Chapter 712 The Realm of the Dead

Holy light coalesced into a massive, inverted divine sword, its blade covered in thick patterns, like an ancient language, telling a story known only to the heavens.The onlookers were gradually mesmerized.Because of its antiquity, its immense size, its mystery and holiness, and its fact that it was not ethereal, once the holy light had fully gathered, this sword of judgment became a tangible substance.The winds of heaven and earth swirled around the sword.The sword's tip locked onto Shura Luxing on the ground. He had lost all ability to move, as if his hands and feet were bound by invisible shackles, like a sinner being led to the guillotine."Why?" Tears streamed from Shura Luxing's eyes.It was a sorrow born of utter despair. His body trembled in agony, but his eyes were empty, even the pupils had vanished."We just wanted freedom...""Freedom..." Shura Luxing murmured twice before lowering his head.He himself had once been a holy angel wielding that sword, riding a white horse through the winds and clouds.He had never imagined that his life would end by the very sword that had brought him glory.But he had a premonition.This was also the reason why the Asura Clan was so terrified when facing Li An.They were like adulterous women, their affair with freedom, their husband being the Heavenly Dao.They were constantly afraid that the Heavenly Dao would return and see them in bed with their lovers.Every member of the Asura Clan knew that no one could defy His will, and if that day truly came, death would be their only fate.Suddenly.Asura Luxing looked up at the greatsword that had judged him, and a maniacal smile suddenly appeared on his tear-streaked face."No, it was all worth it, at least… at least I once possessed freedom.""Come." With those words, he closed his eyes.The Holy Envoy Qianjun showed no mercy.The giant sword fell with incredible speed, plunging the world into a silent annihilation. Surprisingly, however, there was no explosion, no shockwave, and no impact on the surrounding earth and sky. Only Shura Luxing vanished into thin air.But his last words resonated deeply within many.Li An.He stared expressionlessly at the spot where Shura Luxing had disappeared, lost in thought.The Holy Envoy Qianjun, riding Carlo, approached Li An, dismounted, and knelt alongside Carlo, offering him the highest respect."My lord, your sinful subject has done his duty.""Hmm." Li An nodded. "All troops, prepare for the second round.""Understood!" Holy Envoy Qianjun nodded emphatically.But seeing Li An's pensive expression, he couldn't help but add, "My lord, you needn't heed that sinful subject's words; they cannot affect our will."Li An gave Holy Envoy Qianjun a deep look, offered no reply, and leaped into the sky, spreading his arms to unleash the immense power of the Heavenly Dao within him.The crimson hue of the Asura Realm was gradually dissipating; it was a blood curse that had enveloped the entire realm—the "land deed."The power of the Sword of Judgment, the clash between the Source of the Great Dao and the Heavenly Dao's droplets, and the crumbling Heavenly Gates.These forces had riddled the land deed with holes. Li An, who had received the final gift from the Old Heavenly Dao, still possessed abundant power, so tearing the deed apart wouldn't take long.He was chatting with the Old Heavenly Dao, and after a few words, he understood why Asura Lu Xing so desperately craved freedom.Back then, the Holy Angel Legion lived in a place called the Angelic Palace.Not a city, but a massive palace. They didn't even have individual bedrooms; everyone was like the mechanical legion of today, asleep, awaiting the Lord's commands.There was no freedom of movement, no love, and even friendship was incredibly rare. They could barely exchange a few words before immediately entering a state of slumber after their mission.This Old Heavenly Dao was simply the owner of a sweatshop.And he was perfectly reasonable."The Holy Angel represents the face of Heaven, what kind of behavior is this, running around everywhere?Where is my dignity?"Li An, too lazy to argue, asked again, "What about the Holy Beasts?""There is indeed a Holy Beast Mountain. The Holy Beasts live there, but they cannot leave the mountain even for a moment when they are not on a mission.""Then, Li An asked what I did every day back then?""Only one thing.Researching new life, new species, creating new worlds.I devoted myself entirely to these things.""Then, Li An asked a question that had troubled him for a long time.Why did the Heaven Thieves of the New World lose all personal will?'You can have it, I can have it, why can't he?'""The Old Heavenly Dao only had one simple answer: personal choice.""It means that the Heaven Thieves could have chosen to live, to roam the world as the Heavenly Dao, but he gave it up.He chose death.Or rather, transcendence."This brief conversation plunged Li An into deeper thought."Who are the Heaven Thieves?" Barring unforeseen circumstances, he would likely be the person with the longest effective lifespan in the mortal realm.The Five Ancestors, who either sealed themselves away or remained in a state of semi-death, had their effective lifespan constantly changing.The Thief of Heaven, however, was different; he had lived through countless eras, right up to the modern era.Then, Li An thought of the Feathered Emperor.If we ultimately triumph, he could definitely achieve immortality, just like Heaven. However, in his conversation with the Feathered Emperor, the latter made no attempt to conceal his fear of death, believing that one day he would be buried in the earth.These two—one actively chose death, the other believed he would inevitably die.Li An suddenly realized a crucial point."The Willow Saint once told me that the living are Heaven, the dead are Earth.""Logically speaking, shouldn't Heaven and Earth merge to form the true world?"Hearing this, the Old Heavenly Dao remained silent for a long time, seemingly unwilling to answer the question.But finally, he spoke."You're right. I, or rather you, only represent the living.""The dying part is beyond our control.""We are the Heavenly Dao, but not the masters of this world."These words made Li An frown deeply. "You mean, there's another will that governs the part of death?"The old Heavenly Dao calmly replied, "Beyond the mortal realm and the Heavenly Realm, there is a realm called the Realm of the Dead.""The Corner of Reincarnation is the path to the Realm of the Dead.""But I have never had any contact with the Realm of the Dead.""I know that a vast will resides there, but I have never communicated with it. We seem to be of one mind, yet we do not interfere with each other.""I create life, and when life withers, everything is left to Him."Li An was filled with mixed emotions.The Heavenly Dao wasn't the master of this world after all, but for most people, the mortal realm and the Heavenly Realm were the entirety of this world."When your Heavenly Realm underwent its great upheaval, did the ruler of the Realm of the Dead not appear?""No." The old Heavenly Dao shook his head.