Chapter 801: The Ancient Heavenly Palace
The Boundless Tribulation of Calamity, once merely a Supreme Divine Ability, had undergone a profound transformation after the Calamity Branch of Xiao Ze's Source Tree was refined.
Now, Xiao Ze no longer needed the Supreme Dharma Body to unleash this ability, and its destructive power had reached terrifying new heights.
By his estimation, its strength was now comparable to one of the 36 Supreme Divine Abilities, though there were variations even among these legendary techniques.
Abilities such as One Qi Transforming into Three Pure Ones were so exceptional that even at the Dominion Realm, Mu Chen had relied on it during pivotal moments. Yet, other abilities among the 36 such as the Eightfold Pagoda, refined by the Pagoda Ancestor from the power of countless Demon Emperors didn't have quite the same brilliance.
While Xiao Ze's Boundless Tribulation of Calamity might not rival the best of the 36, it was already on par with many of them.
The swirling calamity energy in his hands shimmered in purple and blue hues, the darkness within deepening as though it were a fragment of true tribulation clouds.
"If each Source Branch refinement grants me a divine ability comparable to the 36 Supreme Divine Abilities..." Xiao Ze mused, his tone filled with anticipation, "...then my combat power will ascend to an unprecedented level."
"With two supreme abilities at my command, even without leveraging my expertise as a Battle Array Master, I could take on an Immortal Heavenly Sovereign while still in the mid tier of the Spiritual Heavenly Sovereign Realm!"
Xun'er's Breakthrough
Suddenly, a surge of power emanated from the northern region of Xiao Ze's personal dimension. His expression brightened.
"Xun'er has broken through."
Dispersing the calamitous energy in his hands, Xiao Ze immediately flashed toward the source of the energy.
Xun'er's eyes fluttered open, brilliant golden light pouring from her gaze and illuminating the sky. A radiant aura of strength surrounded her as she tested her newfound power.
Turning to Xiao Ze, her lips curved into a playful smile.
"Brother Xiao Ze, this is the strength of... a Supreme?"
Xiao Ze nodded, his smile encouraging. But before he could speak further, Xun'er's gaze turned mischievous.
"Brother Xiao Ze, take this!"
Golden flames the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame swirled into her palm. The fire coiled like a golden serpent, responding fluidly to her thoughts. With a playful flourish, she launched an attack, her figure darting toward him.
Despite the ferocity of her strike, Xiao Ze stood motionless, making no effort to dodge or block.
Seeing his calm demeanor, Xun'er's eyes widened in panic, and she immediately tried to pull back her power.
"No need to hold back. Go ahead," Xiao Ze said reassuringly, his voice steady.
With a soft thud, Xun'er's palm, wreathed in blazing golden flames, struck Xiao Ze's chest. The full force of the attack, along with the destructive flames, erupted at the point of impact.
Yet, Xiao Ze remained completely unharmed.
"How... how is this possible?" Xun'er asked in disbelief.
Xiao Ze chuckled softly. "A Heavenly Sovereign becomes one with the world. Any attack directed at their body is dispersed across the surrounding heavens and earth."
As he explained, Xiao Ze gently took Xun'er's hand, pulling her close into a warm embrace. He whispered into her ear, his voice low and comforting.
"This is the true power of the Supreme Realm."
Feeling the warmth of his breath against her ear, Xun'er's cheeks turned crimson, the blush spreading all the way to her delicate ears.
"Brother Xiao Ze..."
Xiao Ze couldn't help but laugh at her reaction, tousling her hair affectionately before stepping back to give her space. Though they had been married for some time, Xun'er's shy nature made moments like this particularly endearing.
As Xiao Ze's thoughts wandered to his other companions, successive energy surges rippled through the dimension.
"It seems everyone has succeeded in breaking through to the Supreme Realm," Xiao Ze remarked with a smile.
A United Advancement
With a wave of his hand, Xiao Ze summoned Medusa, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qing Lin to join him and Xun'er. The four figures appeared instantly, their faces glowing with joy at their accomplishments.
Having reached the Supreme Realm, they felt a renewed sense of closeness to Xiao Ze, though his rapid progress had long since left them in awe.
For Xun'er, Medusa, and the others, the desire to catch up with Xiao Ze's incredible pace had fueled their efforts.
"Well done," Xiao Ze praised. "Now that you've reached the Supreme Realm, it's time to consider suitable Supreme Dharma Bodies for each of you."
The four nodded eagerly, fully aware of the importance of a Dharma Body in shaping their future paths.
"For now, rest. Cultivation requires balance too much strain can lead to instability."
As they dispersed, Xiao Ze considered involving them in managing the Source Realm. However, their strength remained insufficient to handle its complexities, especially compared to veterans like Mandala.
The Call of the Heavenly Palace
Not long after, Xiao Ze received news that the Ancient Heavenly Palace had emerged in the Western Region of Tianluo Continent.
"Finally," he murmured, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Informing Mandala of the development, Xiao Ze quickly made arrangements. Once everything was in place, he enveloped Mandala in his spiritual energy, and the two sped toward the palace at an astonishing pace.
The journey took mere moments for a Heavenly Sovereign of Xiao Ze's caliber. As they approached the Western Region, the familiar sensation of an ancient presence washed over Mandala.
Her golden eyes shimmered with anticipation.
"At long last... will I finally meet you, Heavenly Emperor?" she whispered, her voice tinged with reverence and hope.
Before them lay a realm of shattered space, where ancient structures faintly emerged from the void. The aura of the Heavenly Palace exuded power and majesty, as though it had stood unyielding for countless eras.
Xiao Ze's gaze sharpened as he stepped forward.
"The Ancient Heavenly Palace... I've come."
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