A thousand Nether Fire Divine Commanders were rendered powerless in a heartbeat.

Gu Hai smirked, then turned his gaze back to the ghost head lifespan ritual array.

Inside the ghost head lifespan ritual array, Lifespan Xiahou, who had been arrogant just moments ago, fell silent. The sight before him was too strange, to say the least.

Usually, matters handled by the Nether Fire Divine Commanders were settled with utmost efficiency, even striking fear into the hearts of factions beyond the East Spiritual Fire Sea.

However, the Absolute Zero Calabash had instantly frozen them?

Gu Hai approached the ghost head lifespan ritual array again and delivered a punch.

Boom!

The entire ghost head lifespan ritual array shuddered, and countless ghost heads suddenly stirred as if awakened by the stimulus. They all turned to Gu Hai simultaneously.

“Kill me! End me! Please, let me be free!”

“I don’t want this any longer. Save me!”

“Help, please!”

…

Countless ghost heads screamed in despair.

Gu Hai’s face sank. With a single punch, he had opened a crack in the ghost head lifespan ritual array through which he could see the interior.

There was some fire inside, but far less than outside.

It was a gorge, with countless ghost civilians on all sides, trapped and unable to escape, screaming in terror and agony.

A bizarre Nether Fire Divine Commander sat at the top of the gorge, his body shining with a fiery crimson light as if made entirely of blood.

“Sin turning into blood? Is Lifespan Xiahou using them to prolong his life?” the Unborn Man exclaimed.

Indeed, the crimson Nether Fire Divine Commander continuously reached out and snatched up ghost civilians to tear them apart and devour their bodies one after another. However, he left the heads intact and threw them skyward, where they entered the ghost head lifespan ritual array, shrieking in extreme terror.

The ghost head lifespan ritual array drew nourishment from this strange energy, ensuring that the ghost heads retained their consciousness and suffered boundless terror.

One ghost head’s terror was insignificant, but what about one hundred million? One billion?

Another surge of Terror Energy flowed towards the crimson Nether Fire Divine Commander, providing him with the energy to continue this action.

It was a vicious cycle: the more terror the lifespan ritual array generated, the more energy it received. Lifespan Xiahou’s purpose was to maintain the stability of the entire lifespan ritual array.

The crimson Nether Fire Divine Commander’s eyes were completely red as if he had lost his consciousness. However, Gu Hai sensed a hint of threat from him.

“What is Lifespan Xiahou doing?” Gu Hai asked in a stern voice.

“This official doesn’t know!” the Unborn Man replied, still astounded.

At the top of the gorge was the crimson Nether Fire Divine Commander.

The black-robed Lifespan Xiahou stood at the end of the valley below.

“The Absolute Zero Calabash is indeed a valuable treasure, but it’s a pity it ended up in your hands. Such a waste!” Lifespan Xiahou sneered.

“Well, it’s not much better in your hands, right? Your ghost head lifespan ritual array doesn’t seem that powerful. If I give it another punch, it will shatter, won’t it?” Gu Hai retorted coldly while peering through the crack.

Gu Hai’s fists packed tremendous power. Although he had not used his full strength previously, he was confident that another punch would suffice to break the ghost head lifespan ritual array.

“It was troublesome to deal with you a few days ago, but even if you have great strength now, what can you do?” Lifespan Xiahou scoffed coldly.

“Oh? Besides the Nether Fire Divine Commanders, do you have any other tricks up your sleeve?” Gu Hai countered with a raised eyebrow.

Lifespan Xiahou’s hand seemed to be stroking something. Gu Hai squinted, and his pupils suddenly constricted.

“Mao Tianyun?” the Unborn Man exclaimed.

Lifespan Xiahou’s withered palm was caressing a docile black cat. There was a bloody spot on its forehead, and its eyes gleamed with a chilling light.

“Mao Tianyun? So, it’s here?” Gu Hai’s expression darkened.

“You know each other? Even better. This is a pet I captured a few days ago. Oh, right! Its name is Mao Tianyun, unparalleled in fire control, unrivaled in inciting sexual arousal. I had to go through quite an ordeal to capture it,” Lifespan Xiahou said with a smirk.

“Meow!”

Mao Tianyun gazed at Gu Hai and the Unborn Man beyond the crack. At this point, it no longer recognized them, obeying only Lifespan Xiahou’s commands.

“Mao Tianyun is at the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm. How can you control it?” Gu Hai’s face darkened.

“Your Holy Eminence, look at the blood spot on Mao Tianyun’s forehead. It likely fell into Lifespan Xiahou’s trap, becoming confused by Resentful Energy. Its mind was overwhelmed and then manipulated by Lifespan Xiahou!” the Unborn Man said.

“Resentful Energy?”

“Yes, these one billion ghost heads generate not only Terror Energy but also Resentful Energy. Who wouldn’t hold a grudge when their heads have been inexplicably severed? Moreover, they watch their enemies every day but cannot retaliate. This Resentful Energy should be immense. However, there is no Resentful Energy in the vicinity, which indicates that Lifespan Xiahou has collected it. Similar to Dahong’s mind control, this manipulated Mao Tianyun’s mind by flooding it with resentment, allowing Lifespan Xiahou to take advantage,” the Unborn Man explained anxiously.

“How can we save Mao Tianyun?” Gu Hai asked with a furrowed brow.

“If we restrain both Mao Tianyun and Lifespan Xiahou, I can break the control,” the Unborn Man replied.

“Haha! Restrain us? You should be worried about yourselves. Mao Tianyun is a fire-attributed consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm expert. Although its three spiritual souls are suppressed here, it’s still at the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm. What are you two?” Lifespan Xiahou chuckled.

However, Gu Hai paid no attention and prepared to punch the ghost head lifespan ritual array again.

“Humph! Go ahead. Tear Gu Hai to pieces!” Lifespan Xiahou ordered in an icy voice.

“Meow!”

Mao Tianyun let out a yowl and pounced at Gu Hai in an instant, swiping a claw to scratch him.

Gu Hai’s expression darkened, and he redirected his punch.

Boom!

Both Mao Tianyun and Gu Hai momentarily halted in their tracks.

“Meow!”

The cat wrawled, and suddenly, the surrounding sea of flames flared. Rolling waves of fiery energy converged on Mao Tianyun, forming a fiery barrier around it. A terrifying might pressed towards Gu Hai.

“Mao Tianyun’s fire attribute?” Gu Hai’s face turned serious.

He could tell Mao Tianyun was formidable but still slightly weaker than Jiang Lianshan from earlier. Nonetheless, Gu Hai had no intention of harming the cat.

Gu Hai did not resort to the Absolute Zero Calabash; instead, he used his fists.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Gu Hai’s fists repeatedly collided with Mao Tianyun’s claws. The tremendous shock waves were like the heavens and earth trembling, rocking the surrounding mountains, rivers, and the sea of fire.

The Unborn Man remained hidden in the distance.

Inside, Lifespan Xiahou was in a state of shock.

“Gu Hai? How is this possible? He’s completely healed, and he can still withstand a consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm expert?” Lifespan Xiahou could not believe his eyes.

He had assumed that Gu Hai’s strength was due to enchanted treasures.

“Unborn Man, who is this Gu Hai, and why haven’t I heard of him before?” Lifespan Xiahou demanded.

“Of course, you haven’t heard of him. His Holy Eminence just said he was an ordinary person thirty years ago!” the Unborn Man sneered.

“An ordinary person? Thirty years? Whose reincarnation is he?” Lifespan Xiahou inquired once more.

“No, His Holy Eminence isn’t the reincarnation of anyone. His Holy Eminence relied on his own efforts to reach where he is today, killing his way through the land of the living and founding the Han Heavenly Dynasty. He’s had a life full of achievements. How could someone like you, who dwells in ignorance, understand?” the Unborn Man sneered.

“That’s impossible! Founded the Han Heavenly Dynasty in the land of the living? Where in the land of the living? Would the three holy lands and the three heavenly dynasties permit it?” Lifespan Xiahou scoffed.

“Hah! That’s why I say you’re ignorant. The three heavenly dynasties and the three holy lands of the land of the living? When was that?” the Unborn Man mocked.

“When? Weren’t things peaceful thirty years ago? That’s right! What about the Heavenly Go Pavilion? Old Mister Guan Qi definitely faked his death; could the Heavenly Go Pavilion allow the existence of a Han Heavenly Dynasty?” Lifespan Xiahou betrayed a trace of diffidence.

“It’s not a question of whether they could allow it but whether they could stop it. Long Zhanguo, Old Mister Guan Qi, Jiang Gautama, Ji Dihong, all of them were killed by His Holy Eminence. The whole world knows this. How could you not?” the Unborn Man scoffed.

Lifespan Xiahou: “…”

After a brief silence, Lifespan Xiahou finally sneered, “Are you trying to deceive me? Gu Hai was just an ordinary person thirty years ago. Do you think I’m a fool? How could he kill all of them in thirty years?”

Lifespan Xiahou found it truly unacceptable that these top-tier individuals had died at the hands of Gu Hai.

“What benefit would I gain from deceiving you? As for the three holy lands and three heavenly dynasties you mentioned, only the Myriad Age Daoist Sect remains today. The rest are all like dust,” the Unborn Man remarked coldly.

Lifespan Xiahou remained unconvinced. However, at that moment of disbelief, a loud report rang out.

Boom!

Gu Hai had smashed the distant Mao Tianyun into the ground with a punch.

“True Flame Calabash, absorb the fire! Absolute Zero Calabash, cool down! Vine World Calabash, bind!” Gu Hai shouted.

“Meow!” Mao Tianyun let out a furious yowl.

All sounds of fighting in the distance suddenly ceased; the battle had come to an end.

The True Flame Calabash absorbed all the flames Mao Tianyun controlled, including the pink aphrodisiac aura it had generated. The Absolute Zero Calabash continuously froze Mao Tianyun, rendering its entire body stiff, while the Vine World Calabash securely bound the cat.

In the blink of an eye, Mao Tianyun was under Gu Hai’s control.

Everything had happened so quickly that Lifespan Xiahou could not come to terms with this reality.

Could what the Unborn Man said be true? Did Gu Hai really kill Long Zhanguo, Old Mister Guan Qi, Ji Dihong, and Jiang Gautama? If so, what kind of dangerous individual have I provoked?

“This is impossible! Mao Tianyun is at the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm!” Lifespan Xiahou exclaimed in shock.

“He is indeed at the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm outside the East Spiritual Fire Sea. But here, he’s not!” Gu Hai retorted coldly.

Gu Hai again approached the crack in the ghost head lifespan ritual array.

“Unborn Man, you said that you could release Mao Tianyun from Lifespan Xiahou’s control after capturing Lifespan Xiahou, right?” Gu Hai asked seriously.

“Yes, Your Holy Eminence!” the Unborn Man affirmed.

“Very well! We’ll capture him, and you’ll rescue Mao Tianyun!” Gu Hai turned a stern gaze towards Lifespan Xiahou.Nôv(el)B\\\\jnn