Chapter 285

Chapter 285: Moves Among Powers, the Holy Realm of Yao Pool

In Tai Xuan Grand World, within the Temple of Ten Thousand Paths.

A Black-robed Emperor Venerable strode swiftly into the Celestial Divine Palace. The great hall stood empty, filled only with swirling immortal light and stars the size of longan fruits drifting about.

Amid thousands of stars, a sun shone with dazzling brilliance. Upon closer look, a tiny figure sat cross-legged within that sun, ceaselessly drawing upon star power for cultivation. Its aura was vast and mighty, outshining even ten thousand stars.

"Reporting to Palace Master," the Black-robed Emperor Venerable relayed, "the Star Observation Platform has detected unusual activity in the Qingyang Realm to the northeast. An anomaly of celestial punishment manifested, but it vanished a quarter-hour ago—seemingly concealed deliberately."

"Celestial punishment?" A surprised voice echoed from within the sun. "No celestial punishment has descended for so long, let alone upon such a minor realm as Qingyang."

"The most recent celestial punishment before this would have been during the era of the Human Emperor’s Divine Court."

The master of the Temple of Ten Thousand Paths stepped out from the sun, her form gradually enlarging. Clothed in a moon-white robe as pure and untarnished as snow, she emerged.

She resembled a sun deity, her noble demeanor radiating authority with every gesture.

A flicker of shock passed through the Black-robed Emperor Venerable’s eyes. The Ancient Divine Court had faced celestial punishment? He knew nothing about this.

"Does Palace Master mean this anomaly in Qingyang relates to the Ancient Divine Court?" he pressed, voice grave. If it truly involved the Ancient Divine Court, it was an immense matter.

Bai Muyue nodded.

"Summon all twenty-eight sect masters to the Celestial Divine Palace immediately," Bai Muyue commanded.

"This…"

The Black-robed Emperor Venerable hesitated, his expression troubled. "Palace Master, Tianyun Zi and the sect’s two protectors previously traveled to the Yuan Realm intending to retrieve Qiu Qianli. They have been… detained in Linglong City."

"What occurred?"

Bai Muyue’s delicate brows lightly furrowed.

"Qiu Qianli has pledged allegiance to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Tianyun Zi attempted to forcibly remove him, inevitably offending the pavilion," the Black-robed Emperor Venerable explained with a bitter smile.

"Heaven’s Secret Pavilion again?" Bai Muyue’s gaze cooled. "This master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion certainly possesses rare capabilities."

"It seems once Qingyang matters are settled, I too must pay Heaven’s Secret Pavilion a visit."

"Summon the other twenty-seven sect masters. We depart for Qingyang Realm."

…

Three Thousand Immortal Islands.

The instant Qingyang Realm shifted, Han Daokong sensed it. His gaze pierced through the void as if witnessing the celestial punishment anomaly unfold in the heavens.

"The Ancient Divine Court finally resurfaces," Han Daokong murmured.

"Master, shall we proceed?" Ji Tianjue inquired, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

The Ancient Divine Court represented an epoch of past glory. Though long vanished, it left countless treasures behind—undeniably a land of fortune.

"Naturally, we shall go," Han Daokong replied lightly. "Once this affair concludes, we may proceed to the Burial Soil. You may cultivate there undisturbed."

…

Upon the Sea of All Realms, Dao King and Li Ruoshui, walking their path, were also startled by Qingyang’s disturbance.

Li Ruoshui, with her formidable cultivation, detected the anomaly almost immediately. After just a few breaths, she had locked onto the source direction.

"The power of divine punishment? Could it be the Ancient Divine Court?" Li Ruoshui frowned.

"The Divine Court established by the Human Emperor?" Dao King’s mind stirred. He aspired to become a figure like the Human Emperor or the Heavenly Emperor, and news of the Divine Court naturally piqued his interest.

"That should be correct," Li Ruoshui solemnly declared. "During ancient times, the Human Emperor defied the heavens, enraging the Heavenly Dao, and was punished with divine punishment. This caused the Divine Court to become a wasteland overnight."

"The aura of this divine punishment is incredibly powerful. The possibility that it’s the Divine Court is almost certain."

"Master, how could the Human Emperor incur divine punishment?" Dao King asked, puzzled.

Li Ruoshui shook her head.

By the time she emerged into the world, the Divine Court had long ceased to exist. She had only heard bits of information about it from the founder of the Taihao Heavenly Sect after ascending to the upper realm.

She didn’t know the specifics either.

"We’ll see when we get there," Dao King said with a light laugh.

Whoosh!

The two changed direction and sped toward the Qingyang Realm.

…

Qingyang Realm, the Divine Ruins, the Three Heavens.

This particular heaven was the Saint realm of the Yao Pool.

"So this is the Yao Pool?"

Yu Ziwei looked pleased. The Yao Pool stretched majestically like a boundless deep sea.

Its surface was dotted with islands like stars around the sky, crisscrossed by countless threads of auspicious energy, untouched by the divine punishment.

"Legend says the Yao Pool was formed by the Human Emperor gathering spiritual liquid, refining ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine spiritual veins. Seeing it now, it might really be true," the Fairy of the Painting said, deeply impressed.

Splash!

A sound of something falling into water echoed.

The Heavenly Talisman Old Man, Qin Fei Yan, and the others hurriedly looked over and saw the Dragon Lord had already slipped into the Yao Pool. Activating his body refinement techniques, every pore on his body opened, sucking in the spiritual liquid from the Yao Pool greedily, like a whale swallowing water.

Ye Xu’s mouth twitched slightly. That guy was way too stealthily effective!

While the spiritual liquid from the Yao Pool couldn’t compare to the Transformation Immortal Pool, it had accumulated over millions of years. Such a vast quantity could nurture a superpower for anyone who possessed it.

It was an immense resource.

"Time to get busy!"

Ye Xu chuckled darkly, pulling out a bag. With a gentle shake, the bag swiftly expanded in the wind. A terrifying suction force erupted from its opening, madly gulping down the spiritual liquid from the Yao Pool.

This was the bag of holding he had specially acquired – it could contain an entire small world. Swallowing the whole Yao Pool Saint realm wouldn’t be a problem.

He wasn’t going back empty-handed after taking the trouble to come here.

"…"

The Six Immortals of Yun Du all twitched their faces. Ye Xu’s methods were far too ruthless.

The six immediately summoned their respective magical treasures and began gathering the spiritual liquid from the Yao Pool.

The water level of the Yao Pool visibly dropped at a remarkable speed.

Half an hour later, Ye Xu’s bag of holding completely filled up, its terrifying weight forcing him to seal it shut and toss it inside Tai Sui’s body.

Roar!

Even Tai Sui struggled slightly—it truly was overwhelmingly heavy.

"It’s your turn now," Ye Xu said, releasing Tai Sui from his Purple Palace into the Yao Pool.

Splash! Splash!

Tai Sui’s colossal form rolled within the pool, gradually absorbing the spiritual liquid. Whether due to carrying the bag of holding within its body or not, its appetite seemed smaller than usual today.

Before long, the Seven Immortals of Cloud Capital and Yu Ziwei departed from the Yao Pool, leaving it nearly dried up.

"Why is there so little left?"

Gu Daojin’s voice echoed as he arrived at the Three Heavens, dust-covered from travel. He stared at the nearly exhausted Yao Pool with a peculiar expression. "Did you all empty it?"

"We only took a small amount," they replied in unison.

Gu Daojin eyed them suspiciously.

"Well, then this belongs to me." Gu Daojin’s sleeves billowed as he unleashed his sleeve cosmos technique, effortlessly engulfing the entire Yao Pool into his robes.

"……"

Everyone was astounded.

"Master, that’s taking things too far…" Yu Ziwei complained.

Gu Daojin chuckled. "This Yao Pool itself is a meticulously crafted treasure, bathed in spiritual energy for millions of years—truly a fine artifact."

"Besides, destiny has bound it to me."

"On to the next destination," he declared.

After seizing the Yao Pool, Gu Daojin, Ye Xu, and the others hastened toward the Four Heavens without pause.

……

The Two Heavens.

"Honored Princess, all four celestial gates have vanished," reported a true immortal ancestor who had rushed back from various sectors, his expression grim. "Traces of their aura linger, suggesting they were removed very recently."

"Most likely the work of that peak True Immortal Realm expert."

"Their methods clearly show seasoned grave robbers—leaving no blade of grass untouched wherever they pass," another true immortal ancestor fumed.

"What’s strange is the Divine Court holds countless restrictions and residual terrifying powers. How did that group move so swiftly? As if entirely unaffected," mused the elder of the Zhong Clan, utterly perplexed.

With divine punishment descending, each true immortal relied on their unique powers. Yet remnant Immortal King-level forces permeated the Divine Court—even they had to tread cautiously.

Otherwise, they would have caught up to Ye Xu’s group long ago.

"It is indeed bizarre," said the woman in simple robes, her moth-like brows furrowing slightly. "They seem to understand the Divine Court better than any of us."

This, however, was impossible. Born and raised within the Divine Court, she knew the layout, restrictions, and structure of the Thirty-three Heavens intimately—enough to navigate blindfolded without error.

No one alive comprehended the Divine Court more than her.

After the time a stick of incense takes to burn, the woman in simple robes and her companions finally arrived at the Yao Pool’s Saint realm.

Yet what met their eyes was utter desolation.

The Yao Pool from memory now lay entirely empty, vanished without trace.

For the first time, anger flashed in the woman’s eyes. The pool held profound childhood memories for her—significance far surpassing that of the celestial gates.

These intruders went beyond excessive. Not only had they drained the spiritual liquid, they had stolen the Yao Pool itself.

"This was beyond endurance!"

The true immortal ancestors erupted in fury, murderous intent blazing. "A band of petty thieves—they must not escape!"

"After them!"