Chapter 502: Journey to the Ancient Heavenly Palace
Tianluo Continent, Dragon Phoenix Pavilion, Dragon Phoenix City
After hearing Mandala's explanation, Xiao Tiance nodded in understanding. As he had expected, a Heavenly Sovereign level expert could not directly enter the Ancient Heavenly Palace. Doing so would trigger the palace's defensive formations, completely sealing that realm.
Decades ago, when the Nine Heavens Corpse Demon Emperor escaped, Xiao Tiance and Qin Tian, along with other powerful experts, had noticed something strange about his condition. At the time, they assumed his strength was diminished due to his prolonged imprisonment. Now, it seemed that wasn't the case.
The Nine Heavens Corpse Demon Emperor, also known as the Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor, had been sealed by the Heavenly Emperor within the Ancient Heavenly Palace. He was a member of the Devouring Demon Clan, one of the thirty two major factions of the Extraterritorial Demon Tribes.
In a sense, the Nine Heavens Corpse Demon Emperor was not a single individual but a fusion of nine demon emperors. These nine demons, seeking ultimate power, merged into one being of unparalleled strength. This terrifying entity became known as the Nine Heavens Corpse Demon Emperor.
In the original storyline, during the Ancient Era, the Nine Heavens Corpse Demon Emperor led a massive invasion of the Ancient Heavenly Palace. The Heavenly Emperor annihilated seven of the nine demons and ultimately sacrificed himself to seal the remaining two.
Xiao Tiance now realized that the Nine Heavens Corpse Demon Emperor active in the present day was merely one of the two demons that had been sealed. The other demon remained trapped within the Ancient Heavenly Palace.
This revelation explained why the strength of the Nine Heavens Corpse Demon Emperor had seemed underwhelming during his escape. According to the original timeline, the Nine Heavens Corpse Demon Emperor was ranked among the top three within the Extraterritorial Demon Tribes, surpassed only by the Evil God and the Saint Heaven Demon Emperor. Even weakened, his power should have exceeded that of the Dark Heaven Demon Emperor.
Xiao Tiance's Proposal to Mandala
With a smile, Xiao Tiance stood and addressed Mandala. "Mandala, would you consider leading the forces of the Great Luo Sky Region to pledge allegiance to my White Jade Capital?"
Mandala was momentarily stunned. After a brief hesitation, she shook her head.
"Thank you, Immortal Sovereign, for your generous offer. I should accept without hesitation, but... perhaps it's my intuition, or something else, but I feel that I still have a mission to fulfill. I must decline your kind proposal."
Xiao Tiance wasn't angered by her refusal. In the original story, Mandala ultimately joined the protagonist Mu Chen's newly founded Mu Mansion, largely due to her mission to watch over Mu Chen on behalf of the Heavenly Emperor. Additionally, Mu Chen inherited the Heavenly Emperor's legacy, making Mandala's loyalty to him akin to remaining within the Ancient Heavenly Palace.
While White Jade Capital was now a massive force, Mandala's rejection was understandable.
**"Very well. I won't force you.
I am about to explore the Ancient Heavenly Palace. Do you wish to accompany me, or..."**
Before Xiao Tiance could finish, Mandala quickly interjected. "Immortal Sovereign, if it's possible, I would like to go with you."
"Alright, let's go."
Arriving at the Ancient Heavenly Palace
Xiao Tiance waved his hand, creating a void passage. Without hesitation, he stepped into it, and Mandala followed closely behind. Moments later, they emerged in the far west of Tianluo Continent.
Mandala's eyes widened in amazement as she recognized the surroundings.
"So fast..." she muttered, stunned by the speed at which they had traversed the continent.
This was the outer boundary of the Ancient Heavenly Palace. Mandala had passed through here during her escape from the palace long ago. Though decades had passed, much of the landscape remained unchanged.
Ahead, Xiao Tiance extended his soul power to survey the area. The space before them was still chaotic, filled with violent fluctuations. These distortions were calming, but their appearance at the same time as Xiao Tiance's arrival seemed to grow increasingly unstable.
When Xiao Tiance took a step forward, the spatial instability intensified, as if it might collapse entirely.
Mandala's Warning
"Wait! Immortal Sovereign, you can't proceed any further. This space can't withstand your aura," Mandala called out urgently.
Her concern wasn't for Xiao Tiance's physical safety but for the potential destruction of the Ancient Heavenly Palace's treasures caused by the spatial turbulence.
Xiao Tiance paused, smiling faintly. "How intriguing... Truly worthy of the Heavenly Emperor's legacy."
He stopped advancing, allowing his spiritual power to swirl within him. A moment later, an identical figure emerged from his body Xiao Tiance's avatar, whose strength had been suppressed to the Earth Sovereign Perfected Stage.
"This is my avatar," Xiao Tiance explained. "Its strength has been restricted to the Earth Sovereign pinnacle. It will accompany you into the Ancient Heavenly Palace."
Mandala nodded respectfully. "Understood, Immortal Sovereign."
With a simple touch, Xiao Tiance activated the avatar, which opened its eyes and turned toward Mandala. "Let's go. The main body will wait for us outside."
A Test of Patience
As the main Xiao Tiance vanished, the chaotic spatial forces began to calm, as if the world itself was attempting to repair the damage caused by his overwhelming presence.
Mandala, watching in awe, remarked, "This is the heavens' natural response to repair fractured space after the Immortal Sovereign departs."
The avatar nodded, fully aware of the phenomenon, and waited patiently for the turbulence to subside.
Once the space stabilized, the avatar smiled slightly and stepped forward. Mandala followed, her small frame buffeted by the residual force of the swirling winds.
"Immortal Sovereign, since the Ancient Heavenly Palace has not yet fully emerged, I can't predict what dangers might lie ahead. If we encounter any threats, please protect me," Mandala requested solemnly.
"Haha, don't worry," the avatar replied, its tone light yet confident. "The formation here restricts my avatar's strength to Earth Sovereign Perfected Stage, but it's more than enough to handle any challenges inside."
The two figures stepped into the Ancient Heavenly Palace, the vast mysteries and treasures of the once great domain awaiting them.
Upon entering the space, the restrictive formations should no longer exist. At that point, the main body's power can flow into this avatar as needed. Even if a Demon Emperor appears, this avatar will ensure your absolute safety." Xiao Tiance's avatar smiled as he spoke.
"Hiss..."
Hearing this, Mandala couldn't help but take another deep breath in astonishment. At this moment, she felt that the strength of someone like Xiao Tiance was truly beyond the comprehension of someone at her level.
"Very well, then. I'll trouble you, Immortal Sovereign." Mandala quickly bowed respectfully.
"Let's go. The space has stabilized. I'll protect you as we proceed." Xiao Tiance's avatar smiled as he stepped forward with Mandala into the chaotic spatial realm.
Chaos Reawakens
As soon as they entered, the previously stabilized spatial forces turned violent once more. The surrounding energy surged toward them, creating a chaotic storm.
Mandala's expression changed drastically. The overwhelming spatial force made her feel as if she might be torn apart in the next moment.
"Buzz!"
Xiao Tiance's avatar stomped his left foot, and in an instant, a protective spatial shield formed around them, enveloping both figures completely.
"Crack! Crack!"
The chaotic spatial forces crashed against the shield, sparks flying upon impact. Despite the relentless assault, the protective shield remained completely unscathed, showing not even the slightest crack.
Seeing Mandala's small mouth agape in astonishment, Xiao Tiance's avatar chuckled and explained:
"This spatial shield is constructed from the main body's spiritual energy. Not only can it withstand these spatial forces, but even the dreaded Void Blades wouldn't be able to breach it."
"Immortal Sovereign, your methods are truly astonishing," Mandala said in awe. Though she hadn't spent much time with Xiao Tiance, she was profoundly impressed by his strength and the mysterious abilities he demonstrated.
Forcing Through the Chaos
"Boom!"
Suddenly, Xiao Tiance's avatar struck forward with a powerful palm. The chaotic spatial energy ahead dispersed instantly, revealing a hastily formed spatial tunnel.
This tunnel wasn't stable enough to allow many travelers, but for the two of them, it was sufficient.
Placing a hand on Mandala's shoulder, the avatar spoke gently: "It's time to go. This tunnel is forcefully constructed and won't last long. We must pass through quickly."
"Understood," Mandala replied.
As they moved, immense spiritual energy surged from both their bodies, creating waves that reverberated through the chaotic surroundings. Even the heavens and earth seemed to tremble at their presence.
Xiao Tiance's avatar grabbed Mandala and swiftly entered the spatial tunnel.
Navigating the Perilous Tunnel
As they traveled deeper, the destructive nature of the shattered space became more apparent. Waves of spatial storms rippled outward, creating a suffocating pressure.
Even within the protective shield, Mandala could feel the oppressive power threatening to tear her spiritual energy from her body.
"Such terrifying spatial forces," Mandala muttered with a grave expression. If this was merely the aftermath, she couldn't imagine surviving the storm directly without the shield.
Ahead, a massive rift appeared in the distance, black as night and stretching like a colossal dragon across the void. The energy emanating from this spatial fissure was enough to make one's scalp tingle.
"Immortal Sovereign, stop! That's a spatial rift!" Mandala shouted in alarm. Her instincts screamed that being swallowed by such a rift would mean certain death.
However, Xiao Tiance's avatar didn't stop. Glancing at the enormous rift, he smiled calmly and said:
"Don't worry. Didn't I already tell you? This shield is constructed from the main body's energy. Unless the power of the rift surpasses the main body's strength, it cannot harm us."
Into the Abyss
Mandala let out a scream as they plunged into the massive spatial rift. Darkness engulfed them like an endless black hole, but as her eyes adjusted, she could faintly make out ancient buildings deep within the shadows. These structures radiated an aura of age and mystery.
Moments later, as they emerged from the rift, the oppressive atmosphere lifted. Ahead of them lay the entrance to the Ancient Heavenly Palace.
"Haha! I thought it would be more difficult, but here we are at the entrance already," Xiao Tiance's avatar laughed heartily.
Mandala, still recovering from the shock, rolled her eyes and snapped: "Immortal Sovereign, do you ever consider how I feel? If we had been swallowed by that rift, you'd be fine, but I'd be dead!"
"Haha, my apologies. I got a little excited," the avatar replied, though his tone showed no genuine remorse.
In truth, his mind was replaying scenes from the original storyline, where Mandala guided Mu Chen to this very place. Now, it seemed the roles were reversed his avatar had taken Mandala's role, while Mandala resembled Mu Chen.
"Hmph!" Mandala huffed in dissatisfaction, though she knew better than to truly offend such a powerful figure.
Breaking Through to the Palace Entrance
"Boom! Boom!"
Xiao Tiance's avatar unleashed two powerful palm strikes. Spiritual energy surged forward in brilliant beams, shattering the lingering spatial storms ahead.
The violent energies gradually subsided, creating a ten meter wide passage. Wasting no time, the avatar forcefully tore through the remaining space and sped forward with Mandala in tow.
Moments later, the environment shifted dramatically. The oppressive atmosphere disappeared, replaced by a serene, balanced realm where the spiritual energy was far denser than in the outside world.
"Swish!"
The avatar stomped, dispelling the protective shield. Looking at the tranquil surroundings, he smiled and said:
"Mandala, it seems we've finally entered the Ancient Heavenly Palace!"
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