Chapter 596: Chapter 495: We Refuse to Bow!
One versus six.
It’s not that Han Zhan is arrogant.
Under the sudden assault, the Black Hole sneak attack of the Void Origin Dao Soldiers can definitely cause severe damage to them.
Implementing plan B does not conflict with plan A.
As the Contracted Spirit Girls lured people away, they also unknowingly led the opposing celestial beings around Han Zhan according to plan B.
This is what gives Han Zhan the possibility of "catching them all in one go."
In the black hole created by the Void Origin Dao Soldiers, the Beidou Star Monarch and the Southern Dipper Star Monarch are wrapped in black and white spiritual power, constantly resisting the black hole’s devour.
The Barefoot Immortal pats the Heaven-Reaching Treasure Talisman at his waist, and the talismans radiating magnificent light appear under his feet. He then rushes madly towards the outside of the black hole.
Taibai Jinxing snorts coldly. He raises his hand, and with a swing of the sword, tears apart the black hole in front of him. With another swing, a giant cross-shaped gap appears in the black hole, through which he calmly walks out.
The Yellow-Horned Immortal is enveloped by an earth-yellow light, holding a Thick Earth Banner in his hand. Even within the powerful black hole, he stands unmoved like a boulder.
As the one with the highest cultivation and skills, Taishang Laojun was targeted in Han Zhan’s sudden attack.
He is at the core of the black hole explosion, with his cultivation constantly being devoured and stripped away by the Void Origin Dao Soldiers.
Beams of magical treasures’ light blossom around him, helping him resist the horrifying devouring force of the black hole.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
As Han Zhan launches his surprise attack, chaos erupts at the site of the Peach Blossom Banquet in the Jasper Pool.
Numerous nanomachines that had been dispersed in advance explode uniformly under Shang Siteng’s control.
The entire Jasper Pool is illuminated by the explosion, completely turning into a sea of fire.
Seeing this scene, Emperor Chong’en remains indifferent, shaking his head calmly.
"It’s useless." He looks at Shang Siteng with slight sympathy. "In the end, you’ll find that all your struggles are in vain."
As if to confirm his words.
The figures of Barefoot Immortal, Taibai Jinxing, and Yellow-Horned Immortal reappear in the Jasper Pool area, having completely shaken off the effects of the black hole.
Including Emperor Chong’en, that’s four people.
Even though Han Zhan tried his best to hold back the three celestial beings Beidou, Southern Dipper, and Taishang Laojun, the combat power on the battlefield far surpassed what the Contracted Spirit Girls could handle.
As time passed, the scales of victory tilted completely toward the Queen Mother of the West.
"Stop persisting in vain struggles."
Watching the fallen Contracted Spirit Girl before him, Emperor Chong’en, embodiment of a mountain of knowledge, speaks softly.
"Kneel." Taibai Jinxing uses Slaughter Sword Energy to form a prison, enveloping them all.
"Pay homage to the queen." The Yellow-Horned Immortal firmly plants the Thick Earth Banner on the ground.
"Do not be stubborn, do not deceive yourselves!" The Barefoot Immortal rebukes loudly.
The black hole in the center of the Jasper Pool is also torn open, as the heavily injured Beidou Star Monarch, the Southern Dipper Star Monarch, and the somewhat disheveled Taishang Laojun appear once more.
No matter how powerful the Void Origin Dao Soldiers are, Han Zhan’s Tier Eight Peak strength makes it ultimately too difficult to defeat them.
In the next moment, the Southern Dipper Star Monarch uses the Life-Injecting Power, and the three celestial beings who escaped the black hole return to their peak states!
Seeing this, Nuannuan no longer hesitates and leaps to her death into Taibai Jinxing’s Slaughter Sword Energy.
The Fruit World resets once again.
...
Fourth attempt.
Han Zhan and the others further optimized plan B and made another preemptive strike on the celestials at the Jasper Pool.
Ultimately they ended in failure.
Jiang Lingling dies, world resets.
Fifth attempt.
Han Zhan decided to advance the timing of their action.
To disrupt the Peach Blossom Banquet before the other celestials arrived at the Jasper Pool.
Although they successfully disrupted the banquet, they couldn’t escape defeat when the enraged celestials arrived.
Shang Siteng dies, world resets.
Sixth attempt.
They tried to capture the king first by targeting the Queen Mother of the West.
Failure.
Xia Youwei dies, world resets.
Seventh attempt.
They gave up flashy methods, focusing on studying the means of various celestials.
Especially the formidable opponents: Barefoot Immortal, Taibai Jinxing, Emperor Chong’en, Taishang Laojun.
This time, they managed to extend the battle longer.
Ultimately failed.
Li Lingzhen dies, world resets.
Eighth attempt.
Through countless optimizations and familiarization, they thoroughly researched every celestial’s skills.
They successfully killed the Southern Dipper Star Monarch, Beidou Star Monarch, and Barefoot Immortal, bearing Emperor Chong’en’s knowledge pollution head-on.
Han Zhan suppressed Taishang Laojun with the Void Origin Dao Soldiers, while the other five Contracted Spirit Girls jointly held off the unparalleled Taibai Jinxing.
This was already their limit,
and the closest they came to success!
Then, the Celestial Emperor intervened.
Also at Tier Nine Peak strength, the Celestial Emperor’s mere casual sword strike shattered Han Zhan’s Void Origin Dao Soldiers, broke the collective killing array of the five Contracted Spirit Girls, and overturned the battle’s outcome.
A deep sense of defeat and helplessness overwhelmed everyone’s hearts.
Subsequently, Han Zhan dies, world resets!
Ninth attempt.
"We have no more revivals left."
Han Zhan, revived once again, looks at the Contracted Spirit Girls with an unprecedentedly grave tone.
They failed eight times at the Peach Blossom Banquet.
No matter what methods they used, even burning everything in battle could not break this nearly impossible mainline quest.
The eighth attempt was the closest they came to success.
But the Celestial Emperor’s strike didn’t just shatter their path to victory; it also challenged their long-held beliefs.
Is success even possible?
Could the true way to pass the Peach Blossom Banquet be by paying homage to the Queen Mother of the West?
These thoughts began to uncontrollably appear and intensify in everyone’s minds.
With these confused and disoriented thoughts, Han Zhan and the others embarked on their ninth attempt.
Watching as the celestials joyously entered the Jasper Pool.
Watching as the Queen Mother of the West raised her cup inviting the celestials to drink together.
Watching as she walked to the center of the Jasper Pool, conjuring the Kunlun Mirror.
"Celestial beings, let us complete the final ritual together, pray to the Original Dao Soldiers, and wish for harmony in the world and peace for all beings."
As soon as she finished, all the deities at the table rose simultaneously, bowing towards the Queen Mother of the West and the Kunlun Mirror.
Nothing has changed.
It is finally at this moment that they understand Emperor Chong’en’s feelings—the numbness and despair after millions of times of revival and rebirth—and realize that struggle might indeed be futile.
At this moment, just like the first time, the Queen Mother of the West speaks with apathetic detachment.
"Will you bow?"
All eyes once again fall on Han Zhan.
They’re out of extra revivals; each person only has one life left.
Bow or not?
Han Zhan lowers his head, eyes clouded.
After a moment, he raises his head again, eyes resolute.
"We."
"Will not bow!"
