Seeing such vast, majestic saintly might, accompanied by boundless fury, the Jade Emperor's expression turned cold and stern.
This was the might of a saint—truly terrifying. Compared to it, the saintly realm he had forcibly elevated himself to with the Heavenly Court's protective formation and the power of the Three Realms was as different as clouds and mud.
Outside the Heavenly Court formation stood Grand Pure Saint, dressed in white robes and white boots. His silver hair was tied at the waist with a jade belt, his figure tall and imposing, his bearing peerless, and his long white beard fluttered in the wind.
"Hmph, break!"
Grand Pure Saint lightly stamped his foot. With a thunderous boom, the Heavenly Court's protective formation blazed with light and shook violently. The gods all fell to the ground, their faces filled with terror.
Rumble!
The Heavenly Court shook violently, and the entire Ninth Heaven instantly shattered into chaos. Only the Heavenly Court remained, like a tiny isolated island in a vast ocean, battered by towering tsunamis!
The Jade Emperor shouted and mobilized the power of the Three Realms, doing all he could to maintain the formation.
He had not expected Grand Pure Saint to be so powerful. With just a light stomp, the Heavenly Court formation already seemed unable to hold on!
"Saints are far more terrifying than I imagined!" The Jade Emperor's face darkened. Only by facing a saint did one understand the vast, immeasurable might of a saint. It was far from as simple as imagination made it seem.
"Hm?" Grand Pure Saint let out a surprised sound. The formation had not shattered?
"Dao Ancestor?" Grand Pure Saint frowned slightly. "So Teacher had been guarding against us saints all along."
"Let me see the power of the grand formation Teacher arranged." Fearless, Grand Pure Saint raised a hand, and a carrying pole appeared in his grasp.
"Sever!"
Grand Pure Saint used the carrying pole as a blade and slashed down with all his strength. Chaos was cleaved apart, and the strike landed upon the formation, sending light scattering in all directions.
Crack, crack, crack—the formation actually revealed countless tiny fissures.
"Damn it!" The Jade Emperor's eyelids twitched wildly!
This formation actually seemed about to be broken by Grand Pure Saint!
Hadn't Dao Ancestor Hongjun said it could withstand a saint's full-force strike?
So why was it about to break already?
The West.
Saint Zhunti and Saint Jieyin both narrowed their eyes.
"Only thirty million years have passed, and Taiqing's strength has actually broken through?"
"The seventh level of sainthood?" Saint Zhunti frowned deeply.
The saintly realm could broadly be divided into the early, middle, and late stages, while each major stage could further be divided into three levels.
Saint Zhunti, for example, was only at the fourth level, while Saint Jieyin was merely at the fifth.
One level was a chasm!
One could imagine just how terrifying Grand Pure Saint's strength was!
Even more terrifying was Dao Ancestor Hongjun. A formation he had arranged countless years ago could actually so easily withstand Grand Pure Saint's full-force blow!
"Eldest Brother's path of Tai Shang Wang Qing has gone farther and farther, and he has become colder and colder."
On Golden Ao Island, Sect Master Tongtian sighed.
"Good thing I ran early." Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing secretly counted himself fortunate.
Above the Heavenly Court.
The gods were pale as death, sprawled on the ground without the slightest will to fight.
They already knew what would happen once the formation was broken.
They had besieged Grand Supreme Elder Laozi. Would Grand Pure Saint let them go?
Even having their souls extinguished would be a light punishment!
"Hmph, Jade Emperor brat, come out and offer up your head!" Grand Pure Saint's voice was icy and piercing.
"Hahaha! Grand Pure Saint, are you trying to amuse me?" The Jade Emperor laughed loudly.
"How many attacks do you think this formation can withstand from me?" Grand Pure Saint sneered. "When that time comes, killing you will be like butchering a dog!"
"Impudent!" The Jade Emperor shouted. The power of the Three Realms surged wildly as he stepped forward, his imperial robe snapping in the wind. He faced Grand Pure Saint directly, showing no weakness!
"Within the Primordial Three Realms, I reign supreme! In the Heavenly Court, even saints may not act recklessly!"
His deep, majestic voice, like the tolling of a great bell, reverberated through the Ninth Heaven and reached deep into the Netherworld's Yellow Springs!
It resounded throughout the Primordial Three Realms!
Even Zhang Yifan, an ordinary commoner, heard it.
"Strange. How does the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court know that line too?"
Zhang Yifan was somewhat surprised.
Big Black Dog, Old Ancestor Qilin, snickered. Wasn't that something Master had told him?
That brat Jade Emperor finally had the bearing and presence worthy of being Master's son.
Yang Jian, standing beside Zhang Yifan, was also snickering, his blood boiling with excitement as well!
"In the Heavenly Court, even saints may not act recklessly!"
The Primordial Era Mighty Beings were so shocked that their blood surged.
What bearing!
What courage!
Lofty and peerless.
How was he still that little boy who had guarded the gates of Zixiao Palace?
At this moment, the Jade Emperor truly deserved the title of Lord of the Heavenly Court!
"Jade Emperor!"
Taibai Jinxing, Wu Qu Xing Jun, and the other gods were also stirred by the Jade Emperor's words until their blood boiled and their fighting spirit soared.
"Follow me and meet the enemy!"
"Yes, Jade Emperor!"
The gods shouted their acknowledgment and flew up, taking their places behind the Jade Emperor.
"Father Emperor, we're here to help you!"
"Husband, I will stand by your side!"
Queen Mother and the Seven Fairies all raised their weapons and stood at the Jade Emperor's side, glaring furiously at Grand Pure Saint.
Facing a saint, even if death was certain and their bodies were ground to dust, the gods of the Heavenly Court pressed onward without fear!
"Good, good, good! Hahahaha." The Jade Emperor laughed heartily. With such a wife and daughters, what more could a man ask for?
With such ministers, why would the Heavenly Court fear failing to prosper?!
"Then I shall let you all die together." Grand Pure Saint's face was expressionless as he raised his carrying pole and slashed down viciously once more.
Boom!
The Heavenly Court formation cracked apart, revealing countless fissures. One more strike would surely shatter it.
"Break!" Grand Pure Saint shouted and slashed down again.
"Kill!" The Jade Emperor and the others roared, raising their weapons to meet the attack!
All the gods of the Primordial Era believed that the Jade Emperor was doomed this time.
Somewhere in the Primordial Era, Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing sneered. "Jade Emperor, farewell!"
"The Heavenly Court changes hands today." Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi laughed as well.
But at that critical moment, all living beings of the Primordial Era heard an incomparably crisp clang.
Ding!!!
Just as Grand Pure Saint's carrying pole was about to strike the formation again, a flying sword suddenly appeared and blocked it.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~
A sword cry rang out. The single sword suddenly became four swords, standing at the four cardinal positions around the Heavenly Court and protecting it.
Vast sword intent swept through the Ninth Heaven.
"The Immortal Slaying Sword Formation?!"
Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi, and the others cried out in alarm.
Sect Master Tongtian?!!
After disappearing for countless years following the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, Sect Master Tongtian had appeared?
And from the look of it, he was helping the Jade Emperor?
"Third Brother?" Grand Pure Saint's eyelids lifted slightly.
Sure enough.
Sect Master Tongtian, appearing as a young man, manifested above the Heavenly Court.
"Eldest Brother." Sect Master Tongtian nodded.
"Hahahaha, my dear nephew, you're here!" Seeing Sect Master Tongtian arrive, the Jade Emperor burst into laughter.
???
???
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Dear nephew?
Who was he calling that?
Who was his dear nephew?
Wasn't the person who came Sect Master Tongtian?
Where did he get a dear nephew from?
The Primordial Era's great figures were utterly baffled.
The gods of the Heavenly Court were equally baffled.
Didn't the Jade Emperor only have an eldest nephew? When had he gained a dear nephew?
Hearing this, Grand Pure Saint's face also turned cold, and he looked at Sect Master Tongtian with a questioning expression.
Sect Master Tongtian did not look at Grand Pure Saint. Instead, he glared furiously at the Jade Emperor.
Damn it, he actually called him dear nephew in front of all the Primordial Era Mighty Beings?
Didn't he, a saint, have any dignity?
How was he supposed to get by in the Primordial Era afterward?
"What are you glaring at?! Dear nephew, are you itching for a beating?"
The Jade Emperor glared back at Sect Master Tongtian, looking every bit like an elder about to discipline a junior!
Before you continue