Chapter 1051: Reverse Fate

Chapter 1052: Heaven-Defying Fortuity

In the center of the majestic palace was a spring pool, from which thousands of auspicious streaks of light and ten thousand rays of colorful aura gushed forth. It was clearly a divine pond, its spiritual energy so dense it was almost tangible.

However, this was not the most striking feature. What truly captivated and deeply moved everyone was an object contained within the pool, dazzlingly bright and interwoven with countless traces of the Great Dao.

It was a precious tree, enveloped in an ethereal immortal mist that rose and shimmered, making it appear dreamlike and illusory. It seemed as though it was rooted in the immortal realm, yet extended into the mortal world, connecting both domains.

It had several main trunks with rough, old bark, yet upon closer inspection, they seemed to be integrated with the Great Dao. Its slender branches, in contrast, were crystal clear, shimmering with radiant light, appearing mysterious and profound.

Surrounding it were countless wisps and strands of Dao traces, merging with heaven and earth. Occasionally, they would resonate with a harmonious hum, and the reverberating sounds of the Great Dao would cause one to almost achieve instant enlightenment.

Naturally, the most captivating elements were the leaves on its tender branches. Hardly any two leaves were alike; each one was translucent and gleaming, as if cast from divine jade of the nine heavens. They swayed, emitting thousands of kinds of glowing auras, all of which were traces of the Great Dao.

One leaf resembled a small, lusterless cauldron, exuding an ancient and grand aura. It had three legs and two handles, with one of the legs serving as the petiole, connecting it to the slender branch, thus acting as a vessel for the Great Dao.

Another leaf was shaped like an immortal phoenix, entirely blood-red and shimmering with crimson light, as if born from divine fire and ready to spread its wings to soar into the sky and leap into the void. Only a single phoenix feather connected it to the branch, emitting crimson auras and auspicious light, and faintly, the cry of a phoenix could be heard.

Yet another leaf resembled a small golden bell, entirely translucent and golden. As it gently swayed, it emitted a resonant boom like a grand ancient bell, making one feel at one with the Dao.

The leaves on the tree were bizarre and varied; it was hard to find two that were similar. Vermilion Birds, Bagua symbols, divine swords, gourds, and precious umbrellas all flickered with divine radiance, captivating anyone who gazed upon them. Each leaf was a trace of a unique Great Dao, stirring the hearts and minds of onlookers.

How could such an immortal tree not be awe-inspiring? It was impossible not to swallow in amazement. Naturally, they were immensely excited; such a treasure was rare in the world, and anyone who saw it would tremble.

The Dragon-Horse, in its excitement, kicked out, nearly sending the Shameless Daoist flying. However, relying on his sharp senses, Duan De, despite his plumpness, was agile enough to dodge.

“A treasure!” the big black dog exclaimed, drooling, and was the first to lunge forward. The Dragon-Horse, not to be outdone, lifted its basin-sized hooves and charged ahead, nearly stepping on the Black Emperor’s tail.

“Woof!”“Neigh!”

With the barking of the dog, the neighing of the horse, and Duan De's cry of 'Immeasurable Heavenly Venerate,' the place instantly became lively.

“No need to fight; there are plenty of immortal leaves for everyone,” Ye Fan and the Saint Prince quickly intervened, separating them, knowing they would surely come to blows otherwise.

This was the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree, and no one had expected to see it here. Its main trunk was rough, with old bark peeling like dragon scales, embodying the essence of the Great Dao. As for its tender branches and those crystal-clear leaves, it went without saying they were all extraordinarily divine. Every single leaf was priceless, unlike the tender sprouts Ye Fan and his companions had collected before; these were flawless leaves intricately woven from Dao traces.

“Thump!”

A leaf shaped like a thirty-three-story pagoda gently trembled, emitting a roaring sound as it circulated the primordial energy of heaven and earth, instantly calming one’s mind and dispelling all restlessness.

“Clang!”

A silver-white leaf resembling a Dao sword emitted a dazzling, piercing cold light and a resonant sword cry that struck everyone’s heart, severing all attachments and instantly bringing them to the verge of enlightenment.

“It’s truly mysterious,” someone murmured. “No wonder the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree is said to be an embodiment of the Great Dao, rooted beyond the primordial universe and not within the five elements. Every type of Dao can be found on it, allowing one to gain deep insight through it.”

The divine pool gurgled; it wasn't very large, but spiritual energy surged upwards, enveloping every leaf. Here, water mists permeated the air, thin smoke lingered, and vibrant, colorful lights shimmered, creating a splendid and beautiful scene.

Ye Fan, the Saint Prince, Duan De, and others gathered around to examine it closely. They discovered that the main trunks were not connected at the bottom; they were all severed branches without roots. Someone had cut them from the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree. The cuts were clean, and mysterious sap seeped out, emitting a fragrant aroma that made one feel light and ethereal, as if about to ascend to immortality.

As they stood there, every cell in their bodies became active, and every pore opened and closed, exchanging radiance with the surrounding aura, absorbing its essence. Their feet automatically lifted off the ground, as if they were about to ascend to immortality amidst the shimmering light.

“What a heaven-defying feat!” Li Heishui exclaimed. “To venture deep into Undying Mountain, cut down the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree, and bring out such thick branches—it’s like something out of a fairy tale.”

“The existence that surpassed deities is truly worthy of its reputation,” Ye Fan murmured. The Undying Heavenly Sovereign was a figure from the early Archaic Era, perhaps even more ancient, born millions of years ago. It was during that era that this Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree was felled. In the past, the Undying Heavenly Sovereign had carved a divine coffin from the main trunk of the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree and buried himself within it. Many people, including Ye Fan, had seen it in later generations. On the ten-thousand-foot jade platform in the Immortal Mansion World of the Central Province, scenes of several Extreme Dao Emperor Weapons confronting each other had once unfolded. A divine thought of the Undying Heavenly Sovereign had even manifested there. Ye Fan had seized the Enlightenment Tree coffin there and given it to a few old friends. Pang Bo had even famously chewed on the coffin lid because of it, sparking some humorous anecdotes.

The palace was magnificent, with carved beams and painted pillars, gleaming with golden splendor. The divine pool was in the center of the hall, gurgling as the trunks of the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree, appearing as if still rooted, exuded vigorous vitality, radiating thousands of auspicious auras and strands of Dao traces.

For them, this was a rare and heaven-defying fortune, a fortuitous encounter of immense magnitude!

Beside the divine pool, there was also a stone table and several stone stools, on which sat a divine teapot coiled by nine dragons and several jade cups. It was clear that the Heavenly Sovereign Prince often drank Enlightenment Tea here.

“You just can’t compare people,” someone remarked. “To have Enlightenment Tea to savor and divine spring water to drink—this is truly the grand style of an ancient Great Emperor.”

“Let’s brew a pot of tea ourselves,” Duan De said, flipping his hand to reveal several more jade cups. Each was brilliant and sparkling, no less exquisite than the cups on the stone table, having been unearthed by him from an ancient tomb.

As the Primordial Dao Fire flickered, a golden roc spread its wings in the lake, and a Black Tortoise raised its head, resonating with the Great Dao. A rich, pure fragrance wafted out, filling the entire hall with a misty, colorful glow.

Upon entering their mouths, the tea transformed into streams of Dao light, instantly calming everyone’s minds and plunging them into a state of enlightenment. Their various secret techniques, after this profound experience, were refined and elevated.

“Indescribably wonderful,” was everyone’s true feeling.

The leaves on the branches were not densely packed, yet each was unique, so the branches didn't appear bare; each leaf was mysteriously profound. Legend had it that the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree produced only 108 leaves annually, no more, no less. The only exception was during a major cycle of ten thousand years, when it could yield three thousand leaves! What they saw before them, despite many having been used, still amounted to hundreds of shimmering leaves, whose value was inestimable.

“These were produced during a ten-thousand-year cycle,” exclaimed someone. “We’ve truly stumbled upon a great fortune!”

They meticulously examined the divine spring, finding that it did not lead underground but was merely a pool of water engraved with mysterious runes. These runes gathered the essence of heaven and earth, held the divine water, and nourished the trunks of the Enlightenment Tea Tree.

“Let’s dig up the whole pool!”

This group certainly wouldn't be polite; they had come to ransack and destroy anyway. They immediately worked together, excavating the entire divine pool to take it with them.

“Where do you think you’re going?” the Saint Prince roared.

A Dao-Slayer, who had been hiding there for a long time, tried to escape to summon an ancestral king. However, the monkey swung his large iron staff, instantly breaking his bones and tendons, leading to his untimely demise.

“No worries, a grand formation has been set up outside; no one can escape,” Ye Fan said. “Let’s continue searching.”

No one had expected that a mere temporary palace left by the Undying Heavenly Sovereign—not even his main palace high in the nine heavens from which he overlooked all beings—would contain such a world-defying immortal artifact, exciting everyone.

They searched all the main peaks thoroughly and were richly rewarded. Ancient medicines, divine materials, spiritual plants—they had everything, and each item was priceless. Of course, the most precious among them was undoubtedly the Enlightenment Tree trunks. So many leaves were enough to make numerous Sages bow and plead for them; they were truly invaluable.

Finally, the main peaks were left almost barren; they dug up all the medicinal plants and other items. The palace structures had nearly collapsed, and even the divine sources embedded in the pillars were stripped away. One could say that nothing was left, as if a swarm of locusts had passed through. Numerous floating palaces in the sky also did not escape, becoming their spoils of war, packed up and taken away into their spatial artifacts.

When they left, the immortal land, which had once gushed with spiritual essence, had been transformed into a desolate wilderness, with not a blade of grass left. But Duan De still lingered reluctantly, constantly wandering among the peaks, seemingly looking for something.

“Let’s hurry and go,” Ye Fan urged. They couldn’t stay here for long; alerting the ancestral kings would mean big trouble.

“This humble Daoist sees that the terrain here is excellent, with mountains surrounding spiritual water—a perfect place for burial,” Duan De mused. “I thought the Heavenly Sovereign Prince’s ancestors were likely buried here, but the result is truly disappointing.”

Everyone rolled their eyes. Indeed, nothing was left wherever this plump one went. While plundering treasures from the divine palace was one thing, even graves were being eyed; it was somewhat horrifying.

“One cannot be too Duan De!”“Immeasurable Heavenly Venerate.”

The group left the mountain gate, dismantling the Origin Heaven patterns and the Heaven-Deceiving Grand Formation. Following the Dragon-Horse’s decisive suggestion, they decided to burn the place clean.

The Black Emperor, feigning a look of sorrow, said, “Always leave a thread of possibility.”

“There’s not even a single blade of grass left, what thread are we leaving?!” the Dragon-Horse scoffed.

“Let’s leave a temporary thread, otherwise the ancestral kings will immediately jump out,” Ye Fan said. The group, laden with spoils, disappeared into the depths of the mountain range.

In the Southern Region, the Heavenly Sovereign Prince stood on an archaic war chariot, with thick black hair and handsome features, his eyes like two cold stars. He carried the Undying Heavenly Blade on his back, exuding an aura capable of swallowing mountains and rivers.

Leading his Eight Divine Generals, he lorded over the Southern Region; no one dared to obstruct him. Wherever he passed, silence reigned in all directions, no one dared to utter a word, and the cultivators of the Southern Region were as silent as cicadas in winter.

“What is the Saint Prince? That mysterious human expert is also nothing but an ant! Before the invincible Heavenly Sovereign Prince, they are mere weaklings, utterly vulnerable!” As these words were spoken, the entire Eastern Wasteland trembled. The words were arrogant and domineering, utterly dismissing the two powerhouses capable of killing Half-Sages, full of contempt.

People knew that the Heavenly Sovereign Prince and the Saint Prince had completely fallen out and were about to engage in a deathmatch. Otherwise, their respective subordinates would not have dared to speak in such a manner.

That same day, major auction houses in the Southern Region suddenly released news that astonishing items would be put up for auction.

“Son of God, this is bad!” an ancient race member flew to a main peak in the Southern Region.

“Why are you panicking? What exactly happened?” the Heavenly Sovereign Prince asked in a deep voice.

“Someone is auctioning off the Undying Heavenly Sovereign’s temporary palace, along with various rare treasures and divine materials.”

The Heavenly Sovereign Prince’s eyes immediately widened, and his expression turned extremely cold. Beside him, a commander of the Eight Divine Generals loudly reprimanded, “Presumptuous! Spreading malicious rumors! Who is speaking such nonsense?!”

“It’s not nonsense; I saw it with my own eyes,” the trembling ancient race member, kneeling on the peak, insisted. “Even the jade cups specifically used by the Heavenly Sovereign Prince for drinking Enlightenment Tea are among the auctioned items.”

“What?!” The Heavenly Sovereign Prince’s expression finally changed. His thick black hair, without wind, began to dance wildly, and his eyes flashed like lightning bolts.

“And…” The ancient race member on the ground trembled, unable to utter the rest for a moment.

“And what else?” a commander demanded.

“Someone is also auctioning off the Son of God’s personal underwear and other items.”

“Pfft!”

Upon hearing this, the Heavenly Sovereign Prince spat out a mouthful of blood in anger, nearly toppling over. He knew then that his temporary palace had been plundered, and this was a direct affront meant to humiliate him.