The Supreme Shocker

He furrowed his brows slightly, causing the aura of primal chaos around him to surge. "This presence... it feels somewhat like that little golden-winged roc that luckily escaped back then?"

"Did it use an Emperor Weapon, or perhaps a protective measure left behind by a Great Emperor? To think it could annihilate the 'Death-Nether Rune Light' bestowed by this Venerable One..."

The consciousness of the existence within the coffin gradually grew clearer, its cold intent carrying a trace of surprise and scrutiny.

He did not clearly sense any life fluctuations at the Great Emperor level, leaning more toward the assumption that it was some powerful external artifact or an ancient trump card.

Soon after, the corners of his mouth curled into a cold arc, tinged with a hint of amusement and disdain.

"Returning for revenge? The wrath of an ant—commendable courage, I suppose. It seems a decade of time hasn't taught him to revere the true Supreme Realm."

To an existence like him, even a peak Quasi-Emperor was nothing more than a slightly larger ant.

They had slashed their own cultivation to lie dormant in the forbidden zones, all in pursuit of everlasting longevity. A mere roc returning with hatred was, in his eyes, no different from a moth darting into a flame.

"Very well. I have been dormant for too long, and my bones have grown somewhat rusty. This is a good chance to stretch my limbs. Swallowing this little bird's origin might just make up for some of my depletion over these years."

He did not view Little Black as a genuine threat; rather, it was more like a snack delivering itself to his doorstep.

It never even crossed his mind that a contemporary Great Emperor was making a move.

In this era, the Heavenly Dao was flawed and had long been unable to bear a Great Emperor's Dao Fruit. This was the consensus among all the dormant Supremes.

As for dissolving his runes, perhaps that golden-winged roc had a fortuitous encounter or acquired some Emperor Weapon, but in the face of absolute strength and eons of accumulation, such things were nothing but illusions.

"A pity. External objects are ultimately just external objects."

His intent returned to apathy. In the eyes of existences like them, there simply shouldn't be any power in the present age capable of threatening them.

However, just as he was about to retract his divine sense—

His gaze suddenly froze!

Three figures had, at some unknown point, silently appeared amidst the chaotic storm of rules on the periphery of the forbidden zone—a storm powerful enough to shred a Quasi-Emperor!

What shook his heart even more was that, despite his supreme divine sense, he actually couldn't completely see through the depths of these three people!

Especially the white-clad young man leading them. His aura was as ordinary as a deep, still pool of water, without the slightest ripple, making it impossible for anyone to gauge his true profundity!

"Hmph, courting death."

A trace of cold mockery flashed through the intent of the existence inside the coffin.

"A mere three people dare to trespass into the Heavenly Barren Forbidden Zone? It seems having a bit of backing has made them ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth."

His attention fell particularly on the figure on the left. Although its aura was restrained, he would never mistake that unique life imprint!

"Golden-winged roc? It really is you, little bird? You luckily managed to save your life a decade ago, yet instead of lingering on your last breath, you actually dare to deliver yourself to my door to seek death? Truly, the ignorant are fearless!"

In his view, the other party had perhaps obtained some fortunate encounter, improved their cultivation slightly, and thus deluded themselves into thinking they had the capital to challenge him. It was utterly laughable!

"Very well. Since you are here, this Venerable One shall personally send you on your way. It's a good time to stretch my limbs."

At this thought, the lid of the ancient coffin slowly slid open, revealing a crack. A decaying yet majestic Supreme aura permeated the air.

An illusory figure shrouded in the aura of primal chaos rose from the coffin. His dark gold imperial robes fluttered without wind, and the terrifying imagery of universes being born and destroyed slowly circulated within his eyes.

Even though this was merely his normal state upon awakening, his coercion was enough to make the stars tremble.

By this time, Gu Changge and the other two had stepped into the core region of the forbidden zone, standing far opposite the figure that had risen from the coffin.

"Little roc," the ancient Supreme's voice carried the vicissitudes of eternity and undisguised contempt.

"I will give you a chance. Kneel and submit, and this Venerable One might just leave you with an intact corpse."

Little Black's face was cold and stern. He did not reply, only taking a step forward as the aura around him began to climb steadily!

"Hm? Still want to put up a stubborn resistance?" The Supreme sneered. "It seems a decade's lesson still hasn't taught you reverence!"

He casually raised his hand and pointed a finger forward.

This finger strike seemed plain, yet it contained a strand of Supreme Dao principles, sufficient to crush stars and obliterate ordinary Quasi-Emperors!

He wanted to crush this ignorant little bird as casually as he had ten years ago!

However, facing this terrifying finger strike, a sharp light flashed in Little Black's eyes. He hid his power no longer!

"Boom—!"

A boundless, flawless Emperor's might, like a primordial behemoth that had slumbered for eons suddenly awakening, violently erupted from Little Black's body!

Golden light pierced the heavens, illuminating the entire deathly still forbidden zone. Its sheer power instantly scattered the Dao principles contained in the opponent's finger strike!

Little Black was bathed in radiant golden Emperor's brilliance. His hair danced wildly, and cold lightning bloomed in his eyes, making him look like a Heavenly Emperor descending upon the world!

He spoke no more and directly blasted out a claw! The light of his fist transformed into a golden-winged roc that roared proudly across the sea of stars. It tore through the void, carrying supreme Emperor's might, and lunged straight at the figure of the Supreme!

"What?!"

The ancient Supreme, whose posture had been casual and tinged with mockery, suddenly shrank his pupils. For the first time, his face hidden beneath the primal chaos aura revealed unbelievable horror!

"Emperor's might?! Flawless Great Emperor's laws?! This is impossible!!"

He cried out in terror, his voice changing pitch!

"The Heavenly Dao of this era is flawed, long unable to bear a Great Emperor's Dao Fruit! You... how could you possibly prove the Dao?!!"

This completely overturned his millions of years of understanding!

The birth of a new Emperor would inevitably be accompanied by heaven-shaking phenomena and universal resonance. It was absolutely impossible to hide it from dormant Supremes like them!

But this incomparably pure Emperor Realm fluctuation, this aura of laws that stood above the myriad Daos, could not be mistaken!

In his haste, he had no choice but to fully mobilize his Supreme power, striking out with a palm to meet that Roc Emperor Fist Seal!

"Rumble!!!"

The Great Emperor's fist seal and the Supreme's palm force collided viciously! It was like two ancient planets crashing into each other, erupting with a thunderous roar akin to the splitting of heaven and earth!

A terrifying energy storm swept out in an instant. Fragments of laws splattered like a rain of light, completely tearing the surrounding void into chaos. Countless phantom stars flickered and shattered within the ripples!

The core of this forbidden zone shook violently, as if it were about to be completely overturned!

Turbulent energy raged, and ripples of destruction spread outward, on the verge of affecting the more distant starry skies.

Right at this moment, Gu Changge, who had been quietly watching the situation unfold, slightly furrowed his brows as he looked at the void that was on the brink of shattering due to the Emperor-level collision.

He made no superfluous movements; with merely a slight shift of his intent, an invisible, intangible, yet exceedingly profound barrier silently enveloped this vast star domain.

It sealed all the battle fluctuations, energy impacts, and that world-shocking Great Emperor's aura within, not allowing a single trace to leak to the outside world.

At the same time, deep within the forbidden zone, four other ancient coffins trembled violently in unison!

Intimidating light burst from the cracks in their lids, and terrifying divine senses swept out, frantically intertwining. Their originally deathly still and cold intents were now filled with unprecedented suspicion, horror, and disbelief!

"A Great Emperor's aura?! Pure and flawless!"

"How could a new Emperor be born in the present age? Why did the Heavenly Dao sense nothing?!"

"It's that golden-winged roc?! He... he actually stepped into the Emperor Realm?!"

"That collision just now was undeniably of Emperor-level laws!"

One by one, the slumbering Supremes were thoroughly awakened, monstrous waves surging within their cold divine wills!

Little Black's display of the Emperor Realm was like a massive boulder crashing into the stagnant waters of the restricted zone, instantly kicking up ten-thousand-foot waves!

Meanwhile, the ancient Supreme who had exchanged a blow with Little Black swayed slightly in the aftermath of their collision. He stared fixedly at Little Black, sensing those undeniably real and flawless Emperor Dao laws that stood high above the myriad Daos.

The shock in his heart raged like stormy seas. His former contempt and mockery had long since vanished without a trace, replaced only by an unprecedented solemnity and a hint of unbelievable dread.

"You actually became an Emperor..."

His voice was dry and hoarse, carrying an unconcealable tremor.

In a split second, the situation was completely reversed!