Origin Lake, Origin Island.
As peaceful as ever.
Even as the Five Phoenixes underwent astonishing transformation, the tranquility of Origin Island remained untouched.
Lu sat in his thousand-blade chair, raising his head to gaze at the starry sky—toward the void abyss.
From there, he sensed an overwhelming aura—more terrifying than the Emperor-realm Dao incarnation.
“An Ancient Emperor?”
Lu narrowed his eyes.
His gaze shifted—colliding with the projected vision from the abyss.
As though piercing through time and space, their eyes met—sharp and intense, as if shaking mountains and rivers.
Boom!
Lu unleashed the full aura of Qi Refining Layer Ten.
Like a pillar of light shooting into the heavens—instantly causing the entire Five Phoenix Continent’s winds and clouds to change color.
As though it could knock stars from the sky.
“Is it one of the Ancient Emperors from the rift? Or… the living Ancient Emperor of the Heavenly Spirit Clan in the first heaven?”
Lu pondered.
Regardless—an Ancient Emperor had finally appeared. Lu knew that sooner or later, he and this Emperor would have a calm and rational conversation.
What must be faced—must be faced.
But for now, Lu did not move. He wanted to see the Emperor’s true attitude first.
Remain unchanged—adapt to all changes.
…
In the vast sea.
Ancient tomb.
After his coffin shattered, Gu Mangran—without a coffin to lie in—did not continue sleeping. Instead, he sat cross-legged in the palace—refining divine herb energy to restore and elevate his strength.
Suddenly—his body shuddered.
A chill that pierced deep into his soul.
“An Ancient Emperor’s aura…”
Gu Mangran opened his eyes—suddenly looking toward the sky.
The Five Phoenixes’ transformation was good.
But in truth—over these years—Gu Mangran had never relaxed. He knew well: one must not be deceived by appearances.
The current Five Phoenixes was not as safe as it seemed.
Leaving aside the Ancient Emperors who vanished in the ancient war—
The mere existence of the Heavenly Spirit Clan’s Ancient Emperor posed a massive threat.
There was also the master of the imperial blood that had caused the Five Phoenixes’ human realm to change—another threat.
Perhaps the nine heavens’ Dao incarnation could not descend upon the Five Phoenixes—but those Ancient Emperors… might very well be able to!
Emperor realm was a transcendence of life level—breaking free from the Heavenly Dao’s restraints and the world’s shackles.
That was Emperor realm.
Thus—even if the Five Phoenixes had separated from Void Heaven—it might block the Heavenly Dao’s Emperor incarnation—but it absolutely could not stop an Ancient Emperor.
A mere void abyss was not enough.
Now—as this Ancient Emperor’s aura appeared—though faint—Gu Mangran was certain: this was the aura of a true, living Ancient Emperor!
Worry filled his face.
He stood—walking out of the palace—arriving at the palace where Lu Changkong cultivated hybrid divine herbs.
Now, Lu Changkong had also reached Xuan Immortal—with his Myriad Poisons Body, he was like a walking calamity—whoever touched him died.
Lu Changkong’s talent in cultivating divine herbs far exceeded Gu Mangran’s imagination.
Even in the ancient era—when nine Ancient Emperors coexisted and countless prodigies rose—monsters like Lu Changkong were rare.
When Gu Mangran arrived, Lu Changkong was already waiting.
The two conversed while gazing at the sky.
“Don’t worry… even if a true Ancient Emperor descends—the Five Phoenixes is not as easily destroyed as you think.”
Lu Changkong said confidently—hands behind his back.
Gu Mangran paused—turning to look at him: “Why are you so confident, Mister Lu?”
“Confident?”
“No—I simply believe in my son.”
“If it were the past—it would be hard to say. But now—my son has changed a lot…”
“As long as he doesn’t give up—this world will not be destroyed.”
Lu Changkong smiled.
So it was confidence in Lu.
Gu Mangran sighed deeply: “But… can Young Master Lu really face an Ancient Emperor?”
“He was nearly cornered even against the Emperor-realm Dao incarnation.”
Lu Changkong glanced at Gu Mangran and shook his head.
“Lu is my son. I am his father. If I don’t believe in him—who should I believe in?”
Lu Changkong smiled meaningfully—hands behind his back—turning to return to the palace. Under Bu Nanxing’s careful service, he continued cultivating divine herbs.
…
Xuan Immortals were extremely sensitive to auras.
At Xuan Immortal level—besides fortune—there was comprehension of the Heavenly Dao.
Xuan Immortal was the most important test on the path to Emperor realm—a path that must be walked step by step.
One must walk their own path—or comprehend their own rules and give birth to a true domain.
Only then could one achieve Emperor realm—with a lifespan of millions of years.
In the Ascension Land,
Lu Jiulian opened his eyes. A vast aura erupted from his body—his cultivation soaring—stepping directly into Quasi-Emperor realm.
Even Lu Jiulian himself was stunned.
Tang Guo—cultivating beside him—was startled.
But seeing Lu Jiulian become a Quasi-Emperor—she could only smile wryly.
Some people cultivated desperately yet could not reach Quasi-Emperor—while others… advanced almost carelessly.
Lu Jiulian was that kind.
Casually delivering devastating mental blows.
Tang Guo was no longer the little girl following Tang Xiansheng. Now she was a Half-Step Xuan Immortal of the Five Phoenixes—with a Divine King Body.
She understood cultivation’s difficulty clearly. Even with her top-tier Divine King Body—Tang Guo had no confidence in reaching Quasi-Emperor.
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“So powerful…”
Lu Jiulian stood.
He murmured.
The next moment—the Heavenly Gate appeared above the Five Phoenixes.
Lu Jiulian emerged from the gate—hands behind his back—gazing into the starry sky—toward the void abyss.
Five Phoenix Continent.
Western Domain.
Atop a towering mountain ridge—heavy snow fell.
Micah sat cross-legged—gazing at the sky.
Though he had severed his cultivation and could no longer clearly sense the powerful aura in the abyss—
His unique intuition deep in his heart remained.
But he paid it no mind.
He had already gambled everything—there was no turning back.
To face it—he must break through with his own strength.
He slowly closed his eyes.
On the snowy peak—wind and snow continued.
Micah sat—snowflakes falling—gradually covering him in frost—like a snowman.
…
Boom!
In the void abyss,
Terrifying aura fully erupted—a sensation that chilled the soul.
Every living being on the ancient warship trembled.
This was an Ancient Emperor’s aura.
“Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor!”
“I never thought the Heavenly Spirit Clan truly had a living Ancient Emperor—unbelievable.”
“To see a living Ancient Emperor in my lifetime—no regrets in death.”
On the warship,
Holy clan Saints exclaimed in disbelief.
They sighed and lamented.
The golden-haired Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was incomparably handsome—time had left no trace on him.
The void abyss possessed unique corrosive power—even Saints could not cross it.
The five holy clans had united all their strength to build this warship—not only isolating the abyss’s corrosion but even temporarily blocking the nine heavens’ Heavenly Dao’s pull.
Thus, the five holy clans had pinned their hopes on crossing with this warship.
Unfortunately—they understood: it was over.
Their pursuer was not a Saint—but an Emperor.
“Hahaha… to be hunted by an Emperor in my old age—worth it!”
Amid wild laughter,
The golden-haired Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor stepped forward.
In one step—he crossed the warship—exiting the abyss.
He did not even glance at the warship.
The Saint on the warship—whose laughter had just erupted—suddenly stopped.
Soon—he coughed awkwardly.
The embarrassment of being ignored.
The warship soon exited the void abyss—descending into the independent Void Heaven.
All on board were stunned—looking at the life-bearing stars in Void Heaven—each wrapped in Heavenly Dao—containing profound mysteries.
This was a world completely different from the nine heavens.
Not just the Saints.
Even the golden-haired Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was somewhat shocked by this starry sky.
“Impossible…”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor drew a deep breath.
His gaze shifted—falling upon the Five Phoenix Continent.
As an Emperor—he instantly sensed the Heavenly Dao aura. On the Five Phoenix Continent—there was an independent, complete Heavenly Dao.
“No wonder Micah abandoned his position as Holy Hall Master—betraying the Heavenly Spirit Clan in his Quasi-Emperor twilight years.”
“It turns out this world gave him his last sliver of hope.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor understood—speaking calmly.
Micah was an unparalleled genius—the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor knew this well. Unfortunately… Micah had been born in the wrong era.
In the nine emperors era of the nine heavens—there were Saints even more monstrously talented than Micah—yet they all perished in the river of time.
“Unfortunately—betrayal is betrayal. This Emperor cannot tolerate any betrayal.”
“Betraying the Heavenly Spirit Clan—betraying the nine heavens… that is a grave crime.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor shook his head.
He spoke alone in the starry sky.
In the starry sky—countless stars trembled—shaken by the Ancient Emperor’s aura.
Behind the Ancient Emperor—the holy clan beings on the warship trembled—not daring to breathe loudly.
Betrayal is a grave crime…
They felt the Emperor’s words seemed directed at them.
Creating a hope warship—crossing out of the nine heavens—seeking survival in the Five Phoenixes.
Wasn’t this betrayal?
They had betrayed the nine heavens.
Many Saints’ eyes flickered with frustration and unwillingness.
One Saint stepped out of the warship—ascending into the starry sky—kneeling and kowtowing heavily toward the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor.
“Emperor—we did not wish to betray. We too wanted peaceful twilight years as Saints—but… the nine heavens offered no path. We… were forced.”
“If the nine heavens had given us holy clans a way out—if there had been even a sliver of hope—we would not have resorted to this.”
The Saint spoke as though bleeding from the heart.
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor glanced at him faintly.
With a casual wave,
Pfft!
It was as though a sword descended from the heavens.
In an instant—it nailed the Saint to the starry sky.
That casual glance—was like casually killing an ant.
That ease—that power—despair-inducing.
All living beings on the warship fell into incomparable despair.
“Betrayal is betrayal. ‘No path forward’ is merely an excuse.”
“If you had submitted—would this Emperor’s Heavenly Spirit Clan have slaughtered you all?”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor said.
The many Saints were speechless. Facing the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s tyranny—they had nothing to say.
Killing with a word.
The fate of the Saint nailed to the starry sky was still vivid.
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor stepped forward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Terrifying aura continuously erupted.
Yet each life-bearing star in Void Heaven released Heavenly Dao barriers—blocking the Ancient Emperor’s overwhelming pressure.
“Interesting.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor raised a brow in surprise.
This newborn Heavenly Dao… was not as weak as he had imagined.
Soon—the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor arrived above the Five Phoenix Continent.
His gaze cold—sweeping down.
He saw the time array covering the Five Phoenixes—the “All” array rune formation—and the Heaven-Covering Array.
“This is Hao’s array.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor narrowed his eyes—a gleam flashing within.
He seemed to think of something—his gaze toward the Five Phoenixes becoming strange.
Raising his hand,
Vast energy condensed in his palm—forming a sword.
He casually tossed it.
Sword light transformed into a meteor—plummeting downward.
The Heaven-Covering Array was instantly torn apart. Even the Absolute Heaven Slaughter Array failed to restrict the sword light.
Terrifying sword intent—like an unparalleled heavenly sword descending.
The sword light fell toward the Five Phoenixes—as though to split the continent in two. That arrogance—that tyranny—that cold ruthlessness—chilling the heart.
The void became incomparably brilliant—only sword light’s radiance remained.
One sword… threatening to destroy the world.
This was the tyranny of an Ancient Emperor!
Yet just as the sword neared the river of time—
The sword light… stopped.
Because—a white-robed figure seated in a wheelchair had appeared at some point—blocking before the river of time—setting up a chessboard.
He picked up a piece—and placed it on the board.
Spirit-Pressure beam shot skyward—clashing with the sword light—blocking its power.
That relaxed ease—not inferior to the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor casually nailing a Saint to death.
“Hm?”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor looked at Lu.
Their eyes met—confirming it was the one who had met his gaze in the Five Phoenixes.
“I never expected this newborn world to have an existence like you…”
“Perhaps Micah was right—betraying the Heavenly Spirit Clan in a new world with an independent Heavenly Dao… might truly allow one to break through the shackles and step into Emperor realm.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor said thoughtfully.
“Then why not fulfill his wish?”
Lu’s white robes fluttered. He rolled up his sleeve—playing with a chess piece in his hand—speaking calmly.
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor glanced at Lu.
“You are Lu Ping’an?”
“This starry sky—you created it?”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor raised his hand—pointing at the void starry sky.
Lu paused slightly. How did the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor know the term “starry sky”?
“So what if I did?”
Lu shifted posture in his wheelchair—one hand propping his chin—the other holding the chess piece.
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s eyes suddenly blazed.
“Hao—that fellow—took you to the ‘Primordial Starry Sky’?”
Lu paused again.
“Primordial Starry Sky?”
As an Emperor—he was extremely sensitive to expressions.
“You’ve never been? You created this starry sky without ever going? Could you be… a being from the Primordial Starry Sky who seized this body?”
“Interesting… very interesting…”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor laughed—eyes gleaming—as though he had found an extremely amusing toy.
He stared at Lu—looking him up and down.
Lu narrowed his eyes.
“Primordial Starry Sky… it seems related to the Ancient Emperors who vanished in the ancient war.”
Lu pondered.
“No… with the nine heavens’ Heavenly Dao present—you cannot be one of those fellows possessing a body—impossible…”
“You must carry many secrets.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor narrowed his eyes—dangerous aura faintly leaking.
“Hm?”
Lu raised a brow.
He placed the chess piece in his hand on the board—without looking up: “What—want to fight?”
Simple words.
Words dripping with provocation.
Floating in the void starry sky.
Causing the holy clan powerhouses on the warship to stare in shock.
Look… is this something a person says?
Did Lu Ping’an know who he was facing?
This was an Ancient Emperor!
A true, living immortal existence!
Fight?
Did Lu Ping’an have the strength?
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor seemed stunned—unexpectedly hearing such words from Lu.
In this world—besides peers at Emperor realm and those existences in the “Primordial Starry Sky”—no one could withstand much before an Emperor.
Moreover—the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor had traced time and seen Lu’s desperate state against the Emperor-realm Dao incarnation.
“Ignorant.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor shook his head.
“This Emperor will not kill you. You carry too many secrets and karma…”
“Killing you would bring too much trouble—not worth it.”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor raised his hand—pointing at the Five Phoenix Continent: “Hand over Micah. He is a traitor of the Heavenly Spirit Clan. This Emperor hates traitors most. Deliver Micah—and this Emperor will return to the nine heavens—leaving your troubles alone.”
Hand over Micah?
Lu leaned back in his thousand-blade chair. The smile in his eyes gradually faded. As for his “troubles”—Lu could guess—they were likely those vanished Ancient Emperors.
Lu tapped the armrest lightly—speaking calmly:
“And if this Young Master insists on protecting him?”
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s gaze shifted—falling on Lu.
“Then… die.”
“The troubles you carry are not enough to give you the right to provoke this Emperor.”
Boom!
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s tone grew cold.
Terrifying aura erupted from him—like a devastating energy storm—capable of annihilating everything.
This was power far more terrifying than the Emperor-realm Dao incarnation!
A blurry humanoid shockwave blasted from the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor.
Wherever it passed—void annihilated.
Lu’s gaze condensed.
His palm suddenly struck the armrest.
The next moment—red light flashed. Silver brilliance dazzled.
Phoenix plume sword and thousand blades swirled like celestial maidens scattering flowers—converging before Lu.
Forming a giant sword.
Lu sat in the starry sky—gripping the giant sword—and slashed down fiercely.
Bang!!!
The blurry shadow erupting from the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor blocked the giant sword—causing an explosive roar.
“You… are too petty.”
“Learn more from this Young Master.”
Lu smiled lightly.
The next moment—the figure that had been seated in the starry sky suddenly stood upright. White robes fluttered—turning black.
Overwhelming demonic qi erupted—like a vortex swirling around him.
Qi Refining Layer Ten—Immortal Demon Body unleashed!
Boom!
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor slowly raised his hand—grasping the sword tip—blocking Lu’s slash.
But Lu’s expression remained unchanged. His Immortal Demon Body shook. A fist hammered the giant sword—terrifying force erupting—slamming the sword downward!
Bang!
Around the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor and Lu—the starry sky shattered—turning into chaotic void currents. Both figures were swept into the outer void battlefield!
The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was stunned.
This Lu Ping’an… truly intended to fight him—a genuine Emperor?!
