Chapter 180: Fierce Battle (Second Update)

It must be the issue with the YinYang DaoDevouring Gu.

The YinYang DaoDevouring Gu acted up when he was transcending tribulation to become a sage. At that time, he was facing the eternal great tribulation, confronting the strongest geniuses throughout history. Naturally, Lu Ye had to go all out.

Thus, he unleashed every means at his disposal, each one the most terrifying technique, pushing his combat abilities to the absolute limit.

Because his opponents wouldn’t engage in friendly sparring, starting with casual exchanges before resorting to ultimate moves.

This was the invincible method Jiang Die prided herself on.

"Boom!"

The battle between the two left everyone dazzled, with all sorts of divine abilities that most cultivators could scarcely comprehend—let alone master in a lifetime—being effortlessly deployed.

"Husband, are you feeling a bit hopeless?"

Jiang Die sensed the momentum Lu Ye had been carrying with him begin to wane.

Lu Ye was already falling behind, and Jiang Die’s eyes burned with wild joy and madness.

She had actually defeated Lu Ye!

She truly could defeat him!

If she could just kill Lu Ye, from then on, she alone in the Nine Heavens would wield such profound Dao. She would become the new NineLives Celestial Lord, unrivaled in the world, transcending to sagehood.

Jiang Die’s aura grew increasingly terrifying.

The foundation of all this was Lu Ye’s death!

Die!

"Boom!"

Another Celestial Lord Fist struck, sending Lu Ye’s body flying. His momentum nearly shattered under the force of that punch.

"Pfft!"

Lu Ye spat out a mouthful of blood.

The moment that blood was spilled, everyone in the Second Heaven grew even more exhilarated.

This demon was finally about to be defeated.

It had been far too difficult.

If Jiang Die failed, darkness would surely envelop the entire Second Heaven.

If this demon truly began his reckoning, who knew how many cultivators would become nourishment for his Soul Banner.

Lu Ye suddenly brandished the Human Emperor Banner.

In that instant, the Ten Thousand Souls Refining Heaven Formation took shape, trapping Jiang Die within.

Jiang Die couldn’t help but laugh wildly.

"Such a pitiful Soul Banner dares to obstruct my path? Husband, you’ve truly lost your mind!"

"Boom!"

Countless wraiths let out mournful wails.

Jiang Die activated her Primordial Indestructible Dharma Body, rendering even the Soul Refining Heaven Formation powerless against it. Instead, she cleaved through swathes of wraiths with one sword strike after another.

"Ahhh—!"

Every soul twisted in agony.

Piercing shrieks surged like a tempest, forming a terrifying magnetic field that launched a ferocious assault on Jiang Die’s divine soul.

Yet, this attack could only delay her momentarily—it couldn’t harm her in the slightest.

In her past life, she had been an Emperor, her Dao heart unshakable. Now, with overwhelming divine abilities and supreme scriptures, a mere feeble Soul Banner could, at best, stall her for a brief moment.

Black mist obscured Jiang Die’s vision.

One Lu Ye stepped out from his own shadow, then a second, a third—until four Lu Yes stood before her.

Using the Celestial Silkworm Nine Transformations as the foundation and borrowing the power of the Avenue, he forcibly ignited the essence of his Nascent Soul. This technique, known as the Heaven-Borrowing Method, once again forcibly elevated him to the first level of Heavenly God.

Vermilion Bird!

Azure Dragon!

White Tiger!

Black Tortoise!

The auras of the Four Celestial Beasts radiated from the four Lu Yes—with the Vermilion Bird’s presence the most intense. The Four Celestial Beasts manifested as phantoms behind Lu Ye, all illusory except for the lifelike Vermilion Bird.

Four Spirits Return to Position!

The four Lu Yes took their places in the four cardinal directions.

Lu Ye’s aura surged once more.

If Jiang Die wanted to play, Lu Ye would indulge her thoroughly.

But this was not the end. The baleful energy around Lu Ye suddenly erupted skyward.

All the killing intent coalesced into a monstrous blood cloud, within which crimson thunderbolts formed. They split into four and struck the four Lu Yes with devastating force.

The agony was nearly comparable to that of the Primordial Morning Mist.

The baleful energy invaded his body, forcibly stimulating his latent potential.

Enduring pain beyond mortal comprehension, Lu Ye’s aura ascended to the fifth level of Heavenly God.

At this point, any further escalation would push him beyond his limits.

Indeed, even in this state, Lu Ye was not at his strongest.

If he began burning his Avenue… dealing with Jiang Die alone would be a loss outweighing the gain.

During his tribulation in the previous life, why didn't Lu Ye use so many methods?

Because his Dao was fractured.

He no longer knew the meaning of persisting.

Eight of his closest people betrayed him together.

Lu Ye was utterly disheartened.

The Human Emperor Banner let out a wail, countless vengeful spirits were obliterated, and five of the eight main souls were forcibly destroyed.

It was nearly shattered beyond repair.

The Human Emperor Banner is different from ordinary equipment.

Ordinary equipment can only be upgraded from acquired to acquired, or innate to innate.

But the Human Emperor Banner transitions from innate to acquired, then back to innate—this only reflects the level of power it can unleash, not its inherent rank.

The black mist dissipated.

Jiang Die wore an expression of pride—this was her strength. Even the Soul Banner, which struck fear into countless cultivators, could not withstand her assault.

Then, she saw four Lu Ye.

Four Lu Ye at the fifth level of the Heavenly God realm, each with the ferocious, blood-colored phantom of the Four Celestial Beasts hovering behind them.