These four words were like a thunderclap from the heavens, exploding simultaneously in the minds of Xiao Han and Lin Qingxia.
Almost simultaneously, deep within Xiao Han's sea of consciousness, the World Tree Heart Fragment, which had always been quiet and dormant like a seed, suddenly erupted with an unprecedentedly violent tremor, resonating strongly across space with a supreme being deep within the Soul-Suppressing Space!
It's true!
The bishop was not lying!
"Ha ha!" The bishop let out a maniacal laugh, golden divine blood gushing from his mouth. "Once we obtain that fragment, our Lord can tear apart the dimensional barrier and descend upon this world in his true form! This foolish beast has ruined the Divine Court's grand plan, but it doesn't matter... it doesn't matter! As long as we kill you, this 'key,' the seal here will be permanently weakened! Then, our Lord can still take the treasure!"
Before he finished speaking, the bishop's body burst into flames of golden fire.
He was actually burning his own divine soul!
He poured all his power, all his life, and all his faith into this desperate strike. His entire being transformed into a golden streak of light condensed to its extreme, moving so fast that even space itself groaned under its strain. He bypassed the massive body of the Chaos-Devouring Beast and shot straight at Xiao Han within the Soul-Suppressing Space!
"Roar!"
The Chaos-Devouring Beast sensed his intention and roared in fury, its massive tail sweeping out, but it was too late. The golden stream of light had already torn through space, appearing before Xiao Han with an aura of Obliteration!
Within the Soul-Suppressing Space, there is no escape!
That ultimate, sacred power, formed from the burning of life force by a Martial Emperor, acted like a fuse, instantly igniting the powder keg within Xiao Han's body.
The [Divine Punishment Mark] on his chest, the [Primordial Demon Finger Soul-Splitting Curse Seal] on his left ankle, and the [Eternal Night Emperor Seal] between his brows!
Three terrifying forces, each distinct in nature yet equally domineering, were simultaneously unleashed at this moment! The golden holy fire, the pitch-black ancient demonic energy, and the profound imperial shadow—these three torrents clashed and tore wildly through his meridians, as if trying to rip his body apart from the inside out!
Excruciating pain! Unimaginable excruciating pain!
Xiao Han's pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints in an instant.
However, at this critical moment of life and death, when his body and soul were about to collapse, he did not sit idly by and wait for death. Instead, a resolute determination even more insane than that of the bishop flashed in his eyes.
Rather than be torn apart by these three forces, why not... take a big gamble!
With a thought, instead of suppressing it, he used the last of his divine soul power to forcibly guide the three uncontrollable destructive energies, like hundreds of rivers flowing into the sea, to rush madly towards one place— the Chaos Green Lotus Martial Soul quietly suspended in his dantian!
Since I am the "key," let me see what kind of door this key can open!
"Buzz--"
The moment the three powers of divinity, demonic energy, and imperial seal were fully poured in, the Chaos Green Lotus erupted with an unprecedentedly brilliant light. Divine runes flowed across its azure-gold petals, black demonic patterns entwined them, and majestic imperial marks were imprinted upon them.
The entire Soul-Suppressing Space trembled violently under the impact of this force, and visible cracks appeared on the solid spatial barrier, like a piece of glass about to shatter.
At that very moment, the golden light of the bishop burning with life finally reached Xiao Han.
Is it over?
No.
Just as the golden light was about to touch one-thousandth of Xiao Han's body, another unexpected change occurred!
A golden light, more ancient, more vast, and more pure than the bishop's divine power, burst forth from the deepest part of the Soul-Suppressing Space without warning.
The light was not dazzling, but rather warm and gentle like jade, yet it contained an unparalleled majesty that reigned supreme over heaven and earth and controlled all things. It gently brushed past, and the bishop's desperate strike, which was enough to pierce through mountains, Obliteration and vanished silently like ice and snow under the sun, without even causing a ripple.
Immediately afterwards, the warm golden light trembled slightly.
"Puff!"
Having just exhausted everything and in a state of extreme weakness, the Divine Court bishop was struck as if by lightning, spitting out another mouthful of divine blood. He was thrown far away and completely lost consciousness, his fate unknown.
The Chaos-Devouring Beast's massive movements ceased. It withdrew all its savagery and killing intent, prostrating itself on the ground, its enormous head bowing respectfully, as if welcoming its king.
Lin Qingxia also stopped all her movements, staring in astonishment at the deep space.
A gentle yet majestic voice, seemingly transcending eternity and having slumbered for countless epochs in the long river of time, slowly resounded in the ears of every living being present.
"How dare those ants from the Divine Court be so insolent in the very place where I, the Emperor, slumber?"
As that gentle yet authoritative voice faded, the darkness in the deepest part of the Soul-Suppressing Space receded like a tide. A phantom of a middle-aged man dressed in simple clothes with a gentle face slowly walked out. There was no spiritual energy fluctuation on his body, and he looked like an ordinary schoolteacher. However, wherever his gaze fell, the violent chaotic energy calmed down, the broken Space Laws repaired themselves, and all laws submitted to him.
"Waaah..."
Just moments before, the Chaos-Devouring Beast had been so ferocious, intending to devour everything. But the moment it saw this phantom, its massive body trembled violently, and all its ferocity vanished. Its mountain-like head lowered, and the savagery and chaos in its enormous scarlet eyes disappeared, leaving only an almost affectionate gentleness. It let out a low, aggrieved, and affectionate whimper, like a large dog seeing its long-lost master.
This scene caused Xiao Han's eye to twitch slightly.
Lin Qingxia, standing to the side, trembled violently the moment she saw that gentle face. Her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief, excitement, and reverence, and her voice trembled. "It's... it's the first principal! The first Martial Emperor of the Dragon Nation, Emperor Xia!"
"Impossible!" The bishop of the Divine Court struggled to his feet amidst the ruins, screaming in utter horror as if he had seen a ghost, "Emperor Xia perished on the battlefield beyond the realm a thousand years ago! You... you are nothing but a remnant soul left behind by him!"
The illusory figure of the Emperor Xia ignored the bishop, who seemed to have gone mad. His gentle gaze fell on Xiao Han, and his eyes, which seemed to have seen through countless ages, were filled with approval and satisfaction. "I've been waiting for you for a long time, junior who bears the burdens of chaos and eternal night. You've arrived sooner than I expected."
Facing this legendary sage of the human race, Xiao Han was overwhelmed with shock. He suppressed the surging blood and qi within him and bowed respectfully.
The illusory image of the Emperor Xia smiled and shook his head, extending a finger to point at Xiao Han's brow from a distance.
Buzz!
With a single finger strike, there was no earth-shattering power, but a massive torrent of information, like a galaxy pouring down, instantly flooded Xiao Han's sea of consciousness. The fierce battle a thousand years ago, the terror of the extraterrestrial demons, the pollution of the [World Heart] fragments, and the tragic and resolute story of a human emperor who sacrificed himself to become a seal, guarding this place alone for a thousand years... all the causes and consequences became clear at this moment.