Embers of Sword

Chapter 614 The Way of All Living Things
Lotus Peak Forbidden Area.

The fire was blazing.

The Great Phoenix Cave descended, transforming into a sea of ​​fire. The flames burned the lotus-shaped robes, but Zhao Chunyang, standing in the center of the sea of ​​fire, remained unmoved, silently watching the magnificent woman in a blazing robe not far away.

Where the Holy Queen stood, tens of thousands of scarlet flames bloomed like flower buds, creating an extremely beautiful scene.

But if you were actually there... you would know how terrifying it is.

This Great Phoenix Cave not only scorches the physical body, but also roasts the soul.

In the previous battle at Moon Concealment Cave, Qin Zu suffered a hidden loss... Although he was a top-tier martial artist with a near-perfect physical body, his soul still had flaws. In that duel, under the continuous scorching heat of the Great Phoenix Cave, Qin Zu eventually revealed a weakness, which was then decisively overcome by the Holy Empress.

"You'll stop at nothing to get the dragon vein."

Zhao Chunyang looked at the woman before him and sighed, "Qin Zu has worked so hard to guard the martial fortune dragon vein for Da Chu for so many years, how could you bring yourself to do that? His lifespan was already running out..."

The woman stood on phoenix fire and had an immortal tree above her head.

The ethereal branches that spread from the immortal tree were quite lush.

Vaguely visible.

Three crimson lines, like dragons, are climbing up the main trunk.

Of the four dragon veins, three have already been obtained.

The Holy Empress, who was already at the tenth level of the Yang God realm, has now taken another step forward, infinitely approaching the realm of the Celestial Being.

"As you said, he didn't have much time left to live."

The Empress said calmly, "I gave him a chance, but he didn't cherish it. No wonder I was ruthless."

As for guarding the military fortune for Da Chu... what does that have to do with me?
The one who should thank Qin Zu is the Grand Emperor!

She cared more about her advancement to the "Celestial Realm" than the rise and fall of the Great Chu Dynasty!

"It's you..."

The Empress frowned and stared at Zhao Chunyang.

This old man, draped in a lotus-patterned robe and with completely white hair and beard, had long lost the spirited demeanor of his youth, yet he remained unaffected by the scorching heat of the Great Phoenix Cave.

"...I knew it, you are stronger than Qin Zu."

She watched the entire epic battle that had broken out in the outskirts of the capital from afar at Renshou Palace.

That battle seemed evenly matched.

But in reality, Zhao Chunyang had the upper hand.

Both being at the tenth level of the Yang God realm, Qin Zu gained no advantage whatsoever… not because Qin Zu was too weak, but because this guy surnamed Zhao was simply too strong. Several years ago, before Yuan Huang was even the Holy Empress, she had fought against Zhao Chunyang… This guy's strength was unimaginable to ordinary people.

The years Zhao Chunyang spent traveling were the most prosperous era for the Great Sui Sword Palace in a thousand years!

He was truly invincible throughout the four realms!
"In this world, there are countless powerful people... and there is always someone stronger."

Zhao Chunyang showed no reaction to this assessment, simply saying, "Brother Qin is a martial artist, I am a sword cultivator. He and I are... different."

The words fell.

next moment.

Zhao Chunyang appeared before Empress Yuanhuang without any warning.

boom!
With a single punch, the void shattered.

"?!"

The Empress's pupils contracted sharply. Even though she had cultivated to near-celestial level, she still couldn't react in time. This punch was too fast, even faster than Qin Zu's punch... How ironic! Zhao Chunyang, who claimed to be a sword cultivator, fought more like a pure martial artist than Qin Zu!
The Empress raised her hands to defend herself.

Wow!
Under the blessing and guidance of the Great Phoenix Cave Heaven, countless blazing flames flowed and solidified along the arms, turning into two sections of fiery sleeves!

She was originally a powerful demon with phoenix blood, possessing an incredibly robust physical body, further protected by phoenix fire...

Logically speaking, taking a punch should be a piece of cake!

But this punch was thrown.

A muffled thud pierced through Lotus Peak and spread throughout the entire underground of the Great Jade Sword Palace.

The Holy Empress was thrown hundreds of feet, crashing directly into the ancient wall beneath Lotus Peak. The force of that punch far exceeded her expectations. The profoundness of Zhao Chunyang's Dao was something she had never heard of in her entire life... That punch just now was completely different from Qin Zu's fist intent. That old fellow was right; he was indeed different from Qin Zu.

The punch thrown by the sword cultivator had both the power to penetrate the body and the pain of piercing.

Yuan Huang stared intently at her arms with a solemn expression.

Countless phoenix flames were shattered and could not be reconstituted... As for the area where the forearms overlapped, it was dented and mangled with blood and flesh.

That was just one punch!
His own phoenix fire, combined with his demonic body, couldn't withstand it?!

Whoosh.

The sound of the wind pulls.

Yuan Huang suddenly looked up, only to see a shadow settle before him, and the old man in the lotus robe reappeared before him, moving with unbelievable speed. It was as if he could instantly reach any point in the underground space of Lotus Peak, as long as he focused his mind.

Without wasting words, Zhao Chunyang raised his hand and threw a second punch.

As long as the speed is fast enough.

No special moves are needed.

A seemingly ordinary punch sent a chill down Yuan Huang's spine... In that instant, she realized that she had far underestimated Zhao Chunyang's strength. Both were at the tenth level of the Yang God realm, but Zhao Chunyang seemed to have reached a higher level—a realm neither Qin Zu nor she herself had ever touched!

This punch was thrown.

Yuan Huang appeared dazed, but regained consciousness at the crucial moment.

She let out a sharp cry, and her face became ferocious and terrifying.

Boom.

Countless crimson flames overflowed, and the already narrow forbidden area of ​​Lotus Peak was instantly filled by the enormous demonic body. At this moment, Yuan Huang used her innate demonic form and directly withstood this unavoidable punch in the strongest defensive posture... Thinking back to her battle with Zhao Chunyang a hundred years ago, it seemed that there was a similar scene.

Years later, fate took another turn, and the same scene played out again.

The phoenix let out a mournful cry.

The demonic wings, flowing with phoenix fire, were pierced by a punch, and gushing blood fell like molten lava. The Holy Empress withstood the punch and returned to human form. She covered her left arm and quickly retreated, her face pale and her aura suddenly plummeting.

"..."

Zhao Chunyang watched this scene with an expressionless, calm, and even indifferent gaze.

It was a year ago.

This punch might have the chance to end this fight directly.

Unfortunately... Yuan Huang had already completed a "transformation" at this moment.

The immortal tree behind her was radiating divine light, channeling a large amount of life force into her body.

Before the Immortal Tree reaches its full potential, it cannot generate enough vitality. With each wisp of vitality taken away, the Immortal Tree becomes more withered.

The Empress Dowager is now "cutting off the fuel supply at the root of the problem".

However, for her, this was the only path she could choose.

Alternatively, gather all four dragon veins to fully awaken the Immortal Tree.

Either die at the foot of Lotus Peak.

Aside from the Immortal Tree, the remaining vapors of the Undying Spring within the Holy Empress's body were also roaring... After the battle with Qin Zu, she directly refined the last drop of "Undying Spring" that Lu Yuzhen had mentioned. After using this drop of Undying Spring, some residue remained, which was now being used to heal her wounds.

In a sense.

At this moment, Zhao Chunyang was not facing the Holy Empress alone.

Instead, it was the Holy Queen, the Immortal Tree, and the three dragon veins.

Even so, the advantages remain clear.

"...The Source of the Dao".

After retreating several hundred feet, the Empress Dowager clutched her arm, enduring the pain, and spoke in a hoarse voice.

She recalled their previous encounter.

That punch was simple and unpretentious to the extreme.

There's no way I can avoid it, no way I can withstand it...

After much deliberation, there is only one possibility.

Zhao Chunyang has comprehended the "Great Dao" of the Yangshen Realm to the extreme, touching upon a deeper level of "origin".

This is a power that only those at the Celestial Realm can control.

The "impassable barrier" that I had tried so hard to overcome, Zhao Chunyang had already overcome?
"Daoyuan?"

The old man in the lotus robe remained calm and said gently, "It seems there's nothing wrong with addressing me that way... You're really unlucky. I've been cultivating for so long, and I've only recently reached this level. If you had come to see me earlier, perhaps there would have been a chance to turn the tide of the battle."

The Empress Dowager's expression was extremely unpleasant.

Daoyuan...

Zhao Chunyang has truly comprehended the source of the Dao!
If the Great Dao of the Yangshen Realm can form its own grotto-heaven and be freely released outwards.

Therefore, the "Dao Source" of the Celestial Realm, even when placed within the long river of the Great Dao, can stand alone as its own lineage.

Zhao Chunyang's "sword way" has already broken away from the carrier of his natal flying sword.

Every punch and kick, every wisp of vital energy, can become the "Great Dao," can be regarded as the "Origin"!
In other words.

Having cultivated to this stage, Zhao Chunyang could disregard the limitations of his natal grotto-heaven and freely travel outside.

Wherever he is, all it takes is a wisp of divine thought... The sword essence within the Purple Mansion Cave Heaven responds at any time, and the Great Dao River hidden in the void opens up for him at any moment!

For the Holy Queen, the only good news at this moment was that this era still had limitations.

If this were a thousand years ago...

Zhao Chunyang was already a true Celestial Realm expert.

But things are not like they were a thousand years ago!
After the great calamity descended, the primordial energy of heaven and earth was depleted, and even the advancement of the Yang God became extremely difficult in this world... The single dragon vein of Lotus Peak of the Great Sui Sword Palace was simply not enough to support Zhao Chunyang's "advancement to the Heavenly Human Realm". So what if this guy touched the "Source of the Dao"?

The body's vital energy is insufficient, and the fortune of the Great Eagle Sword Palace is inadequate.

This old fellow sits in seclusion at the foot of Lotus Peak, unable to complete his advancement no matter how long he remains in seclusion!

"You seem to be feeling fortunate."

Zhao Chunyang calmly said, "You are glad that I touched the 'Source of the Dao,' but you are unable to advance successfully."

"..."

The Empress Dowager's expression was cold; she neither denied nor admitted it.

After counting the breaths.

The wound on her arm gradually healed, and the remaining vapor from the Fountain of Immortality in her body was completely depleted.

"I actually foresaw the outcome of this battle."

A complex look flashed across Zhao Chunyang's eyes. He hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Before you came, I was in a 'dreaming' state."

"you……"

The Empress Dowager's expression showed some emotion.

Lost in thought.

She had certainly heard of this profound and mysterious realm, an opportunity that most cultivators could only dream of. Even she was no exception, spending her days sitting in the Renshou Palace, cultivating by harnessing the fortune of the entire dynasty, absorbing primordial energy, cultivating the Phoenix Flame, and refining the Great Dao.

She has become one of the strongest people in the world.

However, he has never entered a state of "spiritual wandering".

It is said that a spiritual journey allows one to see the past and the future within the river of destiny.

The divination of the Divine Travel is completely different from that of the [Hun Yuan Yi]. The Divine Traveler does not need to pay the price of his lifespan... and can see the reflection of the River of Destiny.

No one is not curious about their future.

This was especially true for someone as ambitious as the Holy Empress.

She wanted to know if she could successfully collect all four dragon veins.

She wanted to know even more whether she had a chance to become a celestial being.

Once she triggers a "spiritual journey," she can use the images reflected in the river of fate to make more detailed and comprehensive plans.

What did you see?

The Empress couldn't help but ask about the outcome of Zhao Chunyang's spiritual journey.

She knew that this question was destined to go unanswered... Who would share the images she saw in her mind's eye?
Even if Zhao Chunyang tells me that I have lost, so what?

at this point.

She had no choice, and she wouldn't back down.

"Your fate will be grim."

Sure enough, Zhao Chunyang pondered for a moment and said sincerely, "You are not destined for this immortal tree... It would be best to give up as soon as possible."

"Heh...hehehe..."

The Empress looked at the man before her and couldn't help but smile.

A hint of mockery appeared in her beautiful eyes: "Stop? You want me to stop? If you hand over the dragon vein fortune of the Great Sui Sword Palace to me right now, I can indeed stop."

"..."

Zhao Chunyang fell silent.

"Look."

The Empress sighed deeply and said expressionlessly, "I have no choice. Qin Zu is unwilling to retreat, and neither are you. I can only ascend to the top of this world by killing you all."

He scoffed.

Within the forbidden area of ​​Lotus Peak, the sound of burning flames rang out once more.

But this time, it wasn't just a simple burning of phoenix fire.

A sliver of sunlight descended, illuminating the Empress's cheek. As the light faded, her face gradually changed... one face after another appeared on her skin. Over the years, all the cultivators who had entered the palace to meet the Empress had longed to see the true face of this supreme ruler of the Great Chu. Since the death of the Emperor Tai, the Empress had become a figure high above, shrouded in holy light.

No one knows what she looks like.

Those who had been to the imperial city and witnessed the "Holy Empress" were left in a daze.

They saw a beam of light.

They saw millions of people.

The Holy Empress... is not alone.

"The Way of All Beings".

Zhao Chunyang stared at the woman before him, frowned, and slowly spoke, enunciating each word clearly: "Over the years... how many people have you consumed in your pursuit of cultivating this great path?"

"Too many to count."

Under the blazing light, the Empress sometimes looked like a young girl, and sometimes like an old woman.

She was one person, yet also countless others; her voice, like a tidal wave, echoed throughout the Great Phoenix Cave Heaven.

Countless phoenix flames swirled around her.

A bizarre scene unfolded...

This path of all beings evolved within the forbidden area of ​​Lotus Peak. After the Holy Empress flicked her sleeve, Phoenix Fire bloomed, and within the Phoenix Fire buds were vivid and lifelike heads. At this moment, these heads opened their eyes, their expressions calm and compassionate, "complementing" the forbidden area of ​​Lotus Peak. At first glance, they truly looked like lotus flowers swirling and blooming.

Every year, some people disappear silently from the southern border region.

The clues Xie Xuanyi discovered not long ago... pointed to the Imperial City Division.

But if you investigate further, you can find the Renshou Palace.

These people were sent to the palace and became the Empress's "food," or more accurately, fodder for the masses.

That's why one person can appear to be millions.

Very simple.

Because of this one person, millions of people have already been consumed.

"This world is a dog-eat-dog world."

The Holy Queen said emotionlessly, "Born to either eat others or be eaten... It is an honor for these people to be eaten by me."

(End of this chapter)