Upon realizing the truth, Lord of Fire and the other Lords of the Universe turned pale with regret. Had they known this place belonged to a Medium Lord of the Universe, they wouldn't have dared set foot here—even if their lives depended on it.
But it was already too late.
"Don't hold back! We must break through together!"
Lord of Earth roared, rallying the five Lords of the Universe to combine their powers and tear open the formation for a chance to escape.
"You still wish to escape? Leave it to me."
Gu Chuan raised his eyebrows, sensing the movements of the five Universe Lords. His territory had been personally intruded upon. If he allowed these five to escape, wouldn't that mean others could come and go as they pleased?
Such convenience did not exist in this world.
Universe Secret Treasure—Primordial Ancient Serpent Talisman!
In an instant, Gu Chuan extended his hand, and a talisman appeared in his palm—the Primordial Ancient Serpent Talisman.
Unlike before, the talisman now radiated an overwhelming presence. It looked like a living serpent of pure darkness, coiled and slithering with primordial power. Though it was only a talisman, it felt as if it carried the weight of the universe itself—its energy a balance of light and darkness, like Yin and Yang intertwined.
Boom!
The next moment, the talisman descended with unstoppable force, crashing toward the five Universe Lords.
"What?!"
The five Universe Lords, including Lord of Fire, turned ashen. A colossal black talisman plummeted from the sky, and a fatal sense of crisis overwhelmed them.
Though it was merely a talisman, they felt as if a mountain from Heaven and a mountain from the Underworld were descending simultaneously, ready to crush them entirely.
Within the depths of the talisman, they vaguely glimpsed countless beings—billions upon trillions—worshiping the Primordial Ancient Serpent with devout chants. The immense force of their collective faith slammed into reality, a spiritual pressure so vast it could shatter entire universes.
Rumble~~~
The five Lords of the Universe had no strength to resist. Their bodies buckled under the pressure of universes crashing down upon them. Flattened to the ground, they couldn't move an inch.
The moment the Primordial Ancient Serpent Talisman appeared, space and time themselves froze. It was as though an absolute Universe Realm had formed—one untouched by even the laws of the Great Dao.
Puff! Blood sprayed from the mouths of the five Universe Lords. The crushing pressure dealt them severe internal injuries in an instant.
"H-How can this be? Just a single talisman can suppress all five of us?!"
"This is no ordinary treasure—this must be a top-tier Universe Secret Treasure. How can it wield such terrifying might?"
"Damn it, we've kicked an iron wall."
Lord of Fire and the others struggled desperately, but under the suppression of the Primordial Ancient Serpent Talisman, their powers were sealed away.
It was like the scene from legends—where the Sun Monkey was suppressed by the Tathagata Buddha, caught in the Five Finger Mountain. No matter how great their power, escape was impossible.
"Everyone, put down your butcher knives and believe in my Lord!"
A calm voice echoed through the void. A figure stepped forth—it was the transformed Lord of the Blood Sea, his body now radiating boundless sacred light.
Behind him loomed the faint image of a divine pagoda. His appearance was holy, robed in a metal Kasaya, surrounded by the metallic glow of faith. Behind his head, halos of wisdom shimmered, embodying enlightenment and serenity.
Gone were the sins, the resentment, the murderous intent. Only pious tranquility remained.
"Lord of the Blood Sea?! That's really him?!"
Lord of Earth cried out in disbelief. Though he had fought against him for countless years, he would never forget that face—even if turned to ash.
"Impossible! Wasn't he supposed to be dead?!"
Lord of Fire was stunned. He had assumed Lord of the Blood Sea was killed by the mysterious Medium Lord of the Universe. And yet, here he stood—reborn.
"What happened to him? Why has he changed so much?!"
Even Lord of Metal and the other Universe Lords were dumbfounded. They recognized Lord of the Blood Sea, but something was fundamentally different.
In their memories, he was a cruel, merciless tyrant—a devil who slaughtered without remorse, carried boundless resentment, and radiated murderous will.
Now, he looked like a high monk who had severed karma, washed away sins, and embraced pure devotion.
"My fellow Daoists, I am still the Lord of the Blood Sea," he said solemnly, palms pressed together. "The reason for my transformation is the master. Under his guidance, I awakened. I laid down my blade, reflected on my past sins, and chose to be reborn."
He looked upon the other five with sincere eyes.
"The same can happen for you. Though your bodies reek of sin, the master is merciful. If you choose to put down your weapons and believe in him, you shall be redeemed."
He was earnest, truly hoping the other five would become believers of Gu Chuan.
"Not a bad idea," Gu Chuan mused, stroking his chin.
Indeed, rather than killing them, converting them would yield far greater rewards. Not only would he gain their faith energy, but also extend his influence through the five universes under their rule.
It was an effortless way to quintuple his domain—and his power.
This was a deal too good to pass up.
"Insane! You're completely insane!"
Lord of Fire bellowed in rage. "You are no longer the Lord of the Blood Sea I once knew! You've been brainwashed—no, you've undergone Qi Deviation! You're not yourself anymore. Wake up!"
He was utterly terrified.
To think that a devil like the Lord of the Blood Sea—someone once feared across the cosmos—could become this docile, this devout… it was horrifying.
As a Lord of the Universe, to lose his will and become someone else's puppet was worse than death itself.
He couldn't believe what he was witnessing.
That the fearsome Lord of the Blood Sea… had become this.