Yan Zaizen's heart surged with boundless confidence, fueled by his indomitable dao. Even thought he knew that his targets thus far haven't been the main event, he still felt lively and spirited. Earlier, he was relegated to escaping, his thoughts on returning to Pinaka at the quickest moment. However, now, his heart was brimming with intense, explosive killing intent.
His gaze turned towards the two Worldships. A glint flashed within his gaze, "Celestials…" Thus far, his enemies have been heavenly cultivators, but those on the two Worldships radiated auras similar to Yri. They hadn't taken action or revealed any intent thus far, but Yan Zaizen knew their desire was the same as the rest: they wanted him.
A harrumph, as cold and frigid as a blizzard, resounded. Yan Zaizen's gaze was slowly drawn away. There were three figures levitating effortlessly within the sky, emanating profound heavenly auras. The individual who harrumphed was a middle-aged man, but his humanoid shape was thin, almost skeletal, but a robust and vigorous physical aura roiled off his dark-brown cloak.
Yan Zaizen noticed his eyes were absent, truly giving him a male skeleton-like characteristic. If it wasn't for the thin skin that bonded with his bones, tight and clearly outlining every curvature of his bone structure, Yan Zaizen could easily believe this person was a dilapidated corpse, forgotten and dried out.
"So you're the 'Key'?" The man's voice was grating, dark and gloomy, yet suffused with immense power. The contradiction caused Yan Zaizen's eyes to slightly constrict. He felt his body tremble slightly, a vigorous aura penetrating his ears, entering into his mouth, slipping into his nostrils, and permeating endlessly within his body. The trembling continued until he was visibly shaking like a child in the darkest winter.
The skeleton with skin sneered, revealing his black teeth, stretching his already pale skin further. It was unseemingly and disturbing to all the viewers. Crown Prince Crimsonblaze felt his spine shiver for a moment before a bursting heat entered his body through a powerful hand. He turned to see his father, Emperor Bloodfire, grasping his shoulder with a solemn look.
"I...how terrifying!" Crown Prince Crimsonblaze felt his heart grow cold. It was a mere glimpse yet he felt his body and soul connection break apart somewhat.
Emperor Bloodfire commented, "Pseudo-God Zirri." His words carried a tone that contained his overt caution and true respect.
Crown Prince Crimsonblaze gawked, "That's Pseudo-God Zirri!" Now, his eyes that were like blazing flames dimmed, revealing his fear. Pseudo-God! A title only given to those at the Original Path Phase of the Heavenly Creation Realm. If those at the Minor and Grand Heaven Phase of the Heavenly Creation Realm can be considered heaven-equalling, and those at the Original Law Phase can be considered as heaven-exceeding, then Origin Path Phase experts were Heaven-controlling!
They were no longer imitating the heavens and its Heavenly Dao, but they became remarkably close to such. They could even interact with the Heavens itself, fueling their strength to a near unlimited degree, while instilling their own Dao. They were given the title of Pseudo-God or False Heavenly Gods! They just needed one step to become true gods, achieving their daos, becoming immortal and the Heavens itself can only accept them as their superior.
There was a saying in the world: "The Heavens are dead." This was not only a common saying, but an actual truth. The term 'dead' wasn't literal, but it meant the heavens lacked a Dao to control them, lacking the flexibility of a consciousness or personality. In simple terms, the heavens were braindead. In the Thirty-Three Heavens, if someone could take the already prevalent power of the Heavenly Realm and interject their personal Daos, they could claim it as their miniature universe and act as the Heavenly Daos! They become Heavenly Gods!
A word and a Law is banned. A word and a race is exiled. A word and a realm vanishes. They were completely worthy of the title: Gods!
"The 'Key' will no longer be able to strut his prowess. It's over. Look, his body has already been entrapped by the Dao of Pseudo-God Kirri!" Crimsonblaze said with a tinge of fear. Yan Zaizen was currently trembling because the pure law energy integrating into his Heavenly Shrine. Before long, his path would be taken over and subjected under Pseudo-God Kirri's control. This was the unique ability to those who've comprehended their own Original Law, a far greater ability than what Asenath quietly used: "Path Instillment."
"If it was any other Heavenly Genesis Realm cultivator, I would agree. However…" Emperor Bloodfire said solemnly, watching Yan Zaizen's trembling form.
Crimsonblaze was unconvinced. Cultivation was a determining factor of strength, fundamental and nearly impossible to overcome. For example, Yan Zaizen had reached a Soul Realm that could rival Lady Ching-chien, so it made sense for him to be able to overcome her. While Lady Ching-chien cultivated the Heavenly Soul Laws, Yan Zaizen cultivated the Soul Source Path. The difference could clearly be seen by the difference of "Law" and "Path". In the grand scheme of things, the Heavenly Soul Laws were only a fragment of the Heavenly Path, while the Soul Source Path was a full whole, relying only on itself.
"Not to mention," Crimsonblaze said while gazing at the two figures that floated beside Pseudo-God Kirri, "Those two may not be Pseudo-Gods, but the aura radiating from them already displays their power! They aren't any weaker than Lady Ching-chien, and they don't specialize in the soul, so they won't be bested so easily!" He nearly shouted near the end, as if trying to bring about the scene of his belief.
Emperor Bloodfire gave Crimsonblaze a side-glance. A soft, nearly imperceptible sigh escaped his lips. A light of disappointment once more flashed within those blazing eyes of his.
Pseudo-God Kirri smirked a skinny, boney, toothy smile, "Byyin, Guuri." Those two words were like fireworks, orders of the highest, a heavenly mandate, a decree from god himself, and it elicited a swift response. The two figures cloaked entirely in black shot towards Yan Zaizen like rays of lights. Their speed was fast.
Pseudo-God Kirri didn't take action himself. Instead, his aura enamated out quietly as he tilted his head somewhat towards the Celestial Worldships.
"Hahaha!" Abruptly, Yan Zaizen laughed loudly. He stopped shaking. "All you idiots have to take action from afar. What are you so afraid of?! Hahahaha!" He soon regained his posture, his eyes the pinnacle of confidence, calm, tyrannical arrogance, and ardent will. The colors of jet-black, pale white, and bright cyan circulated through his veins, like flowing blood.
Just as he turned his gaze towards the two incoming figures, he felt a danger unlike anything before. It was as if the sky had gazed upon his soul, intent to grasp his entirety and control his will. His eyes shrunk slightly, but he didn't dare delay his actions. Normally, a cultivator who sensed danger would retreat and buy for time to conceive a logical thought or formulate a plan, but Yan Zaizen wasn't a normal cultivator.
He was a sovereign!
To retreat in danger is okay, but not when your might is being contested. At that point, even if god himself arrived, he must witness your will and glory even in death. If possible, you'll take a piece of his skin as well. If the person is nothing but a false god, then he best be sure to risk his life.
Boom!
He erupted with his aura, exploding forward in a violent dash. The two experts approaching had stalled for the fraction of a picosecond in confusion and hesitation before the light beneath their hoods shone and they sped towards Yan Zaizen in a fearless manner.
Just as they approached a mere few hundred meters of distance apart, what could've been shortened in the time it takes for light itself to travel that distance, Yan Zaizen howled. No, his body howled! It was grisly and dreadful. The black light intertwined with his flesh, blood, and soul as his entirety exploded into blackness. It was darker than darker, colder than absolute zero, and as absolute as death itself.
Yan Zaizen had lost his connection with his Regalia of Heavens when he arrived in the Heavenly Origin Grounds, but for some unknown reason, after he devoured the soul of Lady Ching-chien, they had revitalized and resurfaced. While his Immortal Herculean Physique was lacking in strength and still suppressed by this world, the intent and will of his developed Regalia had returned.
He felt the immense potential of the laws of death and embraced it fully, becoming an embodiment. He used his soul power, heavenly might, and dao energy to fuel the intent and will of his Regalia.
"I. AM. DEATH!!" He felt his mind become one with the will of death, and his form dwindled into just a smoky cloud of darkness.
The two incoming figures were startled. They reacted like any normal cultivator would upon a sudden situation, and halted their actions and retreat and regroup. Unfortunately for them, they were too slow. Death was like that...in terms of speed...even light couldn't escape.
They released sounds of panic and horror.
Pseudo-God Kirri slightly frowned, "..." With a wave of his hand, his will descended upon the heavenly laws, his path was instilled into every part of existence, as this domain became his. He grasped towards Yan Zaizen's indistinguishable form.
"How about we have a talk," a voice echoed from one of the Worldships. A celestial had taken action! A boundlessly grand celestial power seemed to flash temporarily, disabling Pseudo-God Kirri's control over the immediate heavenly domain. It was temporary, not even a nanosecond, but it was enough to cause those two subordinates to be completely devoured by Yan Zaizen's ghastly form that was as large as a mountain itself.
Within his empty eyes, a darkness roiled about suffused with all sorts of rage. He turned his head towards the Celestial Worldships and lowly roared.
While that occurred, Yan Zaizen's black form started to born rapidly with a white light, turning into a white flame that became a white flash. The ghastly form ceased, revealing Yan Zaizen's stable back and handsome smile. Even before a false god, he had no fear.
"Next."