Immortality: Grinding Experience Starting as a Paper Craftsman

Chapter 91 The Battle of Fallen Gods, A Deadly Cycle of Reincarnation

"This second cup is called 'Meeting of Enemies.' As the saying goes, 'Enemies meet on a narrow road, and when they meet, their eyes are filled with hatred.' Gentlemen, please."

The red-eyed old man made a gesturing gesture, and the smile on his withered, bark-like face grew even more eerie.

As he finished speaking, the blood-red tree in the underground palace trembled violently, and countless red leaves fell like rain.

Those leaves, like a single flower or a Bodhi tree, seem to bear the weight of countless worlds.

The underground palace in front of Gu Yan began to distort, and the red-eyed old man, Xiao Chen, and the blood-red tree all turned into rotating blocks of color.

A strong sense of weightlessness and dizziness swept over him, accompanied by deafening shouts of battle, throwing Gu Yan's consciousness into another dimension.

……

"boom!"

A muffled clap of thunder suddenly resounded, and looking up, a gigantic black hand appeared in the sky, tearing a hole in the world.

Endless black demonic energy poured down from the crack, staining half the sky black.

Gu Yan found himself standing on a hillside, wearing a tattered golden armor and holding a chipped halberd.

He took a deep breath, his nostrils filled with the smoke from the explosion and the stench of blood from severed limbs.

"Ninth Brother! Don't just stand there! Those bastards are charging again!"

A large, blood-stained hand patted Gu Yan on the shoulder from behind.

Gu Yan turned his head and saw a young and resolute face.

The man was dressed in silver-white armor, looking disheveled, but with a heroic air between his brows. He held a Qingfeng sword in his hand, the blade shimmering with a cloud-like spiritual light.

"Flowing clouds?"

Gu Yan called out the name subconsciously.

In this world, Gu Yan's real name is Gu Jiu.

The silver-armored youth before him was named Liu Yun, his brother-in-arms who had shared life and death with him in the Divine Court Guard.

"Ninth Brother, look over there!"

Another voice came from the left.

He was a burly man clad in crimson armor, with a full beard, wielding a massive, blood-red broadsword. His smile revealed a set of white teeth, exuding a bloodthirsty savagery.

His name is Blood River.

The three formed the iron triangle of this squad, guarding the border of the Divine Court for three hundred years and slaying countless demons who attempted to invade.

Gu Yan looked in the direction Xuehe was pointing.

Beneath the crack in the sky, countless black dots swarmed in like locusts.

Those are extraterrestrial demons, things of filth.

Some of them have three heads, some have wings on their backs, and some are simply a writhing mass of flesh and blood, leaving nothing but barren land in their wake.

"Damn it! How come there are so many this time?"

Liu Yun spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, his eyes filled with despair: "Has the Divine Court's reinforcements not arrived yet? If this continues, our defenses will collapse."

"Reinforcements? Those high and mighty priests are probably still thinking about which goddess to serve them tonight. They have no time to care about the lives of us common soldiers."

Blood River sneered, his broadsword humming in his hand: "Instead of relying on them, let's kill a few more to make it worthwhile! Ninth Brother, let's go! This time, let's see who kills the most, and the loser buys a drink!"

Gu Yan gripped the halberd tightly in his hand, and the instincts of a warrior began to awaken.

Even though he knew it was just an illusion, the oppressive feeling of facing death was so real that he couldn't be as indifferent as he would be when playing a game.

"Alright, let's have a competition then."

Gu Yan's lips curled into a cold smile, and he moved like lightning, rushing out of the trench first.

"kill!"

The three men were like three sharp knives, plunging fiercely into the demon army.

Gu Yan's halberd moved with wide, sweeping motions, each strike carrying golden divine light, turning the low-level demons into dust.

Liu Yun's swordsmanship was elegant and agile, like clouds rolling and unfolding, and wherever he passed, demons fell to the ground.

Blood River was even more ferocious. His broadsword was filled with a strong aura of bloodlust. With each strike, it cleaved a bloody path, devouring the essence of the demons and nourishing itself.

This battle was fierce and chaotic.

After killing for an unknown amount of time and losing countless demons, Gu Yan's arms began to go numb, and his divine power was nearly exhausted.

But the demons surrounding him still stretched as far as the eye could see.

"puff!"

A black bone spur struck from behind, piercing through Gu Yan's chest.

That was a demon general hiding in the shadows.

A sharp pain struck, and Gu Yan's vision went black.

In the last moment before his consciousness faded, he saw Liu Yun and Xue He rushing over like madmen, only to be overwhelmed by even more demons.

Is this the end?

Very unwilling.

……

"Phew~"

When Gu Yan suddenly opened his eyes again.

There was still no underground palace, and no red-eyed old man.

Before me was still that familiar trench, and in my ears still was that deafening roar.

"Ninth Brother! Don't just stand there! Those bastards are charging again!"

That large, blood-stained hand patted his shoulder again.

Time has been reset.

Gu Yan turned his head and looked at Liu Yun's familiar face, a sudden realization welling up in his heart.

This is a cycle.

It's like a game you played in a past life; if you die, you have to reload and start over.

As long as he doesn't break free from this inevitable death trap, he will be trapped here for the rest of his life, until his soul is destroyed and he is lost at the end of reincarnation.

Gu Yan took a deep breath, his eyes sharp and determined, his fighting spirit rekindled.

He already knew where the demon general who attacked him was hiding, and this time, he would definitely not make the same mistake again.

"Flowing Clouds, Blood River, don't rush in."

Gu Yan pressed down on their shoulders, his voice chillingly calm: "Listen to me, let's try a different approach this time."

"Change tactics? Ninth Brother, what ideas do you have?" Xuehe scratched his head, looking bewildered.

"Stop talking nonsense, just listen to me."

Gu Yan pointed to a huge rock in front of him: "Later, you two will feign an attack on the left and draw the main battlefield over there. I'll go around to the right and flank them."

"Flank behind? Ninth Brother, are you crazy? That's the main force of the Demon Clan over there!" Liu Yun exclaimed.

"Believe me."

Gu Yan didn't explain further. With a flash, taking advantage of the chaos of the battlefield, he slipped into the shadows like a ghost.

This time, he did not choose to confront them head-on.

Like a patient hunter, he moved nimbly along the edge of the battlefield, using his memory of the terrain to avoid all ambush points.

Finally, he found the demon general.

The monster with six arms and covered in black scales was hiding under a pile of corpses, waiting for its next prey.

"I've found you."

A cold glint flashed in Gu Yan's eyes.

Instead of thrusting out his halberd, he took out a specially made Explosive Flame Talisman from his robes.

"Here's a big treasure for you."

Gu Yan attached the Flame Burst Talisman to the tip of the halberd and, with all his might, hurled it at the pile of corpses like a javelin.

"boom!"

With a deafening roar, flames shot skyward.

The demon general had no time to react before being blown to pieces by the sudden explosion, without even being able to let out a scream.

With the death of this demon general, a warm current surged into Gu Yan's body, restoring much of his divine power.

That's his "Everlasting Green and Withered Technique" taking effect.

A cruel smile curled at the corner of Gu Yan's lips, and he immediately understood.

It turns out that killing certain demons can restore divine power.

If this were an infinite flow game, he would want to be the first player to complete it.

In the time that followed, Gu Yan began a frantic trial and error process.

In his third reincarnation, he used the terrain to set a trap, killing hundreds of demons, but died at the hands of a blood demon that could self-destruct.

In his fourth reincarnation, he anticipated the demons' attack route and, with Liuyun and Xuehe, counter-encircled a demon squad. However, he was betrayed by a traitor within the Divine Court and died from a cold arrow.

The fifth time... the tenth time... the hundredth time...

Gu Yan died more and more often, and his survival time in each reincarnation became longer and longer.

His gaze grew colder and his moves became increasingly ruthless.

He was no longer the divine soldier Gu Jiu who only knew how to charge into battle; he became a ghost on this battlefield, a nightmare for all the demons.

He knew every demon's weakness like the back of his hand; he knew every inch of the terrain by heart; he had a clear understanding of the course of every battle.

During this process, his cooperation with Liuyun and Xuehe became increasingly seamless.

On this desperate battlefield, the three supported each other and crawled out of piles of dead bodies time and time again.

"Ninth Brother, if we make it back alive, let's become sworn brothers!"

During a lull in the fighting, Xuehe wiped the blood from his blade and grinned, "I'll be the third brother, Liuyun the second, and you the eldest. From now on, the three of us brothers will share both good times and bad!"

"OK."

Liu Yun smiled, his eyes gleaming with hope: "Then we'll drink for three days and three nights at the best tavern in the Divine Court!"

Looking into their sincere eyes, Gu Yan felt a lump in his throat.

Because he knew that this was just an illusion, and that once the battle was over, this place would vanish into thin air.

Moreover, as the number of reincarnations increased, he discovered a disturbing fact.

The Divine Court cannot be defended.

No matter how hard they tried, no matter how many demons they killed, the rift in the sky continued to widen.

Moreover, the atmosphere within the Divine Court is becoming increasingly strange.

Those high-ranking priests began to frequently mobilize troops, not to support the front lines, but to escort something important away.

A seed called betrayal is quietly sprouting in this soil of despair.

……

The 108th cycle.

This time, Gu Yan, along with Liu Yun and Xue He, miraculously held the line for three whole days.

They killed two high-ranking demon generals and annihilated tens of thousands of demons, becoming the only bright spot on this battlefield.

However, just as they were exhausted and waiting for reinforcements to arrive.

No reinforcements arrived.

The message that arrived was a secret order from the highest levels of the Divine Court.

"The battle at the front is critical. The troops under Divine Soldier Gu Jiu are hereby ordered to immediately cover the rear and ensure the evacuation of the Divine Court's core. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

This was a death sentence.

The so-called cover was to make them use their flesh and blood to fill the endless abyss of the demon race, just to buy those important figures some time to escape.

"Why should I?!"

Blood River slammed the golden secret order to the ground, his eyes bloodshot: "We were fighting desperately at the front, and they were running away from behind? What do they take us for? Casualties?!"

Liu Yun remained silent, only gripping the sword tightly in his hand until his knuckles turned white.

Looking at the secret order, Gu Yan felt not much anger, but only a sense of desolation as if he had seen through the ways of the world.

This is the true meaning of being with someone you hate.

It's not that the enemy is so powerful, but that what you risked your life to protect has turned around and is trying to kill you.

"This is the Divine Court."

Gu Yan said calmly, "In the eyes of the higher-ups, we are just numbers, consumables that can be sacrificed at any time."

"Then what do we do? Go and die?" Blood River asked unwillingly.

Gu Yan glanced around and saw that the divine soldiers who had followed them through thick and thin also looked desperate.

"Do you want to live?"

Gu Yan suddenly asked.

"Nonsense! Who doesn't want to live? I have a wife and kids at home!" Blood River roared.

"Then it's the other way around."

Gu Yan's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a thunderclap, echoing in everyone's ears for a long time.

"Against whom? The Divine Court?" Liu Yun suddenly looked up, staring at Gu Yan in disbelief.

"The Divine Court has abandoned us."

Gu Yan pointed to the still-expanding rift in the sky: "Since they are so ruthless, then don't blame us for being ruthless. Rather than waiting to die here, let's fight our way out and go to that legendary outer heaven to pray for a glimmer of hope."

That was the intelligence Gu Yan had collected through countless reincarnations.

Legend has it that at the end of this battlefield lies an ancient road leading to other worlds.

Even though it's a near-death experience, it's still better than waiting to die here.

"Alright! We'll listen to Ninth Brother! We'll rebel!" Blood River was the first to respond; he had long been fed up with this kind of humiliation.

Liu Yun hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Alright, the other way around!"

Thus began that rebellion destined to be recorded in history.

Gu Yan led this abandoned and isolated army, not to intercept the demons, but instead turned his guns on the Divine Court's retreat route.

They seized the Shenzhou spacecraft, defeated the supervisory team, and advanced with unstoppable momentum.

However, just as they were about to reach the entrance to that ancient road.

An unexpected event occurred.

"Pfft."

A long sword pierced Gu Yan's heart from behind.

That sword strike was too fast, too accurate, and too ruthless.

It happened so fast that even Gu Yan, a veteran who had reincarnated hundreds of times, didn't have time to react.

He lowered his head and looked at the blue sword tip protruding from his chest.

That was Liuyun's sword.

Why...?

Gu Yan turned his head with difficulty and looked at the brother who had been following behind him and calling him "Ninth Brother".

The gentleness of Liu Yun's face was gone, replaced by a chilling indifference.

Beside him, the forthright Xuehe, wielding a broadsword, beheaded Vice General Gu Yan.

"Because the Divine Court is doomed, Ninth Brother. And your so-called 'Heaven Beyond Heaven' is utterly absurd!"

Liu Yun drew his sword, and blood splattered all over his face.

"As you know, we've cultivated for thousands of years, all for the sake of immortality. Now that the Divine Court is gone, we naturally have no choice but to rely on the Demon Clan."

He pulled a black token from his pocket, which emanated a strong demonic aura.

"The Demon Lord said that as long as I bring your head back, I will not only live, but also receive the Demon Lord's blessing of eternal life."

"Ninth Brother, you are too smart and too strong. Your existence is the biggest obstacle to our pledge of allegiance."

Xuehe walked over, knife in hand, a ferocious smile on his face: "Yes, Ninth Brother, rather than we all die together, I'd rather use your life to ensure our brothers' wealth and status. You see, didn't you always say you'd take care of your brothers? This is the last time you'll take care of us."

Gu Yan looked at his two brothers who had once shared life and death, and suddenly smiled.

He laughed so hard that tears streamed down his face, mixing with blood and dripping onto the ground.

To be with those you hate, to be separated from those you love, to not get what you want.

It turns out that this test wasn't about physical strength or strategy.

It is people's hearts.

Faced with the temptation of immortality and the fear of life and death, so-called loyalty and righteousness, the so-called never abandoning or giving up, are as fragile as a piece of paper.

"Okay, very good."

Gu Yan's figure began to dissipate, a sign that this cycle of reincarnation was about to end.

But the light in his eyes did not go out; instead, it became even more intense and frenzied.

"Flowing clouds, blood river."

"Remember this feeling."

"In my next life, I will personally settle this score with interest."

The world is broken.

Darkness descends.

In that endless darkness, an even colder and more powerful soul is awakening anew.

If you don't want to be brothers, then let's be enemies.

This time, I won't be a hero; I'll be the demon king who ends everything.