Chapter 472: Supreme Peak! At Last, the Sound Emperor! Reunited with the Realm Spirit!

Chu Yang could clearly feel that the Supreme Sea, having expanded to its limit, was now rapidly contracting!

Yet the power contained within the Supreme Sea did not weaken with its contraction; instead, it grew denser, undergoing a qualitative transformation each time it reached a critical threshold.

After countless such transformations, the once-vast Supreme Sea had shrunk to a pinpoint of faint light, sinking into Chu Yang’s dantian.

Singularity!

Chu Yang was all too familiar with this sensation!

Back then, the Godlike Chu Yang had created singularities to unleash massive explosions across the void, even closing several rifts in space.

The extinction of primordial life in the Godlike Universe was also inextricably tied to singularity explosions.

Yet precisely because of these explosions, destruction gave birth to creation, restarting civilization.

But Chu Yang could clearly sense that the “singularity” formed from his Supreme Sea, now lodged in his dantian, possessed absolute stability—bearing not a trace of destructive energy, but rather resembling the origin of all things.

Chu Yang did not know what form this energy singularity would eventually evolve into as his cultivation advanced, but at least now, its effects far surpassed the enhancements previously granted by the Supreme Sea.

The greatest strength of the Supreme Sea had been its rapid recovery of consumed energy, rendering his source qi nearly inexhaustible.

But the energy singularity did not grant Chu Yang endless source qi; instead, it pushed the quality of his source qi to an absolute peak! Under these conditions, his overall strength surged dramatically! If Chu Yang’s various techniques were likened to a cannon capable of perfectly converting energy:

Previously, his source qi was low-grade energy—after charging, the cannon could obliterate a cosmic warship.

Now, his source qi was the highest-grade energy—under the same energy input, the cannon could even detonate a star! The difference was stark. To achieve his former power, he now needed only one percent of the “low-grade energy” previously required.

Moreover, Chu Yang discovered his realm had leapt directly from Dou Saint Peak to Supreme Peak in a single month!

In short, the energy singularity formed from the Supreme Sea had reached the absolute limit of the Supreme Realm—only by breaking through to Earth Supreme could he advance further.

Hair fluttering, Chu Yang smiled as he slowly reassembled the fractured space around him.

When he withdrew his pressure, countless powerful figures inside and outside the imperial palace knelt on one knee and cried out in unison.

“Hail Emperor Chu’s breakthrough!”

The roar surged outward, and within moments, all powerful beings across the Central Continent echoed the praise—every living thing on the continent spontaneously offered their congratulations, their voices like thunder shaking the heavens!

Chu Yang felt a subtle connection form between himself and the Dou Qi Continent, a bond originating from the black crystal—or rather, the Realm Spirit.

From this moment on, he was the undisputed master of the Dou Qi Continent; a single thought could reshape mountains and rivers.

“Congratulations, Master!” Tang Huo’er stood before the imperial bedchamber, beaming.

Chu Yang waved his hand lightly, and the remaining celestial energy, not yet fully consumed, surged forth like a flood, cascading across every corner of the continent.

Instantly, the energy density of the Dou Qi Continent multiplied manyfold; countless experts long trapped by bottlenecks felt their breakthroughs drawing near.

The Xia Empire Palace and Yunlan Mountain, which Chu Yang had specially prioritized, were entirely enveloped by the energy tide.

Feeling the rapid surge of faith power within his Ascension Talisman, Chu Yang smiled.

In truth, drawing out all the energy from the Dou Qi Continent and redistributing it for others to absorb and cultivate was akin to killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

This would accelerate the continent’s descent into energy depletion—after this “energy tide” passed, the ambient energy would be several times weaker than before.

But Chu Yang didn’t care—he was certain he could establish a connection to the Grand World.

When spiritual energy flooded in, the Dou Qi Continent would revive its ancient glory.

Even if the spatial rift in the Northern Desert led to the domain of the Outer Demon Clan—unsuitable as a passage to the Grand World—

With his current strength, he could easily carve out a new, independent dimensional passage, just as Akatsuki Yan had done in the original storyline.

After all, Chu Yang cultivated not Dou Qi, but source qi—far stronger than spiritual energy, refined through countless qualitative transformations! Even in the Grand World, he could stand against ordinary Heaven Supremes—how could dimensional barriers possibly stop him?

Landing before the grand hall, Chu Yang smiled at Tang Huo’er: “Itachi’ll reach this realm someday too.”

Tang Huo’er pouted: “Not the same—who could possibly compare to Itachi, Master?”

Here, she paused, tentatively adding: “I heard Dou Emperor bloodline grants immense power boosts and enhanced talent to blood relatives. Why not leave behind an heir? Then I could abdicate the throne to him!”

Chu Yang’s lips twitched. “Why don’t Itachi go have one?”

Tang Huo’er froze, then blushed and lowered her head, murmuring: “If… if Master is willing… it… it could work…”

Chu Yang’s face darkened. “What are Itachi even thinking about all day?”

Tang Huo’er fell silent. Chu Yang stretched lazily, then asked: “Where are Yun Ni and your junior sister?”

Tang Huo’er shrugged: “Junior Aunt dragged Auntie Yun back to Yunlan Sect—seems she’s looking for Master Gu He about something…”

“Looking for Gu He?” Chu Yang raised an eyebrow.

Though Gu He had broken through to Rank Nine, his alchemy still lagged behind Old Man Lin. If she needed medicine, why go so far?

In truth, Gu He’s rise to Rank Nine was entirely due to being among the first elders after Yunlan Sect’s reorganization.

Yunlan Sect spared no resources to push him to Rank Nine.

But precisely because of this, his Rank Nine status was somewhat hollow—his success rate in crafting Rank Nine pills was far lower than Old Man Lin’s.

Perhaps Nalan Anyan had her own plans; Chu Yang didn’t dwell on it, murmuring:

“I’ll seek out spatial nodes to connect with the Grand World.”

“Itachi’d better find a successor soon—once we reach the Grand World, Itachi’ll need someone to manage things there. I can’t have Itachi shuttling back and forth alone.”

Tang Huo’er nodded weakly, then asked softly: “Master, wouldn’t having a child solve all these problems? Could Itachi… consider it?”

Chu Yang glanced at her, raised his hand as if to scold her, then lowered it with a cold snort and stepped into the air, departing.

Watching his frustrated yet reluctant expression, Tang Huo’er covered her mouth and giggled, eyes gleaming with mischief—clearly delighted by her little scheme.

To her, sitting as the revered Empress of the Xia Empire…

Was far less fun than daring to tease her Master now and then.

Leaving the Xia Imperial Palace, Chu Yang headed straight for the Northern Desert.

He knew Tang Huo’er was joking—on the entire Dou Qi Continent, only she would dare to play with him.

Yun Yun’s demeanor was always refined and composed; she’d never act so boldly.

Nalan Anyan, though silent, remained subtly restrained by his power.

As for others? No matter how close their relationship, they all harbored some measure of awe due to his current strength. Only Tang Huo’er, having spent the longest time beside him since his soul palace transformation, remained unafraid.

This girl had once followed him across the land, freely taking his fire whenever she needed it, obeying every command—he’d spoiled her utterly.

Thus, Tang Huo’er had the audacity to be presumptuous, yet knew her limits—Chu Yang gladly preserved this master-disciple dynamic.

If everyone around him kept their distance, he’d be too lonely…

Standing deep within the lifeless Northern Desert, Chu Yang used his old coordinates to locate the spatial rift.

He tore open space, revealing an unstable passage.

As he had done in the Beast Domain, Chu Yang entered the rift, seeking its opposite end.

His power had vastly improved; his control over space was incomparably greater. In mere moments, he pinpointed the exit.

A vision of that peerlessly elegant figure flashed through his mind. He narrowed his eyes, feeling a flicker of anticipation.

For him now, confirming his past suspicions or uncovering the true history of the Dou Qi Continent no longer mattered.

He was far more intrigued by the Sound Emperor—whom he considered a true prodigy without peer.

Across the Dou Qi Continent and even the entire Grand World, those Chu Yang deemed prodigies could be counted on one hand.

Akatsuki Yan was one, Lin Dong was another, and Mu Chen, in the future, would be the third.

But he wondered—if he altered the Grand World’s structure and corrected the course of history—would Mu Chen still emerge?

Chu Yang’s baseline for judging prodigies was whether they could leave their name on the Azure List.

In his eyes, the Sound Emperor—who, in ancient times, had dominated the Dou Qi Continent as a youth and reached Earth Supreme Peak—

Had he not perished in that cataclysm, he would have risen above all other prodigies of the Grand World to become the very first name inscribed on the Azure List. With that thought, Chu Yang plunged into the exit of the rift.

Feeling spatial forces surge around him, after a brief darkness, Chu Yang’s vision brightened—the scene had transformed utterly.

The sky was gloomy, the earth dark brown—clearly stained by blood and aged over millennia.

Yet even now, the scent of blood lingered thickly.

The domain of the Outer Demon Clan! Chu Yang frowned—just as he’d suspected: though the special spatial node connected to the Grand World, this land had long been seized by the Outer Demon Clan.

But his power had surged beyond recognition—he could now fight even a Rank-Yōu Demon Emperor.

His soul force surged outward, instantly covering a vast area—but then Chu Yang froze.

His soul scan revealed no living beings within a hundred li.

A faint, familiar aura brushed against him. Following it, he soon discovered the cause.

This entire region was sealed beneath a barrier!

And that familiar aura came from the barrier—or rather…

The Realm Spirit!

Clearly, in ancient times, the Sound Emperor had forged the Realm Spirit into a barrier to guard the spatial rift, protecting the Dou Qi Continent from Outer Demon Clan invasion.

Gazing at a stone tablet at the barrier’s edge and the desiccated corpse beside it, Chu Yang felt a pang of melancholy.

The corpse was undoubtedly that of the Sound Emperor—once peerless in brilliance, he had still perished in that cataclysm, left unburied and unclaimed.

Gently raising his hand, Chu Yang sought to retrieve the remains—but suddenly felt a force resisting him.

He raised an eyebrow, then sensed a faint soul fluctuation.

A faint, ethereal figure appeared—though merely a fading remnant of will, it still radiated peerless elegance.

“Itachi’re not a demon. Itachi’re… from the Dou Qi Continent?” The Sound Emperor blinked in surprise.

Chu Yang nodded with a smile. “Correct. I come from the Dou Qi Continent.”

“I can’t read Itachi. Clearly, the Dou Qi Continent is no longer weak.” The Sound Emperor smiled faintly—his lingering will fading, his form growing ever more translucent.

Chu Yang shook his head. “Since your era, no one on the Dou Qi Continent has reached the Supreme Realm.”

“But from now on, a golden age will be reborn!”

The Sound Emperor did not doubt Chu Yang’s words. He asked: “Itachi came here to uncover the truth of those days?”

Chu Yang shook his head again. “I already know the truth. I came only to witness the end of a true prodigy.”

"Had it not been for that catastrophe all those years ago, Itachi would surely have reached the pinnacle of the Grand World."

"But I have come here today for another matter..."

Chu Yang squinted and said: "I intend to reshape the Spirit Continent’s World Spirit!"

The Sound Emperor frowned. "If this barrier is gone, can Itachi ensure the Spirit Continent remains unharmed?"

Chu Yang smiled confidently. "If I had no such confidence, why would I have raised this matter?"

"Good!" Without hesitation, the Sound Emperor’s form dissolved into a streak of light and plunged into Chu Yang’s third eye.

Instantly, Chu Yang’s mind gained the method to refine the barrier, as well as the technique to control the World Spirit.

Without these two methods, even if he forcibly recondensed the barrier into a World Spirit, the Spirit’s primordial essence would inevitably suffer massive loss.

Over these many years, the World Spirit’s primordial power has been greatly depleted; if it lost another large portion, replenishing it would become troublesome.

Sensing the Sound Emperor’s lingering will about to vanish, Chu Yang paused, then smiled and said: "Don’t rush so!"

"Itachi gave up your future, sacrificed your life, paid such a heavy price—wouldn’t Itachi feel regret if Itachi didn’t see the coming golden age?"

As his words ended, Chu Yang suddenly raised his hand and clenched it tightly. The barrier trembled violently, then exploded into countless streaks of light that converged into his palm.

This newly reformed World Spirit was no longer what it once was—merely a rudimentary form.

Chu Yang guided the Sound Emperor’s residual soul into it and smiled lightly: "An unconscious World Spirit cannot offer me meaningful aid."

"Elder, will Itachi sacrifice yourself to become the Spirit?" (End of Chapter)