"I have never heard of such a monstrous beast in the world."
A tense voice echoed from within the Upper Pure Realm. Faced with the colossal beast that devoured the sun and moon, a top expert from the Biyou Palace finally recalled the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors and the Primordial Golden Dou, which then transformed back into two golden lights and fled.
The swirling mist in the Upper Pure Realm began to dissipate as if it had never appeared. The retreat was swift and decisive, leaving no trace. Consequently, the Sky-Howler bit into empty air, its immense impact force crashing down to earth. Instantly, the southern sea and the heavens changed color, with wind and thunder roaring and colossal waves surging.
Within the Dharma Realm, a green-robed immortal frowned, the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors and the Primordial Golden Dou vanishing into his hands without a trace. Other Biyou Palace immortals around him had pale faces, recalling the events that had just transpired as if it were a nightmare.
One immortal's expression was tinged with fear: "When did such a powerful immortal appear in the world? Several Pure Yang masters have ascended to the heavens before, but how could they contend with such a flying immortal and immortal artifacts?"
"Even that Thunder King has become our puppet. He controls the various Dharma sects of the South Sea, enjoying boundless glory, yet he is merely a puppet on strings. Most immortals in the world are likely at this level. When did such a monster appear?"
Another immortal said, "I know him. The Taoist wearing black. There are only two people in the human world of this caliber. Without such heaven-piercing means, they wouldn't be worthy of wearing such clothes."
"This is an ancient Han immortal. The Ming Dynasty emperor enfeoffed him as a True Man, bestowing titles upon him, much like Zhang Tianshi."
The immortals' expressions shifted between gloom and uncertainty, their faces flushing and paling. Wisps of smoke emerged from their nostrils and ears. The saying "seven orifices emitting smoke" doesn't only manifest in anger; those with cultivation can also reach this state in moments of extreme fear and lingering dread.
Fear! How could they not fear!
All the immortals knew that they had not ascended through normal means. They had used methods unheard of in previous lives. A powerful being had intervened to alter their "destiny," severing their future lives, allowing them to reach this level. However, once their "destiny" was tampered with, they would immediately collapse and die. In the end, their immortal bodies were merely corpses and dust.
When they died, not even their wishes would remain. They departed truly empty, as if they had never set foot in the mortal world. Their souls, wishes, spirits, and all ethereal things, past, future, karma, and fate, all vanished into thin air. Even a Heavenly Heart Great Master who could traverse time and alter karma could not revive those whose "destiny" had been predetermined!
"Now that we have crossed paths, I fear great trouble will ensue. As long as this person lives, we will not be at peace."
"We work for that esteemed Lord. He should be the one to act. Quickly eliminate this person."
Some immortals placed their hopes on the great figure who had "defied heaven to alter their destiny." But at this moment, the flying immortal in green robes, the Master of Biyou Palace, the former Taoist of Upper Purity, turned around.
"You have abandoned everything, placing your hope in the present, severing your past and future. At this point, you possess nothing. Placing your hope in such a person, he merely treats you as expendable tools."
"You are truly naive. If you don't risk your lives today to obtain the precious scriptures and improve yourselves, when the immortals from the mountains and rivers descend, will you still be able to live in peace?"
The immortals remained silent. After a moment of silence, the Master of Biyou Palace's tone shifted to one of ease, and he let out a laugh, breaking the heavy atmosphere.
"But fortunately, at least we still have half of the Heavenly Book."
"The scriptures and immortal techniques of the Jade Pivot Precious Scripture have been collected by the Primordial Golden Dou. I shall begin cultivating it now and then pass it on to you all, enabling you to summon the Thunder Department gods to serve yourselves. My Biyou Palace's foundational scripture is thus complete! From now on, it can be called the 'Biyou Heavenly Palace'!"
To unite the gods of heaven and strengthen oneself, to secure a place in the upcoming struggle rather than merely being a pawn to restrain the Upper Pure, union with heavenly gods was a crucial undertaking.
The immortals' faces lit up with joy, the previous gloom vanishing. The green-robed Master of Biyou Palace closed his eyes. The characters of the Heavenly Book were now imprinted in his mind. With a casual summons, thunder rolled through this half of the Upper Pure Realm!
"Cultivate half of the Heavenly Book, and once my cultivation is complete, I will obtain the remaining half! Then I will ascend to the Heavenly Heart!"
"No longer will I have to obey the commands of 'Old Chang Le'!"
"The precious scripture is damaged!" Ji Xiang took the Heavenly Book and saw that large portions of the Jade Pivot Precious Scripture were missing. Clearly, this was the work of the Primordial Golden Dou. Its ability to collect anything was not limited to tangible objects.
The characters of the immortal scripture were unique. After being damaged, its grade plummeted, but it still remained at the level of a fourth-grade immortal scripture.
"This is the latter half."
Without the first half, it could not be cultivated. The profound and mysterious principles of the latter half of the Heavenly Scripture were incomprehensible even to Ji Xiang. This was not a scripture recorded in the mortal world, but a true Thunder Jade Scripture that directly pointed to the origin of the Heavenly Venerable Thunder Ancestor.
For some reason, as Ji Xiang looked at this unusable half of the Heavenly Book, he suddenly thought of the treasure called the Jade God Pan.
That was an immortal treasure left by the Heavenly Venerable Lingbao in the mountains and rivers, a set with the Golden Striking Rod he held. When struck, it could lead to enlightenment of the Great Way, and this Thunder Scripture itself was also a Heavenly Book, a manifestation of the power of the Great Way.
Unfortunately, that treasure was not in his possession. He would consider it another time. For now, he had made many enemies, and entering the mountains and rivers would be courting death.
The Donghua Fairy was recovering on the spot, while Zhou Sheng looked at the Thunder King, drawing out the dragon qi within him. However, at the same time, Zhou Sheng felt something was amiss.
The Thunder King's primordial spirit had clearly vanished, leaving only a body ravaged by thunderous ghosts and gods. Yet, it gave him the feeling that he was not completely dead.
"Defying Heaven to Become Venerable Method, Hundred Rot Curse."
Zhou Sheng cast a curse on the Thunder King's body. The flesh began to rot at a visible speed, turning into a pile of dry bones, which then turned to powder, and the powder to fine dust.
"What is this?"
Ji Xiang asked. Zhou Sheng explained, "It reverses the growth process of something. All things grow stronger by following heaven's will. Once heaven's will is defied and reversed, it's like a jar full of water being shattered; it cannot be restored."
"His primordial spirit is gone, and I feared he wasn't dead thoroughly, so I destroyed his physical body."
As Zhou Sheng spoke, he looked at Ji Xiang with a scrutinizing gaze, "You won't go back on your word, will you? I'm taking the dragon qi we agreed upon!"
"Take it all," Ji Xiang no longer cared about this bit of dragon qi. It seemed that someone was behind the Thunder King's control of the South Sea. Taking this dragon qi might even lead to him being fished for. However, he would leave such matters to the Demon Heavenly Master to handle.
Only Heavenly Heart could contend with Heavenly Heart. Although this dragon qi was not much, it was exceptionally hot to the touch and difficult to contend for.
"Heh! I know you're worried there might be something fishy about this dragon qi! But we're not afraid! Come, Shen Kui, eat it!"
Zhou Sheng threw the dragon qi to Shen Kui, who had been hiding in the human world. Shen Kui consumed the dragon qi.
In the depths of the void, some power seemed to emerge. This was the power of someone destined to be a king or an emperor from birth. At this moment, Ji Xiang also noticed the change in Shen Kui.
Shen Kui still harbored hostility towards Ji Xiang.
[Fated Favor (Weak): Following the course of the era, anyone can be favored by destiny. Upon encountering a certain opportunity, they will become the monarch of a new dynasty, receiving a portion of the power bestowed by the Great Way, and by obtaining the fortune granted by the Great Way, they can usher in a new era.]
[However, destiny can be altered. Once that opportunity is lost, destiny will disappear. Even with dragon qi in one's body, one may not necessarily become the monarch of a new dynasty.]
"Don't look at me like that. You will die by my hand in the future. The new era will not be yours."
Ji Xiang made a threat to Shen Kui, whose eyes were fixed on Ji Xiang as if he were mentally deficient. Zhou Sheng, meanwhile, began to smile eerily, "Don't jump to conclusions so easily. How do you know the new era won't fall to him?"
"Do you intend to protect this Great Ming empire until the heavens and earth crumble? There will always be people who adapt to the times. Otherwise, the Qin Dynasty would have ruled the world until now."
Ji Xiang looked at Zhou Sheng and suddenly smiled, a smile that was somewhat ferocious and terrifying, causing even Zhou Sheng to drop his grin.
"What are you smiling about now?"
Ji Xiang grinned menacingly:
"Whoever destroys, shall rule. I have no intention of being a corpse guardian for the Ming Dynasty, because if it truly comes to a time of great change."
"I am the Demon King of Heaven! It will be righteous for me to destroy the heavens then! And after consuming more dragon qi, I will transform into that 'True Dragon Son of Heaven'!"
(End of Chapter)