Chapter 577

Chapter 577: Unrivaled

The Dharma Image reached to the heavens and the earth; it was a Vermilion Bird covered entirely in crimson feathers. Its fierce Dao Fire incinerated the firmament, and the temperature across a million miles was all on the rise.

This was the Master of the Huangting Immortal Domain, Dao Sovereign Haoyu.

Behind him stood numerous powerful cultivators, but their formation was disordered and chaotic, clearly unprepared.

"Hahaha…"

Taotie scoffed disdainfully, "The ancestral dragon is dimwitted! Why would I deign to serve him?"

"To tell you the truth," his voice boomed like thunder, shaking the heavens and earth, resonating across several million miles, "I, Taotie, am carrying out an order from the Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion to conquer the Huangting Immortal Domain!"

Everyone who heard him was deeply shaken.

"The Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?"

Dao Sovereign Haoyu’s expression turned ugly. "That fiend is truly possessed of a diabolical ambition!"

By now, he understood.

This battle was unavoidable; there was no retreat.

"The Master?" Dao King’s expression flickered with surprise, but he was also extremely confused. Was the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion mentioned by Taotie the same Heaven’s Secret Pavilion overseen by Ye Xu?

"Never mind which one it is, preserving my life is crucial."

Dao King was a wise man. Every cultivator in the sky far surpassed him in strength; carelessness could see him annihilated by mere residual shockwaves of their powers.

"Attack!"

Simultaneously.

In the void, Taotie waved a huge hand. Cultivators from the dragon clan within the Taotie Heavenly Palace charged into Haoyu Dao Sovereign’s ranks like wolves amongst sheep. Space shattered profoundly, instantly descending into chaos with their collision.

Merely upon initial contact, countless cultivators perished.

In combat, the denizens of the Taotie Heavenly Palace were utterly vicious, akin to a horde of fierce bandits. With Taotie personally overseeing the fray, their combat strength was unparalleled.

Swoosh!

Taotie vanished, reappearing directly behind Dao Sovereign Haoyu.

"Taotie! You, a Heavenly Sovereign, would personally descend to…"

Awoo!

Taotie transformed into his beast-headed human form. His cavernous maw snapped shut, swallowing Haoyu Dao Sovereign’s colossal Dharma Image and physical body whole. Activating his innate divine ability, he immediately ground them to dust.

Though differing by a single character "尊" (Sovereign vs. Heavenly Sovereign), the gap in power between a Heavenly Sovereign and Dao Sovereign was as vast as heaven and earth.

Upon Dao Sovereign Haoyu’s fall, a star plunged from the void, and bloody rain wept from the sky.

"Daoist brother!"

"My Lord!"

The cultivators of the Huangting Immortal Domain wailed in grief, their tears mingling with the crimson rain below. Yet, far more showed fear, beginning a desperate, panicked flight.

With a Heavenly Sovereign anchoring the enemy formation…

How could they possibly win?

With a single strike beheading the strongest being in Huangting Immortal Domain, Taotie stepped back from the fray, leaving the battlefield to Long Tu while he gazed down upon it from lofty heights.

Boom!

Long Tu gripped a Divine Spear, thrusting it through the heart of a Four Tribulations Dao Sovereign. The power of the swallowing path erupted, fully consuming the sovereign’s vital energies and magical strength.

Swish!

One hand wielding the spear, Long Tu slammed his other palm against his opponent’s head, shattering it. Grabbing the opponent’s primordial spirit, he shoved it directly into his mouth.

Crack!

A mere clench of his teeth shattered the primordial spirit utterly, transforming it into surging power that Long Tu swiftly refined.

He channeled his magic, drawing the Dao fruit, one after another, into his Purple Palace before charging towards the next Dao Sovereign.

Taotie beamed with satisfaction.

Long Tu was his personally trained warrior, excelling in both temperament and character—a true top-tier fighter.

Swoosh!

Taotie shifted his attention away from the battlefield, soaring into the Huangting Immortal Palace. He shattered one seal after another, ransacking the treasury of the entire immortal palace, clearing it out completely.

On this day, the Huangting Immortal Palace fell into ruin.

However, under Yi Tianxing’s decree, the common folk and noble families within the entire Huangting Immortal Domain who offered no resistance were spared from the chaos of the conflict.

"Reporting to the Heavenly Honored One, this servant has captured a Sovereign of the World…"

A black-clad Dao Sovereign entered the Huangting Immortal Palace.

Taotie sat regally upon the throne.

"A Sovereign of the World?" Taotie scoffed with derision. "Such a minor figure? Just kill him and be done with it. Why trouble me with the report?"

The black-clad Dao Sovereign hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "This man appeared near the Huangting Immortal Palace without reason and was highly suspicious. Your servant did wish to slay him, but he claims to be an Ascender and an old acquaintance of the Master."

"Hmm?"

Taotie’s eyes narrowed. "Bring him forward. Let me see."

In the past, Heaven’s Secret Pavilion had operated in lower realms.

If this truly were an acquaintance, Taotie certainly wouldn’t dare act rashly.

After all, Ye Xu’s image as the Omniscient One was deeply ingrained; killing the wrong person could cost Taotie his own life.

"Heavenly Honored One, this is the man."

The black-clad Dao Sovereign held fast to Dao King as they stepped into the palace.

Taotie fixed his gaze upon him.

Dao King’s cultivation level was weak, yet his aura possessed a certain distinction that made Taotie’s eyes gleam.

"You claim to be an old acquaintance of the Master?" Taotie’s voice turned icy, his fierce aura radiating outwards. "Show me proof. Fail to answer, and I’ll slaughter you immediately."

Dao King solemnly replied, "Senior, this junior was once a cultivator of the Pangu universe. Heaven’s Secret Pavilion also resided within the Pangu universe for a time."

"The Master is named Ye Xu."

"Moreover, under the Master’s command, there are Su Mu, Formless Demon Lord…"

Dao King spoke unhurriedly.

In truth, he was already eighty to ninety percent certain that Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was Ye Xu’s faction.

Taotie’s ferocious expression gradually faded, replaced by a grin.

"So we’re all family!"

He glanced at the black-clad Dao Sovereign and ordered, "Why not release young friend Wuyou immediately?"

"Yes."

The black-clad Dao Sovereign promptly channeled his magic power, dispelling the seals on Dao King.

"My gratitude, Elder."

Dao King inwardly exhaled in relief.

The Hongmeng Dao Realm was indeed perilous. If another faction had invaded Huangting Immortal Domain today, he would certainly have perished here.

"You flatter me, young friend," Taotie chuckled. "If you have no objections, just call me eldest brother."

He had his own calculations in mind.

Li Ruoyu, Su Mu, Formless Demon Lord, Yi Tianxing, and others were all key members of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion from the lower realms. Now, when one rose to prominence, all his associates soared too.

Dao King possessed an extraordinary aura and knew many past events concerning Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Taotie suspected his relationship with Ye Xu was likely on par with Su Mu and others.

At the very least, he surely ranked alongside Li Ruoyu.

Just a month prior, Li Ruoyu had been personally instructed by Ye Xu to represent Heaven’s Secret Pavilion in entering the Dao Clan’s ancestral land.

Therefore, as long as Dao King survived, a promising future awaited him.

"Eldest brother."

Dao King responded cheerfully.

"The Master truly stands unparalleled…"

He sighed deeply.

In the past, he had foolishly considered challenging Ye Xu. Fortunately, he changed course just in time, leveraging the fortune of the Pangu universe to resolve his enmity with Ye Xu.

Otherwise… how could he possibly have ascended?

"Wuyou," Taotie grinned. "I’m presently on a military campaign by command. Having pacified Huangting Immortal Domain, we march next to Yinghuo Immortal Domain. Accompany me."

"Once Yinghuo Immortal Domain is subdued, I’ll take you back to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion to meet the Master."

"Understood."

Dao King naturally raised no objection.

"Long Tu."

"Subordinate here."

"You garrison Huangting Immortal Domain," Taotie instructed after a slight pause, his voice turning stern. "With Huangting breached, the South Emperor likely knows already. Exercise caution."

"If the situation becomes untenable, withdraw immediately."

Long Tu felt warmth in his heart.

"Understood, my lord."

"Let’s move out."

Taotie descended from his throne, preparing to depart for Yinghuo.

"Taotie, you seized immortal domains under my South Emperor Palace’s rule without cause. Do you think you can leave without giving this sovereign an explanation?"

Suddenly,

A mighty voice resounded from beyond the Huangting Immortal Palace.

"Could it be the South Emperor himself?" Long Tu’s face paled in shock.

"The old monster isn’t alarmed by a mere Huangting Immortal Domain. These are his lackeys."

Taotie remained unperturbed as he exited the palace.

Above, a colossal face materialized—adorned with sword-like brows and star-like eyes, strikingly handsome yet radiating an overwhelming aura that rivaled Taotie’s own.

"So it’s the South Emperor’s private companion."

Taotie was unrivaled in verbal sparring.

A single sentence shattered composure.

The colossal face twitched violently, consumed by fury.

"Angry?"

Taotie continued playfully provoking: "Who in this realm doesn’t know Celestial Lord Yuanchu shares the South Emperor’s bedchamber?"

"Without the South Emperor, you’d never be called Celestial Lord!"

"You beast! Today I will end you!"

Celestial Lord Yuanchu unleashed murderous intent.

Rumble!

He summoned a Celestial Lord treasure—a magical drum etched with eerie totems. With each thunderous beat, minds scattered, blood reversed its flow, and bodies spiraled beyond control.

Boom!

The next moment,

A terrifying power descended, utterly ripping the magical drum from Celestial Lord Yuanchu’s grasp. He froze, stunned.

His connection to the treasure severed completely.

"Return and inform the South Emperor: this Huangting Immortal Domain now belongs to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

"As for you—spared only by the South Emperor’s grace."

"Begone."

A low voice resonated in Yuanchu’s ears.

"The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion…?"

Celestial Lord Yuanchu felt a chill run down his spine.

Without hesitation, he vanished into the void, fleeing wildly.

The assembly gazed with profound reverence.

Such was the unyielding might of their guardian!

"Di Wuyou, long time no see."

Ye Xu seemed unhurried to leave.

Dao King—indeed, an old acquaintance of his.