The Dao of Reincarnation (117-120) (Patreon)

Chapter 117: Witness of the Era (Part 14)

Wang Yunfei nodded. "A few days ago, during that battle, I gained some insight. My invincible Dao heart solidified, and beneath the Bodhi Divine Tree in the Emperor Palace, I comprehended the Dao and became a Saint."

He spoke lightly, as if it were nothing.

Su Chen knew better. Even in this golden great era, becoming a Saint was rarer than one in trillions—let alone achieving it after only a century of cultivation.

"Brother, I'm entrusting the Wang family to you. With you here, even if I die, the Wang family will still flourish."

Wang Yunfei suddenly burst into hearty laughter. "Of course, I won't die. In this great era, I will surely ascend to the absolute peak, and our Wang family will become an Emperor clan!"

Su Chen froze. This was the first time he had seen this side of Wang Yunfei—tinged with melancholy and reluctance, no longer the utterly domineering figure of before.

"Oh, one more thing you should watch out for."

Wang Yunfei seemed to remember something and gave a solemn reminder. "Lately, the Heavenly Profound Domain has been restless. Many prodigies have died without cause. The great powers in the Emperor Palace tried to divine the truth, but found nothing. I'm afraid someone is plotting in secret."

Su Chen nodded, his mind turning. ‘Could it be Zhou Hanchan… or that old monster from the Western Regions?'

The method felt all too familiar.

After giving his final instructions, Wang Yunfei's expression returned to its former supreme dominance. Accompanied by the followers of the Emperor Palace, he set foot on the Path of Ascension that had stretched across all ages and vanished from the Heavenly Profound Domain into the depths of the starry sky. That path now gathered the pinnacle prodigies of myriad races from this golden great era…

After Wang Yunfei left, Su Chen met Ling Wuya once more. Ling Wuya had survived his battle with Wang Yunfei, but his complexion was poor—clearly shaken by the defeat.

"How could your Wang family produce such a monster?"

Ling Wuya stared at Su Chen, his face full of bewilderment.

He had used every technique at his disposal and still failed to seriously injure Wang Yunfei. Instead, he had been defeated in three moves. Most people couldn't even last one move; those who endured two could be counted on one hand, and three on the fingers of one. Such an opponent had nearly shattered his confidence.

"Brother Wuya, aren't you going to take the Path of Ascension?"

Su Chen was curious. Wang Yunfei had departed, yet Ling Wuya showed no sign of following.

Ling Wuya shook his head. "With that monster on the Path of Ascension, there will only be more monsters, not fewer. If I could defeat Wang Yunfei, perhaps I would still try my luck and set foot on that road… but now I know I have no chance."

He gave a bitter smile. "If I die, I'm afraid the Heavenly Ruins Sacred Land will be finished in this great era."

Su Chen felt helpless. For a seed like Ling Wuya—a future Great Saint—to perish so easily would be far too great a pity. His decision made perfect sense. Prodigies competed fiercely, but life held more than just competition. How many people in this world could truly walk without attachments?

Even someone as mighty as Wang Yunfei carried a single tether in his heart. Born invincible and burdened with the Emperor Palace's mission, he had no choice but to press forward. That attachment could only be buried beneath his overwhelming dominance.

Ling Wuya returned to the Eastern Wasteland.

Su Chen remained in Central Continent, quietly perfecting his own path. His road was still far from its end.

The Wang family recognized Su Chen's potential. On Wang Yaochen's recommendation, he was named the family's seed—the heir to the next patriarch—and granted access to the clan's full resources.

A hundred years passed in a flash, and many new geniuses emerged. Countless events, large and small, unfolded during that century.

Yet Su Chen clearly felt that the suppression of realms between heaven and earth had loosened further. Cultivation progressed twice as fast as before, and breaking through to higher realms became noticeably easier. In those hundred years, his cultivation advanced to the fourth layer of Nirvana, making him one of the great powers of his generation.

When Su Chen emerged from seclusion, he was stirred by momentous news.

"Our Wang family's geniuses… wiped out to the last one?"

Su Chen furrowed his brow. Over the past century, the Wang family had produced quite a few talents. Though none reached the level of divine or sacred physiques, several Nirvana seeds had emerged. Now they were all gone. These were his foundation. How could he not be furious?

Several months later, Su Chen set out beyond the stars. He had received word: an ancient genius of the Night Owl Clan, ignorant of his own limits, had ambushed the Wang family members while they explored a starry secret realm, slaughtering them and plundering their cultivation resources.

The Night Owl Clan once had a Saint overseeing them. After that Saint fell, they declined from a mighty starry race into little more than roadside vermin.

Half a year later, Su Chen arrived in the Night Owl Clan's territory—a primitive civilization. He showed no mercy. With a sweep of the Dustreturn Sword in his hand, one strike split into ten thousand, razing one stronghold after another to ash.

Finally, a pitch-black humanoid figure appeared, its head resembling an owl's. It wielded an ebony spear and soared into the sky, communicating through divine sense: "Who are you? Why do you massacre my Night Owl Clan?"

Su Chen answered with a single sword. He intended to make these extraterrestrial races understand that even without news of Wang Yunfei, the Wang family's new era still had someone in command.

The two clashed across the starry void.

Three days later, Su Chen severed the Night Owl prodigy's head. In his final moments, the genius revealed why he had targeted the Wang family.

Sealed away for far too long, the Night Owl Clan had lost its Saintly heritage and resources. Desperate to advance further in this great era, he had taken the risk to hunt for treasures—never expecting the Wang family still sheltered a figure like Su Chen.

Su Chen felt a trace of sympathy for the Night Owl genius's plight, but no pity.

After eradicating the clan's prodigies, Su Chen turned back toward the Heavenly Profound Domain. Before he could enter, his sharp senses detected something wrong with the surrounding space. He halted and spoke calmly: "You've followed me this long. It's time to show yourselves."

In the void, killing intent erupted at once. Multiple auras locked onto him from the darkness.

Another battle broke out—this one even more brutal. To Su Chen's surprise, the attackers came from different races, yet every single one possessed strength on par with the Night Owl prodigy he had just slain.

‘Who exactly gathered so many geniuses like this?'

They were powerful, but Su Chen's strength had grown far beyond them over the years. Unleashing his full power, he cut down three in mere moments. Panic spread among the rest. As they tried to flee, Su Chen gave chase across the stars, refusing to let any escape. Only when the last one remained did he learn their origin.

They hailed from deep in the starry expanse, from a formidable power on the Path of Ascension called the God-Slaying Hall. One of its hall masters had been killed by Wang Yunfei. After Wang Yunfei vanished into the depths of the stars, the hall flew into rage. They sought to draw out Su Chen—Wang Yunfei's blood brother—kill him, and force Wang Yunfei to reappear.

Su Chen's expression remained impassive. Without a flicker of emotion, he crushed the final one in his grip.

…

Chapter 118: Witness of the Era (Part 15)

Su Chen returned to the Wang family and informed them of everything concerning Wang Yunfei and the God-Slaying Hall.

With the Wang family's influence, it did not take long to gather intelligence from across the stars. The God-Slaying Hall was a supreme power that had long since set foot on the Path of Ascension. It had been founded by a group of prodigies with grand ambitions, and in its history, two Emperors who once reigned over the cosmos had emerged from its ranks.

The hall had five hall masters in total, each a renowned top-tier prodigy on the Path of Ascension. Some were invincible figures of the current era; others were ancient existences who had once contended with Great Emperors of old, only to be defeated and seal themselves away for generation after generation. These were no mere regional hegemons like those who claimed invincibility within the Heavenly Profound Domain. The monsters of the God-Slaying Hall had truly clashed with Great Emperors on the Dao.

Su Chen narrowed his eyes. According to the intelligence, one of the Hall's hall masters bore the name Lin Zhan. Although Wang Yunfei had not killed Lin Zhan, he had slain another ancient monster who had revived in this great era—one who, with a sacred body, had defied a Saint King. Amid the hall's encirclement and pursuit, Wang Yunfei had escaped unscathed.

Still, the Wang family felt no real concern.

The Emperor Palace had already begun to move against the God-Slaying Hall. Prodigies who had once walked the Path of Ascension were taking action. A power that had given birth to Emperors possessed depths far beyond ordinary understanding, and that road held its own share of monsters who had contended with Great Emperors.

"So they want to use my life to force Wang Yunfei out… Lin Zhan's doing?"

Su Chen had never imagined that the once open-hearted, fortune-favored Lin Zhan—unable to hide even the smallest thought—would one day grow so ruthless. Yet he felt no regret. Facing this cold, merciless, anything-goes version of Lin Zhan, Su Chen felt like he was regarding a piece of artwork he had meticulously carved himself. He had utterly destroyed everything Lin Zhan once possessed. In this contest against a child of destiny that had stretched across millennia, neither had truly lost, and neither had truly won.

Su Chen returned to seclusion. In other eras, the Nirvana realm would mark one as a true powerhouse, but in this golden great era, anyone short of a Saint was nothing more than an ant.

Fifty years later, seismic news arrived from deep in the starry expanse: Wang Yunfei had broken through to Saint King and slain yet another hall master of the God-Slaying Hall. With two of the five hall masters dead, the hall flew into a fury and vowed to eliminate Wang Yunfei at any cost.

Even the hall's second hall master—Lin Zhan himself—personally took action, only to be blocked by a formidable enemy.

Three hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.

Su Chen's cultivation reached its absolute peak. Both his vital blood and true essence had been tempered to perfection; seated in meditation, his body resembled an unshakable Mount Tai.

"It's time to become a Saint."

Sensing that the moment had arrived, Su Chen no longer restrained his aura. The clear sky for thousands of miles around darkened instantly. Thunder roared as saintly tribulations descended from above, as though intent on cleaving the world apart and returning it to primal chaos. The entire region spanning over a thousand miles turned into a sea of lightning.

High above, two figures appeared, their auras profound and unfathomable—the hidden foundations of the Wang family, two Saint Kings.

Only after the two ancestors revealed themselves did the covetous presences lurking in every direction finally vanish completely.

"Our Wang family will soon gain another Saint."

"Indeed. Though Wang Chen lacks the dazzling brilliance of his brother Wang Yunfei, he possesses the qualifications of a Saint King. Once he matures, even after we old fellows pass on, he will be able to ensure the Wang family prospers for thousands of years."

"A pair of brothers—truly the greatest gift bestowed upon our Wang family for rising in this great era."

"…"

Su Chen bathed in the thunder tribulation. Bolt after bolt hammered his body until his flesh turned to charred black coal. As the heavenly tribulation gradually faded, that blackened form began its transformation.

One year later, Su Chen emerged from seclusion. Dao rhythms swirled around him; with every gesture, heaven and earth rose and fell in response. In this life, his breakthrough to Saint came without fanfare or storm—everything flowed naturally. Five hundred years, and he had become a Saint.

A Saint enjoyed five thousand years of lifespan. Su Chen had used less than a tenth of that span to reach the Saint realm, establishing himself as one of the foremost figures across the five domains of the Heavenly Profound. He assumed the position of the current patriarch of the Wang family.

In this great era, who would rise to command the tides?

Su Chen gazed toward the distant heavens beyond. He could feel it—that terrifying suppression growing looser by the day. When it finally vanished entirely, the most dreadful event would descend.

An event recorded in history with only the briefest stroke, yet soaked in the blood of countless beings, forged from the tears and agony of innumerable lives.

Dark Turmoil.

Only after assuming the role of Wang family patriarch did Su Chen learn of such a horrifying truth. Some of the ancient "Emperors" had never truly died. They severed their own dao paths, erased every trace of themselves from the imprint of heaven and earth, and willingly fell from that supreme realm—all for the faint hope of continued existence. While a reigning Great Emperor lived, they remained hidden from the world. But once that Emperor aged or perished, those once-revered figures—former objects of universal awe—would turn into executioners of all living things.

Nor were these horrors limited to the legendary fallen Emperors. There were also decayed Saints who refused to accept death. Though they could no longer endure in the world for long, they would resort to any means necessary to cling to life.

Confronted with this brutal reality, Su Chen felt both bewilderment and rage. If more and more "Emperors" refused to die and kept prolonging their wretched existence, this heaven and earth would inevitably slide toward decline and eventual annihilation.

"Why would those once-invincible Emperors fail to see through even life and death? Or is there some temptation so great that it drives them to persist, age after age?"

Confusion settled in Su Chen's heart. Upon becoming a Saint, he suddenly realized the world was far more complex and merciless than he had ever imagined.

Another three hundred years slipped by.

Su Chen often turned his eyes to the starry sky. At times, he longed to set foot on that path himself.

Yet in this great era, the Wang family's new generation of prodigies had fared poorly. The prodigies who once clashed with Wang Yunfei gradually stepped into the Saint realm. Saints appeared one after another across the Heavenly Profound Domain, carving up the era's fortune. But the qi of fortune gathered overwhelmingly in the Central Continent; the other four domains grew thin. For the next generation of prodigies outside the Central Continent, breaking through to Saint became exceptionally difficult.

The other four domains soon noticed the imbalance. An ancient Great Saint from the Northern Domain joined forces with powerhouses from the four domains to pressure the Central Continent, demanding that the Emperor Palace and its many forces redistribute the qi of fortune.

All the major powers of the Central Continent attended the gathering. As the Wang family patriarch, Su Chen was naturally present.

"Today, the pattern of the five domains must be leveled! You in Central Continent monopolize ninety percent of the world's dao opportunities. Where does that leave the cultivators of the other four domains?"

The Northern Domain's ancient Great Saint spoke with iron force, his face twisted in murderous intent. "If not, then even if it means igniting an Emperor War and shattering the Central Continent, we will pay the price without hesitation!"

Su Chen's heart sank.

That day had finally arrived. No one was willing to sit and wait for death.

Chapter 119: Witness of the Era (Part 16)

The top powers of the Central Continent naturally refused to surrender any portion of their interests. Equal division of the five domains sounded simple enough—the other four would gain enormous benefits—but what about Central Continent?

It was precisely because of its position at the heart of heaven and earth, drawing in the qi of fortune from all five domains, that so many powerhouses had emerged and allowed it to stand unshakable through the great era.

Every major force in the Central Continent rejected the demand outright. Though Su Chen had once reincarnated across the other four domains in past lives, in this one he stood as the Wang family patriarch and could never agree to such a proposal.

The meeting ended in acrimony. Storm clouds now gathered over the entire Heavenly Profound Domain.

"Hold the four domains' powerhouses back!"

At the command of a supreme being from the Central Continent Emperor Palace, the experts of various forces struck as the four domains' representatives attempted to withdraw. Since the facade had been torn away, the Emperor Palace acted without hesitation.

Deeper within Central Continent, an ultimate powerhouse personally intervened, intent on slaying the Northern Domain's ancient Great Saint and cowing the entire Heavenly Profound.

Just as the old Great Saint teetered on the edge of death, golden outlines suddenly flared across the sky—like an ancient scroll unfurling across time and space. Then, in the void, a black-gold scene materialized: a tall, long-haired man stood proudly atop the firmament. Behind him rose countless divine kingdoms, ancient gods emerging one after another, wreathed in sacred patterns and radiant light, as though an unparalleled divine sovereign had stepped forth from legend.

That terrifying aura seemed capable of crushing the Central Continent itself.

At that moment, a figure emerged from the depths of the Emperor Palace—immensely tall, encircled by endless rivers of stars. The ancient face gazed at the newcomer and spoke calmly: "You've finally returned."

Su Chen stared at the two figures. Two words surfaced in his mind:

Quasi-Emperor.

These two terrifying existences were both legendary Quasi-Emperors. No wonder the four domains had the courage to challenge Central Continent—in this era, a Quasi-Emperor had actually appeared.

As he sensed the familiar presence radiating from the newly arrived man, a name rose in Su Chen's thoughts:

Li Shenhua! The ancient ancestor of the Li family!

So much time had passed that Su Chen retained only the faintest impression of him. Once hailing from a remote corner of the world, Li Shenhua had created the terrifying scripture known as the Imperial Apex Shock-the-World Technique. Across several lifetimes, Su Chen had heard no news of him—whether he lived or died remained unknown. After all, the world had never lacked dazzling geniuses.

Yet now it seemed Li Shenhua had not only survived but ventured deep into the starry expanse to become one of the absolute pinnacle prodigies.

Li Shenhua spoke indifferently: "The era of Central Continent… is coming to an end. This is an irreversible tide."

The old Quasi-Emperor of the Emperor Palace laughed heartily. "Wrong! The era of Central Continent is only just beginning!"

The two Quasi-Emperor powerhouses faced off. The trajectories of sun and moon in the heavens were forcibly shifted by their terrifying power, giving rise to the anomalous sight of sun and moon rising together.

Su Chen watched the departing group from the Eastern Wasteland. He understood clearly: the next time they met, they would already be mortal enemies.

Li Shenhua clashed with the old Quasi-Emperor of the Emperor Palace, then withdrew unscathed.But this great war had only just begun.

Central Continent knew the other four domains also had Quasi-Emperors guarding them. They would never accept defeat quietly.

Central Continent formed the Central Continent Alliance with the Emperor Palace at its head. The four outer domains formed the Four Domains Alliance. An unprecedented war erupted and lasted for a full century. Even from the depths of the starry void, powerhouses continuously returned to the Heavenly Profound Domain to join the conflict.

Mountain ranges shattered. Vast seas overturned. More and more powerhouses perished in battle.

Su Chen led the Wang Clan to defend a place known as Divine Nether Ancient City. He gave a wry smile in his heart. Though the four outer domains were far inferior to the Central Continent, their foundations were still deep.

Ancient existences sealed away for ages now emerged one after another. They must have learned that the life of that "Emperor" was nearing its end. A dark turmoil was approaching. They had no choice but to seize Central Continent's fortune at any cost, so they could establish a firm footing in the coming great era. Otherwise, when the scattered forbidden zones erupted, without sufficient strength, countless orthodoxies would face total annihilation.

The four domains marched on the Central Continent!

Yet the war lasted a full century—until one person's arrival finally brought it to an end.

"A decree from the Great Emperor: The Central Continent of the Heavenly Profound Domain shall have half its fortune and be divided among the four outer domains. The struggle among the five domains of Heavenly Profound ends here. Cease all hostilities!"

A familiar figure appeared above the Heavenly Profound Domain. His overwhelming aura pressed down so heavily that every living being in the domain could not lift their heads. Even the old ancestor of the Emperor Palace and the former Li Shenhua had no choice but to bow in reverence. "We obey the Emperor's command."

Fang Bubai held the imperial decree. Even a Great Emperor on the verge of sitting down and passing away could not be defied by anyone present!

"Know the will of the Emperor."

Fang Bubai coldly swept his gaze across the assembled crowd.

This war had even drawn in beings from deep within the ancient paths. The number of prodigies who died in the conflict was beyond counting.

Fang Bubai had never expected these people to be so audacious. If he had not entered the service of the Emperor and still belonged to the Heavenly Profound Domain, what arrived might not have been merely an imperial decree.

All living beings in the Heavenly Profound Domain faced the Great Emperor's decree. No matter their past grievances, they could only bow in submission. No matter how unwilling the Central Continent forces were, they had no choice but to obediently shatter their spirit veins, divide their fortune, and cede half to the four outer domains.

Such was the deterrent power of a contemporary Great Emperor! A single decree suppressed the entire cosmos. The myriad races dared not disobey.

The war among the five domains ended. Su Chen clearly sensed that the Central Continent's vital qi had declined sharply. Even breaking through realms had become noticeably more difficult.

Many forces were bound to decline in the aftermath.

Time passed in a flash. Five hundred years went by.

Su Chen continued to serve as the head of the Wang Clan. Then, one day, a sudden, piercing grief tore through his heart—as though the entire universe were weeping blood.

"The Great Emperor's life… has reached its end!"

Su Chen's body soared out of the Heavenly Profound Domain. In that moment, he saw countless figures just like himself flying out from their respective domains and heavens, gathering in the starry void. There were innumerable points of light—each at least a Saint—crossing countless star systems. At the distant end sat a withered figure upon an boundless Dao Precipice. His qi and blood were feeble; his hair was white as snow.

That invincible Emperor was no longer invincible. The Dao that once suppressed all living beings had finally reached its conclusion.

"Divine Evolution Great Emperor!"

Su Chen knew this Emperor's title. From the end of the ancient era until now, thirty-three Emperors had appeared. Divine Evolution Great Emperor was the contemporary one, yet among the thirty-three, he could only be considered average.

After achieving the Dao, he had not—like those peerless Emperors who covered the ages—devoted himself to pacifying the forbidden zones. Nor had he—like those fallen Emperors—degenerated and treated the living beings of the world as livestock.

Su Chen vaguely sensed that one terrifying figure after another lurked in the darkness, eyeing this aged Great Emperor, waiting for the moment of his death.

Boom.

It was as though something in the entire cosmos had shattered.

Countless Saints turned toward that distant figure and bowed deeply from afar.

"We respectfully send off the Great Emperor!"

Chapter 120: Witness of the Era (Part 17)

As the myriad respectful farewells echoed across countless star domains, it was as though a Pandora's box had been flung open.

The Great Emperor's power dissolved into countless points of light, scattering to every corner of the cosmos. In those distant domains, the laws of heaven and earth grew more perfect, and vital qi grew denser and richer.

"Hahahaha! That old bastard Divine Evolution has finally died!"

An ancient world manifested. Above an ocean formed from rivers of stars rose an impossibly towering mountain that overshadowed entire domains. From within it stepped a figure. With a casual squeeze of one hand, an entire star domain shattered. Countless living beings perished without even a chance to scream—billions upon trillions swallowed whole in a single gulp.

The Myriad Stars Sea, the Primordial Ancient Mountain!

A former supreme powerhouse had emerged the instant the Divine Evolution Great Emperor perished.

That god-like yet demonic figure arrived at the site of Divine Evolution's nirvana. Facing the many powerful enemies blocking his path, he sneered with contempt. "That old fool Divine Evolution never dared storm my Primordial Ancient Mountain, yet he thought he could simply outlast me. What a foolish, naive delusion."

Five Quasi-Emperors flew out from Divine Evolution's dao field and roared in fury: "Though the Great Emperor has passed, that does not give the likes of you the right to profane his name!"

The starry void trembled. Terrifying fluctuations rippled across light-years. Quasi-Emperors bled. emperor scriptures awakened!

The scene ignited unrest in forbidden zones across the cosmos. Within the Heavenly Profound Domain, dreadful forbidden zones revived as well. Powerful beings stepped forth one after another.

In that moment, the Emperor Palace's old Quasi-Emperor and Li Shenhua set aside their grievances and joined forces against the terrifying revived entities flooding the Heavenly Profound Domain.

Su Chen returned to the Wang family. With the domain in upheaval, as patriarch, he had to oversee the clan's affairs.

The beings emerging from the forbidden zones possessed horrifying abilities. They could erode the minds of outside cultivators, slowly twisting them into the same kind of madmen. This war was fought not only against ancient existences of old, but against unknown forces… and even against former comrades and kin.

One year later, the Divine Evolution Great Emperor's former Dao field could no longer hold. His disciples had nearly all perished. The once-glorious Emperor Dao field lay in ruins.

More and more ancient powerhouses emerged from their respective forbidden zones. Having confirmed the Great Emperor's death, they would not pass up the chance to feast on his remains—or seize the emperor scripture he had left behind. Those were supreme treasures.

Finally, under the assault of three overwhelmingly powerful existences, the emperor scripture was shattered. Only one person remained in the entire Dao field.

Fang Bubai had broken through to Quasi-Emperor, yet before three former supreme Emperors, he appeared utterly powerless.

"Give me another thousand years… just one more thousand years… and the outcome would not be like this!"

Fang Bubai's body was blasted apart again and again. Blood stained the stars. Yet he remained deeply helpless.

"Stop this… You were once Emperors revered by all living beings. How have you fallen so low?"

A furious shout erupted from one of the great domains. An ancient figure appeared—an aged Quasi-Emperor whose vital blood had long since declined. He wielded a fully awakened Extreme Dao Emperor Scripture and had come to reinforce Divine Evolution's dao field, hoping to preserve at least a shred of dignity for this Great Emperor.

From the direction of the Heavenly Profound Domain, Li Shenhua and the old Quasi-Emperor of the Nine Suns Emperor Palace had joined forces to suppress one of the revived forbidden zones. An ancient Quasi-Emperor creature had been slain.

"Old man, lend me the emperor scripture."

Li Shenhua turned to the old Quasi-Emperor, his tone calm.

The old Quasi-Emperor of the Nine Suns Emperor Palace paused. He stared deeply at Li Shenhua. "That place is not for you. You are still young. My old bones have little time left—let me go instead."

Li Shenhua's face remained expressionless, his voice leaving no room for argument. "You are too weak. That emperor scripture would be wasted in your hands. Let me go. At the very least, I can hold one of them back… or even slay a Supreme."

The old Quasi-Emperor let out a long sigh. He retrieved the emperor scripture of the Nine Suns Emperor Palace and handed it over without hesitation—even though the two had been enemies not long before.

"Let this emperor scripture shine with its final brilliance in this era. Let it live up to the prestige of its former Emperor Lord!"

The old Quasi-Emperor offered no rebuttal. Li Shenhua was far stronger than he was. Wielding the emperor scripture, he might very well fight a Supreme to the death. Such an act would be an immense merit for heaven, earth, and all living beings.

Li Shenhua departed the Heavenly Profound Domain, carrying the emperor scripture of the Nine Suns Emperor Palace as he ventured deep into the cosmos. If those Supremes succeeded in devouring even a portion of a Great Emperor's corpse and regained part of their former might, the consequences would be unthinkable.

At that moment, in the Western Regions, a pale figure, radiant as a divinity, opened its eyes and gazed joyfully toward the depths of the stars.

"The emperor scripture… has vanished! Without the damned interference of the Nine Suns Emperor Palace, who in this era can stop me from ascending to Emperor?"

With each breath, heaven and earth rose and fell, dissolving into primal chaos.

An ancient existence lurked in the shadows, biding its time until the moment it could reign supreme. It did not take long for the universe to tremble once more.

Three additional forbidden-zone Supremes emerged.

Six Supremes in a single era…

All living beings fell into despair. Divine Evolution Great Emperor's Dao field had been shattered. Even though Quasi-Emperors wielded emperor scriptures, under the oppressive might of six Supremes, every effort seemed futile.

The six Supremes stared greedily at the corpse. They calmly discussed how to divide it: the head, the arms, the legs, the torso.

Just as one Supreme raised a hand to strike, the supposedly dead Divine Evolution Great Emperor abruptly opened his eyes. Before the Supreme could react, a single blow exploded its body. As the Supreme attempted to reform, Divine Evolution reached out with one hand, seizing an ancient imprint. Without giving the slightest chance for resistance, he erased every trace of its existence from heaven and earth.

"You… you're not dead?"

The remaining five Supremes stared in utter horror. Deep in the cosmos, that supreme great path blazed once again. An unrivaled aura pierced through the universe, forcing billions upon trillions of living beings to kneel in submission.

Divine Evolution Great Emperor… had returned to life?

"Divine Evolution… what a ruthless heart. You feigned death. You watched with your own eyes as we slaughtered your disciples and grand-disciples to the last, all to lull us into lowering our guard!"

One of the former Supremes cried out, terror gripping both body and soul. Dense scriptures appeared all around them—each character the size of a star, falling like raindrops into the depths of the cosmos, weaving together into an inescapable prison.

Divine Evolution Great Emperor spoke. His aged voice resounded throughout the universe: "For the sake of killing you all, their deaths were deaths well spent."

Seeing their escape routes sealed, the five Supremes felt a wave of bleak despair.

"Divine Evolution… what a Divine Evolution. A lifetime without campaigning against any forbidden zone… so it was all in preparation for this moment. We underestimated you!"

"But if you think you can kill us all alone, you are far too naive."

"Kill him! Devouring a living Great Emperor would more than make up for the vital blood we lost in this battle!"

"…"

The five Supremes unleashed their most terrifying power. The great Dao of old reappeared in this corner of heaven and earth!