All Realms and Worlds: The Lost Home

The cloud chariot broke through layers of auspicious clouds, and the outline of the heavenly palace became clearer and clearer.

The vermilion palace walls stretch for thousands of miles, and the glazed tiles gleam in the sunset glow.

The magnificent palaces and pavilions are arranged in a pleasing and orderly manner, surrounded by an ethereal aura, yet they also subtly exude a cold and chilling atmosphere.

It is completely different from the peaceful appearance of the outside world.

Shi Si stood on the cloud chariot, his fingertips unconsciously clenching the black longsword in his hand.

The cool touch of the blade calmed the turmoil in his heart.

But the wariness in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

The Underworld Emperor sat upright in the main seat of the cloud chariot, his imperial aura subdued, his brows slightly furrowed.

His gaze was fixed on the depths of the Heavenly Palace, his expression so solemn it seemed as if water could drip from it.

He raised his hand, and a flash of dark spiritual light appeared at his fingertips, silently enveloping the entire cloud chariot.

They completely isolated themselves from each other's breathing and conversation, keeping their voices extremely low.

With a hint of barely perceptible chill: "Remember, from the moment you step through the Southern Heavenly Gate."

"Your aura must be stable at the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, even when provoked."

"We must never easily reveal our strength as we are about to break through to the Breaking Realm, not even when facing Zi Yuyan."

Shi Si nodded slightly, and the pressure from his fingertips increased.

He gripped the hilt of the black longsword so tightly that it turned slightly white, and his knuckles bulged out.

He could clearly sense the gravity in his father's words; it was by no means an exaggeration.

The doubts he had previously held had largely dissipated the moment Mingluo mentioned the Heavenly Palace Emperor's collusion with the Origin Realm.

But at this moment, looking at his father's solemn expression and listening to his repeated admonitions, he felt a surge of emotion.

A deeper realization dawned on him—the perilous nature of the internal strife within the Heavenly Palace.

It's probably even more terrifying than he imagined.

"Father, those two emperors who colluded with the Origin Realm..." Shi Si asked in a deep voice.

His tone carried a hint of anger, as well as a barely perceptible trace of unease.

He had never imagined that the emperor, who was high above and in charge of the order of the heavenly palace, would be like this.

To break through the shackles of his cultivation realm, he actually betrayed the Heavenly Palace and colluded with the Origin Realm.

He despised the greed and cruelty of sacrificing all living beings in the myriad realms.

Emperor Mingluo slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When he opened his eyes again, there was a mixture of seriousness and helplessness in them: "Emperor Gouchen and Emperor Houtu."

These two names refer to Gouchen Emperor, who holds military power in the Heavenly Palace, and Houtu Emperor, who governs the people's livelihood in the Heavenly Palace.

Both of them are among the four great emperors of the Heavenly Palace, and their cultivation is unfathomable.

He usually appears gentle and refined, fair and selfless.

No one could have imagined that they would secretly collude with the Origin Realm and become traitors within the Heavenly Palace.

"In my memory..." Shi Si's voice trembled slightly.

"If Emperor Gouchen holds military power and colludes with the Origin Realm, wouldn't the heavenly soldiers and generals of the Heavenly Palace be in jeopardy...?"

"You guessed right." Emperor Mingluo interrupted him, his tone icy.

A hint of mockery flashed in his eyes: "Gou Chen has already secretly taken control of a portion of the heavenly soldiers and generals."

"Those people were either bribed by him with benefits, or they were controlled by the power of the Origin Realm."

"They have long been his private army, and if the time is right, he can even mobilize this force."

"With inside help and outside cooperation, we can open the gates of the Heavenly Palace and allow the cultivators from the Origin Realm to enter unimpeded."

At this point, a trace of the imperial aura emanating from Emperor Mingluo was uncontrollably leaked out.

A faint, dark aura surged, causing the cloud chariot to tremble slightly.

"Emperor Houtu was even more secretive. He secretly hoarded supplies and colluded with merchant caravans from the Origin Realm."

"To supply the Origin Realm with information and resources from the Heavenly Palace, and even to secretly cultivate cultivators from the Origin Realm."

"Hidden within the Heavenly Palace, waiting for the opportune moment to strike."

Shi Si listened quietly, his grip on the long knife tightening.

Anger and vigilance intertwined in his heart.

His father wanted him to conceal his true strength—the two emperors, Gouchen and Houtu, were already highly skilled in cultivation.

If they knew that he had already reached the ninth level within the realm and was about to break through to the realm of breaking, he would become the hope of breaking the shackles of the source realm.

They will inevitably see him as a thorn in their side and will do everything in their power to get rid of him.

Even if we use the power we've secretly cultivated, we will never give him a chance to grow.

"Is the Ziwei Emperor, Zi Yuyan, in league with them?" Shi Si asked again.

Looking beyond the cloud-borne chariot at the purple phoenix palanquin that followed closely behind, his eyes were filled with doubt.

Zi Yuyan had been monitoring them, her movements were erratic, and she was searching for Pei Shaoyu.

Her stance is truly unfathomable.

Emperor Mingluo shook his head, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "It's hard to say."

"Zi Yuyan has a cold and aloof personality and always keeps to herself. She has never gotten along with Gouchen and Houtu."

"One of the reasons she came here is to find Pei Shaoyu."

"On the other hand, they may have also noticed the abnormality of the Heavenly Palace and wanted to investigate it."

"But you must never let your guard down around her." Emperor Mingluo's tone turned serious again.

"She is best friends with your mother, Bi Quan, but she also has her own selfish motives."

"Her purpose in searching for Pei Shaoyu is definitely not simple."

"Moreover, her cultivation level is unfathomable, even if she doesn't collude with Gouchen and Houtu."

"They might not even be on our side; her surveillance is a threat in itself."

Shi Si nodded slowly, his mind suddenly clearing up.

He was no longer that ignorant and naive cultivator who only knew how to fight.

He was no longer the confused child who needed his father's constant reminders.

He is the son of the Underworld Emperor, and the hope to break the shackles of the Origin Realm.

It is our reliance for protecting the Earth and those around us.

He must learn to be patient and to hide his true feelings.

Learn to protect yourself and secretly accumulate strength in the turbulent Heavenly Palace.

He slowly loosened his grip on the long sword, his fingertips slightly numb, but he still said firmly, "Father, I understand."

The Underworld Emperor looked at Shi Si, a hint of satisfaction and pride flashing in his eyes.

He slowly raised his hand and gently patted Shi Si's shoulder, his tone gentle yet firm: "Good, worthy of being my son, Ming Luo."

"Remember, forbearance is not cowardice, and lying low is not retreat."

"A temporary concealment is for a better explosion later."

"Your current forbearance is not just for your own protection."

"Moreover, it is to protect everything we cherish, so that we can act with overwhelming force in the future."

"Slay all the traitors within, and intimidate the Origin Realm."

Just then, a faint purple light suddenly emanated from outside the cloud chariot.

The beam of light pierced through the barrier set up by Mingluo, though the conversation between the two was not clearly heard.

However, it carried a clear hint of probing.

Immediately afterwards, Zi Yuyan's voice slowly drifted through the clouds.

With a hint of doubt beneath her cool demeanor, she said, "Mingluo, you and your son have been talking on and on for so long."

"What exactly are they discussing? Why are they putting up barriers and being so secretive?"

"Could it be that you have some kind of secret you're hiding?"

The Dark Emperor's eyes darkened, and his imperial aura surged instantly.

The dark spiritual light crashed into the purple spiritual light, completely dispelling it.

His tone was icy, carrying an undisguised warning: "Zi Yuyan, this is the last time I'll say this."

"I'm having some family matters with my son; it's none of your business!"

"If you dare to secretly probe or spy on me again, don't blame me for disregarding your relationship with Bi Quan."

"I'm not being polite!"

This warning, carrying immense imperial might, shook the clouds to their core.

The purple palanquin in the distance also trembled slightly.

Inside the palanquin, Zi Yuyan frowned, her body surging with purple spiritual light.

A hint of anger flashed in his eyes, but he did not lash out.

She knew that Mingluo's strength was comparable to hers, and if things really came to a head, she might not be able to gain the upper hand.

Moreover, her main purpose in coming here was to find Pei Shaoyu.

It is not advisable to confront Hades head-on for the time being.

But she did not give up monitoring; her fingertips twitched slightly.

A very thin purple wisp of spirit quietly disappeared into the clouds.

She closely followed Mingluo's cloud chariot, and could detect the slightest movement from the two of them immediately.

"Mingluo, you'd better not try anything funny." Zi Yuyan's voice came again.

His tone was cold yet laced with a hint of threat: "The Heavenly Palace has its own rules. Your unauthorized deployment of troops is against all propriety."

"If you dare to plot anything in secret again, don't blame me for informing all the immortals of the Heavenly Palace to punish you!"

"Punish me?" Emperor Mingluo sneered, his tone full of mockery.

"Zi Yuyan, you should worry about yourself first. Find your husband before you meddle in my affairs."

"As for the rules of the Heavenly Palace, they are utterly worthless before my original intention to protect my son and safeguard all the heavens and myriad realms!"

As the two exchanged words, the tension escalated.

The imperial might surrounding them clashed violently, and the auspicious clouds surged even more violently.

Even the glow of the sunset on the horizon seemed to have dimmed a bit.

Shi Si stood to the side, his expression calm, maintaining the aura of a ninth-level Realm expert.

There was no unusual movement, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

He could sense that Zi Yuyan's surveillance had not stopped despite his father's warning.

This hidden spiritual thread, like a venomous snake, kept a close watch on them.

The slightest carelessness could expose it.

He raised his hand without making a sound, and a flash of dark light appeared at his fingertips.

A faint wisp of divine energy quietly emerged, flowing through the gaps in the cloud chariot.

It quietly wrapped itself around the purple spiritual thread, but did not destroy it.

He simply concealed his aura, preventing Zi Yuyan from noticing anything unusual.

He knew that now was not the time to completely break off relations.

The best option is to remain silent and pretend not to know for the time being.

Emperor Mingluo noticed Zi Yuyan's spiritual threads but did not point them out.

He merely glanced coldly at the direction of the clouds, and his imperial aura subsided once more.

His tone softened slightly, but still carried a warning: "Enough with the nonsense."

"If you continue to pester me, I will take action and destroy your palanquin."

"I'll make you lose face in front of all the immortals in Heaven!"

Inside the palanquin, Zi Yuyan remained silent for a moment, then let out a cold snort.

The purple wisp of spirit hidden in the clouds swayed slightly, but still did not leave.

They simply concealed their aura, becoming even more hidden.

Clearly, she hadn't given up on surveillance, but she dared not easily test Mingluo's bottom line again.

The cloud chariot continued its journey and soon arrived at the South Heavenly Gate.

The South Heavenly Gate is magnificent, with two heavenly soldiers and generals standing on either side, clad in golden armor and wielding divine spears.

With a stern expression and sharp eyes, he stood guard over the gates of the Heavenly Palace.

Upon seeing the cloud chariot of the Underworld Emperor, the two heavenly soldiers and generals bowed in unison.

A booming voice announced, "Greetings, Emperor Mingluo!"

The Underworld Emperor nodded slightly, his tone indifferent: "No need for formalities."

The cloud chariot slowly passed through the South Heavenly Gate and entered the Heavenly Palace.

Within the celestial palace, celestial energy swirled, cranes soared in formation, and melodious celestial music filled the air.

The celestial officials and fairies who came and went were all dressed in gorgeous celestial robes and behaved with dignity.

It seemed peaceful on the surface, but Shi Si could sense something was amiss.

There was a hint of wariness and aloofness in the eyes of these celestial officials and fairies.

Some people even secretly observed him, their gazes carrying a hint of inquiry.

He knew in his heart that among these people, there might be spies of the two emperors, Gouchen and Houtu.

They were secretly observing his every move, testing his strength.

Shi Si lowered his head slightly, concealing his aura, and maintained the spiritual light of the ninth level of the Inner Realm.

His expression was calm, like a slightly reserved young man entering the heavenly palace for the first time.

Without the slightest ostentation, he seemed to be just a child of the Underworld who had just awakened his divine veins and whose strength was mediocre.

The Underworld Emperor witnessed all of this, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

He knew that Shi Si had truly understood the meaning of forbearance.

They have learned to conceal their brilliance within the turbulent Heavenly Palace.

This is a crucial step in his growth.

"Among these people, many are spies for Gouchen and Houtu," Emperor Mingluo said to Shi Si in a low voice.

"They will test your strength and try to find out our whereabouts."

"You just need to deal with it calmly, don't pay attention to it, and don't need to show your true strength. Your father will take care of everything."

Shi Si nodded slightly without saying anything.

He merely tightened his grip on the black longsword again, remaining secretly vigilant.

He knew that from the moment he stepped through the South Heavenly Gate, a war without gunpowder had already begun.

This war is about trust, about betrayal, about life and death.

It concerns the fate of all the heavens and myriad worlds, so he must be extremely careful and not make a single mistake.