My Dreams Connect to Ancient Times

The Celestial Gate of the West Pole Celestial Palace had already been replaced twice. Although this third gate was forged from all manner of Immortal Gold Divine Iron, having lost the stature of the Celestial Court, it was a far cry from its former glory.

Even so, the display of power was by no means lacking. In fact, due to it collapsing twice in a row, the number of Celestial Soldiers and Generals stationed outside the Celestial Gate was even greater than before.

Three thousand Celestial Soldiers stood in formation, eighteen Celestial Generals wore solemn expressions, and a full five Celestial Kings were seated before the Celestial Gate, gathering the roiling, swirling Immortal Spiritual Qi around them without cease.

The leading Celestial King was a peak Great Grade Immortal. His armor reflected a cold light, and he could only be described as majestic and imposing.

At this moment, he was conversing with another Celestial King beside him:

"Do you think that one from the Human World will really come?"

"Most likely." The other Celestial King’s expression hardened as he said with certainty, "A Human Saint from the Human World, and a disciple of the master of Douluo Palace no less. Of course he does what he says he will."

"If he does come, are we to stop him?"

"We should... I suppose we have to?"

As he spoke, a hesitant look appeared on the Red-armored Celestial King’s face, and he added:

"We have to at least put on a show. As for whether we can actually stop him... that’s another story."

The Blue-armored Celestial King was fraught with worry:

"But 140 years ago, you and I went to hear that Saint Lu preach. In all honesty, after hearing his sermon, we could be considered his students. That naturally puts us on a lower footing. If we try to block his entry into the Celestial Gate..."

He paused, then sighed.

"It was only after hearing Saint Lu’s discourse that I managed to reach the Grand Grade realm..."

The Red-armored Celestial King was silent for a moment before saying softly:

"And who wasn’t? But if we don’t stop him, when our superiors call us to account, you and I will both be pushed onto the Immortal Slaying Platform!"

The Blue-armored Celestial King opened his mouth, about to say something more, when suddenly, the heavy sound of drums echoed from the distance, tearing through the clouds as it surged toward them.

The expressions of the Celestial Soldiers and Generals and the five Celestial Kings all shifted slightly as they gazed in the direction of the heavy drumming.

They saw the plain and ordinary Old Nong in the lead, flanked by a steady young man and a lively, skipping young girl.

Old Nong led a Cyan Bull, which carried a Daoist on its back. With every step the Cyan Bull took, its hooves struck with the booming sound of heavy drums, shaking the entire Celestial Vault!

"He’s... he’s here!" Staring at the ninety thousand li of purple qi behind the aging Daoist, the Red-armored Celestial King spoke with a tremor in his voice, his scalp tingling with fear.

The other four seated Celestial Kings also shot up with a jolt, standing there anxiously, completely at a loss.

A moment later, the drumming drew nearer. The ninety thousand li of purple qi billowed outside the Celestial Gate, and from the other Four Directions Celestial Courts, distant gazes turned to watch.

"I have arrived outside the Celestial Gate."

Atop the Cyan Bull, the aging Daoist lifted his eyelids and spoke calmly.

His two eyes were brilliant, like a pair of impossibly grand Great Sun Golden Lamps. His mere gaze made the Celestial Soldiers, Generals, and Kings amassed outside the Celestial Gate tremble.

Then, the aging Daoist, cradling an Ancient Tree Branch, stated plainly:

"When Immortal Gods meet me, they give a wide berth."

The calm words echoed and lingered in the air. The three thousand Celestial Soldiers and Generals involuntarily broke their formation, moved aside, and all retreated.

The five Celestial Kings also felt the boundless, heavy pressure of the world’s Great Dao bearing down on them. They too silently complied with the Daoist’s Decree and gave him a wide berth.

Stop him?

How could they possibly stop him?

Under the silent watch of the Celestial Soldiers, Generals, and the five Celestial Kings, Old Nong hummed a country ditty, led the Cyan Bull, and swaggered right through the Celestial Gate.

After the group had entered the Celestial Gate, before the five Celestial Kings could even breathe a sigh of relief, they heard another voice drift calmly toward them.

"If this is not the Celestial Court, how dare you erect a Celestial Gate?"

"Return to dust, return to earth."

As the words fell, the magnificent Celestial Gate, forged from countless pieces of Immortal Gold and Divine Iron, collapsed in response, crumbling into dust that scattered to the horizon.

The five Celestial Kings didn’t even dare to breathe. They felt a chill explode from the base of their spines, surging through their entire bodies in an instant.

And in the extreme distance, the Immortal Officials and Divine Officials in the other Four Directions Celestial Courts, who had been quietly observing the West Pole Celestial Palace, also paled slightly. ’So, this is the power of a Human Saint?’

Although the Human World had gained two Human Saints, neither Saint Lu nor Confucius had ever taken action before. The true might of a Human Saint was thus limited to rumors and speculation.

Now, they had finally witnessed it.

With a single sentence, he made Celestial Kings give him a wide berth. With a second, the Celestial Gate, comparable to an Immortal Supreme Treasure, came crashing down!

Return to dust, return to earth...

In the West Pole Celestial Palace, the Cyan Bull continued forward, passing one palace hall and jade pavilion after another. Countless Immortal Officials and Divine Officials of the West Pole Celestial Palace watched in silence. No one came to stop them. No one dared.

"My name is Lu Xuan."

By the time Old Nong had led Niu’Er to the center of the Celestial Palace, right before the Gouchen Emperor’s Palace, the aging Daoist finally raised his head and began to speak, slowly and deliberately:

"My name is Lu Xuan, and my title is Supreme Profound Clarity. I have come to the West Pole Celestial Palace to call you to account."

His voice was not loud, yet it swept over the entire West Pole Celestial Palace like a tidal wave. Countless Immortal Officials, Divine Officials, Celestial Venerables, and Immortals all furrowed their brows.

Some Emperors at the level of Upper Celestial Venerable opened their eyes, but upon seeing the Cyan Bull, they immediately closed them again, pretending they had seen nothing.

Stepping forward to interfere would inevitably earn them a kick from the bull.

Whether they would live or die after that was anyone’s guess.

The voice echoing over the West Pole Celestial Palace suddenly grew thunderous.

The aging Daoist narrowed his eyes, staring at the closed gates of the majestic Emperor’s Palace, and said again:

"I have come to hold you accountable. Emperor Gouchen, why do you not grant me an audience?"

His voice resonated with heaven and earth, growing ever vaster until the entire West Pole Celestial Palace hummed and vibrated from the force of it.

CREAK—

Under the watchful gaze of all, the gates to the Emperor’s Palace actually swung open.

Lu Xuan felt an immense pressure bear down upon him, forcing his heart to contract. Every cell in his body screamed in terror!