Both the Grandmaster of Heaven and the Primeval Lord of Heaven arrived at the same point in outer space, just several hundred light years away from Sura.

  They ran into each other by coincidence, and did not come by invitation.

  Still, they were not in a hurry to reach Sura since they could cover hundreds of light years in an instant.

  Right now, a cloud mirror lay before them.

  Everything within Sura was shown within that mirror—from Jiang He’s arrival, the subjugation of the Nether River Patriarch, and the arrival of Lord Swelling Sky.

  In fact, the Primeval Lord of Heaven, who was always synonymous with solemness, could not help laughing out loud and stroking his beard when Jiang He taunted Lord Swelling Sky.

  The Grandmaster of Heaven was having a good chuckle as well, but scowled and complained when he saw the Primeval Lord of Heaven stroke his beard, “Why would you keep that beard, Brother? We’re all Saints and immortal, and it’s not like you have to keep up appearances like Senior Brother. That goatee is unbearable for me to look at.”


  “As a man who lived over endless ages, how could I not grow my beard out a little?” the Primeval Lord of Heaven replied.

  The Grandmaster of Heaven was upset at that—who do you think you’re flexing on?

  Still, he could not be bothered to argue with the Primeval Lord of Heaven. Fixing his gaze upon the cloud mirror, Lord Swelling Sky had just attacked.

  “Eh?”


  Both the Grandmaster of Heaven and the Primeval Lord of Heaven felt their face twitch, because they clearly sensed the Dao of the Patriarch of the Gods.

  It was unfurling with faint hostility.

  “This is not good.”


  The Patriarch of the Gods quickly said. “That old dog is coming, and I’m afraid that it would be difficult for us if we want to rescue Jiang He later.”


  At the same time, the Patriarch of the Demons was in the other end of space, having sought out Taishang Laojun while chuckling.

  “I’ve come to have tea with you, Brother.”


  ***

  Back at Sura, the battle started at the drop of a hat.

  Lord Swelling Sky stood where he was, shifting slightly to gently tap the space where Jiang He was.

  In that very instant, Jiang He felt space and time freezing up around him, just as the dimension around him started to bend.

  There was a crisp sound.

  The dimensions 5 kilometers around Jiang He shattered like a mirror.

  The cutting energy caused when it shattered landed on Jiang He with resounding clanging.

  Jiang He’s clothes were torn into pieces, revealing his toned physique.

  “Eh?”


  Lord Swelling Sky’s gaze twitched as he exclaimed in surprise, “What a powerful physique…… your body’s defence would match premium-grade acquired soul treasures.”


  His casual strike should have been enough to cut most Demi-Saint into pieces.

  Meanwhile, a set of armor materialized over Jiang He’s body…… while his physique was tough enough to not need protective mystic treasures, ordinary clothes were too easily ripped—surely he couldn’t fight Lord Swelling Sky while naked, could he?

  On the other hand, Lord Swelling Sky pressed his fingers over thin air again.

  The shattered dimension reversed, becoming good as new.

  All Jiang He could feel right then was the whole world crashing down on him with incomparable binding force.

  An ordinary Demi-Saint would hardly be able to move under such restraint.

  However, was Jiang He an ordinary Demi-Saint?

  With a stifled roar, he unleashed his full cultivation.

  A Martial Yuan Spirit appeared behind him and his whole body shone with the golden light of Eternium. His overwhelming essence shot out of his various orifices, and knocked the frozen dimension to the point of almost cracking.

  In his body, immeasurable immortal power quaked heaven and Earth as he shook off Lord Swelling Sky’s frozen dimension, bounding through the stars as he charged toward Lord Swelling Sky.

  “What?!”


  Lord Swelling Sky was stunned. “He was merely the best of third-rate Demi-Saints the last time I saw him…… how did he gain so much power in such a short time? Even the Grand Mage of Xuandu or the dead Stoner Patriarch would be a class below him!”


  As the thought flashed through his mind, he affirmed his thought to kill Jiang He. He was finally not acting lofty, but charging toward Jiang He in response as well.

  Jiang He raised one hand and punched out.

  The afterimage of his fists projected the six paths of reincarnation as twilight arrived upon the world, and the glow of a setting sun seemed to illuminate every direction.

  Even Lord Swelling Sky was affected by the sheer will behind the punch, weakening the technique he released to some extent.

  As his fist collided with Jiang He’s, however, his Daoist heart as a Saint stirred to dispel that effect, and thereafter, he cast a divine light and swung it at Jiang He.

  In response, Jiang He invoked his Yuan Killer Sword and swung it at the divine light, but the Yuan Killer Sword was sent flying while the divine light would not even slow down as it pierced Jiang He’s chest.

  There was a flash of golden light upon it as Eternium healed Jiang He, making him good as new.

  Lord Swelling Sky’s eyes narrowed.

  Even so, his assault and number of techniques unleashed never slowed, but escalated instead.

  Soon, the battle became one-sided—despite being able to defend himself and trade blows against Lord Swelling Sky, Jiang He was being handed a beatdown.

  ‘Saints really are strong,’ he thought to himself.

  ‘However, Lord Swelling Sky has a limit in spite of his might,’ he quietly added.

  If he were to cast Esoteric Power right now, he would be able to maim Swelling Sky with a single strike thanks to his thirty-threefold boost in strength.

  Even so, Jiang He did not do that immediately—he was being prudent.

  Saints controlled the Temporal Dao, but Swelling Sky had yet to cast it…… the divine light just now must be that flying shuttle he was wielding, and an innate soul treasure at that.

  Before coming, the Primeval Lord of Heaven had passed a message to Jiang He from Taishang Laojun, saying that the Patriarch of the Gods had a lifelong treasure that was incredibly unique, one that he might lend to Swelling Sky, which was why Jiang He ought to be cautious.

  Yes.

  No rush.

  He could afford to play with Swelling Sky for now.

  Jiang He had been a little worried before the fight, but he calmed down and relaxed after the fighting started.

  After all, Lord Swelling Sky’s strength was much more limited than his.

  With the golden light of Eternium, being wounded was a trifle…… indeed, Jiang He was heavily dependent on that as well, or he would be critically injured and floored.

  “Damn it!”


  “What the hell are you?”


  As opposed to Jiang He’s nonchalance, Lord Swelling Sky was now getting worried.

  A Saint who can’t quickly destroy a recently ascended Demi-Saint…… what dignity would he have left if word of that gets out?

  Moreover, things would change immediately anyway.

  His patriarch had decreed that Jiang He must die.

  “Jiang He! Die!” he cried.

  Around him, an extraordinary Dao rippled as he invoked another streak of divine light and charged toward Jiang He.

  Jiang He invoked the Yuan Killer Sword to stop it, only to realize in shock that his movement had become extremely sluggish, whereas that divine light was extremely quick.

  His chest was pierced again, and his whole body was sent flying over dozens of thousands of kilometers away.

  “Time acceleration?!”


  “No, that’s not all…… That wretch must have used some sort of temporal technique that slowed me as well……”


  As that thought occurred to Jiang He, he directed his Eternium to cover his body, only to realize……

  Even the regeneration rate of Eternium was much slower.

  In fact, his very thoughts had turned sluggish as well.

  Time was not slowing, but the flow of time around him was altered……

  More divine light shot toward him.

  Jiang He could only catch the flash before his body was pierced again.

  That process repeated, and Jiang He was not able to recover at all.

  Soon, Lord Swelling Sky himself came, smiling fearsomely to stand in front of Jiang He.

  However, his speech, expression, and movements were dozens, even hundreds of times quicker than Jiang He.

  “A mere Demi-Saint challenging a Saint?”


  As he spoke, he took out a pagoda with an offhanded flick of his fingers, chuckling. “This has been my lifelong treasure and can match innate paragon treasures in power when wielded by me. The most scorching of divine flames reside within, and all Demi-Saints that end up inside would be reduced to ashes.”


  He invoked the pagoda and sent it at Jiang He…… when his face dropped.

  An aura that left his heart pounding burst out from the human’s body.

  “Esoteric Power!”


  “Thirty-threefold strength!”


  Having no other choice and with time slowed down for him, Jiang He unleashed one of the nine Esoteric Words: Power.

  He was peerless barring Saints in the first place, and with that foundation, how much more powerful would he be once he gained an increase in strength by thirty-threefold?

  A terrible might erupted from his body. Blasted by that immense force, the debuff cast upon him was promptly cleared……

  “Twilight of the Gods!” Jiang He bellowed in rage as he punched out.