Chapter 1704: Yuntianzun Breaks the Deadlock

The most crucial aspect of this battle was hard to pinpoint whether it lay with Qin Mu or with Carefree Village. Failure in either location would lead to the downfall of Yankang and the Primordial Realm.

As Heavenly Venerate Yun descended upon Carefree Village, Heavenly Venerate Yue, Divine King Lang Wo, Heavenly Venerate You, Grand Beginning, and Lan Yutian also met their respective adversaries.

Heavenly Venerate Yue and Divine King Lang Wo flew up to block Ancestral God King, who attempted to bypass Carefree Village and lead Xuandu's Sun Guardians to attack Yankang. Heavenly Venerate You confronted Heavenly Venerate Void, who had invaded Youdu in the Primordial Realm. Grand Beginning, with familiar ease, blocked the two Grand Ultimate ancient gods. The three of them each activated their innate spirit treasures, earnestly trying to persuade their opponents.

As for Lan Yutian, he somewhat naively encountered Madam Yuanmu, a truly alarming prospect.

Heavenly Venerate Yun, meanwhile, walked towards Emperor of Heaven Hao.

Heavenly Venerates and Path Attainers moved through the air. Below them surged a torrent of gods and devils, spreading out from three sides of Carefree Village. The battlefield even extended to the Grand Emperor Heaven, with war raging across its entire expanse!

This time, the Heavenly Court's offensive was terrifying, employing its full might. Even with the Wenxiang Pavilion coordinating the overall strategy, Yan Yunxi, Zhuo Cha, and Han Tang each overseeing a flank, and Emperor Kai, Qin Ye, personally joining the fray, with the Heavenly Court's Three Grand Tutors all deployed, the flames of war still reached Carefree Village!

Heavenly Venerate Yun ignored all this, and walked directly towards Emperor of Heaven Hao.

Emperor of Heaven Hao was currently in his male form. The Second Young Master had only been surprised that Qin Mu managed to kill the eight ancient god avatars of the Spirit Officer Palace Master in such a short time, so she had come out to observe. However, she had no interest in the decisive battle of Carefree Village, so she had relinquished control of the body back to Emperor of Heaven Hao.

“Yun, you are merely a defeated subordinate of mine.”

Emperor of Heaven Hao's gaze fell upon Heavenly Venerate Yun's face, then shifted away towards the uppermost layer of Carefree Village, the Grand Pure Realm, as he calmly said, “What an intricate scheme. The Spirit Officer Palace Master's body parts have transformed into ancient gods. He can send avatars to kill the leaders of Carefree Village, Yankang, the Heavenly Yin Realm, the Buddhist Realm, the Dao Sect, and the Beast Realm. This is an attack that forces a rescue. Heavenly Venerate Mu has a weakness: he values familial bonds and friendships too much. I noticed this weakness long ago. As long as one has a weakness, they are not invincible.”

He smiled faintly and said, “Regardless of whether the Spirit Officer Palace Master can kill these pillars of Yankang, my strategy has been achieved: to force the sentimental Heavenly Venerate Mu to leave Carefree Village and go to their rescue. With him absent from Carefree Village, it cannot withstand me and my army. In this battle, Carefree Village can be flattened.”

Heavenly Venerate Yun calmly replied, “Heavenly Venerate Hao, you've forgotten, I am still here.”

“You also have a weakness, Heavenly Venerate Yun.”

Behind Emperor of Heaven Hao, Grand Beginning slowly approached. Emperor of Heaven Hao, unhurried, said, “Brother Yun, your weakness is your merciless tolerance. Being merciless makes it difficult to gain others' loyalty, and tolerance means yielding. I exploited this weakness of yours to defeat you during the Dragon Han era. You couldn't get help from Fire Heavenly Venerate, Lang Xuan, Ancestral God King, Heavenly Venerate Gong, Concubine Qiang, and others, while I understood better how to interact with them and form a community of shared interests. Your tolerance meant that to achieve your goals, you would choose to yield and cede more benefits. That's why I was able to gradually erode the Celestial Alliance you painstakingly built, seize its power, and push you aside.”

Emperor of Heaven Hao chuckled, “Are you convinced now?”

Heavenly Venerate Yun smiled and shook his head, saying, “I have never been convinced.”

Emperor of Heaven Hao chuckled lightly and said, “Grand Emperor, he's yours. Brother Yun, please move aside. I wish to visit Heavenly Venerate Qin Ye's palace and have a seat.”

Grand Beginning stepped forward. Behind him, within the Grand Overarching Heaven of Primordial Qi, the branches of the Dao tree swayed as he walked towards Heavenly Venerate Yun.

Heavenly Venerate Yun still stood blocking the path between Grand Beginning and Emperor of Heaven Hao. Emperor of Heaven Hao frowned and chuckled incredulously, “Brother Yun, are you planning to block both me and the Grand Emperor simultaneously?”

At that moment, Grand Beginning suddenly stopped, looking at his own shadow and Heavenly Venerate Yun's shadow.

Ancestral God King and countless Sun Guardians flew above Carefree Village. Numerous great suns blazed in the sky, their sunlight scorching, even causing the Celestial River to boil!

Because of the numerous suns in the sky, they should have had no shadows at this time. However, Grand Beginning discovered that both he and Heavenly Venerate Yun had shadows, and their two shadows were connected.

Grand Beginning's eyes twitched. As he reached to draw his sword, the Primordial Qi burst forth!

Just then, a blade light flashed from within the shadow, slicing upwards from Grand Beginning's crotch!

Grand Beginning was split in half!

Shang Jun's figure appeared, his blade slicing Grand Beginning's body upwards, then blade lights rained down, shredding Grand Beginning's two halves into smithereens!

In the past, Grand Beginning's physical body, the body of an ancient god-emperor, was renowned as the strongest. Yet now, it was chopped into countless fragments by Shang Jun's blade light!

What Shang Jun shattered was not only Grand Beginning's physical body, but also his primordial spirit!

As a being who attained the Dao through killing, Shang Jun's first move was an unparalleled killing strike, one that even a Path Attainer like Grand Beginning could not resist!

Shang Jun's figure burst forth from the scattered fragments of flesh in the air, heading straight for Grand Beginning's Dao tree in the Grand Overarching Heaven of Primordial Qi. At this moment, his killing intent was even more potent than that of the countless gods and devils on the Carefree Village battlefield, causing shivers and terror!

On Grand Beginning's Dao tree, Dao flowers rotated, Primordial Qi burst forth, and boundless Dao power met Shang Jun!

At the same time, Grand Beginning's physical body and primordial spirit, which had been chopped into countless fragments, suddenly dissipated, transforming into Primordial Qi that merged together, and then reassembled into his physical body and primordial spirit.

The blade light was dazzling, splitting open the Dao flowers and severing the Dao tree. Shang Jun, with a chilling strike, split the Dao tree's stump and roots, along with the Grand Overarching Heaven of Primordial Qi, right down the middle!

“Very good.”

Grand Beginning's voice came from behind him: “To attain the Dao as a killer, you are remarkable, but you are steeped only in the path of slaughter and warfare, with no understanding of the Five Primordials. The Dao of Grand Beginning, among the Five Primordials, is divided into Primordial Qi and divine consciousness. Whether it's the physical body or the primordial spirit, or even the Grand Overarching Heaven of Primordial Qi, including the Dao tree, Dao flowers, and Dao fruit, all are Primordial Qi!”

Shang Jun turned around.

Grand Beginning stood before him, and behind him, Grand Beginning's Dao tree suddenly dispersed, transforming into Primordial Qi. Then the Primordial Qi reconvened, once again becoming the Dao tree, with its Dao flowers hanging naturally on the branches.

The cleaved Grand Overarching Heaven of Primordial Qi also directly transformed into Primordial Qi, and then reappeared.

Behind Grand Beginning's head, heavenly palaces formed a grand Celestial Court, guarded by seventy-two treasure halls. His gaze fell upon Shang Jun as he calmly stated, “After all, you are not Heavenly Venerate Mu. Heavenly Venerate Mu could ambush me, damage my Great Dao, and inflict severe Dao injuries upon me. But you, you know nothing about the Dao of Grand Beginning and Primordial Qi. You are merely a machine that only knows how to kill. Shang Jun, you cannot harm me in the slightest.”

Shang Jun's hand dropped, his killing intent receded, and his gaze fixed on Grand Beginning.

Grand Beginning's heart tightened. The spot Shang Jun was looking at was precisely the Dao injury Qin Mu had inflicted upon him during the previous struggle for the Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon's soul!

“The Dao of Grand Beginning, Primordial Qi, I have indeed never killed.”

Shang Jun said dryly, “I wish to try.”

Grand Beginning's pupils contracted sharply, forced to give his full attention.

If Shang Jun were to strike again, it would undoubtedly be aimed at the Dao injury Qin Mu had left on him!

“Fortunately, this killer can no longer lurk in the shadows! In a direct confrontation, he is inferior to me!” Grand Beginning thought to himself.

Emperor of Heaven Hao frowned, glanced at Grand Beginning, then withdrew his gaze, smiling faintly as he said, “Brother Yun, it seems you do have some tricks up your sleeve. Unfortunately, you are taking the path of matching equal with equal. Fighting me, you will surely die!”

Heavenly Venerate Yun smiled faintly and said, “Actually, I am helping Brother Hao achieve his goal. Brother Hao, you have cultivated the Grand Overarching Heaven of Primordial Qi, and Grand Beginning has also cultivated the Grand Overarching Heaven of Primordial Qi. As for me, I have inherited the Grand Overarching Heaven of Divine Consciousness from the Grand Emperor. When the Grand Overarching Heaven of Divine Consciousness merges with the Grand Overarching Heaven of Primordial Qi, it forms the complete Dao of Grand Beginning!”

With his left hand forming a sword incantation, he gently stroked the Grand Beginning Emperor Sword. The Grand Beginning Prime Stone on his brow emanated a faint glow as he smiled faintly and said, “When the Grand Overarching Heaven of Primordial Qi and the Grand Overarching Heaven of Divine Consciousness merge, one can achieve the Dao of Grand Beginning in a single stroke! The power of achieving the Dao of Grand Beginning is second only to Grand Change, with no rival in this universe! This is why the ancient god Grand Beginning has always fought and contended with me. As soon as he achieves the Dao of Grand Beginning, he can force you to abdicate and remain your illegitimate son. And Brother Hao, you also possess the Grand Overarching Heaven of Primordial Qi.”

Emperor of Heaven Hao's eyes lit up: “You have piqued my interest. Brother Yun, you have indeed piqued my interest. The Grand Emperor is indeed cunning. If he succeeds, it would truly be a bother for me.”

His Grand Overarching Heaven of Primordial Qi floated closer, as he chuckled, “Once I achieve the Dao of Grand Beginning, I will surely give Brother Yun a magnificent funeral!”

“By all means.” Heavenly Venerate Yun smiled quite cheerfully.

Their Grand Overarching Heavens collided!

When these two Grand Overarching Heavens met, it was like a perfect union of fate, or dry wood meeting a raging fire, beginning to merge upon contact!

At the same time, the Celestial Court behind Emperor of Heaven Hao's head wavered, with thirty-six heavenly palaces and seventy-two treasure halls standing tall. Moreover, a Zixiao Palace shone with brilliant light!

This Zixiao Palace glowed dazzlingly, far surpassing the Lingxiao Palaces refined by others. It was a projection gifted to Emperor of Heaven Hao by the Fourth Young Master, Zixiao, containing extremely powerful force!

His magic power greatly surpassed Heavenly Venerate Yun's!

Emperor of Heaven Hao shook his sleeve, and one by one, treasure halls from Jade Capital City in the Ancestral Court flew out, suppressing Heavenly Venerate Yun's Grand Overarching Heaven of Divine Consciousness, thereby suppressing its power and might!

In this battle, victory was already within his grasp!

Emperor of Heaven Hao initiated the attack, his techniques and divine abilities grand and sweeping, fully demonstrating the power of achieving the Dao through strength. He had no need to counter Heavenly Venerate Yun's moves one by one; his magic power was too immense, allowing him to simply crush Heavenly Venerate Yun with brute force!

Heavenly Venerate Yun, however, appeared much more cautious. While exerting all his might to unleash his divine abilities and Dao techniques, the power of the Grand Beginning Emperor Sword in his hand was also unleashed to its maximum!

His moves were more varied, but he was still steadily retreating under Emperor of Heaven Hao's offensive!

Not only that, the Grand Overarching Heaven of Divine Consciousness was also suppressed and continuously eroded by the Grand Overarching Heaven of Primordial Qi. Emperor of Heaven Hao felt his cultivation and Dao attainment constantly rising, his heart filled with increasing joy.

In this battle, he would achieve a great victory!

Heavenly Venerate Yun thrust his sword forward. The Emperor Kai's thirty-three heavens of swordplay, in his hands, were no less exquisite than when wielded by Emperor Kai, Qin Ye himself. Coupled with the might of the Grand Beginning Emperor Sword, the power of this thrust doubled!

Emperor of Heaven Hao burst into laughter, shattering the thirty-three heavens of swordplay with a single punch, and then clamped the tip of the Grand Beginning Emperor Sword between two fingers!

Heavenly Venerate Yun strained to thrust forward, yet the Grand Beginning Emperor Sword remained perfectly still, as did Emperor of Heaven Hao's two fingers. He chuckled, “Brother Yun, it's time for you to go.”

Clamping the Grand Beginning Emperor Sword, he pushed it forward. With a dull thud, the hilt struck Heavenly Venerate Yun's chest, breaking several ribs and piercing his sternum!

At that moment, Heavenly Venerate Yun revealed a smile. The Grand Beginning Prime Stone on his brow instantly brightened many times over, as wild divine consciousness surged into Emperor of Heaven Hao's glabella!

“A mere trifle.”

Emperor of Heaven Hao's mind momentarily reeled, then quickly recovered. He chuckled lightly. However, in that fleeting moment of distraction, Heavenly Venerate Yun unleashed a divine ability with all his might: the Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain!

The Supreme Divine Consciousness Domain erupted, solidifying everything, gaining Heavenly Venerate Yun a brief window of time!

“Red Thread Knot!”

He allowed the Grand Beginning Emperor Sword to pass through his chest, and his hands rapidly formed seals, aiming them at Emperor of Heaven Hao's glabella!

Emperor of Heaven Hao was caught off guard. Seeing the Red Thread Knot about to reach her glabella, her appearance and body suddenly began to rapidly transform, changing from male to female, from Emperor of Heaven Hao to the Second Young Master!

“A divine ability specially created by Master to deal with me!”

The Second Young Master, Wuji, let out a furious, piercing cry. Heavenly Venerate Yun's Red Thread Knot divine ability, even before reaching her glabella, was shattered by her terrifying, boundless power!

Heavenly Venerate Yun's palms were even ripped apart, turning into bare bones!

The Second Young Master paused, startled: “That wasn't the Red Thread Knot?”

She greatly feared the Red Thread Knot, believing it to be a divine ability specifically created by the Miluo Palace Master to kill her. Upon seeing Heavenly Venerate Yun use it, she was enraged, and without a second thought, possessed Emperor of Heaven Hao's body, intending to personally kill Heavenly Venerate Yun.

However, this Red Thread Knot was merely a façade without substance; it was shattered by her aura even before it could touch her.

Heavenly Venerate Yun's hands, now reduced to bone, were already before her, and the divine ability hidden beneath the Red Thread Knot suddenly erupted!

“Immutable Divine Ability!”

This divine ability held no destructive power. It passed through the Second Young Master's body. The Second Young Master paused for a moment, then flicked a finger, striking the tip of the Grand Beginning Emperor Sword.

Heavenly Venerate Yun flew backward, and with a dull thud, was pinned to his own Dao tree.

Heavenly Venerate Yun gripped the blade, forcefully pulling out the Grand Beginning Emperor Sword, and collapsed face down onto the ground.

“My strongest suits are imitation and learning. The Red Thread Knot divine ability is too profound; I couldn't truly learn it, only mimic its form. But the Immutable Divine Ability, I could learn it almost completely.”

Heavenly Venerate Yun, leaning on the Grand Beginning Emperor Sword, slowly rose to his feet. He looked up at the Second Young Master, grinning as he said, “Second Young Master, Heavenly Venerate Mu has asked me to ensure you're on your way!”

“Just you?” The Second Young Master sneered.

“Just me.”

Heavenly Venerate Yun straightened his posture, reached into his chest, pulled out the ribs that had pierced his heart, and tossed them to the ground. He calmly said, “With the Grand Overarching Heaven of Grand Beginning formed by the merger of the Grand Overarching Heaven of Primordial Qi and the Grand Overarching Heaven of Divine Consciousness, and...”

He swept his sleeve, and the Ancestral Court's treasure halls that had been suppressing the Grand Overarching Heaven of Divine Consciousness flew out with a whistle, swept away by his sleeve!

“And the Ultimate Void, which specifically breaks the Dao of the Return to Ruin!”

Heavenly Venerate Yun stomped his foot heavily. The two Grand Overarching Heavens flew up and vanished into the Ultimate Void. The howling winds of cold stillness collided fiercely with the winds of heat death surrounding the Second Young Master!