Chapter 1452: The Demon Emperor Arrives (Part 1)

What Brahma Heaven God Emperor said was also what everyone was thinking. If the truth was known long ago, why wasn't it disclosed earlier to allow for preparation and discussion of countermeasures?

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor sighed, "Because this is a truth that, once even slightly spread, would cause immense chaos."

At these words, even the various God Emperors showed strong reactions.

Yun Che composed himself and listened silently. Only he and Mu Xuanyin truly understood the immense gravity of the Eternal Heaven God Emperor's words.

"Eternal Heaven, please elaborate," the Dragon Monarch said gravely, looking around. "Everyone present today is the ruler of a divine region; not a single word will be leaked."

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor looked up at the sky and spoke in a deep voice, "The truth about the crimson crack dates back to the Era of Gods. That period was the late stage of the Era of Gods, but it is still incredibly distant from today."

"Back then, the highest sovereign of the God Race, the Heaven Punishing God Emperor, who was the leader of the Four Creation Gods, used fragments of the Ancestral God's Decree as a lure to draw Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, one of the Four Devil Emperors of the Devil Race, to the Eastern Divine Region. He then unleashed the Heaven Punishing Ancestral Sword, the first divine artifact of Chaos, and with one strike, he shattered the Wall of Primordial Chaos and blasted the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor and her Heaven Smiting Devil Race into the primordial void, banishing them beyond the Chaos..."

His voice, like a great bell, reverberated through their souls, yet it was completely contained by the sound-isolating barrier at the edge of the Conferred God Stage, allowing not a single whisper to escape.

Yun Che's prediction was correct; when revealing the truth, the Eternal Heaven God Emperor, like the Ice Phoenix Spirit, began with the Heaven Punishing God Emperor's banishment of the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor in ancient times. This was the true origin of the Devil-God War and the real source of the crimson calamity!

This historical period was extensively documented in many ancient texts, and everyone present was aware of it. They wondered why the Eternal Heaven God Emperor was bringing up this ancient event but listened intently without asking any questions.

"The Heaven Punishing God Emperor's actions back then were driven by his intense hatred for devils and his absolute refusal to let one of the fragments of the Ancestral God's Decree fall into the hands of the Devil Race. Although his methods might be considered 'despicable,' as the emperor of the God Race facing a devil emperor, no means were deemed excessive. Thus, there was no condemnation among the God Race; only the Element Creation God fought him in anger..."

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor recounted in detail this history, known in both ancient and modern times, then his tone suddenly shifted: "I believe all of you here are already familiar with these events. However... this past, both in the present and in ancient times, what all beings know is merely a false facade. Behind it lies another truth. A truth that, in ancient times, only the Creation Gods and the Eternal Heaven Divine Spirit knew."

These words instantly gripped everyone's hearts. Only the Creation Gods and the Eternal Heaven Divine Spirit knew... This implied that what the Eternal Heaven God Emperor was about to reveal was a great secret, unknown even to the ancient gods, a secret that had to be tightly concealed even in that era!

"The reason the Heaven Punishing God Emperor used such methods against the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, and why the Element Creation God angrily fought the Heaven Punishing God Emperor, was due to a forbidden event that had already transpired, involving the highest echelons of both the God and Devil Races – the Element Creation God and the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor had fallen deeply in love and united."

A gasp rippled through the hall. Everyone was astonished at these words.

"In that era, at every stage, the God Race and Devil Race were opposing and incompatible, eventually fighting until both races were annihilated. And a Creation God and a Devil Emperor were the supreme beings of their respective races... How could such a thing have happened?" asked the Azure Dragon Emperor of the Western Region.

She found the Eternal Heaven God Emperor's words unbelievable, as did everyone else.

"It is indeed hard to believe," the Eternal Heaven God Emperor said gravely. "In that era, it might have been even more so. Yet, it is the truth. A truth that violated and tore through taboos. It was this taboo-breaking fact, coupled with the involvement of a Creation God, that led the Heaven Punishing God Emperor to undertake that shocking act... and it triggered a series of unforeseen repercussions, even for himself, which have continued into this present age."

"This is also why the Element Creation God later relinquished his title as Creation God, proclaimed himself the Heretic God, and withdrew from the world."

This was an ancient secret, astonishing with every word, concealed even in antiquity. Yet, these words were spoken by the Eternal Heaven God Emperor himself, informed by the Eternal Heaven Divine Spirit! As a Profound Sky Treasure that accompanied the Order Creation God back then, it was indeed the most qualified to know the hidden secrets of that era.

"Even if all this is true, what does it have to do with the crimson crack we are discussing today?" Cang Shitian demanded.

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor glanced at him and continued, "In the late stages of the Devil-God War, both races withered, and what led to their complete annihilation was the world-ending devil poison, 'Myriad Tribulations Extinction,' released by the Heaven Smiting Devil Wheel after it broke free from its seal."

Myriad Tribulations Extinction... This terrifying name, responsible for annihilating both the God and Devil Races, is still widely known and sends shivers down spines even today.

"When Myriad Tribulations Extinction was unleashed, it forcibly locked onto the life aura of all gods and devils, leaving none with anywhere to hide. However, there was one artifact that could easily escape, even in the face of 'Myriad Tribulations Extinction.' That was... the Heaven Wielding Spear, also a Profound Sky Treasure!"

"And according to the Eternal Heaven Divine Spirit, in that era, the original owner of the Heaven Wielding Spear was precisely the Element Creation God... who later became the Heretic God."

"However! During the final world-ending calamity, the Heretic God also succumbed to the poison of Myriad Tribulations Extinction and ultimately perished."

"In the years following the Era of Gods, the Eternal Heaven Divine Spirit had always wondered one thing: why the Heretic God, possessing the Heaven Wielding Spear, also fell victim to Myriad Tribulations Extinction."

"It wasn't until four years ago that it learned the answer... the same answer as to the appearance of the crimson crack."

"What is it?" the Southern Sea God Emperor asked, his eyes narrowed, unable to hold back.

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor's words grew increasingly enigmatic, causing everyone's hearts to pound faster. Perhaps the calmest person there was ironically Yun Che, who had the lowest cultivation level. Just as the Ice Phoenix Spirit had anticipated, due to the presence of the Eternal Heaven Pearl, as the crimson aura grew clearer, the Eternal Heaven Pearl sensed the aura of the Heaven Wielding Spear, thus learning that terrifying truth. However, the Eternal Heaven Pearl did not know that the Heretic God had left behind a life essence inheritance. It might have vaguely known that the Heretic God and the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor had a daughter, but it absolutely would not have known her fate thereafter, or that "they" were still alive.

"The crimson crack in the Eastern Divine Region of Chaos is emitting... the aura of the Heaven Wielding Spear!"

As soon as the Eternal Heaven God Emperor uttered these words, everyone looked bewildered, momentarily unable to react.

"The Heaven Wielding Spear is the most powerful spatial artifact in the world. Its spatial power is far beyond our imagination. The Eternal Heaven Divine Spirit personally stated that with the immense spatial power of the Heaven Wielding Spear, it might even be capable of opening up space in the outer chaos, allowing beings to survive there indefinitely."

After the Eternal Heaven God Emperor finished speaking, some finally reacted with great shock. The Moon God Emperor rose, her brows furrowed in deep horror. "Could it be... is it..."

"Huu..." The Eternal Heaven God Emperor exhaled a long breath. "The Heretic God's inability to escape the world-ending calamity indicates that, at that time, the Heaven Wielding Spear was very likely no longer in his possession."

"A Profound Sky Treasure like the Heaven Wielding Spear, while possessing supreme spatial divine power, also has the strongest life-preserving ability. If he were to give it to someone, it could only be to his closest and most beloved person. So... who could that be?"

As the Eternal Heaven God Emperor spoke these words, the answer, that name, appeared clearly in everyone's minds, like a spell.

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor continued, "And now, the aura of the Heaven Wielding Spear is unmistakably emanating from the crimson crack... from beyond the Chaos!"

"Why would it be beyond the Chaos? Who brought it beyond the Chaos?"

"And all of this aligns with one name, aligning to a chilling degree."

He paused slightly, then uttered the name and answer that indeed sent shivers down everyone's spines: "Heaven... Smiting... Devil... Emperor!"

The space on the Conferred God Stage instantly froze, then violently trembled within that terrifying stillness... trembling to the point of almost collapsing.

"Could it be... beyond the crimson crack... is... the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor!?"

These words came from the Brahma Heaven God Emperor! As the foremost God Emperor of the Eastern Region, he uttered this short sentence with visible difficulty. It seemed he could barely believe each word he spoke.

No one responded. All of them looked aghast, staring at the Eternal Heaven God Emperor, awaiting his answer.

"The power of the Heaven Wielding Spear rarely appeared in ancient times, and there are no clear records of its appearance in the present age. However, the Eternal Heaven Divine Spirit told this old man that when the dimensional divine power of the Heaven Wielding Spear fully erupts, it is a crimson as deep as blood!"

"Four years ago, when the Eternal Heaven Divine Spirit first detected it, there was still a glimmer of hope. But over these four years, the aura of the Heaven Wielding Spear has grown closer and clearer, so clear that no wishful thinking remains. And in recent years, my Eastern Divine Region has suddenly experienced an eruption of profound beast unrest, with an ever-expanding scope and affecting increasingly high-level profound beasts. Such an impact could not possibly be caused by any power existing in this current age!"

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor's gaze swept across the surroundings. On the Conferred God Stage, the eyes of these supreme experts, who proudly overlooked the world and ruled their respective regions, were all filled with deep shock... just as his own eyes had been when he first learned this "truth." But today, he had to completely reveal that terrifying and brutal truth: "Back then, when the Heretic God was still the Element Creation God, he gave the Heaven Wielding Spear to the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor. And the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, banished by the Heaven Punishing God Emperor to beyond the Chaos, relied on the power of the Heaven Wielding Spear to survive in the outer chaos with her banished kin. Paradoxically, this allowed them to escape the Devil-God War and the calamity of 'Myriad Tribulations Extinction'."

"The only things in this world capable of breaking through the Wall of Primordial Chaos are the Heaven Punishing Ancestral Sword and the Heaven Smiting Devil Wheel. But there is another artifact that can interfere with the Wall of Primordial Chaos: the Heaven Wielding Spear, which possesses ultimate dimensional divine power!"

"Millions of years have passed. Relying on the dimensional divine power of the Heaven Wielding Spear... the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor and the many devil gods she leads are finally returning!"

Millions of years, relative to the lifespan of true gods and true devils, was not a very long period.

Everyone's expressions changed, and silence reigned on the Conferred God Stage for a long time. The Dragon Monarch, two emperors from the Western Region, and two God Emperors from the Southern Region... While they had regarded the crimson crack as important, they hadn't considered it *that* critical, as it was an event occurring in the Eastern Divine Region and might not affect their own divine regions. But now, their expressions had lost all prior composure, becoming profoundly alarming.

This was, without a doubt, the most terrifying news they had ever heard in their lives. And these words came from the Eastern Divine Region's... no, from the most esteemed and least prone to exaggeration God Emperor in the entire vast God Realm: the Eternal Heaven God Emperor!

Silence, a dreadful silence. In a grand assembly almost entirely composed of God Master powerhouses, the only sounds heard were frantic heartbeats and gasps of cold air.

Beside the Eternal Heaven God Emperor, the various Guardians also wore expressions of shock, for even they had only learned everything today. At this moment, they fully understood why the Eternal Heaven God Emperor had known everything so early, yet never revealed a single bit of it. Even they were this terrified upon hearing it; if it were to spread... the scale of panic and chaos it would unleash was simply unimaginable.

The Dragon Monarch rose and said gravely, "Eternal Heaven, how certain are you of what you've said today?"

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor replied, "This old man, bearing the will of Eternal Heaven, has never dared to speak falsehoods or make baseless claims in his life, much less on such a grave matter. My words... leave no room for wishful thinking."

Silence, an even more dreadful silence. If all this truly came to pass, if an ancient Devil Emperor descended upon the world, what would that mean...?

"If that is the case... are there any countermeasures?" the Dragon Monarch asked.

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor exhaled a long breath, his gaze growing particularly dim, and his tone deepened further. "If it were a world-destroying foe like the Heretic Baby, we could gather the power of all realms to defeat it, or if our strength fell short, we could use strategy. If it were a natural disaster, we could unite to confront it... But the power of an ancient Devil Emperor, if it truly descends upon this world, is absolutely beyond anything in this age to contend with. Schemes and tactics would be meaningless child's play before the power of a Devil Emperor and true devils."

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor's words grew more brutal with each sentence. And those present, given their level, understood best the concept of true divine power... It was a mythical realm that they, as mortal spirits, could never even touch. They knew clearly that the Eternal Heaven God Emperor's words contained not a single exaggeration.

"After being schemed against and banished for millions of years, the world of outer chaos, even with space opened by the Heaven Wielding Spear, must be a barren, desolate, and cruel place. When they return, they will carry millions of years of accumulated resentment and hatred. Furthermore, they are inherently cruel and terrifying devils..."

"When the crimson crack completely collapses and these devil gods return to Chaos, what will descend is a... world-ending calamity."

Grief and despair... these emotions, carried by the Eternal Heaven God Emperor's words, spread like a plague deep into every soul. After becoming God Masters, they had gradually forgotten what fear and despair were. This was because they stood at the pinnacle of power in this age, overlooking all beings in the world and becoming its rulers... This was also why they were called "God Masters." But when they learned that a power capable of easily obliterating them was about to descend upon this world, their shock and terror surpassed even that of mortals.

A part of the Moon God Emperor's attention had been on Yun Che. While all the God Masters and God Emperors were deeply shaken, he remained unusually calm. After a brief thought, she rose and said, "Eternal Heaven God Emperor, you have recently gathered the power of the Eastern Region to construct a grand dimensional array leading to the Eastern Divine Region of Chaos, and today you have gathered us here... Do you truly have no countermeasures?"

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor shook his head bitterly. "It is merely the only struggle we can make, and... a sliver of faint hope."

"What hope?"

"Firstly," the Eternal Heaven God Emperor slowly said, "we pray that the Devil Emperor and the various devil gods, having endured millions of years in the outer chaos, have had their powers greatly scattered, to a degree that we can barely contend with and prevent their world-ending devastation."

This hope was so faint it barely qualified as hope at all.

"Secondly..." A flicker of brilliance finally appeared in the Eternal Heaven God Emperor's dim eyes. "We gather the power of all of us here to forcefully seal the crimson crack!"