Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 637 The Great Cauldron for Measuring Heaven and Earth Sounds!

The mummified corpse had vanished, replaced by a middle-aged man.

[Zishan Jun's aura weakened, forcibly falling from the Myriad Manifestations Realm he had just forcibly activated. A gaping hole pierced his chest; his injuries were severe, and he was on the verge of death.]

He was originally a human form of an elixir of immortality, capable of healing even the most severe injuries instantly. However, the edges of his wounds were entwined with strange black vortex patterns, like a bone-deep affliction, obstructing the flow of all life.

Although Ao Qing was not fatally injured, he was in a sorry state. The Heavenly Emperor had casually tossed him aside, tearing apart his skin, which was as tough as metal, leaving him barely able to stand.

She hadn't suffered such a severe injury in countless years; golden blood stained her clothes crimson.

The entire Ascension Platform still stands majestically, its construction seemingly undamaged despite the earth-shattering battle.

[The Purple Mountain Lord stared intently at the Heavenly Emperor who had returned from the dead, his gaze burning fiercely.]

[But in Ao Qing's eyes, the composure from before was gone.]

[She and Lord Zishan joined forces, yet they were easily defeated by the Heavenly Emperor. And at this moment, the Heavenly Emperor's aura seemed even more powerful than before, suffocatingly so.]

Below the ascension platform, disciples from various sects stood with ashen faces, their eyes filled with despair.

Even an existence like Lord Zishan was utterly powerless before the Heavenly Emperor; even someone as strong as Ao Qing, whose cultivation was comparable to a Supreme Grandmaster, could not withstand him in the slightest.

Now, only Zhou Jing remains, facing the Heavenly Emperor alone.

What should be done then?

The middle-aged man's gaze slowly shifted from the giant cauldron in the void, sweeping over everyone present.

[That once naked body, bathed in the glow of the rosy dawn, was quietly covered with a golden feather robe, upon which the sun and moon shone and the stars shimmered, as if created by nature itself.]

The Heavenly Emperor walked step by step toward the great cauldron; at this moment, no one could stop him.

[But a premonition crept into your heart: once the Heavenly Emperor obtains that great cauldron, then you will all have no chance of survival!]

[Seven-colored mountain patterns appear on the forehead, radiating light—the wondrous form of the Seven Treasures is truly awakened here.]

[In the blink of an eye, you have stepped into the "Myriad Manifestations of the Universe" realm, which only Zishan Jun can reach by activating purple lightning and awakening his mind's potential.]

[To reach this level, one must cultivate the four tangible divine entities to their ultimate potential within the Dragon Court realm.]

The middle-aged man suddenly turned around, his gaze fixed intently on you.

[Lord Zishan sensed that after refining various essences and blood, your physique had broken through its shackles once again, and you had probably reached the pinnacle of the Profound Core Realm.]

The forty-odd layers of cultivation seals placed within your body by the "Primordial Chaos Fire-Suppressing Diagram" are crumbling layer by layer, like an avalanche or a collapsing mountain.

[This is the first time you have fully broken all the seals—even when you fought against Zishan Jun and Danling, you only managed to break nine layers.]

With this long-suppressed power reappearing in the world, your realm has already surpassed that of the "Myriad Phenomena".

You slowly opened your eyes, a surge of jade-like light welling up within them, finally settling into a pair of unfathomable, deep jade eyes.

[The Heavenly Emperor's Heart Sutra was opened for the fifth time, and the power of the Dao Heart and Divine Treasury surged into the body's acupoints like a tidal wave.]

A flowing golden edge quietly appeared above the seven-colored mountain pattern on the forehead.

"All things return to one!"

[Zishan Jun was deeply shaken. In ancient times, a Xuan Dan realm cultivator who could open the first level, "Myriad Manifestations Divine Path," was already considered a prodigy; if they could open the second level, "Myriad Manifestations of the Netherworld," they would be considered exceptionally talented.]

Even among the pure-blooded offspring of ancient ferocious beasts, most only reach the "Myriad Manifestations Divine Path," which is already a sign that they have the potential to ascend to the Dao Lord realm in the future.

In ancient times, spiritual energy was abundant, and the realm of Dao Lord was a realm above the Profound Core stage.

If someone can open the "Myriad Manifestations of the Universe" at the Profound Core Realm, then as long as they don't perish prematurely, they are almost destined... to become a Dao Lord!

[In his previous life, Zishan Jun was Zizhu, who forged an unparalleled foundation for his Dao with the elixir of immortality. His path to enlightenment was vast, yet it ultimately stopped at the "Myriad Phenomena of the Universe."]

Yet Zhou Jing, in his very being, was able to traverse the myriad realms of existence, and take another step forward, reaching the realm that exists only in legends—"The Unity of All Things"!

[This realm requires fusing the four tangible divine treasures into one, transcending the ultimate, breaking through limits, and achieving the undisputed strongest foundation within the Profound Core Realm!]

[Physical body, essence and blood, physical strength, primordial energy... and even the Dao heart and spiritual essence!]

"This...is this Senior Brother Zhou's true strength?!" Fangcun Mountain Qi Ling's pupils trembled, and he said in disbelief, "How could someone at the Dragon Court Realm possess such power?!"

Not only him, but even geniuses like Xu Wuji and Tian Jingxu were utterly astonished.

They had thought Zhou Jing was only slightly better, but now they realized the true extent of their difference!

How many years has Zhou Jingcai cultivated? Even if he started cultivating from the womb, it would be impossible for him to reach such a level!

Gu Yu staggered back a step, his eyebrows raised high, and a suppressed growl escaped his throat: "This... how is this possible!"

[Even Master Ant's eyes widened in shock. Young Friend Zhou had actually reached such an extreme level below the Great Dao Golden Core stage.]

[If, after Zhou Xiaoyou, he were to advance to the Golden Core stage and successfully overcome the Tribulation of the Three Nines, he couldn't believe what kind of scene it would be!]

Sensing the powerful aura behind him, the middle-aged man slowly turned around, a hint of surprise appearing for the first time between his thick brows.

"In this lifetime... a destined Dao Child has truly been born?"

His expression suddenly relaxed, his gaze sweeping over the illusory cauldron in the distance, and then he laughed loudly: "You, too, have come for it?"

"You also want to be my enemy?"

The golden feather robe draped over the middle-aged man shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight. His tall, imposing figure stood like a mountain, but the warmth in his eyes gradually faded, leaving only indifference.

He murmured, as if questioning himself, or perhaps challenging the boundless void.

"...Do you still think this place is still in ancient times?"

"Did you really think you could look down on all ages, control all living beings, and forever remain high above?"

The coldness in his eyes gradually faded, and his gaze returned to you.

"You are now qualified for me to kill you."

As soon as the words were spoken, an invisible force quietly spread out, enveloping the entire ascension arena.

Behind the middle-aged man, a flawless white statue with three heads and six arms rose majestically from the void. Its upper body was already as large as the ascension platform, like a celestial being opening its eyes, parting the clouds, and coldly looking down.

A divine image, imbued with boundless Daoist essence, rose from the ground, its skin texture exquisitely detailed, appearing almost tangible.

Like gods and demons descended upon this world, they indifferently survey the mortal realm.

While everyone was still reeling from the shock Zhou Jing had brought, they were suddenly jolted awake to the fact that they were facing an ancient Heavenly Emperor!

That being who created ancient legends and ruled over all races!

Gu Yu abruptly broke free from his fear of Zhou Jing, and once again looked up at the magnificent and invincible Dharma image, his heart trembling.

Although he prayed for Zhou Jing's death, he was also extremely afraid of the unknown Heavenly Emperor.

[Even knowing he was doomed, Lord Zishan still mustered all his remaining magical power, attempting to struggle to his feet.]

He can die, but he must never kneel!

[Ao Qing's golden dragon eyes, usually known for their dignified wisdom, were now filled with a dazed expression, as memories from a thousand years ago flashed through his mind.]

Deep within my memory lies Bai Ze, the king of heretics, who not only united with the righteous path to expel the demonic path from the Central Plains of Yuzhou, but also established a heretical lineage in the Easternmost Azure Continent.

From then on, the world was divided into three kingdoms!

[Ao Qing once used a secret divination method to foresee that a supreme grandmaster, whose power would dominate the world, would emerge from the human race; this was an omen of the dragon race's demise.] [Later, he consulted Bai Ze, the future star of destiny, who predicted that the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury would appear in the world in 1,500 years, where the dragon race's ancestor would be imprisoned.]

If we can rescue our ancestor Ao Ming... perhaps the dragon race still has a glimmer of hope.

Although Ao Qing never readily trusted Bai Ze, after Bai Ze's demise, she and the Turtle Prime Minister repeatedly consulted divination and prophecy, finally obtaining the "Thunder over Water" hexagram, a medium-to-high-grade hexagram among the sixty-four hexagrams, signifying "resolving a crisis."

This sign indicates that the Dragon Clan has only a glimmer of hope if they enter the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury.

[A thousand years have passed since Bai Ze's death, and Ao Qing, after much deliberation, finally laid out this scheme of the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault for the Dragon Clan.]

Now, reflecting on this situation again, the three supreme grandmasters of the human race have entered the Great Luo Treasure Vault, their fates unknown.

If the righteous, demonic, and heretical factions of this world are leaderless, the world's格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall situation or格局, a concept encompassing the overall structure, environment, and social order) will inevitably be reshaped!

Although the Dragon Clan has lost one Dragon King, there are still three Dragon Kings guarding the four seas.

[The reason Ao Qing dared to enter the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury so easily was precisely because of this—his three brothers were still alive, and these three supreme grandmaster-level dragon kings were enough to awe the four seas and control the overall situation.]

The Dragon Clan will seize the initiative!

But at that moment, a sudden chill ran through her—it was precisely this thought that drove her to devise the scheme before her.

However... what if Bai Ze is not actually dead, but still living in seclusion in the world?

Can her three brothers truly stand against this unorthodox master who seems to have seen through all the secrets of heaven?

Unfortunately, it's too late to undo the damage. Did Bai Ze foresee this situation seventeen hundred years ago?

[Using the Heavenly Emperor's heir to eliminate everyone and reshape the world's order?]

Ao Qing had no way of knowing the answer. In her golden dragon eyes, the three-headed, six-armed Dharma image stood tall, and the shadow of death completely enveloped her mind.

Even a true dragon would perish here.

[Zishan Jun forced himself to stand, facing the imposing Dharma image. The purple lightning in his hand flickered for a moment before finally subsiding.]

He shook his head sadly: "Zizhu, I'm afraid I'll have to follow in your footsteps."

[To die a heroic death!]

The three-headed, six-armed deity unleashed a palm strike with overwhelming force, silencing all phenomena!

【"boom--"】

On the ascension platform, another Dharma form suddenly materialized, its entire body flowing with azure jade-like luster, its radiance converging as if solid, transforming into a majestic divine and demonic body, comparable in strength to the former.

The two colossal figures collided with a deafening roar, tearing the sky apart with a sonic boom that silenced the heavens and earth.

The disciples from various sects below the stage felt their vital energy surge violently, then explode with a deafening roar, shocking everyone around them.

Throughout the universe, only a deafening roar echoed, lingering endlessly.

[Your pupils unfold like lotus petals, a pupil technique described in the Jade Emperor's Aura Observation Technique, "Great Luo Demon Body."]

The "Seven Treasures Mystic Body" circulated continuously, all the seals around the body were lifted, and a profound feeling of being in one's element, as if in water and in harmony with the power of heaven and earth, arose spontaneously.

[The profound skills of the eighteen sects in this realm are integrated and further enhanced by the Daoist spiritual cultivation of the "Heavenly Emperor Heart Sutra"—]

You have reached an unprecedented pinnacle.

This is the first time since you began your cultivation that you have encountered an opponent you must face with utmost effort and caution.

This is also the first time I've truly felt real pressure!

Two divine images are locked in fierce combat in the heavens, while you and the Heavenly Emperor are also locked in close combat in the void.

At this point in the battle, the Heavenly Emperor, constrained by his devouring of Nine Yang True Man and others, was unable to unleash the "Great Luo Treasure Vault."

Furthermore, his cultivation level was suppressed within the Dragon Court Realm, rendering him unable to utilize many powerful techniques and secret methods that surpassed this realm.

[And you also lack the ultimate means to deliver a fatal blow to the Heavenly Emperor.]

The once invincible Five-Colored Divine Light, the Purple-Gold Light of the Three Mountains, and the Demon-Slaying Divine Thunder... all proved utterly ineffective against the Heavenly Emperor!

This clash is a return to basics, a contest of physical strength, vital essence, and ultimate power.

[A deafening roar echoed from the ascension platform as two figures crisscrossed each other, moving like shooting stars, leaving only a fleeting afterglow.]

Before anyone could even grasp the battle's momentum, Zhou Jing was blasted down with a single blow, but the next moment he soared into the sky, disappearing back into the clouds, and then slammed the middle-aged Heavenly Emperor down from the arena!

This went on for an unknown period of time.

[Ao Qing gazed at the scene, his mind suddenly clearing of all distracting thoughts, his eyes fixed intently on the great battle.]

She was suddenly shocked to realize that Zhou Jing could actually rival the Heavenly Emperor!

Even though the Heavenly Emperor was restrained and unable to use the "Great Luo Treasure Vault," and his cultivation was suppressed to the Dragon Court realm...

However, this is far too shocking!

[Zishan Jun stood there, stunned, his heart filled with a mixture of bewilderment and shock.]

He originally thought that Zhou Jing could only hold out against the Heavenly Emperor for a short while before being defeated.

Unexpectedly, he fought relentlessly for a long time, showing no signs of being at a disadvantage!

"Fellow Daoist Zhou actually possesses such strength... Just now in the Meditation Temple, he probably didn't get to fully enjoy himself, not even unleashing thirty percent of his cultivation."

With another earth-shattering collision, the two majestic Dharma images finally crumbled, showering down in a shower of light.

The two abruptly separated; the middle-aged man's eyes held less indifference and more solemnity.

You felt your blood and energy coursing through your body, a feeling of complete well-being. In the heat of this battle, your previously incomplete internal martial arts techniques began to merge and connect on their own!

[Zishan-jun clearly sensed that your aura was constantly rising during the battle; you were growing stronger with each fight!]

What an extraordinary and monstrous appearance!

The crowd below the ascension platform had long since frozen in shock, speechless and utterly incredulous.

The Heavenly Emperor descended, his gaze deep and thoughtful, and slowly spoke: "It's a pity... you weren't born in ancient times."

A pure white vortex appeared in his palm, and his voice was like an ancient, icy abyss: "I have endured countless tribulations and survived a hundred hardships."

"This life, I do not belong to you."

The white vortex suddenly expanded, and the Heavenly Emperor's aura underwent a dramatic change, breaking through the Dragon Court's confinement and continuing to rise without end!

He said slowly, "I am more interested in measuring the vastness of the world outside than in the title of Heavenly Emperor."

A white vortex enveloped the illusory cauldron.

The middle-aged man looked at the large cauldron, a profound smile appearing on his face. "This lifetime is the end of Dharma, a lifetime of weakness for you!"

~

In the endless void.

A large, ancient, four-legged cauldron suddenly struck.

P.S.: My darlings and gentlemen, please vote for me at the beginning of the month! *kiss*

(End of this chapter)