Chapter 1557: A Hundred Refinements Without Death
Cloud Sovereign returned their salutation. He currently had no physical body, only his primordial spirit, yet he was precisely in a symbiotic state with the Grand Emperor.
He had been suppressed here by the Grand Emperor, who attempted to refine him. However, he had instead merged with the Grand Emperor's Dao Tree, becoming a part of it, and established a connection with the Grand Beginning Emperor Sword within the tree.
More crucially, the Grand Emperor's Dao of consciousness had flaws and deficiencies, which Cloud Sovereign had managed to complete.
With the Grand Emperor's death, he had also smoothly inherited the Grand Emperor's "wealth."
The wonders of the world were never more profound than this.
Cloud Sovereign's fortune and misfortune were this peculiar.
He had first joined forces with Eternal Sovereign and Moon Sovereign to kill the Grand Emperor, suppressing his physical body in the Land of Extreme Void. Later, he died at the hands of Ming Fangyu, the reincarnated body of the Grand Emperor's primordial spirit. His own physical body was sent by Ming Fangyu to be suppressed in the Land of Extreme Void, while his primordial spirit was sent to be suppressed in the Consciousness Grand Heaven.
Now, he had seized this opportunity to elevate himself in one fell swoop into a powerhouse possessing the Grand Heaven Dao Tree and Dao Fruit!
"Pasture Sovereign seems to have been captured by Hao Sovereign."
Cloud Sovereign looked down from the Grand Heaven, gazing upon the myriad realms, frowning with worry. "If Pasture Sovereign falls into Hao Sovereign's hands, I fear he will suffer greatly, and it may even be difficult to preserve his life and Dao from destruction! Hao Sovereign will most likely use his life to threaten us!"
Eternal Sovereign's face was filled with worry.
Opening Sovereign shook his head. "Brother Cloud, there's no need to worry about him. It's easy for Hao Sovereign to harm him, but very difficult to kill him. Most likely, Hao Sovereign is currently racking his brains over how to deal with him. Let's set him aside for now. Have you attained the Dao?"
Eternal Sovereign was surprised, looking at Opening Sovereign, unable to fathom why he was so unconcerned about Qin Mu.
Cloud Sovereign shook his head, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "My current situation is extremely unique. After the Grand Emperor killed me, he sent me to the Consciousness Grand Heaven to be tortured. Misfortune turned into fortune, allowing me to glimpse the Grand Emperor's Dao techniques, thus preserving my life. Over the long years, whatever the Grand Emperor knew, I also know; what the Grand Emperor didn't know, I also know."
Opening Sovereign and Eternal Sovereign were stunned.
Cloud Sovereign explained, "The Grand Emperor was worshipped by the Creator race, which allowed his consciousness to imprint upon the Ultimate Void, making him the strongest of the ancient times. But it was also due to the Creators' worship that his Dao practice had flaws. In the Grand Heaven, he could no longer cultivate or progress. At the same time, he had various avatars walking the world, spying on others' techniques. Qiang Heavenly Consort, Ming Fangyu, and even Wei Shijie of the Eternal Peace were all his external incarnations."
Opening Sovereign frowned. "He has an external incarnation in Eternal Peace?"
Cloud Sovereign nodded. "His external incarnation in Eternal Peace has not been hidden from me. All Ten Sovereigns have external incarnations in Eternal Peace. Even the deceased Hong Sovereign had one there."
Opening Sovereign frowned deeply, suppressing the urge to immediately descend and kill the Grand Emperor's external incarnation. "Hong Sovereign's external incarnation is most likely already dead."
Cloud Sovereign was surprised, while Eternal Sovereign seemed indifferent to this.
Opening Sovereign said, "Pasture Sovereign once performed a soul-summoning ritual for the Heavenly Duke in the Heavenly Nether Realm. At that time, he also summoned Hong Sovereign's soul, and then killed him. He owed Hong Sovereign a favor, but Hong Sovereign couldn't produce an IOU, so he reneged on the debt."
Speaking of this, Opening Sovereign couldn't help but shake his head. "He was too unscrupulous. At that time, when he summoned Hong Sovereign's soul, his external incarnation was most likely killed as well. The strength of Hong Sovereign's external incarnation was at most at the Jade Pool level; how could it withstand his divine abilities? When Pasture Sovereign performed the soul-summoning in the Heavenly Nether Realm, his external incarnation in Eternal Peace had its primordial spirit leave the body and die a violent death. Pasture Sovereign's actions are always meticulous—just too unscrupulous, lacking dignity."
Cloud Sovereign thought to himself, "Opening Sovereign seems to have quite a grudge against Pasture Sovereign."
Although he was in the Grand Heaven, using the Grand Emperor's consciousness to know the affairs of the world, what had happened in the Land of No Worries was unknown to him. Qin Mu's rampage there was far more than just being unscrupulous.
Cloud Sovereign continued, "The Grand Emperor has his limitations. His consciousness is imprinted in the Ultimate Void. When he learns the Dao techniques of later generations, these techniques are difficult to imprint in the Ultimate Void. As long as they can't be imprinted there, it can be said that he hasn't truly learned them. Moreover, his primordial spirit is outside, trapped in the Unmoving Technique, leaving only his consciousness here. The techniques he has learned over the years are few and far between. The Art of Creation is one of the few he could master. But I am different."
He said calmly, "My primordial spirit is right here, and my technique is unique. My Purple Firmament Azure Fall Art can integrate the strengths of a hundred schools. What he couldn't learn ultimately benefited me. However, I also have a weakness: I have no physical body."
He sighed. "The physical body is the foundation of the Dao. As the saying goes, when the body dies, the Dao vanishes. Although at our level, the body can die but the Dao does not disappear, without a physical body, it's difficult to progress or increase cultivation. That's why I am still at the Emperor Throne level."
He himself wasn't sure what level his cultivation had reached. "Yet, I possess the Dao Tree and the Dao Fruit. I can feel as if I have attained the Dao, and yet as if I haven't. This gives me a constant sense of gain and loss. Perhaps only by returning to my physical body can I understand my true realm."
Opening Sovereign said, "Your physical body has already been rescued by Pasture Sovereign. He should be carrying it with him, hidden in his vertical eye on his forehead. There's no need for you to seek a new body. His vertical eye is extremely formidable; even Hao Sovereign's strength cannot damage that eye."
Cloud Sovereign was still worried. "But now Pasture Sovereign has been captured by Hao Sovereign, and his life or death is unknown..."
Eternal Sovereign was also frowning deeply.
"He's fine."
Opening Sovereign said calmly, "Forcing our way into the Heavenly Court would only make Dawn Sovereign and Hao Sovereign join forces. We don't have that strength. However, I need to go to the Jade Capital City in the Ancestral Court to prevent Hao Sovereign from sinking him into the Chaotic River. Aside from the Jade Capital City in the Ancestral Court, there is no one in the world who can take his life."
He vanished in a flash.
Cloud Sovereign quickly called out to him, "Qin Sovereign, this golden ship!"
"Let Eternal Sovereign keep it for now. Give it to him when he returns." Opening Sovereign transformed into a streak of sword light and sped away.
Cloud Sovereign examined the Ferry World Golden Ship. Qin Mu had been captured by Hao Sovereign, and the golden ship had been left here. This ship always gave him an extremely strange feeling, especially the figures on the ship whose faces were unclear, making him feel somewhat uneasy.
Eternal Sovereign boarded the golden ship, bowed slightly, and prepared to take her leave.
Cloud Sovereign knew her temperament well. For her to bow to him was already unprecedented.
In the past, no matter whom Eternal Sovereign met, she was always disheveled and unkempt, never bowing, not at all like a woman. Now, Eternal Sovereign understood etiquette, though she still handled it perfunctorily, but at least her clothes made her look like a woman.
"Eternal, what is your current strength?"
Cloud Sovereign hurriedly asked, "You were able to kill the Grand Emperor, so your strength must be extraordinary. How far are you from attaining the Dao?"
"Attaining the Dao?"
Eternal Sovereign tilted her head, thinking. "I don't know what attaining the Dao means."
Cloud Sovereign was stunned for a moment, then probed, "Do you feel that your realm is about to imprint upon the Ultimate Void and achieve the Dao Tree?"
Eternal Sovereign shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about. Why must attaining the Dao require achieving the Dao Tree? Like the Grand Emperor, Opening Sovereign, and yourself, isn't that just tying yourselves in knots? In my view, cultivating a Dao Tree is an unnecessary step."
Cloud Sovereign's eyes widened, and he was once again stifled with frustration.
But he was already used to it. Back in the Dragon Han era during the Xiao Han Heavenly Court, he was often stifled by Eternal Sovereign.
"Eternal, what realm are you currently in?"
He asked patiently, "From what I saw, your strength was enough to kill the Grand Emperor with a single blow. Yet, when you faced Dawn Sovereign with the same strike, he managed to dodge it. Your strength seems to fluctuate."
Eternal Sovereign also noticed this. "I'm not good at fighting. Just now, Moon encountered me and sent me behind the Grand Emperor. I saw his posture was good, so I called out to him. He turned his head, and I struck him."
Cloud Sovereign stared wide-eyed. After a long moment, he waved his hand weakly. "Go on, then. Don't let Opening Sovereign or Pasture Sovereign know about this, and especially not Dawn Sovereign or Hao Sovereign. Try to maintain a cold, aloof, and unfathomable image. Otherwise, your life will be in danger..."
He was utterly helpless against Eternal Sovereign. She didn't seem keen on talking to him either. She said a single sentence to the golden ship, and the ship actually carried her away.
Cloud Sovereign watched her disappear into the distance, a wry smile on his face. "Eternal, oh Eternal, you're still the same as before, not a bit changed. What has changed, perhaps, is just your clothes..."
He moved the Consciousness Grand Heaven, bringing it to the Ancestral Court.
Cloud Sovereign gazed at the Heavenly Court above the Ancestral Court, thinking to himself, "I wonder how Pasture Sovereign is doing... Hao Sovereign must be torturing him in every possible way, right?"
In the Heavenly Court.
Hao Sovereign summoned all the Sovereigns and various powerful figures. He saw that Fire, Ancestor, Lang, and Palace Sovereigns were all injured, all with sword wounds, and couldn't help but frown.
"The Grand Emperor is dead, and the rebel leader Pasture Sovereign has been captured by me."
Hao Sovereign looked around and said unhurriedly, "The scoundrel Pasture Sovereign deserves a thousand deaths and is guilty of unpardonable crimes. But this brat is like a malignant tumor, stubborn and unyielding. I fought the Grand Emperor and am injured, so I cannot refine him to death. Therefore, I have summoned you all to execute this beast."
As soon as he said this, both the Sovereigns and the important ministers of the Heavenly Court were both surprised and delighted.
Fire Sovereign stepped forward despite his injuries, declaring boldly, "Pasture the thief is a traitor to humanity! I am the Human Sovereign, and I must clear humanity's name and eradicate this beast! Brother Hao, I am willing to give it a try!"
Hao Sovereign leaned forward slightly, smiling. "Brother Fire, I am still the Crown Prince and have not yet ascended the throne. There's no need to call me 'Your Majesty.'"
Fire Sovereign said solemnly, "It's only a matter of time. The great undertaking that His Majesty failed to achieve in a million years has been accomplished in Your Highness's hands. Such a glorious achievement has won the hearts of the people. His Majesty will surely follow the will of the people and the heavens, voluntarily abdicating in favor of the worthy. Your Highness becoming Emperor is the common aspiration of all."
Hao Sovereign modestly declined, then said, "We'll discuss that later. Brother Fire, what methods do you have to refine Pasture the thief?"
"I have thirty-five heavenly palaces and twenty-eight layers of Dao fire, enough to refine this beast!"
Hao Sovereign took out the Myriad Dao Heavenly Wheel. Qin Mu poked his head out, looked around, and saw everyone present.
Seeing this, the crowd sneered. Ancestor God King teased, "Pasture Sovereign, you've finally met your match today!"
Qin Mu glanced at him, then retracted his head back into the Myriad Dao Heavenly Wheel, ignoring him.
Fire Sovereign apologized, sat cross-legged, and manifested his heavenly court behind his head. One Dao realm, one layer of heaven. Dao fire spread, burning through the void, and he placed the Myriad Dao Heavenly Wheel into the Dao fire for refining.
Runes flew around him, transforming into fiery Dao patterns, constantly striking into the wheel.
He refined it like this for forty-nine days. Fire Sovereign stood up, laughing heartily. "Done! Pasture the thief has turned to ashes!"
Everyone looked into the Myriad Dao Heavenly Wheel and saw the red-hot wheel gradually cooling.
Everyone praised, "Fire Sovereign's Dao techniques are unparalleled!"
Fire Sovereign quickly humbled himself, but at that moment, Qin Mu slowly poked his head out of the Myriad Dao Heavenly Wheel. His head slowly rotated a full circle, his gaze cold, and then he slowly sank back into the wheel.
Fire Sovereign's face turned red.
"Let me do it!"
Ancestor God King strode forward, saying coldly, "I have the Heavenly Duke's physical body, controlling billions of star rivers, governing the principles of the Heavenly Dao. Killing him will be a piece of cake!"
Void Sovereign clapped his hands. "With Ancestor God King taking action, victory is certain!"
Ancestor God King lifted the Myriad Dao Heavenly Wheel and walked out of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall to the altar outside. He flicked his sleeve, scattering the clouds in the sky. The enormous physical body of the Heavenly Duke leaned down. Countless stars, constellations, and star rivers surged with light, transforming into star chains that roared into the Myriad Dao Heavenly Wheel!
Ancestor God King shouted repeatedly, circling the wheel continuously. The Heavenly Dao in the sky converged into rays of light, furiously striking into the wheel as he urged it on!
He refined it for over ten days. Because he was using the Heavenly Duke's physical body, the consumption was enormous, and he was panting from exhaustion.
"Pasture the thief must surely be dead!" Ancestor God King sent away the Heavenly Duke's physical body, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and laughed.
The surface of the Myriad Dao Heavenly Wheel revealed Qin Mu's face, staring at him gloomily. Suddenly, he rolled his eyes twice, then slowly faded away.
Ancestor God King's mouth bled, and his body trembled slightly. "I was injured by Opening Sovereign and couldn't use my full strength. I have let Brother Hao down..."