A deep, secluded land, this area lies between the Central Plains and the Northwestern Continents. Because
most people travel long distances through wormholes, this region is incredibly desolate and uninhabited. A faint ripple of air rippled through space, and a bloodstained, disheveled figure emerged. "Chen Guan! Gu Yuan! If I don't die this time, I'll make you regret it for the rest of your lives!" A cold oath clenched between his teeth. The man glanced back, but dared not linger. With a gritted teeth, he tore through space, heading for the northwest region. He couldn't stay in the Central Plains any longer! Just a few minutes after this man left, two more figures arrived. "You sent a message asking me to force him to the northwest. Why? Aren't you worried that Emperor Hun Tian might go mad and destroy our homeland?" Seeing the confident, unfazed young man, Gu Yuan was puzzled. During the past ten days of pursuit, there had been numerous opportunities to capture the Soul Emperor from both sides, yet Gu Yuan had been given the chance to escape. This was beyond his comprehension. Even playing cat and mouse wasn't easy. This was the Soul Emperor. If he escaped and found a secluded location to recover his strength, it would be a catastrophic disaster, enough to overthrow the entire clan! Chen Guan, sensing Gu Yuan's emotions, smiled faintly and said, "Don't be impatient, Clan Leader Gu. It's precisely because the Soul Emperor is so important that we can never be too cautious. Xiao Xuan's dying counterattack allowed the Soul Emperor to recuperate for a thousand years. I don't want that to happen to us. Having another fighter of the same level will make it easier to deal with." "You and I are both late-stage Nine-Star Dou Sheng. Where else on this continent can we find another besides the Soul Emperor..." Gu Yuan paused mid-sentence. Then, his eyes lit up. "You mean, the old Dragon Emperor of the Ancient Dragon Clan is here?" At this point, Chen Guan no longer had any intention of concealing the truth and nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Clan Leader Gu must have long wanted to meet Uncle Zhu Kun. This is the opportunity. However, for some reason, he's trapped somewhere and can't escape, so I had to rush Emperor Hun Tian here." "Is there a place in the northwest that could hold a Nine-Star Dou Sheng?" "It's related to Ancient Emperor Tuoshe. It's hard to explain in a few words. Once Clan Leader Gu meets Old Dragon Emperor, he'll understand. Let's hurry. Given Emperor Hun Tian's temperament, he'll definitely fall into the trap if he senses that fluctuation. If we arrive too late, he'll sense the danger and leave early, making it difficult to force him into a trap." After a brief explanation, Chen Guan vanished without pause. Gu Yuan followed closely behind, and a muffled voice could be heard faintly. "Call me uncle from now on. Once Emperor Hun Tian is dealt with, Xun'er's matter can't be delayed any longer." ... As Chen Guan had expected, Emperor Hun Tian, almost immediately after entering the Black Horn Territory, became aware of the unusual fluctuations emanating from the inner courtyard of the former Canaan Academy. In the eyes of the Soul Emperor, the people of the Black Horn Region, and indeed the entire Northwest, were incredibly weak and easily overturned. Only the disturbances within the Canaan Academy's inner courtyard were somewhat noticeable. Though still weak in his eyes, they stood out like a crane among chickens in this region, making it hard not to notice. With a flash of his feet, the Soul Emperor arrived at the former site of the inner courtyard. Canaan Academy had been completely relocated, like a mountain being moved to fill the sea. No trace of buildings remained within the mountains, and the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower had naturally been taken away. The shifting of the mountains and seas had completely exposed the magma world that once existed beneath the earth. The scorching heat had turned the area thousands of miles in radius red and yellow, and even the lush mountain ranges near the magma world were completely devoid of life, with the impact expanding daily. This scene could not be hidden from the people of the Black Horn Region. Upon noticing the movements at Canaan Academy, a steady stream of people came to investigate. Some, relying on their immense strength, even bravely dived into the roiling magma. Thanks to these lunatics, the people of the Black Horn Region quickly discovered that a unique tribe actually lived within the roiling magma. The Flame Lizardmen! After numerous battles, both the Black Horn Region's elite and the Flame Lizardmen suffered losses, and they also uncovered some of the region's secrets. The deeper they ventured into the magma world, the stronger the Flame Lizardmen became, and their numbers multiplied. Within the Lizardmen's bodies lay a fire elixir, similar to a demonic beast's core. The fire elixir's energy was incredibly potent and intense. While it couldn't be directly absorbed, anyone who saw it knew it was a valuable asset. After all, the demonic fire stones from the Demonic Fire Plains of Central Province were already being utilized. The Black Horn Region's elite couldn't use this fire elixir, which only meant they were inferior, not that the fire elixir was useless. Upon realizing this, the Black Horn Region's elite were instantly excited. This was truly valuable! If they could obtain more and bring them to Central Province, they wouldn't have to worry about not being able to exchange them for resources. At the very least, the alchemists of Danta would surely be interested in the fire elixir. For a moment, the Black Horn Territory's powerful warriors rushed into the magma world, their eyes fixed on the Fire Pill. They dared to act so recklessly because they had discovered a significant flaw within the Flame Lizardmen: they couldn't leave the magma! In other words, as long as they ran fast and within their capabilities, the risk was extremely low! When Emperor Hun Tian arrived, the roiling magma was awash with people, and pairs of dazzling Dou Qi wings spread out, creating a spectacle unlike anything he had ever witnessed. From his vantage point, he could see dozens of figures engaged in a chaotic battle within the magma world. Only four of them were human, all one- and two-star Dou Zun powerhouses. Their opponents were the Flame Lizardmen, and the two leading them had reached the level of three-star Dou Zun. The clash was now a dead heat, and the surging magma vortexes made those below the Dou Zun level fearful of venturing in, and they could only watch from the outside. "The Flame Lizard Tribe?" Soul Emperor surveyed this race he had never seen before, and had even just heard of for the first time. He could sense even more powerful Fire Lizardmen deep within the magma, several of whose auras surpassed Dou Zun level. How could such a race exist in such a barren region of the northwest? It was a mystery that baffled him. Normally, Soul Emperor would have delved deeper into the matter, but now, he hesitated. After all, two powerful enemies were pursuing him.
As he hesitated, Soul Emperor suddenly sensed the reappearance of those two familiar auras, a feeling that filled him with rage.
Hastily restraining his aura, he was about to flee.
However, he sensed that the two men seemed unaware of him, disappearing at breakneck speed from a short distance.
Could this be the case of the lamp concealing the darkness?
Gazing at the bustling surroundings, Soul Emperor had an epiphany.
The next moment, something even more thrilling occurred.
He suddenly sensed the Tushe Ancient Emperor Jade within his ring moving!
This sight caused Soul Emperor's breath to quicken, and as he stared at the roiling magma below, his eyes gleamed.
Resisting the urge to burst into laughter, Soul Emperor plunged deeper without hesitation.
The allure of the word "Emperor" overwhelmed him, causing him to overlook a crucial detail.
If his Tushe Ancient Emperor Jade could sense something, why had Chen Guan not noticed?
It could only be said that greed blinded his mind.
The moment Soul Emperor entered the magma world, Chen Guan and Gu Yuan, who had departed, also quietly reappeared high in the sky.
Within the magma world,
to avoid unnecessary trouble, Soul Emperor opted to remain in stealth.
With his strength, even severely wounded, his determination to penetrate deeper would remain undetected by the Flame Lizardmen.
Thus, with minimal effort, he arrived at the place he had longed for for millennia.
"Ancient Emperor's Cave Mansion!"
Gazing at the inscription on the towering, sky-shaking cave entrance, Soul Emperor could no longer contain his excitement.
"Hahaha! I've finally found you!"
"Ancient Emperor's Cave Mansion! Ancient Emperor's Cave Mansion!!!"
A thousand-year wish, finally fulfilled.
Such a feeling, no one could possibly understand!
Overjoyed, Soul Emperor's emotions nearly lost control, completely unaware of the strangeness of the sky.
So lost in his ecstasy, he didn't even notice Chen Guan and Gu Yuan's arrival.
At this moment, before the gates of the Ancient Emperor's Cave, gathered the only four most powerful beings on the continent!
"Chen Guan! Gu Yuan!"
Suddenly, the Soul Emperor turned and looked over.
Well, seeing the legendary Ancient Emperor's Cave for the first time was understandable, and it was Gu Yuan who had let a flaw slip in his excitement.
But that didn't matter anymore.
Chen Guan and Gu Yuan appeared, gazing at the Soul Emperor, whose face was filled with hatred and vigilance at the cave entrance. Their true colors were revealed, no longer concealing the slightest bit.
"Emperor Soul, let's stop here. The Ancient Emperor's Cave is the place I carefully selected for your demise. Are you satisfied?"
"You discovered the Ancient Emperor's Cave a long time ago!"
With his back against the cave's massive gate, the Soul Emperor ignored the Ancient Patriarch, forcing himself to calm down, his gaze fixed on Chen Guan.
Having suffered a heavy loss not long ago, the Soul Emperor knew the price of losing his composure in his presence.
Chen Guan nodded affirmatively and smiled, "Everyone knows that I, Chen Guan, came from the northwest. Furthermore, I once studied at Canaan Academy. Before entering Zhongzhou, I knew this secret."
Soul Emperor Tiantian acted as if this was expected, maintaining a calm demeanor as he continued his questions, as if hoping to clear up all doubts before his death.
"How did you learn of our clan's pharmacopoeia plan?"
This question puzzled not only Soul Emperor Tiantian, but also Gu Yuan.
"I have a former friend who, by chance, joined the Soul Palace. After the Soul Palace's personnel were withdrawn and returned to the Soul Clan, he joined them. He's gifted and survived, and he's also very perceptive. Although your plan is quite secretive, he was still able to deduce some things from the clues." "
Alright, there are a few things, but no more. Time for explanations is up. It would be rude to ask any more. Go on your way."
Watching Chen Guan approach, Gu Yuan joined from the side. With his back against the ancient emperor's cave, Soul Emperor Tiantian had nowhere to retreat.
"Chen Guan, Gu Yuan, aren't you afraid that I'll perish alongside you?"
Reaching a truly desperate situation, Emperor Hun Tian could think of no other way to threaten the two men besides self-destruction.
"To be honest, I did have some concerns before today, but now, please do as you please. I will not stop you, nor will I retreat a single step."
Noticing something amiss in Chen Guan's gaze, Emperor Hun Tian looked up.
He saw the 'sky' suddenly begin to flow, a pair of mountain-like pupils opened, and a faintly terrifying aura emanated, every bit as terrifying as he had in his prime!
This was another peak-level Nine-Star Dou Sheng!
(End of Chapter)