Chapter 1436: Thousand Autumns Defeated, Stone Lotus Appears

Novel:

The Heavenly Emperor, in his true form, stood amidst the chaos, his expression solemn as he gazed upon Xuanyuan Heaven, which was enveloped in five-colored light.

Beside him stood a silver-haired youth, who was the artifact spirit of the Grand Void Measuring Ruler. The youth held his hands loosely, sensing his surroundings, and after a long moment, sighed, "It's the power of the Heavenly River Dao Fruit that has sealed Xuanyuan Heaven. I have no way to enter."

"It seems the Mermaid Ancestor and the Celestial Venerable have made their move. The latter forced the former to activate the Heavenly River Dao Fruit, drawing upon the immense power of creation within Xuanyuan Heaven for suppression."

As the wielder of destiny, the Heavenly Emperor deduced the truth from a few clues.

"The good news is that the True Immortals and Dao Lords of the Water Mother Palace lineage are still alive within Xuanyuan Heaven." The Grand Void Measuring Ruler also used the Grand Dao of Void to perceive certain things.

"What's the bad news?" the Heavenly Emperor inquired.

"If the Mermaid Ancestor cannot defeat the Celestial Venerable, the activated Heavenly River Dao Fruit and the immense creative power of Xuanyuan Heaven cannot be undone. They would effectively be sealed forever within Xuanyuan Heaven, akin to being dead." This statement from the Grand Void Measuring Ruler caused the Heavenly Emperor to frown deeply.

Among the Three Realms, only the Heavenly Emperor and Grand Void True King were Pure Yang.

It was for this reason that the Heavenly Emperor understood just how powerful the Heavenly River Dao Fruit left behind by the Water Mother was.

The Mermaid Ancestor was unable to unleash even ten percent of its power.

However, since the Heavenly River Dao Fruit had already been refined by the Mermaid Ancestor, if the Mermaid Ancestor chose to fight to the death, she could sacrifice her own freedom to seal everyone within Xuanyuan Heaven.

Indeed, the current situation was a result of this.

"If Senior Brother Grand Void were to intervene, would he also be unable to enter Xuanyuan Heaven?"

The Heavenly Emperor pondered, thinking that with the Grand Void True King's power, he might be able to accomplish what the Heavenly Emperor could not.

"This is the power of creation," the artifact spirit of the Grand Void Measuring Ruler replied to the Heavenly Emperor.

Creation...

Upon hearing this, the Heavenly Emperor secretly sighed.

Although many immortals knew that creation was the ultimate goal of cultivation, only Pure Yang beings, who were merely one step away from creation, truly understood how terrifying this realm was.

Merging with the Three Thousand Grand Daos was merely the threshold, a task thousands of times more difficult than reaching Pure Yang.

At the very least, the Heavenly Emperor was powerless when faced with the immense power of creation.

"I hope everyone in Xuanyuan Heaven can return safely."

In the end, the Heavenly Emperor could only offer this hopeful wish.

After this news was conveyed to his avatar in the Ziwei Palace, Chen Mobai immediately became aware of it.

Since all intelligence from the Heavenly Court had to be archived and kept by the Void Department, Kongming informed Chen Mobai immediately upon learning of it.

Furthermore, after the Grand Void Measuring Ruler returned to Grand Void Heaven, it also conveyed the matter to Chen Mobai through the Empty Child.

"So, the Celestial Venerable might be trapped in Xuanyuan Heaven for good?"

Chen Mobai's expression turned somewhat intriguing upon hearing this.

This was naturally good news for him.

However, his recent luck, bolstered by the blessing of Sagely Virtue, was excessively good.

Many of his adversaries had encountered various misfortunes.

Even the Celestial Venerable, who had integrated with the Innate Dao of Life and Death, could not resist it.

This truly made Chen Mobai feel that something was amiss.

After all, he was merely at the Void Refinement stage.

While his influence on ordinary seventh-stage True Immortals could be attributed to the Zixiao Palace, an Innate Supreme Treasure, the Celestial Venerable possessed the Disk of Life and Death. Even if it was naturally half a step weaker in the Three Realms, it was still an Innate Supreme Treasure.

There must be something strange at play that Chen Mobai was unaware of.

Just then, Kongming suddenly received another top-level communication talisman from the Void Department. After reading it, his expression dramatically changed. Without even a moment to greet anyone, he instantly teleported to the Ziwei Palace.

Soon, Chen Mobai noticed that the entire Miluo Heaven had sprung into action.

One by one, the True Immortals and Dao Lords who had been in seclusion there, controlling their Grand Dao Avatars, entered the Miluo Palace. Among them were the Grand Emperor Heavenly King and the Non-Action Immortal Monarch, whom Chen Mobai recognized.

Besides these seventh-stage existences in Miluo Heaven, the other Dao Lords guarding the Thirty-Three Heavens also descended into the Miluo Palace at their fastest speed.

Chen Mobai knew that something significant had happened. Since Kongming had not returned from the Ziwei Palace, he simply went directly to the Void Department.

"Greetings, Junior Martial Uncle."

Ji Yuhan, who was guarding the Void Department, knew Chen Mobai had arrived and immediately came out to greet him.

Ever since the Celestial Venerable integrated with the Dao, the Spirit Void Immortal Realm had become somewhat turbulent, so Kongming had not sent Ji Yuhan back to guard Moya Heaven.

"Has something happened?"

Chen Mobai pointed to another True Immortal Avatar descending into Miluo Heaven from beyond the firmament and asked.

"Please come this way, Junior Martial Uncle."

Ji Yuhan led Chen Mobai to a quiet room in the Void Department. The walls were stacked high with jade slips. Ji Yuhan reached out and took one.

"Something major has happened in Scorched Heaven. Junior Martial Uncle, please keep the information in this slip to yourself after you've read it. Do not spread it."

After speaking, Ji Yuhan performed a secret technique to unseal the jade slip and handed it to Chen Mobai with both hands.

Chen Mobai took it and his pupils constricted.

The jade slip contained intelligence about the rebellion in the Eight Western Heavens, which had occurred half a day ago.

The Qianqiu Sage led the Heavenly Court army into Scorched Heaven, under the Heavenly Emperor's decree, intending to pacify the exiled lands there, avenge Yuwen Ji, and rescue the two seventh-stage Gold-Horned Dragons, Kang Jin and Kang Yu.

However, no sooner had the army entered Scorched Heaven than they encountered the incredibly mysterious Demon Lord, who had integrated with an Innate Grand Dao.

Not only was the Demon Lord's cultivation profound, but he had even refined Kang Jin and Kang Yu into an ultimate magic treasure. The sharp Grand Dao unleashed by it was even more potent than what a seventh-stage Gold-Horned Dragon could wield on its own. It not only easily shattered the Heavenly Court army but also, in a direct confrontation, severed the Qianqiu Sage's Dao-achieving treasure.

Fortunately, the Qianqiu Sage's virtue and luck were profound. He possessed a fragment of a ruined pagoda, left by the Merciful Dao Ancestor, which he sacrificed to block the Dragon Scissors. Fighting and retreating, he protected his subordinates and disciples as they escaped from Scorched Heaven.

However, due to the retreat, a portion of the Heavenly Court army was trapped in Scorched Heaven.

As soon as this news returned, it naturally shook the Immortal Realm.

After all, the Qianqiu Sage, who controlled Sagely Virtue and opposed demonic cultivators, was the strongest among the Four Heavenly Kings.

Now that even he couldn't stop the Demon Lord, did it mean that the Heavenly Emperor himself would have to lead the expedition?

No wonder so many True Immortals and Dao Lords from the Thirty-Three Heavens had been summoned.

Chen Mobai suddenly understood.

"Is the Qianqiu Sage alright?" Chen Mobai asked as he returned the jade slip.

Ji Yuhan shook her head, indicating that the Qianqiu Sage was unharmed. However, after his defeat by the Demon Lord, the rebellion in the Eight Western Heavens, which had initially been suppressed, flared up again. It even began spreading to the other three realms.

"Within the Spirit Void Immortal Realm, some seventh-stage demonic grand masters had been hidden. Previously, under the Heavenly Court's might, they could only hide. Now, with the Demon Lord taking the lead, they are gathering everywhere, instigating rebellions, and proclaiming their support for the Demon Lord to overturn the existing order."

Ji Yuhan then pulled out several more jade slips, all containing the latest intelligence obtained by the Void Department.

Chen Mobai saw familiar names on them, such as Black Fly Demonic God, Blood Transformation Heavenly Demon, and Ancient Demon.

"It seems this news won't be kept secret for long then."

Clearly, while the Heavenly Court wished to suppress the news, the demonic path eagerly desired it to be known throughout the world. The widespread rebellions now erupting across the Immortal Realm indicated that the top demonic experts were already aware of the Qianqiu Sage's defeat by the Demon Lord.

For demonic cultivators, the Qianqiu Sage's deterrent power was even greater than the Heavenly Emperor's. With his defeat, the demonic path's ancient fear of the Heavenly Court dissipated.

"Therefore, the Heavenly Court must completely suppress the Demon Lord as quickly as possible," Ji Yuhan stated.

Chen Mobai nodded, glancing at the two Dao Lords who had just descended again. His initial shock gradually settled into a sense of calm.

After all, in terms of strength, the Heavenly Court definitely held the advantage.

If the Heavenly Emperor intervened, the Demon Lord would certainly be no match.

Even if the Heavenly Emperor couldn't subdue him, wasn't there still the Grand Void True King?

"Is the Qianqiu Sage a successor of Senior Brother Merciful?" Chen Mobai recalled the Profound Yellow Pagoda he had given to the Spirit Venerable, thinking that the one in the Qianqiu Sage's possession must be the other fragment. He asked out of curiosity.

"The Qianqiu Sage is self-taught, having delved into the legacies of all seven Creation Sages' Daoist traditions."

As Ji Yuhan spoke, she retrieved a jade slip detailing the Qianqiu Sage's life. After reading it, Chen Mobai was filled with admiration.

He was truly an inspiring figure, having risen from humble origins through diligent study, becoming the only acquired being to ascend to the Innate Dao Lord realm.

The fragment of the Profound Yellow Pagoda was left behind by the previous Pure Serenity Heavenly King after failing to ascend to the Innate Grand Dao. It was bestowed upon the Qianqiu Sage by the Heavenly Emperor when he succeeded to the title.

Next, Chen Mobai began to read the information regarding Senior Brother Merciful's lineage.

Only when Kongming returned did he reluctantly emerge from the quiet room in the Void Department. This room contained all information from the Spirit Void Immortal Realm since its creation, offering answers to almost any question.

"Junior Martial Uncle, matters were urgent, and I only now have time to report to you." Kongming apologized first upon seeing Chen Mobai.

"What does the Heavenly Emperor plan to do?" Chen Mobai asked directly.

"The Grand Emperor Heavenly King of the East and the Cold Halberd Heavenly King of the North have already received orders to lead their armies from the Eight Eastern and Eight Northern Heavens to the Eight Western Heavens to support the Pure Serenity Heavenly King. Each of the Eight Departments will also dispatch a True Immortal to lead disciples. This is nearly half of the Heavenly Court's experts from the Thirty-Three Heavens being mobilized to suppress this Demon Lord rebellion."

Kongming informed Chen Mobai of the recently decided outcome from the Ziwei Palace meeting.

The Heavenly Court had mobilized almost all its forces this time.

Besides the direct battlefield in Scorched Heaven, the Eight Departments also needed to suppress or even kill the Ancient Demons causing trouble elsewhere.

Even if the Ancient Demons were to revive later, the Heavenly Emperor did not wish to see them during this period.

Chen Mobai nodded, believing that the great rebellion instigated by the Demon Lord of Scorched Heaven would soon be easily suppressed by the combined efforts of the Heavenly Court's three Heavenly Kings.

However, events unfolded far beyond Chen Mobai's expectations.

After the Grand Emperor Heavenly King led the Heavenly Court army from the Eight Eastern Heavens westward, the Cold Halberd Heavenly King's Northern Heavenly Court army remained conspicuously still.

The Heavenly Emperor issued consecutive decrees, but each time the Cold Halberd Heavenly King received one, his army would only move one step westward, acting sluggishly.

The stated reason was that his subordinate soldiers were disobedient.

"The Eight Northern Heavens were previously the domain of the Heavenly Empress. The Star God Palace is deeply entrenched there. Although the Cold Halberd Heavenly King is also a Grand Dao Incarnation of the Ancestral Dragon, he is quite lazy and dislikes movement, so he hasn't been able to fully control the region over all these years."

Kongming shared the latest intelligence with Chen Mobai, who felt that the Cold Halberd Heavenly King, an Innate Dao Lord, was utterly useless.

If it were him in charge, he could turn the Eight Northern Heavens into his ironclad territory in less than a century.

Chen Mobai asked, "Do the immortal residents of the Eight Northern Heavens have no reverence for the Heavenly Emperor's commands?"

Kongming replied, "The Eight Northern Heavens were originally opened up by the One Star Dao Ancestor and the Water Mother together. After the Heavenly Court was established, it became the Heavenly Empress's base, and everyone there only recognized the Star God Palace and the Heavenly Empress, not the Heavenly Emperor."

Wouldn't this give the Heavenly Emperor even more reason to settle accounts?

However, after Wan Ling was captured, the Star God Palace likely prepared itself. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and they probably intended to use it as leverage to negotiate properly with the Heavenly Emperor.

"Yesterday, Dao Lord Tianxuan of the Star God Palace applied to be teleported to Miluo Heaven, presumably to discuss this matter. However, the Heavenly Emperor suppressed the request and did not approve her arrival."

Kongming mentioned another matter.

Heavenly Court's seventh-stage True Immortals generally held the title of Dao Lord, but they were also bound by celestial regulations. For instance, in Miluo Heaven, one couldn't simply come and go as they pleased.

"Will the Heavenly Emperor compromise?" Chen Mobai asked. If he compromised, Wan Ling might be released, which would not be good for him.

Kongming replied, "The Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Empress have long since fallen out, and what's broken is hard to mend. Moreover, even without the army from the Eight Northern Heavens, the combined forces of the three Heavenly Kings alone would be enough to suppress the Demon Lord."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai felt relieved.

Given the Heavenly Emperor's status and realm, he likely wouldn't lower his head or admit he was wrong, even if the Heavenly Court ceased to exist.

Furthermore, the more the Star God Palace manipulated the army of the Eight Northern Heavens, the more it would solidify the Heavenly Emperor's resolve to kill.

Next, Chen Mobai inquired about the Cold Halberd Heavenly King's background.

He learned that the Heavenly King was the first white dragon in the Three Realms, having integrated with the Innate Frozen Severance Grand Dao, which was also a type of ultimate Grand Dao, making him immensely powerful.

Kongming said, "Junior Martial Uncle, I plan to go to the front lines myself this time to see who exactly this Demon Lord is."

Kongming's judgment was similar to Chen Mobai's. As a disciple of the Grand Void True King, he believed the Demon Lord could not possibly shake the Heavenly Court's rule.

He therefore considered this suppression of the rebellion to be an opportunity for merit.

However, given Kongming's status, he wasn't seeking rewards but was genuinely curious.

After all, since the creation of the Spirit Void Immortal Realm, there had never been a rebellion of this scale.

Now, all True Immortals and Dao Lords of the Heavenly Court were extremely curious about the Demon Lord of Scorched Heaven, wanting to know how he had ascended to the Innate realm without any prior notice.

With the Grand Void True King absent and the Grand Void Measuring Ruler inactive, Chen Mobai was currently the highest-ranking member of the Grand Void Heaven lineage. Therefore, Kongming reported all matters to him for decision-making.

At this moment, Chen Mobai glimpsed a corner of the future.

It was a grayish-white stone lotus.

He was instantly startled, recalling the World-Ending Grinder that had vanished from his Purple Mansion's Sea of Consciousness.

"Kongming, come with me to Grand Void Heaven first. Leave this matter to others." Chen Mobai realized that the Demon Lord might be the Grand Dao of Doomsday for the Spirit Void Immortal Realm, and quickly spoke.

Related to the Novel