Chapter 489 - One Sword Splits the Heavens!

Faraway in the sky, within the Heavenly Palace, Yang Yi trembled. As a hint of pallor dyed his face, he slowly opened his eyes and looked toward the direction where the Gold Ladder had vanished. Rolling Red Dust Intent churned ceaselessly within his gaze, obscuring his true expression.

He found it hard to understand. A split soul was destroyed? Even if it was merely a wisp of a split soul, it should have been able to easily kill everyone who broke into the tenth pass. So why was it destroyed?

Before he could ponder further, an immense, mountain-like pressure descended outside.

Whether it was the black-robed cultivators, or the rare birds and exotic beasts, all of them bowed and lowered their heads.

“Welcome, Divine Emissary!”

Amid the surging wind and clouds, the divine emissary’s cold, ancient voice rang out with fury, “Young Venerable Yang Yi of the Heavenly Palace! Your crimes of disobeying the decree and defying the immortal command are unforgivable. Now, I strip you of your—”

In the next moment, an incomparably vast and domineering spear intent erupted from within the Heavenly Palace.

Along with a dragon’s cry, a zhang-long spear flew out of the palace, vanishing into the sky. Its shaft gleamed brightly, covered in layers of silver dragon scales. Beneath the spearhead was a dragon’s head, glaring ruthlessly.

The spear’s name was Startling Dragon! As if coming to life, the dragon's head transformed into a dragon projection that coiled around the spear shaft. It roared toward the heavens, tearing the mountain-like pressure asunder.

The divine emissary’s voice was filled with shock and fury. “Yang Yi, how dare you—”

Another dragon cry rang out, followed by someone’s pained cry.

After a moment, the divine emissary’s voice echoed again, its former dominance and coldness replaced by endless wariness. “Yang Yi, I will punish you with a hundred years of seclusion!”

Perhaps afraid that Yang Yi would strike again, he hastily fled from this place. The divine emissary left in as much humiliation as he had arrived with dominance.

Below, the group of black-robed cultivators gazed up at the Heavenly Palace, brimming with fervent admiration. The Young Venerable is too fierce!

Along with a dragon’s cry, the spear returned and once again landed beside Yang Yi. The dragon slowly closed its eyes again. As for the matters outside, Yang Yi paid them no mind at all.

He fell into deep contemplation. Disobeying the decree and defying the immortal command... Just what exactly did that split soul of mine do inside?

***

At the Central Dao Palace, the Gold List’s Nine Great Heavenly Passes had ended. Everyone was teleported back to their original positions. Yet instead of disappearing, the Gold List completely turned red, crackling with red lightning bolts. Its former aloof and lofty aura had vanished, replaced by a sense of impending doom.

Within the small courtyard, Chongming frowned deeply after seeing Fatty and the others land in the open space. “Where’s that brat?”

Yun Fan and the others grew concerned. Everyone had come out, so why was Gu Han the only one missing?

Yu Miao was somewhat puzzled. “Junior Brother isn’t in the ninth pass?”

She had been eliminated early and hadn’t entered the ninth pass. Contrary to her expectations, it seemed that Gu Han didn’t appear there.

Zuo Yang looked up at the Gold List, turning pale. “Could he still be inside?”

Back then, he had personally witnessed Gu Han cause the Dao Bell to ring ten times. Seeing the Gold List’s anomaly, he had already vaguely guessed the truth. Junior Brother, why are you so stubborn! Wasn’t once enough? You had to do it again?

Fatty said weakly, “Don’t even ask. That bastard is definitely inside!”

Everyone was at a loss. Even Yan Qianjue and the rest were completely helpless. If Gu Han was anywhere else, they would just fight their way in and rescue him no matter what. But the Gold List? How were they even supposed to enter it, let alone rescue him?

Chongming turned serious. “Let’s go back to the Eastern Wasteland. Find Little Yun—”

At that very moment, a dazzling, soaring sword intent rose up and charged toward the Gold List. Vast and abundant, it dispersed the endless red lightning and even the Gold List’s oppressive might. At this moment, between heaven, earth, and everyone’s hearts, only this single sword intent remained.

Qiu Qian’s face was pale, the scar on his face growing more pronounced. “So strong...”

He couldn’t even begin to comprehend the sword intent. Even his sect master, an Unfettered realm cultivator, would probably be no more than an ant before it.

Chongming was dazed as his voice was filled with grievous pain. “Little Yun...”

He knew exactly whose sword intent this was and what its appearance meant. No matter what purpose it had, Yun Jiansheng would no longer exist in this world afterward.

***

In Tianji Valley, Tian Ji looked up at the sky. His expression was one of melancholy as Luo Wushuang’s words still echoed in his ears. The living beings of this continent have shouldered too many opportunities that were never meant for them. Under the backlash of the Great Dao, a catastrophe is inevitable!

Suddenly, a faint, elusive aura descended before him.

Tian Ji’s pupils contracted sharply. “You are...”

This was Luo Wushuang’s aura! Ordinary cultivators, even those at the Ascension realm or above, could not detect it. However, not only had he practiced the Heavenly Secret Art, but Luo Wushuang had also deliberately appeared before him.

The aura vibrated as if conveying some information to him, then vanished as if it had never existed at all.

Tian Ji’s face was ashen as he muttered to himself, “So this was your goal all along!”

***

In the capital of the Great Flame Empire, Feng Xi stared expressionlessly at the attendant before her. “The west? He went west?”

Faced with Feng Xi’s overwhelming pressure, the attendant trembled. “Y-yes... His Majesty didn’t allow us to follow. But before he left, he left behind a word...”

“What is it?!”

“After he departs, the War Prince will be the next Flame Emperor...”

Feng Xi’s heart sank, and her cultivation instantly surged to its peak. A heavenly phoenix projection faintly materialized around her as she shot off toward the Western Desert. She had already vaguely guessed the truth of the matter. The Flame Emperor had found traces of Yun Ao and was going to fight him to the death.

She muttered to herself, “Don’t die... Please don’t die...”

Feng Xi had no time to pay attention to the sudden appearance of that sword intent. She only wanted to catch up to the Flame Emperor and stop him from this suicide mission.

***

High above the sky, that sword intent had already reached the highest point. Somehow, even though the Gold List was derived from the Great Dao, people like Yan Qianjue could spend their entire lives without ever reaching it. However, before this sword intent, it was as if the Gold List had become tangible.

A heaven-splitting, earth-rending sound rang out. The sword intent was no more. A massive rift over a hundred thousand li wide had appeared on the Gold List, making it look as though a scroll had been sliced in two.

One sword, splitting the heavens!