Chapter 202: Death Scythe Slashes Divine Will
"A mere fragment of divine will dares to flaunt itself before me?"
Xiao Yu shouted coldly as endless soul power surged from his body. The deathly energy of the underworld, responding to his call, filled the space like an overwhelming tide, surging toward the Sea God's fragment.
"Sea God, figure out whose domain this is!"
The sky rumbled with thunder, and the pressure around the Sea God began to drop dramatically.
Since Xiao Yu had defeated the gatekeeper of Yomotsu Hirasaka, this region had recognized him as its master. The Sea God's attempt to strike at the domain's lord naturally provoked the strongest suppression from the underworld itself.
"Impossible!"
Faced with the immense oppressive force, the Sea God's fragment displayed a look of terror. He found himself barely able to move.
"Sea God, consider this a down payment for your debt!"
A glint of cold light flashed through Xiao Yu's eyes. This time, he did not summon his primary martial soul, the evolved Underworld King martial soul. Instead, he unleashed his second martial soul: the Death Scythe, a weapon forged from the final remnants of the God of Death's power before his demise.
"Thanatos, the Sea God is also one of the culprits behind your death. Today, I'll start by cutting down his divine will. Someday, you'll taste his divine blood!"
Gripping the Death Scythe tightly, Xiao Yu strode toward the Sea God step by step.
"Ha!"
Sensing the threat of death, the Sea God's fragment roared, and a vast illusory sea materialized behind him. Azure soul power surged outward like waves crashing upon the shore.
"Go!"
At that moment, the illusory Sea God shone with golden brilliance. The phantom ocean transformed into a torrential flood, rushing toward Xiao Yu with devastating force.
"Futile resistance!"
Xiao Yu sneered, raising the Death Scythe high above his head. The soul power surrounding it swelled, drawing all the killing intent and deathly energy in the air to its blade, as if it could tear apart everything in its path.
"This… this is the God of Death's power? Impossible! The God of Death should have perished long ago!"
The Sea God's voice trembled. As a fragment of divine will left behind when the Sea God ascended to the Divine Realm, he should have no knowledge of the God of Death's fall, let alone the ability to sense his divine power.
But the Sea God, who had colluded with the Asura God, could hardly be called a rule-abiding deity. To ensure Tang San's success as their chosen heir, he had continuously reinforced the divine will left in the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud through the Sea God's Heart.
"Since you recognize it, prepare to atone for your sins!"
Xiao Yu stepped forward, launching himself into the air like an arrow leaving the bow. With the Death Scythe gripped tightly in his hands, he slashed downward with ferocious power.
The ocean conjured by the Sea God's remaining divine power was split down the middle by the Death Scythe. The scythe's unleashed death energy surged along the path it had carved, striking the Sea God's phantom. The already faint fragment of divine will became even more ethereal.
"Damn it! That wretched God of Death—long dead by my hand—daring to fight me through a mortal vessel?!"
The Sea God's face twisted in fury. With a roar, the golden trident in his hand expanded, emanating an overwhelming oceanic force. He slashed it down at Xiao Yu, the strike as heavy as Mount Tai crashing down.
"Coward! Without the Asura God's help, do you think you could have killed Thanatos?"
Xiao Yu's voice rose, filled with disdain for the Sea God. Swinging the Death Scythe with all his might, he met the trident head-on.
A deafening crash resounded as the scythe and trident collided. The terrifying energy from the clash rippled outward, unleashing a violent storm.
The struggle lasted only moments before cracks began to spread across the Sea God's trident. With a crisp shattering sound, the golden weapon broke apart entirely, dissolving into countless fragments of blue energy that dispersed into the void.
Unstopped, the Death Scythe continued its downward arc, slicing into the Sea God's phantom. The fragment of divine will shattered completely.
The Sea God, his divine power nearly depleted, was struck by the Death Scythe infused with the God of Death's power. His illusory form finally dissipated, leaving only the triangular prism-shaped Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud quietly floating in place.
Xiao Yu extended his hand and drew the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud into his palm. Without the interference of the Sea God's divine will, his soul power easily penetrated its interior.
The artifact's original four abilities remained: the invisibility-providing Vast Sea Barrier, the locking and controlling ability of the Cosmic Stabilization Barrier, the area-attack skill Vast Sea Surge, and the single-target, high-damage attack Cosmic Break. However, their power seemed to have diminished significantly.
Xiao Yu speculated that the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was essentially a soul tool, likely a ninth- or even tenth-level soul tool developed over ten thousand years ago before the interruption of soul tool technology. It must have later fallen into the Sea God's possession, where he infused it with his divine will, transforming it into the Sea God's Heart.
Now that Xiao Yu had erased the divine will, the artifact had reverted to its original state as a soul tool.
Among its abilities, the invisibility-providing Vast Sea Barrier was especially useful to Xiao Yu in his current circumstances. With it, he could meditate, cultivate, or rest at night in the underworld without constant vigilance.
"With the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, I won't need to bring Dugu Bo along on this trip to the underworld!"
Initially, Xiao Yu had planned to take Dugu Bo with him into the underworld. Since summoned characters couldn't enter the underworld, the only companions he could bring were Dugu Bo, Yang Wudi, Niu Gao, Bai He, and Ye Renxin.
Ye Renxin, being a support-type soul master, wasn't necessary with the superior capabilities of Ye Lingling. Thus, Ye Renxin could be excluded.
Niu Gao and Bai He had only recently joined the Nine Star Hall. Even if Xiao Yu trusted their character, asking newly joined members to accompany him alone wouldn't sit well with the rest of the sect.
Yang Wudi was in charge of medicinal herb collection and pill refining—a critical responsibility. Even if Yang Wudi wanted to come, Xiao Yu wouldn't dare take him along.
That left only Dugu Bo as a viable choice.
However, with the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud's defensive and invisibility functions, Dugu Bo's presence became less necessary. Xiao Yu had originally intended for Dugu Bo to handle guard duty and night watches. Combat against the underworld gatekeepers was already allocated to Xiao Yu and his group for training.
Furthermore, the group heading into the underworld consisted mostly of youthful men and women. Asking a nearly century-old elder to spend years watching over them as they trained, and likely witnessing their camaraderie and budding relationships, seemed utterly unreasonable.
(End of Chapter)
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