Chapter 605: You haven't heard of it, does that mean the Heavenly Court doesn't exist?

The Fairy Fist techniques landed on him with a flurry, rendering all defensive measures useless. The opponent seemed to see through his weaknesses, with every punch striking a vulnerable spot, causing him immense pain.

The spectators were unaware that the identities of the two fighters on the Heavenly Altar were quietly escalating in significance, but they could all see that Zhu Yunwu was taking an even worse beating than before.

Zhu Yunwu diligently studied his master's moves and felt he was gaining a great deal; perhaps this was his master's true intention.

Seeing that his defensive techniques were ineffective, Zhu Tian changed his strategy, adjusting his posture to minimize the pain from future blows.

What struck Zhu Tian as most peculiar was a strong sense of familiarity with his opponent's moves, as if he had been beaten this way in ancient times. Yet, upon closer recollection, he couldn't match them to any opponent from his memories. How strange.

The pain yanked him from his thoughts, forcing him to face reality. This couldn't continue. He needed to create distance and regroup. He deliberately feigned a weakness, luring the Immortal Fairy to attack. The Immortal Fairy indeed fell for it, striking the vulnerable spot, and Zhu Tian seized the opportunity to leap to the right. The Immortal Fairy, having anticipated this, also leaped to the right, continuing her assault on Zhu Tian. She had long since discerned all of Zhu Tian's attack patterns.

After eight or nine attempts, Zhu Tian finally managed to fly into the sky, panting, putting distance between himself and the Immortal Fairy. He looked at her with an inexplicable fear. This wasn't the fear from the recent beating, but an ancient dread, deeply hidden within him.

Zhu Tian's eyes turned cold. He twisted his rotund body, his movements changing, and his four wings flapped in harmony, like a symphony of instruments. There was an ineffable, coordinated beauty, as if hundreds of musicians, playing different instruments with different roles and rhythms, created a perfectly harmonious sound, as if it were meant to be. This was one of his ultimate techniques, astonishingly powerful, and barely within the grasp of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator to wield.

Above the Heavenly Altar, towering waves surged, resembling the cataclysmic floods of ancient times. This deluge carried a corrosive, destructive intent; even a single drop would make skin sizzle, and anyone unfortunate enough to be engulfed by it would be utterly annihilated.

"Summoning a flood? What kind of dance is Zhu Yunwu doing? Does anyone recognize it?"

"It appears to be the legendary Immortal Cataclysmic Dance, exclusive to Supreme Zhu Tian. Only he knows it. That's no ordinary flood; it's an ancient deluge that once annihilated several stars!"

"It seems Supreme Zhu Tian truly values this disciple."

"This Young Sect Master Lu is also extraordinary. He's been dominating Zhu Yunwu from start to finish. An ancient genius indeed lives up to his reputation."

Lu Yang felt a hint of nervousness as he heard the chatter below. "This dance is called the Immortal Cataclysmic Dance. Could it be that a Half-Immortal once perished by this move?"

The Immortal Fairy waved her hand, "The name just sounds intimidating; it's really nothing special."

"As Immortal Ying Tian said during her lectures, for cultivators at the Tribulation Transcendence or Half-Immortal stage, regardless of the actual power of their moves, the name of the technique must sound impressive. This is called 'claiming dominance with a resounding name'."

"I don't believe in that philosophy. A practical move is better than anything. As for names, any random one will do."

Lu Yang was speechless.

The world-ending flood gathered and swirled in the air. The faster the four wings flapped, the more water accumulated. Eventually, the deluge became so vast that it obscured the sky, heavier and denser than any storm cloud. If it poured down, it would undoubtedly submerge the entire Heavenly Altar. The flood's immense scope meant there would be no escaping it, even by flight.

"Go!"

With a powerful flap of Zhu Tian's four wings, the world-ending flood lost its supporting force and crashed down towards the Heavenly Altar. The Immortal Fairy remained unfazed. She pointed her index finger at a spot in space, and with a soft "pop," the moisture in the air vanished instantly. It was as if an invisible, enormous hand had moved upstream, wiping away all water above the Immortal Fairy's head, including the world-ending flood.

"Water Evasion Art."

"How is that possible!" Zhu Tian's eyes widened in disbelief. His proud technique had been nullified just like that? The Water Evasion Art? This spell had long been lost, known only to ancient cultivators. Could his opponent truly be from ancient times?

"Oh no!" Above the Immortal Fairy's head was not only the world-ending flood but Zhu Tian himself! Zhu Tian felt the moisture rapidly vanishing from his body, leaving him shriveled like a corpse that had been dead for a year. If he tried to move forcefully, his body would simply fall apart.

"La—Spring blooms, life awakens—"

Zhu Tian sang out loud. This was the Spring Song from the Songs of the Seasons, symbolizing revival and capable of restoring his state. After his revival, he had reached his peak state in only two hundred years, and the Spring Song played a crucial role in that.

"He's quite good at singing," the Immortal Fairy murmured. Zhu Tian often sang to liven up the atmosphere before giving lectures. She soared into the air, riding on clouds, and continued her battle with Zhu Tian high above.

The Fairy Fist techniques were unpredictable and all-encompassing. The Immortal Fairy skillfully countered Zhu Tian's various attacks. The Fairy Fist originated from various herbal boxing styles. Herbs could be both medicine and poison, and in the Immortal Fairy's hands, she could switch between their effects at will. Even if Zhu Tian hadn't forgotten the Immortal Fairy or her fighting style, he would still have suffered a terrible beating from her in ancient times, even when battling at the same cultivation level.

"Enough!"

Zhu Tian could no longer control himself. A wisp of his divine sense returned to his true body, and with a thunderous roar, he roughly halted the contest. The Nascent Soul stage felt too distant to him; he had long forgotten the techniques wieldable at that level, and he couldn't defeat Young Sect Master Lu.

The colossal, mountain-like Zhu Tian flapped his four wings, stirring up a hurricane as he flew to the Heavenly Altar. The gales sent many spectators stumbling, with quite a few blown away. Ten Tribulation Transcendence stage demon emperors followed closely behind, surrounding Lu Yang.

Zhu Tian smirked cruelly, looking at Lu Yang as if he were already dead: "I traversed ancient times, yet I never heard of any Heavenly Court! You, a mere junior, fabricate a non-existent Heavenly Court, claim to be some Young Sect Master Lu, and tarnish the reputation of ancient times. Are you not showing any respect for me, an ancient cultivator?!"

"I considered your difficult cultivation and was unwilling to expose your identity. But you have repeatedly caused trouble at the Demon Kingdom's founding ceremony. Where does this leave the face of the demon race? Where does this leave the face of the demon realm?!"

Zhu Tian's words caused an uproar among the crowd below. They hadn't expected Supreme Zhu Tian to reveal such a secret.

"No Heavenly Court in ancient times? Does that mean the Heavenly Court Sect is fake?"

"Then who exactly is this Young Sect Master Lu..."

"How could that be? If the Heavenly Court Sect is fake, then was Celestial Venerable Dou's defeat of the Great Yu cultivators also false?"

"Why not? Perhaps it was a play staged by the Great Yu cultivators themselves to divert public attention!"

"Supreme Zhu Tian is a figure of such standing; he certainly wouldn't lie about this!"

Mu Baiyi and Shi Huagu looked at each other, doubts stirring in their minds. The Heavenly Court Sect is fake? How could that be? Who were the people they had been cooperating with, and what was their origin? Yet, Supreme Zhu Tian's words were undeniable, forcing them to believe. "Could it be that we've been deceived?"

Just as everyone was discussing, a clear, cold voice echoed throughout the entire demon city. The clear, cold voice seemed to be laughing—at the ignorance of the world, and at Zhu Tian's foolishness.

"Zhu Tian, just because you haven't heard of it, does that mean the Heavenly Court doesn't exist?"

"Who's speaking!" Zhu Tian nervously scanned his surroundings, releasing his divine sense. The voice was eerily familiar.

A figure in black robes flew out, lightly landing on the Heavenly Altar and shielding Lu Yang behind them. "Who are you!" Zhu Tian faced the figure as if confronting a formidable foe. He had a bad feeling and stared intently at the black-robed person.

The black-robed figure pushed back their hood, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face that could be described as peerless. The person looked at Zhu Tian with a half-smile, their gaze filled with disdain and contempt.

"One of the Four Sovereigns of the Heavenly Court Sect, the Great Emperor of Nirvana of the Southern Pole, Jiang Lianyi."