Chapter 1335: Remaking the Dao of Heaven

The once pitch-black Spirit Abyss is now a sheet of golden light.

This has made this place a golden world.

Within that golden radiance, the divine authority from the Eye of the Divine Sovereign inside the lantern surges like tidal waves, churning the sea of the world.

Wherever it passes, all things dissolve into that golden light.

This is not decomposition, nor is it the disassembly like Xu Qing's constitution; it is a diminishing formed by continual reduction.

This process, aside from requiring the corresponding divine authority, cannot be reversed.

All things are changed; everything in the void—whether life or breath, whether illusory or truly existent, whether time or space—

Everything, everything, is destined to vanish in this diminution.

Naturally, this includes that golden lizard.

Though it is a Divine Sovereign, it is not the main body; what came here is merely a thread of divine thought, ultimately limited.

Therefore, even possessing the stature of a Divine Sovereign, under the divine authority of the Eye of an equal-ranking Divine Sovereign, it ultimately cannot endure for long.

After all, that Eye of the Divine Sovereign, besides its own power, also bears the blessing of Master Bai.

Thus, this lantern has become the sharpest object in Xu Qing's hands now.

At this moment, wherever its light passes, all becomes void, except the golden lizard, which still persists within the void.

Only, as the divine thought is nullified layer by layer, its figure gradually blurs, and before vanishing, it turns its head and gazes at Xu Qing.

In the void, its cold voice echoes.

"You will one day have a day to go out."

Amid the sound's undulations, the golden lizard closes its eyes, its figure melting into the golden light, vanishing within the light.

Erased.

To drive it away!

Only the lingering echo of its previous words remains, reverberating for a long time without fading.

Xu Qing's gaze is icy, listening to the other's echo reverberating in all directions; he understands the meaning in that one's words.

In fact, even possessing this lantern forged by the Eye of the Divine Sovereign in his hand, he knows the gap between himself and the Divine Sovereign remains, still as heaven and earth.

Between them, there is no such thing as being able to fight.

And the reason the four Divine Sovereigns of the Ninth Star Ring chose compromise, allowing themselves to draw the line in Eastern Wanggu, is because of the Upper Wasteland.

They fear the Upper Wasteland, dare not manifest their true forms, not even their avatars dare descend; they can only arrange their subordinates, or use some methods to drop divine thoughts.

But the power Xu Qing now wields—his divine thoughts can also be erased when they come here.

This is why they chose to stand by and watch.

But it is indeed as that golden lizard said: unless Xu Qing thereafter does not step outside even one step.

Otherwise, once he leaves the range of Eastern Wanggu, having lost their dread of the Upper Wasteland, they have too many methods to drive Xu Qing to death.

Even if Xu Qing bears the karma of the Upper Wasteland, having precedent for drawing the Upper Wasteland's descent to the Fourth Star Ring, for the Divine Sovereigns, they need not act personally; multiple Divine Lords together can still achieve victory.

"Going out..."

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, then slowly lowered the raised lantern.

As the divine might within the lantern gradually faded, his body swayed slightly, and a pallor appeared on his face.

Using such a treasure of this level, even in his current state of Immortal-God fusion, it is difficult to use multiple times; each time... for him, is a consumption.

Especially this time, he activated the divine authority of the Divine Sovereign within the lantern, and the consumption is much greater.

Therefore, at the instant the golden lizard dissipated, Xu Qing also withdrew his own thought; the Eye of the Divine Sovereign within his lantern has now closed again.

The golden light of the Spirit Abyss also, at this moment, has not a trace left.

Void, once again becomes pitch-black, but compared to before, this darkness bears emptiness.

Utterly clean.

The entire Spirit Abyss, to some extent, no longer exists.

Only that rotting giant serpent trembles there.

The previous golden light, under Xu Qing's control, avoided the position behind him, so this serpent and the Spirit Emperor's Eye were not assimilated by the golden light.

As for Zhou Zhengli and the others, they likewise flew out successively from the world borne by the giant serpent, appearing beside Xu Qing.

In the outside world, they perceived within the world; their gazes toward Xu Qing now also carry a deeper sense of awe.

Even the Star Ring Child silently lowered his head slightly.

They are all like this, let alone the Ancient Spirit Emperor—he watched wide-eyed as the Spirit Abyss became void, even that terrifying existence in his memory also dissipated; thus, all the eyes of the Ancient Spirit Emperor shine with shock and horror.

Feeling the giant serpent's tremor, and seeing the Ancient Spirit Emperor's shock, Xu Qing shook his head.

"An Ancient Spirit Emperor capable of unifying Eastern Wanggu must possess great ambition, and in fact, he does."

"But obviously, after his failed ascension, he indeed fell, and you... are his obsession incarnate, used by the Divine Sovereign, granted vitality."

"But you, are no longer the former Ancient Spirit Emperor."

Xu Qing spoke calmly.

The Ancient Spirit Emperor said nothing; bitterness welled in all his eyes, and he finally chose to close them.

He knows he cannot struggle, nor can he resist, and Xu Qing's words also speak the truth he refuses to admit.

He, indeed, is no longer the former Ancient Spirit Emperor.

Merely a remnant body relying on external force to revive, clinging to life, hiding within the Spirit Abyss.

"But you possess the stature from the ancient times of Eastern Wanggu, whether it is your true body's identity, or your connection with Eastern Wanggu, or even your true body's former cultivation..."

Xu Qing gazed at the Ancient Spirit Emperor, a depth appearing in his eyes.

"Since you are the incarnation of the Ancient Spirit Emperor's obsession to seize the Dao of Heaven, then..."

"Today, you shall become the Dao of Heaven."

Xu Qing said, raising his right hand in a grab, directly seizing the Spirit Emperor's Eye and that giant serpent, stepping through the void in an instant.

Upon appearing, he was already above the firmament of Eastern Wanggu, and his words caused the closed eyes of the ancient Spirit Emperor on the other side to snap open wide, staring at Xu Qing in disbelief.

Xu Qing lifted his head, gazing into the distant firmament.

"Wanggu cultivators, after Yunshen, the path is severed; aside from special inheritances, there is no longer any possibility of sovereignty—this is because when the Upper Wasteland arrived, it devoured many heavenly ways, leaving the cultivators of Wanggu Continent with an incomplete Dao."

As he spoke, a sharp light rose in Xu Qing's eyes.

"Heavenly Way!"

The instant these two words left his mouth, they transcended the Heavenly Way, transcended the Heavenly Sound, and shattered all of Wanggu.

Amid the rumbling, above Xu Qing's head, the celestial canopy instantly manifested countless strange figures, appearing in unison.

Those figures included humans and non-humans.

They were all remnants of the Heavenly Way that have endured in Wanggu to this day.

Most were largely decayed, each with a turbid aura and a blurred appearance.

"Today, I seal the ancient Spirit Emperor—one eye, one way; ninety-nine eyes, becoming the Ninety-Nine Heavenly Ways of Wanggu!"

Xu Qing's voice carried the power of righteous sealing; the moment it rang out, Wanggu's fortune surged, transforming into waves of auspicious signs rising in all directions.

And those lingering remnants of the Heavenly Way all bowed their heads, their figures retreating, yielding their positions.

Subsequently, Xu Qing's gaze fell upon the ancient Spirit Emperor.

All of the ancient Spirit Emperor's eyes now radiated excitement.

"Thank you, Lord of Wanggu!"

Having spoken, it suddenly dispersed, returning to the giant serpent beside it, merging into its body; finally, as the serpent trembled, ninety-nine wounds split open upon its form.

Within each wound, an eye sprouted.

All opened in unison.

Then, a roar issued from the giant serpent's mouth as it shot into the sky.

One eye is one way; gathered together, they became the Ninety-Nine Heavenly Ways, taking dominion over Wanggu.

The entire Wanggu trembled.

In the unseen, all races felt it; moreover, some cultivators stranded in the late Yunshen stage, at this very moment, felt waves of sudden enlightenment arise in their hearts, followed by excitement.

For these insights were guidance upon the path of sovereignty!

All of this came from the ancient Spirit Emperor, from his station, from his cultivation!

This is to take the ancient and connect it to the present path of sovereignty!

"Heavenly Way must not lack; therefore, it must be a hundredfold."

Gazing upon the ancient Spirit Emperor taking dominion, Xu Qing spoke softly, then his gaze fell upon……outside Feng Haijun.

Outside Feng Haijun, on the earth, there was a giant infant as seen by mortals, sitting there and grinning foolishly at Xu Qing.

Yet upon its body, numerous rotting wounds were visible.

These were the result of prior contamination by the ancient immortal.

Gazing at the giant infant, Xu Qing's gaze softened.

"Return the residual ways to their station!"

As the thought arose, the voice fell upon the firmament; in an instant, those residual ways that had yielded their positions to the ancient Spirit Emperor transformed into streams of light, racing straight toward the giant infant.

In that instant, they entered the giant infant's body one by one.

Thus, the infant's aura grew ever more substantial, and the wounds on its body healed at astonishing speed.

Until finally, the giant infant's entire body radiated five-colored light, and it began to grow; in Xu Qing's sight, it transformed into the likeness of a six- or seven-year-old boy.

Its face was like a silver disc, its skin fairer than snow, glowing with a lustrous sheen, resembling mutton-fat jade, exuding a sense of pure moisture and endearing charm.

Especially its eyes, like dots of ink, deep yet revealing clarity, like a clear spring, or like brilliant stars fallen within them—gazing back and forth, flowing light and color, purely the innocence of childhood.

Overall, it resembled the tender bud just bursting on a spring branch, making one feel joy at first sight.

As if, it itself was an auspicious sign.

At this moment, it stood up, facing Xu Qing's direction, raising its small hand in a bow.

"Child pays respects to Great Father."

Xu Qing smiled on his face, speaking softly.

"You originally had no form, but descended by fortune; born as the Heavenly Way, enjoying the station of the ancient Dao.

Today, I seal you as the First Heavenly Way of Wanggu!

Command the Ninety-Nine Ways of the ancient Spirit!

Future……guard Wanggu!"

Xu Qing's voice carried the might of his constitution, blessed with fortune, surging through Wanggu, rumbling in the hearts of myriad beings, sealing the righteous Heavenly Way.

Thus, the rosy light grew denser, heaven and earth shared auspiciousness.

Amid this sky-filling rosy light, the child gazed at Xu Qing with utter seriousness, nodding firmly.

"Child heeds Great Father's words; from now on, I shall surely guard Wanggu."

"Child is present, Wanggu is present."

"If child is absent, I will still strive with all my might to ensure Wanggu remains."

Xu Qing nodded.

The child drew a deep breath, turned its head to gaze toward another direction, where it sensed its Second Father, and thus bowed in that direction.

Subsequently, its body rose into the air, amidst thousands of ribbons of auspicious light, with the Ninety-Nine Ways of the ancient Spirit bowing low, it entered the station of the First Heavenly Way of Wanggu!

At the moment of taking dominion, Wanggu's rules suddenly surged with waves.