Chapter 346: Chaos Azure Lotus, Phoenix Nest Emerges

When the Taiyin Holy Emperor fell, he did not have too much fear of death; rather, there was more reluctance and guilt.

He had failed to carve a path for the myriad living beings, to open the gate to the Immortal Realm for future generations' strength, and thus he felt utterly ashamed before humanity, ashamed of the title "Human Emperor".

"The Underworld..."

Soon, the scene in the lake shifted, showing the Yama Hall of the Underworld, gloomy and strange, mighty in aura, mostly hidden in dark chambers, mostly indistinct.

Yet it was extraordinary on a stretch of necrotic land, its power terrifying, and it exuded a supreme dignity that made one's scalp tingle.

The image flashed by briefly; even the imprints between heaven and earth could not long capture these scenes, from which one could see the might of the Underworld.

"The Undying Heavenly Emperor, the Crossing Tribulation Heavenly Venerable..."

The imprint of the Great Dao in the lake kept changing, presenting various fragments, many involving obscure fortune, unknown to the world.

Yang Zhu stared intently, his mind and spirit completely settled within, also drawn by its content.

Only after two days did those Dao fragments slowly fade away.

"This place holds many methods of the ancients, worth contemplating."

Yang Zhu withdrew his thoughts, redirecting his gaze to the scriptures and laws left by the former emperors and sovereigns.

Emperor Venerable, the Undying Heavenly Emperor, the Taiyin Holy Emperor, the Ruthless Person, the Chaos Ancient, and others had all come here to comprehend the Dao in seclusion, gaining much.

And the Dao and laws they left behind were also what Yang Zhu paid special attention to.

Yang Zhu's body emanated a precious radiance, like an immortal form, as a River of Time slowly flowed before him, exuding an aura of ages.

"No wonder it's an Immortal Lake fallen from the Immortal Realm; indeed extraordinary."

He entered a special state, most marvelous, while comprehending myriad laws, he also created his own law and forged his own path.

Not knowing what that Immortal Lake was, soon after Yang Zhu's mind and spirit settled within it, his soul seemed to be pulled by some intangible substance, attempting to reverse the River of Time to grasp the ultimate mystery of the Time Dao.

Time flew by, and another fifteen years passed in the mortal world.

"Hum..."

That day, Yang Zhu opened his eyes; his pupils seemed to have billions of stars intertwining, his vision evolving myriad laws, wondrous sights unceasing.

Over these fifteen years, Yang Zhu gained greatly again; not only did he perfect his scriptures, but his cultivation also broke through in one leap to the Seventh Heaven of the Quasi-Emperor! "Boom—"

The moment Yang Zhu rose, heaven and earth trembled, the Will of the Great Dao roared, the whole firmament seemed to be shaken, his aura spanning ancient and modern.

Now he is stronger; even facing a flawless ancient supreme, he feels no fear, daring to meet it head‑on! He finally glanced at the Divine Lake, not knowing why, a bold idea suddenly arose in his heart.

"Why not take this Immortal Mountain with me..."

The Immortal Lake before him had no name, yet it was exceedingly miraculous, able to imprint the heavens, sever the ages, and reverse the future.

If Yang Zhu's guess is correct, its value is not inferior to the Sea of Reincarnation; it is a supreme Immortal Object that fell from the Immortal Realm! "Boom—boom—boom!"

Saying it, doing it, Yang Zhu immediately employed Defying Heaven Shen Gong to move the Immortal Lake, thinking it would be extremely difficult, yet unexpectedly everything went surprisingly smoothly.

Soon after, the entire Immortal Lake was refined by Yang Zhu and taken away by him.

At that moment, a stalk of Chaos Azure Lotus swayed, flying out from the bottom of the Immortal Lake, accompanying the lake; this is the Immortal Lake's deep, endless foundation.

"No wonder Immortal Objects all have such traits?"

Yang Zhu was a little surprised, but soon realized; as a supreme Immortal Object, it naturally understands the principle of avoiding misfortune and seeking fortune; perhaps it sensed something, thus willingly allowing Yang Zhu to refine it.

It's not that Yang Zhu is arrogant; given his talent and bloodline, looking across past, present, and future, how many could compare? Hence it makes sense that the Immortal Lake could be taken by him.

But he did not know that everyone who had previously fought their way here wanted to take this object, including Emperor Venerable, Wushi, and the Ruthless Person, among others.

But the results all ended in failure.

"It's been many years since I left; I don't know how the outside world is now."

With a hum, an Immortal Waterfall cascaded down before Yang Zhu, brilliant and splendid, immortal qi abundant, various divine glimmers and immortal laws dancing.

He stepped in and vanished from this place.

The next moment, the Chaos Cavern at the end of the Ninth Emperor Pass collapsed, and many relics fell out.

…

On the upper reaches of the River of Time, at this moment another identical Chaos Azure Lotus trembled, breaking free from an unknown dimension of spacetime and descending from the River of Time.

If sensed carefully, one can find that their forms are nearly identical, except this one is more holy and misty, exuding a true immortal aura.

Compared to the barren pagoda and bronze immortal palace Yang Zhu had seen before, it is not lacking in the slightest!

…

(As mentioned before, Yang Zhu might be that someone's reincarnation, so no further explanation.) After the Northern Dipper was rebuilt, over twenty more years have passed, and thanks to its deep foundations, it has gradually regained its former prosperity.

Here, heroes contend; generation after generation of heavenly talents rise, various divine bodies emerge, and a glorious era is about to arrive.

In these years, the Heavenly Court has progressed step by step; not only was it not strangled in its cradle, but it has grown ever stronger.

Now it has become a true colossus; whichever faction sees it must be wary three parts.

"Your strength is still lacking; with this you still want to provoke trouble for the Heavenly Court?"

Outside the Northern Dipper Region, Li Heisui was busy repairing some troublesome fellows.

As the saying goes, "big trees attract wind"; the Heavenly Court, in its growth, also encountered many troubles, with many major powers coming to its door.

The Big Black Dog, Duan De, and the Dragon Horse—these three fellows—as their cultivation grew ever more refined, the treasures that could interest them became ever fewer.

As for Immortal Treasures like the Undying Medicine, they are hard to find; otherwise they grow in the Life Forbidden Zone, and they are willing but unable.

Therefore, when idle, they also visit the Heavenly Court to pay respects; if they happen to be in a good mood, they might even "request a playback".

"Priest Duan De, is this really alright?"

Bald Huahua wore a look of doubt, looking at the wooden box Duan De handed him, and hesitantly spoke.

"Just go when I tell you; where does all this nonsense come from?"

Upon hearing that, Duan De wore a smug grin, his plump white palm striking Huahua's shoulder with heavy force, almost knocking him over.

"Priest Duan De, go easy..."

Huahua winced in pain, muttered a complaint; although he too was not a pushover, facing Duan De and the Black Emperor, he really had nothing to say.

Dare to be angry but dare not speak……

Finally, Little Baldy left, following the instructions of Duan De and the Black Emperor, carrying the wooden box toward the Northern Region.

"Black Emperor, something's wrong! The Undying Heavenly Empress has emerged!"

Soon after, a heavenly soldier rushed in to report, saying something major had happened.

"I know."

The Black Emperor and Duan De were startled, neither cried out, and they left together.

Beyond the region, with a boom, the heavens trembled; in the distance a terrifying cloud appeared, like a massive flame burning, covering the sky.

"Phoenix Nest!"

Many people were shocked and pale; someone recognized what it was. It was a huge Phoenix Nest, constructed of unknown divine material, its body wreathed in divine flames, its aura terrifying.

"Could it be the Undying Heavenly Empress?"

Soon, people identified the newcomer's identity; it was very likely the Undying Heavenly Emperor's beloved— the Undying Heavenly Empress! The Phoenix Nest streaked across the sky, heading outward at extreme speed toward an ancient heavenly court relic.

The majestic heavenly palace, the grand immortal pavilion, situated upon white clouds, where mist and rosy vapors swirl, magnificent and astonishing.

The Chaotic Great Mountain blocking the view shifted, one after another, rumbling as they moved, standing firm at the ends of heaven and earth.

The nine heavenly suns slanted westward; palaces and towers, bathed in the sunset, were tinged with gold and red, appearing exceptionally holy, the tiles flowing with auspicious radiance.

This is an ancient heavenly court relic, well preserved, yet a grand heavenly palace stands here, its momentum majestic, as if ruling over the world.

"I never imagined the ancient heavenly court wasn't completely destroyed; it lies here."

"It must be the heavenly court, no doubt—the Southern Heavenly Gate is missing, having fallen into the divine ruins!"

People exclaimed in an uproar; this place's opening attracted many heavenly pride of this generation, all wanting to come and see.

Ye Fan, the Holy Prince, Pang Bo, Ji Ziyue and other old acquaintances are here, seeking immortal fate; none can remain unmoved.

The legends and secrets of the ancient heavenly court are too many; whenever an ancient relic opens, it inevitably draws a commotion from all directions, and the world's strong come like moths to a flame.

"Good heavens, could it be that someone has already taken possession of this place ahead of time?"

"Look at that divine tree; it seems someone has been tending to it all along."

At this moment, people gazed at the immortal tree in the heavenly palace, all stunned; could it be that someone has already taken over this place?! "Don't look at me, I'm just a rotten old man."

Amid the crowd's astonishment, a big-bearded man walked out from deep within the heavenly palace, carrying a wooden bucket, and poured spiritual liquid onto the immortal tree.

His beard was scraggly, he had a big yellow tooth, his clothing was simple, and he always carried a rusted firewood knife on his back.

He lifted his head to look at the crowd outside the hall, grinning with his mouth full of yellow teeth.

"Grandpa, there are so many people here."

Behind the big-bearded man followed a sturdy little boy with a tiger-like head, his eyes wide open, curiously sizing up the crowd.

"Haha, don't be afraid, Grandpa is here."

The big-bearded man laughed, affectionately ruffling the little boy's head, his tone calm, not particularly worried.

"Boom!"

However, in the next moment a massive Phoenix Nest emerged, pressing down from the distant horizon; its powerful oppressive feeling made many people's faces change drastically.

"Fellow Daoist, are you still well? After so many years, I too should return here."

Inside the Phoenix Nest, a pleasant, melodious voice sounded, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

"Yo, I didn't expect you to still be alive."

The big-bearded man laughed, his beard disheveled, his whole appearance slovenly, yet he didn't care; he set down the wooden bucket and stared at the huge Phoenix Nest.

"No, this is my master's place; even if many years have passed, this fact cannot be changed. Moreover, what business do you have here?"

He frowned, speaking with a hint of incomprehension; even facing the Undying Heavenly Empress, he remained unafraid, relying on his backing, showing no fear, and instead appeared quite nonchalant.

"I once lived here with the Heavenly Emperor; this was our dwelling. Now returning to reclaim it is naturally justified."

Inside the Phoenix Nest, that voice remained calm and moving, as if speaking of something sought but never found.

"What…… the Undying Heavenly Emperor and Empress once took possession of and withdrew the heavenly palace?"

"Good heavens, this is an ancient heavenly court relic, but if it's said to be the Undying Heavenly Emperor's, it somewhat makes sense."

People clamored, but soon they felt resigned; it seemed the disposition of this place was no longer up to them to contend for.

On one side are disciples claiming to be of the Emperor Venerable; on the other side is the Undying Heavenly Empress— at the very least they are Quasi-Emperor cultivators, and their backgrounds are formidable.

Ordinary people wouldn't dare to fight for it; they likely don't even have the qualification!

"This..."

Ye Fan and Pang Bo stared at each other, at a loss for what to do, only able to choose to watch the developments.

"How about this: you fetch two hundred catties of phoenix blood to temper my grandson's body, and I'll reluctantly yield this place to you, how about that?"

The big-bearded man, with his yellow tooth, stretched out his big hand to demand it, showing no politeness, truly daring to speak up.

"Hehehe..."

However, a laugh emanated from within the Phoenix Nest, as if carrying some kind of magic, making people unable to resist wanting to bow and worship.

"Bang!"

In the next moment, a flare of fire shot up, piercing heaven and earth, transforming into an immortal phoenix shape, launching an attack at the old man.

The Undying Heavenly Empress indeed proved formidable; she struck at the slightest disagreement! "Hmph, if the descendants of the Emperor Venerable merely wanted to take it away, that would be fine, but do you think you can seize it for yourself?"

The big-bearded man gave a cold snort; with a "clang," a bright blade shot up from behind him, peerlessly sharp, immensely strong, emanating a supreme aura.

What left everyone dumbfounded was that it was actually the old man's firewood knife he had just been carrying behind his back!

"Whoosh!"

The big-bearded man did not retreat; his divine weapon turned into a white light, incredibly sharp, slashing at the spreading immortal phoenix.

"Absolutely, two genuine Quasi-Emperors!"

People exclaimed, facing the might emanating from the two, they had just confirmed that both the big-bearded man and the Undying Heavenly Empress were Quasi-Emperors.

Moreover, in this realm, he has gone very far.

Don't try to scare me here—a featherless phoenix is no match for a chicken; you only have a few layers of power left, right, and you still want to come here to act fierce?

Big Beard, also known as the Firewood-Chopping Old Man, at this moment he just laughed with his hands on his hips.

Since you won't hand over the phoenix blood, I'll take it myself to give my grandson a baptismal bath, laying a better foundation.

After speaking, he launched a strong move, almost instantly arriving before the phoenix nest, and reached in to grab.

Oh, you said you only had a few layers of power left, right? Why is this so tough...

Just then, Big Beard winced in pain, withdrew his arm, and now bore several more bloodstains.

The Heavenly Emperor is an immortal god; his ways are unfathomable.

At this moment, an extraordinarily handsome man appeared, like a god-like general, looking down upon this place.

The sun, moon, and stars fell together, orbiting his rotation; he seemed the center of the universe, where myriad stellar rivers flowed, a breathtaking sight.

He is none other than the Sun and Moon Divine General, one of the Eight Divine Generals of the Immortal Heavenly Emperor, and not a mere illusion but his true self has arrived.

Seeing this, Ye Fan's expression changed drastically; he had once fought an avatar of his, and though his strength was only a tenth of the main body's, it was still quite troublesome.

Now, as a true-form general, just how terrifying would his power be, reaching the heights of the Great Dao?

Don't even mention it, Ye Fan—all the other mighty ones present were terrified; the Eight-Step Divine Generals, who followed the Immortal Heavenly Emperor in battle all their lives, are undoubtedly powerful.

Who would have thought that after so many years, he would still survive into this lifetime! (End of chapter)