Chapter 1604: Wuque Emperor

A tender, trembling voice whispered, "Brother..." In a starry sky, Little Niangniang's heart stirred, and tears welled up uncontrollably.

She looked up at the sky, her face etched with terror and unease. Then, she let out a piercing scream, stumbled, picked herself up, and wailed, "No! Big brother, don't die!"

At that moment, the Black Sovereign fell silent. It had already foreseen this outcome: no true Great Emperor would be resurrected in this era. Everything was predestined, beyond salvation.

This era had seen too many losses: Ji Zi, Jiang Taixu, Gai Jiuyou... one after another. It was a tragedy for such remarkable individuals, and it was uncertain if any miracle would manifest.

The Old Madman's back was ramrod straight. In the end, he hadn't been able to deliver the immortal cocoon. Covered in blood, and having glimpsed the final outcome, even a man as unyielding as him trembled for a moment before regaining his composure.

So much sorrow; so many had perished.

"This is a cycle, hahaha..." The previously silent Black Sovereign suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, tears streaming down its face. "At the end of the cycle, everything will conclude," it cried, "and the Underworld will be the final destination for all souls. How I wish those words would come true!"

In the distance, an immortal cocoon weighed heavily upon the starry sky. Numerous large fissures opened around it, drawing in the power of the universe, making it impossible for anyone to approach. Upon hearing these words, the cocoon seemed to stir.

At that moment, deep within the universe, the Great Emperor's oppressive power shook the world. Nothing could impede it; it was the ripple of supreme dominion and invincibility throughout the cosmos.

What is a Sovereign? At this moment, it was truly manifest: after eons of self-severance, one could achieve ultimate sublimation, ascend once more to the Imperial Dao, and dictate the fate of the mortal world.

"Waaah..." Little Niangniang wept uncontrollably, pressing her small hands to her chest. Her heart ached, and a small, crystal-clear stone appeared between her eyebrows, emitting a light that pierced the cosmos as she stared ahead through tear-filled eyes.

Finally, she witnessed it: the moment Ye Fan, resolute and determined, self-destructed. His blood burned, and the vital blood flower bloomed on his forehead. His entire being shattered into dust.

"No, I don't want this! Niangniang doesn't want big brother to die!" Little Niangniang wailed. This time, her tender voice shook the starry sky and resounded throughout the universe.

Her grief was tearing her apart. Then, her entire being transformed into a rain of light, soaring directly upwards as if ascending to immortality. She vanished into the depths of the universe.

"Come back!" roared the Black Sovereign. It ran desperately behind her, trying to catch up, but it simply could not achieve that extreme speed. Her flight defied the very principles of existence.

Years ago, Little Niangniang had disappeared from the Big Dipper in the very same manner, as if ascending. She had soared skyward, piercing the heavens, and had been gone for many years.

The Old Madman also made a move, attempting to bring Little Niangniang back. He possessed the 'Movement Art' (Xing Zi Jue), but he too failed, for that immortal light had sliced through eternity, defying all conventional logic.

The desolate, cold universe was already stained crimson with blood—the blood of all living beings, the blood of Sovereigns, and even the blood of Great Emperors. Starfield after starfield lay in ruins.

Little Niangniang sobbed, whimpering like an orphan who had lost her family, weeping endlessly. Her small face was streaked with tears, and she had somehow appeared on the battlefield.

There was blood, there was light. There was the power of 'Dao Transformation,' and there were Ye Fan's fragmented remains.

"Big brother, don't die! You promised Niangniang you wouldn't perish in battle. You'd come back to see me, waaah..."

The little girl was utterly helpless. Crystal tears streamed down her face as she stumbled and collapsed amidst the blood and bones, wailing as if her entire world had come crashing down and she had lost all support.

The Sovereign's Dao principles annihilated the very essence of life. Even the 'Restoration Art,' famed for reviving the dead and regenerating flesh from bones with a single drop of blood, proved useless; all vitality had been utterly severed.

"I don't want this! I don't want this! Big brother, wake up! You promised Niangniang you wouldn't die in battle, that you'd come back alive..." She cried until her body trembled, scattering crystal tears.

The little girl was utterly heartbroken, collapsing into the gore, desperately trying to piece together shattered bones and bloody mud, a sight that wrung hearts with pity and sorrow.

She tore open the shattered Dao Yan Immortal Robe, desperately searching. Her hands were stained with blood as she cried and screamed in agony, searching for any trace of Ye Fan.

"He's gone, big brother is gone..." The little girl became utterly distraught, then collapsed there, weeping loudly.

Her tender face, etched with sorrow, evoked immense pity. She wailed and mumbled, reaching out with her small hands, desperately trying to grasp forward, as if attempting to hold onto something.

On the other side, the Abandoned Heaven Sovereign wore an indifferent expression. True Great Emperor-level fluctuations surged overwhelmingly as he stood alone, confronting all the Emperor artifacts, gazing scornfully upon all living beings.

At that moment, he suddenly reached out and touched his cheek. It was wet and glistening. He spoke with self-derision, "Tears are actually rolling down my face. Have I regained some thoughts from eons ago, after returning to the Imperial Dao realm?"

In that instant, many past events flashed in his eyes: the bloody battles on the Imperial Road, a triumphant song witnessed by all, revered by the world, ultimately leading to his enlightenment.

For a considerable period afterward, he protected all living beings and was worshipped by the world. His glory illuminated history and was etched into the hearts of all races.

He fulfilled all the responsibilities of an Imperial Dao expert and earned the respect of all beings. Later, watching friends depart one by one, seeing his beloved woman succumb to the passage of time, he was overcome with such sorrow that he yearned for immortality.

Eventually, he gradually changed. He ascended to the nine heavens and delved into the nine netherworlds, solely to prolong his life and, even more, to resurrect those who had departed from him, one by one.

Ultimately, he transformed entirely, embarking on a different path.

His heart grew steadily colder, increasingly ruthless. He turned his back on all living beings, using their blood to prolong his own life, embarking on a contradictory path.

"Haha... hahahaha!" The Abandoned Heaven Sovereign roared with laughter, wiping away the tears from his face as his expression turned cold and ruthless. "What a ridiculous emotion!" he scoffed. "Eons have passed, and now that I've recovered my peak power and re-ascended to the Imperial Dao, I'm experiencing this feeling again, just as when I first achieved the Dao. But what good is such grand compassion and righteousness if I can protect all beings but not my own family and friends?"

"In this life, I live only for myself, free from all shackles! I will defy the heavens and forge my own path to immortality!" the Abandoned Heaven Sovereign roared, making his final resolution, severing the last trace of wavering and emotion.

"Ultimate sublimation doesn't necessarily mean certain death," he stated coldly, staring at the unbroken Imperial Artifacts. "Someone once survived, though the hope is slim, I must endure in this world!"

"What Fellow Daoist says is very true," the Stone Emperor nodded in agreement.

"Hmph!" The Abandoned Heaven Sovereign merely snorted coldly, then suddenly turned to look at Little Niangniang, muttering, "I had little hope or chance of victory left, but her appearance has shown me the path to continued existence!"

The Stone Emperor's eyes flickered uncertainly. He made no comment. When he saw the Abandoned Heaven Sovereign step forward, his body trembled, as if he, too, wished to act!

But in the end, he held back, refraining from immediate action. This was a Sovereign who had achieved ultimate sublimation; unless he did the same, it would be a path to certain death.

Originally, a rain of light, the power of Dao Transformation, filled this place. However, it did not harm Little Niangniang, and it all extinguished upon the little girl's arrival.

The Great Emperor's aura in this place also did not make her tremble. Seeing the Abandoned Heaven Sovereign approach with cold indifference, she showed no fear; instead, she cried out mournfully, "Give me back my big brother's life!"

"Want to be with him? It's simple: fall into darkness together and sleep eternally," the Abandoned Heaven Sovereign said. He made his move, unleashing a Great Emperor's technique that shattered the sky, striking at Little Niangniang with full force.

He considered her his only hope for extending his life, a prize he could not afford to lose. He intended to seize her, consume her, and refine her within his immortal platform.

"Give me back my big brother!" At that moment, the little girl felt no fear, only a mournful cry, as if weeping blood. Her tender voice actually shook all the heavens and myriad realms.

"Niangniang!" The Black Sovereign's expression changed. Even from another starfield, it heard her, roaring as it charged toward the battlefield, disregarding its own life.

However, at that moment, something even more terrifying occurred. Behind the Black Sovereign, the immortal cocoon that had weighed heavily upon the starry sky exploded, revealing a slender and exquisitely beautiful figure. With a single step, the sky collapsed and the earth crumbled. She crossed the river of time, rushing toward the battlefield.

Boom!

The next moment, the cosmic battlefield erupted with the most brilliant light. That day illuminated the boundless starry sky, shook eons of time, and shattered all historical records.

Imperial Battle!

A true Great Emperor battle!

A life-and-death battle unfolded between perfect Great Emperors, who stood at the absolute pinnacle of the Imperial Dao.

No one had anticipated such an outcome. All living beings had long since abandoned hope; the entire sky was gloomy, pressing down on everyone, making it hard to breathe.

Just as it seemed dark turmoil would sweep through, heralding an unprecedented cosmic bloodbath, a perfect Great Emperor appeared in the mortal world and launched the most terrifying campaign.

This kind of light had never been seen before, not even by the Sovereigns themselves. Yet now it erupted, unleashed by two Great Emperors, shaking the mortal realm.

That was the light of immortal ascension, the power of transcendence. Their fierce battle tore the heavens, making even the celestial realm tremble. Nothing could stop them.

The entire world was stunned, all living beings were horrified, and even the surviving old Sages were petrified. Such an event had actually occurred: a perfect Great Emperor clashing with a Sovereign who had achieved ultimate sublimation—it was like a myth come to life!

Legend held that Emperors might have coexisted in the mythical era, but no one had ever confirmed it.

Now, people experienced it firsthand: beings of this caliber were engaged in a battle, their divine might overwhelming the world.

Boom!

In the cosmic battlefield, the white-clad woman let out a soft cry that shattered suns, moons, and stars. She unleashed the power of immortal ascension, a force surpassing all other techniques in the world.

The battlefield shifted!

All beings in the world were stunned to discover something: the Abandoned Heaven Sovereign was actually retreating. It wasn't from fear of death; as Imperial Dao Sovereigns, the concepts of 'cowardice' or 'weakness' simply didn't exist in their minds. They all possessed an invincible conviction, certain they were the strongest in the mortal realm. Yet, at this moment, he was sent hurtling backward by the white-clad woman, forced to retreat across galaxy after galaxy.

People did not know the true outcome of this battle; they only knew that the Great Emperor's fight was terrifyingly intense, and the Abandoned Heaven Sovereign was on the retreat.

"The blood of an Imperial Dao Sovereign..."

At some unknown point, people noticed a dazzling crimson radiance soaring into the sky at the edge of the universe. It was the aura of the Abandoned Heaven Sovereign; it was his blood splashing and scattering across the cosmos.

The final outcome of the Imperial Battle remained unknown, for no one could bear witness to it.

However, all signs indicated that today, Great Emperors were on the verge of slaughtering Imperial Dao experts. They were all peak Imperial Dao powerhouses at the perfect realm, each having once dominated the primeval universe in a certain era, possessing unmatched combat prowess.

Boom!

A colossal roar, accompanied by the wailing of the myriad Daos of heaven and earth, as a perfect Great Emperor-level powerhouse was shattered into dust, his blood splattering across the edge of the universe!