Chapter 118 Chaos Unleashed, Dragon Vein Lifts the Cauldron
The chaos-colored thunderclouds pressed down on the entire Mortal Realm until it could not breathe. Black and gray chaotic air currents churned in the clouds like giant pythons, and every writhing movement caused new ravines to crack open on the earth. In the distance, the Kunlun Mountains collapsed with a roar, the East Sea stirred up thousand-foot waves, and even the one hundred and eight Ascension Platforms shook violently. The golden array patterns flickered, as if they would shatter in the next second.
"Oh my god! Is the sky collapsing?" Li Tieniu gripped his giant axe tightly, his feet sinking three inches into the bluestone ground. "The previous eight layers of the Nine-Layer Heavenly Tribulation combined aren't even one-tenth as terrifying as this! If this strikes down, let alone Emperor Xuan, the entire Mortal Realm will be smashed into ashes!"
Crown Prince Cao Hao's body lit up with the golden light of his Crown Prince seal, protecting the civil and military officials around him. His expression was grave to the extreme: "This is the Chaos Heavenly Tribulation, a world-destroying power born at the beginning of the universe. In ancient times, only three Emperors had triggered it, and only one successfully passed the tribulation; the other two were swallowed by chaos along with their worlds."
The hundreds of millions of commoners below were trembling with fear, yet not a single person fled. They clenched their fists tightly, gazing up at the dark-colored figure on the Star-Gazing Platform. In their eyes, there was no fear, only firm trust.
"Emperor Xuan will definitely succeed!"
"His Majesty has saved us so many times; he will definitely pass the Heavenly Tribulation this time too!"
"Let's cheer for His Majesty together! Long live Emperor Xuan!"
The mountain-shaking and sea-roaring shouts pierced through the chaotic thunderclouds, echoing between heaven and earth.
On the Star-Gazing Platform, Emperor Cao Xukun was surrounded by the golden Dragon Vein and the seven-colored progeny fortune, forming an indestructible shield. Nine light pillars of different colored fortune rotated behind him; Cao Xuanhuang's profound yellow fortune transformed into the Profound Yellow Air, Prince Cao Feng's phoenix fortune transformed into a golden fire phoenix, and Prince Cao Jian's sword dao fortune transformed into ten thousand sword lights. The power of all his progeny gathered on him, merging with the ten-thousand-mile Imperial Dynasty Dragon Vein.
"With only this much ability, you dare call it a world-destroying Heavenly Tribulation?" Emperor Cao Xukun curled his lips in a disdainful smile and looked up into the depths of the clouds. "Heavenly Dao, if this is all you have in stock, then today you are going to be disappointed."
Just then, a crack suddenly opened in the clouds, and a figure completely wrapped in chaotic air currents slowly walked out. He had no facial features, his body was composed of pure chaotic power, and he held a Chaos Battle Axe in his hand, acting so pretentious that he was almost one with the chaos.
"Emperor Cao Xukun! You heaven-defying person!" The Chaos Being's voice was like two stones rubbing together, extremely harsh. "The Chaos Heavenly Tribulation is the power of the universe's origin; how could you be allowed to profane it? I am the Chaos Messenger, the Chaos Overlord personally appointed by the Heavenly Dao! Today, I will invoke all the chaotic power to completely obliterate you and reshape the order of the Heavenly Dao!"
"All who follow me will be able to control chaos with me in the future and live forever; all who resist me will be swallowed by chaos, and not even their souls will remain!"
He swung the Chaos Battle Axe violently, and countless chaotic fragments surged out from the void, smashing toward the commoners below.
"Seeking death!" Emperor Cao Xukun's eyes turned cold, and he waved his hand casually. A golden Dragon Vein power flew out, blocking all the chaotic fragments in mid-air, which instantly turned into nothingness.
"You are not qualified to harm my commoners in front of me."
"Presumptuous! You dare to resist the chaotic power!" The Chaos Being was furious. "I am the incarnation of chaos; the chaotic power obeys my command! Explode for me!"
He mobilized all his power, wanting to detonate the surrounding chaotic air currents. But no matter how he shouted, those chaotic air currents not only did not explode but instead fled from him and surged toward Emperor Cao Xukun.
"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!" The Chaos Being stared with his featureless face, full of disbelief. "I am the Chaos Overlord! The chaotic power should obey me! How could it turn around and help you!"
"With your meager cultivation, you dare call yourself the Chaos Overlord?" Emperor Cao Xukun sneered and walked slowly to him. "Chaotic power is the origin of the universe and never belongs to anyone. You are just a puppet created by the Heavenly Dao; how dare you show off your axe before me?"
He extended a finger and lightly tapped the Chaos Being's forehead.
"Ah—!"
The Chaos Being let out a shrill scream, and his body began to disintegrate rapidly. The chaotic power within him surged out uncontrollably and was entirely absorbed by Emperor Cao Xukun. In the blink of an eye, the arrogant Chaos Messenger turned into a wisp of green smoke, leaving not even a trace behind.
"Another one who failed while trying to act cool!" Li Tieniu laughed loudly. "Calling himself the Chaos Overlord, but in the end, even the chaotic power did not listen to him; he is purely a fake!"
The commoners below also burst into cheers: "Emperor Xuan is awesome! The fake get lost!"
After dealing with the Chaos Being, the chaotic thunderclouds in the sky finally erupted completely. A chaotic divine thunder, thicker than the entire city of Luoyang, struck down from the clouds with the power to destroy everything. Wherever the divine thunder passed, space completely shattered, revealing the pitch-black void behind it; even time seemed to have been frozen.
"It's coming!" Emperor Cao Xukun's eyes narrowed, and he suddenly opened his arms. "Dragon Vein blessing! Fortune protect the body!"
The golden ten-thousand-mile Dragon Vein let out a deafening dragon roar, spiraling up into the sky and colliding fiercely with the chaotic divine thunder.
"Boom—!"
The earth-shattering sound spread throughout the entire Mortal Realm, and a huge shockwave spread in all directions. The protective formation around the Star-Gazing Platform lit up instantly, blocking the shockwave. Even so, the commoners nearby were still shaken to the ground, their ears buzzing.
The golden Dragon Vein was beaten back step by step by the chaotic divine thunder, its dragon scales constantly falling off as it let out painful whines. The seven-colored fortune shield also began to crack, and countless fragments fell from the shield.
"Father!" Crown Prince Cao Hao shouted anxiously.
"Emperor Xuan, be careful!" Li Tieniu also gripped his giant axe, ready to rush up to help at any moment.
"No need to worry." Emperor Cao Xukun's voice was calm and firm. "This bit of power cannot hurt me."
He suddenly activated the Chaos Devouring Origin Art within him, merging with the Dragon Vein and fortune. The Dragon Vein, which had been retreating step by step, instantly erupted with ten thousand feet of golden light, its size swelling tenfold, and bit down on the chaotic divine thunder. The seven-colored fortune shield also re-condensed, becoming even stronger than before.
"Shatter for me!"
Emperor Cao Xukun shouted, and the Dragon Vein exerted force, tearing the chaotic divine thunder into pieces. Countless chaotic electric currents splashed in all directions but were all blocked outside by the fortune shield.
"Holy cow! Awesome!" Li Tieniu jumped up in excitement. "He actually tore the chaotic divine thunder apart! Emperor Xuan is simply a god!"
The commoners below erupted in thunderous cheers, everyone so excited that their eyes were filled with tears.
However, this was just the beginning. The chaotic thunderclouds in the sky churned even more violently, and the second, third... and ninth chaotic divine thunder struck down one after another, each more ferocious than the last. The final chaotic divine thunder actually condensed into a huge Chaos Battle Axe, bringing the power to split heaven and earth, and slashed fiercely toward Emperor Cao Xukun.
"Well done!" A flash of excitement crossed Emperor Cao Xukun's eyes. "I can just use this chaotic power to temper my physical body!"
He no longer defended passively and took the initiative to rush up. His dark-colored dragon robe fluttered in the strong wind, and he struck with his bare hands against the Chaos Battle Axe.
"Bang!"
The moment his fist collided with the battle axe, the entire Mortal Realm shook violently. The Chaos Battle Axe was forced to a stop in mid-air, and countless cracks appeared on the axe body.
Emperor Cao Xukun grabbed the handle of the battle axe and exerted force.
"Crack—!"
The Chaos Battle Axe shattered completely, turning into countless chaotic power and spreading in all directions.
Emperor Cao Xukun opened his mouth and took a deep breath.
"Chaos Devouring Origin Art, activate!"
A terrifying suction force erupted from his body, and all the shattered chaotic power, along with half of the chaotic thunderclouds in the sky, were all sucked into his mouth. The majestic chaotic power circulated within his body, constantly tempering his physical body. His skin began to shimmer with a faint golden luster, and every inch of his muscles was filled with explosive power.
[Ding! Successfully devoured a portion of chaotic power!]
[Physical body strength skyrocketed! Breaking through to the Golden Immortal level!]
[Current physical strength: Half-step Golden Immortal! Only one last step away from the Golden Immortal level!]
As the system prompt faded, Emperor Cao Xukun slowly opened his eyes. A chaos-colored light shot out from his eyes, splitting a huge gap in the remaining chaotic thunderclouds in the sky.
"There is only a little bit left." Emperor Cao Xukun looked up at the sky, a confident smile curling the corners of his mouth. "When I finish devouring the remaining chaotic power, this Nine-Layer Heavenly Tribulation will be over."
The wind blew his dark-colored dragon robe, and the golden Dragon Vein and seven-colored fortune swirled and danced behind him.
Hundreds of millions of commoners looked up at him, their eyes filled with worship and awe.
They knew that their Emperor Xuan was about to create an unprecedented miracle.
The door to ascending to the Immortal Realm was already right before his eyes.