The desolation that once gripped the City of Barren Bones had retreated, replaced by a facade of its former prosperity. Yet, beyond the city walls, the land remained plagued by rampaging divine beasts; the realm of Wujianjie could never truly return to its former peace.
“Everyone knows the vast treasures contained within the Heavenly Ladder Pavilion of the City of Barren Bones, but who knows that the true secrets of the entire Bone Sect lie deep beneath the earth?” Garuda, cloaked in shadows, strode forward. Behind him, Jiu Liansheng also kept his attire concealed. “Fa Liangluo must have been waiting for me in the Heavenly Bone Cellar for quite some time now.”
Jiu Liansheng was, of course, aware of Garuda’s history, yet he harbored his own questions. “Fa Liangluo is a figure of senior status within the Bone Sect. He can peruse the Heavenly Bone Scriptures, so why is he so utterly obedient to the Third Sect Master?”
Garuda smiled, having already passed through a deserted alleyway. The floorboards were loose—the perfect entrance to the Heavenly Bone Cellar. “The Heavenly Bone Scriptures originated in the Primordial Era. Only one person in each generation of the Bone Sect can inherit their power, and by coincidence, that person this time is me, Garuda.”
“And Fa Liangluo?” Jiu Liansheng nodded, certain he hadn't misjudged his master when choosing allegiance. Garuda possessed the key to victory: the Heavenly Bone Scriptures. “If the Third Sect Master possessed such might, why did he not seize control of Wujianjie sooner, instead of waiting until the chaos of the Killing Sovereign descends?”
Garuda gestured for Jiu Liansheng to follow. The cellar plunged deeply, yet it was illuminated by immortal, ever-burning lamps. “Fa Liangluo can read the Heavenly Bone Scriptures, but he cannot wield their power. His task is guardianship; he awaits the arrival of every inheritor of the Heavenly Bone Scriptures to help them achieve their objectives.”
Jiu Liansheng swept away a cobweb in the passage, coughing slightly. “What exactly is the use of the Heavenly Bone Scriptures? Can they help us win the battle against the Killing Sovereign?”
“Naturally!” Garuda affirmed with confidence, arriving before a massive stone door. He pressed a single palm against it, and dust rained down from the shaking structure. “The Heavenly Bone Scriptures lie behind this door. Only Fa Liangluo and I can open it. Once inside, you will understand the Scriptures’ true purpose.”
The stone door swung wide, and a streak of vibrant azure light began to dance and weave within a vast palace hall. Beneath the center of the hall knelt a figure clad in a grey cloak, his head turned toward Garuda. “Third Sect Master, Fa Liangluo has finally awaited your arrival.”
Garuda hadn't seen Fa Liangluo in days, but his attention was immediately drawn to a magnificent golden broadsword beside him. “I heard you went to the Human Realm to study the strongest shield among the cultivation realms. But this blade is…”
“The Yu Yu Seal Blade!” Fa Liangluo stood up, his pale face remaining composed. He gestured toward the weapon. “A peerless divine artifact left by Yanluo, the Primordial Blade Master—the Yu Yu Seal Blade. I wonder if it can aid the Third Sect Master in securing the final victory.”
Garuda admired the great sword plunged into the ground, its dragon-mouth hilt gleaming. The light flickering off the blade danced in harmony with the surrounding azure luminescence. “An artifact originating from the Human Realm. What use is it to me?”
Fa Liangluo glanced contemptuously at Jiu Liansheng as he replied, “The Killing Sovereign once entered the Human Realm, sealed by the Great Vow of Ksitigarbha. The very blade Ksitigarbha used to combat the Killing Sovereign back then was this Yu Yu Seal Blade!”
“Whoosh…” Garuda formed a claw with one palm, his brow furrowing. The long blade instantly flew across the chamber and settled into his grasp. “I can feel the power emanating from the Yu Yu Seal Blade, yet it seems this power cannot be commanded by me?”
“Blade of the Death God!” Fa Liangluo understood Yanluo’s origins. Yanluo was a being of the Death Kingdom, and naturally, only the lineage of the inherently warlike Death Gods were worthy of possessing the artifacts he forged. “I believe a Death God already exists within Wujianjie. As to which side this Death God stands upon, that remains unknown.”
“Ye Xiu!” Jiu Liansheng uttered the name, looking at Fa Liangluo. Had he encountered this Death God in the Human Realm?
Fa Liangluo moved behind Garuda, pointing to the azure light swirling in the depths of the Dark Heaven. “The divine weapon might not be useful, but the Dao-Profound Barrier is complete. Even peerless divine weapons cannot breach it. For the Third Sect Master, this should be sufficient!”
This was the news Garuda had been waiting for. He gazed at the dragon-patterned markings on the wall with deep admiration. “With the Dao-Profound Barrier, who in Wujianjie can harm me now?”
“Hoo…” Fa Liangluo swept his arms, and the dragon markings instantly spun downwards, piercing Garuda’s chest like a spinning meteor dart. The azure light flooded Garuda’s entire form.
“Ah… Ahh…”
“Third Sect Master!” Jiu Liansheng watched the change in Garuda’s expression, attempting to intervene but being stopped by Fa Liangluo. “What have you done to the Third Sect Master?”
“After my modifications, the Dao-Profound Barrier can now merge with the Third Sect Master. The glory of the Bone Sect is about to unfold from this moment.” Fa Liangluo’s eyes shone with hope as he spoke, looking steadfastly at Garuda. The blue light had completely integrated into his body. “I believe even the Killing Sovereign will be unable to inflict the slightest harm upon you.”
Garuda regained his senses, let out a cold laugh, and spread his arms. “Though I disagree with mobilizing the power of the Heavenly Bone Scriptures in such a manner, circumstances demand it. I will show Jianan and those foolish clan leaders that the might of our Bone Sect was predestined since the Primordial Era! Hahahaha!”
“Congratulations, Third Sect Master!” Jiu Liansheng was genuinely pleased for Garuda. However, at that moment, the dust on the wall suddenly flaked away, revealing a vast expanse of ancient script. The characters were ancient and continuous, far beyond his comprehension. “This…”
Garuda turned and sighed lightly. “The records within the Heavenly Bone Scriptures hold one profoundly significant meaning: the cycle of all things, the infinite possibilities. Even with the support of the Dao-Profound Barrier, I still require much more power. Take the Yu Yu Seal Blade; I hope it can find its true master.”
...
The power of the divine beasts seemed unable to reach the vicinity of Mount Wandao. Ye Xiu charged through without the slightest obstruction, but the extinction of ten thousand spirits beneath the vast sky—would this catastrophic situation spread to the Human Realm?
In the main hall of Mount Wandao, Old Liu and Jun Bugu, who had just arrived, were enjoying a feast. However, none of this fare compared to the food of the Human Realm. “Hey, Jun Bugu, have you ever been to the Human Realm? That realm is far more exciting than this place.”
“Stop just talking. When are you and Ye Xiu going to take me out to see it? This place is too stuffy.” Jun Bugu and Old Liu had a natural rapport, quickly becoming close despite meeting only a few times, simply because they were both prone to silliness. “Speaking of which, Ye Xiu and the Drought Demon Insect Emperor have left. Are they in any danger?”
Old Liu waved his hand with a sigh. “Don’t worry. That guy looks utterly unfathomable. We’re the ones in danger, but he’ll be fine.”
“That capable? His cultivation doesn't look like it’s at the invincible realm,” Jun Bugu said skeptically, looking blankly at Old Liu. “Actually, your abilities seem quite formidable, Old Liu. Your Daoist cultivation already rivals that of the Boundless Dao Master, otherwise, you wouldn't be the master of Mount Wandao.”
“Speaking of cultivation, there's no boasting there; Ye Xiu really isn't my match.” Old Liu wiped the food from his mouth and raised his Ghost-Slaying Sword, ready to demonstrate. Unexpectedly, a ball of black flame blasted toward him. He dodged, but his meal was instantly incinerated by the flame. “Damn it, Black Flame!”
Ye Xiu dropped down from the ceiling, launching a flying kick aimed at Old Liu’s backside. “You said I’m not your match?”
Old Liu flipped into the air, dodging behind Jun Bugu and cursing, “Damn it, daring to ruin my dinner! Looks like you’re tired of living, brat.”
Upon seeing Ye Xiu, Jun Bugu immediately ran over and felt his body with concern. “Are you alright? Did the Drought Demon Insect Emperor do anything to you?”
Ye Xiu shook his head and explained, “I’m fine for now, but if we don’t hurry, we might end up dead. The Drought Demon Insect Emperor obtained an Evil Eye that can clearly observe the entire situation in Wujianjie.”
“Really that awesome!” Old Liu didn't quite believe it. “Coincidentally, I have something to tell you too: the assassination attempt on Mount Sumeru failed. The Killing Sovereign will emerge within thirty days.”
“That Evil Eye is related to the Fire Map Purgatory, and I just got intelligence from the Witch Maiden,” Ye Xiu said, looking at Jun Bugu. Despite his noble status as the Death God, his cultivation was negligible after his powers were extracted.
“The Witch Maiden—I encountered him on Mount Sumeru too!” Old Liu exclaimed in surprise. The Witch Maiden was the Saint Empress of Ten Thousand Demons, who had appeared in their past experiences. “What did he say?”
“I confirmed Jun Bugu’s identity as the Death God, but given his current cultivation and memory, he couldn't give me any answers. So…” Ye Xiu clapped Jun Bugu on the shoulder. “The Witch Maiden told me that within the Fire Map Purgatory exists the Ultimate Meridian Celestial Pivot, comparable to the Mad Meridian Celestial Pivot!”
“You want to take me to find the Ultimate Meridian Celestial Pivot? Can we go on another adventure?” Hearing this, Jun Bugu clapped his hands with joy. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go!”
Old Liu didn’t pay much attention to this development. He said to Ye Xiu, “The Witch Maiden told me that the day after the Killing Sovereign breaks the ice is when the Heavenly Ranking Sacred War begins. An entrance to the Heavenly Emperor’s Cycle will appear at the peak of Mount Sumeru. Anyone who survives will be forcibly dragged into the Heavenly Emperor’s Cycle.”
“Meaning we have to defeat the Killing Sovereign in another realm?” Ye Xiu realized the implication, but a mysterious place like the Heavenly Emperor’s Cycle wouldn’t be easily accessible. “On the day the ice breaks, everyone in Wujianjie will likely participate in that battle. How many will survive to see the next day?”