Chapter 1539: The Battle for Apotheosis (Part One)
The Death God and the Yin Division's Five Great Emperors had just emerged from the spatial rift. They had barely glimpsed the Apotheosis Platform and Yang Haoran, who was striving to reach its peak, and hadn't even had a chance to speak a word or make a move, when the space in the direction opposite the Death God suddenly fluctuated violently. Another spatial rift appeared, and from it, several figures also stepped out.
From their attire, it was not difficult to discern their identities: they were Talisman Masters of the Talisman Order, and furthermore, they were Spiritual Talisman Masters of extremely high standing. The one leading them was none other than the Talisman Ancestor of the Talisman Order.
Since the Death God could sense the manifestation of the Apotheosis Platform and know its precise location, it was impossible for the Talisman Ancestor, also a True God, not to sense it.
When old enemies met, their eyes burned with a special intensity. The Death God's gaze had initially lingered on Yang Haoran, but upon sensing the arrival of the Talisman Ancestor, his gaze immediately shifted from Yang Haoran, locking firmly onto the Talisman Ancestor.
If the Death God reacted this way, the Yin Division's Five Great Emperors were naturally no exception. Almost simultaneously, they all turned their eyes towards the Talisman Ancestor. The reaction of the Talisman Ancestor and his companions was largely similar; after a brief glance at the Apotheosis Platform and Yang Haoran advancing step by step upon it, they all fixed their gazes upon the Death God.
Although many years had passed since the last battle between the Death God and the Talisman Ancestor, for two True Gods, this amount of time wasn't even enough for a true secluded cultivation. It meant nothing to them; in fact, their last battle felt as if it had happened just yesterday. It was precisely because of this that the hostility between the two sides had not diminished in the slightest over the years.
They did not point fingers and curse each other like shrews in the street, or even insult each other's entire families. As True Gods, they possessed their own dignified bearing. However, from the cold gaze imbued with intense killing intent they directed at each other, it was clear that the enmity between them had accumulated to a profound degree; both desired to eliminate the other.
Upon the Death God's arrival, although he saw Yang Haoran on the Apotheosis Platform and knew his purpose in ascending it, he did not immediately attack Yang Haoran. Instead, he shifted his gaze from Yang Haoran to the newly arrived Talisman Ancestor. One reason was that Yang Haoran still had a short distance to go before reaching the summit of the Apotheosis Platform, and as someone who had been through it, he knew this final stretch was the most arduous, and Yang Haoran might not necessarily overcome it.
Another reason was that if he attacked Yang Haoran the moment the Talisman Ancestor appeared, it would give others the false impression that he was panicking, lacking composure and steadiness. This would negatively impact his image, which was not the outcome he desired. Moreover, even if he had attacked immediately, nine times out of ten he would not have achieved the desired result, because the Talisman Ancestor would certainly have exerted his full strength to obstruct him.
Conversely, Yang Haoran was an existence from a completely different world compared to him and the Talisman Ancestor. He and the Talisman Ancestor were gods; Yang Haoran was merely human. Naturally, his level of concern for the Talisman Ancestor was incomparable to that for Yang Haoran.
The Death God and the Talisman Ancestor met each other's gaze, neither speaking a word. Yet, in that brief instant of their eyes locking, a thick scent of gunpowder already permeated the entire space.
“You didn’t disappoint me. You truly came. Very well. The grudges between us shall be settled today. ”
The Death God looked at the Talisman Ancestor, speaking coldly, each word bone-chilling, like ice that had not melted in ten thousand years, and carrying an intense killing intent.
“I had the same intention. Last time the Apotheosis Platform manifested, I failed. This time, I will not! ”
The Talisman Ancestor responded to the Death God with an equally frigid tone. However, whether the "failure" he spoke of referred to failing to settle his vendetta with the Death God or the Spirit Master False God's failure to become a god remained unknown.
After these words fell, the Talisman Ancestor showed no intention of wasting more words with the Death God, nor did he wait for the Death God's reply. A powerful energy fluctuation erupted from within him, and a colossal Dharma Body, like a great mountain, rapidly condensed above his head. Seeing this, the Talisman Masters behind him vanished from their positions, creating a significant distance from the Talisman Ancestor, a very large distance indeed.
Since these Talisman Masters were qualified to accompany the Talisman Ancestor to this place, it meant that both their strength and status were among the absolute pinnacle of the Talisman Order. With their power, even looking across the entire New Beginning Realm, aside from True Gods, those who could threaten them were few and far between. Yet, even though they were this powerful, they dared not approach a battle between True Gods, for it was no different from courting death.
These Talisman Masters knew this intimately, so they immediately retreated from the Talisman Ancestor at the fastest speed possible, to avoid being caught in the crossfire and losing their lives.
A cold sneer appeared on the Death God’s face. The Talisman Ancestor was unwilling to waste words with him, and he, too, was disinclined to prattle. Settling matters with true action perfectly suited his desires.
“Go kill that boy. I’ll handle the Talisman Ancestor. ”
The Death God ordered coldly. The Yin Division's Five Great Emperors respectfully acknowledged his command, then swiftly flew towards the Apotheosis Platform. Although they did not have the Power of Faith blessing their bodies and dared not step onto the Apotheosis Platform like Yang Haoran, they could still attack Yang Haoran from outside the platform.
Of course, this wasn't something just anyone could do, because the Apotheosis Platform constantly emitted immense pressure. The closer one got to the platform, the stronger the pressure became. So, even without stepping onto the Apotheosis Platform, one would still be subjected to this powerful pressure. If one's own strength was insufficient, once they approached the Apotheosis Platform, their physical body would explode from being unable to withstand the immense pressure emanating from it, suffering the same fate as those who stepped onto it without the blessing of Faith Power. Such individuals couldn't even approach the Apotheosis Platform, let alone attack a target upon it.
The Yin Division's Five Great Emperors were different. Although they lacked the Power of Faith to bless their bodies and dared not step onto the Apotheosis Platform, they were fully capable of remaining in its vicinity. The powerful pressure continuously emitted by the Apotheosis Platform would indeed have a significant impact on them, but it was not enough to destroy their physical bodies. Therefore, they could launch an attack on Yang Haoran from outside the Apotheosis Platform. As long as their strength was formidable enough, they could completely cut Yang Haoran down on the Apotheosis Platform.
Although the Talisman Ancestor did not issue direct commands to the Talisman Masters present, he had already made arrangements for today’s operation before arriving here. So, at present, he didn’t need to speak; the Talisman Masters present knew what to do.
As the Yin Division's Five Great Emperors swiftly flew towards the Apotheosis Platform, these Talisman Masters also flew towards it, some even conjuring talismans mid-flight, blasting them towards the Yin Division's Five Great Emperors.
Both sides quickly reached the area outside the Apotheosis Platform. However, due to the intervention of these Talisman Masters, the Yin Division's Five Great Emperors did not succeed in harming Yang Haoran on the Apotheosis Platform.
It was clear that both the Talisman Ancestor and the Spiritual Talisman Masters he personally brought were on Yang Haoran's side. The Great Night Empire and the Talisman Order were in an alliance, and had secretly signed an agreement. So, even if the Talisman Order had no enmity with the Yin Division, the Talisman Order would still stand with Yang Haoran. What’s more, the Yin Division and the Talisman Order had a significant grudge, so there was even less reason for them not to help Yang Haoran.
At the same time, the Death God and the Talisman Ancestor also clashed. Their confrontation caused a colossal commotion, far surpassing the multi-person assault between the Yin Division's Five Great Emperors and the Talisman Order's Spiritual Talisman Masters.
Below the Apotheosis Platform, Zhong Siyu witnessed all of this. A sinister grin on her face, she was eager to move. This scene was simply too alluring for her. Whether it was the battle between the Yin Division's Five Great Emperors and the Spiritual Talisman Masters, or the fight between the Death God and the Talisman Ancestor, both held immense appeal for her; she wanted to participate in all of it.
However, she did not do so, not because she was afraid, but because she knew that this situation was different, and thus she could not act.
She truly longed to test the strength of the Death God and the Talisman Ancestor, and to see how great the gap between herself and these two True Gods still was.
The Yin Division's Five Great Emperors were, to her, absolutely top-tier nourishment; devouring any one of them would bring her a considerable increase in power. If she were to join the battle between the Spiritual Talisman Masters and the Yin Division's Five Great Emperors, she believed she could surely feast heartily.
However, she did not participate in the Death God's and Talisman Ancestor's battle, nor did she join the fierce clash between the Spiritual Talisman Masters and the Yin Division's Five Great Emperors. Instead, she chose to fly towards Yang Haoran, keeping pace with him and positioning herself on the same horizontal level. Yet, she did not step onto the Apotheosis Platform, but remained just outside it.
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