Chapter Forty-Two: The Terrified Divine Race

ps: I didn’t sleep at all last night. I kept tossing and turning, pondering how to make the next plot more exciting. Then during the day, I was so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open. I forced myself to write over a thousand words, but it was so unbearable that I gritted my teeth and deleted them. I really couldn’t hold out any longer, so I went to sleep. By the time I woke up, it was already late. I’m sorry, truly, for the fewer words today. Tomorrow, I’ll give it my all and try to deliver three chapters in a burst!

The surge in favorites has been really encouraging, and I’m happy about it. If you could lend me a hand with some recommendation votes, I’d appreciate it. The new book just broke into the top ten, and I don’t want to lose my position. For the sake of my ranking, I’ll fight hard tomorrow. Brothers, if you have any votes, please pity a humble author and spare me one… Would that be alright? ^^

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“Arrogant!”

“Courting death!”

The intermediate deities, their eyes glowing blue, stared coldly at the young human who blocked their path. More than twenty intermediate deities shouted furiously, stomping the ground. Thirteen of them shot toward Han Lingyue, while the rest bypassed him, darting toward Ke Bei and Xiao Jiu.

The strength of intermediate deities far surpassed the lesser ones—by at least tenfold! Breaking the sound barrier was effortless for them. Before their angry shouts had faded, their bodies erupted with a thunderous sonic boom, launching forward.

“I told you, the master is here!”

Han Lingyue's face still bore a faintly wicked smile. He slowly spread his fingers, deep blue energy swirling at his fingertips, his eyes blazing with golden light so intense it seemed tangible.

His fingers clenched suddenly, and the deep blue energy shot into the surrounding void.

With Han Lingyue’s sharp grip, the howling wind ceased abruptly. The air within fifty meters froze instantly, centered on his body.

The twenty-plus intermediate deities were suspended mid-air, bodies locked in their forward charge, mouths still slightly open.

The scene was bizarre to the extreme. The deities who had been shouting and charging moments ago were frozen like glaciers in an instant.

The wind stopped roaring; even time seemed to pause in that moment.

“Hmph, do you think you beasts can lay your hands on miracles?”

Han Lingyue stepped forward, approaching the intermediate deities suspended in mid-air.

Terror.

All the intermediate deities shared the same thought. Their bodies were immobilized, but their minds remained clear. They unleashed all their strength, but couldn’t even move their eyes!

Because of their extreme fear, their hair stood on end. The young man before them radiated an unprecedented terror; the pressure he exerted was overwhelming. Even on Heavenly Corpse Mountain, only the exalted King could inspire such dread.

“I’m a good person, truly a good person. If any of you are willing to honestly reveal the secrets of the miracle, I’ll spare you. Yes, humans are very friendly—and I am the best representative. I’m very friendly.”

Han Lingyue kept his gentle smile, his gaze sweeping over the twenty-seven rigid faces of the intermediate deities. He spoke softly, his tone warm.

“Well then, today is your lucky day. Let’s start with you.”

Han Lingyue casually pointed to an intermediate deity on the left. The golden light in his eyes flickered, and immediately that deity regained freedom, tumbling out of mid-air.

“Die!”

The newly freed intermediate deity’s face twisted. With a roar, he lunged at Han Lingyue. The distance between them was less than three meters. The deity erupted with speed, faster than the eye could follow, appearing right before Han Lingyue, his fist smashing toward Han Lingyue’s head.

Han Lingyue’s expression didn’t change. He grinned wickedly, the golden light in his eyes flickering. The intermediate deity’s body halted abruptly, his fist frozen just three inches from Han Lingyue’s head.

“You’re not behaving.”

With a slight raise of his brow, Han Lingyue extended his palm into the air and gripped.

Boom!

The intermediate deity’s body instantly became a puddle of flesh.

“Next, it’s your turn.”

Han Lingyue’s smile never faded as he pointed to another intermediate deity.

“That’s enough!”

Five advanced deities exchanged glances, their faces shifting. With a thunderous shout, their figures appeared before Han Lingyue.

“Enough for your master!”

The golden light in Han Lingyue’s eyes shone even brighter. He struck into the void toward the five advanced deities.

The advanced deities felt an irresistible force descend upon them. The air around them seemed to freeze, and their bodies were hurled uncontrollably toward the ground.

Bang!

The advanced deities slammed into the earth, their bodies embedded deep, five humanoid pits forming instantly.

“Noisy.”

Han Lingyue glanced with displeasure at the five advanced deities buried in the pits, then slowly turned and walked to the intermediate deity he had pointed at earlier.

“When will the miracle appear? Speak.”

Han Lingyue seemed to lose patience, his tone icy and cold.

As soon as he finished, the deity realized he had regained freedom. He stared in shock at the five advanced deities trapped in the earth, his body trembling, face full of struggle. The youth before him was terrifying—aside from the King, probably no one could challenge him.

“I—I don’t know!”

His face twisted several times before he finally shook his head.

“Very well. Then you may die.”

Han Lingyue’s face showed no emotion. He walked to the next intermediate deity. Before his words even reached the deity’s ears, that one became a pile of flesh, just like the first.

Xiao Jiu, locked in fierce combat with lesser deities, turned and witnessed the scene. His jaw dropped in shock, even as seven lesser deities simultaneously struck his head. He didn’t react at all, mouth agape, staring dumbly at Han Lingyue.

“When did this guy break through?”

Ke Bei, weaving among thirty-odd lesser deities, caught sight of the scene and froze, nearly struck by a lesser deity. Unlike Xiao Jiu, he couldn’t afford to take a hit—he’d be seriously injured.

“He’s this strong?”

Ke Bei dodged attacks with the Ripple Step, staring in astonishment at Han Lingyue, doubts flooding his mind.

Since Han Lingyue was so powerful, he could easily handle all the deities alone. Why did he insist that Ke Bei fight? Did he know Ke Bei was desperate to kill lesser deities?

Ke Bei racked his brain, unable to fathom Han Lingyue’s motive.

There was no logic, no reason whatsoever.

Boom!

In a moment of distraction, Ke Bei slowed his step, and three terrifying fists rushed at him.

“Damn!”

Ke Bei’s face changed. He ducked sharply, unleashing the Ripple Step. His reflexes were superb, but still a step too slow.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Ke Bei took a punch to the chest and two to the back! Fortunately, he managed to retreat and absorb most of the force, but blood still trickled from his lips.

“Damn you!”

Ke Bei cursed furiously, pushing the Ripple Step to its utmost. His body vanished like a ghost, and in the next instant, his saber slashed out.

Swish, swish, swish!

Three consecutive strikes, three heads flew.

Ke Bei glanced at Xiao Jiu, who was tanking attacks from over a dozen lesser deities without flinching, his giant form unfazed. Ke Bei felt a pang of envy.

“Damn it, I must quickly complete the series of tasks for Nine Yang Divine Skill. Next time, I’ll definitely draw the Invincible Vajra Body!”

Ke Bei swore to himself, retreating swiftly and opening distance from the lesser deities.

“Sixty-eight left!”

Ke Bei kept a mental tally of how many lesser deities he had slain. Staring at the ones rushing toward him, he exhaled slowly, tightened his grip on the saber, and his figure blurred as he swung again.