Chapter 0690 – One More Shot
In the swirling quicksand, searing flames surged upward. It felt as though he had entered a furnace, a steamer, with the intent to grind his body into dust and erase him from existence. The suction was so terrifying that even Yi Tianxing, with his strength of several hundred thousand jin, couldn't break free. This was quicksand—where the harder you struggled, the faster you sank. Once completely swallowed, the outcome could only be imagined, and it wouldn't be good.
"Shrink!!"
But Yi Tianxing wasn't helpless. With a single thought, his enormous body—over forty zhang tall—shrank instantly, reverting to normal size. The transformation immediately repelled the quicksand that had bound him. With another thought, he shot up from the sands.
He stepped onto the void.
Whoo—whoo—whoo!!
Just then, a terrifying gale roared in. Countless grains of golden sand were swept up by the wind, swirling together with golden flames, forming a firestorm that poured down like the collapse of heaven and earth.
The blazing sea reversed mid-air.
It transformed into golden firebirds.
These birds resembled the legendary Sunbirds of Western mythology—entirely golden, their wings beating with shimmering flames. Each feather was like a blade, slashing through space.
Any cultivator in the Life Aperture Realm would be instantly incinerated by their power.
"Kill!!"
The war spear vanished from Yi Tianxing's hand, replaced by the Meteor Bow. Instantly, rune-inscribed arrows formed in his grip.
He drew and released in a fluid motion.
In a flash, a streak of light tore through the sky—striking a golden firebird dead-on. The bird exploded on impact, annihilated by the arrow's intent, which obliterated the laws and Dao patterns it contained. The firebird disintegrated into golden sand that rained from the sky.
Though the firebirds were densely packed, the arrows had terrifying penetration power—one arrow pierced through three or four birds before fizzling out, leaving a trail of dazzling explosions.
Yi Tianxing's rate of fire was astonishing—drawing and releasing took less than a second.
Even more terrifying, he ignored everything else and loosed three to four arrows in rapid succession each time.
"What terrifying archery. Each arrow is a perfect blend of strength and precision. He shoots with instinct, and each shot carries Arrow Intent—that's what makes it so terrifying. Only a true divine archer can comprehend Arrow Intent."
"Arrow Intent isn't something one can simply learn. There's no shortcut. It must be honed through countless shots. Some archers never grasp it in a lifetime, and their arrows remain ordinary. But others… can capture the very essence of archery. Once Arrow Intent is formed, its sharpness can pierce the heavens. Many supreme archery techniques require it as a foundation. Without it, they can't even be practiced."
"That Arrow Intent is incredibly sharp. He clearly hasn't just comprehended it recently. I wonder if he's cultivated any specialized archery techniques. If he has, that would make his Arrow Intent even more terrifying."
Despite the swirling golden sands and illusions of the Golden Sand Kingdom, the viewers could still see the battle unfolding clearly within the suspended Life Map.
Each shift stunned countless onlookers. The sheer power and strangeness of the Life Map left deep impressions.
"Let's see how you handle this arrow!!"
Yi Tianxing narrowed his eyes at the sky still filled with firebirds. With a flicker of cold light, he drew a bone-white arrow.
He notched it.
He didn't release immediately.
As he pulled the bowstring taut, waves of true essence surged into the arrow. At the same time, a fierce Arrow Intent poured in, causing the entire shaft to glow with crimson flame.
Screeeech!!
The arrow finally launched, cutting through the air with a shrill screech.
Divine radiance burst from the arrow.
Crimson flames intertwined, coalescing into a massive Vermilion Bird.
🔥 Four Symbols Celestial Arrow Canon – Vermilion Bird Scorches the Heavens Arrow ("四象天箭经"——朱雀焚天箭)
This Vermilion Bird, entirely red, radiated noble brilliance. With lifelike feathers, claws, beak, and wings, it exuded a majestic aura—born to command all flames.
The Vermilion Bird Arrow Intent erupted in full force.
A manifestation of the Vermilion Bird emerged—fierce yet regal, burning with divine flame. As it let out a deafening cry, fire surged around it. With a single wingbeat, it slashed dozens of firebirds in half like blades of light.
Flaming feathers scattered in all directions, shredding everything they touched.
The firebirds retaliated, swarming the Vermilion Bird.
A brutal aerial battle erupted.
The Vermilion Bird, born from the arrow's intent, was immensely powerful. But the firebirds, forged within the Life Map, were manifestations of divine power—Life Aperture techniques enhanced by the Life Map.
The two sides clashed in midair, locking each other down.
Temporarily, Yi Tianxing faced no direct attacks.
But clearly, the Golden Sand Kingdom wasn't done.
Suddenly, golden swords and sabers emerged out of nowhere, slashing down with terrifying force. The attacks in this kingdom were strange, ever-changing, and deadly.
"What an incredible Golden Sand Kingdom. What a terrifying Life Map. So this is the power of a Life Map Realm cultivator. Once the Life Map is formed, it merges countless Life Aperture powers into one, creating vastly more powerful abilities. Within it, all techniques are enhanced to their limits. No wonder it's a realm far beyond Life Aperture!"
Yi Tianxing could feel the strength of the Golden Sand Kingdom and sighed inwardly. The Life Map was truly a culmination of one's Dao and comprehension.
It was a higher expression of personal power.
Whooosh—!!
The sands shifted, forming twisted shapes.
Suddenly, countless golden mummies appeared—made not of flesh, but from the desert's sands.
Yet their auras were chilling—death incarnate.
⚔️ [New Concept]: Dao Soldiers – Constructed from laws and Dao patterns within the Life Map. As long as the Life Map exists, these soldiers are undying.
"Impressive... but not enough to trap me."
Yi Tianxing's thoughts shifted, and in his hand appeared a tower—simple and plain, but pulsing with power.
It was none other than the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower.
There were no flashy effects—just raw authority.
With a flick of his wrist, the tower soared into the sky and slammed down toward the desert.
Boom!!
The tower landed without ceremony.
The ground shattered instantly, spiderweb cracks racing across the kingdom.
A thunderous rumble followed.
The Golden Sand Kingdom crumbled in an instant.
Yi Tianxing reappeared on the battlefield.
To the spectators, they only saw a tower fall—and the entire Life Map was wiped out. Vanished.
⚡ Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower – Contains twenty Small Worlds. Its sheer weight and power can crush realms and gods alike.
The sheer might behind the tower—powered by the essence of twenty worlds—was enough to make even immortals vomit blood.
The Grand Priest had never expected this.
He had believed Yi Tianxing could not possibly break through.
But now, with the Life Map destroyed, a ripple of death itself had brushed against the Grand Priest's senses.
"What was that tower? I've never seen it before. So this is a peerless prodigy… Strength, fate, and treasure all in one. Killing someone like that isn't easy."
He muttered under his breath.
A peerless prodigy came with heaven-shaking luck—of course, they would possess divine treasures for protection.
"You're trying to hide in that coffin… But today, I'll make sure you can't! Come out!"
Light flickered in Yi Tianxing's hand—now grasping a pitch-black fishing rod.
In an instant, he cast it toward the bronze coffin.
The hook glinted, piercing space and phasing directly inside the coffin.
🎣 Death God's Fishing Rod – Capable of phasing through matter and reeling in souls. Perfect for dragging out hidden foes.
Yi Tianxing was going to fish the Grand Priest out—soul and all.
"What… What is this?! It reeks of death. A treasure of the Death God Clan! You want to fish me out like some carp?!"
A sense of unease surged in the Grand Priest.
The rod exuded a natural nemesis aura, making him feel genuine fear—and fury.
Who was he? The Grand Priest.
And now someone dared to fish him out like he was nothing.
If he was actually pulled out… his pride would be utterly shattered.