Chapter 1632: You Really Appeared
Editor: Atlas Studios
At this moment, all attention was focused on the location of the teleportation array.
From the outside, everything appeared normal; the formation was still intact, and neither the middle-aged punishment enforcer nor the Fourth True Monarch could be seen.
This place was isolated by the unique formation of the Fourth True Monarch and the ripples of s.p.a.ce-time.
Even if someone could sense the anomaly here, those qualified to perceive it had already been informed by the Fourth True Monarch before his arrival, ensuring a proper safeguard for his mission.
Therefore, the calmness perceived from the outside was merely an illusion. If anyone were to step into this area at that moment, they would immediately hear the sound of order like thunder in their ears.
Above the formation, the figure of the Fourth True Monarch emanated an imposing aura, exuding an overwhelming authority. Wherever his gaze fell, it seemed that any deviation from the original path must inevitably return to its rightful trajectory.
The voice he emitted transformed into a tangible force, manifesting as shimmering silver runes that arranged themselves around him, instantly forming a vast and magnificent formation.
The radiant silver light illuminated this s.p.a.ce.
This was… the sound of the Dao manifesting as order!
As the formation operated and the radiance intensified, the Fourth True Monarch’s will erupted with a thunderous sound, suppressing everything and reversing the tide of momentum and authority.
It crashed down like a heavenly ocean to subdue the earth.
It headed straight for… the middle-aged punishment enforcer.
The overwhelming pressure and tidal force made the middle-aged punishment enforcer feel as if he were a solitary boat adrift in a furious sea, on the brink of capsizing amidst the tsunami.
Yet, his eyes revealed no hint of retreat; instead, a fierce battle spirit surged within him. The ma.s.sive broken sword manifesting behind him exuded an even more menacing aura.
At the moment when the vast silver formation descended, veins bulged on his face, forming a grotesque visage that appeared eerie and sinister.
He raised his hand towards the falling array and suddenly released it.
In the blink of an eye, the unparalleled broken sword emitted a thunderous sword cry, its broken area shimmering with flowing light as if attempting to repair itself.
In an instant, the sword regained its form, and with the punishment enforcer’s hand, it slashed towards the heavenly formation that represented order.
The array formation and the broken sword instantly collided.
A deafening rumbling sound echoed out.
Although the order formation was strong, the broken sword was even more ferocious. It was like an outlaw. No matter how the order enveloped it, it would break through it!
The array formation shattered, turning into countless fragments that rolled back.
The punishment enforcer trembled and spat out a large mouthful of blood. He had weakened greatly, as though his life and even his soul had been sucked away by the broken sword.
This was the price of activating the broken sword.
However, at that moment, he clearly couldn’t care less. Taking advantage of the instant the sword broke through the array formation, he rushed forward and finally approached the edge of the array formation.
He was about to step on it…
However, how could the Fourth True Monarch only have these methods?
Earlier, he had only casually said those words.
The Fourth True Monarch in the air had a calm expression and waved his right hand.
With this wave, the iron chains in all directions moved like silver snakes. As they intertwined in this world, they formed an even more vast array formation.
Regardless of aura, pressure, resplendence, or complexity, they all far surpa.s.sed the former.
This was the iron chains forming the order.
After it appeared, it headed straight for the punishment enforcer.
The punishment enforcer’s expression shifted drastically.
Though he had never crossed swords with Star Ring, he was well aware of the latter’s strength—after all, Star Ring was the number one heaven’s chosen of the Eastern Starfield in this generation.
But to witness such overwhelming power firsthand caused an uncontrollable turbulence within him.
Yet now, there was no other choice.
A fierce gleam flashed in the punishment enforcer’s eyes, his expression twisted. Veins bulged on his face, fully forming the ghastly visage that now completely replaced his original features, as though he had become an entirely different person. A terrifying aura erupted from his body.
With a guttural roar, as the formation bore down upon him, the punishment enforcer raised both hands and seized the broken sword behind him. Using all his strength, he allowed the sword to drain his life force. He swung the sword once again towards the descending formation.
The sky darkened.
The energy unleashed by the broken sword surged to its peak, and at the moment it collided with the formation, the two forces locked in a brief but intense stalemate.
However, very soon, the tip of the sword shone and penetrated the array formation.
However… it was only the tip of the sword.
It wasn’t that the broken sword was not powerful, but that the one holding it couldn’t withstand its power. The punishment enforcer spat out a mouthful of blood and his body rapidly withered.
The Fourth True Monarch was still calm.
He coldly glanced at the punishment enforcer and waved his hand.
A majestic force erupted from the array formation.
The punishment enforcer’s body shook and his body rolled back under the force. He fell to the ground and blood flowed from his seven orifices.
The broken sword in his hand also flew out uncontrollably and stabbed the ground, emitting a sword hum that seemed to contain regret.
Everything was over.
“With such combat strength, it’s no wonder he’s been able to contend with Zhou Zhengli for so many years. It seems Zhou Zhengli’s ability to conceal his true power has reached a level of absolute mastery.”
The Fourth True Monarch calmly spoke. His gaze landed on the punishment enforcer on the ground and waved his hand.
No matter how the punishment enforcer struggled, it was useless. His body was grabbed by the force and floated in the air.
At the same time, iron chains of order arrived from all directions and completely wrapped around him.
There were also Ordinance characters formed by the sounds flowing through his entire body, forming runic marks one after another.
“Since you’re not obedient, I’ll strip away your consciousness that descended into this world and send you back.”
The Fourth True Monarch calmly spoke and the Ordinance of Order erupted.
His Ordinance was unique, and after arriving in this fourth realm, he wasn’t sure if it was a reward from the lawful side or a result of sharing the same Ordinance as his host.
This gave him the power of annihilation!
With his Ordinance of Order, he could shatter the consciousness of his opponents.
At this moment, as he unleashed his strength, it was like a purification.
Immediately, the middle-aged punishment enforcer who was tied up in mid-air spasmed violently and let out a heart-rending wail.
The Ordinance of Order circulated in his body, rapidly destroying all traces of Xie Lingzi.
This process didn’t last long.
In just a moment, the purification was completed and his consciousness was destroyed.
The middle-aged punishment enforcer died and his body landed on the ground.
The iron sword at the side also dissipated at this moment.
This scene caused Star Ring’s expression, which hadn’t changed at all, to suddenly change.
“My Order Ordinance carries no intent to kill. After Xie Lingzi’s consciousness was driven away and shattered, the host should have returned to normal. But this person… actually died?”
Star Ring fell silent for a moment, then lifted his head, gazing into the distance. A cold gleam flashed in his eyes.
“There’s only one explanation.”
“This person is Xie Lingzi, yet also not Xie Lingzi!”
“To be precise, this is someone who believed themselves to be Xie Lingzi, a belief so deeply rooted that it became their reality. The iron sword within him was real, which further confused perception.”
“Even up to the moment of death, he still thought he was Xie Lingzi. So, when I expelled him, ‘Xie Lingzi’ died—and so did he.”
“Because the traces of Xie Lingzi that were driven away… included him!”
“The real Xie Lingzi is still here!”
The Fourth True Monarch’s expression instantly darkened.
Many people were playing the game.
Just as in a pond, it wasn’t possible for there to be only one person fishing.
In this grand chessboard, Xu Qing was making his moves, the Fourth True Monarch was also playing, and others were similarly involved.
At their level of cultivation, it was rare to find someone with a truly simple mind. Even if such individuals existed, their simplicity was usually just a façade, a protective layer, nothing more.
If anyone truly believed in that façade, their demise was not far off.
…
However, regardless of whether it was a conspiracy or an open plan, regardless of whether it was chess or fishing, there were ways to deal with it.
A dark glint flashed in Star Ring’s eyes.
Although each of them wasn’t simple, he could still suppress them.
Even if there was a mistake, he had the ability to correct it.
Hence, he raised his hand and grabbed at the place where the iron sword had disappeared.
Immediately, a wisp of aura that was different from order rapidly arrived.
This was the aura of the broken sword. Through this aura, he could instantly lock onto the location of the owner of the broken sword and find the true Xie Lingzi.
However, this aura was already dissipating and wouldn’t remain for long.
“There’s enough time. I’ll just kill him again!”
Killing intent surged in the Fourth True Monarch’s eyes and he was about to rush toward a direction. However, at that moment, a change occurred!
The color of the sky changed.
In the s.p.a.ce surrounding the teleportation array, a storm appeared in the sky, and out of nowhere, sand and soil emerged from the ground. They intertwined with the tempest, forming a sandstorm battlefield.
It instantly got close and stopped the Fourth True Monarch from leaving.
A rumbling sound surged into the sky and the Fourth True Monarch stopped in his tracks. He stood in mid-air, his long hair and his clothes fluttering as a sharp glint appeared in his eyes.
What he saw was a figure walking out of the sandstorm that filled the entire s.p.a.ce.
This person wore a black robe and his blurry face was covered. One could only see from his figure that he was a man.
However, everything could be faked. It was difficult for his appearance to explain anything.
“You really appeared.”
Gazing at the figure before him and sensing the unfamiliar aura, the Fourth True Monarch’s eyes flickered with a cold gleam as he spoke slowly.
His original plan for this confrontation had two objectives: one was to suppress Xie Lingzi and restore order, and the other was to lure out the mastermind behind the rumors.
Since the opponent had targeted him, it was likely they were not aligned with the forces of order. Thus, if they didn’t come here to interfere with him, it would mean he had won this round.
If they did come, they would leave behind traces, allowing him to lock onto their ident.i.ty and confirm it.
It was meant to be a dilemma for his opponent.
However, while the adversary had indeed shown up, the timing was off. It was right when the Fourth True Monarch needed to focus on finding and subduing Xie Lingzi.
With a sharp glint in his eyes, he prepared to leave. He had to deal with Xie Lingzi first.
After all, the aura of the broken sword was fading, and more crucially, it was clear that Xie Lingzi was also fishing, using a decoy body to lure him.
The goal was to seize an opportunity to betray the palace, knowing that the Fourth True Monarch would be unable to immediately rectify the situation.
Time, therefore, could not be wasted.
Yet, while the Fourth True Monarch had no desire to engage in combat, the black-clothed figure hovering in midair had no intention of letting him go that easily.
Almost at the instant the Fourth True Monarch moved, the black-clothed man waved his hand. Immediately, a monstrous rumbling sound rang out from the sandstorm in the sky and a pair of huge eyes appeared.
Those eyes were gray.
The instant they stared at the Fourth True Monarch with coldness and ruthlessness…
The Fourth True Monarch’s body stiffened.
The moment he was stared at by this gaze, his body was unharmed, yet his own consciousness began to experience a sense of separation, as if it were turning into countless grains of sand.
Each grain contained an independent will that was emerging.
“Interesting…”
The Fourth True Monarch’s eyes flashed as he raised his right hand, pressing it forward. Instantly, iron chains materialized, swirling into a vortex before him. From within that vortex, thirteen silver coffins of varying sizes emerged.
As they appeared, a dense aura of order burst forth from inside them.
However, the coffins remained sealed, unmoving.
It seemed that even with him inhabiting the Fourth True Monarch, relying solely on his consciousness wasn’t enough to fully control them.
This was the handiwork of the true Fourth True Monarch!