Chapter 891: Hundreds of Boats Compete in the Stream

At this moment, the Purple Moon Hidden Gate vibrated. The wisp of Grand Yin power originally within it, which was the seed of the Hidden Gate and the Grand Yin Specter itself, resonated with the moon star.

He possessed the authority of the Purple Moon, which originated from the Red Moon and now belonged solely to Xu Qing, serving as a mark of connection. Even though not all moons are the same, these various factors provided him with the necessary conditions, making his current actions logical and natural.

The instant he sat down, the Purple Moon Hidden Gate roared. The incredibly dense Grand Yin power from the entire moon star surged simultaneously towards Xu Qing.

After a brief discomfort, and compared to Xu Qing's exclusive absorption, Tian Mozi, Tuo Shishan, and Fan Shishuang's absorption methods and total amounts were like fireflies, completely lacking in dominance. Even Yan Xuanzi and Er Niu, at most, had five gates open, akin to the rhythmic breathing of a Celestial Dog.

Without a comparison, it would have been acceptable, but now, the stark difference was immediately apparent: Xu Qing sat upon the moon star like its true master!

Thus, Tian Mozi and Tuo Shishan, who were in the process of advancing, couldn't help but project their divine senses, watching in shock. As for Fan Shishuang, who was also absorbing Grand Yin power, his breathing became ragged. He looked at Xu Qing, a sense of absurdity rising within him, yet he was helpless.

Even Er Niu became anxious. On one hand, it was due to his need for Grand Yin power; on the other, he felt that in this grand endeavor, his junior brother was constantly outshining him. Compared to previous times, the situation had once again reversed.

This made him feel that his dignity as the senior disciple was severely challenged. So, he immediately shouted, "Junior brother, my dear junior brother, save some for me!"

The Celestial Dog transformed by Er Niu couldn't absorb the Grand Yin power. At this moment, it could only open its large mouth and shout towards Xu Qing along with Er Niu's main body. As if that wasn't enough, Er Niu gritted his teeth, rose, and rushed straight towards the barrier of the star he was on.

The moment he approached, blood gushed out of his mouth as if it weren't his own, landing on the barrier and instantly dyeing it red and freezing it solid.

Then, with the Celestial Dog above his head charging forward, it directly bit into the barrier. With a crunch, the barrier collapsed, and the Captain's figure immediately rushed out, also intending to step onto the moon star.

A massive repulsive force pushed him away every time he approached, as if he were in a storm. He could only shout again, "Junior brother..."

Xu Qing did not open his eyes, immersed in absorbing the Grand Yin power, but he still raised his right hand and waved, guiding the Captain. Drawing upon the peculiar bond with the senior disciple, an invisible rope formed, linking him to Er Niu.

Although Er Niu was still repelled by the moon star, he relied on this anchor. Like a kite being held, he remained relatively stationary and began absorbing the Grand Yin power.

To regain his dignity as the senior disciple, Er Niu rapidly transmitted a message while absorbing: "Xiao A'Qing, let me tell you, I was the first among this group to arrive at the Emperor's Palace. And before anyone else came, your senior disciple here had already completed all the preparations. This Grand Yin power and such are just small potatoes. Wait until the right moment comes; then you'll know my true objective as your senior disciple. That's the real feast."

Hearing this, Xu Qing nodded. His Purple Moon Hidden Gate continued to absorb, making the Grand Yin power within it increasingly dense, and the aura of the Heavenly Dao surged. Through the gradually opening crack of the third Hidden Gate, the continuous eruption of icy cold power could be seen within, and the Grand Yin Specter, the embryonic form of the Heavenly Dao, became increasingly clear.

And Xu Qing's aura soared accordingly!

The Captain was in a similar state. As the two shared the moon star, they each gained something. Soon, the moon star rotated, bringing the sun star into view. Their method of absorbing by clinging to the moon star cut off Fan Shishuang's absorption like a river. Helpless, he could only grit his teeth, and with a hand seal, he conjured countless flying swords around his body.

These flying swords whistled, heading straight for the invisible barrier of the star he was on. The sound was intense, and eventually, all the swords converged into an ultimate edge, striking the barrier.

He didn't intend to break the barrier, but only to pierce a small hole! This way, he could maximize protection while still absorbing through this small, stable opening. Fortunately, Xu Qing arrived late, and Fan Shishuang had already absorbed a good amount before, so he could barely sustain it.

In contrast, Tian Mozi and Tuo Shishan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling fortunate because they needed solar power, not Grand Yin. But before they could fully exhale, Yan Xuanzi frowned.

She let out a cold snort and surprisingly stepped forward to the barrier of the star she was on. She raised her right hand and slammed her Indestructible Emperor's Fist onto the barrier.

The entire barrier shattered, collapsing and exploding. The sheer domineering intent was fully displayed in this single punch. Her figure stepped forward, heading straight for the approaching sun star. However, just like the Captain, she did not inherently possess the conditions to step onto the sun star.

Thus, the sun star's repulsion blocked her. But Yan Xuanzi was Yan Xuanzi after all. Although repelled, seeing the two people she disliked able to absorb this way, she didn't believe she couldn't.

Even though the repulsive force was terrifying, she continued forward, punching with every step. Her fists contained indestructibility and dominance; that was her Dao: to advance without retreat, unstoppable!

Thus, amidst the deafening roar, and to the shock of Tian Mozi and Tuo Shishan, she genuinely approached the sun star, step by step.

Then she dispersed her five Hidden Gates, revealed her own Void Earth, and manifested her Grand World, using these to suppress herself and allow her to sit upon the sun star.

This scene made the Captain feel a pang of envy. "This Yan Xuanzi is indeed extraordinary. Although still a bit behind me, she's almost on par with junior brother."

Yan Xuanzi's actions triggered a chain of reactions. Tian Mozi, unwilling to be outdone, took out a small white jade bottle and, after opening it, blew a breath into it.

A swath of starlight, unlike that of this world, emanated from the small bottle. With Tian Mozi's breath, the starlight seemed to gain an ethereal form, heading straight for the barrier ahead.

The next moment, the barrier was pierced, forming a vortex that drew in the scattered solar power from outside. This was also Tuo Shishan's choice. Facing competitors like Xu Qing and Yan Xuanzi, they had no other options and didn't want to cause further complications. So, as long as there was scattered power, they could barely accept it.

After all, their immediate goal was to advance to the Incarnated God stage; exploring the Emperor's Palace would also have to wait until after their advancement.

Thus, everyone seemed to be waiting. Tian Mozi and the other two had the goal of Incarnated God, so after finding their opportunity within this imperial tomb, they now waited. They waited to break through the Void Earth, for the illusory to become real, and for their Grand World to be ignited.

The Captain was also waiting for the moment he had spoken of. No one else knew his objective, but Xu Qing, having undertaken so many important tasks with the Captain, had a rough idea.

Yan Xuanzi was clearly also waiting. Her goal couldn't just be to achieve Incarnated God, because the imperial tomb's opportunity, which was significant for Tian Mozi and others, wasn't as necessary for Yan Xuanzi.

Thus, in Xu Qing's view, the people here were divided into three tiers. And he himself was also waiting. He was waiting for his Purple Moon Divine Hidden Heavenly Dao to reach full mastery, waiting for the Heavenly Dao that matched the Emperor Sword's Hidden Gate to appear, and waiting for all five Hidden Gates to open, allowing him to step into the Return to the Void realm. More importantly, he was waiting for the Captain's grand undertaking, which he had surmised in his heart!

Thus, time flowed, and as the sun and moon rotated, the auras of Tian Mozi and the other two grew increasingly mighty, subtly emanating the power of an Incarnated God. The Captain's eyes also gleamed with a faint light, and the madness within him was about to ignite.

Yan Xuanzi, sitting cross-legged on the sun star, had also opened her eyes. She looked not upwards, but beneath the star.

As for Xu Qing, his Purple Moon Divine Hidden within him finally produced a deafening roar that echoed throughout his Sea of Consciousness at this moment. The Purple Moon Hidden Gate, which had previously only opened a crack, now fully opened! Within the Hidden Gate, the Grand Yin Specter could be seen rising, and cold qi capable of freezing time and space erupted within.

"Five Gates, Three Open!"

Xu Qing's aura also surged at this instant, surpassing his past self. Coldness spread throughout his body, completely merging him with the moon star beneath him.

Just then!

Beneath these sun and moon stars, under the imperial parasol canopy, the chime bells, the sacrificial drums, and the surrounding nine massive streams of starlight, upon the mottled earth, upon the altar, within the Immortal Emperor's coffin, a heartbeat was heard!

Thump-thump!

This heartbeat surpassed the sound of thunder; even the intent of creation itself seemed unable to compare. For heaven had been defiled by a god, and the earth had become a divine realm. Therefore, this incoming heartbeat was the sound of a god. The Immortal Domain was defiled; how could the Emperor's corpse be spared?

As this sound emerged, the Emperor's Palace rumbled, affecting the entire tomb, spreading across the stars, and sweeping through the entire divine realm. Simultaneously, the opportune moment Yan Xuanzi had been waiting for arrived!

She didn't hesitate for a moment. Her body surged forth from the sun star, and amidst the echoing heartbeat, she rushed straight towards the colossal, luxurious, and majestically divine seven-colored imperial parasol canopy below, which covered half the earth!

That was an Immortal Emperor's supreme treasure! It was also the "heaven" she had prepared for her own Grand World! What she wanted to form was a super grand world, vast beyond anything, rarely seen throughout history! The Void Earth of this world could be shaped, but the "heaven" covering it was difficult to obtain. This was Yan Xuanzi's goal.

For this, she even suppressed her hatred and killing intent towards Er Niu. At this moment, she approached with a whistle, her Indestructible Emperor's Fist roaring as she used all her strength to shatter an incoming star dragon.

As that star dragon disintegrated, she spat out blood, but her figure did not pause in the slightest, appearing atop the canopy!

The instant she sat down, her five gates opened, and Void Earth descended. She intended to refine this parasol canopy within her body, making it her own Incarnated God's canopy, thereby stepping into a peak state that surpassed everyone else. Such ambition was far beyond what Tian Mozi and others could compare to.

And now, indeed, no one could stop her choice. The next instant, the seven-colored parasol canopy emanated supreme intent, beginning its fusion with her.

The aura of advancement surged sky-high.

From a distance, it looked like a divine flower blooming within this Emperor's Palace. The flower enveloped the sun and moon, spreading across the 108 stars, and myriad colorful roots growing from beneath the flower were astonishingly connected to the coffin from which the heartbeat emanated!

Regardless of whose creation, whose contingency plan, or whose rebirth the god within that coffin was, Yan Xuanzi's ultimate goal was not merely to achieve Incarnated God, but to become a God!