Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 968 - 824: Slaying the Heavens (Extra Update - Please Subscribe)

Chapter 968: Chapter 824: Slaying the Heavens (Extra Update - Please Subscribe)

The Imperial City.

At the end of Heavenly Street, within the vast and majestic palace hall engulfed in golden light,

Above the Nine-Tiered Celestial Palace, the Prime Taoist in his twelve-Chapter ceremonial robe, surrounded by an abundance of Purple Qi, and graced by a convergence of multicolored auspicious clouds.

He gazed in the direction of the temple of the land, seeing a pillar of light soar into the sky, within which a sacrificial text slowly burned.

Above the sky, the weather suddenly changed dramatically!

A terrifying pressure descended, clouds of thunder rolled in tumult, and arcs of electricity gathered to form an eye!

–––The Eye of the Heavenly Path!

"It’s done!"

The Heavenly Emperor, upon seeing this, a trace of joy quickly flickered across his face, "Outside Evil God, though I know not which world you hail from, or whether you descended from the Heavenly Court... but... while I might struggle to capture you, the Heavenly Emperor is different."

Ever since the Outside Evil God had slain the current dynasty’s Grand Tutor, the Heavenly Emperor knew that the fiend was overwhelmingly fierce, potentially a fierce god who had fled from the Heavenly Court!

As long as it was from beyond this world, it was naturally an Outside Evil God!

Its Divine Rank, quite possibly, might even surpass the Heavenly Emperor’s!

The saying goes, ’A man of wealth need not step into the hall of justice himself,’ and naturally, he would not lead the charge in person.

The fall of the previous dynasty had been clear to him, the founding emperor, and upon discovering that the Outside Evil God had entered the capital, he quickly devised this plan to ’lure the enemy into the pot!’

Once the Outside Evil God fell into the Eye of the Heavenly Emperor, its fate needed no further explanation.

It was the removal of a significant internal threat without drawing a single sword!

The Heavenly Emperor looked towards the temple of the land, hope shining in his eyes filled with Purple Qi.

...

The temple of the land.

Fang Xi suddenly felt as if the world had changed after the sacrificial text shot up into the sky,

An overwhelmingly powerful being gazed down with a terrifying vision from above the thirty-three heavens!

The rules of this small domain seemed to recoil, or rather... were harnessed by it.

Merely a single decree from it, and a Heaven Tribulation may quite likely form to strike him down!

Atop the altar, the statue of the young Earth Deity in yellow robes seemed to come to life, its eyes abruptly shifting!

"Heavenly Emperor... you have finally awakened!"

A gentle voice echoed.

Fang Xi’s Divine Consciousness swept over, only to see the old woman who had previously been sweeping leaves outside the hall, unexpectedly entering the main chamber.

She gently shed her patched cloak, revealing a face as radiant as peaches and as brilliant as the morning glow. Dressed in dark gold robes, her presence was so majestic it was almost unbearable to look at directly.

"Lady Ming?"

Fang Xi muttered as he watched the old woman transform into this noble lady.

"Lady Ming Tu?"

Gan Yu knelt on the ground, his expression filled with extreme excitement and a touch of fear.

This was the ruler of the netherworld who had, with a mere thought, inflicted severe losses upon the capital of the previous dynasty!

In terms of rank, she was on par with the Heavenly Rank!

To crush him was as easy as squashing an ant!

Lady Ming Tu, however, did not spare Gan Yu a glance and instead addressed the statue of the young Earth Deity, suddenly smiling to herself, "I followed the Heavenly Emperor, witnessed his rise from a simple land and bore witness to his ’Combine Taoist’. If not for the Heavenly Emperor’s integration, why would the crown prince of the previous dynasty topple the only place that held our mutual affections..."

Fang Xi took a step back, his heart chilled.

Gods face the dilemma of Dao integration and loss themselves!

As the Heavenly Emperor, the pressure of integrating with the Heavenly Path was terrifying.

Or rather, the opponent was the Heavenly Path itself!

’The Heavenly Emperor, by integrating with the Dao, becomes impartial to public and private matters... Did the crown prince of the previous dynasty destroy this place to eradicate the last anchor of humanity?’

Fang Xi’s thoughts raced, and he quickly recalled two pieces of evidence supporting the Heavenly Emperor’s integration with the Dao:

The first was that outside of the Taoist Law, Heavenly and Earthly Fate remained, albeit scarce, offering a slim chance to wild spirits and independent cultivators, this was the little leeway of heaven!

The second was the Daoism Hierarchy itself, which allowed for independent promotion of one’s Divine Rank!

This seemed to undermine the authority of the Taoist Court and also impacted the prestige of the Heavenly Court.

If wild gods could promote themselves, wouldn’t Heavenly Rank individuals also be able to self-promote, tantamount to creating opposition to the Heavenly Emperor?

"The greatest man has no self, the divine no achievement, the saint no name... The Heavenly Path is utterly impartial, the human path is utterly personal!"

"If the Heavenly Emperor still had human emotions, he’d have completely eradicated the dispersal of spiritual energy from the world and made all Innate Gods subject to the Heavenly Court’s Taoist Records, preventing any promotion of Divine Rank!"

"Recently, the opposite approach has been taken... utter impartiality! Truly, he has been severely integrated into the Dao."

"The consequence of Lord Qingtong’s Treasure should lie here, could it be intending for me to die once?"

Rustle!

At this moment, above the temple of the land, endless clouds gathered, and multicolored glimmers twinkled, forming a net akin to Tianluo Dinet, bringing with it tremendous dignity and weight!

These were ’Heavenly Decrees’!

Far surpassing ’Taoist Law’, the Heavenly Emperor wielded the Heavenly Path, and the Heavenly Decrees were the ’Heavenly and Earthly Laws’!

With a single word, laws followed, capable of being a teacher for hundreds of generations!

In a flash, numerous colorful chains with intricate inscriptions appeared out of nowhere, burrowing into Fang Xi’s body.

Fang Xi grunted as he could see numerous Divine Texts within the chains––

’None above the rank of Heavenly Count may descend to the mortal world without permission!’

’Must not interfere with the mortal realm’s dragon energy!’

’Must not recklessly kill!’

...

Each decree, one that he had violated, bound him tightly, rendering him unable to break free!

’This sensation, almost like when the Mortal Realm was suppressed...’

Fang Xi gritted his teeth and managed a smile, as a Seven-Colored Feather Fan appeared in his hand. Its radiant colors spread, filling the surroundings with a majestic air, and its formidable Spiritual Pressure seemed capable of suppressing all directions.

Boom!

The thunderclouds in the sky converged, morphing into the Eye of the Heavenly Path!

From within the eye, purple-golden Heavenly Thunder descended!

Whistle!

Fang Xi held the ’Five Fires Seven Birds Fan’ and swung it fiercely!

Amidst the astonishing sound of phoenix cries, heads of Heavenly Phoenixes, Azure Luans, peacocks, Kunpengs, Blood Owls... and other Spirit Birds flew out from the fan, transforming into a rainbow of flames, soaring into the sky with their long calls.

Swoosh!

Fire and thunder swept across like a meteor shower.

The incessant flying fire meteors shot in all directions, but Lady Ming Tu let out a profound sigh. The ground below suddenly became hazy as a mysterious black aura emerged, neutralizing the meteor shower in mid-air, preventing the capital from being destroyed in this catastrophe!

Inside the Imperial Palace.

"It’s actually a rank of Heavenly Duke... Judging by its prestige, it’s almost on par with a Heavenly Lord," the Emperor murmured, feeling deeply fortunate he did not lead the fight himself, or else he might have been killed on the spot by this ferocious deity!

As the founding Emperor of the Taoist Court, if he were to ascend, his rank might be promoted by one or two levels as a reward, becoming a Heavenly Marquis or even a Heavenly Count, but achieving the rank of a Heavenly Duke was unlikely, let alone matching that fierce deity!

"No... no god can contend with the Heavenly Emperor, even Lady Ming Tu, under the Heavenly Decrees, can only surrender!"

Suddenly, the Emperor thought of something and his eyes bulged, "That fierce deity... no, that’s not a fierce deity... but an existence beyond the Heavenly Decrees!"

Fang Xi had cultivated to rival a Heavenly Lord?

This was almost impossible.

But it was happening right in front of him!

"Following the path leads to humanity, going against it leads to immortality... haha!"

A flash of fire, and Fang Xi’s figure emerged in the air, laughing heartily.

At this moment, he was extremely glad that he hadn’t assimilated the Seal of Lord Qingtong!

Even a Heavenly Lord would have to bow down before the Heavenly Decrees, just as officials of the Taoist Court would have to thank the Emperor for their execution orders!

If he had already joined the Daoism Hierarchy, even as a Heavenly Lord, he probably would have turned to ash under that one thunder strike.

But now, as he stood at the pinnacle of Returning to Emptiness and armed with the ’Five Fires Seven Birds Fan,’ he managed to withstand a thunder strike from the Heavenly Emperor—an incredible achievement!

’Of course, this is also thanks to being in a minor world. If we were in the Medium Thousand Worlds of the Heavenly Court, the Heavenly Emperor could squish me with a single finger...’

’Even now, two more thunder strikes and I’d be done for.’

Fang Xi suddenly spurted out a mouthful of Demon Blood, muttering to himself, "Thankfully... it’s worth it!"

Even if the heterodox incarnation perished here, at least he had transported the Daoism Hierarchy back to Falling Sky Island. As long as the divine incarnation could escape back there, bringing with it the talismans of the Innate Gods, not only would it not be a loss, but it seemed he even gained a bit!

He looked up at the sky, only to see the Heavenly Decrees still flickering, infinite Divine Texts converging to form several big characters:

’Judged guilty, deserve execution!’

Colorful Chains appeared, eventually coalescing into a long sword, seemingly ready to strike down.

At that moment, Lady Ming Tu shouted, "Your Majesty... You haven’t truly Combined Taoist. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have destroyed the nation’s fate in a fit of rage back then!"

The Heavenly Emperor had secretly influenced the Crown Prince of the previous dynasty to destroy the temple of the land.

But immediately after, he sent down divine punishment, obliterating the fate of the previous dynasty.

This act seemed as contradictory as a schizophrenic, but in reality, it was proof that humanity still existed within him, contesting with his divinity!

But now, could that sliver of humanity truly still exist?

Fang Xi was somewhat skeptical about this.

’Nevermind... better not to resist anymore. If the incarnation dies, so be it...’

Just then, inside the Statue of Earth Deity, the figure of the young boy in yellow robes completely ’came to life.’

With a flick of his finger, the colorful ’Sword of Heavenly Punishment’ in mid-air suddenly shattered.

"Heavenly Emperor?!"

Fang Xi was somewhat surprised. Was this the true Heavenly Emperor himself, or a hidden move placed long ago?

He looked up, only to see the Eye of the Heavenly Path expanding continuously, then transforming into a face that resembled the young Earth God by ninety percent, but more mature.

This face opened its mouth, as if a flood of colors was about to descend.

If the might of this Heavenly Emperor was to be unleashed, even this small world could potentially be erased!

"Zhu’er..."

The young deity glanced at Lady Ming Tu and uttered a clear voice, then smiled at Fang Xi, "Sir, please lend me your aid!"

"Are you the remaining humanity of the Heavenly Emperor, or a trap you’ve long set?"

Fang Xi’s mind raced.

"None of that is important. What matters is that I can only vie for one opportunity for you," the boy in yellow robes replied.

With a step, he rose to the nine heavens and merged with the face of the Heavenly Emperor!

Immediately, a look of agony appeared on the immense face, and a talisman slowly emerged at the brow.

"Well, let’s gamble!"

The heterodox incarnation’s eyes shone brightly, and he formed a hand seal: "Summoning Skills!"

A flash of silver light, and a figure appeared, overflowing with Integrative magic power: "Spirit Domain... open!"

A layer of verdant radiance twinkled, causing the Heavenly Decrees’ chains to break one by one!

The power of the Earth Immortal Spirit Domain could contend with the suppressive rules of the Mortal Realm, so naturally, it could withstand the rules of this world!

Fang Xi, holding the refurbished Green Barley Sword, had a severe expression as he suddenly mimicked the draw of a sword.

Whoosh!

From the sword puppet incarnation of the Earth Immortal Spirit Realm, another foot-long Flying Sword flew out, landing on the Green Barley Sword.

This Immortal Mansion Rare Treasure flying sword instantly filled in the majority of the gap.

The sword was entirely green with a length of three feet. Apart from the hilt and the point, there was also a segment that radiated a faint glow, which was the result of Fang Xi’s magic power forcibly merging the two parts into one.

He let out a long howl, his magic power poured into the now mostly restored Green Barley Sword, and he unleashed the most brilliant and radiant strike of his cultivation career towards the talisman on the forehead of the face in the sky.

One sword to cleave the heavens!