Chapter 1517: Father and Son
Nàng Thiên Phi's escape caught everyone off guard. Tổ, Hư, Cung, Thạch and the others' faces changed drastically. Among the Ten Heavenly Lords, the only one who knew the direction to cross the river was Nàng Thiên Phi. If she left, wouldn't the others be trapped here to die?
Just the daily aging alone was unbearable!
They wouldn't even be able to walk out of this place before they died of old age.
"She won't get away."
Hiểu Thiên Tôn said calmly: "Here, no one can get away. The priority is dealing with Mục Thiên Tôn first."
Hạo Thiên Tôn glanced at him, his eyes flickering, thinking to himself: "It seems he knows some secrets of Tổ Đình Ngọc Kinh Thành, which is why he believes Thái Đế can't escape. Where did he learn these secrets?"
Even though Tần Mục had displayed astonishingly outstanding strength at this moment, he still didn't take it to heart. For him, Tần Mục was not his opponent—his opponent was Hiểu Thiên Tôn, who hadn't moved at all from start to finish!
Only he knew how powerful Hiểu Thiên Tôn was!
The gap between Tần Mục and himself was still huge, but Hiểu Thiên Tôn gave him a feeling of being unfathomable!
"Besides that strange tree of Mục Thiên Tôn's, there's another way to resist the erosion of the destruction tribulation. Father, have you also reached this step?"
Hạo Thiên Tôn thought silently: "In the long river of history, I've not only defeated you, but also defeated Vân Thiên Tôn, defeated Nguyệt Thiên Tôn and Lăng Thiên Tôn, and defeated Thái Đế. I can not only defeat you once, but I can defeat you a second time, a third time, and even kill you!"
The two stood silently on the Dao tree. Hạo Thiên Tôn's gaze moved away from Hiểu Thiên Tôn's back, while Hiểu Thiên Tôn watched the fierce battle of the various Heavenly Lords besieging Tần Mục.
His face was aged, but his eyes were deep and terrifying. When Hạo Thiên Tôn's gaze moved away from his back, the light in his eyes flickered: "Worthy of being my son, he also thought of a way to resist the erosion of the destruction tribulation. Or rather, he thought of it long ago, which is why he's so confident. The Heavenly Court..."
Thái Sơ chi khí swirled in his eyes: "Only by reaching the Heavenly Court realm of thirty-six Heavenly Palaces can one become as powerful as an established Daoist. At that step, we become established Daoists through the power of strength. As long as we don't fall into the river, the destruction tribulation on the river surface poses no threat at all to established Daoists who established their Dao through strength!"
In a short time, unifying the thirty-six Heavenly Palaces—he could already do it.
And from Hạo Thiên Tôn's reaction, Hạo Thiên Tôn should also be able to reach this step!
"This final showdown between Heavenly Lords can only be between us—father and son!"
Below, Tổ Thần Vương, Hỏa Thiên Tôn, Cung Thiên Tôn, Thạch Kỳ La, Nghiên Thiên Phi, Hư Thiên Tôn and Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng were locked in fierce combat with Tần Mục.
Tổ Thần Vương's white hair flew wildly as he unfolded his Heavenly Dao domain, majestic and imposing.
Hỏa Thiên Tôn's twenty-eight layers of Dao Fire Heavens bloomed, howling as they spun.
Hư Thiên Tôn unfolded her U Đô demonic Dao domain. Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng had the strongest combat power, his Thái Sơ divine abilities reaching the pinnacle of mastery, posing the greatest threat to Tần Mục. Thạch Kỳ La and Nghiên Thiên Phi joined forces, unleashing Quy Khư divine abilities in perfect harmony!
Cung Thiên Tôn blew her horn, strengthening everyone's blood and qi, doubling the combat power of all the elders!
But even so, facing Tần Mục's thirtieth-layer sword Dao, everyone felt immense pressure!
No matter from which angle they attacked Tần Mục, they were all confronting him head-on. Although Tần Mục's divine treasury domain had been withdrawn into his body, the domain's effect remained.
Any of their attacks would be directly blocked by Tần Mục. He seemed to have countless arms, and the sword in his hand seemed to have become countless swords. What was three heads and six arms, what was a thousand hands and a thousand eyes—none of it could compare to his current Linh Thai divine treasury domain!
Within his domain, he was the sole sovereign, a four-faced god with no blind spots!
Their divine abilities seemed to be seen through by Tần Mục—any divine ability would have its weakness found by him in an instant!
"Divine abilities establishing the Dao, Mục Thiên Tôn"—this was no empty claim!
The current Tần Mục's mastery of divine abilities seemed like an innate talent. Even the established-Dao divine abilities of Heavenly Lords held no secrets in his eyes. Even the Heavenly Palace systems and divine treasury systems of the Heavenly Lords were full of weaknesses everywhere in his view!
When divine abilities became Tần Mục's great Dao, no divine ability or technique under heaven could surpass his!
Coupled with the sword in Tần Mục's hand, so powerful that it even surpassed Heavenly Lord treasures, the pressure on the seven Heavenly Lords grew heavier and heavier.
In the past, Tần Mục's cultivation was far inferior to theirs, and his physical body was not as formidable either. But now, eroded by the destruction tribulation, whether in physical body, cultivation, primordial spirit, or divine consciousness, they were all inferior to Tần Mục!
Tần Mục was the most powerful existence among them!
Eight figures clashed on the ruins of Ngọc Kinh Thành between the two chaotic long rivers, their forms moving rapidly. Various divine abilities emerged in endless succession. Even though they were Heavenly Lords, the shockwaves of their battle couldn't escape the ruins, swallowed and drowned by the chaotic qi on the chaotic long rivers!
*Crack!*
A teaching whip suddenly flew up and lashed across Hư Thiên Tôn's head. Her body shook violently, and her primordial spirit was whipped out of her body, flesh and spirit separated!
Tần Mục's sword flew over, pointing straight at her brow. Hỏa Thiên Tôn horizontally blocked in front of Hư Thiên Tôn, his hands clasping together as the twenty-eight layers of Dao Fire Heavens howled and expanded!
The sword light pierced through the twenty-eight heavens with a *shiiing* sound. Hỏa Thiên Tôn's heart jolted, and he hastily dodged. The sword light flashed, and one of the two long horns on Hư Thiên Tôn's head was severed!
Cung Thiên Tôn swept her whip, wrapping around Tần Mục's physical body. Suddenly the long whip snapped inch by inch. Tần Mục's sword light sliced down, and Cung Thiên Tôn rolled and tumbled to dodge. Streams of sword light circled around her, up and down. Cung Thiên Tôn's divine consciousness erupted, but the sword light transformed into Tiên Thiên nhất khí, breaking through layers of illusions!
"My life ends here!"
Just as Cung Thiên Tôn thought this, suddenly Tổ Thần Vương activated the Heavenly Dao supreme treasure, transforming it into a round precious wheel that stood vertically in front of her with a *hong* sound, spinning into wind.
The sword light transformed into Tiên Thiên nhất khí stabbed onto the Heavenly Dao precious wheel. Tổ Thần Vương's muscles jumped continuously as he felt waves of terrifying force transmitted from the Heavenly Dao precious wheel into his body, almost blasting his physical form apart.
*Tooo—*
Cung Thiên Tôn flipped up, activated her horn, and her only tooth flew out from the horn. She couldn't even preserve her last tooth.
Tổ Thần Vương's blood and qi surged explosively, finally managing to block that strike. His hands crossed, and the Heavenly Dao precious wheel split apart, about to transform into the Heavenly Dao great tripod to suppress Tần Mục.
But at the moment the Heavenly Dao precious wheel split apart, Tần Mục's palm heavily stamped onto the Heavenly Dao precious wheel. Tổ Thần Vương let out a muffled groan as the forty-eight Heavenly Dao treasures flew out in all directions.
Tổ Thần Vương hastily leaped into the air, his Heavenly Dao domain blooming, fixing each Heavenly Dao treasure in place, about to recall them.
At that moment, Tần Mục flipped his palm, and one of the Heavenly Dao treasures appeared in his hand!
"Thiên Cương Đạo Binh!"
Tổ Thần Vương's eyes split with rage as he hastily activated his Heavenly Dao domain. The forty-eight Heavenly Dao treasures swarmed toward Tần Mục's hand!
Those forty-eight Heavenly Dao treasures were the Heavenly Dao soldiers transformed from the Heavenly Dao of Huyền Đô before Thiên Công died. Among them, Thiên Cương Đạo Binh was the leader, serving as the general outline for the other soldiers.
Thiên Cương Đạo Binh fell into Tần Mục's hands, while the other forty-eight Dao soldiers fell into Hồng Thiên Tôn's hands. The Thiên Sát Đạo Binh was absorbed by Nàng Thiên Phi's Trảm Thần Huyền Đao, becoming the final Heavenly Dao soldier—also the most powerful one.
Tổ Thần Vương ambushed and killed Hồng Thiên Tôn, and the forty-eight Heavenly Dao soldiers also fell into his hands.
However, all Heavenly Dao soldiers had to be commanded by Thiên Cương Đạo Binh. If Tổ Thần Vương still possessed his former combat power, Tần Mục could never have used the Thiên Cương saber handle to take away his treasure. But now was when he was at his weakest!
As soon as Thiên Cương Đạo Binh appeared, the forty-eight Dao soldiers flew over together, forming the forty-nine Heavenly Dao in Tần Mục's hands!
"You can't refine my treasure!"
Tổ Thần Vương flew at him, only to be smashed into the ground by Tần Mục's fist, his mouth full of broken teeth.
Tần Mục raised Thiên Cương Đạo Binh with his left hand, and the forty-nine Heavenly Dao supreme treasures suddenly merged, transforming into a great axe, slashing down toward Tổ Thần Vương's head!
*Shua!*
Thạch Kỳ La and Nghiên Thiên Phi attacked, jointly sending him into the Quy Khư great abyss. Then the abyss was split open by the axe. Tần Mục lifted the great axe and flipped it—Thạch Kỳ La's head and body were separated. His body immediately petrified, turning into a headless four-limbed monster that retreated at speed!
Nghiên Thiên Phi also immediately retreated. The seven Heavenly Lords suddenly gathered together—Hư Thiên Tôn with a broken horn, Thạch Kỳ La headless, Tổ Thần Vương having lost his Heavenly Dao treasure, Cung Thiên Tôn disfigured, and Nghiên Thiên Phi, Hỏa Thiên Tôn and Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng having gained no advantage either.
"Summon the Heavenly Courts!"
The seven Heavenly Lords suddenly roared in unison. Behind their heads, Heavenly Palaces flew out one by one, forming seven great Heavenly Courts. Each Heavenly Lord had one behind them—either thirty-three Heavenly Palaces, or thirty-four, or thirty-five!
Their Heavenly Palaces were dim and lusterless, but the moment they formed the Heavenly Court, it was like a final flash of brilliance before death. Divine light shot up from the Heavenly Courts, showing signs of restoring their former glory!
The seven great Heavenly Courts linked together in perfect unity, forming a magnificent spectacle!
Although the seven Heavenly Lords were white-haired and aged, they now displayed heroic spirit. The seven primordial spirits emerged from their respective Heavenly Courts, speaking in unison as their wild and raging mana surged forward together!
In that instant, everything they had learned in their lives transformed into the most powerful divine abilities, all rushing toward Tần Mục simultaneously. It was more than overwhelming—it was heaven-covering and earth-submerging!
At this moment, even the chaotic qi on both banks was pushed aside, and the chaotic waters churned, as if shocked by the power and might of the seven Heavenly Lords joining forces!
Tần Mục let out a long cry, and the Tribulation Sword in his hand thrust forward to meet the combined strike of the seven Heavenly Lords!
Sword Dao, thirtieth layer heaven—Breaking Tribulation!
His sword light pierced into the combined strike of the seven Heavenly Lords. But the boundless power of the seven Heavenly Lords crushed down. Although the Tribulation Sword could withstand it, his physical body could not!
*Bang!*
Tần Mục's physical body exploded, turning into a mist of blood. Then the blood mist condensed, restoring his physical form, only to explode again!
Beneath the World Tree, Tần Mục's physical body shattered and reformed repeatedly. All that could be seen was a silhouette of light within the blood and dazzling divine radiance, continuously exploding, reforming, exploding again, and reforming again.
His sword light thrust straight forward, advancing relentlessly under the bombardment of the seven Heavenly Lords!
*Hong!*
In the incredibly terrifying shockwave, the seven Heavenly Lords flew in all directions. Their Heavenly Courts collapsed one by one, splitting back into individual Heavenly Palaces. The Palaces cracked and crumbled. Mid-air, the seven Heavenly Lords all spat blood, and in an instant, countless sword scars appeared on their physical bodies!
Tần Mục soared into the air and bowed deeply. Nghiên Thiên Phi exploded with a *hong*, turning into a ball of blood mist!
Tần Mục bowed a second time, about to bow Nghiên Thiên Phi to complete death. Suddenly, the sound of a bell rang out. The great bell behind Hạo Thiên Tôn flew out, its sound waves vibrating as it flew before Tần Mục!
Behind Tần Mục, the Thái Dị walking stick flew up, landing in his left hand. He used the staff to deflect Thái Tố Divine Maiden's companion supreme treasure, his arm going numb from the shock!
But the sword light in his hand still thrust toward Nghiên Thiên Phi. At that moment, the Thái Cực sand table flew horizontally with a *whoosh*, blocking in front of Nghiên Thiên Phi.
Tần Mục's heart sank. But he saw the two Thái Cực ancient gods flying in from left and right, using the Thái Cực sand table to block his sword light. The two ancient gods struck together, blasting Thạch Kỳ La to pieces!
Thái Âm Nương Nương flicked her hand, rolling up the blood mist that Nghiên Thiên Phi had become. Thái Dương ancient god grabbed Thạch Kỳ La's primordial spirit with one hand, laughing: "Đế Hậu Nương Nương, Nguyên Mẫu Phu Nhân, your opportunity has come! After today, you will establish your Dao!"
The two ancient gods cast Nghiên Thiên Phi and Thạch Kỳ La into the Thái Cực sand table, then retreated with the sand table. Thái Âm Nương Nương's gaze fell on Tần Mục's face: "Mục Thiên Tôn, this is the first thing we repay you for!"
Tần Mục was momentarily stunned, then nodded lightly: "That counts as one thing. Two remain."
The two ancient gods moved through the ruins of Ngọc Kinh Thành. Suddenly their twin tails intertwined, and majestic mountains emerged, layer upon layer. Their figures vanished without a trace.
Tổ Thần Vương, Cung Thiên Tôn, Hỏa Thiên Tôn, Hư Thiên Tôn and Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng collapsed to the ground. Hỏa Thiên Tôn struggled to rise, only to fall flat on his face again, unable to stand.
Tần Mục walked toward Hỏa Thiên Tôn, the Tribulation Sword in his hand still dripping blood, *pat pat* falling onto the ruins of Ngọc Kinh Thành.
Suddenly, he stopped.
On the Dao tree, Hạo Thiên Tôn suddenly broke into a smile—half-smiling, half-crying: "I won..."
He laughed heartily: "I finally won! Without Nghiên Thiên Phi, without Thạch Kỳ La, and without the Thái Cực ancient gods, I've finally won this battle!"
He burst into loud laughter. Within the halo behind his head, thirty-five Heavenly Palaces emerged. Behind him, Thái Tố Divine Maiden raised her delicate jade hand and gently struck the bell. The bell rang, and a thirty-sixth Heavenly Palace appeared behind Hạo Thiên Tôn's head!
Incredibly terrifying power erupted from within his body. Hạo Thiên Tôn's extremely aged physical body actually began to radiate vitality again, reversing aging, gradually becoming young!
Tần Mục frowned deeply, looking at Hạo Thiên Tôn.
That was the power of an established Daoist, bursting forth from within Hạo Thiên Tôn's body!