Chapter 747: Mighty Primordial Spirit, Imperial Palm Over All Living Beings (5K)

Celestial Court Heavenly Realm.

In the celestial palace, upon the return of the Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign, Zhang Jian felt a resonance.

After the departure of the Purple Cloud, Dragon Lineage, and Heavenly River Three Innate Daoist Sovereigns, Zhang Jian sought to seize the three great innate primal sources corresponding to them.

The Three Innate Daoist Sovereigns, to a certain extent, each represent one of the three supreme powers of the Celestial Court Heavenly Realm: namely, Essence, Qi, and Spirit—i. e., mountains, rivers, and lands; the Primordial Qi Sea; and the Source of Heavenly Dao.

The best way to patch this loophole is to, while the Three Innate Daoist Sovereigns are absent, bestow the divine positions born from these three great primal sources upon other immortals and gods, thereby occupying this immense power.

Zhang Jian had already bestowed these three powers respectively upon Zhang Yi, Zhang Zhao, and Zhang Xian.

This is also the root of the Zhang brothers' rapid advancement over these years, for they have already replaced the Three Innate Daoist Sovereigns.

At this moment, the Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign's return to the Celestial Court Heavenly Realm stirred the resonance of the Mountains, Rivers, and Lands primal source, and Zhang Jian immediately felt a response.

"Is this walking into a net?"

Upon the vast Heavenly Emperor's throne in the celestial palace, Zhang Jian's eyes flickered with a ripple.

The Zhang brothers have already occupied the Three Great Innate Primal Sources; the return of the Purple Cloud, Dragon Lineage, and Heavenly River Three Innate Daoist Sovereigns leaves them no place.

Zhang Jian also believes these Three Innate Daoist Sovereigns would not return pointlessly to seek death.

The Three Innate Daoist Sovereigns should be well aware of their awkward position in the Celestial Court's celestial palace.

His vast and eternal will, aligned with the Celestial Court Heavenly Dao, locked onto the Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign's position, yet did not startle him.

He merely wished to see what the other intended to do!

Slightly pondering, upon the Heavenly Emperor's throne, Zhang Jian curled his fingers and faintly deduced; at this moment, vast black-and-white divine light burst forth from his body's surface, and a vast, expansive illusory River Luo emerged from around him, forming a black-and-white Heavenly River flowing through heaven and earth.

This is no longer merely the secret method of the Infinite River Chart from the Root Source.

But rather the Root Secret Method: the Primordial River Luo Grand Formation.

This secret method, derived from contemplation of the Primordial River Luo Chart, can be said to be a supreme wondrous method of the heavenly void, fate, and heavenly secrets.

For those who cultivate the Dao of Fate alone, it is even a method to prove the Dao.

But in Zhang Jian's hands, it is purely a method capable of calculating past, present, and future heavenly secrets.

The black-and-white long river takes the true form of the Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign as its foundation.

Thus, within the Primordial River Luo Grand Formation, the Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign's true form and fate seal were directly captured within it; the black-and-white long river flowed, reversing past, present, and future.

Upon the Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign's true form, a vast and expansive illusory shadow faintly appeared.

This is the seal of the Celestial Court Heavenly Realm's Creator Sovereign, Qian Tian Emperor Sovereign, but at this moment it could not obstruct Zhang Jian's gaze.

In his divine pupils, he examined it thoroughly.

"Calamitous qi lies hidden, death qi envelops the body, yet the great calamity cannot be escaped!"

Zhang Jian secretly mused in his heart.

In the depths of his eyes, a cold smile flickered; he immediately locked onto the other with his eternal will, faint yet present, preparing to lure the sovereign into the urn, and then later strike when the turtle is in the jar!

Qian Tian Sacred Realm.

This place, after the Three Daoist Sovereigns departed the Celestial Court, was sealed by Qian Tian divine power.

With the Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign's renewed return, this place was reopened once more.

The Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign stood upon the golden form and dharma appearance of the Qian Tian Ancestral God.

"Ancestral God, it is our three brothers' inability, failing to protect this foundation, instead inviting the wolf into the room..."

The Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign's gaze fell upon the Qian Tian Ancestral God's golden form and dharma appearance; deep in his Dao heart, there was some fluctuation, and in his eyes, a hint of private regret.

That is, regret for not having slain the other upon first contact with that Celestial Court Heavenly Emperor.

Also regret for not being cautious enough, being discovered by the powerhouses of the Changqing Immortal Dao Alliance, and thus falling into their hands, with life in peril!

Gazing upon the Qian Tian Emperor Sovereign's true form, the Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign's Dao heart momentarily recovered its icy coldness.

At this moment, he could also sense, in the illusory void, the goodwill of the Mountains, Rivers, and Lands primal source toward him.

But this goodwill pales in comparison to what it once was.

He is no longer the Daoist Sovereign who holds the primal source of Mountains, Rivers, and Lands.

The primal source rank has regressed; at this moment, he can barely maintain the realm of a Second Transformation Daoist Sovereign.

This is still due to the Second Transformation Daoist Sovereign rank he carries on his person.

After hundreds of yuanhui of development, the Celestial Court Heavenly Realm has already cleansed clean the traces of the Three Great Innate Daoist Sovereigns!

According to the deductions and plans of the Changqing Immortal Dao Alliance's gods, he knows that at this time, his return has likely already been discovered by the Celestial Court Heavenly Emperor.

He should proactively go to the Celestial Court Heavenly Palace, submit to that Celestial Court Heavenly Emperor, let him lower his guard, and then enact the plan.

Immediately, he no longer hesitated; his form transformed into a stream of light, heading toward the direction of the Celestial Court Celestial Palace.

Celestial Court, Hall of Supreme Dao.

This is Zhang Jian's 'Imperial Study'!

When the Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign entered the celestial palace, Zhang Jian received him here.

After meeting Zhang Jian, the Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign expressed his intent, willing to submit to the celestial palace and become its minister.

The imperial throne within the Hall of Supreme Dao is lower than that in the Hall of Containing Elements, yet equally bears the Heavenly Emperor's awe-inspiring gravity.

Zhang Jian seemed unaware, merely praising the Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign's submission without end, and casually inquiring about his travels these years.

Including the whereabouts of the Purple Cloud and Dragon Lineage Daoist Sovereigns.

The Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign then said.

"Your Majesty, after we three brothers departed the Celestial Court Heavenly Realm, we traveled together, visiting many surrounding heavenly realms; there were areas ruled by heterodox Daoist palaces, areas occupied by the orthodox immortal gods alliance, and we even mistakenly entered realms heavily polluted by extraterritorial demon gods, encountering danger many times; fortunately, we three brothers still possess some fortune, and managed to pass through these calamities with composure!"

"Only after leaving the Celestial Court could we feel the Celestial Court's protection over us..."

The Heavenly River Daoist Sovereign's eyes did not lack a sigh.

His words are half true, half false.

"But my two brothers still harbor some reservations about returning to the Celestial Court celestial palace; thus, I, this god, have returned first to probe the Majesty's attitude, and still beg the Majesty's forgiveness!"

Zhang Jian nodded, a gentle smile appearing in his eyes as he spoke.

"Heavenly River Daoist, please convey to Zi Yun and Long Yin, the two Daoists, that the Celestial Court and Immortal Palace welcome their return at any time, without any concerns, as long as they are willing to contribute to the growth of the Celestial Court and Heavenly Realm, I will never neglect any meritorious subject!"

After a slight pause, his expression remained cold and detached, yet deep in his eyes lay a piercing light that fell upon Heavenly River Daoist.

Heavenly River Daoist could not help but slightly change his expression at this moment.

Zhang Jian's indifferent voice appeared again, his divine true form majestic, yet carrying an inexplicable affinity, as if it could encompass all things!

"Heavenly River Daoist, we were once comrades-in-arms, fighting side by side, together defeating the Zi Yuan Heavenly Emperor and thwarting his world-destroying plot. I greatly admire the three Daoists and have always believed they are my kindred spirits!"

"I truly do not wish to cross swords with the three Daoists!"

"From the depths of my heart, I hope the three Daoists will come to their senses—only by returning to the Celestial Court is it the right path for them!"

Upon hearing this, Heavenly River Daoist's eyes flickered slightly; he lifted his gaze to glance at Zhang Jian, wondering whether this Emperor was speaking casually or already knew something?

But Heavenly River Daoist still leaned toward the former.

He would rather believe that this Celestial Court Heavenly Emperor was merely testing him.

According to internal intelligence deductions from the Changqing Xian Dao Alliance.

This Celestial Court Heavenly Emperor, at most, is only slightly stronger than an ordinary three-transformation great divine ability cultivator.

Perhaps within the Celestial Court, as Heavenly Emperor, he possesses some home-field advantage, enabling him to unleash divine power comparable to that of a Dao尊.

But it cannot be significantly stronger.

He should also be unable to detect the cat-nib on him.

But suspicion might arise.

What he needs to do next is dispel the other party's suspicions.

At this moment, upon the Heavenly Emperor's throne, Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon Heavenly River True Lord.

In his divine eyes, he could faintly see hidden calamity qi in the depths of Heavenly River Daoist's brow, and even an invisible black radiance veiling his primordial spirit.

That secret technique is extraordinarily powerful, even sufficient to obscure a Daoist's Dao heart.

Thus, he no longer attempts to persuade.

He merely gestures for Heavenly River Daoist to return to the Qian Tian Holy Realm.

Seeing Heavenly River Daoist rise and depart, Zhang Jian's expression remained unchanged, yet he still prepared to refine several corresponding acquired spiritual treasures as precautions.

Since the other party dared to act against him, this Celestial Court Heavenly Emperor, they likely possess corresponding means to restrain Heavenly Emperor authority.

Zhang Jian is not surprised by this.

Heavenly Emperor authority, as the sovereign of a realm in ancient times and even through the medieval era, held supreme authority, belonging to rare artifacts, but with the expansion of the myriad heavens' void.

To exclusively dominate a great realm, or perhaps the existence of the Heavenly Realm itself, may not be numerous, but neither are they few.

The essence of the Heavenly Emperor's rank has been studied by all major ancient Dao traditions.

And by ancient great teachings; if they truly develop targeted secret techniques, he would not be surprised in the slightest.

However, in his view, the strong will never be lifeless objects, but rather the powerful ones seated in this position.

……

Not long after, celestial palace angels entered the Qian Tian Holy Realm, appointing Heavenly River Daoist as the Celestial Court's Rain Surveillance Envoy.

This also counts as a high position.

However, the Rightful God of Water could not be bestowed, as the fief was granted to the Wu Liang Dao Palace.

And the only third-transformation Daoist lord position capable of mobilizing water elements, the Water Official Emperor Lord, was given to Heavenly River True Person.

This Heavenly River True Person is likewise of Daoist lord status.

These two Daoist lords share the same Daoist title and both cultivate the Water Element Great Dao; to some extent, they have already formed a Great Dao contention.

As Heavenly River Daoist steps into the Celestial Palace to become the Celestial Court's Rain Surveillance Envoy, everything seems to have returned to the right track.

For the Celestial Court and Immortal Palace, gaining one more Daoist lord is already no great matter.

Especially since Heavenly River Daoist is a native Daoist lord of the Celestial Court Heavenly Realm, his return to the Celestial Court Heavenly Realm and allegiance to the Celestial Court Immortal Palace is entirely natural.

……

Time flows swiftly.

Ten thousand years pass silently.

Outside the Celestial Court Heavenly Realm.

Several figures have always been secretly monitoring the Celestial Court Heavenly Realm, also waiting for Heavenly River Daoist to open the extraterritorial gate.

They can sense that, although Heavenly River Daoist's progress over these years has not been rapid, it has still been relatively smooth.

Beside them, Zi Yun Daoist and Long Ying Daoist maintain unchanged expressions, yet there remains some worry in the depths of their eyes.

Even deeper in their eyes, there is still some complexity.

They both hope the Changqing Xian Dao Alliance will succeed and that the three lives will be preserved.

And they are also worried that the Celestial Court Heavenly Realm might fall into the hands of the Changqing Xian Dao Alliance.

The Celestial Court Heavenly Realm was ultimately opened up by the Qian Tian Emperor Lord.

Deep in their hearts, they still carry deep bonds, unwilling to see the Celestial Court Heavenly Realm fall into outsiders' hands.

However, to them, Zhang Jian is actually already an outer god!

Deep in their hearts, this guilt is not strong, merely some lingering regret that is hard to let go.

They ultimately have no ability left to reclaim the Celestial Court Heavenly Realm.

At the same time, deep in their hearts, there is also apprehension.

Apprehension for the future of the three brothers!

Even if this attempt to seize the Celestial Court Heavenly Realm succeeds, their three brothers will henceforth be subject to others, likely becoming high-ranking cannon fodder for the Changqing Xian Dao Alliance.

What core elder.

How could they compare to the powerful beings naturally born within the Changqing Heavenly Realm?

I fear that in the eyes of these ancient Dao Lords, they are nothing more than high-ranking nannies, or perhaps high-ranking enforcers!

That's all.

Móyǔ Zūnzhě glanced at Zǐyún and Lóngyìn, the two Dao Lords, sensing their auras, his eyes flashed with a hint of coldness; he could faintly perceive the thoughts of these two Dao Lords.

These two Dao Lords have ambitions that reach the heavens; they likely have not yet let go of the glory of being descendants of the Primordial Sovereign, harboring resentment—but what of it?

They have merely fallen into the hands of the Changqing Immortal Dao Alliance.

To speak frankly, the Changqing Immortal Dao Alliance will not easily grant these three Innate Dao Lords the secret method to prove the Dao, and will even suppress their cultivation progress.

Merely keeping these three deities alive is already a grace!

At this moment, a voice sounded beside him, carrying a hint of concern.

"Móyǔ Shīzhī, this journey is extremely perilous; you must prepare yourself!"

The speaker was the tall deity wearing azure brocade cloud robes.

This is the Guǎngyù Dao Lord!

Even within the Changqing Immortal Dao Alliance, this Dao Lord is of ancient standing, his attainment of the Dao traceable to the Middle Ancient era.

"Shīshū, with you and the two other seniors taking action, I expect this matter to be perilous but safe!"

The Guǎngyù Dao Lord slightly shook his head and said.

"Although the Dìhuáng Shàngdì is merely a three-transformation great divine ability wielder, to seize a heavenly realm with such power cannot rely entirely on luck; there must necessarily be corresponding methods!"

"Moreover, in a desperate beast's struggle, Dao Lords fighting to the death will face unexpected dangers, let alone the Heavenly Emperor who rules a heavenly realm!"

Móyǔ Zūnzhě's eyes remained calm, and he simply smiled faintly.

"Wealth and honor are sought in danger; this tremendous opportunity, if not risked a little, how could it be grasped? Once we obtain this celestial court's heavenly realm, under the ancestors' generous rewards, we shall surely receive some primordial essence!"

The Guǎngyù Dao Lord gave a faint, amused smile.

"Móyǔ Shīzhī indeed has confidence; now he's already baking the cake!"

Móyǔ Zūnzhě's expression remained composed.

"I believe that with Shīshū and the two seniors taking action, the Heavenly Emperor of the celestial court cannot escape the grasp of our Changqing Immortal Dao Alliance!"

Upon hearing this, the Guǎngyù Dao Lord smiled faintly, and the other two Dao Lords also had expressions of serene smiles in their eyes.

Everything was understood without words.

The four deities did not wait long; as they approached the limit set by the deities, they saw a vast, deep blue divine light condense into form within the chaotic qi, within which seemed to lie the boundless source of the Water Dao, the source of the Mountain Dao flowing forth, and layered throughout with crimson hues.

This was the extra-territorial gate formed by blood sacrifice.

When the Tiānhé Dao Lord entered the celestial court, he still carried the materials for constructing such a domain gate.

The gate thus formed was called the Tiānwéi Gate, sufficient for the deities to enter silently and without sound.

As long as time permits, everyone will soon recover their cultivation and begin the subsequent steps to seize the celestial court.

"This deity will enter first; if successful, I will give a signal for you all to follow in turn, ensuring safety!"

One of the black-robed Dao Lords spoke first.

Upon hearing this, the Guǎngyù Dao Lord and another Dao Lord nodded slightly.

Then, this black-robed Dao Lord transformed into a streak of light and instantly vanished into the extra-territorial gate.

The deities all gazed solemnly at this scene.

Shortly after, a dark stellar light burst forth from within the gate.

That was the signal!

Móyǔ Zūnzhě, upon hearing this, also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems the Heavenly Emperor of the celestial court has not yet detected anything unusual?

"Truly, this could not be better!"

Then, another Dao Lord and the Guǎngyù Dao Lord entered in succession.

Móyǔ Zūnzhě finally entered, bringing Zǐyún and Lóngyìn, the two Dao Lords, with him.

In the Qiántiān Shèngjìng, the Guǎngyù Dao Lord, Chánglíng Dao Lord, Ànxīng Dao Lord, and the true form of Móyǔ Zūnzhě appeared one after another from the extra-territorial gate, along with Zǐyún Dao Lord and Lóngyìn Dao Lord.

At this moment, as their gazes swept over the magnificent Qiántiān Shèngjìng before them, all the deities wore smiles.

It seems this first step has proceeded fairly smoothly.

Only the Guǎngyù Dao Lord's smile faded slightly after a moment; his eyes turned toward the outside of the Qiántiān Shèngjìng, and his expression instantly grew solemn.

"Shīshū, what's wrong?"

Móyǔ Zūnzhě noticed the change in expression on the Guǎngyù Dao Lord's face and could not help but turn his gaze toward him.

At this moment, the Tiānhé Dao Lord's face bore a relaxed smile, and upon hearing this, he too could not help but frown.

The Guǎngyù Dao Lord's eyes swept across the void, his depths showing some hesitation, and he spoke faintly.

"I do not know why, but I constantly feel something amiss? Something feels off?"

"Tiānhé Dao Lord, do you dare betray our Changqing Immortal Dao Alliance?"

Upon hearing this, Móyǔ Zūnzhě's face sank, and he fixed his gaze upon the Tiānhé Dao Lord.

The Tiānhé Dao Lord's expression grew unpleasant, and he felt a surge of anger.

Is Móyǔ Zūnzhě treating him as a slave, a servant?

Yet he still spoke solemnly.

"Impossible; this is the Qiántiān Shèngjìng, and I have deliberately used a portion of the divine authority left by the Qiántiān Ancestor God to conceal the heavenly secrets; the Heavenly Emperor of the celestial court could fundamentally not detect any anomaly!"

"It cannot go wrong!"

Just then, a faint smile appeared in the void above.

"Is that so, Tiānhé Dao Friend, are you really this confident?"

This voice appeared on its own, and the gods' expressions changed instantly.

Immediately, the gods sensed that the surrounding Qian Tian Holy Realm suddenly shifted in wind and clouds, as if infinite time and space were reversing, and in an instant the gods felt as though they had fallen into boundless darkness.

At this moment, within the Celestial Court's immortal palaces, Zhang Jian sat cross-legged upon the Heavenly Emperor's throne.

This place seemed to be the highest realm of the Celestial Court's heavenly domain, from which one could overlook the countless spacetime dimensions of the Celestial Court's heavenly realm, the infinite spacetime nodes.

The divine realms of the myriad immortals and gods, even the blessed grotto-heavens, all manner of scenes appeared fully within Zhang Jian's eyes.

At this moment, the Celestial Court's heavenly realm perfectly matched a purple-yellow Dao diagram.

This was his natal Dao method, the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram.

This diagram merged with the Celestial Court's heavenly realm, making the Celestial Court the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram, yet the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram was not the Celestial Court's heavenly realm.

How could an outsider who intrudes into his absolute domain possibly conceal themselves from him?

The Tianhe Daoist Lord thought himself clever, unaware that his every move was within Zhang Jian's gaze.

He used the authority of the Qian Tian Emperor Lord to open a backdoor in the heavenly realm of the Celestial Court.

In truth, this backdoor was nothing but a dead end.

The four divine beings of the Changqing Immortal Dao Alliance entered the Celestial Court's heavenly realm through this dead end, thereby walking straight into a desperate situation.

Zhang Jian merely lifted one hand slightly, and the boundless Celestial Court heavenly Dao divine power suppressed upon the gods of the Qian Tian Holy Realm; in an instant, the gods felt as if they had fallen into the endless hell of Avici.