Chapter 1221: Taihao

“Old Fifth!”

Meng Qi, within the Jade Void Palace of Kunlun Mountain, exclaimed in shock, nearly being forced back by Yuan Hong’s massive staff, which threatened to strike the Chang Le Palace City with his “Absolute Blade.”

Initially, Zhao Heng had managed to slip out of his residence unnoticed, stealthily approaching the Fengtian Platform. However, once he traversed the “Broidered River Mountain Painting” and reached its summit, he could no longer evade the notice of the mighty figures, even if their focus lay elsewhere.

Meng Qi was the first to detect the anomaly at the Fengtian Platform, and likewise, he recognized the “Fengshen Bang”—a peerless treasure and the foundation of the Heavenly Court.

When had Zhao Lao Wu colluded with Lu Ya?

Hadn’t he already faced reality and rationally chosen to give up?

A flood of questions surged in Meng Qi’s heart, filling him with shock and pain.

To every comrade who had shared life-and-death trials with him, Meng Qi had always been open-hearted and sincere. Even with Qi Zhengyan, whose path diverged from his own, their friendship had never faded in the slightest. Yet now, Zhao Heng had suddenly betrayed him, standing on the opposing side. The impact of this betrayal was so profound that even Meng Qi, who could scrutinize his own thoughts, briefly succumbed to emotional turmoil.

—If Lu Ya had intended to aid their side, he could have simply handed the “Fengshen Bang” to Gao Lan long ago, and the Fengtian Platform would have been completed by now. Instead, he had secretly entrusted Zhao Heng with the artifact, exploiting the moment when all the mighty figures were distracted by Gao Lan’s attempt to prove his legend. By sneaking through the “Broidered River Mountain Painting” to the core of the Fengtian Platform, his malicious intent was unmistakable.

So, Zhao Lao Wu had never truly abandoned his ambition to become the Human Emperor. The deeper he buried it, the more explosive and terrifying its resurgence would be…

It was my own negligence—I had assumed he was willing to submit to the Great Zhou, sparing me the agonizing choice between sworn brothers and life-and-death comrades. I thought it was a blessing, freeing me from such conflicts. Thus, I overlooked his true thoughts, the blazing conviction in his heart, and the years of painful struggle and hesitation he had endured…

A deep sense of guilt welled up in Meng Qi, but as his thoughts shifted, all emotional fluctuations were cast aside. The “Absolute Blade” stirred every trace of electromagnetism in the world, illuminating the Great Zhou and enveloping Yuan Hong’s massive black staff in a forest of thunderous destruction.

Simultaneously, with a grasp of his left hand, the accumulated radiance of human virtue, merit, and sage virtue coalesced into a “Three Treasures Ruyi Scepter,” shimmering with hues of azure, white, gold, and yellow.

The scepter struck out, descending upon the Fengtian Platform, resonating faintly with the Great Zhou’s territory and its countless subjects. It grew unbearably heavy, as if bearing infinite hopes and boundless responsibilities.

Among Meng Qi’s current methods, only this scepter could directly pierce through the “Broidered River Mountain Painting.” Thus, despite the immense strain and the impossibility of employing the “Three Pure Ones in One Breath” technique, this brute-force approach—though costly—was his only option, much like Lu Ya’s choice of Zhao Heng.

Meanwhile, within the Karmic Buddha Kingdom, the Four Swords of Slaughter, Annihilation, Entrapment, and Execution unleashed their might. The “Seal of the Primordial” and the “Sword of Great Wisdom”—one heavy, one light—clashed fiercely with the ancient glazed lamp infused with myriad karmic hues, locked in an inextricable struggle. This created an opening for Shao Xuan and Xi E, as the “Ark of the Apocalypse” traversed the illusory realm, crashing violently into the dark void.

Crack!

The void split open. In the fleeting moment when the Ancient Buddha’s pale golden fingers emerged from the lamp’s flame only to be intercepted, the “Ark of the Apocalypse” weathered the tribulation and broke free.

The Ancient Buddha Dipankara sat at the heart of the boundless Buddha Land, his halo radiating perfection, illuminating the Ten Directions and Three Realms. He sighed softly but paid it little heed. The combined might of Guang Chengzi, Manjusri, Chi Jingzi, Yu Ding Zhenren, and Dao Xing Xianzun was truly terrifying, pushing even him to his limits.

Times had changed. Over a year ago, when these mighty figures first began awakening, they could only manifest a sliver of their power. But as time passed, their awakening deepened—growing stronger with each passing day, each hour, each breath. Now, their power was incomparable to before, nearing the heights of their prime, enough to entangle even an un-restored version of himself.

As the “Ark of the Apocalypse” escaped the “Pale Golden Buddha Palm” and returned above Chang Le, Meng Qi’s “Three Treasures Ruyi Scepter” was on the verge of piercing the “Broidered River Mountain Painting.” Just as their forces were about to converge, an illusory yet tangible black sword energy slashed across the heavens, blocking both the scepter and the colossal ark.

This energy embodied both the filth and destruction of reality and the spiritual impact and corruption of innate radiance—it was none other than the “Primordial Demon Emperor’s Sword Qi”!

The Peerless Demon Monarch had observed for some time, unable to decide whether to obstruct Gao Lan’s ascension to legend or secretly assist him. After all, the stronger Gao Lan became, the greater his pressure on the Southern Wasteland, hastening the resolution of Qi Zhengyan’s affairs. Yet, Gao Lan had inherited the Human Emperor’s legacy, wielded the “Sword of the Other Shore,” and erected the Fengtian Platform. If he succeeded in proving his legend, he might become an unstoppable force—much like the current “Primordial Emperor” Su Meng.

In his hesitation, the Demon Monarch noticed Zhao Heng appearing on the Fengtian Platform with the “Fengshen Bang,” and his mind cleared. He made his decision.

Even if Gao Lan ascended to legend, seizing the Fengtian Platform would cripple his ambitions, like clipping the wings of a soaring bird.

Thus, the Demon Monarch’s eyes darkened as he unleashed the “Primordial Demon Emperor’s Sword Qi,” blocking the “Ark of the Apocalypse,” the “Three Treasures Ruyi Scepter,” and even the hidden Howling Celestial Hound, buying time for Zhao Heng.

…

Within Prince Jin’s residence, Yu Jinghua, Mao Jin, and other reincarnators took advantage of the chaos to slip out unnoticed.

They had never imagined their subsequent mission would be so simple—lying low for a year only to deliver a peculiar object to Prince Jin Zhao Heng on this very day.

Everything had gone smoothly. Prince Jin hadn’t even questioned their origins or the nature of the object, as if he already knew every detail. Clad in imperial yellow robes, he sat calmly behind his desk, accepted the item without a word, and vanished abruptly.

Regardless, their task was complete. Once they left Prince Jin’s residence and waited for the turmoil to subside, the Six Paths Reincarnation Master would retrieve them.

With bizarre phenomena filling the skies and danger lurking, there was no time to waste—delay could spell disaster!

…

Zhao Heng stood atop the Fengtian Platform, surrounded by the “Broidered River Mountain Painting”—a condensed representation of the Great Zhou’s territory, shimmering with radiant hues. He felt as though he stood at the center of the Eight Desolates and Six Harmonies, gazing upon his own picturesque realm.

This was a scene he had only ever witnessed in dreams, a belief deeply rooted in his heart since childhood.

All he had to do was place the “Fengshen Bang” into the Fengtian Platform’s core, merging the two. In doing so, he could borrow another’s hen to lay his own egg—usurping the heavens to seize the authority of the cosmos, reviving the glory of the ancient Heavenly Court at its zenith. He would overthrow the Great Shang, enfeoff the gods, and hold all creation in his grasp!

And just as the Primordial Heavenly Lord and the Moral Heavenly Lord had once stood behind the Heavenly Emperor, Lu Ya and Han Guang would become his shadow rulers, controlling and aiding him from the shadows.

How could such a vision not stir his heart?

Even the mighty Heavenly Emperor had bowed before the Primordial and Moral Heavenly Lords—what more could he desire?

Zhao Heng closed his eyes and sighed. The “Fengshen Bang” in his hand glowed with a pure, brilliant golden light. Above, the mighty figures clashed fiercely, yet not a ripple disturbed the Fengtian Platform, leaving it eerily silent and serene.

…

The River of Time, whose origins and destination were unknown, surged forward through the void, surrounded by the primal chaos of the beginning.

At the current node, it branched into countless tributaries—each a possible future, some similar, others vastly different.

In one such tributary, the world was hazy, all things illusory. A figure stood upon a small boat, sailing into the realm of the ancient Fusang Tree. Beneath its twin supporting trunks, he beheld roots vaster than the sun and moon, and mulberry leaves that birthed entire universes.

The scorching light bathed the Fusang Tree in flames, cascading golden rays that imbued the figure with an aura of sacred transcendence.

This was a strikingly handsome young Daoist, his hair loose, clad in an unusual green robe.

As he stepped forward, approaching the valley formed by the tree’s roots and branches, his peripheral vision caught sight of golden glazed characters inscribed on the cliff:

“Yu Xu Su Meng awaits the Green Emperor’s arrival, leaving this message at the current node.”

“Current node… Yu Xu Su Meng…” The young Daoist halted mid-step, hovering in the air, his expression flickering as he murmured to himself.

Suddenly, he turned to look back, as if piercing through the illusory to glimpse the tributary. Slowly, he closed his eyes, and after a long pause, whispered, “I am the Green Emperor.”

“I am Tai Hao.”

…

In a hidden realm, Lu Ya, clad in crimson robes, wore a solemn expression as he devoutly bowed before a straw effigy.

The effigy stood upon an altar, a lamp above its head and another beneath its feet, exuding an eerie, dreadful aura. Strange talismans adorned its body, inscribed with numerous characters—the most prominent being two ancient divine words:

“Tai Hao!”