Chapter 1493: Jade Capital Trap

Tai Yi had fought his way from the riverbank to the middle of the river when suddenly, a skeleton rose from the water, blocking their path.

"Dao brothers, you are enlightened beings. Why do you still care so much about life and death?" Tai Yi stopped, leaning on his staff, and asked.

The skeleton seemed to understand him. Its jaw moved, speaking words that Wei Suifeng and Shu Jun couldn't comprehend; it was a profound Daoist language.

It appeared to be rebuking Tai Yi.

The world was home to countless races, as numerous as the stars in the sky. This universe had also experienced sixteen cycles of creation and destruction, so naturally, languages were not mutually intelligible.

However, there was one language that allowed communication: Daoist language.

By using the Great Dao as a language, one could express their thoughts. Naturally, only beings of extremely high caliber could communicate using Daoist language.

This skeleton in the river was also an enlightened being with formidable power.

Tai Yi listened for a moment, then shook his head. "No matter how eloquently you speak, it's merely a fear of life and death."

The skeleton in the river lunged at Tai Yi. At the same time, the Chaos River began to boil, and more skeletons rose from the depths, attacking Tai Yi from various directions!

Even beneath Tai Yi's feet, a skeleton from the Chaos River surged forth to attack!

The divine abilities they employed were truly unfathomable to Wei Suifeng and Shu Jun. The depth and profundity of their Dao realms were unlike anything the two men had ever witnessed!

Even the divine abilities of the Ten Celestial Venerables were somewhat comprehensible to them, but they couldn't understand any part of the skeletons' techniques.

Tai Yi held his staff and pointed it. Regardless of the myriad profound mysteries in the skeletons' divine abilities, his staff accurately pierced through their techniques, striking one directly between the eyebrows!

The skull of one skeleton shattered, and it recoiled back into the Chaos River.

Tai Yi's staff moved up and down, pointing, sweeping, and smashing. Each move appeared simple, even clumsy, yet every strike accurately hit its target. Seemingly slow but actually fast, he quickly knocked all the skeletons back into the chaos.

He retracted his staff, the tip resting on the river surface. The skeleton at the riverbed, preparing to attack his foot, was precisely struck between the eyebrows by the staff tip, sinking silently back into the river.

Tai Yi turned to the still-recovering Shu Jun and Wei Suifeng. "These are enlightened beings from previous eras. This Chaos River is their ruined universe. When they leap out to attack, they are essentially coming from their universe. You just need to knock them back into the river, and they will return to their own universe, unable to cross over."

Wei Suifeng asked, "Dao brother, what if they leap out of the Chaos River and step onto the shore?"

"If they jump out of the Chaos River but don't step onto the shore, they haven't truly entered our universe. If they do step onto the shore, there's nothing I can do."

After a long time, they finally reached the opposite bank. Looking ahead, they saw yet another vast Chaos River blocking their way.

Tai Yi frowned, and Wei Suifeng and Shu Jun were also puzzled.

"This body of mine is old. Although my divine abilities are extremely high, my physical functions are deteriorating. If I continue fighting like this, I'll definitely become exhausted."

Tai Yi told them, "You two stay here and don't move. I'll go change bodies."

The two men were startled. They watched as Tai Yi jumped into the Chaos River. A moment later, the river churned, and a young man emerged. He had clear eyes and delicate features, exuding youthful vigor. In his hand was a wooden spear with a few tender green leaves still attached. "Let's go," he said.

They didn't know where he had gone or whose body he had taken.

They scrutinized the wooden spear in Tai Yi's hand, wondering what kind of wood it was made from.

The young Tai Yi led them into the second Chaos River. This time, unlike the elder Tai Yi, he was less composed, and his spear techniques and divine abilities were far more varied and less straightforward.

Although their understanding wasn't as profound as Tai Yi's, they could tell that while the young Tai Yi's spear techniques were suitable for close combat, they lacked the "Great Dao to Simplicity" feeling conveyed by the elder Tai Yi.

Fortunately, the young Tai Yi's physical capabilities were stronger, allowing him to charge through, though with a bit more peril.

This journey was nerve-wracking, but they safely crossed the great river.

Yet, on the other side of the river, there was still another vast Chaos River.

The young Tai Yi frowned, observed for a moment, and said, "This river will be difficult to cross. Wait here while I change bodies." With that, he jumped into the river again.

Wei Suifeng and Shu Jun, now accustomed to this, waited by the river. A moment later, a graceful and charming woman emerged from the water, holding a slender sword. "Follow me, gentlemen," she said alluringly.

The woman led them across the river, her sword light flashing like lightning, darting wildly through the chaos, striking down various strange and dangerous entities and sending them back into the abyss.

Along the way, they crossed one great river after another, and Tai Yi changed forms more than ten times, his weapons also changing with each transformation.

Wei Suifeng and Shu Jun were perplexed, wondering where he acquired all these weapons.

Arriving at yet another great river, Tai Yi transformed into a powerfully built man, carrying a divine bow on his back.

Wei Suifeng found the divine bow somewhat familiar, and his eyelids twitched. "It looks like the divine bow my junior brother carries! How strange. Did Tai Yi go to a previous universe to borrow the bodies and weapons of other enlightened beings? How did he get to a previous universe? Can this Chaos River really lead to other universes?"

Shu Jun also noticed the similarity between this divine bow and the one Qin Mu had unearthed in the ore vein. He wondered, "Did Tai Yi borrow the bodies of other enlightened beings every time he transformed? That would be an incredibly vast divine ability!"

Neither of them asked further questions, instead looking down at the river. However, the chaos below was misty and indistinct, obscuring whatever lay beneath.

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew. The burly Tai Yi raised a hand to shield himself, and instantly the Chaos River churned, its surface thinning. Wei Suifeng and Shu Jun immediately felt as if they were standing on a cloud, with the vast and boundless Ancestral Court stretching out beneath them!

However, it was not the current Ancestral Court, but an older, more dilapidated version!

That part of the Ancestral Court was collapsing at that very moment!

Below, not only was the Ancestral Court collapsing, but the entire universe was collapsing and shrinking. Only a magnificent giant tree stood firm between heaven and earth, unshaken by the great destruction!

The two men shivered repeatedly, vaguely seeing incredibly powerful figures arriving at the roots of the great tree as the universe crumbled. Their strong and mighty bodies were capable of reshaping heaven and earth, shifting stars, and building a magnificent divine city!

Just then, the fierce wind ceased, and chaotic energy filled the river channel, obscuring their vision.

Both men were utterly shocked. They exchanged glances, each remaining silent.

Tai Yi drew his bow, shooting down the strange entities in the river one by one.

They arrived at the sixteenth great river. Tai Yi said, "The Master of the Mi Luo Palace is waiting for me, rested. I must meet him in my strongest form. Please wait here."

He jumped into the river again. A moment later, a robust and formidable man emerged, his muscles bulging. He carried a Chaos Axe on his shoulder and said to the two, "My preparations aren't entirely complete, but this is the best I can do for now. After we cross the river, you two stay outside; I will go in to meet him."

The two could only nod.

The sixteenth great river was exceptionally wide. Tai Yi, holding his axe, led the two through it. The river surface was calm, without as many strange occurrences as before.

The two men were apprehensive, their vigilance heightened. Ahead, heavy mist obscured their vision like a chaotic fog. As they followed Tai Yi through the chaos, they vaguely saw colossal shadows standing within the chaotic energy, their forms indistinguishable.

Their hearts grew increasingly tense, but upon reaching the opposite bank of the Chaos River, they realized the shadows were, in fact, tall and magnificent jade palaces and various extraordinary buildings.

"What a magnificent city!"

Wei Suifeng couldn't help but exclaim, "Jade Capital, Jade Capital, a capital of white jade! This is the true Jade Capital City. Compared to this, the Heavenly Court's Jade Capital City is truly just a pile of dirt!"

Shu Jun nodded repeatedly, filled with admiration.

"This place can be called Jade Capital, or it can be called Mi Luo Palace."

Tai Yi slung the Chaos Axe over his back and took a step. For every step he took, Wei Suifeng and the others had to run a hundred or so steps to keep up. Tai Yi said, "The High Heavens Hall of the Heavenly Court is just one of the great halls in this Mi Luo Palace. Look there!"

He pointed with his axe, and the two quickly looked, indeed seeing a High Heavens Treasure Hall!

However, this High Heavens Treasure Hall was far grander and more imposing than the one in the Heavenly Court. It also exuded a natural aura of the Great Dao, which lingered around the hall!

The Heavenly Court's High Heavens Treasure Hall simply couldn't compare to this one.

"The Heavenly Court's High Heavens Treasure Hall was actually conjured by the Creator Race through contemplation. Grand Emperor likely saw this hall and then envisioned the form of the High Heavens Hall, but was unable to replicate the true hall," Tai Yi explained unhurriedly.

Wei Suifeng listened, dumbfounded. Then, remembering something crucial, he hastily asked, "This High Heavens Treasure Hall wasn't naturally formed, but rather refined by the Master of the Mi Luo Palace?"

Tai Yi nodded. "This hall was forged from the Great Dao, and the entire Jade Capital City was also refined from the Great Dao of enlightened beings. Hence, it possesses supreme power."

Wei Suifeng felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him from head to toe. His heart turned cold, and he blurted out, "So what are the origins of the Jade Capital realm, the High Heavens realm, and the Emperor's Throne realm? These three realms were established based on the Heavenly Court's Jade Capital City. If the Heavenly Court's Jade Capital was built as an imitation of this place, then wouldn't that mean... wouldn't that mean..."

He shivered repeatedly, unable to continue.

Shu Jun suddenly said, "Doesn't that mean these three realms are all traps?"

The Jade Capital Trap!

The Jade Capital realm is a trap, the High Heavens realm is a trap, and even the Emperor's Throne realm is a trap!

Who possesses such immense skill, such powerful methods, and such far-reaching foresight to lay such a terrifying trap and ensnare all the world's powerful individuals?

Could it be the Master of the Mi Luo Palace?

As they looked at the palace drawing ever closer, they couldn't help but shiver. A chill surged from the depths of their hearts, creeping up their spines to their necks, then to the back of their heads, and finally, into their minds.

Tai Yi said nothing, nor did he confirm their suspicions, but they found confirmation of their conjectures in the subtle clues around them.

"It was also by sheer coincidence that we discovered the Ancestral Court's Jade Capital City back then," Shu Jun murmured.

"Bo Yang and I came in through a different path, unlike the one Grand Emperor and Grand Beginning took," Shu Jun mumbled. "Did they come here? If the Master of the Mi Luo Palace laid this trap, it must have started back then..."

"You two stay here."

Tai Yi stuck a staff into the ground, then, carrying the Chaos Axe on his back, walked directly towards the Mi Luo Palace. He said in a deep voice, "I'm going to meet him! If I can stop him, all will be well. But if I cannot..."