Sage Monarch

"You see," Patriarch Annalist said, "something monumental happened between the legion of gods, the hells, the godmammoths, and the Sovereign Lord. It was an immense war that led to the legion of gods perishing. Nowadays, the Ancient Road to the Gods is in ruins, and based on my understanding, it contains the corpses of gods, as well as god items and various other ruined treasures of the gods.

"Even the God Legion Seal was broken during that war. I was alive during that time and witnessed much of what occurred. After the gods perished, heroes arose and the dao of immortals rose to prominence. It was also during that chaotic time that the Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court appeared. Hmph! There were other top-tier individuals who existed back then that were even more powerful than the four emperors, but sadly they chose to walk to the Ancient Road to the Gods. And when the tiger is away from the mountain, the monkey becomes king."

'So that's how it is,' Yang Qi thought, stunned. 'I'm definitely going to go to the Ancient Road to the Gods sooner or later. That's the place to search for godly ascension. Except, despite how many countless people have made the attempt, it seems no one has succeeded in becoming a god lately. Of course, I've seen a true god, albeit in pieces.'

After all, he had met Brahma, who despite being severely injured and even chopped up into pieces, was still a god.

As they conversed, Yang Qi and Patriarch Annalist ventured further into the depths of the Unrestrained Heaven. The heaven-devils grew stronger and the fighting became more intense. Eventually, they could see Godmyth heaven-devils fighting and dying, including some who were ninth division Chaos Gods.

The fighting was so intense that the vital energy in the area was in complete disorder and the heavenly bodies weren't visible. Thankfully, the Unrestrained Heaven had a very tough greyspace, otherwise it might have been destroyed.

'Considering the constant fighting,' Yang Qi thought, 'it makes sense that the Unrestrained Heaven produces such top experts. Those who survive are veterans of numerous battles. No wonder human cultivators are no match for monsters like this.'

"Alright, that's Wave Wind's palace just ahead. Look, it's surrounded by devil light that makes it impossible for any other heaven-devils to enter it." The castle was indeed surrounded by dark green light, which made the place look particularly beautiful, although filled with profound devil energy.

And the fact that none of the other heaven-devils wanted to get near it made it seem like the lair of some dangerous beast that no other animals would approach.

"That profound light will detect anyone who tries to approach," Patriarch Annalist said. "What do we do now?"

"When you visit someone, you knock on the door," Yang Qi said, stepping out into the open to reveal himself.

BOOM!

A massive eruption of power rolled out from Yang Qi.

Crack. Rattle.

The light instantly shredded countless nearby heaven-devils into smoke, including some of the Chaos and Buddha Gods.

"I am Yang Qi," he said loudly, "the Emissary of Radiance and Light from the Dao Defense League, here to pay a formal visit to Devil Lord Wave Wind!"

RIP!

Yang Qi waved his hand, sending out such a burst of radiance and light that everything around him was evaporated into nothing. Then he unleashed the Hand of the One God, sending it directly toward the dark green shield of light.

The green light trembled, then shattered, creating a deadly shock wave. However, the shock wave collapsed when it touched Yang Qi. Not even the essence of the Unrestrained Heaven could do anything to his sagelight.

Yang Qi's sudden move caused Patriarch Annalist's heart to pound with fear. "Is this how you negotiate, Young Sir?"

"Hmph! These wretch-devils are plotting to kill me, so I need to make a show of strength. They think me weak, but they need to realize I'm not the same person I was before!" Only a month before, in the Heaven-Dao Operation God-Temple, Yang Qi had been a fifth division Nirvanic God, and hadn't been nearly on a level where he could beat Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven in a fight. But now he was a seventh division Measureless God, and had the legacy of seven gods, the bounty of the Aeonic God Temple, and all three thousand of King Heaven-Devourer's talismans. That wasn't to mention the Engine of the One God. Although he wasn't able to draw on the full power of everything he had acquired, he was still a thousand times stronger than before.

Not even the Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court working together could kill him now.

Given some time, he would gain full enlightenment of everything that the Aeonic God Temple, King Heaven-Devourer's talismans, and the Engine of the One God had to offer. Then he would become a Chaos God, and no one would be able to stand in his way.

As soon as the shield shattered, Wave Wind himself shot out into the open.

To hear and then see Yang Qi here caused an expression of surprise to appear on his face. "Y-you… you really are the Emissary of Radiance and Light! How did you get this strong? You're not even afraid of the Unrestrained Heaven? Immortals who dare to come into the depths of hell are like moths flying into flame!"

Snorting coldly, Yang Qi retracted the shining light he had sent out. "Cut the crap, Devil Lord Wave Wind. I know that you and the Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court are working together against me. You set up spell formations in the Heaven-Dao Operation God-Temple so that I won't be able to get to the Myriad Worlds Monarch Chart during my duel with Sectlord Nine Yangs. Did you really think I would just fall right into your trap? Well I won't. And I've come here today to kill you!"

"What? How did you find out about our plan? Who told you? That was a top-secret matter known only to the Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court and my most trusted advisors! Was it the emperors? Did they tell you? That must be the case. They're hoping the two of us will start fighting!"

From the way Wave Wind spoke, it was obvious that he was a viciously treacherous person, completely different from the feeble-minded lokapālas.

"Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court? No, they didn't tell me. It was Sectlord Nine Yangs. He's a believer of mine and has been acting as my agent. I bet you never would have dreamed that would be the case. Sorry to say, Devil Lord, the time has come for you to die."

RUMBLE!

Without any further fanfare, Yang Qi launched a fist strike.

The essence of the Unrestrained Heaven became a huge vortex as he sent the Hand of the One God directly toward Wave Wind.

"Unrestrained Godfist!" Wave Wind shouted in rage.

Devil energy converged in his hand, turning into an enormous mountain that he thrust out to meet the incoming attack. The two fists slammed into each other and a massive shock wave of vital energy spread out, destroying everything it touched.

Suddenly, Yang Qi blurred and became a host of projections that fanned out to surround Wave Wind like an enormous army.

'Such profound energy arts!' Wave Wind thought. 'How did he get this strong? My daughter said that, thanks to King Immortal-Slayer's legacy medallions, he's about as strong as Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven. But he's obviously stronger than that! His energy is so strong I feel like I'm suffocating!'

Wave Wind used another technique, the Grand Unrestrained Gentleman's Heaven-Devil Fist. Unfortunately, it was virtually useless. His opponent was battering him with numerous attacks, all of which sent true energy of radiance and light into his meridians and sea of consciousness. If it weren't for his profound cultivation base, and the fact that he had the advantage of being in the Unrestrained Heaven, he would definitely be dead already.

He simply couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that Yang Qi had energy arts this strong.

He himself was on par with Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven, which meant that if the two of them fought head to head, the battle could likely go on for a thousand years with no resolution. But here in the Unrestrained Heaven, with its essence under his control, he would definitely have an advantage against Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven.

Meanwhile, Yang Qi was thinking, 'This guy is really strong; I don't think I can kill him quickly.'

Redoubling his speed, he drew on two attacks at the same time, one with the Fist of the Halls of Heaven and the other with the Hand of the One God. Countless projections of the ancient halls of heaven appeared, transforming the devilish world around him into something pure.

"Devil Weapon: Evil Sin!" Fully aware of the desperate position he was in, Wave Wind finally pulled out a cudgel made of bone. Covered with inscriptions that described the death of the legion of gods, it was a god item from hell, an extremely high-level weapon that Wave Wind had acquired a hundred million years ago. Waving it back and forth with immense skill, he fended off the godpower of the Fist of the Halls of Heaven.

"You think a devil weapon left behind by some dead gods is going to stop me? You're crazy!" Yang Qi thrust his hand out again, this time drawing on the power of the Engine of the One God.

POP!

His hand hit Evil Sin, smacking it several times before he finally managed to grab onto it.

Crack. Crunch.

Evil Sin shattered, transforming into nothing but dust.