Chapter 711: Saint Disciple
In the Nether Sea of the Nether Realm, the Nether Emperor stood within the gateway of the Nether Capital Heavenly Gate. Even with the Heavenly Yin Empress attacking across realms, even with Tian Shu wielding the Divine Que Godblade, even with the King Yan borrowing the power of Fengdu, they could not severely wound him or inflict much harm upon him.
The Imperial Throne was simply too powerful.
After her resurrection, the Heavenly Yin Empress had learned the three hundred and twenty-four runes of the Heavenly Yin Realm from the Woodcutter and others. The divine ability system of the Heavenly Yin Realm had been established, and the power of the Empress’s techniques had skyrocketed. As a born sacred being, her combat strength surpassed even Tian Shu and King Yan.
However, because she could not enter the Nether Capital and could only attack across realms, she could not deliver a fatal blow to the Nether Emperor.
Tian Shu’s strength was also formidable, and the Divine Que Godblade was a blade specifically designed to counter the divine ability system of the Nether Capital. It could sever the Horn of Tubo, but unfortunately, a flaw had appeared during its forging.
The Nether Emperor, being exceptionally clever, had used his own divine abilities to exploit that flaw, nullifying the blade’s ability to devour primordial spirits. Tian Shu could only rely on the blade’s raw power to wound the Nether Emperor, unable to take his life.
King Yan, by gathering the power of Fengdu and its gods, could also fight, but the gap in their cultivation levels meant he could only injure the Nether Emperor.
With the Nether Capital Heavenly Gate, any injury—unless it directly stripped away his life—could be healed by the Nether Emperor.
His Nether Capital Heavenly Gate possessed the miraculous effect of reincarnation through tribulation. As a powerhouse of the Imperial Throne level, his techniques and divine abilities, though derived from the Nether Capital, had built upon its foundation to achieve transcendence!
The three fought bitterly without resolution. Gradually, the wounds on Tian Shu and King Yan increased, and their advantage turned into a disadvantage. If this continued, none of them would escape.
Suddenly, chaos erupted in the Nether Capital. Countless imprisoned primordial spirit criminals burst out of the Nether Prison, slaughtering wildly. The Nether Emperor’s heart jolted: “Damn it! Many of the prisoners deep in the Nether Prison have significant backgrounds…”
At this thought, his mind grew unsettled.
“Shielding the sun with a silk sleeve, too lazy to dress in spring’s sorrow. Easy to find priceless treasures, hard to find a devoted heart.”
A woman’s clear voice came from the direction of the Nether Prison in the Nether Capital, carrying clearly across the Nether Sea. Her recitation was filled with resentment—resentment that the world lacked men of true affection, leaving her without one who appreciated her, too languid to bother with grooming.
The Nether Emperor’s mind wavered. He took several blows in succession, his flesh torn open, but thanks to the Nether Capital Heavenly Gate, his wounds healed quickly.
Suddenly, a purple silk bridal veil flew over, drifting above the Nether Capital Heavenly Gate. The veil was vast, covering the gate.
Seeing the golden-thread embroidery of a phoenix couple, their necks entwined in flight, the Nether Emperor’s mind grew even more chaotic. Beneath the veil, within the gateway, King Yan and Tian Shu pressed their attacks more fiercely, finally gaining the upper hand. The Nether Emperor suffered repeated injuries.
Steadying his mind, the Nether Emperor prepared to counterattack, but suddenly a phoenix crown flew over and landed on his head.
His scalp tingled, and he was at a loss. Then a cape of rosy clouds flew over, draping over his shoulders.
The Nether Emperor covered his face and screamed. Tian Shu severed his legs with a single slash, and King Yan seized the moment to thrust his sword into his heart.
The Nether Emperor’s two legs dashed into the Nether Capital Heavenly Gate, and his upper body also rushed inside. From behind the gate, three Nether Emperors burst forth, fleeing in all directions.
The Heavenly Yin Empress’s attacks followed immediately. The three Nether Emperors spat blood, tumbling into the Nether Sea and vanishing.
The Nether Capital Heavenly Gate rose, attempting to sink into the Nether Sea with him, but suddenly, Di Yiyue, clad in black, arrived with the Woodcutter Saint and the First Ancestor Human Sovereign. She pressed her palm against the Nether Capital Heavenly Gate.
The gate rumbled and shook, trying several times to escape but failing.
The Nether Capital Heavenly Gate shrank smaller and smaller until it was about three meters tall and stopped trembling.
On the other side, the Heavenly Yin Empress turned the Heavenly Dipper, causing the Nether Sea to float in the air, trying to force out the Nether Emperor. The Woodcutter Saint bowed and said, “Empress, no need. He has been severely wounded and cannot remain in the Nether Sea. He has long since fled. This place is no longer safe. With such a commotion, the Outer Heaven’s Celestial Court will surely send someone to investigate. If we don’t leave now, we won’t be able to.”
Tian Shu soared into the air, raised the Divine Que Godblade, and slashed open the world barrier of the Nether Capital, vanishing into the void.
The Woodcutter Saint said to the Heavenly Yin Empress, “If the Outer Heaven’s Celestial Court investigates, it may implicate Yancheng. So this matter needs you to take responsibility.”
The Heavenly Yin Empress smiled and said, “I attacked the Nether Capital to avenge myself, so I have a just cause. Taking responsibility is fine. I can also ask the Heavenly Duke and Tubo to plead on my behalf; I doubt the Celestial Court will pursue it. The Nether Emperor will have to swallow this loss. But since you asked me to act, you’ve already used up one Heavenly Yin Pearl. To have me bear the responsibility, you’ll need to return another Heavenly Yin Pearl to me.”
The First Ancestor Human Sovereign produced a divine pearl. The Heavenly Yin Empress nodded, and the pearl floated up, flying into the Heavenly Yin Realm.
The Heavenly Yin Empress faded away.
Di Yiyue lifted the Nether Capital Heavenly Gate and said, “This treasure was forged with my help. I know all its functions inside and out. But alas, things have changed. Great Heavenly Master, how do we return to the mortal world now?”
The Woodcutter said, “Heavenly King, you are a deceased body, but your physical form remains. It’s difficult to directly pass through the world barrier back to Yancheng. However, we can return to the Great Wasteland through King Yan’s Fengdu, and then from the Great Wasteland back to Yancheng.”
King Yan bowed and said, “Greetings, Imperial Master Aunt.”
Di Yiyue’s gaze fell on him, and she said in surprise, “You are His Majesty’s adopted son? Back then, you were just an honest little child. I never thought that after so many years, you would become a realm lord!”
King Yan lowered his head.
Di Yiyue walked into Fengdu, surveying this realm of the dead, and laughed, “Fengdu is the Horn of Tubo, but unfortunately, your understanding of the Nether Capital’s techniques and divine abilities isn’t as deep as that heartless man’s. This Fengdu still has a way to go before matching the Nether Capital. The Northern Heavenly King and I can help you. Why did he run off so quickly?”
The First Ancestor Human Sovereign said, “Probably because he sobered up. After sobering, he realized he had charged into the Nether Capital and fought a great battle with the Nether Emperor. Right now, he’s probably hiding somewhere, trembling with excitement.”
Di Yiyue thought for a moment, smiled, and said, “That’s his nature. But it’s not trembling with excitement—it’s trembling with fear. Once I come back to life and find him, I’ll help you rebuild Fengdu together.”
Fengdu sailed into the darkness and vanished.
Both Fengdu and the Nether Capital were forged from the Horn of Tubo, both part of the Nether Realm, so there was no world barrier between them.
“Great Heavenly Master, you mentioned earlier that the second calamity is approaching. Does that mean the Kaicheng Era wasn’t destroyed?”
Di Yiyue sat down in the second divine city of Fengdu, accompanied by King Yan, the First Ancestor, and the Woodcutter. This legendary woman of the Kaicheng Era inquired, “Is the Outer Heaven’s Celestial Court planning to destroy the Kaicheng Era a second time?”
The Woodcutter’s face darkened. He shook his head and said, “The Kaicheng Era has already fallen. The current era is the Yancheng Era, built on the ruins of ours. This calamity is aimed at Yancheng. Didn’t the Heavenly King train under the Four Direction Emperors back then precisely to deal with heavenly disasters? That’s why, with the Yancheng disaster about to erupt, I had the idea to ask you to step in. Dealing with a heavenly disaster requires no one else but you.”
Di Yiyue’s expression turned cold. She said flatly, “Why should I help Yancheng deal with a heavenly disaster? I failed Kaicheng, indulging in love and unable to help the Kaicheng Celestial Court fend off the disaster. But what is Yancheng to me?”
The Woodcutter Saint was silent for a moment, then said, “The pillars of this Yancheng reform are two of my disciples. My third disciple, Jiang Ling Jiang Baigui, is the National Teacher of Yancheng.”
Di Yiyue shook her head. “Your face isn’t that big, and your disciples have even less standing.”
The Woodcutter Saint said, “My second disciple’s surname is Qin. He is the one hundred and seventh generation descendant of the Kaicheng Emperor and also a pillar of this Yancheng reform.”
Di Yiyue’s pretty face softened slightly. She slowly nodded and said, “A descendant of the Kaicheng Emperor. Then shielding him from this calamity would be repaying a debt to Kaicheng. Is he the emperor of Yancheng?”
The Woodcutter Saint hesitated, then shook his head. “No. He is a Court Gentleman of the Yancheng Emperor and the Grand Sacrificial Wine of the Heavenly Saint Academy.”
Di Yiyue’s expression turned cold again. She sneered, “A descendant of the Kaicheng Emperor, serving another as a minister? If your second disciple won’t be emperor, that’s fine, but what about the other descendants of Kaicheng? Where is the Kaicheng Emperor? We were his subjects—there’s no way we’ll work for someone else!”
“The Kaicheng Emperor…”
The Woodcutter’s face darkened. He shook his head and said, “The Kaicheng Emperor has been hiding in the Land of No Worry for twenty thousand years, never showing his face.”
Di Yiyue grew angry and slammed the table, saying, “I’ve said it before—that heartless man named Qin can’t be the Kaicheng Emperor! If he can’t do it, let me take the throne! This bastard runs off to the Land of No Worry to enjoy himself, leaving the mess for others to clean up. How shameless! That said, I still won’t help the Yancheng Emperor fend off the disaster!”
“The one who becomes emperor isn’t the strongest or most capable, but the one with the greatest vision and the broadest mind.”
The Woodcutter said, “The Yancheng Emperor is that kind of person. He has a vision and a breadth of mind that even the Kaicheng Emperor lacked. In terms of strength, you’re not inferior to the Kaicheng Emperor, but do you think you would have done a better job as Kaicheng Emperor?”
Di Yiyue was silent for a moment, then shook her head. “At the most critical moment of the Kaicheng Celestial Court, I indulged in love and went to marry an enemy, only to be betrayed. I’m not fit to be the Kaicheng Emperor. Fine, I owe you a great deal, so I’ll make an exception. I need to meet your disciple and the Yancheng Emperor before I decide. If they’re worthy, I’ll help. If not, I’ll turn and leave, content to be a female ghost in Fengdu. At worst, I can go serve under Tubo.”
The Woodcutter Saint smiled, looking very pleased. “If you meet my second disciple, you’ll surely be gratified and happy that the Kaicheng Emperor has such an outstanding descendant!”
Fengdu returned to the Great Wasteland, overlapping with it.
Daylight broke.
The Woodcutter Saint, Fu Riluo, the First Ancestor, and the others took their leave of King Yan of Fengdu and immediately returned to their physical bodies.
Di Yiyue also followed their primordial spirits to the Yongjiang Academy in Lizhou, Yancheng. The Woodcutter Saint’s physical form awoke from death, stood up, and laughed, “My Qin disciple is nearby. I’ll take you to see him! You’ll like him when you see him!”
The First Ancestor, Chixi, Fu Riluo, and the others also woke up. Just then, thunderous roars came from the direction of Yongjiang, with lightning striking continuously.
Everyone looked in that direction and saw five layers of cloud thunder forming dense thunderclouds, furiously striking one spot around Yongjiang.
Di Yiyue looked closely and saw a calamity god going mad, attacking in all directions under the thunderclouds, while a young man clung to his back, mouth wide open, gnawing on the back of his head. Despite the five layers of cloud thunder wildly striking, he couldn’t be shaken off.
Di Yiyue looked suspiciously at the Woodcutter and asked, “Is that the descendant of the Kaicheng Emperor, your second disciple?”
The Woodcutter Saint’s expression didn’t change. He shook his head and said, “No, I don’t recognize that young talent. Heavenly King, let’s head to the Yancheng capital and first meet the Yanfeng Emperor.”
—Happy birthday to Moonlit Night Blossoms!