Chapter 518: The Great Undertaking of Creating Gods

Previously, rumors spread across the Second World, claiming that those cultivating forbidden techniques would be spared when the foreign races inevitably invaded.

Forbidden techniques then surfaced across the fragmented lands of the Second World, readily available to those in despair.

Most attempting to cultivate these forbidden techniques failed to adapt and died gruesome deaths along the way.

Now, true heretical cultivators had appeared in the Imperial Dominion.

The masterminds behind the scheme had orchestrated this chaos to fracture the human race from within while pushing the depraved heretical cultivators to vie for ascension to the True God Realm.

The Ghost Sacrifice Sect's pursuit of Dong Tianze and Pang Jian's killing of Xing Heng were minor in comparison to the birth of the heretical Gods.

The Immortal Realm heretical cultivators did not even bother to target Pang Jian and Dong Tianze, indicating that their survival was insignificant.

In contrast, the birth of heretical Gods was of paramount importance.

If a True God—let alone two—were to be aligned with Outer Gods, the human race's situation would undoubtedly become even more precarious than before.

Sects like the White Bone Sect, the Blood Prison Sect, and the Blackwood Sect had never truly risen to prominence because no heretical God had ever emerged from them.

No matter how powerful a heretical cultivator became, their limit was the Immortal Realm.

These heretical sects stood no chance against a coalition of more than a dozen righteous True Gods.

However, if a heretical God were to emerge, the internal balance of the human race would be overturned.

It could even lead to many talented cultivators seeking the path of heresy to ascend to the True God Realm.

This would fracture the human race from within, creating a crisis of unprecedented scale.

Foreboding chills ran down Pang Jian's spine.

Although the foreign races of the Fifth World and the Outer Gods they worshiped had appeared inactive in the lower worlds, their efforts to undermine the human race had never actually ceased.

First comes the gathering of spiritual qi, followed by the descent of clouds and auspicious light symbolizing divine ascension.

The True Gods will inevitably notice this.

If two heretical cultivators dare to attempt this...it means they have formidable backing.

Pang Jian's eyes flickered as his thoughts raced.

The Immortal Realm elders of the Sword Pavilion can't be allowed to come to the Imperial Dominion! Those seeking to create those two heretical Gods would have anticipated interference from the True Gods.

If they enter the fray, they'll only be heading straight for their deaths.

They've supported me without hesitation or reserve. How can I stand by and watch them die in the Imperial Dominion?

Golden bees!

Ignoring Dong Tianze's condition, Pang Jian established connections with the golden bees stationed on the Resolute Expanse.

***

Qi Qingsong conversed uneasily with Zhou Qingchen and Zhuang Yuyan in the Cloud Wilderness.

From time to time, he glanced at the sword-shaped symbols within his sword token, keeping track of the news.

A golden bee suddenly emerged from a hollow tree and landed between them.

"Pang Jian!"

They immediately recognized the golden bee from their trip to Absolute Heaven.

"Listen carefully," the golden bee said in Pang Jian's voice, its words quick and urgent. "Qi Qingsong, my sword token shattered after I escaped from the Imperial Dominion. I can't contact the elders for now.

"Tell them that I've left the Imperial Dominion. Don't let them enter the fragmented land to rescue me!

"Quick! Do it now!"

Qi Qingsong froze momentarily.

Zhuang Yuyan, on the other hand, acted swiftly. Grasping her sword token, she relayed Pang Jian's message to her master, Guang He.

"Master, Pang Jian has left the Imperial Dominion. Don't go there!" Before Pang Jian could say anything further, Zhuang Yuyan added, "Something catastrophic has happened in the Imperial Dominion. Wait for my updates! Stop the Sword Boat for now!"

She then glanced at the golden bee.

"The Sword Boat has stopped. Pang Jian, continue. What exactly is happening in the Imperial Dominion?"

The bee responded, "Two Immortal Realm heretical cultivators are vying for the two divine seats in the Imperial Dominion. The Outer Gods and the foreign races of the Fifth World are backing them."

Qi Qingsong and Zhuang Yuyan's hands trembled as they gripped their sword tokens.

Zhou Qingchen's body jolted violently, and he abruptly rose from his seated position.

***

A Sword Boat came to an abrupt halt under the starless night sky.

Jiang Ran, Liu Junhong, Wang Ce, and Guang He, the four Immortal Realm elders of the Sword Pavilion, each held their sword tokens with grim expressions.

The atmosphere aboard the Sword Boat was suffocating.

The sword intent unconsciously radiating from the four Immortal Realm elders etched deep grooves into the refined iron deck of the Sword Boat.

For cultivators of their caliber, such loss of control over their sword intent could only mean they had suffered a severe mental shock.

"Pang Jian doesn't want the four of us to die," Guang He said, voice heavy with exhaustion. "I've already relayed the message to Xu Yu.

"She'll inform Li Wang of the Nine Tribes Sect, Liu Fu of the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom, Li Yuanli of the Divine Treasure Sect, and Su Wanrou of the Pure Land Sect about this unprecedented and terrifying event unfolding in the Imperial Dominion.

"The True Gods of the human race will soon learn exactly what is happening there.

"As for us...we should do as Pang Jian wishes and avoid approaching the Imperial Dominion. There's no way the few of us can stop them from trying to create gods—and two heretical Gods at that."

Liu Junhong took a deep breath. "Such a vile event had never occurred before throughout the history of our human race! Heretical cultivators actually dare to seize the Fortune of the Abyss and attempt to ascend to the True God Realm with the backing of the Outer Gods!"

"I'm certain I killed Lu Qinghe." Jiang Ran knitted his brows so tightly it could crush a mosquito. Gazing toward the Imperial Dominion, he said grimly, "I remember it clearly. I cut him to pieces. My sword intent tore apart his sea of consciousness. How could he still be alive?"

Jiang Ran found it hard to accept the reality before him.

Destroying the White Bone Sect and killing the White Bone Saint Lu Qinghe had always been a source of pride for Jiang Ran.

For the White Bone Sect and Lu Qinghe to reappear once more felt like a resounding slap across his face.

"I refuse to believe that Lu Qinghe is still alive! Even if he truly is still alive, I'll just kill him again!

"It'll take time for the True Gods to descend upon the Imperial Dominion after receiving the news. The Outer Gods and the powerhouses of the Fifth World may not yet be fully prepared.

"I will take the risk. I will try to eliminate those two Immortal Realm heretical cultivators before they succeed.

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"I have resolved to face death. Do not try to stop me!"

With that, Jiang Ran left the Sword Boat, transforming into a streak of sword light as he shot toward the Imperial Dominion.

His cultivation realm was the highest among them, in the peak of the Immortal Realm.

As an older sword cultivator of the Sword Pavilion, even ordinary Rank Ten foreign race warriors could not confidently claim victory over him.

Apart from Li Zhaotian, he regarded no one, not even Xiang Shengwei of the Demon Sect, as a true threat. His confidence in his own strength was unwavering.

Though Jiang Ran knew the dangers lurking in the Imperial Dominion and understood that Pang Jian's urgent message was meant to prevent needless deaths, he still sought a chance to swiftly end the threat and secure the human race's future.

***

Pang Jian let out a long breath after successfully relaying his message in the barren wasteland of the southern region of the Imperial Dominion.

Gazing at the starless sky, he prepared to use the Gate of the Abyss to leave the fragmented land.

Having the strength to kill Xing Heng was not the same as having the power to shift the course of the present situation.

Once Dong Tianze finished assimilating with the Blood God Technique, Pang Jian would leave this place of turmoil, leaving the matter of the heretical cultivators attempting to ascend to the True God Realm to the True Gods.

"Pang Jian!" Lin Miaojin of the Soughing Wind Pavilion and the rogue cultivator Huang Qi approached carefully, making their way through the desolate landscape.

Neither had the cultivation realm to sense the abnormal flow of spiritual qi, nor did they realize what the heretical sects gathering at the Imperial Dominion were plotting.

All they knew was that heretical sects had sealed off the north, south, east, and west regions of the fragmented land.

They sought out Pang Jian solely because of his strength, hoping he could provide them with a path to survival.

"You two..." Pang Jian hesitated, conflicted.

While the secret of the Gate of the Abyss was something he could share with Dong Tianze, he was not close enough to Lin Miaojin or Huang Qi to trust them as deeply.

He did not know if the two could keep his secret after the fact.

"The technique he's cultivating doesn't seem to belong to the Sinister Soul Temple," Lin Miaojin said, watching Dong Tianze.

Blood-colored characters intertwined with Dong Tianze's divine soul and merged into his body.

One look at Dong Tianze was enough to send shivers down Lin Miaojin's spine. The veins and blood vessels within her own body ached faintly as if just looking at him was enough to influence the flow of her blood.

"This is the forbidden technique of the Blood Spirit Sect!" Lin Miaojin cried, fleeing faster than she had arrived. "Pang Jian, you can't protect him. He's already fallen onto the path of heresy! I suggest you leave him immediately, or...kill him while you still can!"

Huang Qi remained rooted to the spot, his face pale. "Pang Jian, he..."

"Even if he has strayed, I will pull him back to the right path." Pang Jian calmly waved his hand, signaling Huang Qi to leave. "Two heretical cultivators are vying for godhood here in the Imperial Dominion. Their ascension has only just begun. Find a place to hide and stay out of sight.

"The True Gods have received the message and are likely on their way. Wait for them. Let the True Gods handle the situation."

After Pang Jian finished speaking, the characters streaming from the Blood God Technique manual finished fusing with Dong Tianze's body.

Dong Tianze opened his eyes.