The Protagonists' Chat Group: Beyond the Boundaries — Chapter 392

Chapter 392: The Great Battle Concludes, Four Quasi-Immortal Emperors Suppressed

In a desolate and cold, dark Universe, where time had ceased to hold meaning for billions of years, a profound change suddenly occurred.

A mangled corpse, which had remained still for eons, suddenly opened its eyes. Two beams of light, more terrifying than any Immortal Swords, shot forth from them.

“Why? What for?!”

He uttered these four words, his voice raw with ancient confusion and power. Then, his previously withered body burst with chaotic vitality, fully reviving and erupting with a monstrous cloud of black mist.

This was a darkness so dense it was almost impossible to separate from the fundamental Dao itself.

The next moment, he took a single, absolute step, breaking through the boundary wall of the universe and descending upon this place with boundless Divine Might.

Heaven and earth churned violently under his presence. The ancient being arrived, his Divine Might dominating the six directions and eight desolations.

This old man possessed a vast and unfathomable dark power within him, making him extremely strong and dangerous.

He was the World-Ending Old Man—sometimes known as the Exterminating Elder. He was, in a dark sense, the first Quasi-Immortal Emperor of this side, rising shortly after the Emperor Bone Brother (often a reference to Shi Hao in the deep future).

Emperor Yu and Emperor Cang were in a dire, pitiful state. Their dark bodies had been repeatedly shattered by Shi Jian and Shi Hao, and their Primordial Spirits had been ruthlessly severed, leaving them barely clinging to existence.

Now, seeing this ancient man, they dragged their broken bodies and stumbled backward, their voices filled with deep respect.

“Senior!”

Though technically a fellow Quasi-Immortal Emperor, Emperor Cang held the World-Ending Old Man in the highest regard, addressing him with deference.

“Fellow Daoist, there’s no need for such formality!” The old man was polite, interacting peacefully with the three dark Emperors, seemingly on equal footing, despite his immense power.

He then looked at Shi Hao, Shi Jian, and Liu Shen, his deep eyes contemplative: “Fellow Daoists, why bother with this destruction? You are Quasi-Immortal Emperors like me, and should be Fellow Daoists.”

“Why slaughter each other for the sake of mere ants—the insignificant beings of the lower realms?”

“There are only a few Quasi-Immortal Emperors in existence; we are the same kind. We should unite.”

The old man spoke these words with an air of absolute sincerity, a profound sense of world-weariness. It was no wonder Emperor Cang called him Senior. He indeed possessed the demeanor of a high-level Senior seeking cosmic unity.

He had initially tried to share the Legacy of his ancestor (Emperor Bone Brother) with other Quasi-Immortal Emperors to jointly seek the Grand Dao.

“You have lost your humanity and consider yourselves transcendent and detached. We are simply not on the same path!” Shi Hao instantly replied, his eyes burning with righteous fire.

“If you have lived long enough, all emotions, all sentiments for your homeland, will become nothing more than a fleeting, childish laugh,” the World-Ending Old Man responded calmly.

“The Grand Dao is fundamentally ruthless. When your hearts become ancient after the baptism of endless time, you will finally understand that only our Dao of detachment is eternal!”

He himself had been full of youthful vigor once, a powerful Prodigy of a great world, surrounded by lovers, with numerous descendants and a powerful clan.

But in the end, dust returned to dust, ashes to ashes. Everything became nothingness. With all those around him gone, all that remained was his sole, consuming pursuit of the Dao.

“That’s just your shallow vision, unable to perceive the vastness of the heavens and earth,” Shi Jian interjected, his voice cold and commanding. “It is that limitation which makes you mistakenly think the Grand Dao is ruthless.”

The old man shook his massive wolf-like head and sighed: “Right or wrong, each person has their own conclusion. We are the same kind. You can join me, like Cang, Hong, and Yu, and together explore the path to Immortal Emperor!”

“No need for more words. That is your path, not ours!” Shi Hao’s Qi was rising, his Killing Intent boiling over the dark land.

He wasted no more words on futile debate and attacked first, unwilling to compromise his principles. As the saying goes, those with different Daos cannot conspire together. It was time to see the truth through absolute action.

He unleashed a powerful punch, its brilliant light illuminating the past, present, and future of the battlefield.

“Young man, even if you see that my Dao in the past went as far as yours, it is ultimately a dead end!” the old man sighed, recognizing the potential in Shi Hao’s strike.

Then he also struck out with a palm, as black as pitch-black ink, instantly blocking Shi Hao’s blow. Within this palm were his dark Dao, his unique Law, and his peerless combat power.

With a flick of his hand, it seemed as if he would overturn the world itself.

Shi Hao was instantly sent flying backward through the dark air!

The World-Ending Old Man was simply too strong. He had undergone a profound, dark transformation, using the power of darkness to refine his Origin into an exceptionally powerful dark body.

He had once attempted to Breakthrough to the ultimate Immortal Emperor Realm.

As he was about to become an Immortal Emperor, his body collapsed and shattered inch by inch, and his Primordial Spirit likewise, inexplicably heading towards destruction.

Although his attempt to Breakthrough to Immortal Emperor failed, he did undergo a permanent, powerful transformation within the Quasi-Immortal Emperor Realm.

One could say he had one foot permanently in the Immortal Emperor Realm—a pseudo-Emperor. Therefore, he was terrifyingly strong.

One punch sent Shi Hao flying! Shi Jian moved to attack him next and was also instantly sent flying back, and Liu Shen was likewise!

The World-Ending Old Man’s combat power utterly transcended that of ordinary Quasi-Immortal Emperors.

“Three Fellow Daoists, do not be so stubborn,” the old man spoke again, admonishing them like children. “The stronger the power of the dark Origin, the more opportunity we will have to Breakthrough together. We are the same kind, why must you be like this?”

“The Grand Dao is ruthless, yet also sentimental when applied correctly. You have your path, but I have my Dao—one that includes all the forgotten spirits!” Shi Hao straightened himself and replied.

Shi Jian also looked coldly at the World-Ending Old Man: “You yourself have not even achieved Immortal Emperor; what right do you have to dictate to us?”

The Qi on Shi Jian’s body surged to its absolute maximum. The Eternal Heavenly Song played softly but forcefully, applying Buffs to himself, Shi Hao, and Liu Shen—increasing their power and resilience exponentially!

“Since you are so stubborn, then I shall let you know why I am called the World-Ending Old Man. I control countless Realms of destruction!”

The old man spoke, his palm ruthlessly striking out, destroying heaven and earth with immense, domineering power. His Aura was too formidable.

At the same time, he took out three dark Emperor Medicinal Pills—pills formed from the essence of consumed Immortal Kings—and gave them to the three dark Emperors: Cang, Hong, and Yu.

After receiving the powerful Medicinal Pills, Cang, Hong, and Yu quickly recovered their bodies, their wounds sealing rapidly.

They immediately assisted the World-Ending Old Man, intending to suppress the Shi Jian faction.

Four against three. The tactical advantage was now clearly theirs.

Upon seeing this situation, Shi Jian and Shi Hao exchanged a single, knowing glance, then unleashed the ultimate forbidden art: the Great Law of Other-Transformation Freedom.

“Other-Transformation Freedom, Other-Transformation Through Ages!”

Boom!

Several colossal, blurry figures instantly descended, then rapidly materialized into solid form.

[Inorin’s Note: The Other-Transformation Freedom Law allows the user to manifest a near-perfect copy of a powerful being whose essence or “Dao Fruit” they have observed. The complexity here is that Shi Jian and Shi Hao can manifest copies of their chat group allies.]

The Great Law of Other-Transformation Freedom was extremely abnormal, but also very demanding. It could not be cast at will, as there had to be a reference subject.

But these demanding conditions were not a problem for Shi Jian and Shi Hao, who had access to the supreme Dao Fruits of their chat group allies.

As soon as the first figure appeared, it immediately vanished into the fabric of heaven and earth—this was Li Changshou. Li Changshou now possessed stable Quasi-Immortal Emperor level combat power, so the one manifested also had that level.

Another figure appeared, holding a brick in one hand and a Purple Gold Staff in the other—unconventional, rogue, and not appearing like a powerful expert. But he indeed possessed Quasi-Immortal Emperor level combat power. This was Xu Que!

Yet another figure appeared, looking down upon heaven and earth, holding a long spear, enveloped by endless light from behind. This was Yang Qi, also at Quasi-Immortal Emperor level combat power.

A fourth figure appeared. This was Fang Han, with countless powerful Laws twisting and rotating around him—another Quasi-Immortal Emperor!

Li Qiye also appeared, hands clasped behind his back, standing perfectly still between heaven and earth, indifferent to everything—another Quasi-Immortal Emperor!

Shi Jian and Shi Hao both unleashed the Great Law simultaneously, and suddenly, two Li Qiyes, two Xu Ques, two Li Changshous, two Fang Hans, and two Yang Qis appeared on the field!

Suddenly, ten more Quasi-Immortal Emperor level combat powers appeared on the battlefield.

And that wasn’t all. Each person cast the Great Law, instantly manifesting the Incarnations of others, as well as their own Incarnations.

In the Void Realm, two more Shi Jians and two more Shi Haos suddenly appeared, bringing four more Quasi-Immortal Emperor level combat powers.

Adding Shi Jian and Shi Hao’s main bodies, and Liu Shen’s main body, they now commanded a total of seventeen Quasi-Immortal Emperor level combat powers!

Six Incarnations and Liu Shen immediately stepped out, surrounding the three dark Emperors: Cang, Hong, and Yu.

Two Incarnations dealt with one Quasi-Immortal Emperor in a focused attack.

Liu Shen, meanwhile, joined the group attacking Emperor Yu. Emperor Yu’s strength was the strongest among the three dark Emperors, so three Quasi-Immortal Emperor combat powers dealing with him was a safer, more necessary precaution.

Shi Jian and Shi Hao’s main bodies, along with the Incarnations of Li Qiye, Yang Qi, and others, surrounded the World-Ending Old Man himself.

Ten Quasi-Immortal Emperor combat powers against the World-Ending Old Man alone.

The World-Ending Old Man was utterly dumbfounded after seeing this impossible scene.

“What kind of Law is this?!”

He was greatly astonished, his eyes filled with absolute shock. They all knew methods of Incarnations and Clones, and could manifest a few.

But those kinds of Incarnations and Clones had flaws; they were not complete Quasi-Immortal Emperor combat powers.

The Incarnations manifested by Shi Jian and Shi Hao were different. These were genuine Quasi-Immortal Emperor level combat powers that could even cast their own Incarnations and Clones!

It was like nesting dolls within nesting dolls of supreme power. Such a Divine Ability was too incredible and illogical. The World-Ending Old Man had never seen it before.

“Other-Transformation Freedom Law!”

Dozens of voices rang out simultaneously, their gazes coldly fixed on the World-Ending Old Man.

“Today, we shall completely cut you down and end your dark reign!”

Earth-shattering sounds resounded throughout heaven and earth as dozens of Quasi-Immortal Emperor level combat powers attacked at the exact same time.

Shi Hao roared, his whole body’s Qi surged. He held a radiant Law Pool above his head and a colossal Celestial Sword in his hand, slashing forward sharply!

Yang Qi’s Incarnation held the Nethergod Spear, unleashing the powerful Divine Ability of the Ancient Chaos Serpent, with the Myriad Realms King Chart appearing behind him. His battle prowess was truly heaven-shaking.

Fang Han and Li Qiye moved together in perfect synchronicity.

Li Qiye’s true strength had perhaps already reached the Immortal Emperor Realm. Yang Qi and Fang Han also possessed near Immortal Emperor level battle prowess.

However, Shi Jian and Shi Hao’s true bodies were still slightly weak, unable to fully manifest their ultimate Dao Fruits, only able to manifest the Quasi-Immortal Emperor level.

But even at the Quasi-Immortal Emperor level, the manifested powers of Yang Qi, Li Qiye, and others far surpassed that of an ordinary dark Quasi-Immortal Emperor.

Now, unleashing their supreme Divine Abilities towards the World Exterminating Elder, the World Exterminating Elder’s expression turned deeply solemn.

He had undergone a transformation, that was true, but the transformation ultimately failed. He was still fixed in the Quasi-Immortal Emperor Realm.

Although he transcended ordinary Quasi-Immortal Emperors, facing ten simultaneously attacking Quasi-Immortal Emperors at once, he was not optimistic about survival!

His dark transformation, the powerful and perfect body, could not be maintained for long under this pressure.

“Awoo!”

The World Exterminating Elder let out a primordial roar, revealing an incredibly huge wolf head with vibrant crimson fur and a pair of ox horns on his head.

This seemed to be his true, terrifying form. It contained a power to devour heaven and earth, seemingly capable of refining all things back to primal chaos.

He bit down, and the stars in the distant sky fell helplessly into his massive mouth. Everything nearby was swallowed and instantly refined by him.

He desperately wanted to devour those Incarnations with Quasi-Immortal Emperor level battle prowess to replenish his dark energy.

However, Shi Jian, Shi Hao, and the Dao Fruits of the group members were not to be trifled with. They all simultaneously unleashed their Divine Abilities and supreme Magical Artifacts, blocking this devouring change.

“Roar!”

The World Exterminating Elder attacked again. Nine long, whip-like tails appeared behind him, like giant serpents tearing through the Universe’s space.

Each tail was a true dark Dragon, black as ink, with ferocious Dragon heads. One tail instantly confronted one Quasi-Immortal Emperor level battle prowess.

Killing Intent soared to the heavens. The World Exterminating Elder’s battle prowess was indeed terrifying; facing ten Quasi-Immortal Emperor level fighters, he still had the strength left to struggle fiercely.

This was a world-shaking battle. The confrontation instantly entered a critical, white-hot state.

“Kill!”

Shi Jian’s pupils turned into blades, incredibly pressing. He unleashed his Dominator Domain—the field of absolute control. Countless Divine Abilities converged, and then evolved into the ultimate Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation!

As of today, the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation was still one of his most powerful, terrifying trump cards.

As his cultivation became more profound, the power of the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation also grew stronger, becoming an absolute killing domain.

The essence of the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation represented the control and fusion of power over time, space, energy, and matter at their four fundamental levels.

When Shi Jian was weak, he could not unleash the true, intricate power of the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, only able to kill by relying on the Formation’s raw momentum.

Now, it was different. Where the green light of the Formation was, the Universe was at its absolute extreme, omnipresent—this was the power of space, sealing and mastering all dimensions.

Where the azure light was, time flowed violently backward or forward—this was the power of time, controlling all moments within a single thought.

Where the fiery red light reached, energy withered instantly; the Universe entered a state of heat death—this was the power of energy, controlling all power in the world.

Where the earthy yellow light existed, matter collapsed into nothingness; all things came to an end—this was the power of matter, controlling all physical existence.

When time, space, energy, and matter were all under his absolute control, he became the Dominator of all things trapped inside.

The Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation instantly enveloped the World Exterminating Elder within its deadly confines.

The World Exterminating Elder’s expression drastically changed from terror to despair.

With the aid of the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, the group members instantly erupted with terrifying Divine Might, instantly severing several of the World Exterminating Elder’s dark tails.

Blood surged, flying tens of thousands of miles, marking his defeat. The World Exterminating Elder roared in pain; he was instantly severely wounded.

Normally, when injured, he could swallow heaven and earth in one bite, restoring himself with the essence of all life.

But now, he was utterly trapped within the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation. Where the fiery red light reached, the Universe entered a state of Dharma Ending—heat death.

There was no longer any external energy for him to restore himself. Even his own internal energy was affected by the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, heading towards rapid depletion.

“What kind of terrifying Formation is this?!”

The World Exterminating Elder was covered in his own blood, trembling all over. A cold Killing Intent permeated his mind, which was now far from the calmness of his long life.

First, there was that impossible Great Self-Transformation Art that could manifest so many genuine Quasi-Immortal Emperor level fighters. It was simply inconceivable.

And then there was this inexplicable Formation that could control time and space, deplete energy, and destroy matter! It was terrifying to the extreme.

Two sets of brutal combination punches had landed. Even though he had undergone one transformation and had one foot in the Immortal Emperor Realm, he was now bleeding out.

More importantly, he felt a definite, immediate life-and-death crisis.

If he could not violently break through the Formation and continued to stay within its deadly range, the World Exterminating Elder estimated that he was not far from utter annihilation.

Quasi-Immortal Emperors were indeed difficult to kill, requiring a long, arduous time to wear them down.

But the core problem was that this Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation controlled time and space, depleting energy and destroying matter. Those who entered the Formation had everything under Shi Jian’s control.

How could he possibly break free from these absolute shackles?

The World Exterminating Elder raised his hands, which turned into sharp, gigantic claws.

“Nine Nether World Extermination!”

He roared loudly, countless black mists rose behind him, black light surged, condensing a massive Dharma Idol, which was his true self.

Standing in the vast Universe, the Idol was incredibly huge. His body’s black light merged with the Dharma Idol, erupting with a final, desperate, world-exterminating Aura.

He wanted to unleash his final, strongest strike—to make a last, desperate struggle for freedom.

This was an earth-shattering battle.

In the final decisive struggle, the World Exterminating Elder fought with his very last vestiges of life force.

Shi Jian and Shi Hao’s essence, Qi, and spirit were highly condensed and unified in this moment.

Shi Jian controlled the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, focusing the full destructive power onto the World Exterminating Elder, while the Incarnations of Li Qiye, Yang Qi, and others also erupted with unprecedented Divine Might, charging towards the desperate Elder!

Boom.

A heaven-shaking strike, the culmination of two opposing cosmic forces, erupted. A giant roar echoed through the ages; the sound not only reverberated at that moment but also drifted over the River of Time.

Many lower-realm spaces heard this terrifying sound and thought it was the wrath of the heavens. But it was, in fact, the World Exterminating Elder’s dying roar…

The World Exterminating Elder suffered the final, absolute calamity. His Dharma Idol was pierced, and his true body was shattered into countless pieces, then exploded into a storm of dark essence.

Shi Jian and his side also suffered a degree of injury; both Shi Jian and Shi Hao sustained damage, their chests grazed by the residual energy, covered in their own golden blood.

Several of the manifested Incarnations were even directly blown apart and dissolved.

However, most of the World Exterminating Elder’s ultimate attacks were strategically blocked and consumed by the disposable group members’ Incarnations.

No matter the cost, Shi Jian and Shi Hao now held an absolute, permanent advantage.

The World Exterminating Elder’s Primordial Spirit fire attempted to escape, but Shi Jian, using the absolute control of the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, instantly teleported, ruthlessly blocking his path.

“Junior!”

The World Exterminating Elder’s Primordial Spirit roared, glaring at Shi Jian with intense, futile hatred.

As the first dark Emperor to open up heaven and earth, he had never been defeated. Even Emperor Cang and others respected him greatly, addressing him as Senior.

Now he had fallen to such a state—his life decaying, a hero at the end of his ultimate road.

Shi Jian did not want to waste words with the defeated foe. He directly put the World Exterminating Elder’s Primordial Spirit into the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, and then, as a final failsafe, put the entire Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation into his Dominator Domain.

The once arrogant World Exterminating Elder was utterly suppressed by him, trapped without hope.

The World Exterminating Elder trembled violently within the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, his Primordial Spirit surging, but it was useless against the double-layered constraint.

The Dominator Domain, combined with the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, would, in turn, refine him little by little into pure Dao essence.

Quasi-Immortal Emperors were difficult to kill, requiring a prolonged period to wear them down.

However, now that the World Exterminating Elder was secured in their hands, killing him was only a matter of time and processing.

In the other battle location, the three dark Quasi-Immortal Emperors—Cang, Hong, and Yu—had also long reached the end of their struggle.

They too tasted the treatment that the lone Footprint Emperor had received when he was first besieged: relentless, overpowering assault.

One against two, one against three. Facing the absolute power of the group members’ Incarnations, the three dark Emperors were naturally no opponents.

Even if they struggled desperately, unwilling to sit and wait for death, it was futile.

Emperor Cang’s head was severed, and his Primordial Spirit was forcibly cut off and sealed.

Emperor Hong was blown apart by a devastating punch, his Primordial Spirit sealed in a bronze coffin.

Emperor Yu attempted to escape using his ultimate speed, but his ancient Divine Wings were forcibly torn apart, and his Primordial Spirit was ruthlessly suppressed in a single blow.

The true bodies and Primordial Spirits of all three Emperors were collected by Shi Jian.

He planned to refine their supreme essence and power, using it as the ultimate resource to help him Breakthrough to the next, higher Quasi-Immortal Emperor Realm and beyond.

A great, cosmic crisis was thus finally resolved.