Chapter 1616: Outing to Little Underworld

Blood was dripping from the depths of the heavens?!

"A single drop of blood could engulf the vast cosmos; three thousand drops of true blood created three thousand great worlds. An Immortal Emperor revives, returning to his homeland."

From beyond the realm, a majestic and ancient voice resonated through the heavens, imbued with immense authority.

At this moment, not to mention ordinary cultivators, even Immortal Kings trembled, utterly shocked. What caliber of being had returned?

Even Nine Dao One himself was stunned. He didn't know where his former soul and body had gone after leaving the old land, and now that they were returning, their momentum was simply unfathomable.

"An Immortal Emperor... a being at the Path's End. This is truly extraordinary! Has a supreme being descended?"

Everyone was astonished, feeling an immense, unparalleled pressure, even though the other party had reined it in, and their vital energy had returned within, no longer spreading.

Yet, that faint might, that latent supreme fluctuation, still made everyone's hearts tremble, compelling them to prostrate themselves in worship.

"Alas for all beings, how sorrowful! Pity all sentient life, how they suffer!"

The ancient words carried an emotion that made hearts tremble, imparting an unspeakable sense of desolation.

Then, boundless light interwoven, forming a magnificent structure that descended, appearing in the Yang Realm, above Xia Prefecture.

Light patterns rippled and dao principles intertwined. The majestic structure that appeared high in the sky was even grander than the Central Heavenly Palace below, where the New Emperor and the Kings resided; it resembled a true heavenly palace.

"We greet... the Immortal Emperor!"

Dimly visible, within the massive heavenly palace woven from light patterns, a figure sat high above, incredibly majestic, looking down below.

Gulp! Nine Dao One couldn't help but swallow. What was happening? He was merely summoning his soul, bones, and flesh; how had an Immortal Emperor returned?

Could it be that the part of him that had split off had evolved into a Path's End being in the outside world?

Or perhaps, this wasn't him at all, but an unknown being he had summoned?

"This world is too bitter. The anomalies no longer lie dormant; they emerge from unfathomable stone caves. Ominous dark clouds shroud the heavens and earth. I heard the resentful roars from the histories of all worlds, I saw the suffering of all beings. I have revived from beyond the River of Time, listening to the world's call. I... have returned!"

The old man, seated in the light-patterned palace, sighed, his form indistinct, filled with compassion for the world, ready to fight for all beings!

"We pay respects to Lord Immortal Emperor!"

At this moment, even many old monsters knelt down, their souls trembling, continuously kowtowing.

"Why do you not kneel, staring at me like that?" the old man in the light-patterned palace asked, looking down at Nine Dao One.

"Kneel to you? Nonsense! You've gone rogue! I am you, and you are me. Now you dare try to trick me into kneeling? I'll reclaim you, old man!"

Nine Dao One roared, startling many.

Was someone going to assassinate an Immortal Emperor? Many were extremely nervous.

The old human skin charged directly, lunging into the palace.

At the same time, a furious Yin wind howled around, and various soul lights poured into the palace in droves, also returning to that place.

Then, people witnessed a chaotic brawl of blood, bones, soul, and skin—various roars and shouts intermingled, fighting in one place.

Until finally, they merged into one person.

Even so, his limbs seemed out of control, occasionally striking himself—for instance, slapping his own cheek, or punching the soul light within his skull...

"He's a ruthless one, even hits himself when he goes crazy!" commented the Dog Emperor from afar.

Those privy to the inside story knew that after Nine Dao One successfully summoned his soul, bones, and flesh back, they were quite at odds with each other, engaging in an internal struggle.

"The most useless human skin, showing no progress after all these years, yet still dreaming of contending for dominance with me?"

"I am not merely human skin; I also retain the imprint of the original soul light. Otherwise, how would you all return? You all answer my summons! I am the dominator. If skin has no soul, no supreme spiritual core, how can it protect the First Mountain lineage?"

"What 'main soul's original imprint'? You are merely dead skin I shed. How dare you cause trouble?"

The crowd was speechless. After the old human skin summoned back his soul, bones, and flesh, they actually started fighting among themselves—such a huge problem had arisen.

Rumble!

Heavenly thunder shook the world, chaotic lightning intertwined, striking him!

Slap!

Then, he slapped himself on the head again, an extremely bizarre sight.

"Are you crazy? Hitting me is hitting yourself! I am you!"

"Shut up! I am the dominator; I'll hit whoever I want!"

From within Nine Dao One's body, three or four voices actually emerged. It was truly baffling how he had split in the past, given that they were now fighting amongst themselves.

From afar, the Corpse Emperor watched, his expression fluctuating. Then, he abruptly grabbed the plump little Daoist priest and, without a word, gave him a thorough beating!

"Damn it, did I provoke you? Why are you hitting me?!" The little Daoist was somewhat bewildered. Why? Why was he getting beaten?

The Corpse Emperor was direct and brutal, saying, "Rather than having problems like the old human skin later, with vicious infighting between our split souls, this Daoist might as well beat you into submission now. I'll beat you once every day from now on, so you won't contend with me in the future!"

The little Daoist was furious upon hearing this, feeling an urge to cry. What kind of twisted logic was this? Why did he have to suffer like this?

He tore open his throat and yelled directly, "Dad, save me! Old Father Chu Feng, quickly come rescue your son!"

This cry made many turn their heads, and then their jaws dropped.

The Corpse Emperor's face turned green. How could he endure this? This chubby boy actually shouted that in public; where could he put his old face?

Chu Feng was also speechless for a moment. He was currently in his youth; how had he become an old father? This child had truly grown up!

"Old Father, why are you spacing out? There's no time to be distracted!" the little Daoist said urgently.

The Corpse Emperor directly covered his mouth, truly unable to bear it anymore.

"Shut up! You are me, and I am you. We are beings who are friends with supreme entities, with origins that would scare people to death. What kind of decorum is this now?"

"Waaah... Ow! Let go! Why are you hitting me? Even if I become a Path's End being, I'm still someone's son, aren't I?" The little Daoist struggled.

"Fellow Daoist, Senior, please be merciful and don't hit my son!" Chu Feng spoke.

Although he was very polite, showing respect for a senior, these words still sounded... too inauspicious to the Corpse Emperor, making him want to go berserk!

The surrounding crowd also had strange expressions, but no one dared to jeer or speak up.

Only the Dog Emperor dared to ridicule and laugh, gloating and very happy, saying, "Well done, dead fatty, stinky Daoist! It's truly not easy to find family after being alone for so long. Take it easy; don't be rough with your own kin."

The presence of two pairs of old monsters fighting among themselves made the atmosphere quite bizarre, leaving people not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Originally, the return of Nine Dao One's soul, bones, and flesh was sacred, grand, and mysterious, but now that imposing aura was completely gone.

Moreover, with the Corpse Emperor and the little Daoist stirring things up, it was somewhat an eyesore.

Finally, when everything quieted down, Nine Dao One entered an inexplicable state, his aura terrifying to the extreme. He stood there silently for a long time, not speaking.

With the soul and bones returned and merged, it wasn't just power that combined, but also different life experiences from across the ages.

He had already reined himself in considerably, yet all Immortal Kings could still sense that he was incredibly powerful, absolutely a Dao Ancestor-level being.

Even Chu Feng, who had encountered inexplicable and terrifying situations more than once, couldn't help but feel a shock in his heart now.

One day, could Nine Dao One advance further? Reaching the pinnacle, glimpsing the state of a Path's End being.

Or even, is it possible he is currently one of the strongest Dao Ancestors standing at the peak of the pyramid? However, this is likely very difficult!

Chu Feng had once gazed at the woman at the end of the pollen evolution path. Before her, there were five pioneers of the pollen path, all unimaginable beings.

In fact, if the five elders who pioneered the initial path had not lacked a bit of refinement and luck, they would have been qualified to become beings in the Path's End realm.

"In three days, we set off for that homeland!" Nine Dao One finally spoke, his expression solemn, an invisible aura of terrifying majesty emanating from him.

Even though New Emperor Gu Qing was powerful, he felt immense pressure!

Many sighed inwardly, thinking that Gu Qing, becoming an Emperor in this era, encountering a dominant Dao Ancestor coexisting with him, was truly a "Bitter Emperor."

Gu Qing himself was lost in thought for a moment. He couldn't help but recall a certain epoch when a strong Golden Crow clan member achieved enlightenment during the Age of Dharma Decline, which was truly remarkable!

That old Golden Crow proclaimed himself a Great Emperor, dominating the world, but it coincided with the rise of Heavenly Emperor Ye.

There was nothing wrong with that initially, but Heavenly Emperor Ye was too powerful, suppressing him in all aspects, causing the old Golden Crow to live in resentment for his entire life, living cautiously and meekly.

It wasn't until the old Golden Crow was about to pass away that he dared to bravely shout just before his death: "Damn you, Heavenly Emperor! Finally, I don't have to see you anymore!"

After such an outburst, the old Golden Crow finally left with a smile, immensely satisfied, relieved, and liberated...

Gu Qing felt a bit of self-doubt. Would encountering Nine Dao One in this life become his inner demon? Would the old human skin suppress him in the years to come?

Evidently, he was overthinking. What Nine Dao One wanted to suppress was his soul, bones, and flesh; he hadn't even thought of Gu Qing.

Three days later, all departments of the Heavenly Court were mobilized, and the first grand assembly and expedition began.

Not a single Immortal King was left behind; all were to embark, because at the last moment, Nine Dao One took out a scroll, dubbed the Sky Burial Map.

Its origin was unknown, as was its power. This item had been brought back from beyond the realm by his soul and bones, and required a Dao Ancestor-level being to activate it with numerous Immortal Kings to unleash its maximum power.

"Seniors, do you not wish to reconsider? Our destination is fraught with too many hidden dangers. The strength of the mastermind behind it is unimaginable, and there has never been any clue as to their identity."

Chu Feng made a final effort, trying to persuade everyone not to go.

However, it was futile. Everything had already been decided and could not be changed.

Boom!

A massive beam of light pierced through the world barrier, opening a path through the chaotic region between the Yang Realm and the Lesser Yin Realm, forging a special route.

Undoubtedly, with Immortal Kings paving the way, nothing could obstruct them; there were no longer any barriers between worlds.

Instantly, people immediately felt a peculiar Dao rhythm!

Even Immortal Kings felt a chill, their limbs turning cold. This Lesser Yin Realm seemed to truly harbor a great terror!

"No wonder even the old monsters are unwilling to easily set foot here. There truly are mysterious and unfathomable rules suppressing this entire universe!" an Immortal King said with a solemn expression.

The more powerful the being, the more serious their expression, always feeling that something extremely terrifying resided in this world!

The moment these individuals forged a path, reaching the Lesser Yin Realm, beings in the Eternal Unknown Land were disturbed, gradually beginning to awaken.

"Who disturbs my dreams, who stirs the tides of history, who overturns the visions of the future, who seeks my origins..."

Reviving within the River of Time, awakening beyond the world, a brilliant and mysterious flower bud, wreathed in mist, was born in the River of Time. It rapidly bloomed, growing through the eons of history, enveloping a certain being, which slowly awakened!