Chapter 126: The Green Lotus Takes Form, the Imperial Sovereign Acts (4k)

Chapter 126: The Green Lotus Takes Form, the Imperial Sovereign Acts (4k)

Plants withered and flourished, snow and green buds came and went, generations of mortals lived and died, becoming nothing more than dust.

Time flowed like a river, rushing forward without return. In the blink of an eye, over ten thousand years had passed, and even the Great Dao suppression left by the Chaos Ancient Emperor had dissipated.

People no longer doubted his short life, for it had been filled with such sorrow and hardship that a single lifetime seemed "normal."

The world entered another era without emperors. The Great Dao became even more distant, the Heaven-Earth Vital Qi continued to dwindle, and all Divine Imprints and Cosmic Edicts fell into silence, making cultivation increasingly difficult.

People lamented that the vast heavenly fortune that had sustained the world for over a hundred thousand years since the Eastern Sovereign had finally run out.

The life of the Chaos Ancient Emperor was fraught with hardship, and many believed his ascension to emperor was a sign of the world's waning fortune.

"In just a hundred thousand years, the world saw the emergence of five supreme emperors, which is simply astounding!" someone marveled.

"Ancient texts record that during the Primordial Era, there were even times when no beings attained enlightenment for over a hundred thousand years."

"But speaking of five emperors, weren't the Eastern Sovereign and Western Sovereign the same person?" someone else asked, suggesting there were actually only four emperors: the Eastern Sovereign, Eternal Universe, Void, and Chaos.

"..."

The star domains gradually became more isolated, lacking the powerful figures who could traverse the universe at will.

No longer would there be Supreme Sovereigns or emperors frequently appearing, and a glorious era seemed to have come to an end.

However, in a secluded realm deep within the universe, the scene was quite different.

Here, the Great Dao was not distant, the Heaven-Earth Vital Qi had not declined, and it was filled with pure faith, like a divine realm on earth.

"If not for a hundred thousand years, why be a mortal at all?"

Shao Hua stood before a broken cauldron, her left hand behind her back, her right hand resting on the cauldron, speaking to herself.

Although she said this, she had already lived for sixty thousand years in her sixth life. If counted from the beginning, it had been a hundred and sixty thousand years.

"Even if I live for ten thousand years, what's the point if it's just an empty existence? I want to truly live."

Inside the Verdant Bronze Cauldron, a green lotus swayed, emitting a clear divine consciousness, clearly possessing an independent will. It was just one step away from breaking free and becoming a true being.

"I want to be free, no longer a mindless divine herb. I would rather be an ordinary mortal and break free!" the Chaos Green Lotus conveyed its will to Shao Hua.

It was clear that its resolve was deep, and since its awakening, it had been thinking about this constantly.

"Truly living, what does it matter if you are a divine artifact or a divine herb? As cultivators, we must live with our own style!"

Before Shao Hua could speak, the Wilderness Pagoda beside her emitted a divine sound, resonating loudly.

The Void and Chaos had gone to the Strange World to continue their journey, but the Wilderness Pagoda had remained in the world and naturally returned to Shao Hua.

The nine-story ancient tower rumbled, enveloped in immortal aura, causing the incomplete Immortal-Forming Cauldron to tremble violently, emitting countless rays of green light, illuminating the entire secluded realm.

"Crack!"

Finally, the broken cauldron split open again, immortal light burst forth, and one after another, divine edicts flew out, forming a radiant light that enveloped the Chaos Green Lotus.

The green lotus broke free, hovering in the air, ready for its final transformation.

Shao Hua shook her head. She hadn't even said anything, and everyone was so eager.

"I will help you break the final shackles."

She extended her right hand, long and fair, with distinct joints, like the most flawless immortal jade intricately carved by nature, slowly forming a sword finger.

The divine edicts and radiant light gathered, and she pointed at the Chaos Green Lotus.

The green lotus suddenly felt an incomprehensibly terrifying will surge towards it. From its perspective, it was as if an supreme Dao sword had slashed through the air.

Instantly, it felt as if it had been split in two, but there was no pain, only a sense of great freedom and ease.

The final constraint and shackle that bound it had been severed, and immortal light shot into the sky, shaking the ancient green heavens.

With a loud boom, the heavens seemed to react, suddenly splitting with lightning, as if to punish this heaven-defying act.

For a true Immortal Spirit had been born, and the "Immortal" had descended to the mortal world!

"Scatter."

Shao Hua lifted her delicate chin, her lips parted, and she spoke a single word, as if her words carried the power of the Cosmic Edicts, erasing the impending Celestial Retribution with a mere thought.

Looking ahead, the chaotic mist spread, and the emerald green lotus withered and fell, losing its luster but giving birth to a different kind of vitality.

A radiant light illuminated the sky, and a faint, small figure appeared.

The Chaos Green Lotus had transformed into a human, becoming a true being!

There was no need to think twice. Born from an immortal herb, this being was inherently heaven-defying and had tremendous potential.

"Thank you for your help!"

A particularly clear voice sounded, no longer a divine consciousness or will, but a genuine voice, light and full of joy.

Shao Hua's phoenix eyes swept over the newly born child, slightly surprised.

Why was it so incredibly cute?

Compared to its original path, with her interference, this future Green Emperor had manifested much earlier.

Whether due to this influence or the inherent nature of the chaos, this incarnation of the Chaos Green Lotus was exceptionally handsome and androgynous, easily mistaken for a young girl.

Fortunately, Shao Hua could see through the chaos, recognizing it as a male with a feminine appearance.

"You're welcome. We have a connection, and I have also benefited greatly from you", she said honestly.

Observing the Chaos Green Lotus for tens of thousands of years, witnessing the transformation of an immortal herb into a true being, and understanding the nuances of this heaven-defying transformation had been significant for Shao Hua. She had captured a glimpse of the path of immortality, enough to live another life.

Reversing to her seventh life, the plan was already in her mind!

The green lotus blushed, not feeling that he had given anyone any benefit.

He was still simple and pure, his heart spotless. Having achieved his dream of becoming human, he was unsure of what to do next.

So, he tilted his little head and asked the woman before him, hoping for guidance.

Since his consciousness was born, he remembered someone always by his side, giving him a sense of innate closeness.

When he transformed, the first thing he saw was Shao Hua, whom he regarded as his elder sister.

"A green lotus in the ancient green heavens. How about I call you Wan Qing?" Shao Hua suggested a name.

"Alright." Upon hearing this, Wan Qing’s eyes lit up, and he immediately nodded in agreement, firmly etching the words in his mind.

Shao Hua smiled, reaching out to gather the chaotic mist. She then broke off a branch from the Tree of Vitality and casually refined it into a green robe, which she dressed Wan Qing in. She also playfully patted his little head.

However, at that very moment, the fragments of the Immortal-Forming Cauldron, which had been shattered by the Wilderness Pagoda to facilitate Wan Qing’s rebirth, suddenly began to tremble in unison.

An inexplicable aura flowed through them, and each piece of verdant bronze seemed to ignite, radiating a brilliant immortal light that instantly stripped away all rust and imperfections.

A radiant glow shot into the sky, and the fragments reassembled into a broken Immortal Cauldron. It trembled violently, voraciously devouring vital qi, causing the entire Chaos Heaven Domain to seem on the verge of collapse.

The broken Immortal Cauldron revived, its divine radiance cascading like star rivers, dazzling and magnificent. With a thunderous crash, it shattered the great universe and was about to depart.

Shao Hua’s eyes narrowed, her black hair fluttering. She struck out with one palm, causing the Great Dao to rumble and shake.

"Trying to run?!"

Once something was in her hands, she wouldn’t let it go so easily. She wanted to see what was really going on.

If it were anyone else, they might be surprised and speculate that this was some kind of contingency left behind by the Imperial Sovereign.

But Shao Hua didn’t think so. It was definitely the Imperial Sovereign acting in secret.

The Immortal-Forming Cauldron was once forged by the Imperial Sovereign and was the source cauldron of all things, embodying his aspirations and desires for immortality.

Here, only half of the broken cauldron remained, devoid of any divine presence. It was impossible for it to mysteriously revive right under her nose.

"Is he sensing damage to his former weapon and trying to prevent its destruction, or is he taking the opportunity to test me, or perhaps has another plan in mind?"

Time seemed to freeze, and the broken Immortal Cauldron was forcibly held in place, unable to escape no matter how hard it tried.

Shao Hua’s hand covered the sky, surrounded by star rivers, boundless and vast.

Her delicate hand seemed to overshadow the three realms, with chaotic energy seeping from her fingers. She shattered the Immortal Cauldron once more, then grabbed its fragments and pulled them back.

She still found it suspicious. The Imperial Sovereign had hidden so deeply, even planning to refine the two universes into an unparalleled world cauldron. Why would he suddenly reveal himself?

"An exchange is only proper!"

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Shao Hua’s mind, but her actions didn’t pause. No matter what, if someone attacked, she wouldn’t back down.

She wasn’t unprepared for a confrontation with the Imperial Sovereign. If it came to a fight, the outcome was yet to be determined.

Although she had only lived through six lifetimes, she had already observed the transformation of the Chaos Green Lotus, achieving the seventh transformation. It was just that her lifespan hadn’t ended, and she wanted more time to accomplish more.

Transcendent Mortal Ascension didn’t necessarily mean one had to live nine lifetimes in reverse. There was no such rule; nine merely represented the ultimate number, carrying extraordinary significance.

As long as the transformation was sufficient, achieving the same level with eight or seven lifetimes was not impossible.

In fact, she was already beginning to experience a state where Timeless Flesh was becoming a reality.

Of course, this was due to her deep understanding of the Dao of Time, combined with the “Existence” Dao fruit refined and condensed from the Eternal Formula and the Existence Formula.

If everything went as planned, she would live a very long life in this lifetime.

In the next life, the seventh, she would likely achieve Timeless Flesh and nearly complete Transcendent Mortal Ascension.

Shao Hua extended her hand, forming a sword finger. With a resounding zheng, she slashed through the Nine Heavens.

Her Dao finger transformed into a sword, slicing through gods and immortals.

Even though the Imperial Sovereign had long achieved Transcendent Mortal Ascension and was renowned in ancient times, having stepped onto the Immortal Path before her, she was unafraid.

Shao Hua’s spirit and senses transcended this universe, sensing an existence in the void. She directly slashed her sword at it.

The resounding celestial authority and supreme sword light cut through the cosmos and chaos, piercing straight into the unknown realm of another great universe.

Hummmmmmmmmmm!

On the other side, a similarly devastating divine technique fell, and the Imperial Sovereign did not hold back.

Shao Hua recognized it as Nine Secrets Unite, a technique she knew but had never used. She didn’t expect to witness its power today.

The two realms trembled, and chaos erupted in a boundless storm. The edges of the universe shattered, as if an infinite divine cataclysm was sweeping through.

The aftershocks surged into the great universe, easily tearing through the heavens. Stars and galaxies exploded, turning into dust, the destruction terrifying to the extreme.

If Shao Hua hadn’t extended her other hand to block the aftershocks and protect the edge of the universe, countless star rivers would have vanished.

The Imperial Sovereign’s attack was terrifying, and the Nine Secrets Unite, being his own creation, perfectly merged the peaks of nine human Dao domains, displaying a power that could shock even immortals.

Nine Secrets Unite, unparalleled in ancient and modern times, was an invincible technique in his hands.

The battle did not end there. The sword light Shao Hua slashed out condensed her entire life’s cultivation. In a sense, it was the elevation of her Dao fruit.

A vague shadow materialized within the sword light, and Shao Hua’s figure solidified. A grand chanting sound emerged from her body, terrifying and overwhelming.

Time froze, and the inner landscape of decay seemed to connect past, present, and future. Two more figures approached from the depths.

They were her past self and future self, one born in the past, the other standing in the future. Then, the three merged, transcending the present.

Shao Hua’s “Existence” self exhibited power that surpassed her own.

Since the body of her six lifetimes could no longer bear a higher Dao fruit, she transformed the intangible into the tangible, recreating her true form from nothing, surpassing eternity, and drawing upon boundless Dao power!

"Such a world-shaking Dao technique, but alas, it hasn’t reached its peak, and ultimately, it falls short." A stern voice echoed, cold and indifferent.

This battle was intense and sudden, but because it erupted in the vast chaos, few could detect it.

In the human realm, apart from Shao Hua herself, almost no one knew what had happened. The Supreme Sovereigns in the Prohibited Lands were all sleeping in the Primordial Ancient Mine, and only a ray of immortal light shot out from the Primordial Prohibited Land, piercing into the vast chaos.

The Strange World, being closer, felt the heart-stopping pressure. All the major figures, whether native beings or those from the human realm, were filled with uncertainty.

A battle that shook the world, yet in the end, few knew what had transpired.

"Sacrificing half of my life, this battle, I might not lose." Shao Hua muttered to herself in the human realm.

She had to admit that the Imperial Sovereign was ahead, having embarked on his journey millions of years earlier. Unlike the Immortal Emperor, who merely clung to life, he was truly on the verge of Transcendent Mortal Ascension.

But it didn’t matter. She had the Great Life-Extending Technique, and by cutting out her seventh life, she temporarily displayed greater strength, not much weaker than the Imperial Sovereign, though it couldn’t last long.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end