Chapter 45: Sweeping Through the Prohibited Zones, Seizing What She Wills

Chapter 45: Sweeping Through the Prohibited Zones, Seizing What She Wills

Shao Hua left two options: either let her take the Xian-Tears Green Gold, or face her in battle.

Then, the Undying Mountains fell silent.

Neither the Stone Sovereign nor the Imprisoning Hell Sovereign, who had retreated like a frightened turtle, wanted to clash with Shao Hua. They could only let her take what she wanted.

Everyone could see that the Eastern Sovereign possessed exceptional combat prowess and extraordinary strength.

She had touched the Temporal Domain right after achieving enlightenment, and even the highly evolved White Tiger Primordial Sovereign was no match for her.

She shattered the age-old myth that Imperial Prodigies could not achieve enlightenment, forcefully breaking through all the realms to ascend as an emperor. With two emperors from one family and both a mother and daughter sovereigns, it was a truly glorious achievement.

Moreover, due to the Western Sovereign's passing, her daughter was clearly hostile towards the Life-Prohibited Zones. Provoking her now would be unwise.

Silence reigned over the Undying Mountains.

Shao Hua collected the Xian-Tears Green Gold, which had just gained sentience but was still far from becoming a Holy Spirit.

For it to fully mature and ascend to sovereignty, it would take at least seven to eight hundred thousand years, during which countless changes could occur.

Thus, the Stone Sovereign would not risk provoking a current emperor for an uncertain future.

Besides, even if the Green Gold Holy Spirit did ascend, what good would it do? Could it bring him to immortality?

It would be better to seize its power when it reaches its peak, perhaps extending his own reign as a sovereign.

However, the time required was too long. He would have to wait for hundreds of thousands of years, by which time the path to immortality would likely have already opened, making it uncertain whether he could wait that long.

"Eastern Sovereign, you will regret this!" the Stone Sovereign finally coldly snorted.

Offending so many prohibited zones would not end well.

Currently at the peak of her enlightenment, she was acting bravely, believing herself to be the supreme ruler of all, unbeatable in the past, present, and future.

But what good was being unmatched in the world if she could not achieve immortality? Everything would be in vain, and even the strongest would eventually decline.

In her later years, when her vitality wanes, she would have her share of tears. Even if she wanted to cut herself off, no prohibited zone would take her in, and she would be attacked by all.

"I'll be waiting for that day. Don't forget, I am the current emperor", Shao Hua smiled, disregarding the Stone Sovereign's weak threats.

Though it seemed like a confrontation, the rulers of the prohibited zones were naturally at a disadvantage. It wasn't time for the path to immortality to open, so the Stone Sovereign would not emerge, and could only make empty threats.

To achieve immortality, the rulers of the prohibited zones had already sacrificed everything. They would only stir the Dark Turmoil to extend their lives when they could no longer endure, and would not waste time clashing with the current emperor.

The path to immortality in Beidou would open in over two hundred thousand years, and waiting was their only course of action.

Next, Shao Hua went to the Cycle Sea. After passing through the gate, she faced a vast silver ocean, like an endless galaxy cascading down to form a sea, brilliant and mesmerizing, with waves crashing continuously.

This sea was in the Eastern Wastes but not part of the mortal world, forming its own realm, with an entrance connected to Beidou.

"Facing the sea, spring blossoms bloom; it's a different kind of scenery", Shao Hua marveled.

"If the Eastern Sovereign finds the view pleasant, feel free to visit often", the Master of the Cycle said.

"That won't be necessary", Shao Hua smiled and declined.

There were still a few sovereigns in the Cycle Sea, and with no conflicts, she found it difficult to act.

Of course, she couldn't leave empty-handed.

With a sweep of her sleeve, she parted the ocean, and her hand reached into the depths, pulling up a terrestrial vein and holding it in her palm.

A mist of divine vapor rose, carrying a fragrant aroma that invigorated the senses.

It was a divine spring, gushing from the terrestrial vein, now nearly dry.

It couldn't compare to the divine spring at the Jade Pond, let alone the Immortality Pool, but it was better than nothing.

Shao Hua shook her head, somewhat dissatisfied. She looked around but found nothing else of value.

The Cycle Sea was truly a bit poor.

Her eyes showed a hint of disdain, and she didn't bother to linger, turning to leave.

As she departed, the Master of the Cycle bid her farewell, "Eastern Sovereign, please have a safe journey. I apologize for the inadequate hospitality."

"..."

Shao Hua nearly stumbled. Fine, fine, fine, the Cycle Sea, she noted. She would remember this and avoid it in the future.

With a lingering sense of frustration, she ascended into the sky, heading for her next destination: Heaven-Burial Isle.

Some called it the Celestial Vault, a massive island floating above the Eastern Wastes, usually hidden in the void, though not from Shao Hua.

Heaven-Burial Isle resembles a colossal coffin, with nine mountain ridges extending outward, each shaped like a true dragon. The sheer grandeur and majesty of the place are awe-inspiring.

"Nine-Dragon Pallbearer Coffin."

Shao Hua's eyes gleamed. The genuine Nine-Dragon Pallbearer Coffin was the most extraordinary thing in this world, but the Heaven-Burial Isle was merely a resemblance.

She had once searched for the Nine-Dragon Pallbearer Coffin herself, but all her efforts had been in vain.

When she first arrived at Heaven-Burial Isle, she saw nine vast dragon veins pulling a coffin-shaped island through the void and away from Beidou.

"There are no treasures on Heaven-Burial Isle. The Eastern Sovereign should look elsewhere."

"Truly impressive." Shao Hua took a deep breath, countless essences filling her lungs, dimming even the star rivers of the nine heavens.

Everyone was stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief, and they couldn't help but gasp in shock.

This was the might of an invincible Great Emperor, truly terrifying!

Without even lifting a finger, just by being present, she had forced a Life-Prohibited Zone to retreat.

Even the other major Life-Prohibited Zones let out low chuckles, with the Stone Sovereign being the most unreserved.

Well, except for the Gods' Ruins.

In the next moment, Shao Hua was already inside the Gods' Ruins, the aura of a Great Emperor emanating from her as she pressed forward, clearly in a foul mood.

The place was filled with countless relics and Dao Imprints, with a massive Southern Heaven Gate standing tall, a remnant of the ancient Heavenly Court that had fallen here long ago.

Shao Hua didn't bother to look around and stepped directly through the Southern Heaven Gate, sensing a grand aura passing through the void.

"Familiar fluctuations, the Dao Imprints of the Imperial Venerable One."

She understood immediately. The Imperial Venerable One had set up a great array on Kunlun Mountain, and these were of the same origin, naturally resonating with each other.

The ruins were boundless, once a paradise for the gods, now known as the Gods' Ruins, where several Supreme Beings lay dormant.

"During the great battles of the past, a Supreme Being emerged from the Gods' Ruins, intent on sparking a Dark Turmoil. I stopped them with all my might, but it left me with an irreparable Dao Wound. I have come today to settle the score."

Shao Hua spoke calmly, her face betraying no emotion, but she was deliberately provoking them.

The Supreme Beings of the Gods' Ruins were speechless. They now understood why Heaven-Burial Isle had chosen to leave.

Encountering such an unreasonable Great Emperor was indeed a headache.

She wanted everything she saw, and if it wasn't given to her, she would take it by force. If you tried to argue, she would simply draw her sword and challenge you to a duel.

Who could bear such a thing?!

As the Supreme Beings of the Gods' Ruins remained silent, Shao Hua had already found her target.

It was an ancient tree, not particularly tall, having grown for countless years but only reaching half a yard in height, hidden deep within the Heavenly Palace of the Gods' Ruins.

A bright peach hung from the ancient tree, the Immortality Peach from the Ancient Immortality Peach Tree.

Below the tree, two Holy Spirits sat in meditation, clearly well-prepared.

"Hand over the peach, and I will spare your lives." Shao Hua didn't bother with pretenses, pointing her sword directly at the two Holy Spirits.

"You are too tyrannical, Eastern Sovereign!" The two Holy Spirits opened their eyes, shooting out four beams of divine light, speaking in unison.

Shao Hua's eyebrows furrowed. She, who was so gentle and kind, was being slandered in this way. It was simply intolerable.

"I did not wish to start a bloodbath, but your insolent words and provocations have crossed my line. You must be punished!"

She slowly raised her hand, and without any dazzling light or terrifying fluctuations, the two Holy Spirits were instantly immobilized, their bodies and souls completely restrained.

"Poof!!"

A flash of sword light, and two heads flew off, their immortal platforms shattering into eighteen pieces.

Shao Hua calmly collected the remains of the Holy Spirits and the Immortality Peach Tree, then left without looking back.

The Gods' Ruins were the most interesting. Using the Immortality Peach as bait and the lives of two Holy Spirits to test her Dao and law was a grand gesture.

Since they wanted to observe her up close, why not indulge them?

Shao Hua didn't hesitate, executing them with a single sword strike, allowing them to observe her.

As for the notion that Holy Spirits were favored by the Celestial Vault and possessed great fortune, and that killing them would bring endless calamity, she cared not at all.

She had already killed Supreme Beings and the Immortality Peach Tree; what fear could mere Holy Spirits instill in her?

If any disaster were to come, she would face it head-on!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end