Chapter 359: Chapter 80: Oral Heavenly Constitution
Two primary and two auxiliary stars fused into a sword light that ripped through the heavens and sundered the earth, turning everything around into a chaotic void, as if moving from the land to the vast cosmos.
Su Nu hurriedly waved her hand, casting out a pure white Qi to send Bu Yusheng away, while at the same time manifesting Kun Yin Yuan Qi in front of her. An ancient-looking zither was placed before her, and with her jade hands plucking the strings, a stream of pure Qi stretched out into space, evolving into layers of cloud illusions, among which flashed strange and marvelous scenes, like the myriad aspects of the mortal world, invoking the threads of emotion in one’s heart, and countless forms of attachment.
However, the Killing Sword of the malevolent stars was merciless, slashing through both sentimental thoughts and cloud illusions without discrimination. The magnificent killing intent swept through, shattering mountains, while the colors of the sky changed with the wind.
Su Nu, already at a disadvantage for being a step behind and struck by a Taiyin Light, was injured, and even with her Dao Fruit’s healing capabilities, she was unable to fully recover at the moment.
Now faced with the Killing Sword, she was even more overshadowed. The sword light severed the cloud illusions and annihilated the mortal world, rushing toward her with a resolute force that engulfed her figure with its ferocious Qi.
"Red Dust Marvelous Dao," she pronounced.
Her figure suddenly shifted, retreating swiftly. Illusionary figures, both elusive and indistinct, emerged from her body, dancing in the air like a Heavenly Maiden transcending the world, beautiful and ethereal.
One by one, her illusory figures were extinguished by the four sword lights. With each destroyed figure, Su Nu grew paler, clearly indicating that the technique was greatly taxing her own energy and would even endanger her core essence.
However, a tactic that consumed so much naturally possessed corresponding power.
As the figures dissolved, strands of pure white silk emerged from the shadows, intertwining and entangling around the sword tip, continuously wearing down the malevolent sword light.
Using herself as a sacrifice, she transformed her figures to bear the Killing Swords, to dissipate their deadly energy, while weaving a net of emotion-like threads to entangle the sword tip.
Su Nu soared backward, her hands plucking the zither strings. Waves of fluctuations spread from the net, neutralizing the killing intent and calling forth the deep-seated desires of the heart, sketching the rolling aspects of the mortal world.
The advance of the four sword lights finally halted. Su Nu’s eyes shimmered with an indescribable allure, and with a mere glance behind Tianxuan, she cast her intangible sentiments toward the distant figure.
She had lost the upper hand and was injured, moreover, she had to resort to her secret techniques to survive, completely falling behind. However, if she attacked her opponent’s vital spot, there was still a chance for a turnaround.
However—
"Snap!"
A crisp sound suddenly shattered the sentiment. Su Nu’s head tilted as a bright red handprint appeared on her alluring, snow-white cheek.
"To bully the weak and stir up the desires of the junior, how shameless," Tianxuan said lightly while flicking her right hand.
The slap itself didn’t do much damage, but it was a greater blow to Su Nu than ten slaps could have been.
"Bitch!" Su Nu couldn’t help but curse.
Then she had to retreat once more.
The curse was fierce, and deep in her heart she longed to return it tenfold, but being outmatched was a fact; retaliation also required consideration of reality.
Despite the distance, the sword light, and the net, Tianxuan’s ability to slap Su Nu through them all revealed her capabilities as unfathomable as ghosts and gods.
Just as Su Nu was about to retreat, a massive Array Plate appeared around Tianxuan, a formless great strength twisting space itself, turning infinite distance into mere inches.
Tianxuan pressed her palm forward as if holding the Taiyin Power, exerting the supreme power upon the point mere inches away, right where Su Nu was.
Layer upon layer of spatial folds emerged before the palm, compressing both the sword light and net within. From Su Nu’s perspective, that snow-white palm seemed to seize the sun, moon, and earth, utterly unmatched.
Her expression drastically changed as she finally recognized the vast gap between herself and Tianxuan; but knowing this now, she had no way to dodge. In front of this space-distorting palm, attempting to flee was the least viable option.
But to face it head-on would also be a way to embrace death.
At the critical moment, an invisible barrier materialized between the two, cutting through the folded spaces, severing the sword light and net.
"Command."
A dignified voice spoke out.
The sword light and net shattered and burst forth, the palm that grasped the Taiyin Power pressing against the invisible barrier, vibrating space, and causing mountains to break apart, the earth quaking.
"Halt."
The voice spoke again.
The crumbling terrain suddenly paused, even the shockwaves spreading beneath the ground froze, and even the burning forests seemed to stop in time, halting the raging fiery explosion.
It seemed that all things paused at this moment, with only a few people still able to move.
Tianxuan slowly drew back her palm, her gaze reaching toward Su Nu in the distance and said, "Is this your reliance? Without the Plain Cloud Realm Flag in hand, you’re in no position to threaten me, even if you lured me out. Hence, you must have some support!"
This was a dual fishing expedition: Tianxuan sought to draw out Su Nu, to let her learn a lesson through blood, while the Kunxu Immortal Palace hoped to draw out Tianxuan, to pave the way for the Immortal Queen’s ascension.
But with Su Nu’s strength, even if Bu Yusheng and others could force Tianxuan’s hand, allowing Su Nu to launch a surprise attack, it was highly unlikely to pose a threat to Tianxuan.
Su Nu must have some support, something that could threaten Tianxuan, perhaps even overcome her.
This support...
"You’re truly worthy," he said, acknowledging that Su Nu had something to rely on, which is why he sent Jiang Li away in advance."
Behind Tianxuan, the Jiang Li who turned to dust after the words fell disintegrated into an illusion and disappeared, while Tianxuan turned to the source of the voice.
An old man, wearing a purple dragon robe and a purple gold crown, stood with his hands behind his back, floating in the air. His aged face bore the decay that comes with life’s twilight. Even the majesty of ruling the world could not conceal this decline.
He was very old, so old that he might die at any moment.
But no one dared underestimate this elder.
For he was the Emperor.
Constrained by the threat of the third grade, and in order to stay and guard the Imperial City, the Emperor had not made a move until now, nor had he even shown his face.
But now, not only had he appeared, but he also clearly intended to take action.
This, even Su Nu, felt a violent shock in her heart.
She had thought that the Emperor would lend a hand from afar, or send someone to assist, but what she did not expect was that the Emperor himself would take action.
Such an unexpected scene shocked even Su Nu, a participant in the events.
"Returning to the origin."
The Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the scene before him and slowly spoke. His words carried the inevitability of the cycle of heaven and earth, changing the landscape with a single utterance.
The crumbling mountains began to piece back together, the burning flames extinguished, countless particles of dust returned to their place, and splinters of wood aggregated to form trees once again.
It was as if time was flowing backward, returning the mountains and vegetation to the state before Jiang Li set them on fire.
Wan Dingtian and Xiang Huaiyi stepped out from the woods; upon seeing the figure in the sky, they immediately paid their respects and called out "Your Majesty." As for the big red dog, it was nowhere to be seen.
Moreover, this astonishing scene did not stir any commotion, whether in the distant workshop town or further away in the Divine Capital, or even on the other side of the Divine Capital in the Imperial College, there was no disturbance at all.
The previous scene of mountains crumbling and the earth shaking was groundbreaking, where even the shockwaves alone could alarm a thousand miles. But now, it seemed as if everything was just an illusion, like a scene from the Illusion Realm.
"Sealing off the movement, drawing the ground into a prison."
Tianxuan looked at this scene and sighed softly, "The methods of Your Majesty, as always, are tremendous; steady until moved, but overwhelming when acted upon."
It was like when the Cave Heaven Blessed Land opened. Before that, the Heavenly Mechanism gradually became chaotic, and many people suspected it was due to the gathering of third grade, not knowing that it was the Emperor preparing to open the Cave Heaven Blessed Land to obtain the Ginsengfruit.
Now, the Emperor had suddenly taken action, creating a prison by drawing on the ground and isolating this place from the outside world; any disturbance would not alarm anyone else.
In this way, there was no need to worry about other third-grade individuals causing trouble.
And all this, was to deal with Tianxuan.
"If the Imperial Sister keeps pressing step by step, and I do not respond, then it would be too humiliating for those treacherous officials to think me weak," the Emperor said in the slow manner typical of the elderly.
"So, you intend to kill me?" Tianxuan said coldly, "Aren’t you afraid the other third-grade individuals will make a move? Afraid that everyone will feel endangered and become your enemy?"
"If the Imperial Sister is willing to surrender, I am willing to show mercy. If not..."
The Emperor slowly said, "If third-grade acts, I am not afraid; if everyone is endangered, what can they do to me? In my view, the threat of the Imperial Sister is still greater than the subsequent impact."
Tianxuan was the leader of the Gongsun Family, and in terms of influence, even Gongsun Qi might not measure up to her. She could connect with the old people of the Ji Family, lead the opposition within the court, and join forces with the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer.
Eliminating her was essentially settling most of the troubles.
Of course, this would also bring new troubles, but in the Emperor’s view, the benefits still outweighed the drawbacks.
If that was the case, then it was time to act, particularly since the Kunxu Immortal Palace had also provided an opportunity.
"The Sky Dog of Kunxu Immortal Palace has already gone to look for Jiang Li, and Bu Yusheng will also meet with the Sky Dog. Su Nu will also arrive soon, and Jiang Li cannot escape his fate," the Emperor said confidently, "Imperial Sister, you have already lost."
Not only was she facing a crisis herself, but even Jiang Li’s position was about to be exposed, and the situation was set to be completely reversed.
This move, unbeknownst to the Kunxu Immortal Palace, they well knew the unpredictability of Tianxuan. They only thought of defeating Tianxuan without considering taking it a step further.
However, despite such a difficult situation, Tianxuan still showed no sign of panic.
She spoke calmly, her beautiful face unruffled behind the veil, "Your Majesty, there is nothing impossible in this world. Your Majesty has ruled supreme for a long time, becoming complacent. In this regard, you are somewhat lacking compared to that disciple of mine, who always plans for defeat before victory."
The Emperor’s plans were indeed swift and unexpected, but if this action failed, it too would face a significant backlash.
The action brings more benefits than harm, but if it were unsuccessful? Then only disadvantages would remain.
Moreover, if Tianxuan was prepared to stand against the Emperor, she had considered facing the Upper Three Ranks.
Little stars appeared behind Tianxuan, turning into a splendid river of stars, all the stars coming into view, orbiting the Taiyin Moon Phase behind her, forming a scene of Stars Surrounding the Moon.
The heavenly stars and Taiyin in this moment achieved a perfect harmony.