Rising from Ruins, Reviving in Desolation...

Victors become kings, losers become bandits. On the surface, it seems Chi Tian lost, but in reality, losing is winning!

Ever since sensing the aura of the Epoch Cataclysm from this dark, massive halberd, Chi Tian knew his opportunity had arrived!

It must be understood that Variables of Tribulation are born from flaws within the myriad realms of the heavens. Each time they appear, it is to make the laws of the Great Dao more perfect. After fulfilling their mission, they are purged by the supreme power of the Great Dao of the heavens!

A Variable of Tribulation is like a Dao flower that blooms briefly, withering rapidly after bearing its Dao fruit. They are born to mend the flaws of heaven and earth—this is their destined fate!

Therefore, a Variable of Tribulation cannot become an Immortal Emperor, yet they are destined to instigate the Epoch Cataclysm, challenge the orthodox order, topple the supreme Immortal Emperors who suppress the heavens from their thrones, and ultimately overturn the world, reshaping the universe!

What does this mean?

Opportunity!

To rise from ruin, to revive from extinction...

Chi Tian simply did not believe that the current Immortal Emperor, Wuji, had the ability to resolve this Epoch Cataclysm, so he planned to lay the groundwork for the imperial throne of the next era in advance!

Having already died once in an Epoch Cataclysm, he had plenty of experience!

"Smack smack~"

"Don't waste your energy. It's useless. Your Dao is not righteous, so in facing this emperor, you are not just facing me, but challenging the Great Dao of the heavens themselves!"

"Smack smack smack~"

"Heh, besides leaving these disgusting marks on this emperor's body, what else can you do? Want to breach this emperor's sea of consciousness? Utterly delusional!"

"Smack smack smack smack~"

"Your power is somewhat interesting. Give me more, let this emperor properly savor its flavor!"

"Oh oh... Cui Changsheng, you're quite strong. Come on, use more force, didn't you eat? I can take it!"

"Smack smack smack smack smack~~~"

"Yes, yes, right there, feels good!"

"..."

"Damn!"

Chen Yi's mouth twitched as he cursed and sealed the extremely arrogant Chi Tian into an Eternal Prison of Tribulation forged from the syntax of void.

It had to be said, for now, he indeed had no immediate way to deal with Chi Tian. He could use brute force to suppress him, but using brute force to refine him was basically impossible. Instead, it would give Chi Tian a chance to escape. The contingency plans of an Immortal Emperor were simply too numerous.

As for Cui Changsheng, he could be refined through proper methods, but unfortunately, his level was not as high as Chi Tian's. To break the Life Lock formed by one hundred and eight strands of foundational Dao traces would require at least several hundred thousand, if not millions, of years of accumulated effort!

This was why Chi Tian remained unafraid even after being struck down by the halberd!

If you use brute force on him, he can die to escape, free from restraints and feeling great!

If you don't use brute force, then it's just a stalemate, staring at each other. Anyway, the outbreak of the Epoch Cataclysm wasn't too far off, and he had plenty of patience to wait for that moment!

The main point is, there's no solution either way!

"Sigh~ Chen Yi, it seems I have no choice but to stay here and keep him company!" Cui Changsheng let out a long, quiet sigh after a prolonged silence.

A heavyweight existence of Chi Tian's level had too many unstable factors. You couldn't kill him, fighting him risked giving him pleasure, and sealing him in place meant constantly worrying about his escape. After all, he was once an Immortal Emperor, with too many hidden moves to guard against...

What could be done?

What else could be done?

Was there any better method than him personally standing guard without leaving a single step?

Fortunately, this Forgotten Ancient History was secluded enough, so there was no immediate worry about being found by people from the Wuji Heavenly Court. After running for so many years, it was time for him to stop and rest.

Chen Yi certainly understood Cui Changsheng's meaning, but he disagreed!

"Senior, matters at home cannot be kept hidden forever. Sooner or later, the cards will have to be laid on the table. No, the time to lay them bare is almost upon us!"

Hearing this, Cui Changsheng's expression turned grave. "So soon? Are you truly prepared? Do you really intend to do this?"

Chen Yi gave a slight nod. "Originally, I wanted to maintain a stable environment for a smooth transition. But various variables indicate that the more one seeks stability, the greater the storm becomes. To stand up completely, to stand up with dignity, one must undergo trials!"

"Therefore, throw one punch to open the way, lest a hundred punches come your way!"

As soon as the words fell.

The dark Tribulation-Subduing Halberd suddenly trembled. A terrifying will erupted, instantly annihilating Chi Tian, who was still howling and taunting within the void prison, leaving only one hundred and eight strands of foundational Dao traces spinning quietly in place.

Witnessing this scene, Cui Changsheng's expression grew even more solemn. "You should know this cannot kill him. Even if you forcibly keep these one hundred and eight foundational Dao traces, as long as you haven't surpassed the peak he has set, these traces will eventually return to him."

Chen Yi smiled faintly. "Senior, if he can refine your foundational Dao traces, can't you do the same?"

Cui Changsheng shook his head bitterly. "It's shameful to say, but my understanding of the Dao is far inferior to Chi Tian's. He can easily surpass the peak I've set, making my foundational Dao traces his own. Even while being refined by him, I couldn't muster the will to resist, only feeling deep admiration!"

"He is truly a stunning genius. If he hadn't unfortunately encountered the Epoch Cataclysm back then, I believe he could have potentially founded a Heavenly Court not inferior to Ling Xiao's."

Hearing Cui Changsheng's high praise for Chi Tian, Chen Yi's gaze suddenly turned sharp. "Senior, something is very wrong with you. Have you already been molded into his shape?"

As he spoke, Chen Yi decisively took action, grabbing Cui Changsheng and immediately beginning to inspect his body!

Although his six-star clone couldn't do much against a heavyweight like Chi Tian, who had once been an Immortal Emperor, suppressing a novice Dao Ancestor like Cui Changsheng, who had just condensed forty-nine foundational Dao traces, was a piece of cake!

At this moment, Chen Yi strongly suspected that Cui Changsheng's primordial spirit and true soul had suffered severe spiritual corruption when being refined by Chi Tian—something even reversing time and twisting causality might not completely eradicate!

Cui Changsheng did not resist, allowing Chen Yi to inspect him completely, even taking the initiative to open his sea of consciousness for him to see.

In truth, this wasn't a gesture of having a clear conscience. Rather, he himself didn't know whether he had been tainted by Chi Tian or not!

If Chen Yi hadn't been perceptive enough, he wouldn't have even noticed his own excessive bias towards, or even yielding to, Chi Tian.

This was extremely fatal for a Dao Ancestor!

The struggle for the Dao does not see blood; it depends on forging ahead relentlessly!

If one develops fear towards another Dao Ancestor, believing oneself incapable of victory, then the Dao heart is flawed. Being corrupted, invaded, and molded into a puppet is only a matter of time!

Moreover, he had already been refined by Chi Tian once. Even if Chen Yi rescued him in time, it remained unknown whether Chi Tian had left something deep within his body and soul!

Time passed minute by minute.

Feeling Chen Yi's domineering will rummaging through his sea of consciousness, stripping away strand after strand of strange thought power that did not belong to him, Cui Changsheng's heart sank continuously.

"So it's true. I have lost myself, become impure?"

If the flaws within me cannot be cleansed, then I shall use this broken body to trade one for one with Chi Tian, igniting the flames of war in the Immortal Realm, and I absolutely cannot let it affect my homeland...

Cui Changsheng was deep in thought when suddenly, a searing pain tore through his primordial spirit, as if struck by a heavy halberd. His consciousness instantly shattered, and he fell into a dead faint.