Taishang pondered for a moment, then looked up at Hongjun.
The only way forward was to test if the Nine Forms of Heaven Opening could succeed. Taishang was unsure if this divine ability, now that he had entered the mid-stage of Hunyuan Da Luo Golden Immortal, had undergone any changes!
Tongtian and Yuanshi saw Taishang looking seriously at Hongjun, knowing their elder brother must have a plan. Neither of them spoke further.
Taishang, with a grave expression, looked at Hongjun and said,
"Today, I shall invite Daoist friend to appraise another divine ability!"
Tian Daozhi looked at Taishang in confusion. He knew that Hongjun was currently immune to all attacks and had no idea what other means Taishang possessed.
However, Taishang was always full of surprises, so perhaps he had other methods.
Hongjun also looked at Taishang in confusion. As Tian Dao said, the only way to inflict damage on him now was to destroy the world. Based on Hongjun's understanding of Taishang, Taishang would never do such a thing, as this world was created by Pangu! It was their inheritance, and Taishang would not destroy his own inheritance.
Otherwise, they would not have gone to such lengths to find him!
Hongjun chuckled dismissively and said,
"Taishang, unleash whatever divine ability you have, and let me see your prowess!"
Tongtian, hearing Hongjun's condescending tone, spoke indignantly,
"Even if you are powerful, you cannot move. What are you so proud of?"
Upon hearing this, Hongjun glared fiercely at Tongtian. Although the Three Pure Ones were hateful, Tongtian's mouth was the most venomous. Once he succeeded, he would definitely suppress this scoundrel in a latrine, filling his foul mouth with filth!
Tongtian, unbothered by Hongjun's hateful glare, returned the look with equal intensity.
Hongjun, unwilling to see this eyesore of a scoundrel, turned his gaze back to Taishang.
Taishang saw that Tongtian was still glaring at Hongjun. If looks could kill, Hongjun would have long since been reduced to ashes.
Taishang spoke to console him,
"Alright, Third Brother. Guard me, and I will test the depth of this first sage of the Primordial World!"
Only then did Tongtian withdraw his gaze.
Yuanshi, hearing Taishang ask Tongtian to guard him, knew that Taishang intended to perform the Nine Forms of Heaven Opening. Taishang had also taught this divine ability to him and Tongtian, so he was aware of its power.
However, this divine ability also came with a great cost. Yuanshi was unsure how far this divine ability had advanced after Taishang's ascension to sainthood.
Yuanshi and Tongtian moved to a distance to guard Taishang.
When Taishang saw Tongtian and Yuanshi leave, he began to perform the fourth form of the Nine Forms of Heaven Opening—Heaven and Earth Splitting.
A faint, clear light emanated from Taishang's body, surging behind him. In the distance, Yuanshi and Tongtian also began to emit a clear light that gathered behind Taishang.
Tongtian and Yuanshi watched their glowing bodies. Tongtian asked in confusion,
"Second Brother, am I misremembering? When Eldest Brother performed this divine ability last time, we didn't have this happening, did we? Or have I forgotten?"
Yuanshi shook his head and replied,
"You haven't misremembered. This phenomenon indeed didn't occur before. But what is this clear light? I can only see myself glowing, and I feel nothing else!"
Tongtian shook his head and said,
"I don't know. I don't feel any discomfort either!"
The clear light emanating from the Three Pure Ones formed a giant figure behind Taishang.
Seeing the giant figure, Tongtian said to Yuanshi,
"Second Brother, the phantom image of Father God has appeared. I feel as though this time, Father God's phantom image is more solid than when Eldest Brother used it before!"
Yuanshi nodded and said,
"Not only is it more solid, but it also possesses a greater sense of divine presence!"
Tongtian nodded repeatedly and said,
"Now that you mention it, Second Brother, I've noticed it too! It's true!"
Upon seeing Pangu's phantom image, Hongjun's expression changed drastically. He would recognize that person even if he turned to ash. If not for his unique nature, he would have perished years ago.
Hongjun also detected a dangerous aura emanating from this phantom image of Pangu.
Hongjun was deeply conflicted. Should he give up now? It was too dangerous. Although they couldn't interrupt him, he could stop himself.
However, the thought of his years of planning to reach this point and abandoning it now made Hongjun unwilling!
Furthermore, if he abandoned it, the Three Pure Ones would be able to attack him, and there was also the covetous Tian Dao by his side.
Hongjun did not believe he could escape from the four of them unscathed!
Hongjun's sense of crisis intensified. He felt he could not let Taishang continue. Hongjun gritted his teeth and released his three corpses again, intending to have them disrupt Taishang!
As soon as the three corpses emerged, they rushed towards Taishang.
Seeing Hongjun release his three corpses again, Tongtian decided not to let Hongjun recall them. Tongtian tossed out the Four Swords of Zhuxian and the Zhuxian Formation Diagram. The Zhuxian Formation was instantly established, trapping Hongjun's three corpses within it.
Seeing Hongjun's three corpses enter Tongtian's Zhuxian Formation, Yuanshi sneered and said,
"Today, I will show you the capabilities of us brothers!"
With that, Yuanshi, carrying the Pangu Banner and the Primordial Measuring Ruler, entered the Zhuxian Formation!
Hongjun's face contorted with dismay. He hadn't expected Tongtian to wield the Zhuxian Formation, which belonged to Luohu, so smoothly. From the looks of it, Tongtian's mastery of the Zhuxian Formation seemed to surpass even Luohu's!
After Yuanshi entered the Zhuxian Formation, Tongtian immediately separated Hongjun's three corpses, allowing Yuanshi to defeat them one by one. Simultaneously, he manipulated the Zhuxian Formation to assist Yuanshi.
Although Hongjun's three corpses could not unleash his full power, they were still three formidable Saints.
Upon entering the Zhuxian Formation, Yuanshi directly attacked the three corpses. Just as the three corpses were about to join forces against Yuanshi, Tongtian also made his move. A wave of dizziness swept through the Zhuxian Formation, and then the Good Corpse and the Evil Corpse vanished.
Simultaneously, Tongtian's voice echoed from within the Zhuxian Formation:
"Second Brother, make it quick. They are Saints after all. I can only mobilize the Zhuxian Sword and Juexian Sword to temporarily hold them back!"
Yuanshi nodded and immediately unleashed the Pangu Banner and the Primordial Measuring Ruler, two innate supreme treasures. He attacked Hongjun's Self Corpse with both hands.
Hongjun's Self Corpse was immediately put to flight, ducking and weaving under Yuanshi's assault. The Self Corpse knew it could not defeat Yuanshi alone and wished to distance itself from Yuanshi to find the Good Corpse and Evil Corpse to face Yuanshi together.
Meanwhile, Tongtian also mobilized his power to assist Yuanshi. Whenever Hongjun's Self Corpse attempted to evade Yuanshi's attacks, it would be wounded by the sword qi of the Slaughter Immortal Sword and Trapping Immortal Sword conjured by the Zhuxian Formation, and then take another blow from the Primordial Measuring Ruler and Pangu Banner.
Before long, the Self Corpse was covered in wounds!
Although Hongjun could not see the battle of his three corpses, he could feel that the Self Corpse was heavily injured. Hongjun knew this was not a viable solution. With a cruel resolve, he decided to control the Self Corpse to self-detonate!
Yuanshi sensed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within the formation surging towards the Self Corpse. Yuanshi's expression turned grim, and he shouted,
"Third Brother, be careful! This old fellow intends to self-destruct!"
The moment the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged towards the Self Corpse, Tongtian sensed its intention to self-destruct.
Tongtian initially wanted to dismantle the Zhuxian Formation but then saw Taishang, who was in a critical state and unable to move. He knew that if he withdrew the Zhuxian Formation, the self-detonation of the Self Corpse would surely harm Taishang!
Tongtian hardened his resolve and decided to use the Zhuxian Formation as a buffer for Taishang. The remaining impact could then be handled by the Xuanhuang Pagoda.
The instant the Self Corpse detonated, Tongtian moved Yuanshi out of the formation and then moved the Good Corpse and Evil Corpse next to the Self Corpse.
"BOOM!"
A deafening explosion resounded. Tongtian and Hongjun simultaneously spat out a mouthful of blood.
The power of a Saint's self-detonation was terrifying. The Zhuxian Formation was directly shattered by the self-detonation of the Self Corpse!
Furthermore, Hongjun's Self Corpse was destroyed, and with the Good and Evil Corpses severely wounded, Hongjun also suffered a significant backlash.