The Power of Space rippled out. In an instant, numerous spatial forces sliced the colossal Sky-swallowing Centipede in the sky into several segments, which then fell from above.
Even though it was divided into segments, the Sky-swallowing Centipede had not died. Upon hitting the ground, it began to writhe violently like an earthworm. Wang Lan waved his hand. A cluster of crimson flames rose from his palm. Then, with a fierce toss, the flames transformed into several fireballs that landed on the centipede's twisting body.
The Samadhi True Fire ignited, consuming the centipede with incredible speed. After a long while, the centipede's struggles finally ceased.
"How could the Sky-swallowing Centipede appear in Heaven?" the Pope asked, his face incredulous as he regained his senses.
This means that Heaven has the soil necessary for its survival.
The four left the shattered city and continued along the path by the Holy River. Soon, they arrived at a canyon. Within the canyon, there seemed to be an invisible barrier. Wang Lan, carrying Yulia, easily stepped into the canyon. However, the Pope and Jiang Xinyu, as if caught in a disorienting illusion, would take a step into the canyon only to find themselves back outside it.
"What's going on?" Wang Lan turned back and exited the canyon.
"This is the Divine Road to Godhood; only gods can walk this path to enter the true Heaven," the Pope said with a sigh, looking at the jade-paved road below the canyon.
"We are just mortals, and mortals cannot step onto the Divine Road."
"Then how could I walk on it?"
"Perhaps it has something to do with you carrying Yulia. Since Yulia was sealed inside the original stone, she may be a descendant of a god."
Wang Lan set Yulia down. He hesitated, then slowly extended his foot toward the canyon, taking a light step onto the stone path with ease. Wang Lan looked back at the Pope, his expression questioning.
The Pope looked utterly dumbfounded. "Impossible! This is a road only gods can tread. How can you walk on it so easily? Are you a god?"
"Why don't we do this: let Xinyu carry Yulia, and I'll carry the Pope. We'll give it a try."
They split into two groups and set off for the road to Heaven again. Wang Lan easily stepped onto the Divine Road, but the Pope was stopped. On the other side, Jiang Xinyu was stopped as well.
Wang Lan looked back at the three. "How about this: I'll go alone."
"I want to go as well," Yulia said in her elderly voice, her eyes, like those of a small white cat, fixed on Wang Lan.
"Alright, then. Pope, Xinyu, you'd better leave first. I can't guarantee there won't be more magical beasts like the Sky-swallowing Centipede here, and I won't be at ease with you two staying outside," Wang Lan said.
"Understood. You all be careful and protect Yulia."
"Understood."
Wang Lan assisted Yulia onto the Divine Road. It was a very long path, and as they walked, the surrounding environment constantly changed. The scenery Wang Lan and Yulia saw was different for each of them; each could only see their own past, those memories that were difficult to forget.
If those memories were positive, they were unaffected. But if the memories were negative, they would be invaded by Heart Demons, giving rise to various negative emotions such as guilt, regret, and shame, and then they would fall into hell.
Luckily, the lives of Wang Lan and Yulia were like blank slates. Wang Lan, in particular, born with the memories of an adult, had never engaged in childish misbehavior. He could thus accept his own past memories calmly.
After an unknown distance, the view suddenly cleared.
Heaven appeared before them.
The architectural style of Heaven was almost the same as that of the cities in the outside world, likely belonging to the same lineage. However, the extent of damage in Heaven was far greater than that of the cities outside. Hardly any towering buildings were visible; the scene was one of utter ruins.
Angel wings, mostly from high-ranking angels, were scattered all over the ground. What attracted Wang Lan's attention most was the pitch-black cocoon in the sky. Its branches spread like a spiderweb across the sky, and the giant cocoon at its center pulsed with red light.
With every pulse of red light, it seemed as though Lucifer's silhouette could be seen within it.
"It seems my prediction was correct. Lucifer is using the sacrifice to be reborn in Heaven," Wang Lan remarked. "If we hadn't broken the code of the Bible, then seven days from now, Lucifer would directly steal the God of Heaven's opportunity, become the new Demon God, and take control of the Fifth Epoch. Humanity would truly be extinct."
"What do we do now?" Yulia asked, looking up at the cocoon.
"Of course, we deal with him before he's born," Wang Lan said as Star Power boiled around him, and the will to fight solidified in his eyes. The Zanpakuto instantly appeared in his hand.
Wang Lan held the sword in both hands, channeling Sunlight Sword Qi into the Sword of Light. The terrifying Sword Qi surged towards the heavens, slicing open the firmament as space rippled and twisted around the blade's edge.
"Slash—"
The sword strike was heaven-shattering.
Space twisted violently as the Sword Qi mercilessly struck the cocoon. Suddenly, ripples spread across its surface. Wang Lan's lips curled into a cold smile. Does it think a mere ripple can withstand my Sword Qi?
But the next second, Wang Lan's expression changed drastically.
The Sword Qi fiercely collided with the rippling barrier, but its power was not unleashed. Instead, the terrifying ripples directly devoured the Sword Qi's energy, causing it to vanish into nothingness within moments.
"How is this possible!" Wang Lan's face paled. He rose into the air, rushing towards the cocoon. But when he was about a hundred meters from it, the space around the cocoon seemed twisted into a closed loop. No matter how fast Wang Lan flew, he was caught in an infinite loop.
Impossible! Even when Lucifer wasn't killed, he couldn't have calmly withstood my sword strike. But now, before his resurrection, he can make my full-force attack dissipate like smoke?
Wang Lan was unwilling to believe it. Flames suddenly surged around him, and a blast of Samadhi True Fire hurtled towards the cocoon.
Soon, the cocoon was bathed in the Samadhi True Fire, but just a second later, the flames rapidly vanished, extinguished. This extinguishment wasn't because the fire had burned out, nor because it was doused; it seemed as if the fire had seeped into the cocoon and been devoured.
Impossible. I'll try again.
This time, Wang Lan unleashed the Tail Beast Jade, which combined multiple attributes—a technique he had only used twice since its creation. This could no longer be considered a mere Star Martial Skill; it was apocalyptic.
A single Tail Beast Jade could annihilate a city in an instant.
A gigantic Tail Beast Jade, over a hundred meters in diameter, appeared in Wang Lan's hands. He hurled it viciously at the cocoon. The moment the massive Tail Beast Jade hit the cocoon, it exploded, but in an instant, time seemed to stand still.
The shape of the explosion froze in mid-air. Then, as if time were rewinding, the shockwaves of the explosion were rapidly sucked back into the cocoon. In an instant, it was as if nothing had ever happened.
Wang Lan landed on the ground with a grave expression and exchanged a speechless look with Yulia.
"What the hell is this thing? That attack was on par with a nuclear bomb!" Wang Lan exclaimed in anger.
Suddenly, Wang Lan's eyes shot open. His pupils turned blood-red instantly, two windmills spinning violently within. As they spun, Divine Might's suction force activated. The space surrounding the Demon Cocoon quickly twisted.
But after only three seconds, blood trickled from Wang Lan's eyes, and a stabbing pain forced him to close them involuntarily.
The space where this Demon Cocoon resides is incredibly sturdy, unyielding like steel rebar!
Divine Might's suction worked by peeling away the target's surrounding space and then compressing it—like tearing a page from a book, crumpling it into a ball, and tossing it in the trash. But the space around the Demon Cocoon was like a steel rebar, unbudgeable even with all his might.
"Is Lucifer's resurrection truly unavoidable?" Wang Lan bellowed, clutching his eyes in frustration.
"The fate I witnessed didn't include this. I, too, only saw fragments of information."
"Damn it! I refuse to believe it can't be dealt with. We'll bomb it with a nuke!"
"You have a nuclear bomb?"
"No, but the nations do. First, let's get out of here and inform the United Nations."
Having exhausted all his methods, Wang Lan decided that if he couldn't deal with the cocoon, he needed to find another solution.
Upon exiting Heaven Door, Jiang Xinyu and the Pope had already left.
"Oh no," Wang Lan suddenly slapped his forehead and exclaimed.
"What's wrong?"
"I forgot about the Divine Might Space! I could have put the Pope and Xinyu into it and brought them in with us. I can't believe I forgot. Oh, I'm really in for it when we get back."
"Xinyu didn't remember either, did she?" Yulia asked with a chuckle.
"If she doesn't remember, it's just forgetting. But if I don't remember, it's my fault. Never mind, let's get out of here first."
The two walked out of the Heaven Door. Jiang Xinyu and the Pope were still waiting for Wang Lan on the steps. Seeing them emerge, the pair hurried over. "How did it go? What's the situation inside Heaven?"
"It's a wasteland, littered with the corpses of high-ranking Angels. But there's a Demon Cocoon in the sky above Heaven. I believe Lucifer is being nurtured inside it. He will be resurrected in seven days."
"This... didn't you stop it?"
"I couldn't. My attacks were ineffective against the Demon Cocoon. Now, we can only come out and see if there's another way. I need to return to Jade Country and discuss this with our nation's leaders."
With that, he took Jiang Xinyu's hand, and they instantly vanished.
After returning to his country, Wang Lan immediately called Number One, and an urgent United Nations meeting was arranged. Once again, Wang Lan was in the Forbidden City, within the specialized international video conference room, where screens showed the leaders of over two hundred nations.
"Jade Country, you're saying humanity is facing the most severe disaster in history? Wasn't that evil Fallen Angel already slain? Why are we suddenly hearing this disastrous news?"
"Yes, after seeing the Fallen Angel slain, I even opened a bottle of champagne in celebration."
"Leaders of all nations, I am Wang Lan, a general from Jade Country. Many of you should recognize me. Now, I must announce something once more: the Fifth Epoch will commence in seven days. That evil Fallen Angel has completed his ritual. He will be resurrected at the dawn of the Fifth Epoch to reign over it."
Upon hearing this, many national leaders were bewildered, but a few who reacted quickly turned deathly pale.
"The Fifth Epoch? Are you saying the Fifth Epoch is about to begin? Our civilization is going to be destroyed?"
Human history has gone through four epochs, with each civilization recording them differently. For instance, the Heaven God Sect records the Golden Age, Silver Age, Savage Age, and our current Homo Sapiens Epoch.
In Eastern records, there is the Ancient Times, the Primordial Era, the Mythical Era, and the current Celestial Calendar Historical Era. Each epoch is separated by at least ten thousand years—a history so ancient it is almost beyond record.
