Chapter 48: One of the Most Stunning Geniuses in History—Too Stubborn to the Point of Madness!

【But even if he failed to become an Emperor...】

【In his former Peak Era, Gai Jiuyou's combat power was not much weaker than that of a true Emperor.】

【Just as the Dark Calamity erupted and the Seven Supreme Beings ravaged all life, causing Wan Ling to mourn, Gai Jiuyou forcibly restored his absolute peak state and openly declared war against the Forbidden Zone Supremes, ultimately perishing alongside one of them.】

【This battle undoubtedly proclaimed Gai Jiuyou's defiance of heaven, for he died killing a former Emperor and Sovereign.】

【After all, since ancient times, those who could stand against an Emperor before achieving the Dao have been exceedingly rare—let alone dying to kill one. Even the self-severed Forbidden Zone Supremes were once Emperors and Sovereigns!】

"Damn, one of the most astonishing geniuses in history? That's no low praise—could Gai Jiuyou really be that powerful? He might even rival an Emperor!"

"Tsk, he swept the current era, undefeated under heaven, and was the strongest in human history—no denying that. With no Emperor present, none could challenge him!"

"Pity, Gai Jiuyou was too stubborn. He lived near the era of Qing Emperor—if not for that, his talent might have truly allowed him to become an Emperor!"

"Whoa, Gai Jiuyou is truly defying heaven—he nearly succeeded in a time when becoming an Emperor was impossible?"

"Most crucially, after failing to attain the Dao, he actually survived! Though grievously wounded, he achieved an alternative path to the Dao—truly insane!"

"Indeed, wasn't it said that failing a Tribulation Crossing means certain death? Yet he lived—this must be unprecedented! No wonder he's given such high praise!"

"The key point is, it doesn't end there—he died killing a Forbidden Zone Supreme! That's a former Emperor and Sovereign, who even after self-severing remained invincible under heaven!"

"By the way, what exactly is the Dark Calamity? Why did those former Emperors and Sovereigns ravage all life?"

"I don't know, but if Wan Ling mourned, it means those Forbidden Zone Supremes committed unspeakable atrocities—likely countless lives were lost because of them!"

At this moment, the audience across all worlds was shaken.

Nothing else—Gai Jiuyou's evaluation was too high, and he shattered the iron law that failure in Tribulation Crossing means certain death.

Worse still, he died killing a Forbidden Zone Supreme while still not an Emperor—this terrifying combat power was utterly shocking, leaving the audience across all worlds stunned.

Furthermore,

regarding the Dark Calamity...

this sparked heated debate among the audience across all worlds. Though none knew what it was, all viewers understood: the Dark Calamity was no ordinary disaster—it would be horrific!

Shrouding the Heavens World.

"Dark Calamity?"

"Damn it—has the Dark Calamity erupted again in the future? And seven Supremes have emerged!"

"Heavens, what a desolate scene that must be! Now our human race has no Emperor—if such a calamity truly comes, how many lives will the Supremes devour?!"

At this moment, as the future Dark Calamity was exposed, cultivators of all races trembled and panicked; a wave of fear spread through the Shrouding the Heavens Universe.

Nothing else—they were all too familiar with the Dark Calamity, for it was the most brutal of all calamities!

Each time it opened...

countless lives perished!

Now, with no Emperor in the current age, this situation was brutally cruel for humanity and all races alike!

"Why have seven Supremes emerged?"

"Could it be... we failed to break through to the Immortal Path in the future? Counting the time, it's nearly due to open!"

"This Gai Jiuyou—could he really kill a Supreme? No wonder he earned such praise. I just wonder which Supreme was so unlucky to be killed by him!"

In the Forbidden Zones, many Supremes were likewise astonished, but soon some guessed the truth.

Nothing else—they all knew the Immortal Path was about to open; many planned to attempt it. Now, this was clearly the most likely scenario!

And as for Gai Jiuyou dying to kill a Supreme...

several Supremes were shaken, surprised by his strength, and curious...

curious which Supreme was so unlucky as to encounter Gai Jiuyou—and perish alongside him, cementing his reputation as one who could battle an Emperor!

"So it has come at last?"

In the Bizarre World, Seeing Wu Shi sighed, "I only hope this life sees the birth of the Primordial Holy Body and Dao Seed—only then can I stop this calamity!"

If only he could...

Seeing Wu Shi would gladly go to stop the Dark Calamity, but he knew it was impossible. Without the Primordial Holy Body and Dao Seed, even he could not halt it.

After all, entering the Bizarre World was easy—leaving it was hard. Even he could not interfere with the Shrouding the Heavens Universe!

Now...

he could only hope that Black Emperor remembered his words and ensured the birth of the Primordial Holy Body and Dao Seed in this life!

The scene continued to shift:

As the audience across all worlds reeled, images of Gai Jiuyou quietly unfolded.

It was the post-Huanggu era, a time of great cosmic change—though cultivation grew ever harder, sages vanished, and pseudo-emperors were scarce, after Qing Emperor's death...

the celestial destiny of heaven slowly returned...

geniuses emerged like mushrooms after rain, and Gai Jiuyou rose above them all.

He outpaced his peers, forged his own Dao, created the Immortal Melody, and stunned the world—even Zhong Huang, who became a Sovereign at nineteen, was no match for him.