Human Path Blessed Land, Western Cloud Continent, Cloud Palace.
The Cloud Palace was once a Holy Land where Feathered Men generations resided, with towering Jade Palaces reaching into the clouds and auspicious clouds swirling around it. It was a renowned land of peace and happiness throughout the entire Western Cloud Continent.
But now, this once glorious Immortal land of fortune has long been reduced to a scorched, dilapidated ruin.
Broken beams and fallen pillars lay scattered haphazardly everywhere. The air was filled with a heavy smell of smoke, blood, and char, making one nauseous.
The Mortal Feathered Men citizens fled in panic amidst the broken walls and ruins. The cries of children, the wails of women, and the sobs of the elderly intertwined.
Their mournful shouts hadn't traveled far before they were fiercely swallowed by the towering flames and howling winds.
The corpses of Feathered Men warriors were piled high, from the wilderness outside the palace all the way to the gates of the Cloud Palace.
Fresh blood and pale bone fragments mixed with the charred earth, and broken limbs and bones gleamed with a cold light in the embers of the fires, a shocking sight.
The great fire burned wildly, as if it wanted to incinerate the entire world. Thick smoke billowed above the Cloud Palace gates, churning and rising like black Dragons, staining the once clear half of the sky a depressing gray-black. It was truly a display of "raising one's eyebrows and exhaling Qi".
Li Seek Defeat hovered above the Cloud Palace, quietly looking down at this human Purgatory.
His blood-red eyes reflected the sky-high flames, and the corners of his mouth uncontrollably curled upwards, revealing a crazed and indifferent smile.
His long, snow-white hair fluttered in the strong wind, and his black robe was already soaked with blood, a terrifying mix of red and black. It was just like decades ago, when he was a Devil Head who swept across the land, unopposed, and struck fear into everyone's hearts.
That terrifying Devil Head Li, who had disappeared for decades, had completely returned today!
"Mortal Path Killer Move — Roaring Qi Wave!"
The blood light in Li Seek Defeat's eyes suddenly flared. He raised his left hand high, clenching it into a fist. A majestic Aura, as if from the ends of the earth, poured out like a breaching river!
The Qi waves surged and roared, unstoppable. Wherever they passed, everything was destroyed. In just an instant, the prosperous city spanning dozens of miles outside the Cloud Palace was forcibly flattened.
Those innocent citizens fleeing in panic didn't even have time to scream under these terrifying Qi waves before they were instantly annihilated, leaving not a trace of flesh or bone.
"Down with the Devil Head! Avenge our fallen clansmen!"
The surviving Feathered Men warriors' eyes were bloodshot, and rage burned fiercely within them. Their hearts were almost bursting with grief and hatred.
They roared, wielding their weapons, and charged forward without hesitation, rushing towards the terrifying figure suspended high in the air.
But Li Seek Defeat didn't even bother to look at them. His bloodshot eyes casually swept over, and all the figures approaching him simultaneously exploded in mid-air!
This was his Mortal Path Killer Move, "Oppressive Gaze Qi," formed by combining Rank Five Swelling Qi Gu, Rank Five Dust Qi Gu, and Rank Five Flame Qi Gu.
With just a faint glance, hundreds of brave Feathered Men warriors instantly self-detonated. Blood, bone fragments, severed limbs, and torn clothes once again splattered everywhere, thickly covering this already desolate scorched earth.
Blood dyed the earth, and death enveloped everything.
Just then, a powerful figure shot up from the depths of the Cloud Palace.
Purple Crystal True Essence at Rank Five Peak surged out like a tide, suppressing all directions and silencing the entire battlefield.
The newcomer was none other than the Cloud Palace Master, the Merfolk King — Yu An!
His eyes were wide with fury, staring fixedly at Li Seek Defeat. A pair of huge feathered wings spread on his back, magnificent and awe-inspiring. His battle armor, meticulously refined from Gu worms, shimmered in the firelight, as bright as a full moon.
This battle armor's effect was equivalent to a mortal gu house, and Yu An named it "Feather King Battle Armor." It combined offense and defense, possessing infinite power.
"Li Seek Defeat! How dare you trespass into my Cloud Palace alone and slaughter wantonly!"
Yu An's voice boomed, his rage soaring:
"You and I are both Rank Five Peak, but even among Rank Five powerhouses, there is a world of difference! Today, I will surely slay you here and avenge the countless fallen souls of my Feathered Men!"
Li Seek Defeat's expression was calm, his eyes showing no ripples. His tone was as indifferent as if he were discussing a trivial matter:
"Yu An, are you finished? Since you're finished, it's my turn to speak."
"I'll give you two choices."
"First, death."
"Second, hand over the Longevity Gu in your possession, and I can spare your life."
Upon hearing this, Yu An's Purple Crystal True Essence violently churned. He snorted disdainfully, his tone full of mockery:
"Longevity Gu? Li Seek Defeat, you are simply deluding yourself! Longevity Gu can increase Lifespan, and it is a Gu worm pursued even by Immortal Venerables and Demon Venerables. I myself am reluctant to use it, so how could I give it to you?"
"My Cloud Palace doesn't have Longevity Gu at all! Considering that we are both Rank Five Peak, if you scram now, I can still refrain from pursuing your crimes!"
Li Seek Defeat did not utter another word.
He slowly raised his right hand and lightly flicked it through the air.
"Slap—!"
An incredibly crisp slap landed heavily on Yu An's face.
This was a Qi Path Killer Move, named "Qi Palm."
If it hit an ordinary person, their head would be directly flattened. Yu An, relying on the Feather King Battle Armor for protection, did not suffer serious injuries, but the humiliation from this slap was even harder for him to bear than a severe injury.
Yu An instantly exploded with rage, his face flushed crimson.
Relying on the Feather King Battle Armor's astonishing defense, and confident that Li Seek Defeat couldn't easily break through, he furiously taunted him while activating his True Essence, charging aggressively at Li Seek Defeat.
From this point on, there was no more talk of peace, only a fight to the death!
Their fierce battle shook the heavens and earth, and an energy storm swept in all directions. The already dilapidated Cloud Palace was forcibly leveled.
Tens of thousands of Feathered Men tragically died innocently in the aftermath of the battle, the earth cracked, and blood flowed like rivers.
Yu An, as a Rank Five powerhouse famous for many years, was indeed powerful. Coupled with the assistance of the Feather King Battle Armor, he actually managed to push Li Seek Defeat into a disadvantage for a time.
"This battle armor is actually comparable to a mortal gu house, and it can even counterattack automatically..." Li Seek Defeat thought to himself.
He was not fighting Yu An alone at this moment, but simultaneously facing two Rank Five combat strengths: Yu An and the Feather King Battle Armor.
Yu An's movement technique was as swift as a ghost, his attacks as fast as lightning, and his offense incredibly sharp; the Feather King Battle Armor, on the other hand, had exceptional defense, impervious to blades, spears, water, and fire.
One offensive, one defensive; one fast, one steady; complementing each other perfectly, a perfect balance of Yin and Yang, truly the king's Dao.
Li Seek Defeat had originally intended to rely on his numerous Breath Absorbing Gu, Beggar Moth, and Heaven Essence Treasure King Lotus to continuously replenish his Purple Crystal True Essence, slowly wearing down Yu An with a prolonged battle.
But he soon discovered that Yu An had no less than twenty Beggar Moth, and his True Essence reserves were as vast as the sea, impossible to deplete in a short time.
However, since Li Seek Defeat dared to trespass into the Cloud Palace alone, how could he be unprepared?
His eyes turned cold, and he no longer held back. His surrounding Aura suddenly became chillingly dead and silent:
"Mortal Path Killer Move — Deathly Stillness!"
Extremely dense Death Qi surged out, piercing into Yu An's body like venomous snakes, directly reaching his aperture and Purple Mansion.
Once the Death Qi entered his primeval sea, it spread wildly, devouring and eliminating all the Life Qi and fortune Qi within his body.
Yu An felt his limbs and bones instantly turn cold and stiff, and his skin rapidly turned bluish-black.
In just a moment, he was literally transformed into a zombie, and his once vibrant aperture directly became a dead aperture!
"This... how is this possible!"
The zombified Yu An's voice was hoarse and dry, filled with extreme fear and shock:
"Li Seek Defeat, what kind of monster are you? How high has your Qi Path Realm reached! To be able to use Qi Path Killer Moves to such an extent!"
Yu An, after all, was the Cloud Palace Master, and his trump cards naturally didn't stop there. He roared, fiercely activating the Black Armor Yin Gu within his dead aperture. A black light flashed around him, and he barely managed to regain his human form.
But the cost was directly transforming into a female form, and his Aptitude was forcibly reduced by one tenth!
But how could Li Seek Defeat give him a chance to breathe?
"Mortal Path Killer Move — Corpse Qi Relapse!"
As the cold voice fell, Yu An's body stiffened, and he was once again forcibly transformed into a zombie.
His heart was filled with extreme terror. He desperately flapped his wings, trying to escape, but Li Seek Defeat took a step forward, grabbed his hair tightly, and activated a Qi Path Killer Move centered on strength gu and Aura Gu, unleashing a torrent of heavy punches!
With one punch, the Feather King Battle Armor cracked!
Two punches, three punches, ten punches... every punch connected, every punch drew blood!
Yu An's zombie blood splattered, his battle armor shattered, and he could only passively endure the beating, completely unable to retaliate. In this life-or-death crisis, he roared with all his might:
"White Armored Yang Gu!!!"
A flash of light, and Yu An returned to his male body, his aperture and primeval sea barely recovering a trace of vitality.
But Li Seek Defeat's Killer Move descended once more.
"Corpse Qi Relapse!!!"
"Black Armor Yin Gu!!!"
"Corpse Qi Relapse!!!"
"White Armored Yang Gu!!!"
...
The two remained in a stalemate. Yu An continuously consumed his aperture's foundation to maintain his form. In just a moment, he was drained, with only one-tenth of his true essence remaining, already at the end of his rope.
Li Seek Defeat's eyes sharpened. He seized this fatal opportunity and erupted with full force!
"Mortal Path Killer Move - Qi Stir!"
A sharp, piercing Qi drilled into a flaw in the Feather King Battle Armor, directly entering Yu An's body. It violently churned within his internal organs, tearing his Meridians and organs to shreds.
Yu An trembled violently, spitting out mouthfuls of corpse blood, his eyes rapidly dimming.
Li Seek Defeat's expression was blank. Qi surged on his left arm, instantly condensing into a white Qi sword, over a meter long, incredibly sharp, capable of cutting through iron like mud.
"Mortal Path Killer Move - Qi Piercing Rainbow!"
A single sword pierced through the shattered Feather King Battle Armor, viciously stabbing into Yu An's lower abdomen!
The next moment, the Qi sword exploded, countless tiny Sword Qi wildly slicing within his body, shredding all his organs into fragments.
Yu An let out an extremely mournful scream, then his voice abruptly ceased.
"Mortal Path Killer Move - Roaring Qi Wave!!!"
Li Seek Defeat's final strike landed. Countless Qi drilled into Yu An's wounds, erupting completely within his body.
The mighty Rank Five expert, Cloud Palace Master, King of the Feathered Men, exploded on the spot. His flesh, blood, and bone fragments vanished into thin air, leaving not a trace.
After dealing with Yu An, no other expert in Cloud Palace could stop Li Seek Defeat.
His eyes were cold as he began an unrestrained, bloody massacre.
In just a short while, the Cloud Palace and its surrounding dozens of miles were completely razed, hundreds of thousands of Feathered Men lying in pools of blood. On average, hundreds of people died tragically every second.
The once peaceful and happy Feathered Men's paradise was completely turned into a living Hell, with no one left alive, not even chickens or dogs.
To prevent any stragglers, Li Seek Defeat activated the Poison Qi Gu, turning the air for dozens of miles into deadly poison Qi.
Then, using Fire Qi Gu and Smoke Qi Gu, he ignited the dust, blowing open the earth several zhang deep, ensuring that no grass would grow and no one would survive.
Having done all this, Li Seek Defeat turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
The Cloud Palace tragedy sent shockwaves throughout the Human Path Blessed Land. The four major forces were terrified, and Wulei Sect and the Underground Royal Court immediately entered a state of highest alert.
The Western Cloud Continent was gripped by panic, with everyone fearing for their lives.
And the name Li Seek Defeat, which had disappeared for decades, once again echoed throughout the land. Officials in the Central Continent even called him "Little Spectral Soul."
One must know that among the Ten Venerables, Spectral Soul Demon Venerable was the most bloodthirsty, killing so many that during the "Spectral Soul Era, there were no Gu Immortals" in the world.
Although Li Seek Defeat committed murder, arson, and slaughtered an entire region, he was still far from comparable to Spectral Soul Demon Venerable. The title "Little Spectral Soul" was indeed a bit too exaggerated.
But Li Seek Defeat never cared what others thought of him. He had only one goal in mind — to find Longevity Gu.
Having gained nothing from annihilating Cloud Palace, he immediately headed for Wulei Sect.
The entire Wulei Sect was already terrified. They dared not resist; some fled in a panic, while those who were slower were all slaughtered by Li Seek Defeat.
After flattening Wulei Sect, he marched his army towards the Underground Royal Court. The Stone Man King Rock Desolation was cruelly blasted to death by him. Fortunately, most Stone Men had escaped in advance, luckily fleeing into the Central Continent.
For a time, almost all the large and small forces in the Western Cloud Continent were wiped out by Li Seek Defeat alone.
Yet, he still had not obtained the Longevity Gu he so desperately desired.
Seeing that the Central Continent's army was about to arrive to encircle and suppress him, Li Seek Defeat did not hesitate. He turned north, heading straight for the North Darkness Mermaid Continent, to attack the Merfolk Royal Court.
The Merfolk King's strength was far greater than Yu An's and others'. The two fought for nine days and nine nights, turning half of the Merfolk Royal Court into ruins.
Li Seek Defeat, unable to achieve a quick victory, was unwilling to prolong the battle. He ultimately chose to retreat in the face of difficulty, turning south and heading straight for the core of the entire Blessed Land — the Imperial Capital of the Central Continent!
"The Old Human Emperor has lived for over a hundred years and still maintains his youth. He must possess Longevity Gu!"
Li Seek Defeat's Battle Intent surged:
"As long as I can obtain Longevity Gu, I can extend my Lifespan by several decades, accumulate strength with peace of mind, and charge towards the Gu Immortal Realm! The day I become an Immortal will be the day I dominate the world, unrivaled!"
News reached the Imperial Capital, shaking the court.
Gu Yue Fuqi immediately convened the "Assembly of Heroes for Punishing the Wicked and Comforting the People," gathering all Rank Five experts from the Central Continent, Western Cloud Continent, East Sun Tai Continent, and North Darkness Mermaid Continent, vowing to slay Li Seek Defeat, the number one Devil Head in the world.
When the assembly began, there were forty-eight Rank Five Gu Masters present, their Aura soaring to the heavens as they chanted their war cry in unison:
"Punish the wicked and comfort the people, uphold justice!"
Gu Yue Fuqi had laid out a comprehensive trap days in advance. Forty-eight Rank Five Gu Masters jointly besieged Li Seek Defeat.
The great battle raged from the Central Continent all the way to the Western Cloud Continent, then back from the Western Cloud Continent to the barren lands of the Central Continent, and from there, a bloody fight to the East Sun Tai Continent.
Heaven and earth changed color, and the sun and moon lost their light.
Finally, over a thousand Rank Four Gu Masters and more than forty Rank Five Gu Masters tightly encircled Li Seek Defeat in a dangerous place called Soul Severing Valley.
Enemies had arrived, retreat was cut off, a net of heaven and earth, ambushes on all sides.
The generation's Devil Head, Li Seek Defeat, was completely trapped in a deathly predicament.
Yet, his expression remained calm, his eyes serene, though deep within them, a faint trace of regret and pity was hidden.
None of the many powerful experts surrounding him dared to be careless, fearing he might utter a phrase like "Is there no path to salvation under heaven?" or "Green Mountains, Setting Sun," and then unleash power that could turn the tide.
"Has it finally come to this...?"
Li Seek Defeat surveyed the silently approaching enemies, knowing that the overall situation was decided, and he had no way to escape.
His black robes were stained with blood, his hair was white. He slowly raised his head to look at the setting sun, red as blood, his crimson eyes trembling slightly.
"This, is the taste of death...?"
"So unwilling, so regretful..."
He had spent his entire life pursuing power, pursuing longevity, pursuing the path to Immortal Ascension. Now, he was to be buried here, without even touching the shadow of a Longevity Gu.
The fierce wind howled, the enemies slowly closed in, killing intent permeating the air.
Li Seek Defeat took a deep breath, cast aside all his emotions, and once again raised his fist, launching a counterattack. This might be his last desperate struggle in this life.
The fierce battle erupted again, shouts shaking the heavens.
Li Seek Defeat fought bathed in blood. The Purple Crystal True Essence in his aperture was already at rock bottom. The valley floor was littered with corpses, including the damaged remains of several Rank Five Gu Masters.
Gu Yue Fuqi, observing from the rear, watched the figure fighting madly from afar, a complex, inexpressible emotion welling up in his heart.
The first time he met Li Seek Defeat, the latter was only a Rank Three Peak, while he himself was a Rank Five Peak;
Now, upon seeing him again, Li Seek Defeat had caught up to him, both at Rank Five Peak.
He had been cautious his entire life, daring not to risk Immortal Ascension, but today, he seemed about to witness the birth of an Immortal with his own eyes.
In this desperate situation, on the verge of life and death, Li Seek Defeat made a decision that surprised everyone —
To risk Immortal Ascension!
He frantically activated all the Beggar Moth within him. The vast Purple Crystal True Essence, like a tsunami, instantly filled his aperture.
Above the ninety-nine percent filled Purple Mansion primeval sea, the Purple Crystal True Essence surged wildly. The aperture wall could no longer withstand this terrifying power and shattered with a bang!
Countless Heaven and Earth Qi surged into the shattered aperture, fusing with his own Human Qi.
Li Seek Defeat's Human Qi was condensed to the extreme, like the dazzling aurora in the polar night, like the vast and magnificent ocean, like calamity clouds covering the sky, suppressing the entire world!
Heaven and earth darkened, mountains and rivers inverted, the ocean surged, and the crowd screamed in terror.
Everyone looked up to see that blood-soaked figure standing calmly and elegantly hundreds of meters in the air, coldly looking down upon all living beings below.
If a man does not pursue grand ambitions, he wastes his inherent eight-foot body!
Li Seek Defeat let out a long howl, his voice shaking the Nine Heavens. Decades of hardship, tempering, slaughter, and obsession all transformed into a magnificent and impassioned poem:
The Qi Sea surges with mighty winds, bloody battles in war robes span ancient and modern times.
Long rivers cannot wash away the hero's demeanor, hot iron melts steel to forge a resolute heart.
Smoke and fire roll, bringing disaster to all directions, wielding a sword, stroking his beard, pointing to the sky.
When Immortal Ascension is achieved today, the killing calamity will rise again!