Syntao

Life is an uncontrolled river, and before reaching the end, you don't know whether it will ultimately turn into a stagnant pond or a boundless ocean.

Chen Xia thus appeared uncontrollably before the Emperor Witch, gazing at the figure in the celestial canopy above, though unsure who it was, it was certainly no ordinary being.

"Emperor Witch!" the Big Yellow Dog Demon instantly called out the name.

The Emperor Witch looked down, giving a brief appraisal and nodding, "Indeed, a formidable 'rat', possessing the demeanor of a Great Emperor."

He gazed at Chen Xia as if seeing his former self, the peerless genius who once stood at the apex of the Divine Realm.

"You are not a cultivator from this realm, leave of your own accord, and I will spare your life."

"Very well, you make a fair point. Let's go," Chen Xia replied with a smile, pulling the Big Yellow Dog Demon to leave.

But the Big Yellow Dog Demon remained motionless.

"What's wrong?" Chen Xia frowned and asked.

"I'm likely unable to leave now. You go on ahead. If you ever meet the Vast Boundless in the future, help me pass him a message. Tell him he's a real jerk, acting all high and mighty, like he's better than everyone else. I severed my own life for him back then, yet in the end, not even a word of thanks."

"What an ungrateful bastard."

"No, I shouldn't say that. After all, we were once one entity. Ah, this is so vexing."

The Big Yellow Dog Demon sighed, without further comment, pushing Chen Xia's shoulder, urging him to leave alone.

The Emperor Witch, treading between heaven and earth, nodded.

"You indeed understand more than the other Forbidden Zone masters, befitting the Big Yellow Dog's Demon. You are open-minded and able to let go."

The Big Yellow Dog Demon laughed ruefully, where was there any open-mindedness or letting go? It was merely a matter of life and death beyond one's control.

Yet Chen Xia was unrelenting, standing there, drawing half of his celestial sword and raising his eyebrows.

"With me here, you will not die."

At worst, he would resort to the Law of Time, even if you were a Great Emperor, you would die here.

However, if he were to use the Law of Time again, it might be the last time Chen Xia could do so, for the price thereafter might be something he could not bear, or might not choose to pay.

Because after that, he would become a Great Emperor himself, and in the future, there would be few in All Heavens World capable of killing him. It was possible that at that point, another time-line's Chen Xia would summon him using the Law of Time.

The Big Yellow Dog Demon was deeply moved, for this was the first time in so many years that someone cared for it so much. But it truly did not wish for Chen Xia to sacrifice himself on its behalf, and thus shook its head.

"You go on ahead, I'll face death alone."

"No way, I'm determined to protect you today!" Chen Xia's temper flared, for the Big Yellow Dog Demon had once saved the Big Yellow Dog, which was more or less like Chen Xia's own brother. How could he not help?

Thus, a standoff between Chen Xia and the Emperor Witch ensued.

"Your talents are immense, your age short, and your comprehension of the Dao profound. You possess the finest qualities of a Great Emperor. You should not stop your journey here. All things in this world are illusory; only yourself is real," the Emperor Witch's chilling voice counseled, as if imparting the wisdom he had pondered for over two hundred thousand years.

"I'm happy with my choice," Chen Xia scoffed dismissively, clearly unmoved by the advice.

"Alas," the Emperor Witch seemed to sigh over something, not persuading further. He raised his slender left hand and said, "Since you are so confident, let us have a try. I have attained the Four Daos. If you can break through three of them, I will let you and the Vast Boundless Demon go free. You may challenge me together."

He was a Four Dao Great Emperor. The first Dao was the Externalized Bodily Dao, which he had mentioned earlier. The remaining three Daos had yet to be revealed.

"Agreed," Chen Xia immediately raised his sword, the flow of time shifting, past and future accompanying him, all raising their swords.

The Emperor Witch's cold gaze wavered slightly, an unusual nod of praise.

"To summon the past and future simultaneously, that is indeed the Great Emperor level Law of Time. You are remarkably powerful."

Chen Xia did not respond, the pure white light in his eyes growing more intense. This was his first true battle since returning to the realm, and it was indeed due to the immense pressure exerted by the Emperor Witch.

Chen Xia did not wish to use the Law of Time if avoidable, for he did not know whether the chaotic realm could withstand the arrival of his future self.

The Way of Heaven descended, the Great Emperor Supreme Tribulation had not dissipated, the Emperor Witch sought to break the formation, Forbidden Zone masters were dying, the Eye of Formation shattering. If a future self were to manifest in this world now, all the elements would be gathered. Chen Xia did not know what the outcome for the realm would be.

How to put it? Though Chen Xia did not care about the life or death of the realm, he did not wish for its potential destruction to be caused by him.

After all, he had lived here for so many years, forming at least a slight emotional attachment.

He raised his sword, murmuring softly, "I have surpassed the Sea Inversing Realm, surely I can succeed."

As he spoke, the pure white light in his eyes flickered with lightning, imbued with sword intent, and the grey-white hue of time.

He could now gather the Four Daos together effortlessly.

This was his level of comprehension of the Four Daos.

The Emperor Witch's outstretched palm ignited with a gloomy blue flame, a chilling fire that first floated up, then instantly set the entire celestial canopy ablaze.

This was his second Dao.

The observing cultivators had long ceased fighting, standing by to watch. They now realized this was a ploy by the Emperor Witch. Uncertain of what to do, they could only hope that Chen Xia would truly emerge victorious in this battle.

But in a clash between a Four Dao Saint and a Four Dao Great Emperor, was there truly a chance of victory?

Saint and Great Emperor, only a single word separated the two, yet the gulf between them was as vast as the distance between heaven and earth, and both had attained the Four Daos.

Difficult indeed.

The onlookers' hearts were heavy with concern.

Yet that sword intent had already ascended, tearing through the heavens and earth, a blinding beam of light, like a shooting star, like divine radiance.

The Emperor Witch raised his hand, his expression cold and indifferent.

The dimmed celestial canopy was now in his grasp, and he pressed down.

The sword light plummeted even faster than its ascent, crashing into the ground, leaving no surface untouched, continuing to descend into the middle realm, smashing into the mountains at its core.

Chen Xia found himself buried deep within the innermost depths of the mountains, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he frowned up at the heights above, utterly astonished by the difficulty of this battle.

He gritted his teeth in fury, roaring, "Merge the Daos!"

The winds and rains arrived.

The mountains and rivers arose.

Time flowed like a traveler, the sword a visitor, lightning its footsteps, celestial dragons raising their heads.

Merge.