At first, following Rajan's intervention, Harun and Jiyan left the Imperial Dao Pavilion—planning to use the chaos to vanish and bide their time. According to their initial plan, Jiyan would hide in Harun's Inner Cultivation Room, waiting for the full integration of his Heart of Reincarnation.
But as they raced across the mountain road, purple light flashed in Harun's right eye, and even before Rajan triggered his Ancient Legacy, "Rajan will die within 15 seconds," Harun foresaw his death. The words came without warning; yet, knowing that Harun's right eye contained the Mandate of Fate, Jiyan didn't doubt their truth. The Heart of Reincarnation required five to ten minutes to complete its integration. In that timeframe, Harun existed in a state of acausality.
The mere thought of standing beyond the reach of cause and effect could throw the world into chaos. And though temporary, this state alone showed the profundity of the Six Incarnations Bridge. The current Harun had nothing to fear across the 33 Heavens, could kill but couldn't be killed. His reincarnation plan had reached the unstoppable phase, and within a minute, the 33 Heavens' strongest experts would dive into a deadly clash.
That being the case, shouldn't he use his temporary invincibility to harvest resources? Sect building was a resource-robbing task. With his current financial means, Harun knew that the early days weren't promising. He could already see himself counting his stones, struggling to make ends meet. However, about 2,000 mortal-born celestials remained in the Imperial Dao Pavilion, with no road to escape besides the one he trod. Even if each only had two treasures on average, they'd net about 4,000 weapons Harun could snatch and later smelt to extract metals. He couldn't give those up.
Spinning 180, Harun faced the pavilion's gates, but as he prepared to rush back in, an irregular heartbeat came from his left, alerting his acute hearing. Turning his head to the left, Harun saw Jiyan clutching at her heart��trembling to no end. His face twisted into a frown, but before he could make sense of the change, Jiyan dropped on her knees, and her skin took a deathly white shade.
"Jiyan, you've betrayed my hopes and helped endanger the 33 Heavens' peace. The condition has been broken. The chained sword shall claim your life," the Heaven Warding Emperor's voice rumbled in Jiyan's mind, and the chains around her heart tightened, squeezing it with an irresistible grip. As if both annoyed and amused by the twist, Jiyan curled her lips into a forced smile.
The plan that'd secure Harun's escape and pit the 33 Heavens' strongest experts against one another was a resounding success. Everything went without a hitch, but at the last moment, the First Emperor's condition revealed itself—threatening to end her life. Still, despite this sudden development, Jiyan remained composed. She didn't want to die, but wouldn't cower before death, either. Who didn't have hopes and dreams? Even many of those that lived in perpetual anguish refused to give up their lives, to say nothing of her whose journey had just started. But from the moment she chose Harun's side, Jiyan acknowledged that, just like she was destined to end many lives and dreams, someone could end hers too.
Closing her trembling eyes, Jiyan heaved a sigh. Harun kneeled beside her, his face twisted by rage. Granted, his Incarnation Seed and Agiri's Eternal Will sheltered Jiyan, even if the two could preserve her life, the Chained Sword's internal strike would leave extreme damages. At best, all she'd cultivated up until now would return to zero.
White light surged from Jiyan's form as Agiri's Mandate of Suppression kicked into gear. Golden light from Harun's Incarnation Seed followed, and the two forces wrestled with the Chained Sword to protect Jiyan from harm.
"I...heard the Mountain Edge World possesses the tallest and widest mountain ranges in the universe. Even our 33 Heavens...can't compare. I used to imagine myself...drinking at the highest mountain top...enjoying a dreamlike scenery. But lately...there's an extra person by my side," Jiyan stammered as the clash of the three forces wrecked her internal organs, and damaged her vitality.
Blood trickled from her lips, and her consciousness waned.
"Away from strife, away from woes, enjoying a drink by a loved one's side...that ought to be...the true meaning of happiness," Jiyan whispered, and passed out in Harun's arms. Fighting a desperate battle, the Eternal Will took the Chained Sword down in a self-destructive charge—leaving Harun's Incarnation Seed to maintain Jiyan's last breath. From now on, Agiri's will would no longer shelter his daughter, and Harun could feel that the chain tying Jiyan's life to his Seed neared collapse.
Two-thousand celestials desperate to escape the world's chaos ran down the mountain road, but once their eyes locked on the kneeling Harun, panic overwhelmed them.
Quieting the rollercoaster of emotions disturbing his mind's balance, Harun placed Jiyan in Infinite Space World of the system's first room. He then turned to face the 2,000 mortal-born. But though deterred by his previous deeds, they regained their cool, and challenged him with determined glares.
"We were biting off more than we could chew. Trying to defeat this monster will only result in our deaths. However, such is the cultivation road. Without trying, how could we know the gap between us? On that point, I have no regret."
"Plunder and death are common matters. Who here doesn't have hands stained in the blood of hundreds. In our hearts, progress is the light we pursue, and stagnation the darkness we strive to escape. My only regret...is that I failed."
"There is only one path. Celestial Kins can't fly in Heaven, so we either confront him, or jump from over 10 km of altitude. Which one will it be?"
"Bah, speak for yourself. I am a pigeon, of course I can fly." The words caused a burst of laughter from the 2,000 celestials, and after waving their companions of misfortune goodbye, the flying beasts in the lots assumed their true forms—eager to escape calamity.
Harun stood up. Dark-blue light surged from his body; his form blurred—reappearing behind the 2,000 celestials. Finger-sized holes appeared in the middle of their foreheads. Blood spurts followed and, in tandem, they collapsed on the ground.
With his soul and Decaying Flower back, Harun could enjoy the benefits of his art's breakthrough, and all the Extreme Yin Essence it refined. Empowered by the third layer of the Decaying Flower, even top-level Celestial Guards couldn't resist his strikes. Without a word, Harun collected the celestials' cosmic pouches, tossing them all into the system. By the time they realized their deaths, he'd already left the scene.
…
Meanwhile, though he felt Rajan's attempt and death, the Golden Crow Ancestor didn't lose focus. Their house's Ancient Legacy did possess extraordinary origins. However, even with the right foundation, triggering it in the 33 Heavens was a terrible gamble. Why then did the Golden Crow Ancestor transmit that skill to his children and grandchildren? A matter for another time.
With seven of history's strongest Demi-Emperors facing him, the 33 Heavens' most ancient deity couldn't spare his grandchild another thought.
"World Beast, White Fox, Sea Dragon, Nether-Eye Lion, Amethyst Tiger, Hundred-Horns Barbaric Bull, Barrier-Breaking Millipede; each of you once boasted enough talent to seek the Dao Emperor road, but ultimately failed—rejected by Heaven's Will. You are failures, and failures should stay bound in chains. Why do you go against the natural order and try to escape your fates?" The Golden Crow Ancestor asked, attempting to destroy his opponents' mental balance.
Only by creating an opening in his opponents' guards could he destroy them in a flash and prevent the scenario he dreaded from becoming a reality. However, well-trained by Harun, the seven didn't bat an eyelid.
"What a pathetic attempt. Golden Crow, we're here to thank you for trapping us in that Extreme Yin Prison. We don't know what method you used, but thanks to you and the First Emperor's care, we could avoid all Cosmic Tribulations—enduring countless eras. You are right, we all once boasted enough talent to refine a complete Mandate, but failed at the last step—unlike you, who never dared take the gamble," the White Fox Demi-Emperor retorted—dispelling the Golden Crow Ancestor's momentum.
The seven Demi-Emperors formed a circle around their hated foe, each holding a critical point and function. Knowing his words had no sway on them, the Golden Crow Ancestor brandished his sword, aiming for the World Beast Demi-Emperor, first.
But at that time, a colossal clawed serpent took shape in the sky, and a jovial voice echoed.
"Golden Crow, my eyes can discern the truth. Under the mask of righteousness, you've committed countless sins. This is your day of reckoning, prepare to die!" Silav's voice thundered, and the Serpent Domain's lord dropped from the sky—in his World-Devouring Serpent form, and joined the seven Beast Emperors' side!
An icy-blue vortex followed, and from it emerged a captivating woman, dressed in a golden robe embroidered with blue orchids. Silky white hair trailed at her back, embellishing her luscious, devilish curves.
"Those words echo my thoughts. Golden Crow, every breath you take threatens the 33 Heavens' stability. Do all of us a favor and...enjoy your retirement in hell," Dilnaz said and raised her pitch-black sword.
Seeing his fears come true, the Golden Crow Ancestor sighed, and spoke words that'd later become emblematic:
"Brother, I tried my best, but duty cannot challenge men's greed. The 33 Heavens are...finished."