Ch. 966 - The Administrator, Within Celestial Court

The great doors slowly opened with a thunderous rumble.

First, two massive shadows reflected through the immortal mist.

Everyone looked up, only to see two gigantic beasts stepping out from within. The earth itself trembled in their wake.

These two strange beasts were each over a hundred meters long, their necks alone stretching nearly fifty meters.

Their appearance was bizarre, their heads resembled those of dragons.

On top of their heads grew two horns, their mouths twisted ferociously, and their bean-sized eyes glared coldly.

From their long necks downwards, their bodies were extremely bulky, covered in sharp backward-facing spikes, with scales and plates protecting every inch.

“Desolate Beasts,” Patriarch Shuo said faintly.

“You recognize them?” Xu Zimo asked.

“How could I not? Back when our Blood Rune Race was defeated by the Holy Progenitor, the Desolate Beast Race was among those who helped bring us down,” Patriarch Shuo said bitterly. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been sealed away as a whole race.”

“You still hold resentment?” Xu Zimo smiled.

“I dare not. It is only a lingering pain,” Patriarch Shuo sighed. “There are things you cannot truly understand, but the resentment remains. Still, it is only resentment, nothing more.”

The two Desolate Beasts looked down at the group and spoke in human tongue.

“Human, have you come to claim the legacy of the Ancient Celestial Court?”

“Since I carry the True God Sword, I naturally came to take a look,” Xu Zimo nodded lightly.

“Then how could you mingle with these Blood Rune Beasts?” the Desolate Beasts snorted coldly. “They are sinners.”

“And if I don’t mingle with them, you would not block me?” Xu Zimo asked.

“That cannot be. To enter here, you must first defeat us,” the beasts replied, shaking their heads.

“Then enough nonsense,” Xu Zimo barked. “Go. You three hold them off. That should be no problem, right?”

“Leave it to us,” Patriarch Shuo nodded.

The aura of half-step Nirvana Void erupted in the skies above.

It was as though countless years of pent-up anger had all burst forth at once.

The three Blood Rune warriors charged the two Desolate Beasts without reservation.

The beasts roared in fury, storms surging around them as their boundless beastly might enveloped the entire palace.

Amidst the swirling immortal mist, the Desolate Beasts lunged.

The clash of such power was so overwhelming that even Xu Zimo dared not get too close.

Nirvana Void Realm, or even half-step Nirvana Void, was still far from his current reach.

The battle between them was earth-shaking, shaking the palace to its core, as though the silence of countless years had at last been broken.

The Blood Rune warriors abandoned their human forms, transforming into towering beasts themselves.

As the giants clashed in brutal combat, Xu Zimo seized an opening and darted straight into the palace.

The Desolate Beasts howled in rage, but it was futile.

The three Blood Rune warriors desperately held them back.

…

Beneath his feet and all around him, immortal mist billowed.

Before him stood a series of vast great halls, half-hidden among the clouds.

Each hall was unique.

One radiated endless violet light, stretching three thousand miles across the heavens.

Another was enshrouded in glacial frost, white fog rising, as though ten thousand miles of frozen rivers surged forth.

Others were surrounded by god beasts, azure dragons, white tigers, roars and cries of beasts shaking the skies.

Each hall exuded a distinct aura. Xu Zimo chose the grandest, most imposing hall and walked toward it.

The characters “Buddha Hall” gleamed with brilliance, inscribed upon the golden plaque above.

He placed his hands on the doors of the hall and pushed.

With a booming rumble, the doors swung open, and the interior gradually revealed itself to Xu Zimo’s eyes.

Inside there was no immortal mist. Though countless years had passed, it was still pristine, spotlessly clean.

At the foremost position sat a golden throne.

No one knew what material it was made from. Behind it was the carving of nine dragons spitting out a pearl.

The throne itself was ancient yet majestic. Beneath it, golden springs welled from the earth, releasing rich spiritual energy that slowly revived the hall.

Other than the throne, the entire hall was empty.

It seemed the only adornment was a painting rolled up on the wall.

Xu Zimo glanced around, then approached the painting.

He reached out, slowly untying the string that bound it. With a swish, the scroll unfurled and dropped down.

Before he could see the image clearly, a flash of white light burst out, spiritual energy violently surging.

From within the painting, a man’s illusory figure emerged.

The man clasped his hands behind his back. His hair and beard were white, and he wore a magnificent robe embroidered with flowing clouds.

His expression was gentle, with a faint smile on his face.

If one judged by looks alone, ignoring everything else, this man resembled a refined noble gentleman.

His features were delicate and refined.

Xu Zimo studied him, while the robed man gazed back calmly.

“Successor, welcome to the Ancient Celestial Court,” the man said with a soft laugh.

“You are…?” Xu Zimo asked in surprise. “The Holy Progenitor?”

“No, I am but the administrator of the Ancient Celestial Court, a mere remnant of will,” the man shook his head. “According to the instructions left by the Holy Progenitor, anyone who comes bearing the True God Sword has the right to inherit this Ancient Celestial Court.”

“And the Holy Progenitor himself?” Xu Zimo asked.

The robed man pointed upwards and smiled without speaking.

“Outer Heavens?” Xu Zimo thought for a moment, then understood. He asked, “What remains here in the Ancient Celestial Court now?”

“All have ascended. This place is but an empty shell, less than a tenth of what it once was,” the man answered truthfully.

“Then what use is this Celestial Court to me?” Xu Zimo asked.

“To restore the Celestial Court’s prestige, to command the Primordial Heartlands, to become the recognized ruler of the entire continent,” the man said with a smile.

“No interest,” Xu Zimo waved his hand dismissively, his curiosity fading.

“After the Holy Progenitor ascended, he once returned briefly,” the robed man continued. “He left behind a great hall specifically for the successor.”

“May I see it?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Of course. The Ancient Celestial Court is vast, you may go wherever you wish,” the man nodded.

He raised his right hand, and the void before them rippled.

Xu Zimo felt a strong suction force; his body being pulled into space itself.

When he regained his senses, he stood in another part of the void.

Before him rose a rather simple great hall.

It was entirely pitch black, plain and unadorned, with nothing remarkable about it.

Beside it was a well.

From its depths, thick immortal mist poured forth.

Xu Zimo walked step by step toward the black hall.

Before he could touch it, the hall’s doors opened of their own accord.

Looking inside, the space was not large. Only a single wooden rack stood within.

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