Chapter 2289: The Grand Finale (Part 2)

Half a minute earlier.

“The Tidal Sea is in trouble…”

Upon seeing the continuously trembling black hole before them, Emperor Yun Chi and the others’ expressions all changed. They had always believed that the spiritual energy tides were continuous, occurring every ten years. It was only upon witnessing the current situation that they understood the tides could also vanish and collapse. Once it collapsed, the God Realm would become like a world without a sun: its spiritual energy would be continuously depleted until it dried up, turning it into a desolate, lifeless realm.

“Hold it back…”

The six Great Emperors and the Undying Emperor, Little Yellow Chicken, simultaneously raised their palms, channeling their immense power into the black hole before them. They hoped their combined strength could temporarily halt the collapse.

Crack! Crack!

Their resistance didn't last long. A massive crack appeared before them, instantly rupturing the previously sealed barrier. Chaotic spiritual energy formed a colossal vortex, continuously devouring and pulling back the power of the spiritual energy tide that had just entered the God Realm.

The firmament of the God Realm, as the cracks spread, began to fissure like porcelain, inch by inch upwards, becoming impossible to stop.

“First, prevent the God Realm's upheaval…” Emperor Yun Chi roared. At this point, the group no longer cared for their rivalries; their only desire was to protect the God Realm, to defend their home. Seven streams of power surged forth, sealing the cracks that had appeared in the firmament, temporarily halting their spread. However, due to the instantaneous depletion of spiritual energy, the God Realm was already experiencing immense turmoil.

The earth shook, and the stars dimmed, appearing as if they could fall at any moment. Countless buildings collapsed, and the world seemed to be at its end.

“The God Realm is doomed…”

“We long suspected this day would come, but never so soon…”

“There's no need to run; if the God Realm truly collapses, fleeing anywhere will only lead to death…”

Countless cultivators stood lifelessly in the center of the cities, their hearts filled with desolation. Ever since the God Realm began experiencing changes more than forty years ago, nearly fifty years ago, they understood that greater upheavals would eventually occur; they just didn't expect it so soon.

“Just wait. If the Nine Heavens' Nine Emperors can save the God Realm, we'll live. If not, we'll all die anyway, so there's no need to worry…” A High-rank God King, watching the chaotic crowd, explained. Before he could finish speaking, a faint voice resonated in their minds, a thought that suddenly entered their souls as if tacitly approved by the Nine Heavens.

“Today, I am Emperor!”

“An Emperor? Someone has become an Emperor... It's Emperor Zhang Xuan!”

“Wasn't Zhang Xuan a pill vendor? How did he break through to become an Emperor?”

“Yes, it's definitely him. I heard this voice when Emperor Tian Zong broke through to become an Emperor as well…”

Everyone was in an uproar; no one dared believe it was true.

Night冥 City, Night冥 Academy.

Recalling the voice that had appeared in his mind, Teacher Mo Yun's eyes widened, and his mouth hung open. “Emperor Zhang Xuan…” A little over a month ago, when he first met Zhang Xuan, the latter was incredibly weak, merely at the initial stage of God-level cultivation. He never imagined that a month later, Zhang Xuan would have already become an Emperor, standing at the very peak of the entire world.

“He... became an Emperor?” Qi Ling'er's teapot dropped to the ground, unnoticed by her. She had long known that this person's identity was extraordinary and that he would surely grow stronger, but she never dreamed he would actually become an Emperor, and so quickly!

“As expected of the Nine Heavens' King of Investiture... He truly broke through successfully upon entering the Tidal Sea, just like Emperor Tian Zong…” Fairy Linglong looked with a complex expression in the direction from which the voice had come.

The Tidal Sea had completely collapsed by then. In the depths of the dark space, a young man stood proudly in the air, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze filled with a world-defying indifference. It was precisely the one she had seen earlier, above the moon. When she encountered him in Linglong Heaven, she had wanted to kill him over the matter of the Hundred Leaves Green-Red. She never imagined that in just a few days, he would have already transcended the shackles of titles and successfully achieved the supreme Emperor status! As the Nine Heavens' King of Investiture, coupled with his current might, he would likely become the most dazzling meteor, sweeping across the Nine Heavens and becoming unrivaled in the world, just like Emperor Tian Zong.

“No wonder the Undying Emperor recognized him as master, and Emperor Lingxi was enamored with him… He truly is extraordinary!” Only at this moment did she finally understand what had puzzled her before. This was foresight, and she was far from possessing it.

“The people we recruited are all his students. Mortal bodies, yet with the potential of Emperors… He truly is another Emperor Tian Zong!” Emperor Yun Chi, Emperor Zhuoyang, Emperor Xuanming, and others sighed with emotion simultaneously. They had previously considered suppressing him to prevent his ascension to Emperor status, but now it seemed completely unstoppable.

“He broke through to Emperor-level without using the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus!” Everyone was stunned. They had originally believed that his successful breakthrough to Emperor-level must have been related to the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, so they hadn't given it much thought. Now that the Tidal Sea had ruptured, the scene within was clear to see, and they immediately noticed the blooming lotus in the void. It shone with dazzling brilliance like jade, exuding an incredibly strong allure.

“He didn't use it, which means we can. Once we do, our strength will surely increase greatly…” Emperor Fu Meng let out a tiger's roar. His heart was also filled with a fervent desire for power. If the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus had been consumed by someone else, it would be one thing, but now that it was floating perfectly in the air, who could give it up? “He just broke through and is still consolidating his power; he won't have time to refine this treasure. It's mine…” Without hesitation, Emperor Fu Meng abruptly charged towards the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus.

“Don't run, it's mine…” The Qiankun Devil Lord also rushed forward in a hurry. In an instant, Fairy Linglong, the Qiankun Devil Lord, Emperor Xuanming, Emperor Zhuoyang… the four Great Emperors also abandoned their composure and rushed forward in unison. Before they even reached it, various powers converged into enormous palms, pressing down from above. All of them wanted to snatch the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus before anyone else, to break through their current shackles and achieve the supreme position.

Before the six streams of power could land above the Golden Lotus, a massive barrier blocked them. Then, to everyone's astonished gaze, the lotus bloomed ever wider, emitting nine rays of light that illuminated the entire God Realm, as if an extra sun had appeared.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The light pierced through the barrier and collided with the six streams of power. The six Great Emperors simultaneously recoiled several steps, their faces turning pale. Clearly, they had suffered a great loss in the collision with the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus. To everyone's bewildered gaze, the Golden Lotus continuously wriggled, transforming into the appearance of a young man.

The moment he appeared in the air, the young man stretched his neck, looked at Zhang Xuan not far away, and his face was full of frustration. “You actually broke through first... How am I supposed to show off now?” A voice simultaneously resonated in everyone's ears, filled with anger. “From today onwards, I'm a damn Emperor too!”

“Two Emperors?”

“Two broke through at once?”

“It's not two, it's one. Haven't you realized, this is his clone…”

“His clone also became an Emperor?”

Fairy Linglong, Emperor Yun Chi, and the others stood frozen in place, almost going mad. Emperors, symbols of the world's absolute peak. For countless years, they had believed there could only be nine Emperors in the Nine Heavens, no more. It wasn't until Emperor Tian Zong appeared that they realized Emperors could also be cultivated! Even so, they remained full of confidence, believing their status was irreplaceable. Yet, now… Two more Emperors appeared in a single day, and they were even the main body and a clone. What in the world was going on? Since when did it become so easy for Emperors to break through?

Most importantly… At the crucial moment of becoming an Emperor, the best time to establish one's prestige, one usually needs to project a grand and proud image… So why did this clone give off a feeling of failing to show off and then becoming enraged out of embarrassment?

“I'm a damn Emperor too…” This originally lofty title, with your declaration, what's the difference between it and a street performer's status?

Not only did the various Emperors have such expressions, but everyone in the God Realm also looked bewildered. “Emperors... can curse?” And... just now it was Emperor Zhang Xuan, and now, damn it, another one emerged… Two Zhang Xuans… which one is real?

“One person, two Emperors, and enfeoffed as King by the Nine Heavens! This is truly my master…” Little Yellow Chicken's eyes gleamed. This is the true might a master should possess.