Fantasy: I, the Great Celestial Venerable of the Dao

"What a fine Dao Xuan Zhenren." The Heavenly Emperor's voice carried a hint of admiration.

"Since Nuwa created humans, no one like you has ever appeared in the human race."

If you have time, perhaps you really can get to that point.

"But..." the Heavenly Emperor changed the subject, "Today, I must take Fei Peng away."

It's not because the divine realm can't do without him, but because the rules of the divine realm cannot be violated.

"If I back down today, all living beings in the six realms will think that the divine realm can be bullied."

When the six realms are thrown into turmoil, will the True Man be willing to bear the consequences?

These words sound grand and dignified, but they are nothing short of a blatant threat.

Dao Xuan remained silent.

He was naturally not afraid to fight the Heavenly Emperor.

But if this battle truly causes turmoil in the six realms, the consequences would be far too great.

Just then, another strange change occurred within Fei Peng's body.

"ah--!"

With a long howl, Fei Peng—no, it was Jing Tian—burst forth with divine light in his eyes. Within that light lay Fei Peng's cold arrogance, and Jing Tian's unwavering determination.

"I... I remember..." Jing Tian gasped, struggling to straighten up.

"I am Fei Peng... and also Jing Tian..."

He looked at the illusory figure of the Heavenly Emperor, then suddenly knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty, this humble general has a request."

The Heavenly Emperor's eyes flickered slightly: "Speak."

"This humble general is willing to exchange ten thousand years of cultivation and the position of a divine general for Xi Yao's freedom."

Jing Tian said, word by word, "From now on, Fei Peng and the divine realm are even. Jing Tian will remain in the mortal realm only for the sake of ordinary people."

The entire audience was astonished.

The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden exclaimed, "Fei Peng! Do you know what you're saying?!"

Ten thousand years of cultivation and the position of a divine general—these are things that countless gods and demons dream of!

He's actually going to give up everything for a woman?

The illusory image of the Heavenly Emperor remained silent for a long time.

"Fei Peng, you have disappointed me greatly." The Heavenly Emperor's voice was devoid of emotion.

"To abandon your divine position and betray your comrades for personal love—is this your choice?"

"This humble general has never betrayed his comrades." Jing Tian looked up, his eyes clear.

"Back then, I guarded the Heavenly Gate and fought to the very last moment."

But now, Fei Peng is dead, and Jing Tian is the one who survived.

Jing Tian has family, a sect, and the human warmth he can't bear to part with.

"As for Xi Yao..." Jing Tian's voice was low.

"She broke the rules of heaven because of me. If I cannot save her, I will have failed her."

A god may die on the battlefield, but he cannot betray the hearts of his people.

Dao Xuan listened, a look of admiration flashing in his eyes.

This is truly his disciple. He does not bow to power, nor is he swayed by self-interest; he remains true to his principles and is loyal and compassionate.

The illusory image of the Heavenly Emperor fell silent once more.

This time, there was a long silence.

When even the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden felt uneasy, the Heavenly Emperor finally spoke:

"Xi Yao committed a capital offense. I spared her life because I remembered her merit in protecting the sacred tree."

If pardons are so easily granted, where are the laws of Heaven?

"What will it take for the Heavenly Emperor to pardon Xi Yao?" Dao Xuan suddenly interjected.

The Heavenly Emperor looked at Dao Xuan: "Does the True Man intend to interfere in the internal affairs of my Divine Realm?"

"I simply believe that everything is open to discussion," Dao Xuan said with a slight smile.

"Since the Heavenly Emperor has personally descended, he surely does not wish to leave empty-handed."

"How about we compromise? Miss Xi Yao can be pardoned, but my disciple must remain in Qingyun."

"What if I don't agree?"

"Then I have no choice but to invite the Heavenly Emperor to witness the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation of my Qingyun Sect."

Dao Xuan's voice remained gentle, but the resolute tone in his words caused the heavens and earth to change color.

The Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation!

The moment these four words were uttered, even the illusory image of the Heavenly Emperor trembled slightly.

Another long silence followed.

The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden's palms were sweating profusely.

She had followed the Heavenly Emperor for countless years and had never seen anyone dare to confront him like this, much less have seen him hesitate like this.

Finally, the Heavenly Emperor spoke: "Xi Yao can be pardoned."

Jing Tian was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"But—" the Heavenly Emperor changed the subject, "she must be stripped of her divine status and demoted to a mortal."

Jing Tian's expression changed.

For the gods, being stripped of their divine status is more painful than death. It means giving up eternal life and falling into the cycle of reincarnation.

"Fei Peng, this is my greatest concession." The Heavenly Emperor's voice was unquestionable.

"Those who violate the rules of heaven must be punished."

She was spared her life only because of you and Dao Xuan Zhenren.

Before Jing Tian could say anything more, Dao Xuan spoke first: "In that case, thank you, Heavenly Emperor."

"Master!" Jing Tian cried out anxiously.

Before Jing Tian could finish speaking, the air had already been torn apart.

"Hahaha--"

A burst of unruly, wild laughter swept in from the west.

The sound waves were like real thunder, shaking the sea of ​​clouds atop Qingyun Mountain, causing them to churn and swirl.

The laughter contained boundless demonic power, forcibly suppressing Jing Tian's words back into his throat.

It was as if an invisible giant hand had gripped everyone's throat.

Dao Xuan Zhenren's hair fluttered slightly, and his sleeves moved without any wind.

The phantom of the Heavenly Emperor Fuxi trembled slightly.

The golden divine light suddenly solidified by three-tenths, revealing the fluctuations in the true form's emotions.

On the western horizon, dark red demonic energy surged forth like a burst dam of blood, instantly obscuring half the sky.

The demonic energy contained violence and fighting spirit.

The protective array of Qingyun Sect hummed spontaneously, appearing and flickering in the void.

The demonic clouds dispersed, revealing a figure standing proudly in the void.

His red hair was like flames, his two horns pointed to the sky, and his black robe fluttered in the wind.

Demon Lord Chonglou stood in mid-air, his scarlet cloak waving behind him like a blood-red flag.

He crossed his arms, his disdainful gaze sweeping over both gods and men.

Finally, it settled on the phantom image of the Heavenly Emperor.

Dao Xuan and Fu Xi noticed it almost simultaneously.

The aroma of Paris polyphylla is different from what it was fifty years ago.

That soaring demonic intent became even more refined, and laws faintly surrounded his body, clearly indicating that he had already reached the late stage of the Celestial Immortal realm!

Golden light shone in the Heavenly Emperor's eyes, and his hand tightened almost imperceptibly within his sleeve.

Unexpectedly, Chonglou's breakthrough occurred at this very moment.

"What a Heavenly Emperor!"

Chonglou spoke, his voice like the clanging of metal, carrying undisguised sarcasm.

"Using a woman as a hostage, he coerced his former comrade to return to his position—Fuxi."

"You, the supreme being of the divine realm for tens of thousands of years, have truly broadened my horizons today."

His gaze swept over Dao Xuan and Jing Tian.

A complex fighting spirit flashed in his crimson pupils, but it was quickly masked by arrogance.

"Chonglou." The Heavenly Emperor's voice rang out, even more majestic than before, each word like a heavenly law descending.

The void trembled. "Don't think that just because you've broken through to the late stage of the Celestial Immortal realm, you can be presumptuous before me."

The divine power between heaven and earth suddenly increased, and thousands of golden lights appeared in the sky above Qingyun Mountain.

That was the manifestation of the Heavenly Emperor's authority; each rune contained the power to suppress an entire realm.

Some disciples with lower cultivation levels turned pale.

If it weren't for the Taiji Diagram secretly protecting Dao Xuan Zhenren, he would probably have already knelt on the ground.

"Insolence?" Chonglou sneered, and his demonic wings suddenly unfurled, blotting out the sky.

"When did it become your place, Fuxi, to interfere in my actions?"

He took a step forward.

With this step, the demonic clouds surged for miles, and the rolling demonic energy transformed into countless hideous demonic shadows.

Roaring and howling in the clouds.

The laws clashed violently with the human world.

Black cracks appeared in the sky, a lamentation of space itself being overwhelmed.

Chonglou turned his head and looked at Daoxuan and Jingtian, his scarlet pupils blazing with fierce battle intent.