Gouchen Takes Up Arms; True Martial Quells the Celestial Palace!

In Outer Heaven, the surviving Immortals of Great Emperor Gouchen's faction stood with their hands respectfully folded before them. Their expressions were solemn, their eyes ablaze with fervor. Gouchen was, after all, an Emperor Venerable—and one who presided over warfare and arms. His station had already reached the pinnacle of the unfathomable.

After so many kalpas, even the Judicial Great Celestial Venerable of the Tian Shu Institute had a great many loyal subjects willing to die for him. How much more so Great Emperor Gouchen? Even when Gouchen had sealed himself away beyond the heavens all those years ago, these remnants had never believed him dead.

They had lain low in secret, waiting for their chance. Now, at last, it had come.

They knelt on one knee, their faces fervent, and cried, "The Emperor Lord is mighty!"

"The upper image towers high; the True Primordial is vast and indifferent. Great Compassion, Great Vow; Great Sage, Great Mercy; Gouchen Upper Palace, Emperor Fuxi!"

Their voices rang out solemnly and majestically, trembling with barely restrained excitement.

Great Emperor Gouchen sat cross-legged in Outer Heaven, his gaze vast, indifferent, and cold. In his hand was an ancient, unadorned halberd, its edge bared. This halberd had once been cut in two by Empress Houtu, then reforged by the Supreme Pure Spirit Treasure Celestial Venerable and made into a sword.

Now, the ancient halberd seemed to have completely returned to its full strength.

As Great Emperor Gouchen rose, the surrounding energy swirled, seemingly transforming into stars that circled him. He turned slightly and looked behind him. Beyond the Thirty-Six Heavens' foremost realm, Great Luo Heaven, lay Outer Heaven. In the distance, he could faintly glimpse the final tribulation at the World Gap. He spoke to himself, his voice like striking steel.

"The Three Pure Ones