Everlasting Immortal Firmament

Book 08 Chapter 030: The World’s First Lifeform, Candle Dragon

Before Long Wanyu’s astonished gaze, Gu Hai produced the Candle Epoch Azure Lamp with a flip of his hand.

This lamp, acquired from the Past Buddha, was initially intended as a gift for the Mosquito Daoist to fulfill a promise. However, Gu Hai had discovered a way for the Mosquito Daoist to break through and helped him reach the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm instead.

The Mosquito Daoist would certainly choose to reach the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm over one of the top sixteen ancient treasures. After all, one’s own strength was the most important thing—what use were material possessions?

However, Long Wanyu did not know of this.

Upon seeing the Candle Epoch Azure Lamp, Long Wanyu gave Gu Hai a strange look. “Brother-in-Law, is there anything you can’t pull out of your pocket?”

Gu Hai smiled wryly in response.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

Suddenly, the darkness outside exerted an immense crushing force, and the Gu’s Immortal Firmament gave off loud crackling.

“How do I use this?” Gu Hai immediately asked.

“Shine the light of the Candle Epoch Azure Lamp, and all the pressure will vanish!” Long Wanyu explained.

“Huh? That simple?” Gu Hai was slightly taken aback.

Although he had many doubts, Gu Hai chose to trust Long Wanyu and gently operated the Candle Epoch Azure Lamp. A small flame ignited in the lamp.

Outside, the Gu’s Immortal Firmament was nearly at its breaking point. Gu Hai stepped out, and Long Wanyu followed, supporting his arm.

“Wanyu, you go back quickly!” Gu Hai urged anxiously.

However, the two had already left the Gu’s Immortal Firmament.

The surrounding darkness remained, but Gu Hai no longer felt pressure.

He put away the Gu’s Immortal Firmament with a flip of his hand and looked around, startled.

The small flame of the Candle Epoch Azure Lamp swayed in the darkness, but all pressure on the pair disappeared where it shone. The Eight Trigram Candle Dragon Ritual Array did not affect them.

“What is this?” Gu Hai asked in amazement.

“It’s indeed the Candle Epoch Azure Lamp, Brother-in-Law. How did you get your hands on such a treasure?” Long Wanyu exclaimed joyfully.

“A fortunate coincidence? Wanyu, you’ve seen this Eight Trigram Candle Dragon Ritual Array before? How did you know the Candle Epoch Azure Lamp could resolve it?” Gu Hai asked curiously.

“I’ve seen it before, and I know that the small flame inside the Candle Epoch Azure Lamp is a spark from the candle in Candle Dragon’s mouth!” Long Wanyu explained.

“What Candle Dragon?” Gu Hai asked, confused.

“Oh, Brother-in-Law, you don’t know? Now that I think about it, most people in the world don’t know. Do you want to know who Candle Dragon is?” Long Wanyu asked with a smile.

“Who?”

“I am the world’s third lifeform; Sa is the second. Candle Dragon is the world’s first lifeform,” Long Wanyu said, reminiscing.

“Oh?” Gu Hai was slightly surprised.

The Six Paths Immortal Firmament’s first lifeform is Candle Dragon?

“Even long after the birth of Candle Dragon, no living beings existed, and the world was devoid of everything. When Candle Dragon opened its eyes, the world turned bright. When Candle Dragon closed its eyes, the world turned dark. Its inhalation was summer, its exhalation winter. It could summon winds and rain and do anything. Candle Dragon often slept, plunging the world into endless night. It held a candle in its mouth to light the world during its slumber,” Long Wanyu recalled.

“It held a lit candle in its mouth?” Gu Hai parroted, astonished.

“Yes, I’ve never seen it, but Sa apparently has. Eventually, Candle Dragon disappeared, and the world changed. The flame of the Candle Epoch Azure Lamp is a spark from Candle Dragon’s candle fire. Although it’s not as fierce as the Solar True Flame, it never dies, lighting up the world. While it is not very powerful, it works wonders in this Eight Trigram Candle Dragon Ritual Array. It’s just like the candlelight from Candle Dragon’s mouth in the past, illuminating everything in the world!” Long Wanyu explained.

Gu Hai held the Candle Epoch Azure Lamp, bewildered.

Candle Dragon’s flame?

Was Candle Dragon the creator of the Six Paths Immortal Firmament? Its open eyes brought light, and its closed eyes, darkness.

“In the past, Fuxi somehow created this ritual array. I’ve had it tested; it’s quite powerful! Eight hundred eighty-eight dragon veins, emulating the power of Candle Dragon!” Long Wanyu exclaimed.

“You’re amazing, knowing even about this Candle Epoch Azure Lamp!” Gu Hai laughed.

“Of course!” Long Wanyu responded proudly.

“Well, since the Candle Epoch Azure Lamp can light our way, let’s go!” Gu Hai said. “Cough! Cough! Cough!”

“Brother-in-Law, let me help you!” Long Wanyu eagerly supported Gu Hai, who nodded.

His injuries from using the Tenth Cycle had not fully healed, and the pressure from the Eight Trigram Candle Dragon Array had aggravated them. Fortunately, he had Mending Heaven Energy continuously healing him.

Long Wanyu happily supported Gu Hai, and they slowly made their way out of Eight Trigram Mountain.

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Borderless Heavenly Capital

Numerous experts intently watched the unnamed hall above the nether river.

The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon has been inside for some time. Why hasn’t he come out yet?

The Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon lost patience and called out in frustration, “Milord! Milord!”

Creak!

Finally, the unnamed hall opened amid great anticipation.

“The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon is out!”

“Did Gu Hai’s deception fail?”

“Borderless Heavenly Capital is doomed! The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon is out; no one can escape! Retreat!”

…

All the onlookers expressed sympathy for the Han Imperial Dynasty.

The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon’s emergence meant Gu Hai’s plot had failed.

Chen Xianer and Long Wanqing showed faces full of worry.

It did not work? The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon came back out?

Consumed with triumph, the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon laughed at Chen Xianer. “Hahahahaha! Do you see that, wretched girl? My lord is here, and none in Borderless Heavenly Capital will escape. Kneel and beg for mercy. I may spare your life!”

Slowly, the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon flew towards the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon.

Everyone held their breath.

“Milord! Milord, hurry and help me! I cannot hold on any longer; my Poison Destroying Golden Light is insufficient!” the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon called out.

However, the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon glanced at the nearby unnamed hall.

Creak!

The doors of the hall suddenly closed.

“Milord, come and help me destroy these arrogant girls!” the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon shouted.

However, the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon just turned to look at him.

“That’s enough. Bellowing Griever, withdraw!” said the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon calmly.

“Huh? Ah!”

The Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon, who was thinking of ten thousand ways to torture Chen Xianer, was stunned by the order to withdraw. Disbelief spread across his face.

“Milord, are you joking? We’re about to destroy Borderless Heavenly Capital, and now we’re withdrawing?” the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon cried out.

The experts outside were equally astonished when they heard what the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon said.

Did I hear wrong? The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon said to withdraw? Why? Why retreat at this moment? Everyone was in disbelief, their eyes fixed on the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon, just like the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon.

“I said, withdraw!” The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon’s voice carried a hint of frustration.

“Withdraw? Milord, how can we withdraw now? We can’t!” the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon protested, not understanding.

Slap!

A crisp slap landed on the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon’s face.

No one saw the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon strike; perhaps it was too fast or invisible, but everyone knew who had slapped him.

That slap seemed to hit the faces of all the experts present.

Silence fell as the experts’ eyes filled with disbelief.

“Yes, Milord. This subordinate deserves death!” said the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon, suddenly terrified and bowing.

He noticed the tone he had used with the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon. Speaking with such a tone would absolutely be seeking death!

That slap had brought him back to his senses.

That was a close call. I hadn’t gone too far.

The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon’s figure faded after the slap. Before disappearing, he glanced once more at the unnamed hall, seemingly dissatisfied.

Whoosh! The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon disappeared.

He left without another word to the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon, who was silenced and dared not linger.

Boom!

The golden net exploded with a loud report. This blasted back the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon.

Whoosh!

The Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon fled, moving millions of kilometers in an instant and disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Gone?

The people of the Heavenly Demon Holy Land just left?

No one knew why, but they understood that the unnamed hall had something to do with it. What is in there that even the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon retreated without hesitation?

Buzz!

Chen Xianer dismissed the poison Great Dao, and Long Wanqing withdrew the nether river.

At this moment, all the observing experts—even Long Wanqing and Chen Xianer—and everyone in Borderless Heavenly Capital appeared extremely shocked and confused.

The enemy retreated just like that? In such a bizarre way?

Everyone looked at the unnamed hall, but no one dared to approach it.

Even the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon had retreated; who would dare enter?

------

Deity Seizing Hall’s entrance:

Jiangchen gazed intently at where the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon had disappeared.

“He really left? Without a second’s hesitation? White Tiger, White Tiger, what did you encounter in that nameless hall?” Jiangchen’s eyes filled with curiosity.

------

Outside Borderless Heavenly Capital, the experts suddenly realized something after their curiosity passed.

“So, Ji Dihong’s contingency plan failed? Borderless Heavenly Capital escaped danger? What about Xuanyuan City?”

“Yes, Xuanyuan City had Gu Hai’s follow-up there. He asked two consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators to attack the city; isn’t Xuanyuan City vulnerable now?”

“Never mind the battle in the void between Gu Hai and Ji Dihong, if Xuanyuan City is broken, won’t Ji Dihong lose?”

“Someone, quickly use a zither puppet to inquire about the situation in Xuanyuan City!”

…

Countless people were desperate to know the outcome of the battle between the heavenly dynasty and the imperial dynasty. Who would emerge as the ultimate victor?

------

Xuanyuan City:

Boom!

A thunderous explosion shook the sky. The Ice Fire Divine Ritual Array shattered, and the tremendous impact shook the entire city.

The ritual array had broken. Two consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators were about to enter the city. Either of them had the power to annihilate Xuanyuan City with a flip of their hands.

Xuanyuan City’s survival hung by a thread.

Panic and terror filled the faces of countless citizens, and the officials were thrown into absolute turmoil.

Guards released volleys of arrows, but these were reduced to dust by the two’s overwhelming auras, unable to get close at all.

“Hahahahaha! Now, what can you do? Bring out what other tricks you have, if you have any!” Xingtian laughed wildly.

His laughter shook space, and many people covered their ears in agony.

Hou Yi glanced at the blessings in the sky and said gravely to Xingtian, “Stop wasting time, Xingtian. Let’s finish this quickly!”

“Alright!” Xingtian shouted.

After shouting, he took out his ax and swung it at Xuanyuan City.

As the ax came down, space was torn asunder. The sheer might of a strike from someone at the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm was unimaginable.

“No!” Emperor Kong and the others wore looks of despair.

The ax was aimed at the palace, specifically the entrance to Xuanyuan Palace Hall, where court assemblies were held. All the officials, including Emperor Kong and Cangjie, were there. Xingtian intended to wipe them all out.

The overpowering force of the ax seemed unstoppable, and the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators were helpless against it. All seemed lost.

The horror confounded Emperor Kong and the others, but Cangjie turned towards Xuanyuan Palace Hall with a bitter expression.

“Your Holy Eminence, I will have to disturb your closed-door cultivation. We have failed your trust and could not defend Xuanyuan City!” he lamented.

Most of the officials were too terrified by the ax’s might to understand, but a few, like Emperor Kong, heard Cangjie’s words. What does he mean?

Your Holy Eminence? Closed-door cultivation?

In their shock, some peeked at Xuanyuan Palace Hall and saw a man in yellow imperial robes step out slowly.

It was none other than Ji Dihong!

Ji Dihong?

“Your…Your Holy Eminence?” Emperor Kong and the others cried out, their voices filled with extreme disbelief.