The Dao of Reincarnation (243-244) (Patreon)

Chapter 243: The Undying Nether Emperor (Part 24)

An existence like the God Emperor had hidden through countless eras and even personally orchestrated the destruction of an entire epoch—all for the sake of a chance at transcendence.

Now that Su Chen had seized that opportunity, how could he possibly share it with anyone else?

The God Emperor was unwilling to accept it. He had comprehended a second fragment of the Book of Death and survived millions of years on the brink of death. He had been just one step away from the final threshold, only to have it stolen at the last moment.

"I refuse to accept this… The ancient era was destroyed, countless powerhouses died, and I laid plans for tens of millions of years. This chance at transcendence should have been mine!"

The God Emperor's words revealed a heaven-shaking secret. The grand scheme of the ancient era had been nothing but a deception. All the powerful beings who died in that war had merely been sacrificial pieces in his layout. Even the Demon Lord had been a blade in the God Emperor's hand.

"You destroyed those powerful existences just to lure beings from beyond this realm and extract the secret of transcendence from them?" Su Chen asked, his suspicion now confirmed.

Zhao Wuhen, filled with despair, let out a bitter laugh.

"The Main God Hall screwed me over completely!"

This was supposed to be nothing more than an ordinary-rated universe, yet it hid two supreme Emperors, each more terrifying than the last. It was even more horrifying than many top-tier universes.

Time flew by. Su Chen suppressed Zhao Wuhen but did not deal with him immediately. Instead, he spent countless years slowly grinding away the God Emperor's Dao. In Su Chen's eyes, Zhao Wuhen was merely a seven-layered Great Emperor and far less dangerous than an old monster like the God Emperor. A single mistake could lead to disaster. He would not give the God Emperor any chance to turn the tables.

Finally, the God Emperor died—completely and thoroughly. Even his traces were erased by Su Chen. Two fragments of the Book of Death fell into Su Chen's hands. Of the Nine Innate Supreme Treasures, he now possessed three fragments of the Book of Death. Only one piece remained before he could reconstruct it.

Watching a supreme Emperor die so cleanly before his eyes, Zhao Wuhen felt a deep chill. Such an existence would be extremely rare even in his own faction, yet here he had been casually erased.

The terrifying being finally turned his attention to him.

"Main God Hall…? Is that a force from outside this universe?"

Su Chen had not forgotten Zhao Wuhen's earlier mention of being坑 by the Main God Hall. Long-buried memories began to resurface.

Su Chen murmured, "Don't tell me you also have a Main God Space?"

Zhao Wuhen's despair turned into pure horror. The Main God Hall did indeed have a Main God Space, and he had come from it. He had joined a plan to create an immortal.

"You…"

Zhao Wuhen nearly blurted something out but stopped himself in time.

Su Chen observed his reaction and said expressionlessly, "If you mention the Main God Space, you'll die?"

Zhao Wuhen hesitated, then nodded. The shock in his eyes grew even stronger. Just who was this mysterious existence? He even knew about the rules of the Main God Space. This was the first time Zhao Wuhen had encountered such a situation.

"Could it be… that you are also not from this world?" Zhao Wuhen suddenly felt a little more at ease.

Su Chen did not answer him. He was still stunned by Zhao Wuhen's confirmation.

Beyond this universe, there was actually a Main God Hall. And the Main God Hall had a Main God Space.

Hiss!

Su Chen suddenly grew very curious.

"Do you want to live? I can give you a chance."

Zhao Wuhen nodded frantically. Who would choose death if they could live?

"As long as you answer some of my questions, I won't kill you," Su Chen said. In his heart, he added silently, As if.

Zhao Wuhen believed him. He had no choice but to believe. He had seen a glimmer of hope for survival.

"What lies outside this universe?"

Zhao Wuhen replied, "The world outside this universe… is vast. Only the topmost existences truly know what lies beyond. All I know is that this place is part of the Void Cosmic Sea. Countless universes exist here, and it serves as the dao field of an ancient being."

Su Chen fell silent. He had long suspected that beyond this universe lay an even broader heaven and earth.

The countless universes Zhao Wuhen mentioned were probably like grains of sand in a desert. Just how immense was that realm?

Su Chen asked again, "What was your purpose in coming to this world?"

Zhao Wuhen hesitated for a moment before answering, "A True Immortal fell in the Void Cosmic Sea of Universes, leaving an empty True Immortal position. Countless powerhouses and prodigies have come here to compete for it. They will fight until the strongest emerges and becomes the True Immortal of the Void Cosmic Sea of Universes."

Su Chen asked, "True Immortal? Is that the realm after the Great Emperor?"

Zhao Wuhen nodded, then continued, "Great Emperor, Ancient Supreme—these are titles used by those who have never contacted the outside world. In reality, they are all Ruler realm. Rulers control a universe and wield its power to achieve a supreme body. Below three tribulations, they are ordinary Rulers; every universe births countless numbers of them. From four to six tribulations, they become Transcendent Rulers with powerful combat strength, often standing at the peak of a universe. As for those who pass seven to nine tribulations, they are called Supreme Rulers. Even in some great universes, across countless epochs, not a single one may appear…"

Zhao Wuhen felt deep regret in his heart. This damned place was worse than hell itself. What he did not know was that, besides Su Chen and the God Emperor, there had once been a third Supreme Emperor—Primordial Demon Lord. Unfortunately, he was already dead. For a single universe to birth three Supreme Emperors was simply too terrifying.

Su Chen roughly understood why Zhao Wuhen had been so arrogant and dismissive of everything. It was not that Zhao Wuhen was too weak. It was that Su Chen himself was too strong. That settled it.

Su Chen saw hope for transcendence. The countless Emperors and Supremes throughout history had pursued nothing more than that slim chance of survival. Now, that chance seemed within his reach.

He asked the question he cared about most.

"How exactly can one transcend this realm?"

Zhao Wuhen looked at the supreme figure, who seemed slightly impatient, and sighed.

"With your talent, even outside this realm, you would be stunningly brilliant and qualified to compete for immortality. Unfortunately… a great being has issued a decree stating that no native… original residents are allowed to compete for the immortal position. No matter how great one's talent is, they cannot defy the decree and transcend this realm."

"Unless… one signs a contract with an outsider. Only then can one leave this realm… but doing so means losing the qualification to compete for the True Immortal position."

Zhao Wuhen sneaked a glance at Su Chen and found that the terrifying existence remained expressionless.

Su Chen did not seem bothered by this revelation. He continued asking.

"How does one grow stronger in the Great Emperor… or rather, the Ruler realm you mentioned? Is it only by competing for that so-called position?"

Chapter 244: The Undying Nether Emperor (Finale)

Facing the question, Zhao Wuhen answered, "A single universe has its limits after all. The tribulations a Ruler passes measure talent and combat potential, but not true strength. To grow stronger, one must constantly devour other universes and perfect one's own path. There was once a Ruler who swallowed thirty thousand universes, stepped onto the path of immortality, and evolved his own immortal domain."

"Your talent is astonishing… it would be a shame to let it go to waste here," Zhao Wuhen said, his heart stirring slightly as he looked at the supreme figure. If he could make such an existence submit and serve him…

His beautiful dream was shattered before it could even begin. The last words he heard echoed in his mind: "A mere decree thinks it can block my path? No law or decree in this world can stop me!"

Su Chen killed Zhao Wuhen without hesitation. From an ordinary crow, he had risen to become the first Emperor of the Emperor Dao Era. He had undergone eight Nirvanas, lurked in the shadows for millions of years, ambushed and killed Primordial Demon Lord, slain countless Emperors and Supremes, and even eliminated the God Emperor—the greatest schemer of the ancient era. Every one of them had been an unparalleled genius.

Did a mere seven-layered Great Emperor think he could make Su Chen bow his head and sign a contract?

Ridiculous.

"What dogshit decree? What gives it the right to block my path?" Su Chen declared. "Even if I fail in this life, I will try in the next, and the one after that. One day, I will transcend this realm and see exactly what those beings beyond the boundary rely on to suppress me!"

Su Chen looked up at the boundless barrier. Perhaps once he crossed it, he would achieve transcendence. He did not attempt it immediately. He was not strong enough yet. He needed to become even stronger. Even now, he had already surpassed every Emperor and Supreme in history.

Su Chen continued to lie low. He devoted himself to perfecting the Undying Nether Scripture and the Nirvana Scripture. He needed to successfully complete his ninth Nirvana. He killed many Supremes. He also ambushed and slew many Great Emperors. He lived on for another ten million years.

Just as Zhao Wuhen had said, this universe's resources had reached their limit. No matter how he cultivated, he could no longer advance further unless he transcended this realm.

One day, boundless nether light flooded the entire starry sky. All daos melted away, filling countless living beings with terror.

"It's… that mastermind behind the scenes. He hunted countless Supremes, Great Emperors… he's still alive…"

"The first Emperor of the Emperor Dao Era… the Undying Nether Emperor!"

Ancient Supremes watched that supreme figure with both admiration and envy in their eyes. That existence was simply too powerful. They had feared him because even the Supremes and Great Emperors were nothing more than food to him. Yet now, they watched his direction with excitement. Their fear had transformed into reverence.

"The Undying Nether Emperor… is he going to attempt transcendence?"

"Transcendence has always been nothing but a vague legend. Can he really do it?"

"He will… the Undying Nether Emperor will definitely succeed. He is the first Emperor of the Emperor Dao Era, the most brilliant being in all of history. He will surely transcend!"

"..."

Under the gaze of countless beings, Su Chen's aura returned to its peak. This time, he did not hunt any more Supremes.

The current Great Emperor looked at that towering figure with deep sorrow. The title of Great Emperor had once symbolized invincibility. Yet before that supreme existence, it meant nothing more than food.

Su Chen paid no attention to the current Great Emperor.

He was about to attempt the path of transcendence.

With the Immortal Underworld Blade in hand, the weapon itself had already become a symbol of calamity and taboo. Even without anyone wielding it, it could easily slay a Great Emperor.

Su Chen cleaved apart the Sea of Chaos with a single strike and charged toward the border wastelands. Merely a trace of his aura was enough to crush a forbidden zone into ruin and annihilate everything within it.

"Kill!"

Filled with endless killing intent, Su Chen brought his blade down upon the invisible, indescribable barrier that undeniably existed. It was the wall imprisoning an entire world. Under that strike, the barrier trembled violently, and every powerful being in the universe burst into tears of joy.

"That is... the barrier. The passage! As long as it is broken through, transcendence can truly be achieved!"

"So the legends of transcendence were real!"

Su Chen's strike confirmed one truth for every expert beneath the starry heavens.

The path to transcendence truly existed.

Their faith had not been an illusion.

Blood sprayed from Su Chen's body. Though his strike landed on the barrier, the backlash it unleashed was unimaginably terrifying, shattering his Dao itself. Yet Su Chen did not stop. He unleashed supreme divine arts that surpassed all limits.

The accumulated power of all living beings in this world, the greatest techniques of countless dazzling geniuses, were fused together by him into the most astonishing law ever created. He wanted to carve a path out of the universe itself.

All living beings watched in anticipation.

Could that figure truly succeed?

A terrifying heavenly punishment descended as though enraged by Su Chen's actions. A mere lifeform from an ordinary universe had dared challenge the dignity of an immortal. The catastrophic punishment sought to erase him completely.

But Su Chen refused to yield.

He charged directly into the Ninth Heaven, fighting until the Immortal Underworld Blade shattered apart. Even then, he did not stop. His hands exploded into pieces and were consumed by taboo power, yet still he continued forward.

Half a foot.

Half a body.

He forced his way through the barrier.

Su Chen's consciousness blurred as chaos slowly swallowed his mind.

Faintly, from the other side of the world, voices drifted toward him.

"So this is the one who violated the order? He truly was extraordinary. He even alarmed an immortal within the Void Heaven. Unfortunately... he still fell half a step short."

"Failure means death. He violated the rules established by the immortal lands. The backlash he suffered cannot be healed."

"What a pity. In the end, we arrived too late."

"You cannot blame Senior Brother Gu for this. It was all because of the Main God Hall. One of their squads intercepted us, which delayed our arrival."

"The Main God Hall... they truly are a scourge. Once the Heavenly Lord awakens, this debt will be settled sooner or later. Despicable. They even dare to interfere in the affairs of the Void Cosmic Sea."

"..."

Amid the haze, Su Chen heard countless voices. His consciousness faded further and further. Then he began to fall...

"He failed... Even the strongest being in all of history still failed?"

"Does that mean living beings like us can never achieve transcendence?"

Hope turned into despair. Even someone so terrifying had failed to take the final step.

"No... transcendence exists in this world."

"As long as one lives... There is still hope..."

Su Chen's final trace of consciousness vanished. His body disappeared as well. Even after countless ages passed and all living beings searched for tens of thousands of years, no one ever found him.

As time flowed on, the name of the Undying Nether Emperor gradually became legend and eventually faded from existence altogether.

"So that fellow finally died... Transcendence... One day, I, Tian Mingzi, will surpass him and step onto the path of transcendence myself!"