Chapter 880: Apex Clash

The Heaven's Hand broke through cloud cover and descended from the darkened skies. Even before its arrival, its apocalyptic aura had already unleashed a storm that swept across the world.

The sight of this colossal hand left everyone in awe. Many sank into despair, realizing that its power far surpassed that of the heavens' crimson eyes.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Let this hand be repelled by the combined strength of the world. All emperors and Immortal Emperors, mobilize the power of your empires to block this strike!" Yu Fuli commanded.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" countless voices responded from all corners of the world.

Simultaneously, the rulers and Immortal Emperors of each empire gave their orders.

"Citizens of Dazheng, hear me! Raise your right hands. Lend me your strength. Lend the Heavenly Emperor your strength. We will fend off the calamity of this era!"

"Citizens of Shenfeeng, hear me! Raise your right hands. Lend me your strength. Lend the Heavenly Emperor your strength. We will fend off the calamity of this era!"

"Citizens of Dajing, hear me! Raise your right hands. Lend me your strength. Lend the Heavenly Emperor your strength. We will fend off the calamity of this era!"

Countless such commands resounded across the world.

Meanwhile, powerful figures from Immortal sects and holy lands eyed the emperors, ensuring that they were acting in accordance with the Covenant of All Under the Heavens.

None dared to disobey.

The people, having been forewarned of the heavens' destructive might and having witnessed its apocalyptic threat, raised their hands and gave of their strength without hesitation.

Streams of white light surged skyward, converging into the seas of fortune of each empire before joining the Imperial Court's own sea of fortune in the Sieve of Heaven.

"The hand of the heavens, against the hand of the world. What do you think?" Yu Fuli smiled.

A colossal golden hand manifested in the void, the combined strength of all living beings. It rose to meet the colossal hand of the heavens.

The two titanic hands collided in mid-air with an earth-shaking explosion. Their clash tore the void apart, releasing waves of terrifying energy that surged outward in a massive shockwave. Upon reaching the surface, the shockwave transformed into a fierce gale that scattered countless people like leaves in the wind.

Yet, to everyone's astonishment, the golden hand held firm. It didn't seem inferior to the heavens' hand at all.

"The hand of the world? I've seen it several times before, but I'm not limited to a single hand," the heavens' shrill voice replied.

Another colossal Heaven's Hand emerged from the roiling clouds.

Despair swept over the masses.

The combined might of the world had only managed to hold back one hand. How were they supposed to take on a second one? What could Yu Fuli do?

"Conveniently, I've spent the last ten thousand years perfecting a technique. Behold, the Jade Emperor's Frame! Let's see how this fares against you." Yu Fuli's voice resonated across the world.

A massive skeletal figure appeared in the heavens. The titan-like apparition radiated blinding white light, illuminating the world at large. It was an eidolon formed from Yu Fuli's technique. It transformed into a huge, skeletal hand that rose to meet the second Heaven's Hand.

Another deafening clash erupted as the hand of bone and the second Heaven's Hand collided, fracturing the void and unleashing another torrent of energy that spread throughout the world.

The Jade Emperor's Frame held firm.

"The Heavenly Emperor's strength rivals the combined might of the world..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

"What incredible power!" Wen Zhong and Xiao Nanfeng's other subordinates marveled, shocked by this display of power.

"Impressive," the heavens said. "This rivals the combined strength of the three Qing Grandmasters in the past—but if this is all you have, it will not suffice."

"Then show me what else you have! Or shall we cut to the chase? Attack me with your heart," Yu Fuli called out.

"As you wish," the heavens replied.

From the suddenly churning clouds, countless pale-white figures began to emerge. Some were humanoid, others bestial, and many were shapes unknown to Xiao Nanfeng. These figures, their forms ghastly and twisted, resembled specters or malicious spirits that had crawled out of hell.

A chilling roar erupted from amidst the swarm of white figures, sending tremors through the void.

"Are these your specters of the heart?" Yu Fuli said coldly. "They're hardly impressive."

In response, countless heart swords materialized in the sky, gleaming brightly as they faced the specters.

The specters surged forward, but with a snort, Yu Fuli unleashed his heart swords.

The two forces collided in a storm of power.

Xiao Nanfeng's heart skipped a beat. He remembered the devastating power of Yu Fuli's heart swords. Each one had the strength of a Boundless Immortal. In the past, they had obliterated Saint Chi Hai's sea of blood with ease—but now, the heavens' specters seemed to be able to withstand their might.

The heart swords and specters caused a spectacle in the sky.

There were some cultivators who hovered by the cloud cover around the Sieve of Heaven. Xiao Nanfeng's main body was there; the Superior had made this request of him.

The Superior had wanted to witness the heavens' strength directly.

"Senior, is the Heavenly Emperor on equal footing with the heavens?" Xiao Nanefng asked.

Xiao Nanfeng's spiritual moon was floating behind his head and sensing the killing intent from the heavens. "The heavens hold the upper hand."

"In what sense?"

"Yu Fuli's heart swords have already reached their limit, but this is just the first wave of specters," the Superior explained.

"What?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned in worry as he looked up. Indeed, even more specters were crawling out of the clouds. The ghastly figures howled and swarmed toward the Sieve of Heaven.

The Sieve of Heaven was hidden within the void, and Yu Fuli had sealed all four Heavenly Gates. No outsider could see where the Sieve of Heaven was located—none save the heavens themselves.

The specters crashed into the Sieve of Heaven's defensive formations, causing ripples to spread across the void.

More and more attacked the Sieve of Heaven. What they were attacking remained unseen, but the vibrations in the void made it clear that the Sieve of Heaven was their target.

"Die, you bastards!" a shout rose up from a distance.

A certain cultivator struck at the specters of the heart, hoping to support Yu Fuli. He deeply wounded several of the specters, but there were simply too many of them. Some specters split up to chase him down, while the others continued to attack the Sieve of Heaven.

Quite a few other cultivators had appeared to lend aid to Yu Fuli.

"Senior, should we do the same?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

He was still far too weak to handle the specters in his own right; he was really hoping that the Superior would help instead.

"It's useless. There are too many specters, and they're siphoning energy from the Sieve of Heaven bit by bit. It's only a matter of time before its defenses falter," the Superior said. "But if you lure some of the specters over, I can analyze their composition."

"Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng flew up to the specters as he activated several of his treasures.

His treasures burst apart among a group of specters.

The specters turned toward him in annoyance. He swiftly escaped into the clouds, but the specters were faster still. He found himself surrounded by a dozen or so specters all at once.

They pounced toward him.

"The Superior's killing domain," the Superior invoked.

A burst of white light enveloped the specters. The next moment, as the light receded, they and the Superior all vanished from sight.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He was somewhat surprised that the Superior hadn't pulled him into his killing domain as well.

He lay hidden within the clouds as he watched the specters rush toward the Sieve of Heaven, siphoning the energy from its defenses as the Superior had stated would happen.

He waited patiently as he continued to observe the situation. There were some cultivators fighting against the specters, but there were too many of them in all for any one person to defend against. Yu Fuli's countless heart swords were being countered by sheer numbers.

After some time, his spiritual moon finally re-emerged with a hum.

"What did you learn about those heart specters?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"They're very potent. I'm afraid Yu Fuli is in grave danger."

"Oh?"

"Yu Fuli's spiritual moon is locked in a battle of souls against the heavens' crimson eyes. His Jade Emperor's Frame is holding off a Heaven's Hand in a clash of physical might. But his heart swords are outnumbered by the heavens' specters, in this fight of the heart. In body, spirit, and soul alike, Yu Fuli is outmatched. If he has no other trump cards up his sleeve, he is doomed," the Superior declared.

"Truly? Surely the fight hasn't yet been decided," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, frowning.

"Are you aware that this is only the heavens' eidolon? The heavens' main body remains hidden in the darkness. Even if Yu Fuli pulls off a miracle, all he'll have done is divest the heavens of an eidolon."

"What? This massive face isn't part of the heavens' main body?" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes widened in shock.

"Correct. Yu Fuli doesn't have an advantage even against a mere eidolon. If the eidolon were to perish alongside Yu Fuli, the heavens will not have sustained any fundamental loss in truth. How can Yu Fuli hope to counteract the heavens?"

"But the Heavenly Emperor hasn't shown himself either," Xiao Nanfeng said stubbornly.

"If you don't believe me, then watch on. Unless Yu Fuli has some other trump card up his sleeve, he is doomed to failure."

Xiao Nanfeng's expression turned dark. He couldn't help but worry.

Just then, a resounding crash came from the Sieve of Heaven. The heart specters had breached its defensive formations, creating a massive hole in its midst.

"Yu Fuli, your defenses are down. It's time for you to die!" the heavens' shrill voice declared.

"Ha! As for you, I've found your true body. This time, you're finished!" Yu Fuli's triumphant laughter echoed across the world.