novelraw Chapter 822: 417. Killing Four Immortal Emperors, Becoming Great Heaven Venerate (Final Chapter, Please Subscribe)
Chapter 822: 417. Killing Four Immortal Emperors, Becoming Great Heaven Venerate (Final Chapter, Please Subscribe)
"No!"
The next moment, the Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor let out a mournful cry.
Beside him, the flickering lights of the Immortal Array peeled away and dissolved his Divine Soul and flesh, inch by inch.
He could only watch it all happen with wide eyes, powerless to fight back.
When he escaped the Nine Marsh Springs, he had divided himself into three clones.
Only one of the three clones survived, causing his strength to greatly decrease.
Furthermore, his arrangements within the Proto Immortal World had long since been completely destroyed by Xu Xing; he had even fallen victim to Xu Xing's schemes.
Opportune timing, advantageous terrain, and popular support.
Against Xu Xing, the Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor was utterly defeated in these three aspects, completely outmaneuvered by Xu Xing's schemes.
If he had been in the Nine Marsh Springs, the Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor thought, he would still have had the power to fight back.
"Who are you, Sir?" The Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor gritted his teeth, looked at Xu Xing, and asked.
He had planted spies throughout the Nine Great Immortal Realms and knew that this youth in the green robe was Xu Xing, the Immortal Venerable of the Changming Immortal Court in the Cold Frost Immortal World.
However, he could not comprehend how the master of a mere Immortal Court could have achieved the Heavenly Venerate Realm in just forty million years, let alone find the Nine Marsh Springs and the Proto Immortal World where he was hiding.
The Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor suspected Xu Xing might be an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao, or perhaps a powerful being from another plane.
Outside the World Sea is the Chaotic Sea.
The Chaotic Sea also nurtured planes similar to the World Sea, and there were quite a number of them.
The Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor had once, from a great distance, sensed the location of such a 'World Sea'.
"Xu Xing," Xu Xing replied, shaking his head.
It would take at least a thousand years to grind away the Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor's Divine Soul and physical body. This wasn't a task that could be accomplished in a moment.
Moreover, the tenacity of a Heavenly Venerate Dao Fruit far exceeded that of True Immortal Dao Fruits or Chaos Dao Fruits.
Even the Heavenly Dao itself would find it a difficult task to obliterate a Heavenly Venerate Dao Fruit.
"Xu Xing?" The Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor frowned slightly at this answer.
At this moment, knowing his death was imminent, he surprisingly regained his composure, once again displaying the bearing of the Heavenly Court's master.
"A mere mortal could never escape the grand cosmic arrangement I laid down."
He refused to believe it, standing with his hands clasped behind his back.
Before him, even though Xu Xing had now achieved the Heavenly Venerate Realm, in the Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor's eyes, he was still like a mortal.
This was because his own realm was not merely the Heavenly Venerate Realm, but the 'Great Heavenly Venerate' realm that lay beyond it.
He was only one step away from transcending, from rising above the Heavenly Dao, no longer forced into seclusion to evade disaster due to the Heavenly Dao's cyclical tribulations.
"Farewell, Daoist friend."
Xu Xing ignored the Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor's further questions. He sat cross-legged within the Proto Immortal World and, after uttering those words, began to refine the Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor's Heavenly Venerate Dao Fruit with all his might.
He intended to kill the Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor in the shortest possible time, to prevent any unforeseen complications.
One thousand years passed, then two thousand. In the blink of an eye, four thousand years went by...
The Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor's Dao Body, trapped within the Immortal Array, was now merely a faint, hazy shadow. He was but one step away from vanishing forever from between Heaven and Earth.
"Today, Xu Daoist, you kill me; tomorrow, the Heavenly Dao will kill you!"
Before his death, the Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor snorted coldly and uttered this sentence.
He believed his defeat at Xu Xing's hands was not a loss to Xu Xing himself, but a loss to the Heavenly Dao.
The Heavenly Dao was wary of him, detested him. Therefore, it had chosen Xu Xing to eliminate him within this current epoch.
"Heavenly Dao?" Xu Xing pondered, then stood up and glanced at the Bronze Ancient Mirror in his palm.
After achieving the Heavenly Venerate Realm, he had also gained a faint understanding of the Kunlun Mirror's origins.
This mirror was a Heavenly Dao Treasure, uniquely remaining after a world's Heavenly Dao had perished.
Its grade was equivalent to the Nine Dragons Colored Glaze Cup.
Unfortunately for you, my Luck is better than yours. Having obtained the Kunlun Mirror, even the Heavenly Dao of this plane would find it difficult to scheme against me.
Xu Xing shook his head.
With the Kunlun Mirror, he could suppress his own Luck, ensuring he wouldn't be targeted by the Heavenly Dao's jealousy.
The Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor had obtained the Nine Dragons Colored Glaze Cup, a Heavenly Dao Treasure of the current age, which allowed him to achieve the Heavenly Venerate Realm, establish the Heavenly Court, and become the master of the plane.
However, as long as the Heavenly Dao existed, any Heavenly Dao Treasure it bestowed would ultimately remain under its control. The Heavenly Court established through such means would inevitably suffer a drain of Luck, forcing it into hiding to evade disaster.
But he was different.
With the Kunlun Mirror in hand, his attainment was an Eternal Proof; his Immortal Fate would forever be his own, something the Heavenly Dao could not strip away.
...
...
After obliterating the final trace of the Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor's Dao Fruit imprint, Xu Xing departed the Proto Immortal World and returned to the Cold Frost Immortal World, preparing to move against the other Heavenly Venerate Immortals of the Ancient Heavenly Court.
「Several decades later.」
Xu Xing journeyed to the Nether Sea, slew Emperor Huangquan, and seized his Heavenly Venerate Dao Fruit.
「Over a hundred years later.」
Xu Xing hunted down and killed the other three Heavenly Venerate Immortals who had fled to the Chaotic Sea.
Thus, the five Heavenly Venerate Immortals of the Ancient Heavenly Court were all but annihilated by Xu Xing. The Ancient Heavenly Court, glorious for over a dozen epochs, was extinguished.
During this time, Xu Xing also honored his agreement with the Chiming Venerated Immortal: he slew the Chiming Immortal Empress and the Nine Great Immortal Kings, helping the Chiming Venerated Immortal achieve his great revenge.
「Next.」
Xu Xing established a New Heavenly Court, amassing Luck and enhancing his Heavenly Venerate Dao Fruit.
「Seventy million years later.」
Shi Yuyan successfully attained the Heavenly Venerate Realm and was bestowed the title of Emperor Xi by Xu Xing.
Her Daoist Name was 'Queen Mother of the West'.
「Another twenty million years passed.」
Zhao Yunniang achieved the True Immortal Realm and was granted the title of Immortal Empress by Xu Xing.
Subsequently, Xu Xing went into seclusion within the Proto Immortal World to concentrate on advancing his realm, relinquishing the authority of the Heavenly Court to Crown Prince Xu Zhang.
「Three hundred million years later.」
Xu Xing reached the same realm as the former Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor—the legendary Great Heavenly Venerate Realm.
What kind of realm lies beyond the Heavenly Dao? How can one achieve it?
Having reached the Great Heavenly Venerate Realm, Xu Xing began to pursue an even higher state: to transcend the Heavenly Dao and exist independently of it.
However, upon reaching this realm, the Kunlun Mirror could no longer assist him with Fate Deduction. All further progress depended solely on his own efforts.
One epoch passed, then two, then three...
In the fifth epoch, Xu Xing finally comprehended the key to transcending the Heavenly Dao.
So that's how it is... The Great Dao is truly simple.
Xu Xing shook his head and smiled.
The Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor had remained at the Great Heavenly Venerate Realm for over a dozen epochs, never managing to break through.
This wasn't due to a lack of talent or aptitude on the part of the Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor; rather, he lacked the necessary karmic opportunity. In this regard, he was far inferior to Xu Xing.
To achieve a realm that transcends the Heavenly Dao, one must establish a Heavenly Court and continuously enhance the Luck within one's Heavenly Venerate Dao Fruit... This process requires at least five epochs for the accumulated quantitative changes to trigger a qualitative transformation.
Unfortunately, the Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor did not possess a Heavenly Dao Treasure capable of suppressing Luck. He was thus forced to keep his Heavenly Court in seclusion, avoiding Tribulations.
Consequently, no matter how diligently the Ancient Heavenly Court Immortal Emperor cultivated, he found it impossible to break through these Shackles.
「Next.」
「After another two epochs.」
Xu Xing finally attained the realm beyond the Great Heavenly Venerate Realm—the 'Great Luo Realm'.
His realm having transcended the Heavenly Dao, Xu Xing no longer worried about his own longevity or that of his loved ones. He emerged from the Proto Immortal World, returned to the Heavenly Court, and reunited with his family and friends.
"'Husband,' Zhao Yunniang began, holding the jade cicada that hung from her neck as they strolled through the Imperial Garden in the Heavenly Court Harem, 'when I held this Six Harmonies Jade Cicada a few days ago, I seemed to see some fragmented images...'"
"'What images?' Xu Xing asked, slightly surprised."
The Six Harmonies Jade Cicada, a treasure of Reincarnation, was second in value only to Heavenly Dao Treasures.
The formation of every such treasure of Reincarnation required at least several epochs.
"'Long ago,' Zhao Yunniang continued with a gentle smile, 'a man named the Six Harmonies Emperor buried this jade cicada under a Laurel Tree along with his beloved.'"
"'Because of this, the jade cicada gained spirituality, transforming from a mundane object into a treasure of Reincarnation.'"
That fragment felt very warm to her, she thought, reflecting the immortal's deep affection for his beloved... just like Xu Xing's.
——
(The End)
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PS: The story concludes here. The Six Harmonies Jade Cicada references a story from my previous book. In it, Bai Gui gifted a mundane jade cicada to Xun Zi, whom he met while studying abroad. Later, after Bai Gui achieved the Golden Immortal Realm, he buried the jade cicada with Xun Zi, reviving her using his Innate, indestructible light. Xun Zi was a dance girl, and Zhao Yunniang in this book is also a dance girl; this is a nod to rectify some regrets from the previous book.