Chapter 2703: Gate to the Heaven Court
The sudden turn of events stunned many cultivators. This was originally a battle between the Donghuang Imperial Palace of the Divine Prefecture and the Heaven Court of the Heaven Realm. However, now the situation had evolved so that all the top figures from all the principalities were making their moves simultaneously. They meant to shake those from the Heaven Realm and take over the Old Heaven Court.
The strength of the Heaven Court from Heaven Realm consisted of powerful players: Great Skylords Black and White Almighty, Four Heavenly Kings, Nine Star Lords, with all of their cultivators trailing behind them. And this was in addition to Ji Wudao, who was able to leverage the will of the Old Heaven Court. This was a team whose strength was considered frightening.
However, the Heaven Court was powerful in strength but weaker in their size. Among the seven realms, the Heaven Realm was the smallest, but it occupied the relics of Deva, which was the head of the Eight Legions. Therefore, it was no wonder that the cultivators from all sides had decided to attack them.
There were principalities from the Divine Prefecture and cultivators from the Human Realm, the Empty Divine Realm, and even the Dark World and the Devil World. However, for these last two significant realms, their topmost figures were not present. Of these two realms, one was in control of the Karura ruins, which had unlocked the inheritance of the Demonic Lord. The other was in charge of the ruins of Ashura, which was the most complementary to them according to their nature.
In this context, they would focus more on their cultivations. As long as they could be in complete control of the wills of the Demonic Lord and the Ashura, they could care less about the Old Heaven Court. Just as the cultivators of Heaven Realm had stated before, the Old Heaven Court was indeed the most compatible with them.
Even if the Deva was the head of the Eight Legions, and its strength may be the strongest, the fit was the most crucial consideration above all. Ji Wudao was suitable for inheriting the will of the Old Heaven Court, but it may not be the case for the cultivators from the Dark Court.
In addition, even though the cultivators from the Buddhist Realm had arrived, they did not choose to interfere. Many Buddhist cultivators were watching in the crowd, witnessing everything happening in front of them.
Even so, it was terrifying enough with all the cultivators from every side joining the fight. For a moment, that horrific aura enveloped this corner of the sky and slammed towards the sky stairwell.
Ye Futian, Supreme Swordlord, and the others looked at the battlefield above the sky, and they paid particular attention to the place where Ji Wudao was.
In the battle, Donghuang Diyuan was as good as defeated. This proud daughter of Donghuang Imperial Palace, and the future of the Divine Prefecture, had lost to Ji Wudao. However, since this was Ji Wudao’s territory, and he could leverage the will of the Heavenly Emperor within the Old Heaven Court, it was not surprising that he was able to defeat Donghuang Diyuan.
But even if these factors were discounted, and just based on the combat effectiveness of these two people alone, Ji Wudao was not any weaker than Donghuang Diyuan. From the previous collisions between the two, it was obvious that Ji Wudao was very strong, and perhaps he had not yet completely released all of his strength.
“I didn’t expect that the heir of the Heaven Realm would have such a shocking capability that he overpowered the princess of the Divine Prefecture. Moreover, I heard that he did not have an extraordinary background behind him. I wonder what kind of opportunity he had received? In the future, this man will be at the forefront of the road to becoming a great emperor,” said the Supreme Swordlord in a low voice.
Today, this battle was enough to make Ji Wudao’s name known to the world. Before, he had loathed to show himself off to the outside world, but this battle with Donghuang Diyuan was enough for his name to resound throughout all the realms.
In this generation, how many of them in this world could fight like this with Donghuang Diyuan?
“Mmm,” Ye Futian nodded in agreement. Ji Wudao’s strength was stronger than he had expected. To become a great emperor, he would be a most powerful competitor.
More importantly, both he and Donghuang Diyuan must have already been pursuing the path of the great emperor by now. Both of them had already stepped into the near-deity state.
Here was the starting point of the road to becoming a great emperor.
But in the end, it was still an unknown which one of them could prove the way of the great emperor in this world.
In addition to Ji Wudao and Donghuang Diyuan, there was also Di Hao from the Human Realm, Yu Sheng from the Devil World, Yan Guiyi, Ye Qingyao from the Dark Court, as well as the top cultivators from Buddhism and Dugu Wuxie of the Empty Divine Realm. These were all the people who had an equal likelihood to embark on that envious path.
Of course, then there was also Ye Futian himself!
Aside from that, no one knew how the Ancient God Clans from the Divine Prefecture would react, or for that matter, the principalities ruled by the other Great Emperors in the other worlds. Currently, the will of the Great Emperor of the Ancient God Clan in the Divine Prefecture had already entered this site along with its cultivators; would it be revived in the same manner as Tianyan the Great?
Significant changes were occurring between heaven and earth, and everything was possible.
Ye Futian’s eyes were still fixed on the sky above. Previously, Ji Wudao had asked all these cultivators whether they wished to come up one by one or all together. Now, these cultivators from all sides had taken action just as he wanted; how was he planning to counter their attacks?
Above the sky, Ji Wudao’s figure soared upward and appeared atop the sky stairwell. Just below the Old Heaven Court, a most radiant divine light descended from the Old Heaven Court downward. In an instant, an incomparable will of horror descended and shrouded this infinite space.
Suddenly, this vast and endless domain was inundated by that terrifying will. Those top cultivators also raised their heads to follow his figure; their eyes betrayed the slight hint of the disturbance they felt.
Had Ji Wudao completely inherited the will of the Old Heaven Court?
What did he receive inside the Old Heaven Court?
Could it be that he had already inherited from the master of the Old Heaven Court?
“Come back,” Ji Wudao commanded loudly. Suddenly, all the cultivators from the Heaven Realm began to float towards the top of the sky stairwell, including the Great Skylords Black and White Almighty, who were also extricating themselves from the battle. In short, everyone was retreating in the direction of the Old Heaven Court above the sky stairwell.
The other cultivators wanted to give chase, but they could sense a powerful force appearing above them. Instantly, they had a solemn look on their faces, and none of them dared to make a rash move.
Above the sky, the incomparably sacred divine figure of the Heavenly Emperor appeared, with the divine sword in hand. He followed along with Ji Wudao’s every movement, and an even more powerful sword came slashing down. Immediately, heaven and earth seemed to be split open by the sword. As the sword descended from the sky, everything in its path seemed to be immolated.
Those cultivators who took action were releasing their most terrifying power to resist, surrounding themselves with the divine light of the Great Path. There were natural visions that forged an absolute domain, from which an attack was launched directly at the Heavenly Sword that was slashing towards them.
The extremely terrifying divine light of destruction exploded in the void, and the sword chopped down with an apocalyptic divine light that was blinding and stinging to the eyes.
The hearts of the cultivators below palpitated, and some even quickly dodged and retreated to the rear, wanting to vacate this area as quickly as possible. The same was true with cultivators who were even watching from very far away. This Heavenly Sword could cover a massive area when it came down, and most of them regretted being too close to the actual battle.
The Supreme Swordlord waved both of his hands, and a divine sword appeared to point to the sky above as the Taishang Swordsmanship erupted with all its might. When the Heavenly Sword came smashing down, it was unable to shake the defense built by the Supreme Swordlord. However, that was because they were not at the center of the battle, and they were barely touched by the aftershocks of the attack on the periphery.
The sword light illuminated a radius of hundreds of thousands of miles as it swept down. When the divine sword fell, the space was left in a total mess. Tons of ditches appeared on the ground as if the earth itself had cracked open, and all of them filled with the terrifying sword will of the emperor.
Cultivators from all sides were broken up as they retreated to different locations. Those whose cultivations were not strong enough and had no one to protect them were wiped out under the sword. They were pretty unfortunate to perish like this while watching the battle on the sideline.
Of course, those who came here to watch the fight might have harbored some mal intentions of their own.
The cultivators from the Heaven Realm stood at the top of the sky stairwell. Ji Wudao stood in the middle of them, showering in divine light, as he looked down at the cultivators below. He declared loudly, “If any one of you insist on robbing the relics controlled by the Heaven Realm, I won’t be merciful next time.”
When they saw his godlike figure, the cultivators below trembled in their hearts. In their eyes, Ji Wudao looked like someone invincible.
However, in the void, neither Donghuang Diyuan nor anyone else retreated. The aura of the Great Path from them remained as dominant as ever. At the same time, brilliant divine light gleamed and bloomed, and immediately, wisps of imperial will pervaded between heaven and earth.
Those top cultivators had resorted to the imperial arms, and none of them was of the mind to withdraw.
Ji Wudao might be powerful, but he must have not completely integrated with the Old Heaven Court, which meant that it was possible for him to be overpowered.
The Old Heaven Court was determined to win.
When Ye Futian saw what was being played out before him, he immediately realized that as powerful as Ji Wudao’s attack was, it did not exert an absolute advantage that deterred everyone who was present. His challengers felt that they would have a definite advantage with the imperial arms in hand.
These people were extremely keen to the perception of strength. If no one choose to give up, it would be difficult for Heaven Realm to defend their claim of the Old Heaven Court. It would be similar to the time when Ye Futian leveraged the will of the Mahoraga and was still unable to deter the invasions from every side, if it were not for Yu Sheng and Qingyao who lend him a helping hand just when he needed them the most.
Consider how fierce the struggle was for the relic of the Mahoraga, the extent of the confrontation over the Old Heaven Court was not surprising.
“It will be difficult for the people of Heaven Realm to defend their claim,” Ye Futian said. Before, Ji Wudao wanted to put a stop to all the cultivators who were here, but his strength fell short. After all, he was not yet in the realm of near-deity, but he was facing several superior cultivators who were on the Demigod List, and they have the aid of imperial arms. With such an advantage, why would they voluntarily back down?
“If the Heaven Realm can’t be defended, what should we do?” Next to him, Supreme Swordlord asked Ye Futian, wondering what his thought was on the situation.
“Ji Wudao had once gone to cultivate in the territory controlled by Ziwei Segmentum, and he said then that as long as he could, he would want go to the Old Heaven Court and take a look there,” Ye Futian replied casually. There was no rules or regulations to speak of in today’s world of cultivation.
Strength was always the first factor. No one would give up the opportunity to cultivate in any relics. If they could have broken into Mahoraga where he was located, no one would hold themselves back to show him any courtesy on this ancient continent!
Above the firmament, everyone slaughtered their way upward into the sky, and the cultivators from the Heaven Realm were retreating, as they have already reached the top of the stairwell, as if they were standing directly under the Heaven Court.
At this time, other cultivators in the sky also moved their way upwards, which included all the principalities of each world. Someone cleared the way and drove in. Naturally, they didn’t mind adding fuel to the fire; which one of them didn’t want to have a chance at the relic of the Old Heaven Court?
“Huh?”
At this moment, many people were stunned. They discovered that those cultivators from the Heaven Realm had actually stepped into the Heavenly Palace. That group of cultivators above the firmament had disappeared directly from where they were.
As cultivators from other sides revealed a look of surprise, they moved higher into the sky as well, one after another. First among them was the cultivators from the imperial-level forces, including Donghuang Diyuan.
When they came to the top of the sky stairwell, they saw many magnificent and impressive structures. All that dilapidated palaces and shrines, or the broken pillars that they had seen before, were nothing more than places occupied by the guardians of the Old Heaven Court.
Here was just an entrance, with a door in front. This was the entrance to the Old Heaven Court, the gate to the Heavenly Palace.
The sight in front of them was so spectacular, that the cultivators who went up behind them couldn’t help but have their hearts beating wildly. Here, was the gate to the Old Heaven Court, the site of the first of the Eight Legions, the Deva.
“Princess Diyuan, please,” Di Hao said to Donghuang Diyuan, making a gesture inviting her to enter.. Immediately, Donghuang Diyuan stepped through and entered inside the Old Heaven Court!