Chapter 1028: The Heavenly Demon Emperor, Cycles of Heavens

Boom! Rumble! Thunderous roars!

The darkened Da Chu was shaking violently, with billions of thunderbolts raging across it.

Tianmo Dadi, ruling over Da Chu!

Amid the thunderous booms, a primordial land materialized, with imperial Dao principles swirling through the air. Each one could collapse the eternal azure skies. Tianmo Dadi stood there clad in battle armor, dominating the nine heavens and ten earths, devouring the vast eight directions. His true face was indistinguishable, but his eyes displayed scenes of suns, moons, and stars being destroyed.

Great... Great Emperor!

Taixu Gulong and Zi Xuan's voices trembled as they stared up at the void sky, instinctively stepping back. Their faces paled, and despite their cultivation and resolve, their hands gripping their swords shook uncontrollably.

Great... Great Emperor?

Though Taixu Gulong and Zi Xuan spoke softly, Ye Chen heard them clearly.

He too lifted his head, gazing dazedly at that figure, his voice quivering. The last trace of determination in his eyes vanished in an instant.

A Great Emperor—what an existence that was! The supreme ruler of the world, the pinnacle of the Dao, commanding all beings in the universe. Utterly invincible across the heavens, he was not even worthy to be considered an ant in its presence.

In that moment, it wasn't just them. Even the cultivators of Southern Chu stared up at the northern sky in a daze, as if they could see through over eight million li to that majestic figure dominating the cosmos.

Everyone's faces turned pale, their bodies trembling under that world-shaking pressure, their souls quaking with fear.

Da Chu!

Tianmo Dadi spoke, overlooking the heavens and earth with the dignity of an emperor. Though his voice was soft, it boomed like ancient thunder. His eyes seemed to pierce through the vast cosmos, seeing Donghuang Taixin and the others at Tianxuan Gate.

We’ve lost!

Zi Xuan gave a self-mocking smile, and the killing sword slipped from her grasp.

We’ve lost!

Taixu Gulong lowered his proud head. Tianmo Dadi was an existence on par with Taixu Longdi.

We’ve lost!

Ye Chen's voice was hoarse, his laughter filled with desolation. This was an imperial Dao demon; even a single wisp of its aura could crush him in an instant. This entire battle had been a colossal joke from the start.

We’ve lost!

In Southern Chu, everyone's eyes dimmed in that instant. With a Great Emperor here, forget Tianxuan Gate—even all the realms of the heavens couldn't produce anyone to match it.

The world fell silent, a dead stillness.

Everyone saw the end of their lives.

Da Chu hasn’t lost yet!

The eerie quiet was shattered by a thunderous roar. It was Donghuang Taixin, standing in the void sky with her hands clasped together, forming seals. Her eyes shone with an unprecedented firmness.

Da Chu hasn’t lost yet!

The ninety million disciples of Tianxuan Gate stood like unyielding monuments, forming the same seals as Donghuang Taixin. Immortal light blazed from their bodies, transforming into power as they burned. Their sealed primordial spirits were unleashed at that moment.

Immediately, the five forbidden lands of Da Chu trembled in unison.

In the Illusion Sea, the Xuanyuan Emperor Sword hummed, its radiance soaring to the heavens as the sounds of the imperial Dao echoed.

In the Desert Forbidden Land, the Immortal King Tower buzzed, gathering billions of divine lights, with imperial Dao principles piercing through the heavens and earth.

In the Divine Grotto, a massive golden figure emerged, holding up the sky with both hands.

In the Wuwang Great Marsh, the Kunlun Mirror emitted imperial Dao immortal light, illuminating the darkened sky.

In the Netherworld, a colossal sky-cleaving axe appeared, surrounded by imperial Dao principles, as if it could split the eternal azure skies.

In the Ten Thousand Mountains, the Phoenix Zither rang out, manifesting imperial Dao principles and plucking its strings to play the Nine Nether Immortal Melody.

Then, an ancient formation array materialized in the ethereal void above Da Chu.

That array was enormous, as if it had come from ancient times. It extended for countless li, enveloping all of Da Chu.

Zhutian Lunhui!

Tianmo Dadi slightly raised his eyes, glancing at the Zhutian Lunhui Great Array, but he did not intervene. He watched with interest, a hint of contempt at the corner of his mouth. This was the Dao of an emperor, self-proclaimed invincible, overlooking all the heavens.

Even if it buries the entire Tianxuan Gate, we must drag the emperor down from the nine heavens!

The ninety million disciples of Tianxuan Gate roared in unison, burning their immortal light and blood-sacrificing their primordial spirits. Billions of divine lights shot straight into the vast sky.

Zhutian Lunhui, activate!

The array that covered the skies began to operate, evolving the great Dao of heaven and earth. Da Chu formed the Taiji, creating yin and yang; the heavens became Wuji, aligning the heavens and earth. It divided the Three Purities, Four Symbols, and Five Sacred Mountains, consolidated the Six Harmonies, Seven Stars, and Eight Directions, condensed the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, and cycled through all Dao and immortals.

Boom!

The heavens trembled, immortal lights danced, illuminating the world. The Zhutian Lunhui Great Array spun rapidly, with imperial Dao principles intertwining within. The wishes of all beings cycled through reincarnation, forming a brilliant star river that engulfed Tianmo Dadi.

In an instant, Tianmo Dadi's cultivation was suppressed from the Great Emperor realm to the Quasi-Emperor pinnacle.

Seeing this, the Heavenly Demon Sovereign frowned slightly and hurriedly stepped forward.

Stand down!

Tianmo Dadi said indifferently, a faint smile on his lips as he allowed the Zhutian Lunhui to suppress his cultivation, showing no concern.

The Heavenly Demon generals were all shocked, stunned by the power of Zhutian Lunhui. Even their supreme Great Emperor could not escape its suppression. What kind of force was this—did it surpass the imperial Dao principles?

Zhutian Lunhui!

Below, Ye Chen stared up in a daze at the Zhutian Lunhui Great Array, which could even suppress an invincible Great Emperor of the cosmos.

Fight!

A thunderous roar came from Tianxuan Gate.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

The ninety million disciples of Tianxuan Gate turned to ash in waves, yet no one showed fear. They faced death with resolve, their eyes bloodshot and filled with madness, offering themselves as ants to fuel Zhutian Lunhui, battling the imperial Dao and suppressing the emperor's power to seize a sliver of hope for Da Chu.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Zhutian Lunhui continued to operate, humming ceaselessly.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Tianmo Dadi's body also hummed. As the ninety million disciples of Tianxuan Gate kept sacrificing themselves, his cultivation was suppressed from Quasi-Emperor pinnacle to Quasi-Emperor Ninth Heaven, then from Ninth Heaven to Eighth Heaven, and further to Seventh Heaven, Sixth Heaven, and Fifth Heaven.

Tianmo Dadi remained indifferent, watching the direction of Tianxuan Gate with interest.

This was the arrogance of an emperor. Even with his cultivation suppressed, he still deemed himself invincible across the heavens. His invincible solitude made him willing to give Da Chu a chance, hoping it could produce someone to match him and add some excitement to his existence.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

The disciples of Tianxuan Gate continued to turn to ash in waves.

Donghuang Taixin and the elder Quasi-Emperors were covered in blood and bones. The younger Quasi-Emperors had already been reduced to ash in the sacrifice.

They had never imagined or attempted suppressing a Great Emperor's cultivation before.

But they had to fight. A single imperial Dao expert could sweep through all of Da Chu. If Da Chu fell, the Heavenly Demons would find the gateway to the realms of the heavens. The current realms had no Great Emperor in residence, and if the Heavenly Demons invaded, it would usher in an endless dark era.

Buzz!

As thousands upon thousands of Tianxuan Gate disciples turned to blood mist, Tianmo Dadi's cultivation was suppressed from Quasi-Emperor to Great Saint realm, then from Great Saint to Saint King realm, and from Saint King to Saint realm.

Seeing this, Taixu Gulong and Zi Xuan turned their heads and exchanged a glance.

Then, they picked up their killing swords and instantly appeared at Ye Chen's side. Taixu Gulong grabbed Ye Chen, and Zi Xuan grabbed Chu Ling'er. They turned sharply and shot toward the southern void sky like two peerless divine lights.

Tianmo Dadi casually turned his head, watching the fleeing figures with interest, but he did not strike.

His inaction did not mean the Heavenly Demon troops would hold back.

At that moment, the Heavenly Demons surged like a dark ocean, intent on swallowing them on the spot.

“Do we still have a way out?”

Ye Chen's voice was hoarse and utterly despondent.

“Yes.”

Taixu Gulong responded firmly, slashing a bloody path with his sword.

“If the Zhutian Lunhui Great Array can truly suppress Tianmo Dadi's cultivation to the Tianjing realm, we still have a sliver of hope.”

“Even if it's suppressed to the Tianjing realm, he's still an emperor.”

“Then there's still you.”

Taixu Gulong and Zi Xuan both turned to look at Ye Chen, their expressions resolute.

“Me?”

“You're the Archaic Holy Body. A fully realized Archaic Holy Body has the power to rival a Great Emperor. In this Da Chu, the Tianjing realm is the ultimate cultivation level. So, for the Archaic Holy Body, reaching Quasi-Tian perfection is equivalent to full realization. Even if he's an emperor, his cultivation is suppressed to the Tianjing realm, so you're just one step away from standing on equal footing with him.”