The Dark Realm has arrived.
Everyone's expression changed.
Across the five continents of the Immortal Realm, all beings looked up at the approaching Dark Realm.
"Boom."
Chaos was rapidly being carved open.
As time flowed, a colossal world could be seen.
It approached with boundless darkness.
"How is this possible?"
The expressions of the Scarlet Emperor, the Azure Emperor, and even the White Emperor shifted.
They had become emperors through the origin of the Dark Realm, their hearts never truly in the Immortal Realm. Deep down, they had always yearned for the Dark Realm.
However…
Though their hearts leaned towards the Dark Realm, each harbored their own thoughts.
The Dark Realm could descend, but absolutely not at this moment.
Boom.
Boundless flames scorched the heavens and earth.
The Scarlet Emperor emerged from the river of origins, and endless fire rain fell upon the world. "What should we do?"
He didn't specify who he was asking, but everyone understood.
Sizzle.
The White Emperor tore open the Geng Metal domain of the West Continent.
In the distance, Chen Fan, panting, walked out, his face ashen.
At this moment, he had no energy to consider other matters. He too saw the arrival of the Dark Realm, a strange world shrouded in endless darkness.
"Swish, swish, swish."
The four Heavenly Emperors, excluding the Black Emperor, all descended into the sky.
From within the river of origins, the will of the Immortal Realm also emerged, but it kept its distance from the four Heavenly Emperors. These four fellows were all eyeing it with intentions to devour it.
All gazes fixed upon the sky, watching the approaching Dark Realm with grim expressions.
"Hahaha."
Then, the Black Emperor strode forward domineeringly.
In the recent battle, the Azure Emperor had sustained numerous wounds. He… was no match for the Black Emperor. However, it was difficult for two Heavenly Emperors to determine a victor in a short period, especially one who excelled in recovery.
The Black Emperor ascended, his eyes filled with mockery. "Your master has arrived, aren't you going to kneel and welcome them?"
These words were utterly venomous.
"..."
None of the four Heavenly Emperors answered.
At this moment, Wuji approached, still appearing as a silhouette.
"Senior."
The Black Emperor quickly bowed.
This scene caused the expressions of the four Heavenly Emperors to change. The Black Emperor's demeanor was exceedingly reverent.
"Mm."
Wuji nodded and extended a finger towards the West Continent, reaching out. A speck of light slowly appeared, its aura rapidly growing. Yi Fu, who had died at the hands of the White Emperor, reappeared.
"Senior."
A flicker of joy appeared on Chen Fan's face.
Yi Fu nodded, then bowed to Wuji. "Thank you for saving my life, Senior."
"It's nothing."
Wuji's acts of saving others required no such formality. His gaze also turned towards the Dark Realm.
There was no more time.
Wuji suddenly spoke, "Everyone, what are your thoughts now? Will you continue your internecine war and wait for the Dark Realm to devour the Immortal Realm, or will you jointly resist the external enemy?"
A difficult choice.
The Black Emperor stated directly, "Of course, we resist the external enemy."
World collisions have no right or wrong. The Dark Realm was drawing nearer.
Unfortunately, the Black Emperor's words only represented himself, and… the North Continent. The people of the North Continent, along with the Fishermen and others, gathered together. The Black Emperor's identity had been revealed; no one had expected that the Revered One was the Northern Heavenly Emperor. These individuals were all staunch followers of the Black Emperor.
However, Wuji was not addressing them, but the other four.
"..."
No one spoke.
Wuji spoke again, "Will of the Immortal Realm, once the Dark Realm descends, its first act will be to strip you of your sentience and then devour you. The origin Dao is the source of the world; they will not let you go."
"..."
The will of the Immortal Realm was conflicted. It understood this better than anyone, which was why it had wanted to escape. But fleeing now was clearly too late. Unless it could kill all the cultivators in the Immortal Realm instantly, the river of origins would become rootless, and it could then devour it. But even so, devouring required time. It was precisely for this reason that it was conflicted.
Finally, the Immortal Realm's will spoke, "I do not wish to be devoured."
"Then we can only resist," Wuji provided the answer.
"That's right."
The will of the Immortal Realm chose to fight the external enemy. But it still added, "But I cannot leave…" The decree of the Immortal Realm prevented it from leaving the Immortal Realm.
"We will discuss this later."
Wuji shifted his focus, this time addressing the White Emperor. "You have already become a fifth-tier Heavenly Emperor, yet your lifespan is insufficient. I shall grant you ten thousand years of lifespan, can you agree?"
Upon hearing this, joy immediately bloomed on the White Emperor's face. "Truly?"
Wuji did not answer, but raised his hand to grasp.
Boom.
A chaotic divine mountain appeared. A child was playing on the divine mountain.
Wuji said, "This mountain is the true form of a chaotic beast. It was once suppressed here by me and transformed into a chaotic mountain. This beast is not dead, and its lifespan can be extracted."
"Senior can extract lifespan?" This was a Heaven-defying technique, forbidden by the rules.
"No."
"Hm?"
"Someone can."
As soon as Wuji finished speaking, everyone understood who he was referring to. The White Emperor's gaze fell upon Chen Fan, his eyes burning with desire.
"Why are you looking at me?" Chen Fan was displeased. "We were enemies just moments ago. Now you know to seek my help?"
"Heh." The White Emperor sneered. "Either I kill you, or you help me extract lifespan. This is out of respect for Senior Wuji; otherwise, your Dao of Life and Death would be mine."
"Try me?" Chen Fan was defiant. You can't even catch me, how can you extract my Dao of Life and Death? A joke.
The White Emperor: "..." Can he catch him? The White Emperor was uncertain. But he was certain of one thing: Chen Fan was indeed difficult to catch. If he were easy to catch, he would have caught him already.
"Chen Fan." Wuji spoke again. "This matter should be considered a return of favor."
"..." Chen Fan. If anyone else had said this, he would have scoffed. But Wuji was different. This person not only gave him the Heaven Crown but also provided him with the opportunity to become a half-emperor.
Finally, he nodded in agreement. "Alright, I can help extract lifespan."
"Good." Wuji said. "The White Emperor can take action, the will of the Immortal Realm and the Black Emperor are willing to protect the Immortal Realm. The remaining are the three..."
"Yellow Emperor, what do you want?" Wuji asked directly.
"I want the blood of the Immortal Realm's countless living beings to help me break through to the sixth tier."
"Unacceptable." Wuji shook his head.
"Heh heh."
"Hear me out." Wuji spoke again. "Even if you devour the blood of the Immortal Realm's countless living beings, you will not be able to break through to the sixth tier."
"But at least there's a chance, right?" He was cold-blooded. Uttering the words about devouring countless living beings without the slightest hesitation. This was indeed his inner thought.
"How about this, I will give you a method with the same efficacy as devouring the blood of countless living beings. In exchange, you will help the Immortal Realm resist the external enemy, how about it?"
"Not interested." The Yellow Emperor sneered. "This is what I should have. The Immortal Realm has nothing to do with me, but if you give me this method, I can withdraw from the Immortal Realm and leave immediately..." He was unwilling to act.
"Alas." Wuji sighed. "Why must it be like this?"
"What if it is like this?" The Yellow Emperor's voice grew colder and colder. His aura also intensified. "What I, this emperor, decide to do, I have never needed anyone's charity for. Though you are strong, can you really keep me here?" This was the overbearing declaration of the foremost among the Five Heavenly Emperors.
"..."
Wuji remained silent for a long time. After a while, he looked at the Scarlet Emperor and the Azure Emperor. "What about you two? What do you need to be willing to act?"
The Scarlet Emperor was somewhat rash. He said directly, "I want to enter the fifth tier. Do you have a way, Senior? If so, I will act..." He had no ulterior motive; he simply wished to reach the fifth tier.
"Possible."
The Scarlet Emperor was pleased. Wuji was not one to dally. He reached out towards the chaotic mountain.
Boom.
A world appeared. The world was not an Emperor's Palace. It was a world compressed by Wuji himself, radiating a strong aura.
"This is..." In the sky, the eyes of several Heavenly Emperors were filled with deep greed.
Wuji said, "This is a world I knocked down in the chaos. There are no living beings within, only a world master. After I killed him, I compressed the world and kept it. It contains a complete Dao of Flame. After the Scarlet Emperor devours it, he will surely be able to enter the fifth tier."
"Hahaha." The Scarlet Emperor laughed heartily. "Good, Senior Wuji, thank you."
Wuji directly threw the world to him. "Devour it directly. After breaking through, your combat power will be even stronger."
The Scarlet Emperor was surprised for a moment, then clasped his hands. "Senior is generous. Rest assured... I, this emperor, will keep my word."
"Boom."
The Scarlet Emperor grabbed the small world and compressed it directly into his Emperor's Palace.
Finally... it was the Azure Emperor's turn.
"Senior." The Azure Emperor was also direct. "I am the same as the Scarlet Emperor..."
"Mm." Wuji nodded. He then produced a withered branch. As soon as the branch, devoid of any aura, appeared, the Azure Emperor's eyes lit up. He did not know what it was, but he felt a tremor in the rules within his body. It was an urgent impulse to devour the branch. This was a supreme treasure.