Covering the sky: Starting from the Golden Crow of the Holy Cliff

Chapter 157 A dream of traversing eighty thousand miles, waking to find myself carrying a gourd in the autumn wind.

Clouds rise from scales and armor, jade blossoms hang in the celestial cave!
The Immortal Transformation Pool is located atop a giant mountain. Although it is not very large, it gives people the illusion of a world unto itself.

Yes, it doesn't resemble a pool of water, but rather a vibrant and beautiful little world, where the secrets of the origin of life seem to lie.

"boom!"

At this moment, the ancient dragon's lair shone brightly, radiating an unprecedented brilliance. Its oppressive power shook the three thousand realms, and the Great Dao was faintly manifested. The chanting of gods and demons continued uninterrupted, as if an unparalleled being had awakened from its slumber, emitting a terrifying wave like a vast ocean.

The crowd was overwhelmed, even the ancestral king of the ancient royal family trembled incessantly, his hair stood on end, feeling an unstoppable aura that made him almost want to kneel in submission.

"Heavens! What is this? The Ancestral Saint was defeated, and the Ancient Emperor's Weapon and the Human Race's Supreme Emperor Weapon were both useless?" In the distance, one of the cave masters of the Golden Cave changed color. He did not walk on the Heavenly Road but stayed behind to guard the rear. He was still shocked by this divine power.

The people of the Jiuli Divine Dynasty were even worse off. Many knelt down, and everyone felt oppressed, as if their hearts were about to stop beating, they had difficulty breathing, and their primordial spirits felt like they were about to split apart.

"Quasi-Emperor!" The eldest saint of Jiuli's pupils constricted, and the immortal map in his hand fully revived, with the starry sky inside reaching the heavens, magnificent and vast.

On the other side, the Golden King quickly ascended into the air, sensing something was wrong, and stretched out a large hand to grab all his people.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, a roar came from the depths of the dragon's lair, and a giant hand slammed out, crashing towards the eternal blue sky with unparalleled ferocity and power that made people tremble.

The jade light surged, and hundreds of great Dao patterns appeared around the cave, shimmering and colorful, covering the sky and protecting every plant and tree below. Otherwise, not only would the earth's veins be destroyed, but even the starry sky would collapse.

With a roar from the Quasi-Emperor, heaven and earth fell silent, and all things were to be shattered alive by the roar and sent to reincarnation!

Across the vast sky, terrifying sound waves surged, and a giant hand struck the deep and boundless Nine Li Diagram, as if to tear it apart and pierce it.

This imperial weapon was incredibly domineering just now, aiming to take away the Immortal Transformation Pool and the Dragon's Lair in one fell swoop, with grand ambitions. Now it has encountered a backlash, and the revived Holy Spirit has come after it immediately, leaving it with no way to avoid it.

"Roar……"

In an instant, the eldest saint of Jiuli bled from his nose, his arm went numb, and he flew horizontally into the distance, almost dropping the Supreme Emperor Diagram in his hand.

He clung tightly to the ancestral weapon; if he lost it, he would surely be reduced to ashes in an instant.

"Peng!"

Another violent tremor shook the heavens, and the golden mace on the left shone with eternal light, tearing through the sky as it flew out of the Pure Land.

"Crack!"

A voice echoed between heaven and earth, causing the Qinling Mountains to tremble violently. Boundless dragon energy surged into the sky, converging into a gigantic true dragon that hovered in the sky, looking down upon the world with overwhelming power that suffocated all who beheld it.

"This is an ancient dragon vein! All the dragon power has surged out to fight against the ancient imperial weapon!" People were astonished. This was the strongest dragon vein in the Central Plains, existing for thousands of years and stretching for millions of miles. It had long since given birth to ancestral deities and possessed incredible power.

The Golden King was pale and his spirit was suppressed. He knew that he was locked on and could not leave.

"Senior, it was all a misunderstanding. I didn't know this was your dojo..." he tried to explain, his heart pounding.

However, he was met with boundless killing intent!
"Boom!"

A great dragon roared, as if the sky had been torn apart, and rosy light shone through. The space became unstable, and the field controlled by the golden mace began to collapse instantly, unable to be maintained at all.

The Golden King cried out in distress, forced to block the attack, as his Supreme Imperial Mace unleashed thousands upon thousands of rays of light.

"when!"

The Central Plains Ancestral Dragon swung its long tail, clashing with the Golden Mace through Dao traces. The metallic vibrations were deafening, and a burst of blazing light erupted, as if the dark universe had exploded!
"puff!"

The Golden King coughed up a mouthful of blood and flew tens of thousands of miles away. His magical power was almost completely depleted, and he was truly no match for the opponent.

Facing a quasi-emperor, their only reliance was the ancient imperial weapon. Now that the supreme imperial might has been largely diminished by the dragon vein, they were no match for a quasi-emperor; it was simply like throwing an egg against a rock.

The world was shocked; everyone was looking up in awe. It was as if the world was about to end!
The terrifying being in the dragon's lair wasn't even serious; it simply stretched out a hand and casually ravaged the two Great Saints. Moreover, it was clear that the being was fighting against the spirit of an Emperor-level weapon, otherwise the process would have been even faster.

"Unexpected, truly unexpected... such a terrifying existence was born in the millions of Qinling Mountains in Zhongzhou. Its dream-level divine essence is spiritually connected, enough to astound heaven and earth." Amidst the vast green sky, an old man's eyes shone with a brilliant light. He stopped in place, a nine-colored divine light flashing between his brows, remaining motionless like an ancient and eternal deity.

Not far from him, several figures stood amidst swirling chaos, obscuring them from view. Faintly visible were primordial chains rising and terrifying imperial might surging forth.

“A great calamity may be about to erupt…” A short, thin Taoist priest sighed softly, his gaze complex as he looked at the ancient dragon's lair, feeling the pull of his bloodline.

That was the ancestor of the Cai family, or rather, the third generation of the Source Celestial Master.

"A quasi-emperor, who in the world can subdue him? Even if we join forces, it will be useless." The sick old man shook his head, clearly seeing the situation at hand.

Someone forcibly broke through the barrier with an imperial artifact, angering the holy spirit in the dragon's lair. There was no chance to buffer; it was an extreme confrontation from the very beginning.

“But we can’t just stand by and watch our two fellow Daoists suffer. Jiu Huang, how long until the other one arrives?” A voice came from the forest, sounding like someone trying to mediate the fight. It was very familiar.

The sick old man looked strange and recognized the voice of the Great Sage Hun Tuo. This one really never missed a chance.

However, without an imperial artifact, his voice was clearly weak, and the cold man in the blood-red robe remained silent, offering no reply.

"My lord is already on his way, and there will be no devastation in the Northern Dipper." Unexpectedly, the Azure Lotus rippled, and several people appeared behind the Nine Phoenix King. Among them was a woman who looked like a goddess descended from the heavens, with unparalleled beauty and captivating charm. She was none other than Yan Ruyu, a descendant of the Azure Emperor.

She bowed to the several powerful figures, her tone somewhat unusual, reflecting the vast difference in their strength. She had only just received a telepathic message from Yan Ming, instructing her to accompany the Nine Phoenix King to the Central Plains to manage all the affairs of the Heavenly Court on his behalf.

On one side are the few remaining peerless saints in the Big Dipper Starfield, and on the other side is the Sendai Third Heaven who recently advanced by taking drugs.

It's easy to imagine how guilty someone must feel.

In fact, she was in seclusion to consolidate her cultivation level. When she first received the order, she looked like she was questioning her life. Now that she is standing here, she always feels that she is not worthy of her position.

Which village party secretary can participate in the grand finals?

"That's good." Everyone present nodded, no longer having any doubts.

In their minds, the combined efforts of everyone, the ancestral formation, and the special forbidden artifact of the Sacred Cliff, would be enough to suppress the Quasi-Emperor of the Dragon's Lair.

But what they overlooked was that this was on the premise that someone did not present the imperial artifact.

“Young friend, your divine power is weak. You must have taken too many pills recently. You need to be careful. The path to enlightenment is not something that can be rushed…” Great Sage Hun Tuo said with a smile, like an old farmer in the fields, as he chatted with Yan Ruyu.

“...You’re right, senior.”

Just as the group was talking, the battle came to an end. The two peerless saints, one on the left and one on the right, were bleeding from their seven orifices. They were driven into the earth's veins like whack-a-mole and almost fainted. Even so, the two still held on to the imperial weapon tightly and refused to let go.

"Hey!"

On the other side, the Dragon Vein Mountain Gate opened wide, and an ancient chariot rushed out. It was no more than a foot tall and was pulled by a small purple Qilin that was more than a foot long. A small blue dragon that was more than a foot long was coiled on top of it, and a crimson divine phoenix that was more than half a foot long was flying behind it.

In addition, seven or eight tiny figures, each about half a foot tall, led the way. They were all different colors and looked like jade carvings, running quickly ahead.

On the ancient chariot stood a humanoid being, over a foot tall, like a deity, surrounded by one hundred and eight divine halos. Behind them, on a throne, blurry and illusory, sat an ancient figure.

There, in a strange and hazy place, the ancient king was completely invisible, motionless like a fossil. Although it was just a projection of divine power, the quasi-emperor pressure emanating from it prevented the Nine Li Diagram and the Golden Mace from making any move.

The humanoid jade spirit bowed deeply to the Emperor's shadow, but when it turned to face the two Great Saints, it changed its demeanor, becoming like a superior being with cold eyes, and sternly rebuked them: "Our clan's Great Emperor has manifested and spared your lives. Do you intend to remain stubborn and refuse to surrender your immortal weapons?"

The Golden King and the Great Sage of Jiuli exchanged a glance, both revealing a look of despair. This was truly an monstrous disaster.

They arrived confidently, wielding an imperial artifact, believing they could seize a once-in-a-millennium opportunity for immortality, never expecting such a being to be hidden in the dragon's lair.

"Apologizing is useless. Since that's the case, why should I tolerate the scolding of a junior?" The old man of Jiuli, his body withered and radiant, launched another attack and charged forward.

Everything that needed to be said has been said. Now that damned quasi-emperor is still plotting to seize the imperial weapon, there's no way for the two sides to reach a peaceful resolution.

"Kill!" The old man was covered in blood, and the immortal diagram in his hand shone brightly, releasing sacred energy.

He was not only taking action, but also using his true blood to sacrifice to the ancestral weapon, so that the divine artifact could be fully revived and fly back to the Nine Li Divine Dynasty.

His own lifespan was limited; even if he refined the Medicine King, he would only have a lifespan of about four or five hundred years.

Though my body and name may perish, the rivers and lakes will never cease to flow!

As the foundation for revival, he may die today, but the Divine Dynasty must never perish!

"You're courting death!" The Jade Elf leader's face was grim. His mission had failed, which was a disgrace to him.

In an instant, the majestic Dharma image behind him moved, exuding an overwhelming and terrifying aura.

"boom!"

A giant hand wreathed in dragon energy flew out, and the Quasi-Emperor's Chain stretched across the sky, resembling a blazing golden dragon sea falling down. Amidst the roar, ten thousand dragons surged forth, and golden light stretched out in patches, dyeing the entire universe golden.

The two Great Sages roared, unleashing their full power. Their two imperial artifacts were almost stained with blood, and their immortal light burst forth, severing a section of the dragon vein. The upper half collapsed and rolled down with a rumble, kicking up endless dust.

"They've finally arrived." Several figures in the towering mountains looked over at the same time.

Even that invincible figure was hit, becoming much more transparent, and its eyes became even more terrifying.

"My clan's Great Emperor is enraged! Even if you die a hundred times, you will not be able to cleanse your sins!" The jade-like little man roared, his divine halo shining brightly, his eyes filled with the radiance of the sun.

"Boom..."

A dragon's roar shook the heavens, and two hands emerged from the dragon's lair, like two great worlds pressing down. They forcefully grasped the sharp edge of the golden mace and cleaved it with all their might, causing this ancient imperial weapon to collide with the Nine Li Diagram. In an instant, a thunderous sound rang out, and a great collision occurred in this place. Divine radiance filled the air, and the aura was astonishing. The supreme divine power engulfed the entire Central Continent, making people tremble with fear.

"boom!"

The Golden King roared, his head nearly splitting open, a horrible gash appearing as blood flowed, staining his eyes red.

The eldest sage of Jiuli was nearly dead. He was in very poor condition, lacking blood and energy. His limbs were broken during the impact, and he bled profusely in the sky.

The two imperial artifacts, shimmering with divine light, were being drawn into the dragon's lair. Behind them, the Great Sage of Jiuli, with only his head remaining, his gray hair dripping with blood, charged backward with a resolute intent.

"Ancestral Saint!"

The cries of the people of the Jiuli Dynasty filled the air, knowing that their ancestor had gone and would never return, having shed his last drop of blood for the sake of the dynasty's legacy.

Facing an invincible quasi-emperor who controls the ancestral roots of Zhongzhou, this is a calamity they have never faced before. What can they use to fight?
"Struggling even at the end of the road!" The jade figure, a foot tall, spoke, exuding a murderous aura and filled with coldness.

"Buzz!"

At the critical moment, a ray of sword light suddenly appeared, a vast expanse of silver light, like the primordial power of the universe interwoven with the chaotic starry sea, bursting forth from the distant outer realms, spinning and transforming into a torrent of sword energy, rushing past with a roar.

The ancient being of the dragon's lair snorted coldly, not even glancing at it, and slapped forward, causing the sword light to explode with a bang!

But at that moment, an aura that moved even a quasi-emperor spread out, with countless strands of chaotic light rising up and engulfing the place.

"It's the Heavenly Court's Immortal-Slaying Flying Sword!" someone shouted, sensing the aura of the Immortal Gourd after its ultimate sublimation, which was far more powerful than before, and couldn't help but get excited.

"Boom!"

The dragon's lair roared, and a sword light of unparalleled sharpness struck down. A red-haired monster hidden inside suddenly stood up and immediately merged into the dragon vein.

Enraged by the spiritually enlightened quasi-emperor, a mere sword aura managed to breach his mountain gate. Although it was difficult to kill him, he was still somewhat embarrassed.

Almost the instant the red-haired creature left, water splashed in the Immortal Lake, and a piece of green copper appeared, on which grew a small blue lotus, swaying with its azure light. This caused the expressions of the people present to change drastically, and they felt a strange sensation.

"boom!"

Another sword light flew in, just as terrifying!
"Let's see how many sword energies you still have?!" This time, the Holy Spirit Quasi-Emperor wielded his golden mace, and the sword light exploded from a great distance, preventing anyone from getting close.

The second Immortal-Slaying Flying Sword was destroyed!
However, a vast imperial might suddenly swept across the sky, shaking the starry sky. An array diagram flew out, engraved with innate tribulation-crossing divine marks, connecting heaven and earth, with killing intent soaring to the heavens.

With a roar, the ancient dragon's lair exploded, and the entire area was filled with extreme killing intent, towering waves, and violent collisions. Runes and other symbols appeared in large numbers, imprinting themselves on the void.

"In my dreams I roamed eighty thousand miles, but when I awoke I carried a gourd as the autumn wind blew!"

A faint Daoist chant spread, and Qingming opened thirteen life palaces. With a whoosh, a streak of dark light appeared, and a scene of frost-covered trees spread out. A black-haired Daoist tore through the universe, a purple-gold chaos bell atop his head, and arrived at lightning speed on a large black gourd, stepping onto this battlefield.

The immortal gourd beneath his feet was absorbing life essence, ready to unleash a third sword light at any moment!
Almost at the same time Yan Ming arrived, a chain of divine order flew out, enveloping and protecting a young man among the Golden Clan.

"Boom!"

Awe-inspiringly ancient war chariot roared out of the dragon's lair, carrying a being radiating divine light. The being was the same height as an ordinary person, yet it inspired fear and exuded an aura of absolute dominance.

The dreamlike divine essence nurtured in the ancient dragon's lair has now appeared, shaking the entire Beidou region!

The man wore an imperial crown, ancient imperial robes, held a golden mace, and carried the Nine Li Map on his back. He walked out of the ancient land like a god.

"Since my ascension to power, you are the first being to storm my mountain gate. Though we are both holy spirits, you have sinned and must be punished!" His tone was indifferent and superior, and in the instant he spoke, he had already judged Yan Ming's sins and transgressions, and would capture him and suppress him for three thousand years!

"The Great Emperor has descended! Why don't you quickly perform the kowtow ceremony? Do you want to compound your mistakes and lose your true destiny?" The jade beauty beside her shouted, now emboldened and fearless of any enemy.

"boom!"

Faced with this oppressive aura, Yan Ming's head glowed, and the Dream Lamp and Illusion Bell appeared simultaneously. The aura of time spread across the sky, and the light of his primordial spirit condensed into a three-legged ancient golden crow, fierce and boundless. The oppressive aura of the peak Great Sage level rapidly spread, and the resulting symbols of order shocked everyone. Even the ancient royal cave master at the Saint King level was suppressed and unable to move, kneeling on the ground, his soul trembling.

The jade beauties staggered backward, unable to withstand the oppressive force, both shocked and furious.

"You're just playing tricks! I am a descendant of the forbidden zone. Who dares to claim my true destiny? Who can imprison me and punish me? On the road to becoming a dragon, I'll send you on your way!"

Yan Ming walked forward with his hair disheveled, his voice booming like an ancient immortal issuing a decree. His words were law, and Dao runes condensed in the void. The black gourd spun rapidly as it hurtled towards the Divine Essence Quasi-Emperor.

(End of this chapter)