Chapter 1223: Tian Chan’s Proposal, The Path Of One’s Dao (1)

Saint Jian Ming's sword technique was far from ordinary, weaving profundities into every stroke. Though he lacked the raw destructive force of Holy Emperor Qian Yang, his mastery of entrapment and defensive techniques gave him a distinct edge in combat.

In a direct confrontation, Wu Yuan's mana body would certainly find itself at a disadvantage.

However, Holy Emperor Tian Luo had succumbed to a dreamlike trance, his consciousness adrift in illusion. Similarly, Holy Emperor Jian Ming struggled against the pervasive influence of Wu Yuan's illusions, finding himself at a disadvantage.

This defies all reason. How can this white-robed Overlord's illusions penetrate so deeply? My consciousness remains unified, yet while my primary awareness stays clear, the consciousnesses of both incarnations sink further into delusion. My Tian Luo incarnation's consciousness has been completely severed from reality.

Panic surged through Holy Emperor Jian Ming as he desperately sought escape.

In his desperation, he lashed out at Holy Emperor Tian Luo, hoping the shock of the attack might jolt him back to awareness. If Tian Luo could regain clarity, their combined strength—even diminished—might be enough to withstand Wu Yuan's mana body’s onslaught.

Boom!

Wu Yuan's ether body exploded into action, his superior speed creating an insurmountable advantage. Dazzling blade rays blossomed around him as he unleashed the sixth step of his ultimate technique—Worldforge—again and again. Each strike forced Holy Emperor Jian Ming further back. He could only regain brief moments of clarity between waves of illusion.

Even Jian Ming's desperate attacks directed at Holy Emperor Tian Luo, intended to wake him up, were effortlessly intercepted by Wu Yuan.

Within breaths, Holy Emperor Jian Ming's vital aura had diminished by over eighty percent. Death was imminent.

"Heavenly Venerable!" Jian Ming's voice cracked with desperation. "I acknowledge your unrivaled power and status. The Nine Realms—I yield them to you." His words tumbled out frantically. "The three Grand Supreme Tokens in my possession, countless priceless treasures—all yours. Please, just allow us to depart with our lives."

True terror had seized him. Among his six incarnations, losing even one was a great loss for him. The process of recreating an incarnation would drain resources beyond measure.

"How foolish," Wu Yuan replied, his assault continuing unabated. “Once I kill you, the Grand Supreme Tokens and treasures become mine regardless. Moreover, if I permit your five remaining incarnations to reunite, your combined strength would pose a threat to me. From what I understand, recreating incantations of this caliber should be far from easy.

"As for the Nine Realms?" Wu Yuan's blade flashed. "They will be mine whether you consent or not."

Wu Yuan left much unsaid—once these Holy Emperor incarnations fell, the numerous Saints under their control would reclaim their freedom.

When that moment arrived, would these holy sect Saints willingly return to subjugation? Their natural instinct would be unified opposition against the six Holy Emperors.

With dozens of Saints united in purpose, even if the Holy Emperors descended again in future days, they would find themselves powerless against such collective strength.

Only through this path could true balance return to the Nine Realms, ensuring safety for Overlord Shang Cai and the others in the years to come.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Wu Yuan channeled his full might into each strike, endless blade rays engulfing Saint Jian Ming from every direction.

Another breath passed, and Holy Emperor Jian Ming's form finally disintegrated completely, leaving behind a glittering array of artifacts.

With a casual wave of his hand, Wu Yuan gathered the numerous treasures. Then, with a grand sweeping gesture, he employed a technique that enveloped the surrounding space.

Sealing Ultimate Technique – Palm World.

As the power brushed against Holy Emperor Tian Luo's body, it shattered his trance, jolting him violently back to awareness.

Hmm?

Holy Emperor Tian Luo's expression reflected both shock and mounting rage.

My illusions remain too weak.

Wu Yuan's mana body muttered quietly.

The illusion techniques he had employed seemed capable of influencing Holy Emperor Tian Luo for extended periods, but they were only effective at keeping him in a trance. Wu Yuan hadn't dared attempt outright annihilation of the Holy Emperor's soul.

Moreover, the environment had to be perfectly calm. Even the slightest disturbance would cause his hold on Tian Luo's consciousness to break.

"Break for me!" Holy Emperor Tian Luo roared, his body instantly erupting with countless lightning bolts. The surging electrical storm immediately shattered Wu Yuan's sealing technique.

I can't bind him?

Wu Yuan's eyes narrowed.

Then I’ll have to kill him.

Murderous intent radiated from Wu Yuan as his ether body flashed forward with lightning speed. A dazzling blade ray cleaved directly into Holy Emperor Tian Luo's form, sending him hurtling backward through the void.

The great battle resumed with renewed ferocity.

Holy Emperor Tian Luo transformed into a bolt of lightning as he turned to escape. But as an invisible fluctuation passed through the space around him, his gaze grew unfocused and his speed dropped precipitously.

Wu Yuan's mana body continued its relentless interference.

"You cannot escape." Wu Yuan's gaze remained cold. "Within the Nine Realms, spacetime suppression is too severe. Even beings as mighty as Saints can barely surpass light speed—far from approaching a hundred times light speed."

Attempting to flee? Without specialized artifacts, it was virtually impossible in this void.

And so their violent clash continued, though it might be more accurate to call it Holy Emperor Tian Luo's desperate struggle for survival.

"Overlord Wu Ji, I may fall today, but this isn't the end," Holy Emperor Tian Luo howled, his vital aura steadily weakening. Bloodshot eyes locked onto Wu Yuan, burning his image into memory. "I'll be waiting for you in the Grand Supreme Realm."

"The Grand Supreme Realm?" Wu Yuan's lips curled into a sneer. "Even if you didn’t mention it, I will still see you there."

Boom!

A terrifying shockwave blasted outward in all directions, and spatial turbulence grew increasingly chaotic. In his final moments, Holy Emperor Tian Luo chose self-destruction.

Yet against Wu Yuan's ether body—protected by high-grade Xiantian artifact armor and being a Matter Overlord—this desperate final act inflicted only minor injuries.

With this, three of the six Holy Emperors had died, and the surrounding void gradually settled into stillness.

Wu Yuan swept his hand through space, collecting the many treasures dropped by Holy Emperor Tian Luo. He swiftly examined each item, tossing countless artifacts and rarities into his storage space.

Grand Supreme Tokens.

With another gesture, three identical azure tokens materialized before Wu Yuan's mana body, each emanating an ancient, vast aura.

Three Grand Supreme Tokens.

Wu Yuan mused with a faint smile.

Now to claim the fourth.

He carefully secured the tokens.

Suddenly, his expression shifted.

Hmm?

Surprise flickered through Wu Yuan's eyes.

Holy Emperor Tai Heng's speed has slowed?

From the beginning, based on the approximate positions of the three Grand Supreme Tokens, Wu Yuan had essentially identified which three Holy Emperors remained within the Nine Realms.

Holy Emperor Tai Heng had been furthest away—still traveling toward the confrontation when Holy Emperors Tian Luo and Jian Ming had met their end.

And now, it appeared that Holy Emperor Tai Heng's movements had abruptly slowed.

In fact, it had virtually ceased altogether.

Could it be...?

A theory formed in Wu Yuan's mind.

Let's investigate. Even if he manages to escape, the Grand Supreme Token will remain behind.

Boom! Guided

by the Grand Supreme Token, Wu Yuan's mana body and ether body worked together, moving swiftly toward another region of the Nine Realms' void.

I will arrive in two months.

...

When Holy Emperors Jian Ming and Tian Luo fell in rapid succession, a profound change rippled through their respective factions.

"The blood contract oath has vanished.”

Countless cultivators of the Tian Luo Holy Sect sensed the dissolution of their contracts. Terror and confusion spread like wildfire.

But the dozen or so Saints who had been directly enslaved by the Holy Emperor felt only elation: "The Holy Emperor has fallen. At last, we've regained our freedom."

Many Saints of the Tian Luo Holy Sect wept with joy, their long captivity finally ended. Yet their celebration quickly gave way to trepidation.

"Who possesses the power to kill Holy Emperor Tian Luo?"

"Was it the same Heavenly Venerable who slew Holy Emperor Qian Yang?" The Saints of the Tian Luo Holy Sect immediately reached out to Saints from other holy sects.

Their suspicions were soon confirmed.

"Holy Emperor Jian Ming is dead as well! We too have regained our freedom," came the swift messages from the Saints of Jian Ming Holy Sect.

"It must be the Heavenly Venerable's doing. Only the Heavenly Venerable has the strength to kill two Holy Emperors in such a short time," declared a group of Saints from the Qian Yang Holy Sect. Saint Shang Yue and the others expressed absolute certainty—and undisguised excitement.

"As expected of the Heavenly Venerable."

Previously, Saint Shang Yue, Saint Jiu Xing, and their allies had feared that the remaining five Holy Emperors would marshal the Saints of their respective sects to besiege the Qian Yang Holy Sect.

Instead, within a single year, the balance of power had undergone a transformation no one could have anticipated.

"Holy Emperor Qian Yang, Holy Emperor Tian Luo, Holy Emperor Jian Ming—all struck down in succession by the Heavenly Venerable! And now he pursues the remaining three Holy Emperors!" This staggering news swept through the Nine Realms like a hurricane, leaving countless beings stunned by its implications.

The name ‘Heavenly Venerable’ resonated throughout the Nine Realms, eclipsing even the legendary six Holy Emperors to become the new embodiment of invincibility—the highest existence.