When a person harbors killing intent, the heavens and earth are turned upside down!
The Martial Dao Great Sage, with a mere point from afar, unleashed a terrifying power that seemed capable of shattering stars, pressing down upon Chen Jiuyang.
Facing this death tribulation at the Great Sage level, Chen Jiuyang could no longer struggle.
Was this the peak and decline of the Human Emperor's Path?
Perhaps, the death of loved ones was what allowed the inheritor of the Human Emperor's Path to live on, and vice versa.
Just as Yao Zixuan's tears began to fall.
"Swish, swish, swish!!!"
Space tore open, and a verdant immortal light descended instantly between heaven and earth. It was a tender bamboo branch, adorned with leaves that were a vibrant, crystalline green.
Its surface radiated a faint, verdant immortal light, blocking the Martial Dao Great Sage's pointed attack for Chen Jiuyang.
"Hmm? This power? Who is it?"
The Martial Dao Great Sage and the Peerless Martial Sage both frowned upon witnessing this.
In this world, someone could still intervene to save Chen Jiuyang. Who was it, and what karma had they tied with Chen Jiuyang?
A bamboo leaf detached from the branch and drifted down, protecting Chen Jiuyang's brow.
For the first time, a feeling of surviving a calamity washed over Chen Jiuyang. The moment the bamboo leaf descended, he felt his body regain its freedom.
"This is... the Green Bamboo Immortal?"
Upon seeing the bamboo branch, Chen Jiuyang couldn't help but freeze, feeling a sense of unfamiliarity.
"Back then, when my consciousness first took form, we forged a karma. You ascended to the Green Bamboo Immortal Domain, forcing me to lie dormant and rapidly improve my strength. Today, I am repaying that karma."
A woman's voice entered Chen Jiuyang's ears.
Could it truly be the Green Bamboo Immortal?
Years ago, he had returned from the Razor Legion and discovered the Green Bamboo Immortal in the mountains behind his home. However, the Green Bamboo Immortal was very weak then, and he had tricked himself into believing he was its master.
Later, Chen Jiuyang became busy and rarely paid attention to the Green Bamboo Immortal.
He hadn't paid attention for so many years, leaving the Green Bamboo Immortal to quietly reside there.
He never expected that at this critical juncture of danger, the Green Bamboo Immortal would be able to save his life. This was something Chen Jiuyang had never anticipated.
Moreover... the Green Bamboo Immortal could withstand an attack from a Martial Dao Great Sage. What was its true strength?
"Go now. My power will protect you as you enter the Crippled Old Village; there should be no problem."
"Hahahahahaha!!!"
Chen Jiuyang let out a great laugh. "So, the four-nine killing intent, giving birth to life, was here all along."
Even Chen Jiuyang himself hadn't calculated that his sliver of hope came from the Green Bamboo Immortal, a casual move he had made years ago.
At that moment, a faint verdant immortal light emanated from Chen Jiuyang's body. Embracing Yao Zixuan, he flew towards the Crippled Old Village.
"Die."
The Martial Dao Great Sage beside Chen Fengge once again pointed with his finger, and immense, terrifying power surged forth.
It pressed down upon Chen Jiuyang, but was repelled by the bamboo leaf radiating a faint green immortal light.
"Rumble!!!"
The immense power instantly blasted open the sky, as if threatening to crack it.
A Martial Dao Saint could use a drop of blood to suppress a Martial Dao Great Expert, while a Martial Dao Great Sage possessed the ability to pluck and shatter stars.
Such immense and terrifying power was repelled by a bamboo leaf, causing many to change their expressions. What was the origin of this bamboo behind the green leaf?
The Martial Dao Great Sage beside Chen Fengge sighed, "Fengge, the four-nine killing intent reveals a sliver of hope. Even I cannot kill him. Return and inherit my legacy."
Chen Fengge's eyes were filled with unwillingness.
Within one or two breaths, Chen Jiuyang, carrying Yao Zixuan, had flown to the edge of the Crippled Old Village's forest. At the edge of the forest stood the Armless Old Sword Emperor, the Butcher, the Lame Man, the Crippled One, and Granny Blind, among others.
They could not leave the Crippled Old Village and could only wait for Chen Jiuyang here.
Chen Jiuyang's long hair whipped in the wind as he firmly imprinted everyone present at the scene into his memory. His voice, like rolling thunder, boomed:
"I, Chen, will remember this day's killing tribulation. In the future, I will repay it tenfold, a hundredfold."
The killing intent in everyone's eyes surged. They had truly lost the opportunity to kill Chen Jiuyang, and they dared not cross the river into the Crippled Old Village's territory. Despite appearing crippled, everyone knew that great terror resided within the Crippled Old Village.
Were the residents of the Crippled Old Village's forbidden grounds easily provoked? So many prodigies and great experts had perished within the Crippled Old Village.
Then, Chen Jiuyang turned and walked into the forest with the Armless Old Sword Emperor and the others.
"Jiuyang..."
Yao Zixuan, like everyone else arriving at the Crippled Old Village for the first time, had a pale face. She felt the boundless darkness encroaching, causing her delicate body to tremble. Each person beside her was holding or supporting a strange Buddha statue.
Although faintly luminous light protected her, she still felt a fear of being devoured at any moment.
Chen Jiuyang smiled and said, "Zixuan, we are safe now. There's no need to be afraid."
She tightly clasped Chen Jiuyang's arm and finally felt a little relieved upon hearing his words. Then, she looked around at the Armless Old Sword Emperor and the others.
Granny Blind said gently, "You've arrived just in time. The Yin extreme of the peak and decline has reached its critical point and is about to erupt. If you had arrived even a step later, you would have faced an even more terrifying death tribulation."
The Butcher chuckled, "Young Chen is quite the troublemaker. He just leaped into the Emperor realm and managed to provoke a Saint King-level existence. To survive such an ordeal, he is indeed worthy of our Human Emperor's Path lineage."
Chen Jiuyang felt a sense of ease and couldn't help but shake his head. "Such a death tribulation is truly terrifying. I don't wish to experience it again."
The Armless Old Sword Emperor said, "Living in the village, no one dares to come. You can cultivate peacefully and slowly erode the Yin extreme karma."
No one dares to come. This was the confidence of the Crippled Old Village, the gathering place for the inheritors of the Human Emperor's Path.
...
On this day, the world was shaken.
Qianyang Demon Lord had drawn the attention of a Martial Dao Saint King, yet he had survived and disappeared into the Crippled Old Village, never to be seen again.
Some top prodigies who had not participated in this event sighed, "The Emperor's Road has lost a formidable rival."
Qi Degui raised his cup towards the Crippled Old Village, "I wonder if I will ever see my elder brother again in this lifetime."
Emperor Yan and the others, upon hearing that Chen Jiuyang had safely entered the Crippled Old Village, all breathed a sigh of relief. They gathered together:
"A toast to Jiuyang."
"We must cultivate diligently, hoping to meet Jiuyang again in the future."
"This is truly a joyous occasion! Even a Martial Dao Great Sage couldn't stop my disciple!" Feng Hanhou's face was flushed red from drinking, and he was extremely excited.
"This parting might be for a lifetime."
In the night sky of this day, the Sky Dragon City-Breaking Spear, the Nine Luminaries Sword, and the Celestial Dragon Bow transformed into shooting stars, returning to the hands of their respective masters.
"Now that my heart's desires are fulfilled, and the world is at peace, with no Five Great Sacred Lands or demonic paths, and with Envoys patrolling the land, we will strive and work hard to see the Emperor's Road and broaden our horizons."
...
Within the Crippled Old Village, a courtyard sprang up from the ground. The Armless Old Sword Emperor said, "This is where you will live from now on. Your loved ones are all placed within. You can familiarize yourself with it today, and tomorrow I will take you to settle in."
Chen Jiuyang led Yao Zixuan into the courtyard. Yao Zixuan looked at her loved ones sealed in divine nectar, especially upon seeing Yao Deyun and her daughter Chen Nianxuan. Her eyes reddened, and she finally felt completely at ease.
The days ahead should be peaceful and ordinary.
She thought so.
But the tree desired stillness, yet the wind would not cease.