Chapter 2028 : Clash of Celestial Emperors
With a furious roar, Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord] pointed a finger, and a colossal solar disc descended to suppress the foe. It was as if the dawn sun of the Nine Heavens [the highest celestial realms] had plummeted, its radiance so blindingly majestic it was impossible to look upon directly.
"Hmph—"
Faced with such a magnificent strike, Immortality Desolation Emperor merely sneered. In his hand, the Immortality Imperial Spear [an imperial-grade spear embodying the concept of immortality] tore through the firmament as he hurled it forth with devastating force.
In that instant, the Immortality Imperial Spear shot skyward like an arrow meant to pierce the sun. It cleaved through the Vast and Boundless Chaos [the primordial, formless chaos between realms], brutally impaling the celestial dawn sun. A terrifying shockwave erupted, splitting the Vast and Boundless Chaos asunder.
"Force Extreme [the pinnacle concept of raw, unyielding power] and Immortality [a divine ability representing eternal, unyielding existence]... This individual has cultivated at least two True Spirit Divine Runes [divine symbols of power inherent to a True Spirit physique]."
Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, instantly comprehending the source of Immortality Desolation Emperor's formidable strength.
To have forged a True Spirit Physique [a supreme physical constitution embodying a primordial spirit's essence] and simultaneously cultivated at least two major True Spirit Divine Runes—this was the unmistakable hallmark of a Great Emperor [a supreme cultivation realm, one step below the Heavenly Emperor]. Even within the Southern Abyss Seven Domains [the seven major domains of the Southern Abyss], such a figure would be considered a peerless prodigy.
"No wonder his reputation is so illustrious, deemed comparable to an Primordial One Imperial Lord 8th Tier [an Imperial Lord at the eighth tier of the Primordial One realm]."
As these thoughts flashed through Eldrin Chen's mind, the battle high in the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the heavens] instantly escalated to a white-hot frenzy.
Facing two opponents alone, Immortality Desolation Emperor displayed a peerless, invincible bearing from ages past. He forcefully suppressed Dusk Extinction Desolation Emperor and Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor, driving them back step by step in relentless retreat.
From the overall perspective of the battle, Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor was being completely suppressed by Immortality Desolation Emperor, with almost no ability to fight back.
As for Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord, while his mastery of the Dusk Extinction Light's escape art was sufficient for self-preservation, his ultimate offensive power was also insufficient to seriously wound Immortality Desolation Emperor, rendering him nearly completely ignored.
"Such formidable talent."
Eldrin Chen spoke inwardly, then decisively drew forth the Chaos Heaven Halberd.
In that instant, Eldrin Chen soared through the void astride the Chaos Heaven Halberd, cleaving towards Immortality Desolation Emperor with its unparalleled divine might.
"You again!"
The moment he sensed Eldrin Chen, a flicker of Slaughter Intent ignited within the crimson pupils of Immortality Desolation Emperor.
Though his mind was clouded, the impression left by Eldrin Chen was etched deep within him.
Over the years, Eldrin Chen had repeatedly assaulted the Desolation Ancient Continent, capturing nearly all its powerhouses at the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm and above, fueling an immense fury within the Desolation Emperor's heart.
He had launched attacks against Eldrin Chen on multiple occasions, yet Eldrin Chen, clad in his battle armor and wielding the Returning Abyss Path Patterns, could nullify nearly ninety-nine percent of the damage inflicted by Immortality Desolation Emperor.
Unable to breach Eldrin Chen's defenses, Immortality Desolation Emperor found himself equally powerless against Eldrin Chen, yet the Slaughter Intent [a murderous, battle-focused will] within his heart only swelled with greater intensity.
"Perfect timing! Today, I shall utterly suppress you!"
Immortality Desolation Emperor's consciousness roared the words, and without hesitation, he commanded the Immortality Imperial Spear [a sovereign-level spear embodying the concept of indestructibility] to descend and crush Eldrin Chen.
"Hmph—"
Facing this Slaughter [a devastating attack technique] from Immortality Desolation Emperor, Eldrin Chen no longer evaded as he had before.
In that instant, he summoned the Chaos Heaven Halberd [a primordial halberd capable of sundering chaos] and met the attack head-on, unleashing a world-shaking, peerless clash.
"Such formidable power."
After the initial exchange, Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly, a faint numbness spreading through his wrist.
The Immortality Desolation Emperor's physical form was fortified by Immortality [a divine ability granting an unyielding, death-defying constitution], and empowered by the Force Extreme [a supreme concept of physical power] divine patterns, the Burst [a technique for explosive force release] of his strength nearly brushed against the realm of an Primordial One Imperial Lord 8th Tier [the eighth-tier power level of a Primordial One Imperial Lord, a pinnacle sovereign].
Had Eldrin Chen not achieved his recent breakthrough, a direct confrontation would likely have sent him flying with a single blow.
Fortunately, after this breakthrough, Eldrin Chen's physical combat prowess was no longer inferior to that of a Primordial One Imperial Lord 7th Tier [the seventh level of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm, a stage of immense power].
Furthermore, bolstered by foundations such as the Great Path [a supreme cultivation art], the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], and the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation art], his overall combat strength had long since surpassed the limits of the Primordial One Imperial Lord 7th Tier and was now half a step into the domain of the Primordial One Imperial Lord 8th Tier [the eighth level of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm].
At this moment, as Eldrin Chen continued to unleash his full power, the might of the Chaos Heaven Halberd [a divine weapon of immense power] was pushed nearly to its absolute limit. In the relentless clashes with the Immortality Desolation Emperor, he was only slightly at a disadvantage.
Under such circumstances, with Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord and Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor joining forces, they actually managed to suppress the peerless divine might of the Immortality Desolation Emperor.
"BOOM—"
In yet another fierce collision, the Immortality Desolation Emperor was sent flying by the combined force of the three, finally feeling the pressure of his limits.
He stood firm within the Void Heaven [a vast, empty celestial realm], his gaze instantly locking onto Eldrin Chen, a wisp of indistinct intent transmitting over.
"Human, thy power has earned my respect."
"With this single move, I shall defeat all of you, prodigies and heroes."
In that instant, the combat strength of the Immortality Desolation Emperor began to surge rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, he had already stepped into the domain of the Primordial One Imperial Lord 8th Tier.
"Beware! It is the Immortality Desolation Emperor's 'Forbidden Divine Rune'—Ultimate Sublimation [a supreme divine ability that pushes one's power to its absolute limit]."
Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord spoke, his expression turning one of utmost gravity.
Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered. Upon reaching the Primordial One Imperial Lord [the foundational stage for Imperial Lords, representing the unity of one's primal essence] realm, the efficacy of ordinary Forbidden Divine Ability [divine abilities that temporarily unleash a cultivator's latent potential at great cost] was greatly diminished.
This was because the foundation and latent power of a Primordial One Imperial Lord were heaven-defying, allowing them to withstand forces far exceeding those of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a Golden Immortal who has achieved a state of perfect, all-encompassing harmony]. Their normal state was already comparable to the forbidden-enhanced state of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.
On this foundation, even activating a Forbidden Divine Ability to excavate one's latent potential would typically only boost combat power by twenty to thirty percent, or at most fifty to sixty percent.
Precisely for this reason, in his many battles against formidable foes over the years, Eldrin Chen had rarely seen opponents resort to Forbidden Divine Ability for a desperate fight.
Of course, this did not mean Primordial One Imperial Lord had no ultimate Forbidden Divine Ability. To induce a radical transformation in the combat power of a Primordial One Imperial Lord Late Stage, one must cultivate a supreme Divine Ability [a supernatural technique or power] that had reached the True Spirit [a realm representing the pure, awakened essence of one's spirit] level.
The Immortality Desolation Emperor before them had cultivated precisely one such Forbidden Divine Rune of the True Spirit level.
The Ultimate Sublimation Divine Rune was originally an extreme Bloodline Divine Ability [a divine ability inherent to one's bloodline or lineage]. After the Immortality Desolation Emperor stepped into the Primordial One Imperial Lord 7th Tier realm, his physical body once again shattered its Limit-Breaker [a state where one breaks through the inherent limits of their cultivation] limits and received the baptism of a True Spirit Imprint [a profound imprint left by the essence of a True Spirit, often granting great power].
Seizing this Opportunity and Fortune [a pivotal chance or stroke of destiny], the Immortality Desolation Emperor cultivated the forbidden True Spirit Divine Runes 'Ultimate Sublimation', attaining peerless, heaven-shaking, earth-shattering combat power.
"The True Spirit Divine Runes and Ultimate Sublimation [a supreme divine ability that pushes one's physical form beyond its absolute limits] can elevate the already maximized physical body of the Immortality Desolation Emperor to a state that transcends those very limits."
"In theory, after unleashing Ultimate Sublimation, the Immortality Desolation Emperor would possess combat power rivaling the invincible might of an Primordial One Imperial Lord 8th Tier [the eighth tier of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm, representing a pinnacle of power]."
Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, instantly comprehending the source of the Immortality Desolation Emperor's formidable strength.
Seeing this, the Liana Imperial Lord nearby immediately spoke up, "The Forbidden Divine Runes are too powerful. Imperial Lord, you must retreat."
"You all go first."
Yet Eldrin Chen did not withdraw. Instead, he gestured for the others to leave the Central battlefield.
Hearing his words, the others understood the terrifying power the Immortality Desolation Emperor would wield after activating a Forbidden Divine Ability [a divine ability of such immense power its use is often restricted or comes at a great cost]. After a moment's hesitation, they all retreated to the edges of the battlefield.
Only then did the Immortality Desolation Emperor turn his gaze fully upon Eldrin Chen, a faint strand of divine thought manifesting: "You... do not flee?"
"If I fled, it would likely prove impossible to subdue a peerless prodigy such as yourself."
Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, a glimmer of genuine admiration appearing in the depths of his eyes.
It must be admitted that although Eldrin Chen possessed exceedingly high standards, the Immortality Desolation Emperor before him had indeed caught his eye.
To have cultivated a True Spirit Physique [a supreme physical constitution embodying a primordial spirit] and three True Spirit Divine Runes [divine symbols of immense power] while only at the Primordial One Imperial Lord 7th Tier realm—such talent and genius were exceedingly rare even within the Southern Abyss Seven Domains.
One must understand that the Immortality Desolation Emperor's cultivation path had no master to guide him, nor any precedents to follow; it was forged entirely through his own innate comprehension and aptitude.
Considering further that this individual was one of the original founders of the Great Wasteland Body Tempering Art [a legendary art for tempering the physical body to its utmost limits], his innate talent and insight were undoubtedly peerless across the ages, placing him firmly within the first rank of geniuses in the Southern Abyss Seven Domains.
Such a person, if brought under one's banner, would become a formidable asset when the time came to return to the Southern Abyss Seven Domains.
"Your arrogance rivals my own," Eldrin Chen remarked.
A flicker of divine sense from the Immortality Desolation Emperor surged, instantly propelling the Immortality Imperial Spear [a sovereign-grade spear embodying the concept of immortality] in a horizontal thrust aimed to skewer Eldrin Chen utterly.
Facing such an assault, Eldrin Chen remained utterly calm and composed.
With a light chuckle, he spoke, "Then let us fight with our full strength!"
"BOOM—"
In that fleeting instant, Eldrin Chen unleashed his full power.
He instantly activated the Polarity Sacrificial Self Path [a supreme cultivation art that sacrifices the self to achieve ultimate power], immediately pushing this Forbidden Divine Ability [a divine technique of forbidden, devastating power] to its Second Rank stage.
Following this, the seven great True Spirit Foundation [the foundational pillars of a cultivator's true spiritual essence] within Eldrin Chen—his physical body, his Great Path [the supreme cultivation art he follows], his mana, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], his Path Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivation path], and others—began to undergo an ultimate Burst [a technique of explosive, overwhelming power].
In that same moment, his power already surpassed the limits of the Primordial One Imperial Lord 7th Tier [the seventh tier of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm], ascending into an indescribable, supreme domain.
"True Spirit Forbidden Divine Ability!"
Within the pupils of Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord [the Imperial Lord whose title signifies the extinction of daylight], a flicker of apprehension arose.
If Eldrin Chen had unleashed such a Forbidden Divine Ability during their previous great battle, he likely could have suppressed him single-handedly.
"BOOM—"
Even as these thoughts flashed through the minds of the three, the two combatants had already Burst into their ultimate, climactic clash.
Between these two supreme powers, whose peak combat strength was originally nearly equal, the simultaneous activation of their Forbidden Divine Ability for battle unleashed a terrifying divine might that nearly swept across the Six Harmonies [a formation representing the harmony of the six directions] and the Eight Desolations [the eight desolate, primordial regions of the world].
The heavens and earth trembled, the Chaos [the primordial state before the formation of the cosmos] shook, and slashes of annihilating sharpness carved out one vast, luminous path after another within the Chaos Desolation Sea [a boundless, turbulent expanse of primordial chaos].
The few observers felt their hearts pound with trepidation, realizing that any rash attempt to intervene would likely result in grievous wounds and a bloody end.
"Their power has already brushed against the threshold of the Great Emperor [a supreme realm of cultivation, representing the pinnacle of power] domain," one of them remarked.
Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord offered this assessment, a trace of a bitter smile touching his lips.
Compared to such prodigies, even though he was once hailed as one of the three supreme powers in the starry expanse of the Great Wasteland Primordial Domain, he ultimately fell far short.
"*Clang!*"
Within the Desolation Ancient Continent, the battle between the two had reached a white-hot intensity.
Behind Eldrin Chen's head, the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries [ten supreme repositories of immortal power and law] whirled, a phantom Immortal Domain [a realm of pure immortal energy and law] slowly spinning in their midst. The Great Path True Form [the ultimate manifestation of one's cultivated Great Path] of his Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation art centered on self-sacrifice and transcendence] was on the verge of going completely berserk.
Immortality Desolation Emperor was also in a state of Ultimate Sublimation [a supreme technique that pushes one's power to its absolute limit]. His physical body erupted with the Immortality [the power of eternal, undying life] and Immortal Radiance [a luminous aura signifying supreme immortal attainment], as if he were about to ascend completely. Every strike he unleashed displayed power at its absolute zenith.
"His combat prowess, his foundational reserves, his weapon—none are inferior to mine!"
As the clash unfolded, Eldrin Chen felt a growing weight of solemnity settle in his heart.
The Immortality Imperial Spear wielded by the Immortality Desolation Emperor was, astonishingly, a Seven-Pattern Innate Supreme Treasure Embryo [a nascent form of a supreme treasure born from the cosmos itself, bearing seven innate patterns of power]; its might was in no way inferior to the Returning Abyss Seal.
Moreover, Eldrin Chen grew increasingly astonished the longer the battle raged, for he discovered to his surprise that the Immortality Desolation Emperor seemed to retain a sliver of sentience.
This was not mere combat instinct, but a trace of spiritual awareness, nearly Indestructibility [the state of being unbreakable and everlasting] in nature, which even the Desolation Power [a corrupting force of utter decay and ruin] had been unable to fully erode.
"This individual's innate talent likely rivals even that of the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor," Eldrin thought, his mind racing. "No wonder he was hailed as the foremost figure among the Chaos Demon Gods [ancient and immensely powerful demonic entities born from primordial chaos]."
Thoughts flashed through Eldrin Chen's mind, a towering battle intent surging within him, bordering on a full boil. The desire to subdue this foe and claim him grew even stronger.
By the time their cataclysmic struggle had fractured the surrounding Chaos [the formless, primordial state before creation], Eldrin Chen summoned the Returning Abyss Pearl to stabilize the crumbling void. Yet, he refrained from relying on this Innate Supreme Treasure [a treasure of ultimate rank, born from the fundamental laws of the cosmos] to crush his formidable opponent.
He was determined to utterly overwhelm and subjugate this peerless adversary through the sheer force of his own power.
Thunderclap [a divine ability manifesting as a deafening peal of thunder], Primordial Solar [the pure, untainted essence of the primal sun], Profound Darkness [the deep, abyssal power of ultimate yin], Five-Colored Divine Light [a radiant light embodying the power of the five fundamental elements]…
One supreme Divine Ability [a supernatural power mastered through profound cultivation] after another was unleashed from the hands of Eldrin Chen.
He channeled all his Divine Ability into the Chaos Heaven Halberd, Bursting forth with an eternal, blazing might of peerless caliber, and engaged the Immortality Desolation Emperor in a prolonged, world-shaking battle.
"Fight... on!"
The Immortality Desolation Emperor roared with fury, condensing every last ounce of his power into a single, final, earth-shattering strike.
With a furious bellow, Eldrin Chen surged skyward. The Chaos Heaven Halberd in his grasp gathered all his strength, his myriad Divine Ability nearly fusing into one, as he brought it down with unstoppable divine force.
"BOOM—"
As their ultimate attacks collided, an indescribable explosion of sound erupted. The vast, boundless Desolation Ancient Continent let out a groan of agony.
Then, the colossal Desolation Ancient Continent began to crack and groan, shattering apart amidst a violent, thunderous roar.
This Desolate Domain Forbidden Land, which had endured for eons, was actually torn asunder by the residual shockwaves of their duel, fracturing into pieces.
The onlookers felt the blood drain from their faces.
They lifted their gazes toward the Depths of Chaos, only to see two figures of peerless bearing standing tall upon the Heavenly Vault, amidst a turbulent maelstrom of Chaos Torrent.
The aura of Immortality Desolation Emperor was profoundly weakened. The power of the forbidden divine patterns gradually faded, and his presence seemed to have plummeted to the level of one who had just barely entered the Primordial One Imperial Lord 7th Tier realm.
Meanwhile, Eldrin Chen's complexion was also slightly pale, his cultivation seeming to have dropped to an extremely frail state.
"They..."
Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord spoke, a flicker of astonishment appearing in his gaze.
Liana Imperial Lord immediately moved to Eldrin Chen's side, helping him up, then looked around with a hint of wariness.
Sword Mystery Imperial Lord also transformed into a streak of sword light and arrived, standing guard beside Eldrin Chen with vigilant caution.
Dragon Turtle Imperial Lord and Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord wisely did not approach. They were merely serving temporarily, not Eldrin Chen's sworn generals or close confidants, making it inappropriate to draw near at such a moment.
In contrast, Sword Mystery Imperial Lord was a general bound by a Great Path oath, and Liana Imperial Lord was an extremely close ally, making their trustworthiness far greater.
Seeing that the two did not approach, Liana Imperial Lord quickly turned her attention to Eldrin Chen, offering him a healing elixir [a pill refined to restore health and vitality] as she asked, "How are your injuries?"
"Suppress—"
Eldrin Chen did not answer. Instead, his gaze settled upon the Immortality Desolation Emperor, and in the next instant, he struck. The Returning Abyss Pearl materialized above his head, its power descending to completely suppress and seal the Immortality Desolation Emperor within its depths.
Only after accomplishing this did Eldrin Chen finally speak, his voice calm. "It is of no consequence."
Seeing that Eldrin Chen truly seemed unharmed, Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord and Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor exchanged a look of profound shock. "Congratulations, Imperial Lord," they said. "For you to have suppressed the Immortality Desolation Emperor in such a manner..."
"Such prowess would have been considered peerless, even in the ancient days of the Great Wasteland Primordial Domain."
Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile but gave no verbal reply. He simply led the group back to the safety of the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm.
Only upon reaching the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm did Eldrin Chen allow himself a slight sigh of relief.
That battle had pushed him to his limits. Unleashing the Forbidden Divine Ability and clashing with the Immortality Desolation Emperor in an ultimate duel had exacted a heavy toll, leaving him with significant internal backlash.
After invoking the Forbidden Divine Ability, Eldrin Chen's cultivation base had diminished considerably. Had Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord or Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor harbored treacherous intentions, it could have posed a serious threat.
Fortunately, their character proved honorable, and they displayed no such duplicity.
In truth, both Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor and Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord had felt a flicker of desire for Eldrin Chen's Innate Supreme Treasure. Yet, that desire remained just that—a fleeting thought, never acted upon.
The strength and potential Eldrin Chen displayed in this battle were truly too astonishing and terrifying.
If they failed to suppress Eldrin Chen, their ultimate fate would be nothing but death.
Furthermore, leaving the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm without the protection of the Human Soul Scripture [a supreme scripture for soul cultivation] would be nothing short of seeking their own demise.
Given this, there was truly no need for them to take such a risk.
To return to the main point, after Eldrin Chen returned to the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm, he immediately made his way to the Great Wasteland Sacred Hall.
Within the sacred hall, he released the Immortality Desolation Emperor. Compared to the Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor and the Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord, this Immortality Desolation Emperor showed not a single trace of a desire to struggle.
His remaining spark of sentience seemed to be fiercely resisting the Desolation Power [a corrupting, primordial power of decay and oblivion], fighting for control over his physical form.
Seeing this, Eldrin Chen promptly channeled his power to activate the Tome of Human Soul [a supreme treasure for purifying and protecting the soul] to assist.
With Eldrin Chen's current level of cultivation, he could now unleash twenty percent of the Tome of Human Soul's power, significantly increasing the speed at which it could purify the Desolation Power.
Thus, after merely several hundred thousand years, the Desolation Power within the Immortality Desolation Emperor was completely eradicated.
"That battle was exhilarating!"
The moment he regained consciousness, Immortality Imperial Lord turned his gaze towards Eldrin Chen and spoke with a tone of heroic vigor.
Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly as he took a measured look at Immortality Desolation Emperor. He observed that Immortality Desolation Emperor possessed a towering and majestic stature, with eyes as sharp and unyielding as Immortality Divine Gold, radiating an aura that was almost too intense to meet directly.
"Your strength is formidable as well."
A moment later, Eldrin Chen replied with a faint smile.
A ripple of emotion passed through Immortality Imperial Lord's gaze as he scrutinized Eldrin Chen more closely. Finally, he spoke, "You wish for me to become a Divine General under your command?"
"Precisely."
Eldrin Chen stated calmly, without any attempt at circumlocution.
Immortality Imperial Lord gave a light laugh and rose to his feet. "From this battle, it is clear you did not even employ your Innate Supreme Treasure [a supreme magical artifact born with the user], yet your power was already on par with mine. Had you unleashed it, I would have been subdued long ago."
"With such might, it would not be unfitting for you to become my sovereign."
"However, I possess a proud and unyielding nature. Should the day come when my strength surpasses yours within the same realm, I may challenge you openly. At that time, there is a possibility I might seek to reverse our roles of master and servant."
"Is that so?"
Eldrin Chen smiled faintly, casually brewing a pot of tea. He picked up a cup, took a small sip, and then spoke: "A sword that can cut its wielder is a good sword. One that cannot is likely too dull."
"From this day forward, you shall be the fourth of my Divine Generals."
Having accepted Immortality Imperial Lord, Eldrin Chen bestowed upon him a batch of supreme-grade healing treasures [rare and potent items used to treat severe injuries], then gestured for Immortality Imperial Lord to withdraw.
Only after he had departed did Liana Imperial Lord approach Eldrin Chen's side. With a gentle smile, she spoke: "Immortality Imperial Lord possesses an unyielding and fiery temperament. It was precisely this nature that led to his suppression by Great Wasteland Imperial Sovereign in the past."
"Were it not for that, given his innate talent and potential, he would likely have long since ascended to the Great Emperor Realm [a supreme realm of power and authority]."
"Nevertheless, judging by his character, he is not one to repay kindness with betrayal."
Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. He had heard tales of Great Wasteland Imperial Sovereign—that legendary figure who was once the sole Sage Ascendant [a realm just below the ultimate Sagehood] within the Great Wasteland Primordial Domain.
It was said that Great Wasteland Imperial Sovereign possessed an exceptionally domineering and imperious character, his word was absolute law within the Great Wasteland Primordial Domain. He had even once sought to forcibly take Liana Imperial Lord as a concubine.
But what manner of figure was Liana Imperial Lord [a powerful ruler of the Liana lineage]? Naturally, she would not agree to such demands, and thus she missed the opportunity to board the ancient vessel and depart.
In truth, the masters of the Sword Abyss Immortal Palace [the celestial palace of the Sword Abyss lineage], along with Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord [the Imperial Lord whose power extinguishes the light of day] and others, also held Great Wasteland Imperial Sovereign [the supreme ruler of the Great Wasteland] in contempt for his character. Their poor relations with him were precisely why they had never taken passage on that ancient ship.
As for Immortality Imperial Lord [the Imperial Lord who embodies the concept of Undying Existence], his talents were prodigious and overflowing. From his early years, he had harbored grievances with Great Wasteland Imperial Sovereign.
That Great Wasteland Imperial Sovereign, relying on his superior cultivation, sought to subjugate Immortality Imperial Lord and make him a Divine General under his banner. Yet Immortality Imperial Lord declared that Great Wasteland Imperial Sovereign would have to defeat him in a battle where their realms were equal before he would consent to serve.
In that fateful duel, under the onslaught of Immortality Imperial Lord's Forbidden Divine Ability [a supreme, taboo technique of divine power], Great Wasteland Imperial Sovereign suffered a significant setback. From that moment, a deep-seated hatred took root in his heart.
After his own breakthrough to the Great Emperor [a supreme rank among cultivators, commanding vast cosmic power] realm, he gathered a host of other Imperial Lord [powerful rulers just below the Great Emperors] and jointly suppressed Immortality Imperial Lord, sealing him within an Innate Supreme Treasure [a primordial artifact of unparalleled power born from the cosmos itself]. This imprisonment shackled Immortality Imperial Lord's cultivation, preventing any advancement for an immense span of time.
Otherwise, by the time calamity befell the Great Wasteland Primordial Domain [the ancient and primordial realm of the Great Wasteland], Immortality Imperial Lord would have, at the very least, already set foot upon the Great Emperor Realm.