Chapter 1388: The Heavenly Alliance Grand Assembly, Light Fills the Golden Palace
"Thiên Tôn Hạo's confidence is growing stronger and stronger."
Tần Mục's smile did not fade: "It seems Thái Tố's influence on him is great, allowing him to rekindle his confidence. With Thái Tố's assistance, he believes he can defeat others and achieve final victory."
How Thái Tố helped him, Tần Mục did not understand, but judging from Thái Tố's actions, Thiên Tôn Hạo would likely have to pay a tremendous price.
"Thái Thủy, you are also an ancient god, and Thái Tố is also an ancient god. Look at what Thái Tố does, then look at what you do."
Tần Mục awakened the Thái Thủy Egg within his divine treasury, speaking with heartfelt pain: "You only know how to refine that broken stone all day long. When will you help me the way Thái Tố helps Thiên Tôn Hạo?"
"Why don't you first look at Thiên Tôn Hạo, then look at yourself?"
One sentence from Thái Thủy left Tần Mục stifled half to death. Thái Thủy spoke in a muffled voice: "Thái Tố was born ahead of time, her abilities end there, while I am still continuously growing. In the future, I will certainly be far more powerful than her by an unknown margin. Moreover, Thái Tố helping Thiên Tôn Hạo is actually to control him. Look at Thiên Tôn Hạo now, full of confidence, but in reality he has gradually fallen into Thái Tố's grasp. When he reaches the future, I fear he will regret it deeply."
Tần Mục's heart stirred slightly, and he asked: "How does Thái Tố control Thiên Tôn Hạo?"
"Thái Tố grants whatever is asked. She can recast Thiên Tôn Hạo's heavenly palaces, help him become the first person to cultivate the Heavenly Court, and can even give Thiên Tôn Hạo the treasures he desires."
Thái Thủy said: "I once discussed our respective powers with Thái Tố, and I know she was born with a supreme treasure of immense might. This treasure can transform into any other treasure, ever-changing. However, all of this comes at a price. What Thái Tố gives, she can also take back. Not only that, borrowing Thái Tố's power will slowly become addictive, leaving one under her control."
Tần Mục's hair stood on end.
Back then, he too had obtained the Thái Tố Divine Egg and experienced the invasion of the Dao heart brought by that granting-whatever-is-asked. The reason Lưu Ly Thanh Thiên Tràng could become the number one supreme treasure was precisely because of the Thái Tố Divine Egg!
"Thái Tố's supreme treasure can transform into any treasure, ever-changing?"
Tần Mục suddenly recalled the visions of various precious treasures within the Hồng Minh primordial qi he had seen when he first invaded the Thái Tố Egg with his divine consciousness. At that time, he saw a great bell whose walls bore the imprints of heaven and earth's myriad phenomena, a great cauldron carried by earthly qi whose walls bore imprints of gods and living beings, and a bright mirror illuminating the myriad worlds!
"Can this supreme treasure transform into a Creation Divine Artifact?" Tần Mục suddenly asked.
Thái Thủy was slightly startled, then said: "Of course it can."
Tần Mục's eyelids twitched uncontrollably. He finally understood where Thiên Tôn Hạo's confidence came from despite his injuries not yet healed!
It was because Thái Tố's supreme treasure could transform into a Creation Divine Artifact, creating the Divine Weapon Imperial Heavenly Sovereign!
Not only could it create the Divine Weapon Imperial Heavenly Sovereign, he could even create the physical body of the Heavenly Emperor, the physical body of the Heavenly Duke, the physical body of the Earth Count!
This was the source of Thiên Tôn Hạo's confidence.
The one possessing the most Divine Weapon Imperial Heavenly Sovereigns was probably not Thạch Kỳ La, but him!
"If I possessed such a divine artifact..."
Tần Mục was extremely envious. He suddenly came to his senses and probed: "Does the Heavenly Emperor Thái Sơ have a born-with divine artifact?"
Thái Thủy said: "The Heavenly Emperor Thái Sơ also had his born-with supreme treasure, but back when he was still the adopted son of the Great Emperor, the Great Emperor took that treasure away. I do not know whether he later recovered it."
Tần Mục blinked and said casually: "Then does Đạo Huynh Thái Dịch also have such a treasure?"
"Logically speaking, he should."
Thái Thủy said up to this point, then suddenly realized his slip and hastily corrected himself: "Đạo Huynh Thái Dịch has long since transcended. Whether he has a supreme treasure is something I cannot know. Anyway, I don't have..."
"Then Đạo Huynh Thái Thủy, what is your supreme treasure?" Tần Mục cut him off and asked.
Thái Thủy hastily laughed: "I really don't have one, don't talk nonsense. If I had such a treasure, how could I still be trapped inside this eggshell? I would have long since fought my way out and roamed free."
"The reason you haven't cracked open the eggshell is because you still need to stay inside the egg, waiting for me to find you more divine stones to digest the primordial liquid."
Tần Mục said seriously: "What is Đạo Huynh's supreme treasure? Why not take it out and let me broaden my horizons?"
"I don't have one!"
Thái Thủy said angrily: "I have not yet been born. Even if I had one, I couldn't take it out to show you! Don't you dare scheme against me!"
Tần Mục's gaze flickered, and he laughed: "So it truly is hidden inside the egg? The Way of Thái Thủy has form but no substance. To you, the eggshell also has form but no substance, and your treasure is most likely also form without substance. Since that is the case, why not send it out and let me see it?"
Thái Thủy said sulkily: "I don't have it, so I don't have it! Even if I took it out, would you even return it to me? I'm not a three-year-old child!"
Tần Mục laughed heartily, thinking to himself: "So he really does have one... I wonder what form this stingy ancient god's supreme treasure takes?"
He grew even more curious, but unfortunately Thái Thủy knew him too well and was determined not to let him see his supreme treasure.
Tần Mục had no choice but to drop the matter.
The next day, the Heavenly Alliance conference finally officially began. The sacred beings of the myriad heavens and worlds gathered in full attendance, divine light surging to the heavens, each displaying their own auspicious manifestations. Everyone's primordial spirit soared into the sky, with heavenly palaces suspended one after another, primordial spirits standing atop the palaces.
The gods, great and small, each had varying levels of cultivation. Their primordial spirits either stood before the Lingxiao Hall or within the Jade Capital City, and their primordial spirits were also bizarre and varied, corresponding to the spiritual bodies of their respective races.
Unlike Diên Khang's four spiritual bodies, their spiritual bodies had all kinds of forms — some in the shape of ancient gods, some in the shape of demon gods, all different.
The sacred beings of the myriad heavens flew up and each took their seats in the air. Countless heavenly palaces connected into one expanse, resembling the most magnificent Heavenly Court. Even the true Heavenly Court seemed small in this moment!
Even the grand spectacle of the Long Hán era's Heavenly Court could not compare to today's splendor!
Back then, the Long Hán Heavenly Court was led by ancient gods, but the great and small ancient gods numbered only a little over three hundred, not even four hundred.
Moreover, the ancient gods of that time were mostly weaker than the myriad heaven sovereigns of today. Even the weakest myriad heaven sovereign was far more powerful than the lower-ranking ancient gods of that era.
One could see above this vast, boundless expanse of heavenly palaces, the Four Emperors and Four Heavenly Masters flew in, each taking their seats, and behind their heads heavenly palaces also manifested, with three to five palaces each, more or less.
There were also the Five Emperors' Inner Seats, the Five Emperors' Seats, the Left and Right Junior Assistants, the Left and Right Junior Guards, the Left and Right Upper Guards, the Left and Right Junior Aids, the Left and Right Upper Aids, the Left and Right Junior Ministers, the Left and Right Upper Ministers, the Left Pivot, the Right Pivot, the Junior Commandant, the Upper Supporter, the Junior Supporter, the Seven Dukes, the Three Masters, the Great Sun Star Lord, and various other important ministers of the Heavenly Court, all taking their seats one after another.
In an instant, everyone's heavenly palaces connected into another expanse, forming a second layer of Heavenly Court!
Then the Đạo Tổ and Đại Phạm Thiên flew in and took their seats in the second layer of Heavenly Court. The moment the Đạo Tổ and the Buddha Ancestor sat down, they each bloomed their heavenly palaces, each with over ten palaces, their expressions solemn.
They were the oldest members of the Heavenly Alliance.
Suddenly, all the sacred beings spoke in unison: "We respectfully invite the Heavenly Alliance Heavenly Venerable, Supreme Dao Consciousness, Great Sage of the Demon Race, Hồng Thiên Tôn!"
Hồng Thiên Tôn, with white hair, white brows, and white beard, his great robe fluttering, stood atop the head of a green bird. The green bird flew in with beating wings and suddenly folded them.
Hồng Thiên Tôn descended onto the second layer of Heavenly Court. The Đạo Tổ and Đại Phạm Thiên rose hastily and paid their respects.
Hồng Thiên Tôn nodded slightly and took his seat.
The sacred beings of the myriad heavens chanted loudly: "We respectfully invite the Heavenly Alliance Heavenly Venerable, Boundless Divine Powers, Mother of Ten Thousand Methods, Cung Thiên Tôn!"
Cung Thiên Tôn walked forward, with manifestations of ten thousand methods and boundless divine powers, also entering the second layer of Heavenly Court.
The Đạo Tổ and Đại Phạm Thiên paid their respects. Cung Thiên Tôn nodded in acknowledgment and took her seat.
"We respectfully invite the Heavenly Alliance Heavenly Venerable, Divine Son of the Heavenly Duke, Ancestral Founder of the God Race, Great Sage Tổ Thần Vương!"
"We respectfully invite the Heavenly Alliance Đạo Tôn, Fire Holy Venerable of Long Hán, Peerless Heavenly Being Hỏa Thiên Tôn!"
"We respectfully invite the Heavenly Alliance Heavenly Venerable, Divine Daughter of the Earth Count, Ancestral Founder of the Demon Race, Great Venerable Hư Thiên Tôn!"
"We respectfully invite the Heavenly Alliance Heavenly Venerable, Righteous Mother of the Myriad Heavens, Mother of All Under Heaven, Nghiên Thiên Phi!"
"We respectfully invite the Heavenly Alliance Heavenly Venerable, Đạo Mother of the Myriad Heavens, Tường Thiên Phi!"
"We respectfully invite the Heavenly Alliance Heavenly Venerable, Holy Emperor of the Sacred, Primordial Ultimate Ancestral Founder, Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng!"
...
Tổ Thần Vương, Hỏa Thiên Tôn, Hư Thiên Tôn, Nghiên Thiên Phi, Tường Thiên Phi, and Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng each took their seats.
Suddenly, divine light filled the eastern sky, with canopies like clouds covering the Heavenly Court. The sacred beings of the myriad heavens, the Four Emperors, the Four Heavenly Masters, and the other important ministers of the Heavenly Court all rose and said in unison: "We respectfully invite the Heavenly Alliance Đạo Tôn, Holy Venerable of Long Hán, Supreme Tối Thượng of the Golden Palace, Unsurpassed Preaching Saint King, Hạo Thiên Tôn!"
Thiên Tôn Hạo walked forward, with countless manifestations.
The Đạo Tổ, the Buddha Ancestor, and the various Heavenly Venerables all rose to pay their respects. Thiên Tôn Hạo walked forward amid the boundless divine light, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.
Only after he sat down did the Đạo Tổ, the Buddha Ancestor, and the various Heavenly Venerables take their seats.
Then the sacred beings of the myriad heavens spoke in unison again, raising their voices: "We respectfully invite the Heavenly Alliance Alliance Master, Holy Venerable of Long Hán, Founder of the Dao through Divine Powers, the Ten-Thousand-Kalpa Indestructible Great Dharma Master, Boundless Virtue Boundless Lifespan, Preaching Saint King, Mục Thiên Tôn!"
Tần Mục walked forward. The various Heavenly Venerables, the Đạo Tổ, and the Buddha Ancestor all rose to pay their respects. Tần Mục nodded lightly, signaling everyone to sit.
Only after he sat down did everyone else take their seats.
Then a golden-armored divine being came running swiftly, unfurling a golden scroll with a swish, and announced loudly: "His Majesty has heard of the Heavenly Alliance conference, with the sacred beings of the myriad heavens and the various Heavenly Venerables in attendance. Mindful of the Heavenly Venerables' great merits and achievements, His Majesty has issued an edict of commendation."
The various Heavenly Venerables looked toward Tần Mục. Tần Mục sat in the foremost seat and raised his hand: "Read it."
The golden-armored divine being hastily knelt on one knee, half-kneeling and half-sitting, and loudly read out the Heavenly Emperor's decree.
After reading the Heavenly Emperor's sacred decree, the golden-armored divine being only then rose trembling with fear, holding the decree with both hands, waiting silently for Tần Mục to speak.
"His Majesty's kind intentions, our Heavenly Alliance gratefully accepts."
Tần Mục nodded slightly and signaled to an attendant: "Put it away."
An attendant stepped forward and collected the Heavenly Emperor's sacred decree.
Tần Mục looked around and announced in a clear voice: "I rose from Diên Khang, gained fame in the Long Hán era, wandered for a million years, and only now have I entered the Heavenly Alliance to participate in this grand assembly. I apologize for making you all wait so long. Over the past million years, great and small matters have been countless. Of the five alliance masters of that time, only I remain, and I cannot help but feel emotional. Today, at this grand assembly, as the Alliance Master, I shall settle the great matters of the world. The first matter is..."
"Who said that of the five alliance masters, only you remain?"
Suddenly a voice came, speaking loudly: "Mục Thiên Tôn, do you still remember the Tần Thiên Tôn who traveled with you through Long Hán?"
The moment these words were spoken, an uproar erupted.
Some of the sacred beings of the myriad heavens changed expression drastically, some radiated murderous intent, and all turned to look toward the source of the voice.
One could see Khai Hoàng Tần Nghiệp with a sword at his waist, striding into the Jade Pool, stepping directly onto the second layer of Heavenly Court, walking forward with a smile while pressing his hand on his sword.
"Mục Thiên Tôn, you wield control over the Heavenly Alliance and throw the world's living beings into chaos. Did you ask me? Did you ask my Vô Ưu Sword?"