[A/N: I edited the previous chapter.]
Perched on a small rock amidst a grim tableau of blood-soaked earth and lifeless bodies, Azrael maintained a contemplative posture. The ground before him bore witness to the aftermath of his decisive actions, a silent testament to the confrontation that had unfolded. The air was heavy with the scent of metallic blood, and the once-peaceful landscape had been transformed into a battlefield strewn with remnants of the fallen.
Above him, the skies were marred by the approaching silhouettes of cultivators, drawn to the disturbance like moths to a flame. Some descended from the heavens, while others traversed the vast expanse of outer space, all converging upon Azrael's location.
As Azrael gazed upward, his expression remained inscrutable, betraying no hint of remorse or satisfaction. The pool of blood at his feet mirrored the somberness of the moment, and the rhythmic march of approaching cultivators echoed through the air.
The cultivators halted above him, their expressions ranging from solemnity to outrage as they beheld the tragic scene laid out before them.
"Vile Creature!" one of the cultivators shouted, expressing the collective sentiment.
"Vile? HAHAHAHAHA," Azrael erupted into maniacal laughter, sending shivers down the spines of the cultivators.
"Yes, I am vile. I am cruel and ruthless to those who want to oppose me. What can you do? I am strong!" He declared with an air of unapologetic arrogance.
"Strong?" a powerful Divine Sky cultivator snorted, "I can snuff out a Divine Human's life like you in an instant. I bet you have plenty of wonderful treasures. What kind of artifact did you use to send an announcement like that throughout the entire dimension of Gale Storm?"
However, Azrael did not respond immediately. Instead, he focused his gaze on the Divine Sky cultivator and, in a sudden, brutal motion, executed a horizontal slash that connected both of the cultivator's eyes. The Divine Sky cultivator screamed in pain, holding his face as blood flowed.
"It seems you were so blind that's why I did you a favor—I removed your eyes. You're welcome."
The surrounding cultivators were horrified, unable to comprehend the swiftness of the attack.
"A-Attack him!!"
The shout served as a signal, and multiple cultivators attempted to assail Azrael. They conjured powerful techniques capable of annihilating the entire planet. However, Azrael effortlessly dispersed each attack with precise slashes.
"You call me vile, yet you have no remorse for destroying this very planet. How hypocritical," he remarked. As the words left his lips, Azrael vanished, and a rain of blood poured to the ground as lifeless bodies fell simultaneously, leaving the remaining cultivators in a state of terror and disbelief.
Azrael swiftly annihilated the approaching cultivators before ascending to space. Traveling a considerable distance, he confronted a group of cultivators heading towards him.
"Trying to escape? You can't escape anymore! HAHAHAHA!" laughed a Divine King, causing the surrounding space to tremble.
"I am not trying to escape; I am here to deliver you death," Azrael calmly declared.
The Divine King's face contorted in anger, "Where's the elf?!"
"What's the use of knowing her location if you are going to die here and now?" Azrael responded.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!" The Divine King's laughter intensified, shaking the space even more. Nearby planets suffered the consequences, some exploding in the distance. "That's it! You are dead! Don't interfere; he is my prey."
"Don't even try to monopolize the 10 Billion Superior Grade Spirit Stone, Divine Spear!" a handsome man said, the man was holding a fan.
"Shut up! You man-woman!"
"Don't cross my bottom-line! Don't even think you are the only Divine King here!" a handsome man with a fan retorted, revealing his own Divine King aura.
"Tsk!" The Divine King clicked his tongue.
The oppressive auras of the two Divine Kings unsettled the other cultivators, ranging from Divine Human to Divine Sky, with some even reaching half-step Divine King.
"Are you guys finished with your love quarrel? If so, let's fight!"
The two Divine Kings turned their attention to Azrael, their attacks ready.
One Divine King wielded a spear, each strike capable of destroying stars, while the handsome man conjured Wind Blades capable of cutting through stars. Both attacks were formidable, even for those at the Divine King level. However, Azrael, with his Divine Human Realm cultivation, faced them with calm determination. Drawing his swords, he launched a counterattack, each strike more potent than the combined assaults of the two Divine Kings. Azrael's sword arts had reached an incredible degree, showing traces of Sword Great Dao.
Azrael had already achieved perfection in his sword law, the result of his relentless dedication and exceptional talent. This level of comprehension was typically reserved for Divine Emperors, making Azrael's achievements even more extraordinary. His travels weren't driven by a pursuit of perfection of law; instead, he embarked on a journey to transcend the limits of his current mastery. Specifically, he aimed to take the extraordinary step of converting his perfected sword law into Great Dao.
Azrael's attacks effortlessly dispersed the onslaughts launched by the two Divine Kings, continuing to assail them with an unwavering assault. Both Divine Kings, utilizing distinct techniques and weapons, struggled to defend themselves, their defenses ultimately crumbling under the relentless strikes, leaving them gravely injured.
"Coughed! Coughed! H-how!? A perfected sword law!? No, impossible!" The Divine King, specializing in spear techniques, found it challenging to accept what unfolded before him. The perfection of his spear law seemed an insurmountable task.
To ascend to the Divine Human Realm, cultivators needed a certain level of law comprehension. Once ascending, their journey shifted from mastering techniques to perfecting law. Minor, Mid, Major, and Peak levels of law corresponded to breakthroughs from Divine Human to Divine Sky, Divine Sky to Divine King, and finally, to reach the pinnacle — Divine Emperor. Achieving the conversion of law into Great Dao required reaching perfection in law comprehension.
In Azrael's case, despite having perfected his law, he remained a Divine Human, a testament to the stringent criteria for advancing further. While law was crucial, energy was equally essential. Unlike the convenient leap to Saint Lord if one has perfected Great Dao, there's no such thing in reaching Divine Emperor, perfected law is ultimately below perfected Great Dao after all. That's why it wouldn't offer such convenient thing like that to Azrael.
Although Azrael's qi was beneath that of a Divine King, its robustness and potency surpassed it. If quantified, the energy output comparison was staggering — a Divine Emperor would need 100,000 units to execute attacks Azrael effortlessly performed with a mere 10. This stark difference showcased the formidable nature of Azrael's energy.
"Is that all?"
Both Divine Kings exchanged glances, formulating a plan on the fly.
"Fellow Daoist, let's attack together. Weaker cultivators, form a formation and support us Divine Kings. Once we've weakened him, I will attempt to read his memory to locate the elf. I have a method, and as long as we can suppress him, we can split the reward. I bet he's carrying treasures."
Several hundred Divine Cultivators nodded in agreement, forming a battle formation to support the two Divine Kings. Consuming precious pills that cost them dearly, the two Divine Kings prepared for the assault. Despite the high price, healing their wounds seemed impossible without resorting to such measures. After the preparations, they launched a coordinated attack on Azrael.
Both Divine Kings unleashed their strongest attacks.
The Divine King wielding a spear summoned an image of a dragon, its power tearing through the surrounding space, showcasing its immense strength.
Simultaneously, the Divine King with a fan conjured a potent tornado made of wind blades. The swirling tempest had the destructive force to obliterate an entire solar system.
Hundreds of cultivators joined the assault in a formation, creating a dazzling display of colors akin to fireworks. Yet, beneath the beauty lay ruthless intent.
Azrael, gripping his swords tightly, launched his counterattack . [Night Sword Art]
A literal curtain of night descended in the region of outer space, extinguishing all light. Stars vanished, obscured by the darkness. Panic and fear gripped the hearts of the cultivators as the space around them turned pitch black.
Many cultivators who observed the unfolding battle, including those traveling on ships, witnessed a sudden anomaly. It was as if a black hole had emerged, devouring everything in its vicinity and leaving behind a void. Some utilized artifacts to scrutinize the scene, especially those at a distance.
The collision of attacks should have resulted in a massive explosion, but only silence prevailed. After a couple of seconds, the curtain of night lifted, revealing a gruesome aftermath.
Stars were shredded into pieces, moons and dead planets obliterated. Amid the scattered debris floated chunks of flesh and blood — the remnants of hundreds of powerful cultivators, including the two renowned Divine Kings.
Cultivators who had been traveling came to an abrupt halt. The realization struck that even Divine Kings were no match for Azrael's might.
In contrast to Azrael's previous exploit on Werriazol Planet, where the death of a Divine King went unnoticed, this time, observers had a front-row seat to witness the extent of Azrael's power. Some cultivators began to reconsider the idea of pursuing the elf, recognizing the formidable force they were dealing with.