Chapter 1577: Prehistoric Villain

Ancestral Court Jade Capital City.

A tall figure walked into this ancient divine realm. His body was tattered, with the top of his skull missing, his brain steaming, and various wounds covering him. Furthermore, there was a sword wound on his glabella; someone had pierced his skull with a sharp sword and planted a Sword Dao spiritual tree within him. This spiritual tree periodically emerged inside his body, continuously destroying his physical functions and making every step he took incredibly difficult. The sword wound caused internal bleeding in his body; with each step, his footprints filled with blood, and the wounds never healed.

This was Heavenly Venerate Xiao, who had reclaimed the Celestial Emperor's physical body. Or, more accurately, he should be called Grand Beginning, as Heavenly Venerate Xiao, as a Heavenly Venerate, was already dead. Heavenly Venerate Xiao's body was completely destroyed and ceased to exist during the battle in the Great Overarching Heaven of Divine Consciousness by Emperor Kai and others. Now, inhabiting the Celestial Emperor's body was one of the Celestial Emperor Grand Beginning's three souls. The Celestial Emperor's body was his true form. His reclaiming his body also signified the return of Grand Beginning, the second of the Five Primordial Supremes.

Grand Beginning walked with difficulty through the Ancestral Court Jade Capital City. The surroundings were desolate, with collapsed palace buildings everywhere, and the winds of cold and heat death howled through the withered spiritual tree forests. His steps were heavy. After dodging a blow from Heavenly Venerate Ling and falling from the Great Overarching Heaven, his various injuries flared up, nearly killing him. He had to avoid the gaze of Heavenly Venerate Hao and others. He was very weak now; although his body still contained immensely powerful energy, he was no longer invincible and thus had to be extremely careful. After walking for so long, he finally reached the Ancestral Court Jade Capital City.

Jade Capital City had been sealed by the Heavenly Venerates, and Heavenly Venerate Xiao was one of the former sealers. They did not want outsiders to come here. However, as the former Celestial Emperor, Grand Beginning naturally left contingencies to facilitate his entry into Jade Capital City. He ventured deeper, searching for the River of Chaos. Suddenly, his pupils contracted, and his gaze fell upon a sword. It was not a physical sword, but rather the imprint of an immensely powerful Sword Dao expert who had once battled there, his unparalleled Sword Dao leaving an indelible mark on the Ancestral Court Jade Capital City.

Grand Beginning let out a turbid breath: "Emperor Kai is here too." He felt a surge of alertness. He was not in a state to fight Emperor Kai now; if he encountered him, it would be difficult to preserve his life. He skirted around the Sword Dao traces left by Emperor Kai and finally reached the River of Chaos.

Just as he was about to cross the river, his pupils suddenly contracted. Ahead, a figure stood on the river surface, hands clasped behind their back, facing away from him. A sword domain formed beneath that person's feet. Strange attacks from the river assailed him; a gigantic palm of a Dao bone, belonging to an Enlightened Being, reached towards the person's forehead, but it was pierced by a flash of sword light and sank into the river.

Grand Beginning's pupils constricted, and he said hoarsely, "Qin Ye!"

Emperor Kai turned around, glanced at him, and said indifferently, "Your Majesty Grand Beginning, you have gone through immense hardship to come here, hoping to have the so-called Third Young Master of Miluo Palace repair your body, isn't that right?"

Grand Beginning stood on the bank, gazing at the man. Back then, Emperor Kai, due to Heavenly Venerate Ling's divine abilities, returned to the early years of the Dragon Han era, participated in the Jade Pool Grand Assembly, and fought against Qin Mu, showcasing exceptional mastery of divine abilities. At that time, Grand Beginning had unified the universe, brimming with ambition, and gathered all gods and sacred beings from various races to hold the Heavenly Court Grand Assembly. Compared to the Heavenly Court Grand Assembly, the Jade Pool Grand Assembly seemed insignificant. But from that time, he had already noticed this man, impressed by the divine abilities of Qin Ye and Qin Mu, and thus bestowed upon him the title of Heavenly Venerate, placing him among the Seven Heavenly Venerates of Dragon Han. He had never imagined that this man would become his most powerful and formidable opponent today.

"As long as I am here, Your Majesty cannot cross the river." Emperor Kai's tone was indifferent. After achieving Dao enlightenment, his desire for power had significantly decreased, replaced by the unwavering conviction that had guided him throughout: his original intention. He stood on the River of Chaos like a long sword spanning eternity and the present, sharp and unparalleled, severing everything, blocking Grand Beginning's path. "As one of the Five Primordial Supremes of this universe, Your Majesty should not seek to achieve your ambitions by relying on ancient Enlightened Beings."

A Dao sword slowly appeared in Emperor Kai's hand. He said softly, "If Your Majesty insists on going your own way, then I, your subject, will have no choice but to bury Your Majesty on this long river."

Grand Beginning burst into laughter, stepped into the river, and stood on its surface, confronting him from a distance. "Qin Ye, you indeed possess great ability; being the first to achieve enlightenment, you astonished me. However, Dao Realm enlightenment is not the only path to enlightenment. There are other paths to take, so you are not invincible." Grand Beginning said indifferently, "Don't forget, your Dao Realm system is also built upon the Heavenly Palace system. You achieved what you have today by borrowing the power of Jade Capital City and the High Heavens Palace. If your High Heavens Palace were destroyed, would you still possess your current cultivation and status? A wise person adapts to circumstances. Let me pass."

Emperor Kai did not move. Suddenly, behind Grand Beginning's head, the Great Heavenly Court, composed of thirty-six Heavenly Palaces, appeared, and the phantom of a High Heavens Palace descended, pressing down. He said in a deep voice, "In the Ancestral Court Jade Capital City, I can freely borrow the power of the Third Young Master of Miluo Palace. The Third Young Master can also easily suppress your power and completely destroy your High Heavens Palace! On this river, I do not fear you in the slightest!"

Emperor Kai pressed down on his Dao sword, ready to strike. Grand Beginning roared, his voice transforming into the Grand Beginning Dao Sound, sweeping through the chaotic energy. His aura surged, his primordial spirit presiding over the High Heavens Palace, and his power flowing through all the Heavenly Palaces as he stepped forward!

Just then, a light suddenly shone across the vast River of Chaos. Grand Beginning immediately stopped, holding his stance without striking. Emperor Kai frowned slightly, his hand still on the sword hilt, layers of sword domains overlapping, but he did not strike directly.

A young boy was seen walking out from the depths of the River of Chaos, carrying a lantern, gradually rising until he reached the surface of the river. His lantern light shone on the two men. As the boy rose from the River of Chaos, by the time he reached the surface, he had become incredibly ancient, with white hair and a decrepit appearance. After his light illuminated both their faces, he chuckled, "Grand Beginning, the Third Young Master has commanded me to escort you to the High Heavens Palace. Anyone who dares to stop you will face certain death!"

This elder had experienced childhood and old age, yet seemed accustomed to such transformations. He paid no mind to the immensely powerful Emperor Kai, showing no concern. "Are you Qin Ye? I advise you not to move, or else with one flash of my lamp, I will cut down your Dao cultivation, cast you into the Great Calamity of Destruction, and annihilate both your body and your Dao!" The old man spoke with an air of superiority, "You also rely on the power of the High Heavens Palace. Cutting down your Dao cultivation would be the simplest thing for me."

Emperor Kai raised his sword and struck behind his head. Within the Heavenly Palace behind him, the High Heavens Palace collapsed with a roar! The old man's pupils constricted. With a flash of sword light, Emperor Kai's High Heavens Palace was shattered by his own hand! Emperor Kai directly severed the High Heavens and Emperor's Throne realms. His aura briefly receded before surging again, reaching its peak, with not the slightest loss of Dao cultivation!

"Cut down my Dao cultivation? Are you worthy?" Emperor Kai glared at him.

The old man sneered, "Juniors of later generations always look down on others, ignorant of their own limitations..." Just as he was about to strike, another light shone from beneath the river. A woman, carrying a lantern, walked up from the River of Chaos. She was incredibly beautiful, but by the time she reached the river surface, she had transformed into an old woman. The old man looked at the old woman, frowned slightly, and did not directly make a move.

"Emperor Kai Qin Ye, I have come to escort you to Miluo Palace." The old woman smiled, "A Young Master is waiting for you there."

Emperor Kai frowned, looked at the old woman, and confirmed that he did not recognize her. The old man scoffed, glancing warily at the old woman. He then said, "Grand Beginning, I will escort you to Miluo Palace. The Third Young Master already knows your purpose. Come with me!"

Grand Beginning sighed in relief. Directly engaging Emperor Kai would give him no chance of victory, so not fighting was naturally the best outcome. However, the old woman also coming to escort Emperor Kai surprised him, exceeding his expectations. "Qin Ye, you claim to be noble and upright, yet you are no different from me; you also seek to borrow the power of a Miluo Palace Young Master." He followed the old man past Emperor Kai, stopped behind him, and scoffed, "You are no more virtuous than I am."

Emperor Kai turned around, and Grand Beginning also turned, their gazes clashing. The old man stopped, turned with his lantern, and his aura erupted. A spiritual tree slowly rose from the River of Chaos, its Dao Fruit complete and emanating earth-shattering power! At the same time, the old woman also activated her lantern, and another spiritual tree rose from the river, its Dao Fruit rotating and emitting Dao light, confronting the old man. Both of them gathered their strength, staring intently at each other.

Suddenly, a smile bloomed on Emperor Kai's lips. He asked, "May I ask, which Young Master of Miluo Palace wishes to see me? And for what purpose?"

The old woman's body tensed, her gaze fixed on the old man. She said in a deep voice, "Miluo Palace has seven halls: the Grand Supreme Hall of the First Young Master, the Boundless Hall of the Second Young Master, the High Heavens Hall of the Third Young Master, the Purple Heavens Hall of the Fourth Young Master, the Unfettered Hall of the Fifth Young Master, the Profound Silence Hall of the Sixth Young Master, and the Chaos Hall of the Seventh Young Master. The one who wishes to see you this time is from the Chaos Hall!"

"Chaos Hall?" Emperor Kai thought for a moment and smiled, "So, the Seventh Young Master of Miluo Palace wishes to see me. Very well, I will go with you. Please lead the way." He retracted his aura, and his sword domain vanished. The old woman led the way, saying in a deep voice, "Emperor Kai, please follow me."

They passed by Grand Beginning and the old man. Grand Beginning chuckled, "You have fallen just like me." Emperor Kai ignored him and disappeared into the chaotic energy with the old woman.

Grand Beginning sneered, "A man who seeks fame and reputation only glorifies himself!" He and the old man also walked deeper into the chaos. He inquired, "Brother Dao, who is the Seventh Young Master of Miluo Palace's Chaos Hall?"

"A bad person!" The old man, holding his lantern, shivered involuntarily when he heard mention of the Seventh Young Master of Chaos Hall. He said coldly, "A scoundrel who commits all sorts of evil! However, Daoist Grand Beginning should have heard of him. He is the one who smuggled himself from the Seventeenth Universe into the prehistoric universe. Among your people, his name is quite well-known."

Grand Beginning was startled. After pondering for a moment, he said in surprise, "In our era, is there still such a villain?"

"I've heard that you call him Heavenly Venerate Mu!" the old man said through gritted teeth.