Chapter 138

In the era when the Wushi Great Emperor sat guarding the world, the entire Great Universe was relatively peaceful.

As his cultivation grew daily more vigorous, his prestige became ever more unrivaled through the ages, an absolute sovereign of heaven and earth, sweeping across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths; since ancient times, few could stand alongside him.

Whether it was the existences of Gu Huangshan, or the Evil Gods from outside the domain, not a single person could withstand his edge.

Even the Ancient Venerables within the Beidou Star's several Life Forbidden Zones all kept silent and stayed dutifully in their own seclusion grounds.

He was too powerful and too domineering, causing the world to sigh in awe: truly a supreme Human Race Great Emperor who towered over past and present, scaling the absolute peak, his spirit swallowing the Six Harmonies and Eight Wastelands, looking down on all ages and standing alone in supremacy!

Some compared him with the Di Zun and the Undying Heavenly Emperor of countless years ago, believing only those two supreme god-like existences could match shoulders with Wushi.

But those two were ultimately too ancient, so distant they seemed like figures from myth.

Therefore, some also compared him with the Naling Heavenly Emperor of former years and the Holy Emperor Gu Xuan, believing they should be existences of the same cultivation level.

However.

For the people of the world, this realm was too lofty and distant.

And since ancient times, Emperors and Emperors never met; people simply could not see a day when figures of this caliber would face off.

People merely treated this topic as conversation material; it was impossible to truly verify.

Time flowed on.

Over thirty thousand years passed, and the Wushi Great Emperor ultimately still arrived at the old age of his second life.

During the old age of his first life, he had bridged it with the fruit of the Divine Phoenix Undying Medicine.

This Undying Medicine, ever since he took control of Gu Huangshan, had remained quietly unmoving, not flying away to the heavens as outsiders imagined.

This was because the Wushi Great Emperor was too powerful; to the Divine Phoenix Undying Medicine, he was absolutely an existence worth following.

As for Di Li Si, she had also reached the realm of Alternative Path to Enlightenment; after living out a second life with the fruit of another White Tiger Undying Medicine, in her old age she was sealed away by the Wushi Great Emperor using Divine Source.

Additionally, several old acquaintances from Yaochi Holy Land were also sealed away.

Because they had already learned of the existence of the Strange World, the Immortal Domain, and so on, when the opportunity came in the future, they could all enter with Wushi, and would not have to grow old and die in the Ren Yu Universe.

Over these years, Wushi shook the past and dazzled the present, his might deterring the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, like a god.

Yet, some also saw a side of his daily life.

During a certain inspection tour, people saw the Wushi Great Emperor save a dying little stray dog, then take it away with him.

Without a doubt, this made those cultivators envious to the extreme!

Who could have thought that a stray little black dog would actually have such heaven-defying fortune and opportunity, actually gaining the Wushi Great Emperor's favor and following by his side?!

Among these cultivators, one was a dog demon at the Saint realm, also a famously renowned existence in the Eastern Wasteland Demon Race.

However, upon seeing this scene, this Dog Saint afterward cried uncontrollably.

He hated that he was not that little black dog!

Or perhaps, he hated that his own reaction had been too slow, shocked to such a degree that he had not timely begged the Wushi Great Emperor to take him away as well.

In his view, to be the Wushi Great Emperor's dog — what an immense honor that would be!

Unlike many of his kind in the demon race, running to and fro without knowing who their master was.

Of course.

These are all hindsight wisdom.

Clear-headed onlooker cultivators pointed out to that Dog Saint that it was purely a special chance between the little stray dog and the Wushi Great Emperor, something others obviously could not force.

But even so, it was still hard to suppress the Dog Saint's sorrow.

He wailed sadly in the Eastern Wasteland demon territory for half a month, until later another Saint knocked him on the back of the head, and only then did he finally stop.

……

This day.

Wushi, who was sitting in meditation on Purple Mountain, suddenly opened his eyes; his figure flashed and vanished, leaving that majestic Dao Platform shrouded in Chaos Qi.

Only leaving behind the still-youthful Black Emperor to cry out in some panic.

However, it was also extremely clever; it knew the Great Emperor had departed abruptly, there must be some matter to attend to.

And it was inside this Great Emperor's Dao Chang; whether safety or Divine Source or the like, everything was abundantly plentiful, fundamentally no need for worry.

Therefore.

Inside Purple Mountain, quiet was soon restored.

This journey of Wushi's did not have any incomparably grand Golden Light Avenue.

He concealed the Heavenly Secrets with Chaos, and arrived at a mysterious place in the depths of the Star Sea — the Holy Cliff Dao Chang.

In the Holy Cliff Dao Chang, atop that grand and massive Dao Platform, two figures of extreme power sat facing each other.

Precisely the Holy Emperor Gu Xuan of a generation, and the Current Era Great Emperor Wushi!

At this moment, Gu Xuan was no longer inside a Chaos Light Cocoon, but had thoroughly emerged through Nirvana!

His Dao Conduct was complete to a terrifying degree; vast Blood Qi surged to the heavens; the Heavenly Emperor reappeared.

His whole person had gray hair like a waterfall, naturally draped over him; his body crystalline; though merely sitting cross-legged there, he seemed almost to stand towering in the vast sky, looking down upon all living beings!

This was his fourth life; he had thoroughly transformed into a Chaos Body Heavenly Emperor, powerful enough to make one's heart tremble.

"Congratulations to Holy Emperor Senior on successful transformation!"

Sitting opposite him, likewise with gray hair like a waterfall, having reached old age, was Wushi, currently cupping his fists toward Gu Xuan in congratulation.

Looking at the Holy Emperor before him, Wushi could not help but feel a slight tremor in his heart.

With his current cultivation, he actually could not fathom the Holy Emperor's depth at all, like an unfathomable black hole, terrifying to the extreme!

To make a Current Era Great Emperor at the Heavenly Emperor level produce such a feeling, there was only one possibility — that Gu Xuan's current cultivation was already in no way inferior to Wushi, and even faintly surpassed him somewhat!

Of course.

This was completely understandable; after all, Gu Xuan had thoroughly emerged through Nirvana into a fourth life; placed among Emperors and Emperors throughout the ages, he could also be called a heaven-defying existence.

"To have succeeded, I must also thank you, Dao Friend!"

Facing Wu Shi's congratulations, Gu Xuan also bowed solemnly with clasped hands, his expression sincere, his words heartfelt.

For the Red Dust Immortal road is truly not that easy.

Over ten thousand years, during his metamorphosis he once encountered a certain crisis; Wu Shi crossed horizontally from the Beidou Star Domain, came to the Holy Cliff Dao Chang, and delivered Heavenly Emperor Grade Essence Blood, helping Gu Xuan survive the ordeal.

Although at that time Gu Xuan showed no obvious reaction, because his condition was extremely unstable, in his heart he knew what had happened.

Now, since he has completely awakened, he naturally offers solemn thanks.

"Senior Holy Emperor speaks too heavily; this junior has received so much of your help, I do not know how to repay it." Wu Shi hurriedly returned the bow.

The two pushed politeness back and forth for a moment.

"So be it; between you and me, there is no need for such formality."

In the end it was still Gu Xuan who ended this exchange of courtesies, for they were originally already existences like old friends of many years, and there was no need for such excessive etiquette.

After a session of discussing the Dao.

The two almost simultaneously brought up a certain topic — the Life Forbidden Zones.

This can be called a malignant tumor in this universe since time immemorial.

Whether it was Gu Xuan, or the former Void Great Emperor, or today's Wushi Great Emperor, all had once thought of solving this problem.

"Senior means there are at least ten Supremes in the Taichu Ancient Mine?"

Wu Shi's heart trembled slightly for a moment.

The next moment, this number received Gu Xuan's nod of confirmation.

In fact.

In the past, Wu Shi had not failed to enter the Taichu Ancient Mine, and had also sensed several Supreme auras hibernating in its depths.

But after all that was the Taichu Ancient Mine; even as strong as Wu Shi, it was impossible to break into its deepest parts to count the Supremes one by one.

And back then, Gu Xuan had not done so either.

But combining his past life's memories with his sensing in the Taichu Ancient Mine, he could reach a conclusion close to the truth.

And not only that.

Next, the two combined their respective knowledge, matched the Supreme numbers in the other Forbidden Zones one by one, and finally reached a rough conclusion.

Through the suppression by Gu Xuan, Void, and Wu Shi over these tens of thousands of years, the Supremes in the Life Forbidden Zones have already decreased by twelve or thirteen.

The Underworld Forbidden Zone has also been exterminated.

But those remaining are still not few.

Undying Mountain, two Supremes: Stone Emperor and Xuanwu Ancient Emperor.

Reincarnation Sea, two to three Supremes, including the Lord of Reincarnation, Xiaoyao Tianzun, and another unknown Ancient Emperor.

Immortal Mausoleum, around five Supremes, including Chang Sheng Tian Zun, Immortal Old Man, and three other unknown Ancient Venerables.

Divine Ruins, around five Supremes, including the Lord of Divine Ruins, Spirit Emperor, Beast God, and two Great Perfection Holy Spirits; at this time it has not yet reached the Qing Emperor era, therefore these two Holy Spirits are still alive.

Upper Heaven, around five Supremes, including Great Peng Emperor, Light-Dark Supreme, and three other unknown Ancient Venerables.

Finally the Taichu Ancient Mine, numerous people, around ten.

Those already confirmed include Qilin Ancient Emperor, Wanlong Ancient Emperor, Golden Ancient Emperor, Blood Phoenix Mountain Ancient Emperor, Source God, Source Ghost — six Supremes — and four other unknown existences.

Among all the above unknown Ancient Venerables, some can have their titles confirmed, such as Abandoning Heaven Supreme, White Tiger Daoist, unknown Human Race Great Emperor, etc., only their Forbidden Zone locations cannot be confirmed.

But no matter what.

Totalling it up, in the Beidou Ancient Star's Six Great Life Forbidden Zones, there are still a full thirty or so Supremes hibernating!

This is an extremely terrifying number.

And one must add the Undying Heavenly Emperor lurking in the dark, while the Di Zun is also an uncertain variable.

Facing such a conclusion, even Gu Xuan and Wu Shi, two Heavenly Emperor Level Experts, could not help but show somewhat grave expressions for a moment.

Of course.

They can temporarily set this problem aside.

Because being able to protect all living beings for an era during their world-suppressing period has already completely fulfilled a Great Emperor's responsibility.

And the current Life Forbidden Zones are still too powerful; they can be left to later generations to solve.

For example, Gu Xuan knows that the future Ye Tiandi will eventually remove this malignant tumor of the Beidou Life Forbidden Zone.

But one must admit, in this current era, he and Wu Shi do have a certain possibility of success, though it requires gradual planning.

The most important thing is, the Wushi Great Emperor's attitude is likewise extremely resolute.

In his view, the Holy Emperor has now succeeded in metamorphosis and is an expert of the same cultivation level as himself; one can say this is now the most likely chance of success since time immemorial.

Missing this time, perhaps later there will still be peerless heroes appearing, but there exists great variables.

And Wu Shi also put forward his own line of thinking, explaining it to Gu Xuan in detail.

"You mean that female emperor in the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Ground?"

Gu Xuan's eyes flashed with brilliance, as if piercing through the endless starry sky, seeing the incomparably distant Beidou Ancient Star direction.

The following three months.

Wu Shi stayed in the Holy Cliff Dao Chang, discussing and deliberating with Gu Xuan.

And the two naturally also exchanged with each other, sharing the Dao Sacrifice Heavenly Art, Wu Shi Secret Technique, etc.

At their height, there is no question of holding back or leaking secrets.

Because this kind of natal Forbidden Chapter Secret Technique is originally self-comprehended, the top-tier method most suited to oneself; even if a "disciple" learns it, it is absolutely difficult to reach the "master's" realm.

Xiaoyao Tianzun's Xing Character Secret is a typical example.

Since time immemorial, there have been no lack of Taigu Royals and Great Emperors who learned this secret through various opportunities, but not a single person could reach Xiaoyao Tianzun's height.

Three months later.

Wu Shi left the Holy Cliff Dao Chang, returned to Purple Mountain, unknown to anyone.

One day thereafter.

A magnificent Golden Light Avenue extended from above Purple Mountain all the way to the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land in the Southern Region.

Such a scene shook the world.

"What? The Wushi Great Emperor has come to the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land?"

"What does he intend to do? Could it be he wants to visit the supreme existence within?"

It caused several supremes in the other forbidden zones, who had been sleeping lightly, to awaken from their slumber and take notice of this scene.

However.

Everyone only saw the Wushi Great Emperor standing outside the mountain gate of the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land, emitting a divine sound.

After a long while, a desolate slave appeared silently, clad in ancient garments, and led the Wushi Great Emperor inside.

Thereafter, no one could see the situation within any longer, not even the forbidden zone supremes.

For at this time, the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land was, for people of the outside world, entirely like a giant black hole; no one's divine sense could penetrate to its deep parts.

Unknown how much time passed before the Wushi Great Emperor finally emerged from within.

"Heavens, what kind of existence did the Great Emperor see inside?"

"Why did he stay so long? What happened?"

"I seem to have seen the Wushi Great Emperor's face — has he actually become so aged? And so much white hair — could the Great Emperor really have reached old age?"

For a time.

Countless cultivators in the world fell into clamor — shock, emotion, sighs, and all manner of reactions abounded.

But everyone could only speculate; not a single person could obtain a definite answer.

However.

One thing that can be confirmed is that ever since the Wushi Great Emperor returned to Purple Mountain from the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land, he almost never manifested in the world again, just like those ancient emperors and great emperors of old in their twilight years.

For a full nearly one hundred years, he sat silently cross-legged on the Dao Platform within Purple Mountain.

During this period, only a mere handful of Human Race Great Saints were able to visit — all old Holy Lord-level figures from several major desolate ancient aristocratic families, such as Yaochi Holy Land, the Eastern Desolation Ji Family, or the Northern Plains Ancient Families, etc.

After these people left Purple Mountain, they were naturally surrounded by many cultivators wanting to understand the Wushi Great Emperor's current situation.

Because this is absolutely the most critical major event, bearing on whether the whole great universe remains peaceful.

Many ancient texts from myriad ages record numerous cruel upheavals that occurred precisely in the old age of ancient emperors or great emperors and after their passing.

Such examples are simply too many to count.

Far back like the Yuan Emperor of the primeval era — after his passing, two holy spirits came killing to the door; that battle saw blood floating pestles and corpse mountains blood seas; the Yuan Emperor's three half-step proving the dao blood-related children died in that battle.

Nearer too there were the Holy Emperor and the Void Great Emperor in their old age — great battles rose in succession, the eight wastes of the universe trembled, supreme blood spilled down.

However.

All the old great saints who had paid respects to the Wushi Great Emperor, upon emerging, uttered not a word, merely with grave expressions — obviously not a good sign.

Finally.

Not long after, a saying spread: that the Wushi Great Emperor was aged and declining, white-haired, and even his qi and blood, his physical body, were somewhat withered.

Such rumors caused many desolate ancient aristocratic families to rage, including Yaochi Holy Land, the Eastern Desolation Ji Family, etc., all deploying high-level combat power to suppress the spread of such messages.

However, paper ultimately cannot wrap fire.

Without anyone needing to spread the news outward, everyone knew the Wushi Great Emperor might be about to pass away.

Because all saints in the world could feel that he seemed no longer able to fully control the Great Dao, which spread covering sky and earth, deterring the human realm.

(Chapter End)