Chapter 55: Aftermath, The Four Powerhouses

Back at the heart of the Death Zen, the aftermath of the battle weighed heavily on all who had witnessed it. The tension in the air was palpable, like the lingering remnants of a storm that had torn through the land. Even as the dust settled, the shockwaves of what had just transpired continued to ripple through the onlookers. Message talismans had already been sent out during the fight, their glowing trails streaking across the sky, carrying the grim news to every corner of the Capital. The Death Zen's predicament had become the talk of the entire realm.

The first to break the suffocating silence was a middle-aged man clad in a green robe. His eyes, wide with disbelief, reflected the stunned faces of those around him. "That little beast," he muttered, his voice tinged with awe and fear, "managed to kill two Supreme Saints in a row. Our Qishu Continent stands on the brink of a new dawn."

"Impossible!" an elderly man in blue exclaimed, his voice trembling with incredulity. "The boy is just in the Nascent Spirit Realm! How could he possibly defeat a Warrior of the Nirvana Realm? It's utterly impossible!"

But the green-robed man shook his head, a grim smile playing on his lips. "We all saw it with our own eyes," he said. "Dugu Yenchen was completely annihilated by that final strike. I'm not even sure if a being in Transcendence could have withstood it. That last attack contained pure, raw, untamed destruction—enough to vaporize anything in its path. If the boy had been at his peak, I doubt any of these buildings would still be standing."

The elderly man's confusion deepened, his brows furrowing as he struggled to make sense of what he had witnessed. "But… isn't the Death God a demon from the Shura World? How could that strike feel like divine energy? Can demons even possess divine energy?"

Indeed, the final strike Dao Wei used to kill Dugu Yenchen was the Divine Annihilation Technique—a technique so profound and unique that it was said to be the domain of gods. Few in the divine realm could even attempt to learn it, let alone master it. Yet Dao Wei had done just that, achieving a small realm of success that many gods could only dream of. His earlier use of the Ninefall Hoarfrost technique only served to underscore his mastery of swordsmanship. Had Dugu Yenchen been the same age and had the same experience as Dao Wei, he likely wouldn't have survived the first strike.

As the elderly man and others continued to deliberate the battle, the atmosphere around them suddenly shifted. The sky darkened, and the earth trembled as four figures appeared out of thin air, their arrival marked by a thunderous boom. The sheer power of their presence sent shockwaves through the area, causing even the most seasoned warriors to tremble.

The first powerhouse was a grandmaster of the Shaolin Sect, a bald man with long white beards, dressed in a flowing yellow robe. His mere presence commanded respect, his eyes sharp and filled with wisdom.

The second was the Supreme Master of the Sword God Sect, Jiang Feng. His white robes with golden embroidery glistened in the dim light, his long grey hair and beard giving him an aura of serene authority.

The third was the Grand Elder of the Taiji Sect, dressed in flowing green and white robes. His hair and beard were as white as snow, and his eyes held the calmness of a deep, still lake.

The final figure was a towering man, his muscular frame bare except for the sinister red aura that surrounded him. His long black hair flowed like a dark river, and his presence alone was enough to send chills down the spines of all who looked upon him. This was Liu Chubai, the leader of the Demon Sect.

The arrival of these four powerhouses signaled the gravity of the situation. The massacre at the Death Zen was not a minor skirmish; it was an event that could shake the very foundations of the Capital. Each sect represented a pillar of power, and the destruction of one could lead to an upheaval that would reverberate across the entire Qishu Continent.

Despite their deep-seated rivalries, the four powerhouses knew that when it came to matters of the realm, they had to set aside their differences and stand united. Together, they were an unstoppable force, one that could challenge even the greatest threats. Yet, the question lingered—why had they never settled their differences before? If Jiangling Capital were to unify under a single banner, it would become a force unmatched in the Qishu Continent.

Without a word, the four powerhouses dispersed, each heading in a different direction as if they were moving in perfect synchrony. The onlookers, who had been holding their breaths since the powerhouses' arrival, remained silent, their eyes wide with fear and anticipation. Even the sect elders who had watched the entire battle stood frozen in place. After all, it was not just any warrior they had witnessed—it was the Death God himself. And everyone knew that to encounter the Death God was to face certain death.

As the minutes passed, message talismans continued to fly out, each one carrying the tale of what had transpired. Though many sent them for selfish reasons, it was crucial to keep their leaders informed, lest they suffer the same fate as the Death Zen.

When the four powerhouses returned to the sky, their faces were grave, their expressions clouded with worry. They exchanged glances, their minds racing with thoughts of what to do next.

"It is indeed the Death God of the Lower Shura," Grand Master Chen of the Shaolin Sect finally broke the tension, his voice heavy with resignation.

The others nodded in agreement, the weight of his words settling upon them.

"At this point, we can only speculate that he destroyed the Death Zen because of the Earth Veins they were exploiting," Grand Master Tang of the Taiji Sect spoke up. "If that's the case, then perhaps the Death God has no ill intentions towards our world. But he's still a demon, and we can never truly trust those creatures."

Liu Chubai sneered, his eyes narrowing as he considered the situation. "We should wait and see if he acts again. If he does, it will be a clear declaration of war against us. I'll take my leave first."

With that, Liu Chubai transformed into a streak of red light and shot off into the distance, leaving the others behind. The remaining powerhouses exchanged one last glance before they, too, disappeared into the sky, leaving the shattered remains of the Death Zen behind.

The spectators finally exhaled, their minds reeling from all they had witnessed. The Death God had come and gone, leaving destruction in his wake. And though the powerhouses had departed, the threat of the Death God still hung over them, a shadow that could not be easily dispelled.