Honghuang Taihuang

Chapter 390, "The True Mystery Chapter of Opening the Divine Treasure Cave", by Li Zi

The palm covered with gold and silver dragon scales collided with the sword finger that Taiwei cleaved out. The surrounding wind and waves roared and exploded. Shenjiao's pupils contracted and his aura fluctuated.

According to his calculations, his palm strike should have been able to crush the Azure Emperor. However, the Azure Emperor's nonchalant demeanor at this moment told him that he had underestimated this ancient Heavenly Emperor who had returned from history.

"Surprised? It seems you're mistaking me for the me who was severely injured by Li Zi back then. Look closely, I'm not injured at all right now."

A cold light flashed in Taiwei's eyes, and a sword finger that encompassed the primordial energy and spiritual power of the heavens once again slammed down in front of Shenjiao. A palm that gathered the vast ocean once more struck down, crushing the sword light that Taiwei had unleashed.

The surging, turbulent waves blotted out the sun, and amidst the raging storms, the energies of Taiwei and Shenjiao constantly collided.

Shenjiao Shi perfectly combined his control over the power of the ocean's elemental energy with the formidable physique of the True Dragon Clan. Each palm strike was like an entire ocean crashing down, a power that no ordinary Heavenly Emperor Realm cultivator could withstand.

However, Taiwei's sword finger also carries the great power of the Myriad Swords Azure Netherworld Dao Fruit. Each sword finger encompasses the primordial energy of the ten directions and carries the most powerful and sharpest power of the Great Dao between heaven and earth, which is no weaker than the Vast Ocean Palm of the Divine Reef Clan.

The sword finger struck down again, and a trace of the true meaning of the Great Dao was manifested by Taiwei. With one strike, the clear and the turbid were separated, and the yin and yang were distributed. Strands of the mysterious and yellow energy of heaven and earth appeared in the six directions of Shenjiao Clan.

With a flick of his finger, Taiwei caused the primordial energy of heaven and earth to transform into the sky and the earth. The heavens fell, the earth collapsed, and the world was sealed off. All beings within it were instantly pulverized. Even though Shenjiao's physical strength was even greater than Taiwei's, he could not withstand the terrifying power of the closing of heaven and earth.

"The Chapter on Opening the Divine Treasure and Penetrating the Profound Mystery?"

Shenjiao's expression changed drastically. The surging and vast essence around him transformed into crimson-gold blood and qi, which exploded in the surrounding天地玄黄气 (heaven and earth primordial qi). In an instant, the golden iron needle in his palm transformed into a golden pillar that supported the sky and the earth, forcefully opening up the universe that was about to close.

The bronze pillar stood between heaven and earth, sweeping away all sword light and sword energy. Taiwei's primordial energy of heaven and earth, which evolved from sword light, could not shake this bronze pillar at all.

Even a trace of the power of the Great Dao's opening could only leave a faint white mark on this bronze pillar. To sever this bronze pillar, it would probably require millions of strands of the power of the Great Dao's opening.

Taiwei watched as Shenjiao Shi, who was wielding the bronze pillar and sweeping away all sword light, narrowed his eyes slightly. He had already realized that the essence of this bronze pillar was extremely high.

In essence, this bronze pillar is no weaker than the Eastern Emperor Sword that Taiwei forged with the Eastern Divine Stele. From this bronze pillar, Taiwei sensed a trace of extremely familiar deathly stillness.

"The aura of ochre and mystery..."

Taiwei's expression turned somber; he seemed to understand how the Divine Reef Clan had crafted this supreme treasure.

"Hahaha, Heavenly Emperor, you've figured it out? That's right, this Heavenly Pillar of my Cauldron was forged from the remains of the Ochre Profound Heavenly Emperor. I've been clinging to life for countless eons, and I haven't been doing nothing."

Shenjiao laughed loudly and slammed the Dingtian Pillar onto Taiwei's head.

A cold light flashed in his eyes, and the clear and turbid Xuanhuang Qi surged continuously in Taiwei's eyes. Qingying's sword finger slashed down again. Xuanhuang Qi opened up the myriad phenomena of the void, and the clear and turbid Qi supported the sky and the earth. With a sword finger strike, a great universe appeared above Taiwei, blasting away the falling Dingtian Pillar.

"You're so confident just because it's an old corpse? You think the magic weapon made from Zhe Xuan's corpse can stop me? Zhe Xuan isn't as strong as you think. Do you even know how that old guy Zhe Xuan died?"

As Taiwei's sword finger slashed down, countless universes appeared above Taiwei. The universes roared, the universes fell, and the Dingtian Pillar transformed into something tens of millions of feet high, piercing and shattering countless universes.

The universe shattered, and the pure, turbid, and mysterious energies spread outwards. With a slash of the Taiwei Sword Finger, the pure energy of creation, along with the cleaving of the Taiwei Sword Finger, transformed into the vast ninefold heavens.

The lightning crackled and spread, and the Nine Heavens Thunder Spell, which the Azure Emperor was once most proficient in, transformed into countless thunderbolts that struck the Dingtian Pillar. The thunderous sound that shook the universe suppressed the roar of the sea, and countless bolts of lightning covered every inch of the void.

The Heavenly Pillar continued to expand, like a central divine mountain supporting the world. On the pillar, the aura of the Divine Reef Clan continued to expand, and the crimson-gold essence wrapped around the Divine Reef Clan, transforming into palms of the sea, shattering countless divine thunderbolts sweeping in from all directions.

The Dingtian Pillar supported endless thunder. This treasure, forged from a portion of the corpse of the Zhexuan Heavenly Emperor, was indeed extremely powerful. At the very least, the Qing Emperor's strongest Nine Heavens Thunder Curse would not be able to do anything to this bronze pillar for the time being.

Countless bolts of lightning roared and exploded, completely covering the entire sea with dazzling and bright lightning. Amidst these countless bolts of lightning, the towering Dingtian Pillar, connecting the sky and the sea, resembled a giant umbrella, supporting all the lightning.

Taiwei, surrounded by countless bolts of lightning, looked at Shenjiaoshi on the Dingtian Pillar with a smile that made Shenjiaoshi's expression grim.

"The Ochre Profound Heavenly Emperor failed to advance to the Heavenly Lord Realm and transformed into the Dao of Heaven and Earth. Isn't this something you few have confirmed?"

Shenjiao connected his own energy with the Dingtian Pillar, continuously pouring his vast and boundless essence into the Dingtian Pillar, urging this supreme treasure to pierce through the nine layers of thunder above.

Taiwei looked at Lei Tian, ​​who had been pierced, but didn't care. Instead, he looked at Shenjiao Shi and said, "The so-called Dao Transformation of Heaven and Earth is just a speculation by a few of us. In fact, before I died, I had already figured out the real cause of Zhe Xuan's death."

The sword, encompassing billions of heavenly lightning bolts, struck down, causing the Heavenly Pillar to tremble violently. A dazzling tear appeared on the gleaming, golden bronze pillar.

"The Heavenly Emperor Zhe Xuan was killed by the five of us."

Shenjiao Shi's body trembled, and a look of shock appeared in his eyes. He suddenly looked up at Taiwei, and a terrifying light appeared in his eyes: "Impossible. The Dao of Zhexuan Heavenly Emperor transformed heaven and earth in the first era. When he died, none of you five were born yet."

With a flick of the Taiwei Sword, countless sword lights surged forth like a tide, tearing everything apart as the sword light transformed into thousands upon thousands of meteors, encompassing all the lightning and currents of the Nine Heavens Great Thunder Curse, and struck the Dingtian Pillar.

Billions of dazzling lights burst forth and exploded, the ultimate sword light clashed with the ultimate defense, countless gilded lights on the pillar of heaven flickered uncertainly, the pillar-like body swayed violently and uttered a muffled roar.

This time, the treasure forged from the remains of the Ochre Profound Heaven and Earth seemed to be powerless. A wisp of sword light pierced through the myriad golden rays emanating from the Dingtian Pillar and severed a strand of Shenjiao's black hair in the gap.

"Who told you that becoming a Daoist in the world inevitably leads to death? As the first Heavenly Emperor of this great world, Zhe Xuan's destiny and fortune far exceed your perception. In the past, when Zhe Xuan failed to advance to the Heavenly Lord realm, he did indeed die as a Daoist incarnation, but the vast fortune of heaven and earth within him saved his life."

"Zhe Xuan used the Five Divine Steles to share the power of Dao transformation on his body, thus escaping a calamity and barely surviving until the Second Era."

"When the five of us joined forces to deduce the secrets of heaven, we did indeed arrive at the point where Zhe Xuan failed to ascend to the Heavenly Lord and transformed into heaven and earth. However, we were unable to deduce the secrets of heaven and earth after that."

"It wasn't until the moment before my death, when my mind and spirit were highly integrated with the Eastern Divine Stele, that I sensed the presence of the Ochre Mystic aura within it."

Shenjiao's expression shifted as he pondered the truthfulness of Taiwei's words. A cold smile appeared on his face as he looked at Taiwei and said in a cold voice, "Even if Emperor Zhexuan did not die of Dao transformation but lived into the Second Era, what makes you claim that the five of you killed Emperor Zhexuan?"

With a flick of his sword finger, a surge of countless sword energies erupted. Just as Ding Tianzhu was about to retaliate, he was once again suppressed by an even more magnificent and vast sword light.

Taiwei's sword finger slashed down, leaving another deep sword mark on the Dingtian Pillar. His gaze swept over the Shenjiao Clan, and Taiwei said, "Don't you have any doubts? We, the Five Heavenly Emperors, were blessed by the Mandate of Heaven in the Second Era. The power of the five of us is enough to suppress the Zhexuan Myriad Races."

"Why did a Heavenly Demon Clan member suddenly appear when the five of us were at our peak? Why did the Heavenly Demon Ancestor named Li Zi surpass any one of the five of us in strength as soon as he was born?"

As Shenjiao listened to Taiwei's words, his expression changed constantly. He had to admit that Taiwei's words were highly credible.

The Divine Reef Clan was also puzzled by the sudden appearance of the Heavenly Demon Clan. Although it was normal for the resentment of the many beings who died in the First Era to transform into the Heavenly Demon Clan, what was abnormal was Li Zi, the Heavenly Demon Ancestor.

Li Zi was able to suppress the Five Heavenly Emperors on his own. In fact, if the Five Heavenly Emperors had not advanced further under the impetus of the calamity, even if they had joined forces, they might not have been able to defeat this supreme Heavenly Demon Ancestor.

The Five Heavenly Emperors were born from the Five Divine Steles and were innate deities born from the origin of the Heavenly Dao of the Great World of Ochre and Profound. Li Zi has higher aptitude and origin than the Five Heavenly Emperors. In the entire Great World of Ochre and Profound, only the Ochre and Profound Heavenly Emperor, who is said to have opened up the Great World of Ochre and Profound, has such a vast origin and foundation.

"So what if Li Zi is Zhe Xuan? Are you saying that even though you killed Zhe Xuan, the Ding Tian Pillar made from his corpse can't stop you, is that right?"

Shenjiao's tone was gloomy, and an extremely dark light flashed in his eyes.

"That's one of the reasons, but it's not the main one. The reason I'm bringing this up is to tell you that I've become aware of your presence. Are you still going to keep hiding?"

Taiwei's expression was cold and stern. The brilliant sword light on the noble longsword hanging at his waist lit up inch by inch, and its undisguised sharpness and aura soared straight into the sky.

A flash of cold light streaked across the sky, like a clear spring or a flying immortal. In the blink of an eye, the supreme treasure, Dingtianzhu, slowly broke into two pieces with a crisp metallic sound.

The far more powerful sword light than before caused Shenjiao's expression to change drastically, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

"impossible!!"

With a roar, Shenjiao Shi watched as his treasure, which he had painstakingly crafted over countless years, was easily severed. His tone was frenzied, but in the next instant, Shenjiao Shi's ferocious and terrifying face stiffened, and his slightly pale face turned towards Taiwei. A sinister smile appeared on Shenjiao Shi's face.

"When did you confirm that I was inside the God Reef Clan?"

Taiwei smiled and unleashed a sword beam that seemed to cleave the sky across the entire heavens, directly at the current Shenjiao clan.

"Need I say more? Now, of course!"

As the sword finger slashed down, Shenjiao's wicked smile remained unchanged, accompanied by a chilling laugh. He formed a blade with his right hand, and with a strike that cleaved space and time, the Heaven-Slaying Blade Light, which defied all living beings, met Taiwei's descending sword finger.

Amidst the clash of swords and the flickering of countless lights, Taiwei's figure pierced through the torrential rain, his sword finger pointing directly at Shenjiao Clan, shattering layer upon layer of resentful aura.

A streak of pitch-black blade light slashed down, and Taiwei turned his sword finger. The power of the universe once again evolved into the boundless power of the universe's closure. Shenjiaoshi retreated, and his whole body disappeared in front of Taiwei like a phantom. Neither the seven-colored sword light nor the power of the universe could harm Shenjiaoshi in the slightest.

"You didn't have this kind of cunning in the Second Age."

Shenjiao, or rather, the Supreme Heavenly Demon Ancestor Lizi, was also the first Heavenly Emperor of the Zhexuan Great World. Zhexuan looked at Taiwei and spoke coldly.

Enveloped by demonic energy and resentment, all the dragon blood essence within Shenjiao's body was reversed by Zhexuan into a vast aura of resentment and evil, that is, demonic energy.

His figure became tall and slender, with three thousand black hairs flowing down his shoulders. His expression was handsome, and a spot of cinnabar between his brows revealed his true form. A blade of light that could rival the Taiwei sword light rang out from his body, tearing apart the sword light that Taiwei had unleashed from his fingertips.

"Shenjiao did not die in the Heavenly Demon Calamity of the past, but was on the verge of death. I guess he was able to escape from certain death by absorbing the power of your corpse. That's why I sensed your resentful power within him when he appeared just now."

"Even if one of your arms as the Heavenly Demon Ancestor could withstand the erosion of the Eastern Divine Stele for hundreds of millions of years, I don't believe that your true body's remains would be destroyed by the Time Lock. In addition, during the Second Era, when you transformed into the Heavenly Demon Ancestor to prevent the five of us from attaining enlightenment, I could guess that you did not die."

"The Shenjiao clan contains a large amount of your resentful and malevolent power. It would be strange if you didn't notice this Dragon Ancestor. I can even be certain that the reason why the Shenjiao and Liling clans suddenly rebelled against us in the past was because you hid in the dark and influenced their minds."

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!

Zhe Xuan looked at Tai Wei, his face showing admiration, and clapped his hands.

"That's right. It seems I underestimated you. I thought you were the least noticeable one among the five of you, but I didn't expect you to be the first to find me."

The resentful aura emanating from the Ochre Profound Heavenly Emperor surged continuously. His cold smile vanished as he looked at Taiwei and said calmly, "So you've found me. Now what do you want to do? Kill me?"

Taiwei's sword finger slashed down, annihilating a hidden aura of resentment. Looking at the Zhexuan Heavenly Emperor opposite him, Taiwei slowly retracted the surging sword light and said calmly, "Naturally, I will kill you."

(End of this chapter)