Chapter 854: Even the Celestial Emperor Suffers

Ding Huan looked toward where Jiong had gone—it was a transparent space roughly ten zhang in diameter.

Inside this transparent space sat two people.

One man, one woman.

Jiong walked over as if to register.

Both the man and woman had formidable cultivation—they were likely no weaker than Ke.

Ding Huan's gaze quickly shifted to the transparent space.

He did not use his divine sense, but given his sensitivity to the laws of heaven and earth, even without divine sense, he could perceive this was undoubtedly a top-tier treasure.

In rank, it was hardly weaker than his Eternal Divine Wheel.

To be allowed into such a top-tier space treasure made Ding Huan feel something was off.

He could only make the wood-elemental Dao rhythm around his body purer.

As for his Great Dao World—

Jiong could not strip or detect it; Ding Huan believed those here could not perceive it either.

"Elders, this is my newly recruited disciple, Ding Huan," Jiong said with great deference to the man and woman.

As he spoke, he produced a jade tablet.

He felt more oppressed than anyone.

Back in the Great Universe, he, Jiong, had been a Celestial Emperor.

Now, reappearing beyond the Great Universe, he was reduced to a grandson.

Ding Huan's gaze swept over the jade tablet and immediately understood—it was a point card.

He began to wonder: even a powerhouse like Jiong needed points to enter the Great Universe?

And how were these points earned?

The man picked up Jiong's point card, glanced at it, then nodded: "The cosmic points are sufficient to bring one disciple into the Great Universe for cultivation."

The man's gaze turned to Ding Huan and he said coolly: "Place your hand here."

He pointed to a white recess beside him.

Ding Huan's spirit stirred slightly—he sensed this recess was no ordinary thing.

He recalled what Ke had told him earlier.

Ke had said if his world contained life, he would be dead.

Could this be a treasure capable of peering into his world?

If his Great Dao World were detected, he was finished.

The rank of this transparent space might even surpass his Cosmic Cauldron.

Thinking of this, Ding Huan could not help but activate the Eternal Divine Wheel lingering within his Cosmic World.

To evade detection by a treasure of this level, only a treasure of higher rank could do it.

His Eternal Divine Wheel was a Chaos-tier treasure—whether or not it ranked higher, it was certainly no weaker than this one.

The Dao rhythm of the Eternal Divine Wheel wrapped around all of Ding Huan's Great Dao World and Cosmic World, while the outer layer was a simulated wood-elemental space world created by the Great Universe Art.

"Don't worry, it's just testing your Dao element," Ke patted Ding Huan's shoulder, reassuring him.

Ding Huan could only place his hand on the recess.

Pure wood-elemental Dao rhythm instantly flooded the entire space; Ding Huan seemed startled and quickly withdrew his hand.

"Such a pure wood-elemental cultivator—I want him," came a crisp voice.

Ding Huan turned to see a stunningly beautiful woman approaching—her beauty was only slightly inferior to Qin Qin's.

The man and woman seated earlier rose immediately upon seeing her.

Even Ke's demeanor grew more reverent.

"Greetings, Dao Ancestor Qingsha…"

Everyone's voices were nearly identical.

Ding Huan had assumed this was merely an ordinary female cultivator, relying solely on her powerful family background to be so domineering.

When the woman stepped before him, he immediately knew she was extremely, extremely strong.

Perhaps even a Seventh Step of the Dao.

She did not rely on anyone—she herself was an ultimate powerhouse.

He did not need to look, nor use divine sense; merely by instinct, Ding Huan was certain he had not misjudged.

Dao Ancestor Qingsha's gaze settled on Ding Huan. After a long moment, she nodded and said approvingly: "Good. A pure wood-elemental cultivator."

"Yours?" Dao Ancestor Qingsha looked at Ke.

Jiong bowed deeply: "Yes, Master. I saw this Ding Huan's talent was exceptional and his temperament gentle, so I wished to take him as my disciple."

Dao Ancestor Qingsha hummed: "You've done well. I've newly opened a domain needing pure wood-elemental cultivators to fill the Dao River. I'll take Ding Huan. I'll give you ten thousand points."

Jiong immediately froze in shock.

Did this mean all his hard work bringing Ding Huan back was for someone else's gain?

Even though he knew if he dared utter a single word of refusal, his fate would likely be worse than Ding Huan's, he still forced himself to speak respectfully:

"Dao Ancestor Qingsha, if that's the case, I'll remove all Dao threads binding Ding Huan."

Dao Ancestor Qingsha waved her hand: "No need. He's merely filling the Dao River—Dao threads won't interfere. Someone, take Ding Huan to fill the Dao River in the Wood Domain."

"As for your loss, ten thousand cosmic points are sufficient compensation."

Clearly, Dao Ancestor Qingsha knew Jiong's intentions—Ding Huan was merely someone he had abducted.

Clearly Ancestor Qingsha knew Jiong's thoughts—Ding Huan had merely been the one he had abducted back.

Gu's heart was bleeding.

This luck is just too bad, isn't it?

He actually ran into Dao Ancestor Qing Sha here, and had his hope forcibly taken away by the Dao Ancestor.

Knowing full well that Ding Huan carries the Light Dao Principle, Jiong dared not utter a single word at this moment.

Just now, when he claimed he was helping Ding Huan untie the Dao threads, he merely hoped to use this opportunity to make Ding Huan hand over the Light Dao Principle.

Since Ding Huan is bound to be taken away, better to get whatever he can.

Dao threads—even those you set yourself—require a quiet place, undisturbed by outsiders, to be untied.

Too bad Jiong's abacus beads clattered loudly, but no one paid him any mind.

A man entered behind him, bowed to Dao Ancestor Qing Sha, then said to Ding Huan: "Come with me."

Ding Huan could only follow this man.

Watching Ding Huan being led away, Jiong felt utterly stifled.

Ding Huan took a deep breath; if he survived this, he would make Ke know why the flowers were so red.

He would also make this woman, Dao Ancestor Qing Sha, know that she too could fill the Dao River.

Ding Huan knew well what filling the Dao River meant.

Just as in the ancient Dunyi Divine Realm, each year when Chaos receded, territory expanded.

There was another method: forcibly cutting off a piece of Chaos through some means.

Then, throw various Great Dao cultivators into this Chaos, letting their Dao principles disperse within it, causing the Chaos to be assimilated.

Their Dao principles would then become part of this space.

Moreover, after purification by Chaos, their Dao principles would become extremely pure, utterly free of impurities.

Such places—where Chaos is not allowed to recede, but forcibly assimilated by countless cultivators' Dao principles—are ideal for growing top-tier Dao fruits.

They are also suitable for nurturing divine beasts and sacred beasts, an indispensable part of any sect's development.

Ding Huan did not want to say a single word now.

Fortunately, he had concealed his Dao world with the Eternal Divine Wheel.

Otherwise, beneath that transparent veil artifact, his Dao world would almost certainly have been exposed.

Once his Dao world was exposed, even if he went to fill the Dao River, he would endure a horrific process.

Now, going to fill the Dao River, he actually gained a sliver of opportunity.

If he could slip into Chaos, he would surely survive.

He was different from others; for nearly all cultivators, Chaos was a death sentence, a path to oblivion.

Perhaps his Great Universe Art could alter his fate within Chaos.

Ding Huan had encountered Chaos more than once.

He knew well that the Chaos surrounding this supreme universe must differ from the Chaos he had encountered before.

Since Ding Huan was bound by Dao threads, the cultivator leading him didn't even bother to cast his spiritual sense upon Ding Huan.

Ding Huan only knew he followed this man through a teleportation array into the Great Universe.

Upon entering the Great Universe, Ding Huan knew this was indeed the realm of a high-level universe.

The celestial and terrestrial laws here were not only clear but carried an aura of primordial creation.

The cultivator leading Ding Huan did not pause for half a breath; after exiting the teleportation array, he took Ding Huan to another array, arriving at the edge of an isolated Chaos.

"Do you enter yourself, or shall I send you in?" the cultivator who brought Ding Huan said, expressionless.

As he spoke, he stared at Ding Huan—clearly, if Ding Huan refused to enter, he would immediately thrust him into Chaos.

Ding Huan ignored the fellow and stepped directly into Chaos.

This fellow's cultivation level was no higher than A Ruo's; he could not sever his Dao threads and escape.

Though Ding Huan entered on his own, the cultivator who brought him felt an intense sense of discomfort.

In his mind, wasn't Ding Huan supposed to beg for mercy?

Why say nothing and just step into Chaos himself?

…

As Dao Ancestor Qing Sha turned to leave, she felt she had missed something; suddenly, she asked Jiong: "Where have I seen you before?"

Jiong quickly bowed and replied: "Your humble servant once traded a technique with the Light Saint at a trading assembly…"

"I remember—you traded for the Little Light Dao Scroll?" Qing Sha's tone grew uneasy.

She remembered Jiong vaguely because he had traded a top-tier Great Dao technique for the mediocre Little Light Dao Scroll.

"Yes, your humble servant did trade for the Light Dao Scroll."

"Did you use the Seed Dao Void?"

The more Qing Sha asked, the more uneasy she felt.

"Yes, your humble servant indeed used the Seed Dao Void," Jiong dared not conceal anything.

When you're used to being stifled, you stop feeling stifled.

So what if he's the Heavenly Emperor?

He had once seen a former Dao Ancestor here, living like a dog.

"You brought Ding Huan here—what do you want from him?"

Qing Sha's tone turned grave; she finally understood why she felt something was off.

Jiong is no Bai Chi; facing an unyielding Dao Ancestor, his earlier suggestion to help Ding Huan untie his Dao threads could have gotten him killed and buried without a trace.

Besides, Jiong isn't poor—he even used the Seed Dao Void to trade for the Little Light Dao Scroll.

How could such a person bring someone here for some ordinary thing, and dare to isolate himself with Ding Huan under the pretense of untying Dao threads?

Being alone with Ding Huan?

"Ding Huan carries a trace of the Light Dao Rule, and that is precisely what this junior desires." Jiong's tone grew even more deferential.

The Light Dao Rule?

Grand Daoist Qingsha's eyes lit up, and she immediately sent out a message: "Bring that Ding Huan to Wansha Holy Dao City at once."

The Great Universe is now a brand-new star continent formed after Chaos retreated.

In this place, the most precious things are the various Dao Rules.

And the Light Dao Rule is naturally the most precious among the precious.