Chapter 256

Chapter 256: A Promise Fulfilled

Gu Daojin’s body trembled, his blood and qi surging, as multiple clones emerged from his physical form and flew in all directions. His true self, accompanied by Great Emperor Ziwei, headed towards the location of the Chaos Spirit Root.

Ye Xu’s face darkened; it was obvious this old fellow intended to scoop up all the treasures within the Heaven Deficiency Forbidden Land.

"Daoist friend Su, I won’t keep you company. If I’m even a step later, all the treasures will be gone!" Ye Xu urged his magic power, flying southeast according to the information in his memory.

The Seven Immortals of Cloud Capital also employed their unique skills, each searching for treasures.

Su Mu remained standing where he was, his gaze fixed on the distant Altar of Chaos. He murmured, "The time for this innate god’s emergence is likely not far off."

As a reincarnated Immortal King, his primordial spirit was formidable. From the moment the Chaotic Immortal King acquired the Hongmeng Purple Jade, the Great Dao Order of the Heaven Deficiency Forbidden Land had been slowly, almost imperceptibly, repairing itself.

This was because the Chaotic Immortal King was growing stronger, drawing ever closer to his emergence.

Once he emerged, the Heaven Deficiency Forbidden Land would transform into a perfect realm of the Innate Chaos Great Dao, becoming a perfect mother nest for innate gods.

The reason they could even subdue the ancient chaotic beasts and withstand the power of the Chaos Great Dao was precisely because the Heaven Deficiency Forbidden Land remained incomplete, its Great Dao Order flawed.

Otherwise, even a true immortal would be utterly subdued.

The Heaven Deficiency Forbidden Land was vast and boundless. After a day and a night passed, the Seven Immortals of Cloud Capital, Ye Xu, Gu Daojin, Great Emperor Ziwei, and the others all returned one by one. Each had a face full of smiles, clearly laden with gains.

"The treasures spent on this trip were finally earned back," the Heavenly Talisman Old Man chuckled, stroking his beard.

"Speaking of which, how exactly did you all find this place?" Gu Daojin’s eyes held confusion. He had been trapped within the Heaven Deficiency Forbidden Land for over a hundred thousand years, nearly drained of life-force. Throughout that immense stretch of time, no one had come. Yet, the Seven Immortals of Cloud Capital and the others seemed able to pinpoint his location precisely, finding him and helping him escape.

The Old Wicked Child couldn’t figure it out.

"It’s because of the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

Qin Fei Yan explained, "Brother Gu, during the time you were trapped, an institution called Heaven’s Secret Pavilion emerged in the Yuan Realm. Its master claims omniscience, capable of divining past, present, and future."

"However, anyone wanting to do business with the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion must offer sufficient treasure. Otherwise, no negotiation occurs."

"Our ability to find you this time is entirely due to the merit of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

"That impressive?" Gu Daojin raised an eyebrow, seeming a little skeptical.

"Master," Great Emperor Ziwei deliberately drew it out, teasingly holding back, "Weren’t you just wondering where those ancient divine clans came from?"

"You little brat! Are you itching for a beating?"

Gu Daojin placed a hand on Great Emperor Ziwei’s shoulder and applied slight pressure. A sharp crack of bone resonated.

"Tsss!"

Great Emperor Ziwei sucked in a quick breath and immediately blurted out, "Those ancient divine clans all came from the Godfall Ridge! The seal over Godfall Ridge has already been lifted!"

"And the person who calculated the exact timing of the seal’s dissolution… is the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

"The current Yuan Realm is bursting with spiritual energy, all things competing to flourish. Right now, even a pig tossed into the Yuan Realm could probably cultivate into a Demon King!"

Gu Daojin’s expression turned serious. He released Great Emperor Ziwei’s shoulder and muttered to himself, "This master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion… truly possesses such formidable ability?"

"Just a few days ago, the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion even annihilated an ancient divine clan," Great Emperor Ziwei mumbled.

"Truly?" Gu Daojin suddenly perked up, his eyes glinting sharply.

The Seven Immortals of Cloud Capital felt their hearts skip a beat; they knew Gu Daojin was about to stir up trouble again.

"Let’s get out first."

Gu Daojin wore a mischievous grin as his wide sleeve enveloped everyone. He traversed thousands of miles with a single step and vanished into the primordial chaos a few breaths later, departing from the Heaven Deficiency Forbidden Land.

"Hahaha…"

"After all these years, I’ve finally seen the light of day again."

Gu Daojin threw back his head in laughter, breathing in the fresh air and basking in the sunlight.

"Stand still!"

Hearing the commotion, the four Emperor Venerables guarding the perimeter immediately manifested their forms, warily eyeing Gu Daojin.

"How is there another person?"

One Emperor Venerable exclaimed in surprise, wondering why an unfamiliar old man had emerged instead.

Where were the Seven Immortals of Cloud Capital?

Where was Semi-Immortal Pan Ao?

"Old man, confess honestly, who are you?" A burly man threatened, staring at Gu Daojin with a fierce, menacing expression.

"Why waste words on him? Directly search his soul instead!"

Another late-stage Emperor Venerable Realm expert radiated thick malice. The words were barely out when his divine ability erupted. Forming a fist seal, he caused space to collapse, seemingly punching out a black hole that swallowed Gu Daojin whole.

"And I thought this old codger was a master! Never imagined he’d be so trash!" The Emperor Venerable sneered.

Whoosh!

The next second, a hand stretched out from the black hole. The massive hand clenched empty air, and heaven and earth spun violently. Over a dozen Emperor Venerables completely lost their magical power, falling captive into Gu Daojin’s grasp.

"We’ve encountered trouble!"

The faces of the four divine clans’ Emperor Venerables turned grim simultaneously. They immediately summoned their Emperor Venerable’s magical treasures, desperately attempting to shatter Gu Daojin’s domain of divine abilities.

Yet, their strength couldn’t even make Gu Daojin flinch the slightest.

With merely a thought from Gu Daojin, the Seven Immortals of Cloud Capital and the others appeared before him.

Great Emperor Ziwei surveyed the captured Emperor Venerables in Gu Daojin’s palm and mocked, "Did you truly think you had the standing to play the trick of waiting by a stump for a hare to appear?"

"Do any of you possess the capability?"

Thump!

Gu Daojin gave his palm the gentlest squeeze, and the cries of those dozen Emperor Venerables vanished utterly. Within that simple clench, they were atomized, vanishing into ash.

Slaying the Emperor Venerables of the four divine clans meant as little to him as crushing over a dozen insignificant ants.

He lifted his gaze toward the sky.

Above the firmament stretched a trench of crimson flame, its light a deep, sinister red as lurid as an abyss. Gu Daojin cast a glance toward it and found his gaze instantly arrested, unable to look away.

"Is this the scar of the heavens?" Gu Daojin exclaimed in astonishment, his expression quickly shifting into avid interest. "I wonder if any treasures lie within it?"

He unleashed his Divine Sense. Countless tendrils of thought soared hundreds of thousands of miles, streaking directly into the scar of the heavens.

However.

Those countless strands of thought vanished without a trace, disappearing like clay oxen plunging into the sea.

Deep within the unknown, there seemed to be a terrifying power that devoured his thoughts, preventing Gu Daojin from sensing any situation within the scars of the heavens.

Gu Daojin felt slightly down in his heart. If there was a power within the scars of the heavens that could shield thoughts, then even he would become blind upon entering the scars of the heavens.

To enter the scars of the heavens, one must ponder deeply and make thorough preparations.

Hearing Gu Daojin’s words, everyone felt extremely speechless.

As everyone knew, the scars of the heavens were formed by a great change in heaven and earth, making it an extremely dangerous place. Even Ji Xuan Yi of the Ji clan and Meng Changan of the Da Meng Clan dared not set foot one step inside.

Only Gu Daojin, this old rascal, wanted to enter the scars of the heavens to fish for treasures.

"Master, you just got out, could it be that you want to be trapped again?" Great Emperor Ziwei rubbed his forehead with his hand, feeling a headache.

This scar of the heavens stretched over the myriad realms, and its degree of danger was definitely far greater than that of the Heaven Deficiency Forbidden Land. Although Gu Daojin was at the peak of True Immortal Realm, once he entered, he probably could not escape unscathed.

At that time, he would have to find a way to rescue him.

Having such a master, it was unknown whether it was fortunate or unfortunate.

Gu Daojin looked embarrassed.

"Since the matter is already done, let’s return to the Yuan Realm first." Su Mu spoke up. He still needed to go to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion to use the Divine Tree to suppress the Eternal Catastrophe Soul Curse for Shen Yueyi.

"That’s fine as well."

Gu Daojin nodded and said eagerly, "I also want to meet the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion to see if he is as powerful as you say?"

"Master, you must not act recklessly." Great Emperor Ziwei looked terrified.

"I have my own measure."

Gu Daojin said confidently.

"But before that, I have to make a trip to the four divine clans."

"Big brother, are you really going to exterminate their clan?"

Heavenly Talisman Old Man and Qin Fei Yan, being perceptive, instantly guessed Gu Daojin’s thoughts.

"Of course."

Gu Daojin said without blushing or heartbeat racing, "Since I said I want to annihilate the Ancient Four Clans, I must certainly keep my word."

"……"

Great Emperor Ziwei rolled his eyes.

He deeply suspected that Gu Daojin had only firmly determined to subdue the Ancient Four Clans after hearing from his own mouth about the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion subduing the Bi Fang divine clan.

Didn’t he understand his own master’s temper?

He simply wanted to compete with the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

If the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion subdued one clan, he would subdue four ancient clans. This way, wouldn’t it prove that he was more powerful than the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?

The Seven Immortals of Cloud Capital exchanged glances.

Su Mu and Ye Xu found it both funny and distressing.

However, towards the Ancient Four Clans, no one felt any sympathy. These people foolishly sought to obtain benefits by exploiting others, so they deserved to be killed in the first place.

Even if Gu Daojin did not act, Ye Xu would find a suitable opportunity to subdue all of the Ancient Four Clans to set the record straight.