The words of the Poison Scorpion revealed a tragic fact.
It wasn't that no one could become a Heavenly Emperor, but that they couldn't, or dared not...
The moment someone attempted to break through, they would be ruthlessly slain.
This was the current state of the Immortal Realm.
The Emperor could appear, but a Heavenly Emperor was absolutely forbidden.
"..." Liu Quizi.
Was this truly the Immortal Realm today?
Heh, pathetic.
He turned back to look at Zun Shang, who had remained motionless.
"Alas."
Liu Quizi sighed, "Since it is so, come with me."
Boom.
The Poison Scorpion's physical body instantly collapsed.
The Imperial Palace shattered, dissolving into essence.
Liu Quizi's figure also began to dissipate.
He was a prodigy, a monstrous talent.
Proud his entire life, yet today he had witnessed the pathetic state of the Immortal Realm.
"Forget it."
With a sigh, his body scattered like smoke.
Yet a voice echoed in Zun Shang's ears, "I have done what I promised you. Farewell."
"..."
Zun Shang remained silent, watching from afar.
He watched with his own eyes as Liu Quizi's figure dispersed, then cupped his hands, "Farewell, and safe travels."
There were no other words of parting.
This was all he could offer.
Liu Quizi and the Poison Scorpion had perished together.
But on the other side, King Jiuhuan's battle with the Taoist ended in defeat.
Bang.
King Jiuhuan's physical body disintegrated into the heavens and earth.
"I am not reconciled."
He roared in anger.
He was King Jiuhuan, the former King of Slaughter.
Yet now, he had fallen to a junior.
...
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh."
Across from him, the Taoist was covered in wounds.
He was injured, severely.
Though he had taken down King Jiuhuan, the cost was immense.
"Wuwuwu."
The Ancestral Dragon Horn sounded again.
No one blew it; it rang out on its own.
"Boom boom boom."
In the distance, powerful auras suddenly erupted.
They surged forth like dark clouds pouring down.
A group of Emperor realm powerhouses appeared on the horizon, rapidly approaching.
"Who?"
All eyes were drawn to this group.
Sanbi Emperor's expression was grave, "Nie Renwang, Sea Venerable, Futu..."
Familiar names.
These individuals hailed from the Northern Continent.
"Swish."
At this moment, all the powerhouses of the Azure Emperor Palace turned their gaze to Zun Shang.
"Are you... the Black Emperor?"
Though a guess, it was almost certainly true.
Besides the Black Emperor, who else could command the Black Emperor Palace's forces?
Zun Shang's identity was all but revealed.
"Swish."
Zun Shang's cloak billowed backward.
A disfigured face appeared in everyone's sight.
"Who is this?"
No one recognized the face.
Zun Shang's gaze remained fixed on Azure Emperor Mountain.
He did not speak, did not reveal his identity, so no one knew if he was the Azure Emperor.
"Kill."
The Black Emperor Palace powerhouses attacked.
No unnecessary words.
An imperial decree from Black Emperor Mountain commanded them to fight to the death against Azure Emperor Palace.
They had infiltrated stealthily from the Northern Continent and launched a direct assault.
This was a newly added force.
Azure Emperor Palace had initially held the upper hand, but the moment these individuals appeared, the scales... tipped again.
"Kill."
The flames of war reignited.
Azure Emperor Mountain retreated step by step.
They had already lost many to the likes of Poison Scorpion and his ilk, and now, on the battlefield, they were clearly at a disadvantage.
A bearded burly man strode through the air.
A heavy battle saber was slung over his shoulder.
Wherever he passed, anyone who dared to approach would have their physical bodies instantly shattered.
"Fire Qilin, come out and fight!" the burly man roared.
"Alas."
With a sigh, a red-haired elder emerged from Azure Emperor Mountain.
He was the Fire Qilin, the strongest in Azure Emperor Palace besides the Azure Emperor.
He moved through the air, beneath his feet an endless domain of fire.
"Ren Tu, long time no see."
The burly man, named Ren Tu, was the strongest of the Black Emperor Palace.
He was most directly responsible for the chaos in the Northern Continent.
He was Ren Tu, who had caused rivers of blood to flow in the Northern Continent.
Clang.
His battle saber pointed forward, at the Fire Qilin, "Today, I will slay you."
"..." Fire Qilin.
The Fire Qilin remained silent, but his aura began to surge.
Above his head, a pair of winding horns appeared.
The next moment...
Boom.
The two collided directly, their confrontation commencing at its peak.
The battle of the strongest from the Eastern and Northern Continents.
Life within ten thousand meters was wiped out; no one dared to approach.
...
"Is it him?"
Chi Di's face, uncharacteristically, showed a hint of solemnity.
His gaze was fixed intently on the disfigured Zun Shang.
Huang Di watched for a moment, then shook his head, "Unknown."
Too much time had passed since that assassination attempt.
If a Heavenly Emperor concealed themselves, no one could find them; their true identity could not be discerned by aura alone.
The Black Emperor of that year had achieved Emperor status through his physical body.
His physique was unrivaled in the world.
Yet this person lacked that dragon-like vitality.
"Heh."
The will of the Immortal Realm chuckled from the side, "Why overthink it? Whether it's the Black Emperor or not, and what's your relation to him, someone will naturally deal with it."
Indeed.
Huang Di and Chi Di exchanged glances and continued to observe the battle.
Even if Zun Shang was the Black Emperor, what of it?
Since he sought out the Azure Emperor, the Azure Emperor would handle him.
Then, their attention shifted to the Western Continent.
In the Western Continent, the demise of Daozun was spreading like a storm.
Sword Venerable on the mountaintop looked over.
Killing intent filled his eyes.
Daozun was dead, and this person could contend with a top-tier third-rank Emperor.
Silence.
Due to Daozun's death, the entire Western Continent fell silent.
Boom.
In the distance, a sky-piercing demonic energy erupted.
Accompanied by a booming laugh, "Haha, I have become Emperor, I have become Emperor."
It was Old Demon Chu, who had ascended to Emperor status in a single battle.
Demonic energy surged to the heavens, and ancient, colossal demons flickered within the burning demonic aura.
"White Emperor Mountain Emperor, come, let's fight a round!" Old Demon Chu challenged arrogantly.
All eyes turned.
"Audacious."
Old Demon Chu's provocation made it immediately clear that he was allied with Chen Fan.
This meant that the distant battle from earlier had also been fought by people from Sword City.
An Emperor of the first rank, stationed in a major city, had perished.
Old Demon Chu had stepped over their corpse to advance to Emperor status.
"Swoosh."
A second-rank Emperor tore through the void, heading towards Old Demon Chu.
Chen Fan's strength only represented himself.
What was Old Demon Chu?
A first-rank Emperor who had just advanced, and he dared to provoke?
"Seeking death."
The second-rank Emperor conjured a flaming spear in his hand, "Kill..."
The spear pierced through heaven and earth, plunging into the demonic flames.
Instantly, countless demonic shadows exploded and perished.
Stomp stomp stomp.
In the void, Old Demon Chu was repelled by a single spear thrust.
He looked down at his chest, a thin line of blood slowly spreading.
"Heh heh."
Old Demon Chu seemed unfazed by the wound.
Demonic energy coated the injury, smoothing out the rules of the spear. "Not bad, not bad, very powerful, I like it."
He was like a madman.
The Way of Demonic Dao surged to the heavens, and the nascent form of an Imperial Palace appeared.
The next moment...
"Shatter."
Bang.
The nascent Imperial Palace crumbled.
Old Demon Chu, unparalleled in his arrogance, devoured the shattered Imperial Palace.
What Imperial Palace? He didn't need one.
Demonic Dao, alone.
Boom.
His aura grew stronger again, instantly reaching the level of a peak first-rank Emperor.