At that moment, the fierce wind ceased. Chaos filled the river channel and obscured their vision. Wei Suifeng and Shu Jun were shaken to the core.

They exchanged a glance, each remaining silent. Tai Yi bent his bow and shot down the strange creatures in the river one after another. They reached the sixteenth great river. Tai Yi said, "The Master of Miluo Palace is waiting in comfort while we exhaust ourselves.

I must meet him in my strongest form.

Wait here.

" He jumped into the river once more.

After a moment, a broad and powerfully built man emerged from the water. His muscles were massive and ferocious, and he carried a Chaos Axe over one shoulder.

He turned to the two of them. "I was not able to prepare as thoroughly as I would have liked, but this is all I can do for now. Once we cross the river, you will remain outside while I go in to meet him. " The two could only nod. The sixteenth great river was extraordinarily broad.

Tai Yi carried the axe and led them onward, yet the surface of the river was calm, without the profusion of strange dangers they had encountered before.

The two men advanced in fear and trepidation, growing even more vigilant. Ahead, layer upon layer of mist obscured their vision. The chaos was like fog, and they followed Tai Yi through it, eventually seeing enormous shadows standing far away within the haze, though they could not make out what they were.

Their anxiety deepened. Only after reaching the opposite bank of the Chaos River did they discover that the shadows were towering jade palaces and all manner of strange buildings. "What a magnificent city! " Wei Suifeng exclaimed.

"Jade Capital, Jade Capital. A capital fashioned from white jade. This is the true Jade Capital City.

Compared with this place, the Jade Capital City of the Heavenly Court is nothing more than a heap of mud and stones!

" Shu Jun nodded repeatedly, voicing his admiration as well. "This place may be called Jade Capital, or it may be called Miluo Palace. " Tai Yi slung the Chaos Axe across his back and strode forward.

Each step he took forced Wei Suifeng and the others to hurry a hundred or so paces to keep up.

Tai Yi said, "The Hall of the Firmament in the Heavenly Court is merely one hall within Miluo Palace.

Look there! " He pointed with the axe, and the two hurriedly looked over. Sure enough, they saw a Hall of the Firmament. Yet this Hall of the Firmament was far grander and more imposing than the one in the Heavenly Court.

A natural aura of the Great Dao lingered around it as well.

The Hall of the Firmament in the Heavenly Court could not possibly compare. "The Hall of the Firmament in the Heavenly Court was actually imagined by the Creators. The Grand Emperor must have seen this hall before and envisioned the form of the Hall of the Firmament, but he was unable to reproduce the true hall.

" Tai Yi spoke without haste.

Wei Suifeng stood dumbfounded. Then he suddenly recalled something of vital importance and hurriedly asked, "This Hall of the Firmament was not formed naturally, but forged by the Master of Miluo Palace? " Tai Yi nodded. "This palace was forged from the Great Dao, and the entire Jade Capital City was likewise forged from the Great Daos of beings who had attained the Dao.

That is why it possesses supreme might. " It was as though a basin of cold water had been poured over Wei Suifeng from head to toe. His heart turned icy, and he cried out, "Then where did the Jade Capital realm, the Firmament realm, and the Imperial Throne realm come from?

Those three realms were all established according to the Jade Capital City of the Heavenly Court. If the Jade Capital was built as an imitation of this place, then does that not mean. .

. does that not mean. . . " He shuddered several times and did not dare finish. Shu Jun suddenly said, "Does that not mean the three realms are all traps?

" A Jade Capital trap.

The Jade Capital realm was a trap, the Firmament realm was a trap, and even the Imperial Throne realm was a trap.

What kind of person possessed such vast abilities, such terrifying methods, and such far-reaching designs that he could lay a trap so dreadful as to ensnare every powerful being beneath the heavens?

Could it be the Master of Miluo Palace? They looked toward the palaces drawing ever nearer and could not help shuddering.

A chill rose from the depths of their hearts, crept along their spines to their necks, then climbed to the backs of their heads and burrowed into their minds. Tai Yi said nothing, nor did he confirm their suspicions, yet they had pieced together the truth from the faintest traces. "Back then, we discovered the Jade Capital City in the Ancestral Court only by a stroke of fortune," Shu Jun murmured.

"Boyang and I entered by another path, while Grand Emperor and Tai Chu took a different route.

Could they have come here before? If the Master of Miluo Palace began laying his plans, then surely he had already begun at that time. .

. " "Stay here.

" Tai Yi planted a staff in the ground, carried the Chaos Axe on his back, and walked alone toward Miluo Palace.

In a low voice, he said, "I am going to meet him. If I can stop him, then everything will be simple. If I cannot. .

.

"