In the great upheaval of ancient times, the heavens began to reject Emperors. Most were forced into the One True World, but a few sensed something amiss and chose to stay behind.
One of them was more cautious—and more ruthless—than the rest. He first renounced his Imperial rank and deliberately fell to the King realm. Then he slowly cultivated his way back to Emperor and hid near a Heavenly Stele, using it to suppress himself and preserve his immortality.
"From Emperor to King, and from King to Emperor."
Wang Xuan opened his eyes. His Void-Piercing Heavenly Eye revealed a location hidden deep within the ages. "From decay to enduring existence."
"Void Emperor."
He knew the answer almost at once.
Born of illusion and master of the ultimate Way of Illusion, the Void Emperor excelled at concealment and patience. He should have remained hidden through countless ages before appearing at the very end.
Wang Xuan raised a hand and drew it lightly through the air. The Holy City changed course and traveled upstream toward that stretch of time.
Several eras of civilization raced backward along the riverbanks.
At last, an ancient stele appeared within his Void-Piercing Heavenly Eye.
It stood at the edge of a dead world, its summit beyond sight. Unrecognizable ancient patterns covered its surface, and wisps of power capable of suppressing the ages descended from it.
Time itself seemed still around the stele.
The Eighth Heavenly Stele.
Wang Xuan's gaze settled upon it.
Beneath the stele, a presence somewhere between King and Emperor slept in silence, deep as an abyss and indistinguishable from the surrounding illusion.
The Holy City entered that ripple of time and came to a silent halt outside the stele.
Wang Xuan did not attack at once. He swept his Void-Piercing Heavenly Eye over the