Chapter 463: Chapter 88: Please, Emperor, Go to Your Death
An immeasurably colossal True Dragon and a figure wearing a Bronze Mask plummeted from the sky, crashing into the North Sea amid a cloud of roiling dust and blood.
The entire sea erupted with a tremendous roar. Truly massive waves surged to the heavens, reaching the Celestial Vault and shattering pavilions and terraces!!
When the waves finally receded, the sea’s surface was stained a deep crimson. Fish and prawns madly fought over the blood; those that consumed it began to glow, sprouting dragon horns and scales!
Although the Celestial Emperor had died across all of Time, and what sat in Lingxiao Hall was but a corpse, he was still a Dao Fruit, an Ancient One who overlooked all of history. A mere brush of his aura was enough to leave the Ancestral Dragon on the brink of death!
After a long while.
The North Sea fell silent once more. The sea creatures that had devoured the Ancestral Dragon Blood became kings and tyrants, beginning their transformation into draconic forms.
And at this moment, under the watchful gaze of countless Immortals and Buddhas, auspicious omens and Qingyun appeared, accompanied by Immortal Music and songs of praise.
The stars of the heavens turned, all radiating killing intent. First to arrive was Emperor Ziwei of the North Pole, stepping through the void, his every move overflowing with Slaughter.
The Immortal Mother and the other three Emperors arrived soon after.
Five top-tier Daluo strode to the North Sea. Where their gazes fell, the roaring waves parted, splitting the entire North Sea in two.
"He fell into the Sea Eye? Such a coincidence?"
Emperor Gouchen frowned, about to say something, but Emperor Ziwei waved his hand.
"Let’s make this quick. We must prevent the Ancestral Dragon from escaping into the depths of the Years, or it will become a problem!"
Hearing his words, the other Daluo acted decisively. Riding their auspicious omens and Qingyun, they prepared to enter the North Sea Eye.
The Immortal Mother seemed to recall something and turned to the side, saying:
"Qing Hua, how about you return first? Now that the Western Celestial Court has been eliminated and the Southern Celestial Court has been crippled, only the Eastern and Northern Celestial Courts remain intact.
Ziwei is the master of Slaughter, so he must be on this venture. It would be best for you to preside over the Eastern Celestial Court, lest any accidents occur... Today’s events have been rather sudden."
Emperor Qing Hua frowned, considered it for a moment, and nodded.
"That works. This is the perfect time. The Earth Deities of the world should make their move and stir up chaos for a thousand years. When the people can no longer live in peace, the curtain will rise, and the fall will be swift."
"Excellent."
Emperor Qing Hua withdrew and departed. The other four Daluo entered the North Sea Eye together.
.........
「Yong City, in an ancient tower in the eastern part of the city.」
Ying Zheng gazed at the roiling crimson in the sky, his expression grave. "Foster Grandfather, what has happened?"
Supreme Profound Clarity slowly walked over. His face seemed a little pale as he said with a soft chuckle, "Profound Yellow, along with the Ancestral Dragon and Luo Hou, challenged the Central Celestial Emperor. Profound Yellow and the Ancestral Dragon were left on the verge of death and fell into the North Sea Eye. Luo Hou was also grievously wounded and has fled to the Nine Nether to recover."
Ying Zheng’s expression changed.
Supreme Profound Clarity’s gaze was profound. "The Queen Mother of the Jade Pool, Emperor Ziwei, Emperor Gouchen, and the Emperor of Longevity have all entered the North Sea Eye. Zheng’Er, this is an opportunity."
Ying Zheng was slightly stunned. "You mean... we attack the Celestial Court now?"
"Not yet. Lu Xuan’s Tomb has not been forged, and the time is not yet right. The great curtain has not risen. This is merely the eve of the great tide’s surge."
Supreme Profound Clarity’s gaze narrowed as he toyed with a Heaven-Flipping Seal in his hand. "For now, you shall lead your armies on a tour of the Human World. Accumulate more Human Dao Fortune and build up your foundations. The Celestial Court is in chaos right now; no Immortal Gods will pay you any mind."
Ying Zheng cupped his hands and said in a solemn voice, "I understand, Foster Grandfather... And you?"
"Me?"
Supreme Profound Clarity gave a dry laugh. "This is my opportunity as well. I will make a trip to Kongtong Mountain to see Senior Brother Guangcheng. That Ancestral Dragon will most likely die, but Profound Yellow will ultimately be fine. He is of the Biyou Palace lineage, and his killing intent is too strong..."
After a pause, he continued, "I intend to unite the disciples of Jade Void to cast Biyou Palace down into the Nine Nether and suppress it there, to prevent Profound Yellow from getting any ideas when he returns."
"Huh??" Ying Zheng was completely bewildered, with three question marks practically appearing over his head.
He stared blankly at Supreme Profound Clarity, his expression dumbfounded, as if to ask a question.
’Are you even listening to yourself??’
Supreme Profound Clarity didn’t explain. He simply gave a slight nod, mounted a cloud, and departed, leaving Ying Zheng to his bewilderment.
After Supreme Profound Clarity left, a profound gaze slowly retracted back into the Nine Nether.
"The opportunity has arrived." A smile played on the Emperor Earth Deity’s lips. "This Supreme Profound Clarity is as petty as ever. Profound Yellow even considered him a friend in their joint resistance against the Celestial Court... Heh."
She sat enthroned in the depths of the Nine Nether, the smile on her face widening. "Casting Biyou Palace down to this place... suits my intentions perfectly..."
As she spoke, the Emperor Earth Deity considered for a moment, then reached out and plucked that segment of the Years from its course, ensuring no Daluo could interfere with it.
’I’ll just wait for Profound Yellow to come to the Nine Nether again and show it to him.’
.........
「The North Sea Eye.」
Though called a Sea Eye, it was in fact a massive ruin, a bottomless abyss into which an infinite volume of seawater poured day and night, yet it had not been filled in tens of millions of years.
Within the ruins, there were characteristics quite similar to the [Origin]. The workings of fate were nonexistent, and even Cause and Effect were in a state of chaos.
"This is..."
The Immortal Mother glanced sideways at an unconscious Daoist floating within the ruins and smiled. "Shen Gongbao? No, I should say Shen Gonghu."
With a mere thought from her, the unconscious Shen Gonghu jolted awake. He first looked around in a daze, then shivered violently.
"This lowly immortal, Shen Gonghu, pays his respects to the Queen Mother, to Emperor Ziwei, to..."
The Immortal Mother raised a hand, cutting him off. "That’s enough."
"Have you seen a True Dragon?"
"Yes, yes!" Shen Gonghu said hurriedly. "This lowly immortal was dutifully guarding this Sea Eye when a tremendously huge True Dragon came crashing down. I was struck by a single drop of its blood and then I knew nothing else..."
After thinking for a moment, Shen Gonghu pointed. "It must have fallen deeper into the Sea Eye."
"Good."
The Immortal Mother nodded slightly and proceeded deeper into the ruins with the other Emperors, not forgetting to bring Shen Gonghu along.
"You have governed this Sea Eye for countless years and know it best. You will lead the way."
"Yes! Yes!" Shen Gonghu nodded and bowed obsequiously.
The ruins possessed some of the characteristics of the [Origin]. They were deep and boundless, devoid of fate’s workings, and fraught with chaotic Cause and Effect. The concept of Time was also relatively faint, making it impossible to even summon the River of Time here.
Emperor Gouchen said with a smile, "This is truly an excellent burial ground for a Daluo. If one falls in here, their true body cannot enter the River of Time or the flow of the Years..."
Emperor Ziwei’s eyes gleamed as he laughed. "We must still be careful... But even if we cannot slay the Ancestral Dragon, we can suppress it here until this era of the Qin Dynasty has passed and the great curtain falls."
The Daluo chatted and laughed, all very relaxed, treating the Ancestral Dragon as a meal on their plate.
Shen Gonghu, who was leading the way, felt the hair on his entire body stand on end. ’The Ancestral Dragon, slaying a Daluo...’
He swallowed hard and had a sudden realization. ’Has another [Calamity] befallen the outside world?’
’Isn’t this calamity a bit too terrifying?’
’Not a single Daluo fell during the Shang Dynasty’s calamity...’
While Shen Gonghu was terrified out of his wits, he relied on his familiarity with the Sea Eye Ruins from countless years spent here. Even in this place severed from fate, he led the Daluo to the Ancestral Dragon’s location.
Shen Gonghu exclaimed, "There, over there!"
The Immortal Mother looked over with a smile, seeing an immeasurably huge True Dragon lying in the depths of the ruins. More than half of its scales were shattered, its horns were broken, and it was drenched in blood!
Next to the grievously wounded and nearly dead Ancestral Dragon, the Daoist wearing the Bronze Mask was in no better shape.
His body was tattered and his aura was extremely weak. He was sitting cross-legged, recuperating from his injuries.
As if sensing their auras, the Profound Yellow Emperor and the Ancestral Dragon both struggled to lift their eyelids.
The former wore a mask, so his expression was hidden, while the latter’s pupils contracted sharply as he let out a low growl. "It’s you..."
"Ancestral Dragon. Profound Yellow. We meet again." The Emperor of Longevity in the South Pole sneered. Above his head, Polaris flared with crimson light, spinning in place as it showered down streams of Daluo Dao Rhyme!
His gaze was piercing. "How the tables have turned... How long has it been since you two tore apart my Southern Celestial Court? Heh..."
Lu Xuan raised his eyelids slightly. His injuries were too severe; right now, his vision was filled with red, and blood was streaming from his eyes.
He let out a turbid breath, listening to the roar of the great tide as immense waves surged into the ruins. Lu Xuan spoke faintly, "What, have the Immortal Mother and the other Emperors come to slay me? You are welcome to try."
Shen Gonghu’s eyes widened in disbelief. ’Who is this Profound Yellow Emperor?’
’Judging by his aura, he isn’t even an Immortal. How dares he speak to several Daluo like that??’
The Immortal Mother just smiled and shook her head. "Profound Yellow, you are of the Shangqing Lineage and the new Master of Biyou Palace. We will not make things difficult for you. We have come only to slay the Ancestral Dragon."
Shen Gonghu’s heart skipped a beat, and his pupils dilated in immense shock!
’The Shangqing Lineage, the new Master of Biyou Palace???’
He swallowed hard.
Lu Xuan gave a silent smile. He tried to stand, but the tearing sensation in his body and soul forced him to remain seated.
After a moment’s thought, Lu Xuan said calmly, "It’s just a bit of a pity."
"A pity about what?" the Immortal Mother asked with a smile. "You seem very calm, Emperor, not at all flustered. Is it because you know you will not die?"
"No. It’s because I have backing."
Lu Xuan said with a smile, "The pity is that the East Pole Qing Hua Emperor isn’t here. That makes things quite troublesome."
The expressions of the Daluo changed. They sensed something was wrong. This Profound Yellow...
"Slay the Ancestral Dragon first!"
Emperor Ziwei acted decisively. His expression turned fierce as the All-Heaven Starlight appeared above his head, erupting with killing intent!
The other Daluo also struck without hesitation. The Immortal Mother condensed the light of the Years, and the sound of clashing weapons erupted around Emperor Gouchen.
The Emperor of Longevity wielded a longsword, cleaving down with a river of Shenxiao Celestial Thunder!
As the Daluo suddenly attacked, Shen Gonghu yelped in fear and scrambled out of the way, trembling under the pressure of several Daluo’s killing intent.
He couldn’t even withstand such immense pressure, and his body began to tear apart!!
Just as the Great Slaughter Techniques were about to engulf the Ancestral Dragon, suddenly—
SCREEEEE!!
The ruins trembled.
A creature that was part bird, part roc appeared. It was boundlessly massive. With a single beat of its wings, the entire ruins quaked, and a sudden gale scattered the numerous Great Slaughter Techniques!
"Kunpeng!"
Emperor Ziwei’s expression turned grim.
"No, there’s more!" The Immortal Mother’s brow twitched violently. She looked to the side and saw a figure who was part Buddha, part Daoist strolling over.
Supreme Treasures of Slaughter floated around him, clashing against one another and emitting the clangorous Dao Rhyme of Slaughter!!
"Duobao!!"
The Daluo’s expressions changed once more. Shen Gonghu also gasped, his eyes wide.
The Ancestral Dragon, who had been grievously wounded and on the brink of death, suddenly raised its head, full of vigor, its injuries completely healed!
At this point, how could the Immortal Mother and the others not realize this was a trap?
Her eyes turned icy cold. "Profound Yellow, impressive... But I’m afraid you have miscalculated. It is four against three. The advantage is ours!"
The four Daluo joined forces. The light of their treasures radiated outward as their killing intent exploded!
Just as seven of the world’s top-tier Daluo were about to clash, Shen Gonghu braced himself to have his very soul torn apart by the aftershocks, awaiting his death in terror.
CLAP! CLAP!
Lu Xuan clapped his hands. The seven Daluo paused their fight and looked over.
"Three against four isn’t very fair, is it..." he said with a smile.
The Immortal Mother and the others’ expressions changed drastically. ’Could there be another Daluo??’
However, Lu Xuan gritted his teeth against the intense pain and staggered to his feet. ’His Majesty the Celestial Emperor really doesn’t pull his punches. He was actually trying to kill me...’
He exhaled a breath of blood-tinged air and said with a smile, "How about three against three?"
The Immortal Mother froze, a chill running down her spine. "Profound Yellow, what are you planning?"
"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe..." Lu Xuan hummed as if no one else were there, his finger pointing randomly in the air before finally landing on Emperor Ziwei.
"You’re it." Lu Xuan smiled and made a polite gesture. "Emperor Ziwei, I invite you to your death."
With that, he smiled and glanced to the side. "Senior, that one. Slay him."
"Mercy, mercy."
A sigh echoed as Shakyamuni Buddha slowly walked out. The expressions of the four Daluo changed dramatically, and they turned to flee without a second thought!
