Chapter 344: Ultimate Emperor Pass

After the dark turmoil subsided, eighteen hurried years passed in the blink of an eye, and many Gu Xing gradually recovered their former vitality.

After homes were rebuilt, all awaited order returned to the right track, and a great era was about to arrive again.

"Although this life has no fate with proving the Dao, I am unwilling; I want to carve out a path!"

"I don't want to be like in that calamity again, only able to watch helplessly as kin and friends perish and all outstanding ones suffer..."

This is the sentiment of many; from the dark turmoil, people understood how terrifying the ancient supreme truly was, and none failed to feel fear and dread.

But they did not want, as they had over a decade ago, to face the supreme's harvest and be powerless.

For a time, the competition among many prodigies intensified, and Yao Guang and Yin Tian De's strength surged, becoming beings capable of overlooking a domain.

Besides that, many of the younger generation also rose, each with astonishing talent; even many veteran cultivators, upon seeing them, could not help but sigh.

"It will be."

Huo Lin Zi heard the words, his eyes like torches, shooting out two beams of terrifying light, but soon they retracted, and he nodded heavily.

Although he concealed it extremely well, Yang Zhu, clear-minded, longed all the more to return to the Northern Dipper.

His roots lie there; the Fire Kirin Cave, Huo Lin Zi, and so on are all things he cannot bear to part with.

He had stayed in this frigid borderland for a very long time; he originally had the intention to leave, but after the Northern Dipper Immortal Ascension Path opened, everything changed.

To this day, he still cannot forget his father's parting words, which caused him to choose to stay without hesitation.

While tempering himself, he was also refining his mind, so that one day he could suddenly rise and crush all prodigies.

Seeing the other party nod, Yang Zhu said nothing more, gazing toward the endless starry expanse, and continued forward.

After another three months passed, Yang Zhu encountered his arch‑rival—none other than the second son of the Undying Heavenly Emperor from the Nine‑Colored Immortal Egg! "Honglong..."

In an unknown starry expanse, the sun and moon rose and fell, light danced about, and a magnificent divine waterfall loomed vast, dazzling and eye‑catching, like a galaxy hung upside down, truly spectacular.

Upon the divine waterfall stood a man whose body was crystalline and radiant, emitting precious light; his appearance was so stunning that even a peerless beauty would feel jealous.

He sat cross‑legged facing this starry expanse, the divine waterfall beneath him absorbing the quintessence of the universe, ethereal as if standing above the nine heavens.

"Hong!"

At this moment, he fiercely opened his eyes; his five‑colored pupils, as if stained by rosy light, shone brightly, fixed firmly on what lay before him.

There, at some point a figure had appeared, standing beneath the starry sky, calmly observing himself.

"Why did you not make a move just now?"

The man clad in the Five‑Colored Treasure Robe rose, naturally recognizing the other's identity, for they had met before at the Emperor Pass's crystal stele.

"I disdain to do such a thing."

Yang Zhu stood with one hand behind his back, his black hair thick and lustrous, each strand shining to the utmost, containing myriad Dao; it seemed that in a flick of his sleeve he could annihilate a domain.

He and his opponent were arch‑rivals, destined since before birth; he should have been Yang Zhu's strongest foe, yet when they first confronted each other, the other had already become a Quasi‑Emperor.

"Then let us fight; there's nothing more to say."

The son of the Undying Heavenly Emperor is named Xian Feng; he is extremely decisive, and for any reason he naturally cannot yield an inch.

As bloodline of the Undying Heavenly Emperor, even before birth he had been conceived within the Nine‑Colored Immortal Egg, nourished by the Creation Spring and countless immortal treasures.

Whether talent, physique, bloodline, or resolve, he could crush contemporary prodigies, and hardly anyone could match him.

As expected, his cultivation rose extremely fast; in just over 180 years he reached the peak of Quasi‑Emperor.

His strength was enough to sweep aside a domain; who would dare to oppose him?

However, he kept a low profile, rarely appearing before the world; partly due to his nature, and largely because of Yang Zhu's existence.

Though both scions of the Great Emperor's bloodline, possessing an innate transcendence and an innate arrogance, he also deeply knew how terrifying Yang Zhu was.

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhu nodded; he too had awaited this battle for over a hundred years.

In the depths of the cosmos, the two successively unleashed their moves; right away they employed the most heaven‑defying divine techniques, and even a mere wisp of the leaked aura affected the cosmic order of heaven and earth.

Unfortunately, the imagined great battle did not erupt, but instead subsided quickly.

Three moves—only three moves—were used, and Xian Feng was defeated by Yang Zhu in a completely crushing fashion, subduing his opponent! "Hehehe..."

Xian Feng's whole body was stained with blood, his five‑colored precious blood dripping down, extremely eye‑catching; his internal Dao was disordered, and in that battle he had almost been shattered by Yang Zhu.

His wounds were so grave he was near death; now he lay supine in the void, yet he smiled, tinged with helplessness and sorrow.

He had lost, and lost utterly, enduring only a few moves in his opponent's hands.

"I consider myself not inferior to anyone; I have not lost a single battle in all these years, never expecting that today would—"

Although he had anticipated it, when everything became an unchangeable fact, his heart remained sorrowful, inexplicably wounded in spirit.

This is not his fault either; rather, Yang Zhu is too stunning, so even as a fellow scion of the Great Emperor's bloodline, he struggles to be a match.

Moreover, he suppressed the Northern Dipper, pierced the ancient star‑roads, subdued all contemporary prodigies and heroes, then afterwards quelled the dark turmoil and drank the supreme's blood to enhance himself...

The might and splendor of the Chaos Sacred Fetus are evident to all; even the beings in the Life Forbidden Zone regard it with great apprehension, daring not to act rashly.

"Between us there is an innate destiny, but I will not kill you."

Although Yang Zhu had won, he felt little joy, instead carrying a certain inexplicable sorrow.

People say that the ancient emperors must bear sorrow and desolation beyond ordinary comprehension—a pain where all departed kin are lost and friends and companions take their leave.

That is a loneliness of being invincible under heaven, having no rival across the nine heavens and ten earths, overwhelming all of the present age...

Although Yang Zhu has not yet proven the Dao, he has already begun to feel that sensation.

Looking among his peers, who could truly become his opponent? Yao Guang, Tai Chu, Emperors and the like are indeed stunning, but to Yang Zhu they pose no threat whatsoever.

"Time is a blade that cuts down prodigies; on the road to longevity one sighs over alluring beauty..."

Xian Feng spoke, his face tinged with sorrow; Yang Zhu had said those words before, but back then he had paid them no heed, even finding them laughable.

But today he had lost; upon reflecting on this sentence again, he could not help but feel his scalp tingle—truly, one sentence sums up the unchanging order of myriad ages.

Finally, he departed; his back view was peerlessly heroic, yet there lingered a sorrow that could not be concealed.

Yang Zhu gazed for a long time, until the other vanished from sight, and then he withdrew his gaze.

"Hum!"

While he was pondering where to go next, the void before him trembled, and a splendid gate appeared out of nowhere, hovering before his eyes.

"The Imperial Pass has opened?"

Yang Zhu was slightly stunned; from the light gate he sensed a familiar aura emanating, which he knew well—it was the ultimate trial path of the Starry Sky Ancient Road! Almost without hesitation, he stepped forward, entered the light gate, and vanished from the spot.

"The ultimate trial path has opened; it is said that in this era nearly a hundred people have left their names on the crystal stele!"

"These dozens of people are not just rare ancient talents, yet they have gathered in this era; it is hard to imagine how fierce the upcoming clashes will be!!" People were all excited; the ultimate Imperial Pass opened, causing tremors in all directions, and the whole universe was not at peace.

Legend has it that behind the Imperial Pass lies a great immortal fortune; if one obtains even a bit, the benefits are not shallow and last a lifetime! Even as strong as the many ancient emperors and sovereigns, they once walked that road—one can imagine how much it inspires longing.

First Imperial Pass.

Yang Zhu emerged from the light gate and arrived at this place that drives countless cultivators mad with longing.

Nearly a hundred people have left their names on the crystal stele, but only about two-thirds actually set foot on this road; the rest, for various reasons, did not come.

Perhaps they gained insight along the way, or perhaps they found it too dangerous, or realized the hope of proving the Dao was slim, and sighed as they left.

Today, Yang Zhu has arrived here.

As for the nine Imperial Lights thereafter, whether there is truly a hope of becoming an immortal as rumored, he has long known, so he harbors no expectation.

He does not seek the path to immortality; he merely wishes to follow the footsteps of the ancients, or the former emperors and sovereigns, to temper himself a bit.

Since leaving the pass until now, nearly ten years have passed; his cultivation has reached the Fifth Heaven of the Quasi-Emperor, and it is no exaggeration to say that he is in no way inferior to the Great Accomplished Sacred Body.

"Boom!"

Yang Zhu did not, like the heavenly prodigies of past generations, slowly explore; instead, he swept straight ahead, spending only about two months to nearly reach the end of the first pass.

Along the way, he encountered many divine traces, each nurturing a not‑small divine treasury; he would usually stay a day or two, then continue forward.

Among them, he also saw many traces left by predecessors—there were former emperors and sovereigns, as well as unnamed supreme powerhouses.

None of them failed to be unrivaled figures of their age!

"There is actually a relic of a demon emperor here."

As he approached, he unexpectedly discovered the relics left by the demon emperor Xue Yueqing after his dissolution, and he halted there.

That was a cave dwelling; once, a demon emperor had obtained heaven‑defying immortal fortune there, closed himself off for over ten years, and his cultivation grew ever more profound.

"More than ten years of time..."

Yang Zhu let out a long sigh; for a cultivator, more than ten years is but a fleeting moment, almost like a snap of the fingers, hardly worth mentioning.

But after the demon emperor set foot on the ancient road, by the time he reached the Imperial Light he had spent over a hundred years, and now he has spent another decade or more here in contemplation.

This would not be strange, except that the demon emperor is different—because there is still an "ordinary" woman in white clothes who, by the lakeside, brought him back.

Yang Zhu sat cross‑legged on the blue stone inside the cave; not far from his feet lay a azure pool several zhang wide, immortal light shining, divine rosy hues flowing.

"Gurgle…"

The pool water was crystal clear, bubbling up; amidst the rippling light, strange runes floated on the surface—indeed a naturally nurtured supreme Dao.

Yang Zhu closed his eyes, using his primordial spirit to comprehend; thereafter he sat as if becoming one with the Dao, not moving half a step.

"Truly a Dao law naturally nurtured between heaven and earth."

After a hurried half‑month, Yang Zhu slowly opened his eyes; his heart was tranquil, and he marveled at the strangeness of time.

Immediately thereafter he departed, leaving nothing of this place disturbed, awaiting the arrival of people from the world.

When he arrived at the first light mirror, there was a chaotic cave entrance there, immortal light shining brightly, like an immortal grotto, emitting a dreamlike, illusory immortal aura.

"The law left by the Emperor Sovereign."

Here Yang Zhu saw the Dao and law left by the Emperor Sovereign—profound and unfathomable, extremely powerful, containing the ultimate supreme essence.

No matter how exalted the ancient supremes were, they were once supreme powerhouses; the paths they walked and the laws they cultivated all contain meanings worth contemplating.

What's more, this is an extraordinarily stunning and powerful Emperor Sovereign.

This fellow feigned death and hid for countless ages, waiting for the right moment, hoping to reap the fisherman's benefit and ascend to immortality in one fell swoop.

If we are to speak frankly, in fact he is even stronger than the Undying Heavenly Emperor and the like.

When Yang Zhu entered seclusion that day, while comprehending the Emperor Sovereign's Dao and law, he also continually refined his own cultivation method, and his cultivation made considerable progress.

Half a year later, Yang Zhu departed, and with the swiftest means he broke through the second pass, following the traces left by the ancients, sweeping forward all the way! "Chaos Sacred Embryo..."

Along the way, someone also encountered Yang Zhu; seeing him from afar, they stepped aside.

This is moreover a tempering road, one must endure the battles of life and death, yet few dare to act against him; they all keep their distance, their hearts filled with awe.

"The title of Imperial Son resounds throughout the universe; I am Shen Hua, and I have come specially to seek advice."

Of course, there are also those who are fearless, wanting to challenge Yang Zhu, but they are defeated in just a few attempts; however Yang Zhu did not kill them, sparing their lives.

As for him, it is already unnecessary, and moreover he does not fear their pursuit or their attempt to surpass him.

Only because he possesses absolute Dao heart and conviction, he can overwhelm the present age.

"Ah… truly worthy of being the human race's Imperial Son; many thanks for your guidance!"

"Only by personally facing the Chaos Sacred Embryo can one know what it means for a mayfly to see the heavens… making us of this kind look up in awe, unable to catch even a glimpse of their dust."

Finally, all those who have challenged him and survived are not one without being astonished by Yang Zhu; they are deeply moved.

Later, the renowned heavenly prodigies Zhang BaiRen, Taichu, Emperor, and others also challenged him, yet without exception they were defeated, and thoroughly so.

Yang Zhu swept through the Imperial Light all the way, leaving behind many splendors and legends, which are sung by the world and will not fade for a hundred generations.

"I have heard that the Imperial Son has reached the fourth pass?"

"How could it be only the third pass? Someone said that in the relics of the fifth light they found his traces."

Later, people could no longer know Yang Zhu's whereabouts, because his speed was too great—so fast that the rest could not even track his steps.

Yang Zhu alone swept forward, reaching a point where no one dared to call him venerable; all sighed in admiration, becoming an unsurpassable myth.

In the snap of a finger, another ten years passed.

Over these years, the universe has seen many drastic changes in various places; it is no longer tranquil.

Firstly, there is the Heavenly Court; its rapid rise is undoubtedly a very conspicuous presence, attracting the attention of many forces.

Indeed, his background is too shocking; who wouldn't look askance?

"The Holy Body is the Deputy Lord of the Heavenly Court; over these years he has been expanding the Heavenly Court, but who is the Lord, and why has he never shown his face?"

"How strange—what kind of person could have such boldness to establish the Heavenly Court……"

People watched the towering entity slowly rising, curious in their hearts about who the true ruler was, but unfortunately the outcome was not as expected.

"Don't even mention outsiders; I think besides the Holy Body and a few core figures, probably no one else knows."

Upon saying this, people became even more curious—just what kind of strength could make the Holy Body willingly serve as Deputy Lord?

(End of chapter)