Rage surged within Zhu Yan, fierce and unyielding, much like the curse the Black Calamity unleashed upon Yichen. Despite deploying three protective barriers and the numerous talismans Ying Lei had added, along with the Kunlun sword thrust firmly into the ground to stabilize the area, the sinister influence of that eerie wheel still pierced through their defenses. It wasn't that the Black Calamity had surpassed Zhu Yan in raw strength—his cultivation level was still far below his own—but his attacks drew upon an intricate fusion of advanced dark spells, each fueled by the realm's malicious energy itself.
By drawing power from the land to fuel his wheel rather than relying on his own energy, he accessed a formidable source that brought him closer to the realm of a great demon, teetering on the edge of godhood, even though his core had yet to fully develop to that level. It was a risky, deceitful tactic, but given the chaos energy already swirling within his core—deeply tainted and unpredictable—it became a more accessible path for him to explore and use.
Yet, a compelling reason kept the vast majority of demons from pursuing that path. While harnessing external energy to leap levels promised immense power, it came with significant risks. Firstly, this method did not contribute to the evolution of one's core. More critically, any stolen energy required careful control; without it, chaos would ensue, leading to disastrous backlashes on one's cultivation.
Harnessing a power greater than one's capacity to control often resulted in being consumed by it entirely. So far, every demon who attempted this shortcut had failed catastrophically. Being a chaos demon might make the process somewhat smoother, but not even the infamous Black Calamity could resist his eventual downfall—he, too, was destined to go down in flames. Or in ice, if Yichen really gets to him before the wheel gets out of control. He simply needed to give his husband some time to avoid such a calamity.
With Yun Guan firmly in hand, Zhu Yan strode beyond the barrier with the bearing of a seasoned warrior. A surge of his demonic energy surrounded him, forming a shield to counteract the effects of the ominous wheel. The immense pressure was manageable—his core, honed to a level far surpassing anyone present, fortified him against such strain.
Yet, the malicious energy curse that tainted anything exposed to it was another matter entirely. Though he possessed some resistance, true immunity eluded him, and its vile nature gnawed at the edges of his defenses. However, even so, he was strong enough to resist it for the most part.
"Black Calamity... you've truly outdone yourself—not only by creating such an abomination but also by daring to challenge someone far beyond your reach. You harmed my lover, and for that, you will pay with your life..." Upon hearing the threat, a mocking laugh escaped his lips.
"Outdone myself? You think that matters? Not even Zhu Yan can challenge me now! Spare me your pathetic bravado, dragon-loving wretch! I'll crush you like an insect underfoot—and make sure he watches before I tear him apart!" Its menacing words echoed, prompting Zhu Yan to glance at Yun Guang with a steely resolve.
"Did you catch that? He truly seeks his end at my hands. No one dares to insult my beloved and lives to tell the tale," Zhu Yan declared, his eyes narrowing as fury surged within him.
"No one lays a finger on my Didi either. This monster needs a lesson in humility. If we wait any longer, he'll cause irreparable havoc in the human world. It's time to put an end to him." As their shared resolve took hold, in the blink of an eye, they vanished from sight, only to reappear seconds later before the ominous dark purple wheel.
Yun Guang slammed against gold and purple lightning that encased the wheel in a sudden protective barrier, forbidding them entry. The wheel trembled under their presence and soon began spinning furiously, its inner core glowing ominously. With each turn, raw magic crackled outward, signaling the activation of yet another devastating calamity.
This time, as the wheel locked into its next assault, an ear-splitting screech erupted, so unnervingly intense it felt as if it came straight out of the depths of hell. The air was filled with countless echoes of anguished cries, reverberating all around and forcing everyone to cover their ears in a desperate attempt to muffle the tormenting noise. Even Zhu Yan was compelled to descend to the ground, his heightened senses far more vulnerable than any human's. Li Lun screamed in agony as the piercing sound seemed to stab through his eardrums, clawing at the edge of his sanity.
The agonizing sound of a thousand anguished souls screaming in torment would have been unbearable on its own, but the true horror lay in the relentless effect of their cries. They invaded the minds of their listeners, dredging up their most traumatic memories and forcing them to relive those moments as if they were happening all over again.
For the Pei siblings, this torment was particularly cruel, as their tragic pasts were the very thing they had desperately tried to forget. For Bai Jiu, reliving the death of his mother was as devastating as the day reality had stripped him of the power to save her. Wen Xiao fared no better, haunted by the sight of her parents being slain at the hands of a demon.
The Zhuo brothers had also endured their share of suffering. Losing their mother at a young age had scarred them both; though Yixuan, being older, could process the loss somewhat more stoically, Yichen struggled deeply to come to terms with it.
Li Lun's wounds were even rawer—his mind was a battlefield of pain—but the greatest challenge for him emerged during the war with the gods, when he faced his best friend Zhu Yan as an adversary. Although neither of them aimed to kill the other, their fierce battles left them wounded in more than flesh. The deep sense of betrayal he felt back then lingered, making the thought of rekindling their rivalry hard to swallow.
Ying Lei alone seemed untouched by torment as devastating as the others, yet even he was not immune to the maddened pull of the wailing. The unrelenting sound clawed at his mind and threatened to break him.
The Black Calamity reveled in the despair he had sown. Watching his enemies fall before his power, their spirits crushed further with each moment, filled him with delight. Even the one who had so boldly attempted to strike down his wheel now knelt in defeat, his quivering body supported only by the sword he drove into the earth for balance. A cruel laugh echoed in the air.
"Where is that confidence now?" he gloated. "Behold my third calamity—Thousand Wailing Souls!" With his declaration, the cries rose to an even more deafening pitch, each scream cutting into their very beings.
Zhu Yan, too, harbored countless painful memories—from his childhood days spent fleeing from demons to witnessing his father's ultimate sacrifice and Bing Yi's disappearance without a trace. Yet unlike the others, he bore no regret. He had faced his anguish and accepted it as part of a past that no longer consumed him. For him, those nightmares remained where they belonged—in memories, not in chains.
Zhu Yan smiled softly, replacing the bitter memories that once haunted him with the one that brought him the greatest joy. His wedding with Yichen came rushing back—his father's blessing, the night they made love with each other, and the celebration full of laughter and warmth that came after. In those moments, Yichen radiated happiness, his joy so profound it seemed to light up everything around him. With such a cherished memory nestled in his heart, how could he allow himself to be consumed by a past that no longer held power over him?
"What's with that smile? Don't tell me you, as a demon, haven't tasted hell!" the Black Calamity jeered, narrowing his eyes in confusion at Zhu Yan's sudden serene expression.
"Every demon has their hell," Zhu Yan replied calmly, rising to his feet with measured grace. "That much is true. But some torments pale in comparison to the moments that rewrote my destiny for the better. Baobei... wasn't our wedding magical?" He didn't need to turn around to sense Yichen's reaction; he could feel the warmth of his smile.
"It was... absolutely magical," Yichen murmured, his voice tinged with weakness as he leaned to his side to better support himself on the ground.
"Then let's relive it," Zhu Yan said firmly. Gently placing a finger on his own forehead, he drew forth an ethereal red ribbon from within himself. With a quiet incantation, he sent it toward the barrier behind them.
"Silence!" he commanded with his one-word authority. At once, the deafening screeches ceased. An awe-struck hush enveloped the space as those around them witnessed, not with their eyes but in their minds, the special moment when Ying Long had united Zhu Yan and Yichen in marriage within his dimension—untouched by pain and free from the grasp of fate's cruel wheel, turning tragedy into a blessing.
"Indeed, Zhu Yan had been labeled a traitor on numerous occasions, but honestly, I never cared for such petty accusations. On the contrary, I couldn't help but admire him with all my heart." Hearing this, Li Lun almost rolled his eyes. His inflated sense of self was, at times, so over the top that it bordered on comedic.
"You shameless Zhu Yan lover!" The Black Calamity bellowed furiously, pointing an accusatory finger at Zhu Yan, who calmly raised a hand in protest.
"Allow me to clarify—my affections are reserved for one stunning and cherished lover, and it certainly isn't Zhu Yan. Keep that in mind," he replied, and Wen Xiao couldn't help but give a sly smile.
"Is this guy serious right now? We're in the middle of a legendary battle!" Bai Jiu burst out, utterly dumbfounded.
"That's just his style, get used to it..." Li Lun muttered with a resigned sigh.
"Enough of this nonsense! I'll crush that arrogance of yours like the insignificant bug you are!" Zhu Yan exhaled in exasperation. Why did others always mistake him for something other than his true nature?
"I'm an ape, not a bug. But fine, let's get serious now, shall we?" He responded with a sly grin.
"You think you can? Dark Moon!" Snarled the Black Calamity as he used the wheel one more time.
The cursed artifact swelled to immense proportions, obscuring the sun and plunging the surroundings into a void-like darkness. The humans below were enveloped in blindness, seeing only the faint glimmer of protective barriers that dulled the wheel's overwhelming power. Yichen's shimmering golden shield and the icy tattoos etched across his body stood out starkly amidst the gloom. Li Lun pulled Yixuan closer to him as the sinister wheel began to activate its forbidden dominion.
Above them, the shadowy tips of colossal black chains materialized, lingering ominously before the Black Calamity called down their destructive force. They streaked downward like meteoric harbingers of doom. Without hesitation, Zhu Yan sprang into action, teleporting himself over his barrier. Channeling his own strength alongside Yun Guang's, he unleashed a series of devastating slashes, cutting through the black stone chains with precision and ferocity as his assault splintered their deadly descent.
However, more chains cascaded from above, their eerie clinking like the mournful purring of rain, only to be replaced by an ominous onslaught of endless black chains. Li Lun squared his stance, unleashing his strongest vines to aid Zhu Yan in deflecting the cursed assault—chains saturated with the same malignant energy their foe had wielded until now. Nearby, Pei Sijing and Siheng loosed a barrage of arrows and threads, their focus unwavering as they destroyed anything that dared draw close to the fragile barrier.
Yet the shattered fragments of chain brought fresh danger. As they hit the ground, they released a billowing dark fog that began creeping toward them. Li Lun quickly conjured his tornado leaves to disperse the poisonous haze, but with every chain demolished by Zhu Yan, the fog grew denser and more suffocating, like an unrelenting tide.
"Stop it! Breaking them is making it worse!" Li Lun shouted, frantically summoning another surge of leaf tornadoes.
"I can't. They mustn't reach the barrier!" Zhu Yan snapped back, his blade slicing through another wave of descending chains. "Those are hell's chains! They will curse any soul with unbearable karma if they make contact! I can't let even one pass! No matter what happens, I can't stop now!"
Li Lun gritted his teeth and muttered under his breath, then summoned another flurry of whirlwind leaves. The battle against the chains grew fiercer as tension crackled in the fog-choked air.
Du Wu unleashed his corrosive poison, intensifying the efforts to obliterate the remnants of the chain that Zhu Yan had already shattered. Meanwhile, Yu She channeled a portion of his cultivation to him, enhancing the poison's potency further.
Yixuan reinforced Zhu Yan's barriers with an additional purifying one of his own. Drawing upon Nuwa's divine power, he ensured the barrier remained resilient against the persistent karmic fog that still seeped through Li Lun's tornados. Meanwhile, Bai Jiu magnified his influence over the healing trees, allowing their restorative powers to continue mending everyone's injuries and exhaustion.
Ying Lei grasped one of Wen Xiao's hands, requesting her to share her golden-eyed vision. With his other hand resting on the Kunlun sword, he focused intently, closing his eyes to concentrate on teleporting the fog away. Using the enhanced clarity provided by Wen Xiao's golden sight, he managed to displace the encroaching fog—spanning a six-yard radius—far from the protective barrier.
Yet, despite their relentless efforts to halt the advance of the black fog, the suffocating presence of karmic energy lingered. It pressed down on them like an unbearable weight, as if they carried sins as immense as a mountain. Yixuan poured his energy into maintaining the purification barrier, but it was not enough to cleanse the tainted air entirely. His continuous struggle was rapidly draining his strength, forcing Li Lun to step in and steady him when he faltered.
Meanwhile, Du Wu and Yu She could do little more than continue their current actions, powerless before the overwhelming force of karma. This surge of malicious energy during the battle exceeded anything their abilities could counter. It was no longer a skirmish they could influence—this was a cataclysmic clash of gods, the likes of which hadn't been witnessed since the war.
"We can't keep this up much longer! Karma is a primordial law of cause and effect. A forced, corrupted version of it, fueled by hell itself, is unbeatable! We have no choice but to destroy the hell dimension entirely!" Ying Lei's voice rang out, but eliminating a realm bolstered by hellish forces was far harder than what Ying Lin had imagined. Even Zhu Yan's formidable one-word spell wasn't enough to tackle such a feat.
That was when Zhu Yan sensed the brush of Yichen's mind connecting with his own.
"Ā Yan, hold on just a little longer... I'm almost ready to end this. A hellish dimension can only be undone with divine power. You carry the blessings of three gods, and Yun Guang rests in your hands. Unlash all of his might and offer your divine essence. I promise I will not let you down." Yichen urged him, and Zhu Yan couldn't help but smile, pride swelling within him for his beloved's unwavering support and care.
He stole a fleeting glance at Yichen, who radiated with intricate ice tattoos, enhancing his ethereal beauty. His dragon horns grew larger, his once glossy black hair deepening into an oceanic dark blue. Even without Yichen's eyes open, Zhu Yan knew they had shifted into a mesmerizing shade of turquoise. Yichen's power was evolving rapidly—he just needed more time.
"Anything for you, Baobei. There's no need to reassure me either—I trust you completely. I always have, and I always will." Zhu Yan murmured under his breath, his resolve hardening as he turned back to face the raging chaos of hell before them.
Zhu Yan's voice rang out with determination as he declared, "I've had enough of this hell. Let's finish it here and now. Nine Stars!" With these words, his hands moved in a blur, forming a series of intricate seals.
The bleak, sinful karmic dimension, began to transform as faint starlight pierced through the dark, dense clouds overhead. Bright beams from the star formation gradually swallowed the darkness, turning hell's chains into dust and starting to break the dimension as though it were delicate glass fracturing under overwhelming power.
A surge of divine power descended from above, its brilliance purging the heavy karma in its wake. The karmic energy dissolved into pure white flames, a cleansing fire that left nothing impure behind. The Black Calamity looked on in shock as the unthinkable unfolded—an unraveling of its carefully constructed prison.
The entire dimension crushed under the divine force and shattered completely. In that moment, the relentless turning of the great wheel slowed, and with a sudden jolt, they were transported back to the demon world, standing exactly where their ordeal had begun.
"You crafty demon, invoking the powers of the heavens! How utterly disgraceful. Do you truly believe yourself to be a god? Tell me, then—what is your name, oh mighty great demon?" Li Lun had never kept company with his own kind, save for that accursed friend from his past, Zhu Yan. But as those words left his lips, realization began to dawn.
Li Lun had crossed the gate to challenge Zhu Yan once more, just as he did every few centuries, always returning in solitary defeat. This time was different. This time, he returned not alone, but flanked by a group of lesser demons and one stronger than the rest. Yet now, as he examined them closer, something felt off. Though they appeared demonic, he could barely detect even a trace of demonic energy in most of them—save for two.
One was the young dragonling, and the other carried a faint, diluted hint of dragon blood. Humans in disguise? Could it be? And if so, was the so-called great demon among them the genuine one? His appearance was unfamiliar, but Zhu Yan's mastery over spells was unparalleled. Crafting such seamless disguises would not be beyond him. Could it be that, at long last, Zhu Yan dared to cross the gate?
The Black Calamity erupted in manic laughter. Fate had finally played its hand in his favor. After all these centuries, here it was—the perfect chance to eliminate his greatest enemy short of Bing Yi. And the best part? This opportunity had come to him of its own accord, without the risk of venturing beyond the gate himself. If he could crush Zhu Yan here, nothing would stand in his way from crossing over and turning the human world into his eternal playground. Luck like this was a gift even gods could envy. His laughter grew louder and wilder, echoing through the air like a harbinger of chaos to come.
"Wow, has he finally lost it?" Ying Lei asked, glancing at Li Lun, whose shrug made it clear he didn't have an answer.
"Who can say? Certainly not me." Li Lun replied, his eyes shifting to the demon above and his manic laughter.
"Ah, Li Lun, for delivering him to me so perfectly, I owe you a significant favor. Perhaps I'll even spare your life after I've reduced Zhu Yan to mere ashes! Demon Army!" With that, the demon summoned his next disaster, the wheel spinning faster as its mounting energy grew even darker and more menacing.
Aware of the Qi-draining nature of the battle, Zhu Yan knew he couldn't afford to let the fight stretch on. Time was against him, and prolonging the clash would only make things worse. Determined, he chose to unleash another one-word spell, even though he understood the toll it would take on him. Such spells demanded that his power exceed that of his opponent—in this case, the immense force radiating from the wheel itself. The quicker he could fend off the calamities, the better the chances of safeguarding Yichen and the rest of his team.
He couldn't destroy the wheel itself, as it contained nine calamities fueled by malicious energy. While he had the strength to overpower one at a time, taking on all nine simultaneously—let alone the Black Calamity—was beyond him at that moment. Perhaps at his peak, such a feat might have been possible, but not in the weakened state he found himself in now.
"Crush!" With that command, the horde of demons began to implode one by one, collapsing in on themselves even as more descended from the wheel. Though Zhu Yan felt the strain settling deep within his core, he retained just enough energy to face the next calamity head-on.
The Black Calamity erupted in further laughter, relishing the sight of Zhu Yan pouring ever greater amounts of his strength into saving the insignificant humans from falling out of strength in battle. There was a twisted delight in watching the decline of the one hailed as the greatest demon. A being once revered for wielding the power of creation, now rendered futile with every fleeting moment. And then, without hesitation, he called forth his next calamity.
"Soul Devouring Gate!" The wheel spiraled chaotically, then abruptly halted, as if frozen by an unseen force.
Zhu Yan glanced back at Yichen, who remained immersed in his cultivation. His husband's power surged, leaving his aura colder than before—though not yet cold enough to unleash Bing Yi's freezing spell. It was clear that Yichen wasn't responsible for the wheel's sudden standstill. So what was the cause? Why had it stopped so suddenly?
Outside the barrier, the others lifted their gazes, with equally puzzled expressions mirroring Zhu Yan's growing unease. The silence felt ominous, and Zhu Yan's instincts urged caution. Without wasting time, he called them back inside the barrier. As they approached, a faint gust of wind stirred, its presence rippling through the distant treetops.
"Why did it stop? Did the wheel break or something?" Bai Jiu questioned as he reached Ying Lei's side.
"I'm certain it's not broken," Wen Xiao interjected, linking her arm with Sijing, her voice carrying a firm edge. "But be carefully. Whatever comes next might be even more perilous than what we've faced so far—I can feel it."
They narrowed the gap between themselves and the barrier, but before they could cross its threshold, dark storm clouds overhead twisted in unnatural shapes. The sky, once chaotic but predictable in its turmoil, revealed something far more sinister than mere weather—a distortion forming amidst the thunderclouds above.
A small tear appeared across the sky, widening with an ominous glow as the wheel changed to radiate a sinister red aura, charged with an even greater surge of malicious energy.
"Don't look at it—hurry back!" Zhu Yan's urgent shout snapped them out of their stunned daze. Their eyes shifted from the distorted space clawing at reality—a phenomenon Wen Xiao had warned would bring nothing but disaster.
They sprinted away as a single leaf was drawn upward into the rift. Then another followed, then several more. The wind swelled rapidly into a ferocious storm, ripping entire trees from the ground and dragging them into the expanding void. It was no longer a mere tear; it had become a fully formed gate to another dimension, born from the corrupting energy radiating from the wheel.
Li Lun cradled Yixuan in his arms, their proximity mirroring that of the other pairs nearby. Without hesitation, he anchored them both firmly, driving his roots deep into the earth to withstand the vortex's relentless pull. His vines stretched and coiled tightly around his paired companions—Ying Lei with Bai Jiu, Pei Sijing with Wen Xiao, and Du Wu with Yu She—each secured in place.
Siheng stood close to Sijing and Wen Xiao but not near enough to be tied with them, so he was secured on his own. Zhu Yan remained close to the unaffected Yichen, holding the pull on his own power along with Yun Guang. Above them, chaos unfurled in the sky as debris swirled violently. Rocks, water from nearby creeks, moss, and grass were drawn into the rift's ravenous maw, its hunger reminiscent of the terrifying appetite described in the Taotie legend.
Meanwhile, the wheel started to move again, spinning faster and faster. The wheel had long turned into a god-like weapon fueled by the very essence that tainted demons left and right in the distant past. As the tugging grew more forceful, the others clung tightly to Li Lun's vines, holding on desperately for dear life as their bodies were also lifted off the ground.
"Li Lun, clinging to vines won't save you this time! Witness the full force of this calamity—dark and deliciously wicked! Keep a closer eye on your husband, Zhu Yan. He might very well be the first to die!" The Black Calamity sneered, his laughter ringing out once more.
Zhu Yan exhaled sharply, refusing to even spare Yichen a glance. There was no need; Yichen was under Bing Yi's protection now. Zhu Yan had noticed the faint glow of the god's seal momentarily lighting up his forehead. With Bing Yi's power guarding him, there was little reason for concern. Even though the essence his father transferred wasn't the true Bing Yi, the mere presence of a god's consciousness remained overwhelmingly lethal.
The Black Calamity sneered at him, its voice dripping with derision. "Oh? You're indifferent about the safety of your half-human lover now? Weren't you shamelessly obsessed with him before?" But Zhu Yan merely smiled, a glint of defiance in his eyes.
"My Baobei is extraordinary," he said. "He doesn't need my protection. Do your worst if you must." Provoked by his audacious reply, the Black Calamity snarled and unleashed the full horror of the wheel's power, letting its nightmarish wrath loose.
"Then watch him—and everyone else—die!" he bellowed as pitch-black lightning erupted within the rift, obliterating everything that entered. It didn't just destroy; it erased all traces of existence, wiping anything from the past, present, and future as if they never were there to begin with.
"Oh hell, this is insane!" Siheng shouted, his voice trembling as he stared down at himself in disbelief, watching with growing terror as his very spirit seemed to be ripped from his body bit by bit. He could see the translucent shape of his arm peeling out his flesh.
"Siheng!" The desperate cry came from Yun Guang, who remained in his sword form, unable to change without risking revealing Yichen's hidden nature.
But Siheng wasn't the only one battling against the relentless pull of the gate. Nearby, Pei Sijing, Wen Xiao, Bai Jiu, Ying Lei, and Zhuo Yixuan were also caught in the same horrifying grip, their souls teetering on the brink of being torn away. Panic strikes for a moment as they have never faced an attack that was meant to erase their very existence. That could forcibly pull out their souls.
Li Lun, Yu She, and Da Wu, despite their higher levels of cultivation, could feel an eerie pull gnawing at their souls too. It was as though a sinister force was draining them from within, leaving Li Lun with the worst sensation he had ever experienced—an overwhelming fear of being hollowed out and forgotten for all eternity. In stark contrast, Yichen stood unaffected, just as Zhu Yan had foretold. Yet, Yichen wasn't the only one present shielded by divine protection.
"Everyone, let's do core resonance!" Wen Xiao's voice echoed in their minds, commanding decisively. Without pause or resistance, the group complied, shutting their eyes and pushing aside the grotesque sensation of their souls being siphoned. Their concentration turned toward the connection they shared, as their divine cores began emitting radiant godly energy to counter the oppressive force.
Yixuan's divine power was the strongest among them. His energy surged first, surrounding everyone present—Li Lun, Zhu Yan, and even the other two demons too—in a protective shield of golden light. Fueled by Nuwa's divine power, the dragon-shaped aura grew ever stronger. One by one, the others unleashed their own divinity, harmonizing their energies to shield themselves and nullify the influence emanating from the ominous gate.
Seeing the Black Calamity's face twist in anger, Zhu Yan smiled with satisfaction. Every human there, in their own way, had proven they were far from powerless, each deserving recognition for their unique abilities to stand against even demonic god-tier weapons. Now it was his turn to give them a hand.
"Your so-called death sentence has proven ineffective," Zhu Yan proclaimed, placing his finger over his mouth as he summoned a spell of creation upon the gate.
All eyes were fixed on the spectacle before them as the rift began spewing out everything it had consumed—the leaves, the trees, the water, and the stones—each object materializing as though time itself had rewound. But rather than meddling with time, Zhu Yan was wielding the immense power of creation.
He had created exact replicas of all that had been erased one by one, relying on his unparalleled memory to bring them forth. Every detail, no matter how small, had been meticulously committed to mind, enabling him to manifest the illusion of reversal as he restore them back to their original place. It was a carefully orchestrated deception, aimed at making the Black Calamity believe he controlled time itself.
The plan was cunning: feed fear into his adversary's heart, compelling it to unleash its strongest attack in an act of desperation before his own strength failed him when he needed it the most. That very outburst was what he had been anticipating—a chance to capitalize on the chaos.
What inspired his action the most, however, was one particular observation. Among the debris sucked into the void were minuscule shards of ice—traces that unmistakably bore Yichen's signature. His Baobei had prepared for this moment, ready to ascend to godlike heights, if only briefly. The thought thrilled him. He could hardly wait to witness Yichen's divine ice power in its transcendent, radiant glory.
As expected, the Black Calamity lashed out in fury, the wheel darkening into an ominous shade of black. This was it—the ultimate power of the wheel. Zhu Yan braced himself, prepared to witness the emergence of the young dragon god. His reserves of demonic energy were running dangerously low, but he had conserved just enough strength to deal with Yichen once his true awakening reached its conclusion.
"Just die already, you vile monkey! Behold the ultimate calamity. Oblivion Star!" The Black Calamity roared as the wheel pulsed with unfathomable power, spinning in reverse to unleash a massive vortex in the sky. From its depths, a titanic obsidian star began its slow, terrifying descent.
The ground quaked violently beneath them, and the air grew suffocating—thick and searing, as though it burned the lungs with each breath. The swirling dark clouds overhead were obliterated, evaporated by the intense heat radiating from the descending star.
Even Zhu Yan, resilient as he was, was thrown harshly to the ground by the unbearable pressure. It was a weight capable of shattering bones. His mind racing, Zhu Yan channeled his strength into a set of one-word spells—first to shield the others from the agony of broken bodies and then another to help them breathe through the sweltering heat that now enveloped them.
"Come on, Baobei," he muttered under his breath, forcing himself to rise despite the crushing force bearing down on him. "It's your turn to take the stage."
※※※※※❄️❄️❄️※※※※※
While the others faced calamities after calamities, within his core, Yichen observed Bing Yi's every motion, committing each detail to memory with an almost supernatural exactness. Dragons harness energy differently compared to humans, channeling and solidifying power through various meridians distributed across their bodies. As Bing Yi's mirage demonstrated the method to unlock these concealed meridians, Yichen began practicing, drawing strength from his own cultivation to replicate the technique. However, he soon realized it wasn't enough.
In that moment of realization, Yichen whispered a fervent plea. "Ying Long... I'm not strong enough yet to pull this off on my own. Please, help me. I can't allow Zhu Yan to bear all the danger alone. He's my soulmate—my everything. I can't fail him, nor the rest of the family I have gained now." A voice responded, but it wasn't Ying Long.
"Child... have you forgotten that we share the same blood?" The words came from Bing Yi himself, who had stopped his lesson, now standing resolutely before Yichen. Bing Yi's voice was soft and steady as he spoke.
"Even if I am but a mirage, fragments of divinity still dwell within me. I can feel Ying Long answering your plea too. If Zhu Yan is truly your soulmate, I cannot remain indifferent to your request." Yichen's voice trembled as he pleaded once more, desperation coloring his every word.
"Please, I'll do whatever it takes. No matter how difficult." Bing Yi regarded him solemnly, his gaze unwavering.
"Your devotion and desperation are undeniable. What I'm offering may bring pain—perhaps more than you can bear—but if you accept it, it will grant you the power you so desperately need." Yichen bowed before him with resolute determination.
"Pain means little to me. Saving those I love is what matters most." A faint smile graced Ying Long's face.
"Then prepare yourself for what lies ahead. The transformation you're about to experience may push the limits of what any human can endure. To prevail, you must awaken completely. I will grant you my power for a short time, but it will be up to you to sustain it until your mission is complete."
"As long as I can save them, I will endure even death," Yichen declared, his voice unwavering and full of purpose. Bing Yi's gaze softened, a layer of warmth underpinning his stern words.
"Child, do you think I would let my descendant and my son's chosen mate meet his end so easily? Zhu Yan's devotion runs deep—immeasurably so. Once he commits to a mate, the bond becomes unyielding. Enduring the loss of such a lover would be an impossibility for him; it goes against the very essence of who he is. Remember this well: no matter how grave the situation may appear, sacrificing yourself—even for his sake—is not the answer. Your loss would plunge him into a darkness far deeper than the one Cheng Huang faced." Yichen's lips curved into a faint, assured smile, a quiet confidence shining through his expression.
"I understand your worry, but Zhu Yan would never fall so far. As much as he loves me, he respects my wishes equally. Even in rage born from despair, my voice will never fail to bring him back." Ying Long allowed himself a moment of inspection, gazing deeply into Yichen's soul before speaking again with clarity.
"Ah... I see now. You two have bonded at a level far beyond mere physical or verbal promises. A soulbinding has occurred between you." At this, Yichen's eyes widened in astonishment.
"Soulbound? But... he hasn't marked me. Even though the temptation was there for both of us, we haven't crossed that boundary yet. I'm sure of it." Bing Yi explained patiently.
"Markings and soulbonds are not the same, child. A mate mark serves as a visible declaration to the world—physical proof of your union. But a soulbond, on the other hand, is infinitely deeper. It bypasses all external symbols and directly interweaves your souls by will and devotion, tying your essences together irrevocably. These bonds can form in many ways if the feelings are strong enough—sometimes even without your awareness—which appears to be the case for you two. Zhu Yan will explain this to you himself later on. For now, let's focus on the task ahead. He's waiting for you to succeed in finishing what I've begun."
"You couldn't completely eradicate that demon because Cheng Huang intervened." Bing Yi nodded solemnly at that remark.
"True... but it's also true that my negligence gave that fiend the arrogance to rise unchecked to this point." Bing Yi added.
"Then it's time we put an end to this together," Yichen declared firmly, and Bing Yi raised his hand high. With deliberate precision, he traced a divine symbol onto Yichen's forehead. Moments later, the mark shimmered with an intense radiance—a brilliant fusion of golden and blue light that illuminated everything around them with divine energy.
Yichen felt a rush of vitality as his dormant meridians surged back to life, allowing him to gather an immense amount of energy—not just his own, but also the natural energy streaming from the ground. It filtered effortlessly beneath the Kunlun sword, flowing into him without resistance.
He absorbed all of it, his body strengthening at an alarming pace and his core expanding with every moment. He could sense long horns forming on his crown, aiding the transformation. Icy tattoos spread across nearly every inch of his skin, a stark symbol of the change taking place. The seal on his core began unraveling layer by layer, each stage a painful process. Yet, now that his body was assimilating the power of his dragon blood and undergoing a profound transformation from within, the risk to his life had finally passed.
His once delicate fingers now ended in resilient claws, reminiscent of those he had seen on Zhu Yan during their first encounter. His ears became pointed, no longer rounded, as his hair shifted hues. It started with ocean blue deepening to turquoise at the tips before settling into a grayish shade. With this surge of spiritual energy, his body continued to reshape—his muscles grew denser, his chest expanded—but miraculously, his clothes stretched and adapted, sparing him from any embarrassing scenarios involving torn fabric or, worse, nudity.
Just as he was beginning to adjust to the changes, a new sensation overtook him. His energy morphed from warm to cold, and then to an intense, bone-chilling freeze. Suddenly, a kite-shaped gem emerged on his forehead where Bing Yi's seal once was—a shining aqua core radiating the power of Bing Yi. Yichen realized this was a source of strength he could tap into, hopefully for as long as the battle persisted.
Seizing the moment, he released his icy dragon energy into the surroundings, subtle yet not enough to catch the attention of the Black Calamity. The time for decisive action had arrived. Though pain still lingered in his body, it was inconsequential; Zhu Yan and his companions had already borne enough of the brunt of the battle, their strength nearly depleted.
When Yichen opened his turquoise eyes, the first sight that greeted him was Zhu Yan, struggling valiantly under an overwhelming force that seemed to crush the very earth beneath them. His crimson demonic energy enveloped his group like a floating mantle, pinned helplessly to the shuddering ground. The oppressive gravity bore down on everything like an unrelenting hammer, and blood seeped from their wounds, filling Yichen with deep concern.
Rising smoothly despite the weight of the gravity, Yichen cast his first spell. A golden barrier with heavenly symbols that he learned from Bing Yi flared to life, dispelling the crushing force radiating from what appeared to be a descending black star. His second spell conjured ethereal water dragons imbued with heavenly law—an unbreakable power no demon could defy. These dragons glided gracefully among them, bringing healing and replenishing their drained vitality like streams of pure celestial life force.
"Baobei... you're even more breathtaking than I had imagined," Zhu Yan murmured, his voice tinged with admiration despite his weakened state. "Congratulations on your awakening. I can feel your power radiating like a polar star. I love it." Yichen felt a faint blush creep onto his cheeks, though it had little to do with the blistering heat of the star.
"I'm sorry it took so long," he said, stepping closer to Zhu Yan, determination etching his every word. "But I promise you—I'll end this." A weak but confident smile crossed Zhu Yan's face.
"I never doubted you. And as hot as you are, it's quite ironic you're just as cold as I'd expect." Yichen grumbled inwardly but chose not to roll his eyes.
Turning to another ally, he called out, "Bai Jiu, take care of them while I finish this." The young healer, seated nearby with his gaze locked on Yichen in astonishment, could only manage a barely audible whisper.
"You've become even more amazing now, Xiao Zhuo Ge." Zhu Yan huffed in exasperation.
"Here we go again," Yichen muttered under his breath before shooting a pointed look at Zhu Yan. "Please don't start." At once, Zhu Yan pressed his lips tightly together, clearly stifling a retort. Shifting his attention to his brother, Yichen's expression softened as he extended a hand to help him up.
"Ge, I'm so sorry I was late..." With an unmistakable glint of pride in his eyes, his brother smiled warmly.
"It was worth the wait. Your awakening is nothing short of extraordinary." He praised.
"You're next," Yichen responded with quiet confidence. "And yours will be even greater. Of that, I'm sure."
But there was no time for further words; the Black Calamity would tolerate no more delay. The nearing black star loomed ominously overhead, its descent splintering the atmosphere itself—a harbinger of absolute annihilation.
From the black star, dark, consuming flames rained down onto the ground, reducing everything they touched to dust in an instant. To everyone's shock, Yichen stepped beyond the heavenly safety of his barrier, walking calmly beneath the relentless downpour of black fire. Bing Yi had told him that these flames sprang from the primordial abyss—the very abyss from which Gui had emerged. It was one of the countless calamities endured by the first humans during the demons' war against both heaven and Earth.
Yichen stood steadfast, unshaken by the firestorm falling over him. As the flames raged, they extinguished upon contact with the invisible frozen barrier encasing him. This unexpected sight left the Black Calamity momentarily stunned. Until now, he had paid the young human, little mind, dismissing him as unworthy of notice, save for brief moments to mock Zhu Yan.
But this display defied reason. How could this fragile-looking dragonling withstand the searing intensity of the ancient flames, born from the malicious energy of the primordial abyss? Even for Zhu Yan that should have been impossible—it should be even less likely for his lover!
The Black Calamity's fiery gaze shifted back to Zhu Yan, who stood calmly with a knowing grin, as if he had orchestrated every beat of this unfolding drama. Seeing his adversary's focus return to him, Zhu Yan's smile deepened, brimming with amusement.
"I told you," Zhu Yan said, voice tinged with confidence, "my Baobei is extraordinary. He doesn't need protection. You may think me dramatic, but one thing I rarely am is dishonest. And as you so often told us before, your end has come—it's time to die for good." There was something in his tone that gnawed at the Black Calamity. A shiver of unease swept down his spine.
Turning his attention once more to the young dragonling, he found himself riveted by Yichen's calm strides and cold precision. There was something hauntingly familiar in the icy aura that surrounded him, in those piercing blue eyes that seemed to dissect all they fell upon. It struck a chord of terror buried deep in the recesses of his being.
Then it dawned on him—the realization clawing at the edges of his sanity. That face, that presence—it was reminiscent of a long-buried nightmare. The memory of a dragon god who had nearly ended his life thousands of years ago came rushing back, vivid and raw. The Black Calamity had constructed entire centuries to create a divine wheel meant to counter such cataclysmic power. Yet here it was again.
"No... impossible!" The dread surged into his voice as he recoiled. "He's dead! That wretched dragon god has been dead for ages!" His words cracked under the weight of mounting horror, while Yichen directed a cold smile upward. It was a smile too eerily similar to his—the god he so desperately feared.
"Come on, don't start panicking now," Yichen said with icy detachment. "I am not Bing Yi—not in the way you think." His tone sharpened with purpose. "But unfortunately for you, his blood flows within me. And with it, I hold the power to finish what he began in the great war." He then raised a hand toward the heavens, where a sinister black star loomed—its presence radiating demonic malevolence.
"Behold the power of an ice dragon god," Yichen declared.
And before their awestruck eyes, he transformed. His figure shimmered and shifted into a magnificent young dragon cloaked in hues of luminous light blue and dark azure, exuding vitality and raw power. With a sudden burst of speed so swift it defied comprehension, he surged skyward. But unlike most dragons who unleashed torrents of fire with their fury, Yichen breathed forth a blizzard born of almost absolute zero frost—one so bitterly cold it froze even the black star solid. It shattered moments later like a fragile blackened glass ball, its remnants cascading earthward in shards that glittered like diamond dust against the light.
In that instant, the impossible was made real, and despair consumed the Black Calamity as it witnessed an ancient power reborn.
Paralyzed by an overwhelming wave of fear, the Black Calamity stood frozen as the dragon shifted his sights to his next target. The wheel—a once-mighty, god-tier weapon—met the same grim fate, shattering like delicate glass. A raw, pitiful scream tore from the Calamity as it desperately attempted to relocate his core to a safe place once more. But this time, the dragon's Truth Eye locked onto the core's exact location with remarkable precision.
Then came the dragon's deadly, frigid breath. The Black Calamity froze to its very essence, plunging toward the ground as an icy statue. Upon impact, it shattered into countless fragments, which disintegrated into dust as its core shattered—this time, for good.
It was over at last. With finality settling in, Yichen glanced one last time at his husband before the burden of expended power overwhelmed him. He reverted to his human form mid-air, his body succumbing to unconsciousness from the searing pain, and began to fall toward the earth.
But Zhu Yan was ready. With care and tenderness, he caught Yichen in his arms, his gaze filled with love and pride.
"Rest now, Baobei. You were truly remarkable. Bing Yi would be so proud, so I am." Zhu Yan murmured, pressing a soft kiss to Yichen's cold lips as they descended gently back to safety.
AN: It took me a long time to write this because there originally were nine calamities. However, the chapter was getting too long, so I cut them, even if I had planned all nine. I hope you like it. Thanks for reading, and until next time, take care.