Chapter 984 - 344: Ancient Divine Soldier, Donghuang Bell

What kind of trial.

Looking back at everything Han Zhan had experienced, the answer was already clear.

He lifted his head and gazed ahead, witnessing a spectacle of unprecedented grandeur.

The divine rune fragments, having absorbed the power of life and death, pursued each other along circular tracks. As they drifted towards Han Zhan, the chase finally reached its climax.

Clang!

A bell toll echoed throughout the cosmos as one fragment caught up with another in front, emitting a sound upon collision.

Thus, the two fragments seemed to merge, forming a larger divine rune fragment.

Due to the increase in size, its rotation slowed, gradually being caught up by the fragments behind.

Clang!

Another fragment, unable to stop in time, crashed into it, merging with the large fragment.

Soon, like a traffic jam, more and more fragments collided, merging together.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The clanging bell tolls resounded endlessly throughout the boundless universe, as if announcing——its return!

When the last fragment merged.

A gigantic, mysterious, and intricately patterned sacred ancient bell appeared before Han Zhan.

It was.

The Ancient Divine Soldiers, the Donghuang Bell!

Legend has it that the Donghuang Bell holds the mighty power to create worlds, reigning supreme among divine soldiers.

Now, looking at the subtle yet formidable aura that the Donghuang Bell radiated, all the struggles to reshape it were worth it.

Han Zhan’s pupils ignited with fervor, the Divine Light Talent awakened, and golden light burst forth in his eyes.

"Contract it, and embark on your destined path to defy fate."

"Henceforth, you shall no longer be a pawn."

"The heavens and earth as the chessboard, you as the sole master of life and death!"

The voice of the World Tree resonated in Han Zhan’s ears.

He hesitated no longer as the contract array pattern appeared beneath his feet.

Witnessing this scene, the Master of Radiant Black at the end of the bronze long table shattered the final bell sound and hurried over from afar.

The Master sought to stop the contract ritual.

Concentrated to the utmost extent, a black fog transformed into a spear to pierce through the contract array.

At this moment, the figure of the World Tree appeared between the Master of Radiant Black and the contract array.

"You betrayed Yao Black."

"You should know what this signifies."

The Master of Radiant Black gazed at the mythical form of the World Tree, his tone icy cold.

The World Tree remained silent, giving no response.

The Tree had made its stance clear through its actions.

Deep black cracks began to appear on the colossal trunk of the World Tree that reached the sky and the earth.

Betrayers will pay the price.

Even the Creator God cannot escape this fate.

More and more deep black cracks emerged, unleashing dark fog from within, engulfing the World Tree that had bloomed in the cosmos for three ages!

Its consciousness began to dissipate.

It seemed to see scenes from a very, very distant past.

A young man with divine features, with a bell-like Xiao Zhong hanging at his waist.

With each movement he made, the bell chimed crisply, and a gentle breeze wafted.

He sat under a tree.

This seat lasted for a millennium.

"You, little tree, have some insight, enhancing the ability to harmonize with divinity. Your fruits will surely be nourishing; why not cultivate with me?"

"..."

"Out in the world without a name is unacceptable; a majestic name that aligns with my status is necessary. How about World Tree?"

"..."

"I must go to prevent this era’s apocalypse. If I don’t return, you must gather the fragments of the Donghuang Bell, find a way to reshape them, and locate an appropriate successor, understand?"

"..."

Voices resonated,

Images appeared,

Bit by bit, consciousness dissipated.

"My mission is complete," the voice of the World Tree seemed to carry a hint of amusement.

It transformed into countless stars in the end, swallowed by the darkness.

The World Tree, fallen!

...

The World Tree’s final act of sacrificial death temporarily held back the Master of Radiant Black.

It was in this moment that Han Zhan completed the contract with the Ancient Divine Soldiers Donghuang Bell.

The ninth piece of Ancient Divine Soldiers.

With each contract Han Zhan made, his strength surged, experiencing qualitative leaps.

The contract to the ninth divine soldier heightened his power within the Creation Dao, emitting an even stronger aura.

The talent ability of the Donghuang Bell was Creation Boundary Life and Death.

Being the foremost among ancient divine soldiers that manipulate time, space, and the power of life and death simultaneously, its talent ability was nearly at its peak.

Only thus could it live up to the name of Creation Boundary Life and Death.

Han Zhan barely had time to comprehend this when the Master of Radiant Black’s attack was upon him; he faced it head-on without fear.

Within the body formed by the Divine Forged Dao, the Donghuang Bell merged into the ninth Great Ruins, the nine dao paths conjoined, unleashing a power surpassing the Creator God!

Han Zhan gathered all his strength in a single punch, clashing directly with the Master of Radiant Black’s fist, enveloped in dense black fog.

"Close your eyes!" From afar, Fu Xi Saint, unable to intervene in the battle, immediately called out.

All four saints simultaneously closed their eyes.

Yet, even so, an annihilating storm almost akin to the River of Eternal Darkness erupted before them.

Even a Saint at the Creator God Level stood like a lone leaf in the vast sea amidst the storm, left to the mercy of the wind and rain.

Their shapes were tossed around, only coming to a stop somewhere unknown.

When they opened their eyes again, the scene before them shocked them.

Originally a pitch-black boundless universe, from the center where Han Zhan and the Master of Radiant Black clashed, had turned into a world of pure white!

At the boundary where the black universe met the white world, black fragments continued to peel away, like shattered glass.

The contrast of black and white made the battling figures of Han Zhan and the Master of Radiant Black even more distinct.

Their punches seemed evenly matched.

No, the Master of Radiant Black stepped back half a step.

This half-step was like a tiny crack, but a small crack, with the continuous expansion, eventually led to a complete breach!

Between opponents of the same realm, even a slight disparity can be fatal.

At this moment, when the Master of Radiant Black stepped back, Han Zhan had moved forward.

Another punch, delivered at breakneck speed!

The Master of Radiant Black raised his hand to block, but Han Zhan pursued relentlessly; their exchanges became dizzyingly swift.

Every collision erupted into a storm of annihilation, while the black fog emanating from the Master of Radiant Black grew thinner in this tempest.

Seeing that he was about to be struck from head to toe by Han Zhan, at this instant, a feeling of extreme danger surged within Han Zhan, prompting him to abandon his overwhelming advantage and retreat.

As it turned out, he was right.

Just as he retreated, a blade of light infused with terrifying annihilating energy slashed upwards, nearly grazing Han Zhan’s body.

Despite no direct contact, merely brushing the aura resulted in a bloodstreak on Han Zhan’s Dao-formed body!

He steadied himself at a distance, his gaze fiercely focused on the Master of Radiant Black and the blade that appeared in his hands.

His brows furrowed slightly, a bit incredulous.

It was an axe.