Chapter 1238: Scheming

In the Xia Wind Ancient Nation, within the imperial palace.

Inside a garden, the three figures of Emperor Xia, Emperor Cang, and Patriarch Fan were gathered together, drinking and chatting leisurely. The topic of their conversation was none other than the most talked-about figure in the entire Heart Realm Continent—Flying Snow Emperor Lord!

“I heard that even the Primordial Ancestor of the Polar Night went to visit Flying Snow Emperor Lord, and even personally swore an oath to resolve their enmity,” Emperor Cang laughed heartily. “Speaking of which, between the two from the Primordial Ancestor Nation, the Polar Night Ancestor at least has a straightforward temperament—when he decides to bow his head, he does so without hesitation. Unlike that Eternal Night Ancestor, who’s the most hypocritical of all!”

“Haha, the Eternal Night Ancestor must be quite troubled these days,” Patriarch Fan chuckled. “The deterrence of Ying Shan Xueying is far more terrifying than before. With just a single call from him, I wouldn’t be surprised if a group of World Lords from the native tribes of the Broken Tooth Mountain Range came forth to heed his command.”

“Indeed,” Emperor Xia nodded. “His rise is unstoppable.”

“Absolutely unstoppable,” Patriarch Fan sighed. “The treasures of the Broken Tooth Mountain Range are incredibly difficult for other cultivators to obtain. Yet Ying Shan Xueying doesn’t even need to take risks—hordes of natives willingly offer them to him.”

“Envy won’t help. Your Illusory Realm of the Void is nowhere near his level,” Emperor Cang teased from the side.

“His Illusory Realm of the Void is simply too formidable!” Patriarch Fan shook his head.

Two paths—one of Void, the other of the Illusory Realm—both made the world keenly aware of Dongbo Xueying’s terrifying momentum of ascension.

And with the various opportunities from the Broken Tooth Mountain Range aiding him, this momentum became even harder to halt.

“Hmm? Speak of the devil, and here comes Flying Snow Emperor Lord himself,” Emperor Xia suddenly remarked with a smile. The three of them turned their gazes toward the distant sky, where a white-robed youth stepped out of the void and descended gracefully, showing not a hint of arrogance. He first bowed courteously. “Greetings, Emperor Xia, Patriarch Fan, Emperor Cang.”

“Flying Snow Emperor Lord, come, take a seat,” Emperor Xia invited warmly.

“We were just talking about you, and here you are,” Patriarch Fan said. “Flying Snow, some invincible beings are now saying that you might one day become the strongest in the Heart Realm Continent, surpassing even Emperor Xia and Emperor Ming!” He cast a playful glance at Emperor Xia.

“I haven’t even reached the Ultimate level yet. There’s still a long way to go,” Dongbo Xueying replied modestly.

Emperor Xia, however, interjected, “I agree with that assessment. Although I possess a Supreme Legacy, without a Chaos Origin Divine Weapon, I cannot unleash the final killing move of the Supreme Legacy. Once you reach the Ultimate level in the Void Path, with both the Supreme Legacy and a Chaos Origin Divine Weapon, even Emperor Ming at his full strength might only barely match you.”

Dongbo Xueying sighed inwardly.

A Chaos Origin Divine Weapon and a Supreme Legacy complemented each other perfectly. Without the former, even if one possessed another Void Path Supreme Treasure, the final killing move of the Supreme Legacy remained inaccessible.

“If Flying Snow Emperor Lord were to reach the Ultimate level in the Illusory Realm Path, the outcome would be even harder to predict. Rumor has it that even some Emperor-level beings in the Broken Tooth Mountain Range have fallen under his influence. If he reaches the Ultimate level, a single thought could plunge even us Ultimates into oblivion—I wouldn’t be surprised in the least,” Emperor Cang mused. “The Soul Path is inherently complex and arduous. Reaching its ultimate perfection would undoubtedly grant him extraordinary abilities.”

Any path, once perfected, held unique characteristics.

Thus, even ordinary Ultimate-level beings, without Supreme Treasures, possessed formidable survival skills. What then of a Soul Path cultivator who reached the Ultimate level? Their capabilities were beyond prediction.

“I, too, wish to reach the Ultimate level, but it’s no easy feat,” Dongbo Xueying sighed.

“Emperor Xia, Patriarch Fan, Emperor Cang,” Dongbo Xueying continued, “I’ve come today to seek your assistance.”

“Oh? The illustrious Flying Snow Emperor Lord, who can summon World Lords at will, needs our help?” Patriarch Fan teased.

“Please, tell us what you need,” Emperor Xia said earnestly.

Emperor Cang also fixed his gaze on Dongbo Xueying.

All three were curious. Flying Snow Emperor Lord possessed countless treasures and wielded immense influence. The six great ancient nations treated him with respect—even the Primordial Ancestor of the Polar Night and the ruler of Moonflower Nation had visited him early on to swear oaths of friendship. Only the prideful and grudging Eternal Night Ancestor remained hesitant. With such sway, what could he possibly need from them?

Dongbo Xueying nodded solemnly. “I wish to eliminate the Undying Emperor Ming.”

“Eliminate the Undying Emperor Ming?”

The three of them were stunned, their expressions filled with disbelief.

“He is currently the strongest in the Heart Realm Continent,” Emperor Xia said. “When he unleashes his full power, even I am no match for him. And you intend to kill him?”

“Direct combat isn’t the issue,” Dongbo Xueying replied. “I am confident. I can summon World Lords to assist—thirty, fifty, even a hundred wouldn’t be difficult.”

Emperor Xia, Patriarch Fan, and Emperor Cang paled at his words.

A hundred World Lords?

The restrictions left behind by Yuan limited the native inhabitants of the Broken Tooth Mountain Range who could enter the Heart Realm Continent to those at the initial Emperor level. The inherently maddened ‘Deathblight Clan’ were entirely barred from entry. Though their techniques might be crude, the sheer power of an initial Emperor-level native rivaled Emperor Xia’s own. With his refined techniques, Emperor Xia could easily handle one World Lord.

But five or six working together would force him onto the defensive.

“I’d only heard rumors before, but now I truly understand the extent of Flying Snow Emperor Lord’s influence in the Broken Tooth Mountain Range,” Patriarch Fan remarked with awe.

Dongbo Xueying said nothing more.

World Lords were just the beginning.

He could even summon Great Emperors and entire legions of Divine Generals to his aid.

As for World Lords? The number he could call upon was staggering.

“A group of World Lords, coordinating their attacks, would hold an overwhelming advantage. Once the Undying Emperor Ming exhausts his desperate measures, killing him becomes feasible,” Dongbo Xueying explained. “The real challenge lies in his escape. If he chooses to flee rather than fight, even with an army of World Lords, tracking him down would be nearly impossible.”

“Indeed.”

“Exactly. If he flees, you’d have no way to find him.”

“Even ordinary Ultimates are difficult to track when they escape. The Undying Emperor Ming has perfected two paths—his ability to vanish would be unparalleled. Those native World Lords may be powerful, but their understanding of the laws pales in comparison. They’d never locate him.”

Emperor Xia and the others all voiced their agreement.

Dongbo Xueying nodded. This was precisely why Ultimate-level fiends could wreak havoc across the Heart Realm Continent. Once they went into hiding, concealing their auras and fluctuations, tracking them became a near-impossible task.

“Which is why I’ve come to you,” Dongbo Xueying said. “I seek your assistance in finding a way to track him. If he flees, we must be able to locate him and continue the pursuit.”

“Tracking the Undying Emperor Ming is no simple feat,” Emperor Xia said.

Dongbo Xueying’s eyes gleamed—Emperor Xia had said it was difficult, not impossible!

“Do you have a method, Emperor Xia?” Dongbo Xueying pressed. “If you can help me slay the Undying Emperor Ming, I am willing to offer you a fire-attribute Supreme Treasure as compensation.”

Emperor Xia’s eyes lit up at the offer.

He possessed a void-attribute Supreme Treasure but lacked one of fire.

“Such generosity,” Emperor Cang remarked in awe.

“You’re truly willing to go to great lengths to kill the Undying Emperor Ming,” Patriarch Fan said with admiration. “Though you may one day become the strongest in the Heart Realm Continent, in terms of treasures, you’re already unmatched. With the backing of the Broken Tooth Mountain Range’s native tribes, no one can compare.”

Dongbo Xueying, however, remained focused. “Is there a way to track him? To hunt him down?”

“The Undying Emperor Ming has perfected two paths, both specializing in slaughter and attack. Yet his concealment abilities remain formidable. Even I cannot track him,” Emperor Xia admitted. “However, there is one person in the Heart Realm Continent who can.”

“Who?” Dongbo Xueying asked.

“The Infinite City Lord.”

Emperor Xia continued, “I once spoke with him. He mentioned that when the Undying Emperor Ming first returned to the Heart Realm Continent and concealed his movements, the Infinite City Lord detected him immediately. But the Infinite City Lord’s cultivation path is unique, and his temperament is eccentric. Whether you can persuade him, I cannot say. That will depend on your skills, Flying Snow Emperor Lord.”

“The Infinite City Lord?” Dongbo Xueying nodded slightly.

Even with an army of experts at his command, if the Undying Emperor Ming chose to flee within the Heart Realm Continent, he could vanish without a trace.

Was the Infinite City Lord truly the only one who could track him?

But the Infinite City Lord…

Dongbo Xueying had no confidence in persuading him. Among all the Ultimate-level beings in the Heart Realm Continent, he was the most unpredictable.

“I’ll have to try. No matter what, I must find a way to enlist his help,” Dongbo Xueying thought to himself.