The two streaks of white light shot from the vermilion gourd arrived instantly at the forbidden spells enveloping the imperial palace, as if they were omnipresent. They pierced through the layered formations effortlessly, their pervasive killing intent causing the pale golden barrier to slow down as if trapped in quicksand, revealing numerous flaws that should not have existed.
The defenses of the secluded chamber were no different—utterly incapable of stopping the two streaks of white light as they illuminated the darkness within, painting the scene with an aura of cold, merciless slaughter.
Seated high upon the imperial throne, Gao Lan remained motionless, his eyes tightly shut, surrounded by fading golden lanterns and the dissipating aura of tribulation. He seemed completely unaware of the changes outside, defenseless against the impending strike.
The “Twin Stars of Radiance,” renowned for years as the epitome of heroes and overlords, were now poised to determine a victor.
Just then, a figure emerged from the shadows beside the throne, clad in golden robes and wearing a Daoist topknot. With a wave of his hand, he unfurled a scroll exuding an eternal, unchanging presence—one that seemed capable of suppressing the world and preserving the era.
This was a scroll depicting intertwined black and white yin-yang fish, embodying both the state of chaos before the separation of heaven and earth and the grand Dao’s cycle from beginning to end, from nothingness to existence.
With a tremor, the scroll transformed into a golden bridge spanning the bitter sea, connecting origin and end, placing Gao Lan upon it as if he had reached the other shore.
Beyond the bridge, yin and yang were in chaos, the elements of earth, water, wind, and fire raged wildly—yet all who approached were pacified, untouched by the bitter sea, unburdened by tribulation!
When the two streaks of white light from the Immortal-Slaying Flying Daggers struck, they slowed abruptly, suppressed by this golden bridge!
A treasure of the Other Shore—the Taiji Diagram!
An artifact from the Great Crimson Heaven’s Supreme Clarity Realm beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, meant to stabilize the world!
The one secretly guarding Gao Lan was none other than the Golden Horned Boy from the Tushita Palace!
With the Immortal-Slaying Flying Daggers thwarted and the golden lanterns extinguishing one by one, Gao Lan was on the verge of success. Yet Han Guang’s expression remained unchanged, even nodding slightly. “So, behind him is *that* one…”
One of the Three Pure Ones—the Heavenly Lord of Virtue, an ancient being of the Other Shore, perhaps even the *most* ancient!
A faint smile curled Han Guang’s lips as his gaze shifted toward the Fengtian Terrace. He was not surprised by his failure, for he still had another piece in play.
As long as Zhao Heng merged the Fengshen Bang with the Fengtian Terrace, allowing Han Guang’s plan of “borrowing a hen to lay eggs” to succeed, the Fengtian Terrace would immediately slip from Gao Lan’s control, ceasing to be his. Gao Lan’s rapid accumulation of “other-self imprints” had relied entirely on the Fengtian Terrace’s fusion with the power of the real world’s earth, connecting the myriad realms and spreading the radiance of humanity.
Though once formed, these “other-self imprints” truly belonged to Gao Lan—losing the Fengtian Terrace would not erase them—at the critical moment, its loss would inevitably destabilize them, causing flaws when perfection was required, leading to his downfall at the final step.
This was a mistake of his own making, something even the Taiji Diagram could not protect against!
Of course, if Gao Lan succeeded in attaining the Legendary realm, the Fengtian Terrace’s disruption would no longer affect him.
Just as Han Guang’s gaze fixed upon Zhao Heng, a tranquil illusory river suddenly appeared in his vision. His true form naturally manifested as the ethereal Heavenly Emperor, treading upon time, towering above all things.
The moment he reacted, he sensed the fluctuations of time across the world—the fading golden lanterns flickered back to life before extinguishing once more.
“I am the Green Emperor.”
“I am Taihao.”
The whispers resounded abruptly, vast and ethereal, as if echoing from countless future tributaries. Even the mighty figures locked in fierce combat involuntarily slowed, some even freezing momentarily.
“I am the Green Emperor.”
“I am Taihao.”
Standing atop the Fengtian Terrace, Zhao Heng felt his vision blur as if ripples disturbed water’s surface. Figures emerged from varying depths, swiftly moving backward through the shimmering light, converging into a single entity—a handsome Daoist clad in a peculiar green robe.
He seemed to ignore the “Broidered Rivers and Mountains Scroll,” directly descending upon the Fengtian Terrace as if entering from a future where the scroll was not activated!
The closer the Daoist’s figure drew, the more real it became, as if shedding countless possibilities to converge into a singular existence.
Then, the world abruptly lost its color. The void revealed the surging river of time, where in its upper reaches stood a blue-green Buddha radiating perfect Buddhist light, a tall, thin Daoist with a bamboo crown and slit-like eyes, and various other figures. Yet among the countless future tributaries, there was only one—the young man in green robes.
All these figures looked upward simultaneously, gazing from within the river of time, their voices merging into a solemn declaration:
“I am the Green Emperor.”
“I am Taihao.”
The overlapping voices, resonating from past and future, shook the entire river of time, distorting its flow, speeding or slowing it, draining all color from the real world.
The Green Emperor’s ascension was not in some distant year—it was today!
The opportunity lay in the future, yet success was now—such was the illogical nature of the Other Shore’s path!
The meticulously concealed scheme had finally reached its climax!
Within a hidden realm, Lu Ya’s face was now covered in a layer of crimson-gold, scorching heat billowing from him, melting the void and disrupting rules. In an agonizing state, he burned the last talisman, then bowed deeply.
**BOOM!**
The hidden realm quaked as if on the verge of collapse. The lamps above and below the straw effigy dimmed rapidly, its blood-stained form growing clearer—revealing the Green Emperor’s refined, transcendent face, now twisted in agony.
**SPLASH!**
The river of time convulsed violently. Gao Lan’s Legendary phenomena, instead of fading as expected, persisted. Suddenly, the Green Emperor—nearing the present node—let out a muffled groan, as if struck by an invisible arrow.
The cursed treasure—the Seven Arrows Book!
Fatigue, confusion, and drowsiness surfaced in the Green Emperor’s eyes—an unnatural state for one so close to the Other Shore.
In the Kunlun Mountains’ Jade Void Palace, Meng Qi witnessed this scene and glanced at the Fengshen Bang in Zhao Heng’s hands. His heart lurched—had the Green Emperor fallen victim to Lu Ya’s Seven Arrows Book at the very moment of his ascension?
What could be done?
This level of conflict was beyond Meng Qi’s current realm, leaving him momentarily helpless. But then, the Green Emperor suddenly spat out a mouthful of vibrant, radiant blood—unlike the damage inflicted by the Seven Arrows Book, as if he had willfully expelled it.
The blood hovered midair as the solemn Green Emperor pressed his hands against it, forming several strange seals before stretching it into a dark crimson vortex.
The moment the vortex appeared, it seemed to connect with something hidden, summoning its presence.
A grating, bone-chilling sound erupted as the vortex split into two, spinning wildly, embodying utter chaos—like a pair of cold, indifferent eyes. Merely glimpsing it from afar made Meng Qi feel as if every thought and intention within him had fractured into independent, warring fragments.
**The Heavenly Dao Monster!** Meng Qi suppressed his mind with the concepts of Wuji and Yuanxin, muttering in shock.
The Green Emperor could actually summon that enigmatic Heavenly Dao Monster!
**AHH!**
The moment the chaotic crimson eyes appeared, Lu Ya—still in the hidden realm—let out a bloodcurdling scream, clutching his head in agony, nearly writhing on the ground. The straw effigy’s features blurred, and the lamps above and below it reignited.
Han Guang’s heart trembled, though his expression remained composed. He suddenly shouted, “Zhao Heng, act now!”
Only a few feet separated the Fengshen Bang from merging with the Fengtian Terrace.
Instead of lowering the Fengshen Bang, Zhao Heng smiled faintly, unleashing two blinding golden rays from his palm, seizing the rare opportunity to infiltrate the scroll.
“Trying to play the fisherman and seize control of the Fengshen Bang?” Han Guang did not underestimate him, his thoughts racing as he pondered Zhao Heng’s motives.
He couldn’t have gone mad—he couldn’t possibly believe he could forcibly erase the imprints of a Dao Lord. There had to be a reason!
No sooner had the thought formed than the golden rays in Zhao Heng’s palms darkened, becoming utterly foul—a concentrated essence of the world’s corruption and destruction.
Above a southern wasteland peak, Qi Zhengyan hovered midair, the stars of “Equality” and “Self-Reliance” glowing brightly at his brow, channeling the power of the Demon Emperor’s Claw through a special connection to Zhao Heng.
Zhao Heng’s earlier travels had all been a ruse—his true purpose was to meet Qi Zhengyan in the southern wastes!
The Demon Emperor’s Claw, the ultimate corrupting artifact, was the perfect tool to taint and seize control of treasures. And with the “Broidered Rivers and Mountains Scroll” isolating the area, Lu Ya could only transmit a sliver of his power inside!
Black mist enveloped the Fengshen Bang in Zhao Heng’s hands, his smile widening as he met Han Guang’s gaze with unconcealed pride.
Unwilling to submit to Gao Lan, yet refusing to conspire with a wolf, he had chosen a third path—
Alliance with the “Demon Emperor” Qi Zhengyan to plunge the world into chaos. Let Qi pursue his ideals, while Zhao Heng pursued his own obsessions!
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