Chapter 1487: We Are Family

Intense fluctuations emanated from the Jade Capital City as the nine Celestial Masters—Hao, Huo, Lang, Gong, Qiang, Zu, Yan, Shi, and Xu—engaged in a fierce battle. Their Celestial Palaces converged to form a grand Heavenly Court, and the power of their divine abilities reached its absolute zenith.

Having slain the Celestial Lord and refined the Heavenly Dao of Xuandu, all nine Celestial Masters gained immense benefits, causing their strength to surge once more.

Their conflict was solely driven by their desire for the Dao Tree, Dao Flower, and Dao Fruit of the Primordial Saint of the Miro Palace.

After the Primordial Saint's demise, only his immense wealth remained.

The Dao Tree, Dao Flower, and Dao Fruit represented a realm and state of being they had never encountered before; they were determined to obtain them at all costs.

While slaying the Celestial Lord had enhanced their power, eliminating the Primordial Saint of the Miro Palace and acquiring the Dao Tree, Dao Flower, and Dao Fruit offered the potential to elevate their very realm of existence.

The chaotic battle erupted suddenly but concluded just as swiftly.

The moment the battle began, Celestial Masters Hao, Huo, Gong, Ancestor God King, and Xu simultaneously attacked Celestial Consort Qiang. Despite wielding the God-Slaying Platform of the Ancestral Court and two God-Slaying Profound Blades—which possessed terrifying offensive power—Celestial Consort Qiang was overwhelmed by the combined assault of the five Celestial Masters.

Celestial Consort Qiang spun the two divine blades around her body like two roaring crimson dragons. However, Celestial Master Gong’s appearance in front of her caused her to hesitate, preventing her from delivering a fatal blow. Severely wounded by the five Celestial Masters, she quickly mounted a dragon and fled.

Shi Qiluo opened his treasure chest, and with rumbling sounds, several Divine Weapon Sky Sovereigns descended. Three of them provided cover as Shi Qiluo rushed directly toward the Dao Fruit beneath the tree.

Just as he had seized two Dao Fruits and, overcome by greed, was about to grab the Dao Flower as well, four Divine Weapon Sky Sovereigns suddenly emerged from behind Celestial Master Hao. Three of them engaged Shi Qiluo’s Divine Weapon Sky Sovereigns, while the fourth advanced directly towards him.

"How does Celestial Master Hao possess so many Divine Weapon Sky Sovereigns?"

Without hesitation, Shi Qiluo split his consciousness to control this Divine Weapon Sky Sovereign. As the creator of these weapons, he had embedded countless hidden backdoors within each one, allowing him to secretly observe the divine arts and methods of the other Celestial Masters.

He could even forcibly seize an opponent's Divine Weapon Sky Sovereign during a battle, turning it into a deadly weapon against them.

Unexpectedly, the moment he projected his consciousness into the Divine Weapon Sky Sovereign, he realized something was amiss: there were no hidden backdoors within it.

"This isn't a Divine Weapon Sky Sovereign I created!"

Shi Qiluo was horrified; the fragment of his soul he had projected was instantly shattered by the Divine Weapon Sky Sovereign, nearly tearing his soul apart.

Shi Qiluo quickly retrieved his soul fragment, but the Divine Weapon Sky Sovereign's attack had already landed, its immense power nearly crushing his Celestial Palace.

This Divine Weapon Sky Sovereign was, in fact, the Supreme Primeval's innate supreme treasure, transformed into a creation divine artifact. It was not an artifact crafted by Shi Qiluo at all, and his rash attempt immediately caused him a significant loss.

Since his injury, Celestial Master Hao had been consistently underestimated. However, in this battle of Xuandu, he shone brilliantly, emerging as the undisputed victor among the Ten Celestial Masters. Having subdued Celestial Master Gong and Ancestor God King, and with the aid of Celestial Masters Huo and Xu, he became an unstoppable force, establishing himself as the most dominant power among the Ten Celestial Masters.

Yet, even during the battle of Xuandu, he had not revealed the full extent of his capabilities.

The Supreme Primeval's innate supreme treasure could transform into any other artifact, including a creation divine artifact. Having acquired this supreme treasure, Celestial Master Hao seized the opportunity, while the other Celestial Masters were busy attacking and plotting against each other and disregarding him, to retrieve all his wealth and refine it into numerous Divine Weapon Sky Sovereigns.

Injured and knowing his life was at risk, Shi Qiluo flung the two Dao Fruits towards Celestial Consort Yan.

Celestial Consort Yan raised her hand and caught the two Dao Fruits. The moment they landed in her grasp, the five Celestial Masters—Hao, Huo, Xu, Gong, and Ancestor—who had already severely wounded God Emperor Langxuan, converged on her.

Behind her, the two Taiji Ancient Gods merged, activating the Taiji Sandbox. The power of this innate supreme treasure was instantly amplified to its peak by the two ancient gods. Yin and Yang transformed, merging into Taiji, from which the surging path of Taiji nourished myriad paths and brought forth all creation.

In an instant, it was as if a world had been born from the sandbox, complete with sun, moon, and stars, a resplendent galaxy, and the flourishing Grand Dao.

At that moment, a great bell slowly rose behind Celestial Master Hao and struck the Taiji Sandbox with a resounding boom.

It was indeed the Supreme Primeval's innate supreme treasure, which, having no fixed form but capable of assuming any shape, had transformed into a vast Starlight Bell. Its outer surface was emblazoned with images of birds, beasts, insects, fish, and various sacred forms, while its inner surface was encircled by celestial stars and galaxies. The great bell clashed with the Taiji Sandbox, but its power proved insufficient, and it shattered into countless fragments.

The instant the great bell shattered, the path of Supreme Primeval condensed, and the fragmented bell transformed into a massive cauldron. Primordial chaos energy swirled beneath it, lifting the cauldron, which then slammed into the Taiji Sandbox.

Simultaneously, the five Celestial Masters arrived, each unleashing their most formidable attack onto the Taiji Sandbox. The Taiji Ancient Gods were violently split into two by the impact, and, one to the left and one to the right, they swiftly carried Celestial Consort Yan away, fleeing out of the city.

The Myriad Dao Heavenly Wheel flew from Celestial Master Hao's hand, and with a swoosh, Celestial Consort Yan’s arm was severed, a Dao Fruit clutched in its palm.

Wounded, Celestial Consort Yan fled with the remaining Dao Fruit, pursued by the five Celestial Masters. Suddenly, the two Taiji Ancient Gods made a gesture, and the world spun, the very space rotating rapidly like a Taiji Diagram.

The five Celestial Masters quickly halted, crushing the Taiji Diagram. When they looked up, the two Taiji Ancient Gods and Celestial Consort Yan had vanished without a trace.

"No need to pursue them."

Celestial Master Hao picked up Celestial Consort Yan's severed arm and smiled faintly. "After all, we are all Ten Celestial Masters; we will surely meet again. There will be uses for them in the future, so there's no need to eliminate them completely."

Celestial Masters Huo, Gong, and the others stopped. Celestial Master Huo stepped forward, picked up the Dao Flower, reattached it to the Dao Tree, and then brought the entire Dao Tree of the Primordial Saint of the Miro Palace before Celestial Master Hao.

Celestial Master Hao watched him with amusement, then smiled when Huo presented the Dao Tree and Dao Flower. "Your loyalty is commendable."

Celestial Master Huo bowed and stood respectfully.

"Other Celestial Masters may value Dao Fruits and Dao Flowers," Hao said, "but what truly benefits us Celestial Masters is the Dao Tree itself. Without the Dao Tree, how could there be Dao Fruits?"

Celestial Master Hao approached the Miro Palace Primordial Saint's Dao Tree and remarked, "Most of the Dao Trees here have withered, their Great Daos erased, rendering them useless. However, this one remains perfectly intact, indicating the owner's extraordinary power, far surpassing others."

The four Celestial Masters remained silent, their gazes fixed on the Dao Tree. They also desired the Dao Tree and Dao Fruits but dared not reveal their intentions.

"While Dao Fruits can elevate one's Dao realm—my brother Langxuan obtained one and raised his realm to the twenty-eighth heaven—his advancement is artificial, achieved through the Dao Fruit. It appears formidable but is, in reality, hollow."

Celestial Master Hao continued, "The Dao Tree, however, is different. It records the entire process of achieving Dao. While picking the fruits is beneficial, it provides an unstable foundation. For us, the greatest advantage lies in observing the owner's journey to achieving Dao."

His words made the other four Celestial Masters thoughtful, and they nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Even the Supreme Primeval Goddess couldn't help but secretly praise him, thinking, "The Taiji Ancient Gods advising me to choose Celestial Master Hao was indeed a brilliant move! His talent and abilities far exceed those of the other Celestial Masters! It's strange that the Taiji Ancient Gods, upon their emergence, chose Celestial Consort Yan—that was a misstep. Why did those two select her?"

She couldn't fathom the Taiji Ancient Gods' reasoning for that decision.

Celestial Master Hao raised his hand and tossed a Dao Fruit to Celestial Master Huo, who was both surprised and delighted, yet somewhat hesitant to accept it.

Celestial Master Hao said calmly, "The battle of Xuandu didn't yield much benefit for you. The advantages this Dao Fruit offers are no less than those from the Heavenly Dao of Xuandu; consider it your compensation."

Celestial Master Huo was overwhelmed with gratitude.

Celestial Master Hao plucked the Dao Flower and presented it to Celestial Master Xu, smiling. "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. When we invade Youdu, Daoist Xu, you will receive something even better."

Ancestor God King smiled, "I received the greatest benefits in Xuandu, so I will take nothing from these gains."

Celestial Master Hao laughed heartily, "This Jade Capital City itself is the greatest benefit, nearly inexhaustible. How could the God King's share be overlooked? Let it be owed for now."

Ancestor God King smiled and nodded in agreement.

Celestial Master Hao presented the entire Dao Tree to Celestial Master Gong. She was startled, wondering if Celestial Master Hao would receive no benefit himself by giving her the Dao Tree.

"I propose to exchange this Dao Tree for your mineral veins, Daoist Gong," Celestial Master Hao asked with a smile. "What are your thoughts?"

Upon hearing this, Supreme Primeval felt a sense of relief. "I truly didn't misjudge him," she thought. "Celestial Master Hao has completely submitted to me. He understands that the stronger I become, the more benefits he will receive. Now, he is fully devoted to preparing Supreme Primeval divine stones for me."

Celestial Master Gong was slightly startled, then bowed and replied, "How could I refuse? However, one-tenth of the output from that mineral vein belongs to Celestial Master Mu. I promised him, and I cannot go back on my word."

Celestial Master Hao smiled faintly, unconcerned. "What Daoist Gong promised him should naturally be given. Give this mineral vein to me, and I will ensure he receives his one-tenth share. Rest assured, I won't make things difficult for you."

Celestial Master Huo said, "Brother Hao, we found no trace of Celestial Master Mu in the Hall of Perfume earlier. He most likely lured us here, hoping to use the old monsters within the hall to eliminate us..."

Celestial Master Hao shook his head. "He wouldn't be so superficial as to believe he could kill us merely by relying on the old monsters in the hall. He most likely has other plans..."

He frowned, looking around. The divine city bore a resemblance to the Jade Capital City of the Heavenly Court. He mused, "Celestial Master Mu must have already rescued the remnant souls of the Sky Emperor and the Southern Emperor. Since he discovered this place, why would he lure us here?"

Even with his immense intelligence, he could not fathom Qin Mu's true intentions for luring them here.

However, for Celestial Master Hao, this place was a treasure trove. One Dao Tree and two Dao Fruits could not satisfy him; the true wealth lay in the entire divine city.

"If this divine city could be moved to the Heavenly Court and serve as its Jade Capital City," he thought, "how could its majesty compare to that of the Grand Emperor or even my father, the Grand Beginning? This is what defines a true Eternal Emperor!"

He continued walking forward, exploring the divine city. Celestial Master Huo, clutching a Dao Fruit, his eyes gleaming, stared at another Dao Fruit hanging on a different tree. That fruit was tattered, and within it lay a beautiful female corpse—the very one blasted by the Hall of Perfume's seal.

"Celestial Master Huo, let's go!"

Celestial Master Xu turned back and smiled, "That Dao Tree has withered, and the Dao Fruit is ruined; it's useless now."

Celestial Master Huo averted his gaze and followed the other four Celestial Masters.

Not long after they departed, Celestial Consort Qiang arrived, coughing blood. She approached the withered Dao Tree, gazed up at the tattered Dao Fruit, and bowed. "Daoist friend," she said.

The woman within the Dao Fruit suddenly sat bolt upright and turned to look at her. "A being who has achieved Dao, yet you swim with fish and shrimp. How pitiable, how lamentable."

Celestial Consort Qiang sneered, "You, too, are a being who has achieved Dao, yet weren't you beaten by the divine abilities of mere fish and shrimp, forcing you to feign death to escape? Daoist friend, you can barely protect yourself, so there's no need to mock me. I came to seek you out because I wish to join forces with you..."

The woman in the Dao Fruit replied, "Grand Emperor, your current status was bestowed upon you by the Miro Palace. Now is the time for you to repay it."

Celestial Consort Qiang was startled. "You recognize me?"

"The Miro Palace master captured exotic beasts from across the world, creating the void beasts and then bestowing them upon you," the woman scoffed. "Did you truly believe you had such immense fortune to acquire them?"

The woman in the Dao Fruit sneered, "The Miro Palace master expected you to sacrifice more living beings, but who knew you would prove incompetent and ruin the excellent situation he had created for you!"

Celestial Consort Qiang's expression changed drastically. "The Miro Palace master? This Jade Capital City..."

"This city *is* the Miro Palace!"

Meanwhile, the Taiji Ancient Gods swiftly escaped the Ancestral Court's Jade Capital City with Celestial Consort Yan. Before long, they caught up with Shi Qiluo, who had also fled. Shi Qiluo was startled to see the three divine beings, secretly thinking the situation was dire.

Suddenly, God Emperor Langxuan flew over and landed beside him, and only then did Shi Qiluo breathe a sigh of relief.

The Taiji Ancient Gods felt a chill as they saw God Emperor Langxuan arrive and refrained from delivering a fatal blow to Shi Qiluo.

The three Celestial Masters, all wounded, exchanged glances and shared a bitter smile.

"Celestial Master Hao's power has become formidable, yet we remain wary of one another," God Emperor Langxuan said. "This setback serves as a clear warning!"

God Emperor Langxuan cast a cold glance at Celestial Consort Yan and Shi Qiluo, then sneered, "If we continue to fight individually, Celestial Master Hao will defeat us one by one. Ultimately, he will unify the world and become the Heavenly Emperor, while we will either be his prisoners or perish without a trace!"

Celestial Consort Yan calmly said, "If the God Emperor can help me subdue Shi Qiluo, then we will have no reason to fear Celestial Master Hao."

Shi Qiluo laughed. "Sister, if you refine me, you will instantly become a Heavenly Court realm being who has cultivated thirty-six Celestial Palaces. By then, won't Langxuan be your prisoner? And can you truly spare your brother-in-law and Gong Jun's son?"

Celestial Consort Yan sneered and remained silent.

God Emperor Langxuan found himself with a headache. These two, one the Empress and the other Yuan Mu, were both troublesome figures with deep-seated grievances, making a true alliance impossible.

Although he was inclined to ally with them, he couldn't help but be wary, recognizing that this alliance would be as cohesive as a pile of sand.

Just then, a deep, authoritative voice, imbued with an air of imperial grandeur, resonated from afar: "If Hao'er gains power, the Empress must die, Yuan Mu must die, and Langxuan, as Hao'er's brother, must also die. There is no possibility of any of you merely becoming prisoners!"

The three were startled and quickly looked towards the sound.

The two Taiji Ancient Gods' expressions also shifted slightly. They both bowed and exclaimed, "Daoist brother!"

The voice rapidly approached. "However, you can confidently join forces because, Langxuan, you are my son! And Empress, Yuan Mu, you are my women!"

Celestial Master Xiao strode towards them, his aura unfathomable. He walked directly to the five individuals, first returning the greeting to the Taiji Ancient Gods, then looked around, and smiled faintly. "We are a family," he said, "a harmonious family."