Chapter 311: The Era of Godslaughter

Xiao Zhaolin scrutinized Jiang Ruoxu and slowly said, "Does my empire need to be protected by a lone ghost like you? You couldn't even protect the State of Jiang; what right do you have to discuss cooperation with me?"

Jiang Ruoxu said gravely, "How many Ascended Realm cultivators can your State of Chu withstand?"

Xiao Zhaolin waved his hand. "That's not for you to worry about. I can give face to your name, Jiang Ruoxu. However, you only have the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. If you can't persuade me to cooperate with you, then you may leave."

Jiang Ruoxu chuckled. "I've long heard that Xiao Zhaolin, the Emperor of Chu, is incredibly arrogant. Seeing you today, it truly lives up to your reputation. Even your father wouldn't have dared to speak to me like that back then."

Xiao Zhaolin's eyelids lifted slightly. "If you're here to lecture me with your age, you can leave now. I'm very busy."

Jiang Ruoxu slowly said, "The Heart Devil and the Heavenly Gate are real, yet also fake. Real, because they truly exist. Fake, because they are not as the legends describe, but are actual living beings."

Xiao Zhaolin finally looked up. "Now you've piqued my interest. Why don't you recount what happened to you back then? The sudden qi deviation and subsequent death you experienced has always been a source of some doubt for me."

Jiang Ruoxu said, "It was roughly thirty-something years ago; I can't recall the exact details too clearly. I broke through to the Ascended Realm and saw the Heavenly Gate. So, I left my physical body in the imperial palace of the State of Jiang, and my spirit flew towards the Heavenly Gate.

However, upon reaching the Heavenly Gate, I encountered the Heart Devil. I'm not entirely sure how powerful this Heart Devil truly is, because it had already secretly laid its schemes on me when my cultivation reached the cusp of ascension. Thus, I was defeated after only a few exchanges.

But at the last moment, my Startled Dragon Sword unleashed a unique power, severing the Heart Devil's demonic control over me and buying me time. I seized the opportunity, rushed to the Heavenly Gate, and successfully knocked it open!"

Xiao Zhaolin raised an eyebrow slightly. "What did you see?"

"An eye!"

Jiang Ruoxu continued, "That wasn't a Heavenly Gate at all. It was an eye—a gigantic eye, covered in countless disgusting tentacles, embedded directly in the void.

Knocking open the 'Heavenly Gate' merely meant that one eye opened. Those tentacles then tried to drag me into the eye. I fought with all my might, and in that instant, I comprehended a suicidal move from my Overlord's True Intent, barely managing to sever a few tentacles.

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, my spirit still carried the restrictions of the Baiyujing at that time. Just as I was about to be pulled into that eye, the Baiyujing's restriction pulled me out again.

I fled frantically with the Startled Dragon Sword, but the Heart Devil had already locked onto me. I was pursued relentlessly, with no escape above or below. Left with no choice, I became the sword spirit of the Startled Dragon Sword, because during our struggle, I realized that the Heart Devil's attacks were very weak against a physical body. By becoming its sword spirit, I evaded the Heart Devil's pursuit.

However, even though my spirit evaded the chase, it was still invaded by the Heart Devil's demonic energy. Soon after, I began losing my sanity and indiscriminately killing people. You should know what happened next: I was besieged by all the nations of the world."

Xiao Zhaolin said gravely, "Mortal power, even battle qi, has little effect on Ascended Realm cultivators."

Jiang Ruoxu replied, "Indeed. However, in that battle, the combined elites of all nations, including about thirty percent of the world's top masters and their armies, couldn't kill me, but they did trigger a massive celestial phenomenon. During that phenomenon, my realm suddenly ascended, and I glimpsed a mysterious grotto-heaven. I suspect that was the true Heavenly Gate.

But it vanished in an instant. Yet, I was fortunate; in that fleeting moment, I managed to seize a wisp of immortal energy, which completely suppressed the demonic energy. I regained my senses and, seizing the opportunity, created the illusion of my death by heavenly lightning. Since then, I've been in hiding, constantly studying that wisp of immortal energy."

Xiao Zhaolin asked, "Have you yielded any results from your research?"

Jiang Ruoxu stated gravely, "Naturally. It is a power beyond the Ascended Realm."

"Have you mastered it?"

Jiang Ruoxu nodded slightly. "Speaking of which, I owe thanks to Gu Mo, your generation's greatest martial artist. If it weren't for him, I might have needed another ten or even twenty years to master that wisp of immortal energy."

Xiao Zhaolin asked, puzzled, "What happened?"

Jiang Ruoxu said, "You must know about Gu Mo sinking the Immortal Island of Penglai, right?"

Xiao Zhaolin nodded.

Jiang Ruoxu continued, "He sank Penglai using the power of his physical body; he transformed into a dragon. It was at that moment I realized that everyone in the world had taken a wrong path.

We all pursued spirit ascension, abandoning our physical bodies because it was widely accepted that the physical body could not ascend; one had to shed their mortal form to ascend. Yet, Gu Mo retained his physical body, and his physical power reached the Ascended Realm!"

At this point, Jiang Ruoxu sighed softly. "Gu Mo is truly a great man. He is magnificent; he changed the world. There has been no one like him before, and there will be no one like him again.

From this, I comprehended the true direction of that wisp of immortal energy. After that, I made the sword my body and completely integrated with that wisp of immortal energy."

Xiao Zhaolin stood up. "Just for telling me about physical body ascension, as long as your cooperation demands aren't too excessive, I can agree. What do you want to cooperate on?"

Jiang Ruoxu stated gravely, "Borrow the national destiny to kill the Heavenly Gate!"

Xiao Zhaolin asked, puzzled, "Haven't you already mastered power beyond ascension? You can't kill that eye?"

Jiang Ruoxu explained, "In the heavens, I don't have absolute confidence, because if it senses something amiss and hides, I wouldn't be able to find it at all. So, it must be drawn to the mortal realm.

I've been researching array formations for years. I created a God-Slaying Array, originally intending to find an opportunity to deal with the Heart Devil first. But unexpectedly, the Heart Devil suddenly disappeared, so I'll use it against the Heavenly Gate instead.

My God-Slaying Array requires mobilizing the power of the mortal realm to trap the Heavenly Gate, preventing it from returning to the heavens for a short period. This would allow me to seize the chance to slay it. And currently, your State of Chu has the strongest national destiny in the world, so cooperating with you is the most suitable option."

Xiao Zhaolin chuckled lightly. "National destiny, you say? Very well, I agree!"

Jiang Ruoxu said, "Once I kill that eye, I won't immediately seek the true path to immortality. I will first help you clear the realm and unify the world. After that, I'll go in search of the path to immortality.

Now that the Heart Devil is dead, those old hidden masters will undoubtedly rush to restore their Ascended Realm cultivation, which might very well cause chaos. Rest assured, I will help you suppress these old figures."

Xiao Zhaolin chuckled. "Actually, those old figures aren't important. They feared the Heart Devil and didn't dare to ascend, so their strength is limited. If you are to help me clear the realm, the biggest obstacle is Gu Mo. Can you defeat him?"

Jiang Ruoxu said, "Gu Mo is very strong, capable of physical ascension. If I'm not mistaken, he has also achieved spirit ascension simultaneously. His title as the world's greatest is the most significant in history; among Ascended Realm cultivators, he is also number one. However, unfortunately for him, I now possess power beyond the Ascended Realm.

A year ago, I was no match for him. Now, he is no match for me."

Xiao Zhaolin looked at Jiang Ruoxu, pondered for a moment, and then said, "I'm afraid you might be mistaken. Gu Mo has definitely also mastered power beyond the Ascended Realm."

Jiang Ruoxu's pupils contracted slightly. "How do you know?"

Xiao Zhaolin asked, "Do you know about the Heavens Beyond?"

Jiang Ruoxu nodded slightly. "One of the Thirteen Taboos, suspected to be the Heavenly Realm, but its true existence is yet to be verified."

Xiao Zhaolin said, "Whether it's the Heavenly Realm or not, I don't know. But the Heavens Beyond definitely exists. The reason I know is that the establishment of my State of Chu was, to a great extent, due to their assistance."

Jiang Ruoxu said, "I've heard that legend. It's rumored that your State of Chu's founding emperor established the state with the help of a divine maiden."

Xiao Zhaolin said, "That legendary divine maiden came from the Heavens Beyond."

Jiang Ruoxu asked, surprised, "There really are divine maidens?"

Xiao Zhaolin said, "Indeed there are. And right now, there are two divine envoys from the Heavens Beyond in my imperial city."

A hint of shock flashed in Jiang Ruoxu's eyes.

Xiao Zhaolin continued, "This is why I know Gu Mo has mastered power beyond ascension. I sought help from those two divine envoys earlier, and they promised to eliminate Gu Mo for me. Not long after, I saw the Heart Devil appear in the imperial city."

"You can see the Heart Devil?" Jiang Ruoxu asked, surprised.

Xiao Zhaolin replied calmly, "I was born with double pupils. These eyes allow me to see many hidden things, so it's not surprising I can see the Heart Devil. The reason I could identify it as the Heart Devil was the immense strength of its demonic energy, rarely found in the mortal realm.

Of course, I wasn't entirely certain at the time; it was merely a guess. It was only after you just mentioned the Heart Devil's disappearance that I confirmed what I saw that day was indeed the Heart Devil, or perhaps a clone of the Heart Devil.

Then, a couple of days later, the two divine envoys had me escort an item to the State of Northern Zhou. They said it was dragon scales, specifically brought to help me kill Gu Mo. After that, I heard that Gu Mo had gone to Northern Zhou.

Given these coincidences, I speculated that the two divine envoys intended for the Heart Devil to kill Gu Mo. And now, combining what you just said about the Heart Devil's disappearance and its limited effect on physical bodies, I can confirm that the Heart Devil died by Gu Mo's hand.

If Gu Mo can kill the Heart Devil, doesn't that, in other words, mean that he also possesses power beyond the Ascended Realm? Otherwise, even if the Heart Devil couldn't harm him through his physical body, it wouldn't have just disappeared, would it?"

Jiang Ruoxu pondered for a moment, then said, "So, it's highly likely that Gu Mo killed the Heart Devil. However, I'm a bit puzzled. You knew that Gu Mo could transform into a dragon and sink Penglai Island. Why didn't you stop those two divine envoys from trying to kill him with dragon scales? Dragon scales killing a dragon—isn't that just a joke?"

Xiao Zhaolin sneered, "Because I wanted the Heart Devil to fail."

Jiang Ruoxu looked puzzled.

Xiao Zhaolin explained, "There are two reasons. First, because I later decided that I would defeat Gu Mo myself, honorably and directly. Second, I wanted to use Gu Mo to kill those two divine envoys."

Jiang Ruoxu asked, confused, "Why do you want to kill those two divine envoys? Aren't they here to help you unify the world?"

Xiao Zhaolin said, "They do want to unify the world, but not to help me. They can help anyone, because they are merely propping up puppets. As for their ultimate goal, I'm not clear.

If it were simply that, I could perhaps coexist with them. But there's one irreconcilable conflict: they forbid me from achieving the Ascended Realm. For me, as the Son of Heaven, to have my cultivation restricted by others—what humiliation is that?

My ascension to the Ascended Realm is imperative, and they forbid it. Therefore, coexistence is naturally impossible. Either I die, or they die."

Jiang Ruoxu pondered, "They are helping you, after all. Perhaps you can negotiate!"

Xiao Zhaolin sneered, "They always act superior, as if I wouldn't be where I am today without them. But what's the reality? When the late emperor passed away, the demonic concubine conspired with court officials to kill me and install another on the throne—those two divine envoys did not appear.

When I ascended the throne as a child, skillfully navigating to gain control of the court, they offered no help. Later, when I expanded my territory, they still didn't help me, only intervening in minor details.

Their reason for demanding my obedience isn't how much they've helped me, but that the Great Chu's founding emperor was supported by their Heavens Beyond, and thus, my Great Chu must obey their commands for generations. In their eyes, I am merely their puppet, to be replaced at any time if I don't obey!"

Xiao Zhaolin looked at Jiang Ruoxu with a cold smile and asked, "Do you think there's any room for negotiation?"

"No," Jiang Ruoxu said.

"Therefore, this is why I must kill them," Xiao Zhaolin stated. "I originally intended for Gu Mo to do it, but since you are here now, I'll entrust this task to you. If you can't even kill them, then there's no need to discuss killing that eye in the heavens."

"Understood."

Jiang Ruoxu readily agreed, then added, "However, I'd like to ask, since those two are divine envoys, what makes you so confident you can kill them? Or what if Gu Mo couldn't kill them?"

Xiao Zhaolin said, "Over the years, I've subtly probed them and also used my double pupils to observe. Those two dare not easily appear in the mortal realm, which suggests that the power of the human world has a restrictive effect on them. As long as their barrier is broken, those two are as good as dead.

Of course, if I'm mistaken, then I'll accept my fate. If I can fight, I will; if not, I'll face death calmly. Though I'm only in my twenties, my life has been filled with trials, all of which I've gambled through. I'm very good at gambling."

As he spoke, Xiao Zhaolin chuckled, appraising Jiang Ruoxu. "For example, right now, I'm also making a gamble—that you truly intend to slay gods, and that you haven't been sent by those two to test me."

Jiang Ruoxu sighed lightly. "You young people nowadays are truly more impressive than the last... So, when do you plan to kill them?"

"There's no time like the present!" Xiao Zhaolin said. "How about we go now?"

"Agreed."

Before his words fully faded, Jiang Ruoxu's form suddenly blurred, transforming into a wisp of condensed green smoke that silently merged into the ancient, heavy greatsword at his side.

The candlelight in the hall flickered without a breeze, and the heavy sword emitted a low hum, as if an ancient beast, dormant for eons, was slowly opening its eyes.

Immediately, Xiao Zhaolin gripped the greatsword and stepped out the door.

Soon, he arrived outside the pavilion where the barrier was hidden. Cupping his hands, he announced, "Your disciple Xiao Zhaolin requests an audience."

The seemingly ordinary wooden door of the pavilion silently slid inward, revealing some common tables and chairs behind it. However, as Xiao Zhaolin took a step inside, a distorted vortex of light and shadow appeared behind him.

Xiao Zhaolin, expressionless, stepped through.

A sensation of spinning disorientated him instantly. The next moment, he found himself in a secluded valley. Lush greenery filled the valley, dotted with exotic flowers and rare plants. A crystal-clear stream flowed gently, and on the smooth boulders by its banks, Master Chen and Master Qiu sat opposite each other, intently playing a game of Go. The crisp sound of the stones dropping onto the board mingled with the babbling of the stream and the chirping of birds, creating an exceptionally serene and peaceful atmosphere, completely unlike the bustling imperial palace outside.

Xiao Zhaolin's arrival did not interrupt their game. Master Chen did not even lift his head, merely casually picked up a white stone, placed it, and asked indifferently, "Emperor, why are you here today, not attending to state affairs in the imperial court?"

Master Qiu slowly placed a black stone, then finally looked up at Xiao Zhaolin, his gaze lingering for a moment on the distinctly extraordinary longsword in his hand. "Oh? What is it?"

Xiao Zhaolin asked, "Your disciple wishes to know the relationship between the Heavens Beyond, the Heavenly Gate, and the Heart Devil."

Master Chen abruptly looked up. "Emperor, why are you suddenly asking about this?"

Xiao Zhaolin stated calmly, "I merely happened to hear that the Heart Devil guards the Heavenly Gate, devouring ascenders, and that the Heavenly Gate isn't actually a gate, but just an eye. Yet, you two revered masters have always claimed the Heavenly Gate is truly a heavenly gate. Therefore, I have reason to suspect that the Heavens Beyond behind the Heavenly Gate is not the Heavenly Realm either, but rather a gathering place for demons and devils, perhaps?"

"Impudent!" Master Chen's hair bristled, and he erupted in uncontrollable fury. Dazzling white light burst forth from his body, and his powerful aura, no longer restrained, crashed down like a raging tide. He roared, "Emperor, have you lost your mind today?"

Xiao Zhaolin chuckled. "Then let's discuss the second matter. If I insist on breaking through to the Ascended Realm, what will you two revered masters do?"

"Then we'll replace the emperor!"

Master Qiu placed a piece on the chessboard, and the spiritual energy in the valley instantly became volatile.

"Emperor, you've tested us many times. I won't beat around the bush any longer today. It's true that an emperor cannot ascend is false, but *you* cannot ascend."

"Because a born sage, an ascender, must die. As for the reason, you are not worthy to know," Master Chen said.

"So, there's nothing to discuss."

Before his words faded, Xiao Zhaolin abruptly drew his sword!

"Clang—!!!"

A clear, resonant, and piercing sword hum suddenly exploded!

The sound seemed to come from ancient times, carrying an overbearing decisiveness that could cleave through anything. It instantly tore apart the valley's tranquility and the invisible, terrifying pressure.

The moment the Startled Dragon Sword left its sheath, it was no longer rusty but burst forth with unimaginable dazzling brilliance.

Azure-gold light soared skyward. On the sword's blade, an azure-gold sword qi, condensed to the extreme and containing power beyond the mundane, erupted ferociously.

"Rip—!"

Like tearing silk, or shattering glass!

To the horrified gazes of Master Chen and Master Qiu, that azure-gold sword qi fiercely slashed at a certain point in the void.

A teeth-grinding shattering sound, as if the entire world was groaning, suddenly rang out!

The transparent barrier, which enveloped the entire valley and separated it from the mortal world's mundane energy, instantly became covered in spiderweb-like cracks, like a glass dome struck by a heavy hammer.

Immediately after, with a deafening roar, it completely shattered.

Countless crystalline fragments fell like stars, then rapidly dissolved into nothingness as they descended.

The barrier was broken, shattered with such an effortless single sword strike.

The valley scenery vanished instantly.

The three appeared within the imperial city.

A unique "aura," like a bursting dam, surged forth. It was the most common and ordinary, yet foundational, essence of the mortal realm—the "smoke and fire" of human life.

The clamor of bustling streets, the cries of market vendors, the laughter of children, the breaths of oxen, the warmth of ten thousand households' lights... countless mundane auras intertwined, forming a vast, complex, vibrant, yet also "turbid" torrent of power!

Master Chen and Master Qiu hastily formed hand seals, and unique streams of energy enveloped their bodies, resisting the power of the mortal realm.

"Emperor, do you wish for eternal damnation?" Master Chen roared.

Master Qiu, however, stared at the sword in Xiao Zhaolin's hand and said gravely, "Xiao Zhaolin, we can help you break through to the Ascended Realm, but you..."

Xiao Zhaolin immediately unleashed two sword strikes, instantly piercing through the energy currents around Master Chen and Master Qiu.

"Ah—!!!"

"No—!!!"

Two shrill, inhuman screams erupted simultaneously!

At the moment their bodies came into contact with the surging mortal aura, Master Chen's and Master Qiu's skin and flesh began to blacken, shrivel, and fester at a visible rate!

Their once ethereal, true-immortal-like faces instantly became covered in grotesque black spots. Their skin peeled away in charred flakes, revealing rapidly carbonizing and decaying flesh beneath.

Their bodies convulsed violently, as if unseen flames were consuming them from within. Their elaborate robes swiftly turned to ashes amidst their decaying flesh.

In just a few breaths, their outstretched arms turned into skeletal white bones, which then disintegrated into grayish-white dust that sifted down.

"You should have interrogated them for some information just now," Jiang Ruoxu appeared.

Xiao Zhaolin sneered, "Do you know why many people scheme for years only to fail at the last moment?"

Jiang Ruoxu asked.

Xiao Zhaolin replied, "Because they talk too much and aren't decisive enough in killing, giving their opponents a chance to retaliate. All unknowns stem from insufficient power; once you have enough strength, all doubts will be resolved."

Jiang Ruoxu nodded slightly. "However, these so-called divine envoys weren't very strong, just Ascended Realm cultivators. Moreover, their state was very strange, unlike Ascended Realm cultivators in the mortal world. They were... very 'light'!"

Xiao Zhaolin said, "I know."

"You knew?" Jiang Ruoxu asked, surprised.

Xiao Zhaolin chuckled. "Although I like to gamble, I've never lost. Do you know why?"

"Because every time I gamble, I have absolute certainty," Xiao Zhaolin looked at Jiang Ruoxu and said. "Take a guess: if you hadn't been able to kill these two divine envoys just now, would I have had another way to kill them?"

Jiang Ruoxu paused slightly, then gave a thumbs-up. "You younger generation are truly becoming more and more formidable. Now that I'm cooperating with you, I'm genuinely afraid you might accidentally kill me one day."

Xiao Zhaolin waved his hand. "You and I have no conflict of interest, so I won't kill you. However, Gu Mo is hunting you down. We share a common opponent: he can kill Heart Devils, and he can also kill you!"

Jiang Ruoxu said gravely, "He slew a devil, so I shall slay a god. I'm quite looking forward to a battle with him."

Xiao Zhaolin chuckled. "If he kills you, remember to leave that wisp of immortal energy in your sword. Then, I'll take your sword and slay a few true gods, fulfilling your wish for you!"

"That shouldn't be necessary," Jiang Ruoxu said. "I don't believe I will die."

Xiao Zhaolin said, "But, in this world, no wanted fugitive targeted by Gu Mo has ever escaped."

Jiang Ruoxu was silent for a moment, then said, "If that day truly comes, I will leave the sword to you. You can slay gods for me. Gu Mo will also slay gods. You two can usher in an era of god-slaying. I believe the mortal realm is a world for humans; there should be no gods, and certainly no gods ruling over humanity!"