"The territories of the Great Han Heavenly Court, stripped of the Great Dao, have become self-contained. Is this how you four races repay My kindness?"
At the deepest point of the ancient star path, there was an inconspicuous mountain peak, perpetually shrouded in gray mist. The area around the peak, spanning dozens of miles, was barren. Yet, upon closer inspection, the entire mountain, in countless nooks and crannies, was occupied by a powerful figure. Though their chests faintly rose and fell, there was not a trace of life. At the summit of the peak stood a palace, its main hall bearing a plaque inscribed with "Burial Emperor Mountain!"
Within the great hall, at the place of honor, sat a hazy figure. The figure was indistinct, radiating multicolored light, its aura incredibly sharp, as if it commanded this ancient path. The voice emanating from this figure was gender-neutral. Suddenly, the figure trembled, its immense power shattering and dissipating, leaving it seated in the place of honor like an ordinary being, as ethereal as the air. In the figure's left hand was a seal, plain and unadorned, without characters, but with an engraved map of the entire Immortal Realm's territory.
At this moment, within the great hall, four beings clad in black robes and wearing masks knelt on one knee, their bodies trembling with tension. One of these figures had a torn black robe, and a scarlet feather was embedded in its right shoulder. That wound emanated a powerful aura, constantly eroding the light of the scarlet feather!
"If My care had not been upon you four races in the past, how could you possibly control the Immortal Realm today!"
"I can elevate your four races, and I can elevate other races as well! I do not keep useless beings under My command!" The hazy figure looked coldly at the four kneeling figures below, its voice laced with unparalleled killing intent.
"Your Excellency, please quell your anger!"
"Your Excellency, please quell your anger!"
The being with the scarlet feather in its shoulder spoke urgently. Its aura was unstable. It had not sustained any injuries when pursuing the Vermilion Bird and Kun Peng Immortal Emperors, indicating it must have been ambushed during the pursuit.
"Your Excellency, we fell into a trap set by the Vermilion Bird and Kun Peng!"
"These two used the place of inheritance as bait, drawing the attention of our four races and luring the elite forces of our four races into the ancient star path, giving the Great Han human race a chance to breathe!" the figure stated grimly.
"Your Excellency!"
"Ancestor Dragon speaks correctly, but I believe the most important matter now is to continue pursuing the Kun Peng and Vermilion Bird. These two control an excessive number of Emperor Destinies and possess deep reserves. Even a headless clone of Kun Peng could tie down four of our Supreme Giant Immortal Emperors. Furthermore... they have been investigating the changes of past eras and have already discovered the Emperor Ruins!" spoke a black-robed being beside Ancestor Dragon.
Ancestor Dragon!
Ancestor Dragon Immortal Emperor!
The founder of the Ancestor Dragon Hall in the Undersea Era. When he established the Ancestor Dragon Hall, he already controlled over seventy Emperor Destinies, becoming a Supreme Giant. After the Immortal Realm entered the Age of Emperors, he cultivated a powerful Supreme Giant Immortal Emperor, who is now the master of the Ancestor Dragon Hall—True Dragon Immortal Emperor!
Ancestor Dragon Immortal Emperor cautiously turned his head, deeply grateful to the World Destruction Immortal Emperor speaking beside him. The being kneeling beside Ancestor Dragon Immortal Emperor was named World Destruction Immortal Emperor, the old ancestor of the Nine Nether PHEASANT race. The current ruler of the Nine Nether PHEASANT race, Profound Nether Immortal Emperor, was his second child.
"They have already discovered the Emperor Ruins?" The being at the place of honor suddenly trembled, its voice grave, leaning slightly forward.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"The Vermilion Bird and Kun Peng have repeatedly lingered at the periphery of the Emperor Ruins. If not for some taboo within the Emperor Ruins, these two would have reached Burial Emperor Mountain!" said World Destruction Immortal Emperor. He glanced at Ancestor Dragon Immortal Emperor, giving him a look. Ancestor Dragon Immortal Emperor understood, nodded slightly, and spoke, "Your Excellency!"
"I have something..."
"Speak!" the figure commanded.
"During this pursuit of the Vermilion Bird and Kun Peng, I discovered that the Vermilion Bird and Kun Peng hiding in the ancient star path were not their true bodies!" Ancestor Dragon Immortal Emperor revealed, his pupils shaking.
"Ancestor Dragon, do you know what you are saying? We four have clashed with them multiple times, starting from the mid-Undersea Era. Now, you tell us they were not their true bodies? Could it be that you were unable to defeat them in battle and misjudged?" the figure on the far left, kneeling on one knee, raised its head, its gaze fixed on Ancestor Dragon.
"Prodigy!"
"My strength, Ancestor Dragon, is not unknown to you. Moreover, before Your Excellency, how could I dare to speak nonsense!" Ancestor Dragon Immortal Emperor retorted.
Prodigy!
Prodigy Immortal Emperor!
The old ancestor of the Heavenly Horn Ant race!
"The Emperor Ruins must not come into existence."
"Dig! Dig deep! Turn the ancient star path upside down if you must, but find Kun Peng and the Vermilion Bird for Me!" the figure commanded coldly.
Then, its gaze swept around, saying, "However, the matter of the Great Han Heavenly Court must also be dealt with!"
"No territory in the Immortal Realm can exist independently from the Great Dao!"
"Your Excellency!"
The other black-robed being, who had not spoken until now, raised its head and said, "Your Excellency!"
"When My clan was clearing the southern part of the ancient star path, we discovered a feather from a Chaos Demonic Ape! This matter is of great importance, please decide, Your Excellency!"
As he spoke, he extended his right hand, and a black hair, flickering with a faint chaotic aura, appeared before the figure at the place of honor.
This being was the old ancestor of the Ancient Emperor race, Ancient Emperor Immortal Emperor!
"It's him!"
The figure immediately stood up, its immortal energy surging, and an unparalleled imperial might erupted. For a moment, the ancestors of the four great powers were pushed back by that terrifying aura, crashing to the ground. Emperor patterns flowed, yet the palace floor remained completely undamaged.
"Pfft!"
The four giants spat out a mouthful of blood, their auras weakening to the extreme. With heavy thuds, the four giants stabilized their breaths and hastily crawled back to their original kneeling positions, their heads touching the ground, their bodies trembling violently.
"He's still alive!"
"Damn it!"
The figure clenched the feather in its hand, disintegrating it. Starlight flickered and coalesced, revealing a colossal phantom. It was a monstrous ape, radiating dense chaotic energy, its head raised, meeting the figure's gaze and offering a slight smile.
"Insolent!"
The figure roared, directly shattering the colossal phantom. The starlight dissipated. The figure's eyes trembled: "Investigate!"
"Investigate!"
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
The four giants kowtowed in haste.
...
Great Han Heavenly Court.
Chang'an City.
Imperial Palace.
It was already late at night. Crown Prince Yang Chen held a lamp, while Yang Hao examined the memorial tablets presented by various ministers. The destruction of the Sun Devouring Palace had caused quite a stir in the Immortal Realm. Meanwhile, the Vermilion Bird Legion marching north encountered the Zhen Gang Immortal Emperor and Futian Immortal Emperor of the Heavenly Gang Ancient Court. Lu Bu intervened and slew both emperors. The Qi Zhen Immortal Emperor of the Heavenly Gang Ancient Court, however, remained silent on the matter.