428 - Senior Sister Is on Top

It was clearly a painting already completed with ink and cinnabar, but the strokes above it seemed vivid and lifelike. As divine power spread, it stirred up a ripple. "Break!" Yin Sheng shouted, and the world seemed to come to a halt. Countless divine lights shimmered, and in an instant, the mist over the vast sea nearly dissipated, leaving only a faint, damp haze in the distance. The Sheji Diagram was different from other divine artifacts. It could only construct virtual illusions, containing a paradise within. Although it seemed useless, it was actually the highest-ranking artifact. It had a hidden power that could manifest illusions into reality. As long as the user was powerful enough, it could even change the world. All the schemes of the Ghost Emperor and the Demon Emperor hinged on the Sheji Diagram. Only it could genuinely manifest the illusory "Lotus Throne"—the legendary altar where the Divine Emperor descended to the world. To usurp the power of heaven and earth, only the Sheji Diagram could achieve it. "His Highness, the Demon Emperor, is indeed deeply hidden. Using the Sheji Diagram for the first time, he can already wield the power to change the heavens and the earth. Truly fearsome." Cao E watched from the side, his eyes narrowing, concealing his emotions. Yin Sheng paid no mind to his praise, his face slightly darkening as he saw that the mist hadn't completely disappeared. The limitless power of the divine artifact, now unsatisfying, only indicated his strength was insufficient. "No need for chit-chat. With the divine artifact's appearance, the creatures of the Demon Realm will have surely sensed it. Advance swiftly." Yin Sheng stowed away the painting. Cao E glanced at Yin Sheng, pretending not to notice his wariness. He nodded faintly and raised his hand, declaring, "March." The word echoed, and tens of thousands of cultivators dared not disobey. On the other side, Tang Muxi sensed the fluctuation of the Sheji Diagram. Her heart sank, knowing the enemy was about to arrive. She dared not be careless, immediately ordering the assembly of all the soldiers in the Demon Realm. Wen Dai and Xun Yi had anticipated a great war since the Divine Sovereign went into seclusion, preparing well in advance. At this moment, upon the Divine Sovereign's order, in less than half an hour, more than twenty thousand soldiers appeared outside the Divine Realm. Unlike before, this matter concerned the survival of the Demon Realm. The descendants of the divine beasts were out in full force. Even some reclusive powerful ancestors responded and joined the ranks to resist the external invaders. Tang Muxi emerged from Changhe Palace, clad in armor, a phantom bone sword at her waist, and two divine artifacts, the Qiankun Bagua and the Ji Shi Lantern, floating behind her. Jiang Yin had wanted to give her the Demonic Prison Blade, but Tang Muxi declined. The presence of the two divine artifacts made the Divine Sovereign even more awe-inspiring. None of the demon cultivators below, regardless of their cultivation, dared to look directly at her face. In the last battle with the Eastern Territory, Tang Muxi had delivered a long-winded speech to boost morale. But this time, with life and death uncertain, she dared not speak so boldly. "The traitors have arrived. Do you dare to fight?" A clear and cold voice fell, and tens of thousands of cultivators responded in unison. "Kill the traitors and glorify our divine might!" The voice was deafening, resounding through the skies. Tang Muxi looked at the different enthusiastic expressions of thousands of cultivators, feeling a long-dormant excitement and fervor gradually awakening, surging through her limbs and bones. Her cultivation had not reached the Great Vehicle stage, and her strength had not fully recovered. Without reaching the Divine Realm, this battle would be perilous. But now, countless people gathered at her call, and all hesitations, uncertainties, and self-doubt dissipated. She was the Divine Sovereign, possessing the divine power to create and destroy the world, and there was no retreat! Tang Muxi's lips curved slightly, her eyes filled with a fierce battle intent. Her crimson lips parted, uttering a single word, "Fight!" The bright sunlight fell on her face, making her already spirited and outstanding self even more dazzling. Tang Muxi did not know how much this scene would impact Jiang Yin. Even in the future, when trapped in an illusory purgatory, he would remember it vividly and refuse to retreat even a single step. * Tang Muxi took the lead, heading towards the entrance of the Demon Realm. She was accompanied by her master and senior sister, Sijun Qingling, close friends and subordinates, and countless demon cultivators who followed her. Tens of thousands of people advanced with great momentum, but unfortunately, few cheered along the way. The reason was simple: when she sensed the divine artifact's abnormality, Tang Muxi had already ordered all demon cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage to take refuge. Now, except for a few high-level citizens who remained in the city to defend it, most had hidden in mountains or secret realms. These people were the fire of the Demon Realm, and regardless of the battle’s outcome, they had to survive. Either to sing of the Divine Sovereign’s deeds or to go into hiding, nurturing their strength to rise again someday. Tang Muxi led the army to the eastern entrance of the Demon Realm. There stood two grand dharma images, one of a blue dragon and the other of a white tiger. After the attack by the demons, they had faded. Although no cracks or wounds appeared on the surface, their divine light was gone, and their power was depleted. If there were an invasion, this point would undoubtedly be the first choice. Tang Muxi was certain that the Ghost Emperor and the Demon Emperor would break through from here. She reinforced the barrier one last time and then waited with her people outside the island. It wasn't long before numerous figures flew in from the distant horizon. A swirl of demonic mist and ghostly aura surged skyward. From afar, they looked like a group of vengeful spirits rising from the netherworld, baring their fangs and claws as they rushed towards them. This was a battle of life and death. As long as victory could be achieved, any means were justified. Tang Muxi, seeing the enemy rapidly approaching, unhesitatingly transformed her phantom bone into a bow and arrow, gathering five types of spiritual light, each imbued with pure white lightning, and fired swiftly towards the throng. This strike was not her first; she had used it several times before. But now, her cultivation had advanced further, only one step away from the Great Vehicle stage, and the power she unleashed was vastly different. The five-colored spiritual arrow tore through the sky, carrying the supreme might of the Divine Sovereign. Where it passed, it surged hundred-foot waves! The Demon Emperor and Ghost Emperor never expected her to attack suddenly without a word. They were caught off guard, hastily casting spells to defend, but only managed to break two of the arrows. The other three arrows swept past them and exploded among the ghost and demon cultivators behind them. Boom! Waves roiled, spiritual energy surged, and fierce white lightning, rampant and ferocious, annihilated countless souls before they could react under the great power of the divine force.