Book 08 Chapter 021: Who’s Plotting against Whom?

Sovereigns and sect masters hurried towards the outskirts of Borderless Heavenly Capital in droves. Suddenly, their pupils constricted against a blinding light. An endless white light intertwined with an unceasing red glow filled their vision.

Everyone knew of Ji Dihong’s strength—reaching the consummation of the spiritual souls. Many doubted whether Gu Hai could hold his ground, even when driving the power of his nation.

Boom!

A deafening report resounded, shattering s.p.a.ce across millions of kilometers.

Gu Hai stood beyond the many black holes, wielding the Life Killer Saber. On the other side of the black holes, Ji Dihong stood upright with his hands behind his back.

Astonis.h.i.+ngly, the clash between the two sovereigns had ended in a draw.

“Can Gu Hai really fight Ji Dihong to a standstill?”

“No wonder Ji Dihong fears him. Even a cultivator at the consummation of the spiritual souls cannot do anything to him after he drives the power of his nation?”

“How terrifying of the Han Imperial Dynasty! An imperial dynasty? No, this is more like the strength of a heavenly dynasty.”

…

Fearful murmurs spread. This battle had drawn the attention of all the powerhouses of the Divine Continent.

Gu Hai and Ji Dihong had fought to a draw, shattering s.p.a.ce for millions of kilometers.

This posed a tremendous shock to countless powerhouses. The many sovereigns and sect masters in the Divine Continent’s north no longer entertained thoughts of contesting with the Han Imperial Dynasty.

Putting Gu Hai aside, just his consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm subordinates already inspired despair.

Ji Dihong stood at a distance, staring at Gu Hai.

”Hah! You can actually bear the energy from the citizens of two thousand cities with your strength?” Ji Dihong said coldly.

“Things in this world do not always go as you wis.h.!.+” retorted Gu Hai in a chilly tone.

“Humph! Things won’t go as we wish? True, but today, your fate will definitely follow our plans. Again!” Ji Dihong exclaimed coldly.

Suddenly, countless sword qi erupted around Ji Dihong. Surging white sword qi rose into the sky, seeming to carry all the righteousness in the world.

The n.o.ble spirit sword qi covered the place, giving the impression that Ji Dihong represented righteousness. As the n.o.ble spirit clad him, he looked like he represented the Heavenly Dao.

Since Gu Hai stood opposite to the Heavenly Dao, he represented evil, incorrigible evil. This battle gave off the impression of a battle between good and evil.

If it were another person, that person might have simply surrendered, weighed down by guilt upon seeing Ji Dihong’s righteous air. However, Gu Hai would not do that, neither did he fear Ji Dihong.

Now that Gu Hai drove the power of his nation, he could execute the Tenth Cycle. His strength now matched Ji Dihong’s. What was there to fear?

“Tenth Cycle!”

“n.o.ble Spirit Sword!”

The two attacked again, immediately filling the world with red or white light.

Boom!

The weapons clashed again, and this time, the two didn’t stop. They exchanged one blow after another; a fierce fight erupted.

Rumble…!

The shock was colossal, greater than any previous fight between Upper Heavenly Palace Realm powerhouses. s.p.a.ce shattered for tens of millions of kilometers. The intense lights illuminated the world, causing the sun and moon to change color and the stars to dim.

The immense shock waves rushed towards the starry skies and quickly reduced many stars to powder.

Gu Hai flew higher and higher to avoid harming Borderless Heavenly Capital.

Ji Dihong seemed to want to fly to the stars as well, and their battle gradually s.h.i.+fted into the depths of outer s.p.a.ce.

All the stars shattered in the region of outer s.p.a.ce of the two’s location. They looked like two blazing suns clas.h.i.+ng repeatedly.

s.h.i.+ng! s.h.i.+ng! s.h.i.+ng!

As the fight moved deeper into outer s.p.a.ce, the tremors felt on the ground lessened.

“No, this isn’t good. Gu Hai has fallen into a trap!” cried a sovereign.

“What happened?”

“Gu Hai flew into outer s.p.a.ce to protect the people from harm. But what about Ji Dihong? Does he care about the Han Nation citizens? No, he doesn’t. He’s setting a trap for Gu Hai. With their strength and speed, won’t they reach the limits of s.p.a.cetime?” the sovereign explained.

After that sovereign spoke, the surrounding sect masters and sovereigns appeared astonished.

“The limits of s.p.a.cetime, outside the Six Paths Immortal Firmament?!” someone gasped.

“Indeed. Gu Hai has the energy of his people while within the Han Nation’s territory and can access overwhelming energy. But what if Ji Dihong forces him out of the Six Paths Immortal Firmament?” that sovereign exclaimed with shock.

“Beyond the Six Paths Immortal Firmament is no longer the territory of the Han Imperial Dynasty. Once Gu Hai leaves the Six Paths Immortal Firmament, the energy lent by the people will quickly fade; his strength will diminish considerably. But Ji Dihong won’t be affected; his strength is all his own. He won’t lose any!” someone explained.

“Ji Dihong is so cunning, trying to push Gu Hai into the void to render him powerless!”

“If Gu Hai is forced out, it’s over. But if he can hold his position, he might still turn defeat into victory!”

…

Many expressed shock and doubt.

Gu Hai and Ji Dihong’s battle had indeed reached the limits of s.p.a.cetime, where s.p.a.ce and time became distorted and slow.

Gu Hai seemed to realize something.

“Ji Dihong, you dare not face us directly, so you resort to this shoddy trick? The void? Do you think we’ll fall into your trap?” Gu Hai challenged in an icy voice.

“Now that we are here, it’s not up to you anymore, Gu Hai!” Ji Dihong revealed a cold smirk.

Boom!

The giant manifested saber and manifested sword clashed again. This time, instead of a single clash and separation, Ji Dihong pressed on to prevent Gu Hai from withdrawing his saber, ensuring a lethal blow against Gu Hai if Gu Hai did so.

Gu Hai’s face turned grim as he sensed the looming danger.

“It’s too late. There’s no way out for you now!” Ji Dihong declared, a sneer flas.h.i.+ng across his face.

Boom!

Suddenly, Ji Dihong sent Gu Hai and his Life Killer Saber soaring out of the distorted, star-filled region with a savage grin and a burst of strength.

Normally, Gu Hai could have avoided such an attack by arcing his retreat and changing direction. However, he did not have the leeway to do that now.

In a flash, Ji Dihong hurled him out of the distorted s.p.a.ce and into the void.

Bang!

As Gu Hai left the Six Paths Immortal Firmament, a dozen stars accompanied him. But the moment they entered the void, Void Energy disintegrated them. Everything vanished, leaving nothing.

Golden energy strangely leaked out from Gu Hai, dispersing into the void like air escaping an inflated balloon.

It was not the work of Void Energy, but rather, the energy of the Han Imperial Dynasty citizens had become useless here, as Gu Hai had left the Han Imperial Dynasty’s territory.

“Hahahahaha! Gu Hai, your energy is vanis.h.i.+ng, isn’t it? What do you have left to fight with here?” Ji Dihong sneered. “Everything here disintegrates; everything fades away. Your energy, your body, and your consciousness will all slowly vanish and become nothing; you will be gone!”

Gu Hai kept his gaze locked on Ji Dihong, unconcerned by his energy scattering.

“Since my energy is dispersing, yours is too!” Gu Hai retorted coldly.

“It is—but slower than yours. Also, I have more energy; I can afford to lose some of it, unlike you. You’ve fallen to rock bottom!” Ji Dihong scoffed.

“The void? Ji Dihong, excellent plan. It’s harmful to us, but don’t forget, it also harms you greatly,” Gu Hai shot back.

“Humph! Remaining stubborn at the brink of your death?” Ji Dihong sneered, “Your energy is dwindling rapidly. We can end you right now and return to the Six Paths Immortal Firmament. What can you do? You’re left with only one option: death.”

“Death? You must be thinking the sooner I die, the better it is for you, right? But what if we don’t die easily?” Gu Hai chuckled.

“Huh?” Ji Dihong appeared confused.

“The void? It’s boundless. If you want to kill us, come on! Hahahahaha!” Gu Hai guffawed as he lunged into the void after knocking away Ji Dihong’s manifested sword.

“What?” Ji Dihong’s expression changed.

“You’re trying to escape? You can’t! Now that you’ve entered, you will die!” Ji Dihong roared in surprise and anger.

“Entering the void means death? We know! But at least we won’t die now. If you return to the Six Paths Immortal Firmament, we can too. Unless, of course, you want to pursue us. If you don’t attack, we won’t, either. If you go back, we will too. Then your scheme will fall apart,” Gu Hai laughed.

“We won’t let you return!” Ji Dihong growled.

“Then come and get us. Let’s see who can last longer, you, Ji Dihong, or us!” Gu Hai retorted coldly.

Ji Dihong’s face darkened. He swung his sword at Gu Hai once more.

Whoos.h.!.+

Gu Hai plunged deeper into the void, leaving him swinging at empty s.p.a.ce.

Ji Dihong felt a wave of frustration, as Gu Hai was about to disappear from sight. He did not want to chase after Gu Hai, but Gu Hai would just go around and return to the Six Paths Immortal Firmament. If he gave chase, he would end up going farther from the Six Paths Immortal Firmament.

“Humph! We don’t believe you can outlast us! In the void, you can only depend on your acc.u.mulations. Just how much acc.u.mulations can you have?” Ji Dihong quickly went after Gu Hai.

One fled, and one pursued.

The one fleeing seemed confident and composed, while the one chasing was growing more anxious and agitated.

“Run! Keep running! You won’t be able to return once you’re lost in the void!” Ji Dihong exclaimed in panic.

Ji Dihong sensed himself getting farther away from the Six Paths Immortal Firmament and would soon lose track of it. Once that happened, he would not be able to find his way back. That would be terrible.

“Still better than dying by your hand!” Gu Hai retorted with a disdainful laugh.

Ji Dihong’s face hardened, and he chased after Gu Hai even more fiercely.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In the void, the two engaged in a relentless chase. Despite Gu Hai’s dwindling strength, he managed to fend off Ji Dihong’s attacks.

Ji Dihong believed Gu Hai would not last long in the void. But what Ji Dihong did not know was that the Void Energy was not weakening Gu Hai but fueling him.