The slightest stir of crimson light ignited layers of divine fire, instantly painting the heavens and earth crimson. In a flash, this space transformed. Before the assembled beings could react, a crimson rune materialized on Lu Bu's forehead. At this moment, Lu Bu stopped caressing the Kunpeng rune, sat cross-legged, his body emitting black light, and two faint golden threads, barely discernible if one wasn't looking closely.
Deep within the space, a crimson rune condensed and drifted through the void. The green-haired headless corpse ceased its onslaught, standing rigidly within the space. Upon seeing the rune, the four mysterious powerhouses' expressions shifted. Particularly, a high-pitched cry echoed. They had searched for her for so long, scouring the endless spaces of the Immortal Realm, even meticulously examining the ancient star path. To think she would appear here today.
"Is it you, Vermillion Bird? Heh heh heh... How strange today. You've evaded us for eons, never showing yourself, yet now you appear. Have you grown tired of living and wish for death!" The being wielding the coiled dragon seal stood in the void, exuding dragon might. Countless golden dragon phantoms coiled on the seal, roaring towards the heavens.
"It's been a while. The world has entered the era of the Emperors. Why hasn't your imperial might grown? Instead, you've weakened. Has the root of your great dao not yet healed from that battle all those years ago!" Sensing the Vermillion Bird's aura, the humanoid being stared at the silver bell and spoke coldly.
The slender figure strode, traversing countless spaces, gradually entering this battlefield. Dong, dong, dong, the footsteps grew heavier. That space gradually descended. The powerful imperial might filled the space with countless shimmering cracks. In the sky, the boundless crimson flames intensified, and a feather appeared, swaying in the void, emitting powerful fluctuations.
"Today is different. It's timely that we annihilate this Kunpeng Emperor corpse, and then annihilate you. I'll see if any voices dare defy us four clans in this world!" Looking at the woman who had shattered the space and entered their battlefield, the being holding the ancient lamp roared angrily. A black hole appeared on his chest, and a three-foot red sword condensed.
"Xuan You, it's truly regrettable I didn't burn you to ashes back then!" The Vermillion Bird emerged with a calm expression, looking at Xuan You, who held the ancient lamp.
Xuan You!
Xuan You Immortal Emperor, who controlled seventy-three Emperor Fates, achieved enlightenment in the early Nether Sea era, the ruler of the Nine Nether Pheasant clan, the second strongest in the Nine Nether Pheasant clan, renowned throughout eternity, holding the Heavenly Palace, and commanding the western part of the Immortal Realm.
The ancient lamp held in his hand was his innate supreme treasure, named the Nine Nether Ancient Lamp, fueled by the heart's blood of an Immortal Emperor, exerting immense pressure in all directions. Back then, the Nine Nether Pheasant's strongest individual, to further enhance this supreme treasure and strengthen the clan's foundation, extracted a drop of heart's blood and bestowed it upon Xuan You.
"If you had submitted to our four clans back then, your name would now shake eternity. Why hide in the void of the ancient star path, never seeing the light of day." The being adorned with dark golden imperial patterns, gripping a heavenly blade, said coldly. The Vermillion Bird now stood before the green-haired headless corpse, glancing at it. Across myriad spaces, she saw Lu Bu meditating. She smiled slightly, extended her palm, and touched the great halberd. The green-haired headless corpse did not attack, standing silently.
Dong!
Lu Bu's body suddenly erupted with ten thousand rays of light. A Kunpeng rune appeared outside his body, and the phantom of a great halberd floated above Lu Bu's head, emitting a faint glow.
The Vermillion Bird withdrew her gaze, looking at the figure adorned with dark golden imperial patterns, and said coldly, "Youngster, you dare to be presumptuous in front of me!"
The face of the being covered in dark golden runes immediately turned cold. He let out a cold snort. This mysterious being adorned with dark golden runes was named Gu Chun Immortal Emperor, the ruler of the Ancient Emperor clan, the second strongest in the Ancient Emperor clan, controlling seventy-one Emperor Fates. He achieved enlightenment in the middle of the Nether Sea era. Compared to the other three Immortal Emperors, he attained enlightenment later but relentlessly pursued them, also reaching the level of Supreme Giant.
The heavenly blade he wielded was named the Ancient Emperor Blade, bestowed by the reclusive ancestor of the Ancient Emperor clan, possessing unparalleled power. Its blade could pierce nine heavens!
"Vermillion Bird, one learns matters in order. Why do you adopt such an attitude!" The figure wielding the coiled dragon seal, his dragon might surging, spoke in a chilling tone.
"Shut up!"
At this moment, the usually calm Vermillion Bird suddenly flared with rage. An endless sea of crimson fire surged thousands of feet high. Terrifying crimson streams of light frantically streaked across the firmament. An infinite killing intent instantly pressed down on the being holding the coiled dragon seal. Several dragons emerged, barely withstanding the boundless pressure, even a corner of his lower garment was torn.
"What right do you have to stand before me!" the Vermillion Bird roared, looking at the being holding the coiled dragon seal.
"You!"
The face of the being holding the coiled dragon seal turned red. Now, the myriad races of the Immortal Realm knew very little about the history of the Ancestral Dragon Hall. Those who understood it were only shown fabricated records deliberately displayed by the Ancestral Dragon Hall.
The dragon lineage had a common progenitor, known as the Ancestral Dragon, similar to the progenitor of the Phoenix clan on Danxue Mountain. In the depths of the river of time, the myriad dragons of the Immortal Realm were once one. The Ancestral Dragon was born at the dawn of the Creation Era, and once contended for dominion of the world with Kunpeng Ancestor Emperor. In that era of scarce cultivation methods, he perfected many cultivation paths. After achieving enlightenment, he begot several powerful offspring. After the Ancestral Dragon's demise, time flowed into the Ancient Immortal Era. At this time, the dragon bloodline began to differentiate, with stronger lineages such as Candle Dragon, Azure Dragon, Yinglong, and Celestial Dragon, among others.
At the end of the Ancient Immortal Era, an Immortal Emperor of the Azure Dragon clan discovered the inheritance of the Ancestral Dragon and became a Supreme Giant in a very short period, commanding the myriad dragons and unifying the four regions. Within the clan, he established the Ancestral Dragon Hall, becoming the sacred ground of the dragon race. Myriad dragons called him True Dragon Immortal Emperor!
Henceforth, any dragon Immortal Emperor could contend before the Ancestral Dragon Hall. The dragon with the greatest combat power could obtain the title of True Dragon and be called True Dragon Immortal Emperor. From then on, the words "True Dragon" became the supreme glory of the dragon race. In the Nether Sea Era, everything changed. The Candle Dragon clan, in alliance with the Celestial Dragon clan, eliminated countless dragons and suppressed the Yinglong, Azure Dragon, Tai Xu Ancient Dragon, and other powerful bloodline dragons.