Chapter 1695: Cloud Heavenly Lord Breaks the Game (Still a Big Chapter!)
The most critical link in this battle was hard to say whether it lay with Qin Mu or with Carefree Realm. Because no matter which side failed, Eternal Peace and the Primordial Realm would both fall.
As Cloud Heavenly Lord descended from Carefree Realm, Moon Heavenly Lord, Lang Wan Divine King, Nether Heavenly Lord, Grand Beginning, and Lan Yutian each also faced their own opponents.
Moon Heavenly Lord and Lang Wan Divine King soared into the air to block Ancestral God King, who was attempting to fly over Carefree Realm and lead the Sun Guardians of the Vermilion Capital to attack Eternal Peace. Nether Heavenly Lord confronted Void Heavenly Lord, who had invaded the Netherworld of the Primordial Realm. Grand Beginning, as usual, blocked the two Taiji Ancient Gods. The three of them each offered up their companion treasures and earnestly tried to persuade their opponents.
As for Lan Yutian, he dazedly faced Lady Yuanmu, causing everyone's hearts to race with anxiety.
Cloud Heavenly Lord, meanwhile, walked toward Heavenly Emperor Hao.
One by one, the Heavenly Lords and those who had attained the Dao walked through the sky. Below them surged a torrent of gods and demons, spreading out from three sides of Carefree Realm. The battlefield even extended to Grand Imperial Heaven, where flames of war blazed everywhere!
The Heavenly Court's offensive this time was terrifying, employing all its strength. Even with Wen Tian Pavilion coordinating the overall situation, even with Yan Yunxi, Zhuo Cha, and Han Tang each responsible for one side, even with Kai Huang's Emperor Yi Yue personally taking the field, the flames of war still reached Carefree Realm with the simultaneous deployment of the Heavenly Court's Three Divisions!
Cloud Heavenly Lord ignored all of this and directly confronted Heavenly Emperor Hao.
Heavenly Emperor Hao was currently in his male form. The Second Young Master had only come out to see because he was surprised that Qin Mu had killed the eight ancient god avatars of the Spirit Official Palace Master in such a short time. But he had no interest in the decisive battle at Carefree Realm, so he yielded the body back to Heavenly Emperor Hao.
"Cloud, you are merely a defeated general under my command."
Heavenly Emperor Hao's gaze fell on Cloud Heavenly Lord's face, then shifted away, looking toward the highest level of Carefree Realm, the Grand Pure Realm. He said leisurely, "What an ingenious scheme. The various parts of the Spirit Official Palace Master's physical body have transformed into ancient gods. He can send avatars to kill the leaders of Carefree Realm, Eternal Peace, Heavenly Yin, the Buddhist Realm, the Daoist Sect, and the Beast Realm. This is to attack where they must defend. Pastoral Heavenly Lord has a weakness—he values familial and friendly bonds too heavily. I saw this weakness long ago. Anyone with a weakness cannot be invincible."
He smiled slightly. "Regardless of whether the Spirit Official Palace Master can kill these pillars of Eternal Peace, my strategy has already succeeded: forcing the sentimental Pastoral Heavenly Lord to leave Carefree Realm and go to their rescue. With him absent, Carefree Realm cannot withstand me and my army. In this battle, Carefree Realm can be pacified."
Cloud Heavenly Lord said calmly, "Heavenly Lord Hao, but you have forgotten that I am still here."
"You also have a weakness, Cloud Heavenly Lord."
Behind Heavenly Emperor Hao, Grand Beginning walked forward slowly. Heavenly Emperor Hao said unhurriedly, "Brother Cloud, your weakness is ruthlessness and forbearance. Ruthlessness makes it hard to earn others' loyalty; forbearance means retreating. I used this weakness of yours to defeat you in the Dragon Han Era. You couldn't gain the help of Fire Heavenly Lord, Lang Xuan, Ancestral God King, Palace Heavenly Lord, Qiang Tianfei, and others, while I knew better how to get along with them and form a community of shared interests. Your forbearance meant you would choose to retreat to achieve your goals, ceding more and more benefits. That's how I was able to gradually eat away at the Heavenly Alliance you painstakingly built, seize its power, and push you out."
Heavenly Emperor Hao laughed. "Are you convinced?"
Cloud Heavenly Lord smiled and shook his head. "I have never been convinced."
Heavenly Emperor Hao chuckled lightly. "Supreme Emperor, he is yours. Brother Cloud, please step aside. I want to go to Heavenly Lord Qin Ye's palace to take a look and sit for a while."
Grand Beginning stepped forward, and behind him, in the One Qi Grand Celestial Realm, the branches of the Dao Tree swayed as he walked toward Cloud Heavenly Lord.
Cloud Heavenly Lord still stood between him and Heavenly Emperor Hao. Heavenly Emperor Hao frowned and laughed. "Brother Cloud, do you intend to block both me and the Supreme Emperor at the same time?"
Just then, Grand Beginning suddenly stopped, staring at his own shadow and Cloud Heavenly Lord's shadow.
Ancestral God King and countless Sun Guardians flew over Carefree Realm. In the sky, rounds of blazing suns shone with venomous light, boiling even the Heavenly River!
Because there were so many suns in the sky, they had no shadows at that moment. Yet Grand Beginning found that he and Cloud Heavenly Lord did have shadows, and their shadows were connected.
Grand Beginning's eyes twitched. As he reached for his sword, his innate one qi erupted!
At that moment, blade light flashed from within the shadows, rising from between Grand Beginning's legs—an upward slash!
*Chii!*
Grand Beginning was split in two!
Shang Jun's figure appeared. One slash cleaved Grand Beginning's physical body in half, and then blade light rained down, shredding the two halves into pieces!
In the past, Grand Beginning's physical body was the ancient god Heavenly Emperor's body, hailed as the most powerful physique. Now, under Shang Jun's blade light, it was chopped into countless fragments!
What Shang Jun shattered was not only Grand Beginning's physical body but also his primordial spirit!
As an existence who had attained the Dao through slaughter, Shang Jun's first strike was an unparalleled killing move, leaving even an achiever like Grand Beginning helpless!
Shang Jun's figure burst out from the scattered flesh raining through the air, charging straight toward Grand Beginning's Dao Tree in the One Qi Grand Celestial Realm. At this moment, his killing intent was even denser than the killing intent of the billions of gods and demons on the Carefree Realm battlefield, making people tremble with fear!
On Grand Beginning's Dao Tree, the Dao Flower spun, innate one qi erupted, and boundless Dao might met Shang Jun head-on!
At the same time, Grand Beginning's physical body and primordial spirit, chopped into countless fragments, suddenly dissipated, transforming into innate one qi that merged together and then recombined into body and spirit.
*Chii!*
The blade light was stunning, splitting the Dao Flower, severing the Dao Tree. Shang Jun coldly slashed with force, cleaving the tree stump and roots, along with the One Qi Grand Celestial Realm, cleanly apart!
"Very good."
Behind him came Grand Beginning's voice: "As an assassin who attained the Dao, you are remarkable. But you are steeped in the way of slaughter and killing, with no understanding of the Five Grand Beginnings. Among the Five Grand Beginnings, the Dao of Grand Beginning is divided into innate one qi and divine consciousness. Whether it's the physical body or the primordial spirit, even the One Qi Grand Celestial Realm, including the Dao Tree, Dao Flower, and Dao Fruit—all are innate one qi!"
Shang Jun turned around.
Grand Beginning stood before him. Behind Grand Beginning, his Dao Tree suddenly dispersed into innate one qi, then the innate one qi gathered again, reforming into the Dao Tree, with the Dao Flower hanging from its branches.
The split One Qi Grand Celestial Realm also transformed into innate one qi, then re-emerged.
Behind Grand Beginning's head, a series of heavenly palaces assembled into a Grand Heavenly Court, surrounded by seventy-two precious halls. His gaze fell on Shang Jun, and he said calmly, "After all, you are not Pastoral Heavenly Lord. Pastoral Heavenly Lord could ambush me, wound my Dao, and inflict severe Dao injuries on me. You, however, know nothing of the Dao of Grand Beginning or innate one qi. You are merely a machine that knows only slaughter. Shang Jun, you cannot harm me in the slightest."
Shang Jun lowered his hand, his killing intent receding, his gaze fixed on Grand Beginning.
Grand Beginning's heart tightened. The place Shang Jun was looking at was precisely the Dao injury Qin Mu had left on him during the last battle for the Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon's soul!
"The Dao of Grand Beginning, innate one qi—I have indeed never killed it before."
Shang Jun said dryly, "I want to give it a try."
Grand Beginning's pupils contracted, and he had to focus all his attention.
If Shang Jun struck again, it would surely target the Dao injury Qin Mu had left him!
"Fortunately, this assassin can no longer lurk in the shadows! In a frontal confrontation, he is no match for me!" Grand Beginning thought to himself.
Heavenly Emperor Hao frowned, glanced sideways at Grand Beginning, then withdrew his gaze and smiled. "Brother Cloud, it seems you do have some tricks. Unfortunately, you are following the strategy of top against top, middle against middle, bottom against bottom. In a battle with me, you will surely die!"
Cloud Heavenly Lord smiled slightly. "Actually, I am fulfilling Brother Hao's wish. Brother Hao, you have cultivated the One Qi Grand Celestial Realm, and Grand Beginning has also cultivated the One Qi Grand Celestial Realm. As for me, I inherited the Divine Consciousness Grand Celestial Realm from the Grand Emperor. The Divine Consciousness Grand Celestial Realm and the One Qi Grand Celestial Realm combined form the complete Dao of Grand Beginning!"
His left hand formed a sword seal, gently stroking the Grand Beginning Imperial Sword. The Grand Beginning Primordial Stone on his brow emitted a faint light. He smiled and said, "When the One Qi Grand Celestial Realm and the Divine Consciousness Grand Celestial Realm merge, one can achieve the Dao of Grand Beginning in one fell swoop! The strength of one who achieves the Dao of Grand Beginning is second only to Grand Ease, unmatched in this universe! This is why the ancient god Grand Beginning has always fought and contended with me. As long as he achieves the Dao of Grand Beginning, he can make you abdicate and continue as his illegitimate son. And Brother Hao, you also possess the One Qi Grand Celestial Realm."
Heavenly Emperor Hao's eyes lit up. "You have moved me, Brother Cloud. You have truly moved me. The Supreme Emperor is still cunning. If he succeeds, it would indeed be troublesome for me."
His One Qi Grand Celestial Realm drifted over, and he laughed. "After I achieve the Dao of Grand Beginning, I will surely give Brother Cloud a grand burial!"
"Well said." Cloud Heavenly Lord laughed heartily.
*Boom!*
The two Grand Celestial Realms collided!
When these two Grand Celestial Realms met, it was like golden wind and jade dew, dry wood and raging fire—they began to merge upon contact!
At the same time, the Heavenly Court behind Heavenly Emperor Hao's head swayed, with thirty-six heavenly palaces and seventy-two precious halls standing tall. Moreover, a Purple Dawn Hall blazed with brilliant light!
This Purple Dawn Hall shone far brighter than the Jade Dawn Halls refined by others. It was a projection given to Heavenly Emperor Hao by the Fourth Young Master, Purple Dawn, containing immense power!
His magical power far surpassed Cloud Heavenly Lord's!
Heavenly Emperor Hao shook his sleeves, and a series of precious halls from the Jade Capital of the Ancestral Court flew out, suppressing Cloud Heavenly Lord's Divine Consciousness Grand Celestial Realm, crushing its power and might!
In this battle, victory was already within his grasp!
Heavenly Emperor Hao struck first, his techniques and divine abilities grand and unrestrained, fully displaying the strength of achieving the Dao through power. He didn't need to match Cloud Heavenly Lord move for move—his magical power was too great; he could directly crush Cloud Heavenly Lord with force!
Cloud Heavenly Lord, on the other hand, was far more cautious, exerting all his ability. While unleashing his divine techniques and Dao methods, he also pushed the power of the Grand Beginning Imperial Sword to its limit!
His moves were more varied, but he still retreated step by step under Heavenly Emperor Hao's assault!
Not only that, but the Divine Consciousness Grand Celestial Realm was also suppressed by the One Qi Grand Celestial Realm, being steadily devoured. Heavenly Emperor Hao felt his cultivation and Dao practice continuously rising, his heart growing more joyful.
In this battle, he would achieve a great victory!
*Chii!*
Cloud Heavenly Lord thrust his sword. Kai Huang's Thirty-Three Heavens of the Sword Dao, in his hands, was no less exquisite than Kai Huang Qin Ye's own. Combined with the might of the Grand Beginning Imperial Sword, this strike doubled in power!
Heavenly Emperor Hao laughed heartily, shattering the Thirty-Three Heavens of the Sword Dao with one punch, and caught the tip of the Grand Beginning Imperial Sword between two fingers!
Cloud Heavenly Lord strained to thrust forward, but the Grand Beginning Imperial Sword was immovable, and Heavenly Emperor Hao's two fingers were also still. He laughed, "Brother Cloud, it's time for you to set off."
He pushed the Grand Beginning Imperial Sword forward with his fingers. The sword hilt struck Cloud Heavenly Lord's chest with a *duo* sound, breaking several ribs and piercing into his chest!
Just then, Cloud Heavenly Lord smiled. The Grand Beginning Primordial Stone on his brow brightened countless times in an instant, and a violent surge of divine consciousness rushed into Heavenly Emperor Hao's brow!
"A minor trick."
Heavenly Emperor Hao's mind dimmed slightly for a moment, then recovered. He chuckled lightly, but in that instant of his lapse, Cloud Heavenly Lord exerted every ounce of his power to activate a divine ability—the Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain!
The Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain erupted, freezing everything, buying Cloud Heavenly Lord a brief moment!
"Red String Knot!"
He let the Grand Beginning Imperial Sword pierce through his chest, his hands forming seals rapidly, pressing toward Heavenly Emperor Hao's brow!
Heavenly Emperor Hao was caught off guard. Just as the Red String Knot was about to reach his brow, his appearance and body began to change rapidly—from male to female, from Heavenly Emperor Hao to the Second Young Master!
"A divine ability the teacher created specifically to deal with me!"
The Second Young Master, Wuji, let out a shrill, furious cry. Cloud Heavenly Lord's Red String Knot divine ability hadn't even reached her brow before it was shattered by her terrifying, boundless power!
Cloud Heavenly Lord's palms even burst into flesh and blood, reducing to bare bone!
The Second Young Master was stunned for a moment: "That wasn't the Red String Knot?"
She was extremely afraid of the Red String Knot, believing it was a divine ability created by the Lord of the Miluo Palace specifically to kill her. Seeing Cloud Heavenly Lord use it, she flew into a rage, forcibly seized Heavenly Emperor Hao's body, and intended to personally kill Cloud Heavenly Lord.
However, this Red String Knot was all show and no substance—it was shattered by her aura before even touching her.
Cloud Heavenly Lord's hands, now reduced to bone, had already reached her face. The divine ability hidden beneath the Red String Knot suddenly erupted!
"Immutable Divine Ability!"
This divine ability had no power at all. It passed through the Second Young Master's body. The Second Young Master was momentarily startled, then flicked her finger, striking the tip of the Grand Beginning Imperial Sword.
Cloud Heavenly Lord flew backward and was nailed to his own Dao Tree with a *duo* sound.
The Second Young Master touched her body but found no abnormality.
Cloud Heavenly Lord grabbed the blade, forcefully pulled out the Grand Beginning Imperial Sword, and collapsed to the ground with a *plop*.
"My specialty is imitation and learning. The Red String Knot divine ability is too profound; I couldn't learn it, only mimic its form. But the Immutable Divine Ability, I could learn seven or eight parts of it."
Cloud Heavenly Lord leaned on the Grand Beginning Imperial Sword, slowly climbing to his feet. He looked up at the Second Young Master, grinning. "Second Young Master, Pastoral Heavenly Lord asked me to see you off on your journey!"
"With just you?" The Second Young Master sneered.
"With just me."
Cloud Heavenly Lord straightened his waist, reached into his chest cavity, pulled out the ribs that had pierced his heart, and threw them to the ground. He said calmly, "With this Grand Beginning Grand Celestial Realm formed from the union of the One Qi Grand Celestial Realm and the Divine Consciousness Grand Celestial Realm, and..."
He swept his sleeve, and the Ancestral Court precious halls suppressing the Divine Consciousness Grand Celestial Realm flew out with a roar, sent flying by a single brush of his sleeve!
"...and the Ultimate Void that specifically breaks the Dao of the Return to Nothingness!"
Cloud Heavenly Lord stomped heavily. The two Grand Celestial Realms soared up, diving into the Ultimate Void. The cold, desolate wind howled, colliding violently with the heat-death wind swirling around the Second Young Master!