The Era of Great Strife Provoked by Gu Qingfeng

"What's going on? Why has the Great Contention Era arrived ahead of time? According to our divinations, there should still be a thousand years left."

"Heaven's favor! Truly heaven's favor! My lifespan was nearing its end, and I thought I would never have the chance to contend for the Emperor's throne. Yet, against all odds, the Great Contention Era has arrived early. In this lifetime, I will surely become the Heavenly Emperor!"

"Damn it! Wasn't there supposed to be a thousand years left? How could the Great Contention Era come so soon? Am I destined to miss my chance at the Emperor's throne?"

At this moment, countless powerhouses voiced their astonishment—some rejoiced, while others despaired.

Those who rejoiced were naturally the ancient experts who would not have lived to see the Great Contention Era. Those who despaired were the young prodigies who had not yet prepared sufficiently.

In the Holy Domain—

Within the celestial courts and immortal sects such as the Heavenly Court, the Netherworld, the Hall of War, and the Heavenly Dao Sect—

One by one, ancient beings awoke from their slumber. Some wore expressions of wild joy, while others looked grave.

"When heaven acts against the natural order, calamity follows. This Great Contention Era arrived without any warning. We must join forces to divine the will of heaven!"

The ancient beings frantically performed divinations, only to turn pale with shock at the results.

"Demonic invasion! A cataclysmic tribulation!"

"Damn it! It turns out the Outer Realm Demons seek to destroy the Cangming Realm. Sensing the crisis, the Heavenly Dao has triggered the Great Contention Era early to nurture a Heavenly Emperor capable of withstanding the calamity!"

"The Demon Realm lies beyond the Outer Realm. Why have they suddenly set their sights on the Cangming Realm?"

The ancient beings continued their divinations, only to discover that the results pointed toward the Verdant Wood Domain. But when they tried to delve deeper, they found the heavenly secrets obscured by a haze of chaos.

"What does this mean? A veil of chaos—could this signify a Chaos Physique?!" someone exclaimed in shock.

"This is all we can divine. It seems the key to this tribulation lies in the Verdant Wood Domain."

"Does this mean the savior resides there? Or is there something—or someone—in the Verdant Wood Domain that has drawn the Outer Realm Demons?"

"The will of heaven is inscrutable, but it is likely not the latter. The demons are deathless and transcendent, beyond worldly desires. There is nothing in the Cangming Realm that could tempt them—except the realm itself.

This divination likely indicates that the Verdant Wood Domain holds the key to surviving the tribulation."

The others nodded in agreement. After all, to those immortal and transcendent beings, even a major world like the Cangming Realm could not possibly produce anything of interest to them.

The greatest value of the Cangming Realm was the realm itself.

What they did not know, however, was that the Cangming Realm now housed an anomaly—Gu Qingfeng—who had shamelessly exploited three demons, subjecting them to humiliation unlike anything they had endured in countless eons.

Moreover, Gu Qingfeng's ability to devour demonic power left the three demons both fearful and furious, compelling them to cross the vast expanse to seek vengeance.

"If I recall correctly, the Verdant Wood Domain was once the territory of the Sword Sect. Thousands of years ago, after the sect declined, they withdrew from the Holy Domain and vanished into obscurity, retreating to the Verdant Wood Domain to recuperate. Could this divination be related to them?

No matter how weakened they are, they remain an imperial sect!"

"Speculation is pointless. We must send people to investigate."

The ancient beings exchanged glances before dispersing.

With the Great Contention Era upon them, they needed to prepare—whether to contend for the Emperor's throne or to seek the key to surviving the tribulation, they had to act swiftly.

......

In the Sword Sect—

Gu Qingfeng was roused from his meditation by the upheaval in the world. He was astonished to find that the entire realm had transformed.

Through his Golden Eye of Truth, he could clearly perceive the laws of the void manifesting, while the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged with unprecedented vitality. It was as if the world had suddenly entered an era of cultivation prosperity.

In such an era, countless powerhouses would surely emerge.

"What in the world is happening?" Gu Qingfeng muttered to himself.

Suddenly, a panicked shout echoed from the distant sky.

"Sect Master! Disaster has struck!"

The voice belonged to Dugu Wei.

Dugu Wei rushed to Gu Qingfeng's side, his face etched with urgency. "Sect Master, the situation is dire—the Great Contention Era has arrived ahead of schedule!"

"So this is the Great Contention Era?" Gu Qingfeng mused. He had read about it in ancient texts—the era in which a Heavenly Emperor would rise.

It was an age that forged heroes. Without the right era, even the greatest hero would fade into obscurity.

"Isn't the arrival of the Great Contention Era a good thing? This lord can finally seize the Heavenly Emperor's throne."

Seeing that Gu Qingfeng still did not grasp the severity of the situation, Dugu Wei hurriedly explained, "Sect Master, you don’t understand! Once the Great Contention Era begins, the Path to Emperorhood will open—within a few years at the shortest, or decades at the longest!"

Gu Qingfeng was even more puzzled. "Isn’t the opening of the Path to Emperorhood a good thing? How else will this lord ascend to the throne?"

"Ah!" Dugu Wei nearly tore his hair out in frustration. "Sect Master, why can’t you see? You won’t make it in time! You’re only at the Heavenly Human realm now, but to set foot on the Path to Emperorhood and contend against the world’s strongest, you must be a Quasi-Emperor!

Only those who have forged their own path—Quasi-Emperors—can enter the Path to Emperorhood!

The path is fraught with manifest laws and deadly perils. Those without sufficient cultivation will perish the moment they step onto it.

Even for a peerless genius, ascending from the Heavenly Human realm to Quasi-Emperor takes at least a thousand years. Even a reincarnated Heavenly Emperor would need no less than a century!

Do you understand now? You won’t make it."

As he spoke, Dugu Wei began beating his chest in despair, his face twisted with anguish. "Why did the Great Contention Era have to arrive early? The Grand Elder clearly said there were still a thousand years left! Now all is lost—otherwise, with your peerless Chaos Physique, no one could have stood against you!

Heaven has forsaken the Sword Sect! Heaven has—"

"Shut up! Stop wailing. This lord thought it was something serious, but it’s just this?" Gu Qingfeng scoffed.

"Do you know how long it took this lord to reach the Heavenly Human realm?"

"How long?"

Gu Qingfeng held up a single finger.

"A hundred years?"

"Less than a year—and that’s counting only the time spent in seclusion. If you exclude the time spent in dual cultivation, it’d be about half a year."

Dugu Wei didn’t believe a word of it. He forced a bitter smile. "Sect Master, this is no time for jokes. In my opinion, the Sword Sect’s priority now should be searching for the Elixir of Immortality. If you consume it, you might live long enough to see the next Great Contention Era."

Gu Qingfeng was displeased. Even the truth was met with disbelief.

Wasn’t there still several years left?

If someone brought him a Quasi-Emperor-level demonic beast, he could reach Quasi-Emperor in no time!

Besides, even if his cultivation fell short, his strength would make up for it.

If the Path to Emperorhood was too perilous for anyone below Quasi-Emperor, what if he was strong enough to crush Quasi-Emperors? Wouldn’t that qualify him?

Jokes aside, Gu Qingfeng did feel a slight sense of urgency. At the very least, he should cut back on visits to the little seductress—a month-long stay was far too time-consuming.

Of course, this was his current mindset. Once he learned of the impending demonic invasion, his priorities would undoubtedly shift.

After all, with the help of the Heavenly Demon old friend, whether or not to tread the Emperor's Path doesn't really matter.