Blocked by the scorching storm, Emperor Zun prepared to unleash a technique, smash through it, and press toward the center. The situation was clear: Zhu Jiuyin and the Taiyi Avatar were both here, and the Taiyi Avatar truly had refined the Celestial Dipper Origin. Whether Emperor Zun sought Zhu Jiuyin or meant to seize that Origin, he had to reach the center.
Seeing this, Wushi, who had been deep in thought for some time, suddenly called out, "Emperor Zun... stop! Something's wrong. Take out your Spirit Treasure and protect yourself!"
At Wushi's warning, Emperor Zun halted his technique at once. He asked no questions. Trusting Wushi completely, he took out the World Cauldron he had spent years refining and sheltered himself beneath it.
In the distance, Kong Xuan smashed through the storm with a technique and continued forward. But when he noticed Emperor Zun's strange behavior, he found it odd and looked closely at Wushi.
He had barely turned his gaze when Zhu Jiuyin's furious shout rang out from the heart of the storm. "A blazing sun fused with Heavenly Dipper? Is this the trump card you've hidden all these years? Pathetic. Time Solidification!"
At his shout, a strange ripple spread from the center.
In that instant, the sweeping Heavenly Dipper Storm stopped. The surging Blazing Sun Heavenly Dipper stopped too, as did the rampaging Heavenly Dipper Qi.
Wherever that ripple of time passed, all matter stood still.
Even Kong Xuan and Emperor Zun were bound by it.
Both men felt stifled by the restraint. Outside this place, they would have had ways to break free, wondrous as the Time Great Dao was. But Zhu Jiuyin had refined the Celestial Dipper Origin. This was his domain, where he could suppress their strength and amplify his own.
With the balance tipped