Chapter 1079: Obsessive Life and Death, Hard to Let Go

An uproar erupted at the Eastern Demon Feather, once the site of the Dao Platform. Countless Demon Feather cultivators around watched as their highly symbolic Dao Platform collapsed, as a withered branch shot skyward, and as the fruit on it became visible. Each of them felt a violent tremor in their hearts.

What shocked them even more was that the figure of the Demon Feather Emperor, who had once presided over the Eastern Demon Feather Dao Platform, blurred at that very moment and then vanished. It was merely an illusory shadow. His imperial status had previously prevented anyone from discerning this fact. But now, with the collapse of the Dao Platform and the surging aura of the Dao Fruit, its true nature was exposed.

All of this transformed into an invisible storm, sweeping across all directions. Simultaneously, a profound sense of instinctive unease began to swell. This unease stemmed, on one hand, from the drastic changes in the immediate vicinity, and on the other, from the resonating bell tolls that pierced through the entire Demon Feather Holy Land. Ancient bell tolls reverberated across the heavens and earth. It was the bell of war. The collapse of the Dao Platform appeared to be a signal.

At this very moment, the Human Race and the Yan Yue Xuantian Race ascended from the Wanggu Continent, each advancing towards the two Holy Lands suspended in mid-air, initiating a decisive battle. In an instant, chaos erupted across the world.

While the outside world descended into turmoil, the world within the Dao Fruit also experienced a surge of chaos. As Ming Yan roared from inside the bone cauldron, the cauldron let out a tremendous rumble, shaking violently. Outside, the worms formed by Er Niu, unable to withstand the struggle emanating from within, disintegrated one by one. Within the bone cauldron, Ming Yan seemed to have harnessed the power of the Dao Fruit it inhabited, regaining balance and unleashing a sky-shattering force that was now erupting. Amidst thunderous roars, the lid of the bone cauldron began to show signs of being forced open.

The next moment, the cauldron lid violently shook, lifting open a crack. Golden and purple light shimmered, bursting forth from the gaps around the lid. Emperor Ming Yan was on the verge of breaking free.

At this critical juncture, the fragmented space where the Empress was located in the distance suddenly erupted. Simultaneously, outside the bone cauldron, the remaining blue worms, their eyes wild with madness, rapidly digested the crystals Xu Qing had previously provided, letting out guttural roars.

"Damn it, I'm not afraid of you!""Third Incarnation!!"

As they roared, the transparent sea below them erupted, unleashing boundless waves that transformed the entire expanse into a colossal vortex. An ancient aura began to rise from within this vortex.

Earlier, after his body shattered and fell into the sea, Er Niu had actually discovered fragments of his third incarnation's memories deep within. However, due to limited time and his insufficient current capabilities, he couldn't fully absorb them. This prevented him from completely assimilating them at once. Until Xu Qing provided the original source... This source, capable of forging an immortal body for Xu Qing, was equally invaluable to Er Niu. It could nourish him, enabling him to unlock more seals and swiftly absorb the memories of his third incarnation. Having absorbed it, he now possessed the ability to, at least initially, summon his third incarnation.

Thus, in the next instant, as the transparent sea erupted, a vortex of ice flames swirled forth, and a chilling aura instantly enveloped the entire world. Immediately afterward, an enormous black hand suddenly rose from the vortex of the transparent sea. This hand was not corporeal but an illusory manifestation, yet the aura it exuded was not only ancient but also possessed an unparalleled ferocity that shook the heavens and earth.

Its form was unsettlingly bizarre. While appearing to be a hand, a head grew from its middle finger, and its ring and index fingers curved to form arms. The pinky and thumb hung downwards, resembling two feet. And upon its palm, a gaping maw opened, a bloody abyss. Its entire body was covered in countless black hairs. It appeared horrifyingly grotesque, a truly shocking sight.

This was the projection of Er Niu's third incarnation, the peerless fiend that had been suppressed by the Immortal Art Emperor in ancient times. Now summoned by Er Niu, it shot skyward, instantly appearing above the bone cauldron, pressing down decisively on the violently trembling cauldron that was on the verge of bursting open.

"Refine it!" Er Niu roared.

The bone cauldron shuddered, falling silent for a moment. But before Er Niu could revel in his success, an even more powerful surge of energy erupted from within the cauldron. Deafening roars echoed. Er Niu's third incarnation projection immediately blurred, showing signs of collapse. After all, this was merely a projection, not his true third incarnation. Facing the terrifyingly powerful Ming Yan within the cauldron, his suppressive force struggled to be fully effective.

Just as Er Niu's third incarnation projection was about to collapse, Xu Qing, at that critical moment, completed the final fusion of the seven great worlds within his body. Without a moment's hesitation, his figure flickered. In an instant, he appeared beside Er Niu's third incarnation projection, his eyes gleaming. He raised his right hand and pressed down from a distance on the trembling bone cauldron below.

"Supreme Metal, Supreme Wood, Supreme Water, Supreme Fire, Supreme Earth!" A divine voice resonated from his lips. The next moment, five of the seven worlds behind him suddenly descended, vaguely resembling five shattered crystals. They erupted with the power of the Five Elements, encircling the bone cauldron and suppressing it. Then, the remaining two worlds swiftly descended as well.

"Supreme Space, Supreme Time!"

A shriek echoed from within the bone cauldron, but the next moment, both Xu Qing and Er Niu's expressions changed drastically. An incomparably terrifying shockwave surged forth from the cauldron. The force of this impact was overwhelming, irresistible, shattering all obstacles as if resistance itself was futile. The very next moment, it exploded!

The bone cauldron's lid was directly blown open, sending Xu Qing and Er Niu reeling backward. Within the cauldron, Ming Yan's figure began to ascend. Though powerful, they were ultimately no match for Ming Yan.

"You all..." As the hoarse voice emanated from Ming Yan's rising figure, the fragmented space where the Empress had been instantly collapsed. A divine aura erupted within. The immense ripples generated by this aura swept across the realm, causing the heavens and earth to change color. Simultaneously, the Empress's figure, in a single step, instantly appeared above the bone cauldron and pressed down fiercely, distorting everything in all directions. The full, unreserved power of her God Platform peak ascended.

Xu Qing and Er Niu retreated rapidly without hesitation, clearing the battlefield. They understood that the unfolding events were now beyond their control. Facing the Empress's intervention, Ming Yan's eyes glowed crimson. He raised a hand, intending to shatter her power.

But the next moment, an ancient star abruptly rose behind the Empress. The moment this star appeared, winds surged and clouds billowed, an overwhelming sense of vastness enveloping everything. Upon the star, five figures sat cross-legged. These five figures were deities, the Human Emperors from across different eras: Dongsheng, Shengtian, Jingyun, Daoshi, and Xuanzhan. Their divine power erupted completely, pouring into the ancient star and pressing downwards.

The shattered fragments in the distance were no longer blurred, revealing the myriad perforations from the previous battle and the gruesome, decapitated corpse of Ming Yan's clone. Also visible was the Demon Feather Emperor, heavily wounded and spitting blood.

Pale-faced, the Demon Feather Emperor gazed at the Empress's departing figure and then at the world around him, muttering to himself. "This grotto-heaven is actually formed from the incredibly rare Myriad Wonders Nurturing Dao Fruit! The Myriad Wonders Nurturing Dao Fruit can grant the possibility of resurrection to any being below the True God realm. A single Dao Fruit can be used three times, but each individual user can only benefit from it once in their lifetime."

"This fruit's withered state suggests it has been used by Ming Yan. Now, only one use remains before it dissipates completely. So, this was the true key to Ming Yan's resurrection! And the Empress's ultimate goal in this endeavor!"

As the Demon Feather Emperor spat blood and staggered backward, the Empress stood above the bone cauldron, gazing down at Ming Yan within. At this moment, Ming Yan's body was 50% purple, 30% golden, and 20% cyan. She couldn't discern the source of the purple, while the golden hue originated from a single drop of river water. The cyan, however, came from the Dao Fruit, which was the focus of the Empress's unwavering gaze.

Throughout this entire endeavor, she had been concealing her true strength. She had not used her full power. On one hand, her opponent's cultivation was nearly at its peak. On the other hand, her objective was far too crucial, and she had only one chance to achieve it. She could not afford to fail.

Originally, according to her initial plan, if the variables Xu Qing and Er Niu had not appeared, the situation would have seen Ming Yan attempting to possess the Demon Feather Emperor, and she would have cooperated with the Demon Feather Emperor to achieve her own goals. Although Ming Yan was formidable, she also possessed her own backup plan. However, plans often cannot keep pace with unforeseen developments. The emergence of Xu Qing and Er Niu as variables drastically altered the situation. Ming Yan changed his mind, abandoning his attempt to possess the Demon Feather Emperor and choosing to cooperate with him instead. His target for possession had shifted to Xu Qing.

Thus, the Empress remained observant, biding her time. As the events unfolded, the Empress increasingly came to view these variables not as hindrances, but as opportunities. Whether it was Er Niu's third incarnation or the mysterious nature of Xu Qing's physical body, both factors increased her chances of success beyond her original plan. Therefore, she continued to wait.

Until Ming Yan, in his desperate attempt to escape, willingly revealed the power of the Myriad Wonders Nurturing Dao Fruit—it was then that the Empress finally seized her opportunity! What she desired was for Ming Yan to voluntarily reveal the Dao Fruit. Thus, as she made her move, the Empress immediately, and without hesitation, brought forth the trump card she had prepared for this very mission.

Her trump card was the Human Race's Ancient Emperor Star. It was also the Human Race's foremost supreme treasure in terms of status. Furthermore, enhanced by five Human Deities, this supreme treasure could unleash earth-shattering power. With a resounding roar, the Ancient Emperor Star descended, exerting its suppressive force. Ming Yan's furious roars echoed intensely. He struggled to break free, but the Empress, biting her tongue to spray her divine blood for further reinforcement, and unleashing the power of her God Platform without reservation, halted Ming Yan's attempt to escape.

Immediately afterward, a vortex appeared within the descending Ancient Emperor Star. It plunged downwards. Using the power of the star, the might of the five Human Emperors, and the full force of her own God Platform, the Empress swallowed the bone cauldron containing Ming Yan into the ancient star! Ming Yan was sealed.

Having accomplished this, a look of resolute humanity emerged in the Empress's eyes at that very moment. She, who had been a distant deity, now felt entirely human. Her true objective, from the very beginning, was never to completely kill Ming Yan, nor was it merely his soul. What she had consistently waited for was the moment Ming Yan would reveal the Dao Fruit, allowing her to then use the Ancient Emperor Star to sever his connection with the outside world, rendering it, for a brief period, free from external karmic ties. Only then would she have the opportunity to enact her ultimate objective!

"Great Emperor..." the Empress murmured, and as she raised her hand, a colossal statue flew forth from her body. It expanded rapidly, then settled onto the vast sea below. The seawater trembled.

The statue was that of the Sword-Wielding Emperor!

Xu Qing stared at this sight, his mind reeling, his breath quickening with mounting excitement. He had guessed the Empress's true intention. The Empress, whose eyes had remained calm since she achieved godhood, now gazed at the statue with profound longing and filial reverence for an elder. She spoke softly.

"Return..."

She was, astonishingly, going to revive the Sword-Wielding Emperor right here!