Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1663: 894: The Variable

In the firmament above the Divine Continent, a divine radiance bloomed between Zhao San Yue’s brows, and three exact duplicates of herself emerged.

All three avatars remained impassive, and as soon as they materialized, they vanished into the void.

Under the guidance of the primary form, the three avatars proceeded to pinpoint the concealed Divine Beast Envoy, the defiant Demon Emperor, and the retreating Demon Path Giant.

A multitude of Zhao Clan members, witnessing their great ancestor finally manifest, could not contain their tears of elation. Their morale surged, and they all engaged in quelling the unrest.

An hour later, the tide of rebellion was abruptly halted, and a semblance of order was initially re-established across the Divine Continent. The majority of the rebellious clan members were personally vanquished by the three ancestors, and the rebellion appeared to be on the brink of suppression.

Suddenly, the clear heavens above the Divine Continent turned a profound dark, as if daylight abruptly transformed into night. The darkness was absolute, rendering one unable to see their hand before their face.

No, it was a darkness deeper than mere absence of light; not only were the Five Senses and Seven Consciousnesses obscured by the encroaching gloom, but even Divine Thought and Will Heart Light were consumed by it, nearly obliterating any connection to the external world.

Zhao San Yue’s countenance drastically shifted as a thought crossed her mind: “Not good!… Candle Dragon!”

Before this thought could fully form, an almost irrepressible premonition of imminent mortal peril overwhelmed her heart.

Just in the nick of time, Zhao San Yue abruptly extended her right hand, and a flawlessly clear, jade-like seven-inch dagger materialized in her grasp.

Boom——

At the precise same moment, a colossal dragon tail, as dark as plated armor and as massive as a mountain, descended from the sky, striking with immense force towards Zhao San Yue’s head.

Anything in the path of the dragon tail was obliterated. Not only was a significant portion of the void fractured, but even the Pocket World Domain spanning a thousand miles was annihilated and dismantled, ultimately impacting Zhao San Yue with unimaginable power.

Crack, crack, crack!

Zhao San Yue was struck as if by lightning, her form hurled into the Dark Sky, and countless sinister black lights writhed across her head. Her head was a gruesome spectacle of gore, and most of her body was obliterated, leaving only a fractured half of her skull and a mangled shoulder and neck, presenting a ghastly sight.

With a single devastating blow, Zhao San Yue’s Golden Body was shattered, and her Pocket World Domain was torn asunder.

Before a Tribulation Crossing Realm Venerable, even a Great Ability at the zenith of the Integration Realm appeared so “pathetically defenseless.”

“Beneath the Tribulation Crossing, all living things are but ants.” How could this profound warning be false?

It must be understood that a Tribulation Crossing Realm Venerable can unleash attacks directly from Near Heaven; how could any being below the Tribulation Crossing Realm possibly detect an assault originating from Near Heaven?

In essence, this was the legendary “dimensional reduction strike”!

Following a successful impact, a colossal shadow slowly materialized from the depths of the boundless darkness. This shadow seemed both present and absent, yet it exuded a grand, majestic, and singularly supreme terrifying aura that pressed upon the external world.

The Candle Dragon expressed considerable surprise; within its perception, the female cultivator of the Human Clan had not only survived but was also growing stronger, like a fiercely burning crimson flame, becoming increasingly brilliant amidst the darkness.

At this juncture, within the Dark Sky, a crystal-clear jade blade hovered above Zhao San Yue’s head, its blade emitting a gentle, pure luminescence that enveloped her ruptured Golden Body.

Under the embrace of the clear light, a miracle unfolded! This shattered form instantaneously reverted to its original state, the entire process akin to the reversal of time.

Upon “witnessing” this miraculous occurrence, the Candle Dragon was seized by both shock and a strange joy, and it promptly opened its cavernous, blood-red maw.

Within the Dark Sky, an immense “pitch-black maw,” capable of engulfing the heavens and devouring the sun, appeared abruptly above Zhao San Yue’s head, descending towards her with astonishing velocity.

However, in the subsequent instant, Zhao San Yue, along with her blade, vanished instantaneously, leaving the colossal maw to consume only emptiness.

Concurrently, an ineffable, formless blade light descended upon the Candle Dragon.

This blade light was not only incomparably sharp but also astonishingly swift.

Despite the Candle Dragon being a formidable Tribulation Crossing Realm Venerable, it lacked the time to react and was bisected by the blade light originating from the crown of its head, instantly cleaving its massive shadowy draconic form in two.

As the blade light dissipated, Zhao San Yue suddenly reappeared at the very location where the blade light had just flashed, her countenance pale as she “observed” the two violently convulsing masses of shadow below.

Despite the Candle Dragon being ripped asunder, the profound darkness blanketing the Divine Continent showed no signs of receding.

A surge of killing intent erupted within Zhao San Yue’s heart. Once more, she lifted the seven-inch jade blade, unleashing another wave of invisible blade light towards the shadowy dragon form that was beginning to mend itself.

This particular jade blade, also known as the Time Blade, serves as a hidden trump card for the Zhao Clan of the Ten Lands. It is a Heavenly Spirit Treasure containing the Law of Time, making it exceptionally rare.

Sixty thousand years prior, Zhao Xuanjing had been granted entry into No Return Heaven, and within an ancient ruin there, this very blade was discovered.

Upon learning of Old Ghost Wanxing’s impending assault, Zhao Xuanjing, as a safeguard, had entrusted the Time Blade to Zhao San Yue, never imagining it would prove so instrumental.

With the Time Blade’s influence, time itself was brought to a near standstill; even an Immortal would be unable to evade its strike, let alone a Tribulation Crossing Realm Candle Dragon.

Following the second strike, the Candle Dragon disintegrated into mere “fragments,” temporarily devoid of the ability to coalesce its consciousness and physical form.

Witnessing this, the now visibly drained Zhao San Yue abruptly released her hold on the blade.

The Time Blade shot forth like a streak of lightning, swiftly morphing into a large, plump white jade silkworm.

In an instant, the jade silkworm vanished, reappearing directly atop Zhao San Yue’s head, where it lay utterly still.

A subtle, clear light emanated from the jade silkworm. Suddenly, Zhao San Yue’s Five Senses and Seven Consciousnesses began to “flow” with an ethereal luminescence, which the jade silkworm proceeded to devour bite by bite.

In the very next moment, noticeable strands of white began to emerge within Zhao San Yue’s lustrous, jet-black hair.

Though the Time Blade possesses immense power, its wielder must bear a significant cost.

By executing two slashes, Zhao San Yue found her own Life Span drastically reduced by two hundred thousand years, plucked from existence instantaneously.