In the depths of the Shangcang Realm.
Shangcang was struggling to emerge from seclusion. Despite several grievous Dao injuries on his body, he persisted in breaking free.
To be precise, it was far too early to emerge. His condition was far from ideal.
However, to kill Yun Fan, he had no choice but to come out.
Initially, he hadn't given Yun Fan a second thought. It wasn't until Yun Fan achieved the Human Emperor status that he entered Shangcang's view.
Even then, Shangcang believed killing Yun Fan wouldn't come at a great cost.
But after Yun Fan repeatedly pushed his boundaries, he realized Yun Fan was not as simple as he seemed.
Especially now, Yun Fan's strength had surpassed his expectations.
If he didn't emerge now to kill Yun Fan, it would only become more difficult later.
As he emerged, the Shangcang Realm trembled.
His vassals, in particular, knelt on the ground, reverently welcoming Shangcang.
However, before the crowd could rejoice, Shangcang unleashed a palm strike, annihilating all life in the Shangcang Realm.
The life force from them converged upon him. His injuries were indeed temporarily halted, but it was not enough.
Shangcang then sent another wave of power to shatter the void, striking the myriad worlds.
The already battered myriad worlds were once again subjected to Shangcang's baptism.
The myriad worlds wailed in agony. They thought of their former hero, Yun Fan, but alas, no hero would stand up for them anymore.
With his injuries barely stabilized, Shangcang set out to kill Yun Fan.
Of course, the immense price he paid had not gone unnoticed by Yun Fan.
Thus, at this moment, Yun Fan struck first.
"Shangcang, so it was your doing!"
Yun Fan stared coldly at Shangcang. This was different from the clone he faced last time.
This time, Shangcang had deployed his true body.
His power was unimaginable, and Shangcang was even more decisive than Yun Fan had anticipated.
Yun Fan had believed Shangcang would not emerge from seclusion, as doing so would render his previous efforts in seclusion futile.
Unexpectedly, Shangcang disregarded everything and struck directly, choosing a path of utter destruction.
Even if his prior efforts were wasted, Shangcang paid it no mind.
His only desire was Yun Fan's death.
Shangcang sneered, "Kid, you didn't expect me to come out, did you! I emerged solely to kill you!"
Despite the gravity of the threat, Yun Fan did not falter.
"Shangcang, if you have the strength, then come and try!"
In an instant, Yun Fan attacked, unleashing his formidable power.
"Although you are strong, you are no match for me!"
At this moment, Shangcang unleashed his peak power. Though not in prime condition, it was inconsequential.
Yun Fan was repelled by his power; they were not on the same level.
Given time, he would not be inferior to Shangcang, perhaps even another Shangcang.
But alas, he did not have that much time.
Facing Shangcang's killing blow, Yun Fan felt his entire being on the verge of collapse.
"With my strike, you can't even withstand one blow. Do you think you can be my equal? In truth, you are not even fit to carry my shoes!"
Shangcang said dismissively to Yun Fan.
"Is that so?"
At this moment, Yun Fan channeled a surge of power, forcefully breaking Shangcang's control. Leading with his Heaven-Battling strength, he sought to close the distance.
"It's useless. You won't even get a chance to get close!"
Shangcang said disdainfully.
In an instant, he delivered a palm strike, hitting Yun Fan with perfect accuracy.
Yun Fan's soul and body were nearly shattered, a testament to the terrifying power of Shangcang's palm.
Yet, at this moment, Yun Fan had to persevere, for he had moved a step closer to Shangcang.
Shangcang smiled playfully. Yun Fan's struggle only fueled his excitement.
"Continue!"
Shangcang said, "Your current predicament is of your own making. If you hadn't chosen to become my enemy, perhaps I would have let you live longer. But by opposing me, your fate was sealed!"
Yun Fan replied, "Shangcang, do not be so arrogant. If others could defeat you, so can I!"
At this moment, Yun Fan summoned the Human Emperor's Throne and the Human Emperor's Seal, using the two divine artifacts to clear a path towards Shangcang.
To his surprise, Shangcang still did not take them seriously.
With a mere turn of his hand, he gathered the most ancient origin power and tore apart the Human Emperor's Seal.
The Human Emperor's Throne, naturally, could not withstand Shangcang's origin power and shattered.
However, even from this single exchange, Shangcang felt his power waning.
"How is this possible?"
Shangcang was astonished that mere items belonging to a Human Emperor could consume so much of his power.
Seizing this opportunity, Yun Fan pressed forward, halving the distance.
"I didn't expect you to actually manage it. But there is still a vast distance between us. You cannot get close to me!"
Shangcang said with a playful smile.
He treated Yun Fan's efforts as a joke, as they were in entirely different leagues.
At this moment, Yun Fan said coldly, "That is not necessarily true! As long as I can get close to you, it is worth it!"
"What other means do you have now?"
As Shangcang unleashed a wave of power, crushing down on Yun Fan.
Yun Fan felt his body being torn apart, his entire being growing listless, unable to advance further.
He could barely maintain his ground, preventing himself from retreating.
"You are too weak. I have no interest whatsoever!"
Shangcang said with a playful smile. "However, I am willing to humor you a little!"
At this moment, two figures arrived. They were none other than Yue Chen and Yue Ru.
Upon seeing the two women, Shangcang said coldly, "You two traitors, how dare you show yourselves before me! You have disappointed me greatly!"
Facing Shangcang's reprimand, the two women did not feel they had done anything wrong.
At this moment, Yue Chen said, "Father, you have never treated us as daughters, only as tools. We were merely protecting ourselves!"
This was her stance.
Yue Ru added, "Father, it is time to stop. You know yourself that your greatest opponent is not him, but the enemy beyond the Land of Exile! That enemy watches with ill intent. If you do not set aside your grudges and join forces with him, you will be utterly defeated!"
The mere thought of that enemy sent a shiver down Shangcang's spine.
He coldly reprimanded, "You should have become a sacrifice to that being, appeasing his wrath. But you refused to be his sacrifice, defying my will. After I kill this brat, I will send you to that being!"
This was Shangcang's attitude.
In his eyes, what did it matter if he sacrificed his own daughters as long as it led to achieving his grand ambitions?
Upon hearing this, Yue Ru's heart turned to ash. Just as Yun Fan had said, Shangcang was beyond redemption.
"If you want to kill him, kill me first!"
Yue Ru stepped forward, blocking Yun Fan's path.
Yue Chen did not lag behind, also positioning herself between Shangcang and Yun Fan, attempting a final plea.
If they could somehow move Shangcang, their sacrifice would be worth it.
"Get out of the way quickly! He is beyond redemption!"
Yun Fan quickly warned the two women.
But the two women continued to look at Shangcang with unwavering gazes.
Shangcang smiled playfully. "Truly overestimating yourselves! You think you can move me with your words!"
With that, he unleashed two beams of power, striking the two women.
The two women's expressions changed drastically. On the brink of despair, they were sent flying, their fates uncertain.
However, during this brief moment, Yun Fan moved several steps closer.
"You are willing to sacrifice your own daughters, Shangcang. You are not human!"
Yun Fan cursed angrily.
But Shangcang retorted, "At my level, if I still cared about emotions, I would achieve nothing. You understand this principle; you are simply foolish!"
Facing Shangcang's mockery, Yun Fan said, "I am different from you. Because I am human, unlike you, who has become numb and heartless for the sake of clinging to a fleeting life!"
Shangcang sneered, "So what if it's clinging to life? Heaven and earth are mine, and I am supreme! No one can obstruct my path, not even my closest kin!"
"Today, even if I die, I will kill you!"
At this moment, Yun Fan unleashed his boiling blood attribute and advanced towards Shangcang. Though his body was already riddled with wounds, he had no other choice if he wished to kill Shangcang.
Now it was Shangcang's turn to panic. He had expected Yun Fan to die in despair, on the spot.
He never imagined that Yun Fan would reverse the situation and recklessly charge at him.
Now, Yun Fan was getting closer and closer.
However, Shangcang quickly regained his composure, as he had plenty of ways to force Yun Fan to surrender.
Shangcang said, "I didn't expect you to be so tenacious. Then, I will give you another surprise!"
Instantly, Shangcang moved. With an unparalleled burst of power, he tore open the void, and the Tianxu Realm appeared before the two of them.
"What?"
Yun Fan was also surprised. He had hidden the Tianxu Realm so well, yet Shangcang had still found it.
It was impossible not to be shocked by this turn of events.
Shangcang then said to him, "Do you want to see how the Tianxu Realm is destroyed?"
At these words, Yun Fan froze. If he had a weakness, it was undoubtedly the Tianxu Realm.
Therefore, he immediately said to Shangcang, "Your opponent is me, not the Tianxu Realm. What do you want in exchange?"
Clearly, at this moment, he had softened his stance, as he could not afford to gamble.
Seeing this, Shangcang smiled playfully. "You are not afraid of death, yet you are afraid of the Tianxu Realm's demise?"
Yun Fan replied, "Everyone has a weakness, including you and me. It's just that I don't know yours, while you know mine!"
Shangcang said with a sinister smile, "Regrettably, I have no weakness!"
At that very moment, he did not negotiate with Yun Fan, for he gave Yun Fan no opportunity. He wanted Yun Fan to understand the price of angering him.
With his origin power unleashed, the Tianxu Realm instantly vanished into dust.
Yun Fan's heart shattered. He watched helplessly as the Tianxu Realm was annihilated before his eyes, utterly powerless.
How devastating this was.
"Shangcang, I curse you to a terrible death!" Yun Fan collapsed in despair. His family, his lover, and his followers were in the Tianxu Realm.
Yet, they were all wiped out by a single strike from Shangcang.
It was impossible for Yun Fan not to break down.
Shangcang, however, gloated, "What a pity. I could have made the Tianxu Realm my farm, harvesting its life force. But to provoke you, I am willing to forgo it!"
Witnessing Shangcang's utter heartlessness, Yun Fan, his heart turned to ash, no longer spoke another word to him.
Suppressing his anger, he charged at Shangcang with an unstoppable force.
Shangcang was stunned. He had expected Yun Fan to fall into despair and die after such a blow. He never imagined Yun Fan would turn his grief into rage and attack him directly.
This surge of power was so astonishing that Shangcang had to regret his actions, for the enraged Yun Fan was on an entirely different level from the Yun Fan before.
At this moment, Yun Fan, like an enraged beast, roared and charged at Shangcang.
Previously, he was dozens of steps away.
Now, he was only three steps away from Shangcang.
Such potential and explosive power were awe-inspiring.
"This is the end!"
Shangcang roared, channeling immense power, denying Yun Fan any further advance.
He intended to utterly tear Yun Fan apart.
But Yun Fan withstood his pressure and landed a punch on Shangcang's wound!
"Ah!"
Shangcang cried out in pain, sent flying backward. Even he had not expected Yun Fan to reach him.
At this moment, Shangcang retaliated with a burst of power, sending Yun Fan flying again.
Although he held an absolute advantage against Yun Fan, even if he managed to kill Yun Fan, it would come at a terrible cost.
Therefore, at this moment, he was utterly terrified.
Shangcang ultimately did not continue the fight, for he dared not gamble.
He chose to flee.
After Shangcang was driven away, Yun Fan knelt on the ground in despair.
The Tianxu Realm was destroyed, and all his family and loved ones had vanished.
At this moment, what was the point of having driven Shangcang away?
"Shangcang, I will kill you!"
Yun Fan roared, helplessly preparing to chase after Shangcang, willing to die trying to kill Shangcang and avenge the Tianxu Realm.
But he soon stopped, not because he was reluctant to fight Shangcang to the death, but because he remembered the Seventh God of Annihilation.
At this moment, with his last hope, he arrived at the Land of Exile.
"I said we would meet again!"
The Seventh God of Annihilation appeared. He had told Yun Fan before that Yun Fan would come to find him. Yun Fan hadn't believed him then, but now, he had finally come.
Seeing Yun Fan in such a wretched state, the Seventh God of Annihilation knew Yun Fan regretted his actions.
Yun Fan said, "You were right. I truly regret it!"
"Regret is normal in life!"
He said to Yun Fan, "At least you have a chance to make amends!"
"All my family and loved ones vanished in an instant. Can you help me?"
This was Yun Fan's plea.
The Seventh God of Annihilation replied, "These demands are too great. You know that by letting me out, I can only help you destroy Shangcang. Anything else is outside of these terms!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Fan nodded. "I know! That is why I came to find you. Now, you set the terms, not me!"
Yun Fan was filled with excitement. He had thought the Seventh God of Annihilation had no solution, but unexpectedly, he did.
As long as the Seventh God of Annihilation had a way, nothing else mattered. He was willing to pay any price to bring back the people around him.
The Seventh God of Annihilation said, "I can help you restore everything to its original state, but you must also agree to one thing!"
"What is it?"
Yun Fan asked, "Even if it costs my life, so be it!"
"That's going too far!"
The Seventh God of Annihilation said, "I want you to impersonate me and marry someone for me!"
"What?"
Yun Fan was stunned. He had expected the Seventh God of Annihilation to demand his life, not something so simple.
"Is it that simple?"
Yun Fan was dumbfounded. If the Seventh God of Annihilation hadn't said it himself, he would never have believed it.
The Seventh God of Annihilation said, "It's that simple. If you agree, I will help you now!"
"I agree!"
Yun Fan agreed without a second thought. In his current situation, regardless of what the other party looked like, he would have agreed to anything to bring back his loved ones, even if it meant marrying a man.
After all, Yun Fan had no other choice.
The Seventh God of Annihilation then said, "Good. I like cooperating with straightforward people like you!"
"How will you help me?"
Yun Fan asked curiously.
The Seventh God of Annihilation replied, "First, break the seal. Once I arrive, I will find a way to help you!"
"Alright!"
Yun Fan nodded and then channeled the penetration power within his Heaven-Battling strength.
It took him nearly half a year to completely break the seal.
As the seal was completely broken, the earth shook, and the Seventh God of Annihilation emerged.
"Finally, I can come out!"
The Seventh God of Annihilation laughed heartily.
Upon seeing the Seventh God of Annihilation, Yun Fan was greatly shocked. He had not expected this being to be so powerful.
When facing Shangcang, he had fought with all his might to gain an equal footing, and even if he couldn't kill Shangcang, he could make Shangcang pay a terrible price.
But before the Seventh God of Annihilation, it was a completely different story.
They were simply not on the same level.
Facing the Seventh God of Annihilation, he didn't even have the courage to resist.
This was the difference.
The Seventh God of Annihilation then said to him, "I will now unleash my power to send you back to before Shangcang destroyed your Tianxu Realm. At that time, I will also traverse through time and space. Are you ready?"
"Ready!"
Yun Fan was shocked internally. In the Great Thousand World, he had coincidentally traversed time and space once.
But that was due to chance; it was far from the Seventh God of Annihilation's prowess.
This being could travel freely, highlighting the vast difference.
How strong did one have to be to achieve such a feat?
Finally, the Seventh God of Annihilation unleashed his power. In an instant, Yun Fan successfully traversed through time and space.
When Yun Fan opened his eyes, it was the moment just before Yue Chen and Yue Ru were struck by Shangcang.
Shangcang unleashed a powerful strike towards Yue Chen and Yue Ru.
The two women's hearts sank into despair.
However, at this moment, a force came from afar, easily blocking the strike.
Seeing this, Shangcang's expression changed drastically.
"He actually traveled back!"
At this moment, no one was happier than Yun Fan.
Before traveling back, he had been utterly incredulous, but now he witnessed this miraculous moment with his own eyes.
The Seventh God of Annihilation had arrived.
Facing Shangcang, Shangcang's face immediately paled.
"Seventh God of Annihilation, how did you appear?"
Shangcang asked in disbelief.
The Seventh God of Annihilation replied, "You don't need to concern yourself with how I appeared. Just know that you are about to die!"
Upon hearing this, Shangcang no longer dared to linger and unleashed his full power to escape.
For he knew what the Seventh God of Annihilation's liberation meant: absolute annihilation.
How could he dare to stay?
"Where do you think you're going?"
The Seventh God of Annihilation pursued him.
Meanwhile, the two women were still in a state of shock.
At this moment, Yun Fan quickly stepped forward and embraced them.
"Husband, you..."
The two women were surprised by Yun Fan's sudden hug.
Yun Fan said, "I just had a dream. In my dream, under Shangcang's attack, I lost you and everything else. Thankfully, it was just a dream!"
This was Yun Fan's explanation.
The two women were instantly bewildered. They hadn't expected Yun Fan to be dreaming at such a critical moment. How much fortitude must he possess?
Yun Fan then said, "My wives, let's go!"
"But over there..."
The two women looked in the direction where Shangcang and the Seventh God of Annihilation had disappeared.
Yun Fan replied, "It doesn't matter. It's not our concern!"
"Mm-hmm!"
The two women nodded and followed Yun Fan towards the Tianxu Realm.
The Tianxu Realm was also safe and sound. However, it was undeniable that on this day, everyone in the Tianxu Realm had a dream.
They dreamt of the Tianxu Realm being destroyed by Shangcang in a single blow, and Yun Fan kneeling amidst the ruins, weeping in despair.
Although it was just a dream, it felt incredibly real.
At this moment, Yun Fan offered no explanation. For him, as long as his loved ones were safe, the lives of others were of no consequence.
Doing too many good deeds only resulted in ungratefulness and betrayal.
The myriad worlds were a prime example.
Therefore, he had no regrets about letting the Seventh God of Annihilation out.
However, he still felt that the Seventh God of Annihilation's conditions were unusual!
...
At this moment, the Seventh God of Annihilation unleashed a strike from afar, hitting Shangcang.
"Ah!"
Shangcang cried out in pain, looking at the Seventh God of Annihilation in despair.
"You are not going to spare me?"
Shangcang said in utter desperation.
The Seventh God of Annihilation sneered, "Do you think I will spare you?"
Shangcang knew they had a deep-seated enmity. Now that the Seventh God of Annihilation was free, he would naturally not let him go.
Therefore, he immediately declared, "Even if I die, I will fight you!"
He refused to compromise, as the Seventh God of Annihilation's intention was for him to end himself.
But Shangcang had survived for so many eras; he was unwilling to end his own life, even when he knew his path was sealed. He still chose to fight to the death.
The Seventh God of Annihilation said, "You have courage, but to me, your courage is so insignificant!"
"Die!"
Shangcang could not endure the mockery and charged at the Seventh God of Annihilation.
His Shangcang power, so formidable before Yun Fan, was like child's play before the Seventh God of Annihilation.
He was sent flying with a single move.
Shangcang's body began to shatter, the gap between them too vast to bridge.
At this moment, Shangcang quickly knelt on the ground.
Indeed, the being who transcended the myriad worlds was now begging for his life.
It must be said, Shangcang was incredibly pathetic at this moment.
"Seventh God, please spare me. I have endured countless eras to survive. Remember how I constantly offered sacrifices to you in the past. I beg you, give me a way to live. From now on, I am willing to be your beast of burden!"
To save his life, Shangcang cast aside all his dignity in an instant.
The Seventh God of Annihilation scoffed, "You are not even qualified to be my beast of burden!"
"I want to know, who let you out?"
At this moment, Shangcang asked unwillingly. So many powerful beings had worked hard to seal him.
Logically, the Seventh God of Annihilation should never have escaped.
He never expected him to succeed.
The Seventh God of Annihilation replied, "Of course, it was the Human Emperor!"
"What?"
Shangcang was stunned.
At this moment, the Seventh God of Annihilation recounted the events to Shangcang, and Shangcang was filled with regret.
It turned out the Seventh God of Annihilation had traveled back through time.
The culprit behind all this was himself.
He had destroyed Yun Fan's Tianxu Realm and killed everyone around Yun Fan.
This led Yun Fan to release the Seventh God of Annihilation at all costs.
Therefore, it was impossible for him not to regret his actions at this moment.
The Seventh God of Annihilation then said, "If he hadn't let me out, I might not have escaped. Therefore, it is to him that I am grateful!"
Upon hearing this, Shangcang's face filled with despair.
"If I had reconciled with him from the start, none of this would have happened!"
However, the Seventh God of Annihilation said, "Given your disposition, would you tolerate an existence that could threaten you? Even if he wouldn't act unless provoked, you absolutely could not tolerate such an entity!"
This statement hit Shangcang's sore spot. Indeed, his attitude was that within his domain, no one could approach or surpass his power.
Therefore, from the very beginning, he had been plotting how to kill Yun Fan. He never imagined that his own demise would ultimately be sealed by Yun Fan.
Although Yun Fan didn't kill him directly, the moment Yun Fan released the Seventh God of Annihilation, everything was predetermined.
Subsequently, the Seventh God of Annihilation stopped conversing with him and unleashed a peerless force, instantly reducing Shangcang to nothingness.
Though he had dominated countless eras and instigated innumerable conflicts, he ultimately could not escape the judgment of fate.
...
After spending some time with the women, they had gradually forgotten the nightmares in their hearts.
Just then, a figure descended. It was the Seventh God of Annihilation.
"Do you have wine?"
He asked Yun Fan.
"Yes!"
Yun Fan immediately ordered good wine to be brought out to entertain the Seventh God of Annihilation.
In this regard, their personalities were quite compatible, as both were unrestrained men.
The Seventh God of Annihilation then said to Yun Fan, "Don't forget, you still owe me a favor!"
"Of course, I haven't forgotten!"
Yun Fan replied, "Can you tell me the specifics?"
The Seventh God of Annihilation said, "It's simple. I have a fiancée whom I've never met. However, her family background and influence are such that I cannot refuse.
You know, women are troublesome. To become strong, one cannot be preoccupied with women; they only become obstacles on my path to success!"
The Seventh God of Annihilation explained the situation to Yun Fan.
However, Yun Fan countered, "I don't agree with that. I believe one cannot solely focus on numb cultivation. Without love in one's heart, life can be lonely. Like my wives, they not only accompany me, preventing me from being lonely, but they are also my anchor. Moreover, they remind me of my purpose for striving."
The Seventh God of Annihilation shook his head. "That's merely your prejudice. Do you regret it?"
"No regrets!"
Yun Fan quickly replied, "I have promised you, and I will certainly fulfill it. But with such a vast difference in our strength, what if I am discovered?"
This was Yun Fan's concern.
He didn't even possess Shangcang's strength, while the Seventh God of Annihilation far surpassed Shangcang.
The difference in their power was too great, even with impersonation.
"That's simple!"
The Seventh God of Annihilation directly imbued Yun Fan's forehead with a surge of power. Instantly, Yun Fan felt his strength continuously increasing.
Finally, it stopped when he reached the Shangcang realm.
"Hiss!"
Yun Fan gasped inwardly. He had not expected the Seventh God of Annihilation's power to be so immense.
He could casually traverse time and space and forcibly elevate his strength to the Shangcang realm.
This made him wonder how vast the gap between them truly was.
He had previously thought his difference with the Seventh God of Annihilation was at most two tiers.
But now, it seemed far from it. If he stood on the first floor, the Seventh God of Annihilation was undoubtedly in the stratosphere.
"Although it's still too weak, it's barely up to standard!"
The Seventh God of Annihilation nodded. After all, this was the extent to which he could help Yun Fan's strength.
Yun Fan was speechless. It seemed the other party was truly in the stratosphere. It was enough to make people despair comparing themselves.
The Seventh God of Annihilation then said, "Soon, I will send someone to escort you to your wedding. During this period, you will have to navigate it yourself. If she discovers your true identity and kills you, it will be none of my concern!"
At these words, Yun Fan gasped.
"There's a threat to my life?"
Yun Fan asked awkwardly.
"Of course!"
The Seventh God of Annihilation replied, "She is an existence on par with me. If you handle it poorly, you can't blame me!"
"Uh..."
Yun Fan realized why it seemed so simple. There was indeed a hidden danger.
Therefore, Yun Fan immediately said, "Alright, I'll take the risk. Arrange for someone to pick me up then!"
"No problem, you're sensible!"
The Seventh God of Annihilation said, "In seven days, wait here!"
With that, he disappeared.
Yun Fan was speechless. He hadn't even had time to ask who she was or what kind of family background would make the Seventh God of Annihilation compromise.
However, in Yun Fan's view, he could only comply obediently. At least he was confident he wouldn't be exposed, but if he were, he would just have to accept his fate.