Chapter 1734: The Sovereign of Men

Soon, Xu Yang spotted a powerful figure in this slightly dim yet eerie and mysterious exclusive space. The figure sat on a throne with closed eyes, surrounded by an endless pile of dragon bones. The person on the throne exuded immense majesty.

What astonished Xu Yang even more was that the aura emanating from this person seemed no weaker than his own. It was the kind of presence only a powerful individual who had comprehended the Great Path of Life and Death could possess.

"Who is this person?" Xu Yang directly asked the giant dragon. The Dragon Vein Totem slowly replied.

"He is Kunlun, my true master."

Xu Yang's expression turned to one of shock upon hearing this. It was the first time he realized that Kunlun was the name of a person.

"So, if I'm not mistaken, the current Kunlun Divine Dao must be the civilization and legacy personally created by this supreme expert back then, right?"

The Dragon Vein Totem nodded gently. "You could say that. The reason you are qualified to come here with me and witness my master's presence is because you, too, have comprehended the Great Path of Life and Death. You might not know that throughout the nearly ten-million-year evolution of the entire Main Continent, only nine individuals among humanity have comprehended the Great Path of Life and Death and reached the pinnacle of human cultivation. Of course, counting you, there are now ten. Each of these ten individuals possesses their own system of civilization and legacy. Their power and the cultivation systems they pioneered have shaped the Main Continent as it exists today. This is an inevitable outcome of historical development, and each of these nine individuals was revered as a Human Emperor. They were the true pinnacles of their respective eras. It was precisely because they achieved an unrivaled status that they chose to establish their own traditions and reached the level of a Human Emperor. Each of the nine Human Emperors was an earth-shattering figure, and like you, they had comprehended the limits of the Great Path of Life and Death, though their methods of enlightenment differed from yours. My master, Kunlun, was the ninth to achieve the status of Human Emperor, a being who comprehended the ultimate limits of humanity through the Great Path of Life and Death. The legacy he left behind is the current Kunlun. As for the theft of the Kunlun Divine Dao's civilization fruits by the will of the supreme god, that's a story for another time; it's beyond my master Kunlun's influence. Because, in theory, he has already transcended the world hierarchy of the Main Continent. Just as this exclusive space you are currently in is the Ninth Human Emperor's exclusive space barrier. Apart from the three of us, no one else has ever set foot in this place."

Having understood all this and the meaning of the "Human Emperor" title, Xu Yang felt a new world open up before him. He had previously pondered how to find the strongest human cultivators throughout history. Now, with Kunlun's guidance, Xu Yang finally had access to the pinnacle of the cultivation world he had always dreamed of.

"In any case, I must thank you for your help this time, as my goal is to reach the absolute peak of human cultivators throughout history. You've helped me find these nine Human Emperors, who represent the strongest individuals of humanity from various eras across the entire Main Continent. This has also created an opportunity for me to contend with them. As a token of my gratitude, I will return this Dragon Source Crystal to you. However, the notch on it was made by an elder of the Xuanyuan Imperial Clan, not by me deliberately damaging it. I hope it won't have any negative impact on you."

The Dragon Vein Totem smiled and shook its head. "I was merely jesting with you, and also wanted to test the depth of your cultivation. I no longer need this Dragon Source Crystal; it will become your spoils of war and a part of your body. In this way, all six Sources of Power that my master Kunlun left to the Kunlun lineage have now entered your body. In other words, only someone who has gathered all six major Sources of Power from the Six Meridians of Human Spirit and integrated their origins into one can qualify to be my master Kunlun's opponent. Comprehending the limits of the Great Path of Life and Death only means you are qualified to be at the pinnacle of this generation's human cultivation world in terms of fortune and cultivation talent. However, obtaining the Sources of Power from the Six Meridians of Human Spirit allows you to reach the peak of human physical strength. Only now are you truly on the same cultivation level as my master, the Ninth Human Emperor Kunlun. As for whether you are qualified to achieve the status of a Human Emperor, that depends on your own ability."

After speaking, the Dragon Vein Totem directly transformed into a human form within the exclusive space. Its physical form was somewhat strange, entirely crimson in color. Even in human form, its massive body appeared extraordinarily robust, nearly twice the size of a normal human. In comparison, Xu Yang and Kunlun, seated on the throne, seemed quite small. However, the innate aura emanating from Xu Yang and Kunlun was something the Dragon Vein Totem could not match.

"Since I'm already here, please awaken your master. I am truly eager to spar with this exalted Ninth Human Emperor."

The Dragon Vein Totem, however, chuckled. "That depends on your own ability. If you don't even have the qualifications to awaken my master, you are not worthy to be his opponent."

Xu Yang's interest was piqued. With a gentle wave of his palm, a massive sword beam materialized before him, aiming directly at the Ninth Human Emperor's glabella, where he sat high upon the throne, and shot forth. The incredibly powerful sword beam, meticulously crafted, demonstrated its terrifying might to the fullest extent at that moment, representing the pinnacle of Xu Yang's Eternal Sword Dao.

The instant it touched Kunlun's glabella, the figure opened its eyes immediately, without the slightest struggle or delay. Those eyes seemed to hold the profound, weighty sense of ages past, spanning countless eons. They were more like eyes that had pierced through all the world's mysteries—calm and wise. As Xu Yang met his gaze, an indescribable feeling welled up within him, like suddenly encountering an equally matched kindred spirit in the vastness of the world. Both felt a sense of mutual appreciation as they looked at each other.

Kunlun, who had slept for countless millennia, smiled at that moment and slowly descended from his throne. "You must be the strongest human of this era. I can sense the aura emanating from you and the depth of cultivation you achieved when comprehending the Great Path of Life and Death; you are no weaker than me. However, every being who can achieve the status of a Human Emperor possesses talents and strength beyond others. To achieve victory against me, this battle between us will likely last a long time."