Propping Up The Heavens and Earth

Propping Up The Heavens and Earth . . .

As the participants had suspected, the disciples of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect were seething with anger, their desire for vengeance palpable. Even the elite disciples had joined the pursuit.

The disciples of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect were hell-bent on revenge, and the tension in the air was suffocating. Qin Wentian and the fifty-plus experts at the fifth-level of Celestial Phenomenon stood together, facing the hundred-plus fifth-level ascendant disciples of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect hurtling towards them. The opposing aura was terrifying, and when considering their elite and core disciples, they held an overall advantage in strength compared to the participants. In addition, they outnumbered the participants. In terms of pure numbers and strength, it was clear that this battle was stacked against the participants.

The participants found themselves at a crossroads, debating whether to fight to the death or attempt an escape. "How should we approach this battle?" They questioned one another, their initial enthusiasm for combat beginning to wane.

"The battle has already commenced, and only 160 participants will survive. That means we have to give it our all and endure until we're among those 160 survivors," a voice declared, instilling a sense of gravity in the participants. The reality was sinking in—they needed to endure until the very end, but the question remained: who could withstand the onslaught?

Fear had replaced the initial resolve in their eyes as the disciples of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect closed in, surrounding them in an arc.

"Su Feng, Lu Longcloud, you are the strongest among us. Please lead this battle," the participants implored, pinning their hopes on the most formidable geniuses within their group.

"Brother Qin, please guide us," those who chose to follow Qin Wentian huddled around him. They had witnessed his formidable strength before and placed their faith in him, even over Su Feng and Lu Longcloud, whose combat abilities remained uncertain.

Qin Wentian surveyed the group, seeing hope flicker in their eyes. Despite Su Feng's presence as the top-ranked participant of the Thunder Prefecture, they chose to believe in him.

"Very well. You've all gathered here because of me, and if you're willing to follow my lead, I'll do my utmost to ensure your safety," Qin Wentian assured them. His words reassured the group, and they stood resolute beside him, pledging their unwavering allegiance. "We trust in Brother Qin. You can direct our actions, and we'll follow without complaint."

"We'll follow your instructions faithfully," the group affirmed, their eyes burning with determination. As the disciples of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect closed in, the participants unleashed a ferocious battle intent.

"These Eastern Sage Immortal Sect bastards treat us as prey to be hunted, yet they speak as if we should be grateful for their pursuit. The moment we resist, they accuse us of heinous crimes, as if we don't know what's good for us!" An expert vented his frustration, his voice resonating with displeasure. The disciples of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect drew nearer, and their cautious approach indicated fear, a recognition that these participants were formidable adversaries not to be trifled with.

Ranked 27th in the Cloud Prefecture, Qin Wentian was at the heart of this gathering. It was he who had ignited the flames of counter-hunting, defying the odds and escaping the clutches of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect disciples who had swarmed him in the past. His rage had spurred him to launch a counter-attack, rallying more participants to create the tempest that now raged, inflicting grievous losses upon the sect. The Eastern Sage Immortal Sect had every reason to be wary of this man.

As they faced the impending battle, those who followed Su Feng wore disapproving expressions when they saw people gravitating towards Qin Wentian. Their group of fifty-plus was already considered weaker than the hundred-plus fifth-level ascendant disciples. Now, Qin Wentian wanted to further divide their group?

"Are you seriously considering breaking our unity at a time like this?" one of Su Feng's followers remarked with evident disdain. They believed that in such dire circumstances, they should consolidate their strength rather than splintering further.

"That's right, we should be standing together," another participant agreed. The audacity of someone ranked 27th to suggest such a division baffled them.

Su Feng turned his gaze toward Qin Wentian, his expression unreadable. Meanwhile, Lu Longcloud, the second-ranked participant from the Jing Prefecture, made a decisive statement, "Since you've chosen to follow him, don't stay with us when the battle begins."

Lu Longcloud's words signaled a clear separation between the two factions. Even as they spoke, the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect disciples were closing in. The constellations filled the sky, and an overwhelming sense of apocalyptic power surged, threatening to tear the heavens asunder.

With over a hundred Celestial Phenomenon experts attacking simultaneously, their combined power was enough to rend the very fabric of reality. As they unleashed their onslaught, the participants retaliated with all their might. These were no ordinary individuals—they had survived to this point by showcasing their exceptional abilities. When they joined forces, their might was awe-inspiring.

Qin Wentian surged with battle qi, his bloodline power pulsating. The oppressive constellation loomed overhead as he unleashed a palm strike that seemed capable of challenging the heavens themselves.

The space quaked with violent pressure. Thunderous roars filled the air as destructive energy beams tore through the space, claiming several lives. Despite casualties and disruptions in their formation, the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect disciples still outnumbered the participants and were gearing up for a second joint attack.

"Follow me, we'll break free from this encirclement," Qin Wentian declared. His body expanded rapidly, a luminous runic armor enveloping him as ethereal symbols danced around him.

With a resounding boom, Qin Wentian's body grew to over a hundred meters and continued to expand. His colossal palms seized two Eastern Sage Immortal Sect disciples who were suspended in the air.

The rumbling persisted as Qin Wentian's stature reached an astonishing 300 meters. The disciples were in shock, their formation disarrayed, and two of their own captured in his grasp.

"Move!" Qin Wentian bellowed, his enormous palms propelling forward with overwhelming runic radiance, as if the heavens themselves bowed to his might. The captive disciples struggled frantically in his grip as Qin Wentian's group of experts engaged in fierce combat against the remaining Eastern Sage Immortal Sect disciples, clearing a path for him.

Su Feng and his faction charged in another direction, splitting into two groups to disperse and escape the encirclement.

Nestled within a mountain-encircled arena, various groups of cultivators embarked on their harrowing battles, each faction confronting their counterparts at similar levels. The air crackled with relentless combat, an orchestra of clashing forces and shattering earth. Even mountain peaks crumbled under the aftershocks of these titanic clashes, a testament to the sheer ferocity of their engagements.

Chaos and savagery reigned supreme in this nightmarish arena, where nine tiers of cultivation clashed with unbridled intensity. While some participants remained elsewhere, this congregation represented the overwhelming majority, drawn by destiny to this cataclysmic showdown.

Among the fifth-level ascendants, Qin Wentian had transformed into a towering titan, his body stretching to a colossal 500 meters. He exuded a fiendish aura that enshrouded him like impenetrable armor, while blood-red light radiated from his being. In this moment, he resembled an absolute demon king, a colossus of unparalleled might capable of toppling the heavens with a mere gesture. For the external disciples who dared to oppose him, their fates were sealed, as any clash with him invariably ended in their obliteration. Qin Wentian, however, bore his own share of wounds, his immense stature making it impossible to evade the simultaneous attacks of multiple adversaries.

"Such power!" The twenty individuals who had chosen to follow Qin Wentian marveled at his astounding strength. As heaven-chosen talents, they were inherently proud, but before Qin Wentian, they willingly acknowledged their inferiority. His overwhelming might begged no challenge, and if he chose to leave alone, who could impede him? Yet, Qin Wentian stood firm, bearing the brunt of the onslaught on their behalf. His flesh bore the scars of his sacrifice.

At Qin Wentian's side, a graceful figure had been a steadfast companion from the outset, fighting shoulder to shoulder with him. She radiated a divine aura, encircled by majestic divine falcons—none other than Zi Qingxuan.

"We can't let Brother Qin shoulder this burden alone. Let's fight together!"

"Yes, Brother Qin shouldn't bear this immense pressure alone. As the heaven-chosen representatives of our respective prefectures, how can we remain sheltered beneath his protection? We must not stand idle!" Voices surged with conviction. These participants were no less formidable than Qin Wentian, having earned their reputations as demon-level talents in their own prefectures. Their veins pulsed with fiery determination as they ascended into the skies, encircling Qin Wentian. They intended to stand with him, to forge a path for their collective escape.

"BOOM!" With each of Qin Wentian's earth-shaking steps, the ground quaked beneath him. His palms unleashed a barrage of resounding war bells, their chimes echoing ceaselessly. The pressure they exuded claimed the life of a core disciple, jolted to death under their relentless resonance.

Participants who had previously targeted Qin Wentian's group found their formations shattered in disarray. Behind Qin Wentian, an elite disciple gleamed with crimson eyes, summoning a constellation akin to a devouring black hole. Surrounding him, fellow disciples funneled their energy into the black hole, birthing an apocalyptic might capable of rending heaven and earth asunder.

The elite disciple's eyes burned with an intense loathing as they bore into Qin Wentian. The atrocities committed by this man were nothing short of heinous—slaughtering numerous disciples of their revered Eastern Sage Immortal Sect. Initially, with Qin Wentian's unparalleled talent, he had been destined for greatness within the sect. He could have become a prominent figure, a candidate for elite disciple status, and earned the respect of the venerable elders. Yet, his hands had become stained with too much innocent blood. Today, fate would have its way, sealing his doom.

Having absorbed the life force of approximately five to six disciples, the swirling black hole began to radiate a malevolent crimson hue, akin to a freshly blossomed, blood-red devilish flower. The elite disciple moved with the swiftness of the wind, thrusting his palms outward to launch the blood-colored harbinger of annihilation at Qin Wentian's colossal form. In a mere heartbeat, a nightmarish, obsidian tempest of cataclysmic power manifested in the heavens, descending with the intent to engulf every participant in its devastating embrace!