It turns out that Emperor Xia did not truly perish. With his supreme power, he connected his imperial origin with the Imperial Capital's veins in the capital, transforming it into this eternal seal to suppress the fragment of the [World Heart] that had been deeply corrupted by extraterrestrial demons. The Chaos-Devouring Beast was both his guardian and his only companion throughout his long life.
The true purpose of the Divine Court is to seize this corrupted fragment and use it as a coordinate to summon their so-called "Pseudo-God" to descend to earth.
The Chaos Green Lotus Martial Soul he possessed was the only hope for purifying this fragment, the "key" that Emperor Xia had waited a thousand years for.
"My time is running out." The Emperor Xia's voice carried a sigh, and his illusory figure seemed to dim even further. "Each time I appear, I hasten the dissipation of this remnant soul of mine. I can only shield you from external enemies; the heavy responsibility of purification must be completed by you alone."
Before the words were even finished, the weather above the university suddenly changed!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Several divine auras, even more powerful and purer than those of the bishop, ripped through the spatial barrier above the Imperial Capital like Heavenly Punishment Spear! Three figures clad in dazzling divine armor and wielding holy swords descended, each possessing an aura that had reached the Martial Emperor realm. The leader, wearing a crown of thorns, had a cold and stern face, and his aura was unfathomable; he was clearly at the Martial Emperor Ninth Layer Peak!
The Divine Court's top reinforcements have arrived!
"Haha! Reinforcements have arrived!" Upon seeing the newcomers, the dying bishop was instantly invigorated and roared arrogantly, "Emperor Xia, what can your remnant soul do to me! Today, this Imperial Capital Academy will be the final resting place for you, this sage of humanity!"
Faced with the overwhelming force of the enemy, the illusory figure of the Emperor Xia merely smiled calmly. He turned away from the hysterical bishop and said to Xiao Han, "Child, watch closely, this is the backbone of the Martial Artist of my Dragon Nation."
He turned and faced the sky.
At that moment, the gentle breeze stirred within him, and an aura of supreme dominance, as if looking down upon the world and claiming to be the only one worthy of respect, surged forth from his broken soul, stirring up the heavens and earth!
The illusory image of the Emperor Xia slowly raised his hand and pressed down.
"Hold head high--!"
The entire Imperial Capital Academy, and even the surrounding hundred miles of earth's vein energy, emitted a deafening dragon roar! Endless golden fortune converged wildly, transforming beneath his feet into a ten-thousand-foot-long golden dragon with clearly defined scales and armor, lifelike in its form!
He stepped onto the dragon's head, his plain clothes fluttering, his black hair dancing wildly, and in a calm yet powerful tone, he loudly proclaimed:
"The land of the Dragon Nation is forbidden to gods!"
Those who invade our territory, no matter how far away, will be punished!
A golden dragon, ten thousand feet long, carried that proud figure, soaring into the sky, facing the several Martial Emperors of the Divine Court. Though there are millions of people, I will go!
Xiao Han was deeply shocked by this figure, and his blood almost boiled.
At that moment, a cold system notification exploded in his mind.
[Host detected within the purification core, facing the ultimate test; Ultimate Choice System activated!]
[Option 1: Assist the remnant soul of Emperor Xia in battle, defeating the Divine Court. This will ensure the remnant soul of Emperor Xia remains intact, allowing for subsequent purification. Reward: The complete version of "The Human Emperor World-Calming Canon- Suppressing Scripture," the culmination of Emperor Xia's life's work and the supreme legacy of the Dragon Nation.]
[Option Two: Trust the sages and entrust your life to Emperor Xia. Immediately enter the core of the seal and, at all costs, begin purifying the corrupted Worldheart Fragment. This will cause Emperor Xia to lose the support of the Earth Vein Core, greatly weakening his remnant soul power, leaving him to face the siege of the Divine Court's emperors alone, with a slim chance of survival. Reward: The fragments of the [World Tree Heart] are fully fused, the Chaos Green Lotus Martial Soul undergoes ultimate evolution, and the host's cultivation level skyrockets!]
The two options, like two sharp swords, pierced Xiao Han's heart.
He raised his head and looked at the figure in the sky, a remnant soul, bravely facing an enemy several times stronger than himself. That figure was not tall, yet it seemed to hold up the sky.
He lowered his head again, and could clearly feel that the World Tree Heart Fragment within him was emitting an unprecedented longing and call, creating a fatal resonance with the power sealed at its deepest point.
His decision will directly affect the life and death of a human sage, as well as his own future path.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment. Above the sky, golden dragons clashed with divine light; beneath the earth, humanity struggled and made choices.
Above the sky, it had transformed into a vast ocean of divine light and dragon energy.
The ten-thousand-foot-long golden dragon, formed from the remnant soul of the Emperor Xia, single-handedly fought against three Divine Court Martial Emperors whose auras were as vast as an abyss. Each time the dragon's claws tore through the sky, it was accompanied by the roaring and surging of endless earth vein energy; and each time the three holy figures swung their holy light giant swords, it seemed as if they wanted to completely purify the laws of this world. The aftershocks of the collision transformed into a destructive storm, causing the entire Imperial Capital Academy's protective array to shake wildly and teeter on the brink of collapse.
Deep in the earth, Xiao Han looked up at the solitary dragon shadow battling the heavens, his heart feeling as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand.
On one hand, there is the impulse to fight alongside the ancient sages of humanity and shed blood. That is the glory that every Martial Artist yearns for in their bones, the most instinctive reverence when facing legends.
On the other side, the system panel flickered with a deadly allure—the ultimate opportunity. It was a shortcut to a higher realm, a choice that would determine his future path.
No words were spoken.
Xiao Han silently withdrew his gaze and bowed deeply and solemnly to the towering figure in the sky.
This bow was as heavy as a mountain.
He bent over not only his back, but also placed a weight of guilt and a resolute determination on his spine.
As if transcending the barriers of space, sensing his choice, the golden dragon, battered and bruised, turned its head slightly amidst the myriad divine lights in the sky. A gentle voice, filled with relief and reassurance, resounded directly through Xiao Han's mind.
"Go! The future of humanity is more important than this old man's bones."
Boom!
The last trace of hesitation in Xiao Han was completely severed by these words. He straightened up abruptly, without the slightest hesitation.
"Guard the entrance, trust me!"
He left a short message for Lin Qingxia, who was equally shocked and speechless beside him, and then transformed into a streak of black light, like a meteor moving in reverse, resolutely rushing into the deepest part of the Soul-Suppressing Space, towards the Source of All Evil —the corrupted Worldheart Fragment!
The instant his figure disappeared, the golden dragon in the sky, which had been shining brightly, suddenly dimmed by nearly half! Without the support of the earth's vein core, Emperor Xia's power was as if its foundation had been removed, and it greatly diminished.
"Ha ha!"
The Martial Emperor, headed by the Divine Court and wearing a crown of thorns, was the first to notice the change. He let out a piercing, maniacal laugh that shook the heavens.
"Fool! For the sake of so-called power, you actually abandoned the heroes of your human race! Emperor Xia, your death is nigh!"
The Emperor Xia did not offer any explanation.