The Protagonists' Chat Group: Beyond the Boundaries — Chapter 353

Chapter 353: The Exotic Realm Comes Out in Full Force, Dozens of Immortal Kings Gather at Emperor Pass

Fang Han had traversed countless worlds through the Gate of Eternal Life, experienced innumerable fortuitous encounters, killed figures that could shake epochs, and refined Magic Treasures and Immortal Artifacts beyond measure.

His foundation was incredibly, unfathomably profound.

Now, he had even broken through the theoretical Immortal Dao Gate of his system, advancing to the Heavenly Immortal Realm, possessing terrifying and immense cosmic power.

[Inorin’s Note: “Heavenly Immortal” (Tiān Xiān) is a high realm in Eternal Life’s cultivation system, signifying mastery over certain universal laws.]

Facing the ancient and powerful Immortal King Wushang now, Fang Han could finally be considered an equal match in terms of raw power.

Fang Han stood suspended in the chaotic void near the Heavenly Abyss. A pair of dazzling Wings of Freedom flapped gently behind him, leaving trails of temporal distortion. His palm seemed to contain the heavens themselves; with a slight flip, he felt he could overturn the Universe and destroy the cosmos. His power felt utterly terrifying, even to himself!

His eyes flickered slightly, calculating infinite possibilities. Countless thunderous explosions echoed around him as various King-grade Immortal Artifacts—pagodas, bells, swords, diagrams—appeared, orbiting him like loyal stars.

His entire being seemed to have completely transformed into the very center of time and space, the absolute origin from which all things stemmed.

The river of Fate roared madly around him, visible only to those at the highest realms.

Wushang, facing such an opponent radiating such profound and multifaceted power, also felt an extreme sense of crisis. This cultivator was not from the Nine Heavens! His Dao felt alien, ancient, dangerous.

Wushang VS Fang Han! The battle began!

…

The moment Wushang made his move towards Fang Han, the other Foreign Immortal Kings immediately followed suit, intending to overwhelm the Nine Heavens’ defenders with sheer numbers. But they were all instantly intercepted and blocked.

Devil King Pu faced Yang Qi. This particular Foreign Immortal King’s combat power was extremely formidable. At his peak, he could fight the legendary Liu Shen of Darkness (when she was corrupted) to a draw. He was also consistently ranked among the top tiers on the Exotic Realm’s internal combat power list.

[Inorin’s Note: Devil King Pu (Mó Wáng Pú) is a powerful Foreign Immortal King in Perfect World, known for his resilience.]

During the brutal Immortal Ancient Era, when the Exotic Realm first invaded the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, Devil King Pu first battled the True Dragon (one of the Ten Vicious) for several grueling years. Then he fought the Six Paths Reincarnation Immortal King for ten years straight. Later, he had a bloody, world-shattering battle with the Immortal King Wuzhong for decades, eventually being killed by Immortal King Wuzhong after an exhaustive fight. However, he was later revived by a rare Immortal Pill from the Exotic Realm’s treasury.

Devil King Pu indeed lived up to his reputation as the most stubborn, resilient Immortal King.

As soon as he made his move, launching towards Shi Jian, he was intercepted by the seemingly most formidable newcomer – Yang Qi.

Devil King Pu rushed forward. His body moved with a strange, demonic grace, and each attack flowed like a beautiful, deadly dance. Yet, each movement contained razor-sharp Qi and terrifying killing intent.

This endless killing intent manifested physically, like ethereal silkworm threads spinning silk, attempting to form a binding cocoon, enveloping and trapping Yang Qi.

Yang Qi, however, remained completely still, standing calmly in the center of the swirling killing intent. His heart pounded violently within his chest – thump-THUMP. His heart had now fully evolved into the God Engine. As his heart beat, his power surged dramatically, doubling, tripling, quadrupling with each pulse.

[Inorin’s Note: The “God Engine” (Shén Yǐnqíng) is an evolution of Yang Qi’s heart in Sage Monarch, providing exponentially increasing power.]

With countless halos of the Eternal Heavenly Song already surrounding him, his power once again surged madly, reaching levels that defied comprehension.

He unleashed a single Sword Qi from his fingertip. Instantly, heaven and earth seemed to split apart, as if this simple attack intended to annihilate everything in the world.

Yang Qi’s move was not particularly exquisite or complex, but the sheer, raw power contained within it was boundless, absolute.

Devil King Pu was completely dumbfounded. He had never seen such an opponent before.

‘In just this short while since appearing, the opponent’s power had surged so much? How is this possible?!’

How was he supposed to fight this?

He could clearly feel that Yang Qi’s every move, despite its simplicity, was naturally perfect, containing the highest truths of the Dao. His heart felt… special, terrifyingly so, seemingly not compatible with mere flesh and blood.

A human body, housing the heart of a primordial god.

With each heavy beat of Yang Qi’s heart, Devil King Pu felt a surge of deep trepidation, an instinctual fear.

Boom!

The two crashed into each other fiercely – Pu’s intricate dance of death against Yang Qi’s simple, overwhelming power.

Devil King Pu was instantly shaken by the terrifying force. His Qi and blood churned violently, and he almost coughed up blood from the impact.

Had it been any other Immortal King, they would probably have been instantly killed, or at least grievously wounded, by Yang Qi’s punch at this moment.

But this was Devil King Pu.

The most stubborn, durable existence in the entire Exotic Realm.

He had fought the True Dragon, the Six Paths Reincarnation Immortal King, and the Immortal King Wuzhong, all peak existences.

Whether his raw combat power was the absolute strongest or not, that was secondary.

He was certainly, undeniably, very durable.

He could barely hold on for a while against Yang Qi, buying time.

…

On another side of the chaotic battlefield…

The insidious Red King made his move against Meng Qi.

Red King, who primarily cultivated mysterious spatial-temporal techniques, was also quite powerful and difficult to deal with.

[Inorin’s Note: Red King (Chì Wáng) is another Foreign Immortal King, associated with time and space manipulation.]

Around him, black Qi surged, and strange black light seemed to spread into other Universes, connecting dimensions. The River of Time itself flowed visibly around him, and the surrounding environment constantly shifted and changed under his influence.

One moment, there was a deathly Divine Realm where eerie Other Shore Flowers bloomed.

The next, there was a land of eternal silent slumber, filled with decay.

Then, a dilapidated, gray Judgment City appeared, filled with ghostly figures.

Countless bizarre scenes were covered with an oily, corrupting sheen, and endless spatial-temporal power transformed into these various deadly pocket dimensions.

The surrounding Void Realm trembled and curled up under his power.

The vast and mighty power of superclusters seemed to be continuously pulled by him, manipulating space and time, as if attempting to explode this entire region of the void.

This was the terrifying power of space and time wielded by an Immortal King.

Space and time eroding this very reality.

With endless spatial-temporal power pressing down on him, Meng Qi’s expression remained calm, unchanging.

He spread his five fingers, his palm becoming dark and infinitely deep, seemingly leading to other Universes, containing infinite possibilities.

This was Wuji – the state of infinity, before the beginning.

[Inorin’s Note: “Wuji” (无极) is a Daoist concept representing the infinite void before Taiji (the Supreme Ultimate). In The Sage Who Transcended Samsara, Meng Qi reaches a realm embodying this concept.]

Wuji encompasses everything, nurtures all things; even space and time itself are included within its boundless potentiality.

Having mastered Wuji, Meng Qi was effectively the Lord of all Realms within his own conceptual domain.

He would not be affected by any external environment or law.

“The power of space and time is good,” Meng Qi acknowledged calmly. “But take this punch from me!”

His voice reverberated like the first sound of creation. Three distinct figures appeared instantly behind Meng Qi: a golden, immovable Vajra Buddha; a sharp, ethereal Sword Qi Dao Body; and a nigh Indestructible True Body.

The three figures simultaneously unleashed a single punch, merging perfectly with his own original punch.

Around his fist, the black Qi representing Wuji whimpered and solidified. Universes appeared one by one within the fist’s light: some frozen solid in absolute ice, some in a state of deathly silence and decay, some utterly destroyed and returned to nothingness.

With this single punch, all possible scenes representing the end of the Universe descended upon Red King.

Wherever Meng Qi’s pure white fist passed, the starry sky disintegrated. Both space and time were utterly destroyed, returned to Wuji.

He fiercely punched towards Red King’s head. Red King’s complex spatial defenses shattered instantly, and his head exploded into a rain of blood.

Chaos and destruction spread from the point of impact!

Red King instantly reformed his head, but his complexion was much paler, his aura significantly weakened.

Clearly…

He was no match for Meng Qi.

…

Xu Que also faced an Immortal King here, one known for his arrogance.

As soon as Xu Que unleashed his signature “King of Coercion Punch,” enhanced by countless buffs from his System, the entire world seemed to tremble under its sheer B-factor.

The Immortal King fighting him, initially disdainful, was also quickly beaten to a living hell, unable to comprehend the bizarre and illogical power Xu Que wielded.

…

The Immortal King War between the Exotic Realm and the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands thus began in earnest.

Upon the very first engagement…

The entire Exotic Realm side immediately, shockingly, fell into a clear disadvantage.

…

“How is this possible?!”

Many Foreign Immortal Kings almost simultaneously found themselves suppressed, struggling against these unknown powerhouses.

Facing the current disastrous situation…

They could hardly believe their senses.

In the glorious past, during the Immortal Ancient Era, the Exotic Realm had simultaneously fought against both the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands and the powerful Immortal Realm, and they could still suppress both sides!

And at that time, both the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands and the Immortal Realm were in their absolute prime, filled with Kings and peak experts.

Now, just dealing with the declined, weakened Nine Heavens and Ten Lands…

They had dispatched so many Immortal Kings, yet they were still at a disadvantage? Immediately pushed back?

This was truly too incredible, too illogical.

Wushang and the other leading Immortal Kings realized something was terribly wrong. These newcomers were far stronger than anticipated. They quickly called for more reinforcements through their divine senses.

In an instant, the Void Realm near the Heavenly Abyss was torn open again, violently.

One Immortal King after another, radiating ancient and powerful auras, emerged from within.

This time…

It seemed almost all the remaining Kings of the Exotic Realm had come out in full force.

The Immortal Kings of the Exotic Realm, of course, were not just Red King, Anlan, Yu Tuo, Wushang, and a few others.

All the Immortal Kings combined…

Numbered in the dozens.

Now, as they all came out in full force, their combined presence shaking the cosmos, the entire world trembled violently.

Countless hidden beings across the universe were alarmed by this unprecedented gathering of King-level power.

Even the Forbidden Land Lords in the Nine Heavens could no longer remain calm at this moment, their gazes turning towards Emperor Pass with shock and apprehension.

[Inorin’s Note: “Forbidden Land Lords” (Jìnqū Zhī Zhǔ) are ancient, powerful beings residing in dangerous restricted zones in Perfect World, often survivors from older eras.]

“Go all out! Completely annihilate the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands! Leave no survivors!”

Kundí, another ancient and powerful Immortal King, roared, issuing the command for total war.

[Inorin’s Note: Kundí (Kūndì) is another prominent Immortal King of the Foreign Realm.]

Dozens of Immortal Kings instantly attacked together, tearing apart the sky. With so many Immortal Kings attacking simultaneously regardless of the cost, the already weakened Heavenly Abyss was almost completely shattered, its protective Laws overwhelmed.

Shi Jian was just about to deliver the killing blow to Immortal King Anlan, but then several more Immortal Kings suddenly joined the battlefield, intercepting his attack.

This gave the beleaguered Anlan a crucial chance to breathe and regroup.

The great advantage the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands side had initially held was instantly reversed.

Originally, the members of the chat group were almost completely suppressing the first wave of Immortal Kings from the Exotic Realm.

But now…

Massive reinforcements from the Exotic Realm had arrived. Each member of the chat group now had to face three or four Immortal Kings simultaneously.

The scale of the battle expanded exponentially once again.

Dozens of Immortal King-level existences attacking simultaneously and engaging in a massive, chaotic free-for-all?

What a horrifying, world-ending scene was this?

Even the most brutal battles recorded in the Immortal Ancient Era were likely not this intense, not this concentrated with King-level power.

Heaven and earth were almost shattered completely. The laws of the Dao were in chaos.

As the many Immortal Kings came out in full force, the members of the chat group immediately felt the immense pressure.

Fang Han, Yang Qi, and Li Qiye, due to their profound foundations, didn’t feel much strain initially.

Xu Que and Shi Hao, however, were starting to struggle significantly.

Although both of them also possessed Immortal King-level combat power, they were not quite as Heaven-Defying or experienced at this level as the others in the group.

So…

They resorted to cheating again.

First was Shi Hao. His Aura suddenly became extraordinary, ancient, and detached. The light on his body illuminated the sky, erupting with a peerless Qi that seemed to transcend time.

There was an invincible momentum about him that dominated the world.

He stood still for a moment, but a mysterious Dao platform formed above his head. A single drop of brilliant blood glowed upon it, and a figure emerged from that Dao platform.

The person first sat cross-legged, then slowly stood up.

That person walked down from the Dao platform and pressed towards Yu Tuo, one of the Kings attacking Shi Hao.

‘This is…?’

Everyone, friend and foe alike, was stunned by this bizarre development.

This newly appeared person possessed peerless grace, invincible power, and felt strangely familiar, stirring their very Souls.

Yu Tuo and the Immortal Kings who followed behind him were startled, their faces revealing expressions of utter disbelief.

Because what was happening now was completely beyond their control and understanding.

They saw the figure that appeared holding a long spear, emitting an astonishingly powerful Aura.

This person was none other than…

Shi Jian!

As soon as this illusory Shi Jian appeared, he held the Nethergod Spear and displayed his peerless demeanor. With one hand holding the long spear and the other swinging a devastating punch, he charged towards Yu Tuo and the others.

With a single punch…

Heaven and earth shattered.

Yu Tuo and the other Immortal Kings’ expressions changed drastically.

Because this person possessed genuine, undeniable Immortal King combat power.

Several great Immortal Kings unleashed their Divine Power simultaneously to resist this unexpected figure.

They were puzzled.

They were confused.

Because the real Shi Jian was still over there, fiercely fighting Anlan and several other Immortal Kings.

Shi Hao, however, had somehow summoned his figure? And the key point was that this summoned figure also possessed Immortal King power?!

Boom! Boom!

Above Shi Hao’s head, Chaos Qi surged again, and another Dao platform appeared. A person was still sitting cross-legged on it. A drop of blood flashed with a halo, and the mark of Reincarnation flowed.

This person also stood up and then walked down from the Dao platform. His posture was majestic, his Aura devoured the world, traversing the long river of history, seeking to dominate the world, with no one able to contend with him!

This person also held the Nethergod Spear, with brilliant angelic wings spread behind him, and an astonishingly powerful Aura emanated from his body.

He also charged towards Yu Tuo and the other Immortal Kings.

Still possessing Immortal King-level combat power.

Yu Tuo recognized him instantly.

Yang Qi.

His main body was currently over there, fighting Devil King Pu and several other Immortal Kings.

Shi Hao had somehow used a bizarre Divine Ability to summon his Incarnation?

The combat power of this Incarnation was perhaps not quite as terrifyingly overwhelming as the main body.

However, it also possessed undeniable Immortal King-level combat power.

Extremely formidable.

Immeasurable Aura permeated the air. This figure seemed to have walked out from the long river of ancient years, standing tall against the sky and earth, invincible in the world.

He suppressed forward.

Charging towards Yu Tuo and the other Immortal Kings.

With Yang Qi’s and Shi Jian’s illusory figures, Shi Hao had already summoned two great Immortal King-level combat powers to aid him.

Yu Tuo and the other Supreme Immortal Kings unleashed their Divine Abilities desperately, attempting to suppress the illusory figures of Yang Qi and Shi Jian.

However, they had little success. These figures fought with the skill and power of the originals.

They could only watch helplessly as a Dao platform once again appeared above Shi Hao’s head.

Undoubtedly…

Another blurry illusory figure walked out.

Upon this blurry illusory figure, there was also a peerless grandeur, an aura that was invincible in the current age and Supreme in the Universe.

This figure charged over, displaying countless profound Dao methods with casual ease.

This was Fang Han’s illusory figure.

Originally, after Yu Tuo received reinforcements, it was he and several Immortal Kings who were suppressing Shi Hao.

But now…

Shi Hao had summoned a total of three Immortal King-level combat powers using the mysterious “He Hua Zi Zai” method.

[Inorin’s Note: “He Hua Zi Zai Dafa” (他化自在法) is Shi Hao’s ultimate technique in Perfect World, allowing him to transform into others, borrow their Dao Fruits, or manifest projections of powerful beings, even across time.]

What kind of heaven-defying art was this?

So terrifying?

Yu Tuo vaguely recalled some ancient, fragmented rumors and exclaimed in shock: “The ‘He Hua Zi Zai’ Great Method reappears! The legendary ‘He Hua Zi Zai’ Great Method from the Era of Emperor Fall! Transforming into others’ bodies, borrowing others’ Dao fruits… ‘He Hua Zi Zai’… extremely Heaven-Defying…”

[Inorin’s Note: The “Era of Emperor Fall” (Dì Luò Shídài) is an even more ancient and mysterious era than Immortal Ancient in Perfect World.]

“Why would such a Supreme and bizarre Great Method appear again in this declining era?”

Yu Tuo was endlessly shocked.

He recognized Shi Hao’s Divine Ability.

But it was useless.

Recognizing a Divine Ability did not mean one could break it.

He could only watch helplessly as Chaos Qi once again permeated above Shi Hao’s head.

Another figure walked out.

Xu Que, wielding his staff, radiating coercion.

“I’ll fight!”

Without the slightest hesitation…

Xu Que’s projection immediately joined the battle.

After Xu Que, another figure walked out.

Li Qiye, seemingly ordinary, yet infinitely profound.

Also an Immortal King-level combat power.

Li Qiye’s projection joined the battle.

It still wasn’t over yet.

Another figure walked out.

As soon as this figure appeared, it subtly dissipated, merging into the void between heaven and earth, becoming undetectable.

Li Changshou. His projection joined the battle in its own unique way.

Almost all the Immortal King-level combat powers currently present in the group were manifested by Shi Hao using He Hua Zi Zai.

Finally…

No further Dao platform appeared above his head, but a blurry mark representing himself fused with him.

His true body also moved.

The Great Luo Sword Embryo that Shi Jian had given him appeared in his hand, becoming his primary weapon, emitting brilliant, chaotic light.

The situation on this part of the battlefield instantly reversed again.

Initially… Shi Hao was suppressing Yu Tuo.

After the Exotic Realm called for reinforcements… Yu Tuo and several Immortal Kings suppressed Shi Hao.

But now…

Shi Hao had used the “He Hua Zi Zai” method, transforming the Dao fruits of the chat group members, instantly bringing out a total of eight Immortal King-level combat powers (including himself).

Eight Immortal Kings against four Immortal Kings?

The offense and defense instantly shifted!!!

Shi Hao’s desperate situation was completely reversed.

…

Xu Que’s side was in a similar, though less dramatic, situation.

Initially, he was gleefully suppressing the Immortal King assigned to him.

But as he fought…

The other side called for reinforcements.

The other side gave him a righteous, infuriating group beating.

It instantly left him bewildered and enraged.

So he…

Naturally, decided to cheat as well.

“Damn it! A group beating, is it?! You dare gang up on the Exploding Heavens Faction?!”

Xu Que was a bit exasperated.

Originally, he was having a great time bullying his opponent, showing off his skills.

But then the other side suddenly called for people.

A group of ancient Kings ganged up on him.

It made him utterly miserable.

Even with his Purple Gold King of Coercion Rod swinging billions of times per second, imbued with System power, he couldn’t beat back the combined assault of multiple Immortal Kings.

Several great Immortal Kings simultaneously dealing with him…

It was indeed a bit too much for him to handle conventionally.

“System! Activate the Auto-recovery function!”

“Turn it on for me! Max power!”

Xu Que directly activated the auto-recovery function of the Strongest Acting Tough and Face-Slapping System.

Auto-recovery function…

As the name suggested…

It could automatically, instantly recover from any injuries.

As long as he wasn’t instantly killed beyond the System’s ability to repair, any injury on him would be instantly healed by the auto-recovery function, consuming Acting Tough Points.

The auto-recovery function was a new, high-cost feature developed after the Strongest Acting Tough and Face-Slapping System was upgraded recently.

It was almost equivalent to a health lock, as long as his points held out.

But this was not enough. Just surviving wasn’t Xu Que’s style.

“System in hand, the world is mine!” he roared.

“Damn System! Don’t just heal! Come out and fight for me!”

[System: System proxy mode activated.]

[System: Combat System online. Transferring control.]

A powerful, cold, and unparalleled mechanical Aura erupted from Xu Que.

Xu Que’s Aura, his fighting style, his very presence changed. It became efficient, brutal, calculating.