Chapter 46

Faced with the Heavenly Scroll's resistance, Li Er's rate of comprehension only grew faster.

After nearly a century, he had thoroughly comprehended the mysteries of the Heaven, Earth, and Human Books.

Zhen Yuanzi and Great Emperor Fengdu sensed something unusual and appeared outside the Eight Sceneries Palace.

They realized that Li Er was about to break through his current realm.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun had once said that Li Er was already a Half-step Heavenly Dao Realm existence among the Saints.

With this breakthrough, he might enter an entirely new realm—the Heavenly Dao Realm.

This news left both Zhen Yuanzi and Great Emperor Fengdu shocked and incredulous.

Faced with such a distant and unattainable realm, Zhen Yuanzi was stunned merely by Li Er's youthful face and silver hair.

Great Emperor Fengdu was likewise stirred, and though he said nothing, his pupils suddenly contracted.

They knew full well just how astonishing the realm Li Er pursued at this moment was.

If he could break through today, he would ascend to the heavens in a single step and enter the Heavenly Dao Realm.

If this news spread, it would surely shake the entire prehistoric world and set off towering waves.

Even Dao Ancestor Hongjun, after reaching the peak of sainthood, had needed to merge himself with the Dao to possess Heavenly Dao Realm strength.

Yet Li Er was now attempting to comprehend the Dao and break through alone. This was an unprecedented feat.

Within the Eight Sceneries Palace, Li Er first comprehended the order of rules and entered a state of enlightenment. He rapidly digested his insights, while his cultivation rose at an incredible pace.

The aura emanating from him grew increasingly profound.

Great Emperor Fengdu and Zhen Yuanzi understood that Li Er had reached a critical juncture, so they did not disturb him.

Afterward, Xuandu, Great Emperor Fengdu, and Zhen Yuanzi, three great figures of the Daoist sects, quietly stood guard nearby. They restrained their auras, fearing that even the slightest trace of their presence might interfere with Li Er's breakthrough.

Suddenly, a thunderous boom resounded between heaven and earth, causing the void around the Eight Sceneries Palace to tremble.

All of this accompanied Li Er's ever-deepening comprehension of the Dao.

Li Er remained immersed in his enlightenment and finally began muttering softly, "The true meaning of the Heavenly Dao Realm..."

Though he spoke these words, his process of enlightenment was not disturbed in the slightest.

A wondrous aura radiated from his entire body, as if it contained the order and rules of heaven and earth. Guided by some unseen law, these rules continued to condense within him.

Suddenly, an incomparably powerful aura surged skyward from his body.

Black-and-white Taishang power coiled around him, taking the form of a Taiji yin-yang fish and releasing an overwhelming presence.

Outside the Eight Sceneries Palace, Xuandu, Great Emperor Fengdu, Zhen Yuanzi, and the others watched Li Er's every movement closely.

They sensed that Li Er was shrouded in a mysterious aura. Its supreme majesty made it seem like a true ruler, sending chills through their hearts.

Li Er finally opened his eyes. Where they had once been tranquil and detached, they were now filled with enlightenment and excitement.

His eyes were like stars, gleaming with light, ancient yet distant.

He softly said, "The order of rules... Have I already formed my own order of rules?"

An unfathomable realization quietly arose within his heart.

He felt that his comprehension and control over the order of heaven and earth's rules had reached an unprecedented level.

Li Er had already touched the threshold of breakthrough. At this moment, he was the first to understand the true meaning behind the convergence of the Heaven, Earth, and Human Books.

He knew that it was time to validate his own order of rules.

He softly said again, "I am about to validate my own order of rules..."

The Great Dao descended upon him at that moment, and a mysterious aura surrounded his body. It was the manifestation of the order of rules.

Every word and action of a Saint received the blessing of heaven and earth.

But for an existence in the Heavenly Dao Realm, his body itself was law. He himself was heaven and earth.

He solemnly declared, "From this moment onward, I am Heaven!"

At that moment, Li Er's thoughts broke through, triggering a shocking surge of aura that rose like a soaring dragon.

It left Xuandu, Great Emperor Fengdu, and Zhen Yuanzi, the three Saints, unable to contain their amazement.

They all felt an intense shock, as though they had witnessed something never seen before.

All four Saints sighed in awe. Had they not witnessed it with their own eyes, they would never have believed this scene.

For what they were witnessing was not merely Li Er's increase in strength, but his magnificent advance toward the Heavenly Dao Realm.

At this moment, they were filled with dazed disbelief.

They realized that being able to witness someone attain the Heavenly Dao Realm in their lifetimes was an immense honor.

Afterward, the saintly abodes of Yuanshi, Tongtian, Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, and the others all seemed to sense something.

Their gazes turned toward the Eight Sceneries Palace, where they sensed the powerful aura emanating from within.

Was Senior Brother Laozi comprehending the Dao? He was already at the Half-step Heavenly Dao Realm. Could there still be room for further enlightenment? Their hearts were filled with doubt and shock.

However, in the next moment, realization dawned upon them.

They understood that this was not merely enlightenment. Li Er was charging toward the Heavenly Dao Realm.

At that moment, heaven and earth seemed to sink into darkness, with only the direction of the Eight Sceneries Palace glowing with rippling light.

It ultimately formed a luminous phantom, as though Li Er had merged with heaven and earth. His very existence seemed to be a world of its own.

All Saints were utterly shocked and muttered, "How is this possible? How can this be possible?"

They were incomparably shocked and incredulous at Li Er's breakthrough.

All Saints realized that they were witnessing a historic moment.

They were deeply moved. So this was how the gap in true strength was proven—through the results displayed by silent breakthroughs and self-improvement.

At this moment, all the Saints looked toward the Eight Sceneries Palace and sighed endlessly at this scene! Everything left them dumbfounded and exhilarated! They would forever remember this moment and continue watching as they witnessed the arrival of this era-changing transformation and this momentous advance.

At this very moment! All Saints were immensely shocked and astonished! Li Er had once again displayed strength beyond all expectations and a breakthrough surpassing everyone's imagination! The Heavenly Dao Realm! This was a realm the Saints had never imagined! At this moment, they felt the true gap between them! At the same time, they were immensely gratified and proud of Li Er's breakthrough! Their gazes remained fixed upon Li Er as they awaited even more shocking displays and breakthroughs! They hoped he would lead the entire era toward an even more glorious future!

Li Er's breakthrough into the Heavenly Dao Realm left All Saints unable to believe it.

He surveyed the entire prehistoric world like a ruler. Even Quasi-Saints could not escape a single thought from him.

His solemn voice spread to every corner of the prehistoric world, proclaiming that he would henceforth be Heaven.

All living beings of the prehistoric world, except for the Five Saints of the Heavenly Dao, knelt and offered their congratulations.

With a casual wave of his hand, spiritual energy and radiant rain descended from the heavens, and all things revived.

The growth of heaven and earth's spiritual energy far exceeded expectations, displaying the might of a Heavenly Dao Realm existence, which far surpassed the Five Saints' attainment of the Primordial Unity Dao.

Within the Eight Sceneries Palace, he sat steadily at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Dao.

Having comprehended the divine essence of the Heavenly Dao, Li Er withdrew all his focus and returned to his usual tranquil and detached demeanor.

He sensed an inexplicable resonance, and his gaze seemed to pass beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, seeing through all illusion and truth.

With a gentle wave of his hand, a void passage opened within the Eight Sceneries Palace, and Hongjun's figure appeared within it.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun said to Li Er, "Taishang, you have truly surprised me.

I had thought you would need to wait until after the calamity, borrowing Calamity Fortune to attain the Heavenly Dao Realm. Yet you have already broken through. I underestimated your abilities."

Li Er humbly replied, "Dao Ancestor, you flatter me."

He had not expected comprehending the Heaven, Earth, and Human Books to yield such results, but he had made the right gamble. Now, he stood on equal footing with Hongjun.

Hongjun did not stay long. His congratulations required no further words.

The timing of Li Er's attainment of the Dao was simply too perfect. If he had waited until the Heavenly Dao Will awakened, he would not have been able to break free from the Heavenly Dao Origin even for an instant.

Li Er knew that even after reaching the Heavenly Dao Realm, he was far from invincible.

He had merely reached the level of the Chaos Demon Gods of old. He still had a long road ahead before he could become truly invincible.

At his peak, Pangu had slain the Three Thousand Chaos Demon Gods, his realm pointing directly toward the Great Dao Realm.

Compared to that, Li Er's current Heavenly Dao Realm had yet to reach its ultimate limit.

The prehistoric era was no longer the Chaos Primordial of the past, and the Heavenly Dao was no longer the Great Dao of old.

However, when the Immeasurable Kalpa arrived, the awakening of the Great Dao would inevitably descend.

Those Chaos Demon Gods that had once perished would also return through reincarnation.

The Great Dao did not die, and neither would the Three Thousand Chaos Demon Gods it had manifested truly perish.

The arrival of the Immeasurable Kalpa might still seem distant, but Li Er would not be satisfied with his current state.

Most importantly, if the Heavenly Dao were compared to the Great Dao of old, then Li Er already possessed the strength to threaten the Heavenly Dao, just as Pangu once had.

It was foreseeable that the Heavenly Dao would not tolerate Li Er's existence.

At present, the Heavenly Dao had been gravely wounded by the Pangu Imprint and lay dormant, allowing Li Er to attain the Heavenly Dao Realm at the best possible time.

If the Heavenly Dao Will awakened, Li Er would face a world-cleansing battle.

Thus, Li Er's future was both worth anticipating and full of challenges.

Even with Li Er's detached air, his extraordinary bearing remained impossible to ignore.

Now that he had reached the Heavenly Dao Realm and merged with heaven and earth, Xuandu, Zhen Yuanzi, and Great Emperor Fengdu were all left in awe.

Smiling at everyone, he returned the Earth Scroll and Human Scroll, thanking them for their assistance.

In return for Zhen Yuanzi and Great Emperor Fengdu lending him the books, he promised to spare their disciples and the Earth Immortal lineage from entering the Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods.

These words instantly dispelled the heaviness in the hearts of the two great figures.

Seeing this, the other Saints also began making arrangements for the coming tribulation. They sent their ** to the human race to spread teachings and accept disciples in hopes of protecting themselves.

Nuwa moved first, sending her mount Jin Ning and ** Lingzhuzi, among others, to make preparations.

Nuwa sent the Five-Colored Golden Phoenix into the human world, signaling that the Xia Dynasty was about to end and the Shang Dynasty was about to rise.

By then, the human leaders of the prehistoric world were no longer called the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, but Human Kings.

The Great Xia Dynasty had lasted four hundred and seventy-one years and fourteen generations of Human Kings before ultimately perishing in Xia Jie's hands.

This was the end of the Great Xia Dynasty's fortune.

Nuwa's dispatch of the Five-Colored Golden Phoenix to the lower realm marked the arrival of the Shang Dynasty era.

The Mysterious Bird of Heaven's Mandate descended and gave birth to Shang. With Nuwa's support, Shang Tang destroyed Xia, established Shang, and unified the chaotic human race.

The Shang Dynasty's territory was vast, and its power far surpassed that of the Xia Dynasty.

The actions of the Saints differed from one another.

Venerable Yuanshi and Sect Master Tongtian ordered their ** to go to the human world and recruit third-generation ** before returning to their respective Daoist temples to quietly recite the Yellow Court.

Venerable Yuanshi continued to follow the Interception Sect's principles for accepting disciples, while Sect Master Tongtian had his ** travel throughout the human world to broadly recruit disciples, especially among the feudal lords of the Great Shang Dynasty.

Tongtian's actions seemed to carry the intention of forming an alliance with Nuwa.

Nuwa laid her plans in Yin Shang, while Tongtian accepted disciples within Yin Shang.

Although Tongtian was confident in the Immortal-Slaying Four Swords, he also feared that Nuwa, Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti might join forces.

During the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, the Interception Sect had numerous ** and would be the main force filling the Investiture of the Gods List.

If war truly broke out in the future, Tongtian would likely suffer defeat.

Jieyin and Zhunti, meanwhile, ferried Eastern cultivators to Spiritual Mountain while widely recruiting **, intending to expand their power.

In comparison, Nuwa's arrangements seemed steadier and more far-reaching.

Only Li Er's side remained calm.

He sat there calmly, completely unconcerned about the impending killing tribulation of Investiture of the Gods.

He differed from all the Saints not only because he had already attained the profound cultivation of the Heavenly Dao Realm, but also because he was a transmigrator who knew the true secret of the Investiture of the Gods List.

He understood that only someone with the Visage of the Flying Bear could control the Investiture of the Gods List.