Chapter 895: Ascending the Platform

The grand drama of the divine realm, as the Sun God's voice reverberated, swept across this decaying world like surging waves.

A storm also formed at this moment, sweeping through all areas of the divine realm alongside the waves, washing away star-soils enshrouded in cobwebs and dispersing dust buried by history.

And so, in a certain place, amidst the ruins of a star, an ancient stone tablet was revealed.

It was relatively well-preserved, though most of its inscriptions were blurred and illegible.

Only the four characters at the bottom, upon being touched by divine sense, could have their meaning perceived.

Northern Immortal Emperor Realm.

This was the name of this realm, forgotten in time.

It might once have been glorious; existing in this universe where deities dwelled, it clearly had its own stories with the gods, and naturally, there were names that propelled this realm to ascend.

But now, only desolate ruins remain, only a solitary Imperial Tomb, only this lamentable destruction and countless unconscious divine beings.

And this realm originally had no connection whatsoever with the Wanggu Continent.

The former location of this realm, when viewed from the starry sky, was infinitely far from Wanggu.

It was the invasion of the Spider God after the Immortal Emperor's fall, whose aura permeated everything, transforming this Northern Immortal Realm into its own divine domain. Then, accompanying the fractured face, it came to Wanggu... And so, the Northern Immortal Emperor Realm appeared in the crevices of the Wanggu Continent.

It also became, for all the strategists here now, the chessboard they scheme upon, or rather, the divine fruit.

At this moment, the stone tablet floating in the dusty ruins was retrieved by a hand formed of moonlight from the starry sky, brought to the center of the divine realm, placed above the black vortex, and appeared before the three gods.

The gazes of the three gods silently converged.

Perhaps it was the karma induced by Xu Qing and Second Brother's integration into the Emperor Corpse, or perhaps the power generated by their divine might. Consequently, their gazes seemed to contain a special aura, washing over the stone tablet.

Causing the blurred inscriptions upon it to revive ancient traces.

"The Emperor knew his lifespan was limited, that his destiny was about to fall, and that collapse would inevitably bring a great catastrophe. To leave a sliver of hope, on the day his body closed, he defied ancestral decree, swallowed the divine fruit, refined the sun, moon, and stars, split his three souls, and worshipped his own souls. Using his body as incense, he sent his three souls into reincarnation, severed his fate, and concealed karma. Thereafter, humans remained human, immortals remained immortal, and gods remained gods. The Emperor fell... his soul scattered."

The ancient traces recounted a hidden history, but as they revealed themselves at this moment, before Yan Xuanzi and others could perceive them with their divine senses, they dispersed once more.

The stone tablet remained a stone tablet.

The history it represented was truly buried in time this time.

But that fleeting moment of brilliance still returned the hidden karma, sending it back to silently settle into the destinies of the three gods.

Consequently, this divine realm, at this instant, had its authority split into five parts: one for the Sun God, one for the Moon God, and one for the Star God.

The remaining two parts: one was in the Mountains and Seas, and one was in the Emperor Corpse.

The part in the Emperor Corpse was a lock, and now that lock was opened.

The Sun God spoke calmly.

"Are they going to make it in time?" the Star God asked.

"The time has come," the Moon God said calmly. "It no longer matters. We are about to begin."

"Sister is still consumed by hatred," the Star God chuckled softly, "but I guess they will make it in time."

The three gods were waiting for the opportune moment.

Beneath the Great Domain of Mountains and Seas, that Great Authority who once unified the Profound Heaven Great Witch Clan and betrayed the Nine Li, was waiting for a promise made in time.

Now, they all had what they were waiting for. This grand curtain, extending for countless millennia, was also drawn open at this instant.

Revealing the stage.

The trick had also begun.

And in the corner hidden by the curtain, the strategists from the other side, or rather, the strategists destined to appear—Second Brother and Xu Qing—were also making their moves.

However, this trick was the home ground of the three gods and the Great Authority. They would not interfere with the timing, nor would they, having waited for the opportune moment, then make any meaningless further wait.

Therefore...

The stage was there.

The trick was there too.

Whether they could make their move in time, whether they could catch up to this play after making their move, whether they could truly step onto the stage and timely seize that share of authority...

Each to their own destiny.

"Destiny means nothing!"

In a world of dark red, the sky was collapsing.

On the sea of blood, Second Brother roared with laughter, looking up at the sky, his entire body emitting a brilliant blue light. From his chest, numerous blue, pure and ferocious arms stretched out from within, reaching to support this sky.

These arms transformed into a colossal ice pillar, continuously integrating into it as reinforcement, and endlessly surging forth from Second Brother's chest.

One after another, they pressed on.

Consequently, the ice pillar grew larger and taller, supporting the sky and rapidly spreading, as if to freeze this firmament.

Furthermore, countless blue worms poured forth from his body, spreading across the sea of blood, rapidly devouring and expelling, as if to swallow the entire sea of blood and make it wither.

But the collapse of this world seemed to be an irreversible fact, so soon enough, the sky fell and the sea roared.

The ice pillar shattered and the worms broke apart.

But the next instant, new ice pillars reappeared, and more worms spread anew.

Only those who support the heavens can be called Ancestors.

Only those who cover the seas can be called Masters.

By supporting the flesh and blood and reversing the corpse blood, one can then take control of this Immortal Emperor's corpse.

However, the difficulty is immense, divided into two points.

First, he needs to conquer this world; second, he needs to conquer more worlds.

This collapsing world is an abstract representation of the Emperor Corpse's physical body. The sea of blood is merely one drop among the countless blood within the Emperor Corpse's body.

The falling sky is one inch of the entirety of its flesh and blood.

And Li Zihua's finger suppressed the second difficulty, making the sea of blood in this world capable of being a single drop or all the blood within the corpse.

The falling sky could be one inch of flesh and blood, or all of its flesh and blood.

Conquering one realm is equivalent to conquering all.

This reduced the difficulty, but even so, even if Second Brother ultimately succeeded, it would not necessarily determine everything.

Because within this Emperor Corpse, there also remained the Immortal Emperor's remnant soul, contaminated by a god, or rather, integrated with a god.

Only when the soul and physical body, the Niwan Palace and Dantian, each achieved completion, could it be considered a success.

Therefore, the Captain was going mad, and Xu Qing was also fighting with all his might.

As for the difficulty of suppressing the remnant soul, it also had two points.

First, how to integrate this terrifying Emperor God's soul into his own Emperor's Treasury!

Second, after integrating it into the Emperor's Treasury, how to conquer it.

Li Zihua's finger provided a huge impetus, causing this remnant soul to be suppressed, its terror erased, and its integration into the Emperor's Treasury to become simple.

But this was, after all, an Emperor God's soul; even if suppressed, it still had aspects that defied fate.

Therefore, Xu Qing was indeed fighting with all his might. In a vast immortal palace, after seeing the remnant soul sitting on the dragon throne and staring intently at him, he used his ghostly hand to forcibly push open the hidden door of his Imperial Sword, manifesting it externally and descending upon the remnant soul.

Integrating the remnant soul into the Emperor's Treasury.

The remnant soul did not resist because, compared to what the Captain encountered in acquiring the physical body, the intelligent soul clearly understood that the success or failure this time was not in the physical body, but here.

If it could turn the tables within the hidden door and then reverse the possession, then this round might not be lost.

So, the moment it entered the hidden door, the remnant soul defied fate, the Emperor's Treasury rumbled, and cracks appeared in the hidden door—a sign that it could not withstand.

In response to this, Xu Qing also had his own choice.

He closed his eyes, his Dao Soul opened its eyes, leapt up in his Sea of Consciousness, and charged into his own Emperor's Treasury.

Within the Emperor's Treasury, the heavens were vast and the earth immense.

However, the sky was filled with thunderous might, silver light pervaded the dome, and the mountains and earth churned like earth dragons, appearing like sword dragons tearing armor.

And between heaven and earth, a sword stood upright.

This sword had endless precious light, illuminating heaven and earth.

Its material was bronze, emanating human race fortune. The sword body should have been four feet seven inches long, but now, within the Emperor's Treasury, it manifested as forty-seven thousand zhang.

Its blade was imposing, sword energy crisscrossed, sharp enough to cut heaven, earth, and people.

Beneath an Ancient Emperor, all could be cut.

Its name was... Imperial Sword.

Beside the sword, there was a soul clad in imperial robes, wearing an imperial crown, expressionless. At first glance like an Emperor, then like a God, its figure first having an imperial body, then transforming into a spider's face.

At this moment, it was gazing at the Imperial Sword, its eyes revealing admiration.

"What a splendid Imperial Sword!" It then looked towards the charging Xu Qing.

"You wish to fuse me into a Dao Spirit and wield this sword?" As it spoke, this soul raised its hand, attempting to shake the Imperial Sword.

"This sword, without my permission, you cannot move it," Xu Qing spoke calmly.

The moment his words were uttered, the Imperial Sword began to hum. Its hum tore through the sky, changing the firmament's color, and sword light erupted, shooting in all directions, dazzling heaven and earth.

The Emperor soul beside it paused its right hand and slowly retracted it.

"You cannot move it either."

After speaking, the Emperor soul's body swayed and charged directly at Xu Qing.

Soul battle erupted!

For a time, the entire Emperor's Treasury rumbled and shook, transmitting throughout Xu Qing's body. His body remained motionless, but the more it remained so, the more perilous it became.

As for Second Brother, he was also going insane.

This battle between physical body and remnant soul, Dantian and Niwan Palace, erupted simultaneously and instantly intensified.

His childhood experiences taught Xu Qing decisiveness.

His life in the Seven Blood Eyes taught Xu Qing concealment.

His past in Feng Hai County taught Xu Qing foresight.

Only from his Senior Brother did he learn to fight!

To fight against heaven, to fight against earth, to fight against people, to fight against gods!

And, to fight against destiny.

Consequently, the Emperor Corpse, falling into the abyss, had a sound reverberate from its Dantian.

"Open my seal, unveil the Nine Nethers! When the Summer Immortal departs the world, frost shall cover all!"

Blue ice flowers bloomed from the Dantian, instantly spreading across the entire Emperor Corpse, covering its body, its limbs, covering everything.

As for the Emperor Corpse, fallen into nothingness, Xu Qing's voice also reverberated from its Niwan Palace.

"In my early years of wielding a sword, I once cultivated a technique.

This technique could be learned and nurtured by any sword wielder. Now, within the Emperor's Treasury, its true meaning is known.

Let you know, this sword, I can move it!

I have a sword... Its name is, Imperial Sword!"

The sword rose from the Emperor's Treasury, disdainfully cleaving through nothingness, irresistibly slicing through the abyss, sweeping with an unstoppable momentum, and landed upon the Emperor Corpse's Niwan Palace!

The Niwan Palace caved in.

Startling time and space, severing illusions!

The Emperor Corpse trembled, ceased its descent, hung suspended in nothingness, and as the sword light flashed, its closed eyes suddenly snapped open!

Not belonging to the Immortal Emperor, nor to the Spider Soul.

Those were Second Brother's eyes, and Xu Qing's spirit.

Nothingness rumbled, declaring their return.

The abyss shattered to congratulate the new master.

In the ethereal depths, the divine realm transformed from the Northern Immortal Emperor Realm, with its fifth share of authority, fell into the destinies of Xu Qing and the Captain.

At the same time, within the Great Domain of Mountains and Seas, the advancing figure looked up, seemingly gazing into the distance.

Within the divine realm, the three gods standing outside the vortex all cast their gaze down, staring at the vortex.

"It seems I guessed correctly."

A slight smile curled the Star God's lips.