Emperor Province
In a secluded side hall, two figures stood in silence—a man and a woman.
The man exuded a potent aura of light, radiating an essence so pure that his mere presence seemed capable of dispelling all evil. The woman, in contrast, was a stunning beauty untouched by the ravages of time, her delicate skin smooth and radiant.
These two were none other than the Emperor of Light and the Emperor of Ziwei.
Though they had aligned themselves with the Xuanyuan Imperial Clan, it was more a matter of necessity than choice.
“Less than half a day remains before the departure,” the Emperor of Ziwei remarked, her tone tinged with helplessness and melancholy.
“Judging from the current circumstances, unless a miracle occurs, the Jiang Dynasty has no chance of survival.”
“What a pity. The sect we painstakingly built over so many years will likely be reduced to cannon fodder in this conflict.”
The Emperor of Ziwei shook her head, her expression heavy with regret.
She was acutely aware that her Ziwei Divine Sect, now loyal to the Jiang Dynasty, was deeply entangled in this dire situation. The looming catastrophe threatened to engulf her life’s work.
Reflecting on the sect she had labored to establish, facing inevitable destruction, her heart was awash with sorrow.
Yet, there was little she could do.
Her cultivation, though profound at the eighth level of the Emperor Realm, was still far from the Celestial Emperor Realm. Decisions made by the Xuanyuan Clan’s higher-ups were beyond her influence.
Such was the reality in Emperor Province—no matter how strong one was, the Xuanyuan Imperial Clan held absolute authority.
“Not necessarily…”
“There might still be hope for a turnaround,” the Emperor of Light interjected suddenly.
“Hope? What kind of hope?” the Emperor of Ziwei asked, puzzled.
“Not long ago, I observed the stars and performed a calculation,” the Emperor of Light explained, his tone solemn.
“I found that the Star of Light has shifted toward Xuan Province, while the main imperial star—a symbol of Emperor Province’s ruler—has turned into a falling meteor. This suggests that the once-dominant emperor star might perish!”
“Are you serious?”
“How reliable is this celestial reading?” the Emperor of Ziwei pressed, her expression turning serious.
“Celestial phenomena align with the natural order, allowing us to glimpse certain intricacies. However, the universe is ever-changing, and even the heavens cannot predict all outcomes. The accuracy of this reading is uncertain,” the Emperor of Light replied, his tone enigmatic.
“You’re basically saying nothing useful,” the Emperor of Ziwei scoffed.
“While celestial readings are not infallible, such an unusual alignment cannot be mere coincidence. Perhaps there truly is a turning point.”
“After all, despite extensive investigations, no one has uncovered how Dongfang Yuan and his followers managed to break into the Emperor Realm—or even reach the Emperor Sovereign level. It’s simply too extraordinary.”
“Maybe the Jiang Dynasty will surprise us yet,” the Emperor of Light concluded, holding onto a glimmer of hope.
The Emperor of Ziwei sighed heavily. “I hope so. I truly do not wish to witness the destruction of the Ziwei Divine Sect, a legacy I built with my own hands…”
Xuanyuan Imperial Clan Square
Two figures hovered high in the sky, overlooking the bustling square below.
More and more people gathered, and tens of thousands of flying warships were already prepared. People boarded the ships in an orderly manner, ready to set off at a moment’s notice.
The scene was awe-inspiring—more than three billion warriors, stretching in a continuous line like an unending dragon. The fleet of warships spanned nearly ten mountain ranges in length.
“Do you think we can win this battle?”
“The likes of Xiao Qingli are still alive, and their cultivation has even recovered to the Emperor Realm. There must be some hidden secret at play,” a bald man standing next to Xuanyuan Fen remarked.
“If we act rashly without understanding the full situation, won’t it be risky?”
The bald man was none other than Chen Pingtian, the second-strongest warrior in the Heavenly Extreme Realm and the Emperor of Non-Form.
“Fortune favors the bold!” Xuanyuan Fen replied confidently.
“Did we not worry about similar risks when we killed Yun Che back then? And yet, we won!”
“Not only did we seize control of the Emperor Province, but I also became its ruler. You gained access to the Yun Emperor Palace’s resources and broke through to the Emperor Sovereign Realm.”
“Now, we’re merely facing the Jiang Dynasty. What’s there to fear?”
“Remember, the majority of Heavenly Extreme Realm’s warriors—over 80%—are on our side. This is the momentum of the times! The Jiang Dynasty opposing us is a path to self-destruction.”
Xuanyuan Fen’s tone was calm and assured, revealing his unshakable confidence.
Perhaps he held some hidden cards that justified his composure.
Chen Pingtian, after hearing Xuanyuan Fen’s words, expressed a new concern:
“With such a large mobilization in the Heavenly Extreme Realm, it’s likely the Demon Realm has caught wind of it.”
“If they break the truce and take this opportunity to invade, what will we do? With most of our forces gone, Emperor Province will be defenseless against them.”
Xuanyuan Fen responded with absolute poise, “No matter. If they dare come, I am confident they will not return.”
“And even if they don’t break the truce, once we’ve quelled the Jiang Dynasty, I plan to lead the Heavenly Extreme Realm’s forces to invade the Demon Realm.”
“A truce is merely a piece of paper. With absolute strength, why bother adhering to such trivialities?”
Chen Pingtian chuckled. “It seems the integration of that fragment of the Immortal Soul has greatly enhanced your power.”
“Since you’re so confident, I won’t trouble myself with unnecessary worries.”
The storm was gathering, and the world stood on the brink of monumental upheaval.