Chapter 278: Ancient Emperor-Level Sparring Partner, Becoming a Great Emperor

"What?"

Wanlong Emperor was stunned.

His lifelong obsession had been the pursuit of becoming an Immortal; he had never imagined such a response.

"Is he an Immortal?"

His first reaction in his heart was to refuse to believe it, to want to deny it, but then he thought of the incomparable attack power during the battle just now, as well as those unprecedented attack techniques and a physique he had never seen before.

His words were stuck in his throat again, unable to be spoken.

What made it even more impossible for him to deny was that the person speaking was none other than the offspring of the Undying Emperor, a five-colored phoenix.

The descendant of the Undying Emperor had personally admitted that the figure before them was an Immortal, hailing from the Immortal Domain.

Such a claim was shocking, yet left one speechless.

After all, judging from the circumstances revealed previously, the Undying Emperor was truly special; from ancient times until now, he seemed to have always been alive, living between heaven and earth.

Moreover, there were no traces of the Undying Emperor within the Seven Forbidden Zones, which indicated that the Undying Emperor had survived using an alternative method of becoming an Immortal.

Added to that was the drop of blood from before, that drop of blood containing a hundred years of Immortal Substance.

Wanlong Emperor could not believe it, found it hard to confirm such a point, and thus remained stunned on the spot.

A moment later, he smiled in relief and cast aside the Wanlong Bell in his hand.

"An Immortal? Is someone like you an Immortal? Does an Immortal truly exist in this world? Is this path even passable?"

Wanlong Emperor's words carried a hint of bewilderment and a hint of confusion.

The ideal he had pursued his whole life was now suddenly before his eyes; he felt both satisfied and slightly regretful.

Because he had not seen a true Immortal, only a legend rarely seen throughout the ages.

Similar to Wushi Dadi and similar to the Chaos Body from the legends of the Mythological Era.

But such a figure was merely unimaginably strong; he still lacked the confidence to call the other party an Immortal.

"Can a living Immortal truly appear in this world?"

"Is Chang Sheng achieved by using the Immortal Substance of the Immortal Domain to constantly extend one's lifespan while stuck in the passage to the Immortal Domain? Is there a higher realm above the Great Emperor domain?"

At this moment, he instead became quiet. Clearly, he still possessed invincible power within his body that could sweep across the entire world, yet he gave up on continuing to charge.

He simply asked Zhang Xuan, who was before him, with doubt.

Zhang Xuan did not answer directly, but only smiled as he looked beyond the Four Immortal Swords and said to Gai Jiuyou: "Do you have a chance to attain the Dao now? If you don't attain the Dao soon, I suspect the heavens and earth will directly force me to become a Great Emperor."

When this sentence was spoken, the entire scene went quiet for a moment; even Wanlong Emperor was stunned for a moment.

Since ancient times, Great Emperors and Ancient Emperors had been the pursuit of billions, a monument in the hearts of cultivators.

Every Ancient Great Emperor and Ancient Emperor was an invincible figure in heaven and earth, and everyone was striving toward this goal.

So what kind of nonsense was Zhang Xuan spouting now?

In an era like this, he was inviting others to actively become a Great Emperor, while he himself was unwilling to become one.

It had even reached the point where the heavens and earth were actively trying to make him a Great Emperor.

Gai Jiuyou was stunned for a moment, and only after a while did he speak: "My preparations are nearly complete; I only need someone to fight me to the death, to let my Essence and blood boil to the extreme peak. Perhaps only then can I directly charge into that realm. Why not draw out another Supreme from the Forbidden Zones..."

Gai Jiuyou was somewhat rendered speechless by Zhang Xuan's words, and only after a pause did he say this, to which Zhang Xuan nodded.

He reached out and invited Gai Jiuyou directly: "There is no time like the present. There is one Supreme from the Forbidden Zones right here; why don't the two of you have a clash?"

Once these words were spoken, Gai Jiuyou was silent for a moment, and Wanlong Emperor was also silent for a moment.

Wanlong Emperor felt a bit sorrowful, because his Essence and blood were constantly declining at this very moment; after his Extreme Sublimation just now, it was no longer possible for him to suppress himself again.

At this moment, his state was constantly sliding into an abyss.

For a figure who was once invincible in heaven and earth to become a whetstone for others due to weakness at such a time—this was the most sorrowful thing.

Gai Jiuyou was also slightly silent, not because he doubted Zhang Xuan's decision, but because he doubted Wanlong Emperor's strength.

"At a time like this, I fear his strength is insufficient to ignite my determination to fight to the death without regard for my own safety."

Wanlong Emperor was almost laughed to anger while inside the array, and his heart grew increasingly sorrowful. He wanted to retort, but he was indeed somewhat powerless.

He had already slashed his own blade in his later years to enter the Forbidden Zone; his Essence and blood were already scarce, and now that he had forced his body, his Essence and blood were at the end of their tether. Now that he could no longer seal his own body's old veins, his Essence was flowing out from his body.

Originally, he was confident that even in this weak state, he could be invincible in heaven and earth, but he had just been slapped in the face by Zhang Xuan.

Even after Extreme Sublimation, he couldn't beat the other party; now he really couldn't say anything tough.

Zhang Xuan chuckled, but did not refuse, only continuing to invite him.

"Just go in and fight; whether you succeed or fail, you can accumulate experience. Besides, he should still have some years left to live."

Zhang Xuan spoke softly, and Gai Jiuyou no longer refused. His figure flashed and he vanished into the magic array, while the position he had occupied was naturally taken by Void Great Emperor, or rather, Huangdi.

Even though Zhang Xuan was being understated here, as if it were very funny,

he completely disregarded the Ancient Emperors and Great Emperors in the Forbidden Zones, but others did not have this capital. A source of Dark Turmoil—if one were to let it run out, it would be a catastrophe.

After his lifespan was restored, Gai Jiuyou had transformed into a handsome young man with a slender body and deep eyes, looking very dashing.

One could see the peerless elegance he had possessed in his prime.

At this moment, the state of his whole body was constantly rising, and his Essence and blood were boiling. Wanlong Emperor took one look, and his gaze flashed; he was a bit stunned.

"You are that figure from back then? Aren't you running out of lifespan?"

Peerless figures who were famous throughout the world were known within the Forbidden Zones, especially those who had reached the Quasi-Emperor Ninth Heaven realm.

When such figures reached the steps of impending enlightenment, the Forbidden Zones would send people to investigate or observe them silently.

If such a figure's stance was very firm and they were determined to be an enemy of the Forbidden Zones, then it was often very difficult for this figure to become a Great Emperor who was invincible in heaven and earth.

Because they would face their suppression.

Back then, Gai Jiuyou's talent and aptitude were also shocking to the world; in the era when it was most impossible to attain the Dao, he had reached the Quasi-Emperor Ninth Heaven, and even Alternative Enlightenment.

His talent and aptitude were sufficient to catch the eyes of those in the Forbidden Zones.

But the problem was that he wanted to attain the Dao while the Great Dao of a Great Emperor had not yet completely dissipated.

It should have been difficult to turn things around for all eternity; logically speaking, by this age, Gai Jiuyou should have died.

Yet now, Gai Jiuyou is in the prime of his life, his Qi and blood as vigorous as the sea, with at least two thousand years of lifespan remaining.

"It's you?"

After only a moment of thought, Wanlong Emperor understood, and could not help but look at Zhang Xuan, while Zhang Xuan stood in the center of the arena, like a referee.

He looked left and right, glancing at both Wanlong Emperor and Gai Jiuyou, and after a moment, his brows furrowed slightly.

"It is indeed a bit weak; it has already been constantly slipping, making it difficult for you to have true life-and-death pressure, not balanced enough."

"Moreover, in this current state, your resolve to fight to the death is not strong, and the Great Emperor's fortune cannot be considered rich."

Two hundred years later, Gai Jiuyou's state was worse, the environment was worse, and he faced an Ancient Emperor who had undergone Extreme Sublimation; in such a situation, Gai Jiuyou could still fight an Ancient Emperor of the Forbidden Zone to the death.

Logically speaking, now that Gai Jiuyou's Qi and blood are more vigorous and his combat power is stronger, he should have a greater probability of achieving the status of Great Emperor.

But the actual situation at this moment turned out to be the opposite.

Under the pressure of the most dire environment, the Gai Jiuyou of two hundred years later went in with a conviction of certain death; he had no intention of living at all.

He unleashed all his taboo and terrifying methods, completely disregarding himself.

In that state, Gai Jiuyou was exceptionally special; now his state is better, but Zhang Xuan's layout is too ruthless, pulling out the Ancient Emperor Supremes from the Forbidden Zone step by step, and weakening them layer by layer, leading to a great situation, yet Gai Jiuyou cannot summon any heart for battle.

At Zhang Xuan's current level, he has an inexplicable connection with the entire world; he can even sense Gai Jiuyou's fortune and state for becoming a Great Emperor through the world, but Gai Jiuyou is a bit too straightforward and lacks some fortune.

Therefore, after a moment of silence, Zhang Xuan stood in the center and suddenly smiled: "In the current battle, there is indeed a lack of testing between you two."

"It is not fair enough; since that is the case, I will give you a chance for a fair decisive battle."

A wisp of Origin exploded within Zhang Xuan's body, then transformed into the most brilliant and eternal Immortal Light.

In an instant, Zhang Xuan's aura expanded further, truly touching an unimaginable realm.

But it was quickly suppressed by Zhang Xuan again, while the Immortal Substance, vigorous as an ocean, flowed wildly within the arena.

Gai Jiuyou moved and instinctively absorbed a portion, feeling his own lifespan extended by five hundred years.

And opposite him, Wanlong Emperor was more like a parched desert encountering rain.

Under the frantic absorption, his Qi and blood stabilized; not only did they not continue to slide, but he even felt his peak Emperor life extended by six hundred years.

He even wanted to continue absorbing, but in an instant, that Immortal Substance, vigorous as an ocean, dissipated between heaven and earth, absorbed by the entire world.

Compared to them, who were famished, the world was even more famished.

"This..."

Wanlong Emperor's originally declining Qi and blood suddenly surged, as if welcoming a rebirth; that terrifying pressure made the entire formation tremble.

And Gai Jiuyou, who had been a bit indifferent, suddenly had the most brilliant light erupt from his eyes.

Zhang Xuan was a bit speechless; he could only say that the characters in the Zhetian World do not like to fight favorable battles, but prefer to fight uphill battles.

They do not want to fight a battle that is a guaranteed win; they just want to fight something challenging.

"Becoming an Immortal?"

Wanlong Emperor's originally low spirits suddenly soared, staring at Zhang Xuan, especially staring at Zhang Xuan's body, as if wanting to see through that chaos and void.

"Two or three people become Immortals in one lifetime; is the path to becoming an Immortal inside your body?"

"Are you the Nirvana reincarnation of the Undying Emperor?"

He had infinite doubts in his heart, but Zhang Xuan did not answer, only taking a light step to walk out of the formation.

Outside the formation, Zhang Xuan's voice drifted over lightly.

"Fight a life-and-death battle; after this battle, if you are still alive, many secrets will naturally be known to you."

Wanlong Emperor wanted to ask more and did not want to engage in such a battle at all, but opposite him, Gai Jiuyou's momentum had already expanded, his Qi and blood seemingly about to cover the entire firmament.

"Come, fight me!"

"I would like to know just how powerful a true, flawless Ancient Emperor is; the regrets of the past should be made up for today."

Ding-a-ling!

The Crossing Tribulation Immortal Song, which shakes all eternity, rang out directly in the void.

That is the most peerless technique of the Nine Netherworlds Body; only by cultivating the Nine Netherworlds Body to the absolute peak can one have such an attack, yet now it is only ordinary.

Wanlong Emperor was not afraid at all; as the world opened up, one Peerless Divine Weapon after another struck before Zhang Xuan, yet the divine weapons and sharp blades that were easily dissolved by Zhang Xuan erupted with earth-shattering light at this moment.

In just an instant, Gai Jiuyou fell into a disadvantage.

One is a flawless Ancient Emperor, while the other is only an Alternative Enlightenment; whether in physical body or in Daoist cultivation and magic power, there are deficiencies, and not being killed directly is already a legend that shocks all eternity.

But in the face of adversity, Gai Jiuyou did not retreat; his whole person seemed to be burning, transforming into a streak of eternal Immortal Light.

In this situation, he became braver the more he fought; his Sendai Primordial Spirit seemed to be burning.

Infinite light pierced through heaven and earth; this is a battle that can shake all eternity.

Great Emperors do not meet each other; for an Alternative Enlightenment to confront a flawless Great Emperor head-on is rare throughout the ages.

Only in the Mythological Era could such a legend be witnessed.

And now, such a thing has happened once again, and it happened so strangely.

Gorgeous light flashed and sprayed between heaven and earth.

Under this terrifying pressure, Gai Jiuyou not only did not retreat, but became braver the more he fought, various divine arts and techniques flashing and blooming in his hands.

The nine thousand years of time did not make him old; on the contrary, he became more refined and powerful; the reason he could not achieve the status of Great Emperor was because of his declining Qi and blood.

Now that his Qi and blood have returned to his youth, and he has nine thousand years of cultivation time, it is as if he has been reborn, even more rounded and free.

Even after lagging behind for a period of time, the two actually maintained a brief balance.

One terrifying technique after another bloomed in Gai Jiuyou's hands; under the opponent's pressure, his cultivation insights from the past nine thousand years transformed into invincible techniques in the shortest possible time.

Terrifying and peerless attacks flashed between heaven and earth.

The many figures maintaining the Heavenly Venerable Lingbao formation were overwhelmed, feeling that in an instant, endless inspiration flashed in their hearts, and at the same time, they felt a sense of terror; in the battle between those two, whoever lost even a little would be doomed forever.

Gai Jiuyou's attacks were, in their view, already peerless; any clever move made one admire him from the bottom of their heart.

It felt difficult to resist, yet all of it was nonchalantly neutralized by the Wanlong Emperor; that was a realm he had once occupied.

It is difficult to deal with when Qi and blood are extremely withered, but now that there are hundreds of years of ample time, dealing with this is not particularly difficult.

The clash between the two passed hundreds or thousands of moves in the blink of an eye, until finally, Gai Jiuyou's entire body was radiating the most brilliant light.

Layers upon layers of Immortal Light spewed forth from within the Immortal Platform.

His entire spine seemed to become a great dragon, and heaven and earth were roaring; originally, that great dragon had only entered with more than half of its body, not fully resonating with heaven and earth.

Yet at this moment, amidst the intense roaring, it all surged inside.

When there was a slight stutter midway, Zhang Xuan took a glance, and then, silently and soundlessly, heaven and earth absorbed another wisp of a peculiar Origin.

Unaccountably, a strange kind of destiny was bestowed upon Gai Jiuyou, allowing him to cross over without a care.

Breaking through a barrier during battle—this is the most dangerous moment.

If it were anyone else, they might not be able to grasp it, but facing a former Ancient Emperor, it would be very easy to interrupt this rhythm, yet the Wanlong Emperor just watched quietly.

He even retreated a distance at the very end, merely letting out a long, lingering sigh.

(End of this chapter)