CHAPTER 935: CHAPTER 954: SHAKING THE MOUNTAIN TO STARTLE THE TIGER

Outside the Thirty-Three Heavens, the Eight Scenic Palace!

Daode Tianzun Laozi had just entered the Eight Scenic Palace, when his body staggered slightly, unexpectedly falling off the green bull, and a thin thread of golden holy blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

"Senior brother?"

This scene immediately caused Yuanshi Tianzun’s expression to change drastically, his entire being became stunned and speechless, and his gaze towards Laozi was filled with extreme shock.

"What a Ye Xuan, his battle armor actually contains the Power of Silence Annihilation!"

Laozi sat cross-legged, strands of Dao light emanating, while a faint black line emerged at the center of his forehead, contorting his face slightly, evidently enduring extreme pain.

"Refine!"

Rumble!

The Eight Scenic Palace shook violently, Laozi’s body suddenly dissipated, the thread of the Power of Silence Annihilation appeared, a space crack emerged, instantly swallowing the thread of annihilation, and Laozi’s body began to gradually reform.

"How could this happen?"

Yuanshi Tianzun muttered in horror, for Laozi’s face was pale, and the Dao aura around him appeared thin and weak, as if recovering from a major illness.

"Hoo!"

Laozi let out a light breath, his eyes reflecting a heavy color, and sighed, "The battle armor he wears contains a mysterious power beyond the Three Realms, and I was injured by this power in the battle with him. Fortunately, he cannot fully control it."

"I see!"

Yuanshi Tianzun finally understood why Laozi had allowed Ye Xuan to leave, clearly lacking the certainty to kill the opponent, and had suffered a major loss in the battle.

Apprehension, great apprehension, now not only Laozi dreaded Ye Xuan, but Yuanshi Tianzun also considered Ye Xuan a top enemy.

Unfortunately, neither of them knew that Ye Xuan had already lost this battle; he simply masked it, creating a powerful illusion with the Silent Annihilation Battle Armor for Laozi and Yuanshi, which was precisely the result he desired.

"Senior brother, Ye Xuan can extract Hongmeng Purple Qi from Nuwa’s body, an unimaginable feat for us Heavenly Dao Saints. If he continues to live, I fear...!" Yuanshi Tianzun hesitated, his face heavy with seriousness.

"Yuanshi, you are too stubborn. Though Ye Xuan is fierce, he knows when to advance and retreat. Although you and he have become enemies, as long as you don’t provoke him in the future, he likely won’t be aggressive. Furthermore, Dao Ancestor Hong Jun has harmonized with the Dao; if Ye Xuan acts recklessly, the Dao Ancestor won’t stand by idly." Laozi spoke softly.

"Let’s hope so." Yuanshi Tianzun furrowed his brow, a light sigh escaping his lips, yet the existence of Ye Xuan continuously unsettled his mind.

...

The Thirty-Three Layered Heaven, Heavenly Emperor Palace.

"So you used this battle armor to frighten off my senior brother?"

Heavenly Sect Master exclaimed in surprise, examining the Silent Annihilation Battle Armor Ye Xuan presented, even attempting to hold this supreme treasure himself. But as he just took it into his hands, he staggered, the armor nearly slipping from his grasp.

"This...this...?"

Heavenly Sect Master was utterly shocked, his face flushed, tightly gripping the Silent Annihilation Battle Armor, its weight leaving him astounded.

"Heavier than the Heavenly Vault, as thick as the earth, this Silent Annihilation Battle Armor is something I obtained by chance. Even with my unparalleled physique, I can only fight while wearing it for an hour, after which my energy depletes and the armor retaliates against me." Ye Xuan calmly stated, revealing the hidden dangers of the Silent Annihilation Battle Armor.

"If this supreme treasure could be completely at your disposal, no coalition of Saints would be able to defeat you, but alas, the armor is too heavy," the Heavenly Sect Master sighed ruefully.

Upon hearing the Heavenly Sect Master’s remarks, Ye Xuan’s eyes flickered. There was one thing he hadn’t disclosed to the Heavenly Sect Master: the reason for the armor’s immense weight.

And this reason is that the Silent Annihilation Battle Armor has not recognized him as its master!

Indeed, that is the real reason. If the Silent Annihilation Battle Armor acknowledged him, it would feel as light as a cicada’s wing, posing no burden at all, just like the Heavenly Punishment Halberd felt weightless in his hands.

After the battle with several Saints, Ye Xuan discovered a secret, a secret about the Heavenly Punishment Halberd.

The Silent Annihilation Battle Armor and the Heavenly Punishment Halberd share the same origin. The battle armor contains the power of annihilation, making its defense unparalleled, while the Heavenly Punishment Halberd is hailed as the greatest weapon for destruction, having recognized him early on. But why is the Heavenly Punishment Halberd’s power not as formidable as the battle armor?

The Heavenly Punishment Halberd is incomplete!

A simple sentence revealed the secret of the Heavenly Punishment Halberd, making Ye Xuan feel that something crucial was missing from the halberd, a force originally present in it.

Why does the Heavenly Punishment Halberd lack the power of annihilation? This is what weighs heavily on Ye Xuan’s mind.

If the Heavenly Punishment Halberd unleashed the power of annihilation during the Heavenly Mending Gathering, he could have wreaked havoc, fearing no one, not even if Laozi arrived.

In the end, Ye Xuan concluded that the Heavenly Punishment Halberd is incomplete, missing the power of annihilation. However, why it lost this power is a mystery Ye Xuan cannot solve.

Therefore, during the Heavenly Mending Gathering, Nuwa managed to escape unharmed, not because Ye Xuan didn’t wish to kill her, but because circumstances prevented him from acting recklessly.

The Western Two Saints, Houtu, Yuanshi Tianzun, the Three Emperors of the Human Clan, and Laozi, the head of The Three Pure Ones—facing them with Heavenly Sect Master would lead to no good outcome. If he insisted on killing Nuwa, it would only bring losses to him and Heavenly Sect Master, which was not the result Ye Xuan wanted.

Therefore, he insisted on battling Laozi to ’strike the mountain and shake the tiger,’ to intimidate the Saints, which is why the confrontation with Laozi occurred.

Fortunately, Ye Xuan used the Silent Annihilation Battle Armor to instill dread in the Saints, successfully startling Laozi and others away.

"Sect Master has been a great benefactor to me in the past; Ye Xuan will never forget it. If Sect Master ever needs help, regardless of the distance, Ye Xuan will surely come to aid." Ye Xuan solemnly bowed to Heavenly Sect Master, for during the Heavenly Dao Three Tribulations, he owed Heavenly Sect Master a substantial karmic debt, which as a Saint, he must repay in the future.

"Daoist Ye, you have achieved a unique path to enlightenment, and will truly unify the Three Realms. Though my disciples from Jie Sect aren’t notable, we can still lend you a helping hand," Heavenly Sect Master smiled.

Once, Heavenly Sect Master considered Ye Xuan as a junior, but after the Heavenly Mending Gathering, he treated Ye Xuan as a peer. Their friendship was implicit and unwavering.

The two conversed in the Heavenly Emperor Palace for several days, with no one knowing the contents of their discussion. Afterward, Heavenly Sect Master departed gracefully, for he, as a Heavenly Dao Saint, could not stay with Ye Xuan for long. And after this battle, the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation was damaged, requiring him to return to Biyou Palace to repair it.