Chapter 1077: The Dragon Qilin Plays Hard to Get (Third Update!)
The Underworld Prince chatted with the Northern Emperor for a while and was quite appreciated by him, which made his heart bloom with joy.
The Dark Emperor said, "Separating from the Heavenly Court should be done sooner rather than later. It's best to set off immediately and return to the Northern Pole Heaven."
The Martial Emperor laughed, "Now that they've taken control of the Heavenly Emperor's physical body, but they can't agree on how to split the spoils, this is the perfect time to break away. If we wait until they've hashed out a plan, it will be much harder to leave the Heavenly Court and be free."
"However, separating each heavenly palace from the Heavenly Court is a major matter, and there will likely be resistance. If we're going to act, all Four Imperial Emperors should act together!"
The Dark Emperor and the Martial Emperor stood up and said, "My son, we've already discussed this with the Southern, Western, and Eastern Emperors. This time we leave, free from the Heavenly Court's control, to enjoy ourselves in our own territories. Each of us will rule over one of the four poles of the universe, becoming our own Heavenly Emperor there—how wonderful would that be?"
The Underworld Prince was overjoyed, but then felt a twinge of regret. "I have many old friends in the Heavenly Court. After this departure, it might take years for me to see them again, traveling all the way back here."
"Those friends of yours are all fair-weather companions, just drinking buddies. There's no need to cling to them!"
The Martial Emperor had the decisiveness of the Palace Chasm Divine King. "Letting them go will actually be better for you. Once you're in the Four Pole Heavens, you'll be the Heavenly Emperor's prince there—how free and easy will that be?"
The Dark Emperor said, "Separating the Four Great Heavenly Palaces from the Heavenly Court is a major matter, and there will likely be trouble. My son, you will take command of the Black Tortoise Heavenly Palace and fly it out of the Heavenly Court, heading north along the Heavenly River. Your mother and I will stay behind in the Heavenly Court to hold the line, guard against petty troublemakers, and escort you out."
The Underworld Prince was delighted to be trusted.
The Martial Emperor, doting on her son, took out the Lapis Lazuli Azure Sky Canopy and handed it to him. "This treasure was forged from our family's life savings. With it, you can block any danger on your journey north. Remember, don't lose it."
The Underworld Prince quickly nodded.
The Northern Emperor and his wife, having made their arrangements, exchanged a smile. Suddenly, a deafening boom rang out. The Black Tortoise Heavenly Palace rumbled and shook, slowly rising, gradually detaching from the Heavenly Court's Celestial Street, ascending higher and higher.
When the Great Sun Star Lord and other ancient gods saw this, they were shocked and hastily mobilized troops to block it.
At the same time, violent tremors came from the southern, western, and eastern parts of the Heavenly Court. To the disbelief of the Heavenly Court's gods, the Vermilion Bird Heavenly Palace, the White Tiger Heavenly Palace, and the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace also detached from the Heavenly Court and rose higher!
The Seven Dukes, Five Advisors, Four Heavenly Masters, and many other high-ranking officials in the Heavenly Court quickly flew toward the four heavenly palaces, seeking an audience with the Four Imperial Emperors to dissuade them.
The Northern Emperor Black Tortoise and his wife went forward to meet them, engaging in polite but evasive talk while secretly channeling their divine power to make the Black Tortoise Heavenly Palace fly away from the Heavenly Court.
The Great Sun Star Lord hurried to the Lingxiao Hall to report. At that moment, the Heavenly Emperor was surrounded by many Heavenly Venerables and leaders of various races, seemingly discussing a major matter, the atmosphere heavy.
The Great Sun Star Lord quickly explained the situation. The Heavenly Venerables and racial leaders closed their eyes in contemplation and said nothing.
The Ancient God Heavenly Emperor spoke, "I have important matters to discuss with my wise ministers and have no time to go and dissuade them. Star Lord, mobilize the Heavenly River Water Army, the Four Great Sects, and the Heavenly Court's Ten Guards, Five Chariots, and the Heavenly Nether and Earthly Fiend armies to intercept their heavenly palaces first."
The Great Sun Star Lord bowed and acknowledged the order.
The Ancient God Heavenly Emperor waved his hand, handing him the military tally to mobilize the Heavenly Court's Ten Guards.
The Great Sun Star Lord hurried away.
The Lingxiao Hall remained silent for a long time. Finally, the Fire Heavenly Venerable sneered, "If we keep dragging this out, the Four Imperial Emperors will all escape! The ancient gods must be killed, and not a single one of the Four Imperial Emperors can be spared! Give me control of the Heavenly Emperor's physical body, and I'll go kill the Four Imperial Emperors. I don't want the body—after I kill them, I'll give it back to you. Whoever wants to fight over it can do so!"
The others sneered in response.
The Fire Heavenly Venerable flew into a rage. Suddenly, he withdrew his primordial spirit from within the Heavenly Emperor's physical body, stood up, and said, "I'll go kill the Southern Emperor!"
The Netherworld Emperor hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'll go check on the Black Tortoise Heavenly Palace."
The two left one after another.
The remaining people still sat unmoving.
The Cloud Heavenly Venerable suddenly said, "This stalemate is no solution. I have a proposal. Let's take turns being the Heavenly Emperor, checking each other's power, and establish a set of rules so that no one can monopolize the Heavenly Emperor's physical body!"
After a moment, the Hao Heavenly Venerable smiled and said, "I agree."
Inside the Black Tortoise Heavenly Palace, the Underworld Prince immediately found Yan'er and the others. He smiled apologetically at the Dragon Qilin and said, "Worthy brother, your insight is truly extraordinary. You saw through the Heavenly Court's situation at a glance. But this time, my father and mother have ordered me to escort the Black Tortoise Heavenly Palace to the Northern Pole Heaven. I can't do it alone, so I ask for your help, worthy brother and cousin!"
The Dragon Qilin exchanged a glance with Yan'er. Just as Yan'er was about to agree, the Dragon Qilin put on a troubled expression and said, "Our cultivation and strength can't compare to yours, elder brother. How could we possibly be of any help?"
Yan'er quickly held her tongue.
The Dragon Qilin said with difficulty, "To tell you the truth, I've glimpsed the heavenly secrets and studied divination, and I've never miscalculated. On this journey to escort the Black Tortoise Heavenly Palace to the Northern Pole Heaven, elder brother, you will surely be blocked by the Heavenly Court's gods. The Ten Guards, the Heavenly River Water Army, the Five Chariots, the Heavenly Nether, the Earthly Fiend, the Star Lords of the Zhou Tian Star Array..."
He watched the Underworld Prince's face, and with each army he named, the prince's eyelid twitched.
The Dragon Qilin sighed, "If these armies attack, we definitely won't be able to hold out. Without a powerful treasure, forget about defending the Black Tortoise Heavenly Palace—even protecting ourselves will be hard! Elder brother, let us leave the Black Tortoise Heavenly Palace, and we'll each go back to our own homes."
The Underworld Prince quickly grabbed his hand and laughed, "Worthy brother, cousin! You can't go back even if you want to! The Vermilion Bird Heavenly Palace and the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace have already flown out of the Heavenly Court. Where would you go? The Four Imperial Emperors are of one bloodline and have been on good terms for generations. Help me return to the Northern Pole Heaven, and then I'll personally escort you back!"
He said sheepishly, "I'm not good at leading troops or using my head. When the armies come to attack, I'll need you, worthy brother Dragon, to help me arrange the disciples in the palace into battle formations."
The Dragon Qilin hesitated.
The Underworld Prince said, "Don't believe me? Come with me!"
He led the group to the palace gate, pointed into the distance, and said, "Look!"
The Dragon Qilin and Yan'er looked toward the Heavenly Court and saw massive heavenly palaces, carrying thousands of halls and chambers, already sailing away from the Heavenly Court!
In addition to the Southern, Western, and Eastern Emperors' palaces, several other grand heavenly palaces were also departing—most likely those of the Heavenly Duke, Earthly Mother, and Earth Lord.
—At this moment, without these heavenly palaces anchoring it, the Heavenly Court was slowly floating upward, showing signs of drifting out of the Primordial Realm!
They also saw gods constantly flying back and forth in the Heavenly Court, relaying orders, as armies of divine demons flew out to chase these heavenly palaces.
The Dragon Qilin's face turned pale. He stamped his foot and said, "Elder brother, you've doomed us!"
The Underworld Prince kept apologizing, "I know it's my fault. But we're not without a chance. Before they left, my father and mother gave me the Lapis Lazuli Azure Sky Canopy to protect the palace. That treasure is extraordinary—the Heavenly Emperor himself called it the number one supreme treasure in the world! With this treasure, plus your wisdom and my cousin's, we can surely turn misfortune into good fortune!"
The Dragon Qilin complained, "Just one treasure can stop the Heavenly Court's armies? Elder brother, you'd better abandon the Black Tortoise Heavenly Palace, take the treasure, and run while you can!"
The Underworld Prince pulled them toward the Black Tortoise Heavenly Palace's Lingxiao Hall, laughing, "That's because you haven't seen the Lapis Lazuli Azure Sky Canopy. Once you do, you'll definitely feel at ease!"