[8K Words]
"You are Xia Mei, the most powerful of the Imperial Concubines in the Heavenly Emperor Palace?" The Fiery Sun Emperor stood at the bow, looking at Xia Mei, who was blocking his way.
"You, the Saint, defeated the Saint King, and the Saint King remained undefeated in battle against the Quasi-Emperor. Your name is truly legendary." The Fiery Sun Emperor chuckled softly, and a blazing sun appeared behind him. Its fiery aura surged like a sea of fire, possessing the terrifying power to incinerate the heavens and boil the seas.
"Do you think that just because you are a Quasi-Emperor you can challenge the might of the Great Emperor? Let me tell you, without the throne, we are all ants!"
The Fiery Sun Emperor waved his hand, and a roar echoed through the void.
A gigantic sun emerged from the sea, a raging sea of fire, a blazing sun that incinerated the sea and the sky, exploding the sky and the stars, igniting a dazzling radiance.
The Fiery Sun Emperor immediately unleashed the power of the Great Dao. He knew these Imperial Concubines in the Heavenly Emperor Palace well; they were no ordinary people, so he wanted to kill them with a single strike to prevent any further complications.
When Xia Mei reached the Sage Realm, she could kill like crazy in the Great Thousand Dao Realm, and her reputation gradually spread. Leveraging her strength and the power of the Great Dao of Charm, she was so captivating that any man who encountered her would be captivated and ultimately meet a tragic end at her hands.
As a result, Xia Mei earned another nickname: "Men's Forbidden Zone."
Xia Mei leaned forward, chuckling.
"Even an Emperor of your caliber could give it a try."
A seductive smile flashed beneath Xia Mei's mask. "Today, I will use your blood to build my Great Emperor Dao Fruit!"
Xia Mei slammed her palm towards the incoming sea of fire and blazing sun. Immediately, a bony hand, shrouded in a pink mist and carrying an unparalleled aura, slammed directly into the sea of fire and grabbed the blazing sun.
The void shattered, and a terrifying force instantly swept over.
The bony arm shattered the sea of fire, exploding the blazing sun, and hurled itself towards the treasure ship aboard the Fiery Sun Emperor.
Xia Mei's Dao was far superior to that of the Fiery Sun Emperor.
"How is this possible!"
The Fiery Sun Emperor's eyes blazed with blood. Seeing the skeletal hand crashing down, the magic array on the treasure ship shattered almost instantly, and the treasure ship beneath him exploded.
He quickly displayed his imperial power once again, shielding the other treasure ships behind him.
But even so, many of the powerful disciples who had followed him were instantly killed, causing heavy losses to his forces.
"You deserve to die!"
The Fiery Sun Emperor was furious.
A quasi-emperor dared to challenge him, the Great Emperor. He was courting death. Boundless rage instantly erupted.
The Fiery Sun Emperor's body glowed like a blazing sun, countless Dao energies surging. Behind him, Dao runes unfolded, and an endless sea of fire swept over him like a raging wave.
At this moment, a majestic aura emanated from him, vast and terrifying, dispelling the darkness of the entire star region, leaving only the blazing sun rising into the sky.
Feeling this terrifying imperial power, capable of crumbling heaven and earth, Xia Mei's expression became solemn. She felt her body sink, and the spiritual avenue within her body faltered.
"Alas, as long as I don't reach the level of Great Emperor, the gap is still quite large," Xia Mei sighed.
This is the suppression of the imperial throne. The saying "all those who don't reach the level of Great Emperor are ants" is no joke.
The avenue of the Great Emperor's Dao Fruit can activate the avenue of the other party, filling this entire world with the avenue of the other party. Even though Xia Mei was at the Quasi-Emperor level and possessed a complete avenue within her, as long as she didn't reach the level of Great Emperor, even if she possessed an ancient avenue, she would still be suppressed by the opponent's lower avenue!
Seeing this scene, everyone present who had come to the Nine Abyss Dao Realm hoping to get a piece of the action was overjoyed.
Seeing this, the Buddha Mother frowned. She didn't believe a Quasi-Emperor could defeat a Great Emperor. She looked at the other imperial concubines and said, "Aren't you going to help her?"
Yaoguang glanced at the Buddha Mother, then retracted her gaze, saying calmly, "No need."
The Buddha Mother frowned. Why, facing a Great Emperor, did the other imperial concubines, including Xia Mei, show no sign of panic?
Each of them raised their heads, gazing at the central battlefield. Although their masks obscured their expressions, the Buddha Mother couldn't clearly see them, but their eyes seemed to hold... a hint of anticipation.
They came with the confidence that a Quasi-Emperor could defeat a Great Emperor. She herself was a Quasi-Emperor, and knew clearly that even if she reached the limit of a Quasi-Emperor, she couldn't defeat an ordinary Great Emperor.
Xia Mei was not afraid at all. The power of the Great Dao within her body swirled furiously, undergoing a transformation. She took a step forward, her voice ringing out.
"A Quasi-Emperor cannot defeat a Great Emperor, but a Great Emperor can! The Imperial Concubine, Hongfen, of the Heavenly Emperor's seat in the Heavenly Emperor Palace, attains the Dao and becomes Emperor here!"
Boom!
A magnificent sound echoed throughout the Dao Realm, followed by a resounding roar above everyone's heads, and the heavens and the earth drastically shifted!
Around Xia Mei, terrifyingly powerful Daos emerged. Three of them: in addition to the core Dao of Charm, there was also the Dao of Bones and the Dao of Death, all supremely superior Daos. The three Daos complemented each other, creating a complete and magnificent aura!
The earth trembled.
The sky pressed down.
The calamity of the Dao erupted.
The eyes of the many Quasi-Emperors and Great Emperors present were wide open.
"She actually became Emperor here?"
"How is that possible? She's only risen so quickly! She's only been a Quasi-Emperor for a few years. How could she possibly become Emperor?"
The voices echoed, and everyone stared intently at the center.
The moon and stars were dim, the sky and earth were two different colors, and blood-red clouds surged like the sea.
At this moment, Xia Mei was surrounded by a myriad of radiant rays of light. Behind her, a flower-covered skull seemed to stand, silently sheltering her.
"Boom!"
A thunderclap rang out. This thunderstorm wasn't a planetary thundercloud, but one that appeared in the universe, enveloping the starry sky!
The endless starry sky suddenly darkened, the moon and stars disappearing.
Only an endless black cloud remained, threatening to descend from the sky.
"Boom, boom!"
A blinding flash of lightning illuminated the sky and earth, then vanished in an instant.
Then, countless bolts of lightning, like the Milky Way tilting, instantly illuminated the already pitch-black universe.
Everyone stared in amazement at the thunderstorm pouring down from the sky, their eyes filled with nothing but shock.
"This... could this be the Emperor's Heavenly Tribulation!"
"Impossible! Why is the aura of this Heavenly Tribulation so terrifying?"
Emperor Fiery Sun looked up at the thunderclouds enveloping the star field and shouted in disbelief!
Xia Mei's Heavenly Tribulation was even more terrifying and suffocating than when he first became an Emperor. It was likely several times more powerful.
The Heavenly Tribulation an Emperor experiences greatly affects their potential after becoming an Emperor. Some remain ordinary Emperors their entire lives, while others reach the level of an Infinitely Transcendent Emperor. That's the difference.
And the divine power contained in Xia Mei's Heavenly Tribulation this time was so great that even Emperor Fiery Sun would struggle to withstand it.
But at this moment, within the star field...
Feeling the terrifying thunderstorm descending from above, Xia Mei's face remained calm.
She looked up at the radiant Milky Way, her form transformed into a startling swan, and soared straight into the thousand-foot-long lightning.
"BOOM!"
An endless sea of thunder enveloped heaven and earth, a melody of Dao emanating from it.
"Hahaha, how can a mere thunder tribulation prevent me from becoming an emperor? For the Immortal Emperor, today I will ascend the throne and achieve my Dao!"
"BOOM, BOOM!"
The heavenly tribulation seemed to respond to Xia Mei's resolve, sending down a waterfall of thunder powerful enough to rip apart space. A blaze of lightning filled the sky, annihilating everything.
Emperor Fiery Sun's eyes raged. He hoped Xia Mei would die in this thunder tribulation, so he wouldn't have to face such a terrifying emperor.
But things would certainly not go as he wished. The emperor tribulation wasn't a death sentence. This world tolerated the existence of emperors.
The thunder waterfall roared, and Xia Mei forged ahead within it, bearing the emperor tribulation head-on.
At this moment, the void hummed, and a thousand-foot golden light shot up into the sky, shattering the thunderclouds and dispersing the heavenly tribulation.
The star field, previously shrouded in thunderclouds, instantly returned to its original state. Starlight poured down from the sky, illuminating everyone's heart like a miracle.
In the spot where the thunderstorm had once struck, a tall, stunningly beautiful figure appeared.
Clouds and mist swirled around them, wind and thunder roared, forming a vast vortex of heaven and earth. Yet, this stunning figure stood suspended in mid-air, enveloped in the vortex of her own Dao power, remarkably unaffected.
"Great... Great Emperor!"
Emperor Fiery Sun sensed the powerful Dao energy emanating from Xia Mei. An imperial aura infinitely more powerful than his own emanated from her. Anyone present with a weaker heart or less advanced cultivation could no longer stand up before this imperial might, and could only kneel before it.
He panicked. Xia Mei, now an emperor, was far more powerful than he was.
"Can I kill you now?"
Xia Mei's eyes turned to Emperor Fiery Sun. His slender figure stood proudly at the center of heaven and earth. Though masked, his features were obscured, but the curvaceous curves of his voluptuous body revealed a beautiful prophet, surpassing all others in beauty.
"We are all emperors, and you want to kill me? You can't!" Emperor Fiery Sun roared, charging at Xia Mei.
"Even emperors have their differences. I can't obliterate the Dao, but I can seal you for ten thousand years." Xia Mei's alluring voice echoed.
The next second.
"Boom!"
An indescribable aura of terror permeated, enveloping the entire world. Everyone within this realm felt a chill of fear, their faces suddenly pale.
A rosy-faced skeleton, so massive it almost filled the entire star field, appeared and grabbed the Fiery Sun Emperor. With a powerful squeeze, the Emperor's entire body instantly resounded with the crisp crack of bones.
"Ah! How can you be so strong!"
"Asshole, how could you, a newly promoted Emperor, possess such a formidable foundation?"
The Fiery Sun Emperor's furious roar resounded, his voice hoarse, devoid of his previous arrogance.
Xia Mei glanced at him coldly and said with contempt, "If you're weak, don't blame others for being too strong. I can't kill you, so you'll rot away over the endless years."
With that, the massive skeleton slammed the Fiery Sun Emperor into a star, then tore open a rift in space, exiling the star to an unknown land. The other forces that had their eye on the Nine Abyss were horrified by this scene, their faces changing dramatically.
But Emperor Fiery Sun wasn't the only Great Emperor present. While they were terrified of Xia Mei's immense strength, they were also desperate for a piece of the Nine Abyss's opportunities.
"Don't be afraid, everyone. She's alone. Let's attack her together. She's just been promoted to Great Emperor, so she certainly hasn't fully consolidated her Great Emperorhood yet. This is a great opportunity. Once we enter the Nine Abyss, the opportunity to break through to the Great Emperor level will be within our grasp."
Just as the Great Emperors of all the forces were about to attack together,
A voice rang out.
"Who said she's the only one in our Heavenly Emperor Palace?"
The next second, the void split open, light shone, and a voluptuous, sexy figure stepped out.
A colorful lotus shone overhead, transforming into a canopy of heaven. Yaoguang stepped on the colorful light, a celestial aura swirling around her. Her figure was tall and voluptuous, her large breasts trembling and swaying, drawing the eye. But even more than her voluptuous figure, she now, amidst the colorful light, looked more like a celestial being ruling heaven and earth.
"Heavenly Emperor Palace, Yao Chi Holy Mother!"
Someone recognized the colorful light, their expression changing slightly. Yao Chi Holy Mother's reputation was no less renowned than that of a prostitute. She had slain countless enemies and roamed the battlefields, leaving a deep impression on many.
Then another blast of sword light slashed out, tearing through the heavens and earth, blinding everyone with a stinging pain that sent screams of agony.
A figure in white held a sword in one hand, stepping on the sword light. Her entire body was like a jade-like sword, radiating with color. She was like a sharp sword unsheathed, her sword power majestic and unstoppable.
"This is the Heavenly Emperor Palace, Sword Immortal!"
"It's the Heavenly Emperor Palace's imperial concubines. They've arrived too."
Figures appeared one after another, standing beside Xia Mei. This caused the faces of the Great Emperors who had been planning to siege her to change slightly.
"You're just a bunch of Quasi-Emperors. Do you really think we're afraid of you, the Heavenly Emperor Palace?" an old man said, his gaze as cold as a blade, clearly looking down on Yaoguang and the others.
"Oh..."
Yaoguang let out a faint "oh," and then her aura suddenly erupted, and a hint of imperial might already emanated from her.
"If you think our Quasi-Emperors aren't up to par, would you like me to help you achieve a breakthrough right here?"
Not only Yaoguang, but the other imperial concubines also emanated a powerful aura that was no longer within the realm of Quasi-Emperors, causing everyone's faces to change drastically.
For a moment, they were at a loss. They weren't sure if the Heavenly Emperor Palace's imperial concubines truly had the ability to achieve the Great Emperor status at any time, and they didn't want to take the risk.
What if they completely offended the Heavenly Emperor Palace and the six Great Emperors came to settle accounts?
At this moment.
Buzz!
A fierce roar resounded.
Something terrifying seemed to surge within the black fog, and the Great Emperors present felt a chill run through their bodies, their faces slightly changing.
Then the entrance to the Nine Abyss burst open, and wisps of terrifying aura flowed out. In that instant, all the Great Emperors present felt as if a steel knife was hanging over their heads, bringing with them a long-lost sense of death.
The ordinary cultivators collapsed one after another, their bodies icy cold, unable to move.
Just as everyone was terrified, curious about what was happening within the Nine Abyss, several figures hurriedly escaped through the exit.
Everyone's faces paled after seeing their faces clearly. Only two people emerged this time: Dan Qingzi and Thunder Emperor. They were pale, terrified, and their breath was weak. They looked utterly miserable.
Why were only two people emerging? Eighteen top-tier Great Emperors had clearly gone in. Where were they?
Seeing only Dan Qingzi and Thunder Emperor emerge, the Buddha Mother and the Imperial Concubines' faces changed. Why hadn't the Old Buddha Gu Deng and the Heavenly Emperor emerged?
The Buddha Mother anxiously asked Dan Qingzi, "Senior Dan Qingzi, where is the Grand Master?"
Dan Qingzi slowly raised his head. His once youthful features had now transformed into an ugly, old, wrinkled face, a look exceedingly eerie.
"The Nine Abyss Heavenly Demon has revived. The Grand Master, to save us, held back the demon and was unable to escape."
"What?!"
The faces of several people nearby suddenly changed.
The Buddha Mother, in particular, wore a look of sorrow, tears in her eyes. The Buddha Gu Deng was the most prestigious, amiable, and kindest person in the Buddhist Kingdom, the object of veneration by all Buddhists.
The Buddha Gu Deng's death was not only a loss for Buddhists, but also for humanity.
"Amitabha," the Buddha Mother lowered her head and chanted the Buddha's name, hiding the tears in her eyes.
Just as the imperial concubines were about to inquire about the Heavenly Emperor, another stream of light appeared.
Two figures appeared at the exit of the Nine Abyss.
As the white light faded, everyone could clearly see the two figures.
One was the Heavenly Emperor, shrouded in white light and bearing an ancient aura. His white robes were somewhat damaged and disheveled, yet his elegance remained undimmed. In the Heavenly Emperor's arms, Shangguan Yunhe lay pale, his robes stained with blood, his beautiful features shimmering with poignant beauty.
The imperial concubines, upon seeing Qin Tian emerge, gathered around him with joy.
Shangguan Yunhe, who had been in Qin Tian's arms, saw so many women surrounding her and struggled to get out of his arms.
Qin Tian didn't try to stop her. Shangguan Yunhe wasn't the kind of woman you'd get shy and flutter your heart just by hugging her and acting a little rough.
"Where are the others? Where's our Yang family ancestor?" one of the Yang family members asked in panic.
"I don't know, but they're probably all dead," Shangguan Yunhe said calmly, calming her chaotic breath.
Eighteen people went in, only four came out.
"Where's the chance to become a Transcendent Emperor? Is it in your hands?" one Emperor gritted his teeth as he looked at the four survivors.
At the same time, the Emperors who had been timid on the edge slowly gathered around. Now that Dan Qingzi and Thunder Emperor were seriously injured, and Shangguan Yunhe and Heavenly Emperor seemed to be at the end of their strength, they grew more confident.
Dan Qingzi raised his face, half young, half old, and glared sharply at the Emperors present, eager to make a move. "Nine Abyss doesn't have any chance to become a Transcendent Emperor. This is just a conspiracy to resurrect the Heavenly Demon."
Under Dan Qingzi's gaze, they still felt a little fearful, but for a few, greed outweighed their fear.
"If you say there's nothing, then there's nothing. Open your sea of consciousness and your magical storage device and let us search! If there's nothing, we won't bother you anymore."
"How dare you!" Dan Qingzi was furious. These people actually dared to search him. This was a grave humiliation.
The Thunder Emperor was also furious. "You cowards! If you dare try, I'll kill you all if I turn around again."
As the Thunder Emperor spoke, thunder roared. The mighty heavenly tribulation power of the Eighth Generation Thunder Emperor roared out, arcs of electricity swirling around him, flashing a dazzling light.
Shangguan Yunhe frowned and whispered, "We truly haven't found anything. If you don't believe me, you can go to the Nine Abyss and check for yourself."
"This..." The others hesitated.
But the opportunity of becoming a Transcendent Emperor was too tempting. They didn't dare enter the Nine Abyss, but they also didn't want to let Dan Qingzi and the others go. What if they found something there?
Even if it was just a hypothesis, the temptation was great enough.
Several people exchanged glances. Whether or not they had it, they would not be satisfied until they had checked it out. And everyone present, regardless of whether or not they were present, would die.
They had already thoroughly offended these people. If they waited until they recovered, they would surely seek revenge. Better to kill them all now while they were weak.
Since the emperors couldn't kill them, they would seal them away permanently to prevent their recovery.
"We won't make it difficult for you. Simply open your sea of consciousness and storage magic treasures for us to see. If you don't have any, we'll let you go."
A great emperor spoke grimly, pressing closer.
"It all depends on your ability," Shangguan Yunhe glared coldly at the pressing emperors.
At the same time, the imperial concubine, the Buddha Mother, and the other emperors who had died there, along with their companions, stood before Shangguan Yunhe.
Instantly, a standoff between the two forces took place.
Just then, a treasure ship appeared at the edge, sailing towards Nine Abyss.
The two groups, originally on the brink of war, both looked towards the treasure ship, their brows furrowed. Who dared to interfere at this moment?
"Hahaha, your human petty trolling is truly spectacular. But then again, you're a race that's prone to erosion!"
Nine Abyss Dao Realm, the boundary wall is being tested.
Boom!
A massive treasure ship simply shattered the boundary wall and headed towards Nine Abyss.
Aboard the treasure ship, an old man sneered sarcastically.
At the sight of the incoming force, everyone tacitly put aside their previous hostility and eyed the incoming treasure ship with wariness.
In the face of humanity's common enemy, any interests can be set aside, especially the Ancient Imperial Family. Humanity's darkest and most hopeless era was caused by the Ancient Imperial Family.
They are truly humanity's common enemy.
"I was wondering who it was, but it turns out to be the ragtag bird from Luofeng Forest," a great emperor replied with a sneer.
Then he glanced at the treasure ship and sneered, "You, the Taikoo Imperial Clan, are overconfident. You've only got one Great Emperor like you, and a bunch of assorted trash. Ridiculous."
The Taikoo Imperial Clan's Great Emperor chuckled, "Come over and give me a fight?"
"Playing tricks! I want to see what you're up to." A cold glint flashed in the Great Emperor's eyes. As he vanished, he struck the Taikoo Imperial Clan's treasure ship with a palm that threatened to shatter the entire space, obliterating everything.
He knew clearly that even if the Taikoo Imperial Clan had some kind of stronghold, he couldn't defeat them, nor could he kill them. Furthermore, there were many Human Great Emperors present, and they would surely come to his rescue.
Qin Tian, however, felt a deep-seated fear, even a tingling sensation on his skin. A suffocating aura lurked within the starry sky.
The thought of nearly eight Great Emperors of the Ancient Imperial Clan attacking the Immortal Qin Ancient Territory to slow down the Qin Clan's fighting power, precisely to prevent them from coming to Nine Abyss, made him wonder.
And yet, they only had one Great Emperor. What was their trump card?
"If anything goes wrong, flee immediately," Qin Tian said to the Imperial Concubine and Shangguan Yunhe, disregarding pretense.
"My Lord, I have been promoted to Great Emperor. Please allow me to stay." It was the first time Xia Mei had seen Qin Tian so nervous. She wanted to stay; if anything truly happened, her Great Emperor cultivation could protect Qin Tian from any attack.
"No, you cannot stay here. Listen to me. If anything goes wrong, flee immediately back to the Heavenly Emperor Palace. There's no one who can enter."
Qin Tian immediately refused, his gaze fixed on the treasure ship, his Demonic Eyes of Judgment manifesting. But no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't locate the source of the aura.
Shangguan Yunhe looked at the Heavenly Emperor in surprise. Why did this voice sound so familiar?
At this moment, facing the Great Emperor's palm strike, every member of the Ancient Imperial Clan, including the Great Emperor, reacted with a terrifying gesture.
"With the blood of our clan, we summon the bodies and souls of our ancestors. Future generations welcome our ancestors back to life!"
The Great Emperor of the Ancient Imperial Clan chanted aloud, then drew a dagger and plunged it into his heart. A torrent of blood gushed out. The Emperor, who was supposed to be immortal and undying, was now visibly withering, his vitality rapidly fading.
And yet, this spurting blood seemed to be drawn away by something, drifting into the void above.
"With the blood of our clan, we summon the bodies and souls of our ancestors. Future generations welcome our ancestors back to life!"
A resounding roar echoed from the treasure ship. Tens of thousands of members of the Ancient Imperial Clan knelt aboard, their eyes filled with determination. They then drew a dagger and, without hesitation, plunged it into their hearts.
Suddenly, countless streams of blood pooled into the void.
This scene startled everyone. This bizarre scene filled everyone present with shudders and confusion.
The Emperor, who was attacking the treasure ship, was also horrified by this scene, but there was no way back now. He channeled all his Dao energy, increasing his attack power.
But the next moment.
The void above him suddenly ripped apart.
His palm strike was instantly shattered.
A terrifying, divine and demonic hand, covering the sky and the sun, pierced through from above, obscuring the starry sky and the sun and moon. Grabbing down, terrifying power exploded, shattering the entire space, and the heavens and the earth roared.
Boundless pressure instantly arrived.
Boom!
The Dao power swept across!
The entire sky seemed to leak, and Dao power poured down like a waterfall, permeating the surroundings.
Everyone felt the force of millions of mountains bearing down upon them. Anyone present, below the rank of Great Emperor, felt their flesh and blood instantly explode, transforming into a bloody mist.
Qin Tian and Xia Mei quickly erected a barrier in front, saving the lives of the other imperial concubines.
The Great Emperor who had attacked was already dead, his body shattered and floating silently in the starry sky, his face still etched with a distorted expression of terror and disbelief.
The Great Dao was obliterated, the Emperor dead!
"This... what on earth happened!"
"Who did it!?"
Everyone was horrified. They hadn't even seen the attacker; a Great Emperor had been slain.
At that moment...
The blood of all the members of the Ancient Imperial Family pooled, outlining a complex array pattern in the starry sky. As everyone watched in horror, an immensely large shadow slowly emerged from the nebula.
The phantom was a vague outline, but its scale was so vast that a planet seemed dwarfed by it, like a tiny ball.
Let alone humans. Against this silhouette, they seemed as insignificant as an ant gazing at the heavens. A crushing pressure hung over everyone's heart.
The phantom slowly solidified, outlined in blood. Amidst the vastness of the universe, the phantom revealed its true form: an immense gatehouse!
The gatehouse was so massive, it felt like a gateway to the universe. Numerous buildings and thick pipes lined the gate, connecting to a half-corpse nestled within the gatehouse.
This half-corpse, with only the upper half visible, radiated ancient patterns. Its hands, raised horizontally, were embedded within the gatehouse. Its body was equally enormous, like an ancient god. Its aura alone was enough to stifle the breath of the great emperors present.
Blood poured into the gatehouse, flowing through the pipes within the gatehouse and into the corpse. The corpse nestled between the gatehouses slowly opened its eyes, a pair of azure eyes like sapphires.
Ancient, mysterious, indescribable!
The gatehouse, carrying half a corpse, slowly moved through the starry sky. Wherever it passed, the stars dimmed, their spiritual light withered, as if completely corroded.
Dan Qingzi raised his head and looked at the half-corpse nestled between the massive gatehouses. He trembled all over, his voice trembling uncontrollably. "This... this... this is the ancestor of the ancient royal family!"
"How is this possible? How could such a being still exist in the world!?"
Dan Qingzi's face was utterly grim. This was the ancestor of the ancient royal family when they ruled the world, a witness to the times, and a testament to their glory.
But the ancient royal family had weakened, suffering heavy casualties from human resistance. Now, on their twilight years, they lived in a small Dao domain. The ancient royal family had never seen such a terrifying trump card.
Qin Tian frowned as he looked toward the gatehouse. The cultivation level of this half-corpse had already reached the level of the Infinitely Transcendent Great Emperor, equivalent to a Half-Step Immortal Emperor.
If he hadn't unleashed his Heavenly Demonic Avatar, he wouldn't have been able to defeat this monster. However, unleashing it would have been even more troublesome, potentially implicating or even killing all the imperial concubines.
But now there was no escape.
Dan Qingzi: "Everyone, our only hope of survival now is unity. Otherwise, we will all perish."
The Thunder Emperor also stepped forward. "Everyone below the Great Emperor, get out of the way. Find a chance to escape. Notify all human forces and prepare for war. Leave this to us."
Though Shangguan Yunhe was frail, she resolutely stood forward and faced the enemy.
"Kill him together!"
Countless roars echoed among the stars.
Then, countless imperial laws surged upward.
Various radiant imperial arts emerged, some transformed into towering fingers, some slashing with swords, their sharpness unstoppable;
Some gleaming hands glittered, seizing the stars and moons... Any single terrifying imperial art could sink an entire Dao realm.
In the universe, Dharma bodies floated, and various golden divine figures rose, like giants of heaven and earth, supporting the heavens and earth, a terrifying sight.
Dan Qingzi, burning everything, his body growing increasingly aged, summoned an alchemy cauldron, its entire body resembling colored glass.
"Using my body as the alchemy fire, the world as the furnace, I summon the alchemy tradition! The Alchemy Cauldron Practice Heavenly Art!"
Thunder Emperor's hair shone like lightning, his eyes blazing with blinding lightning. He poured his all into it.
"Seniors, this is humanity's survival, help me!"
Seven indistinct figures shimmered with lightning from the Thunder Emperor's body. Each of them radiated like a waterfall of thunder, their auras resonating through the ages and incomparably powerful.
They stood beside the Eighth Thunder Emperor, all turning to look at him, saying in unison, "We are with you."
Then all seven figures merged into the Eighth Thunder Emperor's body, and he unleashed unprecedented power.
The Thunder Emperor's lineage, passed down from generation to generation, unbroken, each generation building upon the next, eight generations building upon each other, forging the might of the Thunder Emperor!
The Thunder Emperor's mother gazed at the massive gatehouse and roared, "I am the Great Emperor of the human race, and I shall die fighting for it!"
"Wherever the sun and moon reach, wherever the stars reach, thunder will descend!"
"Eternal punishment of heavenly thunder!"
Shangguan Yunhe once again took out the ancient branch treasure, now shorn of its few leaves. She squeezed every ounce of Dao power within her, Dao power coursing through her body, radiating yin and yang energy.
Shangguan Yunhe clasped her hands together, and as the Thunder Emperor and Dan Qingzi charged towards the ancestor of the ancient royal family, a glint of light flashed in her eyes.
"In the Seven Treasures Courtyard of Daluo Heaven, possessing the essence of gold and water, rooted in the gentleness of Kunyi, controls the movement of the moon, and governs all yin!"
"Disciple Shangguan Yunhe, specially summons Taiyin Star Lord!!"
Shangguan Yunhe finished chanting, and within this universe, moonlight descended, illuminating the heavens. A figure dressed in palace attire, with a misty celestial belt and breathtaking beauty, cradled a full moon in her arms, reflecting all life, mountains, rivers, sun, and moon.
The people outside the Nine Abyss could only vaguely see the dazzling shadows of countless immortal lights, but this did not in the least conceal their fear.
The battle at this moment was like an ant watching a battle between gods.
But even if the many great emperors took action, mobilizing countless imperial magic bodies, it was still of little use.
The half-body of the ancient god between the gatehouses simply glanced, annihilating all the methods before it.
Dan Qingzi spat out blood and flew backward, now a completely old man. "Damn it! Is our human race going to experience another Dark Age?!"
The human race only knew that the ancient royal family had a trump card, but they had never imagined that a being comparable to the ancient gods still existed, and moreover, an Infinitely Transcendent Great Emperor.
No one in the human race could reach this realm now.
To reach the Infinitely Transcendent Great Emperor, one was no longer on the same level as other Great Emperors. One could already accomplish things that even Great Emperors couldn't easily do.
One could obliterate the Great Dao and slay the Emperor.
He was half-broken between the massive gatehouse, his hands imprisoned within it. His lower body was missing, and only his eyes could move.
But these eyes swept over everyone, radiating terrifying power. Black light swept across, annihilating everything.
Countless muffled groans echoed in the starry void.
Imperial blood fell, and immortal treasures shattered.
This also caused those present below the Great Emperor to look terrified and filled with despair.
They wanted to flee, but the scene was permeated by an invisible awe. When the gatehouse and the fragmented body appeared, no cultivator below the Great Emperor could move an inch.
Shangguan Yunhe also agreed, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Her face visibly paled, her entire body weakened to the point of exhaustion. She was a candle in the wind.
Qin Tian looked at Shangguan Yunhe's miserable state and sighed. Given his personality, he should have taken the imperial concubines and fled immediately. After all, he had already secured the opportunity to achieve the Immortal Emperor breakthrough within the Nine Abysses. The fate of those present was of no concern to him.
Even if the sky fell, there would be taller people to hold it up. It had nothing to do with him.
But...
"System, how much time do you have left to experience the Great Emperor's cultivation?"
System: "30 seconds left."
Qin Tian sighed again and turned to Xia Mei. "You lead the others and break through with all your might. I will help you break the blockade of pressure here."
"No, Lord Heavenly Emperor, you can't do that," Yaoguang was the first to disagree.
"Even if you want to escape, we're just giving you an opportunity," Xia Mei said.
Qin Tian raised his hand to interrupt the others. "This is an order. I won't die so easily. I'm the Heavenly Emperor."
With that, Qin Tian cast a shield of light that enveloped the imperial concubines and sent them away.
He turned and flew towards Shangguan Yunhe.
He caught Shangguan Yunhe and gently held her in his arms. Shangguan Yunhe was now hanging on by a thread, but she stubbornly remained unconscious.
She clutched Qin Tian's clothes tightly and said weakly, "Emperor of Heaven, please help us..."
"Leave it to me," Qin Tian said with a faint smile.
Qin Tian spoke these words without any disguise, speaking in his original voice. Shangguan Yunhe was startled by the sound, and looked at the Emperor of Heaven, who was holding her in his arms, in disbelief.
Although the voice was familiar, she still couldn't believe that the Emperor of Heaven was the person she imagined.
Qin Tian settled Shangguan Yunhe and stepped out towards the gatehouse.
"System, give me a countdown."
Qin Tian's body surged with chaotic energy, and the void around him vibrated. Ripples and trembles spread across the universe, roaring endlessly. Vortexes swirled around him, causing stars to annihilate.
A terrifying power erupted from his body. In an instant, divine light burst forth, and infinite power surged out. From afar, it seemed as if his entire body had transformed into chaos, and the power of the creation of heaven and earth gushed out from him.
The half-body in the gatehouse also noticed the situation here. Its eyes turned to Qin Tian, and suddenly, a powerful and murderous force erupted from it.
This murderous force devoured everything, accompanied by a devastating roar. The universe here seemed to collapse.
Instantly, all the Great Emperors outside the Nine Abyss were shocked, and a piercing chill swept through them.
Dan Qingzi, Thunder Emperor, Shangguan Yunhe, and the few remaining Great Emperors realized that their all-out attack had barely reached the half-body.
They placed all their hopes on the Heavenly Emperor.
If their suspicions were correct, the Heavenly Emperor, a Chaos God and Demon who had returned from the river of time, was of an ancient status that surpassed the ancestor of the ancient royal family, and his strength was even greater.
They wondered how much of his power he currently possessed.
Qin Tian clenched his hand in the air, and a blood-red spear materialized. He thrust it forcefully toward the gatehouse.
The blood spear transformed into a thin red line and slammed directly into the void in front of the gatehouse, instantly emitting a dazzling burst of light. An invisible barrier was forced into existence by the blood spear.
It turned out that there was an invisible barrier between the gatehouse and the half-body, which had prevented the emperors' previous attacks from reaching the gatehouse and the half-body.
Crack!
With a crisp sound, the barrier cracked. The half-body's eyes shifted subtly at that moment, as if surprised.
This [Virgin Blood Spear], which had absorbed the blood of over a thousand virgins from Wangdao Mountain, as well as the virgin blood of several Virgin Emperors, was a fusion of ultimate purity and ultimate filth, its power and penetrating power were immense.
Not only was the half-body surprised, but Qin Tian was also surprised. He hadn't expected the [Virgin Blood Spear] to fail to penetrate the opponent's defenses.
This half-body was even more terrifying than he had imagined.
Qin Tian took advantage of the crack in the barrier, shrouded in chaotic energy, and charged forward.
"Chaos Becomes Heaven!"
Instantly, chaos swirled around Qin Tian, and boundless chaos flowed around him, unfolding a cosmic scene, replacing the heavens.
"25."
Bang!
Qin Tian crashed directly into the shield, and the entire universe erupted in a destructive light.
"The Heaven Becomes Me!"
Qin Tian stood atop the shield, raised his fist, and struck it hard. Billions of chaotic energy erupted, tearing the stars apart!
Instantly, the shield cracked, but it remained intact.
"18."
"I become eternal!"
Qin Tian roared. He thrust his hands together, stabbing his ten fingers into the shield. Then, with a fierce rip, he tore it apart, slowly tearing it apart.
Through the ripped crack, Qin Tian stared at the massive half-body.
"Chaos Law, Chaos Eternal Fist!"
With a resounding bang, the shield was ripped apart by Qin Tian, disintegrating into a hail of fragments.
"10."
Qin Tian gritted his teeth and rushed towards the half-body, but he also felt endless pressure. His flesh began to break, blood spurting out. He was at his limit.
"7."
At the same time, he could feel the Great Emperor cultivation draining from him.
If the experience time expired and he lost his Great Emperor cultivation, he would be doomed.
A dark light flashed in his eyes, and one arm transformed into pitch-black magic armor. The two hearts within him beat violently.
"A bright moon rises from the sea of chaos, a lotus blossoms across the eternal blue sky, and the vast mountains and rivers transform into chaos!"
"Chaos Law, Chaos Blue Lotus!"
A dark blue lotus, like glass, condensed in Qin Tian's palm and blasted towards the giant half of the body.
"3."
The other avenues around him were instantly annihilated, leaving only two rays of light in this universe.
The universe collapsed.
The sky cracked like glass, then fell layer by layer. Looking back, all that could be seen were countless pits and broken nothingness, a shattered, shattered void. Then, a raging wind swirled, vortices flashed, and it became a deadly place.
This universe had completely become a deadly place, a place of destruction that even the Great Emperors dared not set foot on.
"2."
A white figure flew backwards and landed in the void, causing the faces of the spectators to change.
Qin Tian struggled to pull himself up, a mouthful of blood oozing from beneath his mask. His clothes were tattered, and his breath was weak.
"The Celestial Emperor was defeated?"
Qin Tian had done his best. Without using his true form, this was all he could do.
The light faded, revealing the massive gatehouse, several parts crumbled. A gash appeared on the face of the half-body. A drop of blood flowed out, dripping into the universe, crushing the already shattered cosmos completely.
The half-body also began to rage. To it, every drop of blood was precious, and this one drop was a devastating loss.
Its furious eyes blazed down upon everyone present, a terrifying force threatening to annihilate heaven and earth crushing down upon them.
Qin Tian no longer cared. He immediately secured Shangguan Yunhe and leaped into the spatial rift created by the shattered universe.
The emperors present also attempted to use this opportunity to escape, but they were a step too slow, instantly dissolving into a bloody mist under the terrifying gaze.
Just as Dan Qingzi and Thunder Emperor desperately awaited death, a forbidden formation suddenly appeared before them, blocking the gaze.
A white figure descended into the shattered Nine Abyss Dao Realm. He looked at the massive half-body between the massive gatehouses, then glanced at the Dao space rift through which Qin Tian and Shangguan Yunhe had fled. He casually sent a beam of white light into it, chasing after them. Then, he chuckled softly, "It's been a long time since we last met. I wonder if you still remember me, the ancestor of the ancient royal family, or if I should call you by another name, which would remind you of something?"
"Taotie."
Half of its body was fixed on the inverted white figure, its eyes fixed on it, and it uttered an ancient, obscure language that no one could understand.
The white figure said playfully, "Because I've taken good care of myself. Unlike you, who, just trying to hang on to your last breath, ended up in this horrible state."
Dan Qingzi and Lei Di looked at the white figure, their faces showing both horror and delight.
"Senior, who are you?" Dan Qingzi asked.
"Hehe, the third ancestor of the Qin clan, Qin Wuming." Qin Wuming turned and smiled faintly, then said again, "Leave this to me. Thank you for your hard work."
Dan Qingzi and Lei Di suddenly felt a sense of relief. The long-standing oppression of terror completely dissipated, and the few survivors around them were also filled with excitement.
"The Qin clan has finally arrived..." Dan Qingzi breathed a sigh of relief. He knew some of the Qin clan's history, and in a sense, the Qin clan was the guarantee of humanity.
The arrival of the Qin clan reassured Dan Qingzi. Although he didn't know much about the Qin clan, he did know some of its past.
Although the Qin Clan had long lived in seclusion, their presence was felt throughout every era. The fact that humanity survived the Dark Ages was also due to the presence of the Qin Clan.
Soon, only Qin Wuming and Taotie remained.
Qin Wuming: "Come, dust to dust, earth to earth. We are the remnants of the old era. There's no ship in the new world that can carry us. Why bother emerging? I'll let you rest in peace."
Taotie: "Sigh, I can't even speak. What's the point of living?"
At that moment, a colossal war erupted in the universe. The outcome remained unknown, but everything in Nine Abyss was destroyed in that battle.
...
In the rift between time and space, Qin Tian and Shangguan Yunhe drifted in the turbulent flow of time and space, torn apart by the forces of space.
Breaking open space and utilizing spatial rifts for long-distance teleportation is a technique only a Great Emperor can unleash. Without a Great Emperor, the tearing force within these spatial rifts would be enough to rip anything below the Great Emperor's level to shreds.
At this moment, Shangguan Yunhe was already exhausted, like a candle in the wind. Unable to mobilize her Dao power, she relied solely on Qin Tian to sustain her.
"1."
With the final countdown from the system, Qin Tian's cultivation rapidly dissipated, and he quickly fell out of the Great Emperor realm.
Qin Tian, unable to withstand the tearing force within the spatial rifts, instantly ripped apart, blood splattering everywhere. The mask on his face shattered, revealing his true appearance.
Shangguan Yunhe, held in Qin Tian's arms, was startled by the familiar, young, resolute, and handsome face. Although she had suspected something, seeing Qin Tian's appearance now still surprised her.
She also understood why the Heavenly Emperor treated her so well. He was Qin Tian.
But she immediately realized that Qin Tian was no Great Emperor; he had no way of resisting this spatial force.
"Qin Tian, let me go! I'll fight to get you out!" Shangguan Yunhe shouted anxiously. At that moment, her emotionless heart felt something else.
"No, I will protect you. We won't die!" Qin Tian held her tighter. He no longer cared about Shangguan Yunhe's presence. He planned to unleash his true form. Even if it exposed him, it was better than dying here.
At that moment, a beam of white light appeared from the endless turbulence of space and time, enveloping the two of them and bursting out of the turbulence of time and space.
Above an unknown jungle, a crack appeared in the void. A beam of white light burst forth, crashing into the jungle, sending up a cloud of dust.
Qin Tian, holding Shangguan Yunhe, fell to the ground. Both of them fell unconscious.
It was unknown how much time had passed.
Shangguan Yunhe slowly awoke, her entire body draped over Qin Tian. She pushed herself up and surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings. She had exhausted herself, leaving her with no spiritual energy at all. She was now no more than a mortal.
But at the moment, she had no time to care, for Qin Tian was still unconscious.
Shangguan Yunhe's beautiful, delicate face was grimy, and she looked utterly disheveled.
But she didn't care. She quickly slumped over Qin Tian's chest, listening nervously.
Only after hearing a strong heartbeat did she breathe a sigh of relief.
She looked at Qin Tian with a complex expression, her face suddenly flushed. For the first time in hundreds of thousands of years, she felt such an unfamiliar emotion.
Qin Tian's clothes were torn, and he lay naked on the ground, revealing his strong, muscular body.
Shangguan Yunhe didn't know why, but the sight of Qin Tian's body made her blush. She turned her head away. "What's wrong with me... Is it the loss of spiritual energy that's causing my Dao heart to become unstable?"
It was getting dark, and the howling of demonic beasts echoed in her ears.
Shangguan Yunhe gritted her teeth, stood up, and tried to help Qin Tian up, but she was now depleted of spiritual energy, and her physical body, from her cultivation, wasn't strong. She was now no more than a frail woman.
Qin Tian was strong, and she couldn't lift him.
After much thought, Shangguan Yunhe made a bed out of some branches and peppercorns. She pushed Qin Tian onto it, then held onto the vines, dragging him forward.
Her skin was delicate, and the vines left a bloody mark on her snow-white shoulder. As the Dao Ancestor of Wangdao Mountain, a top-tier Great Emperor, she had never endured such suffering.
But she didn't give up. She gritted her teeth, endured the excruciating pain, and struggled to drag Qin Tian toward the place where smoke curled between the mountains.