Library of Heaven's Path Chapter 2263 - Finale 2
Previously on Library of Heaven's Path...
Just half a minute before...
“Something is wrong with the Flooding Sea!”
The black entrance in front of them trembled nonstop, causing the Cloud Dragon Monarch and his companions to pale in horror.
They had always thought the Flood of Spiritual Energy was a fixed part of the Firmament's natural order, occurring reliably every ten years. But witnessing this, they understood it could crumble and disappear entirely.
Should it vanish, the Firmament would lose its last supporting pillar. Spiritual energy would keep draining away until the realm turned barren and lifeless.
“Stop it now!”
The God Monarchs present thrust their hands forward, pouring their strength into the black hole ahead. Their goal was to stall the Flooding Sea's breakdown using their might.
Kacha! Kacha!
Yet, after holding out briefly, a huge rift tore open on the seal over the dimension fissure, sucking back the spiritual energy that had just flowed into the Firmament.
That rift kept widening relentlessly, creeping across the whole dimension fissure.
“Our priority must be stabilizing the Firmament!” the Cloud Dragon Monarch roared.
They understood this wasn't the moment for rivalry. Instead, they needed to safeguard the Firmament and their homeland.
Thus, seven streams of power rushed at the dimension fissure leaking spiritual energy, sealing it anew. This temporarily steadied the Firmament's condition.
Still, the Firmament had already endured severe damage, and the spiritual energy's retreat into the fissure proved irreversible.
The ground quaked violently while the stars overhead faded, threatening to plummet anytime. Myriad structures collapsed into ruins.
It seemed the apocalypse had arrived.
“The Firmament nears its end...”
“I knew this day would arrive, but not so abruptly...”
“No point fleeing now. If the Firmament falls, no refuge exists anywhere...”
...
Across cities throughout the Firmament, innumerable cultivators gazed skyward with grim despair.
Since spiritual energy started fading from the surroundings over forty years back, they had sensed inwardly that catastrophe loomed inevitably. They simply hadn't anticipated its speed.
“Let's wait it out. If the Nine God Monarchs rescue the Firmament, we might survive. If not, death claims us all. No need for inner turmoil...” a high-tier God told the frantic masses.
Before his sentence ended, a voice resounded deep in their souls, like the world's will infiltrating their beings. “Today, I shall become a God Monarch!”
“A God Monarch? Someone broke through... It's God Monarch Zhang Xuan!”
“Isn't Zhang Xuan that apothecary? How did he ascend to God Monarch?”
“Yes, it's him! When the Heaven Subjugation Monarch became one, I heard a similar proclamation...”
...
This development stunned everyone.
In Twilight City, Mo Yun laoshi heard the mental voice and gaped in disbelief, murmuring, “God Monarch Zhang Xuan...”
One month prior, at their first encounter, the man was merely primary stage God realm, frail beyond measure. Who could foresee his rise to the Firmament's pinnacle in so short a time?
...
“He achieved God Monarch status?”
Qi Ling-er's teapot slipped from her grasp and shattered, yet she remained oblivious.
She had long recognized the youth's exceptional nature, certain he would rise to become a Firmament powerhouse. Yet, becoming a God Monarch so rapidly exceeded her wildest expectations...
...
“As expected from the Conferred God King of the Nine Skies. Like the Heaven Subjugation Monarch, he truly broke through amid the Flooding Sea,” Fairy Linglong remarked, her expression conflicted.
Though the Flooding Sea had utterly collapsed, a youth stood tall amid the dark depths, dominating the heavens. His visage exuded supremacy over all creation.
He was the very youth she had encountered on the moon.
During their initial meeting in the Sky of Linglong, she had plotted his death over Baiye Qinghong. Never had she dreamed that days later, he would surpass Conferred God King to match her as a God Monarch!
Moreover, as Nine Skies' Conferred God King, his God Monarch might likely outstripped theirs.
“No surprise the Deathless Monarch took him as master, and God Monarch Lingxi adored him... He's truly unparalleled!”
She boasted keen judgment, yet those two had outseen her.
“The cultivators we accepted are his direct disciples. Born mortal, he bears a monarch's bearing. Like the Heaven Subjugation Monarch, his path to supremacy was destined...”
The Cloud Dragon Monarch, God Monarch Zhuoyang, and others sighed profoundly.
They had plotted to curb the Nine Skies Conferred God King and block his rise, but their schemes were doomed. None could oppose the Nine Skies' will.
“He didn't rely on the Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies for his breakthrough!” Demon Monarch Qiankun suddenly cried.
His words jolted all present.
They had presumed the youth's advance involved the Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies, deeming only such a treasure capable of breaching that ultimate barrier.
Distracted by the Flooding Sea's ruin, they overlooked the blooming lotus in the void.
Ethereal as jade sculpture, the lotus tempted even God Monarchs with its allure.
“Since he left it untouched, our chance remains. Claiming it could elevate our cultivation!” God Monarch Fumeng declared.
The Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies offered transcendence, perhaps matching God Monarch Lingxi. Had Zhang Xuan taken it, fine—but intact, restraint vanished.
“Zhang Xuan just advanced and stabilizes his realm now. He can't claim that treasure soon... It's mine!”
God Monarch Fumeng charged unhesitatingly toward the Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies.
“Stop! It's mine!” Demon Monarch Qiankun yelled, darting ahead.
Acheron God Monarch, Cloud Dragon Monarch, Fairy Linglong, and God Monarch Zhuoyang pursued instantly.
None would forgo this vital chance!
Various powers converged midair, launching energy blasts at the six God Monarchs.
Each God Monarch aimed to hinder foes, securing the lotus first for supreme dominance.
Boom!
Yet before the six reached it, a formidable barrier enveloped the lotus, repelling them. Then, amid shocked stares, it radiated brilliantly, nine light beams bathing the Firmament.
Another sun seemed to ignite overhead.
Peng peng peng peng peng peng!
The lotus's light surge repelled the six God Monarchs, making them stagger back, faces ashen.
This exchange revealed the lotus's power rivaled theirs at minimum.
Weng!
Stunned, they watched the lotus transform into a youth. He stretched lazily, then eyed Zhang Xuan irritably.
“You broke through ahead of me... How can I boast now?” he grumbled.
Raising his head, he proclaimed, “I am a God Monarch too, like this jerk here!”
“Two God Monarchs?”
“Is this real? Two God Monarchs emerging consecutively...”
“No, just one... Don't you see? He's Zhang Xuan's clone!”
“Even his clone became a God Monarch?”
Cloud Dragon Monarch, Fairy Linglong, and others descended into frenzy.
God Monarchs reigned as the world's apex, with only Nine in the Firmament for eons. All assumed eternity—until Heaven Subjugation Monarch shattered that.
Then cultivation to God Monarch proved feasible.
Yet the nine trusted their supremacy until...
Today, two more arose consecutively, master and clone. What madness?
When had God Monarch become commonplace?
Worse, a new God Monarch's debut proclamation built fame. But this clone griped frustratedly at losing to its original, unable to flaunt...
Seriously? You're a God Monarch!
We transcend mortals! Can't you act the part instead of tarnishing our dignity? You make us seem like street thugs!
Not just God Monarchs, the entire Firmament reeled.
Never had they imagined a God Monarch cursing like that!
Plus, God Monarchs sprouted like spring bamboo, eroding the title's prestige.
“One body, two God Monarchs, Nine Skies Conferred God King. This is my master!” Little Chick cheered exuberantly.
True to form, his master shone everywhere!
Unaware of his clone's vanity or others' astonishment, main body Zhang Xuan breathed out stale air.
He had neared doom, but at the brink, grasped a God Monarch sword art, felled Epitome Monarch Pill, ascending as God Monarch.
Death brushed close, yet he triumphed.
Sensing turbulent power coursing within, Zhang Xuan clenched fists excitedly. He felt utterly transformed.
Now, the world bent to his whim; a thought could shatter it.
“I'm twice as strong as anticipated. Must be my clone's effect...”
With clone's advance too, both souls reached God Monarch. Thus, body, soul, zhenqi surpassed peers, attaining inconceivable heights.
Boom! Boom!
As Zhang Xuan probed his new might, skies darkened abruptly. Sinister clouds amassed, nightfall cloaking the Firmament.
The arduously sealed dimension fissure expanded anew, Firmament teetering on ruin.
“Monarch Heavenly Tribulation...” Zhang Xuan's eyes narrowed.
When cultivation exceeded worldly tolerance, tribulation descended—like Master Teacher Continent's Ancient Sage Ordeal or Azure's Semi-Divinity Ordeal.
In Firmament, termed Monarch Heavenly Tribulation.
God Monarch aspirants must conquer it.
“This Monarch Heavenly Tribulation seems excessively vast?” Fairy Linglong's lips trembled.
“It carries force to rend the Firmament. Terrifying... Even Heaven Subjugation Monarch's paled compared,” Cloud Dragon Monarch murmured.
“Heaven Subjugation Monarch advanced solo then; Zhang Xuan and clone together doubled prowess. Thus, his tribulation intensifies manifold,” Demon Monarch Qiankun smiled bitterly.
Simultaneous breakthroughs for Zhang Xuan and clone brought fortune and peril.
Fortune: doubled strength, rivaling top God Monarchs fresh off advance.
Peril: ordeal scaled extraordinarily.
Death might claim him post-breakthrough.
As destructive forces amassed overhead to obliterate him, Zhang Xuan grinned.
“Tribulation looks fearsome, but it's trivial to me.”
Ordinarily, new God Monarchs couldn't survive such lightning.
Zhang Xuan differed.
Having grasped God Monarch sword art, he wielded unimaginable force. This tribulation posed no danger.
Hula!
Drawing Crimson Heaven Sword, Zhang Xuan cleaved at the tribulation above.
One stroke birthed radiance piercing Firmament's gloom, dazzling all momentarily.
Looming clouds dissipated.
Single strike vanquished Monarch Heavenly Tribulation!
Tzla!
Tribulation ended; tearing fabric resounded. Looking up, Zhang Xuan saw Flooding Sea's sky dimension fissure ballooned further.
Flooding Sea collapse, then tribulation—relentless blows shattered Firmament's base.
Beyond self-repair, it hurtled toward doom.
“Seal!”
Finger flick sent zhenqi into fissure, attempting forced closure—minimal impact.
Like gluing shattered mirror: irreparable.
As fissure widened, Zhang Xuan queried Little Chick, “Any other escape?”
Ancient God Monarch Little Chick might know.
“No idea what to do...” Little Chick shook head despondently.
While six God Monarchs contested Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies, he restrained fissure—futile at full power.
“No salvation left...”
As Zhang Xuan despaired, a calm voice sounded nearby. Turning, he saw frowning Luo Ruoxin beside him.
Deeming her most informed, he asked, “What's wrong with Firmament now? My slash wasn't feeble, but it shouldn't have wrecked it so...”
Situation worsened post-breakthrough, plunging to despair.
To Zhang Xuan's query, Luo Ruoxin shook head sighing. “Firmament resembles an aged artifact at its end. Unable to birth more powerhouses, your and clone's sudden rise drained its last foundation...”
“Drained foundation?” Zhang Xuan creased brow puzzled.
“With heavens fragmented, the ability