Endless darkness stretched across the Boundary Sea.
Above the sea, only those ancient palaces glowed, connected by divine rainbows that formed grand pathways.
Beyond that, nothing was visible—not even the Boundary Sea itself. The darkness was ink-black, impenetrable even to heavenly vision.
“The guiding ancient palaces, radiant and sacred, yet they lead to darkness.”
Shi Hao strode forward, each step seeming to span an epoch. Though his movements appeared unhurried, every stride left billions of miles behind him, as if time itself were reversing. He seemed to be journeying toward a distant, ancient past.
**Boom!**
The great Dao rumbled, suppressed by unfathomable laws.
The end of the darkness seemed near.
Here, time and space were in chaos, eras overlapping as if this place did not belong to the mortal world. Light from the future flickered, fragments of past imprints swirled—unfathomable and surreal.
**Thud!**
Like the beating of an eternal heavenly drum, a deep, resonant sound echoed. A vast road tore through the darkness, emerging ahead.
The path formed by the guiding ancient palaces had reached its end.
And there, a gray, weathered embankment stretched across the horizon—truly, he had arrived at the other side of the world!
Shi Hao descended back onto the Boundary Sea, treading upon its surface as he gazed ahead. A massive embankment stood as a barrier, beyond which lay an endless expanse of land.
Yet, that land was shrouded in darkness. Even as a Quasi-Immortal Emperor, he could only make out a vague outline. The laws here were different—truly extraordinary.
An eerie silence prevailed.
At the end of the Boundary Sea, there was not a single sound, no sign of the so-called dark tempest.
Shi Hao turned his head, looking back at the distant islands scattered across the sea. His expression shifted—some were mere reefs, others massive boulders, all standing firm upon the waters.
He sensed life there.
“How is this possible? From what era does this expert hail? Why does he exude such a bone-chilling pressure?”
On one island, a being abruptly opened its eyes, staring at Shi Hao with undisguised shock.
“A terrifying powerhouse—he fears not the guiding ancient palaces and treads the path they forged!”
On the islands, ancient beings—some having sat there for countless epochs—awoke one after another, their gazes fixed on Shi Hao in astonishment.
For they felt an overwhelming dread, sensing that this young man was far too powerful, his presence unmatched and awe-inspiring.
Shi Hao stepped forward. He did not turn back to engage with the island dwellers. Instead, he prepared to set foot upon the embankment.
“Wait!”
“Do not act rashly!”
Shouts of alarm came from behind. The beings on the islands recoiled in terror, retreating to the far sides as if evading something dreadful.
**Boom!**
The next moment, heaven and earth split apart, ghosts wailed, and gods howled. The world seemed to descend into apocalypse as black chains of order transformed into a storm.
This was no mere hurricane—it was composed of laws, order, and the symbols of the great Dao. Countless runic ripples gathered before surging violently, ravaging the world.
Shi Hao was certain: no Immortal King could withstand this storm!
It originated from beyond the embankment, a forbidden force that oppressed all, making even him tense and wary.
**Crack!**
Amid the black tempest, the sound of shattering echoed. Weapons of Immortal Kings floated up from the sea, only to explode in midair, utterly destroyed.
One could imagine the countless tragedies that had unfolded over the eons—the strongest beings who had reached this point, only to perish miserably.
Even their weapons had sunk into the Boundary Sea!
Only during these rare, devastating storms did some of them resurface, only to meet their doom.
The storm was too powerful. Even the weapons of the mightiest Immortal Kings shattered here, meaning their fleshly bodies would fare no better.
Shi Hao’s skin stung as if cut by blades, but he remained unharmed. His body glowed with an indestructible radiance, weathering the storm effortlessly.
He didn’t even strike back—this was the might of a Quasi-Immortal Emperor!
The beings on the islands suffered immensely. Were it not for the islands’ natural barriers, they would have perished.
Even so, some paled as the dark storm’s runes encroached upon their refuge, posing a lethal threat.
Shi Hao confirmed—this was a storm of Quasi-Immortal Emperor-level runes!
**Swoosh!**
At last, he acted, slashing through the storm and erasing the black symbols near the islands, sparing the beings from calamity.
With hands clasped behind his back, Shi Hao stood calmly upon the sea, deep in thought. If he stepped onto that embankment, would the great battle truly begin?
“Is this…”
“An Emperor?!”
On the islands, the ancient beings widened their eyes in shock, their faces filled with disbelief.
They had endured countless trials, traversing endless calamities, all for the sake of advancing further—to cross the dark land and achieve the Emperor’s realm!
Yet here was a latecomer, already surpassing them, seemingly possessing the power of an Immortal Emperor. How could they not be stunned?
Of course, among them were those of great resolve, who had come to eradicate the source of darkness. But time was cruel, and reality harsher—they now realized their powerlessness.
The storm ceased.
Shi Hao adjusted his state, preparing for battle at his peak.
“Willow God, Grand Elder, Huo Ling’er… are you still there? You must be safe!”
He murmured inwardly, anxiety gnawing at him. So many millennia had passed—were they still alive?
Since encountering the nine-headed monstrosity, an unease had lingered in his heart, fearing that Willow God and the others might have met the same fate as those fallen Immortal Kings.
“Fellow Daoist, you are…?”
From several islands, powerful figures rose cautiously, saluting Shi Hao and inquiring about his origins.
These were ancient beings who, despite knowing the dangers and the ever-looming dark tempest, refused to retreat.
Shi Hao knew they could offer little insight—they had never crossed the embankment, forever barred from the truth beyond.
**Swoosh!**
Suddenly, figures descended upon the path forged by the guiding ancient palaces.
“The Butcher, the Chicken-Raiser, the False Medicine Seller!”
Someone exclaimed.
Three formidable beings landed, their bodies wreathed in terrifying immortal light, their auras dense with dazzling Dao symbols.
“Didn’t you three retreat? Why have you returned?” an ancient being on the islands questioned.
Moreover, they had arrived via the same path as Shi Hao.
“We merely followed in this fellow Daoist’s wake—we did not breach the ancient palaces ourselves,” the Butcher replied.
A towering figure with bronze skin and wild hair, he carried a bow and exuded overwhelming might, surpassing even other supreme experts. He was but a step away from the Quasi-Immortal Emperor realm.
A faint, transcendent glow even surrounded him, shielding him from all calamities.
Yet, that final step remained elusive.
“We meet again.”
This was Shi Hao’s first utterance since arriving at the Boundary Sea’s end. He regarded the Butcher with a peculiar expression.
The Butcher’s gaze was equally complex. After a long silence, he sighed.
“That shadow I saw back then—it really was you.”
Most were baffled, but Shi Hao understood.
“Dreaming back to the Fall of Emperors—real yet illusory,” Shi Hao murmured.
The Butcher inhaled sharply, then nodded.
“Two supreme talents cannot coexist in one era. So I avoided you, journeying to other realms. Yet now, in this life, I finally meet your true self—and you’ve already become a Quasi-Immortal Emperor!”
A delicate figure stepped forward, her presence deceptively frail yet no less formidable than the Butcher’s.
This was the one who raised True Phoenixes—a woman from the Burial Grounds!
Contrary to rumors of her being a fierce man, she was, in fact, female.
Another figure, white-haired and solemn, bowed deeply to Shi Hao.
This was the peerless expert who had split his body into six parts. One of his avatars had once followed Shi Hao, witnessing profound Dao truths.
Shi Hao had hoped he might break through and lend his strength, but like the Butcher, he only possessed a faint Quasi-Immortal Emperor glow, never fully ascending.
After the Fall of Emperors, Shi Hao alone had succeeded.
The three were close, but transcending the King realm was no easy feat.
“He is the Heavenly Emperor, Shi Hao,” the woman among the trio announced, revealing his identity.
The ancient beings on the islands gasped in horror.
To dare claim the title of Emperor was historically a death sentence—yet this man had truly shattered the King realm and succeeded!
“Greetings, Heavenly Emperor!”
Despite their immense seniority, none dared disrespect him, offering deep bows.
“Fellow Daoists, retreat. If I set foot upon that land, a battle of life and death will erupt—this sea may not remain stable,” Shi Hao warned.
“Let us follow you into battle!” someone cried, fists clenched. Had they not waited eons to purge the source of darkness?
“Even I may not survive stepping ashore. This path is one of uncertainty—preserve yourselves for now,” Shi Hao said softly.
The crowd fell silent, knowing his words were true.
“Your time to act may yet come,” Shi Hao added.
This was no dismissal, but a grim premonition.
They sighed, realizing their helplessness—and Shi Hao’s loneliness.
Countless experts across the ages, yet none could stand beside him in this final battle.
Some, obsessed with becoming Emperors, stubbornly pressed forward, nearing madness.
Finally, Shi Hao took his first step onto the embankment.
**Boom!**
As the storm raged anew, Shi Hao punched through it, scattering the tempest with a single blow.
A few followed him—only to explode into bloody mist the moment they set foot on the embankment.
The unseen force suppressing Shi Hao had claimed them as collateral.
Only when the pressure vanished did Shi Hao stride forward, his Quasi-Immortal Emperor radiance illuminating the path.
His eyes blazed as he surveyed the darkness ahead.
This land was different—its laws alien, its Dao twisted. Had he not forged his own path, he would have faced insurmountable peril.
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