Chapter 1676: Behind the Nine Emperor Passes
The Sole True Path had been walked to its end, the final pass breached. From this point onward, this mysterious path to becoming an emperor might be fully revealed before people's eyes, with immortal light endless, illuminating the universe. The territory under unified control grew increasingly stable, with no one daring to challenge it anymore—it had become a behemoth.
In contrast, the Divine Court was gradually declining. If not for people's fear of the Divine Lord, someone would have long since attacked, seizing their territories and plundering their resource stars.
But none of this was the focus now. The gaze of the entire universe was fixed on the end of the Sole Imperial Path, where the greatest upheaval would occur.
Would one person attain the Dao, or would the near-ancient era remain empty? Would everyone be denied access? People waited in anticipation, in trepidation, in expectation.
"Boom!"
Behind the nine Emperor Passes, a shocking explosion sounded. Divine energy alarmed myriad domains. People knew someone was knocking at the pass, attacking that immortal land, seeking the secret to becoming an emperor.
No one could remain seated. All were terrified. Many great powers rushed there without pause, yearning for everything within.
"We should move too. Let's go watch Ye Tong and Yang Xi's performance," Li Heishui said.
"Time-wise, it's already too late. Going through the nine Emperor Passes would take a long time," Yan Yixi said.
"If we're just watching the battle, it should be fine. There's a special place there—we can witness miracles outside the Emperor Passes," Black Emperor said.
The Heavenly Court group set out. The Black Pearl's presence was even more astonishing now. Its entire body gleamed, thousands of miles long, its cold hull traversing the universe as it sped toward the place of shocking change.
When this quasi-emperor warship arrived, the area before the Emperor Passes was already packed with people. Many were even willing to charge through the passes at this moment just to reach the end and witness events.
"Can't see..." Black Emperor led the way. They arrived at a vague, ethereal place, where only endless immortal light burst forth, along with shadowy ancient mountain after ancient mountain, endless lightning entwining, and a golden ocean faintly appearing and disappearing.
As for the truth further beyond, it was utterly impossible to see through, and they couldn't charge through either—true Emperor-level prohibitions were here.
"Boom!"
Within, a violent collision sounded. Supreme power fluctuations were impacting that immortal land.
This blurry, unclear feeling of being unable to see through the truth was unbearable. People couldn't help wanting to charge through and see for themselves—it might involve a battle for becoming an emperor!
"Kill! Break in and forge my imperial path!" someone roared.
Everyone was astonished. Such sounds could actually penetrate through. That person was very strong. What kind of trouble had he encountered? Were there still twists and turns after the nine passes?
No one expected this wait to last three years. The sounds of battle continued without cease, and no one had truly broken into the chaotic immortal land, leaving people stunned.
On the Black Pearl, people were initially very focused, then stunned, then petrified, and finally grew accustomed to it.
Before the first Emperor Pass, armies continuously surged in. From time to time, people ventured deeper, trying to reach the final place, because over these three years, too much news had spread.
"That place is an immortal cave, recording Emperor Venerable's Dharma and Dao!"
"The Emperor Venerable's immortal scripture isn't recorded at the first pass, but in the final chaotic cave!"
How could people remain calm when such news spread? Because someone had personally seen a chaotic cave glowing there, emitting entire passages of scripture carved into the void.
Some even obtained partial scriptures—profound, vast, supremely powerful and wondrous.
Others said that place not only recorded Emperor Venerable's Dao but also the enlightenment diagrams of other Great Emperors, ancient emperors, and even Heavenly Venerables—a place near immortality.
This naturally caused an uproar!
Countless great clans and numerous powerful beings could no longer sit still. They all set out for that place, hoping for great gains.
"Rumble!"
On this day, the first Emperor Pass opened wide. That crystal stele vanished, no longer blocking cultivators' path. Anyone could enter, triggering a massive sensation.
"What's going on? Why is this happening? Who moved it away?"
"Could it be that someone broke into the chaotic immortal land, took control of everything here, and opened all the prohibitions?"
Many were astonished, but more believed this was a divine gift from heaven. Many great powers led their war departments, actually charging into the Emperor Passes to claim a share of the spoils.
By now, becoming an emperor was no longer the goal for most. It was limited to a few. The majority of cultivators came for the immortal burial grounds, joining forces to charge in for the Great Emperors' inheritances.
This boiling over lasted four years. The nine Emperor Passes became a chaotic battlefield, with all major powers involved.
Suddenly looking back, people were shocked to find that seven years had passed, yet no one had broken through the final chaotic land. There, blazing lightning still interwove, palaces faintly appeared, unreachable.
In the eighth year, Ye Fan and his group also arrived. Worried about Ye Tong and Yang Xi, deeply concerned for them, they found this place had become a land of a hundred battles. Who knew what would happen?
"How can this be? In ancient times, only a few could enter. How can a sea of cultivators come in this era, no longer blocked?"
Even Ye Fan, who had once withdrawn from the imperial path and theoretically couldn't re-enter, passed through the Emperor Passes safely and appeared on this path for the third time.
"Kill!"
The sounds of battle shook the heavens. This was a land of blood and chaos.
They kept a low profile, not wanting to attract attention, nor seeking to dominate. The Black Pearl transformed into an inconspicuous small boat, always sailing along the fringe zone, avoiding the various heroes.
In the eighth year, they arrived at the ninth pass. From there, they exited into the most mysterious ancient land.
"Ao roar..."
Golden lightning interwove into a heavenly dragon, crossing the sky, tens of thousands of miles long. Its thick dragon body tore through chaos, erupting with primeval aura, shocking people's hearts.
Another bird cry sounded. A chaotic divine bird spread its wings, splitting the sky, striking across a hundred thousand miles, its energy surging. These were merely visions within the chaotic immortal land, yet they made even Great Sages tremble with fear.
How could one charge in? These chaotic energies and lightning could actually transform into so many terrifying ancient beasts and fierce birds, each with astonishing divine might, unreachable.
"Someone fought their way in eight years ago, but they must have failed. Otherwise, these visions would have dispersed long ago, not remain so clouded and misty."
"Hmm, quite a few people fought their way in. No one knows if they fell or disappeared."
Everyone was discussing. This place was packed with people. Never in any era had it been like this—those who hadn't participated in bloody battles had all come here.
This was almost inconceivable. Who had changed all this?
Unlike the past, this meant that the path to becoming an emperor in this era might be fully exposed. The final secret land would have no secrets left. The entire world would know what was on that chaotic ancient mountain.
The great mountain surged. Though shrouded in lightning elements, it was also filled with life energy, slowly moving with the chaos, as if creating heaven and earth.
Vaguely, people saw many ancient trees on the mountain, actually composed of lightning elements, blotting out the sky and covering the sun, growing vigorously.
This seemed somewhat inconceivable. Lightning elements were very special—a manifestation of heaven's punishment descending from above, a supreme power that everyone faced during tribulation.
Why were the lightning elements and chaos here so dense? Was this the true origin place? Could it be the immortal palace of heaven above?
"Look! There's an immortal divine tree there!"
No one knew who shouted first, triggering a sensation. On the mountain, a golden Fusang tree faintly appeared and disappeared. Wasn't that the Sun Saint Emperor's ancient tree?
"Vermilion Bird!"
Suddenly, someone saw a fiery red bird, with roots actually growing beneath its feet, rising from an ancient mountain and flying to another peak.
"It's the Vermilion Bird Immortal Immortality Medicine!"
This shocked people. That medicine had also followed a Great Emperor! And it was here!
"No, these medicines have appeared elsewhere. They shouldn't all be concentrated here."
Powerful beings from all clans had arrived, leading many war departments, all watching eagerly, ready to charge over, seize the immortal medicine, and fight for fragments of the Emperor Venerable's immortal scripture.
"Look, who's that?" A figure bathed in firelight walked over, stepping onto the chaotic immortal land. With a boom, her fist's power shattered the heavens, directly punching her way in!
She was Huo Qizi, the Qilin Ancient Emperor's daughter, her entire body shrouded in radiance. No one expected her to appear, triggering a massive sensation.
On the Black Pearl, Ye Fan frowned. The battle here had escalated. This place was destined to become the most terrifying demon land. Two bright lamps appeared on the ship, their flames flickering, burning eternally without extinguishing.
"Ye Tong and Yang Xi are both fine. Their life flames are very vigorous," Black Emperor nodded.
Those were the life imprints the two had left before setting out on the ancient path. As long as they lived, these two lamps would not go out.
The noise of the crowd swelled. The war departments of various clans grew more numerous. Almost all the supreme beings from every domain in the universe had arrived. Eight years had passed, and everyone was eagerly waiting, hoping to witness an outcome.
Of course, terrible battles were inevitable. As long as Great Emperor scriptures emerged, as long as immortal immortality medicines were unearthed, many would inevitably pay any price to seize them.