In the heavens, people become emperors by being bad.

Chapter 568 [The Defensive Four Swords of Zhuxian]

If the method of immortality were so easy to comprehend, there wouldn't be so many supreme beings in the forbidden zone of life. Anyone who succeeds would surely be remembered in history, like the peerless god-man Di Que who rivaled the Fighting Saint Emperor, or the white-robed god-king Jiang Taixu.

Even if Emperor Jun cannot attain enlightenment in this life, all living beings throughout the ages will never forget that there was once a prodigy who risked his life to gain a second life. This achievement is in no way inferior to becoming an emperor.

"Heroes of this world are as numerous as carp crossing a river; they are all dragons and phoenixes among men."

The young Emperor Jun slowly shook his head, his expression solemn, and said, "How can we underestimate others?"

Gai Jiuyou seemed to be deep in thought, then turned to look at the ancestor of the God Clan, who was also very old. Although he had comprehended the method of immortality and lived for more than ten thousand years, he was unable to make the final leap due to the decay of his immortal platform, and could not fight against the Supreme Being. He could only become a guardian dog.

The only advantage is that you don't need to seal your divine source and maintain an undying thought to comprehend the Dao and strive for sublimation. Of course, if there is no breakthrough in your comprehending the Dao, you are half-useless.

“It wasn’t him,” Di Jun said calmly. “There was one who succeeded on the Feathered Star.”

Nirvana is essentially achieved through one's own talent; external aids can only assist. Whether it's the Holy Spirit's Dharma, Kunlun Immortal Mountain, or the legacy of Lingbao Heavenly Venerable, they merely delay the inevitable and are useless for the ultimate leap.

"So it was him. I know." Gai Jiuyou's eyes flashed with divine light as he spoke softly. The news of the Feathered Emperor was not a secret among the higher-ups of the Heavenly Court. Back then, the Heavenly Court had explored the Central Plains Ancestral Temple and reached a conclusion.

The ancestor of the divine race's face flushed red and white, feeling both ashamed and shocked by the vast universe's hidden talents and extraordinary individuals. Even the forbidden zones of life were not invincible. These two people alone had already transcended the mortal realm and stepped into the threshold of becoming emperors.

At the same time, a sense of yearning for the Dao arose within him, and he longed to break free from his constraints and visit the Feathered Star.

He set aside his pride and asked Lin Xian if he could get a ride, as he was eager to improve.

"How many years of life does the old patriarch have left?" Lin Xian asked tentatively, narrowing his eyes.

"If we stay in the ancient cave, we can still endure the hardship, but if we travel through the universe, we will probably only have forty or fifty years left. If we have to fight a major battle, it will be even more unbearable."

The ancestor of the divine race sighed. The hair on his head was withered and dull, but it stubbornly continued to grow and refused to fall out. There were fifty hairs in total. His blood and energy had declined to the extreme. He only had the strength to fight, which was the last foundation of his race.

"That's enough." Lin Xian narrowed his eyes, then smiled slightly, and recited the Heaven-Mending Technique, passing it on to the ancestor of the divine race.

He wanted to use this old quasi-emperor as a bait to test the Holy Spirit's method of immortality, and then go fishing for the Ascension Emperor.

If successful, it would involve the perfection of a method for achieving immortality, with extremely profound significance.

After obtaining the Heaven-Mending Technique, the ancestor of the divine race first showed surprise, then his brows furrowed tightly, and he muttered to himself, "Yes, yes, yes, no, no..."

The art of mending the heavens can bring a deficient Holy Spirit to perfection, but the prerequisite is that you must be a Holy Spirit and have successfully deceived the universe.

This method is to add flowers to brocade, not to provide charcoal in the snow; it is to help those who have already achieved Nirvana, reducing the arduous process of grinding away.

For the ancestor of the gods, this was a life-or-death gamble; if he failed, he wouldn't even have fifty years left.

Caught in a dilemma, a mysterious aura rose from the old quasi-emperor, causing an inexplicable change.

Those who seek the Dao with unwavering resolve, even unto death, and who can overcome the barrier of becoming a Quasi-Emperor, all possess extraordinary Daoist hearts.

Gai Jiuyou and Di Jun sensed this change, but they didn't even glance at the quasi-emperor of the Divine Race. They devoted all their energy to the other party, which was a great respect.

The two stared at each other for a long time, but did not choose to make a move. Instead, they understood each other perfectly and sighed in unison, "Azure Emperor!"

A peerless Azure Emperor has blocked the path to enlightenment for countless outstanding talents; the Old Golden Crow and Gai Jiuyou are both victims.

"Is the Azure Emperor really not dead?" Di Jun asked, this was the question he cared about most.

Never let the most outstanding talents of the time fight themselves to the death, only to find out later that the retired emperor has been restored to power. In that case, all the heroes of the universe would become clowns. There's no way to play like that.

“The Azure Emperor is not dead; his ambition lies in the Immortal Realm.” Gai Jiuyou nodded in agreement.

"That Heart Imprint." Di Jun raised an eyebrow and pointed to the vast universe and starry sea. If the Azure Emperor hadn't died, what was the story behind Gai Jiuyou's tribulation as an emperor back then? Was there any hidden story?

Gai Jiuyou's expression immediately became complicated. If an ordinary Great Emperor were to pass away naturally and be unable to stop the suppression of the Great Dao, that would be one thing. But the Azure Emperor had the immortal artifact Desolate Tower in his hand. Instead of using it to suppress the laws of the Emperor Dao, he harmed himself and all living beings, leaving people speechless.

"The Azure Emperor suppressed himself using forbidden methods at the Heavenly Emperor level, without affecting the human realm." Gai Jiuyou shook his head and said, "Back then, I failed in my tribulation because I was incompetent and attempted to challenge the entire universe. The Azure Emperor did not intervene."

The Azure Emperor is truly defying the heavens. Emperor Jun's heart trembled, and he exclaimed, "He survived the Emperor Tribulation and endured for eight thousand years. Fellow Daoist, your talent is astonishing and you are truly invincible."

"Cough cough... I'm getting old." Gai Jiuyou sighed, looking sickly, and shook his head, saying, "My old arms and legs are no longer useful, how can I compare to your vigorous spirit, fellow Daoist?"

"Fellow Daoist Gai is joking. What do you mean by physical decline? I think you are more like a vigorous old man." Di Jun laughed loudly. His eyes were so sharp that he could tell at a glance that the old man in front of him was pretending to be weak. He looked like a half-step Emperor Realm cultivator with his blood energy extremely depleted, but once he unleashed it, he would be a half-step Great Emperor Realm cultivator.

For a Great Sage, there is no difference between a half-step Quasi-Emperor and a half-step Great Emperor; both possess imperial might. However, for a Quasi-Emperor, they are nothing but a bottomless pit!
"Even the most powerful supreme beings eventually fall from grace. There are many examples in history, such as the Great Perfection Holy Body of the Holy Cliff. In his prime, how magnificent he was, his aura swallowing mountains and rivers, roaring between heaven and earth, able to pluck stars and split the sun, and shatter stars with a single roar."

Gai Jiuyou sighed, "In his old age, he shed blood on the sacred cliff. How tragic and lamentable."

"That peerless figure from the Sacred Cliff possessed an invincible physical body, yet he did not attain enlightenment through any other means." Di Jun's eyes flashed with divine light as he said in a deep voice, "You, however, are different; you have completely stepped into that realm."

“Even the mighty emperors decline in combat power and decay their primordial spirit in their later years, it’s all the same.” Gai Jiuyou coughed a few times: “Heroes and beauties have always been forbidden to grow old in the mortal world, cough cough, I can’t go on, this life belongs to you, fellow Daoist.”

"Is that so?" Di Jun raised an eyebrow and said meaningfully, "Then why did I sense the Azure Emperor's blood energy in your body, fellow Daoist? New blood generates old blood, and the blood energy surges like a vast ocean."

“Oh, fellow Daoist, your new life is brilliant, but you are still too immature.” Gai Jiuyou calmed his heartbeat without changing his expression, carefully examined the old Golden Crow, and suddenly smiled and said, “Just like the eve of dawn, a great sun just rising and not yet ascending.”

Living a second life is just the beginning. The Golden Crow Emperor is lying dormant, adjusting his state, just like the final leap of all the great emperors before attaining enlightenment, which is very subtle.

“I have come in my true form, but you are only in your Dao body, which is somewhat unfair.”

Gai Jiuyou raised his eyelids slightly and said slowly, "I wonder where your true form is?"

"In the Heavenly Soldiers Ancient Starfield, the place where the Lingbao Heavenly Venerable's Immortal Platform was transformed." Lin Xian suddenly said. With Gai Jiuyou here, the Heavenly Court has gained confidence. They can consider whether to have a bowl of Golden Crow Egg Fried Rice.

Old Golden Crow's expression changed, and his Dao body instantly collapsed into a wisp of fire, returning to Heavenly Soldier Star. He wanted to be in the best possible condition to deal with what was to come.

"Lingbao Celestial Venerable, Heavenly Soldiers Star Domain..."

Gai Jiuyou's expression changed, and he took Lin Xian with him. They stepped out and instantly crossed one star field after another, arriving outside the Heavenly Soldier Ancient Star Field.

The ancient star Tianbing is connected to other stars in the surrounding area. Its shape resembles a soldier, hence the name. If you look closely, you will find that this star looks like a head.

"Is this the power of the Supreme One?"

Lin Xian gazed at the shifting stars and the completely different star fields, and couldn't help but sigh. Great Sages were too insignificant in the face of the entire universe; only Supreme Beings were the protagonists on the stage. Without the physical body of a Quasi-Emperor, one couldn't even travel through space; one was merely an infant in swaddling clothes.

“This is the place.” Gai Jiuyou took another step, and the two arrived at the underground immortal palace. It was a high platform, extremely vast, like a continent floating in the void, dazzling and bright, with divine fire dancing and burning fiercely.

"Who?!"

The Great Sage Fire Crow in the center roared, his life filled with an instinctive fear, as if facing a formidable enemy, the supreme aura pressing down on him so that he could hardly breathe.

“Fellow Daoist, soldiers face soldiers, generals face generals, and kings face kings.”

Lin Xian stepped forward to stop the Great Sage Fire Crow from discussing the Dao with him, and said with a calm smile, "Let the Supreme handle the matter."

Golden divine feathers danced in the air, like a shower of light, while a golden crow egg floated in the center, exuding an aura of imperial power that was impossible to look directly at.

"Master!" the Great Sage Fire Crow said urgently, "You have not yet achieved Nirvana."

Inside the Lingbao Tianzun's altar, there is a strange liquid, dazzling and crystalline, resembling flames, pulsating and dancing—this is a pool of immortal liquid.

With the help of the spiritual treasure elixir, the Golden Crow Emperor maintained his life state, preserving his spirit, and pondered nirvana and transformation, which he has now succeeded in.

“This is the will of Heaven, you don’t need to blame yourself.” The old Golden Crow comforted him, “You step back, these are two old monsters, you are no match for them.”

Fire Crow Great Sage's expression changed, and he looked at Lin Xian with extreme vigilance. Old monster, could he also be a Nirvana cultivator like his teacher?

"What old monster?" Lin Xian sighed, and said sincerely, "Senior Jinwu is joking. I am a person of this era."

"Really? I don't believe it."

Di Jun chuckled, completely abandoning his act, and said directly, "If that's the case, then I am also a person of this era."

Each era lasts ten thousand years, and all beings born after the Azure Emperor sealed his position are considered contemporary people.

The difference between several decades and several hundred years is huge, but the difference between eight or nine thousand years and six or seven thousand years suddenly becomes smaller.

"What brings the Heavenly Court here?" The old Golden Crow's voice gradually grew more majestic, causing the entire world to shift and tilt as if a great world were collapsing. He demanded, "Though I am not yet at the Great Perfection, I have already achieved Great Accomplishment, and I am not afraid of a battle!"

One was a newly born Golden Crow at the peak of its growth, and the other was an elderly Supreme Being. The suppression of blood energy gave Di Jun confidence that he could fight anyone.

"It was just a joke, Senior Golden Crow has misunderstood," Lin Xian said sincerely. "We are not here to start a war, but to verify something."

"What is it?" Jinwu Dijun asked warily, his killing intent gradually fading. It was best to avoid war if possible, as he still hoped to become an emperor in the best possible condition and then rush towards the path to immortality.

Compared to becoming an emperor or an immortal, everything is negotiable.

"The life or death of a Celestial Venerable." Gai Jiuyou said calmly, taking out an array diagram from his robes, which was an Emperor-level weapon.

The Lingbao Array Diagram is engraved with ancient and mysterious Daoist runes, like a deep universe or the Dao itself, containing a great calamity of heaven and earth, making it look terrifying and boundless.

In the center of the array, there is a phantom, appearing and disappearing, shimmering with celestial light.

"Lingbao!"

Jinwu Dijun narrowed his eyes. Even when facing Gai Jiuyou, he remained calm and confident that he was invincible.

However, when facing this ancient celestial being, one must be extremely cautious, as the legend of Lingbao killing an immortal has influenced every cultivator.

Furthermore, there is a secret text in the universe that states that when the Spirit Treasure Emperor Weapon is combined into one, the Celestial Venerable will be reborn and return.

The four corner arrays clanged and rang out, suddenly merging into one, wailing on the Spirit Treasure Platform as if calling for something, drawing countless streams of immortal liquid that surged toward the imperial weapon, nourishing the deities, and bursting forth with unprecedented immortal radiance.

When the glory fades, what remains? Nothing but emptiness.

The array diagram roared in frustration, but no magical treasure reappeared.

"It's nothing."

This result was unacceptable not only to Lin Xian and Gai Jiuyou, but even to the Golden Crow Emperor. How could a brilliant ancient celestial being, a former immortal slayer, have left no trace?

"Perhaps we are still missing four killing swords."

Gai Jiuyou suggested that he and the four quasi-emperors from Earth go after the spiritual treasures and imperial weapons. The array diagram was the most powerful, so he would search for it. The remaining four killing swords would be taken away by Shakyamuni and the others.

"I have informed the four senior colleagues."

Lin Xian took out four talismans from his sleeve, crushed them, and sent a message to the universe, summoning Lao Tzu, Shakyamuni, the Yellow Emperor, and the Yan Emperor to come with their swords.

The reason for not alerting the four quasi-emperors earlier was that they were worried that a single move would have far-reaching consequences and attract the attention of the Supreme Beings.

Now that we have the Killing Sword, we can touch it, not to mention the Supreme Being, even a flawless Emperor-level expert.

In the desolate tower of the Azure Emperor's son, the little girl was in a daze, the God Emperor was asleep, and after Wushi went far away to the strange world, the Heavenly Court finally gained the power to overturn the table.

It is no longer a weapon for defense and self-preservation, but an offensive weapon.

“You have also found the killing sword of the Celestial Venerable Lingbao.”

The old golden crow's expression changed instantly. Forget about rebirth, it burst out of its shell and transformed into an eighteen-year-old golden-haired youth. He was agile and vigorous, like a reincarnation of a sun immortal king. A small golden bell hung on his earlobe, flowing with chaotic energy, mysterious and unpredictable.

"The Dao Tribulation Gold, Fellow Daoist has great courage." Gai Jiuyou exclaimed in admiration. Back when he wanted to prove his Dao, he didn't even have a suitable weapon.

Immortal gold is hard to come by and requires a certain amount of luck. Some great emperors attained enlightenment empty-handed, only forging their own imperial weapons after obtaining equipment from forbidden zones.

"How can immortal gold compare to the killing sword?" Di Jun said with great fear. Gai Jiuyou and the spiritual treasure array diagram already made him feel the danger. If the killing sword were to arrive together, he would probably be eating Golden Crow fried rice.

"Senior Di Jun is mistaken." Lin Xian said sincerely, "Although we are holding spiritual treasures and imperial weapons, our relationship is friendly and defensive."

"But the senior was holding the Dao Bell and pointing it at us, full of aggression."

(End of this chapter)