Chapter 1596: Killing Tu Bo Requires How Many Steps?

His aura and imposing presence were formidable. Among the Nine Celestial Venerables of the Dragon Han era, Fire Celestial Venerable, who pioneered the Celestial-Human Divine Treasure, ranked fourth.

His talent was exceptional; otherwise, he could not have pioneered the Celestial-Human Divine Treasure and left such a profound mark on the divine treasure cultivation system.

The Celestial-Human Divine Treasure connects heaven and earth. It links the Five Luminaries and Six Directions and served as a foundation for the subsequent Life-and-Death Divine Treasure.

The reforms in Eternal Peace improved the divine treasures, modifying the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure pioneered by Celestial Venerable Yun, but making few changes to the Celestial-Human Divine Treasure.

This demonstrates the extraordinary talent of Fire Celestial Venerable.

Celestial Venerable Yun, however, seemed utterly unfazed by Fire Celestial Venerable's terrifying Dao might. Fire Celestial Venerable's magic power was immensely potent, far surpassing that of Celestial Venerable Yun's current body. Yet Celestial Venerable Yun remained calm and composed, even looking at Fire Celestial Venerable with a hint of pity and sympathy in his eyes.

"Fire, are you planning to eliminate me?"

Celestial Venerable Yun smiled faintly, yet not quite, saying, "When you kill me this time, I suppose you won't be shedding tears again, will you?"

Fire Celestial Venerable said grimly, "Before, I thought you were my Dao friend, and I shed tears when I had to kill you. But only now do I see your true colors—you are nothing more than an ambitious scoundrel, just like Qin Ye and Qin Mu!"

His killing intent surged. Boundless killing intent gleamed in his eyes beneath the mask. "Your danger is far greater than Qin Mu's or Qin Ye's! They are foolish, but you are smarter. You will lead our human race to utter ruin and destroy the excellent situation I've painstakingly built! I absolutely cannot tolerate you living!"

Celestial Venerable Yun burst into laughter, the pity in his eyes deepening. "Fire, aren't you even a little curious? How did you know I would inevitably take this path? Who told you I would pass through here?"

Behind him, the Village Chief was slightly startled.

He was also puzzled by this.

Only five people knew about Celestial Venerable Yun's journey to the Ancestral Court: Qin Mu, Celestial Venerable Ling, Celestial Venerable Yun, Celestial Venerable Yue, and himself.

Yet Fire Celestial Venerable seemed to have known long ago that Celestial Venerable Yun would go to the Ancestral Court, even arriving in advance at their unavoidable path to wait!

Celestial Venerable Yun would naturally not betray himself, and it was even less possible for Qin Mu, Celestial Venerable Ling, Celestial Venerable Yue, and the Village Chief to betray him!

So how exactly did Fire Celestial Venerable know Celestial Venerable Yun would pass through here?

"The reason you could come here to wait for me was because that person deliberately leaked the information to your reincarnation in Eternal Peace, letting you know I would go to the Ancestral Court and pass through here."

Celestial Venerable Yun said calmly, "His goal wasn't to eliminate me through your hands. He also knew that even if you destroyed my physical body, I wouldn't die because of it, as I have already cultivated the perfect Divine Consciousness Grand Overarching Heaven, even more perfect than the Grand Emperor's. His true purpose was simply to make me give up on you completely."

He revealed a look of mockery and said leisurely, "This person is none other than Celestial Venerable Mu, whom you despise. How could you ever surpass him? He is another me, guiding my actions in this life. He revealed this information to you for two reasons: first, to make me see your true face and give up on you completely. Second, to lure you here, both to shatter your Dao heart and to seize the opportunity to eliminate you."

Fire Celestial Venerable's pupils contracted sharply.

His ability to intercept Celestial Venerable Yun here was indeed due to information his reincarnation had inadvertently obtained!

After receiving this news, he immediately came.

Celestial Venerable Yun smiled slightly. "When Celestial Venerable Mu acts, he combines my ruthless cunning with the art of breaking one's spirit. If it were me, I would never give you the chance to witness your own abandonment by all; I would use any means necessary to eliminate you. However, he is different. He calculated that you would definitely come, and that Celestial Venerables Xu, Zu, and others had already gone to Youdu. He wants to shatter your Dao heart and fill you with despair."

Suddenly, the Dao fire in the canyon swirled and roared, forming layers of Dao fire behind Fire Celestial Venerable's head.

Fire Celestial Venerable vigilantly scanned his surroundings. If he had been lured here, then Qin Mu must have laid out many contingencies to ensure he would be killed here!

Qin Mu would absolutely not miss this golden opportunity!

At this moment, Fire Celestial Venerable saw a Dao Tree emerge in the sky. That Dao Tree was rooted in the Grand Overarching Heaven of the ultimate void. A figure stood beneath the tree, like an unparalleled sword whose sharpness could not be concealed even if heaven and earth were its scabbard!

Founding Emperor Qin Ye!

Founding Emperor Qin Ye had been protecting Celestial Venerable Yun all along!

Celestial Venerable Yun watched Fire Celestial Venerable's every move, his heart growing more disappointed as he shook his head and said, "Fire, you are no longer the daring and tenacious Fire you once were. Upon seeing Celestial Venerable Qin, you revealed a fear of battle. In the past, even if you met Celestial Venerable Mu, you would dare to fight him fiercely and continue to fight even if you were beaten to a pulp. No wonder your Dao heart isn't as profound as Celestial Venerable Qin's. No wonder you can't defeat Celestial Venerable Mu. You also can't defeat Celestial Venerable Hao."

He enlightened Fire Celestial Venerable, saying, "You are a human Celestial Venerable; how could Celestial Venerable Hao trust you? I have met Celestial Venerable Hao before, and he was startled away by me. If he knows I've revived, why wouldn't he guard against you?"

Fire Celestial Venerable was slightly stunned.

Celestial Venerable Yun called out loudly, "Brother Hao, since you're here, why hide and cower? You have now achieved the Grand Overarching Heaven, making you the most powerful being in the world today. Why stoop to petty schemes?"

Before his words had even faded, another Grand Overarching Heaven appeared, with a Dao Tree rooted in it, its Dao flowers in full bloom. Celestial Venerable Hao stood beneath the Dao Tree.

The two Grand Overarching Heavens shone brightly, complementing each other.

Celestial Venerable Hao laughed heartily, "No one understands me better than Brother Yun."

Celestial Venerable Yun smiled slightly, "You and I have contended for three hundred thousand years; we understand each other deeply."

"Yet you can't defeat me."

Celestial Venerable Hao said leisurely, "Now that I am here, I can contend with Qin Ye. With Fire Celestial Venerable making a move, you will surely die. Perhaps even Qin Ye will be buried here today. Yun, you couldn't defeat me in your previous life, and it's still the same in this one."

"Is that so?"

Celestial Venerable Yun smiled, "I may not be able to defeat you, but Celestial Venerable Mu can. Although Celestial Venerable Mu isn't as ruthless as I am, his mind is more meticulous than mine. How do you know that Founding Emperor is the only one who has come?"

Celestial Venerable Hao's heart chilled. He looked down from the Grand Overarching Heaven. Suddenly, he swept his sleeve, enveloping Fire Celestial Venerable, and whisked him away, disappearing without a trace.

"He found us."

Celestial Venerable Yue emerged from the depths of space, saying exasperatedly, "It seems Founding Emperor was right; my Extreme Void isn't perfect anymore. Celestial Venerable Hao can see through my Dao arts and divine abilities!"

Celestial Venerable Yun smiled, "If you can comprehend the Dao of space to its extreme, giving birth to a Dao Tree, blooming Dao flowers, and bearing Dao fruits, then Celestial Venerable Hao won't be able to trace your whereabouts either."

Celestial Venerable Yue came to his side and said, "Sister Ling told me that neither the Dao realm nor achieving Dao through power are orthodox paths to Dao. One can achieve Dao without cultivating the Dao realm. She will teach me once she figures it out..."

Celestial Venerable Yun's expression darkened, and he shook his head, saying, "Are you listening to her? Ling is undoubtedly incredibly clever, but to achieve her goals, she can endure a million years of solitude, researching the Dao of Indistinguishable Calamities alone. This time, waiting for her to research the orthodox path to Dao, who knows how many tens of thousands of years it will take! You can wait, but the human race cannot."

Celestial Venerable Yue recalled Celestial Venerable Ling's past of researching the Dao of Indistinguishable Calamities and suddenly understood. She abandoned that thought and smiled, "Since that's the case, I will wholeheartedly focus on comprehending the Dao realm."

All along, she had followed and assisted Celestial Venerable Yun, and later followed and assisted Celestial Venerable Ling. She was always like a younger sister, very obedient to both of them, but had little initiative of her own.

Celestial Venerable Yun bowed, thanking Founding Emperor.

Founding Emperor returned the bow and said, "Celestial Venerable Mu invited me here to stay in the Ancestral Court for a few months, protecting you until you can fully utilize your physical body's strength."

Celestial Venerable Yun suddenly understood, clapped his hands, and laughed, "So that's it! I know his purpose in doing this now. He intends to use you to hold back Celestial Venerable Hao, while he takes the opportunity to eliminate Earth Count. If you are in the Ancestral Court, Celestial Venerable Hao must remain in the Heavenly Court, wary of you leveling it."

"Eliminate Earth Count?"

Founding Emperor looked surprised, then nodded and said, "That is indeed his style. But with his strength, can he eliminate Earth Count while also dealing with Celestial Venerable Ling and Ancestral God King?"

He left the Sword Dao Grand Overarching Heaven and came to Celestial Venerable Yun's side. The Village Chief, simultaneously facing these three Celestial Venerables, felt a sudden pressure. After some thought, he said, "Do you know about the time Celestial Venerable Mu was chased and beaten by Granny Si when he was a child?"

Under the protection of the two Celestial Venerables and the Village Chief, Celestial Venerable Yun continued towards the Blackwood Sacred Land. Seeing the World Tree in the Blackwood Sacred Land from afar, his heart couldn't help but tremble slightly. "This tree is even vaster than the Primal Tree! However, this tree is still a sapling and hasn't fully grown. How vast would it be if it fully matured?"

As they were about to enter the Blackwood Sacred Land, Celestial Venerable Yun suddenly paused, slightly startled. He saw a woman standing quietly in front of the sacred land, seemingly waiting for them.

Celestial Venerable Yue's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly said, "I'll go check the sacred land first!" With that, she vanished in a flash.

Founding Emperor frowned and also walked into the sacred land, saying, "Fellow Daoist Su, let's have a spar."

The Village Chief's spirits lifted, and he eagerly followed him.

Celestial Venerable Yun stepped forward, approaching the woman.

Lang Wo turned around. Her gaze was clear and flawless. Celestial Venerable Yun felt a momentary dizziness, then quickly steadied his mind.

The little Creator girl who had followed him back then had grown up. Her beauty was unparalleled in the world, but her eyes held no emotion.

As her cultivation method operated, her emotions were suppressed deep within her heart, making them difficult to release.

Celestial Venerable Yun greeted her respectfully, "Miss Lang Wo..."

Lang Wo turned and left.

Celestial Venerable Yun was slightly startled, watching her depart.

"I still can't let it go."

Lang Wo's divine consciousness projected from afar, "After seeing you, the old emotions I had suppressed resurfaced, reminding me again of the deaths of millions of my kin. Uncle Yun, I will not see you again."

Celestial Venerable Yun felt forlorn and walked into the Black Mountain Sacred Land.

He came to the World Tree. The Village Chief led him to meet Lan Yutian. When Celestial Venerable Yun saw the young man comprehending the Dao beneath the World Tree, he was entranced, standing there motionless for a long time.

Lan Yutian looked up, saw him, and with some surprise, smiled, "I think I've seen you before. Did we know each other previously? Grandpa Village Chief said he wants you to be my disciple and cultivate with me for a while."

"Elder Brother!" Celestial Venerable Yun stepped forward, bowing deeply to the ground, tears dropping one by one onto the ground.

At the same time, the Golden Ferry of Transcendent World sailed into Youdu, arriving at the Mansion of the Benevolent Saint King of Heavenly Qi, located within Earth Count's long horn.

Before he could even moor the ship, a violent and chilling aura suddenly erupted from the Mansion of the Benevolent Saint King of Heavenly Qi. With a deafening roar, Celestial Venerable You's unparalleled primordial spirit burst through the Saint King's Mansion and stretched out a hand to seize Qin Mu on the Golden Ferry!

"Celestial Venerable You, it's me! Stop!" Qin Mu quickly shouted loudly.

Celestial Venerable You's palm halted above the Golden Ferry. His gaze fell upon Qin Mu, and he said coldly, "I sense killing intent towards Earth Count from you!"

"How is that possible?"

A bead of cold sweat hung on Qin Mu's forehead, and he said in surprise, "How could I harbor killing intent towards Earth Count? You must have sensed wrong. Look, I've come here, and the Great Dao of Youdu hasn't touched me at all. This proves that the Great Dao of Youdu has set aside past grievances and knows I'm here to help Earth Count overcome his tribulation! Quickly withdraw your hand!"

Celestial Venerable You looked suspicious. He sensed carefully and still detected killing intent towards Earth Count from Qin Mu.

"But how could Celestial Venerable Mu possibly harbor killing intent towards Earth Count? I must have sensed wrong."

Celestial Venerable You withdrew his primordial spirit. Qin Mu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and smiled, "Celestial Venerable You, I've brought you an old friend. Celestial Venerable Ling is here!"

Celestial Venerable You's mind was greatly shaken, and he quickly looked towards the ship. Qin Mu said, as if casually, yet intentionally, "You, Earth Count's Book of Life and Death is still with you, isn't it?"

Celestial Venerable You nodded instinctively.

Qin Mu let out a sigh of relief, laughed heartily, and embracing him, walked into the mansion, saying with a smile, "Ling, you come too!"

Celestial Venerable Ling came to his side, her divine consciousness fluctuating, "Is the Book of Life and Death acquired?"

Qin Mu nodded, "It's acquired. Now there's only one difficult question left: How many steps does it take to kill Earth Count, and how do we set up the plan?"

"Two steps."

Celestial Venerable Ling transmitted her divine consciousness, "Walk up to Earth Count and kill him."