# Chapter 1681: The Heavenly Empress Appears
It wasn't just Ye Fan; even the Dragon Horse and the others looked as if they had seen a ghost. They never expected to see the person from the painting, actually manifesting in the real world.
On the broken Dao platform, the old Daoist was very calm, his skin lustrous, not at all decrepit. Was this the person who had fought fiercely against the Undying Heavenly Empress? Many cultivators stared at him.
"What era is he from? How did he appear here and become the master of the Heavenly Court?" The Dragon Horse and the others were more shocked than the last.
The Yin-Yang fish rotated, the damaged Dao platform ancient and simple. The old Daoist remained motionless. Behind him, Zhou Yi and Lin Jia had clearly seen Ye Fan and Pang Bo. Their eyes sparkled as they gave slight nods.
So many years had passed, yet they hadn't changed much. The years of cultivation passed swiftly; a few hundred years weren't that long for the powerful.
Clearly, each person's strength was extraordinary. Both had forged their Dao bones, their entire bodies emitting a halo of light, standing out exceptionally amidst the chaotic qi, like a perfect pair of jade-like people.
Ye Fan nodded to them, then fixed his gaze on the old Daoist, examining him carefully. He was certain there was no mistake—it was truly the person from the painting. He never expected him to step into reality.
Back then, after his bloody battle with the Overlord, he, Pang Bo, the Dragon Horse, and the twelve saints had gone to train on the Golden Ancient Path. On a not-so-large star, they had encountered an old man chopping firewood.
At first, they mistakenly thought he was real. Only later did they learn he was a figure carved in stone, tirelessly chopping wood, possessing a mysterious Dao rhythm that had captivated everyone at the time.
Later, they had even seen nine stone carvings, all left by this old man. The carvings not only depicted the Divine Spirit Ancient Coffin but also involved the Undying Heavenly Blade and other things, suggesting he had glimpsed the secrets of the Heavenly Emperor.
Now, although he was dressed as a Daoist, he was undoubtedly that same person. He had stepped out from the stone carvings and was alive in reality.
They had speculated that those stone carvings should be from a very distant era. The old man likely didn't belong to the present age, yet now he had appeared in this world. Naturally, this shocked them.
The firewood-chopping old man had walked from ancient times to appear in this era. Only his clothes had changed; now he wore a Daoist robe. Perhaps this was his true identity, and in the past, he had merely been comprehending the Dao, tempering himself in the rustic countryside.
Facing the crowd, the old Daoist sighed, "There is too much strife and killing in this era. Too many have died. I wish to quell the chaos and put an end to all this turmoil."
"You say you can quell the chaos just like that? Do you really think you can rule the world?" Someone in the shadows spoke coldly.
Swish!
A blade of light, bright as snow, shot up into the sky from behind the old Daoist. He carried a woodcutter's knife on his back, its radiance illuminating heaven and earth, making it impossible for anyone to open their eyes.
"If I must act to pacify bloodshed and chaos, I won't hesitate. If it can bring an era of peace, I willingly become a punisher targeting only a small few." The old Daoist sighed.
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a powerful deterrent force. It also allowed people to feel his resolve and sincerity—as if he wasn't fighting for himself, but only to reduce bloodshed and chaos.
The fierce blade light pierced the nine heavens, surging through the Heavenly Court. People were shocked to discover that this celestial palace hadn't been destroyed. The blinding white blade light passed through the halls and reached the sky, leaving everyone dumbfounded.
With a clang, the earlier apparition—the artifact spirit—flew into the blade light, and then everything vanished. The waterfall-like radiance and the artifact spirit together sank into the woodcutter's knife.
This was an intangible deterrence. Who dared claim victory? Probably not a single person in this era!
Not far away, a quasi-emperor coughed blood and retreated. The knife hadn't even been aimed at him, hadn't even left its sheath. It was merely the blade aura shooting into the sky that had forced a supreme expert far away, not even in the knife's path, to such a state. It was shocking.
Clearly, the old Daoist hadn't intended to kill. He had only made him cough blood and reveal himself, leaving him a chance to live.
Such methods, such divine might, made everyone's heart tremble. Who could contend with him?
It was a strange scene: an old Daoist sat cross-legged on a broken Yin-Yang Dao platform, carrying a woodcutter's knife on his back. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed a bit odd. Yet it silenced everyone, not daring to breathe loudly.
Even the ancient imperial princes felt the same. They knew they were far inferior. That realm was truly too profound—the pinnacle of quasi-emperor, reaching the ultimate peak, already touching upon the imperial Dao laws.
At this realm, anything could become a weapon. A single strand of hair could crush a galaxy. Raising a hand could create a world or tear apart the universe—no problem at all.
Ye Fan and Pang Bo exchanged glances. This old man's appearance was unexpected. Today, with the Heavenly Court ruins emerging, the situation had truly changed dramatically.
"May I ask your esteemed name, senior?" Someone spoke up.
"I've forgotten." The old Daoist looked up, gazing at the distant sky, then shook his head. "You may call me the Firewood-Chopping Old Man."
Everyone was suspicious. Such a powerful person must have a earth-shattering past. He clearly didn't want to say.
Just then, the big-bearded man walked over, looking heroic and bold. But he secretly winked at Li Tian and Yan Yixi, making their hair stand on end and giving them goosebumps.
"My master isn't from this era. He comes from ancient times. For some reason, he was sealed in stone and has lived until now." The big-bearded man revealed such a shocking piece of news.
Then, he told everyone they could call the old Daoist the Firewood-Chopping Old Man.
A quasi-emperor's master? The big-bearded man was clearly a quasi-emperor. How terrifying must his teacher be? Everyone's hair stood on end. Could it be a great emperor?
Could this unremarkable old man have already attained the Dao? It was earth-shattering.
"Alright, to be honest, I'm just a nominal disciple. I'm not from the same era as my master." The big-bearded man muttered.
Everyone relaxed. If there were two emperors, that would be too terrifying. As it turned out, the big-bearded man wasn't the old Daoist's true disciple, only in name.
Behind the Yin-Yang fish Dao platform, Zhou Yi and Lin Jia's eyes shone brilliantly, constantly sweeping over Ye Fan and Pang Bo. Some noticed them but were puzzled.
"Grandpa, this immortal tree trembled. Is it about to come alive?"
Outside the Heavenly Court, the tiger-headed, tiger-naive child spoke. The yellow-toothed old man was earnestly watering with a wooden bucket. This was already the eight hundredth bucket. All the golden thunder-element liquid had been absorbed.
Everyone was horrified!
Could this tree really come alive? It seemed the Firewood-Chopping Old Man and his group had only recently moved into the Heavenly Court. Otherwise, why would they only now start watering?
Everyone was greatly shaken. Aside from the Emperor Venerable's scriptures, this immortal medicine tree was definitely the most precious thing in the Heavenly Court, making everyone's heart race.
Boom! The heavens trembled. In the distance, a terrifying cloud appeared, like a huge ball of flame burning, covering the sky.
"Phoenix Nest!"
Many were greatly alarmed. Some recognized what it was.
Was it a dwelling built from phoenix blood trees, or was it a true imperial Dao artifact? How could it have such a shocking oppressive force, unsettling everyone's minds?
Everyone knew the Undying Heavenly Empress had arrived. All were in an uproar. They had heard of her before, but only today did they see the Phoenix Nest. Naturally, it attracted millions of gazes.
"Dao friend, your body seems quite sturdy." A crisp voice came, like a young girl murmuring, possessing a strange magical power.
Everyone was petrified. Was this the Undying Heavenly Empress? Theoretically, it should be her. Who else could have such a demeanor?
But her voice was too young! According to people's speculation, she should be a decrepit old woman. They never expected her to sound so youthful.
Of course, no one saw her true face. They couldn't know if she was really that young. They could only see the massive Phoenix Nest pressing down, about to enter and occupy this celestial palace.
"Heavenly Empress still lives in the world. How dare I die?" The old Daoist said calmly, his tone actually quite firm, not very polite.
"Are you hoping I'll die? But I can still live for a few more thousand years. I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. Also, I want to reclaim this celestial palace. Please leave." The crisp, pleasant voice came from the Phoenix Nest, like an oriole singing.
"Why say 'reclaim'? How did it become the Heavenly Empress's territory?" The old Daoist said.
"In the past, the Heavenly Emperor and I often resided here. Naturally, it is my home. Now that I've returned, it's only right. Is there something wrong with that?" The Undying Heavenly Empress's voice turned somewhat cold.
"If a descendant of Emperor Venerable had come, perhaps they could say that. Heavenly Empress, you're being unreasonable. Now, this place belongs to all under heaven. It's not mine, nor is it yours." The Firewood-Chopping Old Man said.
"Hehehe..." Like a string of silver bells colliding, crisp and pleasant, the Undying Heavenly Empress's laughter had a demonic quality, making those present want to submit and kneel.
"Clang!" The woodcutter's knife on the old Daoist's back automatically unsheathed itself. The sound of the blade shattered the laughter, instantly calming the universe.
"Must we still fight a battle?" The old man spoke, his tone calm but very resolute, facing her with his blade.
"Hum"
A blaze of fire rose from the Phoenix Nest, like overlapping red blood, brilliant light bursting forth, as if an immortal phoenix was about to undergo nirvana and emerge.
"Is the Heavenly Empress going to follow the Heavenly Emperor's path? Wanting to obtain the blood of all emperors, bathe in it, and achieve phoenix nirvana?" The Firewood-Chopping Old Man's words shook the entire world.
At the same time, the Phoenix Nest trembled, clearly impacted. The red blood immortal glow receded.
"What? What did the Undying Heavenly Emperor do? Why say that?" Many were shocked.
Ye Fan and Pang Bo exchanged glances, both shuddering. They thought of the nine stone carvings left by the Firewood-Chopping Old Man. They involved the Divine Spirit Ancient Coffin, the Heavenly Emperor's lineage, and some carvings even concerned heaven-defying matters that he had carved and then erased.
Clearly, the Firewood-Chopping Old Man had once known many shocking secrets concerning the myriad heavens across the ages. He was only revealing one of them now.
The Undying Heavenly Empress was greatly shaken. Even she hadn't expected him to know so much.
At that moment, Ye Fan shuddered violently. The Undying Heavenly Emperor bathing in imperial blood to undergo nirvana—what an astonishing thing that was!
"No wonder... during the Dark Chaos, some said he was the greatest schemer. Clearly, this emperor had other terrifying methods!"
Ye Fan thought of many things. Later great emperors and ancient emperors all knew the terror of the Undying Heavenly Emperor and were deeply wary of him. So this was the hidden truth.
Bathing in imperial blood to be reborn—this was a terrifying legend!
It was the same principle as the phoenix's nirvana and rebirth from fire, but it was infinitely more horrifying. How could imperial blood be easily shed? What kind of struggles would accompany that?
Just thinking about it made everyone's scalp tingle. That realm truly had no ordinary people, no mortals. The things they did were beyond comprehension.