Chapter 209: Top and Standing Proud

Boom!

The world was engulfed as two of history's strongest Great Emperors fought like madmen!

They fought with their lives on the line, their apertures shattering and collapsing one by one, gradually succumbing to death.

Half a day more passed in the battle. Di Qi was formidable, gradually growing stronger and gaining an advantage in the fight. However, he eventually began to tire; his power, though great, had limited endurance as he fought alone, while Dao Changsheng's stamina remained terrifying, full of vigor.

The speed at which Di Qi was improving could no longer keep pace with his physical exhaustion. This filled him with despair; despite his terrifying talent, he lacked time. If he had more time to deduce and refine, he could easily kill Dao Changsheng.

"Die!" Dao Changsheng's eyes blazed like flames. He resembled a colossal, heaven-supporting war god, yet he was also on the verge of collapse. He slammed his hand down fiercely, declaring, "Most ancient Heavenly Emperor, I cannot allow you to continue growing!"

Di Qi was already weakening. Seeing the attack approach, he somehow mustered a surge of power and resolve, forcing his body to meet it head-on. He retorted fiercely, "You're the one who will die!"

A terrifying wave of energy erupted once more.

At this moment, not only was the sky shattering and collapsing, but the nine colossal pillars supporting the heavens and earth also began to crack.

The first, the second, the third...

"The heavens and earth have completely collapsed! Our world is returning to chaos!" Someone exclaimed, looking at the sky in horror.

In ancient times, the Dao Sovereign had carved out the world from primordial darkness, separating heaven and earth. Now, this vast world could no longer withstand the terrifying battle between these two supreme Heavenly Emperors. It was gradually collapsing, threatening to revert to chaos.

"No!!" Dao Changsheng roared, watching the walls and sky begin to crumble.

He instantly abandoned his attack on Di Qi. His black hair stood on end, and he violently threw his head back and roared, rapidly growing into a colossal giant who stood between heaven and earth. He strode towards the collapsing section of the world, vast swathes of hazy primordial chaos swiftly swirling around him, as he forcefully used his arms to prop up a section of the sky.

Crash! "Get up there!"

His body supported the sky, radiating light that illuminated the entire world for an instant.

"Re-forge it!" Dao Changsheng roared loudly, as layer upon layer of Dao patterns on his arms released fire Dao arts, melting the sky and consolidating the collapsing heavens and earth.

Di Qi stood up, swaying as he was bathed in blood. He suddenly paused, then turned his head to look at Dao Changsheng.

At this moment, both were at the end of their strength. Di Qi could have easily killed Dao Changsheng with a single blow, as Dao Changsheng had abandoned resistance and was supporting the world. But he didn't; he simply watched Dao Changsheng in silence.

Having opened up this world, he too was among the most ancient Primordial God Heavenly Emperors...

Crack! The sky sank further, riddled with cracks.

Dao Changsheng's arms rapidly elongated, and several more grew, transforming him into a colossal giant standing upon the earth, his hands forcefully propping up the sky, his feet pressing down on the cracking ground, sinking deeper and deeper under the immense pressure, facing an expression of ultimate madness.

"The sky cannot fall!!" Dao Changsheng was drenched in blood, utterly exhausted, yet his expression grew even firmer. His eyes gleamed with the ultimate frenzy of a martyr. "Without the Dao Sovereign's primordial chaotic flames, we lack the ability to open up this vast world from chaos again!"

He raised his arms high.

"I will lift you!!" Dao Changsheng roared fiercely, shaking the entire world. He frantically extended blood-red arms, as layers of Dao arts erupted, consolidating the collapsing walls of the heavens and earth.

Rumble! Wild blood burst from his arms, and the heavens and earth seemed to merge into a crimson haze.

Crack! Dao Changsheng's last remaining fifth aperture shattered.

A crimson halo bloomed across the heavens and earth, and the entire collapsing sky suddenly lifted slightly upwards.

He felt his consciousness gradually fading. He was too, too tired; all his thoughts were drifting away – his teacher, his mother, the young boy with a book basket on the Jianmu tree years ago...

Crack! Another aperture began to shatter.

Dao Changsheng felt his consciousness growing increasingly blurry.

"We actually lost..." "Born at the wrong time. If only there was a little more, Di Qi would surely die... At the very least, we could have perished together..."

Inside the inner world, there was widespread lamentation. People occasionally sobbed, crying heartbrokenly, wanting to go out and help. But alas, the Pangu Golden Body consumed too terrifying an amount of power; all the strength of the mighty experts and gods had already been expended, and they were even beginning to lose consciousness.

"Heavenly Emperor Dao..." In the few remaining fragmented inner worlds, countless ancient sects and reclusive sacred lands cried out in sorrow and prayed. The mortals throughout the world wept silently. Heavenly Emperor Dao's actions were utterly selfless, all for his people. When the sky collapsed, he used his own body to bear the heavens and earth, preventing their reversion to chaos. This evoked gratitude from all beings; never had a Heavenly Emperor's prestige reached such a level. Perhaps it even surpassed that of Human Ancestor Xu Younian during the ancient, sorrowful, and desperate years of war.

This sentiment transformed into an ocean, continuously flowing in threads towards the sky, pouring into Dao Changsheng's body. It granted his utterly exhausted form a sliver of renewed strength, allowing him to prop up the sky another inch.

"Young man, let go. Your soul, residing within the nine apertures, is mostly shattered. If you continue like this, you will die..." Di Qi, spitting blood, sat up. Unsure of what complex emotions he felt, he still advised.

"What does it matter?" Dao Changsheng retorted with a bitter smile. "It's just a pity. Even after reaching this extent, I couldn't kill you. I was so close, just moments away."

Di Qi said nothing.

Amidst the blood, Dao Changsheng looked at Di Qi with a hopeful expression, gazing at him with clear, almost pleading eyes – at this most powerful Heavenly Emperor of ancient times, whom he had almost killed and perished with:

"Can you grant me a request?"

Di Qi looked at him, then fell silent for a moment.

"Speak."

A trace of serenity appeared in Dao Changsheng's eyes. "I have no strength left. I hope you can wait for me to prop up the heavens and earth before you kill me. After you achieve sainthood by using my corpse, please spare the common people of this world."

Di Qi was startled.

"Young man, I do not need charity." He smiled faintly, his body swaying as if he had aged countless years in an instant, hunching over. He turned and walked away. "In my eyes, I have already lost this battle. This is the first defeat in my life. I will remember it, keeping you in a corner of my memory, preserving you eternally... For countless years, I have lost one opponent after another: the Primordial Gods, Xu Younian, the Eleven Ancestral Witches... and now, I will lose you too."

He stood up, stumbled with difficulty, and vanished from the spot.

"Di Qi..." Dao Changsheng supported the heavens and earth, his consciousness growing increasingly blurry. He couldn't find words to describe Di Qi's pride and eccentricity.

His body strained harder to support the sky, as if he were standing there for eternity. He clearly felt himself gradually losing his sense of self.

Dao Changsheng's eyes were bloodshot. He continued to support the heavens and earth, his consciousness sinking into darkness. He didn't know how much time passed, but vaguely, he saw a black-haired, black-clad giant youth approaching, carrying a bucket and an axe.