In the aftermath of a single slash, through the manipulation and control of time, everyone nearby was swept up and hurled into the Middle Ancient Period.
Xu Yue's Other Self and his true body in the Nine Heavens opened their eyes at the same time. Tracing causes and effects, they found no abnormal heavenly intent and understood that this plan had largely succeeded.
It seemed the attention and focus drawn by the Heavenly Emperor's personal intervention had successfully dispersed the firepower.
Xu Yue could now easily reverse time himself.
However, if he did it personally, it would be far too conspicuous and the commotion far too great.
Under normal circumstances, Meng Qi's journey to the Middle Ancient Period involved a game between heavenly intents and Azure Emperor's attainment of the Dao.
All sides had placed their bets on Azure Emperor. At the Golden Ao Banquet, Azure Emperor would battle Yuan Hong and kick them back into the Middle Ancient Period, where they would awaken Medicine King Buddha, Azure Emperor's Buddhist body.
Using this as the crucial point, Azure Emperor would link past and present and take the most critical step toward the other shore.
Now, Azure Emperor was being watched by one heavenly intent after another, all of them placing bets and "dividing him up," leaving him with debts he could never repay when the Final Tribulation arrived.
For Xu Yue to enter at a suitable juncture, he needed to find an opportunity.
This was the most suitable opportunity.
The Heavenly Emperor had acted to draw the firepower. On the surface, it appeared that the Heavenly Emperor also wanted to contribute to Azure Emperor's attainment of the Dao!
In truth, though, if Azure Emperor and Yuan Hong were allowed to fight, Azure Emperor in his current state would be unable