Boom!!
Endless darkness erupted from the Dark Altar, clashing violently with the blade light. Dark Dao Rhymes and blade intent collided fiercely. Both forces were nearly equal — the power of darkness held true spirits and laws, while the blade intent, having endured countless heavenly tribulations, had evolved toward the immortal realm. Each slash could leave behind an intent that might linger for millennia without dissipating.
Crack!!
The altar and the blade intent violently struck against each other. Shockwaves surged out instantly, tearing buildings, structures, and objects into fragments — some even ground into dust and scattered in all directions.
Space around the area twisted continuously until, under extreme tension, it shattered completely.
The seductive woman beside Sauron was struck by a shockwave, immediately coughing blood and flying backward. Her face turned pale as paper. Clearly, she had been gravely wounded. A strand of blade intent still remained in her body, destroying her vitality.
"Dark Lord!!"She cried out in agony.
Crack!!
A crisp cracking sound rang from the Dark Altar. The cracks caused earlier by the Vermilion Bird bullet expanded rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye. The fissures grew wider and deeper. Dark inscriptions began to dissipate rapidly. With a loud rumble, cracks spread all over the altar. At the same time, a frenzied eruption of dark laws burst forth and clashed with the blade intent. The blade intent was corroded within the darkness.
Boom!!
Just as the stalemate continued, a sharp sound pierced the air—
Screee!!
Golden divine light streaked across the sky, resembling a vermilion bird soaring through the heavens. It moved faster than the eye could follow and reappeared directly in front of Sauron, smashing down onto his head without mercy.
Smack!!
There was no Dark Altar to protect him this time. The blow landed squarely on his skull — it shattered like a watermelon. Vermilion divine flames instantly engulfed his entire dark form, fiercely burning away. Streams of dark energy were refined, and inch by inch, flesh and blood disintegrated and vanished.
Shua!!
At the moment Sauron was struck, the Dark Altar suddenly trembled. Darkness blanketed the surroundings, and a warped dark space appeared. The entire altar eerily sank into it and vanished without a trace. The blade intent landed where the altar had been and split the entire dark fortress clean in half.
"There's nothing a single shot can't solve. If one isn't enough — two will do."
Floating in the void was a cloud of auspicious mist. Upon it stood Pei Shouyue, holding the Vermilion weapon in hand, eyes gleaming sharply. For him, there truly was nothing two shots couldn't resolve.
"Pity it wasn't a clean kill,"murmured Fu Hongxue, watching the altar flee. He shook his head slightly.
Killing a powerhouse at the Dao Platform realm completely was no easy task. As long as their altar existed, they could not be truly killed. Sauron had fused his True Name into the Dark Altar. As long as someone called upon his name or sacrificed to him, there was a chance — however slim — for him to return from the Ruins. In other words, near resurrection.
Of course, without anyone to offer sacrifices, a return was virtually impossible.
The altar's existence gave him no more than a one-in-ten-thousand chance to return — a sliver of hope. And perhaps not even that.
After two consecutive devastating attacks, the Dark Altar was on the verge of collapse. It could shatter at any moment. What would happen from now on was uncertain. No one could predict the future. But for now — Sauron was dead.
If Sauron had any spirit left in the heavens, he'd probably vomit blood in rage.
A dignified Dao Platform realm powerhouse — taken down by a group of people all weaker than him. A disgrace beyond imagining. If word got out, Sauron would become a laughingstock, a complete joke — the eternal shame of the Dark race.
He would be nailed to the pillar of disgrace forever, spat upon by all.
Da Yi Dynasty – Sacred King Palace
A memorial report appeared before Yi Tianxing.
A faintly amused smile appeared on his face. He gently laughed and shook his head.
"Sauron probably died without peace. A proud Dark Lord, felled in such a manner... His name will surely be written into Da Yi's history, remembered by the masses. Though the altar escaped, returning won't be so easy. Nor will he get the chance. Would I let him?"
A Dao Platform realm cultivator whose body dies but whose altar survives — this is called "death without decay."
Even so, to return, someone must know his name and perform massive sacrifices to him. The power required for such a resurrection wasn't minor. One or two years wouldn't suffice — perhaps a hundred, a thousand.
As long as Sauron was dead, Da Yi could sweep through the Dark Ring realm, eliminate his minions, and ensure he would never return. Once the altar was found and completely destroyed — that would be the end.
Crushing all hope of Sauron's return was not difficult. Once the realm was united under Da Yi, he would have no way back.
"Send the order: the Dark Ring diplomatic delegation shall attend court tomorrow morning in the Hall of Heaven."
Yi Tianxing gave the order after a short pause.
Naturally, someone would pass it on. All would proceed as scheduled in the next day's court assembly.
"One more great realm under Da Yi's control. A great blessing."
Yi Tianxing looked in the direction of the Dark Ring realm, a slight smile on his lips.
Sauron had been its greatest obstacle. Now that he was dead, nothing stood in Da Yi's way.
Naturally, Da Yi had already begun moving. Celestial Cities were being deployed to key strategic locations — particularly territories that had been under Sauron's control. By securing those zones and exercising real authority, the realm would be digested fully into Da Yi's dominion.
By then, even if other forces regretted their choices, it would be too late.
In this way, Da Yi would absorb the realm with minimal bloodshed, preserving its own strength and legacy — something Yi Tianxing was very satisfied with.
The Next Morning – Palace of the Sacred King
Morning bells rang in the sky above the Sacred King Palace.
The gates of the Hall of Heaven opened.
Cloud ladders rose upward. Officials stepped onto them, chatting as they ascended. Smiles filled the air.
"Ministers present their respects to the Sacred King and Sacred Queen!!"
Inside the hall, Yi Tianxing sat upon the throne. Beside him sat Cai Yan, present for today's court assembly. As Sacred Queen, she had the right to attend but not to interfere in politics. In the past, when Yi Tianxing was at war, she had held the palace in his stead — earning great respect from all.
"We pay respects to the Sacred King and Sacred Queen!!"The ministers bowed in unison.
"You may rise."Yi Tianxing nodded.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Summon the Dark Ring delegation to enter the hall,"Yi Tianxing commanded.
"Summon the Dark Ring delegation!!"cried out Cao Zhengchun, his voice sharp.
The delegation had been waiting outside, already informed. Hearing the call, they filed into the hall in an orderly fashion. At the front were Gandalf, Aragorn, and others.
As they entered, their hearts tightened slightly.
"So this is the core of the Da Yi Sacred Court… Truly awe-inspiring. There's nothing like this in our realm,"Gandalf thought, heart heavy.
The moment they stepped in, it felt like they'd entered another world. The hall was filled with an intangible, overwhelming pressure — as though the slightest misstep would mean instant death. Not even knowing how they died.
Now, they truly understood what it meant to stand before an emperor.
A supreme sovereign of heaven and earth.
Gandalf felt a powerful gaze fall upon him — the Sacred King's gaze, as mighty as a supreme emperor reigning over myriad realms. Irresistible.
Even the ministers on both sides of the hall, with their casually cast glances, gave off tremendous pressure. Not one of them was below the Law Manifestation realm. Their collective might made the Sacred Court unfathomably deep.
More than that — the delegation could feel law and order. Rigid, sacred order.
"Compared to Da Yi, our kingdom is like a mudfish beneath a heavenly dragon…"thought Aragorn, awestruck.
"Da Yi cannot be resisted. Its foundations are far too vast,"mused Legolas.
Over these past days, they'd witnessed Da Yi's prosperity and civilization firsthand — a world apart from their own wild land. And this wasn't even the heart of Da Yi — StarNet was the true core. Though they'd heard of it many times, they hadn't the qualifications to access it. They had no idea just how brilliant it truly was.
"Gandalf, Aragorn, and others from the Dark Ring delegation — greet the Sacred King of Da Yi!"
The envoys bowed in unison. They dared not show the slightest disrespect. After all, they represented the face of their entire realm.
"Envoys, you may rise,"Yi Tianxing nodded slightly.