Chapter 294: The Fall of a Contemporary Great Emperor? The True and False Immortal Path

"How could such a thing happen? The Heavenly Heart Imprint has been triggered; this has never happened before. Since time immemorial, as long as a Great Emperor or Ancient Emperor has attained the Dao, they have been invincible across the heavens and the earth. How could the Heavenly Heart Imprint vibrate as if it were about to shatter? It seems as though the Great Dao itself has been affected."

"No, it is not that such things have never occurred, but such events have always appeared during the later years of a Great Emperor, when their lifespan was already running low. That is why the Heavenly Heart Imprint would be affected and faintly on the verge of collapse."

"How could that be? The Great Emperor is currently in the prime of his life, at his most flourishing state. How could it be his later years? This is not right, it shouldn't be, how could it be like this?"

The entire world was in a state of intense uproar. Many figures found it difficult to comprehend; such a bizarre and terrifying event had never occurred since time immemorial.

"Could it be the Nine Netherworlds Emperor? His own lifespan was already limited. He has lived for over nine thousand years. Being a Great Emperor of the human world in his twilight years is indeed a miracle he created, but his lifespan itself was limited, and there was no way for him to live for too many more years."

Some powerful figures put forward this speculation, but it was quickly rejected by others.

"Impossible. Not to mention that after attaining the status of Great Emperor, one's lifespan is further increased; it is impossible for him to reach the end of his life in such a short time."

"Just the fact that after becoming a Great Emperor, one is invincible across the heavens and the earth—one could go anywhere to pluck an Undying Divine Medicine to gain a longer lifespan. How could he suddenly face his doom?"

Many figures were discussing this, negating one speculation after another, and fell into a state of extreme unease.

"Could it be that a terrifying figure from the Forbidden Zones has taken action? In this era, in these years, are they trying to recreate the situation of the Void Great Emperor from back then?"

More figures who understood the inside story felt a chill run through their bodies at this moment, accompanied by an uncontrollable sense of sorrow.

Anyone who understood the situation and knew that the Void Great Emperor had only lived for one lifetime felt a sourness in their hearts.

And now, the situation was even worse. All Seven Forbidden Zones showed signs of movement. Could it be that someone from the Seven Forbidden Zones had taken action, severely wounding the Nine Netherworlds Emperor during this period and bringing him to the brink of death?

Thinking about it carefully, this possibility was not non-existent. The Immortal Path was about to open, and a contemporary Great Emperor would have unimaginable advantages in this process.

In ancient rumors, there was a saying that two or three people could become Immortals in a single lifetime.

A contemporary Great Emperor, no matter what, was in the prime of his life with abundant lifespan, and was one with the entire world.

If it were said that two or three people could become Immortals in one lifetime, then the contemporary Great Emperor would undoubtedly occupy one of those spots.

Under such circumstances, it was truly possible that the opponent had brazenly taken action to wound or kill the contemporary Great Emperor.

Moreover, this period was very critical and very special, because the Immortal Path had truly opened.

The Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land had split open a gap of unprecedented size, and dense Immortal Substance and light of becoming an Immortal were gushing out.

Countless powerful figures gathered in that area, wanting to experience the difference of the Immortal Path, wanting to take a trip to the true Immortal Domain.

Many figures were wandering in the areas surrounding the Forbidden Zones, mainly in the area of the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land.

Because there were truly patches upon patches of the light of becoming an Immortal shining in that area, and peculiar substances were permeating the region. Taking a single breath made one feel as if all the illnesses in their body had vanished, and their life force was more vibrant than ever before.

The entire Universe was in turmoil. Countless powerful figures were frantically rushing toward this area, muttering to themselves as they went.

"This isn't right. Wasn't it said there was still some time left? How could it be so fast? The world hasn't even fully recovered, yet it is already about to open?"

"Wait for me! I haven't gotten on board yet, wait for me!"

Never before had Beidou been so lively. The top figures native to Beidou were frantically fleeing, while those from outside were gathering here, all wanting to take a look at the Immortal Path.

After all, that was a supreme treasure awaited for a million years. No matter how powerful a person was, they would likely only have one chance in their lifetime to see it.

By chance, being able to see the opening of the Immortal Path in this era—even if one died, it could be considered dying without regrets.

Some individuals with little lifespan left simply acted like stubborn holdouts, planting themselves in that area and refusing to leave.

Even if they were to die, they felt they would truly die without regrets.

If they were lucky enough to rush into the Immortal Path, that would be truly blissful.

At the very least, this life would not have been in vain; they would have achieved a myth from time immemorial, perhaps even entering the ancient history of cultivation, being rarer than a Great Emperor.

After all, a Great Emperor could still appear once every ten thousand years, but figures like them had never appeared since time immemorial—that was becoming an Immortal.

As long as one truly brushed against this event, a record could be left for all eternity, and it would be an indelible record.

Countless figures went mad during this process, and at this moment, the Forbidden Zones were also in a state of confusion.

"How could it be like this? How could so many things happen?"

The outside world assumed that they had done everything, but in reality, they were also filled with confusion.

The contemporary Great Emperor had been at the height of his power before. According to their judgment, he still had at least five or six thousand years of lifespan remaining.

Yet, suddenly, the Heavenly Heart Imprint seemed to be collapsing. This manifestation, as if he were about to die at any moment, could not be faked; it only appeared during the final years of a Great Emperor.

Never before had they encountered such a terrifying event since time immemorial; it was very peculiar.

Even on the side of the Mythical Ancient Battlefield, according to their previous sensing, there was an incomparably terrifying power clashing there, shaking all eternity.

In the Taichu Ancient Mine, sealed Ancient Emperors whispered, asking one another: "Is someone from the other Forbidden Zones taking action? No one from our side should have gone out. Who is acting in the shadows? Are they trying to eliminate this contemporary Great Emperor in advance?"

In normal deductions, the contemporary Great Emperor was indeed the greatest threat.

After all, such a figure was the most powerful during this period and had the greatest possibility and probability of becoming an Immortal.

Two or three people becoming Immortals in one lifetime—the contemporary Great Emperor, at the right time and the right place, was very likely to truly be able to break through that path.

Therefore, eliminating such a major competitor in advance would be good for everyone, but they had at most only had such thoughts before; they had absolutely never put them into practice.

To eliminate a contemporary Great Emperor, it would require two or even more Ancient Emperors to take action to truly resolve him.

And in this process, someone would have to undergo Extreme Sublimation.

Such a price was too heavy; no one was willing to bear it. The pressure was too great.

"Are the other zones taking action? But the timing of the Immortal Path opening now also seems a bit off, doesn't it?"

In the Taichu Ancient Mine, an ancient figure whispered with a look of doubt.

They had all once been Ancient Emperors or Great Emperors, and they felt the Heavenly Heart Imprint most clearly. It was most certain that the other party's Heavenly Heart Imprint had indeed collapsed by more than half.

This was either a scene that appeared in the later years of a Great Emperor, or it only appeared when a contemporary Great Emperor was about to die; there was no other choice.

And given the current situation, that Great Emperor clearly would not die, so there was only one answer: he had been severely wounded by someone and was dying.

"Since he is already in a severely wounded state, should we awaken and stifle him? A Great Emperor's Heavenly Heart Imprint, along with his essence blood, is worth more than billions of outstanding talents."

Someone whispered in the Darkness, filled with greed and longing. For those with little lifespan left, such an existence was the most attractive thing to them.

Some echoed the sentiment, but others remained silent, not having fully made up their minds.

The main reason was that not long ago, it was confirmed that the Wanlong Emperor had not returned; he must have died.

At the same time, in the more distant, or perhaps not so distant past, similar events had occurred.

Back in the day, Hengyu Great Emperor had once fished in the Taichu Ancient Mine, and he had actually caught something; the Void Great Emperor was also an old hand at this game, and was extremely proficient.

These Great Emperors and Ancient Emperors were all incredibly devious, black-hearted, and ruthless.

They themselves had walked through such stages in the past, so they remained very cautious regarding a Great Emperor who appeared to be dying.

After all, it was highly likely that multiple figures had appeared and still failed to kill this Great Emperor; if they were to revive again, it was not certain they could succeed if they tried to act.

On the other hand, there were even more problems: the Immortal Path seemed to have opened.

Their main energy should be focused in another direction, rather than concentrating their thoughts on killing that contemporary Great Emperor.

Of course, the Ancient Emperors and Great Emperors within the Forbidden Zones each had different thoughts and different lines of reasoning; how they chose to act depended entirely on them.

Everyone had their own unique thoughts; at the very least, at such a moment, everyone's mindset was different from the past.

Some were thinking that after reviving, they would first go and kill that newly ascended Great Emperor, obtain enough essence blood, and then revive to their peak state before going to charge at the Immortal Path.

"First, let's inquire with the other several Forbidden Zones to see if it was them who acted."

There were such whispers in the Darkness, and then Divine Sense quickly passed between the several Forbidden Zones.

In the silent void, a terrifying pressure was revealed, and at the same time, many figures were hesitating.

And very soon, a response came from that side.

"No one has emerged; the collapse of the Heavenly Heart Imprint has nothing to do with us."

All the Forbidden Zones responded this way, which instead caused many Forbidden Zones to fall into confusion, followed by suspicion.

The Forbidden Zones were not on intimate terms with one another; they were all on guard against each other, and even different figures within the same Forbidden Zone might stab each other in the back during a crisis, swallowing the other's essence blood to extend their own lifespan.

It could only be said that after choosing to Slash One's Own Blade and entering a Forbidden Zone, no one was the once-invincible Great Emperor or Ancient Emperor anymore; their hearts had all turned black.

Since they were all suspicious of each other regarding the first question, there was no way to cooperate fully on the second, but someone still asked it anyway.

"Is the opening of the Immortal Path definitely at this time period? Normally, it should be delayed for another stretch of years; this opening seems inaccurate."

Such questions also circulated among the Six Forbidden Zones.

Some firmly denied it, believing that the Immortal Path should not open at this time.

But others held a skeptical attitude, mainly because some had hesitated and wavered earlier, and now they could not truly be certain.

It was obvious that the Heavenly Heart Imprint was about to collapse and could not be faked, and it was obvious that someone had acted, but since everyone denied it, naturally some suspected that someone was lying.

"Could it be that the contemporary Great Emperor has already been suppressed and sealed, his essence blood divided and plundered, and now the Heavenly Heart Imprint hasn't collapsed, but the other party is deliberately keeping him half-alive to make us suspicious and afraid to act directly?"

There were some in the Forbidden Zones who had such suspicions, and these suspicions existed in different Forbidden Zones.

They all chose to hesitate and did not act at this time, but at the same time, they could not help but focus their Divine Sense on the Immortal Path.

Their oldest figures had already waited for millions of years, from the Mythological Era all the way until now.

Regardless of whether the Immortal Path was real or fake, they could not afford to gamble; they had to pay urgent attention to it.

If the Immortal Path were real and not someone faking it, and they did not emerge because of their caution, that would absolutely be the greatest regret of all time.

Everyone would feel regret from the bottom of their hearts, even hating themselves to an unbearable degree, wishing they could cut themselves.

Even a contemporary Great Emperor could not remain calm; even when they were at their absolute peak, if the Immortal Path opened, they would still go to check it out like they were possessed.

A contemporary Great Emperor might not care about anything else, but the temptation of the Immortal Path, which originated from a higher realm, and the temptation of Chang Sheng, was something no one could let go of.

And in the midst of the most agonizing wait, Zhang Xuan stood there on the Mythical Ancient Battlefield, a hint of regret on his face.

Huangdi and Yandi were both holding a Killing Sword, and Gai Jiuyou was the same.

He was not severely injured as the figures in the Forbidden Zones had guessed; on the contrary, he was full of spirit, his whole body's Qi and blood masculine and vast, almost covering the firmament.

And behind him, the Saint Body was in harmony with heaven and earth.

Behind Gai Jiuyou's Heavenly Heart Imprint, the Saint Body also condensed a Heavenly Heart Imprint, connecting with this heaven and earth.

This was the reason why Gai Jiuyou's Heavenly Heart Imprint had collapsed by more than half; he used immense power to suppress his own Heavenly Heart Imprint, letting it actively shatter in part to cover up the fact that the Saint Body had become a Great Emperor.

Throughout history, this was a quite explosive event; even in the Mythological Era, there had never been anything this explosive.

Great Emperors never met one another, yet today, two Great Emperors had truly met.

Zhang Xuan looked toward Beidou; there was no movement from the Beidou side, and both Gai Jiuyou and the Saint Body wore expressions of regret.

They had set the stage for so long just to catch a fish, but it turned out that no one from the Forbidden Zones had come over.

Of course, having the Immortal Path open at this stage was also Zhang Xuan's intention, mainly to avoid risks.

If anyone wanted to hunt a contemporary Great Emperor during this period, it would definitely not be just one person; it was very likely that multiple would appear.

And at such a time, having to hide the fact that the Saint Body had become a Great Emperor was a very difficult task for many people.

(End of this chapter)