Becoming Emperor

Quasi-Nine Immortal Tribulation, the pinnacle of perfection.

Rolling celestial tones and dragon roars, mixed with unfathomable unknown imprints, were contained within the lightning tribulation, possessing infinite might.

This was truly his tribulation. The sea of lightning descended to the world, evolving bizarre and varied killing postures, far surpassing those previous tribulations.

Zhang Huan faced the enemy in strict battle array, exhausting all his means to fight desperately. The Ninth Layer Immortal Tribulation suppressed the heavens, crushing eternity and the instant, with a destructive force akin to world destruction.

He was injured, bloody trails sweeping across his skin. He bled for the first time, yet his fighting spirit soared.

This was a trial. During this process, his true spirit remained forever anchored, and his Sendai experienced a massive transformation, resonating with the other secret realms.

BOOM!

A scene resembling world creation caused countless people to turn pale. Amidst a patch of chaos, Zhang Huan's entire body glowed, confronting the heaven-shaking killing tribulation with his own body.

Blood was spattering, and bones were even shattered at times, yet Zhang Huan's life force never weakened. Instead, it grew even more solid and heavy, faintly gaining deeper comprehension amidst the lightning tribulation.

His Dao gradually took shape, counter-slaughtering all beings, counter-slaughtering all things, and counter-slaughtering everything outside of the self to achieve his own body.

He was practicing his own Dao. At this moment, he wanted to counter-slaughter the heaven-shaking immortal tribulation, leaping upward to encompass even the heavenly tribulation within it, thereby perfecting his own Dao.

In the dead and silent chaos, Zhang Huan endured for several days and nights, unleashing an abrupt strike with an immortal sword. It was fierce and astonishing, cleaving apart the surging and peerless immortal tribulation with a single move.

This was not the immortal sword that Zhang Huan had witnessed. Zhang Huan had referenced its appearance, blending his Great Dao comprehension into the immortal Dao symbols to nurture a divine form.

This was a killing strike capable of slaying gods, not falling short of the taboo secret arts of the Ancient Great Emperors in the slightest.

The firmament was annihilated, and even the chaos could not withstand it and exploded. For days, the lightning tribulation had dissipated by more than half, and now it was directly shattered.

Zhang Huan stepped into the realm of the Ninth Layer Heaven Dao Attainer.

"Why aren't those supreme beings making a move yet? What are they waiting for?"

Zhang Huan looked towards the Big Dipper. Throughout the tribulation-crossing process, only a single Underworld Lord had disturbed him, while the supreme beings had remained asleep from beginning to end.

Did they feel he constituted no threat, or did they have no plans to emerge, waiting instead for the Path to Immortality and letting beings of the outside world attain the Dao?

Regardless of the reason, Zhang Huan immediately flew away horizontally, concealing his own aura and swiftly leaving this tribulation-crossing location.

Ten thousand years ago, several supreme beings had emerged to launch the dark turmoil, yet in this current era, not even a Dao Attainer was being hunted down. Could it be that extreme prosperity leads to decline?

Zhang Huan did not know the reason, but in the end, no supreme beings made a move.

"Regardless of the reason for not making a move, for me it is only good and not bad."

Even if one could cross the Great Emperor Tribulation, they shouldn't make a move either.

Zhang Huan secretly returned to the Demonic Court.

Several hundred years had passed, and the Demonic Court had grown even more prosperous with immense changes.

The moment several Great Sages saw it was Zhang Huan, they immediately burst with joy.

They had all sensed that tribulation at the cosmic fringe, and one after another they guessed whether it was Zhang Huan—after all, quasi-emperors in the universe could be counted on one hand.

Now confirmed, the unique aura matched the one from back then, and all of them were shocked that Zhang Huan had become a Dao Attainer so quickly.

He had not expected that after a mere few hundred years, he would leap to become an invincible person of the Ninth Layer Heaven.

With such rapid speed, he surely wouldn't be too far from preaching the Dao.

That the Lord of the Demonic Court would become a true Great Emperor in this era was considered a settled matter by everyone.

"No wonder he had the confidence to contend with the restricted areas. An emperor is invincible; even if it's a restricted area, so what?"

Some Great Sages practically regarded him as a quasi-great emperor.

Zhang Huan smiled. Seeing that the Demonic Court was safe and sound, he felt reassured and gave them some instructions.

Someone among them interrupted, revealing that the Underworld had been rather unusual these past few days, probing the Demonic Court's foundations with traces of troop movements that vaguely pointed toward the Demonic Court.

That peerless Underworld Lord had most likely been heading for the Demonic Court, but had been lured away by Zhang Huan, sparing the Demonic Court from a catastrophe.

"Oh? Has my identity already been exposed? Well, it figures. If they couldn't investigate the mastermind of that day after several hundred years, the Underworld would be too useless."

Zhang Huan muttered to himself without excessive shock. The Ji Family had already been investigated, and the exposure of his foundations was only a matter of time.

However, this way, the Demonic Court wouldn't be able to wholeheartedly deal with the Divine Ruins—after all, his forces weren't large enough to simultaneously contend with two restricted areas.

He would not stay long in the Demonic Court; being just a step away from preaching the Dao, he needed to devote himself to it entirely. Once he became an emperor, all matters would be resolved, and there was no need to delay himself with these affairs.

"I must have those supreme Dao forces increase their investments, and at the very least invite the Void Mirror to station itself and guard the Demonic Court at all times."

The Ji Family was in the Big Dipper, and the Underworld dared not make a rash move there, but his Demonic Court didn't dare go to the Big Dipper and could only anchor itself in the starry skies. This way, they would inevitably be conspicuous, and if the Underworld wanted true revenge, they would target them first.

"I have my own ways of dealing with the Underworld. Having just killed their Lord, they won't invade for a short time; you can focus with peace of mind on dealing with the Divine Ruins.

If the day truly comes when the court faces the peril of collapse, use this talisman to summon me, and I will appear by then."

Zhang Huan condensed a golden talisman for long-distance communication; if someone called out, he would surely be able to sense it.

Now the Underworld also knew he was about to attain the Dao, so deterrence existed. Unless a supreme being arrived personally, he was synonymous with invincibility in the starry skies.

Even the Underworld had to weigh the consequences of angering him. The Underworld Lord was a cautionary tale, and even the Heavenly Halberd Emperor Weapon had been suppressed by him.

For now, let the Demonic Court borrow his prestige and spread the news of him. Let them have peace for as many centuries as possible. If worst came to worst, they still had the supreme Dao forces to watch over and assist each other, so things wouldn't turn out for the worst.

Zhang Huan only needed to polish the various secret realms during this time, and then charge at the Great Emperor realm once he was fully saturated.

He left behind some items, including the Quasi-Emperor Artifact Demon Box obtained earlier, to serve as the Demonic Court's foundation.

Afterward, he arrived at the Ji Family and invited various supreme Dao forces to negotiate. The Void Mirror agreed to head to the Demonic Court to guard it when necessary, and the other forces would also contribute.

Having relieved the worries of the Demonic Court, Zhang Huan arrived at a cosmic fringe, releasing the Bronze Immortal Palace deep within the ancient star to enter and assault the emperor realm with all his might.

Over a decade later, an invitation letter radiating supreme Dao fluctuations soared into the sky from the Divine Ruins, striking towards the Demonic Court's headquarters before being intercepted midway by the Void Mirror.

Handed to the Great Sages of the Demonic Court for careful study of the handwriting inscribed upon it, it turned out to have been written by the never-before-seen supreme being's son of the Divine Ruins, inviting Zhang Huan to a decisive battle in an uninhabited star domain.

Zhang Huan had broken through realms consecutively, ascending to the summit of the Ninth Layer Heaven, which made him feel unprecedented pressure. Therefore, he no longer restrained himself and intended to fight a life-and-death battle with Zhang Huan.

The letter explicitly stated that his cultivation level was not equal to Zhang Huan's, but this supreme being's son was still determined to fight it out, risking life and death to resolve a lifelong obsession.

The Void Mirror hummed softly, conferring with the various Great Sages. Knowing that Zhang Huan was at the crucial juncture of his final leap, which was of utmost importance, they ultimately did not notify Zhang Huan.

One hundred and fifty years later, several waves of troops from the Underworld recklessly charged toward the Demonic Court and were annihilated near the headquarters, marking the first time the Demonic Court exposed the fact that Zhang Huan was not garrisoning the headquarters.

The Underworld must have learned something to dare send people to probe the Demonic Court's reaction.

In the one hundred and eightieth year, a Great Sage within the Demonic Court discovered a traitor who was colluding with the people of the Underworld and secretly transmitting intelligence.

The Demonic Court began a purge. Checked one by one via the Void Mirror, nearly a hundred spies of varying strength were pinned down.

After breaking through their spiritual sense to investigate, it was discovered that this group did not all come from the Underworld; some also hailed from other forces.

As it grew and developed, it was inevitable that some people with unknown origins would mix in.

Especially since they had actively spread the news that the Lord of the Demonic Court was a Dao Attainer, which attracted the gaze of the entire universe and caused a continuous stream of people to apply for admission, resulting in lax screening and leading to such severe infiltration.

At this critical juncture, the Demonic Court's upper echelons decided to temporarily suspend development and contract their sphere of influence.

In the two hundred and thirtieth year, the supreme being's son of the Divine Ruins failed to wait for his opponent, and returned with a bitter smile, without making things difficult for the Demonic Court.

In the two hundred and fiftieth year, the Demonic Court stabilized and gradually faded from people's field of vision, with people only knowing that the Demonic Court possessed the existence of a Dao Attainer.

Two rising stars stood out on the Human Ancient Road, successfully breaking into the quasi-emperor realm—they were respectively a Sacred Body and a talented prodigy of the God Race.

The two broke into the quasi-emperor realm in less than seven hundred years of cultivation, and some guessed that they were very likely to successively achieve great completion in the future, charging toward the emperor throne in one go.

Of course, this was on the premise that the Dao Attainer did not exist. Although this person kept a low profile and rarely appeared in front of others, the heaven-defying feat of crossing the Fourth Layer Heaven Tribulation that day was still remembered by countless powerhouses.

In the exact three hundredth year, the Underworld's new Lord emerged. He was a man of the contemporary era, similarly reaching the pinnacle of the quasi-emperor realm, and proclaimed that he would exact revenge on the Demonic Court.

Although it was unknown why he had such confidence, he did it anyway. His massive army pressed on the border, commanding a hundred ghosts to march by night with dense masses of Yin corpses, blocking even the starlight as a million lost souls attacked the Demonic Court.

The Void Mirror guessed that this person had most likely received the decree of a supreme being, and was not heading for the Demonic Court, but rather pointing toward the Lord of the Demonic Court, forcing this Dao Attainer to appear.

Abnormal changes would occur in the future.

Guarded by the Void Mirror, the Underworld launched fierce attacks for ten years without breaking into the Demonic Court, resulting in a stalemate for a time.

In the three hundred and thirtieth year, astonishing heavenly thunder cleaved toward a cosmic fringe. The Great Emperor Tribulation descended, suppressing the mortal realm and surging toward all parts of the universe.

Thousands of outstanding figures grieved, and even the two ancient road rising stars sighed in dejection.

A new era was about to arrive.

Hearing the call, the Underworld army went mad as they charged toward the Demonic Court. An emperor weapon entangled with the Void Mirror, while the remaining Yin corpses and ghosts rushed into the Demonic Court headquarters with reddened eyes, destroying this ancient star.

Bloodsprays blossomed one after another, and lives were ruthlessly plundered. At the critical moment, the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar flew out, unleashing a supreme Dao light wave, and the situation instantly reversed.

Zhang Huan subsequently focused entirely on dealing with the emperor tribulation. After nine days and nights of desperate struggle, even he felt somewhat exhausted, yet he finally reached the end and was about to truly step into the Great Emperor realm.

Suddenly, someone made a move to interfere with the tribulation. The heavenly secrets became chaotic, and in an instant, several giant palms struck across the starry sea. Countless stars looked like mere dust compared to them, carrying infinite imperial Dao might to shatter all obstacles and slap directly toward Zhang Huan.

"Sure enough, you've come."

A sharp light burst from Zhang Huan's eyes. The supreme being had finally couldn't help but make a move; he just didn't know which restricted area the dormant supreme being came from.

Fighting as he flew horizontally, Zhang Huan swallowed the supreme corpse pill he had prepared in advance, instantly recovering some of his strength, dodging the giant palms and escaping far into the distance.

His emperor tribulation was about to end. The great dragon transformed from his spine was about to hook the entire Sendai, and he was about to step into the imperial Dao realm.

A resounding roar erupted from the infinitely distant restricted areas, transmitting to all corners of the universe. Dissatisfied and unwilling to watch Zhang Huan truly attain the Dao, the supreme being made a fierce move.

This time it wasn't a giant palm carrying imperial Dao laws, but a genuine killing strike. Great Dao sound waves whistled, and the supreme being's killing intent arrived in an instant. Imperial Dao killing techniques, unstoppable by anyone other than a Great Emperor, beat Zhang Huan back while coughing blood.

A chaotic great bell materialized, seeking to truly suppress and kill him. At this moment of ultimate transformation, Zhang Huan had to face the most terrifying strand of lightning tribulation; the supreme being had chosen an optimal timing.

Zhang Huan flew to evade it, but suddenly red hair grew on his body. The curse power that had been suppressed for a long time boiled over, making his aura resemble a dark moon, impossible to avoid in the eyes of the supreme being.

The curse connected with the chaotic great bell, possessing an extraordinary link. Pulling each other, Zhang Huan entered the bell, and the heaven-shaking killing tribulation prepared long in advance by the supreme being struck him continuously, causing Zhang Huan's body to nearly shatter.

He shouted loudly, sacrificing the Bronze Immortal Palace to smash toward the chaotic bell, shattering the heaven-shaking killing tribulation, and taking advantage of the fleeting moment to turn around and rush toward the heavenly tribulation, forcibly withstanding the final bolt of lightning tribulation.

The secret realms transformed, connecting together as a great dragon surged into the Sendai and violently pierced through it, allowing the Five Great Realms to resonate perfectly and evolve various phenomena.

Zhang Huan officially stepped into the supreme realm.

The lightning tribulation dispersed, but the supreme being remained unwilling, unleashing several more killing strikes in an attempt to kill him while Zhang Huan's realm was still unstable.

"I know you are unreconciled, having exposed your own foundations yet failing to intercept and kill me, watching with your own eyes as I became a great enemy."

Zhang Huan spoke across the void.

He already knew where his opponent came from. With such obvious chaotic force and curse aura, they were clearly hiding within the Underworld.

Manipulating the Bronze Immortal Palace to shatter the various Dao killing strikes, a peerless aura surged. He and the supreme being fought for several hours consecutively, finally obliterating the killing strike where chaos evolved all things before returning to one, and that supreme being went completely silent.

He could do nothing to Zhang Huan, having already let him attain the Dao.

To continue fighting left only the option of emerging to fight a desperate battle, but continuing like this would make it hard for even him to survive, and he didn't know whether he could trade his life for Zhang Huan's.

After all, a contemporary Great Emperor had abundant blood and vital energy, and being someone in the same realm, sublimation and a desperate fight would nine times out of ten result in his own death.

Zhang Huan sat quietly. From beginning to end, only a single supreme being from the Underworld had made a move, making his pressure much smaller.

Repairing his own injuries, the emperor body was able to recover on its own. Ingesting and exhaling the essence of the universe's eight desolate realms, he recovered as good as new in an instant.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhang Huan proceeded to the final step: fusing his body with the Heart of Heaven.

The Great Dao rules rearranged and continuously changed. From then on, his Dao was the unique one, dominating the universe and invisibly capable of suppressing the Dao of others.

He hammered his own imprint into the Heart of Heaven, merging with the universe to become the unique one of an era, resonating in harmony with the Dao.

His aura shook the ancient and present, and imperial Dao laws suppressed the mortal world. Everyone knew that this era had gained yet another new emperor.

Sitting quietly for over a century to comprehend the Heart of Heaven Mark, no one dared to disturb him. Even quasi-emperors only dared to gaze from afar, not daring to step forward to disturb him by a single step.

An emperor possesses natural majesty, representing the supreme laws of the universe, and none could fail to feel awe.

Polishing the emperor realm to perfection, Zhang Huan constantly resided in the Divine Forbidden Zone. With a single step, ten thousand golden rays burst forth, and a golden path reaching to the heavens extended into the infinite distance.

He arrived at the Demonic Court, where the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar slaughtered the Yin soldiers and generals clean, and that nameless emperor weapon smoothly retreated upon seeing him attain the Dao.

Ever since he attained the Dao, the Underworld acted as if its tail had been stepped on, keeping a low profile and completely losing its previous arrogant demeanor.

Amidst the gazes of all spirits, Zhang Huan personally enfeoffed the Great Emperor's forces of this era. Countless people surged with excitement—with a living Great Emperor present, the Demonic Court would become synonymous with the supreme in the starry skies of this era, and even supreme Dao forces could not match it.

"The Underworld supreme beings have at least several lying dormant in this era, unlike the later Ye Fan era."

"With the Underworld Treasure, if they are determined to hide, no one can find them. It's better to do the opposite and let them come and deliver themselves to their deaths."