Chapter 312: The Ancient Heavenly Emperor
As Mandala's cultivation broke through, the bewitching flower in the light column began to grow rapidly. In just a few breaths, it expanded to tens of thousands of feet in height, and the flower itself lost some of its bewitching aura, gaining an overwhelming ferocity instead.
This was no surprise, given that the Ancient Mandala Flower was a terrifying existence on par with true dragons and phoenixes. Once it fully matured, it could reach the level of a Heavenly Supreme. Such a being was bound to emanate a fierce and terrifying aura.
When the strange phenomenon subsided, the gigantic flower began to shrink, eventually transforming back into Mandala. Although she still appeared as a small girl, her strength was now vastly different. Even multiple upper Earth Supremes working together might not match her, now that she had reached the peak of Earth Supreme.
Mandala opened her eyes, which had changed from their original golden hue to a deep, dark color, resembling two black holes that seemed capable of trapping one's soul with prolonged gaze. She looked at Xiao Tian and found that, despite her breakthrough, she still couldn't gauge his depth. This indicated that he had surpassed her by a large margin and had touched upon the realm of Heavenly Supreme.
Mandala shifted her gaze and said to Xiao Tian, "This blood-red lotus platform is also a treasure with immense restorative abilities, comparable to a mid-level sacred artifact. It no longer serves me, so I'll give it to you."
"Thank you!"
Xiao Tian accepted it without hesitation, sweeping it into his sleeve with a flourish.
Leaving the first hall, they explored the other four halls over the next two days and then headed straight for the Heavenly Emperor's mausoleum. As for the second treasure trove of the Ancient Heavenly Palace, the Scripture Pavilion, it had its own intelligence and could hide in the void. If it chose not to appear, even a Heavenly Supreme might not be able to find it. Xiao Tian, though proficient in spatial powers, found it too challenging to locate the pavilion immediately. He planned to obtain the "One Qi Transforms into Three Purities" technique first and search for the pavilion after becoming a Heavenly Supreme or mastering the Ancient Heavenly Palace.
In a barren mountain range, devoid of any vegetation and seemingly devastated by destructive forces, even after ten thousand years, it remained lifeless. Xiao Tian and Mandala appeared in the sky above, noticing two opposing forces within the range below. One of them was very familiar to Xiao Tian—it was the demonic energy of the extraterritorial evil race.
They ventured deeper, arriving at an endless graveyard. The surrounding space was fragmented, and the entire area was shrouded in the terrifying pressure of two conflicting forces. Even Xiao Tian felt pressured despite his strength.
Inside the graveyard, they saw the ground was full of deep cracks and many broken floating mountains in the sky. Xiao Tian's eyes locked onto a wide plaza on one of these floating mountains. Standing there was a figure exuding an indescribable terrifying aura.
"Is that... the Heavenly Emperor?"
Mandala looked at the figure, disbelief evident on her face.
Xiao Tian shook his head and said, "That's not the Heavenly Emperor but a demon emperor from the extraterritorial evil race."
"How can that be?" Mandala exclaimed. "He holds the Heavenly Emperor's sword and looks exactly like him. How can he not be the Heavenly Emperor?"
"This Devouring Demon Emperor is extremely cunning. He transformed into the Heavenly Emperor's likeness to mislead outsiders into destroying the true remains of the Heavenly Emperor and thus escape," Xiao Tian explained. "The Heavenly Emperor's mount was deceived by this demon emperor and attacked you. His goal was to escape and free the demon emperor."
Mandala asked, "How do you know all this?"
"That's a secret," Xiao Tian replied with a smile and flew towards the plaza.
Upon reaching the plaza, he saw a half-meter-wide black head at the demon emperor's feet, exuding an eerie coldness and indescribable evil.
"Is this really the Heavenly Emperor's remains?" Mandala asked, looking at the black head.
"Remember the nine prefecture masters and five hall masters we encountered earlier?" Xiao Tian said. "Their bodies were corrupted by demonic energy, naturally exuding an evil aura."
Mandala stared at Xiao Tian and said, "But I still can't believe you. What if you are the real extraterritorial evil being?"
"Mandala, if I were truly from the extraterritorial evil race, do you think you would still be alive?" Xiao Tian chuckled. "My strength far surpasses yours."
As he spoke, he raised his hand, summoning the nine divine artifacts, seven ancestral symbols, and the imperial flame. Xiao Tian didn't act rashly but controlled them to emit their unique glows.
"Sizzle~"
As the lights shone, strands of demonic energy on the black head began to evaporate. After a long while, the head started to emit a crystalline glow, and a radiant figure emerged. The figure, dressed in white robes, exuded a calm and elegant demeanor, with an indescribable oppressive aura, akin to the majesty of heaven and earth.
The figure looked at Mandala and smiled, "Mandala, it's good to see you're safe."
"Heavenly Emperor!"
Mandala stared at the figure, her eyes turning red. To her, the Heavenly Emperor was like a father who had saved and nurtured her.
Mandala approached and hugged the Heavenly Emperor's leg. He gently patted her head, then looked at Xiao Tian, saying, "I didn't expect to see another junior who has mastered the World Seed. Today, since fate has brought us together, I will impart my insights on breaking through to the Heavenly Supreme to you."
As he spoke, he pointed at Xiao Tian, transmitting vast information into his mind.
After the transmission, the Heavenly Emperor asked, "How is the Great Thousand World now?"
"Senior, during that great calamity, the Great Thousand World barely managed to hold off the invasion, but nearly half of it is now occupied by the extraterritorial evil race," Xiao Tian said heavily. "The cost was enormous; not only did the Undying Emperor fall, but all nine emperors, including yourself, perished. If the evil race returns, I fear the Great Thousand World might not withstand it."
"I didn't expect things to be so dire!" The Heavenly Emperor sighed, then asked Xiao Tian, "Would you like to learn my 'One Qi Transforms into Three Purities' technique?"
"I would be honored!" Xiao Tian immediately replied.
(End of Chapter)
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