Chapter 1619: Filling the Pit with One's Body

"Don't slander him!" Jiudao Yi rebuked loudly, his voice filled with severity.

That person held the most revered, unsurpassable position in his heart. No one could compare, and no one was allowed to speak lightly or criticize him.

By now, everyone knew who he was talking about.

Jiudao Yi's intense emotion and obvious reaction made everyone realize the truth.

In fact, that individual was unimaginably mysterious and powerful in people's minds.

However, very little of his past was ever mentioned.

Indeed, that person was gradually fading from people's memories, slowly disappearing from ancient history.

"Have I slandered him? Tell me, didn't he eat his way through his opponents, leaving them all in despair?!"

The being who had once been an Immortal Emperor in the old era spoke slowly, calmly, and with ease, prompting people to muse about that person's past.

Jiudao Yi opened his mouth, ready to argue.

But after thinking carefully, he realized that the person indeed had some unique habits, a remarkable appetite, and a preference for "self-sufficiency," habits that simultaneously shocked and frightened his enemies.

Finally, he steeled himself and said, "Nonsense! He clearly doesn't eat humanoids!"

Everyone was speechless.

Even the mysterious being was stunned, unable to respond.

Chu Feng was also wide-eyed and lost in thought for a moment.

There truly were no perfect people in this world; one couldn't dig too deep into history.

In the minds of the world, although rumors about that person were scarce, some had become common knowledge.

Whenever he was mentioned, he was associated with certain words: great, supreme, exceptionally talented, awe-inspiring, and invincible throughout history!

At the same time, his experiences were heartbreaking and linked to other words.

He was desolate, lonely, and forlorn, standing alone through eternity, sitting in a bronze coffin, journeying through the blood-stained heavens, a solitary figure drifting away...

He never looked back, disappearing from ancient history, never to be seen again.

Yet, even such a heroic and majestic figure had a dark past; one absolutely shouldn't delve too deeply or investigate it.

"I must clarify: the non-humanoid beings he consumed were all utterly evil. Not a single one who could be redeemed or had even a shred of kindness in their heart was killed; they were all spared," Jiudao Yi added solemnly.

These points had to be clarified because they were facts.

Although that person loved to eat, had a remarkable appetite, and possessed a strong and distinct "style," he also adhered to his principles.

The Immortal Emperor from the old era spoke coolly, "Indeed, he wouldn't consume those who weren't utterly wicked. And, of course, humanoids were excluded. Thinking about it, perhaps I should be grateful that I'm humanoid, and thank him for his mercy in not eating me?"

Everyone wanted to laugh but didn't dare, ultimately feeling very tense.

"I know who you are!" Jiudao Yi declared with certainty, staring intently at the watery blue planet ahead.

Although no one was visible, only one being matched the description.

The crowd grew increasingly nervous. It was confirmed: an Immortal Emperor from the old era was lurking ahead!

This was truly terrifying. How could they fight him? They weren't even on the same level!

The Corpse and Dog Emperor's expressions changed; they too realized who it was.

However, many others remained bewildered, having no knowledge of that era or epoch; even the most brilliant golden age was now obscured by the mists of history.

"Yes, you are his follower? You should have known who I was long ago," the mysterious being murmured, a touch of melancholy in its voice, sighing at the merciless passage of time, the grand cycles, and how things had changed.

"I don't understand, how can you reappear in this world?!" Jiudao Yi's heart churned. This was clearly a being that should have long since vanished, so how was it alive again?

Gu Qing gave Jiudao Yi a wry look, reminding him that this was once a former Immortal Emperor, and that alone was enough.

Everyone else also understood, but they felt an even deeper chill and a sense of unease.

Indeed, beings at the Path's End stage were incredibly difficult to kill. If they could be easily eradicated, it would diminish their stature too much.

What defined a Path's End being? It was one who had walked the evolutionary path to its absolute limit, unable to grow any stronger!

Such an existence was truly immortal, impervious to countless calamities.

Even if by some accident their body was destroyed and their Dao scattered, as long as a single thought in this world touched them, as long as someone yearned for them, that being could come back to life, truly undying and unkillable!

Otherwise, why would even Dao Ancestors yearn for it their entire lives? Because only by reaching this realm could one ensure eternal existence.

For this supreme entity, as long as someone thought of him, proving his existence, he could live!

Jiudao Yi still didn't believe it. "That's not right either. Although Path's End beings are powerful and said to be indestructible, it's not absolute. Especially since you were killed by that person. He once said that if he didn't want you to live, you would utterly perish, with no hope of reappearing!"

"Indeed, apart from that terrifying individual, even Immortal Emperors from the Heavens and Path's End monsters from the ominous source find it difficult to kill me!"

The mysterious expert nodded. In his words, there was no disrespect towards that person; on the contrary, there was high regard.

Both Gu Qing and the various kings realized a startling fact: that person from the past seemed extraordinarily terrifying, absurdly powerful. He could truly obliterate... Immortal Emperors!

The legend that he drove all his opponents to despair was no exaggeration!

Path's End beings were difficult to destroy, capable of enduring great tribulations, and almost eternally existent.

But any so-called eternity had flaws; weaknesses could be found and exploited by true peerless beings.

Only now did people truly understand how terrifying the person Jiudao Yi spoke of was.

Legend had it that he killed a Path's End existence immediately after becoming an Immortal Emperor!

Thinking about it closely, it was truly horrifying; beings of the same rank would undoubtedly be terrified.

"You're asking why?" The being who was once an Immortal Emperor in the old era directly told Jiudao Yi the answer: "Because that terrifying individual personally summoned me, reaching into my physical ashes and spiritual embers, allowing me to live again and reappear!"

That person personally performed the ritual, summoning with an Immortal Emperor's will—there was truly no one else like him. This made everyone gasp in awe; it was indeed defying the heavens!

"Why did he save you?" Jiudao Yi asked, suspicious.

"Because I once harbored goodwill towards the world, but I was ambushed and fell into darkness. Not long after that terrifying individual killed me, he came to his senses, pardoned me, and personally summoned me, bringing me back to life."

Everyone was surprised, but Jiudao Yi was relieved. This made sense; that person was never unreasonable to begin with.

The Immortal Emperor from the old era had been forced into darkness by someone's machinations. That person pardoning him and bringing him back to life was, in a way, giving him a chance!

For the myriad heavens, this undoubtedly meant gaining another Path's End guardian.

For a moment, people actually sighed in relief, believing they hadn't encountered a formidable enemy.

The mysterious being slowly spoke, "Don't relax. I haven't finished. Well, I can tell you that I still intend to throw you into the dark abyss."

People's hearts trembled. There was a hidden truth here; was he still a source of disaster?!

"My first demise was due to being contaminated by an incredible dark energy—the strongest true blood from the ominous source, which invaded my body and soul."

"At that time, I immediately sensed something was wrong, but the process of turning dark was irreversible, unchangeable. I already knew I was destined to become a Dark Immortal Emperor."

Upon hearing this, the members of the Fallen Immortal King Clan finally understood why they felt a sense of closeness and familiarity with this person.

Because this was an ancestral source; they had all been contaminated by the same substance!

Of course, what contaminated them was merely mist and thin bloody fog, not the true, concentrated dark blood.

"I used my body to suppress the cavern from which the dark true blood flowed, attempting to seal the source, and in doing so, I also buried myself."

Hearing this, everyone secretly sighed. This Immortal Emperor truly deserved the respect of all races back then; even in that state, he still thought of the beings across the heavens, using his body as a stone to eternally suppress the source of contamination.

"All in all, at that time, I appeared not dead, but I could also be said to be dead, because my 'true self' was corrupted. There was no longer an Immortal Emperor caring for the world; instead, there was a Path's End ominous dark corpse, semi-slumbering. That counts as my first death."

Jiudao Yi knew what happened next: the Dark Immortal Emperor and the Four Directions Dao Ancestors were truly terrifying, unrivaled in the world.

Until that person emerged, alone, quelling all the bloodshed and chaos!

"To this day, I believe I was targeted too early by monsters from the ominous source, gradually ambushed. And it must have been more than one monster secretly wearing me down, eroding me. They truly thought highly of me, for at least two Immortal Emperors attacked me. Otherwise, how could I have completely fallen into darkness? If I hadn't been corroded prematurely and had enough time, I would have been even stronger; they wouldn't have been able to suppress me!"

"I can only say my luck was bad. I encountered an era where the ominous was most active and the inauspicious was most violently reawakening. I was contaminated and ultimately filled the abyss with my own body."

The mysterious being sighed with emotion, still somewhat unwilling to accept it.

"Since that person brought you back to life, shouldn't you realize your true self and stand with us, seeking reckoning with the terrifying monsters of the ominous source?!"

A bold Immortal King couldn't help but speak, genuinely unable to comprehend why this Immortal Emperor from the old era claimed he would throw them into the dark abyss.

"You're right. After my revival, of course, I intended to seek trouble with the monsters who ambushed me. I swore I wouldn't return until I'd trampled on their imperial bones!"

"So, I went. I left the human realm, and to this day, I don't know what became of me."

Upon hearing this, people were stunned. What was happening? If he had gone to kill Path's End ominous beings, why was he still here saying these things? What did he mean, he didn't know what became of him?

The mysterious being seemed to read their thoughts and spoke calmly, "You're wondering, since I went to the ominous source for revenge, seeking a decisive battle with Path's End beings, why am I still here?"

Indeed, this was the biggest question in everyone's mind; his words and actions seemed contradictory.

"My true self revived and coalesced in the current world, bringing with it a portion of my former dark soul and some ominous true spirits, and that is me." He remained unperturbed.

"It's you, the Dark Immortal Emperor?!" People were immediately stunned.

All the Immortal Kings became agitated.

Even Gu Qing, who had become a Dao Ancestor, turned pale. In the end, had their most powerful enemy returned as well?

Why wasn't he destroyed?

"My true self returned to the present world, summoned by that terrifying individual, who used special means to extract my already weakened form, refine it into ashes, utterly obliterating my body and spirit, and finally sealed me within a jar."

At this point, he looked towards the Martial Lunatic and said, "Hmm, you have a fragment of the jar on you."

The Martial Lunatic was horrified. He had a piece of pottery shard the size of a fingernail; could it be connected to this being?

Chu Feng was moved. Back then, the Martial Lunatic's disciple, the white-haired powerful woman who was also Grand Martial Heavenly Venerate's master, also had a mysterious fragment, albeit rice-grain sized. Were all these connected to the jar that sealed the dark monster?

"One day, the jar shattered. I suppose it was another era of ominous activity, with the inauspicious ancestors reawakening. Therefore, some force intervened with this earthenware jar, and I too came back to life."

"Thinking about it now, what am I? Most likely, my true self deliberately left me behind. Have I become a warning device? Once I revive, does it mean a great calamity is approaching, and he will sense it, using me as a beacon to rush back from beyond this world? I wonder if he truly exacted his revenge by trampling on imperial bones."

"To be frank, I am quite pathetic, constantly being manipulated. You could say I'm a weak remnant of the Dark Immortal Emperor, yet I haven't completely fallen into darkness, nor have I been fully dominated. You could say I've returned to the light, but I feel unwilling! I suppose I exist somewhere between the ominous and my true self."

As he analyzed himself, people finally understood his true origins and current state.

"Senior, you were once an Immortal Emperor who cared for the world! That terrifying individual pardoned you, thereby acknowledging you. Please don't fall back into darkness," an Immortal King advised.

Then, this Immortal King saw Jiudao Yi glaring at him furiously. He immediately corrected himself, saying, "Slip of the tongue!"

Other Immortal Kings also urged, "Yes, your 'true self' left you a chance at life, believing you could fully return, stand with him, and eventually merge with him. Senior, please don't step into the dark realm again."

"I've been asleep for a long time, only occasionally waking to observe the experiments I've conducted on this planet—but only opening my eyes once every millions of years. Originally, I truly didn't want to get involved in karma or dispute with anyone. However, you've disturbed my slumber. If I don't throw you into the dark abyss, I'd feel somewhat unfaithful to my past dark self."

The mysterious being sighed, its mind unchanged.

Moreover, he brought up another matter that sent shivers down everyone's spines.

"Just like last time, someone fighting at the Soul River also disturbed me, especially when I saw that face. I simply couldn't resist wanting to slap him! As a result, the remnant of my ashes, which had recovered into a partial body, was instead struck down by him, and a human skin was destroyed."

At this moment, Chu Feng, Jiudao Yi, the Dog Emperor, and the Corpse all confirmed it: this mysterious being had indeed intervened that day!

During the battle at Soul River, a blurry phantom of Emperor Ye had manifested from the bronze coffin. As it turned out, this mysterious dark hand from Earth had directly entered the fray and interfered with that battle!

However, he was ultimately repelled, and his human skin was destroyed.

The grudge had been formed long ago!

"And today, who do I see? Another person who looks somewhat like that terrifying individual. Tell me, can I resist flattening him?" the mysterious being said with a faint tone.

Chu Feng's face immediately turned green. This really had nothing to do with him!

What an undeserved calamity; the blame he was shouldering was simply too great!

"Kill him!" The Dog Emperor, known for his fiery temper, his canine face grim, howled, joining the other kings in a resolve to fight him to the death.

Since reasoning wouldn't work, then it was time for a decisive battle!

Jiudao Yi was also ready, the Heaven-Burying Diagram hovering in the air, swirling with terrifying energy ripples.

"That terrifying individual is either dead out there or can never return. And my true self is also gone, off to trample on imperial bones. Even if I'm no longer in the Immortal Emperor realm now, and am very weak compared to the past, one hand is still enough to obliterate you all. To dare to resist me? You will all suffer terribly!"

The mysterious being on Earth responded coldly.

The kings despaired. Who wouldn't fear encountering the strongest Dark Immortal Emperor from ancient times, now returned to life?

He was the greatest threat and strongest enemy of the myriad worlds several epochs ago. If not for that person's rise, who obliterated everything, this very being would still be ruling the heavens, and all realms and races would be engulfed in darkness.

"Who can change all this?" the mysterious expert asked coldly.

Suddenly, a voice, indistinct and ethereal, as if transmitted across time from several epochs ago, echoed: "How can one achieve something without thought or remembrance? After all, I left traces. Today, is someone in my homeland constantly thinking of me?!"

At this moment, everyone present heard it.

The kings suddenly looked up, gazing at the sky. Was that a voice from beyond this world, perhaps from the Heavens themselves?

"I have returned, trampling on imperial bones, having nearly been lost in the boundless oceans of the worlds beyond the Heavens. Now, someone yearns for me, guiding me with their thoughts."

When such a faint, indistinct voice reached their ears, everyone was shaken!

As for the mysterious being on Earth, it was utterly stunned. If it had been in the ominous ancestral land, which was isolated from all worlds, thoughts directed at its true self wouldn't have been sensed.

But now, its true self had sensed something, meaning its true self had indeed embarked on its return journey!

To go to the accursed land where the ominous resided for revenge—what an astonishing feat! Someone could actually find that place!

And finally, he needed to pass through the Heavens to return. What kind of route had he taken? Thinking deeply about it was both shocking and awe-inspiring!

"He... returned by trampling on imperial bones?!"