"Calamity Executors?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Chen's pupils contracted sharply. So it was indeed the case.
Otherwise, how could those Heavenly Venerate-level terrors possess such powerful consciousness and combat prowess, even capable of speech and possession?
While the Quantitative Calamity was terrifying, it shouldn't have given birth to such dreadful terrors.
So those Heavenly Venerate-level terrors were all Calamity Executors from past Samsara cycles who had not perished and instead turned traitor. No wonder they were so powerful, no wonder they wielded world-shaking combat strength.
Calamity Executors—those who carry out the Quantitative Calamity on behalf of the Heavenly Dao. The name truly fits.
"This world has undergone countless Samsara cycles since time immemorial. Each cycle inevitably gives birth to a glorious cultivation civilization, and naturally, supreme beings who dare to challenge the heavens, defying the natural order and attempting to resist the Quantitative Calamity," the Desolate Heavenly Venerate continued. "However, under the Quantitative Calamity, everything is ultimately doomed to destruction."
"Even beings as mighty as these supreme existences eventually return to dust and earth."
As he spoke these words, the Desolate Heavenly Venerate's tone inevitably carried a trace of melancholy.
Because he, the Heavenly Venerate of this era, and the other Heavenly Venerates, were precisely such supreme beings who dared to challenge the heavens.
Mentioning these supreme existences who ultimately turned to dust under the Calamity inevitably evoked a sense of shared sorrow, as if foreseeing the fate of the fox when the hare dies.
It seemed this was also the destined fate for him and the other Heavenly Venerates.
"However, among the many cultivation civilizations of the past, some exceptionally powerful civilizations emerged, not necessarily inferior to the All Heavens Era. A group of peerless beings who feared neither heaven nor earth stood at the forefront, resisting the descent of the Quantitative Calamity."
"Therefore, the Heavenly Dao gradually began to recruit some supreme existences from past Samsara cycles, bringing them under its banner to become Heavenly Dao Calamity Executors. As long as they pledged allegiance to the Heavenly Dao, it would not move to annihilate these beings. On the contrary, it would allow them to continue wielding a portion of the Heavenly Dao's power, helping to advance the Quantitative Calamity and destroy cycle after cycle."
"These Calamity Executors would emerge before the Quantitative Calamity descends, first eliminating the most powerful batch of beings within the Samsara cycle, clearing the greatest obstacles, allowing the Calamity to descend smoothly."
"During the All Heavens Era, when the Heavenly Dao sought to bring down the Quantitative Calamity, it dispatched Calamity Executors to strike at the Origin Land, targeting the Heavenly Venerates."
"However, during the All Heavens Era, the Origin Land was simply too powerful. With thirty-three Heavenly Venerates, a hundred Great Venerables, and even two Heavenly Venerate Kings—the Primordial Beginning King and the Pangu King—its strength could be considered the greatest among all Samsara cycles. Thus, they forcefully blocked the Quantitative Calamity, even sealing it away."
The Desolate Heavenly Venerate chuckled lightly. "Although the Calamity Executors were powerful, with the strongest among them not inferior to the Heavenly Venerate level, this particular Samsara cycle was different. First, there was the Primordial Beginning King, then the Pangu King, and with the combined efforts of numerous Heavenly Venerates and Great Venerables, the Executors paid a heavy price. Before the Calamity descended that year, these Executors acted as the vanguard. Over a dozen powerful beings comparable to Heavenly Venerates descended first, along with dozens of Great Venerable-level Executors. Unfortunately, under the leadership of the two Heavenly Venerate Kings, the assembled Heavenly Venerates joined forces and slew the majority on the spot. The Primordial Beginning King alone killed three, and Pangu King also beheaded three."
"Of the thirteen Heavenly Venerate-level Calamity Executors, ten perished, with only three managing to escape!"
"As for the Great Venerable-level Executors, over ninety percent perished, with only five or six escaping, their whereabouts within the Origin Land unknown. Naturally, with Heavenly Venerates presiding, they dared not show themselves."
Recalling those times, a look of reminiscence appeared on the Desolate Heavenly Venerate's face. That was the most glorious era of this Samsara cycle, a time of ultimate strength.
Even the Calamity Executors, recruited by the Heavenly Dao over countless cycles, suffered heavy casualties.
"In that battle, the Calamity Executors suffered grievous losses. However, on our side, some were seduced by the Heavenly Dao, defecting to its camp and framing Pangu King, which led to the great eruption of the All Heavens Twilight." The Desolate Heavenly Venerate sighed softly. There were many reasons for the outbreak of the All Heavens Twilight, but the most terrifying was the Heavenly Dao's seduction, successfully convincing a portion of the Heavenly Venerates that if half of their number perished, the power of the Heavenly Dao would return to the heavens above, and the Quantitative Calamity would be delayed.
This successfully triggered the All Heavens Twilight. Over half of the Heavenly Venerates and Great Venerables perished, allowing infinite Heavenly Dao origin to return to the heavens. The Origin Land was severely weakened.
In a sense, although the Quantitative Calamity was sealed and delayed, the Heavenly Dao's scheme also succeeded.
Now, although the Origin Land still has over a dozen supreme Heavenly Venerates and the Heavenly Venerate King Primordial Beginning Heavenly Venerable, it is still insufficient to confront the Quantitative Calamity.
At this point, the Desolate Heavenly Venerate's expression turned grave. He warned Ye Chen to remain extremely cautious even now, because he suspected that among the current Heavenly Venerates, there might still be Calamity Executors lurking.
Ye Chen's expression changed. If Calamity Executors were mixed among them, their side would be in great danger.
Ye Chen pressed further, asking which Heavenly Venerate might be an Executor?
But the Desolate Heavenly Venerate shook his head, offering no answer, merely stating that the Primordial Beginning Heavenly Venerable would investigate this thoroughly.
Hearing this, Ye Chen's face turned solemn.
The conversation then returned to its main topic. The Desolate Heavenly Venerate continued to expound on the various mysteries of attaining the Dao through Body Attainment of Dao to reach Eternity.
"Before discussing the Eternal Path of Body Attainment of Dao, first, Fellow Daoist Chaos should know that each origin Heavenly Dao that attains Eternity is unique," said the Desolate Heavenly Venerate.
Ye Chen nodded. Indeed, throughout history, the origin Heavenly Dao through which each supreme Heavenly Venerate attained the Eternal Heavenly Throne was different. For example, the Ten Directions Heavenly Venerate's Sealing Heavenly Dao, the Life-Death Heavenly Venerate's Life-Death Heavenly Dao, the Ten Tribulations Heavenly Venerate's Ten Tribulations Heavenly Dao...
Even Ye Chen's Chaos Heavenly Dao, theoretically attaining Eternity through chaos like the Primordial Beginning Heavenly Venerable, was destined to have different perceived characteristics of the Chaos Eternal Heavenly Dao.
Because chaos was unique, encompassing all Daos, containing infinite characteristics capable of infinite transformations.
Therefore, even though Hun Wuji had cultivated the Chaos Great Dao to such profound levels, the Endless Heavenly Venerate did not stop him, knowing there was still a chance to attain the Chaos Eternal Heavenly Dao.
The Desolate Heavenly Venerate said, "Similarly, the Eternal Path of Body Attainment of Dao is also different for each. For example, I attained the Eternal Path of Body Attainment of Dao through Indestructibility!"
The Indestructible Body Eternal Path?
Ye Chen was surprised and doubtful.
At this moment, the Desolate Heavenly Venerate waved his sleeve, opening up an ancient Chaos Universe beside them.
Although he had attained the Dao through Body Attainment of Dao to reach Eternity, he still possessed infinite methods not inferior to those who attained Eternity through origin Great Dao.
The Desolate Heavenly Venerate invited Ye Chen to follow him inside.
Within this ancient Chaos Universe, Heavenly Venerate secret patterns interwove, making it exceptionally stable. Ye Chen harbored no suspicion that the Desolate Heavenly Venerate intended to kill him here, for he was confident that unless the Primordial Beginning Heavenly Venerable himself came, no one in the world could kill him—not even the Desolate Heavenly Venerate.
The Desolate Heavenly Venerate looked at Ye Chen and said, "Chaos, you may attack with all your strength. Use your most powerful means to strike me!"