Chapter 914: Ascension and Fall

Ascension and Fall

Wu Qiong's mind buzzed.

A massive amount of complicated and obscure information crazily poured into her mind, like a river bursting its banks, filling the entire inner world. At the same time, her body rapidly transformed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In the blink of an eye, her height had grown from one point six meters to over two meters. The original tender curves of a young girl's body instantly expanded into muscular, knotty muscles. However, she still maintained a somewhat feminine appearance, looking incredibly strange, like an exaggerated depiction of "Nezha" or a terrifying giantess!

The imperial aura she emitted skyrocketed wildly, almost instantly crossing the threshold of the Nine Sovereign Tier!

She fell into a frenzy, violently waving her arms. A simple movement was enough to tear the surrounding void apart.

Following Wu Qiong's terrifying transformation, a golden phantom of an emperor gradually appeared behind her, towering high above the sea of clouds!

"Hahahahaha!" Wu Qiong—or rather, the aggregate of the emperors' wills occupying Wu Qiong's body—let out a maniacal laugh.

"Is this... the power of an 'Emperor'?" Wu Qiong muttered to herself, feeling the majestic power circulating within her body.

"I'd like to see, who dares to be impudent before me now!"

...

A huge, booming roar came from "Flying Dragon in the Sky"!

Chen Ling stood at the broken edge of the path, looking up at the sky, his expression slightly grave.

The aura transmitted from above had already surpassed the level of ordinary Imperial Remnants and even the Lord of Hanging Jade, faintly giving off the majestic bearing of the First Emperor.

Just as Chen Ling was hesitating on what to do next, a line of text floated before his eyes:

[The Path of Ascension is severed, the Emperor Candidate has successfully ascended the throne]

[The contest has ended, the Ancient Vault is about to close]

"Closed?" Chen Ling was stunned. "It's ending just like this?"

At this moment, another line of text quickly appeared:

[Sensing that you possess the 'Imperial Fate,' but failed to ascend the throne, according to the rules of the Ancient Vault, you will be executed!]

Chen Ling's eyes widened.

What kind of broken rule was this? He didn't even participate in their shitty contest, he just came to "Flying Dragon in the Sky" to find someone. And now, just because he had an Imperial Fate and didn't ascend the throne, he was going to be executed?

Before Chen Ling could curse, the broken Path of Ascension beneath his feet began to crumble rapidly, and an invisible force pressed down from all directions, trying to crush him into powder!

This force was incredibly vast, encompassing the laws of the entire Ancient Vault of the Imperial Path. Even with Chen Ling's current strength, he felt somewhat suffocated.

Without thinking twice, he immediately unleashed his power to resist, while using Cloud Steps to retreat rapidly, dodging the crumbling sections of the path.

Rumble—!

The entire Ancient Vault of the Imperial Path began to collapse violently. "Leaping in the Abyss," "Seeing the Dragon in the Field," the various layers of the vault began to shatter one after another. The figures of the trial-takers inside, whether living or dead, were all swallowed by the chaotic void.

Just as Chen Ling was struggling to resist the oppressive force, a familiar figure flashed past his eyes.

It was Li Fu!

He was holding Ah Qian, tumbling helplessly in the collapsing void, about to be swallowed by a chaotic spatial rift!

Chen Ling's eyes chilled. He completely let go of his defense against the oppressive force, suffering a heavy blow to his body, and borrowed the recoil to shoot toward Li Fu like a meteor!

Swish—!

Chen Ling grabbed Li Fu's collar, but at the same time, an incredibly sharp spatial blade cut through the void, heading straight for the three of them!

In a life-or-death crisis, Chen Ling forcefully twisted his body, blocking the spatial blade with his own back. With a "pfft," blood splattered, and a terrifying wound was torn open on his back, almost bisecting him!

"Ah—!"

Chen Ling grunted in pain but didn't let go. He used the momentum to forcefully throw Li Fu and Ah Qian out of the chaotic spatial rift, toward a relatively stable spatial passage.

"Go!" Chen Ling roared.

Li Fu, tumbling in the air, widened his eyes as he looked at the blood-stained Great Crimson Theatrical Robe falling into the abyss, his mind going completely blank.

Why...

Why did he save him?

Didn't he come to take his life?

Why would he risk his own life to save him and Ah Qian at the last moment...

Countless questions flashed through Li Fu's mind, but before he could understand, he and Ah Qian were sucked into the spatial passage and completely disappeared from the Ancient Vault of the Imperial Path.

And Chen Ling, after suffering the heavy blow and losing his balance, could no longer resist the terrifying oppressive force and spatial tearing. His body fell rapidly like a broken kite, eventually swallowed by the boundless chaotic void...

...

Darkness. Endless darkness.

Chen Ling felt as if his body had been torn into countless pieces, the intense pain completely numbing his nerves.

He didn't know how long he had been falling, nor did he know where he was going. He could only vaguely hear a familiar yet unfamiliar voice echoing in the darkness.

"The fate of the Emperor... the path of the Sovereign..."

"To wear the crown, one must bear its weight..."

"If you wish to attain the Dao, you must first experience the mortal world..."

"..."

Who was speaking?

Chen Ling tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids were as heavy as lead, impossible to lift.

He felt as if he was immersed in a warm liquid, his shattered body slowly recovering, and an unprecedented powerful force was slowly awakening within him...

Suddenly, a dazzling light pierced through the darkness, illuminating Chen Ling's consciousness.

He abruptly opened his eyes, only to find himself lying in an ancient and magnificent palace.

The decoration of the palace was extremely luxurious, with carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent and magnificent. Yet, it gave off an indescribably oppressive feeling.

Chen Ling slowly sat up. He found that the wounds on his body had completely healed, and even the Imperial Robe draped over his theatrical robe had vanished.

Instead, he was wearing a black, incredibly solemn and majestic imperial robe!

"Where is this?"

Chen Ling rubbed his aching temples, looking around.

Just then, a sharp, high-pitched voice came from outside the palace doors.

"The Emperor has awakened—"

Following the voice, a group of palace maids and eunuchs pushed the doors open and entered in a single file, kneeling respectfully before Chen Ling.

"Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"

Chen Ling looked blankly at the people kneeling before him, completely dumbfounded.

Emperor?

Who? Me?

What exactly happened?

Did he cross over again?

Chen Ling took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He looked at the leading eunuch and asked in a deep voice,

"What is the name of this place?"

The eunuch trembled and answered respectfully,

"To answer Your Majesty, this is the Chengtian Dynasty... the Imperial Palace."