Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter 753 Catastrophe (Part Two)

Soaring into the clouds, before the nine-story Ascension Platform.

From a distance, it looked like a two-story pavilion. Although it was somewhat unusual, it could only be considered an ordinary official pavilion.

Upon closer inspection, one discovers something extraordinary. One feels only its grandeur and magnificence, and one's own insignificance.

It's not that the Ascension Platform is too small at all.

It's just that from a distance, the light from the main hall only reaches the second floor of the high platform.

Standing in front of the Ascension Platform, you can look up and see the pitch-black night sky, the faint moonlight, and the dim stars.

Here, a square opening appears in the top of the palace. Through the opening, one can see the towering Ascension Platform reaching into the clouds. It is covered with many yellow symbols, which flutter and rustle in the night breeze.

Strangely, neither wind nor sound could penetrate into the main hall; it was as if an invisible membrane was preventing their transmission.

The Ascension Platform has nine levels, each level being smaller than the last. By the ninth level, the view is so blurry that nothing can be seen clearly with the naked eye.

"Sheng'er, when did you become so ill-mannered? Why didn't you report to my Tongtian Palace beforehand when you came here in the middle of the night?" On the ninth floor of the high platform, a tall figure sat on the throne, appearing and disappearing in the distance.

"It's been a long time. I've been thinking of you constantly and worried about your health. In my haste, I acted impolitely. I hope you will forgive me, Father." Tantai Sheng took a deep breath and called out loudly to the figure.

The content of his words was the same as usual, but the way he addressed his father quietly changed from "Emperor" to "father".

The figure noticed this as well and chuckled twice. "My health is perfectly fine; I don't need your visit. But you, bringing so many people... Is it because I'm dead that you'll have your wish fulfilled?"

"Your son dares not! Your son only hopes that Father will take good care of his health and be in good health!" Tantai Sheng raised his head, his gaze fixed on the figure, his expression calm.

"Father, you haven't attended court for years, and no one cares about state affairs. The petitions for aid from various states are piling up... The nation is declining day by day, and the people are suffering... These scenes pain me deeply. However, treacherous officials are in power at court, deceiving Father. I have no choice but to risk my life, willing to sacrifice my own safety for peace in the world!"

His voice was clear and loud, slowly echoing throughout the entire hall.

Many people behind him nodded in agreement.

For hundreds of days, Emperor Xuanwen did not handle a single matter of state, indulging in immortality elixirs and taking pills that made him immune to all diseases. If not for this, given his prestige, Tantai Sheng would not have been able to gain so much support.

With a wave of his hand, most of the court changed course and supported Tantai Sheng's ascension to the throne.

"So what?" Emperor Xuanwen said disdainfully, "Is this your reason for committing patricide and violating human ethics?"

"If Father were to voluntarily abdicate and become an emperor emeritus, enjoying his later years in peace, wouldn't that be a win-win situation?" Tantai Sheng said with a smile.

"What a rebellious son! He truly is my son!" Emperor Xuanwen's expression shifted. "I fear that after I agree, I will pass away the very next day due to old age, frailty, and illness."

"Father, you flatter me," Tantai Sheng said with a smile. "I consider myself to be much kinder. If you don't believe me, you can ask my second brother and third sister. Even if their bloodline is separated, I, as the eldest brother, still preserve their lives. Unlike you, Father, none of my uncles and aunts were spared."

"To be separated from one's bloodline, to be powerless, to not even be able to decide what one eats—is that kindness?"

Emperor Xuanwen chuckled: "Don't think I don't know about the Red Mansion you secretly built. Gathering those bloodless clansmen together, using them as breeding tools to increase the clan's population... Do you think this will change your destiny?"

“We should at least give it a try,” Tantai Sheng said earnestly. “This dark, corrupt, and disgusting family… I swore an oath when I was a child… to make a change… and now…”

A flame suddenly ignited in his eyes, a raging fire of intense hatred and a complex mix of emotions.

"Family, court, the world... the Great Xuan dynasty needs a revolution, a great fire to burn away all darkness and decay, to sweep away the old and rotten, to bleed and drain the flesh, so that the Great Xuan may be completely renewed! And I am the one who carries the torch for all!!!"

“Good idea. But…” Emperor Xuanwen suddenly stood up, appearing at the edge of the platform. Compared to Tantai Sheng, he was slightly thinner, with a sickly pale complexion and strands of gray hair mixed in with his black hair, clearly indicating that he was not young.

She just takes good care of herself and still looks like a middle-aged person.

“However, your bloodline concentration is still not high enough... According to the rules of inheritance, you must maintain the sealed bloodline power for at least a hundred years before you can take over the throne.” Emperor Xuanwen’s expression was indifferent, seemingly somewhat bored.

"The significance of the Red Mansion's existence... is to resolve the fate of the Tantai family..." Tantai Sheng said calmly. "As long as there are enough people living in the Red Mansion, even if the concentration is low, they can gather together to maintain the seal on the passage."

From my generation onward, future members of the Tantai family will no longer need to kill each other, brothers and sisters. This useless fate, which only increases conflict, will thus come to an end.

"From what you're saying, you've made all the necessary preparations?" Emperor Xuanwen's face flashed with interest. "But have you considered this... how can you ascend the throne without my final decision? Are you planning to resort to force?"

Swish...

A faint golden light enveloped the Ascension Platform, and golden dragon-shaped phantoms rose into the air one after another, flying around, colliding and crashing, some shattering and shrinking, and others devouring and growing larger.

Dragon veins, dragon energy.

This is a method of defense unique to emperors.

Even if several enemies at the Venerable level invaded, as long as they were within the territory of the Great Xuan, they would not be able to kill Emperor Xuanwen.

The dragon's aura covers an area, and in the blink of an eye, it can seal off space and time, suppressing all external invasions.

Even though Emperor Xuanwen himself had not trained for many years and had no experience in fighting enemies, he used all his bloodline power to lock the passage.

With the help of the Dragon Vein Formation, it is equivalent to a terrestrial deity, capable of suppressing the nation's destiny.

It has been the means of safeguarding the nation that the Great Xuan Kingdom has relied on for so many years since its founding.

The only drawback.

It simply cannot prolong life.

The dragon's energy permeates the body, dispelling all foreign forces.

The person who inherits the throne can at most live to a ripe old age without illness or disaster.

"You think you can break the Dragon Qi Formation? Naïve! I believe you are qualified to inherit the throne, but it's not the right time! Leave now, and I'll forgive you." Emperor Xuanwen said calmly, "As long as I'm alive, you won't succeed!"

“Father, then I’m sorry…” Tantai Sheng had already anticipated this, and slowly drew his long sword.

*Sizzle*

A strange longsword gleaming with a faint black light appeared.

The sword's blade was curved, forming an irregular rhombus shape, resembling more the scales of some creature than a sword. At that moment, a thin, blood-red line lit up from the hilt, shooting straight up the blade and igniting like a gunpowder fuse.

“The bloodline weapon of Hongchou… can only be maintained for a limited time… it cannot be wasted…” Tantai Sheng gently raised the long sword in his hand.

Everything in the world, if it is born, will die.

The principle of mutual generation and mutual restraint is an eternal truth.

Ultimately, the Dragon Vein Formation originates from the hearts and minds of the common people.

Where the people's hearts are directed, that's where the dragon's energy will be directed.

Popularity gathers, shaping the nation's destiny. The dragon veins converge, transforming into dragon energy.

With the Yuanxu Breaking Forbidden Sword, Fan Hongchou used his own bloodline and divine weapon as a guide to capture those who were extremely dissatisfied with and hated the imperial court. He tortured them day and night to deepen their hatred and melt their flesh and soul into hatred.

The final creation was a forbidden weapon. The formation of this sword absorbed countless resentments, hatred, and grievances…

These existences... are actually a form of popularity.

It's just two sides of the same coin.

One side is good, the other is evil.

One side is hope, the other is hatred.

Naturally, it shares the same origin as the dragon's energy.

Therefore, this is the greatest restraint of the Dragon Vein Formation, which is also the "reverse scale"!

All eyes were focused on Tantai Sheng's hands.

The Abyss Void Breaking Sword slowly emitted wisps of black light from its blade.

When the black light touched the dragon vein formation, it spontaneously dodged and made way for it, like flowing water.

However, no one could discover it.

The night outside grew ever deeper and darker. The thick curtain of darkness curved and obscured the sky.

All the light.

Firelight, starlight, and moonlight were all swallowed by darkness. As if they were alive, the entire imperial city was transformed into the deepest night.

Swish! ! !

As the Abyss Void Sword fell, its pitch-black blade resembled a key to unlock hell. With each inch it slashed, a black crack emanating an extremely ominous aura would appear in the void.

The dragon vein was wailing, trembling, and collapsing. Vast amounts of dragon energy dissipated, and the illusory golden dragon let out a painful howl as its body crumbled and disappeared bit by bit.

Emperor Xuanwen smiled.

His laughter was strange and eerie.

It was as if his entire face had frozen into a smile, like a mask, a smile that was beyond his control.

A faint smile, a chilling smile. Wisps of black gas emanated from his body, connecting to an unknown region in the night.

These black gases look somewhat similar to the gases that flew out after Fan Hongchou died.

Snap...

There was clearly no sound.

Strangely, in everyone's mind, the entire Great Xuan territory...

Even people who are asleep.

I even heard a crisp sound in my dream. It sounded like a protective film shattering.

The entire dragon vein formation completely collapsed and exploded.

Tantai Sheng's face... also gradually turned pale and unpleasant.

At that moment, countless stars suddenly lit up in the night sky, twinkling like eyes that were secretly watching and drooling.

The large stars in the sky seemed to be falling from the heavens, their starlight dazzling. Although they were black halos, they were able to be distinguished from the blackness of the night sky, which was very eerie.

suddenly.

In the pitch-black night, a black star suddenly moved, like a baby being shed from its mother's womb, slowly sliding down and falling.

……………

……………

"So, you really can predict the future? Or is it just a simple, rationalized conjecture based on various clues and intelligence?"

Black Miasma Mountain.

Han Yi's expression was strange, and the way he looked at Tantai Xunzhen was also somewhat strange.

It didn't look like looking at a person, but rather like looking at some kind of rare and precious treasure.

“Yes… it is indeed the literal meaning of precognition.” Tantai Xunzhen explained helplessly, “The Lingji Jade on my body is a bloodline weapon passed down to me by my mother. It has the function of precognition and can briefly see what will happen in the future.”

"So, you know that Fan Hongchou is bound to die? And that I will definitely cooperate with you?" Han Yi's expression became increasingly strange.

"To be honest, I didn't foresee Fan Hongchou's death. The future holds many possibilities, and his death accounted for the vast majority. A failed future was also possible," Tantai Xunzhen said frankly. "As for cooperation..."

She looked Han Yi up and down a few times, then clicked her tongue twice.

"Does this even need to be predicted? If you want to get rid of your troubles and kill Fan Hongchou, do you have any other choice but to agree to cooperate?"

“That’s true…” Han Yi touched his nose and fell silent for a moment.

"You're quite honest... telling the truth in such detail...aren't you afraid I'll steal the Spirit Jade?"

Tantai Xunzhen shook his head: "I see many, many futures... anyone might want to seize the Spirit Jade, but not you. So..."

She paused for a moment, then said, "I trust your character."

Before Han Yi could ask any more questions, she continued.

"Besides, do you think the Spirit Jade is so easy to steal? Only people with similar bloodlines to mine can use it. To put it more specifically, only people from my maternal lineage have the potential to activate it. Once the Spirit Jade recognizes its owner, there's no way to take it away except by forcing the holder to voluntarily transfer it."

Otherwise, wouldn't Fan Hongchou have already tried to steal it? He knows it's useless to steal it, so he wouldn't waste his time. Besides…”

Tantai Xunzhen paused, then sighed, "Do you think using the Spirit Jade... comes without a price?"

She tossed her hair, revealing a large patch of gray hair that had been deliberately hidden at the base of her head.

"And you wouldn't think of a divine weapon with precognitive abilities..."

"...Using it would be completely costless... The more powerful it is, the more troublesome it becomes. Predicting trends requires more source energy, and lifespan will also be affected."

"I see..." Han Yi roughly understood.

Looking at it this way, the so-called precognitive abilities of the Spirit Jade aren't actually that practical.

The more complicated and distant the thing you want to predict, the more cost you will naturally have to pay.

Furthermore, even if one were to make a prediction, the result would still include many possible outcomes.

The moment things actually happen, there's a possibility of a reversal, leading to an unexpected outcome.

It wasn't the kind he initially wanted.

With a simple calculation, one can know the past and the future, spanning five thousand years of history.