Chapter 290

Chapter 290: Human Emperor

The Dao’s Collection Pavilion was one of the most crucial places in the Ancient Divine Court. As its name implied, it collected techniques from across the world, and if it could be moved to the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, it would certainly be a treasure trove.

Be it for doing business or rewarding subordinates, it could all be utilized to the fullest.

“Time is too tight.”

Gu Daojin frowned slightly and said, “In my opinion, Young friend Ye, you can head to the Dao’s Collection Pavilion alone. We’ll wait for you to join us at the Thirtieth Heaven.”

“It’s decided.”

Ye Xu nodded.

Everyone set off immediately. Upon reaching the Twenty-Ninth Heaven, Ye Xu departed alone, while the Seven Immortals of Cloud Capital and the others continued on to the Thirtieth Heaven.

After half a stick of incense, Ye Xu descended upon the Dao’s Collection Pavilion.

Perhaps because the Dao’s Collection Pavilion was a less vital part of the Divine Court, it was preserved relatively intact.

Ye Xu easily tore open the restrictions and entered the Dao’s Collection Pavilion.

It had a total of nine floors.

Just like a vast ocean of books.

The Ancient Divine Court, spanning hundreds of thousands of years, held countless techniques, divine powers, and secrets, making it a great treasure trove for many.

This was its foundation.

Ye Xu exited the Dao’s Collection Pavilion, flew into the void, activated the Great Dao of creation, and moved the pavilion into his Purple Palace.

Once he finished, he immediately flew to the next Heaven.

The Heavenly Talisman Old Man rushed straight to the Primordial Talisman Immortal Lord’s Palace.

One hour later, he emerged from the Immortal Lord’s Palace, holding up the Primordial Talisman Gate with excitement on his face. As he walked, he exclaimed, “I have hope of attaining immortality!”

Boom!

Suddenly, multiple rumbles echoed. Gu Daojin’s expression changed slightly. “They’ve already reached the Twenty-Seventh Heaven.”

He had left restrictions all along the way to observe the movements of Bai Muyue and her companions.

At that moment, the restrictions on the Twenty-Seventh Heaven were broken. The three Immortal Kings were only Three Heavens away from them.

“We can’t linger here. Let’s head to the Lingxiao Palace.” Ye Xu solemnly said.

“Hurry up.”

The group stopped worrying about the remaining Three Heavenly King Palaces and ascended directly to the Thirty-Third Heaven.

“Is this the Establishment Deity Platform?”

After crossing the Thirty-First Heaven, they saw an immense wheel-like platform inscribed with dense divine patterns. It exuded an ancient and heavy aura, with countless fleeting visions rising and vanishing in an instant, as if recalling the glory of the Ancient Divine Court.

“In ancient times, the Human Emperor established the Establishment Deity List,” Gu Daojin explained. “Those whose names were on it could join the Divine Court as officials. They say that this Establishment Deity Platform is where deities were established.”

“The Human Emperor did have grand ambitions, but sadly, he ultimately failed at the last step.”

“We’ll know the reason once we reach the Lingxiao Palace.”

Inside Tai Sui’s belly, they chatted back and forth, swiftly traversing the Thirty-Second Heaven and arriving at the highest level of the Divine Court.

Lingxiao Heaven.

…

On the Thirtieth Heaven, three Immortal Kings and over a dozen true immortals descended together. In the heavens and earth, the auras of the crowd lingered.

"They are still at the Divine Court and have visited the Thirtieth Heaven." Zhong Ling’s gaze was sharp as she sneered coldly, "These people are truly insatiably greedy."

Her flesh and blood had been reborn, but her aura remained three parts weak, clearly indicating her injuries hadn’t fully healed.

"In ancient times, the Divine Court’s Four Heavenly Kings all stepped into the Immortal Dao. I’m puzzled how they remained in the lower realm under the rules of the heavenly path?" Li Ruoshui murmured in confusion, "Daoist Qing Luo, could you enlighten me?"

With a frosty expression, Zhong Ling said, "Your Excellency hails from the upper realm—surely you don’t know?"

"If you’re ignorant, perhaps ask this Daoist friend."

Li Ruoshui’s elegant brows faintly knitted.

Since Zhong Ling showed no inclination to speak further, Li Ruoshui no longer wished to inquire.

Bai Muyue shifted her form and flew toward one of the Heavenly Kings’ great halls.

Li Ruoshui and Dao King also flew in another direction.

"Your Highness, are we truly yielding the Four Heavenly Kings’ palaces to them without a struggle?" The elder of the Zhong Clan demanded, his face iron-gray and filled with resentment.

"I know my boundaries."

Zhong Ling shot a cold glance at the Hall Master’s Elder. "No further questions."

"Yes."

The Hall Master’s Elder shuddered inwardly, dread washing over him.

"Take whatever you please to your heart’s content. Ultimately, all shall be mine," Zhong Ling thought silently.

…

Crackling sounds blazed!

The power of divine punishment within Lingxiao Palace was utterly terrifying. The Divine Thunder of punishment gathered without dispersing; spanning millions of years, the sky resembled a colossal swirling black hole devouring everything.

Between heaven and earth, only a single shattered great hall remained suspended.

Lingxiao Palace.

This temple symbolized the Divine Court’s ultimate supremacy.

"Well, well! This entire Lingxiao Palace is forged from celestial gold and carved with a super array—no wonder it retained fragments despite enduring the divine punishment’s bombardment," Gu Daojin clicked his tongue in admiration.

"Just how did the Ancient Divine Court gain such wealth?"

"Master, should we still enter?" Yu Ziwei’s heart fluttered. The aura of divine punishment choked the breath; inside Lingxiao Palace, it was likely even more horrifying.

"We’ve come this far—of course we’ll enter," Gu Daojin said solemnly. "The Ancient Divine Court’s downfall has always been an enigma. Today is the moment to unveil the truth."

Whoosh!

Tai Sui, like a lump of pulsating flesh, glided through the void, darting toward Lingxiao Palace.

Lingxiao Palace’s door hung half-open.

"There’s a figure!" Yu Ziwei exclaimed in startled shock.

"You scared the hell out of me." Gu Daojin took a long breath, looking at Yu Ziwei with utter disappointment. "You’re so disappointing."

"There was a figure."

Ye Xu’s gaze turned sharp.

Their Divine Sense seemed completely imprisoned within the Thirty-Third Heaven. Unable to extend it outward, everyone could only observe their surroundings with their naked eyes.

Peering through the partially open door, Ye Xu also caught sight of a figure. It stood utterly still, as if frozen in time for untold eons.

"Could it be the Human Emperor?" Fairy of the Painting exclaimed excitedly.

The Human Emperor was a legendary figure. Though his achievements might not rival those of the Heavenly Emperor, he remained unparalleled since his time.

Boom!

The moment the words were spoken, Tai Sui slammed its head into the Lingxiao Palace.

"Young friend Ye, this is far too reckless," gasped the Heavenly Talisman Old Man, his heart leaping into his throat.

Bang!

Tai Sui crashed through the Lingxiao Palace door. Yet, its colossal frame simply couldn’t squeeze inside. Terrifying Divine Thunder of punishment filled the palace interior, lashing violently against Tai Sui’s body.

Rooooar!

Sparks of current crawled over Tai Sui’s hide. Its huge body wriggled, as if being gently tickled.

Everyone looked towards the Lingxiao throne.

A figure sat upright upon the throne.

Sword-like brows and star-like eyes, an elegance almost matching Ye Xu’s own. He wore an imperial crown draped with ceremonial decorations and imperial robes. His hands rested upon the Human Emperor Sword, emanating a profound aura of royal authority and imperial might. His eyes stared intensely forward, sharp and bright.

Yet, there wasn’t the slightest ripple of life emanating from him.

He was dead.

"It should be the Human Emperor."

Dressed like that, seated on the Lingxiao throne — it could be none other than the Human Emperor himself.

"Did he perish within the divine punishment?" Fairy of the Painting asked, his voice filled with awe.

"Unknown."

They were all still huddled deep within Tai Sui’s belly, not daring to step out a single inch.

The power of divine punishment within the Lingxiao Palace was too immense. Even Gu Daojin found it unbearable.

Ye Xu gazed into the Lingxiao Palace. His Creation Divine Eyes activated. One after another, fragmented divine patterns appeared within his vision, resembling a shattered formation.

Without a doubt, this formation was set up by the Human Emperor.

Ye Xu immediately conceived a plan.

He began to slowly emerge from within Tai Sui’s belly.

"Brother Ye, what are you doing?" Yu Ziwei stared at Ye Xu’s back in astonishment. "Are you going out there?"

"Brother Ye, be careful of the divine punishment!"

Ye Xu stumbled.

Those words touched upon the inner knot within him.

Heaven’s punishment!

Revealing too many heavenly secrets would inevitably invite divine retribution upon leaving Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Though he hadn’t been struck by lightning yet, Ye Xu knew it was only a matter of time.

A strange light flickered in Qin Feiyan’s eyes. "Young friend Ye is astute and extraordinarily clever. He must have discerned Lingxiao Palace’s mysteries and thus walked out from Tai Sui’s belly intentionally."

Gu Doajin nodded deeply in agreement.

He glared at Yu Ziwei and snorted, "Do you imagine everyone shares your dull wit?"

Yu Ziwei found herself speechless.

Crack!

Divine Thunder of punishment gathered within the black void.

The moment Ye Xu’s aura became detectable—

The Divine Thunder of punishment struck instantly. The power of the Heavenly Dao imprisoned his physical form, shackling both his magical energy and divine soul completely.

"Great Dao of Creation!"

Ye Xu activated the Creation Heart Sutra. A surge of divine light shot from his Creation Divine Eyes, striking one of the shattered divine patterns.

Whir—

Immortal light burst forth from the pattern, enveloping Ye Xu instantly.

His magical energy recovered for the briefest moment. Seizing that sliver of opportunity, he stepped forward, crossing into the array’s boundary just as the Divine Thunder of punishment brushed past him.

Each witness wore expressions of solemn awe.

"Magnificent!" praised Gu Daojin, applauding slowly—that maneuver had been precision incarnate.

"Young Friend Ye, this task seems beyond reach," the Heavenly Talisman Old Man declared sternly.

"Since we are already here," Ye Xu uttered calmly, weaving between arrays while activating shattered divine patterns one by one, "we must uncover the Human Emperor’s cause of death."

Hum!

Blinding rays of divine light surged skyward. The Great Dao thundered, coalescing into a colossal shield encapsulating Lingxiao Palace.

In the very next heartbeat—

An unfathomably vast and overwhelming presence emanated from ahead.

Every eye widened in disbelief as they stared forward.

"Like a dream spanning thousands of autumns—

What year might now grace this waking dusk?"