Let's rewind time a bit.

​​

Right as Gu Qing Shan unleashed the first strike, the giant jade hand's technique had also been completed, causing the four Divine Beasts to turn their heads.

The Black Tortoise Divine Beast opened its eyes.

It looked down on everyone, then turned to the forest outside.

Following its gaze, one of the taller trees was uprooted and began flying over everyone's heads.

The elves, giants, and even pixies didn't know what was happening at all.

But someone managed to realize just how dangerous of a situation they were in.

That person couldn't remain calm any longer.

Lachesis.

Donning a lapis-colored armor, she shouted while wielding a bow in her hand: "All elves, attack those things, don't allow them to open!"

A black glow almost as dark as the ocean tide at night appeared around her body as she began attacking the tree.

The elves swiftly followed.

The giants watched them briefly before joining the attack as well.

Followed by the pixies.

And then to other species on the Isle.

Countless spells and techniques struck the tree, causing it to tremble and break, revealing the thing that was originally sealed within-------

It was a coffin made completely out of iron, sealed away countless years ago; as it appeared, it immediately began to exude a ferocious presence.

Doong!

The iron coffin fell from the sky, landed in the middle of everyone, and popped open.

White, blue, red, green, and yellow, a total of five differently-coloured masses of light swirled around in front of everyone.

None of the attacks was able to hit them.

As soon as Lachesis saw these masses of light, her face showed despair.

She put her weapon away, retreated into the crowd, then swiftly approached Reneedol.

"We need to run!"

Lachesis held her hand and hurriedly said.

"You're insane!" Reneedol whispered.

As they spoke, the five glows of light scattered to form a huge mass of clouds above the Isle.

Boom!

A blinding ray of blue and white light descended like a bolt of lightning that shot through the group before it returned to the clouds.

Wherever the ray of light hit, the elves, the giants, even the pixies who had already prepared themselves was turned into dried skeletons.

Reneedol's expression also went pale.

It is impossible to stop.

-------and this is only the beginning!

Lachesis held Reneedol's hand tightly and quickly told her: "We need to leave, now!"

Reneedol tried to struggle: "But Shroud is still--------"

Lachesis cut her off and firmly said: "There's no room to be worrying about others right now. This thing can't be fought against, no one would be able to stop that giant hand either. You and I need to flee right now!"

A layer of black threads appeared around her body and tied their hands together.

The two of them left the Isle and began to swim into an underground water current.

At the same time, snakes and dragons made of light appeared from the clouds and looked down towards the Isle.

Their eyes emanated a cold and blank killing intent.

Gu Qing Shan had been observing the entire area with his inner sight, so he naturally noticed this.

Lines of glowing text swiftly followed on the War God UI:

[The Ultimate Five Elements have descended]

[This is the calamity of the Five Elements, the initial form of a certain Apocalypse. You must immediately get rid of the big jade hand, otherwise, it will continuously stimulate the 'Ultimate Five Elements' to evolve, this calamity will convert into an Unlivable Apocalypse that will destroy everything!]

Gu Qing Shan swung his fists with reckless abandon, unleashing hundreds of thousands of flaming strikes towards the giant jade hand.

[Ethereal – Myriad Shadows]

The giant jade hand tried to move within the insane barrage of attacks, attempting to form another hand seal.

Gu Qing Shan's gaze was frigid.

Even the War God UI had sent a notification, the situation must have gotten extremely dangerous.

The giant jade hand is the key to everything!

-------but if I unleash this strike, I will be drained of all of my strength.

In an instant, Gu Qing Shan had made his decision.

[Ethereal – Null Tribulation]

This strike could only be unleashed after the previous three attacks had all struck their targets.

And now, the prerequisite has been fulfilled.

The black flames as well as Huang Quan Origin power that drifted around his body disappeared all at once.

A terrifying presence emanated from Gu Qing Shan's left hand.

Shannu voice was full of concern: "Gongzi, Adorable said 'that thing' is still monitoring you… be careful"

Gu Qing Shan acted like he didn't hear her at all and focused his mind.

[Ethereal – Null Tribulation]!

Instantly, everything disappeared.

Everything around him was nonexistent, the entire world was null.

Gu Qing Shan was no longer able to sense even himself.

Everything, everyone, every Law, and every existence, vanished like a dream.

Only this punch existed.

In front of this punch, everything turned null.

Strike.

I'm going to strike.

Gu Qing Shan silently told himself.

He then felt the wind.

Violent surging wind.

A loud explosion.

The intense wind current blew him backwards.

"Rhode!"

Someone called out.

A pair of warm hands caught him.

Scarlet held him in her embrace and looked at the other party.

The five fingers of the giant jade hand that had just formed another strange shape, only one step away from touching the last two fingers together.

But the mark of a single punch could be seen in the center of the hand.

This mark had sunken deep into the giant jade hand, ending all of its efforts.

Crack crack crack!

The giant jade hang gave off a shattering noise before abruptly exploding into pieces finer than flour, then was gradually blown away by the wind.

That was dangerous, it was only a little bit away from finishing the second hand seal, it's a good thing that I didn't hesitate.

Gu Qing Shan silently sighed in relief.

It was only now that he felt pain all over his body.

"Rhode, you're bleeding all over" Scarlet exclaimed in shock, practically crying out loud.

"It's fine, nothing but some flesh wounds"

Gu Qing Shan had to console her in return.

After trying, he noticed that he couldn't release his inner sight at all.

------even my inner sight has been drained.

I've been cornered to this degree.

------I didn't expect this punch to use up so much energy.

He smiled wryly and tried to look towards the Isle of Protection.

The array of palaces had disappeared together with the four Divine Beasts, the main square, as well as the forest.

The Isle of Protection had returned to normal.

Gu Qing Shan sighed.

Shannu spoke to him:

"Don't worry gongzi, we're all trying our best to keep an eye out"

"Before it is absolutely necessary, don't show yourself" Gu Qing Shan said.

He didn't say anything else.

Although his strength had been completely drained, his instincts remained.

He could clearly sense the shadows of death gradually clamping down on him, slowly suffocating him.

-------some sort of wicked entity hiding in the shadows was rapidly spreading itself.

After so long, that malicious fellow had finally gotten this perfect chance.

It had prepared to act at any moment!

Gu Qing Shan could feel the situation gradually becoming worse.

Not good, seems like I'll have to use my swords after all.

Right as he was about to send his voice to Shannu, he sensed something unexpected.

------life force was flowing into his body, stimulating it to heal his wounds.

Huh?

What's going on?

The pain all over his body was quickly subsiding.

A new power was seeping into his drained body.

This power… seems to be coming from…

Gu Qing Shan looked up and looked straight into Scarlet's eyes.

Scarlet's eyes were burning full of worry as she quickly chanted an incantation.

After she had finished her chant, Gu Qing Shan felt much better.

-----even his bleeding had stopped, his strength had also somewhat recovered.

"How did you do this?"

Gu Qing Shan asked in surprise.

Seeing him getting better, Scarlet relaxed and smiled: "It was nothing. Both you and I carry the Law of Death, so I can use Star Force to help share your pain, transferring my life force to you"

Her hands began to tremble, almost unable to hold onto Gu Qing Shan.

"Idiot, you didn't need to do such a thing!"

Gu Qing Shan slowly stood up, held onto her, then couldn't help but exclaim.

The shadows of death he felt from his instincts were slowly fading away.

------the one hidden in the shadows had given up on this chance.

It had decided to cautiously observe the situation.

Looking at Gu Qing Shan, Scarlet grinned: "It's ok, there's no need to feel embarrassed. We both belong to the domain of Death, so of course I have to save you"

She took out two bottles of alcohol, handed one to Gu Qing Shan, then opened one for herself and began drinking.

Gu Qing Shan remained silent.

Since I've regained my strength, it won't be the same as before.

If that one spying in the shadows dared to show themselves now…

He took a sip from the bottle while looking at the underwater current.

Earlier.

Reneedol left with a female elf.

Where were they heading?

Gu Qing Shan gave the bottle back to Scarlet and said: "Scarlet, wait for a little bit, I need to do something"

"Sure" Scarlet nodded.

Gu Qing Shan turned around, flew across the Isle and headed down into the water.

Scarlet looked at Gu Qing Shan's bottle, took a sip from it, then silently watched as he left.

"This stupid Death God…"

Her eyes were sparkling as she mumbled to herself: "Even his back looks so charming"