Chapter 191: Heaven Punishes the Emperor (Two-in-One)

“This is your secret technique?” Mother Qingyi was momentarily dumbfounded, as if looking at something completely incomprehensible.

“It’s alright, Mother, I’ll teach you.”

Year 287 of the Kaiyuan Heavenly Court.

Emperor Duantian ascended the throne and brought great order to the world.

The following year, a terrifying, invulnerable giant avatar emerged from a mutation in the Tongtian Jianmu Tree. It stormed two reclusive major sects within Jianmu City, rescued his mother, and brought her down to the mortal world.

The Jianmu Tree served as a bridge between heaven and earth. It was the most bustling central hub, frequented by not only powerful cultivators but also countless mortal merchants, allowing news to spread incredibly quickly.

The legend of Changsheng rescuing his mother gradually became a widely popular folk tale across the mortal realm, even inspiring various adaptations.

The name Dao Changsheng slowly began to circulate within the cultivation world, though only in a limited scope.

Dao Changsheng gradually followed his teachers’ instructions, journeying across the mortal realm and visiting numerous mortal kingdoms.

He taught his mother to cultivate again, transforming her into a body cultivator. Six months later, he appeared in Beixue Divine State, a region ruled by the demon race, secretly traversing the territories of various demon kings to reach the vicinity of Mount Changyang.

He saw a head; this was his next teacher: the Witch Ancestor.

Dao Changsheng had only known that his masters were the Green Vine Earth Mother and several other ancient beings. Now he learned that one of his teachers was actually the legendary Witch Ancestor!

The Witch Ancestor, according to ancient legend, was the teacher of the Twelve Ancestral Witches.

It was his twelve disciples who overthrew the rule of the ancient Primeval Gods, allowing the celestial and mortal realms to enter an era of acquired beings.

Yet, while the Twelve Ancestral Witches were highly revered, this most ancient being was still imprisoned here?

The thought sent shivers down his spine, leaving him utterly horrified!

And he himself would be his thirteenth disciple!

Moreover, he had more than one master, including the most ancient beings since the creation of heaven and earth: the Earth Mother, the Witch Ancestor...

Who else could there be?

The more he pondered, the more he trembled, almost crying out, wanting to escape this world. What truly horrific evils lay hidden beneath this seemingly glorious era?

What was the reason these ancient beings were teaching him their skills?

He was completely unnerved.

“Come, study hard! We are simply teaching you; don't overthink it. How could we possibly ask you to ascend to heaven and slay an Emperor? That's impossible.” The Witch Ancestor offered a kind smile and tossed him a book.

Dao Changsheng stayed there for five years.

He gained profound insights and extensive experience concerning the Witch Race from the Witch Ancestor, achieving immense progress before his departure.

After Dao Changsheng departed, the head murmured to itself, “Based on the intelligence our ‘netizens’ have deduced, and the information from the Heavenly Realm gathered by Thunder Hammer, the Great Luo Heaven is incredibly rich in energy, far surpassing the mortal realm. Beings living there can extend their lifespans. To prevent energy from dissipating, Great Luo Heaven opens only once every thirty years to allow communication with the outside world.

“The Ancestral Witches live and interact within that small celestial realm, each deducing their own methods of longevity—essentially undergoing secluded cultivation. Venturing into the low-energy, barren outer world would only accelerate the depletion of their lifespans.

“It has only just opened once, specifically for the newly ascended Emperor Duantian’s audience. It will not open again for another thirty years.

“However, while others may not recognize your combat form, the Ancestral Witches will undoubtedly identify you as a disciple of an Ancestral Witch. In thirty years, you will be exposed!”

This is precisely why Dao Changsheng was sent to train immediately after Emperor Duantian ascended the throne, as this critical period lasts only thirty years.

“Hahaha, did you think the mention of fifty years was a joke?.... It was, indeed, a joke. Because you only have thirty years. We need you to ascend to heaven, slay the Emperor, break through to the Void Grotto Realm, and overthrow Emperor Duantian’s current rule. Only by becoming the new Heavenly Emperor, and possessing nearly invincible combat power at that same cultivation level, will you have the leverage to contend with the eleven ancient beings within the Great Luo Heaven,” the Witch Ancestor’s head whispered.

But thirty years, was that possible?

He was only in the Fifth Dao Palace Realm now.

At his current cultivation speed, he could reach the Sixth Realm, the Cavern Heaven Realm, within thirty years.

However, to reach the peak of the Sixth Realm, the Cavern Heaven, as a quasi-Emperor and cultivate an invincible Dao Heart for breakthrough, he would have to challenge a reigning Heavenly Emperor. But could he possibly win?

Like the madness of Medusa in the past?

Medusa, back then, was in the Epic Realm, and a Demigod was also considered a powerful Epic-tier being. Thus, when she challenged a Demigod, she wasn't instantly killed in a single move.

However, now, the greater the energy disparity between realms, the more impossible it becomes to challenge a higher-level opponent. Could someone in the Sixth Realm truly challenge a Seventh Realm cultivator, crossing an entire major realm?

He would most likely be defeated in a single blow, effectively committing suicide!

Otherwise, there wouldn't be the saying that all below a Great Emperor are ants.

“But, do you think that means we have no solution?” Tiantu’s voice softly echoed.

The Heavenly Realm.

Inside a palace, powerful Witch Clan immortal officials whispered.

“The sectarian lineage we left in the mortal realm has been attacked.”

“It’s a disgrace to our clan from fourteen years ago.”

“We cannot let it go, or we will lose all face.”

When Dao Changsheng emerged and interacted with the outside world, powerful entities in the Heavenly Realm discovered his whereabouts. They descended one by one to confront him.

He fought his way through, gaining experience with every battle.

These Heavenly Court powerhouses were all vigorous youths at the Sixth Realm, Cavern Heaven, not those elderly figures. He, however, was only at the peak of the Fifth Realm, Dao Palace.

This battle was extremely arduous; several times he was almost beaten to death. However, he discovered that the more he fought, the stronger his body became.

The Nine Revolutions Profound Art was fundamentally about undergoing nine transformations through death to forge an unparalleled golden body!

Soon, he shook off his pursuers and arrived at an ancient place: a barren, yellowish muddy land devoid of any life. Here, he met his third teacher: the Green Emperor.

The Green Emperor was also suppressed. Upon seeing the token Qing Teng had given him, she accepted this disciple with half-demon blood.

“You are quite remarkable, even for being only half-demon,” Qinglian instructed him.

Qinglian cherished tranquility. While teaching Dao Changsheng, she would periodically glance at the Four Seasons Heavenly Gods soaring across the sky, then lower her gaze to the barren land where she resided.

“Teacher, what are you looking at?”

“I am looking at this land, thinking about my future.”

“What are you thinking about?”

Qinglian pointed to the barren earth and suddenly smiled, “If I am ever to become the Green Emperor, I shall command the peach blossoms to bloom right here!”

Another ten years passed, and after absorbing the knowledge from the Demon Ancestor, Dao Changsheng departed once more.

At this point, he realized the Heavenly Court was paying increasing attention to him. What had begun as a private grievance with two clan sects had escalated to involve the Heavenly Court, and over time, he had accumulated a significant number of enemies within its ranks.

Being very vengeful, they issued a wanted order and dispatched heavenly soldiers and generals to besiege and kill him.

At this moment, the Green Vine Earth Mother finally freed herself from imprisonment and sought him out. “Since it has come to this, you should raise your banner, gather your forces, and establish yourself as a mountain king!”

Dao Changsheng then took his mother to a valley south of Youxiong Kingdom and began recruiting disciples, teaching all without discrimination.

“This rebel dares to open a sect and openly oppose our Heavenly Court?”

“Juling Shen, who guards the South Heaven Gate, has already led heavenly soldiers down to the lower realm to capture him!”

“What? Juling Shen was carried back, severely wounded and needing to heal with divine laurel medicine?”

“Fear not, Heavenly Gods, the Mountain-Moving War God has already descended to eliminate this monstrous fiend!”

“What? The Mountain-Moving War God infiltrated the dojo and actually started listening to the Dao, becoming utterly engrossed? This is simply a disgrace to us Heavenly Gods!”

The commotion escalated further, eventually reaching the highest echelons of the Heavenly Court.

Zhang Wuwei of the Witch Clan, upon learning the full story, couldn't help but curse, “These scoundrels are blaspheming the Heavenly Court! Using heavenly soldiers for the Witch Clan’s private affairs, they all deserve to be sent to the God-Slaying Platform! And that Dao Changsheng, being of our own kin, is equally audacious, daring to disregard the majesty of our Heavenly Court.”

He punished the unruly immortal officials, then, with a wave of his hand, decided to descend to the mortal realm and personally confront Dao Changsheng.

The release of this news sent shockwaves through the world. Major reclusive sects, sacred lands, and even tea houses and taverns across the mortal kingdoms buzzed with discussions about the matter.

A quasi-Emperor who had once contended for the throne, personally descended to capture Dao Changsheng.

This was the renowned Heavenly Court War God, the foremost figure of the contemporary Witch Clan!

Everyone sighed, concluding that Dao Changsheng was doomed to lose this time. Zhang Wuwei was an unparalleled genius who had been just one step away from becoming a Heavenly Emperor, virtually invincible within his own cultivation realm. It would be impossible for Dao Changsheng to fight across such a significant realm gap.

This battle lasted for three days and three nights, and Dao Changsheng found it extremely strenuous, as he had only just broken through to the Sixth Realm, Cavern Heaven, at this point.

Furthermore, although Zhang Wuwei had been stuck at the quasi-Emperor realm for years, unable to advance—a state he might remain in for his entire life, with his past defeat casting a lifelong shadow—he had also spent these years refining his cultivation methods and realm, solidifying his foundation, and becoming exceptionally powerful.

“Disciple, you’ve finally encountered one of the few geniuses I saw back then. What do you think of him?” the Green Vine Earth Mother asked.

Dao Changsheng, ever artless, honestly replied, “When I was thirteen, I believed I could defeat four of them in the same realm. Reflecting now with my current insights, I realize I could have defeated ten. But who knew that after actually engaging in combat, not only have I progressed, but they have also advanced over the years? Now, I can only defeat five of them in the same realm…”

After a bitter struggle, Zhang Wuwei was completely defeated.

Zhang Wuwei was furious, yet he also showed a glimmer of admiration for his kin. “You are truly a genius blessed by heaven! What kind of cultivation method is this? While everyone else cultivates Dao arts, you cultivate your body? Would you like to ascend to heaven and assume power? Emperor Duantian has only recently ascended and is in urgent need of talented individuals and trusted confidantes. He will undoubtedly value you immensely.”

“Teacher, what should I do? This is an immense opportunity; I want to go to heaven and become an official,” Dao Changsheng couldn’t help but say. He clearly understood that as long as a Heavenly Emperor was alive, unless that Emperor died, it would be absolutely impossible for him to forge an invincible Dao Heart for his own breakthrough.

He held immense trust in his teachers.

After all, for many years, he had spent all his time in secluded cultivation, constantly reading. He had barely interacted with anyone and understood nothing of worldly affairs, thus he could only seek advice.

The Green Vine Earth Mother secretly whispered, “Generally, if you surrender too easily, the other party won’t cherish you. You should refuse several times. Do you remember the story I told you from the mortal realm? The ‘Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage.’ You should respond in that manner now…”

On the clouds above, countless heavenly soldiers and generals gazed at Dao Changsheng with continuous envy.

Meanwhile, in the valley below, many powerful observers also showed envy, realizing this was a direct path to immense power.

The wind was calm, and the clouds were still.

At this moment, Dao Changsheng closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before stating to Zhang Wuwei, “You ask why I could defeat you? Because you chose the wrong path; it was flawed from the very beginning! That’s why your combat power is so low—you’re nothing but trash!”

“You! I kindly help you, yet you—” Zhang Wuwei’s face instantly flushed red.

The world was in an uproar; this person was too arrogant.

Dao Changsheng’s gaze swept around, and he calmly said, “I am not targeting Zhang Wuwei. I mean all of you Witch Clan members present here are trash!”

Dao Changsheng suddenly proclaimed loudly, “I was born into this world to pioneer a new cultivation method for the Witch Clan! A Witch possesses an immortal body! They can uproot mountains and rivers, cultivating only the physical body, not the primordial spirit. The current Witch Clan members all cultivate the primordial spirit, and none of them practice the true method!”

Heaven and earth shook.

Innumerable ancient beings extended their divine senses, probing the situation.

These words were incredibly startling. Were the current Witch Clan members truly cultivating a deviant path?

Only he possessed the true orthodoxy?

This was too arrogant.

They were reluctant to believe it, yet Dao Changsheng's terrifying physique had showcased the Witch Clan's immortal characteristics to their absolute peak, inevitably planting a seed of doubt in their minds...

“Hmph.” Zhang Wuwei was furious, and after being humiliated, he returned to the Heavenly Realm.

Dao Changsheng felt a little uneasy. “Teacher, is this really okay?”

“It’s fine, they’ll come again. It’s all part of the ‘Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage’ strategy,” the Green Vine Earth Mother calmly smiled.

In the Heavenly Realm, a red-faced Zhang Wuwei reported to the Heavenly Emperor: Dao Changsheng is an ungrateful menace disrupting heaven and earth, daring to refuse even an invitation from the Heavenly Emperor!

The Heavenly Emperor’s eyelids drooped. He didn’t believe a single account. Thirsting for talent, especially someone who might possess a new power system, he ordered another emissary to descend to the mortal realm.

Another day, Xu Wei of the Human Race arrived.

The moment Xu Wei saw Dao Changsheng, handsome as he was, she instantly fell for him. She also sparred with him, suffering a complete defeat.

Xu Wei grew even more delighted, directly expressing her desire to marry him and inviting him to accept an official position in heaven.

The onlookers became even more envious.

“Old woman, while you may be beautiful, you are actually older than my mother,” Dao Changsheng calmly replied.

Xu Wei was furious and returned to report to the Heavenly Emperor, labeling him ungrateful.

The Heavenly Emperor, a leader of great vision, decided that prodigies often possessed arrogance and sent yet another emissary to the mortal realm.

Consequently, Fenteng of the Demon Race, having just descended, was fiercely knocked to the ground by Dao Changsheng and savagely beaten until he vomited blood. “Trash! Even if all three of you quasi-Emperors attacked me together, you wouldn’t be my match.”

Fenteng was furious and returned to the Heavenly Court again.

At this point, Dao Changsheng began to feel uneasy. “Teacher, is this really necessary? Is this ‘Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage’ really useful?”

“Of course it’s useful,” the Green Vine Earth Mother said with a serious expression. “After the ‘Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage,’ I estimate the true Heavenly Emperor himself will descend to invite you to heaven.”

“Really?” Dao Changsheng asked.

“Look, he’s already here,” she pointed to the sky.

Rumble!

The most terrifying and powerful being in the current world slowly descended from the sky, casting a shadow that covered the sun. Its sheer terrifying aura alone made Dao Changsheng gasp for breath.

“This is the might of a Great Emperor…” Dao Changsheng couldn't help but tremble.

From the sky, an extremely majestic voice boomed, “Dao Changsheng, you defy heavenly might! You sow chaos in heaven and earth, going against the Heavenly Emperor and suspected of rebellion! You shall be executed!”

Dao Changsheng was speechless.

This didn't seem to be the outcome he had anticipated?

Cold sweat poured down his body.

“Alright, you can go fight the Heavenly Emperor now. Ascend to heaven and slay the Emperor,” the Green Vine Earth Mother calmly pointed to the sky beside him. “Go.”

Dao Changsheng’s face instantly darkened.

In the same realm, I could fight a group of them, but there’s a whole major realm difference…

But at this point, he had no choice. Dao Changsheng could only unleash a furious roar, revealing his terrifying eight-armed golden Dharma idol, and charged straight into the sky to confront that supreme, chaotic-energy-shrouded entity of heaven and earth.

“Heavenly Emperor! Today, I shall slay an Emperor!”

A massive palm slowly descended.

Dao Changsheng was swiftly torn apart, his head instantly crushed.

The Heavenly Emperor slowly turned and departed, stating, “Dao Changsheng dared to contend with an Emperor for divine status; the Emperor has severed his head. Such an unruly and defiant individual, who dared to cause chaos in the Heavenly Court and vie for the throne, must be eliminated! Command the Thunder God and Lightning Mother to unleash heavenly lightning to shatter his primordial spirit! Afterward, send his body to the God-Slaying Platform to be pulverized!”