566: Chapter 567 alarmed

"Divine Lord? What kind of joke is this? How could it possibly be a Divine Lord? This is the Outer Dao City!"

A young Divine Official beside him immediately frowned, his tone filled with mockery.

As everyone knows, what kind of place is Outer Dao City?

Although it sounds bright and glamorous, appearing much better than those barbaric lands in the Lower Three Heavens.

But in the end, they are merely outsiders and will not receive the trust or heavy responsibilities of the Divine Court itself.

To make a living out here, one needs power and a background.

Achieving the rank of Divine Official is already a stroke of immense Luck, but to attain the path of a Divine Lord is truly a pipe dream.

However, when his gaze turned toward the phenomenon of the Nine Heavens river pouring into the sky, his eyes became hesitant and uncertain.

But if it is not the attainment of a Divine Lord, how else can this phenomenon be explained?

One must know that ordinary promotions in rank do not bring about any heavenly phenomena.

"I have definitely not mistaken it!"

The old Divine Official heard someone questioning his judgment and shook his head repeatedly, wearing an expression that said "you young people don't know anything," then continued with a solemn expression.

"I was once fortunate enough to observe from afar the scene of a Wood-Virtue Divine Lord attaining the path. That day, the heavens displayed a green wood canopy, and ten thousand trees bowed in worship. The phenomenon was so similar to today! It is just that this phenomenon before us... no matter how I look at it, it appears to be the sign of a Divine Lord of the Water-Virtue lineage attaining the path."

"Water-Virtue?"

Another person beside him spoke subconsciously, then, as if a long-sealed memory had been triggered, his expression suddenly changed.

"Water-Virtue?! How could it be Water-Virtue... Hasn't the position of Divine Lord for that lineage been vacant for many years? And besides..."

He did not finish his sentence, but everyone around him already understood what he left unsaid.

Because just as this Water-Virtue phenomenon appeared, a memory buried by time surged out from the depths of their Sea of Consciousness without warning.

It was a story about the heavenly catastrophe caused by the previous Water-Virtue Divine Lord.

This subsequently triggered the wrath of the Divine Court Sovereign, who sent down the Zixiao Divine Thunder, leading to the fall of the Divine Lord, the shared sorrow of heaven and earth, and the mourning of all waters.

After many years, the moment the memory resurfaced, it still left all those who had experienced it with lingering fear.

A sense of great terror quietly sprouted and spread in the depths of their hearts.

However, how could the phenomenon of a Divine Lord attaining the path be changed in the slightest by their will?

After that vast water curtain expanded to its limit, it seemed to have finally accumulated enough power to break through the realm, suddenly surging violently toward the heights, rushing straight into the Upper Three Heavens!

The spiritual light of the Upper Three Heavens was originally like constant golden radiance, calmly covering the Nine Heavens dome, but at this moment, it was violently struck open by that overwhelming water light, creating a fissure.

The water light poured in like a waterfall, resembling an inverted long river falling from the Nine Heavens, spanning across the Nine Heavens.

The spiritual light of countless palaces flickered under the reflection of the water light, and those Divine Lords who were originally in deep seclusion within their Immortal Caves also opened their eyes at this moment.

When they perceived the pressure and phenomenon that was rising steadily and about to break through the Nine Heavens gate, their expressions were varied and difficult to read.

Especially when they saw that heaven-connecting water light like an inverted heavenly river spanning the dome, a long-lost look of shock surfaced in the depths of every Divine Lord's eyes.

"Divine Lord of Nine Heavens Moistening, Flowing Waves, and Universal Salvation!"

At just a glance, all the Divine Lords recognized the source of this phenomenon.

How could it be him?

Could it be... that he really passed the Life Tribulation and returned?

This thought exploded like a thunderclap in the Sea of Consciousness of all the Divine Lords, shaking their minds.

But immediately, this guess was rejected by themselves.

Although after that heavenly change all those years ago, the Sovereign did indeed speak.

If the Divine Lord of Nine Heavens Moistening, Flowing Waves, and Universal Salvation could pass the Life Tribulation, he could be reinstated to his original position, and the past would not be held against him.

But while this was said magnanimously on the surface, who among those present did not know in their hearts that it was merely a high-sounding excuse?

Being cast down to the Lower Three Heavens, not even counting as the lowest-ranked Divine Official, let alone facing that legendary Life Tribulation.

In this desperate situation of near-certain death, from ancient times to the present, no one has ever been able to survive that tribulation.

Under such circumstances, how could this person turn things around?

Even taking a step back, even if this person truly had great Opportunity and great Luck, and luckily survived the disaster of the Life Tribulation, how could he ascend to the Middle Three Heavens?

Without the guidance of the Divine Court, unable to even obtain a single official position, he could only be trapped in the Lower Three Heavens, wasting his days, and eventually turning into a handful of soil.

Not to mention that there are these Divine Lords in the Upper Three Heavens, eyeing him like tigers.

Once they detect any signs of the other party's recovery, they will inevitably join forces to suppress him and block all his paths of ascent.

In this matter, not a single Divine Lord would be soft-hearted.

The reason is actually not complicated.

First, it is naturally fear.

They fear that this person will go mad again, causing the same heaven-shaking disaster that enraged the Heavenly Emperor Palace back then, implicating the entire Divine Court in the suffering.

The aftermath of what happened back then has not yet dissipated, and no one wants a second time.

The second reason is covetousness.

That vacant Divine Lord godhood position is like a piece of fat meat; who wouldn't want to take a bite and share some of the power?

Over these years, the struggle over the ownership of that Water-Virtue godhood has never ceased, both openly and secretly, but no one has truly succeeded.

Therefore, in the eyes of the Divine Lords, the ending of the Divine Lord of Nine Heavens Moistening, Flowing Waves, and Universal Salvation was already destined: to never be able to turn things around for eternity.

Yet unexpectedly, this person actually managed to turn the tables in a desperate situation and returned through Nirvana!

"No... that's not right!"

Finally, a purple-robed Divine Lord who reacted a bit slowly furrowed his brows and was the first to notice something abnormal.

His low exclamation caused the other Divine Lords to look over, and they also realized a highly strange matter.

They had all been immersed in shock just now, but collectively ignored a fatal problem.

That is, how exactly did this person deceive all the Divine Lords and reach this step silently?

One must know that since that heaven-shaking incident back then, all Water-Virtue positions in the world have been almost completely prohibited.

All official positions related to Water-Virtue were secretly under strict guard and monitored at all times.

If there was even the slightest movement, no matter how faint, they would know immediately.

Theoretically speaking, let alone this person now directly taking the position of Divine Lord, even if he had just obtained the lowest-level Water-Virtue position, it would immediately trigger a warning, and he would subsequently suffer their encirclement and suppression.

Yet, they knew nothing about it.

Even more absurdly, before that moment, they had almost completely forgotten the existence of this person.

It was as if someone had forcibly erased that memory from their Sea of Consciousness.

How is this possible?

They are Divine Lords!

They are existences who hold the power of the Divine Court, below the Sovereign, and above billions of living beings!

Do they really think they are just decorations?

But facts speak louder than words.

The heaven-covering phenomenon before their eyes cannot be fake, and that vast aura belonging exclusively to the position of a Divine Lord cannot be fake.

This person not only returned against the trend, but has also firmly occupied the position of Divine Lord of Nine Heavens Moistening, Flowing Waves, and Universal Salvation, and the Water-Virtue godhood is recovering and condensing in an unquestionable manner.

This is deceiving the heavens! This is simply deceiving the heavens!

The Divine Lords' hearts were surging with stormy waves; their expressions changed uncertainly, and their thoughts were varied. Yet, from beginning to end, not a single one made a move to stop him.

It is not that they suddenly discovered their conscience and were moved by compassion.

Who among those who have struggled in the Divine Court until now does not have some Karma on their hands, and who hasn't stepped on dry bones beneath their feet?

The real reason is that they simply cannot make a move.

If the other party had not yet attained the position of Divine Lord and was still a Divine Official in the Lower Three Heavens, then them doing something secretly, or even blatantly targeting and suppressing him, would be no problem at all.

After all, one rank of officialdom crushes people; to handle a low-ranking, lowly Divine Official, they have countless means.

But now, although the Divine Lord of Nine Heavens Moistening, Flowing Waves, and Universal Salvation has not yet fully stabilized his position, that godhood has already firmly occupied the rank, wedged into the framework of the Divine Court like a nail.

In other words, the other party is now reinstated to his original position, sitting on equal footing with them.

Attacking now would be violating the Laws of the Divine Court.

And the punishment for a Divine Lord violating the Laws is far more severe than for those lower-ranking Divine Officials, often resulting in being stripped of rank and position, banished to the Nine Netherworlds, or even having their body and soul destroyed.

Ironically, this strict rule was precisely thanks to that Divine Lord of Nine Heavens Moistening, Flowing Waves, and Universal Salvation.

If it weren't for the heaven-shaking antics he caused back then, why would the Sovereign have been so thunderously enraged and constrained the Divine Lords with such harsh Laws?

Thinking of this, the Divine Lords' teeth itched with hatred.

Although they knew it was impossible, they still secretly prayed in their hearts that the other party would fail at the last moment of attaining the path.

They prayed that His Majesty, the Heavenly Emperor, would display his Divine Might at this moment and strike down this audacious, rebellious person who returned against the trend.

However, except for the heaven-spanning phenomenon still silently spreading and rendering, everything seemed surprisingly calm.

Above the Nine Heavens, the Heavenly Emperor Palace did not send down any decrees, and not even a trace of Divine Thought fluctuation leaked out.

That towering palace at the very top was silent, as if it had not noticed the heaven-shaking change happening in the Nine Heavens beneath its feet.

It was so calm, as if nothing had ever happened.

...

At the peak of the Nine Heavens, at the highest point, the Heavenly Emperor Palace floated quietly in the Void Realm, overlooking the layered Nine Heavens gates below.

In fact, the structure of the Nine Heavens is extremely peculiar, taking the shape of an inverted giant tower.

The lowest layer has the most races, with Divine Officials, Cultivators, and living beings as dense as an ant colony, but the territory occupied is the smallest.

The higher one goes, the higher the layer, and the fewer the people, but the territory increases layer by layer, being vast, spacious, and magnificent.

By the top layer, there is only the Heavenly Emperor Palace, hanging alone above the Nine Heavens, suppressing the lifeblood of the entire Divine Court.

That Heavenly Emperor Palace is truly too grand, with continuous palaces, thousands of halls, flying eaves and brackets like rolling mountains, and golden tiles and jade pillars shining like the sun and moon.

If looked up at from below, it is like an eternal giant mountain suppressing the entire Nine Heavens, weighing heavily on the hearts of every Divine Official and Cultivator.

However, within such a vast and magnificent palace, it is cold, desolate, and empty.

There are no Divine Officials shuttling back and forth, no Divine Maidens sweeping the courtyards, and not even a single bright lamp can be seen.

All around is deathly silent, like a dead city.

However, within it, there is only a strange and vast Dao essence permeating the entire top layer, like mercury pouring onto the ground, penetrating every corner.

That Dao essence is heavy and majestic, carrying an unquestionable sense of judgment, as if all the sins and faults in the world must be judged before it.

If Lu Ming were here at this moment, he would definitely recognize it.

This is clearly the aura of the "Dao of Punishment"!

Within that Dao essence, there is hidden thunder, silent lightning, which is the supreme Law that acts on behalf of the heavens to punish and judge all things.

It is unknown to anyone that the high and lofty Heavenly Emperor Palace is actually not a place for the Sovereign to live and govern at all.

But rather, it is more like a cage, a cage that imprisons the Divine Court Sovereign.

Because from beginning to end, the so-called Divine Court Sovereign was never a concrete "person".

It doesn't even count as a living being with self-will.

It is merely the external manifestation of the aggregate of the Origin of the Divine Dao.

An Incarnation of will that carries the faith of billions of living beings and condenses the rules of the heaven and earth Divine Dao.

It has no joy or sorrow, no selfish desires; all it has is the cold instinct to operate the Divine Court and maintain order according to established principles.

The source of all this must be traced back to True Monarch Chiyan Yinglei from back then.

Although the Divine Dao was created by True Monarch Chiyan Yinglei with his own hands.

But what he did back then was only to draft a rough framework for it, ensuring that the Divine Dao would not deviate into evil paths or take the wrong route.

As for the specific details filled in—those official ranks, the power of godhood positions, and the rules of operation—he did not interfere too much, and even actively avoided suspicion.

The reason is actually very simple.

He wanted to use his own "Dao of Punishment" to suppress the "Divine Dao", and then use the "Divine Dao" to replace the "Order" Dao of the Yujing Dao Court.

Then from the very beginning, the "Divine Dao" could not be too deeply involved with him.

This sounds a bit convoluted, but the logic is clear at a glance.

If the Divine Dao is his, and the Dao of Punishment is also his, then using the Dao of Punishment to suppress the Divine Dao, wouldn't that be suppressing himself?

It would be the left hand hitting the right hand, binding one's own hands and feet, and the loss would outweigh the gain.

But he could not let the Divine Dao completely escape his control, so he used the power of the Dao of Punishment to transform it into this Heavenly Emperor Palace, imprisoning the Incarnation of the Divine Dao Origin within it, like putting on an invisible shackle.

The Dao of Punishment suppresses from the outside, and the Divine Dao is sealed within; the two check and depend on each other, maintaining a delicate balance.

But this matter, outsiders have no way of knowing.

In everyone's eyes, the Heavenly Emperor Palace is still the supreme symbol of the Divine Court, and that ethereal Sovereign is in seclusion all year round, not asking about external affairs.

Only when the Divine Court faces major issues will he send down decrees, with a single word capable of deciding the fate of the world.

Following this operating process, there shouldn't have been any major trouble.

The Heavenly Emperor is the supreme existence in the Divine Court, and any matter can be decided with a single word.

It is just a pity that the Divine Court happened to be targeted by two schemers.

Let's not talk about Lu Ming; the Soul-Devouring Demon Lord is the true devilish pill.

Relying on the status of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he is not bound by the order of the Divine Court at all.

Wandering outside the Laws, and well-versed in its loopholes, this is what led to the heaven-shaking scheme back then, where the Soul-Devouring Demon Lord intended to use the position of the Water-Virtue Divine Lord to manifest a Yellow Springs Underworld River.

Fortunately, although the Divine Court Sovereign was imprisoned in the Heavenly Emperor Palace, the power of the Dao of Punishment could still be used, and because the Soul-Devouring Demon Lord did not descend with his true body, it did not completely lose control.

This was also something True Monarch Chiyan Yinglei deliberately did back then.

He restrained the power of the Heavenly Emperor, making it unable to use its own Origin to actively handle external affairs, and it could only rely on the Dao of Punishment to respond.

And the more it is used, the more the Heavenly Emperor is in a subordinate position, becoming increasingly dependent on the protection of this cage.

Until the day it can no longer leave at all.

That, is the time for harvesting.