Chapter 2246: The Five Declines of Celestial Beings!

It must be said, Tianhe's strength was too great.

He was the most powerful existence Ye Yuan had ever encountered.

Even at the same cultivation level, the time freeze Ye Yuan executed by draining his blood and qi only managed to freeze him for an instant.

As for the light sword slash, Ye Yuan had nearly drained all his divine essence.

Ye Yuan's full-force strike still failed to kill him.

And this was under the premise that Tianhe had been suppressed for an epoch and severely wounded by the Wuji God-Slaying Bow.

He claimed to have slain the Dragon Ancestor—Ye Yuan didn't know if it was true, but without a doubt, he was extremely powerful!

However, Ye Yuan's sword strike had damaged Tianhe's foundation; he probably wouldn't be able to cause trouble for a while.

Ye Yuan swallowed a few more pills and began to recover his divine essence and blood qi.

There were many powerful beings around, so Ye Yuan dared not be careless.

Just then, three figures leaped into the sky, flying straight toward the Wuji God-Slaying Bow!

They were Heavenly Emperor-level experts!

At this moment, there were still Heavenly Emperor experts hidden nearby!

Clearly, they had come with the intention of picking up scraps, never expecting to actually succeed.

The three Heavenly Emperors engaged in a frenzied battle in the void, fighting so fiercely that heaven and earth shattered and divine essence flew wildly.

They fought and scrambled, none willing to yield an inch.

If one took the lead, the other two would join forces to attack.

In short, it was utter chaos.

Everyone retreated far away, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.

Clearly, these three had gone mad.

Ye Yuan quietly activated his cultivation technique, rapidly recovering his strength.

He sensed many extremely powerful auras rushing toward this location.

Not far away, the Flowing Sand Heavenly Emperor sneered, "A bunch of overreaching fools. How could a Dao artifact be something you can covet? Young friend Ye, that Dao artifact was within easy reach just now—why didn't you take it?"

By now, the Flowing Sand Heavenly Emperor had recovered some strength and could move freely.

He gazed at the Wuji God-Slaying Bow in the void, his eyes full of longing and regret.

How could he not be tempted by such a treasure?

But in his current state, contending for it was utterly impossible.

Yet just now, Ye Yuan had clearly been the closest to that Dao artifact.

With Ye Yuan's movement techniques and methods, taking the Wuji God-Slaying Bow would have been as easy as reaching into his pocket, but Ye Yuan hadn't even glanced at it.

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "The divine bow's emergence caused too much commotion; it might even alarm Celestial Being-level experts. I don't want to be hunted across the world. Besides, I have more important things to do."

The Flowing Sand Heavenly Emperor was startled; he realized that Ye Yuan truly didn't care about the Wuji God-Slaying Bow.

This young man was not only extremely powerful and highly perceptive but also possessed a terrifyingly sharp mind.

Even an old monster like him found it hard to restrain himself at the sight of the Wuji God-Slaying Bow, yet Ye Yuan remained unmoved.

After a pause, Ye Yuan added, "By the way, Senior Flowing Sand, I have a question."

Grateful for Ye Yuan's life-saving grace, the Flowing Sand Heavenly Emperor quickly replied, "I dare not claim to instruct; just ask away, young friend Ye."

Ye Yuan said, "As far as I know, above the Heavenly Emperor is the Dao Ancestor. What about the Celestial Being Four Decline experts Tianhe mentioned?"

Ye Yuan's understanding of cultivation realms mostly came from Wuchen.

But even the Immortal Forest Celestial Venerable was only at the peak of the Celestial Venerable realm, completely unaware of the secrets above the Heavenly Emperor, let alone the Celestial Being realm.

The Flowing Sand Heavenly Emperor, a supreme expert at the late Heavenly Emperor stage, must know some secrets.

"It's normal for you not to know, young friend Ye. Celestial Being realm experts are figures above the clouds, the true rulers of the Tongtian Realm! Though Heavenly Emperors have long lifespans, they eventually run out. Ordinary Heavenly Emperors die when they die. But once one reaches the seventh level of the Heavenly Emperor realm, every hundred million years, they undergo a decline tribulation! There are five decline tribulations in total, known as the Five Declines of Celestial Beings. Each decline tribulation is a trial of life and death; countless Heavenly Emperors have died in them. However, once a decline tribulation is overcome, it is a rebirth through nirvana, allowing one to glimpse part of the Heavenly Dao's origin and greatly increase their strength. This realm is the Celestial Being realm!" the Flowing Sand Heavenly Emperor explained.

Ye Yuan suddenly understood, finally learning what the Celestial Being realm was.

So between the Heavenly Emperor and the Dao Ancestor, there was actually such a realm.

This realm was what Wuchen had previously referred to as the Supreme Heavenly Emperor.

But given Wuchen's level, he couldn't have encountered such existences, hence the error.

Although Heavenly Emperors couldn't become Dao Ancestors, they could glimpse the Heavenly Dao's origin through the Celestial Decline Tribulations, thereby reaching the level of 'Dao.'

He also finally understood why experts at the seventh level of the Heavenly Emperor realm were called supreme experts.

Because they had to face the baptism of the Celestial Decline Tribulations at any time.

"How strong are the Five Decline Celestial Being experts? Liuhe claimed he once killed a Dao Ancestor-level existence—does that mean Dao Ancestors aren't invincible?" Ye Yuan asked curiously.

The Flowing Sand Heavenly Emperor smiled bitterly and said, "Let alone the Five Declines, even a One Decline Celestial Being is terrifyingly strong! Once a seventh-level Heavenly Emperor overcomes one decline tribulation, they can instantly kill a ninth-level Heavenly Emperor! Of course, those who can overcome the decline tribulation at the seventh level are extremely rare. Without sufficient accumulation, attempting the decline tribulation is suicide. As for how strong the Five Declines are, I really don't know. Not to mention the Five Declines, even those who overcome the second decline tribulation are very, very few. Those who reach the third or fourth decline are the supreme figures of the Tongtian Realm!"

He paused and continued, "As for Dao Ancestors... from what I know, they are indeed stronger than Celestial Beings. How much stronger, I cannot say. I can't possibly come into contact with existences at that level. But I think that Five Decline Celestial Beings, even if inferior to Dao Ancestors, probably aren't far off, right?"

Clearly, the Flowing Sand Heavenly Emperor hadn't yet encountered truly formidable beings.

Ye Yuan's eyes flickered; only now did he feel he truly understood the Tongtian Realm.

But that Tianhe's strength was truly formidable to the extreme.

Eight experts above the Four Decline Celestial Being level couldn't kill him and could only suppress him here.

That guy's strength might indeed be comparable to a Dao Ancestor.

It seemed that to learn these secrets, he would have to ask the Holy Ancestor High Priest.

Only experts at that level would know such secrets.

"I see. Thank you, Senior Flowing Sand! I have other important matters, so I'll take my leave!"

With that, Ye Yuan's figure flickered, and among the onlookers in the distance, he found the Mad Blade Ghost Venerable.

"Hahaha... This Dao artifact is mine!"

Just then, among the three Heavenly Emperors, one finally broke free from the other two and grabbed the Wuji God-Slaying Bow.

But as he laughed wildly, the Wuji God-Slaying Bow blazed with light.

A flash of arrow light passed, and that Heavenly Emperor exploded directly, turning into nothingness.

Seeing this, Ye Yuan shook his head.

These Heavenly Emperors had lived for ages but couldn't see their own limits.

How could a treasure of this level be something they could covet?

"Let's go," Ye Yuan said, and left with the Mad Blade Ghost Venerable.

Shortly after they left, dozens of extremely powerful auras howled in.

Every single one of them had an aura surpassing that of the Flowing Sand Heavenly Emperor!