Chapter 2000 : Vermilion Bird Emperor

Eldrin nodded upon hearing this. Since the Celestial Unity Emperor needed to contend for control over the formation, he would undoubtedly be unable to take action against that mid-stage Chaos Origin Emperor.

Thus, they must intercept the remaining mid-stage Chaos Origin Emperor in this battle—precisely why Abyssal Sovereign had summoned him to join the fray.

At this thought, Eldrin spoke up: "Your Majesty, rest assured, we will spare no effort."

Lord Mengqi (Person Name) nodded, then rose directly to his feet. "In that case," he declared, "let us fight with our full power."

As the words of the Mengqi Emperor faded, the assembly instantly charged toward the Letian Tonggu Star.

In this battle, the Emperor of Primordial Breath was the first to strike. Riding upon an ancient divine talisman, he tore through the Grand Formation of the Heavenly Union Ancient Star with a single blow, then led the others into the heart of the star.

Logically speaking, forcing 1's way into the formation to engage in combat was an extremely perilous course of action.

For if they failed to breach the enemy's defenses and became trapped within their grand formation, it could trigger an unprecedented and catastrophic rout.

Fortunately, everyone had come prepared. As the Lord of the Tian Tong Star, Celestial Monarch Tian Tong wielded the authority of the Ancient Tian Tong Star.

But now, the Celestial Unity Emperor had unleashed his full power, using the authority of his Star Sovereign status to interfere with the grand formation—even seizing control of it by force.

Although it did not immediately seize control of the Tian Tong Grand Formation, it significantly diminished the formation's power, rendering it nearly ineffective against either side in the conflict.

"How dare you!"

At the very moment the group annihilated the Tian Tong Ancient Star, the demon clan’s Emperors reacted instantly. A full 12 Emperors charged forth together, storming into the heart of the raging battlefield.

Among these 12 Eldrin (Person Name), 10 were ordinary Eldrin at the early Chaos Unity realm, whom the group could handle with ease. However, 2 formidable Eldrin possessed extraordinary power.

Among the 2 Imperial Lords, 1 stood atop the mountain peak, gripping a blinding immortal sword. Behind him, 10 1000 divine principles spiraled and flowed, converging into a single halo of myriad dao.

Another figure stood tall and imposing, clad in dark battle attire, gripping the Shattering Heaven Halberd as he advanced like a peerless Divine King emerging from primordial antiquity.

Myriad Paths Sword Emperor, Dark Roc Sovereign.

Eldrin's thoughts raced as the information on these 2 formidable foes instantly surfaced in his mind.

The Myriad Swords Sovereign was a legend among the demon tribes. Originally a sentient sword that had taken form as a demonic entity, its foundational origins were merely that of an ordinary Acquired Spirit Treasure—roughly equivalent to the lineage of a Pure Yang Spirit Treasure.

Logically speaking, given the origins of the Sword Emperor of 10 1000 Paths, achieving immortality would already be considered defying the heavens. Yet, his talent shone brilliantly across countless millennia.

He possessed astonishing flawlessness in the Way of Laws, which enabled him to comprehend the mysteries of 10 1000 dao after attaining immortality. Thus, he created the Art of Myriad Dao Convergence, seamlessly integrating it into his sword dao to reconstruct his very foundation.

Now, the Sword Emperor of Myriad Dao had reached the Sixth Heaven of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Realm, making him a pivotal force even among the demon clans.

Unfortunately, he had no Heavenly Emperor backing him, nor even a patron at the Quasi-Sage or Great Emperor level. Otherwise, with the innate talent of the Myriad Paths Sword Emperor, he would likely have long since cultivated to the late stage of Primordial Chaos Emperor.

As for the Dark Roc Emperor, he was the patriarch of the Dark Roc tribe, whose cultivation had reached the Fourth Heaven of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Realm—a force not to be underestimated.

"Eldrin, you’ve come at the perfect moment!"

"I've long yearned to cross blades with you. Today, we shall battle without restraint!"

Just as these thoughts flashed through Eldrin’s mind, the 10 1000 Sword Emperor spoke decisively.

With a cold sneer, he brandished his sword and unleashed 10 1000 soaring arcs, transforming into hundreds of millions of sword auras that shrieked through the sky. They descended with an unstoppable force, slashing toward Emperor Mengqi.

"Hmph—"

Lord Mengqi did not reply, but merely snorted coldly. He brandished a celestial lance and charged forward, meeting the Sword of Myriad Currents Convergence head-on.

Seeing this, Eldrin (Person Name) couldn't help but exchange a glance with Emperor Menghuang (Person Name).

After a momentary exchange, Emperor Menghuang was the first to charge forth, riding his celestial halberd across the sky as he surged toward the Dark Roc Sovereign with unparalleled physical might.

Lord Meng Huang, a supreme early-stage Chaos Primordial Sovereign who cultivated the 9 Revolutions Heaven Art, truly lived up to his reputation. At this moment, as he rode forth to strike the Golden-Winged Great Peng Emperor, the physical strength he displayed could almost be described as invincible among early-stage Chaos Primordial Sovereigns.

According to Eldrin's (Person Name) estimation, although Emperor Menghuang's offensive capabilities were somewhat lacking, his physical defense was likely comparable to a mid-stage Chaos Origin Emperor.

Boom—

Even so, when the Dark Roc Emperor struck with his full power, he sent him flying with a single blow.

The Dark Roc Emperor descended with the Shattering Heaven Halberd in hand, his form wreathed in endless waves of dark demonic flames. 3 great Dao chains surged around him, shaking the cosmos as they unleashed a power capable of annihilating all creation.

"Is this the power of the mid-stage Chaos Origin Emperor?"

Eldrin's heart shuddered. Not daring to delay even a moment, he immediately pushed his 3 foundational pillars to their absolute limits, then engaged in an epoch-making duel against the Dark Roc Emperor.

Of course, Eldrin did not unleash his full combat prowess in this battle either. He merely employed the power of his 3 foundational pillars, displaying strength comparable to that of Lord Menghuang.

For Eldrin's current strength was truly astonishing—at the ninth level of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, he already possessed triple-hued combat prowess rivaling a Primordial Chaos Emperor. This could only be explained by his triple-path cultivation and mastery of Dao dominion.

However, if he were to reveal his strength at the mid-stage of the Primordial Chaos Emperor realm, it would likely provoke wariness from many, and might even compel the Pure Yang Great Emperor to set aside his dignity and take action personally.

Yet even so, the power Eldrin displayed was astonishing enough to startle the Dark Roc Emperor.

After the brief exchange, the Dark Roc Emperor stared at Eldrin with evident shock. "Such astonishing cultivation speed! And such formidable physical strength and magical power!"

"You have broken through to the Great Perfection Stage of the Da Luo Golden Immortal?"

The Dark Roc Emperor was inwardly astounded. Even with cultivation in 3 paths, to wield such combat prowess at this realm was nothing short of miraculous.

As he spoke, the Dark Roc Emperor showed a trace of apprehension, yet still sneered coldly, "The Great Dao stands alone in supremacy. Cultivating even 2 Great Daos is immensely difficult, let alone your pursuit of 3 simultaneously."

"In my opinion, you would be better off shifting to the Path of Palm Dao. This might be your only chance to attain the Great Dao of Chaos."

Eldrin let out a cold laugh, wielding the Chaos Heavenly Halberd as he engaged in a fierce battle. His icy reply cut through the air, "Success or failure, I must at least try. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself over it."

"Insolent fool."

The Dark Roc Emperor let out a cold sneer, his gaze icy as he struck out with a devastating blow: "Though your 3 paths are formidable, they are but 3 dead ends."

"Enough! Today, this Sovereign shall teach you how to respect your elders!"

As the words faded, the Dark Roc Emperor brandished his Heavenly Halberd in a relentless onslaught, determined to strike Eldrin down completely.

Thus, the battle between the 2 sides grew increasingly fierce.

Eldrin joined forces with the Emperor of the Primordial Wilds, engaging in a relentless battle against the Dark Roc Sovereign. Tens of thousands of moves were exchanged, yet neither side could gain a decisive advantage.

On the other side, the battle among the others was equally intense. Emperor Mengqi intercepted the 1 who had been trading blows with Myriad Dao Sword Emperor, holding a slight overall advantage.

10 Great Demon Sovereigns of the Monster Race were locked in fierce combat against the 14 Human Sovereigns of Primordial Unity. By all accounts, humanity held the advantage in both numbers and strength.

Unfortunately, the demon race also had several dozen Great Perfection Golden Immortals aiding in the battle, which greatly diverted the attention of the human race's various Imperial Lords, plunging the conflict into a stalemate.

Fortunately, although the battle situation remained balanced, the overall configuration still held a significant advantage for the human race.

Because the Celestial Unity Emperor was vying for control of the formation, should he reclaim the grand formation power of the Celestial Unity Imperial Star, this battle would be utterly devoid of suspense.

For the various Human Sovereigns, the longer time dragged on, the more advantageous it became for them.

Thus time flew by, and before anyone realized it, the great war had already raged on for over 2 million years. It was not until this very day that Celestial Lord Tiantong finally gained the upper hand in the struggle for authority, beginning to reclaim the power of the grand formation.

Witnessing this, everyone’s faces lit up with exhilaration, knowing that the outcome of this battle was beyond any doubt.

The Myriad Sword Emperor of the demon race and the others also understood this point. Immediately, they fought a rearguard action as they withdrew from the Tian Tong Imperial Star.

To Eldrin's (Person Name) surprise, the demon clan's several emperors showed not the slightest astonishment at the loss of the Heavenly Unity Imperial Star's authority. Instead, a cold sneer crept across their faces.

"Not good."

Suddenly, a faint sense of foreboding stirred within Eldrin's heart.

Sure enough, at this very moment, the rulers of other stellar domains within the Southern Dipper's 6 stars suddenly unleashed overwhelmingly terrifying auras.

In an instant, the entire starry sky began to tremble violently.

Eldrin turned his head and could clearly see that in the distant void beyond the heavens, the radiance of the Celestial Beam Ancient Star had abruptly dimmed.

Not only that, but almost simultaneously, Tianji (Star Name), Tianxiang (Star Name), Qisha (Star Name), and even the Emperor Star Tianfu (Star Name) began emanating astonishingly powerful auras, their radiance flickering unpredictably.

All the Human Sovereigns’ expressions shifted slightly. Menghuang’s face darkened profoundly as he spoke, “Your true objective was to lure us into counterattacking the Celestial Concord Imperial Star, only to ambush and sabotage the Southern Dipper 6 Stars Grand Array?”

The Dark Roc Emperor let out a cold sneer, his expression icy as he declared, "Realizing it now is far too late."

"After your forces withdrew from the Southern Dipper's 6 stars, the formation was left vulnerable. We had infiltrators stage a surprise attack—those ancient stars can no longer be held."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin's (Person Name) expression shifted slightly.

The Southern Dipper's 6 stars hold an exceptionally high rank, and their combined power rivals that of a Quasi-Sage-level domain. Particularly, the Celestial Sovereign Star—foremost among the 6—is of paramount importance. Should the Celestial Sovereign Star ever be compromised, the loss to humanity would be immeasurable.

Most crucially, the main forces of the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) are currently stationed at Celestial Liang Imperial Star. Should Celestial Liang Imperial Star fall completely, the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) would likely suffer devastating losses.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin grew restless, but was stopped by the Lord of Mengqi.

But then, Meng Qi let out a cold sneer and spoke, "Did you truly believe we would be caught completely unprepared?"

"Boom—"

In an instant, the entire void began to tremble violently.

Eldrin heard only a series of sky-rending booms, followed by 1 after another eternal and indestructible radiance emerging from the depths of the starry expanse.

Their radiance illuminated all heavens, shrouded in divine halos, each possessing the supreme power to suppress the boundless chaos.

Northern Pole Black Abyss Great Emperor, Southern Pole Luminous Radiance Great Emperor, Western Pole Cavern Abyss Sword Emperor...

1 after another, figures stood firm amidst the starry heavens, each radiating a light akin to eternity, as if they had been waiting for a long time.

Eldrin slowly let out a sigh of relief at the sight.

This time, the human race had only dispatched a dozen or so Chaos Origin Emperors. Yet every single 1 of them was at least at the late-stage Chaos Origin Emperor realm, including even 3 invincible figures who had reached the fabled Great Emperor realm.

In that instant, these dozen or so peerless emperors struck, engaging in fierce combat against the demon emperors among the Southern Dipper's 6 Stars. Almost immediately, they gained the upper hand.

Yet in that very instant, the space above the arena trembled violently as 3 figures tore through the sky, landing heavily upon the dueling platform. The sheer force of their descent sent visible ripples of energy pulsing outward, causing the entire arena to groan under the pressure. Even the protective formations flickered erratically, their glow dimming and brightening in rapid succession. The 3 elders stood with an aura so profound it seemed to warp the very air around them. Their presence alone was a suffocating weight, and the spiritual pressure radiating from them forced the surrounding disciples back several steps. Even the presiding elder, a seasoned expert in his own right, felt his expression shift minutely at their arrival.

Because they discovered that the demon emperor who had come to attack the Southern Dipper 6 Stars was only the Great Ancient Thunder Crow Emperor alone, and even the number of Primordial Chaos Emperors was not many.

The reason they managed to breach the South Dipper 6 Stars Grand Formation was because a mole within launched a surprise attack from inside.

"Damn, we've been tricked. This isn't the main force of the demon race."

In that fleeting moment, the few Human Emperors snapped to awareness, but alas, it was already too late.

But deep within the boundless starry firmament, from the direction of the southern Vermilion Bird Star Domain, erupted waves of supreme auras.

Great Ancient Vermilion Bird Emperor, Golden-Winged Roc Emperor, Great Ancient Crimson Dragon Emperor...

A full 3 supreme Great Emperors launched a surprise assault on the Vermilion Bird Star Domain, triggering a cataclysmic battle against the Divine Race's Primordial Chaos Emperor who guarded the celestial realm.

"There's no time."

Eldrin (Person Name) understood at a single glance that it was already too late to offer support, and couldn't help but let out a faint sigh.

He vaguely understood in his heart that in this battle, the humans and deities had likely been outmaneuvered by the demon race.

At this thought, he turned his gaze toward the various Demon Sovereigns, only to find that they had already withdrawn from the Tiantong Star Domain the moment their objective was achieved.

Worried about his clansmen, Eldrin immediately returned to the Celestial Pillar Imperial Star and soon found Lyra and the others. None of the Chen Clan's Great Luo Golden Immortals had perished.

Seeing that the Chen clan members had not suffered significant losses, Eldrin breathed a sigh of relief before inquiring about the situation regarding the Celestial Pillar Imperial Star.

After some inquiry, Eldrin immediately understood the entire sequence of events.

It turned out that the demonic forces attacking the Celestial Beam Star Domain in this battle were not numerous—merely 3 Primordial Chaos Emperors.

The reason they were able to breach the Celestial Pillar Imperial Star was that both Eldrin and the Emperor of Meng Huang—2 of their foremost combatants—were absent, compounded by Emperor Xuan Li’s sudden betrayal.

The cultivation base of Emperor Xuanli had stagnated at the Third Heaven of the Chaos Origin Emperor Realm for 1 100 1000 kalpas, with no hope of a breakthrough. The Great Emperor of the Primordial Thunder Crow from the demon race personally pledged that, after breaching the Celestial Pillar Imperial Star, he would assist him in advancing to the Middle Stage of the Chaos Origin Emperor Realm.

The sudden betrayal of Emperor Xuanli allowed the 3 demon emperors to unleash the momentum of 10, nearly shattering the Great Formation of the Southern Dipper's 6 Stars in a single clash.

In fact, similar events had occurred to varying degrees on the other ancient stars.

The demon race paid a tremendous price, either by turning several Primordial Chaos Emperors to their side or planting them as spies, managing to breach the Stellar Grand Formation in an extremely short time.

This led the humans to mistakenly believe the demonic tribe's main assault was aimed at the Southern Dipper's 6 Stars, prompting them to dispatch their primary forces to reinforce that sector. Yet, in a classic feint, the demonic tribe pivoted and stormed into the Vermilion Bird Star Domain instead.

The 1 guarding the Vermilion Bird Star Domain was the Southern Li Divine King of the God Race. He cultivated the Great Way of Vermilion Heaven's Li Fire and had attained the Eighth Heaven of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Realm.

Such a figure would be considered a supreme powerhouse even among the God Clan, possessing the capability to ensure self-preservation even when confronting a Great Emperor.

Unfortunately, both the human and god races had their main forces pinned down by the demonic ambush, leaving him to face the assault of 3 Great Emperors and hordes of demonic beings.

Most crucially, the great adversary standing against the Heavenly Way of the Eldrin (Person Name) was none other than the Vermilion Bird Emperor (Person Name), who ranked first in strength among the 10 great emperors of the demon race.

That individual is the second-in-command of the Phoenix Clan, wielding 3 Primordial Treasures and hailed as invincible below the Sage realm. His power far surpasses even that of the Great Emperor of Primordial Thunder Crows.

Such a supreme figure had clearly laid out his plans to slay his arch-nemesis of the Great Dao and break through to a higher realm, having schemed for countless kalpas over an immeasurably long epoch.

Given the Vermilion Bird Emperor's standing among the Phoenix Clan, it is highly probable that the Primordial Phoenix Celestial Emperor's schemes lie behind him. This likely involves power plays among the Chaos Celestial Emperors as well.

At this thought, Eldrin (Person Name) let out a sigh and said, "It seems the Southern Li Divine King is in grave danger, and the Divine Clan can no longer hold the Vermilion Bird Starfield." (End of Chapter)

Chapter 1 The biting mountain wind whipped across the cliffside, carrying with it the scent of pine and damp earth. Lin Chen gritted his teeth, his knuckles white as he gripped the rough stone ledge. Below him, a sea of clouds churned, obscuring the treacherous peaks that had claimed countless lives. "Just a bit further," he muttered to himself, the words swallowed by the howling gale. His robes, tattered and stained with dirt, flapped violently around his thin frame. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, but he forced himself to move upward, hand over hand. He had been climbing for 3 days and nights without rest. His spiritual energy was nearly depleted, reduced to a faint flicker within his dantian. Yet, the memory of his master's final words drove him forward. "Seek the Azure Cloud Sanctuary, boy. There, you shall find your destiny." Suddenly, a low rumble echoed through the mountains. The cliff face beneath his feet trembled, sending a shower of pebbles cascading into the abyss. Lin Chen's heart hammered against his ribs. He pressed his body flat against the cold stone, his breath catching in his throat. A deep, guttural roar erupted from the mist below, a sound that seemed to tear at the very fabric of reality. The air grew heavy, thick with a primal, oppressive energy that made it difficult to breathe. "By the heavens..." Lin Chen whispered, his eyes wide with a mixture of terror and awe. He could feel it—a monstrous presence, ancient and vast, stirring from its slumber deep within the mountain range. Its aura was like a physical weight, pressing down on his soul, threatening to extinguish his fragile consciousness. He had heard the legends, of course. Tales of the Great Calamity, of primordial beasts that slumbered beneath the earth, their dreams shaping the fate of mortals and immortals alike. He never imagined he would ever feel the breath of 1 such entity. Gritting his teeth, he focused his mind, drawing upon the last dregs of his spiritual power. A faint, silvery light enveloped his body, a fragile shield against the overwhelming pressure. It was the most basic of defensive techniques, the Shimmering Aura Mantle, but it was all he had. The roar came again, closer this time. The clouds below him swirled violently, parting to reveal a glimpse of something immense and scaled, the color of molten obsidian. A single, slit-pupiled eye, larger than a carriage wheel, blinked open within the mist, fixing its gaze upon him. A wave of pure, unadulterated fear washed over Lin Chen. His instincts screamed at him to flee, to abandon his climb and scramble back down the mountain. But he was trapped on a vertical cliff face, thousands of feet in the air. There was nowhere to run. The colossal eye regarded him with an intelligence that was both alien and terrifying. It was not the mindless hunger of a beast he saw there, but something far more profound—a cold, calculating curiosity, the gaze of a predator examining an interesting insect. Lin Chen knew, with a certainty that chilled him to the bone, that his life hung by the thinnest of threads. 1 wrong move, 1 flicker of hostility, and he would be utterly annihilated. He did the only thing he could think of. Slowly, very slowly, he bowed his head, pressing his forehead against the cold stone in a gesture of profound respect and submission. He did not raise his spiritual energy. He did not meet its gaze. He simply waited, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against the rock. The oppressive aura did not lessen, but the sense of imminent violence seemed to recede by a fraction. The great eye continued to watch him for a long, agonizing moment. Then, with a sound like grinding continents, the creature shifted. The mist swirled back, obscuring the terrifying visage. The overwhelming pressure gradually faded, leaving behind only the familiar bite of the mountain wind and the frantic beating of his own heart. Lin Chen remained pressed against the cliff for a long time, his body trembling uncontrollably. He had survived. By some miracle, he had survived an encounter with a Primordial Desolate Beast. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, he forced his trembling limbs to move once more. The Azure Cloud Sanctuary had to be close. He had to reach it. For his master. For his shattered sect. For himself. He resumed his climb, each movement fueled by a newfound, desperate resolve. The encounter had stripped away the last of his pride and fear. He was nothing but a lone cultivator against an uncaring heaven. And he would either reach the sanctuary or die trying.