Chapter Thirty-Three: The Battle of Divine Guidance and the Quest for the Soul of Heaven 1

The tolling of the Eastern Emperor Bell resounded across the whole universe, shaking the heavens. All the immortals and celestial maidens of the Ninth Heaven were deeply stunned, for the legend of the Eastern Emperor Taiyi and the thousand-year-old battle of the gods was renowned as thunder among the divine. At this moment, in the Eighth Heaven, within the domain of General Yan Lietian, the Celestial Patrolling Grand Marshal, ten figures stood in a row before his throne in the Celestial Patrolling Treasure Hall. These were his subordinate generals, the Nine Heavens Ten Luo, each possessing the power of a superior immortal, making them formidable opponents even for ordinary immortals. Their strength attested to the terrifying might of the sect’s celestial host.

The Nine Heavens Ten Luo were divided into Upper Five Luo and Lower Five Luo. The Upper Five Luo excelled in the myriad arts of the immortal gates, able to channel the power of heaven and earth; music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were all transformed into weapons and magical treasures in their hands. The Lower Five Luo, conversely, specialized in unconventional techniques, relying heavily on magical treasures rather than the power of nature, making them less formidable than their counterparts.

“Listen well,” Yan Lietian commanded sternly, “no matter who caused the bell to ring, you must slay them within the Celestial Path. Leave no threat behind. I do not wish to see them ascend the Celestial Ladder, nor do I want to set eyes on them in the Ninth Heaven!”

“We obey!” the assembled figures replied in unison, bowing respectfully.

One by one, several figures departed the Treasure Hall. At that moment, a mysterious presence arrived in silence—a woman of unparalleled beauty, draped in celestial silk, her form alluring and enchanting. Her azure robe melded with the swirling clouds, her lustrous blue hair floated in midair, and her mesmerizing eyes seemed to capture souls. She was Yanruo, the Celestial Maiden of the Ninth Heaven, famed alongside the three sisters of Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao. Her skill in music was unrivaled among the heavens, and her supreme treasure, the Xuan Jade Zither, was without peer. She was also the presiding celestial maiden of the Illusory Zither Hall in the Third Heaven.

She asked gently, “Do you realize that your actions may plunge you into a calamity from which there is no return?”

“So what if that child is truly the reincarnation of the Eastern Emperor Taiyi? Xiao Bailin violated the sect’s rules, stole the Sect’s Execution Sword, Slaughter Sword, Entrapment Sword, and Severance Sword, and even absconded with the twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Divine Pearls. If such a traitor is allowed to run rampant and not made an example of, how can we four Celestial Lords teach the other disciples? How can we face the Master?” Yan Lietian replied, not an evil man, but a paragon of uprightness and justice in the celestial realm, renowned for his impartiality and incorruptibility—a recognized authority over celestial law.

“But you have just ordered his execution. Do you not know that even if the Eastern Emperor Taiyi is no longer the ruler of the heavens, his prowess is unmatched, and none can replace him? If those above pursue this matter, not even the four Celestial Lords of the sect will be safe, and even the Master may be implicated. The consequences are far from simple!” Yanruo, herself a survivor of the celestial war a millennium ago, knew well the terror of that battle—the calamity that shook the universe and threatened destruction. Had the Eastern Emperor Taiyi not stood alone against the Twelve Ancestor Witches, the heavens would not have enjoyed their current peace.

“I care not for that. Besides, this child is merely a reincarnation, not the true Eastern Emperor Taiyi. Our sect’s disciple must be managed by our own; how could an outsider meddle in our affairs?” Yan Lietian was unwavering, refusing to let sentiment cloud his judgment, even though Xiao Bailin was a beloved disciple of the sect’s supreme leader. He acted sternly, showing no favoritism.

“Summer insects speak of ice; words are futile! Since you have decided, we can only pray things do not take a turn for the worse, lest even the Master be drawn into disaster!” Yanruo lamented, helpless in the face of Yan Lietian’s obstinacy.

“I hope you do not violate the sect’s rules or disrupt its order!” Yan Lietian warned her, knowing well her compassionate and saintly nature.

“Take care of yourself, my friend. We need not trouble you any further!” Yanruo replied, unwilling to waste any more words on such stubbornness. She was truly infuriated.

“Hmph!” Yan Lietian snorted impatiently and turned his head away.

...

Within the Tower of the Celestial Path, Dongjun did not retreat into the Eastern Emperor Bell, but instead maintained his form, flying atop the bell with Haodan. He intended to lead Haodan to find the hidden Celestial Soul of Eastern Emperor Taiyi within the tower. Once, Taiyi’s three souls were divided: the Celestial Soul entered the Celestial Path, the Earthly Soul fell into reincarnation, and the Human Soul remained within the bell. When Haodan first entered the Eastern Emperor’s realm, he absorbed the Human Soul, yet had not fully integrated it. If they could recover the Celestial Soul, perhaps Haodan could awaken Taiyi’s past memories and instincts.

The Tower’s domain was vast, rivaling or even surpassing the mortal realm. No immortal had ever entered its clouded world to explore its depths.

Along the way, Dongjun formed a plan: if they failed to find the Celestial Soul, he would first impart to Haodan the supreme skills of the Eastern Emperor's last life—Heavenly Divine Seal, Taiyi Overlord Body, Eastern Emperor's Gaze, and Ten Thousand Blades. The path of the Celestial Tower was fraught with peril, and without Dongjun’s protection, Haodan would not survive.

Although time here ran parallel to the mortal realm, Dongjun could use the Eastern Emperor’s world to allow Haodan to cultivate, greatly increasing his power in a short span. It was a stroke of fortune amid adversity.

The golden bell soared across the regions of the Celestial Path, soon arriving before a towering glacier mountain, rich in spiritual energy. If Dongjun’s guess was correct, the Celestial Soul was hiding here. To integrate it, Haodan needed enough strength to subdue it; only then could he truly command the soul and fuse it with his own.

The Celestial Soul was the most domineering of Taiyi’s three souls, and having lost its main body, it retained no memory, guided only by instinct. Haodan would find it extremely difficult to control. Yet to battle the Celestial Soul was the best possible training; though Haodan was as insignificant as an ant before it, he had no choice but to overcome.

“My lord, you must prepare yourself. I shall take you to seek your past life’s Celestial Soul; only by defeating it can you command and merge with it!” Dongjun’s face was solemn as he spoke.

“Celestial Soul? My past life’s soul—how strong is it?” Haodan asked curiously.

“‘Strong’ is an understatement. I hope you can endure. Even with me possessing your body, I might not be its equal!” Dongjun’s words were the most sincere and truthful he had ever spoken.

Haodan shuddered at the thought. Dongjun’s power he had witnessed firsthand; if even Dongjun could not match the Celestial Soul, how overwhelming must Taiyi’s full strength be!

“Rest assured, my lord. Beforehand, I will teach you all the supreme arts of your previous life. If you master them, you will have the power to fight. Know this: once you defeat your past soul—yourself—you will awaken all your former strength and instincts. If that happens, you could destroy heaven and earth, and none would stand in your way!”

“Oh? Why have you never mentioned this before?” Haodan perked up at the prospect of learning the supreme arts, his spirits rising after the arduous journey to save Xiao Bailin. Though the hardships had shaken him, he never considered giving up.

Under absolute pressure, none can remain unshaken—even the Eastern Emperor Taiyi wavered a thousand years ago, leading to his mutual destruction with the Twelve Ancestor Witches. The details of that ancient battle would be revealed later, but for now, Haodan must undergo this trial to be reborn and awaken the instincts that would allow him to stand proud above all.

“Now, my lord, begin the cultivation of your past life’s arts. I will first impart the divine techniques and mind methods to you!” Dongjun descended atop the glacier mountain, the bell shrinking to a tiny pendant that circled Haodan before hanging as an earring on his ear.

In that moment, Haodan lost awareness of the outside world, entering a wondrous state. Dongjun transmitted the supreme arts and divine techniques of Taiyi’s previous life into Haodan’s mind, four mysterious techniques manifesting in his consciousness: Heavenly Divine Seal, Taiyi Overlord Body, Eastern Emperor’s Gaze, and Ten Thousand Blades.

The Heavenly Divine Seal was the five-fingered divine imprint—a giant palm crashing down to shatter mountains and earth, erasing all in an instant. This vision appeared before Haodan, a memory from Taiyi’s last life.

Taiyi Overlord Body was a supreme physical technique, forging an invincible body impervious to the attacks of superior immortals, far surpassing any indestructible methods.

Eastern Emperor’s Gaze was Taiyi’s lifelong supreme art, impossible to pass on. It ignored the laws of space and matter, enabling vision across thousands of miles; a single glance could slay a target instantly, provided their strength was inferior. This skill was exceedingly difficult to master; even with the Celestial Soul, Haodan might not fully inherit it.

Ten Thousand Blades transformed the bell’s edge into a blade, allowing sword techniques to be unleashed against opponents while drawing power from the stars, its might equal to the bell’s own.

These four arts were Taiyi’s lifelong mastery, unattainable by others. In his consciousness, Haodan encountered the most mysterious and profound techniques, rivaling the divine arts of heaven. If he could integrate them all, combined with the celestial arts, his power would be unimaginable.

Just then, Dongjun’s voice sounded again: “My lord, many superior immortals from the Ninth Heaven have entered the Celestial Path. They cannot sense this place yet. I hope you can master these arts quickly. Cultivate well in the Eastern Emperor’s world; once you master any of the techniques, you will emerge automatically. Do not let me down!”

“Rest assured! Disappointment is out of the question—I am eager already!” Haodan, gazing at the four supreme arts, was full of excitement. These techniques seemed tailor-made for him, a perfect fit, though he did not realize this resonance came from deep within his soul.

What happens next? Stay tuned for the next installment!

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