We Await the Sect Leader's Emergence from Seclusion

Three days later.

Boom—!

The clear sky was suddenly shattered by a deafening roar of countless thunderous echoes.

In an instant, divine radiance surged across the entire Cangming Realm, countless beams of sacred light shooting into the heavens, vanishing into the fissures of the Emperor's Path.

The cracks in the void widened, expanding relentlessly.

From the outside, one could see seven-colored divine light seeping through the gaps, dazzling and resplendent, as if revealing a glimpse of the legendary Immortal Realm.

"The Emperor's Path is about to open!"

Creatures trembled in awe, their eyes fixed on the fissures in the void—the Emperor's Path!

A road only the mightiest could traverse to its end.

Among the countless beings of the Cangming Realm, only one would emerge victorious, seizing the Mandate of Heaven, ascending as the supreme ruler—the Heavenly Emperor!

At this moment, across every domain and every race, all beings shuddered. Even mortals, devoid of cultivation, could keenly sense the shift in the world, their hearts gripped by an inexplicable dread, forcing them to their knees in worship.

If mortals reacted so, cultivators were even more overwhelmed.

Their blood burned as if ready to erupt—such was their excitement!

Even if their cultivation was too weak to tread the Emperor's Path, merely witnessing the birth of a Heavenly Emperor was an unparalleled honor.

Disciples of major factions turned hopeful gazes toward their ancestors, praying that their own lineage's supreme elder would claim the throne.

For if so, their faction—and they themselves—would rise to unparalleled heights, dominating the entire Cangming Realm!

When one ascends, even their followers are lifted to the heavens—such was the way of things.

The opening of the Emperor's Path was a grand event that concerned all life in the Cangming Realm. Even those who could not contend for the throne watched closely, for the identity of the new Heavenly Emperor—their race and temperament—would shape the world.

If a demonic sovereign rose, races like humanity would suffer.

But if a human claimed the throne, mankind would flourish like never before!

Beyond race, the Emperor's nature mattered—a benevolent ruler was far more welcome than a merciless tyrant.

Thus, the birth of a Heavenly Emperor truly determined the fate of the world.

Boom!

A terrifying sound erupted.

Its origin? The Celestial Court—a peerless sect that had birthed two Emperors!

The Celestial Court trembled, its immortal mountains suspended in the heavens shaking violently. From the depths of these sacred peaks, a monstrous fissure tore through the void, unleashing a faint but unmistakable imperial aura—as if some ancient, dreadful existence was stirring from slumber.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Five beams of boundless divine light shot forth from the Celestial Court's heart—its five Quasi-Emperors. Notably absent was the Thirteenth Ancestor, who had perished in his battle against the Qilin Child, exhausting his lifespan.

These five were the Celestial Court's ultimate foundation, sealed away for countless eras, awaiting this very moment!

So resolute were they that even when Gu Qingfeng ran rampant through their halls, they had not emerged.

"That... that's the Celestial Court's First Ancestor!"

A cry of disbelief rose as beings recognized the foremost figure among the five Quasi-Emperors.

"Legends say the Celestial Court produced two Emperors, and the First Ancestor was the chief disciple of its second Heavenly Emperor! He still lives!?"

"The Emperor's first disciple! Who in this era can rival him!? Will the Celestial Court now achieve the impossible—three Emperors from one sect!?"

As shock spread, other human Emperor-level sects—the Netherworld, the War God Hall, the Jade Pool—awakened their own Quasi-Emperors. In moments, the aura of these supreme experts flooded the world.

Yet compared to the Celestial Court's First Ancestor, the Emperor's own disciple, they paled.

Among them were ancients sealed for epochs, as well as newly ascended Quasi-Emperors like the Queen Mother of the West, who had risen in this era of contention.

With over a hundred human Quasi-Emperors revealed, humanity's confidence soared. To them, the Emperor's Path now seemed an internal struggle—assuring a human victor.

Boom!

Another earth-shaking roar.

This time, it heralded not humanity, but the demonic races.

Roar—!

A dragon's cry split the heavens as a colossal black dragon, ten thousand zhang long and gleaming like forged metal, emerged from the Dragon's Lair.

This was the Black Dragon Emperor's direct descendant—like the Qilin Child, a Quasi-Emperor born with an Immortal Body!

Legends held that dragons were born with power rivaling Celestial Realm experts. Even without cultivation, reaching adulthood granted them strength comparable to Heavenly Venerates—such was their innate supremacy. Among peers, dragons were nearly invincible.

As the Black Dragon Emperor's heir appeared, humanity's confidence wavered. While the Emperor's first disciple was mighty, a direct descendant of an Ancient Emperor held even higher status—though their true strength remained unknown.

The black dragon's arrival signaled a tide. One after another, Ancient Emperor clans emerged, each sending forth descendants of terrifying pedigree—direct heirs or grandsons of past Emperors, their bloodlines near-imperial.

The Undying Phoenixes, the Battle-Sage Apes, the Void Thunder Dragons, the Azure Luan Birds—all unleashed their Emperor's descendants.

The Cangming Realm, once dominated by human Quasi-Emperors, was now overrun with demonic energy.

Colossal phantoms of Ancient Emperor clans blotted out the skies.

Witnessing this, human hearts sank.

Doubt crept in.

Could humanity truly compete with these monstrous beings?

Why had all these Emperor's descendants chosen this era to awaken?

Boom—!

The Emperor's Path fissures roared louder, nearing completion. Once fully formed, the Path would open.

As the cracks widened, glimpses of its wonders became visible—celestial dragons and phoenixes singing, heavenly flowers cascading, golden springs bubbling from the earth, seven-colored lotuses blooming in the void—a dreamlike paradise.

Even the faintest wisps of its boundless truths and spiritual essence stirred longing in all who sensed it.

"The Emperor's Path is about to open!"

Countless beings cried out.

Nearly a thousand Quasi-Emperors from all races stood poised in the void, their gazes burning toward the Path.

But then—

Hummm—!

Hummm—!!

Hummm—!!!

A sound like demonic whispers reverberated through the world.

All beings turned ashen, for merely hearing it made their blood churn backward.

The source? The Netherdark Domain.

Many didn't recognize the name, but when three words were gasped aloud, terror seized them all.

The Heavenly Demon Sect!

The Netherdark Domain was its stronghold!

Trembling, they watched as the entire domain quaked violently, as if something unspeakable sought to break free.

Suddenly, the land was shrouded in thick black mist—a mist filled with countless twisted, screaming human faces.

They laughed, raged, or reveled in cruelty...

And that eerie, droning hum—it came unmistakably from their mouths.

“What... what is that?!”

Many powerful figures stared in disbelief at the sinister black mist, feeling as though they were witnessing the utmost evil in the world, their souls trembling.

Gradually, a figure emerged from the mist, shrouded in imperial majesty—a Quasi-Emperor.

Just as the onlookers tried to discern who it was, another figure appeared, wreathed in the same overwhelming aura—yet another Quasi-Emperor.

Then, more figures surfaced, their appearances accelerating until, in mere moments, dozens of Quasi-Emperors stood within the black mist.

They stepped forward slowly, all clad in black robes, their faces expressionless, like corpses.

At this sight, those who had suffered under the tyranny of the Demonic Cult cried out in horror: “It’s the Ten Dharma Kings and Eight Vajra Guardians of the Demonic Cult!”

Before the exclamations could fade, a sudden upheaval struck.

The dozens of Quasi-Emperors of the Demonic Cult turned toward the black mist, clasped their hands in reverence, and dropped to one knee, their faces alight with fanaticism as they shouted in unison:

“The Path to Divinity is open! We humbly await the return of our Cult Leader!”