The Legend of Futian Chapter 2966 - Finale

Beneath the Heavenly Path, a multitude of cultivators gathered, their blood boiling with fervor as they beheld the spectacle unfolding before them.

The Heavenly Emperor had returned to his throne. In combat, he was unparalleled; none could hope to rival his might.

“We hail the return of the Heavenly Emperor!” A cry pierced the heavens.

“We hail the return of the Heavenly Emperor!” One after another, the gathered cultivators joined the roar, their cheers shaking the very foundations of space.

Within the grounds of the Qingzhou Academy, members of the Cao clan lay face-down on the earth. Paralyzed by terror, they dared not lift their gaze, their frames wracked with violent tremors.

To them, the situation felt like a fever dream. The individual they had dared to insult was none other than the Heavenly Emperor himself!

Ye Futian, however, did not grant them even a passing glance.

“My congratulations,” a voice resonated. Master manifested in the firmament.

“You have reached this pinnacle at last,” Master remarked, a smile playing on his lips.

“Master,” Ye Futian said, bowing deeply in greeting. He added, “I am grateful for your mentorship. My enlightenment was only possible through your guidance.”

“There is no need for such modesty. Your Cultivation has already outstripped mine,” Master countered. “It is my turn to seek wisdom from you. What have you realized regarding the nature of the past and the present?”

“You once taught me that I am both the past and the present, and I have realized that truth,” Ye Futian answered. “I exist as myself in every fragment of time and space where I have ever been.”

Master probed further, inquiring, “Yet, you refrained from changing the course of history. You chose only to rescue certain individuals. Is that correct?”

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“Indeed. Had I altered the past to prevent certain tragedies, the flow of the future would have shifted. Our current present would have vanished into uncertainty,” Ye Futian clarified. “Consequently, I avoided any action that would disrupt the timeline. I simply transitioned specific people from the past into the now. Furthermore, I began the journey of Cultivation and comprehension anew from the beginning at every single point in time.”

“I see.” Master nodded, grasping the implication. “This means that upon reaching enlightenment, you can exist within a temporal loop, granting you infinite time to practice. Thus, you can transcend the limits of time and space, surpassing the very peak of Cultivation.”

“Precisely,” Ye Futian confirmed with a nod. The instant he attained enlightenment, that fleeting moment expanded into eternity. In the blink of an eye, he had practiced for countless eons.

He was simultaneously cultivating and seeking the Dao at every moment across history. Ultimately, this vast accumulation of wisdom merged to form his current self.

Master spoke again, “I cannot say if the universe shares your infinity. However, with your present power, you are a peerless entity among the sovereigns of the cosmos. Your strength will only continue to magnify. Reclaim the throne of the Heavenly Emperor. Though you merged with the Heavenly Path, you possess a physical form once more. You are fit to govern the world in its entirety.”

The previous Heavenly Path had crumbled, but it had lacked a true physical vessel.

No one had ever attained the level of Cultivation Ye Futian now held, and it was unlikely anyone in the future would ever exceed him.

Ye Futian declared, “While I have become the Heavenly Path, I was not the sole protector of this realm. This world shall be governed collectively by many.” He looked toward the horizon, and instantly, a golden stairway of light manifested, stretching deep into the heavens.

Ye Futian began his ascent. He walked the celestial stairs while snowflakes drifted around him. As he climbed, cultivators from every corner of the world turned their eyes upward. The stairway was visible to all; no matter their location, the golden steps appeared as if they were right in front of them.

The entire world bore witness to the ceremony at once.

“Brother Ye!” the youths of Qingzhou Academy cried out.

They watched as Ye Futian climbed the sky, enveloped in divine radiance and sacred omens. Many were moved to tears—tears born of pure exhilaration.

Ye Futian was their Brother Ye, the Heavenly Emperor, the greatest cultivator in existence. Even Tianshens bowed before him. Now, the whole world watched his investiture.

These youths had once played alongside Brother Ye.

They had joked with him.

They had listened to him ‘brag’ about his former exploits.

Hua Jieyu and Xia Qingyuan wept as they watched his ascent, joy streaming down their faces. They understood that the long struggle had finally concluded. Ye Futian was finally free from his burdens.

The magnificent glory he now received was the harvest of immense pain. He had endured endless trials and escaped certain death time and again. His very survival was a miracle.

Now, he stood at the summit. He was the supreme being, the object of universal worship.

Never again would anyone dare to act superior to him, look down upon him, or treat him with disdain.

The shadows of past humiliations were gone forever.

Only splendor lay ahead.

“Why are you two still standing there?” Ye Futian asked with a smile, turning back toward Hua Jieyu and Xia Qingyuan at the base of the stairs. He reached out his hands. The two women shared a look before ascending the golden path together, hand in hand, following close behind him.

Radiant clouds descended, weaving themselves into majestic robes for the pair. They were crowned with phoenix tiaras and draped in celestial capes, their beauty beyond compare.

Seeing this, Hua Fengliu and Emperor Xia were also overcome with emotion. Emperor Xia walked over and clapped Hua Fengliu on the shoulder. They looked at each other and shared a wide smile.

“It was all worth it,” Emperor Xia murmured, his eyes fixed on his daughter’s silhouette.

“From this day forward, the Heavenly Emperor is my son-in-law,” Emperor Xia declared with pride, brushing away a tear.

Elsewhere, the cultivators of the Divine Prefecture gathered. Many looked toward Donghuang Diyuan, who wore a brilliant, genuine smile.

She had known since her youth the weight Ye Futian carried. Their paths first crossed when she was sixteen—a meeting of destiny. She understood the depths of his suffering. Seeing him reach the pinnacle brought her nothing but happiness.

“How can you be so happy?” Donghuang the Great asked, glancing at Donghuang Diyuan.

“Father,” she replied, her smile never wavering.

“Sigh…” Donghuang the Great let out a long breath, seeing her sincerity. He whispered, “You know, you were meant to be…”

“Father,” she interrupted softly. “This is enough. This is good.”

Donghuang the Great paused, then nodded slowly. “Yes. You are right. This is enough.”

Ye Futian continued his slow climb. With a mere thought, a figure materialized behind Donghuang the Great. Stunned at first, Donghuang the Great soon broke into a massive grin. He rushed forward to embrace the newcomer.

“Welcome back,” he said.

“Futian fashioned a new body for me,” Emperor Ye Qing explained. He had been brought from the past. Ye Futian had met him only once at Mount Tianyao in Qingzhou City; he had returned to that very moment to bring Emperor Ye Qing into the present.

“We succeeded,” Donghuang the Great said, his voice thick with emotion.

“Yes. We did.” Emperor Ye Qing was equally moved. Releasing the embrace, he looked at Donghuang Diyuan. With reddened eyes, she whispered, “Father.”

Emperor Ye Qing stepped forward and held her gently. “Diyuan, I am so sorry.”

“Donghuang the Great and Emperor Ye Qing were willing to sacrifice everything for righteousness. I name them the Immortal Emperors of the East. They shall govern all Tianshens in the East and uphold order within the Divine Prefecture.” Ye Futian’s voice boomed from the stairs. Sacred light bathed the two emperors as they were granted their titles and the responsibility of the East.

“Greetings to the Immortal Emperors of the East!” someone shouted, bowing low. One by one, the masses followed suit, their voices echoing through the heavens.

“The Buddha cares for all living souls. He led his followers into the fray and shall continue to oversee the West. I name him the Immortal Emperor of the West. From Spirit Mountain, he shall lead all buddhas. I grant him the Golden Body of Virtues and Merits, rendering him eternal and indestructible.” As the decree fell, a deluge of golden light transformed The Buddha’s form.

“Amitabha.” Bathed in that light, The Buddha realized the true extent of Ye Futian’s power. He was shaken. It was no wonder Ye Futian had stripped Ji Wudao of his status with a single gesture. This new body could likely withstand a blow ten times stronger than The Buddha’s own maximum power.

Ye Futian’s voice continued to ring out: “I name Great Emperor Ziwei the Immortal Emperor of the North, to rule Ziwei Imperial Palace and all Tianshens of the North.” At his word, Great Emperor Ziwei appeared before his people.

“Gu Dongliu is named the Immortal King of Heavenly Mandate, to govern the Heavenly Mandate Court and the Tianshens of the Central region.”

“Ye Qingyao, the Reaper, is named the Immortal Emperor of the South, to rule the Dark Court and the Tianshens of the South.”

“The Evil Emperor and the Dark Sovereign showed remorse in the final hour. Thus, the Evil Emperor shall remain in control of the Empty Divine Realm, and I grant the Dark Sovereign the Bright Continent.”

“I name Chen Yi the God of Light and shall build for him the Bright Temple.”

“I name Xi Chiyao the God of Rain and shall build for her the Rain Temple.”

“I name Fang Cun, Little Ling, Tie Tou, and Duo Yu the Great Emperors of Four Corners, and I shall build for them the Four Corners Temple.”

The decrees flowed from the top of the stairway, echoing across the void. On this day, the Heavenly Emperor Ye Futian honored every soul who had earned it.

Divine halos descended, blanketing the world. People everywhere gazed at the new Immortal Emperors and Gods with profound awe.

The world watched Ye Futian’s silhouette as he reached the absolute summit. Turning back, he announced, “The Age of the Gods has returned. Let the various Gods preserve the order of the world and pass down the Dao to those who follow. I shall not interfere in these affairs. This world belongs to the collective rule of the Gods.”

The Age of the Gods had begun anew.

Ye Futian did not seek to rule personally. Was he choosing to step away?

Countless eyes remained fixed on that heavenly figure, wreathed in flowing light.

The image was burned into the collective memory of the world, never to be forgotten.

…

In the 20th year of the Futian Calendar, an elderly man and a young boy walked the streets of Qingzhou City. The boy was wide-eyed, having just heard the legends of the Heavenly Emperor.

A god—the supreme god—had come from their very home.

“Grandfather, where did the Heavenly Emperor go after his coronation?” the youth asked. The world no longer knew where he resided.

“After taking the throne and appointing the Gods to watch over us, he vanished from public view. His location is a mystery. Some believe he lives in quiet seclusion with his wives. Others think he changed his face to live a simple life. There are even those who say he is currently conquering other universes, having already brought many under his wing.” The old man spoke while clutching his grandson’s hand. He could still see that day in his mind as if it were yesterday.

Looking up at the sky, the old man added, “But even if we don't see him, he is everywhere. The very sky we look upon is his manifestation.”

“What about the princess of the Divine Prefecture? She must love him too. Did they marry?” the boy inquired.

“That is the question everyone asks,” the old man sighed. “Of course Princess Diyuan loves him. He is THE Heavenly Emperor, after all.”

“If the Gods are ruling the world now, does that mean fighting is over?” the youth asked. “Then why is there still so much trouble at the Qingzhou Academy?”

The old man smiled sadly. “Wherever there is life, there is conflict. That is true for humans, and it is true for the gods!”