Chapter 1562: Mountain Exhausted and Water Deadlocked

"But it seems there are others on Heavenly Venerate Mu's golden ship!"

Heavenly Venerate Yun was surprised. He had inadvertently noticed figures moving on the golden ship besides Qin Mu, though he hadn't seen them clearly. However, since Qin Mu had already sailed off to join the battle against Emperor Tai, he had no time to ask and could only keep his thoughts to himself.

"Perhaps Heavenly Venerate Mu truly has a way to defeat Emperor Tai and free me." For the first time, a glimmer of hope sparked within him. He had been trapped there for too long, and Emperor Tai was simply too powerful.

Emperor Kai, Heavenly Venerate Xiao, Heavenly Venerate Hao, and the Goddess of Primordial Beginning were locked in a chaotic battle with Emperor Tai. Within a few moves, all four were wounded, and the Goddess of Primordial Beginning's sentient treasure was repeatedly crushed, only to reform again. Heavenly Venerate Xiao also faced peril repeatedly; Emperor Tai fixated on him, determined to capture, devour, and refine him. Even for Heavenly Venerate Xiao, facing such a formidable opponent, his situation was precarious.

Suddenly, Emperor Tai flicked his fingers repeatedly, repelling Emperor Kai's incoming sword light, then body-slammed Heavenly Venerate Hao, breaking his bones and tearing his tendons. With a thunderous roar, he sent the Goddess of Primordial Beginning flying, her body shattering from his sonic assault while still in mid-air! He then raised his palm, and beneath it, the Divine Consciousness Great Brahma Heaven solidified, pinning Heavenly Venerate Xiao in place!

Heavenly Venerate Xiao felt as if he was stuck in quicksand. Outside, Emperor Kai's sword light rained down, moving infinitely faster than usual, and Heavenly Venerate Hao's speed also increased. The attack speeds of both the Goddess of Primordial Beginning and Emperor Tai became incredibly rapid! He looked up and saw Emperor Tai's palm, vast and boundless like the azure sky, pressing down on him.

His heart sank; he realized he had fallen into Emperor Tai's Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain, where he was as small as an ant. Emperor Tai's Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain was overwhelmingly dominant. This domain, bearing the words "Supreme," was indeed supreme. During Emperor Tai's prime, when his primordial spirit and physical body were intact, he dominated the Primordial Era relying solely on this domain! Within his Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain, everyone felt time flow incredibly slowly, while external time passed exceptionally quickly. This disparity made any action, attack, or divine art seem utterly ridiculous. Emperor Tai could then seize the opportunity to attack and directly kill powerful enemies, as those caught in the Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain had no time to retaliate. Previously, Emperor Tai had hesitated to use the Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain because Heavenly Venerate Ling was present. Now that Heavenly Venerate Ling had departed, he had no more reservations!

Heavenly Venerate Xiao watched as Emperor Tai's finger descended, moving at an unimaginable speed, each strike incredibly precise. In the past, Heavenly Venerate Xiao could have blocked or countered such moves, but now, despite strenuously activating his magic power and trying to move his body, it was too slow to react!

"The Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain is nothing more than a domain! I am one who has achieved the Way through strength; with my power flowing through, there is no domain I cannot break!" Heavenly Venerate Xiao roared, his thirty-six Heavenly Palaces behind him forming the Grand Heavenly Court, its Daoist chants rumbling and Daoist light vibrating. His vital energy surged to its peak in an instant, staining the Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain crimson! The terrifying increase in power caused his physical body to crack, blood flowing freely, as the might of the Heavenly Court now exceeded his body's limits! If he continued to push further, his physical body would surely collapse, and he might have to abandon it after this battle. Despite this, he desperately continued to increase his strength, reckless of the consequences!

His speed instantly increased, yet his reaction was still too slow against Emperor Tai's finger attacks! Despair filled Heavenly Venerate Xiao's heart; facing this strike from Emperor Tai, he had no chance of survival.

Just then, a colossal golden ship suddenly slammed into the Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain. At the bow, Qin Mu activated his Invulnerability Divine Art, and the Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain instantly reversed: Emperor Tai's finger became incredibly slow, while the pressure on Heavenly Venerate Xiao suddenly lightened! He was both startled and delighted, and with great effort, he repelled Emperor Tai's finger, causing Emperor Tai's palm to recoil high into the air! Simultaneously, the Golden Ship of Crossing Worlds pierced through the solidified Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain, becoming impossibly vast in an instant. It crashed into Emperor Tai, crushing his face and dragging him for dozens of miles beneath its hull! The entire Divine Consciousness Great Brahma Heaven, along with the Dao Tree and its Dao Fruit, was shunted sideways, moving dozens of miles within the ultimate void!

"Heavenly Venerate Xiao, come into my domain!" Qin Mu shouted, and his Divine Treasury Domain unfolded, overlapping with the Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain. Heavenly Venerate Xiao leaped into it, immediately feeling as if he had a thousand faces and a thousand eyes, able to perceive everything from all angles. He couldn't help but marvel. Qin Mu had once teamed up with Heavenly Venerate Yue and Heavenly Venerate You to fight him, and at that time, both Heavenly Venerates Yue and You stood within Qin Mu's domain, their strength greatly enhanced. Heavenly Venerate Xiao had always been curious about Qin Mu's domain, and this was his first time observing his surroundings from such a perspective. A chill ran down his spine: "Heavenly Venerate Mu's domain is no less powerful than the Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain, and in some mystical aspects, it even surpasses it! This child cannot be allowed to live—" It was the first time the two of them had fought side-by-side. They exchanged a glance, then both turned their heads away, each finding the other's appearance utterly repulsive and indescribably annoying.

"Heavenly Venerate Mu, you are truly seeking death!" The golden ship suddenly halted. With a thunderous roar, Emperor Tai lifted the ship onto his shoulder, freeing one hand to block Emperor Kai's sword light and Heavenly Venerate Hao's Myriad Dao Heavenly Wheel—he was incredibly powerful! His Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain expanded again, and he sneered, "Even Heavenly Venerate Ling, I have no fear of! My Primordial Qi does not fear the Invulnerability Divine Art!"

Boom! A stream of Primordial Qi instantly filled the entire Divine Treasury Domain. Qin Mu's body shuddered violently, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. He immediately felt his Invulnerability Divine Art being broken, and the Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain attacked him once more! As the Divine Consciousness Domain collided with his Divine Treasury Domain, the two different domains intersected, and Qin Mu instantly felt his Divine Treasury Domain being completely suppressed! Although his Divine Treasury Domain was superior to Emperor Tai's Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain, containing far more profound Daoist principles, Emperor Tai was a being who had already blossomed his Dao Flower and borne a nascent Dao Fruit. In terms of cultivation, he surpassed Qin Mu immeasurably! Emperor Tai could suppress him effortlessly with sheer magic power! In just an instant, Qin Mu's Divine Treasury Domain was compressed to only a few yards in radius. His face flushed red, and his vital energy was so compressed it felt like it was boiling within him! Only now did he understand how immense the pressure Heavenly Venerate Xiao and the others had endured was! Emperor Tai was beneath the ship, and Qin Mu was on it. The one bearing the pressure should have been Emperor Tai, yet now Qin Mu was unable to hold on!

"Rise!" Qin Mu roared, gritting his teeth, activating the Primordial Runes hidden within the Heavenly Emperor's physical body! Emperor Tai was channeling his magic power, intending to crush him, when suddenly, the Primordial Runes hidden within the Heavenly Emperor's body lit up, instantly forming an incredibly vast and complex Dao pattern! This pattern mobilized the vital energy of the Heavenly Emperor's physical body, forming with such speed that Emperor Tai was caught off guard. By the time the Dao pattern's power erupted, it was too late! *Swoosh—* A streak of purple energy shot skyward, piercing through Emperor Tai's divine consciousness. Not only did it pierce his divine consciousness, but it also blew a large hole through the crown of the Heavenly Emperor's skull! The Primordial Violet Qi was immensely powerful and domineering, soaring upwards, grazing the edge of the golden ship. It not only pierced the Heavenly Emperor's skull but also tore a large hole through the crown of Emperor Tai's Dao Tree in its path! Where the Primordial Violet Qi passed, the Divine Consciousness Great Brahma Heaven, situated in the ultimate void, was perforated, creating a massive opening through which frigid, desolate winds howled into the Divine Consciousness Great Brahma Heaven, blowing everywhere! The power of this strike far exceeded Qin Mu's imagination, and even Emperor Tai's own power. Not even Emperor Tai's Divine Consciousness Great Brahma Heaven and Dao Tree could withstand it! Qin Mu was both astonished and delighted; this was a backup divine art he had set up by leveraging the inherent power of the Heavenly Emperor's physical body. He had originally thought it would at most wound Emperor Tai's divine consciousness, never expecting such astonishing results!

"Golden Ship of Crossing Worlds, obey my will! Heavy! Heavy! Heavy!" He roared repeatedly, and the Golden Ship of Crossing Worlds instantly became incredibly heavy, crushing Emperor Tai, who was holding it aloft. Emperor Tai crashed to his knees with a thud, then slammed face down onto the Great Brahma Heaven's ground with a *smack*.

Emperor Kai let out a long cry and flew over, his Sword Dao Domain expanding to merge with Qin Mu's Divine Treasury Domain. Countless sword lights scattered, piercing into the ship's underside. On the other side, the Goddess of Primordial Beginning and Heavenly Venerate Hao also flew in. Heavenly Venerate Hao wiped blood from his mouth, and his Myriad Dao Domain expanded, merging with Qin Mu's and Emperor Kai's domains. His Myriad Dao Heavenly Wheel howled as it struck the ship's underside! Heavenly Venerate Xiao also unleashed his Primordial Beginning Domain, activating his Emperor's Sword and thrusting it into the ship's underside! The Goddess of Primordial Beginning also activated her tattered Primordial Bell, furiously hammering at the ship's underside!

The Golden Ship of Crossing Worlds shuddered violently, and Emperor Tai's roars came from beneath the hull. Incredibly, the ship was lifted by Emperor Tai once more. Qin Mu frowned and activated the Staff of Grand Primordium, using it as a sword to stab Emperor Tai beneath the ship. His target was clear: the Heavenly Emperor's head! Specifically, the crown of the Heavenly Emperor's skull, where a large hole had been blasted through!

The combined attacks of the group struck Emperor Tai almost simultaneously. They could clearly sense Emperor Tai's weakness; even the strength of the Heavenly Emperor's physical body was significantly diminished. The Staff of Grand Primordium plunged straight into the Heavenly Emperor's forehead, leaving only the handle exposed. Emperor Kai's sword pierced Emperor Tai's eyes. Heavenly Venerate Xiao's Emperor's Sword was thrust into Emperor Tai's left temple, its tip emerging from the right side. Heavenly Venerate Hao's Myriad Dao Heavenly Wheel struck Emperor Tai's throat, slicing into it! The Goddess of Primordial Beginning's Primordial Bell clanged incessantly but yielded no significant results; her cultivation and strength still lagged behind Qin Mu and the others.

Yet, the Golden Ship of Crossing Worlds was still lifted by Emperor Tai, who then used the physical body's strength to hurl the golden ship away! Qin Mu urged the golden ship to charge back. From a distance, he saw Emperor Tai raise a hand and slap his right temple hard. Heavenly Venerate Xiao's Emperor's Sword shot out from his temple. Although the Emperor's Sword was a replica, its power was extraordinary, and it was, after all, a Heavenly Venerate's supreme treasure. Yet, Emperor Tai had bent it with a single slap, almost breaking it! Emperor Tai then abruptly lowered his head, crushing Heavenly Venerate Hao's Myriad Dao Heavenly Wheel. Immediately after, his blinded eyes began to heal rapidly! The people on the ship's bow watched, their eyes wide with disbelief. Heavenly Venerate Hao exclaimed, "Profound Creation Art! Has he learned it too?"

Qin Mu's heart stirred: "Profound Creation Art? If Emperor Tai has learned the Profound Creation Art, then it must be the Eternal Peace Era! In the Eternal Peace Era, the Profound Creation Art was disseminated by me and learned by Heavenly Consort Qiang! Heavenly Venerate Ling's divine art has already brought us to Eternal Peace! Then, Heavenly Venerate Ling must be close too!"

Emperor Tai pulled out the Staff of Grand Primordium embedded in his forehead and bent it severely, attempting to break it. However, the staff was incredibly tough, and he failed to snap it, so he simply held it in his hand. Heavenly Venerate Xiao looked at Qin Mu with an expectant expression and urged, "Heavenly Venerate Mu, what kind of divine art was that just now? It could even pierce my physical body, truly powerful! Do it again!" Qin Mu's face darkened.