Taiyi Dao Fruit-Chapter 1145 - 367: The Heavenly Monarch Wields the Whip

The Nine Curves Yellow River Formation was damaged; though still operational, it was no longer as formidable as before and didn't require the continued pressure from the Star Domain.

Tianxuan immediately retracted the Domain, and with a flick of the sleeve, a peculiar large tree appeared behind him, the East Splendor Ancient Tree.

The ancient tree carried the Dao Fruit of the East King, symbolizing the sun. Tianxuan used it with the divine power of Doumu Yuanjun, complemented by the Southern Ming Li Fire of the Princess, to find the intense light illuminating all, as a great sun rose slowly.

"Sun at Noon, Sunshine in the sky."

"Taiyin Ju Zi, Water Clearing Gui E."

The light of the sun and moon shone together, breaking through the frost that covered the world. The radiance of extreme yang and yin collided with the ensuing "Heavenly Severity," erupting into a myriad of sparks.

This time, they finally did not fall into a disadvantage, and could even counter.

Meanwhile, on the other side, a sword light passed through the sky, directly piercing the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation, heading towards Yangzhou.

It was Taibai True Monarch!

This was the same person who had previously recovered from injuries with the help of Uncle Jiang Li; although his strength had not fully recovered, his Realm had progressed further than before.

Catching the opportunity during the battle between Yin Tulong and the Xuanwu King, the sword light that slashed the formation was precisely from Taibai True Monarch.

The Nine Curves Yellow River Formation was further damaged as a result, and Taibai True Monarch seized the opportunity to forcibly break through the formation with the sword light, no longer targeting the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation, but flying directly towards where Tan Wuwei was.

This was a place Taibai True Monarch had visited before, even before the sword fight, where he prepared in tranquility.

At this moment, Taibai True Monarch, familiar with the way, went all out, reaching the mountain ridged with divine shadows in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

The sword light paused in mid-air, revealing the silhouette of Taibai True Monarch.

At this time, his expression remained grim, albeit with a touch of detachment compared to before, no longer as outwardly sharp.

Yet his sword was more extreme than before.

"Three hundred miles to heaven, aloof and severed from the world."

After a long time, he employed the divine skill of the poetic immortal, grabbing the fractured sword and rising with the sword light, spanning the sky, slashing out a chilling sword mark, extinguishing every divine shadow before it, heading towards the figure on the high platform.

At this time, Tan Wuwei was fighting tooth and nail against Mo Xuankong's sword light in the True Void Home.

Failing in the assassination… or rather, Mo Xuankong never intended to succeed. His main goal was to forcibly stall Tan Wuwei, preventing her from diverting attention to observe other future outcomes.

Tan Wuwei being stalled made it difficult to detect changes on the other side in time, allowing Taibai True Monarch to arrive here. When the sword light that traversed the sky came slashing down, the ink-colored sword light suddenly condensed.

The figure clad in sackcloth flashed in the shadows, as the ink-colored sword light tainted the light, shrouding the space, resonating with the sword light descending from the sky, forming a complex and simple net.

Under the clash of the two sides, the True Void Home immediately began to crack, with the safe retreats observed in the divine visions being severed one by one.

"Heavenly Monarch!"

Tan Wuwei suddenly shouted loudly, and behind her emerged the Dragon Flower Treasure Tree, stabilizing the True Void Home, resisting the two-pronged assault.

Under the attack of the two mighty figures, Mo Xuankong and Taibai True Monarch, no matter how miraculous Tan Wuwei's divine skills were, she could not retreat unscathed. Perhaps when her Dao Fruit reaches Perfection, she might have that kind of power, but definitely not now.

So now, she could only rely on external force.

In the Heavenly Realm in mid-air, the vertical eye focused on a figure below.

Shen Hou, forced off the high platform due to the assassination attempt, felt his Dao Qi autonomously operate within his body, as if puppeteered by an external will.

"This…"

Shen Hou was shocked beyond expression, unable to prevent the external force from flooding his body.

His expression returned to calmness, with the wooden whip in his hand emanating divine light, standing tall like a Heavenly Pillar, falling from the sky.

"Heavenly Mandate, Three Realms Sealing Gods."

The God-beating Whip transformed into a golden column of light, descending from the sky. Mo Xuankong's sword light shattered on contact, the ink color tainting the light disintegrated instantly. "Shen Hou's" arm jolted, the God-beating Whip turned horizontally, transforming grandeur into nimbleness, seeming slow but striking fast into the shadows.

"Snap!"

With a crisp sound, the shadow shattered like glass, as a figure was sent flying out.

With the threat on one side removed, Tan Wuwei immediately stepped on the Lotus Platform, her figure shifting, time seemingly accelerating upon her, as the sword light slashed, only hitting a remnant shadow.

"Taibai True Monarch, since you've already escaped from one calamity, you should cherish the rare vitality."

Shen Hou's figure shifted onto the high platform again, and once more wielded the whip horizontally, "All Gods Retreat."

The myriad figures surrounding the mountain collectively offered intangible telekinesis, augmenting the wooden whip, with an imposing might that could reach the heavens and earth fell upon the God-beating Whip, causing eighty-four talismans to shine brightly.

Taibai True Monarch only felt an intangible pressure, similar to [Daoism Rules the World], descending upon him, making the Dao Fruit Divine Power less sensitive than before, even the Sword Qi seemed sluggish.

"Clang!"

This strike landed on the crossing sword light, shattering it, revealing the half-severed sword within, a formidable force transmitted, causing Taibai True Monarch's clothes and hair to flutter upwards.

"Hmph!"

Taibai True Monarch's voice was cold and stern, surrounded by black Qi gathering around him. However, he used the Nine Heavens Demon Clearing True Technique to absorb the Five Vile Qi, transforming it into Pure Qi that entered his body. Half of the Eternal Sorrow Sword emitted sword power, and with a clang, it forcibly shattered the whip shadow.

The golden whip shadow was shattered by the sword power, making Shen Hou frown slightly. With a light touch, the wooden whip struck again, dispersing the remaining sword power, and he leisurely stood on the high platform.

"Heavenly Monarch!" Taibai True Monarch fixed a dead stare at "Shen Hou" and spat out these words coldly.

The real Shen Hou could never reach such a Realm, nor could he borrow the Telekinesis of all gods and people, forcing Taibai True Monarch and the Mo Sect Master to retreat successively.

Only the vanished Heavenly Monarch could achieve this.

In this situation, it was clearly the will of the Heavenly Monarch that had descended into Shen Hou's body, using him to wield the God-beating Whip, saving Tan Wuwei from peril.

On the other side, Mo Xuankong also stopped mid-air, his broad hat casting two gazes that locked onto the two figures on the high platform.

Even Tan Wuwei was looking at the current "Shen Hou" with astonished eyes.

If it weren't for her using Divine Skills to glimpse the future, she would never have thought that the Heavenly Monarch still had such a move hidden.

Previously, the Heavenly Monarch had told Tan Wuwei to keep an eye on Shen Hou, and to act immediately if anything was amiss. Now it seems that the Heavenly Monarch was using Shen Hou to guard against Tan Wuwei.

Even though Tan Wuwei had already declared her loyalty, the Heavenly Monarch still had means to control her. This person truly trusts no one, holding only himself in his heart.

"Retreat."

"Shen Hou" said indifferently, "You cannot stop me."

The God-beating Whip is designed to counter Divine Spirits, especially targeting the True Gods of the Heavenly Court. Although Taibai True Monarch and Mo Xuankong's Third Grade Dao Fruits are not part of the Heavenly Court's system, they can still be somewhat restrained.

If it were Shen Hou wielding the God-beating Whip, the two could ignore it. But with the Heavenly Monarch wielding it, he could wield the God-beating Whip at a Supreme's Realm, maximizing the restraint brought about by the whip.

However, despite knowing they were being restrained, Taibai True Monarch and Mo Xuankong showed no intention of retreating.

"Dividing one's attention, the more you focus here, the less capable you are against Emperor Jiang. This principle applies to Tan Wuwei and to you, Heavenly Monarch." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Mo Xuankong said in a deep voice, "Your true self should be facing off against the Emperor. The more Heart Power you expend here, the less able you are to handle Emperor Jiang. Dividing your attention will lead to downfall."

The Heavenly Monarch was clearly aware of this; otherwise, why would he not strike with Tan Wuwei to drive the two away directly?

Not taking action is not due to the Heavenly Monarch's kindness but because he cannot.

This point could not be concealed by the Heavenly Monarch; one who could become the ruler of a faction is no fool.

Even the extreme Taibai True Monarch sensed that the situation was turning unfavorable for the Heavenly Monarch.

"Heavenly Monarch, it's time for you to pay the price," Taibai True Monarch said coldly.

Though he severed his sword, disrupting the Heavenly Monarch's plans, nearly costing him the basics, Taibai True Monarch also paid a great price, harboring deep hatred towards the Heavenly Monarch.

Otherwise, no matter how eloquent or threatening Uncle Jiang might be, it wouldn't have persuaded Taibai True Monarch to act.

However, toward Taibai True Monarch's intent to kill, "Shen Hou" showed no reaction, only indifferently raising the God-beating Whip, "You court death."

With his words, a Divinity-reaching skyward shot through the firmament.

Underfoot on the high platform, two layers of Array Plates emerged and moved up and down.

One layer ascended to midair, aligning with the momentum of the Nine Cauldrons.

Another layer sank beneath the mountains, absorbing the Nine Nether Energy.

Still, another layer gradually manifested above the Nine Heavens, like a passageway connecting to unknown places at the Heavenly Extremes.

The tremendous power shook the mortal world, yellow clouds spreading across the sky, turning the firmament a bright yellow hue.

The Yellow Heaven Dharma Form was about to complete.

······

······

"Hmm?"

In a desolate region of Jingzhou, Sun Wukong raised his head to gaze at the sky dome, "This is... Heaven. So, the Heavenly Monarch and Jiang Li went to Heaven."

Being in Heaven, with the Heavenly Monarch's [Cutting Heaven and Earth Communication] severance, the connection between [I Am the State] and the Great Zhou Territory was entirely lost. Even if Jiang Li had other means to sense Tianshu and others, he couldn't channel the power of the Great Zhou and Buddha Country.

Though there was [Primordial Human] in place, the Heavenly Monarch's Divine Skills were not directly targeting Jiang Li, merely cutting off the connection.

Furthermore······

The longer Jiang Li was absent from the mortal world, the weaker the sealing of the Map of Mountains and Rivers became.

It had relied on Jiang Li's power to maintain it, but as Jiang Li lost connection, the seal began to fracture under the impact of the Great Venerable.

In the unfolding scroll, the Dragon Shadow gradually became clearer, and suddenly—

"Ssss—"

A pair of dragon horns tore through the scroll, followed closely by a human face and a crimson body.

In this extremely subtle moment, the Great Venerable abruptly broke through the seal.