Shrouding the Heavens: The Years I Was the Female Emperor's Strictest Master

A total of five Supreme Being-level figures had acted. His body, origin, essence blood, Dao Fruit, and even Primordial Spirit had all been shattered and divided up.

How could he possibly not be dead after that?!

Yet today, nearly a million years later, he had appeared again...

What exactly was he?

Was he a Divine Thought?

Before her, Undying Daoist paid no heed to Undying Heavenly Empress's shock and confusion, nor did he make any effort to explain.

She did not even know whether it had been him or his true body that acted back then, and she knew even less about the Human Emperor's great secrets. Such a reaction was only natural.

"A great age is about to begin, and another round of contention for the Dao is at hand. Stirring after such prolonged stillness may not necessarily be a good thing for you. Take care of yourself..."

Leaving those words behind, Undying Daoist took a single step and appeared outside Ancient Emperor Mountain.

Hovering in the void, he looked down upon the vast land, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Your bearing is decent enough, but your strength is far too lacking. In that case, this Daoist will wait for you at Human Emperor Hall in the Central Plains and see when you dare come..."

Within the secret realm, the ripples in the pool had completely settled.

Yet Undying Daoist's words upon leaving pricked faintly at Undying Heavenly Empress's Dao heart.

Stirring after such prolonged stillness might not be a good thing?

Take care of yourself...

Naturally, she understood the implication behind his words.

He clearly did not think much of what she could accomplish after emerging into the world.

At this moment, the calm purity on her jade-like face quietly faded, replaced by a profound solemnity.

Fortunately, having cultivated to her current level, her state of mind was hardly ordinary. In an instant, she no longer dwelled on Undying Daoist's opinion.

"Human Emperor..."

She slowly returned to the edge of the spring pool. Rippling light flowed through her phoenix eyes, but they were no longer alluring autumn waters, instead becoming a bottomless icy pool.

Rustle... rustle...

Amid the brief deathly silence.

Undying Heavenly Empress's slender jade fingers brushed over the smooth wall of the pool, her fingertips icy cold.

"A million years of time, and after body and spirit were both destroyed, you still managed to return? After that past event of 'successfully cultivating both Lunar and Solar,' this Empress has truly grown more and more curious about you, Human Emperor... What exactly is the secret you carry?"

As her thoughts drifted, doubts filled her heart.

For some reason, she recalled his infiltration this time. It had seemed to be solely to warn Undying Daoist, yet after his final glance at Heavenly Emperor's Son's stone egg, he had ultimately cast her a meaningful look as well.

Even now, she could not understand the meaning in his eyes.

"Was he really... only the Human Emperor?"

"Putting on airs."

Unable to figure it out, Undying Heavenly Empress simply stopped pondering it. A cold curve tugged at the corner of her lips.

"So what if you have returned? Can you truly turn the heavens upside down? You even wish to control this Empress? You certainly dare to dream. But since you have already shown yourself, these waters will likely grow murkier..."

Her thoughts raced as she turned to look at the silent stone egg, the emotions in her phoenix eyes obscure and unreadable.

Then her graceful figure slowly faded where she stood, returning to the Divine Source that had cracked at one corner. With a light wave of her fair hand, she drew over a handful of misty Divine Source Liquid from the depths of the secret realm, letting it slowly flow down and mend the opening.

Southern Region, north of the Ancient Yan Kingdom, Vast Mountain Range.

After several months of preparation, news of the Human Emperor's Legacy appearing had long since spread beyond the Big Dipper.

Less than three days after the legacy emerged, the news that it was the Human Emperor's Drill Ground was also widely confirmed and spread.

Talented figures of all races surged over in a frenzy, all seeking to temper themselves within the tower and achieve at least one leap in their level of life.

Fourth floor of the Drill Tower.

This was a small world interwoven from a vast sea of magma and Thunder Mountain. Violent fire qi and visible arcs of lightning filled the air everywhere.

This place corresponded to the trials of the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm. Only cultivators who had entered this realm were qualified to fight here.

Those with cultivation too low could not reach this floor at all, while those with cultivation too high would be flung to higher floors by the power of the formation if they failed to suppress their realm within half an incense stick of time.

If they resisted or relied on their high cultivation to cause trouble here, a Bronze Puppet would manifest from the laws of the highest floor, descend to this realm, and blast them into a cloud of blood, killing them in an instant.

This was the bloody lesson cultivators had learned over the three or four days since the Drill Tower appeared.

Yet at this moment, this small world was packed with people, filled with cultivators from the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm and several higher realms.

There were inheritors from the various holy land lineages of the Eastern Wasteland, outstanding members of the Demon Race from Demon Emperor Hall, young monks from the Western Desert, and even distinguished young members of great families and powerful foreign-race cultivators from other star domains.

For example, the Jiang Family of the Ziwei Star Domain had also sent a Divine Body here, surrounded by the support of her clansmen.

Due to the environment of this world, most of these cultivators floated in midair or stood atop scorched mountain cliffs, enduring lightning strikes. Yet all their gazes were focused on the center of the sea of magma.

There stood the only stable massive black stone in the area, floating atop the magma untouched by lightning arcs.

Upon the black stone, two equally astonishing figures with surging blood vitality faced each other from afar.

Their intangible auras clashed, causing the magma to churn and tongues of fire to soar into the sky.

This was a confrontation between "fated enemies" that seemed unchanging throughout the ages, regardless of the era.

Today, a new chapter of it was slowly unfolding here.

On one side stood the most burly figure, his entire body seeming cast from dark gold. He was Xiang Jun, the current inheritor upon whom the Indestructible Golden Body Lineage of the Big Dipper had placed great hopes.

Sizzle...

In the glow of the erupting magma flames, golden divine fire seemed to flow beneath his skin. Faint sounds of lightning, thunder, and crashing tsunamis emerged from within his Sea of Reincarnation, an astonishingly miraculous sight.

He was currently at Peak Dragon Transformation. His blood vitality was like a dragon, and when his eyes opened and closed, tangible golden light burst forth, his aura imposing.

Opposite him stood a stern young man clad in purple battle armor. His features were far more handsome and gentle than Xiang Jun's, but a baleful aura lingered between his brows.

Without question, this young man was Cang Yuhang of the Tyrant Blood Ancestral Star, who had previously lingered in the Big Dipper for the opportunity within the Human Emperor's Legacy and had even been willing to miss his father's grand banquet.

His aura was as deep as the sea and abyss. His cultivation had long reached the Immortal Third Realm, and he was merely deliberately suppressing his realm now to fight the current Indestructible Golden Body of the Big Dipper.

The two had encountered one another on the lowest floor and, after exchanging only a few words, tacitly made their way together to this fourth heaven.

A great battle was about to erupt.

"They say the Human Emperor completely inherited the weapon-refining accomplishments of the Ancient Heavenly Court. Seeing it today, the reputation is truly well deserved..."

Above the sea of magma, the cultivators' voices rose and fell.

"It is said that in the Primordial Era, Dragon Transformation cultivators were merely one component of the lowest battle formations under the Human Emperor. But as the leaders of soldiers and the tail end of generals, the Human Emperor particularly valued cultivators of this level."

The one who spoke was the current God King Physique of the Jiang Family, a valiant woman with a red cord tying her waterfall-like black hair into a high ponytail.

As she gazed upon this small world, her crimson lips parted.

"I suppressed my cultivation all the way from the first floor and fought my way upward. Comparing the layers, it is clear that when this fourth heaven was forged, it must have received special attention. Whether one is a dragon or a worm, a single trial here will reveal it."

Beside her, the current Holy Son of the Ziwei Sect could not help nodding in agreement, praising her.

"Fairy Wanqing has keen insight. Now that you mention it, that truly seems to be the case. Among the first four floors, this small world is the most ingenious. The magma and Thunder Mountain can temper battle formations, while its core also carries the feeling of raising venomous creatures in a jar, testing one's personal combat strength..."

Boom!!!

Before the Holy Son of the Ziwei Sect could finish speaking, a heaven-shaking commotion erupted upward from the Blackstone Platform.

"Hahaha... To think that in my lifetime, I would still be able to witness the fated clash between Heavenly Tyrant Blood and the Indestructible Golden Body? This trip to the Human Emperor's Drill Ground was truly not in vain..."

Just as the battle began, renowned elder cultivators entered the tower one after another, laughing as they came to watch.

"Heh, neither the Tyrant Blood nor the Indestructible Golden Body Bloodline in these two is pure, and their realms are nothing special. How much of a spectacle can they offer?"

Someone sneered.

"Be content. How many years does it take for a pure-blooded Tyrant Body or Indestructible Golden Body to appear? Even on the Heaven's Tyrant Blood Ancestral Star and the Indestructible Golden Body Ancestral Star, it would be impressive if one appeared in ten thousand years..."

"I heard Xiang Jun's ancestors did not come from the Indestructible Golden Body Ancestral Star on that Ancient Road?"

"Perhaps he is the descendant left behind in the Big Dipper by some first-generation being naturally born of heaven and earth in ancient times. Who can say for certain?"

"That is true. The original Indestructible Golden Body Ancestral Star has long since become a dead star. What ancestral star is left to speak of?"

Whoosh!

Amid the discussions, a streak of dazzling heavenly light suddenly appeared, followed by countless cries of surprise.

"Goddess Gu?!"

"So she really came in as well... I never expected this Dragon Transformation-level duel to attract someone like her, a peak Saint King already nearly able to see through the threshold of the Great Saint Realm..."

"Her aspirations are not low. She must intend to begin from the lowest level, suppress her cultivation, and climb step by step, tempering her previous realms anew. She wants to seize all the intangible Fortune within these Weapon-Refining Grounds and truly take that step."

Countless cultivators who had been intently observing the clash on the Blackstone Platform quietly shifted their gazes toward that peerlessly beautiful, clear and ethereal figure.

Her exquisite figure still sat sideways atop the back of that Cloud Leopard. The seven-colored silk ribbons hanging from her slender waist swayed in the wind, stirring the heartstrings of countless cultivators.

Boom...

Below, the sea of magma suddenly heaved up a raging wave like divine fire amid the fierce battle, nearly sweeping several distracted cultivators in midair down to be melted away.

"A bastard is a bastard after all. Compared to the Indestructible Golden Bodies who have visited the side of my Tyrant Blood Ancestral Star throughout the ages to pay homage to that dead planet, you truly are not worth looking at..."

Within endless dark-purple divine light, Cang Yuhang formed hand seals and unleashed one of the Tyrant Body's great Divine Forms.

He transformed into three thousand forms, as though three thousand gods and demons were roaming the universe.

Under this strike, Xiang Jun was sent flying with a resounding blast.

On the Blackstone Platform, a spray of Indestructible Golden Body blood, tinged with faint gold, splattered through the air.

"I heard you are already the purest Indestructible Golden Body in the present-day Big Dipper? I am not deliberately disparaging you. The combat strength you have displayed is simply unbearable to watch!"

Cang Yuhang pressed his advantage. He licked a drop of Indestructible Golden Body blood that had splashed onto his dry lips, a bloodthirsty glint flashing through his purple eyes as every word cut like a blade.

"You refuse to accept being called a bastard? Today, it is already an honor for your mixed-blood Indestructible Golden Body to bathe upon my Tyrant Body..."

"Arrogant!"

Xiang Jun roared in midair but said no more.

He stomped down through the air, striking the terrifying magma below. Lightning arcs flickered around him, and then, borrowing the rebounding force, he threw a punch against the momentum.

Thunder and fire qi boiled within the small world, and the entire Blackstone Platform shook violently.

At that moment, his dark-golden fist carried overwhelming force like a falling meteor, smashing straight toward Cang Yuhang's face.

Wherever the strands of divine radiance stirred by the wind from his fist passed, the surrounding void emitted a groan of unbearable strain.

"Good!"

Seeing this, Cang Yuhang neither dodged nor evaded, instead throwing out a punch as well.

Pale-purple blood vitality boiled atop his fist, and several illusory faces of blood souls faintly emerged, looking remarkably like several of his attendants.

The blood souls flickered in and out of sight, hidden within the purple Tyrant Blood as they let out soundless howls, incomparably sinister.

The next instant.

Boom!!!

Their fists collided, like two meteors violently crashing together after flying at high speed!

A violent tidal wave of divine light exploded outward in a ring from the two of them, sending the blood vitality of several cultivators standing too close in midair and on the black mountains surging, leaving their ears ringing and heads spinning.

Step!

Step... step...

During the exchange, Xiang Jun's expression changed. He retreated three steps, each leaving a deep footprint in the black stone.

Meanwhile, Cang Yuhang opposite him did not even sway in the slightest. A cruel, cold smile appeared on his face.

"How is this possible? Your strength..."

Xiang Jun's eyes were filled with disbelief.

Passed down by word of mouth through countless generations, if they competed solely in physical strength, their Indestructible Golden Bodies were invincible!