Two colossal forces were poised for a catastrophic collision — like a world-shaking comet blazing across the heavens, like terrifying flames swallowing mountains and rivers whole. The moment the news broke, it sent shockwaves through all ten directions.
The very cosmos trembled. Every race felt their hearts seize with dread. This was without question a catastrophic earthquake that would set the stars themselves shaking in chaos.
People had long sensed it would come to this — that the Divine Court and the Celestial Court were destined to clash. No one had imagined, however, that the spark would arrive so swiftly, or that it would ignite in quite this fashion.
“Why won’t our Patriarch simply return that fortress? Didn’t you tell us to prostrate ourselves in apology and adopt the most humble posture possible?” On one ancient star, members of a clan were murmuring among themselves.
“Exactly. The lord of the Celestial Court, Ye Fan, has returned. He went on a killing spree, cutting down the bloodlines of three ancient emperors, and even the second son of the Divine Court’s lord has become a wandering ghost. Shouldn’t we be seeking forgiveness? Shouldn’t we immediately return the resource stars we seized?”
“What’s the rush? He is indeed powerful, but the Sovereign ought to be far more terrifying. Let us watch and see first.” An aged voice replied.
Several of them muttered their grievances in silence. It had been this same elder who, upon first hearing the news, had berated them all and demanded they rush immediately to beg the Celestial Court’s pardon — only to do a complete about-face the moment new information arrived. He changed his stance faster than one could turn a page.
On another star, a similar scene unfolded. Key figures were deliberating over how to manage their relationships with the two great powers.
“The Sovereign is about to emerge. He is the mightiest man of this age. Ye Fan has ultimately failed to achieve the Great Accomplishment of the Holy Body. If it comes to a blood battle, he will surely be defeated and destroyed. There is no longer any urgency to return the star we seized from the Celestial Court.”
“Hmm, quite right. Let them bleed each other dry. If the Celestial Court is annihilated, that star rich in divine iron ore will belong to us forever.”
The cosmos was restless — especially along the Celestial Court’s frontiers, where every great tribe and power stirred with ambition, all making preparations. Perhaps they could carve out a generous share for themselves in the chaos of war.
“Let them fight. Once both sides have exhausted their finest warriors, the Sovereign — if he still hasn’t attained the Dao — probably won’t have much life left regardless. Even if he comes to rule the cosmos, he won’t have many years to enjoy it.”
“Make ready early. Watch the Celestial Court be uprooted from its very foundations. Watch the Divine Court peak and then collapse into ruin!”
Of course, some were deeply anxious. They were the first to return every fortress and stronghold belonging to the Celestial Court, terrified of future retribution from Ye Fan.
Along the Celestial Court’s frontier, formation patterns flickered and great defensive arrays spread across the sky — yet there were precious few people left to hold them. Only a small number remained behind to carve defensive runes into the earth. The main forces had long since withdrawn to the home base.
The coming battle between armies was not the true focus. In all likelihood, this would become a supreme duel between individuals. The Sovereign was simply too powerful. Perhaps there was truly no one in this world who could stand against him.
Just how terrifying was his combat strength? No one could say with certainty. By all estimates, he was not many times weaker than the Supremes who had appeared during the Dark Turmoil. Even if he fell just short of that tier, he was not far from it.
It was like a great mountain pressing down upon every person’s heart. The atmosphere within the Celestial Court was suffocating. Everyone felt as though they faced a mortal enemy, and all had steeled themselves for battle.
The one thing that offered any comfort was the presence of that gentle, adorable, pure and innocent little girl. Having survived the Dark Turmoil together, everyone knew that Xiao Nannan’s origins were staggeringly extraordinary — truly heaven-defying. As long as she was here to preside over things, even if the Sovereign himself came, he should not be able to unleash a true calamity of blood and slaughter.
In the cosmic void, upon a vast island, medicinal grasses carpeted the ground, phoenix blossoms had bloomed, dragon vines wound their way upward, and ancient divine trees blotted out the sky with their lush, dripping greenery, their branches wreathed in rosy clouds of light.
Here, palaces and pavilions hung suspended in the clouds. Silver waterfalls plunged like dragons for tens of thousands of feet below — magnificent and breathtaking, like a realm of immortals.
At the very center of this pure land, the Bodhi Tree had long since grown to a height of six zhang. It shed cascading rays of rosy radiance all around, swirling with auspicious colors, appearing sacred and tranquil.
Beneath the Bodhi Tree sat a gathering of figures. The Great Black Dog wore an expression of solemn dignity; Pang Bo was fierce and powerful as a demon god; Hua Hua bore a face full of compassion; the Holy Emperor’s son was breathing in and exhaling the essence of primal chaos; the Human Demon was… devouring meat in great mouthfuls.
The group’s behavior could not have been more varied. Xiao Nannan ran back and forth, lively and energetic, her great eyes blinking like black gemstones — she looked at this one, then at that one, brimming with curiosity, wholly unaware of the tense atmosphere heralding the coming war.
Not far away, a divine medicinal herb of the qilin variety stood nearly half a meter tall. Violet clouds billowed from it, its nine leaves propped up the heavens, and it had blossomed with a cluster of crystal-clear flowers, drawing a group of small divine beasts that circled at a respectful distance. These were the auspicious creatures the Celestial Court had raised — not one of them ordinary. Some carried the bloodline of the White Tiger; others had the blood of the Fire Phoenix flowing through their bodies.
“The lord of the Divine Court has summoned all of his children. Return to the Divine Court immediately.”
The Golden-Winged Great Peng King appeared, bearing this very message. It sent a tremor through everyone present. Clearly, the Divine Court’s Sovereign truly intended to act — and he was indeed wary of Ye Fan, fearing that he might truly lay hands on his remaining children.
The Golden-Winged Great Peng King was a being of few words. Having delivered his report, he went directly to take a seated position beneath the Bodhi Tree. Auspicious light shimmered in this place; every single leaf bore an etched Dao pattern — it was an ideal location for comprehending the Dao.
In years past, it was beneath this very Bodhi Tree that he had gained insight into the Great Peng King Fist, which had elevated him into the ranks of supreme masters. Over the years since, he had advanced with courageous ferocity, growing ever more formidable.
“The lord of the Divine Court has emerged from seclusion!”
On this day, countless people trembled. Throughout this expanse of stars, they sensed a powerful fluctuation — as though a great emperor had descended upon the mortal world.
Everyone was struck with terror, and then with overwhelming shock. By pure instinct they understood: this was not something a being who had only just become a Quasi-Emperor could hope to contend with. The Sovereign was simply too powerful.
“BOOM!”
There was a star blazing fiery red — searing and intense beyond measure. It was the Sovereign’s place of secluded cultivation, where no one had ever dared approach in ordinary times. Yet in this moment, it suddenly exploded.
The star cracked apart in countless pieces, and from within stepped a single figure.
He was a middle-aged man — his entire body a blazing red, even his hair dancing like living flames. A supreme aura surged from him, roiling through the cosmos, causing the surrounding stars to explode one after another in a chain reaction.
The Sovereign had emerged from seclusion. Within the very domain ruled by the Divine Court, every soul could sense his overwhelming power.
“CRACK!”
Within the Divine Court’s palace, the divine statue enshrined in his honor shattered on the spot. The true body had emerged; the clay idol that had served as his connection to the outside world — capable of speaking on his behalf — was destroyed.
The great battle was about to begin.
This was the thought in every heart. Every person’s pulse quickened. The Sovereign might not equal the Supremes of the Dark Turmoil era, but the gap between them was truly not that vast.
“Father…”
Eight figures came flying through the distant sky, and fell prostrate in reverence the moment they arrived. All of them were overcome with excitement. With the Divine Court’s Sovereign this powerful, who under heaven could stand against him? The future would belong to them.
The clang of metal rang out as a suit of crimson dragon armor came flying through the air, settling upon the Sovereign’s body and enveloping him completely. It was a suit of dragon and serpent plate armor, its surface flickering with roiling flames.
Long ago, his precious pagoda had been shattered. Even now he had recovered only a few fragments, insufficient to reforge it. Over these many years, he had taken several Quasi-Emperor artifacts left behind by those who came before him and smelted them together, forging this suit of crimson dragon armor.
“A junior, nothing more — and yet he has been this brazen. He has slaughtered Celestial Court elites and even killed the Second Crown Prince. His crimes are truly unforgivable. The Sovereign has emerged from seclusion. We implore you to uphold justice!”
Several elder statesmen came flying in as well, all of them prostrating themselves on the ground. Facing that figure radiating surging crimson fire and divine majesty that covered the world, every one of them trembled as they bowed in earnest reverence.
Throughout the cosmos — to the four extremes and eight wastelands — countless individuals received the news and stood waiting. They knew that a wild storm was coming.
In the star domain where the Celestial Court resided, the atmosphere was deeply oppressive. Numerous powerful forces withdrew outright, ordering their disciples on no account to travel there for cultivation — to do so might invite a calamity that would cost them their lives.
All the great powers waited. A cataclysmic collision was about to begin.
“The Celestial Court commands a wealth of powerful experts, but they absolutely cannot withstand a Sovereign this formidable. I believe that after this battle, the Celestial Court will cease to exist — nothing will remain but ruins.”
“Is that not all the better? The resource stars we seized from them will belong to us completely and permanently.”
Some rejoiced while others were troubled. A great many naturally hoped for Ye Fan’s death — for then the strongholds, mineral veins, and other things they had obtained would not need to be returned, and they could claim rightful ownership.
Yet others were indignant, burning with a sense of injustice, feeling that the Divine Court was being far too overbearing, and they felt true sorrow for the Celestial Court.
“The Human Race’s Holy Body is so extraordinary — a talent blessed by heaven. If given time to grow, he could absolutely defy the heavens. But now he is in peril!”
“Ha. He has no opportunity left. The Sovereign has emerged. An existence of that magnitude simply cannot be resisted. It is impossible for anyone to be his match. He is a Supreme who is on the very verge of attaining the Dao!”
Those who sympathized and those who gloated alike fixed their attention on events. Whatever their respective positions, they shared one thing in common — every single one of them believed that the Celestial Court and Ye Fan could not possibly withstand the lord of the Divine Court.
“The age of chaos arrives — a brilliant collision of sparks is about to ignite!” At the battlefields of the Imperial Sons, someone remarked with a cold and piercing tone.
“The fall is imminent. The Holy Body will be destroyed.” In the ancestral grounds of numerous great clans, many gathered to discuss and observe.
Ye Fan’s powerful rise had been suffocating to so many. His enemies hoped to see him stumble and fall — they were tired of watching his relentless advance toward the absolute pinnacle.
Now the Sovereign had made his move. For those who viewed Ye Fan with hostility, there could be nothing more welcome than this.
The atmosphere grew heavier and heavier, as though a vast dark cloud had settled over everyone’s hearts. The star domain where the Celestial Court resided seemed to dim and darken, filling all with dread.
One day passed. Two days. Three days. Still the same. Everyone understood — this was the calm before the storm.
On the sixth day, news erupted like a volcanic blast. The Divine Court’s Sovereign had moved. His aura pressed down upon the cosmos, shaking the eight wastelands.
The Divine Court’s army surged forward in a killing tide, intent on sweeping the Celestial Court away and destroying it utterly. On and on they came — like a cosmic deluge — boundless to the eye, a staggering display of force as they advanced to kill.
The Sovereign sat upon a carriage drawn by nine ancient flood dragons, each radiating an aura of terrifying power. They drove straight through the Celestial Court’s defensive fortresses.
Formation patterns were inscribed there. Defenses had been laid. But none of it could possibly stop the Sovereign. Behind him, the great army advanced in an overwhelming flood, pressing forward relentlessly.
The Celestial Court was certainly going to be annihilated — this was the thought in every heart. With a figure this powerful, commanding a war host this terrifying, no one in the present age could stop them.
The Celestial Court’s headquarters was exposed. The Divine Army had actually located it, and now bore down upon it directly — straight toward this vast island floating in the void of space. Every celestial soldier and celestial general had fallen back to defend this place.
“Holy Body Ye Fan, come out and face your death! The supreme lord of our Divine Court has arrived!” someone in the Divine Court bellowed.
Men shouted and beasts screamed. Iron swords rang out. Battle spears flashed like rainbows. Long lances stood dense as a forest. Cold light flickered. Armor gleamed with a sinister chill. Like a tide of iron and steel, they devoured mountains and rivers and swept across the cosmos.
The Divine Court’s Sovereign rose to his feet upon his carriage, gazing ahead at the pure land where silver waterfalls cascaded, petals drifted like snow, and crystalline morning light flowed through the air. His expression was grave and severe.
“In recognition of your great service rendered three hundred years ago, our lord has no wish to make things unnecessarily difficult for you. You are hereby commanded to dissolve the Celestial Court, bind your own hands and feet, and come forward to accept punishment. Your lives will be spared.”
The man beside the Divine Court’s Sovereign spoke up, his words stirring the eight wastelands. His voice carried a strange, uncanny power — one that shook the soul.
The Sovereign himself did not move a muscle. His majesty was absolute. Truly, he was like a divine emperor descended from the heavenly realm, now looking down upon the mortal world with contempt, everything within his grasp. His expression was cold and aloof; his eyes deep and terrifying as he surveyed all six directions and eight wastelands.
“You think far too highly of yourself. A coward hiding for over three hundred years — and you dare present yourself as the supreme overlord of the cosmos? If I were you, I would never show my face again, and simply die of old age in obscurity.”
From the vast island, someone spoke up — mercilessly tearing open the Sovereign’s deepest wounds.
“Insolence! You dare offend our lord?! Every last one of you will die!” The Divine Court’s army erupted. Countless soldiers drew their weapons, and killing intent rolled like a tidal wave across the heavens.