Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 1022 - 1022 0606 The Darkness That Envelops

Chapter 1022: Chapter 0606: The Darkness That Envelops Everything_2 Chapter 1022: Chapter 0606: The Darkness That Envelops Everything_2 Emperor Jianwu always held a deep reverence for Emperor Wenzhi due to their karmic connection. After he entered the Imperial Family Secret Territory, his palace was fortunately built next to Wenzhi Palace. He believed that he and Emperor Wenzhi shared a profound destiny. Thus, Emperor Jianwu always made a deliberate effort to foster good relations with Emperor Wenzhi. Among the princes of the Eastern Capital City, his relationship with Emperor Wenzhi was the best—this was recognized by everyone. What Emperor Jianwu never expected was that today, Emperor Wenzhi would tacitly allow his subordinates to join forces with other palaces in attacking Jianwu Palace— an act that completely shattered his worldview and made him deeply appreciate the ruthless nature of the cultivator’s path.

Past events flashed rapidly through Emperor Jianwu’s mind, and in an instant, his eyes became icy and merciless. With a flick of his hand, he cast a spirit rune toward Wenzhi Palace, starting to direct the next focus of attack for Jianwu Palace’s Killing Array.

The lethality of Jianwu Palace’s Killing Array had already been proven with tangible evidence. At this moment, nobody dared to be the slightest bit careless.

Towards Wenzhi Palace, a figure slowly ascended into the air. He, too, was garbed in imperial robes. However, compared to the Huoyang Emperor, Emperor Wenzhi appeared significantly older—his hair was all white, his face was furrowed with deep lines, and countless wrinkles covered the skin exposed beyond his dragon robes, including age spots. Standing by Emperor Wenzhi, one could clearly feel an intense aura of twilight emitting from him at all times. Emperor Wenzhi was severely afflicted by the Heavenly Decline, which meant that his lifespan was nearing its end. Unless there were some major unexpected development, he would not be able to wait even a few more years before he would “die” and bid the glories and riches of the mortal world farewell.

It had been about a hundred years since Emperor Jianwu had last seen Emperor Wenzhi, and he remembered how vibrant and spirited Emperor Wenzhi had been during their last meeting. He never expected to see Emperor Wenzhi in such a state now. The moment he saw Emperor Wenzhi’s current condition, he understood without needing to ask why Emperor Wenzhi would join in besieging Jianwu Palace.

Emperor Jianwu had no desire to blame Emperor Wenzhi for his actions, but his hand remained resolute, pointing towards Wenzhi Palace and guiding the Jianwu Palace’s Killing Array to launch an attack.

Emperor Wenzhi sighed deeply. He needed the opportunity hidden within Jianwu Palace more than anyone else. Having enjoyed hundreds, nearly a thousand years of splendor and riches, he could not bear the thought of leaving it all behind for the grave. For this, he would not hesitate to betray his centuries-old friendship with Emperor Jianwu. Anyone who dared obstruct him from obtaining more life was his mortal enemy, to be opposed until death.

As someone on the verge of death, Emperor Wenzhi cherished his remaining days more than anyone else. Unlike the Huoyang Emperor who had failed to prepare, focusing solely on attacking Jianwu Palace without securing his own retreat, Emperor Wenzhi had meticulously activated the various prohibitions and magical formations of Wenzhi Palace. Under their protection, he might not claim that his palace was impregnable, but it certainly wouldn’t end in as tragic a fate as Huoyang Palace did when it came under attack by the Killing Array of Jianwu Palace.

Without uttering a word, Emperor Wenzhi’s hands danced, pulling the ambient Spirit Qi towards his fingertips and weaving it into a stream of spirit runes. These runes manipulated the prohibitions and magical formations within Wenzhi Palace, especially the Killing Arrays. Emperor Wenzhi had invested significant effort into these prohibitions and formations, confident that their power ranked in the top three of the six imperial palaces in Eastern Capital City, surely outmatching Jianwu Palace without any difficulty.

Now, as Emperor Wenzhi activated these prohibitions and formations, he aimed to do more than merely use their power to fend off the attack from Jianwu Palace’s Killing Array. He also hoped to launch a counterattack in the process, destroying Jianwu Palace’s defensive formations and prohibitions in one fell swoop. This would clear the path for the cultivators currently assaulting Jianwu Palace, eliminating any obstacles and ensuring they wouldn’t encounter troublesome prohibitions and formations during their attack.

With cold eyes, Emperor Jianwu hovered above his palace. With equally emotionless eyes, Emperor Wenzhi did the same. Suspended above their respective palaces and separated by a street, they each focused on controlling the prohibitions and formations they had personally set up. From start to finish, there was no communication, not a single word exchanged—as silent as strangers.

Just then, the Spirit Qi surging in from all directions suddenly hastened its flow into Jianwu Palace. Initially, the Spirit Qi attracted by Qi Tian’s cultivation only affected an area within a few hundred meters radius. But now, the scope had expanded, encompassing a few thousand meters around Jianwu Palace, and the vigor of the Spirit Qi far surpassed anyone present had ever witnessed.

Originally, the Spirit Qi within a radius of several hundred meters was perturbed, leading the masters of the other five palaces to believe that an extraordinary opportunity had arisen within Jianwu Palace. But now, the affected area had expanded several-fold, and according to their knowledge and judgement, this opportunity had undoubtedly become even more remarkable.

Emperor Wenzhi’s eyes glowed with fervor. He was utterly convinced that if he could seize this opportunity, he surely would break through the stagnation that he had endured for hundreds of years in his cultivation level. Thus, before his lifespan was exhausted, he believed his cultivation level would further break through, extending his waning life. Perhaps, in the extended years, he could find even greater opportunities, allowing him to eventually step up to the Nascent Soul Stage, substantially prolonging his life to bask in the glory and riches of the world for a much longer time.

With such an immense opportunity, it wasn’t just Emperor Wenzhi who lusted for it. The other princes, who were hiding in their palaces and had yet to show themselves, also began to make their move. They emerged from the shadows, ready to enter the fray at a moment’s notice.

Like Emperor Wenzhi, they all hoped to snatch this opportunity to enhance their cultivation resources and extend their lifespans.

With the princes mobilizing, their presence was extraordinary. Although these princes were merely showing signs of action and had not yet formally appeared, they were like ancient beasts about to end their dormancy, exerting immense pressure on Emperor Jianwu even without form. Their indomitable aura seemed to solidify the very air around them.

Emperor Jianwu keenly felt this pressure; his expression turned serious. He knew that it was highly likely he wouldn’t escape today’s calamity. All he could do now, before he died, before his Jianwu Palace fell, was to deliver a crippling blow to all the other palaces and all the princes. Even if he couldn’t kill them, he’d at least break a few of their teeth.

At this moment, this part of the Eastern Capital City, which had once been coveted by countless cultivators, was slowly becoming a battlefield, a looming meat grinder ready to mince every cultivator involved. If this trend continued, the chances of anyone surviving would be less than one in a hundred.

Just then, another unnatural change occurred between heaven and earth. The previously clear skies were suddenly shrouded by countless dark clouds within a blink of an eye. They obscured the sunlight, erasing all brightness, casting a shroud of darkness over everything. Simultaneously, almost every cultivator felt an oppressive sense of impending doom—they clearly sensed that if they remained where they were, destruction would be their only fate; there would be no alternative.

This sense of urgency was not only felt by the cultivators battling in the streets but also by the princes of the six palaces, including Emperor Jianwu and Emperor Wenzhi who were about to engage in a fierce bloody conflict above the palace.