Chapter 482

A host of mighty figures surged into the dimensional passage, drawing the gaze of all Zhongzhou at this moment.

Outside the imperial bedchamber, Chu Yang smiled at Akatsuki Akatsuki and Dan Tong. “It’s time for Itachi two to depart.”

As he spoke, he lightly tapped Dan Tong’s chest, sending a surge of primordial energy into his body.

“I’ve concealed your true form—even a Heaven Supreme won’t detect anything amiss.”

“Thank Itachi, Master!” Dan Tong scratched his head; he was no longer a child but a youthful lad, radiant as jade, lips red and teeth white.

Dan Tong’s true form had now reached the Emperor-grade pill level, and with his growing strength, it would continue evolving.

Once he broke through to Earth Supreme, if his true form were exposed, even Heaven Supremes would covet it.

“Master, I will make the Yunlan Sect’s name echo throughout the Great Thousand World!”

Akatsuki Akatsuki clenched her fist, brimming with determination.

Due to her bloodline evolution, she still retained her girlhood form; Chu Yang estimated she wouldn’t shed her juvenile stage until she broke through to Earth Supreme.

That is, once her demonic beast bloodline matured, it would reach Earth Supreme level.

Her descendants would be the same! Such a bloodline, if it spread in the Great Thousand World, would become a supreme divine beast race.

After the two youngsters departed, Chu Yang turned to Tang Huo’er, who understood at once. She faced the senior ministers of the Great Xia Empire and said softly: “Lord Zhenyou, once Itachi enter the Great Thousand World, lead the Yinming Army independently. Become the battle-array master my Master spoke of, and forge the Yinming Army into an unrivaled legion!”

Yao Feng stepped forward, kneeling on one knee. “Your subject will not fail Your Majesty’s great trust!”

Tang Huo’er nodded, then turned to the Elder of Dan Tower. “State Preceptor, lead the Tianji Pavilion independently from the Empire. Return only when the time is ripe.”

The Elder of Dan Tower stepped forward—he was no longer a child but a handsome young man, smiling as he bowed. “Your Majesty may rest assured; this old minister will ensure the Tianji Pavilion prospers!”

The Tianji Pavilion was the former Dan Tower, gathering countless alchemists. As Chu Yang said, alchemists focus on soul force; in the Great Thousand World, they may switch to becoming soul-array masters.

After reaching the Dou Emperor level, pills lose much of their utility, and high-grade pill formulas are scarce. Unless one achieves extraordinary mastery in alchemy, it’s nearly impossible to excel in this path.

And by “extraordinary mastery,” one must at least reach Akatsuki Yan’s level.

Across the Dou Qi Continent, few possess both the talent and alchemical skill to rival Akatsuki Yan—and without powerful flame enhancements, crafting potent heavenly treasures is already a daunting task.

Tang Huo’er turned to Yun Yun. Before she could speak, Nanlan Yanran grinned: “Don’t worry! My teacher and I will make the Hundred Flowers Pavilion dominate the region!”

“When word spreads that the Hundred Flowers Pavilion is tied to the Great Xia Empire, jaws will drop all over!”

Tang Huo’er smiled faintly, then turned to Zhu Kun. “Chancellor, accompany me directly. Help lay the foundation for Great Xia in the Great Thousand World!”

Zhu Kun’s expression turned solemn. “This old minister will clear all obstacles for Your Majesty!”

At that moment, two figures flew in and landed before the bedchamber.

Seeing them, Chu Yang laughed heartily. “Older brothers, Itachi’re late!”

The two figures were Zhu Li and Qi Itachi, both dusty and weary. Zhu Li sighed. “Chu younger brother, had it not been for the Sound Emperor’s aid, we’d still need half a year to break through!”

“But at least we’re not too late!”

Many present secretly envied them; on the Dou Qi Continent, only these two could still call Chu Yang “older brother.”

Originally, Zhu Li and Qi Itachi had hesitated—their power and status were too far below Chu Yang’s. Calling him “older brother” seemed presumptuous.

But under Chu Yang’s insistence, they had no choice but to comply.

They now felt even more certain that their honest friendship with him on Donglong Island—before they knew his true strength—was the wisest decision of their lives.

“What are your plans, older brothers?”

Chu Yang bypassed Tang Huo’er entirely, asking them directly.

Tang Huo’er naturally had no objections.

Though Zhu Li and Qi Itachi held the title of Guardian Divine Dragons of Great Xia, they were not her subordinates—more like honored guests.

They exchanged glances, then Zhu Li said: “We’ll remain on the Dou Qi Continent to guard the dimensional passage.”

“Once we break through to Dou Emperor, we’ll venture into the Great Thousand World.”

Chu Yang nodded, then handed them two black tokens. “If Itachi ever enter the Great Thousand World, activate these tokens with your soul force. I’ll come to Itachi immediately—and grant Itachi a great fortune.”

Zhu Li and Qi Itachi’s expressions brightened, yet they both wore wry smiles. Zhu Li sighed. “Chu younger brother, we truly feel undeserving.”

Tang Huo’er suddenly smiled. “Itachi two are mistaken.”

“Itachi are Great Xia’s Guardian Divine Dragons. Wherever Itachi go, Itachi carry our Empire’s banner. If Itachi dominate a region, Great Xia shares your glory!”

“So it seems Master helps Itachi—but in truth, he’s helping me!”

Chu Yang glanced at Tang Huo’er and smiled.

This girl’s growth was too rapid—in cultivation, governance, leadership, and social grace—she improved constantly.

Hearing this, Zhu Li and Qi Itachi could no longer refuse without seeming petty. They bowed respectfully and said no more.

Chu Yang stretched lazily. “Let’s go. It’s time for us to depart.”

Tang Huo’er pursed her lips. Led by Yao Feng, the Yinming Army surged into the dimensional passage, followed by the Tianji Pavilion and Hundred Flowers Pavilion, and finally the elite of Great Xia under Tang Huo’er’s command.

Chu Yang remained last. His dimensional passage was perfectly stable, ensuring no random teleportation to different regions.

Yet by his deliberate arrangement, each detachment was sent to distant corners of the Great Thousand World.

One reason: to let them develop independently. Another: remote regions offered safer footholds, allowing gradual expansion.

“Aren’t Itachi leaving?” Chu Yang glanced at Akatsuki Yan, standing afar.

Akatsuki Yan bowed deeply. “Your grace, Emperor Chu, I shall never forget. Here is the origin of Emperor Flame. When I forge the peerless Emperor Flame, I shall return to present it to Itachi!”

With a flick of his hand, a brilliant multicolored flame drifted from his palm, alongside an ancient, plain token.

“I thought Itachi’d forgotten our promise…”

Chu Yang teased, accepting the Emperor Flame origin and tossing the token. “What’s this for?”

Akatsuki Yan bowed. “This token holds a fragment of my soul force. Crush it, and no matter where I am, I’ll arrive instantly.”

He paused, then added: “My strength may be insignificant to Itachi, Emperor Chu—but I’ll give everything I have to aid Itachi.”

Chu Yang smiled, stowing the token. “Don’t undervalue yourself. Even in the Great Thousand World, Itachi’re destined to be no ordinary man. Perhaps one day, I’ll need Itachi to solve a problem for me.”

Akatsuki Yan blinked, then shook his head with a wry laugh, assuming Chu Yang was merely being polite.

After Akatsuki Yan left, Chu Yang stepped through the void to the edge of the dimensional passage. He turned, gazed back at the Dou Qi Continent, and chuckled: “Tianyin, I leave this continent to Itachi.”

“In the Great Thousand World, I may make many enemies—don’t let anyone steal my home!”

A warm, laughing voice echoed beside him: “Don’t worry. I’ve got the house.”

Chu Yang laughed heartily, then turned and leapt into the dimensional passage.

Chu Yang laughed heartily, then no longer hesitated, whirling around and dashing into the dimensional passage.

The Great Thousand World. Zhen Mo Continent.

This continent was obscure in the Great Thousand World, nearly unknown.

It was merely a medium-sized continent, and even among medium continents, its area ranked at the bottom.

Yet to top-tier Qiangzhe and elite factions, this land held special significance.

For the headquarters of the Great Thousand World’s foremost power lay here!

Though called the Great Thousand World’s #1 power, few knew of it—only those reaching a certain height ever encountered this level.

Rather than a faction, Daqian Palace was more an organization—or an alliance.

Only when the Outer Demonic Tribes invaded did Daqian Palace emerge into public view; in peacetime, it was merely symbolic.

In ancient times, the first human supreme, the Immortal Emperor, founded Daqian Palace. Nearly every Heaven Supreme received an invitation and registered their name there.

When the Outer Demonic Tribes invaded, Daqian Palace summoned all its members to repel the enemy.

For nearly a millennium, the Outer Demonic Tribes had stirred, infiltrating the Great Thousand World and striking its borders. Daqian Palace reemerged.

Due to the heaviest pressure on the western frontier, Daqian Palace established its headquarters here to guard the west.

Yet those below a certain level—or their factions—knew nothing of this.

Without sufficient strength, knowing would only cause needless panic without offering aid.

“This is the Great Thousand World from centuries ago?”

Chu Yang surveyed the desolate land from atop a mountain peak, eyes half-lidded.

The air carried a faint metallic scent of blood, and threads of demonic energy mingled with spiritual energy. Those weak in strength or unstable in spirit would suffer grave harm—or even fall into demonic madness—within a day.

Thus, Zhen Mo Continent remained nearly isolated from the outside world, explaining why few knew it housed so many powerful figures.

Chu Yang’s gaze sharpened. Before him stood an ancient, majestic city, and before it rose a colossal stone stele piercing the clouds.

The stele bore countless characters carved with spiritual energy, glowing brilliantly.

At its summit, three large characters blazed: “Zhu Mo List!” Below them, rows of purple-gold names, each preceded by a title.

From top to bottom, the prefixes were: High-Level Zhu Mo Master, Mid-Level Zhu Mo Master, and Low-Level Zhu Mo Master.

He turned his gaze elsewhere, eyes narrowing. “Outer Demonic Tribes…”

Through Pangu, he confirmed Sun Wukong was alive—his coordinates lay within the Outer Demonic Tribes’ territory. Whether he had fallen to demonic influence remained uncertain.

Now that he’d reached the Great Thousand World, he would go see Sun Wukong.

This was why he chose Zhen Mo Continent as his destination.

He hadn’t expected Daqian Palace’s headquarters to lie here—on the western frontier. A fortunate surprise.

Before entering the Great Thousand World, Chu Yang had already planned how to gather faith energy:

Use the Zhu Mo Token to climb the Zhu Mo List. Those who knew of Daqian Palace and the Zhu Mo List were all powerful figures—whose faith energy far surpassed ordinary mortals’.

The Outer Demonic Tribes were the sworn enemies of every powerful being in the Great Thousand World—blood feuds ran deep.

Thus, if Chu Yang ascended the Zhu Mo List, he would reap a massive harvest of faith energy. Unless he annihilated the Outer Demonic Tribes entirely, saved a continent, or rescued a lower realm, this was the fastest, most effective method.

Therefore, as long as Chu Yang ascends the Demon-Slaying List, he will inevitably reap a massive harvest of faith power! Unless he utterly eradicates the rogue demonic clans, saves an entire continent, or rescues some lower realm, this is undoubtedly the fastest and most effective method.

The “heart” of his Yuan Wu Law Body! Since arriving on Zhen Mo Continent, Chu Yang constantly felt the heart within his Yuan Wu Law Body’s chest cavity pulsing joyfully.

This change wasn’t caused by the Great Thousand World’s spiritual energy—but by the demonic energy seeping from Zhen Mo Continent. Chu Yang sensed: this heart, transformed from the Holy Embryo, might undergo a chemical reaction upon contact with pure demonic energy.

But the cause of this cardiac transformation was not the spiritual energy of the Great Thousand Worlds—it was the demonic energy seeping from the Demon Subduing Continent! Chu Yang had a premonition that this heart, forged through the Holy Embryo, might undergo some kind of chemical reaction upon encountering pure demonic energy.

Whether it’s good or bad, only by trying it can Itachi know.

But for now, Chu Yang had no intention of entering the Outer Realms directly; instead, he sat cross-legged atop the peak and took out two items.

One was the Source of Emperor Flame.

The other was a gene reagent.

Activating the Sheng Ling Jue, the Four Sacred Spirits appeared, and Chu Yang fused the Source of Emperor Flame with the Phoenix True Spirit.

Notably, here the spirit aggregation had already been completed, and wisdom had been born.

Clearly, Akatsuki Yan had delayed giving him the Source of Emperor Flame until the last moment precisely to help it achieve spirit aggregation.

Chu Yang needed a supreme treasure capable of spirit aggregation—this matter was known only to Mu Tianyin. He had once asked her about it, but the final answer was that, aside from the Bodhi Ancient Tree, only the Source of Emperor Flame had reached this level.

As for the Nine Mystical Golden Lightning? That was purely an accident; its level differed too greatly from both, and without some fundamental transformation, it could never have possessed the foundation for spirit aggregation.

Most likely, she mentioned it in passing when helping Akatsuki Yan reshape his body, and Akatsuki Yan took it to heart.

Chu Yang smiled. He had to admit, in terms of character, Akatsuki Yan was truly impeccable—yet their personalities were destined to never walk the same path.

As he let the Phoenix True Spirit devour and refine the Source of Emperor Flame, Chu Yang picked up the gene reagent, his expression thoughtful.

This gene reagent was the product of his research, combining Xukongzhi with the bloodline of the Spirit-Devouring Clan, replicated from the memory of Pangu’s spiritual awareness.

This gene reagent possessed the strengths of both Xukong creatures and the Spirit-Devouring Clan, maximizing the ability to devour power and enhance oneself.

But the problem was…

Maximum devouring meant it would also affect himself—he had no desire to become some monstrous, half-human thing.

Thus, deciding who to administer this gene reagent to became a difficult question… (End of Chapter)