Chapter 1496: Life and Freedom

Crows fill the sky,Their scarlet eyes like blood.Some fly up to the high dome, opening their beaks to catch the black snow, swallowing it in large gulps.Some surge forth like sharp arrows, shooting into the black tide, instantly collapsing and becoming a part of it.And more still fall like rain, smashing onto the divine light barrier—*Pak! Pak! Pak!*Flesh and bone turn to mud,Smashed into black discs!In the very center of each black disc, there is a scarlet dot. Like an eye, coldly observing the crowd.These red-eyed crows that drilled out of the Chaos’s belly are also in a frenzy.As if exploring different ways to die.In the blink of an eye, the top of the divine light barrier is covered in thousands of black discs, like patches of dog-skin plaster. Amidst the ugliness, there is also an evil, grotesque atmosphere.“What is this doing?” Zuo Guangshu murmured.“Retreat to the mountain path.” Wang Changji said this, then turned and walked towards the mountain path.“Fall back!” Jiang Wang shouted. “Everyone, retreat to the mountain path!”Beyond that ancient stone tablet lies the winding mountain path leading up.The location where everyone stood was before the stone tablet, on the open ground at the foot of the central mountain.The main body of the entire central mountain is always veiled in a shadow-like layer, making it impossible to see clearly.Even though the immense divine light barrier completely covers the central mountain, its height and breadth are immeasurable.One can see the edge of the divine light barrier, but cannot see the peak of the central mountain.It’s as if when one looks in that direction, it disappears. And no one raises any questions about this.It vanishes from vision, and vanishes from imagination.Perhaps only by holding the jade bi, walking to the end of the mountain path, and truly entering the central mountain, can the true appearance of this mountain be seen.At this moment, the dome of the divine light barrier is plastered with more and more “crow discs,” and the brilliant divine light is being defiled. The multitude steps back, taking strides onto the mountain path.Fang Heling looks up again.Just in time to see a piece of black drifting snow, the size of a leaf, fall and land on the position of a black disc, and then surprisingly… enter the divine light barrier!The divine light barrier is not yet broken, but with the presence of these “crow discs,” it is as good as useless!If flying snow can enter, the black tide naturally can too.If the black tide can enter, those powerful Divine Realm异兽, including the 본체 of Chaos, are naturally even less of an issue.The central mountain can almost be declared breached! Even if the divine light barrier still exists, even if the 异兽 belonging to the two camps are still confronting each other within the black tide.Chaos enters the central mountain, what will happen next?On the mountain path, the atmosphere is heavy with killing intent.No one is confident in fighting the本체 of Chaos, but everyone is prepared for battle.“Alas.”At this moment, a sigh suddenly resonates. This sigh is so ethereal, yet so close, as if… it was sighed next to your ear.Everyone who heard this sigh felt the fine hairs on their ears tremble. Perhaps it was an illusion, but among those present, none were weak, so how could illusions easily occur?The peak of the central mountain had been hidden all along.After this sigh, it became clear.And it also allowed people to see on the mountain peak, a powerful existence with a human face and snake body, entirely red.It has a gigantic, red python body, coiling around the mountain. And a kindly, old woman’s face, with wrinkles full of the traces of time, and deep eyes that hold insight into the affairs of the world.It is coiled on the peak of the central mountain, like sitting on its throne.Its gaze turns, as if looking down on its subjects.It is Zhulong.The central mountain, it turns out, is Zhong Mountain.The limit of the divine light barrier’s top is almost where Zhulong can reach by lifting its body.But as Zhulong’s upper body continues to rise, the end of the divine light barrier is not seen.This is an absurd visual illusion.The divine light barrier covers the central mountain, so the 蛊雕 standing on the top of the divine light barrier, and Chaos on the back of the 蛊雕’s feathers, should be above Zhulong on the central mountain peak.But Zhulong, coiled there, is looking down at Chaos.It appeared after a sigh, and no action was seen from it.Outside the divine light barrier, golden light surges, hot and dazzling, flowing like water, actually washing away all the “crow discs” created by the red-eyed crows.As easy as washing away a few fallen leaves.The entire divine light barrier is renewed once again, with a sense of being unbreakable.And Chaos on the back of the 蛊雕’s feathers, and Zhulong at this moment, are separated only by a layer of golden light.How close this distance is,Yet it appears extraordinarily distant.“You’ve come!” Chaos’s tone is joyful, as if reuniting with an old friend after many years.Zhulong replies in an ancient voice, “Using souls to nurture evil, and one’s body to harbor wickedness, is this your reliance, Chaos?”“You couldn’t help but see me.” Chaos says with a playful smile, its tone like a mischievous child.“You couldn’t help but see me,” it emphasizes again.Zhulong’s face suddenly changes, becoming the face of a dignified middle-aged man, and its voice becomes grand and powerful: “In the past, when the mountains and seas were divided, and the Great Abyss withered in the south. Sealing your five senses, severing your body, shattering your thoughts, I have achieved my goal! I never expected that nine hundred years of spring and autumn would pass, and your heart would not die, your ambition not shattered, that you could even reach this stage today, truly I am filled with emotion!”“Hehehehehe, torturing me to be neither demon, nor ghost, nor monster…” Chaos’s playful mood instantly disappears, and a hateful growl comes from its throat: “You dare to call it a success!”“Maintaining the order of this realm is the greatest success.” Zhulong says in a dignified voice.The more calm, the more dignified.The more angry, the more flustered.While they communicate in Daoyu, it is also a collision of “Dao.”“Stating the Dao” is battle.One can see the sky full of flying snow, already one side black, one side white.Black snow falls into the black tide and is assimilated. White snow falls on the divine light barrier, making it more radiant.Silent collisions occur in subtle details, gradually spreading from the layer of golden light where they confront each other, to the entire central mountain, and the entire Mountain Sea Realm.The two strongest beings in this world, a battle that has lasted for over nine hundred years, reaches its final chapter today, at this moment.A sudden peal of thunder appears, then silently subsides.A hurricane is about to form, but suddenly swirls and gently disperses.The black and white falling snow in the sky actually takes on a romantic and serene quality.However, the danger within it can be glimpsed by merely observing the constantly retreating异兽 and divine residence illusions in the black tide.Yue Tiannu clasps his hands and sighs softly: “If not in the Mountain Sea Realm, they indeed both have the possibility of achieving True Understanding.”Kuishan watches intently, saying nothing.“Yes,” Jiang Wang says with deep resonance.Kuishan immediately snorts: “If not in the Mountain Sea Realm, they also might not have this power.”Jiang Wang: …Above the dome, the struggle does not cease.“You can imprison me, you can defeat me, you can tear me to pieces, but you will see me stand up, you will see me come back for you.” Chaos’s voice is chilling: “How dare you call it a success!”Zhulong’s dignified voice replies: “There won’t be a next time… there won’t be a next time, Chaos! My benevolence has its limits!”“Ugh嚯嚯嚯… you ask…” Chaos laughs madly: “You ask them if they agree!”“Wa wa wa!”“Roar!”“We don’t agree, we don’t agree, we don’t agree today!”“Armadillo, armadillo!”“Roar roar!”蛊雕, 蜚兽, 九凤, 犰狳…Those 异兽 who are determined to be free.Within the black tide, they speak out in succession!“Always so childish.” Zhulong’s face changes to a child of indeterminate gender, its eyes sweeping across the black tide, speaking in an innocent voice: “With so many mountain and sea gods foolishly abandoning their divine names to follow. Over the years, you have secretly put in much effort. Your ability to bewitch has greatly advanced.”The gigantic crimson python body is coiled around the upper part of the mountain, its tail in the air, gently waving.Like the crack of a whip, whipping at the rules themselves.In that endless black tide, the rising and falling divine residence illusions, one after another, become clearer, shining brighter! Instantly suppressing the continuous beast roars.Among them is a divine residence illusion, leaning against the edge of the divine light barrier, shaped like a volcanic island.The divine residence illusion becomes clearer and clearer, as if it has already embedded itself in reality.In the half-illusory, half-real state, a majestic black dog-like 异兽 stands on the mountain peak, its tail having three branches, glaring forward, as if confronting some terrifying existence, as if ready to fight to the death with the opponent at any moment.“Sancha!” Jiang Wang exclaimed with some surprise.“Sancha?” Kuishan, upon hearing this call, laughed unceremoniously: “Even this rough man knows that’s a 祸斗. And the king beast among 祸斗. Calling it names based on its tail, why don’t you just call it a puppy, hahahaha.”He even elbowed Zhu Weiyi with his rock-like arm: “Were you guys not into reading back then, hahahaha…”Zhu Weiyi silently moved his hand to the position on his spear where he could best apply force.Kuishan’s laughter only then subsided.Just in time to see, the 祸斗 king beast within the illusion, as if hearing some movement, turned its head. Its ferocious eyes swept over Kuishan and the others, and upon seeing Jiang Wang, instantly softened, and even gave a friendly “嗷” sound.“Oh. Sancha is the nickname I gave it,” Jiang Wang said calmly.Then he waved to Sancha: “Be extra careful!”Kuishan closed his mouth and said nothing.One by one, the divine residence illusions become clear, representing that those 异兽 who accepted the mountain and sea divine names are all projecting their power here. Ready to participate in this war at any time!Their divine residences, which they guard, at this doomsday moment of heaven and earth collapse, along with the central mountain, are still supporting the foundation of this world.They naturally also have their inherent positions.Above the dome, black and white snowflakes dance.Zhulong’s innocent face confronts Chaos’s hideous dog face.“Foolish?” Chaos says ferociously: “You call lucidity foolish, but call cowardice loyalty! You control black and white but invert black and white, who has truly bewitched this world for nine hundred years!?”Zhulong’s face changes back to the old woman’s face, sighing in a sorrowful tone: “How unwise. You for your own selfish desires bewitched all spirits. If not for your rebellion, we could all have passed this winter peacefully. Now heaven and earth are collapsing, rules are being erased, but who knows how many will die, how many will live, how many divine residences will be empty!”Who is more “reasonable”? Who can better support this world?Their conflict is a debate of positions, a collision of principles, a struggle of “Dao,” and even more, a contest for the rules of the world. Of course, it is also a contest for the recognition of other mountain and sea gods in the Mountain Sea Realm.“You fundamentally don’t understand, fundamentally don’t realize, why I can sit before you today.”Chaos laughs with a “ugh嚯嚯嚯” sound for a while.Its voice sinks: “It’s not that I am better at persuasion than you.”“It’s not that I am more bewitching than you.”“It’s not that this devil-like appearance of mine is more dignified than yours.”“It’s not that my state of being unclear-headed from being tortured by you makes me easier to gain trust.”“It is because every life yearns for freedom.”“Every single one!”“I am tyrannical, I am mad, my mind is not clear… but I give them freedom. I desire freedom more than any of them.”It spreads its bear claws, letting its ripped-open belly be exposed to the wind, and roars towards the sky: “The Mountain Sea Realm has suffered your Zhulong for too long!”Chaos’s words are too inflammatory.These are all 异兽 who have mastered the power of the Divine Realm, they are all aware that they are merely illusory creations, they all have independent will and thought. Those existences manifested in the divine residence illusions… those mountain and sea gods who uphold their divine duties, how could they be completely unshaken?But Zhulong remains very calm, compared to Chaos’s fervor, it is chillingly calm: “Then what about those beings who want to survive? Those beings who seek stability? Their instinct for survival? Are their desires not desires? Are they just ignored by the ambitious Lord Chaos?“Breaking this cage, no one will die!” Chaos says with fervent tone: “Except for you, Zhulong! Nine hundred years, you have controlled the order of this world for nine hundred years! How much have you accumulated? How much have you accumulated! When a whale falls, all life thrives. Devour you, and everyone can break through the void and become real!”Upon hearing these words, many 异兽 in the divine residence illusions can’t help but look at Zhulong. Some even can’t restrain the fierce light in their eyes.Zhulong’s face at this time changes back to the appearance of the dignified middle-aged man.“No,” it says. “I mean, if you break the divine light barrier, they will all die.”It says this very calmly, thus very coldly.One can see within the surging black tide, those divine residence illusions, instantly solidify.One by one, the 异兽, completely revealing their true forms, descend upon this place.And from each of them leaps a divine light, landing on the divine light barrier covering the central mountain. Like intertwined blood vessels!This divine light disappears, but their life souls are connected to the divine light barrier of the central mountain.From this moment on, as long as the central mountain exists, they exist. If the central mountain collapses, they perish. By choosing divinely bestowed names, they have also surrendered their destinies!This is what these mountain and sea gods did not expect.They are angry, they are hateful, they wish they could devour its body immediately!But they cannot change.Almost all the 异兽 who uphold their divine duties cast fierce glares at Zhulong.Condemned by a thousand fingers, dying without sickness.Hatred can kill.On Zhulong’s dignified human face, it is extremely calm: “Then come, freedom and life. Let us see how much you are willing to pay for them!”It is not only speaking to these 异兽 who uphold their divine duties, but also to those 异兽 who rebelled with Chaos.Chaos gathered a large group of mountain and sea gods with ideals, and then used ideals mixed with interests to try to incite the remaining mountain and sea gods to rebel.But Zhulong… directly linked the lives of every god who holds a divine office. Tying them to the divine light barrier of the central mountain.Freedom and life.The innate instinct of all living beings.Which one is worth more to pay for?Which one will unleash more power?It anticipates, it witnesses.This is a chilling confrontation.This is a brutal war!