Xi Huang was a powerful Empress, viewing everyone else as mere ants. Perhaps only a god of destruction could pique her interest. Thus, she intended to utterly crush Yun Fan.
As her ultimate strength erupted, even Yun Fan, on the cusp of a breakthrough, felt the pressure. "How is this possible?" Yun Fan was astounded. He, like Xi Huang, had reached that level, yet no matter how hard he tried, he could never truly stand on par with her.
Their battle commenced instantly. Yun Fan fought Xi Huang with absolute power; the destruction was cataclysmic. Both had stood at this very level.
Xi Huang declared, "It's been hundreds of thousands of years. Your strength has indeed grown, but you will soon learn what despair is – the kind where even your utmost effort is futile!"
Yun Fan responded, "As long as I draw breath, I will find a way to defeat you. If hundreds of thousands of years are not enough, then it will take eons. One day, I will defeat you!"
"A futile endeavor!" Xi Huang retorted. "From the moment you chose to oppose me, your defeat was already sealed!"
Next, she unleashed her primordial power, instantly weathering Yun Fan's strength, a clear manifestation of absolute counteraction. If Yun Fan hadn't possessed the might of a Heavenly Battler, he would have been defeated even more grievously. Thus, Yun Fan was once again repelled by Xi Huang's move, nearly perishing. Fortunately, Yun Fan managed to hold on.
"I finally understand why, despite being at the same realm, I cannot defeat you!" Yun Fan exclaimed. "I am not weaker than you; we are of the same level, yet I have been defeated by you time and again. The true reason is finally clear!"
"You know the reason?" Xi Huang looked at Yun Fan with surprise, clearly disbelieving him.
Yun Fan replied, "I didn't before, but now I do. Because within this realm, no matter how strong I become, I can never surpass your limits. The rules of this realm are yours! If I were outside your rules, I would never be defeated!" This was Yun Fan's conclusion. He found it puzzling; if he couldn't defeat Xi Huang before, it would have been normal, given the significant gap. But this time, he felt no gap, yet he still lost. Therefore, Yun Fan had deduced this principle.
Xi Huang stated, "You are intelligent, and things are indeed as you suspect. Unfortunately, my rules govern this place, and no one can break them! You will forever be beneath my feet!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Fan was enraged. "If your rules suppress me, then I will break your rules!" This was Yun Fan's stance. In Xi Huang's eyes, Yun Fan was a stumbling block. But in Yun Fan's eyes, wasn't Xi Huang the same?
At this moment, Xi Huang scoffed, "You are simply overestimating yourself!"
Then, Yun Fan declared, "This is the moment for our true battle! Are you ready?"
"I don't need to prepare to kill you!" Xi Huang's words, though seemingly arrogant, were backed by her ability. Xi Huang was a being who had reached the pinnacle.
At this, Yun Fan launched his attack decisively. He no longer directly attacked Xi Huang, as he knew he couldn't defeat her head-on. Instead, he began to disrupt Xi Huang's rules. To his shock, Xi Huang did not stop him. However, for Yun Fan, this was a perfect opportunity for destruction. If Xi Huang had intervened, he might not have succeeded. But with Xi Huang's inaction, he proceeded to wreak havoc.
It had to be said, Xi Huang's rules were terrifyingly potent. Even without Xi Huang's direct intervention, Yun Fan was covered in wounds from destroying her rules, a truly tragic sight.
"Are you done destroying?" Xi Huang sneered at him.
Yun Fan replied, "It's done. This time, I can finally truly fight you!" At this moment, Yun Fan no longer felt the suppression of rules, only a heart that was invincible in the world. Despite being heavily wounded, his condition was undeniably much better.
Xi Huang stated, "You have achieved your wish. So, please proceed! I will let you watch yourself die before my eyes, utterly helpless!"
"Very well!" Yun Fan declared. "I hope your tone remains so arrogant later!"
Instantly, Yun Fan gathered all his strength and attacked Xi Huang. The attack was immensely powerful, possessing boundless combat might. Unexpectedly, when his full-power strike hit Xi Huang, she remained unfazed. She wasn't even slightly affected by Yun Fan's attack. This illustrated the vast difference between them.
"How is this possible?" Yun Fan was stunned, unable to believe his eyes.
Xi Huang asked, "Do you now understand the gap between us?"
"So you broke through!" Yun Fan looked at Xi Huang in disbelief. Indeed, he had one foot in the realm of the void, yet he was still helpless against Xi Huang. There could only be one explanation. Xi Huang had broken through, placing both feet in this realm, becoming a being comparable to Creator Gods and even Gods of Destruction. Yun Fan could hardly believe Xi Huang had reached such a terrifying level. He and Wang Shuai had made so much effort. Would all that effort ultimately be in vain? Despite negating the fortune that supported Xi Huang's current realm, how could she still ascend? This was the first time Yun Fan felt that no matter how hard he tried, he could not reach someone else's height. His confidence was shattered to its core. Yun Fan was almost broken.
Xi Huang said, "Yes, you realize it now. Don't you think it's too late?" She continued, "Of course, even if you had realized it earlier, the outcome would be the same. Nothing could change." This was Xi Huang's mockery of Yun Fan. She now stood at the height of those two, and except for the God of Destruction, no one else was her match.
"How did you break through?" Yun Fan asked, unwilling to accept it. Why could Xi Huang achieve what others couldn't? He was a creator of miracles, constantly defying expectations since his rise. Miracles had become commonplace for him. Yet, compared to Xi Huang, his miracles were child's play. She was the true miracle maker.
Xi Huang replied, "This was a secret, but since you are about to die, I don't mind telling you." She stated directly, "I activated the Eye of Destruction and destroyed the entire Origin Realm to reach this realm." This revelation left Yun Fan speechless.
"You actually destroyed the Origin Realm!" Yun Fan roared. "You truly are a madman! With the Origin Realm destroyed, all the Dao Provinces, all worlds, all the myriad realms beneath the Origin will vanish!" These worlds relied on the power of origin to maintain their existence. With the Origin Realm gone, these worlds would ultimately dissipate. It could be said that within and beneath the Origin, no living beings would remain. Xi Huang could not even be described as a devil. Even devils could not reach Xi Huang's level.
Xi Huang responded, "As long as I can take this step, what is the mere destruction of the Origin Realm? I will create new worlds. Once these new worlds take shape, I will become the Creator God!" This was Xi Huang's answer. In her eyes, there was no remorse or guilt. This was Xi Huang. Her ascension to Empress was born from destruction. Except for the world created by the Fusang Divine Tree, which Yun Fan had banished, all other worlds had fallen victim to destruction. Xi Huang was more than just a sinner.
Yun Fan asked, "So, am I the last person you intended to destroy?"
"Indeed!" Xi Huang confirmed. "Because you are the only living being beneath the Origin, besides myself. I have been searching for you for so long, and finally, I have found you!" Undoubtedly, at this point, for Xi Huang, killing Yun Fan would allow her to advance towards the world created by the God of Destruction. She was not content with her current realm; she wanted to surpass herself, to become an invincible existence surpassing the two strongest. Therefore, her path of destruction continued, and Yun Fan was merely a clown in her eyes.
At this, she addressed Yun Fan, "You know enough. Now it's your turn. Are you ready to die?"
"Until the very last moment, I will not admit defeat!" Yun Fan declared with heroic spirit. However, as soon as his words fell, he was sent flying by a surge of power from Xi Huang, nearly torn apart.
"What irony!" Xi Huang scoffed. "For me, I can kill you at any time. Admitting defeat? You are not worthy!" She then attacked Yun Fan again. Even in death, she wanted Yun Fan to perish in despair. Therefore, at this moment, she was not just killing him but also breaking his spirit. Yun Fan stumbled back, being struck repeatedly by Xi Huang's attacks without any reaction. It wasn't that he didn't want to resist, but against a being like Xi Huang, he lacked the strength to even resist. The gap was simply too immense. The path awaiting Yun Fan was likely only one: death. Even Yun Fan, at this moment, was truly at the end of his rope, teetering on the brink of helplessness. Finally, as her strike landed, Yun Fan was almost annihilated. He felt his body disintegrating. This time, he understood what true death felt like. In the face of death, he felt so powerless and pathetic. There was nothing he could do against a being as overpowered as Xi Huang. He could only watch helplessly as he collapsed to the ground.
"Final strike, you can die now!" Xi Huang declared with disdain. Instantly, like a fleeting illusion, she unleashed her final, deadly blow upon Yun Fan. Yun Fan was at a point where he could no longer even resist.
"Am I finally facing death?" Yun Fan sighed. Even in the face of death, he remained surprisingly calm, without regret. As long as his family was alive, it was enough for him; he had no other desires. Unexpectedly, at this moment, Yun Fan clearly felt his body dissipating.
"What is happening?" Yun Fan showed confusion. He distinctly felt as if, in another unfamiliar world, someone was teleporting him. This puzzled Yun Fan greatly. Even at this critical juncture, was there still a living being helping him? Indeed, just as Xi Huang's ultimate strike descended, Yun Fan's body completely vanished.
"Dead?" Xi Huang expressed confusion, but she quickly determined that Yun Fan was not dead. Even though her strike was meant to be fatal, Yun Fan had vanished just as it touched him, meaning the final blow hadn't even harmed him. This was perplexing. Someone had saved Yun Fan right under her nose. To her, this was a provocation. No matter who the other party was, she would make them pay a terrible price.
...
Yun Fan slowly regained consciousness. He had no idea how long he had slept, as his body and essence were in fragments. Despite external help in his slumber, the healing process was painfully slow. Yun Fan himself worked tirelessly to recover, and finally, today, he awoke. This was more than just surviving a near-death experience; it was a rebirth from the brink of annihilation. This time, Yun Fan underwent a complete transformation, but he couldn't feel happy. Without reaching the Void realm, he would never truly stand tall again, nor would he ever be Xi Huang's match. His pride had been trampled by Xi Huang twice, but fortunately, Yun Fan's inner demons were not too severe.
"You're awake!" At this moment, a cold voice echoed. Yun Fan looked up and saw an exceptionally beautiful woman.
"Did you save me?" Yun Fan asked, bewildered.
She replied, "More accurately, my master saved you. I was merely tasked with looking after you on his behalf." She said this lightly, without any hint of emotion. Of course, Yun Fan didn't notice these details. To him, such specifics were unimportant. Therefore, Yun Fan inquired, "Who is your master?"
"You don't need to ask so many questions. He will see you once your injuries have completely healed," the maiden told Yun Fan. "For now, just focus on your recovery. You don't need to worry about anything else!" She was like a robot devoid of emotion.
Yun Fan asked, "What should I call you?"
She replied, "Ling Qingzi!"
"That's quite a unique name!" Yun Fan murmured to himself. Before his words even fully registered, Ling Qingzi struck him with a surge of power. Yun Fan cried out in agony, nearly dying from the pain. Given his current condition, his physique was inferior to that of an ordinary person. Thus, being beaten by Ling Qingzi nearly caused him to disintegrate again.
"My name is not for you to criticize!" she warned Yun Fan. Yun Fan outwardly apologized but inwardly grumbled. *Just a servant, what's the big deal?* Of course, he dared not say this aloud, lest Ling Qingzi beat him to death.
At this, Ling Qingzi turned and left. Yun Fan, barely supporting his precarious wounds, managed to stand up and went outside, only to discover a prosperous world. This kind of world was not unfamiliar to Yun Fan. The Eight Directions Dao Provinces that had not been destroyed by calamities were also this prosperous. As for the Origin Realm, it was not as bustling, emanating a sense of desolation. Now, both the Eight Directions Dao Provinces and the Origin Realm were in the past, having been destroyed. Even if one returned to the Origin Realm, it would only be a broken ruin, with no living beings. Here, Yun Fan felt the bustling city life beneath the immortal mountains, filled with an enviable human warmth. Yun Fan was very curious about Ling Qingzi's master. To have saved him from Xi Huang's grasp proved that person was an extremely formidable figure. As for whether that person was Xi Huang's match, Yun Fan considered it unnecessary to even guess. Xi Huang had now reached a level comparable to the God of Destruction and the Creator God. Who else could possibly be her opponent? Apart from that God of Destruction, it was unlikely anyone else could. Even Yun Fan, a prodigy, couldn't reach her heels. The gap was truly terrifying. However, for Yun Fan, having been reborn, he once again possessed the capital for resistance. Even though no matter how much he cultivated, he might not reach Xi Huang's height, he hadn't given up. His hope and fighting spirit were reignited. As long as his ambition remained, anything was possible.
In the days that followed, Yun Fan found himself extremely bored. He couldn't go anywhere. It wasn't that Ling Qingzi restricted his freedom, but rather his physical condition. He couldn't even traverse space, let alone freely roam the cosmos. The path to recovery continued, but the progress and duration were agonizingly slow. Based on Yun Fan's estimation, it might take two to three eons to return to his peak. While tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of years, were but a fleeting moment for him, once it escalated to the scale of eons, everything became incredibly slow. Especially with consciousness, enduring several eons would be an extremely painful ordeal.
Today, Ling Qingzi arrived. She told Yun Fan, "Your recovery is too slow. Master wants me to help accelerate your healing."
"That's great!" Yun Fan replied. "I've been eagerly awaiting this day. When do we start?" Indeed, not only Ling Qingzi but Yun Fan himself could no longer bear it. Speed was precisely what he lacked most. Recovering at a normal pace was simply too slow.
"We start today!" Ling Qingzi announced. "Your physique is rather unique, so conventional methods won't work. Therefore, master has already arranged your recovery method! Follow me!"
"Alright!" Yun Fan quickly followed Ling Qingzi. Soon, they arrived at a cozy celestial palace. Led by Ling Qingzi, Yun Fan entered the palace.
"The recovery method you desire is inside this room. Go in and see for yourself!" she said coldly to Yun Fan. Although she was stunningly beautiful, her coldness detracted significantly. Fortunately, Yun Fan had grown accustomed to it, so it didn't matter much to him. As long as he could recover. Thus, he immediately opened the door. However, the moment he opened it, Yun Fan was utterly dumbfounded. Inside was a beautiful woman, bound and lying on a bed, shedding tears. She looked truly pitiable. Even Yun Fan couldn't help but be moved. What kind of recovery method was this? He quickly retreated.
"Why did you come out?" Ling Qingzi asked Yun Fan with displeasure.
Yun Fan asked, bewildered, "Inside, there's only a bound beauty. How am I supposed to recover?"
"Don't play innocent!" Ling Qingzi sneered. "Master prepared a method of dual cultivation for your recovery. Don't tell me you didn't know!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Fan said, "Of course I know, but is there any other way?"
"There is no other way!" Ling Qingzi stated. "She has a spiritual body, which can help you recover your strength to the maximum extent! Don't be greedy while pretending to be righteous!" She yelled at Yun Fan. "Get back in there! Don't force me to act!" Her fierce temper was truly intimidating. Therefore, Yun Fan quickly went back inside.
"Come on! If this is fate, then I won't struggle anymore!" she said to Yun Fan, weeping.
"Don't misunderstand me, I truly have no such intentions!" Yun Fan quickly explained. If his recovery was at the expense of another's suffering, he would rather not recover at all. Therefore, even after coming inside, he would do nothing. He was only there due to Ling Qingzi's coercion. Seeing that she still didn't believe him, Yun Fan said again, "I'm serious. I never expected this method, and I have no ill will towards you!"
"Really?" Her eyes suddenly brightened. She had expected Yun Fan to act immediately, but to her surprise, Yun Fan didn't lay a hand on her and even spoke reassuring words. Yun Fan continued, "Of course it's true. Were you coerced?"
"Yes!" she said to Yun Fan, wronged. "My physique is a spiritual body. If we were to break that barrier, my cultivation would be completely ruined!" Upon hearing this, Yun Fan gasped. It wasn't that he was being overly compassionate, but this person wasn't his enemy, so how could he bear to act? This wasn't a matter of saintliness but of principles. On matters of principle, although Yun Fan's moral compass was often debated, he still held his ground. Therefore, at this moment, he said to the beautiful maiden, "I'll release you now, and then you can leave!"
"Mhm mhm!" The woman nodded. "Thank you, young sir!" Originally, Yun Fan was considered a hypocrite in her eyes, but Yun Fan's actions deeply touched her. Therefore, at this moment, her heart was filled with warmth. As long as that barrier wasn't crossed, her cultivation would not be ruined. She couldn't understand why she had to sacrifice her cultivation to fulfill someone else's needs. At this, Yun Fan immediately released her and said, "You can go now!"
"Okay!" The woman breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to flee. Her strength was considerable, not quite at Yun Fan's pinnacle level, but definitely among the strongest in the Heavenly Battler realm. As for the ropes binding her, though they appeared simple, Yun Fan knew they were no ordinary restraints. Once bound, no matter how immense one's cultivation, escape would be impossible. Ropes that could bind cultivation must be divine artifacts surpassing the Heavenly Battler level. Unexpectedly, before the woman could leave, the door to the room was opened. Indeed, Ling Qingzi entered. She had been outside and knew what had transpired inside.
"You have both disappointed me!" Ling Qingzi stated directly.
The maiden immediately knelt before her. "Sister, I truly don't want my years of cultivation to be wasted like this. Please spare me!"
"What?" Yun Fan was utterly astonished. He never expected this maiden's sister to be Ling Qingzi. Pushing her own sister into a fiery pit – Yun Fan couldn't comprehend this move.
Ling Qingzi declared, "You have no choice!" Upon hearing this, the maiden's heart turned to ash. At this, Yun Fan stepped forward to persuade her. "I really think there are other methods. There's no need to sacrifice her!" This was Yun Fan's plea. Although he knew Ling Qingzi was also trying to help him recover faster, doing so would leave him with inner demons, and more importantly, it would ruin this maiden. However, Ling Qingzi replied, "This is master's order. There is no room for negotiation!" Upon hearing this, the maiden's face instantly lost its luster, for she knew all hope was gone. The master's command was absolute.
Yun Fan asked, "Not even my plea is enough?"
"No!" Ling Qingzi stated. "You cannot control your own destiny, for master has already arranged it for you!" With that, she turned and left. Yun Fan was furious. Did he have no personal autonomy at all? Although she had saved him, he somewhat resisted this orchestrated destiny. Therefore, at this moment, Yun Fan said to the maiden, "It's alright, don't worry. This debt is on me. I'll leave now. It has nothing to do with you!" With that, Yun Fan turned to leave. He wanted to see who Ling Qingzi's master was. His destiny should be his own to decide, and no one had the right to control it. Unexpectedly, just as he was about to step out of the room, the maiden blocked his path.
"What is it?" Yun Fan asked, confused.
The maiden wiped away her tears. "Young master, since this is master's absolute command, it is beyond our control. I can give myself to you!"
"No, we cannot yield!" Yun Fan insisted. "You don't have to bear any responsibility; all the responsibility is mine, okay?" This turn of events left even Yun Fan bewildered. Why would this maiden, under her master's command, choose to comply even with her reluctance? The maiden said to Yun Fan, "Young master, please don't make things difficult for me. We can cultivate together. Even if my cultivation is ruined, I won't blame you. It is my own volition, so you don't need to feel any psychological pressure!"
Alright! Now Yun Fan was even more confused. Therefore, he asked the maiden, "Who is your master? Why do you fear him so much?" Unexpectedly, the maiden replied, "Young master, please don't ask so many questions. Just beg that you show me pity later!"
"I disagree!" Yun Fan stated. "If it's not consensual, it ultimately lacks something!"
"Are you afraid I will pester you later?" the maiden quickly asked. "Young master, you needn't worry. I won't blame you! Nor will I pester you. After it's over, I will quietly leave and never disturb you again!"
"Uh..." Yun Fan was instantly speechless. However, he finally said with a forced smile, "How about this, let me take a moment to adjust!" Unexpectedly, the maiden didn't give him any time to stall and directly pushed him down.