Chapter 14 The Fourteenth year saw humanity pressing forward, reclaiming the last of the lands occupied by the Skymourn.
Now, the remaining Skymourn in the entire world numbered less than a million.
They knew this invasion war was a guaranteed loss.
Normally, under such circumstances, they would have already begun their retreat.
Even with only peak eighth-realm strength, they could open a planar passage.
However, this required them to withdraw the Imperial artifact, the [Map of Mountains and Rivers], that currently protected them.
Under the aegis of the [Map of Mountains and Rivers], the void surrounding them had formed a peculiar domain. Any being that stepped into this domain would be absorbed into the [Map of Mountains and Rivers], becoming a part of it.
What was even more terrifying was that this was a domain that did not distinguish between friend and foe. These Skymourn were utterly incapable of refining an Imperial artifact, so they could only forcibly activate it. /
While it appeared to protect them, it had in fact become a self-imposed trap; they themselves could not breach this strange barrier.
The human cultivator army had long since surrounded them. The moment they dared to withdraw the [Map of Mountains and Rivers], they would immediately launch an attack, leaving them no time to break through the planar barrier.
As for the Imperial artifact left behind by human ancestors, before its master's demise, he had thoroughly instructed it. If his descendants were to use it, it would not attack his own people.
Bai Hong took out the Imperial artifact, the [Thunder Drum of Tremors], belonging to their Cultivator Alliance. This Imperial artifact was a drum, imbued with the laws of thunder.
"Makura! Today is the day your Skymourn race perishes!"
Makura looked at Bai Hong, who had arrived wielding the Imperial artifact, with a grim expression. He said angrily, "Bai Hong, do you wish to instigate a conflict of Imperial artifacts? If your human race suffers immense destruction due to the collision of two Imperial artifacts, can you bear the responsibility?"
Bai Hong said calmly, "That's why I'm not coming alone! If you wish to fight me, it will be your own people who suffer immense destruction."
Makura trembled with rage. He did not want to forcibly activate the Imperial artifact. With his current strength, activating an Imperial artifact would consume not only spiritual energy but also his life force!
"If you forcibly activate the Imperial artifact, it will damage your Dao Fruit, preventing you from ever advancing to Immortal King..."
"That's none of your business! Stop spewing nonsense. Are you coming out to fight or not? If not, I will directly strike the [Thunder Drum of Tremors] right here to destroy your domain!"
Makura was right about some things. The clash of two Imperial artifacts would cause immense destruction, leaving behind formidable spiritual grounds.
Since this location was very close to the ground, Bai Hong did not want to cause severe damage to their land. It was conservatively estimated that the aftermath would spread for a hundred miles. They did not know when the Immortal Emperors would return, making it a loss that outweighed the gain.
Bai Hong directly raised the drumstick, and in an instant, the heavens and earth changed color, and thunder rolled.
Even before he struck, such terrifying effects had already appeared.
Li Qingyun and the others watched from afar. They had never witnessed a clash of Imperial artifacts.
However, speaking of Imperial artifacts, Wang Teng possessed one.
"Brother Teng, can't you let your stick join the battle?"
Wang Teng's face darkened, "This trash you're calling a stick is called the [Pillar of Heaven]!"
He stroked the [Pillar of Heaven] and said helplessly, "This is no longer a true Imperial artifact. Even if it were, with my current strength, I wouldn't be able to unleash its original effects!"
"That's a pity. Oh, right, where are the Immortal artifacts from those Skymourn we defeated?" Li Qingyun asked curiously.
Luo Xiaowei replied, "There are three in total: a pair of double axes, a fiery wheel, and the black dagger that stabbed you."
Immortal artifacts were all incredibly valuable items. Without Immortal artifacts, even the most talented individuals would not be able to gang up and defeat an eighth-realm Skymourn.
Li Qingyun coughed twice, his voice a little guilty, "If you guys don't plan to use them, you can give them to me..."
Everyone stared at Li Qingyun curiously, asking, "What do you need so many Immortal artifacts for?"
Luo Xiaowei also looked puzzled, "I was planning to bring these spoils of war back to Blue Star."
Li Qingyun took out his [Chaos Divine Lotus] and said awkwardly, "This thing of mine can evolve through Dharma artifacts. According to my estimates, after absorbing three more Immortal artifacts, it will undergo a transformation."
All of them had question marks appear above their heads.
Even if that were the case, using three Immortal artifacts to feed one Immortal artifact seemed a bit too extravagant.
"It can evolve into an Imperial artifact?"
"How is that possible? We have to advance to Immortal Emperor before we can refine our natal Dharma artifacts into Imperial artifacts."
"Isn't that pure extravagance? If you take them to the [Workshop of a Hundred Weapons], you can at least exchange three for a suitable one."
Luo Xiaowei pondered for a moment and said, "How about you use this unnamed pair of axes first? It feels like none of us would use this thing."
The most suitable person would be Qin Xiaoxiao, but she already possessed the [Sky-Opening Divine Axe] and the [Hammer of Stars], so she naturally had no need for it.
More Immortal artifacts were not necessarily better; suitability was the most important thing.
Only by using them for a long time would a bond be formed with the owner, making it easier to refine a natal Imperial artifact in the future.
"This world is not our final destination anyway. It won't be difficult to acquire these Immortal artifacts in the future."
"Thanks for the support, Big Brother Wei!"
Li Qingyun unceremoniously took the double axes and threw them to the [Chaos Divine Lotus].
The other two items were: one was the [Six Paths Fiery Wheel], which could release the Six Paths True Fire, and was more suitable for Meng Zibin and Zhang Xiaohu.
The other was an Imperial artifact refined from countless resentful spirits, a very evil Immortal artifact called the [Blade of Resentment].
In any case, they would take them back first.
While they were discussing the Immortal artifacts, Shen Yingxue exclaimed, "Brothers, they've started fighting!"
They saw in the distance, the heavens and earth changing color in that instant.
With a "boom," the [Thunder Drum of Tremors] was struck by Bai Hong.
A terrifying sound erupted, like the peal of thunder.
The lightning transformed into colossal dragons, roaring across the sky.
But soon, a map emerged, as if a world was being released, with mountains and rivers appearing in the distorted sky.
The [Map of Mountains and Rivers] was once an Imperial artifact condensed by a glorious human dynasty. However, its falling into the hands of the Skymourn meant that dynasty had perished.
It had been modified by the Skymourn Supremes, their artifact spirits murdered, thus turning it into a defensive Imperial artifact.
At this moment, with the two Imperial artifacts battling, regardless of the outcome, it meant that the domain previously created by the [Map of Mountains and Rivers] had become ineffective.
"Let's go, let's go! After this job, we're going back to Blue Star to brag!"
"Charge, charge, charge! Get a cameraman to record our awesome selves!"