Calamity of Tomorrow

Xiang Tiandi slowly spoke, seemingly unconcerned about the situation of Zi Yang True Monarch, "If you want to come back, it's not impossible, as long as you clearly state why you aligned with Heavenly Demon. The methods of Heavenly Demon are unpredictable, and if you were coerced, Heaven could fully understand."

Zhou Bai's mind stirred, sensing a good opportunity before him. Although Xiang Tiandi had also been subjected to a reduction in intelligence due to secondary dissemination, each time it only decreased by one point. This demonstrated the opponent's formidable strength and left no opportunity for Zhou Bai to employ "Foolish Calamity."

But with Xiang Tiandi initiating a conversation and even posing a question, wasn't this the perfect opportunity for Zhou Bai to take advantage and strongly deceive the other party? If he could also drag the opponent into a state of "Foolish Calamity," he would have dealt with two celestial beings.

Thinking it over, Zhou Bai's gaze flickered, and he half-truthfully said, "I had no choice, Heavenly Demon promised to grant me an immortal and indestructible body, and also revealed some secrets about Heaven to me."

"Heh heh, I'm afraid no matter how long I cultivate, I couldn't possibly achieve immortality and Dao, right?"

Xiang Tiandi looked at Zhou Bai calmly, "Heavenly Demon claims to be immortal and indestructible, but in reality, it is just a puppet in the hands of the Heavenly Demon Empress. Even if you, a mere human, went over, you'd have no autonomy at all before the Empress, let alone the twelve Heavenly Demon Kings."

Zhou Bai, "So Heaven would be any different? With Heaven, I don't even have a chance to ascend to immortality or divinity. If I could ascend, why would I join the Heavenly Demon?"

"Ascension, huh..." Xiang Tiandi smiled, "Becoming an immortal is impossible, but there are still positions to become a god. The so-called deity is just a position under the authority of Heavenly Dao. Previously, no one succeeded merely because all the positions were filled. But now..."

He glanced at Zi Yang True Monarch and casually added, "Isn't a position about to be vacated?"

"Oh? So after Zi Yang True Monarch dies, a position might be vacated for someone to ascend?" Zhou Bai thought, "Well then, if I can ascend to godhood, I might help Heaven exterminate Heavenly Demon."

Xiang Tiandi, "You don't need to help exterminate Heavenly Demon, just stay covertly in the Heavenly Demon camp and gather intelligence for us..."

Their conversation flowed smoothly, speaking as if Zhou Bai was about to become an inside agent for Heaven, set to ascend in a few years.

However, the more Zhou Bai spoke, the more he felt something was amiss, as no matter what lies he spun, there was no indication on the panel of any decrease in intelligence.

Meanwhile, Xiang Tiandi suddenly laughed, "So, Zhou Bai... welcome to Heaven, starting from today..."

Whoosh!

The next moment, a bolt of lightning appeared behind Zhou Bai, reconstituting into the form of Xiang Tiandi, and brought down thousands of bolts, crashing onto Zhou Bai.

Boom!

Zhou Bai felt an immense pressure like mountainous waves crashing onto him, rapidly descending, and finally, with a loud crash, he hit the ground. Amidst the quaking earth and crumbling rocks, Zhou Bai stabilized his form and looked up at Xiang Tiandi in the sky.

"Truly tough, it seems I will need more time." Xiang Tiandi smiled, his hand slicing through the air, creating a spatial rift that faintly revealed scenes of another world, then straightaway tossed "Luotian Dao Skill 06" into it.

This was different from Zi Yang True Monarch's "Sleeve Universe"; it was the Luotian Realm, accessible only with a Daoist transformation degree of over 130%, symbolizing an endless and limitless existence.

Essentially, only the top existences among immortals could perform and maintain this Luotian Dao Skill.

Xiang Tiandi, too, had spent over a hundred years restoring his cultivation, raising his Daoist transformation degree back to 130% to be able to perform this Dao skill again.

The Luotian Realm was a unique extradimensional space exclusively for immortals and gods, which varied in size and condition due to differences in cultivation levels.

The Luotian Realm of the Supreme Heavenly Venerate, known as Daluo Heaven, had become a real world, independently existing and even self-sufficient.

Such a Luotian Realm was under the control and maintenance of the Supreme Heavenly Venerate, totaling thirty-three.

Seeing Xiang Tiandi directly throwing the original Dao repository 06 into his own Luotian Realm, Zhou Bai's gaze tightened.

Then Xiang Tiandi continued, "Zhou Bai, you were lying just now, weren't you? Although you sounded convincing, you actually don't understand the situation in Heavenly Court at all. Moreover, I've seen your records, and you're not someone who would side with the Heavenly Demon just for longevity."

As Xiang Tiandi spoke, the sky filled with thick clouds, and lightning bolts roared and brewed within them like dragons, displaying a profound heavenly might.

Xiang Tiandi went on, "Including the text you showed us in Central City and the things you told Zi Yang before twisting his mind. I've thought them over carefully many times, and most of them were lies."

He looked at Zhou Bai with a confidence that controlled everything in his eyes, "So, the premise of twisting others' minds relies on lies, right? Moreover, they have to be lies that others believe in; otherwise, they are useless."

Zhou Bai shivered inside, surprised that Xiang Tiandi had so quickly deduced the truth of his capabilities.

Xiang Tiandi said, "And this original Dao repository 06, you went to great lengths to obtain it, even risking coming into the fray yourself, which shows its utmost importance to you."

Xiang Tiandi looked down on Zhou Bai from above and declared confidently, "Zhou Bai, I have deciphered your power, and the item you risk your life for is in my hands. But with your pride, you certainly won't willingly surrender."

"So next..."

Xiang Tiandi clenched his fist, and the next moment, countless lightning bolts converged in his palm, the jumping electricity solidifying into a blinding thunderblade accompanied by roaring thunder.

"...I can only subdue you and then carry you back to Heavenly Court."

Whoosh!

Zhou Bai was startled and wanted to block, but Xiang Tiandi's speed was simply unfathomable.

The moment Zhou Bai thought to react, hundreds and thousands of Xiang Tiandi's figures had already appeared around him, mixing knife and lightning lights like a waterfall showering down on him.

Xiang Tiandi's attack was completely different from Zi Yang True Monarch's; it was unobtrusive but extremely condensed and restrained. Amid the knife and lightning cuts, there was no trace of flashiness, yet the surrounding ground seemed to be devoured by an invisible force, evaporating and sinking inch by inch.

In the eye of the storm, Zhou Bai felt as if he were being slashed by hundreds and thousands of knives every second, and the Apocalypse Heavenly Skeleton Armor even emitted creaking sounds.

For the first time since its creation, the Apocalypse Heavenly Skeleton Armor showed cracks, displaying the earth-shaking power of Xiang Tiandi, Marshal of the Thunder Department.

Facing Xiang Tiandi's onslaught, Zhou Bai, amidst this storm-like barrage of knife lights, stretched out a finger and slowly said, "Xiang Tiandi, you think you can defeat me by deciphering one of my abilities? Do you know who you're fighting against?"

Meanwhile, a sense of alarm suddenly surged in Xiang Tiandi's heart. Turning his head, he saw Zi Yang True Monarch, who had rapidly grown in fierce roars, tearing his own skin to shreds and transforming into a gigantic demon monkey. With fangs bursting from his mouth and a howl that filled the sky, his eyes blazed with sheer ferocity.