Chapter 265: Transcendence (Part 21)
The one locked in battle with Tian Mingzi was a man in purple robes. He stood tall and straight, surrounded by heaven-shaking phenomena that shook the boundless space. Nine identical figures manifested around him, each wielding a different weapon—blade, sword, spear, and more. Every weapon was a powerful Emperor artifact perfectly fused with his own Great Dao, granting him terrifying strength.
Ten Absolute Martial Emperor—the transcendent who had come from the destroyed world to hunt Tian Mingzi.
After leaving for a short while, he returned to find his home destroyed and all his friends and family dead. He was determined to kill Tian Mingzi. Even after millions of years of deadlock, both sides were already running on fumes.
"You two are also from that world?" Ten Absolute Martial Emperor looked at the newly arrived Su Chen and Qin Wujie with wariness in his eyes.
Although neither of them had yet refined the Universe Heart to become true transcendents, their strength was formidable, placing them at the peak of one-tribulation Rulers. Especially the golden-robed youth holding the Undying Nether Blade—that weapon alone was at least a two-tribulation peak Ruler artifact.
Reaching the Ruler realm (equivalent to an "Emperor" within a universe) and refining the Universe Heart of the Void Cosmic Sea granted one the qualification to cultivate in the boundless void. To ascend to immortality in the Void Cosmic Sea required enduring thirty-six tribulations across countless epochs, offering only the slimmest chance of success.
Ten Absolute Martial Emperor was a three-tribulation Ruler, while Heavenly Nether Great Emperor, though only at the early stage of two-tribulation, possessed terrifying talent. Having overcome the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation as a supreme Emperor, he had the potential to become a twenty-tribulation or higher supreme Dominator once he fully transcended.
Ten Absolute Martial Emperor knew he had to kill Heavenly Nether Great Emperor right now.
Su Chen said, "Although we come from the same world, we share a common enemy."
Tian Mingzi's expression changed drastically. "We are all from the same world. Why don't we join forces to eliminate the outsider first? We can settle our own grudges afterward!"
Su Chen refused.
"You idiots! Fools!" Tian Mingzi cursed furiously. He was extremely unlucky. Just as he was about to wear down Ten Absolute Martial Emperor after millions of years, two uninvited guests had appeared.
Tian Mingzi attempted to flee, but Su Chen immediately blocked his path. The Undying Nether Blade, wrapped in terrifying aura, slashed through space and cut off his escape route.
Qin Wujie laughed loudly. "You despicable bastard! You tried to ambush me while I was undergoing my tribulation back then. Now die!"
"Get lost!" Tian Mingzi roared.
In just two exchanges, Qin Wujie was sent flying.
Seeing Qin Wujie blasted away, Su Chen could only offer a silent moment of respect in his heart. Tian Mingzi had cultivated for millions of years and even refined an entire world, breaking his limits. His strength was not much weaker than the God Emperor or the Primordial Demon Lord of the past. Without a supreme weapon like the Undying Nether Blade, surviving even two moves from him already made Qin Wujie an exceptional sandbag.
Ten Absolute Martial Emperor seized the opening and attacked Tian Mingzi.
The enemy of an enemy was a friend. Although he did not know the exact grudge between Su Chen and Tian Mingzi, he recognized this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"You fools! All of you are fools!" Tian Mingzi roared. "We are merely beings from the same world. Why risk your lives fighting me? If you want me dead, I won't make it easy for any of you!"
Tian Mingzi burned his essence in desperation and shattered one after another of the Ten Absolute Martial Emperor's martial dao incarnations.
Su Chen held the Undying Nether Blade but did not deliver a fatal blow immediately.
"Fellow Daoist, what are you waiting for?" Ten Absolute Martial Emperor shouted toward Su Chen while struggling under Tian Mingzi's frenzied counterattack.
Hearing this, Su Chen swung the blade at Tian Mingzi.
The slash shook the heavens, severed the netherworld, and moved the universe.
Tian Mingzi screamed as one of his arms was severed by the Undying Nether Blade.
Ten Absolute Martial Emperor immediately followed up, shattering Tian Mingzi's physical body and dyeing the boundless space with blood.
Tian Mingzi's primordial spirit realized the situation had turned dire. Abandoning the fight, he tried to escape.
Su Chen raised the Undying Nether Blade, intending to completely destroy Tian Mingzi's primordial spirit.
A barely noticeable glint flashed in Ten Absolute Martial Emperor's eyes.
At that moment, Su Chen suddenly turned the blade and slashed toward Ten Absolute Martial Emperor instead.
At the exact same time, Ten Absolute Martial Emperor unleashed a killing move, transforming it into a heaven-shaking Emperor art aimed straight at Su Chen.
With Tian Mingzi, the common threat, removed, the Ten Absolute Martial Emperor's next targets were Su Chen and Qin Wujie, whom he considered the weaker pair. He had no intention of letting either of them leave alive.
Su Chen understood his thinking perfectly. Those who were not of the same kind would always harbor different intentions. Moreover, Tian Mingzi had completely slaughtered Ten Absolute Martial Emperor's world, destroying his orthodoxy and refining his friends, family, wife, and children. Once the Ten Absolute Martial Emperor killed Tian Mingzi, he would certainly turn his eyes toward their original universe. Without Tian Mingzi to stop him, he could easily invade, slaughter all living beings, and refine the Universe Heart—perhaps even advancing his cultivation further.
Ten Absolute Martial Emperor looked slightly surprised, but he did not seem particularly concerned.
"It's nothing more than a weapon," he said dismissively.
The moment the words left his mouth, the Undying Nether Blade flew out of Su Chen's hand and transformed into a living figure. The being wore a black feather robe and emanated a deep, dark aura filled with unfathomable majesty. Nether fire ignited across the surrounding space, burning everything in its path.
The artifact spirit within the Undying Nether Blade had fully awakened. Endless hymns resounded throughout the void, yet they carried an overwhelming sense of fear.
Undying Nether Emperor!
"How is this possible?!" Ten Absolute Martial Emperor cried out in horror.
The divine will residing within the blade was actually a peak three-tribulation Ruler!
Although this was only a remnant body without its former full power, it filled Ten Absolute Martial Emperor with unparalleled dread.
Terrifying!
This was yet another supreme Ruler who had overcome the Nine-Layered Emperor Tribulation, with limitless potential.
One of the Ten Absolute Martial Emperor's martial dao incarnations was instantly shattered. He spat out a mouthful of blood. Already heavily injured, this blow made his condition even worse.
Su Chen stood with his hands behind his back, calmly watching the scene. The remnant body of the Undying Nether Emperor was his final trump card. Still, if it could be used to eliminate this major enemy, it was worth it.
"I am a member of the Transmigrator Alliance!" Ten Absolute Martial Emperor roared desperately. "If you kill me, the Alliance will definitely learn of it. They will send experts to annihilate you! You are also a being from beyond this world. You should know how powerful the Transmigrator Alliance is!"
He was severely wounded and tried to threaten Su Chen.
"Transmigrator Alliance?" Su Chen's expression turned strange.
First, the Main God Hall, now the Transmigrator Alliance?
Technically speaking, he himself was a Transmigrator. What kind of nonsense organization was this Transmigrator Alliance that they hadn't even invited him?
Under Ten Absolute Martial Emperor's incredulous gaze, Su Chen activated the final strength of the Undying Nether Blade and executed him on the spot.
"Di Chen, if you don't come help me soon, I'm going to die!" Qin Wujie shouted desperately.
Despite being blasted away earlier, he had already recovered and was once again blocking Tian Mingzi's primordial spirit from escaping.
Chapter 266: Transcendence (Part 22)
Tian Mingzi felt deeply aggrieved.
This insignificant ant actually dared to block his path. If he were not heavily injured, with his physical body destroyed and only his primordial spirit remaining—his strength less than one percent of its peak—he would have slapped this ant to death long ago.
Qin Wujie held deep grudges. He had charged forward with imposing momentum, only to be slapped away twice by this bastard. Now that Tian Mingzi had been reduced to only his primordial spirit, Qin Wujie felt it was time for a "fair" duel.
While Su Chen and the Ten Absolute Martial Emperor were scheming and fighting each other, Qin Wujie decisively blocked Tian Mingzi.
Just as Qin Wujie was locked in a fierce struggle with Tian Mingzi's heavily wounded primordial spirit, Tian Mingzi suddenly summoned a gourd. The gourd radiated billions of immortal lights filled with peerless killing intent and instantly sucked Qin Wujie inside.
Miserable screams echoed from within the gourd. It was one of the Nine Innate Supreme Treasures—the Heaven Refining Gourd!
Even Su Chen had not expected Tian Mingzi to possess such a heaven-defying treasure.
After the Undying Nether Blade slew Ten Absolute Martial Emperor, its artifact spirit fell dormant, and the blade's nether light dimmed. Nevertheless, Su Chen continued pursuing Tian Mingzi without hesitation.
Seeing Su Chen chasing after him, Tian Mingzi gnashed his teeth in hatred but had no desire to fight. He fled straight toward the original universe. Once he refined the Chaos Body and recovered from his injuries, he would return to eliminate this descendant of Myriad Laws!
He vowed to erase every last trace of Myriad Laws from existence.
Su Chen knew that if he allowed Tian Mingzi to refine Qin Wujie and recover, the latter would become far more difficult to deal with. Worse, the essence of the Chaos Body might allow Tian Mingzi to advance even further.
Su Chen chased Tian Mingzi, shattering layers of space along the way.
The moment Tian Mingzi entered the original universe, his aura suddenly vanished.
Su Chen returned to the original universe but could not find any trace of him. It was as if Tian Mingzi had completely disappeared without a shadow.
"He must still be in this universe, just hiding in a space I haven't discovered yet," Su Chen thought.
Behind Su Chen's head, a golden treasure wheel emerged—the Wheel of Time, one of the Nine Innate Supreme Treasures.
The power of time illuminated countless races as Su Chen searched through the long river of time for Tian Mingzi.
He did not find Tian Mingzi, but he discovered a mysterious location that seemed to be pulling him forward. The more proficient he became with the Wheel of Time , the stronger this guiding force grew.
Without hesitation, Su Chen followed the faint sensation and headed in that direction. He had a premonition that Tian Mingzi might be in that unknown place.
The myriad races across the starry sky were shaken.
"It's Emperor Venerable… Emperor Venerable has returned?"
"Could it be that Emperor Venerable has come back to lead the entire Emperor Court in transcendence?"
Countless experts were shocked to see Su Chen suddenly return to the original universe.
Could it be… that one could return after transcending?
No! Throughout history, no transcendent had ever been able to return.
"Emperor Venerable… has disappeared again. Has he successfully transcended once more?"
Some ancient existences among the myriad races fell into self-doubt.
Just what… was going on?
???
Using the Heaven Refining Gourd, Tian Mingzi arrived at the most mysterious space. He was overjoyed and laughed wildly. "Countless heroes throughout history pursued the illusory dream of transcendence, only to fail in the end. All the legends of transcendence were nothing but lies!
"But today, that will all change. I, Tian Mingzi, am destined to become the first being in history to truly transcend and step into a vaster world!"
His eyes were filled with yearning and hope. To him, the entire universe had become a cage that only restricted his growth. A broader world was his true pursuit.
Tian Mingzi shattered the final barrier and saw it—the Heart of the Universe. It was an indescribable existence.
Countless laws flowed within it, annihilating and being reborn, manifesting visions of star seas rising and falling, and the reincarnation of all things.
With just one glance, innumerable profound and incomprehensible law fragments flooded into his mind. It felt as though an entire universe was pressing down on him, threatening to tear him apart.
Tian Mingzi trembled violently. Only when the Heaven Refining Gourd emitted immortal light did he barely survive the ordeal. Without the gourd as a key, he might have died in that instant.
But he survived. This only reinforced his belief that he was the chosen one of heaven.
He let out a sigh of relief when he sensed that his great enemy had not followed him.
"Even if that guy manages to chase me here, without one of the Nine Innate Supreme Treasures to protect him, he will be crushed by the will of the universe!"
Tian Mingzi did not believe Su Chen could obtain any of the Nine Innate Supreme Treasures. Even the Undying Nether Emperor—the strongest being in history—had never gathered all of them. Only he, the one blessed by destiny, could obtain one and step into this place with the qualifications to refine the Heart of the Universe.
Before attempting to refine the Heart, Tian Mingzi had one more matter to deal with.
The Heaven Refining Gourd had gone silent. The origin essence refined from the Chaos Body was equivalent to dozens of supremes—a supreme tonic that could quickly restore him to his peak.
Just as Tian Mingzi opened the gourd, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from within, mixing chaotic qi with immortal light.
"You son of a bitch! You actually tried to refine me!"
Qin Wujie's furious voice rang out.
Tian Mingzi quickly sealed the gourd again, trapping Qin Wujie once more.
"Damn it. The Chaos Body is too powerful. Refining him won't happen overnight," Tian Mingzi said angrily. The Chaos Body had even learned to play dead. If his reaction had been any slower, the consequences could have been disastrous.
Although it was a great tonic, it was as stubborn and foul as a stone in a latrine.
"I can only refine the Heart of the Universe first," Tian Mingzi decided.
He was not willing to wait for the gourd to finish refining Qin Wujie. He understood the principle that delays would bring complications.
Tian Mingzi poured all his strength into the Heart of the Universe, turning it into a furnace. The entire mysterious space began to shake violently.
In that moment, Tian Mingzi felt an unprecedented surge of power. He seemed to control the entire universe. This was different from a mere cosmic imprint. That was only a negligible force used by the Heart to maintain order. The power he now wielded could create and destroy universes with a single thought, birthing the cycle of all things.
Just as Tian Mingzi was about to completely refine the Heart of the Universe, the previously docile Heart suddenly erupted with terrifying repulsive force.
Chains representing "Order" extended from the void and pierced straight through his primordial spirit. His supposedly indestructible primordial spirit shattered like fragile porcelain, letting out a miserable wail.
Tian Mingzi desperately tried to break free, but the terrifying rules washed over him, disintegrating his very being… until, in the end, he was reduced to nothingness. All that remained in the mysterious space were chaotic spatial currents left behind by the collapse of laws.