Chapter 1325: Reshaping the Heavenly Dao

The once pitch-black Abyssal Spirit now glowed with golden light, transforming it into a world of gold.

Within this golden radiance, the divine authority of the Divine Venerable's Eye from the lantern surged like a tide, churning the ocean of the world. Wherever it swept, everything dissipated in the golden light.

This was not decomposition, nor was it a tearing apart like Xu Qing's decrees; it was a continuous reduction, a gradual diminishment. This process, unless one possessed equivalent divine authority, was irreversible. Everything was altered—all that existed in the void, be it life or essence, illusion or reality, time or space. Under this diminishment, everything was destined to vanish.

This naturally included the golden lizard. Although a Divine Venerable, it was not its true body; only a wisp of divine consciousness had arrived, and it was ultimately limited. Therefore, despite possessing the status of a Divine Venerable, it could not last long under the equally ranked divine authority of the Divine Venerable's Eye. After all, the Divine Venerable's Eye not only held its own power but also benefited from Master Bai's blessings. Consequently, this lantern had become the most potent item in Xu Qing's possession.

At this moment, wherever its light passed, everything turned to void, yet only the golden lizard persisted within that emptiness. However, as its divine consciousness was gradually nullified layer by layer, its form became increasingly indistinct. Finally, before dissolving, it turned and gazed at Xu Qing. Its indifferent voice echoed through the void.

"You will eventually venture out one day."

As its voice rippled, the golden lizard closed its eyes, its form melting into the golden light and vanishing within it. Erased. Banished by this! Only the lingering echoes of its prior words reverberated, refusing to fade.

Xu Qing's gaze was cold. Listening to the echoes resonating in all directions, he understood the meaning behind the entity's words. In reality, even with the lantern forged from the Divine Venerable's Eye in his hand, he knew the gap between himself and a Divine Venerable remained vast, like heaven and earth. There was no possibility of him fighting them directly. The reason the four Divine Venerables of the Ninth Star Ring had chosen to compromise and allow him to draw lines in Wanggu was because of the Barren Realm. They feared the Barren Realm, daring not to appear in their true forms, or even send avatars. They could only dispatch their subordinates or use various methods to project strands of divine consciousness. Yet, with the combat power Xu Qing now wielded, even their divine consciousness could be obliterated if it arrived. This was why they chose to stand by and watch. But indeed, as the golden lizard had said, unless Xu Qing never ventured out again. Otherwise, once he left the bounds of Wanggu, losing the deterrence of the Barren Realm, they would have countless ways to put Xu Qing to death. Even if Xu Qing carried karma from the Barren Realm and had previously caused its descent upon the Fourth Star Ring, Divine Venerables wouldn't need to act personally; multiple Divine Sovereigns working together could still achieve results.

"Venture out, huh..." Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, then slowly lowered the raised lantern. As the divine power within the lantern gradually dispersed, his body swayed slightly, and his face took on a pale hue. Wielding such a high-level treasure, even in his current state of Immortal-God fusion, was difficult to do repeatedly. Each use was a significant drain on him. This time, in particular, he had activated the Divine Venerable's authority within the lantern, greatly increasing the consumption. Thus, the moment the golden lizard vanished, Xu Qing also retracted his own thoughts, and the Divine Venerable's Eye within the lantern in his hand closed once more.

At this moment, not a speck of the golden light remained in the Abyssal Spirit. The void reverted to darkness, but compared to before, this darkness conveyed emptiness. Utterly clean. To some extent, the entire Abyssal Spirit no longer existed. Only the decaying giant serpent remained, trembling there. The previous golden light, under Xu Qing's control, had avoided the area behind him, thus sparing the serpent and the Abyssal Emperor's Eye from being assimilated by the golden light.

As for Zhou Zhengli and others, they successively flew out from the world carried by the giant serpent, appearing beside Xu Qing. They had sensed the external events from within their world, and now their gazes towards Xu Qing held an even deeper reverence. Even Xing Huanzi silently bowed his head slightly. If they were so affected, what more could be said of the Ancient Abyssal Emperor? He had watched with his own eyes as the Abyssal Spirit turned to nothingness, and even the terrifying entity from his memories dissipated. Consequently, all of the Ancient Abyssal Emperor's eyes showed shock and horror.

Feeling the giant serpent's trembling and seeing the Ancient Abyssal Emperor's shock, Xu Qing shook his head. "The Ancient Abyssal Emperor, capable of unifying Wanggu, must have possessed great ambition, and indeed, he did. But clearly, after his failed ascension, he truly perished, and you... are merely a manifestation of his obsession, used by the Divine Venerable, granted a flicker of life. However, you are no longer the Ancient Abyssal Emperor of the past." Xu Qing spoke calmly.

The Ancient Abyssal Emperor said nothing, a bitter expression appearing in all its eyes before it finally closed them. It knew it could not struggle or resist, and Xu Qing's words had revealed the truth it refused to acknowledge. It was, indeed, no longer the Ancient Abyssal Emperor of old. Merely a remnant body, resurrected by external forces, clinging to life, and hiding within the Abyssal Spirit.

"But you possess the ancient status of Wanggu, whether it's your true form's identity, your connection to Wanggu, or your true form's former cultivation..." Xu Qing gazed at the Ancient Abyssal Emperor, a profound look in his eyes. "Since you are the manifestation of the Ancient Abyssal Emperor's obsession to seize the Heavenly Dao, then... Today, you shall become the Heavenly Dao." As Xu Qing spoke, he raised his right hand and seized both the Abyssal Emperor's Eye and the giant serpent. With a single stride, he transcended the void, teleporting away. When he reappeared, he was already in the firmament above the Wanggu Continent. His words caused all of the Ancient Abyssal Emperor's closed eyes to snap open, staring at Xu Qing in disbelief.

Xu Qing looked up, gazing at the firmament. "After cultivators in Wanggu reach the Divine Incarnation stage, their path is broken. Except for those with special inheritances, there is no possibility of becoming a Sovereign. This is because when the Barren Realm arrived years ago, it devoured many Heavenly Daos, leaving the cultivation path of the Wanggu Continent incomplete." As he spoke, a sharp glint appeared in Xu Qing's eyes. "Heavenly Dao!" The instant these two words left his mouth, they transcended Heavenly Dao and celestial sound, exploding throughout Wanggu.

Amidst the roar, directly above Xu Qing, numerous strange figures instantly materialized within the sky. These figures included both human and non-human races. They were all the remaining Heavenly Daos of Wanggu. Most were decaying, their auras chaotic, and their forms appeared indistinct. "Today, I confer upon the Ancient Abyssal Emperor: one eye, one Dao. With ninety-nine eyes, it shall become the ninety-nine Heavenly Daos of Wanggu!" Xu Qing's voice, imbued with the power of consecration, resonated, causing Wanggu's fortune to churn and manifest as auspicious omens rising in all directions. The remaining Heavenly Daos all bowed their heads, their forms receding to yield their positions.

Then, Xu Qing's gaze fell upon the Ancient Abyssal Emperor. All of the Ancient Abyssal Emperor's eyes now gleamed with excitement. "Thank you, Lord of Wanggu!" After speaking, it rapidly dispersed, returning to the giant serpent nearby and merging with its body. Finally, with a tremor of the serpent, ninety-nine wounds split open on its form. From each wound, an eye emerged. All opened simultaneously. Then, a roar erupted from the giant serpent's mouth, and it ascended into the sky. Each eye represented a Dao, converging to form the ninety-nine Heavenly Daos that would preside over Wanggu. The entirety of Wanggu trembled. In the depths of the unseen, all races sensed it. Furthermore, some cultivators who had been stagnating in the late Divine Incarnation stage felt sudden enlightenment within their hearts at that moment, becoming excited. For those insights were guiding them towards the path of a Sovereign! All of this originated from the Ancient Abyssal Emperor, from its status, and from its cultivation! This was the ancient era reconnecting with the present Sovereign path!

"The Heavenly Dao must not be incomplete; thus, it requires a hundred." Gazing at the Ancient Abyssal Emperor taking its place, Xu Qing spoke softly, then his eyes fell upon... the area outside Feng Hai Prefecture. Outside Feng Hai Prefecture, on the ground, a colossal infant, visible to mortals, sat there, beaming innocently at Xu Qing. However, its body showed numerous decaying wounds. Those were caused by contamination from an ancient immortal.

Gazing at the colossal infant, Xu Qing's eyes softened. "Residual Dao, return to your place!" His voice rose with his thought, echoing in the firmament. Instantly, the residual Daos that had yielded their Heavenly Dao positions for the Ancient Abyssal Emperor transformed into streaks of light, surging directly towards the colossal infant. In a flash, they successively merged into the infant's body. This caused the infant's aura to grow increasingly profound, and the wounds on its body rapidly healed. Until finally, the infant's entire body shone with iridescent colors, and it began to grow, transforming into the appearance of a six or seven-year-old boy under Xu Qing's gaze. His face was like a silver disk, his skin fair as snow, with a lustrous glow, precisely like white jade, exuding a pure and innocent charm. Especially his eyes, dark as lacquer, profound yet clear, like a pristine spring or bright stars fallen within them. As he looked around, they shimmered with light and color, full of childlike purity and innocence. His overall demeanor was like a delicate bud freshly unfurling on a spring branch, inspiring joy in anyone who saw him. As if he himself was an auspicious omen.

He stood up, then, facing Xu Qing, raised a small hand in a bow. "This child greets Big Daddy."

Xu Qing smiled and said softly. "You were originally formless, descended by chance, born as a Heavenly Dao, inheriting the status of an ancient Dao. Today, I confer upon you the title of Wanggu's First Heavenly Dao! You shall command the Ancient Abyssal ninety-nine Daos! In the future... protect Wanggu!" Xu Qing's voice, imbued with the power of his decrees and bolstered by fortune, rippled through Wanggu, thundering in the hearts of all races and beings, consecrating the Heavenly Dao. Consequently, the rosy clouds thickened, and heaven and earth celebrated together.

Amidst the myriad of rosy clouds, the child looked at Xu Qing and nodded heavily, with an incredibly serious expression. "This child will obey Big Daddy's words and will surely protect Wanggu from now on. As long as this child exists, Wanggu exists. If this child ceases to exist, I will still exert my full strength to ensure Wanggu always remains."

Xu Qing nodded. The child took a deep breath, then turned and looked towards another direction. There, he sensed his Second Daddy, and bowed in that direction. Subsequently, his body ascended into the sky, amidst thousands of auspicious lights, and as the Ancient Abyssal ninety-nine Daos bowed their heads, he stepped into the position of Wanggu's First Heavenly Dao! The moment he took his place, Wanggu's rules suddenly rippled.