Chapter 1391: Tasting the World’s Splendor

The pitch-black dragon's lair was nestled on the edge of a precipice. At its entrance, ancient medicinal kings, tens of thousands of years old, grew in abundance, emitting an astonishing fragrance. There were also some withered plants, clearly too ancient, that had decomposed into medicinal mud on the ground, their seeds in turn becoming new ancient medicinal kings.

A silver dragon stretched across the landscape, like a sprawling, boundless snow-capped mountain range. Its majestic head was held high, a pair of enormous horns flowed with crystal light, and its translucent scales shimmered, their roars echoing through the heavens.

“Is this real?!” People trembled, unable to believe this reality. A true dragon manifesting in the world felt like something out of a fantasy.

The aura of an ancient Great Emperor permeated the air, intimidating the ages and the sky. Ancient saints prostrated themselves in droves, involuntarily bowing in worship. It was a spiritual tremor that compelled them to kowtow. This was the might of an ancient Great Emperor, which even saints could not withstand. It was like ants gazing up at a giant dragon, or a mayfly trying to shake the heavens – the disparity was too vast.

Ye Fan's body glowed emerald green, as the fragmented ancient Heavenly Court artifact revived and automatically resisted the pressure. He pulled Pang Bo back, instantly retreating hundreds of miles away. Most people could not avoid it, no matter how powerful they were. As long as they approached this place, near the pitch-black dragon's lair, they could not endure the pressure; their bones would break and their tendons would snap.

“Eternal Demon Emperor, supreme being of an era, we have no intention of offending. We respectfully bow and kowtow here.”

All the Great Saints were no exception; they knelt on the ground. Not one person could resist even a wisp of the aura emanating from the silver dragon. It was terrifying, a difference as vast as heaven and earth.

The silver true dragon raised its head, soared into the heavens, circled once, then descended again, like a supreme deity, radiating silver light from its entire body, suppressing past, present, and future. It possessed a boundless vitality, like a surging ocean, its blood energy overwhelming, causing all beings to tremble. By now, no one had any doubts; this was absolutely an Emperor-level entity! Even the Stone Man, who was only half a step away from entering the Quasi-Emperor realm, knelt down, trembling there, which was proof enough.

With a thunderous roar, the precipice split open, and half of the stone mountain collapsed, falling into the endless abyss below. Dragon energy surged next to the black dragon's lair. Dozens of medicinal kings swayed, their faint glows emitting a clear fragrance that made one feel as if they were about to ascend to immortality.

The saints' eyes widened, but no one dared to make a move. Before an ancient Great Emperor, even a Quasi-Emperor would appear utterly insignificant.

However, the startling change continued; even the dragon's lair itself cracked open. Several of the medicinal kings, along with the falling rocks, plunged into the abyss, wasted in vain. Everyone was stunned with fright. Had the Demon Emperor become enraged? Even the dragon's lair was destroyed; was this to slaughter everyone present? Not to mention them, even if all cultivators from the myriad realms of the heavens arrived, they would surely die.

Everyone's scalp tingled with dread. Hundreds of thousands of years had passed, so how could a Demon Emperor of that era reappear? They had always said he fell on the path to immortality. What was his true fate? This was clearly a true dragon, a genuine Great Emperor, reappearing in the human world. It profoundly impacted people's minds, making them feel as if they were dreaming; even the Great Saints were bewildered.

“Pfft!”

A Saint King exploded, blood and bone fragments splattering everywhere. It was a shocking sight, simply because he was too close to the dragon's lair. This sent chills down everyone's spines, causing their hair to stand on end.

Ye Fan retreated swiftly enough, but even hundreds of miles away, he still felt a tremendous pressure. If not for the green bronze cauldron emitting its radiant glow, had he insisted on not kneeling, his knees would most likely have shattered.

Pang Bo trembled all over. He tightly gripped the Demon Emperor's Ruler; the two sections of the azure-gold ruler emitted divine radiance in his palm, casting large swathes of light. This finally allowed him to remain standing and not kneel.

“Too powerful! Is this truly an ancient Great Emperor? Just a wisp of their aura is unbearable, forcing even Great Saints to kneel. How terrifying would it be if they truly made a move? I imagine they could destroy this entire universe,” Pang Bo shivered. The two of them came from the other side of the starry sky, and even after cultivating for many years, some deeply ingrained thoughts in their minds remained hard to change, leading to conflicting ideas. However, after a moment of careful thought, both felt relieved. What hadn't they seen by now? After all they had experienced, this was just a brief moment of bewilderment.

“Greetings, Demon Emperor!” Daoist Bai Jie’s body trembled with excitement as he kowtowed, bumping his head against the ground with every step. This was a genuine expression of reverence.

In the sky, the silver dragon's scales were pristine white and crystal clear, shimmering with iridescent light. Its eyes contained the illusion and destruction of starry skies, and terrifying visions of cosmic evolution. It clearly possessed a powerful life fluctuation, yet it remained deaf to Daoist Bai Jie's words. It circled high in the firmament, gazing down at the vast universe, lost in thought.

“No, this isn't the Demon Emperor. It has long lost its soul. This is an Emperor Corpse, the body of a Great Emperor retaining some imprints,” Daoist Qing Huang suddenly exclaimed. Though he was ancient and on the verge of passing away, his cloudy eyes emitted two sharp beams of light, discerning the true nature of the silver true dragon.

Everyone stared blankly, their bodies chilling. This wasn't a Great Emperor, but a corpse that had given birth to intelligence? There was nothing more terrifying than this. Hundreds of miles away, Ye Fan and Pang Bo exchanged glances; they too felt a chilling aura assail their bodies. Indeed, the ancient Great Emperors were beyond prediction; merely a corpse was enough to make people unable to withstand it.

“Quickly, kill the people from the Underworld and drive them away from here! Don't let them get close!” shouted a human Protector.

The chief god of the Divine Organization had already taken action, launching the fiercest attacks against the black-robed demon god. Before entering this place, the Great Saints had been wary of the Underworld's people, fearing they would act against heaven's will.

“Heh heh…”

The Underworld's Great Saint, clad in black battle robes, gave a sinister laugh. With a clear whistle, tens of thousands of Yin Soldiers from all directions, each emanating monstrous corpse qi, converged on the area.

“Suppress them all!” Daoist Qing Huang roared.

The Stone Man, Ox Demon King, and several Evil Gods also changed their expressions and together blocked the tens of thousands of Yin Soldiers. Legend had it that Yin Soldiers were fatal to corpses; once they got close, they could assimilate them. If an Emperor Corpse were to fall into the Underworld's hands, it would be simply unimaginable!

This place instantly transformed into an Asura's Purgatory. Even tens of thousands of Yin Soldiers weren't enough to kill. When a Great Saint made a move, everything turned to smoke, and countless piles of ashes scattered across the universe.

However, many more guests from the Underworld arrived, and Yin drums pounded. The Senluo Purgatory appeared, with swarms of bone-white ghost ships and shadowy halls manifesting in the void, unleashing even more Yin Soldiers. A hundred thousand Yin Soldiers! Each one was powerful, all selected from ancient Yin tombs across various old star regions of the universe and gathered here. This was a force capable of making the myriad realms of the heavens tremble. They were not going to their deaths; they did not attack the Great Saints. Instead, they sat cross-legged in the void, chanting sutras. This was the Underworld's Corpse Summoning Scripture, intended to turn the Emperor Corpse into one of their own.

“No!”

Everyone screamed. If the Demon Emperor's body truly fell into their hands, it would be unimaginable; the entire universe would undergo a drastic change.

“Retreat!” Daoist Qing Huang suddenly gave this command at the crucial moment.

Beside him, Daoist Bai Jie stood grim-faced. He clearly detested the Underworld's plan. This was the Demon Emperor he most revered, and such desecration was absolutely unacceptable. Seeing this, the Ox Demon King, Stone Man, and Evil Gods also retreated. They did not desperately fight the Underworld's Great Saints; only the chief god of the Divine Organization continued to battle there.

An ancient bronze coffin flew from the depths of the universe, mottled with green rust. It seemed to have existed for hundreds of thousands, even millions of years. Its lid suddenly opened, emitting chanting sounds and various lights. It was approaching, aiming to summon away the Emperor Corpse.

“Are we really not going to stop them?” The Ox Demon King anxiously asked. “If the Underworld truly obtained this silver true dragon, it would certainly be a catastrophe.”

“Observe quietly,” Daoist Qing Huang merely said. He held extremely high prestige on the ancient road.

“Even if the Demon Emperor is dead, not just anyone can disturb him. Even those from the Underworld cannot!” Daoist Bai Jie sneered resentfully.

“Boom!”

The chief god of the Divine Organization flew away with his cauldron, leaving behind only the Underworld army and the chanting sounds from the heavens. The ancient coffin and the black-robed demon god sat cross-legged in the void, summoning the Emperor Corpse. The hundred thousand Yin Soldiers were all emanating Yin energy. Some saints who approached directly had their souls scattered, leaving behind empty shells. This was the Underworld's magical formation. It could trap and kill Great Saints, bizarre and terrifying. Ordinary people could not approach it, or malevolent spirits would claim their lives and seize their souls.

“Pfft!”

Suddenly, the black-robed demon god's entire body cracked open, and black blood stains appeared all over him. His whole body trembled violently, and then his physical form suddenly exploded. Following that, the ancient coffin also shook violently, its chanting abruptly ceased, and it exploded in the void, sending metal fragments flying. Then, the hundred thousand Yin Soldiers vanished into ashes, as if a heavenly deity had clapped them, instantly turning them into dust, erased from existence. The Underworld's Great Saint was like a mere clay dog or tile rooster, exploding during the corpse-summoning process. What a terrifying sight! He hadn't even truly touched it, merely intending to use the hundred thousand Yin Soldiers as a medium from a safe distance, yet he still suffered a backlash, his body and spirit annihilated.

Boom!

The dragon cave exuded an aura of ancient vicissitude, mysterious and unfathomable. At this moment, it completely split open, strands of dragon energy surged in all directions, while the medicinal kings growing at the entrance fell into the abyss below the cliff. This place was on the verge of destruction. The entire Demon Emperor's mausoleum was cracking, and amid thunderous roars, mountains and rivers collapsed. The magnificent imperial tomb, suspended in the cosmos, was crumbling, soon to cease to exist.

The hearts of the saints bled. Clumps of medicinal kings, numbering in the dozens, near the Demon Emperor's cave, all plunged into the abyss. What other heaven-defying immortal treasures might have been inside the cave remained unknown, likely even more astonishing, but they could only watch helplessly.

A silver true dragon lay across the area, blocking everything. Even the Underworld's Great Saint and the supreme hundred thousand Yin Soldiers had been annihilated; how could this not be heart-stopping? No one dared to take another half step.

Suddenly, the silver true dragon in the sky also disintegrated. Its scales vanished, and its immense life energy transformed into a pool of Emperor's blood, revealing its true origin.

“This… isn't a complete Emperor Corpse, but just a pool of blood. However, it's unique; within it remains the Demon Emperor's undying obsession, guarding this place!” Daoist Bai Jie cried out in surprise. He sensed an emotional fluctuation, feeling the same sorrow.

The great tomb disintegrated, the abyss also split open, and the Demon Emperor's cave on the precipice shattered into pieces. Everything was revealed. There, a jade box, only about a foot long, was revealed. It was crystal clear, unfading even after hundreds of thousands or millions of years, with divine radiance flowing from it.

Everyone's hearts stirred, and they couldn't hold back. The Emperor Corpse was gone, transforming back into a pool of blood. The saints couldn't resist rushing forward, wanting to seize this final treasure. Undoubtedly, this was the Demon Emperor's most cherished possession, otherwise, it would not have accompanied him, never separating from birth to death. However, the pool of blood contained an indomitable obsession, transforming into a radiant light that moved forward, entwining itself around the foot-long jade box, unwilling to separate, guarding it. For a moment, everyone paused, daring not to make a move.

“First, retrieve the medicinal kings!”

The saints took action, searching for the dozens of ancient medicinal kings that had fallen into the shattered abyss.

“Crack!”

Suddenly, the jade box cracked, emitting a soft light. Everyone's hearts trembled instantly. A withered bouquet of flowers was revealed. It had no luster and was completely dried up. However, through the Demon Emperor's magic, it had not turned to dust but had been preserved exactly as it was. Anyone could see that this bouquet was not a divine medicine, nor a rare ancient herb. It held no value at all. Yet it had been preserved by the Demon Emperor until now. Was this truly his most beloved item?

Scene after scene emerged, depicting events from the past.

“Are you really leaving?” By a small lake, a delicate young girl whispered, her face filled with reluctance, gazing hopefully at a man in snow-white robes, yearning for him to stay.

“I want to become stronger, invincible throughout the world.” The young man in white was full of vigor and confidence. His eyes shone brilliantly, radiating a light that could eclipse the sun and moon. He intended to embark on the ancient starry road, on an invincible journey to become the one and only in the heavens and earth, to defeat all young supremes, and stand at the ultimate peak of invincibility. He was so high-spirited, yet he didn't notice the dimness in the girl's eyes. He turned his back on everything, stepped onto the heavenly path, and went to fulfill his dream.

“Will you… will you come back? Will you come… see me again?” the girl cried from behind, her eyes brimming with tears, filled with reluctance.

The man in white looked back from the firmament and laughed heartily, dimming the sun and moon in the sky, full of grace and confidence. He said, “Of course. When I become an Emperor, I will have all the splendor of the world shine upon you.”

With that, he rushed back to the ground, picked a bouquet of wild flowers from a cliff, and handed them to the girl. Then, without looking back, he soared towards the outer regions, embarking on the heavenly path.

“I'll wait for you. Don't forget me. Come back.” The girl cried, shouting on the ground and waving vigorously.

Xue Yueqing embarked on his imperial journey, traveling to one ancient star region after another, contending against countless heroes. He battled for an unknown number of years, tempering himself through blood, pain, and triumph. He fought his way across the ancient road, rarely meeting an equal, defeating numerous peerless foes. His radiance spread across the starry path, eventually conquering some of the most powerful ancient stars. During this time, he made enemies of the entire world, enduring the most terrifying pursuits. All major ancient star regions besieged him. Such was the cruelty of the Imperial Path. He could not see his old friend, nor could he turn back. He could only fight his way through, carving out a clear path in the cosmos through bloodshed.

Ultimately, he became an Emperor, sweeping away all formidable rivals, revered uniquely throughout the world, radiating boundless glory, shaking the past and present. In the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, no one else could contend with him. He did it; he truly became an Emperor, invincible under heaven, revered by the myriad realms as the Demon Emperor. He was destined to be recorded in cultivation history, an unapproachable existence throughout time.

Xue Yueqing, following the path he had once taken, set out for that ancient demon star, embarking on his return journey. However, waiting for him was no longer the young girl, but only a few aged demons, their lives flickering like candles in the wind. The young girl had perished, departing five hundred years ago, her bones interred at the place of their farewell. She could no longer appear.

Xue Yueqing was overcome with great sorrow, howling towards the sky, causing the universe to crack. The Great Emperor's aura swept across all directions, almost destroying the vast cosmos.

“I beg five hundred years from heaven!” This was his great roar, yet nothing could be changed. The old demons told him that the young girl's cultivation had gone awry; she had merged with the Dao and perished, leaving no body behind. As she transformed into a shower of light, tears streamed down her face as she murmured his name.

Xue Yueqing wailed in sorrow. He was a Great Emperor, invincible throughout the world, unparalleled through the ages! Yet, he could not change any of it; he could not bring that woman back. They had missed each other in this life.

The delicate young girl had merged with the Dao, vanishing with the light rain, leaving behind only a single bouquet of flowers. It was the very one he had given her when he left, now long withered and decayed.

Within the shattered imperial tomb, people were stunned. They finally understood why only a withered bouquet of flowers accompanied the Demon Emperor of an era. In his heart, this was the most precious thing. Even if one is invincible, there are moments of powerlessness. He had ascended to the glorious apex. Yet, when he suddenly looked back, he realized that the simplest and most ordinary things were the true ones.

Ye Fan felt a profound emotion and couldn't help but let out a long sigh: “Having tasted all the splendor of the world, it is hard to compensate for a lifetime of bitterness and regret.”