Free Web NovelChapter 452: Chapter 80: Gouchen Arrives, Profound Clarity Descends, the Fishing Drum Appears, Splitting the Celestial Court
Beyond that, the rest was blank, seemingly left for Lu Xuan to fill.
"There is more if this is not enough."
A faint voice drifted from beyond the void before it sealed shut, and the grand scene of Chaos dissipated. Just before it vanished, however, Lu Xuan thought he faintly heard a wretched scream.
"G-G-G..."
The Big Black Bull, belatedly realizing what had just happened, let out a trembling, hoarse cry:
"Great Lord!!"
But the void had already sealed shut. Its cry only echoed within the Jade Pivot Mansion.
The other gods of the Thunder Division were jolted from their stupor. They fell to their knees at once, all of them overcome with terror.
Wen Zhong was horrified beyond belief. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he stared blankly at the empty edict in Lu Xuan’s hands.
Lu Xuan himself was moved. ’Three Masters,’ he thought, before taking a deep breath.
"Wen Zhong, do you still wish to inspect the edict? If so, I shall write upon it now."
"There is no need! I wouldn’t dare!"
Wen Zhong kowtowed.
"Wen Zhong accepts the decree!!"
Then, he said with the utmost reverence:
"But... Master Profound Yellow, the Cause and Effect between the Thunder Division and the South Pole Celestial Court are deeply entangled. To establish ourselves as an independent body, we must erect a grand altar, announce our intentions to Heaven and Earth, and sever all ties. This... this will take time!"
"How long?"
"Even moving at full speed, we will still need one hour!"
"I’ll give you time."
Wen Zhong bowed once more. Then he rose abruptly, his actions swift and decisive. He swept his gaze over the venerable gods of the Thunder Division and asked coldly:
"Is there anyone among you who does not wish to follow me and establish our independence?"
The gods looked at one another, but not a single immortal spoke up.
Having just seemingly witnessed the master of Biyou Palace in person, who would dare to voice any objection?
They were well aware of the chasm between the Supreme Heavenly Venerable and the Emperor of Longevity in the South Pole!!
"If that is the case, then erect the altar! Begin the ritual! Announce it to Heaven and Earth, and to all Immortals and Buddhas!"
A moment later, Wen Zhong led the Immortal Gods of the Thunder Division—all at the Immortal level or higher—out in an orderly procession. They stood before the Shenxiao Jade Pivot Mansion, and with a wave of Wen Zhong’s hand, a Heaven-Reaching altar materialized!
The venerable gods of the Four Departments took their positions. With a flick of his hand, Lu Xuan released the Five Thunders Institute Master. The Upper Celestial Venerable was completely bewildered, having not yet grasped the situation, and found himself dazedly taking his designated place at the side of the altar.
Wen Zhong ascended the altar, his voice booming like thunder:
"I am the Nine Heavens Responding Element Thunder Sound Universal Transformation Celestial Venerable, Master of the Thunder Department!"
"Today, I lead the Thunder Division’s Exorcism Institute and Five Thunders Institute!"
"The Ten Thousand Gods Thunder Department, the Thunderbolt Commander, the Thunderbolt Department, and the Rain Cloud Celestial Department!"
"Together, as one mansion, two institutes, and four departments, we hereby announce to Heaven and Earth, and to all the Immortals and Buddhas of the Circulation..."
The ritual began. A great sound emanated from the altar, instantly sweeping out in all directions!
The Central Celestial Court, Spirit Mountain, the North Pole Celestial Court, the Nine Netherworld, the Human World...
All heard the proclamation!
Up in the Celestial Vault, the expression of the Emperor of Longevity in the South Pole, who was locked in battle with the Ancestral Dragon, changed drastically. He roared in rebuke:
"Wen Zhong! How dare you!!"
He was enraged. He had realized the purpose of this grand ritual—the Thunder Division intended to secede from the South Pole Celestial Court!!
But without the Thunder Division, could the South Pole Celestial Court even be called a Celestial Court anymore??
The South Pole Emperor flew into a rage. Polaris, the unmoving star, flared with a brilliant crimson light, unleashing a wave of killing intent meant to destroy the altar. But the Ancestral Dragon shattered it with a single swipe of his claw!
"Come and fight! Come and fight me!" the Ancestral Dragon roared.
The South Pole Emperor, seething with fury, bellowed:
"Gouchen, why have you not yet arrived?!"
"Calm yourself. I have already arrived."
A soft laugh echoed, followed by a deep, rumbling tremor. The immortals of the South Pole Celestial Court turned to see a towering, majestic figure strolling toward them.
With every step, ripples spread through the Years, and time itself seemed to converge upon him. His might was immeasurable!
Wen Zhong’s expression changed, and he cried out in alarm:
"Master! The ritual cannot be interrupted! If it is, the Thunder Division will never be able to leave the South Pole Celestial Court! Once the Emperor is free, he will strip me of my title as Master of the Thunder Division, and then..."
"I know."
Lu Xuan gave a faint nod. His gaze was fixed on Emperor Gouchen, whose great strides made the earth move and the heavens tremble. Leaping onto his Kuiniu, Lu Xuan ascended into the sky.
He announced in a booming voice:
"Gouchen, do not forget our agreement: the Daluo will not interfere."
Gouchen’s expression flickered, but then he broke into a smile.
"Profound Yellow, of course I have not forgotten."
He turned, brandishing a Killing Skill, and slashed toward the Ancestral Dragon. With the two Daluo joining forces, the Ancestral Dragon was suddenly at a disadvantage!
Gouchen shouted,
"Go and strip Wen Zhong of his position! I will deal with the Ancestral Dragon!"
"Excellent!"
The Emperor of Longevity gave a mighty roar and tried to withdraw. A savage light flashed in the Ancestral Dragon’s eyes. Just as it moved to block him, Gouchen strode forward with a great laugh.
"Ancestral Dragon, come! Fight me..."
He didn’t get to finish.
"What are you laughing at?"
A voice—one that Gouchen knew all too well—suddenly rang out, echoing across the South Pole Celestial Court!
Gouchen froze, his head snapping to the side instinctively.
His expression changed drastically.
"Supreme... Profound Clarity?!"
It wasn’t just him. The Immortal Mother, Emperor Ziwei, Emperor Qing Hua, and the other great powers who had been watching with detached interest all shot to their feet in unison, utterly dumbfounded. They exclaimed in disbelief:
"Supreme Profound Clarity!!"
It was him!!
Within the South Pole Celestial Court, many of the Immortal Gods who had lived through the Spring and Autumn Years gasped sharply. They remembered the scene from twenty thousand years ago... they remembered the sound of nine thousand lashes!!
"Gouchen, we are old acquaintances. Do you still recognize this whip?"
Profound Clarity, dressed in the Supreme Daoist Robe with the phantom of the Supreme Daoist Temple floating above his head, strolled forward.
A supreme Dao Rhyme flowed across the Daoist Robe, manifesting the most profound truths and principles of the Dao. It was accompanied by a scene of deep darkness and a might that could eclipse the very heavens!
The regalia of the Supreme.
As he spoke, Supreme Profound Clarity broke into a wide grin. He brandished the blood-stained tree branch in his hand and asked again:
"Gouchen, do you still recognize this whip?!"
Gouchen’s expression darkened instantly. He remembered the nine thousand lashes, remembered the deposed West Pole Celestial Court, and a great fire of rage ignited in his heart.
Yet, at the very same moment, an even greater terror surged through him. He thought of Douluo Palace... and he thought of *Him*!
He involuntarily took three steps back.
The Ancestral Dragon seized the opportunity. Its Dragon Claw shot out, brutally yanking back the Emperor of Longevity who was trying to get away.
It grinned, revealing rows of gleaming white fangs.
"Come and fight! Fight me! I’m not done yet!!"
"Ancestral Dragon!!" the South Pole Emperor’s fury exploded.
Gouchen snapped back to his senses. Ignoring Supreme Profound Clarity, he prepared to unleash another Killing Skill against the Ancestral Dragon.
But Supreme Profound Clarity simply snorted.
"I should be before Gouchen."
A Human Saint’s Words Become Law.
The next instant, as if intentionally throwing himself in harm’s way, he abruptly appeared right in front of Gouchen—directly in the path of the Killing Skill.
Gouchen’s expression changed. He forcefully retracted the Killing Skill just as it was about to be unleashed. He was livid.
"Supreme Profound Clarity! What is the meaning of this?!"
"To reminisce with an old friend." Supreme Profound Clarity laughed brightly, raising the blood-stained branch high. "And *it* wants to reminisce with you, too!"
He paused, his expression turning cold and his brows knitting in a fierce glare. freeweɓnøvel.com
"Come on, Gouchen! Kill me!!"
Supreme Profound Clarity charged straight at Gouchen. A chill shot through Gouchen’s heart. ’Madman! You’re insane!!’
Fearing that Supreme Profound Clarity would actually manage to get himself killed and frame him for it, he abruptly dove into the River of Time, shouting:
"Longevity, I can do no more!"
The heart of the Emperor of Longevity in the South Pole sank. He glanced at the grand ritual, now more than halfway complete, and his chest tightened so much he nearly coughed up blood.
In that moment of distraction, the Ancestral Dragon struck, its claw tearing straight through his chest!
Just as the grand ritual passed its halfway point, with the Thunder Division about to sever its ties and the entire South Pole Celestial Court on the verge of becoming an empty shell...
Suddenly.
"By order of the East Pole Qing Hua Emperor, execute Wen Zhong!"
The Five Directions Five Elders appeared from the East, leading a million Celestial Soldiers.
"By order of Emperor Ziwei of the North Pole, execute Wen Zhong!"
The North Pole Dipper Divisions arrived, a vast and mighty host.
Countless armies beat their drums as the Five Directions Five Elders showered the battlefield with Immortal Light. Each of them rode the wind and thunder, treading upon illusory phantoms of countless worlds!
This immense force swept in, and with it came the amused voice of the Immortal Mother:
"Profound Yellow, the Daluo may not interfere, but these... are not Daluo."
Lu Xuan’s expression hardened. He gazed toward the horizon. Though the East Pole and North Pole Celestial Courts had not mobilized their full strength, the approaching army was still an unbroken force several million strong!
Especially the Five Directions Five Elders, who were all peak beings of the Celestial Realms—every one of them an Innate Divine Demon!
’I could, of course, reveal a few more of my pieces. I could have Fengdu attack the Eastern Celestial Court and the Kunpeng strike the Northern Celestial Court. By attacking their bases, I could force these Immortal Gods to retreat.’
’But...’
’...now is not the time to launch an all-out war on the heavens. These pieces cannot be moved!’
Nearby, on the Law Enforcement Altar, Wen Zhong, who was still performing the ritual, also saw the grand spectacle on the horizon: countless armies beating their drums, the blare of war horns echoing in waves.
His face fell.
"Master, the ritual is not yet complete!"
Lu Xuan chuckled.
"Pay them no mind. Continue the ritual. Today, the Thunder Division *will* achieve its independence!"
He paused, and his gaze grew profound.
’Trying to win with superior numbers?’
’Do they think they can bully my Shangqing Lineage... as if we have no one to call upon?’
As he spoke, a thought crossed Lu Xuan’s mind, and a simple, ordinary-looking Fishing Drum materialized before him.
The Heaven-Reaching Fishing Drum was similar to the Golden Bell of Jade Void. When sounded, it had only one purpose.
To summon the disciples.
And Biyou Palace was also known by another name: the Court of Ten Thousand Immortals.
(I’m probably going to get chewed out for this!)
