Chapter 3181: The Supreme One

"Zhi Gao Shen?"

The crowd of supreme beings were horrified, and in an instant, they all felt an overwhelming urge to prostrate themselves. It was the first time they had laid eyes on the Zhi Gao Shen. Now that they had seen it, its might truly shook the universe. Not to mention anything else, just its supreme pressure alone was enough to destroy heavens and earth, something even gods could not withstand.

"Is the Zhi Gao Shen going to join the battle?"

"It must be because Yong Heng has slaughtered too many gods, and the Zhi Gao Shen can no longer stand by."

"That must be the legendary Tai Shang."

The spectators all bowed with hands clasped, paying respects to Tai Shang, while whispering among themselves in secret.

"We're saved."

The gods of Shen Xu all showed signs of joy. With the Zhi Gao Shen intervening, even Yong Heng would be powerless.

"You really show up everywhere."

Outside Shen Xu, Ye Chen and Zhao Yun stood firm, their steps causing the starlit void to collapse.

"Tai Shang."

From the depths of the void, a roar echoed across the universe, like thunder from ancient times, shaking the immortal firmament for eons. It was the voice of the Zhi Gao Shen.

Before the words had fully faded, the supreme beings manifested, like rounds of suns hovering at the pinnacle of the world. Their combined pressure locked onto Tai Shang, as if to say, "You've got some nerve."

Gulp!

The people of the world swallowed hard in unison. They had never seen the Zhi Gao Shen before, and now to witness so many at once was truly an honor.

Tai Shang remained silent.

He reached into his own body and pulled out a mass of light, scattering it across the heavens and earth.

In that instant, his rank fell.

In that instant, he was no longer a Zhi Gao Shen, nor one of the heavenly dao of this universe.

"You've truly gone mad."

The Zhi Gao Shen let out a cold snort in unison, then vanished into the void one after another.

Tai Shang was no longer a Zhi Gao Shen, nor one of the heavenly dao.

Now, he could interfere in worldly affairs, but the price he paid was devastating.

"Senior, what great resolve you have."

Zhao Yun stood tall and unwavering, his words calm and unaffected by Tai Shang's pressure.

"Somewhere between the peak of Zhun Huang Di and Huang Di."

Ye Chen murmured to himself, realizing that Tai Shang had willingly severed his own power, descending from the supreme divine rank.

Even so, he was beyond what a Zhun Huang Di peak could compare to—he could cripple a god with a single slap.

That's why Ye Chen couldn't help but sigh. A Huang Di like him had acted twice to save Shen Xu: once indirectly to rescue Wu Wang, and now, even more boldly, by demoting himself from the Zhi Gao Shen position.

"There must be a deep connection between Shen Xu and him."

Ye Chen pondered inwardly. When Po Luo Mo Yu, Fo Guo, Xian Zhong, and Lian Yu had crumbled, Tai Shang hadn't appeared, but for Shen Xu, he was willing to pay such a heavy price. Clearly, their ties were extraordinary.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Tai Shang said nothing, taking step by step, each footfall making the universe tremble.

He was the true god.

The spectators gazed at him in a daze, as if watching a myth emerging from the end of time. His presence dominated the universe, every movement stirring the cosmos. Even his every breath was like ancient thunder, accompanied by dao sounds and visions, forming a symphony of destruction.

Though he had fallen from the Zhi Gao Shen rank, he still lorded over the world.

Such a god could only be looked up to; in Tai Shang's eyes, they were no different from ants.

"Is he going to punish Yong Heng?"

More gods turned their gaze to Ye Chen and Zhao Yun. Judging by Tai Shang's actions, he clearly intended to kill.

"We can't win."

Ye Chen and Zhao Yun both murmured. Though not a Zhi Gao Shen, his state of mind and dao essence were beyond their reach. In a one-on-one fight, they would be reduced to ashes. A self-severed Zhi Gao Shen still commanded the eight desolate regions.

"Damn it, is he bullying us with his superiority?"

The wild hero cursed loudly, his divine blade humming in defiance, eager for another battle.

The Moon God and the others also had eyes full of resolve.

If this was the final war, then they would fight to destroy heaven and earth.

"Go."

Zhao Yun said calmly, addressing the Moon God, Di Xian, Shen Long Dao Zun, the wild hero, and his own supreme allies. His words were plain but carried deep meaning, for in this battle, he might die.

"Go back to the various heavens."

Ye Chen also spoke, directing it to the Eastern Wilderness Empress. Zhao Yun had his premonitions, and so did he. If they fought Tai Shang to the death, both might fall. The god before them was too terrifying.

"Zhao Yun."

"Go."

Zhao Yun's voice was firm and resolute. With a wave of his hand, he tore open a rift, sending his supreme allies through it, along with his life-bound weapon, treasures, and everything he possessed.

"I'm not leaving."

Ji Ning Shuang parted her lips slightly, her Eastern Wilderness Emperor Sword ringing out. For the first time, she didn't seem so passive.

Or perhaps, it was the stubbornness unique to a wife.

If they had come together, they would return together. No matter when, she would never abandon her husband.

"Good girl."

Ye Chen smiled, like Zhao Yun, tearing open the eternal void and pushing Yao Chi into it.

He had his own entrustments.

The Dun Jia Tian Zi he had found, the Chaos Cauldron, Chaos Fire, and Chaos Thunder—he gave them all to Yao Chi.

Ji Ning Shuang tried to emerge, but she couldn't break through the eternal void.

The path of dreams was profound, yet the eternal void was even more domineering, rendering all laws meaningless.

"Get out of here, quick!"

The spectators scattered as fast as they could. Even powerhouses like Zhao Yun and Ye Chen had settled their affairs, so no one with any sense would stick around for the god-level war that would destroy everything.

"The final battle."

Ye Chen twisted his neck fiercely, his eyes blazing with eternal light.

"Is it worth it?"

Zhao Yun smiled, his voice hoarse. To this day, he still held back from Ye Chen, at least regarding certain secrets Ye Chen didn't know. Dragging his brother into this was truly ungrateful.

"First time I've seen you get sentimental."

Ye Chen smiled, manifesting the Eternal Sword in his hand. He had come all the way to the outer universe and couldn't afford to disgrace the various heavens. Win or lose, he accepted it. No matter what, he had to help Zhao Yun fight this war to the end.

The two exchanged smiles and simultaneously unleashed their eternal power.

In the vast starry sky, they stood side by side, like two eternal monuments that would never fall—ancient and weathered, immortal and indestructible. They were living myths and legendary figures etched in history.

Boom! Boom!

The heavens rumbled with lightning and thunder as eternal forces intertwined, forming eternal visions that unfolded into a vast realm. Strands of laws danced together, and ancient dao sounds echoed endlessly through the cosmic expanse.

The eternal powers had merged once more.

In this moment, both unleashed countless forbidden techniques, reaching the peak of their cultivation strength.

Even so, they might still die.

For they faced Tai Shang, a self-severed Zhi Gao Shen.

"It's not just possible—it's certain death."

The Zhi Gao Shen, overlooking the world, said nothing, but their eyes perfectly conveyed it all. Incomplete eternity was, in Tai Shang's view, no different from mere ornaments.

There was no helping it—they were just too strong and terrifying.

One was undying and inexhaustible, the other unkillable and indestructible. Below the Zhi Gao Shen, no one could balance them.

The Zhi Gao Shen couldn't fight, so they had to self-sever.

Tai Shang had the courage. To eliminate the two eternals, he cast aside everything. Even if he slaughtered Ye Chen and Zhao Yun, even if he lived forever, even if he cultivated for endless ages, he could never reclaim his divine rank.

So, Ye Chen and Zhao Yun were fortunate.

To destroy them, a Zhi Gao Shen had paid such a devastating price.

In this battle, even in death, they would be immortalized in myth.

Eternity itself would become that myth, an everlasting legend.

"Ants, accept the judgment of the god."

Tai Shang said indifferently, his destructive pressure spreading across the four seas and eight wastelands.