The Ancient Saint Emperor of the Heaven-shading

Chapter 246 The Spiritual Treasure Reappears, The Mortal World Battles the Immortal Path
Emperor Wu lived for 30,000 years, and Emperor Tianyuan guarded the borderlands for the Celestial Court.

Even if it were a celestial being from the mythical era reborn from Nirvana, even if one cultivated diligently for ten thousand years, it would still be nothing more than a finger's breadth.

That bitterness, that unspeakable gap, can be felt even by people around the world, and they can't help but sigh.

Emperor Wu truly made all emperors throughout history despair. He was an insurmountable peak, a monument to the pursuit of immortality in the mortal world.

Time passed in this way, and the Heavenly Emperor was eventually allowed to enter the Celestial Court for his meritorious service in guarding the borderlands and creating the world, which made it a beautiful story in the world.

Emperor Wu lived on, seemingly having seized all the world's bounty, and it became so that no other clan could produce a single master.

In the years that followed, the environment of heaven and earth changed drastically, becoming unsuitable for cultivation. It fell to its lowest point, suppressing all spirits and inspiring fear.

This was the glorious era of Emperor Wu alone, shining through the ages, unparalleled. However, compared to it, the lives of ordinary people were far too dim, far inferior to the past. There was a lack of powerful figures, and even quasi-emperors were rare. In the end, there was only one person who would attain enlightenment.

In the 40,000th year of the Hongwu era, the world began to change. The Great Dao was no longer suppressed, and all regions once again became a golden age for cultivation.

Everyone cheered and was overjoyed. They speculated that it was Emperor Wu who used heaven-defying methods to promote the myriad paths, causing the universe to regain its vitality, because some people saw immortal seeds flying out from the Thirty-Three Heavens to nourish the universe.

Under this guidance, geniuses emerged and stars shone brightly. As time passed, people felt a vibrant vitality and signs that a new emperor was about to be born.

In this lifetime, the Lingbao Ancient Starfield was shaken, and a young Taoist priest who called himself Shangqing emerged from it, carrying a sword and a map on his back.

He was young and unpredictable, full of vitality and incredibly powerful. He defeated all sorts of geniuses along the way, and even the son of the ancient celestial venerable who had broken out of his seal was no match for him and was easily killed.

It is said that no one can withstand his fifth sword strike; even the strongest can only withstand the fourth before being killed.

Ultimately, the Taoist swept aside his contemporaries in this lifetime, transcending tribulation and attaining enlightenment.

During that grand tribulation of lightning, a Dao diagram and four killing swords came to aid in the battle, thus revealing their identity to the world—they came from the mythical era.

He was none other than the Lingbao Celestial Venerable of yesteryear!

After returning from the turbulent period of darkness, he was reborn from the ashes, reunited with his former Dao fruit, and finally achieved success, stepping on all paths to become an emperor, calling himself the Jade Emperor, and also qualified to be called the Heavenly Emperor.

After attaining enlightenment, Lingbao combined the Qingping Sword and Tongtian Sword he had forged in this life into the array diagram, creating the Six Swords. He also used the power of faith to forge a divine diagram, which, together with the Heavenly Venerable Diagram, transformed into the Mother-Child Dao Diagram. This diagram reached its peak of power, far surpassing the original Heavenly Yuan Emperor.

"Now, I am as capable as the former Emperor, wielding the Ascension Cauldron in battle. Wouldn't it be a pity if I didn't enter the Celestial Court to see me?"

Lingbao Tianzun muttered to himself, "I have come to visit the Heavenly Court with two diagrams and six swords."

"Is someone else going to challenge Emperor Wu again?!"

"This time it's the former Lingbao Heavenly Venerable, the one rumored to be closest to the Heavenly Emperor level. He has probably achieved that this time, and his combat power is extraordinary."

"The Ten Celestial Venerables of the Mythical Era Clash: Spiritual Treasures vs. Ultimate Dao!"

The world is watching; this will be a momentous battle. Will Emperor Wu remain as composed as before?

clang!
Lingbao struck the ancient bell in front of the Immortal Court. Looking towards the Thirty-Three Heavens, he saw the figure of the Heavenly Emperor and the Phoenix Emperor. However, the Immortal Golden Holy Spirit Emperor made him slightly frown, because the aura he exuded was also close to that of an immortal, transcending all paths.

That was also a Heavenly Emperor!
Thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. Forty thousand years have passed since he attained enlightenment. If he couldn't even do this, it would be a waste of his status as a Celestial Golden Saint, especially since he is the most adept at Nirvana and Transformation, Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold.

The world was shocked to see this. Even the spirit of Emperor Wu's former weapon was close to becoming an immortal. What about him?
How strong will it be?
Unthinkable.

In an instant, just a single figure shattered the hopes that had just been ignited in people's minds. Even Lingbao Tianzun probably couldn't directly face the majesty of the Martial Emperor.

"Please enlighten me, Emperor Wu!"

However, those who can attain enlightenment all possess minds as firm as iron. Lingbao Tianzun remained calm, gazing into the outer heavens, and with a loud shout, challenged the Great Tianzun.

"Lingbao once rendered meritorious service to Heaven and Earth. Its array diagram quelled the chaos, and you may now see it," the Phoenix Emperor declared coldly from his lofty position.

This time, Emperor Wu accepted the challenge.

emperor!
In an instant, a vast and divine sound resounded, like the roar of all living beings and spirits, like the chanting of immortals and Buddhas throughout the heavens, reaching far and wide, cleansing the universe.

From those thirty-three heavens, blood light appeared.

A dazzling display of blood.

Nine-colored blood energy soared into the sky, tearing apart the chaos beyond the world, causing the vast universe to crack and collapse, towering mountains and rivers for thousands of ages, writing the annals of history, and reshaping the past and present!

Boom! Accompanied by surging blood energy, the Great Celestial Venerable appeared.

He was incredibly young, with long crimson hair tied up with a Heavenly Emperor's crown, wearing a Heavenly Emperor's robe, and a halo hanging behind his head, like an eternal and immortal god, his entire body radiating the auspicious light of celestial artifacts.

His vitality is still at its peak, and he is still in the rising phase.

"Still rising after 40,000 years? And it's not even at its peak?"

All the powerful races in the universe were stunned. This was a myth that no one in ancient times could compare to. Forty thousand years of his life had been at its peak!
“Your path is even more terrifying than that of an Emperor.” Lingbao Tianzun sighed. He knew the difference in power just by meeting you, but there was no reason for him to back down.

The next moment, six killing swords and the divine diagram flew together, heading towards the Supreme Celestial Venerable.

To defy the heavens and defy fate, he was determined to fight to the bitter end.

“Lingbao, not bad.”

In the Thirty-Three Heavens, the Martial Emperor uttered only four words, then pressed down with one hand, truly covering the sky with one hand, pressing down on the Spirit Treasure Celestial Venerable. If time were cut off, and the stability of all the heavens and myriad realms were disrupted, everything would collapse, order would break, rules would be obliterated, and all the paths would crumble!
The legend has become reality, and the immortal emperor from mythology has reappeared, which is truly awe-inspiring.

Boom! A single giant hand caused the heavens and earth to rumble, the Great Dao to undulate, and thousands of rules and myriad orders to rearrange themselves in preparation for the arrival of the monarch, the call of the Heavenly Lord, and the invitation of the Martial Emperor!
Overlooking all ages, able to cover the sky with a single hand!
This is an invincible posture; the sun and moon have always been high and difficult to fathom, and the Martial Emperor's way is higher than the heavens.

The next moment, everything came to a close amidst utmost splendor and dazzling brilliance.

The array diagram and the six swords were pressed down by a hand, along with Lingbao Tianzun, who was also pressed down below and unable to move.

"Used only one hand?"

"With just one hand, he suppressed beings close to immortality, rendering even Heavenly Emperor-level beings unable to move."

The people who witnessed this scene were shocked. The Martial Emperor had been the only one in the universe for millions of years, with no rivals. Even the Spirit Treasure Celestial Venerable, who had traversed all paths and achieved the supreme near-immortal realm, was no match for him and was suppressed by a single hand!

"As the head of the Ten Mythical Venerables, the true Great Celestial Venerable, I'm afraid only you deserve this title. I humbly admit defeat." Lingbao Celestial Venerable smiled wryly, then cupped his hands in apology, acknowledging his inferiority.

"The Celestial Court needs talents like you." In the Thirty-Three Heavens, Wang Hongwu sat on the cold throne, looking down at the vast world, and recruited a new generation of Heavenly Emperors.

On this day, powerful races from all corners of the universe came to pay homage to the supreme Martial Emperor, their devout shouts echoing endlessly.

This magnificent scene lasted for a full century before it gradually calmed down. The universe was filled with statues of Wang Hongwu, worshipped by all spirits.

Finally, Lingbao Tianzun also joined the Celestial Court. In addition to the Four Emperors, Five Elders and Eight Gods, Wang Hongwu established another line, known as the Nine Heavens, and set up the positions of the Nine Heavenly Lords.

Lingbao then became one of the Heavenly Lords, known as the Shangqing Heavenly Lord.

Emperor Tianyuan was also granted permission to become a god.

In this lifetime, Wang Hongwu, who was devising the Art of War Immortals, felt restless and sensed the opportunity that had arisen for him on this path, so he began to search for it.

Finally, he arrived on Earth and walked on this land. Near the old path of reincarnation, he found a monument that had fallen from the Bronze Immortal Palace.

This is a piece of celestial gold from the void, which has been cast into a palm-sized stele, left behind by the former Heavenly Emperor.

"So this is the monument. My chance to become a battle immortal has arrived."

Wang Hongwu immediately understood that this was the ancient stele that the Desolate Heavenly Emperor had obtained from the Immortal Realm, which he used to conquer a lifetime and become an immortal in the mortal world after eight generations of imperial rule.

He brought it back to the Celestial Court and, through contemplation, captured the Daoist chant emanating from the Celestial Golden Stele. It was an ancient incantation that could be used to open the stele.

When a cultivator faces it, it's like facing a mirror; they can see another version of themselves. What's most terrifying is that this other version is real, with flesh and blood, and capable of fighting against it.

Fighting to the death with another version of yourself is a way to test the limits of your true self, a fight to the death.

Wang Hongwu's path to becoming a War Immortal required such nourishment, so he decisively entered into it to cultivate.

Upon entering, another version of myself appeared, with the same attire, abilities, and even the same characteristics and supernatural powers.

Clearly, this stele was later refined by the Desolate Heavenly Emperor, making it even more mystical.

In the world within the monument, Wang Hongwu engaged in a great battle with another version of himself, unleashing the power of the eight immortal metals, the laws of immortal artifacts, and the characteristics of immortal spirits. Primordial Reincarnation versus Primordial Reincarnation, they parasitized each other, each containing the other. When the battle reached its climax, even the Ten Secrets combined into one appeared.

No one knows you better than yourself. Such a battle is amazing. Both people understand each other and can seize on the slightest discord to attack relentlessly. This kind of training is to force yourself to surpass the past and keep improving.

Moreover, when fighting against oneself within the Void Immortal Golden Tablet, the two are of identical strength, and if one dies in battle, one will truly perish; but for beings pursuing the path of immortality, it is the most suitable treasure to fight against heaven and earth, and against oneself!

It is precisely because of this that he gains insights amidst life and death, and comprehends the Dao in bloody battles. He is accumulating knowledge and slowly transforming, hoping to become an immortal through this cruel ordeal.

Year after year, in the blink of an eye, it has been 45,000 years since the Hongwu era.

He fought a great battle with himself within the monument for five thousand years, defeating it time and time again to emerge victorious, but it was still not enough.

"Battle to become an immortal! One battle is not enough! No, I must create an environment of absolute deathmatch and break through all obstacles!"

Wang Hongwu was not satisfied, so he took out the Six Paths Reincarnation Disc. Using the Six Paths Reincarnation as a base and combining it with the Void Immortal Golden Tablet, he actually managed to evolve something new.

After the two merged, the Six Immortal Artifacts evolved into different versions of themselves, just like their own experiences when they severed their paths. Back then, they were different paths to severing their paths; now, they are different versions of themselves on different paths to immortality!
An endless future, endless possibilities, in fierce battle.

What kind of battle strategy is the strongest?
Or rather, how can one forge the strongest warrior's way?
In fact, the answer is very simple. Just like now, all the paths collide once, and the one who survives is naturally the strongest!
To achieve immortality through battle—there is no better way.

If the world were to witness this scene, they would be horrified. Emperor Wu had no rivals, yet he created his own. This is terrifying.

In the years that followed, Wang Hongwu entered the Six Paths of Reincarnation for trials, experiencing different versions of himself, fighting and contending with them, striving to forge a path to immortality.

Among them, he saw all sorts of mysterious, incredible, or special paths to immortality.

The first person used the human body to absorb the external universe, achieving a divine transformation of the universe. First, countless celestial structures evolved within the body, eventually collapsing into a singularity and triggering the Big Bang. Then, through the Zhou Tian Grand Array constructed by the Source Technique, the external universe was dragged and integrated into the body, achieving the supreme immortal path of combining the inner and outer universes.

The second person then chose to learn from the Ten Fiends' route, comprehending the power of annihilation and death of the Nine Netherworld Hound, combining it with the underworld's reincarnation method, experiencing nine fake deaths, causing both the physical body and the primordial spirit to wither and flourish simultaneously, each time being buried in the burial soil for ten thousand years, using death energy to temper the body, thus being able to seek life in death.

The third person comprehended the profound mysteries of the Thunder Emperor, established the Heavenly Punishment Dao Palace, transformed into a Thunder Spirit, and took control of the Heavenly Tribulation. He used his five internal organs as Thunder Pools, and the five deities of the Dao Palace transformed into the Five Thunder Gods of the Directions. He continuously guided the thunder punishments of all beings in the mortal world during their tribulations into his body, constructing a 'Thunder Domain'. Finally, in the Dharma-ending Age, he took the initiative to provoke the will of Heaven. When the Heavenly Punishment fell, it simultaneously triggered a great calamity for all beings in the universe, and in one fell swoop, he refined himself into the Immortal Platform and achieved the Immortal Dao Fruit.

The fourth person comprehends the Kunpeng, using its transformation from Yin Fish to Yang Peng to transform his physical body and primordial spirit into the Yin-Yang array eye, his four limbs into the Four Symbols, his Dao Palace into the Five Elements, his Immortal Platform into the Six Harmonies, his Sea of ​​Wheels into the Eight Trigrams, and his Dragon into the Nine Palaces. Then, they all merge into one, and from this one, they are re-differentiated into Yin and Yang, the Four Symbols, and the Five Elements... This cycle continues within the Nine Palaces of this One, achieving immortality.

The fifth person took the Heavenly Horned Ant as his target, opened up the ultimate method of power, pursued absolute power, and used power to break all laws. He constantly tempered his bones and blood, and every drop of bone and blood was refined into divine ant marrow blood, until it was condensed into 129,600 layers and combined into one, transforming into Heavenly Ant marrow blood. Then, it was combined with the number of one element and transformed into Heavenly Horned Ant blood, until it was transformed into the number of one element again, transforming into Heavenly Horned Ant mark, and giving birth to the immortal pattern of power.

The sixth person comprehended the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass and created the "Sever My Immortal Platform Technique." With one sword, he severed all worldly ties and karma. Using the Immortal Platform as fertile soil, he transformed his primordial spirit into a seed of the sword grass and planted it within. Every ten thousand years, a leaf would grow, condensing the Dao fruits and experiences of those ten thousand years into sword intent. Every ten thousand years, he would sever his memories, emotions, and Dao fruits to grow a second, different leaf. After nine times, only the pure nine sword intents remained, merging into the supreme immortal grass, thus achieving immortality.

The seventh person devoted himself to studying the mysteries of the Gu tribe and developed the method of longevity through time and space. He entrusted his primordial spirit to the endless void, where there is no concept of time, no birth or death, while his physical body is born, dies, flourishes and withers in the light of time, constantly undergoing nirvana, until a wisp of light of time is naturally born within it, at which point his primordial spirit returns. He then entrusts his physical body to the endless void again, and his primordial spirit merges into the light of time. This cycle repeats itself, constantly expanding the upper limit of lifespan, until the spacetime body is forged, at which point the years will not add to his body.

The eighth person comprehended the True Phoenix, combined with the power of incense and vows, and created the Nirvana Faith Method. It is the Phoenix Nirvana, using the power of faith to be reborn, creating a divine self body, which evolves into a divine phoenix egg, merging with itself, and continuously collecting the faith of all beings for the immortal divine phoenix, life after life. At the end of each life, it ignites the fire of faith to burn its body, is reborn from the ashes and forgets its previous life, until it is reborn as a pure immortal embryo.

The ninth person emulated the Qilin, performing one good deed daily, and created the Auspicious Myriad Spirits Method. He gathered auspicious omens from heaven and earth and absorbed the creation of all spirits. He used his primordial spirit to transform into a Qilin medicine seedling, traveled through the star fields to heal all living beings, collected incense offerings and wishes, and watered his primordial spirit with the power of wishes day and night. His physical body transformed into five-colored divine soil, nurturing the auspicious immortal seedling. When the Dharma-ending Age came, he sacrificed himself to give back to the universe, receiving the protection of all spirits' prayers. He used the power of wishes as his physical body, and his primordial spirit transformed into an existence like a sacrificial spirit, thus achieving immortality.

The tenth person followed the path of striking the God Stone, which was also closest to Wang Hongwu's Immortal Gold Method. He devoured the Immortal Gold with his body, transformed it into an immortal altar, enjoyed sacrifices, and absorbed all the treasures of longevity, even consuming the elixir of immortality to nourish his primordial spirit.

The eleventh person, taking the True Dragon as the source and combining the mysteries of the Chaos Body, created a method called Devouring the Dao to Mend the Heavens. This method involves devouring all the Daos to mend one's own body, consuming the Heavenly Heart, and devouring the world. Each realm undergoes a transformation, and all the Daos and Heavenly Hearts are within that transformation. On the day of the ninth transformation, the Daos of the nine realms are gathered and merged into the Immortal Dao Laws, transforming into the Longevity Heavenly Dragon.

The twelfth person's path is somewhat similar to Wang Hongwu's path of physical body and immortal artifacts. It is called the "Ten Thousand Artifacts Proving the Dao Method," which involves dissecting one's own body into various parts and refining them into immortal artifacts, including the physical body and the primordial spirit. Finally, these parts are combined to form an unparalleled immortal artifact, which allows one to achieve immortality and become a military immortal.

With twelve different selves and twelve different methods of ascending to immortality, Wang Hongwu experienced twelve terrifying battles. In each great battle, he could clearly feel himself getting stronger and getting closer and closer to becoming a battle immortal.

In the 60,000th year of the Hongwu era, a new enlightened one rose to power on Earth.

That was the Purple Star Saintess who sealed herself in the Kunlun Mountains. Back then, she felt that her foundation was insufficient, so she resolutely embarked on another path. Now, she has been revived in the Ninety-Nine Dragons Mountain, and has mastered the ancestral body of a human body with a snake tail. Moreover, the accompanying Holy Spirit embryo has transformed into a weapon and been refined into a Dao Stone.

From then on, she called herself the Great Empress Nuwa, ranking alongside the Great Emperor Fuxi, and also joined the Thirty-Three Heavens, becoming a great celestial lord.

Wang Hongwu glanced at it briefly before withdrawing his gaze. He continued to fight against his past self in the cycle of reincarnation, drawing blood each time, fighting until his physical body shattered, his fighting spirit soaring to the heavens.

On his forehead, the character for "war" appeared and transformed into a vast battle map, depicting battles against heaven, earth, law, the Dao, time, and himself.

(End of this chapter)