Chapter 326 Crisis

"BANG!"

The sword's energy screamed through the air.

But Bai Qiulan remained untouched.

Because a terrifying aura awoke—just its presence birthed a monstrous storm that swept across the void.

*QuasiEmperor!*

This realm wasn't just dominant in the Fourth Heaven, but even in the Seventh and Eighth Heavens.

An Emperor was synonymous with invincibility.

A Celestial Lord embodied infinity.

And a QuasiEmperor was only a single step away from an Emperor. Though that gap was cosmic, a QuasiEmperor still wielded imperial might.

Its terror dwarfed even a hundred Monarchs united.

Back in Lu Ye’s Great Dao days, fighting a crippled and severely wounded QuasiEmperor had cost him his life. That alone spoke volumes of how powerful a QuasiEmperor truly was.

Now, the QuasiEmperor stirred.

Naturally, the Devourbeast’s return heralded the Nine Heavens Great Sage.

Bai Qiulan was not sent flying by the violent aura.

The aura skirted around her, allowing Bai Qiulan to swiftly approach.

The colossal gray sphere uncoiled as a terrifying beast expanded several times in size. Its aura alone threatened to engulf the Fourth Heaven.

Yet the instant it roused, a fist plummeted from the skies, arriving in an instant and smashing ruthlessly onto the Devourbeast's head.

"Thud!"

The Devourbeast howled in agony.

A shadowy figure wreathed in chaos effortlessly seized the Devourbeast and immediately delivered a knee strike.

"Bang!"

The Devourbeast was sent flying. Were it not for its monstrous hide, the Nine Heavens Great Sage's strike alone would have shattered it.

"Nine Heavens Great Sage, stop hitting me!"

The Devourbeast’s roar was a plea in disguise.

Blow after blow hammered down upon the Devourbeast. It swung its tail in retaliation, only for one hand to grab it while the other formed a blade and chopped down viciously.

The tail was lopped off cleanly.

A torrent of gray light vomited forth at the Nine Heavens Great Sage, who didn't even bother defending—absorbing it perfectly on the spot.

A devastating follow-up strike came next.

Though just a fading echo of his power left in the Fourth Heaven after his demise, it could still thrash a QuasiEmperor senseless.

It was utterly merciless.

This is the Great Sage, the one who shattered the darkest era, waged war against all evil cultivators, demonic practitioners, and foreign races, opened the Nine Heavens, and loathed the strong preying on the weak!

An ordinary sage is just that—ordinary!

Those who can be called Great Sages are either of monumental achievements or possess world-shattering power—and the Nine Heavens Great Sage is such a sage.

The Devourbeast was beaten to the point of numbness. In this state, perhaps just fifteen minutes would be enough for the Nine Heavens Great Sage to reduce it to scrap.

Just imagine—such a terrifying Nine Heavens Great Sage, waiting for his Dao principles to dissipate?

It might live to the end of its lifespan, yet the Nine Heavens Great Sage’s law would still be thriving and potent.

It couldn’t just wait here forever!

When would this ever end?

In desperation, it encountered An Li.

The Dark Origin was a bad thing, and the Devourbeast, after living for eons, certainly knew that.

But what could it do?

It awoke to a world in ruins.

It had no choice but to forge a pact with the Dark Origin—it would help the Dark Origin, and the Dark Origin would help it.

According to the Dark Origin, when someone bearing its essence arrived, that would be the time for its awakening.

At that moment, the Dark Origin would grant it power.

It also taught the Devourbeast a rather terrifying forbidden art.

While being battered by the Nine Heavens Great Sage, the Devourbeast suddenly opened its maw and devoured Bai Qiulan in one gulp.

The Nine Heavens Great Sage showed no concern for Bai Qiulan, as her aura was weak and did not breach the rules he had set.

Lu Ye watched from afar as Bai Qiulan entered the Devourbeast’s body.

His eyebrows knitted briefly.

"Stand ready—at the first sign of trouble, strike it down for me!"

Lu Ye commanded.

"Ding, roger that!"

"Di, copy!"

Both the system and Providence answered in unison.

With that, the Devourbeast finally couldn’t hold on any longer and rapidly shrank, transforming back into a crater-riddled planet.

The Nine Heavens Great Sage surveyed the Devourbeast and nodded in satisfaction to himself, then shifted his attention to Lu Ye.

He nodded again.

However, the first nod was in approval of his own work.

The second nod was a greeting between fellow Daoists.

Lu Ye held a great deal of respect for the Nine Heavens Great Sage. To be honest, if not for the Nine Heavens Great Sage, Lu Ye might’ve died ten thousand times.

If not for the Nine Heavens' presence, on the very first day of his rebirth, Yin Qingcheng of the Void Realm would’ve surely come and seized him.

The Void Realm stood as the strongest realm of the Sixth Heaven.

At the time of his rebirth, Yin Qingcheng was already at the Void Realm.

Thus, Lu Ye gave a respectful salute to the Nine Heavens Great Sage.

The Nine Heavens Great Sage gradually dissipated into flecks of light and vanished.

The world fell silent.

Lu Ye gazed at the Devourbeast, which had once again transformed into a planet, and he frowned slightly.

What did Bai Qiulan and Yue Hongling intend by rushing into the Devourbeast’s body?

A sudden pang of danger arose in Lu Ye’s heart—an instinctive alarm born from battle-hardened instincts.

For him to feel such danger…

Back when he had just ascended to the Fourth Heaven, even when a group of Heaven-Earth Realm experts were ambushing at the Ascension Pool, the danger hadn’t felt this dire.

Something was wrong!

Lu Ye immediately retreated.

Whatever the cause, he had to find a solution.

Danger!

A crisis that could set off his instincts was definitely no minor threat.

What should he do?

"Keep a close eye on the Devourbeast. Alert me to any changes immediately!" Lu Ye commanded.

"Acknowledged!"

"Understood!"

Lu Ye started devising a plan.

Boosting his power was obviously not an option—there was no time for meaningful growth in such a short time.

That left only one choice: deploying an array.

And not just any array—it had to be a formation of unprecedented power.

But what kind?

Lu Ye pondered.

Soon, his gaze settled on the stars in the void.

His eyes lit up.

That's it!

Make the stars the formation's heart!

Activate the Nine Heavens Star Prison Grand Formation!

Of course, at Lu Ye's current power level, he couldn't achieve that yet.

But even a simplified version would be damn powerful.

No time to lose.

Lu Ye grasped a star between his hands and began moving it.

Meanwhile.

Bai Qiulan materialized inside the Devourbeast's body with the frozen Yue Hongling, who hadn't yet been digested as nutrients.

Thick black mist surged from her body, and An Li, clad in a black dress, emerged from the fog.

"Sister Bai, and frozen Hong Ling, long time no see," An Li greeted them cheerfully, wearing a bright, innocent smile.

Bai Qiulan's expression stayed frosty.

"No need for idle talk. Whatever backup plans or schemes you have, get on with it now. Lu Ye is surely making preparations as we speak."

"If Lu Ye prepares thoroughly, none of your tricks will work!"

An Li, however, shook her head with a smile.

"Sister Bai, you've got it wrong this time. What you should say is—no matter what preparations Lu Ye makes, he is doomed to fail this time!"

"Because this time, it's the Devourbeast that's coming after him!"