CHAPTER 256: CHAPTER 256 THE DEMON EMPEROR IS STILL ALIVE

SCREECH!

In the blazing fire, a long cry resounded. Then, the shadow of an Ancient Phoenix flew out, its massive form covering the sky and sun, with waves of its presence crushing everything in all directions.

Practitioners from far and distant places were all deeply moved.

"Ancient Phoenix," Lan Xiuzhi said with a light chuckle from a high mountain. "An ancestor of our Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Dynasty once killed an Ancient Phoenix with his bare hands and forged its bones and essence blood into the Phoenix Cauldron, then sealed its Divine Soul within. After tens of thousands of years of integration, it became the God of the Phoenix Cauldron. When the time comes... once the Heaven Tao Divine Weapon reaches Perfection, that Ancient Phoenix will emerge every time it revives. Hehe, isn’t it beautiful?"

It is beautiful, indeed! But isn’t it a bit cruel? Moreover, that’s an Ancient Phoenix! Auspicious, a Divine Beast, a Spiritual Beast... Your ancestors really had the heart to do it.

Chen Pingping’s mouth twitched. He suddenly thought of Earth Chicken, which was also an Ancient Phoenix, though the phoenix bloodline in its body was thin. He didn’t know when it would transform into a true Phoenix.

The Ancient Phoenix flew out, its cries echoing above the Nine Heavens, not dissipating for a long while. The Demon Birds from all directions shuddered, their faces filled with terror.

The waves of its revival grew stronger and stronger; it wouldn’t take long now.

What to do?

Chen Pingping took a deep breath, forcibly calmed himself, and several plans flashed through his mind.

First, take direct action. Utilize Hei’s Abyss Sword Tao and the Sacred Soldiers from the Sea of Consciousness world to quickly kill the three State Preceptors and prevent their revival. But the likelihood of success was not high. All three State Preceptors were formidable. Besides them were the armies of the three great imperial dynasties and a Golden Cicada.

Second, confront the Heaven Tao Divine Weapon with Sacred Soldiers. UGH! Forget it! That would be like a mayfly trying to shake a tree.

Third, just watch with wide eyes! But he couldn’t do it! After all, I, Chen, am a man of flesh and blood. How could I be so cold-hearted? Think of those two delicate little junior martial sisters, think of the Divine Body, and the Saintess of the Central Continent...

In an instant, he let his thoughts run wild. Then, just as quickly, he came to his senses. He had made a decision. "I once heard a legend," he said, "that there is a living Great Emperor in the Heaven Martial Continent."

"Oh?" Golden Cicada said teasingly, "That living Great Emperor wouldn’t happen to be your master, would it?"

She had already made a judgment. That little black dog must be the one from the Heaven Martial Continent; even Chen Pingping might hail from there. Therefore, when Chen Pingping spoke these words, Golden Cicada had only one thought: Chen Pingping wanted to stop the revival of the Heaven Tao Divine Weapon, so he concocted a story about a living Great Emperor to deter the invasion of experts from the Spirit Realm.

"That’s not possible!" Chen Pingping said with an embarrassed smile. "I am from the Spirit Realm; I have no connection with any Great Emperor of the Heaven Martial Continent."

"Really?" Lan Xiuzhi tilted her head and asked, "Does that mean I might actually meet a real Great Emperor?"

"..."

What kind of thought is that? Others avoid Great Emperors like the plague, yet you want to meet one? Are you seeking death?

Chen Pingping thought for a moment, then said, "Well, it’s just something I heard. After all, I’m from the Spirit Realm, so I’m not too clear about things over there."

「Outside the cave.」

Guang Xiaoyu had brought Zi Ji over, asking her to quietly release the Yuan World.

This thing was no ordinary artifact! It had no rank, could evolve autonomously, and once activated, it could confuse powerful enemies. The spatial fluctuations it released, along with the Power of Laws of the Dachian world and the revival of all things, were strikingly similar to those of a legendary Heaven Tao Divine Weapon.

HMM? Still struggling internally, Jin Lun suddenly perceived the fluctuations of the Yuan World, his expression changing.

Right at that moment, Guang Xiaoyu’s excited voice came through, "Master? Is that you?"

A Heaven Tao Divine Weapon? Impossible, how could she still be alive?

Jin Lun felt like he was suffocating, his heart about to leap out of his chest.

Guang Xiaoyu hastily imitated the Demon Emperor and said, "This seat has been in seclusion for tens of thousands of years, on the verge of comprehending the Creation Great Tao. These little rascals from the Spirit Realm are actually planning to invade the Heaven Martial Continent? Hmm? And the Purple Gold Divine Clan too! Hehe! How interesting. Do they think this seat has been too merciful to them, leaving them a sliver of hope?"

"Master, please take action and eliminate them quickly."

"There’s no hurry. My retreat has yet to end; this is but a strand of my consciousness that has arrived. Wait a little longer!"

"Yes, Master!"

She played two roles, conversing with herself, and the mimicry was spot-on.

Chen Shixian stood by, watching, agape with amazement.

When Guang Xiaoyu saw that the act had gone on long enough, she signaled Zi Ji to retract the Yuan World.

Jin Lun, within the altar, drew a sharp breath. He was now thoroughly convinced that the Demon Emperor was still alive. Damn it, they could not invade the Heaven Martial Continent!

BOOM!

The Phoenix Cauldron had already revived, and tremendous Power Path energies from another world surged in.

Jin Lun hurriedly sent a sound transmission, "Stop! Quickly, stop!"

HUH? The armies of the three great imperial dynasties looked at each other, bewildered.

The voice was so loud it could penetrate the Spatial Barrier—a remarkable feat.

Even the three State Preceptors paused, their brows furrowed. They didn’t want to pay too much attention.

However, Golden Cicada, who was sitting behind them, suddenly stood up. She exclaimed, "Ancestor! This is an ancestor of my Purple Gold Divine Clan! He truly is still alive!"

Golden Cicada was overjoyed, her face flushed with excitement, and she immediately rushed towards the area.

But she could not enter the range of the altar. The fluctuating aura of the Heaven Tao Divine Weapon covered the region, like mountains standing in her way.

"This is an ancestor of my Purple Gold Divine Clan! Let me in..." she pleaded, her eyes wide.

Jin Lun’s voice transmitted once again, "Cease immediately! Do not break through the Spatial Barrier. I am Jin Lun of the Purple Gold Divine Clan. I entered the Heaven Martial Continent two hundred thousand years ago and was eventually suppressed here by Emperor Wuji. Retreat at once!"

"Senior Jin Lun?" the Heavenly Phoenix State Preceptor asked, taken aback.

"It is I!"

"How are things over there?"

"Not good at all!" Jin Lun’s face was ashen. "Stop the revival of the Phoenix Cauldron! Now!"

This? To invade the Heaven Martial Continent and obtain the Tao Seeds, the three great imperial dynasties had sacrificed so much, even bringing out a Heaven Tao Divine Weapon. Just as they were about to break through the Spatial Barrier, they were being asked to stop? To be honest, if it weren’t Jin Lun, but some other Purple Gold Divine Clan expert, they would have definitely used the Phoenix Cauldron to attack. Jin Lun’s status was extraordinary. He was a commander from two hundred thousand years ago, possessing formidable strength.

"I can’t explain everything right now, but please, all of you, believe me," Jin Lun said anxiously.

"Do you understand the cost of reviving a Heaven Tao Divine Weapon?" the old woman asked.

"Of course, I do. That’s exactly why I must stop you," he responded.

"Why?" she pressed.

"A Great Emperor!" Jin Lun uttered, his words distinct and clear.

In an instant, the entire scene fell silent.

Everyone was in a daze.

Lan Xiuzhi’s mouth hung open as she looked over at Chen Pingping.

But the fact was, I didn’t know this would happen! I was just bluffing, trying to use the butterfly effect to influence the three great imperial dynasties. Who would have thought it was true? There was indeed a living Great Emperor in the Heaven Martial Continent? Who could it be?

Chen Pingping’s brow twitched.

The old woman’s heart shook. Her expression was serious as she asked, "Is it true?"

Jin Lun stated, "It is true!"

"So, Senior, you were suppressed in the Heaven Martial Continent by that Great Emperor as well?" the old woman asked further.

"..."

What the hell... Jin Lun felt his composure crumbling; he truly did not wish to mention this matter. Two hundred thousand years ago, the Purple Gold Divine Clan’s strongest genius, the one most likely to achieve Tao Verification, was suppressed by Wu Ji—who was at the same cultivation realm—during the invasion of the Heaven Martial Continent. It would be such a disgrace if this tale got out!

"Sort of, and not really. In any case, retreat immediately and wait for my message," Jin Lun said helplessly. "If you refuse to retreat, fine! But please inform my Purple Gold Divine Clan to relocate the entire clan."

That serious? The three State Preceptors exchanged glances.