgence is more than enough!" Xia Longyuan, as if predicting his appearance, suddenly retaliated with a punch. "Behold my fist, and compare it to your divinity!"

"Rumble!" The Underground Sky Dome, which had lost its shine, suddenly lit up, stars twinkling throughout the sky, lightning flashing and thunder rolling in the black night, the blinding light making it impossible for everyone to keep their eyes open.

Xia Longyuan's god-slaying fist re-emerged in the mortal world!

Facing this punch that no human could withstand, Bo'e showed no sign of panic, quickly pulling out a Blood Token from his chest and smashing it forward.

Being a shaman, in essence, he is a Servant of God and one who communes with the divine. His strength was not solely his own, as he could draw upon the power of more divinities.

The Heavenly God of Longevity Heaven, originally blown to self-destruction over the sea and gravely injured, could not possibly participate in a Divine Descent again. However, he had sealed his power within this Blood Token, and when Bo'e smashed it forward, it was a fist's phantom that collided with Xia Longyuan's punch.

"Boom!" The ferocious energy clashed, and the people who had been fighting before shielded themselves, rapidly retreating from the center of the explosion.

When the situation escalated into a Divine War, mortals could not participate; they couldn't even get close.

Under the raging blast wave, both Xia Longyuan and Bo'e spat out mouthfuls of fresh blood.

Indeed, Xia Longyuan's last-ditch punch could not possibly match the strength of his peak; it was too far off. Luckily, the Heavenly God's sealed blow was also not in utmost vigor. Coupled with Bo'e's own Imperial Realm level strength fighting against Xia Longyuan, they ended up both severely injured!

Bo'e admired him inwardly but remained unfazed; he knew that after Xia Longyuan's exertion, once his power dissipated, he'd just be an old wreck, soon to defeat himself. There was no need to continue the desperate fight; otherwise, he might be surrounded by Li Shentong and the others, making it impossible even for him to escape.

With that thought, Bo'e swiftly shifted to retrieve the War Axe engaged with the Four Spirits Sword— that was the Heavenly God's Axe, it must not be left here; all he needed was to grab it and flee.

But before his hand could touch the axe handle, a whiff of fresh air breezed by.

A skinny old man, carrying the large axe, made his getaway unseen.

His laughter echoed through the air, "A shaman's gift, I dare not refuse~ This is much more interesting than Xia Longyuan's underwear... Pff, cough, cough, cough..."

As he spoke, it seemed he couldn't bear the overflow of power from the axe, incurring a serious injury, his cough growing fainter, leaving it uncertain whether he had perished.

Bo'e was so furious that he was about to vomit blood, but before he could give chase, Xia Longyuan's fist approached again! If he got involved with the thief in a chase, he feared he wouldn't make it back!

Bo'e only weighed the options for half a second before quickly vanishing from sight.