Mu Changqing’s expression shifted to one of shock upon seeing the elder's true face.
“It’s you, Elder Yuanxiu.”
Mu Changqing was indeed surprised. Elder Yuanxiu had lived for countless ages.
His exact origin was unknown.
It was only known that as long as records of time existed, his figure had been present in the world.
He was considered a highly respected elder. During the Emperor's Fall era, even Immortal Emperors showed him a certain degree of respect.
His true strength was unknown.
No one had ever seen him make a real move.
However, Mu Changqing knew that his strength was no weaker than an ordinary Immortal Emperor.
But the reason Elder Yuanxiu was respected by the many Immortal Emperors of the Emperor's Fall was partly due to his unknown strength.
More importantly, his knowledge spanned across ancient and modern times, knowing everything and understanding all things.
He could be considered the one among post-natal beings who understood the world and all its phenomena the most.
Mu Changqing and Elder Yuanxiu had met a few times. Their interactions were not deep.
Elder Yuanxiu had also shown kindness to Mu Changqing. His greatest kindness was revealing information about pre-natal beings.
Later, Mu Changqing, based on various clues, discovered the truth.
This, in turn, led to the horrific war of the Emperor's Fall.
Mu Changqing stood with his hands behind his back. It would be a lie to say he felt no emotion.
Seeing an old acquaintance, his heart inevitably stirred with a few ripples of emotion, not much, but some.
“Emperor Burial, you are truly becoming more terrifying, more inscrutable. You’ve already stepped into that realm, haven’t you?”
Elder Yuanxiu smiled, his expression serene, as if conversing with an old friend.
The Heavenly Emperor and the others felt a slight sense of relief upon seeing this.
Such a situation likely meant Mu Changqing would not continue to attack them.
Mu Changqing let out a soft chuckle, his eyes emitting wisps of purple mist, his black hair fluttering in the wind as he observed Elder Yuanxiu.
It was not unexpected that Elder Yuanxiu had not perished.
During that battle, his target was Immortal Emperors and those below.
Mu Changqing had not made a move.
Elder Yuanxiu had not participated in the war, thus naturally escaping disaster.
Given his unique nature, it was not strange for him to live to this era.
In fact, during the Emperor's Fall era, many old monsters had sealed themselves in divine sources and slept underground.
They had revived in this era and returned to the world.
However, Mu Changqing had not paid them much attention.
He, in his current state, had no interest in post-natal beings.
Only pre-natal beings were qualified to be considered his opponents.
“You flatter me. Elder Yuanxiu, why are you in the Heavenly Court? Is the establishment of the Heavenly Court related to you? Are you involved in the machinations of the pre-natal beings?”
Mu Changqing spoke.
Although Elder Yuanxiu was ancient and possessed some strength,
in Mu Changqing’s eyes, Elder Yuanxiu was not qualified to participate in the game of pre-natal beings.
Elder Yuanxiu heard this and a look of self-satisfaction appeared on his face, as if Mu Changqing’s words were true and he was one of the players.
Clearing his throat, Elder Yuanxiu’s aura gradually returned, the aura of decline and death receding.
It was replaced by an unfathomable, continuous, and lingering aura.
“Participate in the game? I am merely assisting a certain lord, I wouldn’t call it participating. As for the Heavenly Court? I did indeed establish it after the Emperor's Fall.”
Elder Yuanxiu’s confidence had returned, as if he were back in the Emperor's Fall era.
He appeared amiable, but his eyes carried a subtle hint of disdain.
It was as if all things in heaven and earth were within his grasp.
Mu Changqing’s pupils flickered slightly, the smile on his face imperceptibly fading, and his aura grew progressively cold.
In truth, during the Emperor's Fall era, he did not like Elder Yuanxiu.
Even though he had once offered him guidance.
But that was merely a minor convenience for his own schemes.
What Mu Changqing truly disliked was people who acted profound in front of him.
No matter who it was, they deserved to die.
Elder Yuanxiu did not notice Mu Changqing’s subtle shift and continued to speak eloquently.
He recounted his legendary past and how formidable he was.
Mu Changqing did not interrupt, but listened quietly.
The Heavenly Emperor and the others rejoiced.
They had not expected Elder Yuanxiu to possess such deterrent power, actually preventing the feared Emperor's Fall taboo from acting further.
“My heavens, who is this divine being that can prevent the Emperor's Fall taboo from continuing his actions?”
“Naturally, a being more powerful than the Emperor's Fall taboo. Look, Emperor Burial doesn’t dare to interject.”
“And they talk about Emperor's Fall taboo, he’s not as terrifying as the rumors suggest, just so-so.”
At this moment, the cultivators below began to discuss amongst themselves, their previously tense and fearful hearts gradually relaxing.
Yuan Datou, somewhat dazed, rubbed his bald head and muttered to Zhang Fanchen.
“Brother Zhang, when the Lord doesn't smile, I always feel a chill in my heart.”
Zhang Fanchen’s expression was solemn, and he nodded in agreement.
“I feel like that old man is going to die a miserable death.”
“Perhaps… we should slip away.”
“It’s getting tense, let’s scram!”
The two quietly slipped away. Some spectacles, if one lacked the strength, would only turn them into tragic characters within the drama.
…
“Emperor Burial, let this matter be dropped. The Heavenly Court will no longer pursue the matter of Gu Feng, how about it?”
Elder Yuanxiu stroked his gray beard and said with a smile.
Mu Changqing’s expression was now blank, and he slowly raised his head, his eyes emitting an eerie purple-blue light.
Behind him, the heavens turned dark, the sun and moon lost their luster, and the world fell silent.
“Yuanxiu, what are you saying? I didn’t hear clearly. Say it again.”
A deathly silent wind swept through the Heavenly Court, rustling Mu Changqing’s thick, purple-glowing hair, his black robe flapping.
His tone was icy, his demeanor indifferent.
Elder Yuanxiu was slightly stunned by this.
Then, his ancient eyes narrowed, his aura faintly spread, and strands of golden light emanated from his body, exuding the aura of a Quasi-Immortal Emperor.
At this moment, Elder Yuanxiu revealed his cultivation.
He was merely a Quasi-Immortal Emperor, one step away from transcending and becoming an supreme Immortal Emperor.
His expression was dignified as he spoke.
“Emperor Burial, although you have escaped the post-natal chessboard, do you truly understand how terrifying the pre-natal supreme beings hidden behind this are? Do you really think the Lord of Light is very strong among the pre-natal supreme beings? He doesn’t even rank high.”
Elder Yuanxiu did not know that Mu Changqing had already clashed with pre-natal beings.
He had even faced the Ancestor of Humans and the Ancestor of Demons, who were known to be at the ancient origin creation level, the strongest known pre-natal level, and had not feared them.
Mu Changqing heard this, shook his head, and couldn’t help but chuckle. His expression then grew even colder, an indescribable, overbearing aura flowing around him.
He exuded invincible confidence, like a divine being overseeing the vast earth, his presence supreme.
“Yuanxiu, on what grounds do you think you can speak to me as an equal? Because you have lived long? Or because you once offered me guidance? In my life, I fear nothing. A mere Quasi-Immortal Emperor acting presumptuously before me, you are courting death.”
Mu Changqing let out a cold roar, the heavens and earth darkened, the myriad realms trembled, as if the end times had arrived.
The sun and moon lost their luster, and fear instantly engulfed the entire Heavenly Realm. All beings trembled. Except for the Immortal City and the Heavenly Court, other beings were unaware of what had happened.
Under his cold roar, all cultivators below the Immortal King realm in the Immortal City exploded and perished, turning into blood mist and void.
This was because they could not withstand the mere leakage of Mu Changqing’s pressure.