Calamity of Tomorrow

Watching Zheng Wentian's body soften and collapse, Zi Yang True Monarch performed a hand seal and with a sweep of his sleeve, he had absorbed Zheng Wentian into the fabric of his robe.

After ascending to the realm of the gods, every cultivator would gradually master the power of space and could practice various Immortal Laws to bend space, twist space, and even create new spaces, accomplishing feats unimaginable.

As the legitimate god of thunder, Zi Yang True Monarch naturally cultivated similar mystical arts.

He had just deployed a move called Universe within the Sleeve, drawing Zheng Wentian's corpse into the space within his sleeve.

Seeing Zheng Wentian being taken into the Universe within the Sleeve, Zi Yang True Monarch's eyes suddenly brimmed with a tear.

"Every time I bring you that absolute despair, it always makes me feel somewhat melancholy, but why do you always provoke my anger? The blame can only lie with your own lack of spirit. For all that it's a cruel world, you still want to indulge in tender affections."

The tear floated in front of Zi Yang True Monarch, driven by an invisible force, then slowly evaporated, vanishing into the air.

"However, when a lion fights a rabbit, it still uses all its might…"

Compared to a fair and square fight, a straightforward battle, or overcoming an opponent with brute strength, Zi Yang True Monarch preferred enemies that were powerless to resist.

"Rather than using all my strength to fight, it's better to be completely prepared before the battle, leaving the opponent with no chance to retaliate. Even if the opponent is as insignificant as an ant, it's the same. That's the dignity a deity should possess."

"Otherwise, having to enter the fray personally against all sorts of fools in open combat, what difference would there be from those mere mortals."

Zi Yang True Monarch's hand movements changed, and a strand of hair from his head fell automatically to the ground. With a gust of wind, it rolled on the floor and became a person kneeling on the ground.

It was a person identical to Zheng Wentian, from the face and stature to the clothes and hairstyle, from top to bottom, all exactly the same.

This was 'Zheng Wentian' transformed by Zi Yang True Monarch's Earth-shattering Seventy-Two Transformations.

Although it was just a puppet clone created by Zi Yang True Monarch, without the cultivation of the Ninth Realm, one wouldn't be able to distinguish any difference. Even those of the Ninth Realm with slightly weaker eyesight and perception wouldn't be able to sense the disparity.

Zi Yang True Monarch nodded to the 'Zheng Wentian' in front of him and with a gesture, the doppelgänger nonchalantly walked towards the door.

...

Outside.

"Next, Ying Hui, you may enter."

Hearing Zi Yang True Monarch's command, Ying Hui looked toward the direction of the side hall, wondering, "Where's Zheng Wentian? Isn't he coming out?"

At that moment, 'Zheng Wentian' came out and nodded to everyone: "Teacher Ying, please go in. Elder Ming Yue is waiting for you inside."

Ying Hui nodded and strode into the room. The others didn't think much of it and waited quietly outside.

After all, this was Wanxian Island, with its complete defensive arrays and restrictions, and guarded by Immortal Ming Yue himself. No one was seriously concerned that if there was a Heavenly Demon spy among them, that spy would succeed in their plans.

And as for themselves, they did not think they were the Heavenly Demon spies, so they weren't worried about Ming Yue Immortal's examination.

As Ying Hui entered the side hall, he felt a strong intent to kill. With his Sixth Realm cultivation of Gong Tu, under the unabashedly homicidal assault, he sensed something was wrong at the very first instant and tried to retreat.

But a multicolored radiance had already surged over his body. It was the array power from the manor itself, controlled by Zi Yang True Monarch, immediately suppressing Ying Hui's Primordial Spirit and flesh.

This was an array force that only someone of the Ninth Realm might slightly resist and only a deity might break through—a security reserved for beings of the Immortal level.

"Elder Ming Yue? What do you want to do?"

Facing Ying Hui's puzzled expression, Zi Yang True Monarch had no intention of communicating. With a wave of his hand, Ying Hui's neck slowly began to twist.

In the face of this irresistible force, Ying Hui clenched his teeth as his Primordial Spirit within his sea of consciousness began to boil: "Ming Yue has a problem... Zhou Bai... I must remind Zhou Bai and the others..."

"Primordial Spirit detonation?" Zi Yang True Monarch placed his palm on Ying Hui's head, his surging Primordial Spirit power suppressing the opponent's Primordial Spirit that was attempting to self-detonate, and completely killed him.

Seeing that the other party was still struggling violently under restraint, resulting in the deformation and shattering of his skull, Zi Yang True Monarch sighed, "How resolute? And how foolish. To avoid ending up like this, I must continue to climb higher."

…

Moments later, 'Ying Hui' walked out and said to Yun Chonghe, "Old Yun, go ahead. The senior is waiting for you inside."

Yun Chonghe nodded and, carrying the Sword Box, walked towards the direction of the side hall.

As 'Ying Hui' passed by him, he suddenly said, "How about you give me the Sword Box, and you go in by yourself?"

Yun Chonghe was slightly stunned, and the next moment, he shook his head, "No need, it's better for me to keep it with me."

Zi Yang True Monarch, using the Earthly Fiend's Seventy-two Transformations to disguise himself as Ming Yue Immortal, watched Yun Chonghe walk in, his gaze sweeping over the Sword Box on his back.

"The bodies of Ying Hui and Wentian have already been taken care of by me," Zi Yang True Monarch thought secretly. "I have also used the Earthly Fiend's Seventy-two Transformations to disguise as Ying Hui and Wentian to walk out. Under normal circumstances, he should not be suspicious yet."

Zi Yang True Monarch, looking at the Sword Box on his back, thought to himself, 'There is a seventy to eighty percent chance that the Heavenly Sword is in that Sword Box. Judging from the lack of any abnormality so far, the Heavenly Sword has probably entered into a slumber. And to fall into slumber at such a critical moment indicates that it can no longer maintain a state of consciousness.'

'Therefore, it's highly likely that when it awakens again, it will start to undergo complete transfiguration.'

'Given these conditions, the best method at the moment is to kill Yun Chonghe without alarming the Heavenly Sword.'

'However, with Yun Chonghe's cultivation, they will surely be prepared for the possibility of an Immortal god instantly killing him. It's very possible that as soon as Yun Chonghe dies, the Heavenly Sword would immediately awaken.'

'I just had 'Ying Hui' attempt to help Yun Chonghe with the Sword Box, which was refused. This also indicates that even if the Sword Box is removed a certain distance from Yun Chonghe, the Heavenly Sword might awaken.'

'Heh, it's simply a ticking time bomb.'

With that thought, Zi Yang True Monarch squinted his eyes slightly, making a decision in his heart: 'I can't directly kill Yun Chonghe for now. So...' he chuckled inwardly: 'I'll have to use someone else's hand to commit the act, and fortunately, there are plenty of knives around in Central City right now.'

Yun Chonghe walked into the side hall, his gaze scanning across the entire hall without noticing anything particularly out of place.

Moments later, Yun Chonghe emerged. Following that, Tu Tianmo, Zhao Yue, and Xiang Haocu one by one entered.

Among all those people, aside from Yun Chonghe who came out unscathed, Xiang Haocu was knocked unconscious by Zi Yang True Monarch and taken into the universe within his sleeve, while the rest were already completely dead.

'Ming Yue Immortal' walked out from the side hall and looked down at the people, saying, "Very well, it seems none of you have problems and are not the Heavenly Demon's insiders."

"Ying Hui, go call Zhou Bai. The Heavenly Demon has already invaded Miluo Heavenly Palace, and I feel it's still not safe here, we should move to another place."

'Ying Hui' left and quickly returned with 'Zhou Bai.' 'Ming Yue Immortal' nodded his head and then, with a sweep of his long sleeves, the group of people had already followed him away from the manor.

Moments later, Zi Yang True Monarch exited the side hall, looking at the distant speck that was gradually disappearing into the horizon. Among that group of people, except for Yun Chonghe, the rest were merely separate embodiments Zi Yang True Monarch had conjured using the Earthly Fiend's Seventy-two Transformations.

"Heavenly Sword, dying at the hands of the Heavenly Demon could be considered a decent end for you."

Zi Yang True Monarch smiled faintly, now appearing as Ying Hui, and headed towards Zhou Bai's room.

"Only the last step remains."

Fifteen minutes had passed since Zheng Wentian's death.