"cut!!"

Qin Mu shouted, and Tian Shu, Luo Wushuang, Zhe Huali, and the Butcher cooperated with Qin Mu, circulating their sword intent. The five people's understanding of the sword dao merged together, and after Qin Mu's adjustment, they actually reached the thirtieth level of the Dao realm!

Furthermore, they are reinforcements, and within Xuandu, the Heavenly Dao will favor them, thus providing an advantage.

In this way, it is clearly at the weaker level of the Celestial Venerable!

Hong Tianzun glanced sideways and said, "Five top swordsmen? Tian Shu Heavenly King under Kaihuang, Luo Wushuang, the former number one divine swordsman of the Heavenly Court, and his disciple Zhe Huali, and the Heavenly Sword of the Yuan Realm... Hmm, the last one, is Mu Tianzun, right?"

"His skill in swordsmanship is second only to Cao Ya."

At this point, Hong Tianzun said regretfully, "It's a pity that you are not Cao Ya, not that Dao Dao Jue Ling, and you don't stand at the very peak of this path, comparable to Tianzun."

After speaking, Hong Tianzun, contrary to his usual demeanor, suddenly turned sinister and terrifying with his kind face, white hair, and white beard.

"If you want to rebel against me, let Cao Ya do it!"

"You...you are simply not qualified!"

Before he finished speaking, the enormous body manifested by the surging power of Hong Tianzun pressed down with a palm, crushing the combined power of the gods of Tianfang City with overwhelming force. Many Venerable Gods, True Gods, Yaochi, the God-Slaying Platform, and even experts from Yujing and Lingxiao were like bubbles, exploding on the spot with a loud bang, blood splattering everywhere!

Even the very few powerful emperors like Di Qing coughed up blood, their auras weakened, some even had their divine bodies shattered, their souls split, their faces pale, and their eyes filled with terror.

Despite their combined efforts, they were utterly defeated and left in a sorry state by a single palm strike from Hong Tianzun.

"Clang!!"

With a crisp sound, Hong Tianzun's hair fluttered like chains of law, radiating divine brilliance. With a seemingly effortless manner, he blocked the sharp blade light unleashed by Qin Mu and his group of five.

"hehe……"

Hong Tianzun's smile was warm and friendly, but to people, it appeared cold and terrifying.

A buzzing sound echoed behind Hong Tianzun's head, the Daoist chants resounding loudly and clearly, as if countless ancient gods were worshipping and praying incessantly.

A burst of light appeared, and a huge halo emerged behind Hong Tianzun's head. Heavenly palaces were revealed, and treasure halls were set off. Together, they formed a very stable structure, with magical power surging and countless auspicious rays.

Although there aren't all thirty-six celestial palaces, there are still thirty-five celestial palaces of various kinds, plus numerous palaces of laws...

[A book-reading app recommended to me by a friend I've known for ten years, Huanyuan App! It's incredibly useful; I use it to read aloud and listen to books while driving or before bed to pass the time. You can download Huanyuan App here.]

At this moment, Hong Tianzun was no less powerful than the ordinary Great Heavenly Court, which only had thirty-six Heavenly Palaces; they were completely on par!

"boom……"

That supreme power emanated and enveloped Xuandu, causing countless gods to tremble in fear.

Even the several celestial beings facing off couldn't help but glance at them.

"Hong Tianzun's foundation is somewhat beyond expectations." Emperor Langxuan frowned, his face darkening.

The number of Heavenly Palaces is not outrageous and meets expectations. The Ten Heavenly Venerables generally have around thirty-two or thirty-three, or thirty-four or thirty-five.

But the sheer number of treasure halls was truly unexpected.

"During the Kaihuang era, Hong Tianzun reaped considerable rewards," Qiang Tianfei sneered.

Many of those palaces represent the Great Dao proposed during the Kaihuang era, which spread throughout the Yuan Realm and then to all other realms.

It is obvious that in the era before Yan Kang, Hong Tianzun had some unknown means to absorb various kinds of knowledge, which led to his transformation and a surge in strength.

"Very strong!" Gong Tianzun's expression was solemn.

These top beings who dominate all realms—the various Celestial Venerables, whether they are the Celestial Venerable Hong Tianzun, Ancestral God King, Fire Celestial Venerable, Hao Tianzun, etc. of the Heavenly Court, or the Kaihuang, Cao Ya, You Tianzun, etc. who rebelled against the Heavenly Court—all have many trump cards that no one could have predicted before they were revealed.

Even though Gong Tianzun was the ancient God King Gong Yun, who was proficient in the Dao of Divine Sense, and had cultivated the Divine Palace system of later generations and reached the pinnacle of the Emperor's Throne, possessing numerous Heavenly Palaces and Treasure Halls, and having reached the realm of the Great Heavenly Court, he was still beginning to learn the Dao Realm system, comprehend the laws and rhythms, and attempt to attain the Dao.

However, Gong Tianzun knew that among a group of Heavenly Venerables, she could only be considered at the bottom. Let alone the top few, she would barely be in the middle, let alone qualify.

Hong Tianzun's current behavior further confirms this point.

"I must be careful and not get injured again. The sword wound from the Kaihuang incident is still there. The Tai Su Goddess's intervention to help me heal must have hidden dangers."

Gong Tianzun's attitude changed again.

“Hong… Ah, the Heavenly Emperor is high above, surveying all the heavens and myriad realms. What reforms or changes can escape his discerning eye? His physical body is limited by the Xuandu Heavenly Dao and cannot learn other methods, but this divided spirit of Hong Tianzun has no such worries and no restrictions.”

Madam Yuanmu thought to herself.

The Heavenly Emperor watches over all realms; the information he possesses is truly vast.

The various martial arts techniques were absolutely beyond their imagination!

"This is really troublesome," Cao Ya murmured. Among the Heavenly Venerables of the Heavenly Court, not to mention the top two, Haotian Venerable and Xiaotian Venerable, Huotian Venerable, Langxuan Divine Emperor, Hongtian Venerable, Yantian Consort, Qiangtian Consort, and Shi Qiluo (Madam Yuanmu) are also exceptionally fierce and ruthless characters, and can be considered in the second tier.

Only the Palace Celestial Venerable, the Ancestral God King, and the Void Celestial Venerable are relatively easier to deal with, belonging to the third tier.

But this is only in comparison to the eight Heavenly Venerables mentioned earlier.

In reality, every Celestial Venerable is extraordinary, a monstrous existence.

As for our side, Qin Mu, as the Celestial Venerable, is still too young and has not yet fully risen to power. Although he is no less than the Emperor Throne and is not weaker than the Four Colored Emperors and the Four Ancient Gods, he is still slightly inferior to the Celestial Venerable at present.

The God King of Langwan is in the third tier.

The Moon Celestial Venerable and the Nether Celestial Venerable are roughly in the second tier. The Earth Lord and the Heavenly Duke are also in the second tier in the outside world, but in the Netherworld and the Mysterious Capital, they are in the first tier.

Kaihuang, however, was truly in the top tier.

Cao Ya is above the first tier, but not quite at the level of the Perfect Heavenly Court.

Yun Tianzun and Ling Tianzun were both killed and are in a state of neither life nor death. Without external help and without the ability to intervene in the outside world, they can only be regarded as deceased.

Even prodigies like Yu Tianzun and Xu Shenghua failed to mature.

Therefore, upon careful comparison, in terms of top-tier combat power at the Celestial Venerable level, forces like Yan Kang are still inferior to the Heavenly Court.

“The prehistoric enlightened beings also placed their bets, which can be considered part of the Heavenly Court,” Cao Ya sighed.

With a five-star high-level combat power, it is not yet capable of eradicating the entire universe of "The Legend of the Shepherd God".

Even at the peak of five-star level, it's not enough.

It has to be at least six stars!

"The road ahead is long and arduous, and the task is heavy." Cao Ya focused his mind, his sword intent surging forth, tearing apart the heavens and earth.

The four Heavenly Venerables opposite were paying attention to the battlefield around them, but their main focus was on being wary of Cao Ya.

Cao Ya's threat is truly too great!

That sharp blade of light would be overwhelming for any Celestial Venerable facing alone, who would be in danger of perishing.

"We must get rid of Cao Ya! Yan Kang of the Yuan Realm will not allow such a powerful existence!" Emperor Langxuan said viciously.

Lady Yuanmu, Consort Qiangtian, and Venerable Gong all nodded.

But no one was willing to be the first to confront Cao Ya head-on.

The previous threats are still fresh in their minds, and they are very wary of them.

"Tianfang City should not exist. Xuandu must be completely controlled by the Heavenly Court." Hong Tianzun said indifferently, and continued to make moves. His power surged, as if a world was pressing down. Heavenly treasures deformed, countless formations twisted, and countless Xuandu gods exploded on the spot, falling to pieces.

"Boom!!"

Under Hong Tianzun's fierce attack, the situation in Tianfang City was dire. The planets surrounding the sky were shattered one after another, turning into dust.

Even the sun was extinguished after all its energy was drained, the moon shattered and fragments scattered throughout Xuandu and all the myriad realms, and the vast and boundless Milky Way trembled for a moment.

The ancient city of Tianfang, which has existed for hundreds of millions of years, was struck by an earthquake and met its end.

Countless creatures howled and fled in all directions, but they could not escape the great hand of Hong Tianzun.

The slight aftershocks caused the deaths of hundreds of millions of lives, turning them to dust along with the surrounding city walls and buildings.

Immediately, cries of anguish resounded, and wails filled the air.

Di Qing was severely injured, his face was pale, and he was completely distraught.

"I am a sinner... a sinner of Xuandu..." Di Qing murmured. If only he hadn't underestimated his enemy and had heeded the advice of Tian Shu and the other four...

Those countless civilians could have avoided such heavy casualties!

"I underestimated the Celestial Venerable... How could an existence standing at the pinnacle of all realms be an ordinary emperor? He should have been taken very seriously..."

Di Qing coughed up blood. Witnessing the destruction of Tianfang City and the fall of countless lives, the pain, guilt, and self-blame overwhelmed him almost instantly!

"Di Qing, what are you doing? The survivors of Xuandu still need your help! Lead them to escape Xuandu! To the Yuan Realm!" a god roared.

Di Qing awoke as if from a dream, only to see Tian Shu and four other reinforcements, led by the young man, their blades piercing the air and aimed at Hong Tianzun.

"That person is... Mu Tianzun? I wronged him!" Di Qing blamed himself.

"Heavenly King Tian Shu, Heavenly Venerable Mu, please protect the survivors and lead them away from Xuandu!"

Di Qing shouted loudly, roared, and burned his divine soul and essence blood as he charged towards Hong Tianzun.

"Old man Hong, die!" Di Qing roared and self-destructed. The power of an Emperor-level expert's explosion was terrifying. Even if it couldn't injure a Heavenly Venerable, it could at least slow him down.

"For Xuandu!"

Countless gods roared in defiance, risking their lives to charge towards Hong Tianzun.

"Bang bang bang!!!"

The chaotic divine power of various self-destructions stirred the void, causing Hong Tianzun to frown.

In the end, even the Heavenly Treasure was detonated by the Emperor's Throne expert of Xuandu with a ruthless heart.

Upon seeing this, Hong Tianzun's expression darkened.

"Those who reap what they sow will not live. Heavenly army, heed my command! Annihilate all remaining Xuandu traitors! Leave no survivors!" Hong Tianzun said coldly, his voice imbued with divine power, echoing throughout the entire Xuandu.

Qin Mu's eye twitched. He knew that Tianfang City was finished. Without the gods of Yujing, Lingxiao, and the Emperor's Throne, the five of them alone could not possibly withstand Hong Tianzun.

"Go!" Qin Mu shouted, taking the few survivors of Tianfang City with him and bringing them into his cave world, disappearing in an instant.

"Heavenly Lord Shepherd, are you determined to be my enemy?"

Hong Tianzun recognized Qin Mu. Although his steps forward were blocked by the self-destruction of many gods and Heavenly Dao soldiers, his gaze was not affected and he saw Qin Mu and the others.

"You can't escape! Even if you do, it's just a minor ailment, nothing to worry about," Hong Tianzun said indifferently.

He transmitted his voice to Xuandu, which was both an order and a temptation, saying, "Crush Xuandu, this is your chance to make a name for yourself. The Heavenly Court will not interfere with the wealth you plunder or the slaves you capture."

The Heavenly Army, which had followed the Celestial Venerables into Xuandu, all had their eyes light up upon hearing this.

"kill!!!"

The various military commanders roared and led their troops to plunder Xuandu, preferring to kill the innocent rather than let the guilty go free!

Whether they are gods or mortals, ancient gods, demigods, or beings born after death, all living creatures that come into view, as long as they do not belong to the Heavenly Court, are dealt with ruthlessly and coldly.

They were either killed or captured and enslaved.

“Hong Tianzun is truly ruthless! He is clearly a divine being from the Heavenly Court, yet he treats the entire Xuandu as a pasture, and the billions of living beings as if they were ants, as if their deaths were not worth mentioning.”

Cao Ya narrowed his eyes and glanced at the Heavenly Emperor, who was controlled by the Heavenly Dao and was fighting against two divine artifacts, the Imperial Heavenly Venerable and the Ancestral God King. His eyes were somewhat cold.

If Xuan Du were not an ally of Yan Kang, and if the Heavenly Duke were not an important member in the fight against the Eleven Heavenly Venerables—including Lady Yuan Mu, there are exactly eleven Heavenly Venerables in the Heavenly Court—he would not have come here.

The Xuandu disaster was clearly a tragedy orchestrated by Heaven itself!

"If the Heavenly Emperor could take one or two Heavenly Venerables with him before he died, then there would be no need to resurrect him."

Cao Ya thought for a moment and then contacted Qin Mu telepathically.

These cold-blooded creatures, who could readily abandon all living beings for a single scheme, are now resurrected and live in constant fear, always wary that the heavens might imitate their actions.

It would be better to let him die!

What's the point of being resurrected?

"stop!"

Qin Mu traversed the void, avoiding Hong Tianzun, and saved many survivors of Xuandu.

With the combined strength of the five and the blessing of the Heavenly Dao, they were roughly equivalent to weak Heavenly Venerables, somewhere between the Four Ancient Gods and a normal Heavenly Venerable. They were not weak, and were qualified to stir up trouble in the chaotic battle of Xuandu.

Several of the main Heavenly Venerables of the Heavenly Court were intercepted.

Cao Ya was therefore preoccupied and had no time to spare.

The four celestial beings harbor ill intentions and are watching him with predatory intent. He must be fully prepared to guard against them, as the slightest carelessness could lead to extremely serious consequences.

Without his restraint, the four Celestial Venerables would be free to act, and that would be the greatest disaster!

Qin Mu paused for a moment upon hearing this.

Another of the Heavenly Emperor's spirits entered his inner brow world and, together with Tu Bo and other ancient gods, gave him guidance and instruction on many occasions.

He's practically an elder.

"The Heavenly Emperor is Hong Tianzun, and Hong Tianzun is the Heavenly Emperor. We're going to save him... Ha! He's asking for death himself. What the hell are we saving him for!" Luo Wushuang cursed.

"Heaven is born in accordance with the Way of Heaven, and should be completely impartial and selfless..." The butcher shook his head.

Even if any living organism is perfectly just at the beginning, it will still gradually degenerate over time.

Especially when they have obvious desires!

"This is Xuandu, not Yankang. We don't need to risk our lives," Zhehuali snorted.

“You are the Celestial Shepherd, and we made this special trip because of your invitation… So, you should make the decision.” Tian Shu said, looking at Qin Mu with great trust.

The butcher was Qin Mu's elder, having watched him grow up and taught him since childhood, so naturally he had no objections.

Luo Wushuang and Zhe Huali grumbled a few words, but didn't object.

They trust Qin Mu just as much as he does!

But this very trust weighed heavily on Qin Mu's heart.