Chapter 1664: Spirit Officer Palace Lord

As the Heavenly Lake Universes were continuously sacrificed as energy into the Cataclysm of Destruction of the Sixteenth Epoch, more and more clear figures of the Spirit Official Hall Master emerged from the Dao Chain Net.

The Spirit Official Hall Master had a peculiar appearance: a red face, tusks, and hair growing upwards at his temples like small wings. A vertical eye, burning with a fierce fire, was situated on his forehead.

A dragon's head, only its head, protruded from his navel. It was ferocious and malevolent, surprisingly a living creature.

Behind him, green dragons, like flowing ribbons, encircled his entire body.

This enlightened being from a previous universe had a ferocious appearance, dissimilar to the acquired beings of the current world, such as the Divine Race, Demon Race, or Human Race.

Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void suppressed her shock, but her gaze involuntarily fell on the dragon's head at the Spirit Official Hall Master's navel. To her surprise, it opened its eyes and glanced at her.

Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly averted her gaze.

"There's no need to be afraid."

The Spirit Official Hall Master spoke, his words profound and obscure. "This dragon's head is my umbilical intestine," he explained. "I was born in the Thirteenth Epoch and achieved Dao long ago. Due to my longevity, my physical body gradually became sentient. My intestines have transformed into dragons, becoming ancient gods."

Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void and Exalted Heavenly Venerable Hao were deeply shaken. Did such a cultivation path truly exist in this world?

How long must the Spirit Official Hall Master have lived for his intestines to transform into ancient gods?

However, based on his words, it seemed he possessed more than one type of ancient god. It appeared that various parts of his physical body could separate, become independent, and transform into individual ancient gods!

This ability was countless times more formidable than the Grand Emperor's, who merely harbored ancient god imprints within his various orifices.

Spirit Officials also held similar positions in the Celestial Heavens, typically responsible for safeguarding and protecting it.

The Celestial Heavens had five hundred Spirit Officials, each possessing outstanding abilities. They were considered the elite among elites and incredibly powerful warriors.

This Spirit Official Hall Master was likely the Guardian God of Miluo Palace, and his strength probably ranked among the top-tier enlightened beings.

Once the Heavenly Lake Universes were completely dissolved and transformed into sacrifices, the Spirit Official Hall Master's body finally broke free from the Sixteenth Epoch's Cataclysm of Destruction and descended into Youdu.

As the Spirit Official Hall Master stretched, Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void involuntarily retreated several steps. The power inadvertently emanating from him was almost unbearable for her, forcing her to step back to avoid the impact of his violent aura.

Heavenly Emperor Hao remained motionless. The oppressive sensation from the Spirit Official Hall Master was immense, yet it was not enough to make him retreat.

Whoosh—

The Spirit Official Hall Master leaned down, his enormous face pausing before Heavenly Emperor Hao. His eyes rolled up and down, and the vertical eye on his forehead also rotated, carefully scrutinizing Heavenly Emperor Hao.

"Are you the Heavenly Emperor of this universe?"

He straightened up, his voice like a great bell reverberating through Youdu. "The Third and Fourth Young Masters have always indulged you greatly," he boomed. "Even when you employed minor tricks in front of them, borrowing their power without actually serving them, they still tolerated it. Do you know why?"

Without waiting for Heavenly Emperor Hao's reply, he continued, "It's because the two Young Masters know you cannot defeat the Seventh Young Master!"

Heavenly Emperor Hao's eye twitched, and his usually stable Dao heart suddenly rippled.

The Spirit Official Hall Master, seemingly aware of the shift in his Dao heart, continued, "If you cannot defeat the Seventh Young Master, you will eventually return to seek the aid of the two Young Masters. Ultimately, you will still obediently serve them! This is precisely why they permitted you to employ your minor schemes in their presence."

"Your petty schemes and tricks are truly insignificant before the two Young Masters. The Seventh Young Master's cunning and methods are far beyond your ability to counter."

The green dragons behind his head, like flowing ribbons, drifted elegantly. One green dragon extended a claw and rested on his shoulder, curiously observing Heavenly Emperor Hao and Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void. The Spirit Official Hall Master continued, "That Seventh Young Master has traversed countless past universes. Many have suffered at his hands, unable to voice their grievances or defeat him; he is incredibly troublesome. The two Young Masters merely needed to grasp this fact to have you completely ensnared. Heavenly Emperor Hao, do you understand?"

Heavenly Emperor Hao composed himself, then bowed and replied, "I... I understand."

The Spirit Official Hall Master smiled and took a deep breath. Suddenly, space-time behind him vibrated violently, and a Dao Tree slowly emerged. The tree bore three Dao Fruits and one Dao Flower, brimming with spiritual essence and compelling Dao charm. Yet, it was unable to cross from the past into the current universe.

The Spirit Official Hall Master attempted to summon it, then frowned deeply, abandoning the forceful recall of his Dao Tree. "Sacrificing one universe only allows my physical body to cross over, not my Dao Tree and Dao Fruits," he explained. "I need at least three more universes to fully restore myself to my peak state."

His gaze fell on Heavenly Emperor Hao, who then turned to Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void and said, "The Spirit Official Hall Master possesses boundless power and is the foremost combatant of our Celestial Heavens! My dear Void, sacrifice the four universes — Jade Ji, Master Xiu, Spirit Book, and Spirit Abyss — to ensure the Hall Master's Dao Tree can manifest here. This matter is of utmost importance; attend to it immediately."

Although Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void was somewhat reluctant, she immediately went to carry out the order.

The beings within the four universes — Jade Ji, Master Xiu, Spirit Book, and Spirit Abyss — had already perished at Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void's hands. She had also demonized these four universes, dragging them into Youdu, where they were now teeming with ghosts, gods, and demons, effectively her territory.

Heavenly Emperor Hao's request for her to sacrifice her own territory naturally made her somewhat displeased.

"If just one Hall Master requires the sacrifice of five universes to fully manifest, then if all seventy-two Hall Masters of Jade Capital City were to descend, it would likely necessitate the sacrifice of three hundred and sixty universes!"

Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void was secretly alarmed. What if the Young Masters of Miluo Palace were to descend?

What if all the enlightened beings from the Ancestral Court's Jade Capital City were to descend?

It would likely mean sacrificing all the myriad heavens and realms!

Heavenly Emperor Hao retrieved the Spirit Official Treasure Palace and offered it to the Spirit Official Hall Master, smiling, "This palace is your esteemed treasure. I have borrowed it for a long time and benefited immensely. Now that its rightful owner has arrived, it naturally belongs back to you."

The Spirit Official Hall Master accepted the palace and commended, "You are very perceptive and accommodating. I initially thought you would be difficult to deal with, but it seems I was mistaken. Heavenly Emperor, none of the seventy-two Hall Masters wished to descend this time. Do you know why? Offending the Seventh Young Master! To offend him is to poke a hornet's nest and invite a lifetime of misfortune! Once he returns to the past, he will surely torment those who descended in countless ways. I, however, am straightforward and chose to descend here with you. But, I will not directly confront the Seventh Young Master. You understand the reasons, I'm sure."

Heavenly Emperor Hao was inwardly annoyed. "Not directly confronting Heavenly Venerable Mu? Am I not merely inviting a high-and-mighty lord to assert his dominance?"

Despite his annoyance, he replied respectfully, "Hall Master, you are concerned that the Seventh Young Master might make things difficult for you upon his return to the past. After all, you and the Seventh Young Master have resided together in Miluo Palace for several cosmic epochs."

The Spirit Official Hall Master burst into laughter. "You're a delightful person; I'm starting to like you!" he exclaimed. "The Seventh Young Master is unruly and restless. Who in Miluo Palace, besides the Eldest Young Master, hasn't suffered at his hands? It's only because he's the Seventh Young Master, and the Master dotes on him, that they don't bother to contend with him. He relies on the Master's favoritism to commit misdeeds. Who wouldn't fear him?"

Hearing this, Heavenly Emperor Hao felt much more at ease. "Though this Spirit Official Hall Master is a crude individual," he thought, "his assessment of Heavenly Venerable Mu is quite accurate. At least we share some common ground, making future interactions easier."

Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void brought forth the four universes and commenced the sacrifice. However, fully sacrificing these four universes would take some years, meaning the Spirit Official Hall Master's Dao Tree could not descend immediately.

Heavenly Emperor Hao bid farewell, saying, "Brother Dao, rest assured. If four universes prove insufficient, I will have my dear Void sacrifice a few more." With that, he departed Youdu.

"Brother Dao Spirit Official, in your previous life, why did you only cultivate a Dao Flower and not a Dao Fruit?" Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void inquired.

The Spirit Official Hall Master glanced at her, then after a moment, replied, "Insufficient time, and insufficient spiritual energy."

Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void did not understand his meaning.

The Spirit Official Hall Master explained, "During the Sixteenth Epoch, there were too many stowaways, causing spiritual energy to be displaced into the Fifteenth Epoch's Cataclysm of Destruction. The Sixteenth Epoch's universe was incredibly small, and the Ultimate Void couldn't expand. The entire Ultimate Void was saturated with Grand Luo Heavens."

Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void's eyes widened; she couldn't imagine such a scenario.

"The Sixteenth Epoch consisted solely of an Ancestral Court Continent and the various universes of the enlightened beings; there were no other places."

The Spirit Official Hall Master continued, "Throughout the Sixteenth Epoch, the universe was pitifully small, and spiritual energy was scarce, making it incredibly congested. Not only I, but others also found it impossible to form Dao Fruits in such a place. My cultivation of a Dao Flower was already remarkable; some senior brothers couldn't even achieve that. The Sixteenth Epoch's universe lasted merely six hundred million years before it violently collapsed into the Cataclysm of Destruction."

He chuckled. "During those six hundred million years, only one native attained the Dao. Do you know how he managed it?"

Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void shook her head.

"He attained Dao through slaughter!"

The Spirit Official Hall Master continued, "This fellow, hehe, he was truly a ruthless character and a genius beyond imagination! Knowing the universe was doomed to collapse and that with insufficient spiritual energy he couldn't attain Dao and would surely die, he delved into the Dao of Slaughter. He systematically slaughtered the universes of many enlightened beings and even ambushed and killed another. Finally, before the universe's destruction, he attained Dao, entered the Ultimate Void, imprinted the Dao of Slaughter, and became a Grand Luo Heaven!"

He clicked his tongue in admiration, stating, "The moment his Dao Tree and Dao Fruit were cultivated, the Ultimate Void was crushed by him. The Ultimate Void was already incapable of supporting so many Grand Luo Heavens, and his attainment of Dao simply overwhelmed it, leading to the destruction of the Sixteenth Epoch."

Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void was stunned. "Did no one stop him?"

The Spirit Official Hall Master shook his head. "Originally, someone intended to stop him, but the Master intervened. The Master said we owed the beings of that universe and shouldn't interfere, so he didn't prevent it."

He shook his head, clearly somewhat disapproving of the Miluo Palace Master's actions.

Exalted Heavenly Venerable Void felt a chill in her heart. "If all the enlightened beings from the Ancestral Court's Jade Capital City were to descend, how long could our universe possibly endure?"

"This ruthless individual who attained Dao through slaughter was named Shang Jun. He later incurred widespread outrage, and during the cataclysm, he still refused to stop, continuing to hunt down other enlightened beings undergoing tribulations, killing countless in hopes of further advancement."

The Spirit Official Hall Master stated calmly, "The more he killed, the higher Shang Jun's cultivation became. Eventually, the Eldest Young Master could no longer tolerate it and suppressed him, trapping him alongside other terrifying entities. It's now unknown whether he is alive or dead. Heh heh, amidst the Cataclysm of Creation and Destruction, he likely won't survive until this epoch..."

Despite his words, a worried expression still crossed his face, clearly indicating that Shang Jun's strength was far from simple.

In the desolate expanse of the Ultimate Void, a lone portal drifted through this chaotic realm. The world beyond the gate was immensely vast, yet no strange "treasures" within this void dared to trespass there. On the contrary, these peculiar "treasures" actively shunned the world behind the portal.

Qin Mu twitched his nose, suddenly catching the scent of blood and rust. It filled his nostrils, making him feel as if he had a piece of dried fish and a rusty iron shard in his mouth.

The odor made him extremely uncomfortable.