Chapter 83: The True Identity of the Omniscient One

Before the Gate of Immortality, the All-Knowing Rain Alone stood against the myriad immortals of the Severance Sect. To the side, Hao Dan, accompanied by the young Bai Ling, resolutely soared towards the Fierce Tiger Pass. Rain Alone caught sight of this, grinned, and paid it no heed. Now, only five high gods remained before him, united in their assault. Just moments ago, Yan Lietian had been hurled by Rain Alone down to the battlefield. At that very instant, Black Tiger Immortal Lord Zhao Gongming suddenly unleashed his true power. Those nearby all felt a surge of delight in their hearts, for among the five, Zhao Gongming was the strongest, followed by Yan Lietian.

“Truly, I have underestimated you,” Zhao Gongming declared, sweeping his robe. “In the near millennium past, I have never considered you a threat. But today, I shall show you why I am the foremost among the Four Great Immortal Lords of our sect!” With a flourish, his immortal robe transformed, becoming a living suit of black, majestic as the battle garb of the ninth heaven, the character for “Severance” emblazoned on his back, radiating a dazzling brilliance.

Across from him, Rain Alone’s calm countenance flickered with a touch of surprise. In that moment, the other high gods too erupted with surging auras. Instantly, Rain Alone felt the ambient immortal energies condense and gather around them. Yan Lietian, bare-armed, soared skyward again—neither angry nor perturbed; perhaps they had long laid their plans.

The five exchanged glances, nodding in unison as if finally reaching a consensus. The four, save Yan Lietian, began weaving mysterious gestures, their robes transforming into wondrous black garments that billowed without wind, each marked by the brilliant golden “Severance” character. Yan Lietian’s silver robe stood out as unique—the very Silver Qilin Battle Robe of the Celestial Marshal.

As the youngest and most gifted of the Severance Sect, Rain Alone now realized he had underestimated his senior brothers. They had all concealed their true strength beneath the guise of suppressing their immortal power.

“I’ve said before, only by working together can you hope for a worthy contest!”

Before Zhao Gongming and the others could respond, Rain Alone launched his attack. In one step, he left behind streaking afterimages, a rainbow arc flashing before the five. Each afterimage struck one of the five, and then Rain Alone retreated. Yet the five remained unscathed; their foreheads now glowed with a sudden red light. Rain Alone was taken aback, noting a flicker of crimson flame had appeared at each one’s brow.

It was these flames that had shattered his afterimages—such was their formidable might. But this was precisely the result Rain Alone had sought, forcing them to reveal their true forms and unleash their real powers.

Zhao Gongming, oblivious to his intent, withdrew with a triumphant look. “This robe was bestowed by our Master himself. It is called the ‘Nine Heavens Mystic Robe’!”

Fairy Yanru echoed in a bewitching voice, “With this robe, no immortal art or secret technique can threaten us!”

Rain Alone, hands behind his back, gave a faint smile. “Oh? Is that so? Then allow your junior to test it well.”

With a bold, sweeping laugh, Rain Alone’s robe billowed as countless clones sprang into existence, encircling the five. His confident, enigmatic smile made them frown, sensing danger.

“Something’s wrong! Be careful, these clones are but a ruse, a mere distraction!” Lu Tianming immediately warned.

Yan Lietian, too, sensed the trick. Just then, Rain Alone’s true form appeared above them, conjuring an enormous golden sun blazing overhead. With a faint smile, he gestured, sending the sun crashing down upon them.

“To think he can invoke the Divine Art of the Nine Heavens without even a chant!” Lu Tianming exclaimed. Kong Qiandao’s eyes widened in disbelief. Facing such a deadly strike, Zhao Gongming and Yan Lietian leapt upwards, joining forces to resist with Severance Sect magic.

The sun’s power was overwhelming, forcing the two back. Astounded by the onslaught, Zhao Gongming refused to yield, stepping forward as a phantom black tiger materialized before him, its speed astonishing. The other four withdrew in haste as the tiger’s might shook the bones of the battlefield below.

A fierce wind howled upwards at Rain Alone, who effortlessly dodged, laughing, “Such magic is hardly difficult to avoid!”

Employing some unknown technique, he left more afterimages behind him, then appeared before the other four, striking each with a palm. Though the blows were not lethal, they left the four shaken—clearly, Rain Alone was toying with them.

At that moment, Zhao Gongming’s giant tiger turned, now faster than before, appearing behind Rain Alone in a flash. Yet Rain Alone, anticipating this, caught the tiger’s head without turning, pressing down until the phantom dispersed.

“So this is senior brother Zhao’s true strength? I must say I am disappointed,” Rain Alone taunted.

“Don’t get cocky!” Zhao Gongming retorted. Without hesitation, he charged Rain Alone, leaving streams of afterimages, matching Rain Alone’s earlier display.

Rain Alone’s eyes narrowed as he finally regarded Zhao Gongming seriously. With a graceful step back, he met Zhao Gongming’s fist with a single hand. In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged blows, while Yan Lietian held back the others, forbidding interference. Zhao Gongming, provoked repeatedly by Rain Alone, would never allow his dignity to be trampled—and so it was with Yan Lietian.

Rain Alone fought defensively, retreating and counterattacking. After dozens of exchanges, Zhao Gongming was visibly strained. Beneath the saints, his flesh was nearly invincible, but Rain Alone’s body was likewise formidable—something Zhao Gongming had not anticipated. Even Yan Lietian, second only to him in physical prowess, was astonished by Rain Alone’s deeply hidden strength.

Now, Zhao Gongming’s emotions ran wild. Repeatedly provoked and outmatched, he could scarcely contain his rage. “Traitor! Is this all you’re capable of? Hiding and dodging? Dare you face me with your best move?”

“Do you accept?” he challenged.

Rain Alone’s eyes sparkled with a mocking mirth. “Very well, as senior brother wishes.”

His handsome features showed open disdain, a sovereign pride unmasked, chest high and hands behind his back. Zhao Gongming’s fury blazed.

“Tiger Rampages the World!”

The four behind him gasped: “Senior brother Zhao is getting serious!”

A tidal wave of tiger’s might surged from Zhao Gongming as Rain Alone watched, smiling ever more broadly. “By all means, senior brother, show your full strength!”

Confident and unruffled, Rain Alone seemed unimpressed by whatever Zhao Gongming might attempt. The four others wondered—how could Rain Alone be so assured? What secret did he possess?

“Tiger Rampages the World, unstoppable—power to shatter all creation!” Zhao Gongming roared. Above him, a massive tiger descended like Mount Tai upon Rain Alone. Rain Alone smiled serenely, eyes closed, and without a word, conjured a transparent barrier before him that easily repelled the black tiger.

Rain Alone, laughing across the barrier, radiated even greater contempt.

To withstand such a ferocious assault with ease—Zhao Gongming now realized that the foe before him was not one he could handle alone. Resolved, he shouted, “What are you waiting for? This one is far beyond us—if we don’t join forces now, when will we?”

Immediately, the other four unleashed their arts. Lu Tianming spun his hands, conjuring countless yellow talismans that formed a ring around them. “Art of Tongtian, transform talisman into spell—rise!” The talismans encircled the five.

Fairy Yanru plucked her celestial zither, sending waves of visible, lively notes dancing around Rain Alone.

Kong Qiandao stepped forward, his seven-colored sword growing massive, hovering before them with the power of heaven. Yan Lietian hefted his divine halberd, bowing his body and hurling the weapon at Rain Alone. As the halberd flew, the others launched their attacks; Zhao Gongming merged with his black tiger, transforming into a tiger-headed figure charging at Rain Alone.

As Zhao Gongming crashed against the invisible barrier, the other four unleashed their powers: rainbow sword, shattering halberd, melodic notes, and yellow talismans all assailing Rain Alone in an endless torrent of immortal arts. Rain Alone ascended, the five’s magic following him into the clouds, leaving the battlefield below far behind.

Within the clouds, Rain Alone concealed himself amidst the mist, the five high gods tracking him with their arts, but the situation was grim—the foe was hidden, while they were exposed. Rain Alone had vanished into the clouds.

“Now, let me show you my true power!” came a voice from nowhere. The five, high gods of Severance, burned with frustration—outnumbering their foe, yet held at bay, what humiliation!

Even the Grand Marshal of the Three Realms, famed for his decisiveness, was among them, now reduced to such straits. In contrast, Zhao Gongming only grew fiercer with each defeat, leading the immortals from the front, vowing not to rest until the All-Knowing was destroyed.

After that voice faded, Yan Lietian and the others exchanged grim looks. Taking up their positions in the five elements, they churned the clouds with their spells, flashes of light flickering, yet Rain Alone remained unseen.

The rainbow sword slashed, the divine halberd pierced, talismans and musical notes danced, the great black tiger lunged, but none struck their mark. Suddenly, a great black hole appeared overhead, exuding the power of endless void—a gaping abyss threatening to swallow them whole.

“Danger! The Nine Heavens Divine Art is unstoppable—scatter at once!” Lu Tianming, though never trained in the art, knew its fearsome power and unpredictability. Had it not been for their combined strength, along with Zhao Gongming and Yan Lietian’s might, they would already have perished.

Just then, winds howled as the clouds parted. The abyssal maw above froze, its pressure waning, as a thunderous voice rang out.

“Vile traitor! You have betrayed your sect—if I do not deal with you according to the rules, where is my honor?” This was the voice of one of the Primeval Three Pure Ones—Lingbao Heavenly Lord, Master of Tongtian.

At this, the five high gods rejoiced, withdrawing their spells as the sky calmed.

Rain Alone appeared before the abyss, standing atop its edge like an emperor, gazing down at all below. Though Tongtian’s voice sounded, his form did not appear. Rain Alone smiled and said, “Old Tongtian, even now do you not see my true identity?”

“A thousand years past, you were gravely wounded. I took you in, taught you with care, never knowing you hailed from beyond the East, scheming in secret, plotting against Heaven. In my own Tongtian Pagoda, you learned the Sovereign Path, the Grand Celestial Star Array, and the Nine Heavens Divine Art. Had you not betrayed the sect today, I would have gladly passed the mantle of sect master to you! But alas, you are of the Western Four Divine Clans!”

Rain Alone answered solemnly, “I am not of the Wu tribe, but have made a pact with them: if I help Nine Phoenixes release the Ancestral Wu, I will forever leave the East, never setting foot in these lands again.”

“As for your plots with the Wu, I care not. But today, I have come to see you never leave!” Even as he spoke, Tongtian appeared before Zhao Gongming and the others, commanding, “All-Knowing has set the Grand Celestial Star Array over the entire City of Yu. The array is active, and the people are being sacrificed by the Great Wu, Nine Phoenixes. You five, go to Yu City at once and stop the sacrifice! Go!”

“At your command!” the five replied in unison and vanished.

As they departed, Rain Alone smiled wryly. “To have drawn the sect master here—I miscalculated!”

“Are you dissatisfied with me as your opponent?” Tongtian’s mere presence was awe-inspiring, brooking no dissent.

Rain Alone bowed deeply. “It is my honor.”

Without delay, Rain Alone stepped forward, the abyssal maw behind him opening and closing like a monstrous mouth, following at his heels.

The assault came instantly. Tongtian’s black robe billowed, his stern visage betraying no emotion. His eyes narrowed, and Rain Alone felt the cloud’s spiritual might envelop and compress him, binding him in place. Behind him, the abyss sucked in countless spiritual energies. Rain Alone sent forth afterimages, but Tongtian sneered, “Where do you think you’re going?”

With a single gesture, he seized Rain Alone in midair as easily as a bird.

It was only then Rain Alone realized that Tongtian’s compression of spiritual might had formed an invisible hand, all within a single breath—a move for which Rain Alone was wholly unprepared. Yet the seized Rain Alone only grinned. Without a chant, his figure faded to mist—merely a clone, whose aura had fooled even Tongtian.

Thus, in several exchanges, the two were evenly matched. Tongtian, one of the Three Pure Ones, still held back myriad arts—how could he, facing a junior, reveal his full hand and invite ridicule from Lao Jun or Yuanshi? He had come to cleanse the sect, and so was cautious.

Seeing his move fail, Tongtian murmured, “As I thought—you are of the Western Heavenly Demon Clan, able to condense spirit into clones!”

At that, Rain Alone’s countless avatars merged into one. He teased, “Worthy of the sect master, discerning as ever—you could identify my race from mere technique.”

“It is said the Demon Clan dwells in the Underworld. Why have you come to the realm of the living?” Tongtian asked sternly, hands behind his back. “Do you know of the oath sworn by the eight races three thousand years ago?”

Rain Alone’s handsome face showed surprise. “I am a half-blood of the Heavenly Demon and Heavenly Nether clans; three thousand years ago, I had yet to be born—I know nothing of it.”

“Then it makes sense. You aided Nine Phoenixes in releasing the sealed Ancestral Wu—after all, you bear Wu blood as well.” Tongtian’s tone was indifferent. “But you infiltrated our sect and deceived your master—such a crime cannot go unpunished. Even if I cannot keep you here today, I will leave you half-dead! Hmph!”

“In that case, enough talk!” Rain Alone, seeing Tongtian’s sternness, grew excited.

Seeing his adversary’s battle lust, Tongtian said no more. Imposing and emotionless, his eyes blazed with divine power. In a single step, he appeared before Rain Alone, leaving a trail of mysterious red runes in the air. Rain Alone, astonished, had never seen such an art in all his centuries of study; the force was simply overwhelming. In the next instant, he was frozen, battered repeatedly by Tongtian, each strike leaving a red rune in the air—like a sandbag, he was sent flying, only to be struck again, never given a chance to dodge or retaliate.

Blow after blow rang out in the clouds above, Rain Alone unable to gather his power, as if Tongtian had severed all spiritual energy—rendering him helpless.

This was the Severance Sect’s supreme art, “Way of Severance,” mastered only by Lingbao Heavenly Lord, the sect master himself.

Shaken, Rain Alone at last unleashed his innate power. As his robes were torn, a sacred white light shimmered beneath. Catching Tongtian’s attack, Rain Alone tried to counter, but was easily flung away.

Tongtian smiled coldly. “Finally losing your composure?”

Still falling, Rain Alone barely regained his stance. Muttering an unknown incantation, his eyes glowed red, hair turning silver and loose, draping over his shoulders—a terrifying sight, his silver hair and blood-red eyes chilling to the bone.

“Hm? Is that the Heavenly Demon Divine Art?” Tongtian wondered. He had seen it before, yet something seemed different.

“This is the Nether Demon Divine Art!” came Rain Alone’s icy reply. Forced to reveal his true strength against the mightiest of the Three Pure Ones, Rain Alone had no choice but to play his last card. He had naively thought that his millennia of training in the Severance Sect would suffice—now, he realized his mistake.

His upper robe turned to dust, revealing skin as pale as a woman’s, sculpted with powerful lines—majestic, yet beautiful and sensual. From these lines, beams of light shot forth, and even Tongtian was taken aback—Rain Alone possessed the power of royal script.

“It is said the Heavenly Demon script is a royal inheritance! Not only are you a demon, but you have royal blood!”

Rain Alone ignored him, sweeping his hand to conjure two beams—one black, one yellow. Tongtian cried in surprise, “The River Diagram and Luo Book? How did you come by them?”

Rain Alone offered no answer, his blood-red eyes fierce, hands shifting, River Diagram in his right, Luo Book in his left. Black and yellow interwove in a silent, surging tide.

Tongtian, seeing this, stepped forward, striking Rain Alone head-on. Rain Alone did not dodge, taking Tongtian’s divine blow with both hands.

The two were flung apart. Rain Alone’s feet clenched, the River Diagram and Luo Book spinning in his hands as their colors alternated. Suddenly, Rain Alone vanished and reappeared behind Tongtian, the two artifacts fusing into giant horse and tortoise phantoms. Tongtian snorted, counterattacking, and the phantoms trembled. Now, Rain Alone’s true body was so powerful that he could withstand Tongtian’s fleshly might without falling behind. Tongtian saw through it—Rain Alone was merely using his demon script and the twin artifacts to hold out, but would not last long.

With a snort, Tongtian waved his hand, freezing the entire sky. Rain Alone, now truly formidable, broke through the heavenly barrier, landing a punch on Tongtian—yet could not harm him in the least.

Surprised, Rain Alone knew he must not tarry. Seizing his chance, he split into countless clones in a bid to escape.

Tongtian smiled, unmoving, as a wave of spiritual might surged forth, reducing Rain Alone’s clones to dust.

But he saw through Rain Alone’s attempt to flee. Just then, two voices called from behind: “Brother, show mercy!”

It was Lao Jun and Yuanshi Tianzun, arriving on clouds.

“Why? This traitor deserted our sect. As master, I must punish him!” Tongtian protested.

Yuanshi sighed, “That is not so.”

Tongtian looked to his elder brother, Lao Jun, who smiled placidly. “Don’t be angry, brother. This one’s infiltration, stirring up chaos, aiding the Wu to release the Ancestral Wu—such sins have their own fate. Do not force the issue.”

Yuanshi added, “If you act with force, the consequences may be dire.”

Tongtian objected, “Why not? Are we to fear the West?”

Yuanshi tried to soothe him: “The Western powers have hidden for years, never invading the East. Besides, this one is not truly of the West. His aiding Nine Phoenixes is but the cause and effect of the Eastern Emperor’s thousand-year cycle. We need not interfere.”

“What should be done now?” Tongtian, like a chastised junior, turned away in frustration.

“Return to the heavenly realm, and let fate take its course,” Lao Jun advised.

“Let providence decide,” Yuanshi comforted with a smile.

In the distance, Rain Alone had already fled. The three Pure Ones exchanged glances and returned to the Celestial Realm together. Yet Tongtian still harbored discontent; with a secret flick of his sleeve, he sent a hidden token flying to some unknown place. Lao Jun, noticing, frowned but said nothing.

Meanwhile, in Yudu’s sunny city, King Jie returned to his palace. The city was in chaos, its people possessed, Seven Star Tower floating in the sky like a mysterious castle.

Empress Su Su was still bound at the tower’s center, and the Great Wu, Abyssal Concubine, faced off against Su Moran. Su Moran quietly recited the Wind God’s Final Verse:

“Wind may snuff the candle, yet feeds the fire.
The wind of reversal, invincible in its path.”

Before him, the air churned, clouds and wind roiling, heaven and earth losing their hue. This was the ultimate chapter of the Wind God’s Art, inherited from the elder Wind God across the seas. Though Su Moran had inherited the legacy, the gap in power between him and Abyssal Concubine was a chasm. The Abyssal Concubine, unafraid, simply pointed at Su Moran, instantly shattering his gathered wind power into nothingness. The sky fell silent.

Stunned by the swiftness of his defeat, Su Moran gazed at Su Su in despair, powerless before his foe.

Just then, two figures raced in—Hao Dan and Bai Ling. Taking in the scene, their hearts pounded. The Eastern Lord, within Hao Dan’s body, cried out, “There is a Grand Celestial Star Array here, already active! The souls of the citizens are being drained—this sacrifice is the work of Wu sorcery, empowered by the array!”

It was a terrifying sight—the citizens, like wandering souls, drifting endlessly into the Seven Star Tower.

The Eastern Lord shouted, “Quick, summon the Eastern Emperor Bell! We must do all we can to stop the array!”

Hao Dan’s heart trembled. He ordered Bai Ling to aid Su Moran, then transformed—his hair turning silver, donning a platinum robe, the Eastern Emperor Bell appearing beneath him. In a flash, he shot above the tower, gazing down at Su Su. His heart ached, but the Abyssal Concubine looked up at him, smiling. Steeling himself, he stamped his foot, sending a ripple of force that struck the barrier above the tower with a resounding boom.

The situation was dire and spiraling out of control. If not for the Eastern Lord’s discernment, he would never have realized the Seven Star Tower sacrifice was a decoy—the Grand Celestial Star Array was the true horror behind it.

The Abyssal Concubine, before the bell’s ripple, stepped forth and with a single wave, blocked the force with power enough to sever heaven and earth. As the echo rang out, she floated up to stand before Hao Dan, the two facing off. Only now did Hao Dan truly see how breathtaking she was—her graceful bearing, transcendent and ethereal, impossible to fathom.

Abyssal Concubine glanced at the array, then smiled coldly. “Eastern Emperor, I have long awaited you. But alas, you are still too late!”

“The array is not yet fully activated. Tell me—why do you do this? If it’s for me, then target me alone. Why involve the innocent mortals?” Hao Dan’s voice was steely.

“Innocent? A thousand years ago, was not my tribe’s Ancestral Wu innocent too?” Abyssal Concubine laughed icily. “You, the emperor reborn, now tell me the people are innocent? Don’t you find that laughable?”

Hao Dan stepped forward, his face grave. “If I am at fault for past wrongs, let me bear them alone. Why torment the common folk? Face me directly if you must!”

Bai Ling and Su Moran flanked him, and the furious Bai Ling shouted, “Wicked witch! How shameful for one of the Wu tribe to resort to such vile deeds! What grudge do the people bear against you? Why must you do this?”

Abyssal Concubine smiled. “I have plotted for a thousand years to free our Ancestral Wu. Now, I am not afraid to reveal the truth to you.”

“My disciple has already explained the ritual to you, Your Majesty. But that is not all—I need you to complete the sacrifice. Rain Alone paved the way for your awakening, but that was only the first step. Today is the second. You did not disappoint me! Using Empress Su Su to lure you here was a masterstroke. Perhaps you still do not grasp our true intent—let me explain.”

The three were stunned as Abyssal Concubine continued: “Long ago, Rain Alone set a celestial net here—the Grand Celestial Star Array. He infiltrated the Severance Sect for a millennium to learn it within the Tongtian Pagoda. Helping you in secret was only to hasten your awakening. When that failed, we turned to Empress Su Su. First, her rare physique would aid the Ancestral Wu’s awakening. Second, only by bringing you here could the array be activated. Once you entered, you could never leave. You are the true key to the array. Rain Alone’s goal is achieved—sending you to the heavenly lead. Whether your soul fuses or not no longer matters. With your presence, Su Su’s jade body, and the souls of these people, the sacrifice is complete, the array opens, and the Ancestral Wu is freed.”

“But isn’t it true the Grand Celestial Star Array can only be opened by the true Eastern Emperor?” Su Moran demanded, echoed by Bai Ling.

Abyssal Concubine laughed. “How naive! We could not wait for the real awakening—if you fully merged your three souls, we’d have no hope of completing the sacrifice. So all our schemes were to misdirect you—only by luring the reincarnated Eastern Emperor here could we proceed.”

At this, the Eastern Lord within Hao Dan applauded. “A masterful scheme! Such intricate plotting nearly saw you succeed!”

His words, sharp and ironic, radiated a regal aura unlike Hao Dan’s usual self. Abyssal Concubine frowned, sensing an overwhelming force erupt from him, and the other two backed away.

Abyssal Concubine was startled. Did this mean he had already completed the fusion of his three souls?