Chapter 626: All Living Beings are Caged Birds (23)

Heaven and Earth are a prison, and all living beings are the birds within that cage.

Regarding this bleak reality, some Immortal Gods resigned themselves to their fate.

They gave up struggling and began to enjoy their long lives, which were as enduring as Heaven and Earth, indulging themselves wantonly and playing within the Earthly Realm.

Yet other Immortal Gods were unwilling to accept such an ending and tried every possible means to escape this cage.

They united together to search for that method, and this organization—was the original Ancient Heavenly Court.

And one representative from each of the Immortal Gods among them became the later Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Gods.

In the eyes of mortals, an Emperor must use a golden shoulder pole to carry water, eat ten steamed buns in one meal, and sleep on a blanket woven from golden threads.

"Why?"

【"The Immeasurable Kalpa is approaching, and the greatest opportunity follows along with it."】

"Then what happened later?"

【"Actually, nothing was done."】

But in reality, the true Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Gods did not care about those who came later.

"……So that's how it is."

Sikong Yu sighed softly: 【"The Human Race and the Demon Race were not harmonious from the beginning; initially, the two races also slaughtered each other."】

Therefore, the Ancient Heavenly Court became the Heavenly Court that ruled over Heaven and Earth as recorded in the eyes of ordinary people.

Could it be that!?

However, although the catastrophe is imminent, it is meaningless to most people; not everyone is qualified to know this secret.

Leap out of the cage!

An ordinary mortal craves long life, hopes to possess the pinnacle of power in the world, and dreams of having the strength to destroy Heaven and extinguish the Earth.

【"They kept slaughtering each other until the strongest of both races both attained the status of Venerable; only then did the two races cease hostilities and eventually become allies……"】

Ren Yidao nodded silently, considering he had roughly understood the true structure of the Ancient Heavenly Court.

But if one cannot pass through…… then everything else is just empty talk.

【"As for the events of that year, we were perhaps just recalling the memories within our bloodlines at that time."】

Why would the Heavenly Emperor refuse?

And for the monarchs among the Immortal Gods, the Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Gods did not lack strength; for them, only one thing remained needed—long life.

If someone truly wanted that position, he could abdicate and yield the throne without the slightest care, without a shred of attachment.

【"The Heavenly Dao of this world will form a Dao Fruit, and upon that Dao Fruit will be the opportunity to become a Supreme being."】

Simply put, once one reaches that status, one will naturally lose those past desires.

Ren Yidao frowned deeply, feeling that this conversation was becoming increasingly wrong, and interrupted the Sect Leader's recollection, saying in a deep voice: "After you met me, what exactly did you do?"

And in the eyes of cultivators, the Heavenly Emperor, as the master of the Heavenly Court, should be sitting upright on the imperial throne, overlooking the Earthly Realm, scrutinizing the territory that belongs to Him, and snuffing out every possibility of usurpation.

Sikong Yu shook his head, returning from his memories, and said peacefully: 【"I saw a partial future from you, learned the news of the Immeasurable Kalpa's arrival, realized the destiny of humans and demons, and even calculated that Heaven and Earth would undergo a great change."】

Although they were divided into different organizations, there was no great enmity between them.

"What happened later? Why did the Human Race and the Demon Race become as incompatible as fire and water as they are today?"

Sikong Yu's eyes were calm as he looked at the thoughtful youth, saying calmly:

【"Do you think that if that Dao Fruit, which devours the Heavenly Dao of the world, did not absorb those Great Daos occupied by the Immortal Gods……"】

【"If one could give birth to a Supreme being, then all living beings could truly be saved."】

Sikong Yu did not answer; instead, he quietly looked at Ren Yidao and shook his head.

Is there any necessity for this? Why…… wait.

Ren Yidao:?

Wha, what does that mean?

What does that look of yours mean!

Could it be that I am involved in this too!?

"……It has to do with me?" Ren Yidao raised his eyebrows with a strange expression and asked uncertainly: "Is it because of that encounter?"

After pondering for a long time, Ren Yidao's brows furrowed tightly, and he asked a key question.

【"We wanted to take that step, finally succeed in passing through the Immeasurable Kalpa, and leap out of this cage."】

Do I even have that ability?

Could it be that a fox spirit really brings disaster to the country and the people?

To be able to make the entire Ancient Heavenly Court fall apart, even among the achievements of fox spirits, this could be considered top-tier, right?

【"Long divided, it must unite; long united, it must divide."】

Will it be complete?

Sikong Yu sighed when he said this, his eyes filled with some regret.

【"If one wishes to preserve it, one must actively self-mutilate to seek survival."】

He did not want to listen to these emotional memories; he only wanted to know the truth directly.

But for a mortal Emperor with supreme power, he is left only with a craving for long life and strength.

This information was not actively told by Ren Yidao, nor was it his future, but rather that aura from the future on his body brought Sikong Yu another possibility, allowing Him to forcibly calculate the changes in the future.

"……Did the Heavenly Emperor view this as an opportunity?"

【"Will that Dao Fruit be complete?"】

If one can survive this catastrophe, everything is fine, and the future holds great promise.

【"But unfortunately, He refused."】

【"The Dao Fruit will devour the Great Daos of Heaven and Earth and absorb Spirit Qi…… but before the Dao Fruit is formed, the Immortal Gods who occupy the positions of the Great Daos will be unable to hold on and will be forced to fall from the firmament."】

【"That is part of the reason."】

To survive the Immeasurable Tribulation and become a Supreme!

To enjoy true Chang Sheng!

The Immortal Gods have slumbered since the ancient times for this very goal.

This world had long since been fully developed, the Human Race and Demon Race lived in harmony, and there were no extraterrestrial Demons to pose a threat; the Heavenly Court's role was merely that of a mutual aid organization.

Everything was once fine and dandy, so how did it later turn into a situation where they beat each other's brains out?

【"You ask what happened back then..."】

Sikong Yu's nod made Ren Yidao feel quite uneasy; his tone weakened significantly as he asked in a low voice, "Back then, what did you see from me?"

【"I did not keep it a secret; I told the Heavenly Emperor about this matter and had Him join me in announcing it to the world, so that the Immortal Gods could prepare early."】

【"Indeed, this is the opportunity—the final chance granted by Heaven before the tribulation arrives."】

Sikong chuckled softly and asked a question that plunged the Qingzhuan Dojo into dead silence.

【"Before the ancient times, there was an even more savage primordial era where the Human Race and Demon Race fed upon each other and slaughtered one another."】

!!?

As for that answer, Ren Yidao did not know, and the Heavenly Emperor did not know either.

【"However, that only accounts for a small part of the reason; the true reason perhaps lies within ourselves."】

There is only one obstacle blocking everyone—the Immeasurable Tribulation.

【"Heaven and Earth are a cage, and all living beings are caged birds."】

Sikong Yu's expression was calm, but complex emotions still flashed in the depths of his eyes as he sighed softly:

【"All manner of struggles are merely to seek survival."】