Chapter 468: The Cauldron Seals the Heavens and Earth (6k6)

Chapter 468: The Cauldron Seals the Heavens and Earth (6k6)



Boom!

An indescribable upheaval reverberated through the clouds.

With the Void Formation completely subdued, Chen Mu was no longer subjected to any suppression from the heavens and earth. Every move he made unleashed a formidable power that exceeded the heavens' and earth's capacity. At this moment, with the Heaven and Earth as One technique, the entire void in front of Chen Mu collapsed and caved in, creating a terrifying void cavity.

On the other side.

The Heaven and Earth Cauldron descended, harnessing the dragon vein of the Jade Capital, and its vast might also crushed the firmament and shattered the earth. It collided with the Heaven and Earth Wheel Seal that Chen Mu had unleashed, creating a mid-air impact.

The two overwhelming and irresistible forces clashed, like a collision between heaven and earth. For a moment, those within the Imperial City felt as if the entire world was about to overturn. The surging power of heaven and earth, like a tidal wave, formed almost visible distortions and ripples, sweeping out in all directions.

"Not good!"

"Quick, retreat!"

The numerous court eunuchs and high-ranking officials within the palace, gazing at this scene from afar, were all filled with horror. Without hesitation, they fled with all their might.

At this moment, as they watched, the deepest part of the Great Xuan court, centered around the Jade Square, seemed to transform into a painting, picked up by an invisible giant hand, and then violently shaken in the air, creating folds and wrinkles.

Boom! Boom! Boom!!!

The entire square, except for the green stone platform, saw the once pristine white jade pieces from the center caving in and collapsing, as if a wave had risen from the ground, shattering into fragments and spreading outwards.

This was a tidal wave of heaven and earth's power, even affecting the celestial phenomena. Ordinary people could see a distorted ripple emanating from the Jade Square, erupting in layers. Wherever it went, palaces crumbled and fell.

Some high-ranking officials and court eunuchs who were too close, even with the Five Viscera and Six Bowels cultivation level, were swept up in the ripples, becoming as thin as paper, crushed by the power of heaven and earth. Not even a drop of blood was spared.

This sweeping ripple crushed thousands of zhang of palaces in all directions before gradually subsiding.

At the same time.

The vast Jade Capital, spanning hundreds of li, also experienced a disturbance due to the earth pulse's ripples, causing a visible tremor. Dust fell from beams, and cracks appeared on the walls of old houses, spreading along the mud-brick structures.

In the center of the Jade Square, a terrifying scene unfolded. A black cavity, about ten feet in diameter, appeared, like a gaping abyss. The shattered jade from the square poured into it, swallowed by the void, even pulling in fallen palace debris. Thick wooden beams were dragged in and then shattered, sending wood chips flying.

Above this void cavity, the Heaven and Earth Cauldron remained suspended. Its surface shimmered with spiritual light, constantly rippling from the impact, but the shockwaves still entered the connected earth pulse.

Buzz!

The earth pulse's residual waves rippled and surged.

Ji Yongheng and the others, striving to maintain the balance between the cauldron and the earth pulse, suddenly stiffened, their faces turning pale as they struggled to control their surging blood.

On the other side.

Standing beneath the cauldron, Chen Mu remained unmoved, like a reef amidst the void's pull.

The ground beneath his feet, centered on his position, formed a sunken area spanning a hundred feet, enduring unimaginable pressure.

Crack, crack.

Chen Mu, maintaining the Heaven and Earth Wheel Seal, watched as the void cavity sealed. He slowly straightened, then twisted his limbs, hearing the crack of joints, before stretching his neck.

"Not bad."

He exhaled, his breath forming white mist, rising straight up for several feet, lingering. He gazed at the cauldron, his tone light.

With his current physique, few things in the world could harm him. Even caught in a void rift, he wouldn't perish instantly, relying on his robust physique and self-healing ability to resist for a moment.

The Heaven and Earth Cauldron, both a core of the Jade Capital's earth pulse formation and a supreme spirit armament, harnessed the power of the entire capital's earth pulse. Its might was indeed formidable, like facing a vast heaven and earth.

Currently, he couldn't break free from the heavens and earth's constraints; only the Divine Realm could transcend them.

However.

The cauldron couldn't defeat him either.

The cauldron required earth pulse power to operate, even with Ji Yongheng and the others' control, forcibly moving it was limited to the Jade Square's area. Beyond, it couldn't connect with the earth pulse.

And without the support of the Earth Pulse power, even though Ji Yongheng and the others in the Blood Replacement Realm could still activate part of the power of the Heaven and Earth Cauldron, it was still far inferior to the current situation, which was powerful and unpredictable, enveloped in the majestic might of Heaven and Earth.

Moreover...

Chen Mu's gaze fell upon the ancient cauldron.

Almost in the next moment, he stood up, and in an instant, he rose to the sky, and the Heaven and Earth Blade appeared in his hand, slashing through the air with a mighty sweep, aiming at the Heaven and Earth Cauldron!

The first move was the Heaven and Earth Cauldron's initial attack, and this second move was Chen Mu's proactive slash.

I wield the long blade to challenge the Cauldron!

"Cauldron Ascend."

Ji Yongheng and the many Ji family elders all had their faces change, as they had endured the previous aftershocks, and at this moment, the energy within their bodies was turbulent and uncomfortable, not yet fully recovered, but now facing Chen Mu's attack once again, they had to shout in unison, each using their energy to channel the Earth Pulse power back into the Cauldron, countering Chen Mu's slash.

Chen Mu's slash, however, was not as loud and powerful as the previous Wheel Seal of Heaven and Earth, as it directly shattered the void when unleashed. This time, as he swung his blade, it was like a faint arc, winding its way down, and seemed more like a long river, falling from the heavens!

This was the transformation from motion to stillness, a perfect integration of softness and hardness, a blade that could easily tear through the void, but in the balance of motion and stillness, it became a thin, ethereal slash, cutting through the void and colliding with the Heaven and Earth Cauldron.

Dong!

It was like the sound of a bell ringing in the sky.

This bell-like sound shook the entire Imperial City and the surrounding dozens of miles, causing everyone's eardrums to buzz and many low-level warriors and commoners to suddenly go deaf, feeling as if the world had fallen silent.

The Heaven and Earth Cauldron trembled violently in the air, but it did not fall; instead, it stubbornly withstood Chen Mu's slash. However, the aftershocks it triggered in the Earth Pulse caused a sudden upheaval.

"Hmph."

Ji Yongheng and the many Ji family elders all grunted in unison, their faces alternating between red and white, unable to suppress the surging blood within them. They each spat out a mouthful of blood, instantly staining the green jade platform with a crimson hue.

At the same time, along with the violent tremors of the Earth Pulse, the Jade Capital, spanning hundreds of miles, shook once more, even more violently than the previous collision. Many old houses cracked, dust flew, and bricks and tiles fell, splattering and causing chaos, leaving countless people in disarray as they scrambled for safety.

"Cough, cough..."

Ji Yongheng coughed, his mouth stained with a faint golden hue, as he looked up at Chen Mu, his face calming down. He didn't bother wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze deep and profound as he said, "The Earth Pulse power is endless, and while you can resist the Heaven and Earth Cauldron, you won't be able to suppress it in a short time. If we continue fighting, the entire Jade Capital will be destroyed.

The Jade Capital is the center of the world. If Chen Mu destroys the entire city, burying countless lives, it won't be an exaggeration to say that he has made enemies of the entire world. By then, even if Chen Mu is fearless and possesses supreme martial might, he will have no place to stand in this world, and both sides will suffer defeat.

The Ji family will perish, but the Chen family will also struggle to survive.

After hearing Ji Yongheng's words, Chen Mu's expression remained unchanged. He stood high above, overlooking the white jade square, which had become a scene of devastation, and the green jade platform, now in ruins. He closed his eyes, his voice carrying a sense of detachment from the world.

"Your Ji family has almost integrated the Heaven and Earth Cauldron with the Earth Pulse power, making the entire Jade Capital dependent on it. It is indeed an impressive feat, and with the Earth Pulse power as its foundation, the Cauldron is indeed difficult to break. But... the Cauldron is powerful, not the people who control it."

"Even the most supreme artifacts and divine armaments in the world are only as powerful as those who wield them. You may have this Cauldron as your support, but if the person controlling it is weak, what use is it?"

Chen Mu's words caused Ji Yongheng's heart to tighten.

Did Chen Mu not care if the entire Jade Capital was destroyed, and was determined to fight them to the end?

Almost in the next moment, Ji Yongheng's expression changed, and the faces of the many Ji family elders also underwent a sudden transformation.

They saw Chen Mu, standing high in the sky, suddenly sheathe his Heaven and Earth Blade and lightly pat the floating Heaven and Earth Cauldron with a palm that contained no hint of power or force, not even comparable to Chen Mu's previous attacks with the Wheel Seal of Heaven and Earth or the Heaven and Earth Blade's slash. However, it gave Ji Yongheng and the others an extremely ominous feeling, as if something terrible was about to happen, but they couldn't pinpoint the exact situation.

"Cauldron Ascend!"

Almost everyone had this ominous feeling, and after a brief pause, Ji Yongheng's premonition grew stronger. He shouted, regardless of what Chen Mu was about to do, they first needed to activate the Earth Pulse power to suppress Chen Mu.

But.

The situation suddenly changed!

As Chen Mu's light palm landed on the Heaven and Earth Cauldron, creating a trail of Primordial Energy and energy flow, causing the slowly rotating ancient cauldron to suddenly tremble, and as it rotated, it was like a gear misalignment, stopping with a clack!

"This is impossible!"

Finally, a trace of shock appeared on Ji Yongheng's face.

The remaining elders of the Ji family, including Ji Yongheng, also displayed looks of disbelief.

Others might not have discerned what was happening, but they keenly felt an intense surge of energy forcefully intruding into the Heaven and Earth Cauldron, vying for control against them!

In that brief moment, the energy had already merged with nearly a third of the cauldron, significantly pushing back their own energy within, causing a substantial decline in their control over the cauldron.

As a result, the Heaven and Earth Cauldron hung motionless in mid-air.

Not only Ji Yongheng but also Ji Xuanfei, who had sustained severe injuries and was hiding behind the Jade Platform, felt the shift in the cauldron's energy, causing his pupils to constrict in disbelief.

Chen Mu was attempting to seize control of the Heaven and Earth Cauldron!

But how was this possible?

The Heaven and Earth Cauldron was a supreme Spirit Armament forged by the Ji family for a millennium, inherently imbued with a trace of true spirituality. It only recognized the Ji family's bloodline, and only Ji Yongheng and the other elders were qualified to control it. Even Ji Xuanfei, without using the secret technique from the Great Wilderness, couldn't manipulate the cauldron.

Even if Ji Yongheng and the others had practiced the Heaven and Earth Principle for decades, their energy was deeply imprinted on the cauldron, making it impossible for Chen Mu to take control.

Chen Mu, not of the Ji family's bloodline, couldn't possibly have the ability to seize the cauldron, even if he cultivated the Heaven and Earth Principle and was naturally compatible with it. This was simply inconceivable!

Such an unbelievable scene caused even Ji Yongheng's gaze to waver with doubt, leading him to question if Chen Mu also possessed the imperial bloodline, perhaps a distant branch of the Ji family.

If that were the case, it would make sense.

Chen Mu, practicing the Heaven and Earth Principle, was naturally compatible with the cauldron. If he also had the Ji family's bloodline, he would indeed be innately close to the cauldron. Under these circumstances, it was possible for him to forcefully take control.

But the problem was...

Ever since Chen Mu rose to prominence in Cold North and shook the world, even reaching the outer seas, the court had thoroughly investigated his ancestors, uncovering almost all available information. It was common knowledge that Chen Mu was a commoner from Cold North, a lowly minor official from a lineage without any wealthy background for generations.

"This won't do, it's unacceptable!"

Ji Yongheng's mind went blank for a moment, and a chilling sensation ran down his spine. At that instant, he joined forces with the other elders to suppress Chen Mu's energy, which was spreading within the cauldron, but to no avail.

(This chapter is based on the 1691 version of the novel, which has no errors.)



Leaning against the Jade Platform, Ji Xuanfei's pupils constricted as he witnessed the situation. Although he didn't understand how Chen Mu had achieved this, he knew that if Chen Mu truly took control of the cauldron, it would mean his death.

The reason he hadn't fled was because he wanted to survive, and his only hope was the Heaven and Earth Cauldron.

He planned to use the cauldron to suppress Chen Mu, then manipulate it to change Ji Yongheng's thoughts, forcing him and the other elders to compromise, thereby securing his position on the throne.

He couldn't afford to lose the imperial seat, as almost all his trump cards, supporting forces, and powerful warriors had been exhausted in this battle. If he lost the throne, he wouldn't even need Chen Mu; the Prince of Jin and the Prince of Chu would ensure his demise.

As Ji Yongheng's energy retreated within the cauldron, Ji Xuanfei finally took action. He shouted, and his broken arm rose, sending a surge of energy towards the suspended cauldron.

The cauldron vibrated with a hum, and a third energy force abruptly surged in.

At that moment, Ji Yongheng and the others' gazes simultaneously shifted towards Ji Xuanfei, their eyes filled with astonishment. Even Ji Xuanfei could control the cauldron and seize it!

Although Ji Xuanfei was of the Ji family's bloodline, he didn't cultivate the Heaven and Earth Principle. While he had gained the cauldron's recognition, he hadn't truly imprinted his energy on its depths, so he shouldn't have been able to control it.

This was some kind of secret technique, likely from the Great Wilderness.

Compared to Chen Mu's incomprehensible actions, Ji Xuanfei's sudden display was instantly understood by Ji Yongheng and the others. They realized why the cauldron had chosen Ji Xuanfei earlier.

But now wasn't the time for hesitation.

After activating the secret technique, Ji Xuanfei also fixed his gaze on the cauldron, sharing the burden with Ji Yongheng and the others. He manipulated his energy within the cauldron, clashing with Chen Mu, significantly slowing their retreat.

He knew that using this technique would expose him, and this was his deepest intention. He planned to secure his rule in the future, unify the world, and then seize the cauldron, bringing the legitimate imperial bloodline and the vast Ji family under his control, making Ji Yongheng and the others submit to submit to him, truly dominating the world. But for now, he couldn't afford to worry about anything else.

It was as if their hearts were gradually turning cold. Even with Ji Xuan Fei's intervention, assisting Ji Yongheng and the others, they managed to significantly curb Chen Mu's aura from spreading, but they still couldn't stop it completely!

Chen Mu's aura continued to seep into the Sky Earth Cauldron, inch by inch, spreading uncontrollably, unstoppable.

How could this be?

Ji Xuan Fei's eyes held a hint of disbelief as cold sweat dripped from his forehead.

"There's no need to guess."

Chen Mu stood in mid-air, looking down upon them as if he could see through their disbelief. In a calm tone, he said, "Ji Yongzhao once tried to assassinate me while I was breaking through, in the outer seas. Although he failed, his methods ended up in my hands."

To be more precise, Ji Yongzhao burned his soul power, which became the nourishment for Chen Mu's soul refinement. As a result, his soul naturally evolved to emulate Ji Yongzhao's aura. Ji Yongzhao, as the previous Martial Emperor of Great Xuan and a master of strategy, had endless means. He even managed to cultivate a complete Sky Earth Physique, which he used to set up the Sky Earth Cauldron.

Chen Mu, who cultivated the Sky Earth Principle, could emulate Ji Yongzhao's aura and, with Ji Yongzhao's previous arrangements in the cauldron, taking control of it was as easy as turning his hand.

The only issue was his lack of understanding of the cauldron itself.

But this problem was resolved during the two previous clashes. Although he still didn't fully comprehend the cauldron, with his current cultivation level, he grasped its profound mysteries after just two encounters. Now, seizing the cauldron was effortless.

Chen Mu had known this since the moment he stepped onto the Jade Square and saw the cauldron. This was why he dared to clash with it twice—not only because he was fearless but also because he could interfere with the cauldron at any time.

One part...

Two parts...

Three parts...

Chen Mu's aura, which occupied the cauldron, continued to spread. It went from three-tenths to four-tenths and then gradually toward five-tenths. Finally, when his aura covered half of the cauldron, the auras and imprints of Ji Yongheng and the others were completely overwhelmed!

Even Ji Xuan Fei's aura couldn't resist, and half of it was crushed and expelled. Eventually, the entire cauldron fell under Chen Mu's control, and with a simple flip of his hand, he pressed it down.

Buzz!

The cauldron's light suddenly brightened and intensified, then fell from the sky, crashing onto the jade platform with a loud boom. It nearly shattered the entire platform and completely stabilized the constantly turbulent Earth Pulse power.

Within a radius of several hundred li, everyone in the Jade Capital City, whether martial artists or common folk, felt the ground shake violently, and then it stabilized. A sense of relief washed over them.

The cauldron had fallen.

The Sky and Earth were settled.

Chen Mu remained standing on the Jade Square, gazing down at Ji Yongheng and the others, their faces filled with defeat, and Ji Xuan Fei, who couldn't accept what had happened.

Ji Xuan Fei watched helplessly as the cauldron fell. He spat out a mouthful of blood and then mustered his remaining strength, rising into the air and fleeing as far as he could.

No!

He couldn't die!

He couldn't die here. He was the Martial Emperor of Great Xuan, the Supreme Sovereign!

Ji Xuan Fei managed to escape a thousand zhang before coming to a halt at the edge of the Jade Square. He looked down with difficulty and saw a huge bloody hole in his chest and abdomen, silently oozing golden blood onto the ruined jade.

"Heh... Heh..."

Ji Xuan Fei's mouth made a heh heh sound, his eyes filled with unwillingness. He struggled to take a few more steps, staggering forward. Each step left a red footprint, and after six or seven steps, he collapsed into a pool of blood.

He still reached out, stretching toward the distance with his last effort, but eventually, his breath ran out, and he fell powerlessly.

"It's over."

At the edge of the jade platform, Chen Mu stood, slowly retracting his finger that had pointed toward the distance. His gaze swept over Ji Yongheng and the others, their eyes defeated and their auras scattered, over the ruined Jade Square, and the entire Imperial City in disarray. Everyone he looked at, whether palace maids or eunuchs, stood frozen in place.

Everyone's expressions were dazed, as if they were in a dream.

Except for Chen Mu.

His gaze remained calm as he looked out over the four directions.

Seventeen years in this world, he had started from the bottom, working as a lowly servant, being cautious and meticulous. He then diligently practiced martial arts, seeking survival amid the struggles between the Yu and He families. Later, when the four major sects, including the Blood Concealment Tower, entered the region, he trained among them, enduring countless hardships. Up to this day, standing in the Imperial City, having reached the pinnacle of power, he looked around and saw no more rivals.

...

In the 1437th year of the Great Xuan calendar, Chen Mu traveled alone to the Central Region. He slaughtered the Azure Dragon Army, annihilated the Blood Guard, conquered the Jade Capital, passed through the Northern Heavenly Pass, and fought alone in the Imperial City, defeating thirteen Blood Replacement Realm experts and killing two Heaven and Man Masters. He then stabilized the cauldron, settled the Sky and Earth, and ultimately determined the fate of the world.

The news spread, and the world fell silent.

People began to revere him as... the Martial Saint!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end