Above the Great Dao-Chapter 1563 - 724: Divine Power First

Emperor Houtu scanned her gaze over these Immortals and Buddhas; to her, these five were all familiar.

Guang Chengzi of Nine Immortal Mountain and Ding Guang Buddha of Western Heaven, this monk and Daoist were both prominent figures in the Immortal Dao back then.

Guang Chengzi, under the Yuqing Sect, is the leader of the Twelve Immortals, long since a Daluo Golden Immortal, with cultivation unfathomable.

Ding Guang Buddha was once a top disciple of Tongtian Sect but later defected from the Jie Sect to the Western Heaven, becoming a Buddha, also known as Ding Guang Joyful Tathagata. His cultivation is also unfathomable, mastering the magic skills of Immortals, Buddhas, and Gods, with mana mighty and Daoist skills mysterious, surpassing even Guang Chengzi.

Apart from these two, the Immortals and Buddhas behind them are also extraordinary figures.

The woodcutter named Wang Zhi, wielding a big axe, is an Immortal from the Ancestral Court, known as Lankao Immortal Monarch.

Another monk named Qishadibiepo, also known as Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, hailing from the Nan Zhanbu Continent, carrying a Zen Stick, with great vows entangled.

The final Daoist named Anqi, an overseas Qi Refiner from the Pre-Qin era, carries a long sword on his back, famous across the world, known as Emperor Anqi, to whom Emperor Shi once sent messengers overseas to seek the Elixir of Immortality in his possession.

All three are Daluo Golden Immortals, and have longstanding enmity with Emperor Houtu.

Woodcutter Wang Zhi cultivated the Xuanhuang Dao, sought Xuanhuang Dao Patterns from Emperor Houtu, but in vain, thus bearing a grudge against her, later joining the Immortal Court, repeatedly opposing Emperor Houtu.

Initially, when Emperor Houtu sensed the Incense Fire Qi from the West Bull New Continent, she sent a clone to descend, encountering obstruction from Wang Zhi on the way.

Although this Daluo Golden Immortal did not descend in person, he invoked the Lankao Axe, attempting to sever her path.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has a conflict with Emperor Houtu over orthodoxy; Ksitigarbha vowed not to attain Buddhahood until Hell is empty, interfering with the operation of hells across various worlds, clashing countless times with Emperor Houtu's avatars in these hells.

Chen Shi was seeking enlightenment beside the Eight Trigrams Demon Suppression Well when a Lady Houtu came to borrow the White Bone Feather Duster to deal with Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's clone.

Emperor Anqi, being an overseas Immortal, meddled with the fate of the Ancestral Court and dynastic changes, thwarted by Emperor Houtu.

Later, he became even more excessive, attempting to turn the Ancestral Court into his Dao Realm to easily pass the Opening Tribulation, again thwarted by Emperor Houtu, thus harboring resentment.

The previous time, he colluded with Feng Huixue to break the Heavenly Dao Treasure Mirror of Ten Thousand Years, that was him. He cultivates Reincarnation Daoist Skill, while destroying the Ten Thousand Years Treasure Mirror, he absorbed and refined the Dao Patterns within it.

Tens of thousands of fairies in the Thick Virtue Heavenly Palace died because of Anqi Daoist.

Emperor Houtu's gaze fell upon Feng Huixue, frowning slightly: "Huixue, why?"

Feng Huixue said, "After all, I am an Immortal; ascending to the Earth Immortal Realm was not to serve the Divine. These years, I served the Lady; if the Lady is pleased, she rewards me with trivial things; if not, she coldly rebukes me. In the Mortal World, I was above the multitudes; why endure hardship in the Earth Immortal Realm?"

Emperor Houtu said, "When you ascended and worked in the Heavenly Court, I found you pitiable and thus took you in. Otherwise, you would be relegated to the Jianghu, becoming a bottom-tier Immortal, uncertain whether alive or dead! Do you think had I not taken you in, you'd soar to high status?"

"I couldn't."

Feng Huixue said, "Had the Lady not taken me in, I fear at most I'd be in the True Immortal Realm, perhaps a concubine to another Immortal Monarch, or not even a True Immortal, perishing in the Earth Immortal Realm. But isn't it you many gods who make an Immortal's situation so difficult?"

Emperor Houtu replied with a seemingly mocking tone: "So your way of repaying my nurture is to invite wolves into my house, leading a group of Immortal Dao experts to storm into Houde Palace, shattering the Heavenly Dao Treasure Mirror of Ten Thousand Years? There are countless fairies like you in my palace whom I took in, saving them from dying outside. Yet due to your senior disciple sister's actions, tens of thousands of fairies are dead or wounded!"

Feng Huixue looked somber and said, "I owe these junior sisters. But the conflict between Immortals and Gods spirals out of control; I must make a choice. To break free from the oppression of the Heavenly Court's Gods, sacrifices are inevitable."

Emperor Houtu felt somewhat disappointed: "Last time you sacrificed tens of thousands of fairies in Houde Palace; how many will you sacrifice this time?"

Feng Huixue pursed her lips, not answering.

"You are no different from the evil people on my account book, perhaps even worse."

Emperor Houtu no longer looked at her, stepped out of the Nine Phoenix Carriage, and said to Guang Chengzi and the others: "Five Dao friends, my Heavenly Palace mostly comprises fairies. If we fight here, it's inevitable they will be harmed. This place is also my Daoist Field; if you initiate here, you won't gain. Why not go to Xuanhuang Sea?"

Guang Chengzi seemed a bit moved.

Ding Guang Joyful Tathagata said, "If we initiate here, it might disrupt the Lady's Dao Heart, making her hesitant to make a move."

Lankao Immortal Monarch Wang Zhi and others nodded in agreement.

Guang Chengzi shook his head and said, "For fear of harming the harmony of Heaven. Although she is a Divine, the palace is filled with fairies. If she doesn't cherish their lives, it puts us at a disadvantage. Let us proceed to Xuanhuang Sea, giving her a bit of advantage."

Ding Guang Joyful Tathagata agreed, "Let her gain a bit. We'll wait for the Lady on Xuanhuang Sea."

Lankao Immortal Monarch Wang Zhi was about to speak when Ksitigarbha Buddha transmitted, "Dao friend, this place is the Daoist Field of Emperor Houtu, with her Heavenly Palace; everywhere is her Magical Treasure. If we clash here, we won't gain any advantage. Proceed as planned."

Lankao Immortal Monarch nodded solemnly and concurred, "Let her gain a bit."

The five Immortals and Buddhas gracefully drifted out, departing from the Thick Virtue and Bright Heaven Palace.

Emperor Houtu rose and followed suit.