Chapter 758: Decisive Battle with the Dao Ancestor

Chapter 759: Decisive Battle Against the Dao Ancestor! Ten-Thousand Word Chapter

What is this? What’s happening?

Bian Zhuang stood by the Heavenly River, gazing at the High Heavens Palace, momentarily too shocked to speak.

Having been in the Heavenly Court for so long, it was Bian Zhuang’s first time seeing the High Heavens Palace’s light dim, and his first time feeling the power of the Heavenly Dao within the Heavenly Court become scattered and disorderly.

Hundreds of thousands of Heavenly River naval forces spontaneously gathered on the bank. Bian Zhuang also heard the summons from Mother Nuwa in his heart and remembered his original patron.

He desperately wanted to shed his armor and rush to the Central Divine Continent, but then he thought of the potential conflict between the Heavenly Court and the human race’s Heaven-Defying Alliance, and he wanted to rush into the High Heavens Palace to see what was happening.

But he couldn’t. He was now the Grand Marshal of the Heavenly River Navy and had to maintain morale here. Like the direct commanders of other Heavenly Court armies, he could only observe the High Heavens Palace from afar with his divine sense.

Bian Zhuang watched as... the God of Wealth entered. Doumu Yuanjun was beautiful, though her aura was too intimidating. His Majesty the Jade Emperor emerged, looking very handsome in white robes, then suddenly declared himself 'this poor Daoist' and joined the anti-Heaven faction. Wait, the Heavenly Emperor is anti-Heaven? Bian Zhuang’s forehead was riddled with question marks; he felt dizzy and disoriented, and two large words echoed in his heart: “Absurd!”

“Marshal!” a low shout came from behind him. “What are we waiting for? His Majesty has already spoken!”

Bian Zhuang’s brows furrowed deeply, and he remained silent for a moment.

The generals spoke up one after another: “Marshal, you and I are both of human origin. How can we not respond to Mother Nuwa’s summons?” “Grand Duke of the White Star has gone to confront the Heavenly Dao to protect all living beings! That Heavenly Dao is damn problematic! My Immortal Sect was perfectly fine one day, and the next it was gone! The Central Divine Continent was so prosperous before, and within a few decades, the Heavenly Dao completely ruined it!” “This humble general doesn’t know about grand affairs of heaven and earth, nor have I truly felt the Heavenly Dao’s oppression, and things have always gone smoothly for me. But with the Saint Mother’s summons and Grand Duke White Star going to the Purple Heavens Palace, matters must have reached an irreversible point. An ordinary man may not understand national affairs, but he can spill his blood against an enemy chieftain! If we care about our Heavenly Court official positions, wouldn’t we lose the essence of humanity?”

Bian Zhuang still refused to speak, his eyebrows knitted into a tight ‘川’ shape. A Heavenly General cursed, “Marshal, if you’re afraid of death, then we brothers will resign our posts and go!”

“Am I afraid of death?!” Bian Zhuang’s eyes widened, and he jumped up, spitting as he spoke. “If I wasn’t trying to keep you all steady, I’d have been over there long ago! I rose up with Grand Duke White Star! This nine-toothed rake was given to me by Laozi himself! Am I not anxious? Am I heartless? Look back at these hundreds of thousands of brothers! If you few leaders rush forward, how can they not follow? Each one is only a True Immortal or Prime Immortal, not even a Heavenly Immortal. They can’t use Heavenly Dao battle formations against Heaven, so what can they do? Go to their deaths?! Huh!”

The generals fell silent, lowering their heads without a word.

Bian Zhuang took a deep breath and sighed, “This Marshal got emotional; don’t, don’t take it to heart. I won’t stop any Heavenly Immortals or Golden Immortals who want to go; the rest of you stay here and wait. No one is to act without my command. Now, I’ll go find Commander Ao Yi and ask what’s really going on.”

After speaking, just as Bian Zhuang was about to turn and ride the clouds, a dragon’s roar came from the direction of the High Heavens Palace. A green dragon soared through the air and swiftly landed in front of Bian Zhuang. It was Ao Yi!

Ao Yi let out a loud shout, “Where are the Heavenly River Naval Forces!” Bian Zhuang immediately stepped forward, “They’re all here!”

Ao Yi took a jade tiger tally from his sleeve. “Her Majesty the Queen Mother has commanded that the Heavenly Court open the Central Heavenly Gate to allow the Human Saint Mother to pass! The Heavenly Court will cease operations for one day, and all upright gods of various departments are temporarily relieved of their official duties! The Heavenly River Naval Forces are ordered to guard the path from the Central Heavenly Gate all the way to the Thirty-Third Heaven, protecting the Human Saint Mother and the Heaven-Smiting Heroes!”

The generals assented in unison, each turning to find their respective subordinates. Bian Zhuang also breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Just as Bian Zhuang was about to speak, Ao Yi winked at him and transmitted a few whispered instructions.

Soon, Bian Zhuang leaped into the air, holding his precious sword, and declared loudly, “The Heavenly Dao’s selfish desires have already affected the Three Realms’ operation! The Heavenly Court was born to protect the Three Realms, to protect the weak. If Heaven is unjust, the Heavenly Court will not obey its commands! Though the Heavenly Court was established by the Heavenly Dao to govern the Three Realms, the immortals, gods, and soldiers of the Heavenly Court are all living beings of these Three Realms! This time, the Heavenly River Naval Forces will escort the army marching to besiege the Purple Heavens Palace. If any Heavenly Immortals or Golden Immortals wish to assist, they may join the rear guard! This Marshal is certainly going!”

Hundreds of thousands of Heavenly River naval forces roared their assent, their shouts shaking the Thirty-Third Heaven.

Not only the Heavenly River Naval Forces but also the Eight Ministries of Upright Gods and all military divisions began to move. The Queen Mother sat upright in the High Heavens Palace, holding the Investiture of the Gods, suppressing its power. In the Tongming Hall, the Righteous Gods, who were originally responsible for maintaining the Heavenly Court’s operation, now exerted their efforts to obstruct the flow of Heavenly Dao power, dispersing it and closely monitoring its changes. In the Divine Punishment Hall, the thunderbolts in the Ten Thousand Thunders Pool had been sealed by layers of immortal power. In truth, the Heavenly Punishment directly descended by the Heavenly Dao had no relation to the Ten Thousand Thunders Pool; the Heavenly Court immortals and gods were merely seeking peace of mind.

“Resist the Heavenly Dao.” These words were easy to say, but for the human immortals within the Heavenly Court, they carried a certain weight. The Heavenly Court was established by the Dao Ancestor in ancient times, serving as a supplement to the Heavenly Dao and responsible for maintaining the Three Realms’ operation. To now deny the Heavenly Dao and stand as its enemy inevitably caused some unease among the Heavenly Court immortals and gods. This could indeed be considered a tribulation for the Heavenly Court. However, few could currently foresee the direction this tribulation would take.

The rumbling of war drums sounded. Below the Central Heavenly Gate, countless points of starlight had gathered, rapidly surging towards it. These were the human heroes—human soldiers who died in ancient wars, their beliefs undiminished, relying on the human emperors’ incense and merit to gather the collective willpower of humanity, protecting the human race of the Primordial World. However, at this moment, the largest number was not the army of heroes but human immortals.

Saint Nuwa condensed her hundred-zhang-tall true form to human size, concealed her serpent tail, donned battle armor, and led tens of thousands of indomitable human heroes into the sky first. With rumbling wheels, the hundreds of thousands of human heroes, including the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors from Fire Cloud Cave, followed closely. This was the entire foundation of Fire Cloud Cave. And behind this vast army of heroes, there were countless immortals and countless living beings.

Azure Dragons circled overhead; hundreds of ancient dragons were mixed among the immortals, their fierce aura causing the immortal power of many to flow sluggishly.

Suddenly, horns blared. Large numbers of Witch Tribe members galloped from the northern lands, deploying their Witch Tribe battle formations, treading on black clouds, seemingly vying for the position of Heaven-Smiting vanguard.

In the Heavenly Court, a large number of human immortals and gods gathered around the Jade Emperor. They stood before the High Heavens Palace, awaiting the arrival of Mother Nuwa.

At this time, there were still two Saints in the heavens and earth, but they had not appeared directly. However, in the small courtyard on Kunlun Mountain and the thatched hut on Spirit Mountain, the figures of the Primeval Lord of Heaven and the Receiving Saint were no longer present. The Saints’ whereabouts were unknown.

The first to enter the Central Heavenly Gate was a solitary figure. Ksitigarbha, clad in green robes, arrived riding Truth-Listener. As Ksitigarbha and Truth-Listener entered the Central Heavenly Gate, the Queen Mother in the High Heavens Palace unleashed a beam of immortal light. The Thirty-Third Heaven suddenly trembled, splitting open to the left and right along the axis from the Central Heavenly Gate to the High Heavens Palace. The Heavenly Path was thus wide open, leading directly to the Thirty-Third Heaven!

Ksitigarbha closed his eyes and concentrated, rapidly ascending on Truth-Listener’s back. When he reached a higher altitude, he heard the Jade Emperor’s call.

“King Ksitigarbha, would you like to come along?” Ksitigarbha opened his eyes, looked to the side of the Heavenly Path, nodded to the Jade Emperor, and guided Truth-Listener out of the Heavenly Path, landing before the Jade Emperor. Ksitigarbha said, “Your Majesty is truly noble.” The Jade Emperor chuckled and sighed, saying nothing more.

Behind the Jade Emperor, Zhao Gongming untied his large red wedding robes and changed into his battle armor. A wooden plaque floated above his head—“Saint Slayer: Zhao Gongming.” The Jie Sect immortal holding the plaque looked left and right, his face full of pride.

A moment later, streaks of light shot up from below. The indomitable human heroes had arrived. Dozens of Azure Dragons flew to the very front, using their formidable bodies to scout the path ahead.

The Jade Emperor said, “You and I should assist the Human Saint Mother.” With that, he stepped forward, leading the immortals and gods into the Heavenly Path, following behind Mother Nuwa. The flickering streaks of light in the Heavenly Path became even more numerous.

On the Lunar Star, in the Guanghan Palace, Chang’e stood in the shadow of the osmanthus tree, pondering silently for a moment, then whispered something to the woman behind her who wore rabbit ear ornaments.

In the Tushita Palace, Laozi ambled out of his alchemy lab, looked at the docile green ox grazing in the courtyard, and smiled contentedly.

In the Jade Pool, dozens of the most cultivated celestial maidens flew out together, rushing to assist on the Heavenly Path.

Outside the Heavenly Court, at the Wuzhuang Temple in the Central Divine Continent, the old Daoist stood beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree, sighing softly. He placed the Scroll of the Earth into his sleeve and stepped through the void...

Purple Heavens Palace.

Li Changshou looked at Dao Ancestor Hongjun before him with a complicated expression. The latter, however, smiled, completely unconcerned by the situation.

Li Changshou sighed, “Fellow Daoist, you have truly... incurred too much resentment.”

“This poor Daoist believes he has nothing to be ashamed of,” Hongjun responded calmly. In the scene displayed behind him, the figure in the great cauldron was reduced to a faint outline.

Hongjun waved his sleeve, and the Qiankun Cauldron trembled softly, the figure instantly dispersing. At that moment, the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun became inextricably linked, no longer separate entities.

Thus, Hongjun’s gaze became even calmer and more serene. He opened his mouth and asked, “From the Heavenly Emperor to the immortals, and even the Houtu’s Seven Emotions incarnation, all seem closely connected to you, Fellow Daoist. Have you been calculating how to overthrow this poor Daoist all along?”

Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, saying nothing more, his gaze fixed on the Jade Disc of Creation that had flown back into the Dao Ancestor’s hand. “A good item indeed...”

Li Changshou said, “With this treasure, it is truly convenient to control heaven and earth.”

Hongjun asked, “Are you not going to discuss countermeasures with them? You are free to come and go as you please here; this poor Daoist has nothing left to prepare. You are dissatisfied with the Heavenly Dao, dissatisfied with this poor Daoist, so I will give you this opportunity. As long as you defeat this poor Daoist today, I shall have no complaints whatsoever.”

Li Changshou was truly amused and annoyed. “Fellow Daoist, saying this after you’ve already devoured the Heavenly Dao, isn’t that a bit too much?”

“Hehehe,” Hongjun chuckled, his eyes slightly dim. “Perhaps, this poor Daoist’s only pleasure is this. Changshou, you haven’t yet experienced overly long years...”

“I have Dao companions.” Li Changshou interrupted Hongjun’s words and extended two fingers. “Two, in fact, and quite a few friends too.”

Hongjun: “...” “Enough,” Hongjun patted his knees, stood up from his sitting position, and clasped his hands behind his back.

Li Changshou also rose to his feet, carefully controlling this false body that was supposed to be Subhuti, making his movements appear relaxed and casual.

Hongjun asked, “Before they arrive, shall we have a match, you and I?” “As you wish, Fellow Daoist.”

Faint Dao aura appeared around Li Changshou as he transformed into a hazy, ethereal form, saying calmly, “I am from nothingness; this body is false; only the Dao is eternal.” This was the Great Dao of Emptiness and the method of Empty Concentration.

Hongjun raised a hand and pointed a finger. Li Changshou’s body instantly twisted into a ball, like a tablecloth being pulled up. But Li Changshou merely casually raised his hand, stepping out of the distortion, perfectly unharmed.

The two seemingly nonchalant gestures—a point and a raise of the hand—contained profound Dao implications.

Hongjun pondered for a moment and smiled, “Your false body of Patriarch Bodhi is truly excellent. Your insight even makes this poor Daoist feel a bit envious.”

“Fellow Daoist, now that you’ve integrated the Heavenly Dao, it would be simple to seal my false body somewhere,” Li Changshou said calmly. “However, if you wish to erase me, you would need a way to shatter the Great Dao of Emptiness.”

Hongjun retorted, “Are you testing this poor Daoist’s control over the Heavenly Dao?”

Li Changshou smiled without answering and turned to walk out of the bamboo house.

Hongjun chuckled, “Are you going to persuade them to go back?” “I had such a thought, but alas...”

Li Changshou, his back to the Dao Ancestor, sighed, “Given your generosity, Fellow Daoist, they have already stepped forward, and there is no turning back. I will go and walk with them, and then we will storm the Purple Heavens Palace later.”

“There’s no need to storm it; this poor Daoist will wait patiently outside the palace,” Hongjun said earnestly. “Regardless, these are this poor Daoist’s final adversaries, and I will grant them due respect.”

Li Changshou raised a hand and waved it, took a few steps, and his figure ‘smoothly’ flickered several times, already having left the purple bamboo forest.

Hongjun gazed at Li Changshou’s retreating figure, his eyes holding a hint of confusion. Perplexed, very perplexed.

Hongjun truly wanted to ask at this moment what gave Li Changshou the right to be so arrogant, coming and going as he pleased in his Purple Heavens Palace. The will of the Heavenly Dao had been devoured by Hongjun; now, Hongjun was Heaven itself, the very Dao of the Primordial World!

This was no longer like before, when Hongjun contended with the Grand Pure Saint and could only rely on the essence of heaven and earth to prevent the Grand Pure Saint from acting. At that time, Hongjun, as a Dao Integrator, was more or less affected by the strongest Saint’s connection to the Heavenly Dao. But now, how could he lose? Hongjun truly couldn’t imagine it.

Could Li Changshou have tampered with the Heavenly Dao’s will? Hongjun sat down cross-legged, his brow furrowed with a hint of solemnity. He began to meticulously search himself, quickly eliminating every possibility he could think of.

He found no issues. Ninety-eight percent chance he’s bluffing? Hongjun fell into deep thought, watching Li Changshou’s figure, who, after leaving the Purple Heavens Palace, sat cross-legged outside it.

Li Changshou’s composure and confidence seemed entirely genuine...

Hongjun narrowed his eyes slightly. It didn’t matter. By now, no one could overturn Heaven. Haotian had been too deeply affected by the variables; he deserved a lesson.

In truth, Li Changshou was feeling somewhat frustrated. They were arriving too quickly! The various forces of his faction were arriving too quickly! Didn’t they need time to organize their armies? To shout slogans or give pre-battle speeches? They were just charging headlong into the Purple Heavens Palace, trying to bash their heads against the Heavenly Dao?

He was deeply moved and understood that everyone wanted to contribute to the world, to dedicate their strength to the freedom of all living beings. Of course, they might also be coming to provide him with support, but there was no concrete evidence for that, so he wouldn’t dwell on it.

Yet... his true body couldn’t descend directly; he needed his Senior Brother Xuandu to break through the final barrier. If