Against the Gods

UNedited chapter - Rubble

In an instant, Yun Che’s consciousness was completely engulfed by those four words.

It was as if he saw four beams of sword light, cleaving through time and space from the primordial dawn to reach him. They silently and imperceptibly—but also flawlessly—severed his soul sea from his body and carried it into a boundless voice constructed entirely of sword intent.

This void had neither sky nor earth, neither light nor darkness.

This unprecedented sense of nothingness, this utterly strange space, though completely unfamiliar, clearly protected a self-emerging realization within his consciousness—

Primal chaos.

This patch of primal chaos seemed to originate from before heaven and earth were created, yin and yang were separated, and all things came to be. There was only a single sword intent... a sword intent that seemed to have existed even before the birth of all things and was older even than time itself.

It appeared to slumber quietly at the center of the world of primal chaos, neither sinking nor floating, neither moving nor swaying, yet silently touching every corner of the world.

Should it ever stir....

Life and death would shift, heaven and earth would collapse, ten thousand stars would flicker and fade, the flow of time would cease, and the order of cause and effect would crumble....

Yun Che!

Yun Che!!

Within the primal chaos, it seemed as though someone was calling his name—distant and faint and first, then growing increasingly urgent.

Yun Che—

An “impurity” that should not exist appeared in the world of primal chaos...a faint, pure-white trace.

The dormant sword intent remained silent and still, allowing this pure white trace to rapidly invade until it gradually filled the entire space of primal chaos.

Gradually, Yun Che’s consciousness became clear within this pure white space. Though the four words “Heaven Punishing Sword Art” still carried the soul-chilling sword intent and shone clearly within his soul sea, it no longer devoured his consciousness.

“You... Just now....”

Li Suo’s voice was laced with deep concern. There was also still a faint trace of lingering fear.

“I’m fine,” Yun Che said before falling silent for a long time seemingly to reconstruct his own sense of reality. Finally, he responded calmly, “Just now, it seemed as thought I had caught a fleeting glimpse... of the primordial state of primal chaos.”

“......” Li Suo could not respond for a time.

“Can you see these words?” Yun Che asked.

Li Suo replied slowly, “Heaven Punishing Sword Art.”

No matter how faint her existence had become, and no matter how fragmented her memories were, she could never forget what these four words signified.

Following the deep resonance within her consciousness, she murmured softly, “The Heaven Punishing Ancestral Sword is the progenitor of all swords in the entire universe, and the Heaven Punishing Sword Art is the origin of all sword arts throughout the ages.

“Throughout his life, Mo E had used the Heaven Punishing Sword Art as the foundation to create over nine hundred thousand sword arts. Aside from a few core sword arts, the rest were disseminated across all realms and races.

“Not only that, these nine hundred thousand sword manuals had continuously circulated and evolved throughout the realms, like trees branching out or torrents giving rise to streams, giving birth to countless sword arts and factions. But if you were to trace them back to their very origin, then none can escape the Heaven Punishing Divine Emperor or the Heaven Punishing Sword Art.”

This was the awareness that had just resurfaced within Li Suo after making contact with the four words. As if she was softly reciting memories that did not belong to her, each word carried a sense of depth that spanned countless ages and fates.

“Out of all of the sword arts created by the Heaven Punishing Divine Emperor, the Heaven Breaker Sword Art practiced by the Heaven Breaker Kingdom of God was the most powerful. Though it was taught only to his subordinate clans, it was definitely not an exclusive art. Only the Heaven Punishing Sword Art... was engraved solely in Mo E’s soul foundation when the Ancestral God created the four Creation Gods. As far as I know, he has never revealed it to anyone.

“To think... that now...”

The four Creation Gods did not hoard their self-created divine abilities to themselves. For instance, Ni Xuan had fully mastered the Ninety Nine Heaven Breaking Swords invented by Mo E, and fused Xi Ke’s power of order with Jie Yuan to create the Moon Star Restoration.

Mo Su was not at all surprised by Ni Xuan’s mastery of Li Suo’s Divine Miracle of Life either.

However, each Creation God also possessed their own unique domain—one that was forbidden even to their fellow Creation Gods.

The one belonging to the first Creation God, Mo E, was none other than the Heaven Punishing Sword Art!

If Mo E were to choose a single heir to the Heaven Punishing Sword Art, the only possible candidate would be the former Heaven Punishing Crown Prince, Mo Su.

And now, at this very moment, the Heaven Punishing Sword Art that should have belonged solely to the Heaven Punishing Divine Emperor, progenitor of all Ways of Sword in the entire universe, the likes of which that even other Creation Gods were forbidden from learning, had somehow been bestowed upon Yun Che.

Yun Che could never comprehend the sheer depth of Li Suo’s astonishment.

Three millions years of devoted vigil and solitude... apart from his obsession, was there truly nothing else of genuine importance left for the Mo Su of today?

Yun Che’s soul sea was shaking wildly, and his heart was pounding even harder.

Bestowed by Mo Su himself, the essence of absolute beginning.... This was, genuinely, the primordial sword art that even Ni Xuan could not obtain—how could he possibly remain composed in its presence?

He did not respond to Li Suo. Seemingly drawn by an irresistible force, his heart and soul slowly encompassed the sword art that was gradually coming into view.

[Heaven Punishing Sword Art]

The Heavenly Gate crumbles, the sword shatters the primordial void.

It uproots the Heavenly Law, severs the vast expanse of the sky.

One sword punishes the heavens, ten thousand calamities return to its source.

Primordial chaos is the foundation, life and death are the sacrifice.

The master formula consisted of only forty-five words, yet Yun Che had spent an unbelievably long time on it. It was because every time a word became clear in his consciousness, it was as if an invisible sword intent had embedded itself into his soul sea. Although it was neither heavy nor painful, it felt as though his entire soul had been completely pierced through... forty-five times in a row.

This would not stop until all forty-five words were deeply engraved into the very depths of his soul, never to be forgotten for all eternity.

Before his soul could even recover, the once-still sword art suddenly unleashed a soul-piercing sharpness. His soul sea, violently pierced, was immediately beset by waves of intense tremors, nearly shattering—

[Sword of Divine Command]

The divine command echoes through the nine heavens, the sword draws upon the essence of cosmos.

It washes away the suns of the divine, cuts down the evil of delusion.

Ten thousand gods bow their heads, heaven and earth becomes its sheath.

The fruit of enlightenment sharpens its edge, the Way unfolds within the void.

[Sword of Nightmare Slaughter]

Nightmare’s flames blaze across the heavens, the sword rises from the dark abyss.

It severs the roots of nightmares, shatters the delusions of folly.

Ten thousand nightmares are annihilated, the nine depths become their graves.

Tempered by the fires of karma, the abyss of nightmares is forever sealed.

[Great Void Sword]

All phenomena return to oneness, the sword hides in the void.

Beyond birth and death, beyond defilement and purity. Beyond form and emptiness, beyond light and darkness.

The art retreats into stillness, primal chaos becomes the heart.

The Great Brightness ceases to breathe, all return to the Great Void.

Yun Che’s pupils had completely lost their color, and his profound energy was spiraling out of control.

Divine Command, Nightmare Slaughter, Great Void... All three sword arts were etched into his soul as well. Yet, the manifestation of sword arts showed no sign of stopping....

[Heaven Punishing Sword]

The Heavenly Gate crumbles, the sword shatters the primordial void.

It uproots the threads of the Heavenly Law, severs the bonds of the vast sky.

Ten thousand calamities return to the source, primordial chaos becomes the foundation.

The cosmos is reborn, the absolute beginning is redefined.

Bearing the will of the Ancestor, the sword emerges with no return.

[1]

SHIIIIIING————

Yun Che’s consciousness instantly turned completely blank.

When he finally struggled awake, he found himself collapsed on his knees, gasping for breath and sweat pouring from his body like rain.

“Yun Che...” Li Suo’s voice hit him like she had been calling out to him for quite some time. “Are you... all right?”

“Gah... Hoo!!”

He took two deep, labored breaths before slowly rising from the ground. Then, he gradually erased the look of astonishment from his face.

“No matter how profound a sword art may be, it should have been nothing more than lifeless, barren words. To think this Heaven Punishing Sword Art could manifest such a terrifying sword intent on its own!”

He seemed to still be shaken by the experience.

This was not the first time he had encountered such a phenomenon. He recalled his early days of cultivating the Great Way of the Buddha; the divine art had also created a faint trace of the Rage God’s divine thought when it entered his heart... but compared to the sword intent created by the Heaven Punishing Sword Art, the difference was like heaven and earth.

“That’s because it is the sword art created by the Ancestral God herself.” Li Suo’s soft, ethereal voice was tinged with reverence stemming from the depths of her soul and the very source of her awareness. “It needs only to exist, only to be perceived, to trigger the most primal sword intent in heaven and earth.”

“It is just like the Law of Nothingness you bear; it needs only exist within you to effortlessly harmonize with all things in heaven and earth.”

Yun Che closed his eyes and studied the Heaven Punishing Sword Art once more... but this time, his soul sea remained calm and undisturbed. No matter how many times he contemplated it or how many times his divine senses touched it, none of the terrifying abnormalities from before reappeared.

“Have you... gained any insight?” Li Suo asked, her voice tinged with a hint of anticipation.

Yun Che shook his head immediately. “Not at all.”

He had never seen a sword art like this... no. Setting aside the strange phenomenon it caused when it inscribed itself upon the soul, no one who saw it would believe it to be a sword art.

It featured no foundation of sword principles, no form of sword techniques, no essence of sword intent... only short, obscure passages of text that defied comprehension. It was just like... the World-Defying Heaven Manual.

The only things he could understand were the Sword of Divine Command, the Sword of Nightmare Slaughter, the Great Void Sword, and the Heaven Punishing Sword.

Among these four sword techniques, the Heaven Punishing Sword was the most peculiar. The other three sword techniques each consisted of four lines of sword incantation, but this one had five. And its final line....

Bearing the will of the Ancestor, the sword emerges with no return.

Bearing the will of the Ancestor....

Is it an intent that can only be executed using the Heaven Punishing Ancestral Sword?

Calming his mind, he sat down once more, deepened his focus, and concentrated his spirit to comprehend... This was a sword art created by the Ancestral God herself. If he could grasp even the slightest bit of it, it would surely unleash unimaginable power—a tremendous boon to him.

————

Owl Butterfly Kingdom of God.

The hall was as deep as an abyss. Dim, ashen light seeped in through cracks in the dome, filtered through layer upon layer of dark energy and becoming nearly non-existent by the time it reached the floor. The hall contained no superfluous furnishings. There was only a kneeling figure with their back to the entrance, their silhouette stretched long and faint upon the wall by an eerie glow.

“Why have you returned alone? Where is Buwang?”

The ninth prince of the Owl Butterfly Kingdom of God was kneeling on one knee. Standing in front of him was the Pray Eternal Divine Regent with his back to him. The divine regent’s voice was as calm as still water, but the ninth prince still felt a chill running through his soul and bowed his head even lower.

“Father, Brother Buwang... does not wish to return,” he answered truthfully. However, his solitary return and paltry response provoked a burst of icy aura from the divine regent, and it far exceeded even his wildest expectations.

“Then keep searching! Keep pursuing him!!” Pan Yusheng’s voice betrayed a hint of impatience. “He’s merely holding a grudge and using retreat as a strategy! He has no legitimate reason not to return!”

“If ten times isn’t enough, then go after him twenty times! If that’s still not enough, then go after him thirty times!! Who allowed you to return so early?!”

His final line carried a sharp edge that clearly betrayed a slight loss of composure.

The ninth prince’s throat convulsed violently, and his lips trembled for a long time. Finally, he stammered nervously, “Father, I thought the same at first. But... Brother Wang seems to... truly not want to return.”

“......” Pan Yusheng finally turned to face him. His expression was calm, yet his eyes held a darkness so deep it was almost unbearable to look upon. “What did you say?”

“At first, I could easily track his whereabouts and found him twice within half a month. I humbled myself deeply, spoke with utmost sincerity, and even invoked your name to invite him back, yet Brother Buwang flatly refused each time... The third time I tracked him down, he fled swiftly the moment I drew near, unwilling even to meet my gaze.”

The ninth prince took a deep breath and spoke slightly faster than before. “Since then, I have been unable to find any trace of him whatsoever. Later, I enlisted the help of Seventeenth Younger Brother and the Shadow Court. With three thousand men, we searched everywhere for over a month, and still failed to find even the slightest trace.

“All things considered, Brother Buwang must be hiding himself deeply and erasing all traces of his existence at every turn. If he were truly using retreat as a strategy, feigning refusal while actually welcoming us, how could he leave not a single trace behind? How could he hide himself so resolutely and completely?” Having reported everything swiftly, the ninth price bowed his head deeply and waited quietly for his father’s command.

He could not see the divine regent’s expression at that moment, but he was certain it was not the same calm indifference Pan Yusheng had shown when first ordering him to go in search of Pan Buwang.

After a long while, Pan Yusheng’s voice finally reached his ears: “Withdraw... There is no need to search any further.”

“Yes.”

The ninth prince let out a huge sigh of relief and hurriedly took his leave, almost as if he was running away.

Pan Yusheng stood where he was, gazing ahead in silence for a long time.

He knew better than anyone else what had befallen Pan Buwang after he lost the title of Divine Son.

But...

“Jiyao,” he called suddenly.

A dark aura swirled, and a figure swiftly materialized before Pan Yusheng: “What are your orders, supreme one?”

He looked at the man before him, his voice calm: “Go find Buwang yourself and persuade him to return.”

Pan Jiyao suddenly looked up, but did not respond immediately, his expression a complex mix of emotions.

“Although you ‘abandoned’ him, you are still his master.”

The Pray Eternal Divine Regent’s voice remained calm and devoid of emotion, yet the word “abandoned” was spoken with particular clarity and directness: “After much consideration, I believe you are the most suitable candidate.”

“I... understand.”

His expression was too complex for words, but the Divine Regent’s command was one he could not refuse.

“Remember, you are to persuade him to return,” Pan Yusheng emphasized. “If he refuses, do not bring him back by force.”

This time, Pan Jiyao did not respond, merely nodding faintly before silently withdrawing.

Everyone could see clearly that since returning from the Pure Land, Pan Yusheng’s demeanor whenever he mentioned Pan Buwang had been changing constantly. At first, it was simply initial indifference and nonchalance. Over time, it gradually gave way to slightly impatience. The frequency at which he mentioned his name had been increasing as well.

............

Although Yun Che wielded a heavy sword as his weapon, strictly speaking, he was not a true practitioner of the sword.

His draconic physique and the power of the Rage God was the foundation of his strength, and the Heretic God Art the amplifier... thus, his fighting style had always been characterized by ferocity and savagery; the heavy sword was merely the most suitable vessel for channeling and unleashing such destructive force.

It was completely unlike Hua Caili, whose sword techniques, sword heart, sword intent, sword spirit, and sword soul—all revolved around the sword itself.

Despite concentrating on comprehending the Heaven Punishing Sword Art for six hours, Yun Che had gained nothing.

Not even a fleeting moment of enlightenment had appeared.

“Forget it...” Yun Che opened his eyes and gave up in resignation.

“There’s no need to rush,” Li Shuo said softly, offering comfort. “At a high enough level, enlightenment often requires a long time. For a supreme-level art like the Heaven Punishing Sword Art, even a million years of contemplation is not uncommon.”

Yun Che twisted the corner of his mouth and said in exasperation, “Given my current situation, I can’t even wait a hundred years, let alone a million.

“So what if it is a sword art of the highest level? It is nothing more than a useless, lifeless object if I can’t comprehend it... Hah, I had no idea how fair the trade was when I exchanged the Primordial Seal of Life and Death—which is useless to Mo Su—for the Slaying Heaven Sword Art, which is useless to me.”

He stood up, stretched his shoulders a bit, and gave a self-deprecating smile.

“Do you want to take a look at He Ling?”

Yun Che’s expression froze. Faster than he could reply, he closed his eyes and focused his mind to sink his consciousness into the Sky Poison Pearl.

The space of the Sky Poison Pearl, which had lost its vibrant green vitality, was now illuminated by a streak of emerald light that had once been so familiar.

The glow had once appeared in every corner of his soul whenever he needed comfort, accompanied by the gentle voice of that eternally sweet young woman, ensuring that he would never be completely swallowed by darkness even during those most hopeless years.

Now, only a faint wisp of that glow remained, lying quietly in the pure, flawless palm of Li Suo.

This was the first time he had sensed He Ling’s presence again since her passing. Countless emotions were surging through his soul as he stood there frozen and gazed upon her silently, afraid to approach, afraid to touch.

Li Suo pressed her hands together, and a white glow spread silently, completely enveloping He Ling’s presence. Like snow falling at the end of spring, it gently and carefully cradled the last seed that had not yet withered.

And so, He Ling’s presence vanished once more from Yun Che’s senses.

“Though she was forced to leave the Primordial Seal of Life and Death, the life aura she had drawn from it is sufficient to protect her for hundreds of years, ensuring that she neither fades nor perishes.”

Yun Che opened his mouth, hesitated, but ultimately asked, “Considering her current state... can she... truly... achieve a perfect recovery?”

Li Suo understood his worry and replied softly, “The Wood Spirit Race is the first race I have created. They possess my most primordial and purest life aura. Therefore, her life is far more resilient than you can ever imagine.

“Not only will she be restored to her former self—the complete self that is etched to your memories—she will not lose any of her past either.”

Li Suo gave him the most perfect answer imaginable.

“As long as I can manifest a physical form and regain sufficient life divine energy, I can gradually heal her back to full health. I can also summon the Primordial Seal of Life and Death back to me at any time.”

Just then, a voice drifted in from outside:

“Young master, Long Wangchu, the young heir of the dragon race, requests an audience. He is already waiting outside the hall.”

Yun Che opened his eyes instantly.

It had only been three days since he left the dragon race. They truly could not wait for even a moment, fearing that any delay would bring unexpected complications.

“Bring him in. Do not neglect proper etiquette.”

Yun Che walked slowly. The moment he stepped out of the hall, all the gloom in his eyes vanished, leaving only a faint, warm smile as gentle as a breeze caressing the clouds.

————

Author’s Notes

Question: Why was He Ling banned before descending into the Abyss?

Answer: Because the Eternal Heaven Pearl recharges too quickly in the Abyss, and I was afraid that a certain man surnamed Yun would use the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm to cheat!

1. ... incoherent screaming of a translator’s descent into madness ☜