Among the warriors who had just charged out of the Three-Linked City, only the undead under Yama’s command remained unmoved.

As spirits of the dead, having experienced the tranquility and serenity of the Death Realm, their cravings for worldly desires had been reduced to an absolute minimum. Especially these undead; no matter how mighty their earthly kings and heroes, they were now under Yama’s absolute control in death.

As Yama had forbidden them to move, these undead would not stir in the slightest. Thus, while the other contingents suffered heavy casualties, the undead remained completely unscathed. Naturally, the scouting mission should fall to Yama’s legion of the dead. If the prohibitions were triggered by all other heavenly host members, what about the undead, who possessed no living breath?

Ten thousand undead warriors, led by a Death King draped in magnificent robes and wearing a crown, carefully marched out of the Three-Linked City. They suppressed every trace of their presence—no breathing, no heartbeat, no blinking, no speech, and not a single wisp of magical energy leaking out. They simply advanced with extreme caution, moving with mechanical precision.

Scarcely had they cleared the gate of the Three-Linked City when a faint, ethereal purple haze suddenly materialized in the void. Tens of thousands of lightning bolts, as fine as strands of hair, whistled down. The ten thousand undead, without even a sound of complaint, were instantly pulverized into dust by the arcs of light.

The purple lightning carried an overwhelmingly pure Yang, demon-dispelling aura—the very nemesis of all undead creatures. These powerful undead warriors, even the mightiest king among them comparable to a First Grade Grand Luo Golden Immortal, were annihilated without the slightest chance to resist the barrage of lightning.

Yama waved the scepter he had reforged over the years using rare celestial treasures and spoke in a muted voice, "It has been tested. This restriction spares no one, not even the dead. It is a formidable barrier. Does anyone else have suggestions?" The Celestial Gods fell silent, the Demons grumbled, and the three major leaders exchanged glances, each finding themselves without words.

After a long interval, Ji Ti L, the mentor of the Celestial Gods, suggested, “Initiate the Three-Linked City’s southward advance toward the South Heaven Gate.” The three titans immediately agreed with the Priest's counsel. They slipped into the main control core of the city, intending to manipulate its forward movement. However, an invisible force in the void bound the Three-Linked City. The moment the city attempted to budge, it vibrated violently and halted.

The sudden, massive shockwave flung many of the Guardian Celestial Host standing on the battlements off the walls. Countless streaks of silver light flashed out, and the heads of these guardians were instantly severed, their corpses and resulting gore piling up beneath the ramparts.

The Guardian Celestial Host stood frozen, staring vacantly at the South Heaven Gate, tens of millions of miles away, for three days and three nights.

Suddenly, an Asura general, known for his explosive temper, roared and leaped forth. He bellowed, “Let those cowardly, incompetent wastes perish! Can even the restrictions of the Ancient Heavenly Court truly block our brave and invincible Asura warriors?”

This Asura general, possessing ninety-nine heads and three hundred and sixty arms in this life, roared and charged out of the Three-Linked City. Towering demonic flames and blood-light erupted from his body as he strode forward. A brilliant radiance seeped from within him, instantly enveloping him in a set of Supreme Immortal Armor.

A brilliant light mixed with rosy vapors coiled around the Asura general. This Immortal Armor was of the highest quality, and the rosy glow gathered around him into three spirit mushroom-shaped purple clouds, which danced and spun in arcane trajectories. Three small white cranes emerged from the purple clouds, circling above the Asura’s head. With the subtle flutter of their six small wings, they stirred up streams of vapor that flowed in patterns resembling the Taiji symbol.

Gu Xiechen observed the short-tempered Asura war general and nodded slightly. This Asura possessed the cultivation of a Mid-stage Grand Luo Golden Immortal, likely an elite core member of the Asura clan. Coupled with the Supreme Immortal Armor plundered from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, and the naturally tough and coarse physique of the Asuras, his defensive capabilities were quite impressive.

However, the Asura general had barely charged ten li out from the Three-Linked City when a faint silver light flashed across the void.

Tsssk! With a crisp snap, the three small white cranes hovering above the Asura’s head were cleaved into six pieces by the silver light. The vapor shattered, and the faces of the Asura general’s ninety-nine heads instantly turned deathly pale. With a cry of alarm, he spun around and fled back toward the Three-Linked City.

Another silver light flashed. The armor on the Asura’s body instantly disintegrated, and his movement froze at a spot less than a li from the Three-Linked City, motionless for a long moment. After a full quarter of an hour, the Asura collapsed heavily to the ground, his body falling apart as he had been sliced into seventeen or eighteen segments by that silver light.

Gu Xiechen’s eyes narrowed; he finally discerned what the silver light truly was. “It is a tiny silver willow leaf, barely the length of a finger. His divine sense caught a trace of its aura—it was vividly alive, as if freshly plucked from a willow tree, yet it harbored an intensely sharp blade energy within, capable of splitting anything it passed through into two.”

“A fearsome restriction. To imbue such immense Geng Metal sharpness within a leaf so small, transforming it into an indestructible blade radiance that tears through the void—the skill of the one who laid this restriction is truly masterful and remarkable.”

The Guardian Celestial Host were again stunned into silence. Even with a Supreme Immortal Artifact protecting him, the Asura only managed to endure the silver light’s strike once. What could those without Supreme Immortal Artifacts for protection do?

Yet, this provided Da Brahma Heaven and the others with boundless courage. Da Brahma Heaven roared with laughter, “So that’s it! This restriction is nothing much. Even a Supreme Immortal Artifact can withstand one strike from the silver light; what about our natal artifacts and protective divine radiance?”

Da Brahma Heaven’s words, coupled with the performance of the Asura general just moments before, bolstered the confidence of the assembled Celestial Gods and Demon Kings. It appeared the restrictions of the Thirty-Three Heavens were not insurmountable; with sufficient power and preparation, reaching the South Heaven Gate should be a simple matter.

The only problem was that the Three-Linked City could not advance with them. This was their greatest asset for maneuvering within the Thirty-Three Heavens, and their sanctuary and final stronghold should any unforeseen circumstances arise.

After gathering to discuss, Da Brahma Heaven and the others finally made a decision: the three major leaders would head a contingent of Celestial Gods and Demon Kings to the South Heaven Gate first, attempting to breach the restrictions surrounding it. Once the restrictions were broken, the Three-Linked City could advance easily.

By normal logic, the restrictions outside the South Heaven Gate should not be excessively potent; after all, it was merely the threshold of the Heavenly Court, not requiring the strongest possible defenses. Therefore, the three titans stood a good chance of breaking them. As long as the Three-Linked City could approach the South Heaven Gate, it would be a significant achievement.

Following the calls of Da Brahma Heaven, Shiva, and Vishnu, numerous Celestial Gods, Demon Kings, and ancient ascetic immortals made their final preparations. They raised their most potent magical artifacts to shield themselves and unleashed their protective divine radiance with maximum power.

The ascetic immortals chanted ancient incantations, layering powerful talismanic defenses onto the three leaders and the assembled Celestial Gods and Demon Kings. This made the group preparing to rush to the South Heaven Gate gleam with golden light, resembling massive, radiant bulbs.

As Da Brahma Heaven cried out the signal, he mounted his swan; Shiva mounted his bull; Vishnu rode his Golden-Winged Great Peng; the other Celestial Gods and Demon Kings mounted their respective mounts or drove their chariots. The ascetic immortals followed closely behind in their carts, an imposing procession departing the Three-Linked City. This group was the cream of the crop among the Guardian Celestial Host, numbering only about a thousand individuals, yet the weakest among them possessed the cultivation of a High-Grade Grand Luo Golden Immortal.

Less than ten li after exiting the Three-Linked City, a silver light suddenly flashed before Da Brahma Heaven.

Da Brahma Heaven’s four arms shot up, and a lotus swiftly materialized, rotating before him. An extremely thin, delicate silver willow leaf sliced across the lotus, managing only to spark tiny flashes of fire, failing to tear the bloom apart. After laughing several times, Da Brahma Heaven blinked forward, instantly surging over three hundred li ahead.

Shiva’s long bow twanged, and an arrow shadow shot forth, colliding precisely with a thin sliver of silver willow leaf. With a deafening boom, countless specks of light exploded. Shiva split the willow leaf into powder with a single arrow, then laughed and lunged forward, also surging over three hundred li.

Wrathful flames burst from Vishnu’s eyes, and boundless anger incinerated a silver willow leaf rushing toward him. He lightly patted the head of his Golden-Winged Great Peng, which then carried him swiftly forward another three hundred li.

The other Celestial Gods, Demons, and ascetic immortals all struck out, easily evading the incoming attacks from the restriction. They broke through hundreds of li with ease. The entire Guardian Celestial Host burst into loud laughter, their voices brimming with boundless smugness and arrogance. Just as their laughter peaked, a dense chorus of Tsssk, tsssk sounds suddenly arose from the void.

Da Brahma Heaven looked up into the emptiness and was instantly terrified out of his wits. He shrieked, “Retreat! Fall back!”

Above their heads, countless dense silver lights, moving a hundred times faster and possessing a hundred times greater power than the previous attacks, materialized out of thin air. Innumerable dense silver beams converged in the void to form a colossal palm spanning a hundred li. Faint Buddhist radiance coiled around this massive hand. Within its palm, a golden Swastika Buddhist seal, dozens of li wide, spun rapidly, emanating the aura of the Twin Sages of Buddhism that made the Guardian Celestial Host’s souls waver. Gu Xiechen clapped his hands in admiration; this was truly the manifestation expected of a Saint.

A restriction set by a Saint does not play tricks of starting easy and finishing hard. The moment you dare to approach, it strikes with the crushing force of thunder and lightning to utterly annihilate you—this is the dignity befitting a Saint, the state of mind a Saint should possess.

As this Buddhist palm emerged, an aura of ultimate stillness permeated the surroundings. The protective divine radiances covering Da Brahma Heaven and the others shattered, forcing them to rely desperately on their natal artifacts for meager support. They dared not press forward to break the restriction any longer; instead, they frantically turned tail and rushed back toward the Three-Linked City.

Three hundred li was merely a thought-flick away for Da Brahma Heaven and his peers. However, just as they reached a spot less than three chi from the Three-Linked City, the immense Buddhist palm formed of countless silver lights slammed down heavily.

With a thunderous crash, all the Guardian Celestial Host below Da Brahma Heaven spat blood. They cried out in agony as they retreated into the Three-Linked City. Some had their hearts scraped to shreds by the silver light. A few unfortunate Asuras, whose bodies were too massive, could not dodge in time, and half their bodies were minced into blood plasma.

The giant Buddhist palm slammed heavily onto the Three-Linked City. The vast city erupted in ten thousand feet of divine light, firmly holding against the palm’s impact. A mushroom cloud surged upward from the city’s surface, and the colossal structure shuddered, slipping backward nearly a hundred zhang from the force of the strike.

In the uppermost hundreds of tiers of the Three-Linked City, countless Guardian Celestial Host lost their footing, tumbling onto the ground. Da Brahma Heaven and the others looked at each other, their faces drained of color. They finally understood: the restriction outside the South Heaven Gate was personally set by a Saint.

A restriction set by a Saint! They had assumed that at most, they would encounter protective formations laid down by the Jade Emperor (Haotian Shangdi) and the host of Celestial Gods. Who knew that the very first obstacle would be a deadly maneuver carrying the dual aura of Buddhist Sages?

If not for the Three-Linked City being an anomaly within the Heavenly Dao—something not easily destroyed—that single strike might have already slain Da Brahma Heaven and the others. “What should we do now?” The group exchanged glances, their brows furrowed in despair; they were utterly out of options.

The Goddess Jixiang could guide the Three-Linked City through the void, but such a method caused immense harm to her. She was currently in seclusion recuperating, and it was doubtful she would agree to risk her life again to guide the Three-Linked City through a Saint’s restriction and into the core area of the Thirty-Three Heavens Palace. Without sufficient reward, the Goddess Jixiang would absolutely refuse to risk her life again!

Only Da Brahma Heaven and the others knew the excruciating price they had already paid to persuade the Goddess Jixiang to use her innate divine ability to transport the Three-Linked City outside the South Heaven Gate. If they asked her to do it a second time, their entire foundation might be stripped bare by the Goddess Jixiang!

Just for this one passage, Da Brahma Heaven had handed over one of his Source Mantra secrets to the Goddess Jixiang. Once such a Source Mantra was passed on, Da Brahma Heaven himself would lose the ability to wield that powerful secret spell. To do it again would cause him pain unto death.

While they stood at a loss, the Young Daoist Zhang cautiously emerged from among the throng of Guardian Celestial Host.

He bowed and scraped obsequiously to the leading titans, performing a full prostration ritual, then forced a smile and addressed Da Brahma Heaven, Shiva, and Vishnu, “Venerable seniors, perhaps, perhaps we juniors have a solution!”

After a few dry chuckles, the Young Daoist Zhang cautiously produced several talismans, each about a foot and two inches long, inscribed with countless Grand Pure Spirit Runes. He fawned, “These are several secret spirit talismans inherited from my lineage, personally drawn by our sect’s founder, the Grand Pure Saint, Laozi. They possess the great magical power and divine ability to break all restrictions.” Da Brahma Heaven gazed at the Young Daoist Zhang thoughtfully and asked in a low voice, “What do you desire?”

The Young Daoist Zhang immediately puffed out his chest and chuckled slyly, “If this junior succeeds by some chance, and we successfully reach the South Heaven Gate and break this restriction, I only ask that the status of my Kunlun and Zhongnan sects be allowed to rise just a little!”

Da Brahma Heaven exchanged a look with Shiva and Vishnu, then suddenly laughed. “Very well, Young Daoist Zhang. If you succeed, this Seat will adopt you and the entire Orthodox Daoist sect as godchildren! Among the Guardians, adding your Daoist Heaven faction will be no issue at all!” Da Brahma Heaven laughed generously. The Young Daoist Zhang knelt in sycophancy, shouting ‘Father’ repeatedly! Gu Xiechen, Guo Hua, and the Corpse Emperor exchanged glances—they nearly vomited!

The pig’s head has been drinking heavily and suffering from lack of sleep these past few days, so my energy is quite low today. Alas, I wrote one hundred and five thousand characters—please forgive me. Tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that, the pig’s head will continue to work hard on typing! Those interested can check out the pig’s blog; countless bits of gossip are posted there.

So much bromance! F

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