"Nie... Nie Kong, knowing that you have achieved 'Tai Yi,' I... I can rest assured... you may strike now."

Pan Ling uttered these words haltingly, a bitter smile touching her lips. Then, she closed her eyes, seemingly resigned to her fate.

At this moment, Pan Ling felt an unexpected sense of relief.

Ever since the God War ten thousand years ago, the betrayal of the Lou Xing Clan against the Xian Xing and Chi Xing Clans had weighed heavily on her. Seeing the diminishing populations of those two clans in the Outer Heavens only deepened her guilt—a guilt that even achieving the rank of Tai Zun with the "Tai Shi Divine Crystal" failed to alleviate.

Throughout the Pan Xing Clan, countless others shared her sentiment. Because Pangu was their progenitor and the first Tai Zun of the Pan Xing Clan, no matter how many reservations they held, they had to keep them buried deep within their hearts. For Pan Ling, spending ten millennia in such torment felt like a liberation.

Especially after meeting Nie Kong.

If forced to choose between Nie Kong and Chong Xu to achieve Tai Yi, she would rather it be Nie Kong. Grand Master Chong Xu was obsessed with surpassing the preceding 'Chaos Immortal Spirit'; should he become the new Tai Yi Celestial Master, he would very likely destroy the world that had evolved from the 'Chaos Immortal Spirit' and recreate one belonging only to him. In that scenario, not only would she and Pangu certainly perish, but the Pan Xing Clan would vanish forever.

Chong Xu regarded all living beings as ants; the extinction of any creature other than himself would not cause him a second thought.

This much was evident from the "Tai Chu Void God Formation" he had commanded to be set up.

If Nie Kong ascended to become the Tai Yi Celestial Master, she and Pangu might also face certain death, but the world would continue its evolution, and the Pan Xing Clan would survive.

Pangu and Chong Xu were of the same ilk, but Pan Ling differed from Pangu.

She could disregard all other beings, yet she could never let go of the Pan Xing Clan. Precisely for this reason, she accepted Pangu's suggestion and finally resolved to strike against the Seven-Colored Tai Zun, sacrificing the Seven-Colored Tai Zun and the souls of countless beings present to prevent Chong Xu from refining the "Chaos Immortal Spirit."

"Very well, I shall grant your wish."

Seeing Pan Ling close her eyes, ready to die, a flicker of mild surprise crossed Nie Kong's eyes, but his expression remained unmoved.

"Wait!"

However, just as Nie Kong was preparing, two balls of seven-colored luminescence suddenly ignited in the eye sockets of the Seven-Colored Tai Zun. He let out a long, deep exhalation and called out to stop him.

"Master?"

Not only Nie Kong but even Pan Ling opened her eyes in confusion.

"Pan Ling's action did indeed surprise me, but had I been unwilling just now, I could have escaped her grasp, no matter how much divine power I expended in suppressing the formation."

The Seven-Colored Tai Zun faced Nie Kong, smiling faintly, his demeanor relaxed, his brows filled with relief.

"Master? You... you did it willingly?"

Nie Kong's spirit trembled.

"Seven Colors, you, you..." Pan Ling's eyes widened further, utterly incredulous.

"Pan Ling, like me, you previously believed that Chong Xu would surely achieve Tai Yi Celestial Master after refining Pangu. Rather than letting him succeed, it was better to let you prevail. Afterward, though this old man, the countless beings of the Tian Ling Continent, and the Nether Earth might be gone, at least the Yin Ruins, Shen Kong Realm, and the Tai Zun Spirit Realm could be preserved." The Seven-Colored Tai Zun spoke calmly. "Otherwise, the moment you acted, I could have dispersed and fled. Don't forget, I cultivate seven kinds of divine power, meaning I have seven lives."

"..."

Pan Ling's lips moved, but no words escaped. She could only heave a shameful, long sigh.

"Pan Ling, for the sake of my Master, I shall spare your life! However, though the death penalty is waived, punishment must still be meted out!"

Nie Kong took a deep breath and flicked his right hand. Pan Ling was instantly drawn into the 'Void Secret Realm,' but her body, like Chong Xu's, froze stiffly in the void, appearing petrified. Afterward, Nie Kong sat down at the focal point of the "Tai Chu Void God Formation," and the power of the Void gently spread outward.

In mere seconds, the formation covering the Tian Ling Continent and the Nether Earth was nearly brought to a standstill.

"Though Tai Zun are powerful, compared to Tai Yi, they are but small fry."

Seeing that Nie Kong accomplished in a mere snap of the fingers what he himself could not, the Seven-Colored Tai Zun was filled with profound emotion.

"Ascending to Spirit God using seven kinds of Spiritual Power, and achieving Tai Zun with seven kinds of Divine Power—throughout history, the only one to reach this stage is you, Master. In the future, you will surely step into a higher realm distinct from 'Tai Yi,' and that new realm will be named after you."

"Well said!"

The Seven-Colored Tai Zun burst into loud laughter. "If I can break through Tai Zun and step into a higher realm, that realm shall not be called 'Tai Yi'—it shall be called 'Seven Colors'!"

A faint smile appeared in Nie Kong's eyes, but upon sensing the multitude of souls gathering beneath the formation's core, the fear, panic, and despair emanating from them ignited an endless rage in his chest: "Master, Pan Ling may be spared, but Pangu is utterly unforgivable."

Tai Zun Spirit Realm, Hong Meng Mountain Range.

"Pan Ling must be close to succeeding."

Inside the ancient Hong Meng Hall, Pangu's silhouette flickered faintly in the deep shadows. All the experts of the Hong Meng Celestial Mansion had already entered the Tian Ling Continent; the strongest in the Hong Meng Mountain Range now was merely a sixth-rank Spirit God. Pangu's ninth-rank Star God avatar easily reached this forbidden area of the Hong Meng Celestial Mansion.

"Chong Xu, dreaming of achieving One? Go dream on!"

Looking at the sculpture in the center of the hall, Pangu's face was contorted in a sinister grin. "The souls of the countless beings of the Tian Ling Continent and the Nether Earth were all drawn in by you, the Tai Chu Void God Formation. I have planted Willpower within their souls, directing all their hatred and fury toward you."

"When the time is right, I will shatter their souls and inject them into this avatar of yours that has yet to awaken. When all the Willpower targeting you erupts, let's see how you can possibly resist! By then, forget achieving Tai Yi; just maintaining the Tai Zun realm will be an accomplishment."

"Heh, hehehe..." Pangu's cheek twitched, the corners of his lips pulling back, his low laughter sounding like a cold, Yin wind blowing from the Nine Nether Hells.

"No need for such trouble, Chong Xu, I have already taken care of it for you!"

A voice echoed within the Hong Meng Hall.

"Jing—" Pangu's laughter abruptly ceased, and he instantly sprang up. This ninth-rank Star God felt an inexplicable, chilling horror. Moments later, a white silhouette silently separated from the void and stood before Pangu.

"Nie Kong!"

Pangu's face changed drastically in horror. "How are you here? You dealt with Chong Xu? You... you have achieved 'Tai Yi?'"

After Chong Xu refined his Tai Zun true body, his strength would inevitably approach Tai Yi without limit. For Nie Kong to resolve that and arrive here, there was only one possibility: Nie Kong had broken through to the Tai Yi realm.

Therefore, after shouting the word "Tai Yi," Pangu's eyeballs instantly widened, and he reflexively cried out, "You've come to kill me?"

Pangu instinctively wanted to turn and flee...

But before he could even initiate any movement, a long, fair finger shadow rapidly magnified in his pupils. The speed was so fast that even he couldn't manage any evasive action. He only heard a voice ring out next to his ear: "Since you understand, then you can die!"

"Thump!"

Pangu fell backward, a bloody hole appearing on his forehead.