Chapter 511: The Emperor

At this moment, the rising sun cast brilliant hues, clouds swirling in radiant splendor, colors interwoven in dazzling profusion.

As a few wisps of mist were slowly carried away by the gentle breeze, the heavens and earth became utterly clear and luminous, bathed in light, spotless everywhere.

In a vast, boundless plain near Yingji River, where mountains encircled and waters converged, cultivators gathered to witness the ceremony, thick as clouds and rain, a magnificent spectacle that inspired awe.

Not only were countless figures densely packed across the expansive plain, but also countless flying vessels and tower-like craft filled the azure sky, vast and imposing.

If a cultivator of profound attainment activated his Dharma Eye, he could discern floating aerial isles and jade pavilions with golden halls faintly visible in the deepest heavens, dim and hazy, as if standing shoulder to shoulder with the sun and moon.

The Xudu Grand Assembly—the Danyuan Competition—

Merely a rough count revealed that cultivators who had personally journeyed to Yingji River numbered no less than several hundred thousand.

Not to mention that among them were true masters of immense power, such as the Zuwu Mountain people and Zhenwu Tianqishang.

Even though they suppressed their vast qi signatures and did not activate them, their sheer numbers still caused the heavens and earth to subtly resonate.

Auspicious clouds swirled, auspicious radiance layered a thousandfold, magnificent and grand!

“The Emperor’s Ancestral Earth Map—this Danyuan Assembly is truly being held here?”

At this moment, Chen Hang saw the bright point of light pointed out by Pei Shuyang rise into the distant clouds, then suddenly shatter, scattering radiant light everywhere.

Then, a vast painting abruptly unfurled, expanding with the force of parting clouds and overturning seas, and in the blink of an eye, it obscured hundreds of li of sky, continuing to stretch east and west, its momentum thunderous, as if effortlessly encompassing Yingji River, swallowing Luzhou, and devouring the Northern Sea!

This spectacle caused the cultivators below the clouds to cry out in astonishment, their faces filled with disbelief, as if they had witnessed something inconceivable.

Chen Hang’s gaze sharpened—he saw within the painting seas and lands, mountains and rivers, sun and moon and stars racing through empty space, flocks of birds and beasts running across heaven and earth.

Yin and yang as the foundation, the four seasons as the chronology, nine qi arranged in order—creation and transformation of heaven and earth—

The painting was clearly a true, real, magnificent cosmos, rich with spiritual energy, worthy of being a cradle of creation!

Chen Hang knew that the Emperor’s Ancestral Earth Map was a creation-realm treasure of the Nine Truths Sect.

If fully unfurled, this map could easily obscure not only Yingji River, but even the entirety of Beihao Province without difficulty.

Yet what stood before him now was certainly not the full map—it was merely a corner borrowed by Pei Shuyang. The true Emperor’s Ancestral Earth Map still slumbered deep within the Nine Truths Sect’s mountain gate.

Only in critical moments would the Nine Truths Sect’s True Ones fully unveil this map to the world.

Besides this Emperor’s Ancestral Earth Map, the Nine Truths Sect possessed five other scrolls, collectively known by outsiders as the Nine Truths Six Sceneries.

Yet it was widely known that among the Nine Truths Six Sceneries, the most renowned was not the Emperor’s Ancestral Earth Map, but the Ten Provinces Heaven-and-Earth Map.

This map was painstakingly crafted by the Two Founding Ancestors of the Nine Truths Sect, who personally measured the ten provinces and four seas of Xudu Heaven over an immeasurable span of time.

Legend holds that the Ten Provinces Heaven-and-Earth Map, in its origin, was in fact a self-contained cosmos with its own order, named thus because it was forged in Xudu Heaven and modeled after the landscapes of these ten provinces.

Chen Hang had once heard Tong Xuan mention in casual conversation that the Nine Truths Sect’s Founding Ancestors created this map with the intention that, should the Dao ever collapse and the universe fall into solitude, their disciples could temporarily take refuge within the Ten Provinces Heaven-and-Earth Map to preserve the sect’s foundation.

And when chaos later redivided and the universe was reborn, the disciples within the painting could emerge calmly to claim their place in the new great age.

Yet while this vision was noble, its actual feasibility remained uncertain.

Moreover, one of the Nine Truths Sect’s two Founding Ancestors had perished in the great calamity that destroyed the Dao Court, destined never to witness how time’s end would unfold.

In that light—

It truly was fate playing cruel tricks…

After summoning a corner of the Emperor’s Ancestral Earth Map, Pei Shuyang did not return to his divine carriage. Instead, his expression turned solemn as he walked toward a ritual altar below the clouds.

The altar held only a single incense table, where the chief elders of the Eight Sects and Six Clans had already gathered.

Among them was a face Chen Hang had seen in his own sect—Xun Bing, the elder who was close to Yu Yuchen and Xiang Junyao.

Seeing Pei Shuyang descend from the clouds, the fourteen chief elders all bowed in unison, paying their respects to him.

At the Danyuan Competition, there was an unwritten rule:

The adjudicator must be one of the few within the Eight Sects and Six Clans most likely to achieve unity with the Dao.

Thus, these fourteen chief elders honored not merely Pei Shuyang’s status and position, but his future Daoic destiny!

By rights, Chen Yushu should have been among them, unquestionably ranked first.

But this man was now trapped by the Heavenly Punishment of Pure Yang Thunder Disaster, confined to a cave-heaven of the Primordial Demon Sect, unable to appear easily in the world; even if Chen Yushu wished to take the stage, several Dao Lords of Qianyuan Sichen Palace would surely not permit him to preside.

After returning their bows, Pei Shuyang accepted three tall incense sticks from his attendant, then, with a sweep of his sleeves, stepped forward toward the altar.

With each step he took, the ancient Kedou -bird-trace characters inscribed on the altar seemed to come alive, flying off its surface and swirling around Pei Shuyang.

Finally, they coalesced into a roaring torrent, impenetrable as wind and rain!

“This is the destiny of Xudu? Truly worthy of reverence and awe…”

Inside a bronze chariot pulled by six heavenly horses, Zhenwu Tianqishang murmured softly, then clapped his hands and laughed unexpectedly.

At this moment, under the gaze of countless eyes, Pei Shuyang had inserted the three tall incense sticks into the golden censer on the altar.

As the blue smoke rose straight upward from the censer, to cultivators of Zhenwu Tianqishang’s caliber, the heavens and earth showed subtle changes.

In the unseen depths—

Something indescribable, intangible, was being quietly stirred…

“You hail from the Xiangjin Mountain of Zhenwu Tiankun Domain—you, too, are of great heaven’s origin, and you are an elder of Xiangjin Mountain. Why speak thus?”

Near Zhenwu Tianqishang, the Ancestor Fu Can squatted beside a wine jar.

He seemed thoroughly pleased with the fine liquor Zhenwu Tianqishang had brought from his realm, savoring it slowly before smiling again:

“Since the collapse of the ancient era, the Dao Court has lost all power to constrain heavenly destiny and cosmic fortune; the Upper Huan Destiny Book is far weaker than before.

Those who cultivate the Golden Thread of Yuanzai Heaven, or who refine the Omniscient Sage in Wu Liangguang Heaven—such deeds were capital crimes in ancient times! I truly don’t understand your admiration for this Danyuan Competition. Has Zhenwu Tian not forged a Martial Destiny Gourd?”

Zhenwu Tianqishang glanced at Ancestor Fu Can:

“This Dragon Bone Precious Yang Wine is for my cultivation. Because I ingest the murky yin of the Earth Abyss year after year, I inevitably absorb impurities. I brought a thousand jars, yet I’ve drunk fewer than a hundred— the rest ended up in your belly.”

“Heh, we’re fellow cultivators—why speak of such things? It only creates distance…”

Ancestor Fu Can chuckled awkwardly, then quickly added a compliment:

“Still, your cultivation has advanced greatly through your Earth Abyss practice—you’ve broken through your bottleneck! A little murky yin and filth can’t possibly harm your true Martial Body!”

Zhenwu Tianqishang watched Fu Can hastily tuck away the remaining half-jar of wine, as if afraid it would be stolen, and couldn’t help smiling.

“The Martial Destiny Gourd of Zhenwu and the Danyuan Competition of Xudu are both acts of forging and channeling celestial fortune in the Yang World, but they are not identical. For an individual, the latter is ultimately superior.”

After a moment of silence, Zhenwu Tianqishang shook his head:

“I’m wondering—if I were one of the Eight Sects and Six Clans of Xudu, and had won the Xudu Great Elixir in this Danyuan Competition—

Would my Dao path have been somewhat smoother before?”

“Indeed. Zhenwu’s Martial Destiny Gourd blesses an entire domain. Though it’s hard to say which is greater than the other, for an individual, the latter is ultimately more useful.”

Ancestor Fu Can shrugged, then, as if struck by a thought, chuckled slyly:

“But according to you, who will win this Danyuan Competition? Shall we make a wager?”

“I’ve never been one for gambling.”

Zhenwu Tianqishang shook his head:

“But… that young disciple from the Demon Sect is intriguing. He gives me an unusual feeling—I’m reminded of someone I once knew.”

Upon hearing “Demon Sect,” Ancestor Fu Can knew it wasn’t Chen Hang. As the name Yin Wujie flashed in his mind, he saw Zhenwu Tianqishang’s gaze fixed on Lu Rong.

“Blood River Lu Rong?”

Ancestor Fu Can was startled.

But before Fu Can could ask further, the great cultivators present suddenly sensed something amiss.

They felt the boundless earth beneath them tremble deeply—a colossal, invisible beam of light erupted from the ground, shooting straight toward the heavens!

At that very instant, half the incense in the golden censer had burned away.

Not only did great cultivators in Yingji River react, but also countless powerful beings across Beihao Province were startled, all turning their gazes upward simultaneously.

First Beihao and Beilu, then Dongmi, Donghuan, and Donghun, then Nantu, and finally the two western regions!

In the space of mere blinks, pillars of majestic light surged upward from all nine provinces and four seas.

Like thunder and wind clashing, yin and yang colliding, they pierced the imperial heavens, reaching the lofty Xuanchen !

This rare spectacle drew not only the attention of Xudu cultivators, but also the gaze of great beings from nearby celestial realms, their expressions varied.

“Penetrating heaven and earth, heaven and earth blurred, shattering the Milky Way, cleaving through Niudou—heroes of the nine provinces, seeking the mystery of the Dao?”

“Strive for supremacy, display divine power, reveal your life’s skill, seize heavenly authority!”

In the Forty-Nine Blessing and Longevity Palaces, the Northern Pole Ancestor clapped his hands and softly chanted, swaying his head in the grand hall.

At this moment, the three tall incense sticks in the golden censer continued to burn fiercely, their smoke gradually emitting a piercing, bone-deep fragrance, Qinrenxinpi , as if spreading for ten thousand li.

“The Danyuan Competition—this truly is a grand battle among dragons!”

The Northern Pole Immortal sighed, gazing far into the distance, a faint smile slowly forming on his face.

…

Earth Abyss, Jin Gu Cave.

Qiao Yubi suddenly halted his cultivation. He glanced upward briefly, understood what had occurred, and a spark of light flashed in his eyes, causing the divine swords around him to vibrate gently, emitting a sword cry that shook the void and startled all the ghosts!

…

On a desolate mountain in Donghuan Province, Du Ao and Liang Wenxian also sensed something, suddenly locking eyes.

The former chuckled with a hint of mockery; the latter remained expressionless.

…

In Xiao Ming Marsh, the Fire Dragon Elder stepped out of the Dao Record Hall, with Zhang Taichu following behind, carrying a golden scroll.

After gazing at the distant sky for a moment, the Fire Dragon Elder’s gaze unexpectedly shifted toward Xi Yi Mountain, his expression unusually complex, silent for a long while.

…

While the great beings of the nine provinces all sensed the disturbance—

In Nanchan Province, in a moderately worn Daoist temple—

A young man with a face like polished jade and long, elegant eyes had been idly playing with several cubs. Now he suddenly stopped, standing with his hands behind his back, gazing toward Yingji River, his expression keenly interested.

As the young man paused in thought, the wooden door nearby was suddenly kicked open from within, and a disheveled Daoist stumbled out, cursing loudly.

“After visiting the Pestilence Sect and then making a trip to the Primordial Demon Sect, you’ve been lingering in Xu without leaving, eating my humble little temple’s free meals for ages—just for this spectacle?”

The disheveled Daoist kicked away several cubs that had rushed forward to nuzzle him, then glanced at the young Daoist and sneered:

“With your status, why bother caring about this?”

“Yin Wuji.”

The young Daoist smiled faintly:

“Since I have nothing else to do, I might as well join the commotion.”

The disheveled Daoist said nothing in reply, only gazed toward Yiji Chuan, his eyes lingering deliberately on Prince Ji Xiu for a moment before speaking:

“Do you truly believe that young Yin will win the Golden Core contest?”

“Since he obtained that true method, out of principle and propriety, I ought to assess his caliber.”

The young man sighed deliberately: “Besides, we’ve been old friends for years. Knowing you’re being hunted by the Dao Court, out of principle and propriety, I should come see you.”

The disheveled Daoist spat on the ground, clearly dismissing this excuse.

“Still, I must admit—I found something interesting in this year’s Golden Core Assembly. I never expected that young man to have some connection to a move I made years ago. Quite intriguing…” The old Daoist raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? Which one?” the young man asked with a smile.

The old Daoist said nothing, instead feigning profundity and withholding the answer.

Meanwhile, in Yiji Chuan, the incense in the brazier had burned out, and all preparations were complete.

Pei Shuyang took another edict from the page boy; it already bore the names and lineages of the forty-two Golden Core True Persons, with magical seals imprinted upon it.

After verifying its accuracy, Pei Shuyang laid the edict flat, then personally stamped it with his private seal.

In that instant, a radiant aura burst forth from the altar, blazing skyward, resonating with the corner of the Imperial Ancestral Map above, bathing Yiji Chuan in magnificent splendor!

“Here it comes!”

Lu Rong stepped down from the magical carriage.

He felt the Golden Core edict in his sleeve suddenly stir, emitting a pulling force, as if eager to hurl him into that corner of the Imperial Ancestral Map.

Lu Rong clenched his palm, his heart ablaze with fierce battle lust, his eyes reddening as if about to bleed.

Chen Hang, Yin Wuji, Zhou Fu Jia, Wei Lingjiang, Gu Yi…

Lu Rong slowly scanned the scene; every Golden Core True Person present wore a solemn expression.

The atmosphere instantly turned deadly, spreading slowly, causing many nearby cultivators who had come to witness the ceremony to grow tense with unease.

At that moment, Pei Shuyang’s voice rang out again; he pointed to the sky and smiled genially:

“That map is the arena of the Golden Core Contest. As for the rules—enter and you shall know. Gentlemen, proceed.”

No sooner had he spoken than a sharp sword-beam roared through the clouds, slicing straight into the painting with tremendous force!

“Zhou Fu Jia…”

Lu Rong sneered; a river of foul, stinking blood surged beneath his feet, following close behind.

“…”

Lu Tingyun and Shen Xingcui exchanged a glance, then drew their swords and rushed forward.

As each Golden Core True Person activated their abilities and entered the painting one by one, Chen Hang was about to rise when he suddenly sensed something—and locked eyes with a cold gaze.

The man wore his hair bound with a jade hairpin and a dark gray hemp robe.

His eyebrows were like ink-painted strokes, his eyes like polished lacquer—undoubtedly handsome—but his face now bore not only unmasked hostility but also a lingering trace of hidden dread, impossible to shake.

“A petty trickster, not worth a smile.”

Chen Hang shook his head slightly.

He did not spare Chen Bai another glance; merely swept his sleeve, and vanished in a flash of clear light.