Chapter 811: Figure

The Myriad Astral God Hall was, in name, the governing institution of the human race across the entire Astral World.

The entire Hall was led by the Central Sovereign Heavenly Emperor, Jin'que.

This Heavenly Emperor had been hailed as the most outstanding supreme prodigy of nearly a thousand epochs. From the moment he stepped into the cultivation world, his rise had been nothing short of legendary.

He made his name through his powerful presence, his victories over alien races, and his suppression of the Eternal Oblivion Force. He had extensive connections, befriending many supreme heirs and maintaining close ties with various major powers. In the hearts of countless people, he was considered a flawless figure throughout the past thousand epochs.

His achievements reflected this reputation. To this day, he had not only grasped the laws of time and space but even achieved the unification of the two. He wielded countless secret arts and combat techniques with ease and mastery.

He had already made it to the ninety-ninth step of the Supreme Ladder in terms of strength. That was equivalent to a Divine Emperor.

The only difference was that his position at the ninety-ninth step remained somewhat unstable.

When faced with a countering opponent or an unfavorable environment, he might struggle to push through. But that wasn't due to a lack of strength or any personal flaw.

According to word from within the Central Sovereign Hall, this was because the Heavenly Emperor had devoted his time and effort to breaking through to the Supreme Realm.

Had he not single-mindedly pursued that goal, he would have already created his own techniques and achieved the rank of Divine Emperor with his deep foundation in secret arts, battle techniques, and cultivation methods.

Because of this, the five major factions still openly honored the Central Sovereign Heavenly Emperor, Jin'que, as their leader, despite their reluctance to acknowledge any power with greater moral authority over them.

Beneath him were numerous other powerful Heavenly Emperors—such as the Four Cardinal Emperors, the Five Directional Heavenly Emperors, the Five Elder Celestial Lords, and the Ten Imperial Venerables. Together, they numbered in the dozens.

Each of these Heavenly Emperors commanded their own subordinate forces.

Among them, the Green Emperor Jian Mu, the Flame Emperor Gu Fang, the Yellow Emperor Xuan Yuan, the Golden Emperor Tai Bai, and the Black Emperor Cang Ming were collectively known as the Five Elder Celestial Venerables.

They oversaw institutions like the Four Seasons and the Five Elements Halls, which managed the balance of seasons and elemental forces throughout the human domain.

Beneath the Four Seasons Hall existed the Heaven Oracle Twenty-Four Palaces, each corresponding to a celestial phenomenon. Every palace lord had, at the very least, forged their True Spirit and achieved the pinnacle of the Cosmic Radiance Realm, becoming ultimate lifeforms.

***

At this moment, a stern-looking woman in a long green dress was on the plaza outside Rainwater Palace. She exuded a cold and commanding aura as she stood waiting with several dozen people behind her.

She was a Solar Flare Astral God. As she waited, she turned her gaze to the group gathered below. "I know each of you comes from families that have poured immense resources into your upbringing.

"Within your clans, or even across your entire star systems, you are considered peerless talents, admired and respected. But you all know what Rainwater Palace stands for. It was founded by the great Light of Revival herself. Whatever so-called background or influence you claim holds no weight before Her Greatness."

Under her eyes, the dozens of Astral Gods all straightened with solemn expressions.

Seeing this, she gave a slight nod. "Whatever status you held before, this centennial assessment is your best chance to change your fate and rise in rank. If you succeed and enter Rainwater Palace, what awaits you is more than just a vast future.

"You may even earn the right to reside within the Myriad Astral God Hall and enjoy eternal life. But if you fail, you'll return to where you came from. Back to your families, your continents, your lands, to face the chaotic tides of the Eternal Oblivion Force, to struggle against the unpredictable changes of the Astral World... So once the assessment begins, give it your all."

"We won't let you down, Senior Sister," the dozens of young men and women responded in unison, their voices steady and firm.

She gave a curt nod, her expression unchanged. "Good."

They had passed the initial screening, but fewer than a third would make it into Rainwater Palace. For those who wouldn't, there was no reason for her to show kindness.

She spoke once more, her tone firm. "Remain silent and await the arrival of Her Majesty, the great Light of Revival."

The gathered Astral Gods, once adored by millions, sat up straight, presenting their best selves. Before arriving, they had been reminded repeatedly that joining Rainwater Palace and becoming part of the Myriad Astral God Hall was the greatest chance to change their fates.

Those who believed in their own talents held their breath, determined to seize the moment and shine when the Light of Revival came.

Each of them, without exception, looked towards Rainwater Palace, filled with eager anticipation and confidence that they would be among the chosen.

If Fang Chunyang from the Mara Divine Treasury Hall had been among the crowd, he would have immediately recognized two familiar faces. One was Xu Qingcheng, the younger sister of Xu Anping. The other was Mia.

Mia was a royal princess from a super empire so powerful it ruled an entire star system. Her family had produced more than ten Astral Gods.

The Xu family that Xu Qingcheng came from was even more remarkable, boasting numerous Astral Gods and an Eternal Solar Flare within their ranks. Their influence spanned more than a dozen star systems.

But even such prestigious backgrounds paled in comparison to the significance of Rainwater Palace and the Light of Revival.

Despite having a chance to join Rainwater Palace, both women remained humble and reserved. Yet, their swift ascension to Astral Gods within just a few hundred years spoke volumes about their incredible talent. Without such aptitude, they wouldn't even have been nominated for the assessment.

Mia repeated to herself, over and over, "With my talent, I should never have been able to become an Astral God. Yet, here I am, carrying countless burdens... My royal family has sacrificed so much for me. Because of that, no matter what, I must enter Rainwater Palace. Even if it's only as an outer disciple, I won't back down."

Xu Qingcheng shared the same resolve. The Xu family was a powerful noble clan, and in such families, competition was fierce.

If not for her elder brother Xu Anping's special care, her fate would have been like many others in her family—becoming a Demigod, guarding some territory for an epoch before fading into dust.

But now... she had finally become an Astral God. She would stop at nothing to climb higher, not just to make everything she'd been through worth it, but also to avoid disappointing her brother.

The two quietly steeled themselves, as did the dozens of others present.

The silence gave rise to a heavy, stifling atmosphere. But that tension was soon broken by a rapidly approaching figure.

Everyone turned expectantly toward the newcomer, a woman dressed in white. Before anyone could speak, she hastily said, "Junior Sister, a major figure has arrived. No, that's not right. A whole group of major figures is coming. All activities in Rainwater Palace are to be suspended immediately. We must prepare to welcome them."

"Major figure?" The woman in green looked slightly startled. "A Tyrant?"

"Yes, a Tyrant. But unlike the others, this one holds a status far above the rest. Lord Ju Mang, Lord Xi Hao, and Lord Yu Jiang are all accompanying them. Apparently, it's a direct order from His Majesty Green Emperor. He commanded the three lords to receive the guest with the highest courtesy," the woman in white explained.

The woman in green could hardly believe her ears. "A Tyrant who warrants a personal decree from the Green Emperor, and three lords to greet them?"

Since when had Rainwater Palace risen to such prominence, enough to welcome such an honored guest?

Wait... no, it wasn't impossible.

She quickly thought of something and couldn't stop herself from asking, "Origin!? Is it His Majesty Tyrant Origin himself?"

"You're quick." The woman in white nodded slightly, pride flickering in her eyes. "Yes, it is."

Then, as if remembering this wasn't the time for idle talk, she quickly added, "The Palace Master has issued orders. Everyone is to give their best. Activate the formations: Spring Breeze Through Fields, Verdant Grasslands, Blooming Flowers, and Birds Singing in Chorus."

The woman in green nodded at once. She then turned to the crowd that had been waiting half the day and announced quickly, "The assessment is postponed. Return for now and await further notice."

At those words, a flicker of disappointment crossed the faces of the dozens of disciples. But none dared show even the slightest hint of dissatisfaction.

No one who could ascend to the Astral God Realm was a fool. If Rainwater Palace went to such lengths to receive someone, that person had to be someone of unimaginable stature.

Without needing to be told, the crowd quietly began to disperse under the guidance of another Astral God from Rainwater Palace.

As they exited, Mia and Xu Qingcheng exchanged startled glances, disbelief written all over their faces.

"Origin?"

"Could it be Li Pin... the Light of Origin? But wasn't he still a Cosmic Radiance? How did he suddenly become a Tyrant?"

They were confused. At their level, first-hand information was hard to come by. What little they heard was often incomplete or impossible to verify.

"I heard he's incredibly talented," Mia whispered as they walked. "So much so that countless people saw him as a supreme prodigy. Even the Supremes supposedly wanted to take him as a disciple. Maybe that's why everyone calls him a Tyrant now?"

"Supreme prodigy..." Xu Qingcheng muttered, his voice filled with awe. "Could it be... has he broken through again? Could he already be a Tyrant? I've heard rumors that he gained a tremendous opportunity in the Heavenly Prison World. After reaching Cosmic Radiance, it wouldn't take long for him to ascend to that level."

Mia replied, keeping her voice low. "No... that can't be right. Didn't they say it would take thousands, even tens of thousands of years? It has only been less than a hundred. A hundred years might seem long for Legends, as it spans over a tenth of their lifespan. But for an Astral God... it's almost nothing."

She gushed with indescribable reverence, "We're talking about a Cosmic Tyrant, someone far beyond even Cosmic Radiance. Such beings are so rare that there isn't a single record in our empire of any interaction with one."

Xu Qingcheng fell silent, overwhelmed by the thought.

To become a Tyrant in less than a century after reaching Cosmic Radiance... even with the experiences in the Heavenly Prison World, such rapid growth was nothing short of extraordinary.

As the two absorbed the weight of their thoughts, a sudden burst of light erupted from within Rainwater Palace. The light swept through the air, and wherever it touched, flowers blossomed in abundance, transforming the surroundings into a dazzling sea of petals and radiance.

Following that brilliance came a dozen or so figures, among which one stood out, radiating so brightly that even the Astral Gods found it difficult to look directly at.

"It's the Light of the Universe," someone whispered.

"Coming from Rainwater Palace... it must be Her Majesty Qing Yu, the Light of Revival."

Gasps of awe and reverence filled the air as those still gathered lowered their heads in respect.

Among the group of a dozen or so, only the Light of Revival, Qing Yu, was different. Every other figure was of the Eternal Solar Flare level. They weren't just any Eternal Solar Flare, but the most elite among them. Even the women in green and white robes, who had spoken earlier, lacked the qualification to greet them.

At the far end of the welcoming grounds, a radiant flying vessel cut through the sky.

Mia and Xu Qingcheng glanced up, only to be met with light, endless light. The light seemed adorned with sun, moon, stars, cosmos, and spacetime. It overwhelmed the hearts and minds of every Astral God present.

A single glance at that dazzling radiance, woven with the sun, moon, stars, cosmos, and time, would make this scene the most unforgettable image in the hearts of every Astral God, forever etched deep in their souls.

Because... within that light, there weren't just Tyrants. There were Sacred Monarchs, and even Heavenly Emperors.