Chapter 1861: Arranging Things Before Departure

The duel between the two emperors began with a roar. Cracks appeared in the sky as countless forces surged, and it seemed as if blood splattered.

As everyone watched the battle's epicenter, Emperor Chen Yong's pale face conveyed a sense of deep unease. He had been besieged by Ancient Sage Yan Qing and other powerful figures from the Hundred Schools of Thought, and without fully recovering, he had endured numerous battles, even being struck by the "deity." He was clearly at the end of his tether. His continued fight was purely due to his unwavering determination.

"Alas!" Zhang Xuan shook his head and averted his gaze. At this point, the outcome of the battle no longer mattered. However, he knew that Emperor Chen Yong would surely win and personally slay Emperor Chen Ling. The final struggle was one of sheer will, and Emperor Yong possessed the determination to see it through. For humanity, Emperor Yong's demise would be a blessing; otherwise, with him still alive, it was uncertain if they could truly maintain their foothold.

Redirecting his attention from the ongoing battle, Zhang Xuan focused on the corpse before him. This "deity's" body, like that of the ruthless one, was incredibly powerful and indestructible. Even in death, it radiated an aura too formidable for ordinary individuals to approach. Zhang Xuan, despite now possessing the power of 'droplet rebirth,' felt a strong oppressive force as he drew near. After a quick scan, he shook his head with a resigned expression. He had expected the being, having descended from the heavens, to possess numerous treasures, but it was completely empty-handed, without even a storage ring.

"Perhaps the spatial barrier was too strong to allow treasures through..." Zhang Xuan mused with a sigh, then reached out and collected the corpse into his storage ring. While there were no other items, this corpse was the ultimate treasure for him. He planned to refine it into a Soul-less Golden Man when the opportunity arose, enabling him to traverse the world without fear.

As Zhang Xuan finished examining the "deity's" corpse, the battle concluded. Just as he predicted, despite significant recovery from his injuries, Emperor Chen Ling was no match for the severely wounded Emperor Yong. With a swift slash, Emperor Chen Ling's head flew into the air; until his dying breath, he seemed unable to comprehend what had happened. "You... are indeed stronger than me..." Emperor Chen Ling uttered his final words, and his eyes slowly closed. Only then, at the precipice of death, did he fully grasp that Emperor Chen Yong was far superior to him; his rebellion had indeed been an act of self-destruction. With a thud, the body fell to the ground.

"Young Master," Emperor Chen Yong began, dragging his weary body forward. "Although Emperor Ling committed many evils, he was still one of the Spirit Clan's emperors. I wish to bury him in the imperial tomb..." He had noticed the Young Master's eyes light up again as he looked at the corpse. Despite Emperor Chen Ling's rebellion and actions that outraged both humans and deities, he was still a member of the imperial clan. If he were to be refined into a Soul-less Golden Body, it would bring no honor to Emperor Chen Yong.

"Very well!" Zhang Xuan said, turning away with a disappointed expression. It seemed this corpse was out of his reach.

"Thank you, Young Master!" Emperor Chen Yong said, exhaling a sigh of relief. He then abruptly sat down, feeling his strength ebb like a tide. His cultivation rapidly declined, and he felt as though his breath could cease at any moment.

"Yang Liu, come here..." Emperor Chen Yong called, turning to his chosen successor. "Your Majesty..." Liu Yang approached, his eyes red-rimmed. Although they hadn't known each other long, the emperor had been genuinely kind to him, his generosity immense.

"My time is coming to an end," Emperor Chen Yong declared. "You have received the complete inheritance of my lineage, so... I will bestow upon you one final benefit!" As he spoke, he spread his five fingers and reached forward. The space around Liu Yang was instantly confined, making movement impossible. "Your Majesty..." Liu Yang cried out, filled with anxiety, seemingly aware of the emperor's intention.

"And I'll need a moment of the Young Master's Ancient Sage power..." Emperor Chen Yong said, turning to Zhang Xuan after confining Liu Yang. Zhang Xuan didn't hesitate, shaking his hand to send a scroll flying over. Emperor Chen Yong gently unfurled it, and a surge of power immediately enveloped him. He then swayed and placed his palm on Liu Yang's head. A resounding boom followed as all his strength, like a torrential downpour, poured into the confined young man. "It's an empowerment!" Ancient Sage Huo Xu muttered, shaking his head. "He knows his time is short and doesn't want his cultivation to simply dissipate. He intends to transfer it all to his successor in one go..."

The art of empowerment involves a powerful individual transferring their cultivation to a junior. While it sounds simple, it is exceptionally complex in practice. First, both individuals must belong to the same lineage to prevent a clash of energies. Second, the empowerer must be prepared to die, as any hesitation would harm both parties. Third, the empowerer needs extremely precise control over their strength, without the slightest error. Liu Yang cultivated a simplified version of the Path of Heaven technique, which, although not capable of disguising any power like Zhang Xuan's, was very similar to Emperor Chen Yong's lineage. This similarity was why he earned the emperor's appreciation and was bestowed with the full inheritance. This also gave Emperor Chen Yong the confidence to proceed, knowing Liu Yang could withstand the transfer.

Boom! As the power surged, Liu Yang's cultivation, already at the pinnacle of the Immortal Realm, began to loosen. With the aid of the Ancient Sage's power, it burst open with a resounding "boom!" He had reached the Ancient Sage realm! Knowing the lightning tribulation could strike at any moment, Emperor Chen Yong dared not pause, rapidly infusing his immense power. With cultivation reaching the Ancient Sage realm, Liu Yang's meridians widened, allowing for even faster absorption. More than ten minutes later, every drop of Emperor Yong's power had been transferred. Crack! The lightning tribulation descended, and Liu Yang flew up to confront it. Half an hour later, he landed, looking somewhat disheveled, but he had successfully endured the tribulation, emerging as a true Ancient Sage expert.

"I have transferred all my power to you," Emperor Chen Yong said. "From now on, you can slowly refine it. It won't be difficult to break through to the Droplet Rebirth realm within a month..." Having expended his power, Emperor Chen Yong seemed to age decades in an instant, losing his youthful appearance and resembling a withered old man. "Thank you, Your Majesty..." Liu Yang knelt, tears welling in his eyes. Though Emperor Yong was severely wounded, with his power, he could have lived for several more years with proper recuperation. By transferring everything to Liu Yang, he had effectively sealed his own fate and likely wouldn't survive the day.

"After I am gone, the Spirit Clan... will be yours!" Emperor Chen Yong said with a faint smile, looking at Liu Yang. "From today forward, you are the new Emperor Chen Yong!" As he spoke, he pointed his hand, and a crown descended onto Liu Yang's head, emanating a power too strong to meet directly. This was the crown of the first King of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe. "Emperor Chen Yong" was merely a title, not a given name; whoever inherited this crown became the new Emperor Yong. "I..." Liu Yang's body trembled, and he found himself speechless.

"Enough," Emperor Chen Yong said, shaking his head. "When I proposed the duel with Emperor Chen Ling, I had already made this decision..." He was about to elaborate when a rapid whistling sound pierced the air from afar, and a figure sped directly towards them. "Emperor Chen Xing?" everyone exclaimed, their brows furrowed in alarm as they recognized the sudden arrival.