Chapter 1677: Ancient Heavenly Court Ruins

The majestic Heavenly Palace and magnificent Immortal Que stood upon white clouds, where clouds rose and colorful mists glowed, creating an astonishingly beautiful sight. Everyone was stunned; the last mysterious world had already been claimed, rendering any struggle meaningless.

The battlefield fell silent. Only a majestic voice echoed through the sky, as if an ancient Great Emperor had returned to life and was reigning over the world once more.

The Chaos Mountains moved aside one by one, rumbling as they settled at the ends of the earth. The lightning transformed into a vast, surging golden forbidden sea.

The nine celestial suns were setting in the west, bathing the palaces and towers in sacred golden and red light. Even the roof tiles seemed to glow with an auspicious radiance.

The golden forbidden sea below surged, occasionally erupting with thunder, as if the heavens were enraged. It seemed capable of transforming into a heavenly tribulation, striking fear into all hearts.

A great bell tolled leisurely, its sound resonating through eternity.

"It is indeed the Heavenly Court," an elder expert sighed softly after an unknown period. "I can't believe it wasn't completely destroyed and is located here!"

Many people were dazed, speechless, but inwardly, their hearts churned with questions. How could this be? Was this the person who had once fiercely contended with the Undying Empress?

The Black Emperor stared at the palace complex, particularly focusing on a missing corner. "It's really the Heavenly Court!" he exclaimed. "Look, the South Heaven Gate is gone; it must have fallen into the Divine Ruins!"

In fact, it wasn't the only one who noticed; many powerful individuals made significant discoveries. Someone pointed out that its architectural style was similar to the ruins found in certain ancient domains.

"Do you see it?" someone asked. "That's the Dragon Transformation Pond. Half of it collapsed, and the other half is on our ancient star."

"Hmm, the Myriad Demon Pagoda is also broken," another added. "We have a piece of its ruins there that would connect perfectly with this place."

People marveled that this was indeed the former site of the Heavenly Court. Although it was no longer complete, it could be verified and linked with other known ancient ruins.

Pang Bo stared ahead, a surprised expression on his face. "So that's it," he sighed. "The alchemy and artifact forging pavilions are half-destroyed; one half must have fallen outside the Primordial Forbidden Zone."

He thought of the Immortal Palace in Beidou, which shared the same architectural style as this place. The discovery of matching sections confirmed they were parts of the ancient Heavenly Court, evoking strong emotions in those who witnessed it.

Ye Fan's heart also trembled, as some of his classmates had disappeared there and had not been seen since. He wondered where they were now.

With a loud bang, a massive white jade staircase descended from the palace complex. It stretched out before everyone's eyes, resting upon the golden sea of lightning below.

Some palaces rumbled even louder, emitting boundless divine sounds that made the place appear even more solemn and majestic, causing everyone to hold their breath.

The vast Heavenly Palace felt empty and desolate; there were no heavenly soldiers, generals, palace maids, or attendants. Only an aura of solemnity and pressure emanated from within.

"Haha..." A hearty laugh rang out. A large man with a full beard appeared on the white jade staircase. He looked rugged and exuded an oppressive aura.

On the Black Pearl, Li Tian and Yan Yixi's eyes widened and their mouths dropped open. It was that bearded man again! Had he taken over this place? No, his voice wasn't old.

The bearded man was a Quasi-Emperor, a fact already confirmed. Clearly, when they first encountered him in the Ziwei Star Domain, he had been traveling in the mortal world.

With his full beard, the big bearded man appeared very majestic. However, when his eyes shifted to Li Tian and the others, a fleeting hint of lewdness did not escape their notice.

This gave the two sworn brothers goosebumps. This fellow, who seemed to enjoy playing around in the mortal world, was definitely not a rigid and highly respected senior figure.

The next moment, an old man appeared in front of the broken South Heaven Gate. He had a mouth full of yellow, incomplete teeth with gaps, and was leading a robust, chubby-faced child.

"It's him!" Pang Bo and the others were startled. They had felt a premonition earlier; when they looked back, they noticed the old man and child paying attention to everyone on their boat. At that moment, they knew he was an unrivaled master.

The old man's appearance caused a stir. Though he looked quite rustic, he must undoubtedly be an unrivaled master; otherwise, how could he reside in the Heavenly Palace?

"Is he the one who contended with the Undying Empress?" someone wondered. "Just how powerful is he, capable of ending bloodshed and chaos and bringing peace to the entire universe?"

Everyone looked up. This old man was very mysterious. Was that brilliant sword light just now from him? Yet, that domineering power didn't seem to match his current demeanor.

"Don't mind my old age," the old man said, revealing his mouth full of yellow teeth, "I'm just a handyman passing by with my grandson." He looked peculiar no matter how one viewed him.

Carrying a broken wooden bucket, he descended the white jade staircase. He arrived before the golden sea of lightning and, with a splash, plunged the bucket in, scooping up a bucket of golden liquid from which chaotic energy surged.

The onlookers were stunned. This was the Chaos Thunder God Sea, liquid formed from golden lightning, yet he treated it as if it were mere water.

Many estimated that any Great Saint touching those golden lightning elements would instantly turn to ash. Even Quasi-Emperor experts would not fare well in such a concentrated environment.

The old man remained calm. Leading his grandson, he ascended the stairs again and poured the bucket of golden liquid, concentrated from thunder elements, under a withered ancient tree.

Many were startled, their eyes gleaming as they stared intently at the withered ancient tree without blinking.

Was this the legendary immortal tree? When Emperor Zun died and the Heavenly Court collapsed, a supreme divine ancient tree withered and never revived. Could this be it?

It is said that Emperor Zun once extended the peak imperial life of the Longevity Heavenly Venerable by two thousand years. This was achieved by refining a potent elixir, whose main ingredient was a fruit from this ancient tree, combined with Emperor Zun's supreme heavenly techniques to create a heaven-defying medicine.

It should be known that those were not just an ordinary two thousand years, but two thousand years of true peak "Imperial Life." At that time, the Longevity Heavenly Venerable had already exhausted all other methods, having consumed ancient medicines and divine marrow to no avail. Ordinary years simply could not compare to these two millennia of extended Imperial Life!

"Is this old fellow pouring golden lightning liquid on the immortal tree, hoping for its revival?" Everyone's eyes gleamed with excitement; the Heavenly Court ruins truly held treasures. This ancient tree was still in existence, and many had speculated that its effects surpassed those of other immortal elixirs.

It wasn't tall enough to block the sun, only reaching a person's height, yet its branches were gnarled and robust, as if it had grown for millions of years to reach this state. Its trunk was cracked, utterly devoid of life.

"It somewhat resembles a human..." Many were surprised. This tree was very special, almost humanoid, but looked as if it had been crippled and was now twisted.

"This tree is a treasure!" the Black Emperor exclaimed, his eyes gleaming. "Even if it's dead, digging it up and carving it with Imperial Patterns would absolutely make it a great killing weapon. Perhaps holding it could even lead to enlightenment; its effects wouldn't be bad."

Many people salivated. Everyone knew this was a supreme immortal medicine tree, and even though it was withered, it likely still retained some of its effects.

"Boom!" The central Heavenly Palace's gate opened. A Daoist figure stood there, having appeared at some unknown time. The figure seemed to have existed since ancient times, ethereal and elusive, yet it radiated an invisible majesty.

"Everyone, please enter," he said to all.

Many were surprised, sensing a keen edge about him. He seemed like a personification of a segment of heavenly Dao order, standing there, leaving people puzzled.

This person was truly unique!

"He's an artifact spirit," someone whispered, guessing that he was a deity contained within a supreme weapon.

The current master of the Heavenly Palace must possess astonishing power. How else could such a divine artifact be his follower? He must be unparalleled in this era. Could that brilliant sword light from earlier have originated from this artifact spirit?

"Let's go. Let's go take a look!" Everyone was very curious, and many bold individuals naturally hoped to explore the legendary Heavenly Palace to see what truly lay within.

As some took the lead, a vast stream of people surged forward. They believed that given the master's strength, killing them would be effortless, so there would be no need for treacherous tricks like "inviting the gentleman into the jar."

Ye Fan, the Saint Prince, Pang Bo, the Black Emperor, and others gathered and entered the palace complex, eager to see what kind of person resided there.

The crowd surged forward, and as they approached, people immediately sensed a profound Daoistic essence. This place was indeed extraordinary, resonating with the very Dao!

Inside the central Heavenly Palace, every massive pillar was carved with figures like Azure Dragons, Vermilion Birds, and Kun Pengs. These were not mere decorations, but imprints of the Great Dao itself.

Small dragons could be seen flying from the pillars, shimmering with green light, while several Vermilion Birds also broke free from their constraints, spitting fire in the void and tracing arcs of crimson light.

"This is where Emperor Zun once resided; it truly is extraordinary!" everyone thought.

Everyone felt awestruck and carefully avoided these strange, totem-like shadows, fearing that any collision might trigger undesirable changes.

"No worries, these are opportunities," an ancient voice echoed from the center of the Heavenly Palace. "If someone can truly merge with them, they can obtain their Dao and heritage."

Everyone was startled, their eyes gleaming with shock. Were these left by Emperor Zun? How heaven-defying! They were supreme Dao fruits!

With a soft cry, the little one raised by Ji Ziyue, a golden-yellow Fire Phoenix, collided with an ethereal phoenix. A blazing light erupted as the two merged, their Great Daos resonating in harmony!

It was actually true! Everyone was dumbfounded, then went wild, all desperate to merge with those imprints.

Unfortunately, this was an opportunity that could not be easily seized. Even if they encountered them, the ethereal figures would immediately vanish, never truly entering their bodies, leaving everyone helpless.

This place formed its own realm; no matter how many people entered, the great hall could accommodate them. White mist permeated beneath everyone's feet, making it feel as if they were walking on clouds.

Many looked forward, eager to see what kind of person was there.

In the center of the great hall, there was no ostentatious or luxurious arrangement. Only a simple Yin-Yang fish platform, enveloped in chaotic energy, where an old Daoist sat cross-legged, seemingly merged with the void.

Ye Fan and Pang Bo's expressions trembled violently. They opened their mouths but no words came out, for they saw two familiar figures they hadn't seen for hundreds of years.

Behind the old Daoist, a man and a woman stood calmly. They were clearly the two former Daoist children, now long since grown into adults.

The man was refined, wearing a purple-gold Daoist crown and a moon-white Daoist robe. He possessed an indescribable ethereal charm and a distinguished presence.

The woman was agile, ethereal, and clear-minded, standing quietly like a banished immortal.

"Zhou Yi!"

"Lin Jia!"

Ye Fan and Pang Bo had never imagined they would see their former classmates in the ancient Heavenly Court. This discovery astonished them; after hundreds of years apart, they were actually here.

The chaotic energy dispersed, revealing the old Daoist on the broken Yin-Yang fish platform. He had a gaunt appearance and worn Daoist robes; his look and demeanor were unremarkable, making him seem very ordinary.

"It's him!"

"It's actually him!"