The Emperor Gate Emerged

Deep beneath the earth veins of the Central Plains, above the remnants of the Nine Nether Chain Formation, a crimson-gold fire seed fell like a meteor and exploded with a thunderous roar!

In an instant, earthfire gushed forth and wind veins reversed their flow. Nine ancient formation patterns rose from underground, spreading like blood vessels across ten thousand miles, straight into the heart of the Central Plains—the Emperor Ruins Plains.

"The Nine Nether reversed, the Emperor Gate shall open!"

Xiao Ze's remnant soul took shape amid the flames, his eyes blazing like torches. His hands formed seals as he used the last strength of his remnant soul to trigger the Nine Nether Chain Formation's ultimate transformation.

"My son—for you, your father will open one more gate!"

Boom!!!

With a tremendous roar, heaven and earth lost their color, the void tore apart, and a colossal gate reaching into the heavens rose from the Emperor Ruins Plains!

The gate stood a hundred thousand feet tall, crimson-gold from top to bottom. Nine Flames totems were inscribed across it, and ancient seal-script characters at its summit read—"Gate to the Emperor Road"!

Through the gap between its doors, wind and fire swirled. A golden avenue could faintly be seen stretching toward an unknown end, as though it led onto the road once traveled by ancient emperors.

The Emperor Gate—had emerged!

The Central Plains trembled, and mighty figures converged.

"That's... the entrance to the Emperor Road?!"

"The road ancient emperors walked in legend actually exists!"

"Xiao Yan! He really opened the Emperor Gate!"

Yao Chen stood atop Starfall Pavilion's highest peak, gazing toward the Emperor Gate as tears streamed down his aged face. "Master... can you see this? Yan'er really did it..."

Medusa soared into the air astride serpent-shaped Dou Qi, murmuring, "The Emperor Road is about to open. In this lifetime, I am willing to follow him to its end."

Thunder Venerable, Venerable Feng, Gu Ling, and the other experts led their forces toward the Emperor Ruins Plains. The army of the Nine Flames Emperor Court marched in formation, its crimson-gold imperial banners snapping in the wind, bearing the words—"Nine Flames Return to Origin, the Emperor Flame Descends upon the World"!

The Gu Clan's ancestral grounds, Netherworld Hall.

"Impossible! The Nine Nether Chain Formation has long been incomplete! How could Xiao Ze's remnant soul reverse it?!" the Ancestor of the Gu Clan roared, the Ancient Jade shattering in his hand.

"Once the Emperor Gate opens, our Gu Clan's ten thousand years of fortune will be devoured, and the Emperor Road will slip completely beyond our control!"

"Pass down my order—all Dou Sheng elders are to depart immediately for the Emperor Ruins Plains. Kill Xiao Yan before he enters the Emperor Gate!"

The Soul Clan's Dark Hall, the Nine Nether Altar.

The High Priest of the Hall of Souls knelt before the black flames and murmured, "The Emperor Gate has opened, and Nine Flames Return to Origin is nearing completion. If he is allowed to finish the Emperor Road... our Soul Clan's ten thousand years of planning will be destroyed in a single stroke."

"Activate the Emperor-Slaying Formation, stir the lingering will of the Heavenly Dao, and use the Gu Clan's hand to annihilate Xiao Yan!"

"In this battle, spare no cost—the Emperor Gate must not open!"

The Emperor Ruins Plains, before the Emperor Gate.

Xiao Yan came treading upon flames and stood beneath the Emperor Gate. Gazing at that colossal gate stretching into the heavens, his eyes trembled slightly. "Father... you used your remnant soul to open a path for me..."

"I, Xiao Yan, will enter this gate!"

He raised his hand, and the Emperor Fire Seal hovered above his palm, nine flames circulating through it. Though cracked, it looked all the more weathered and weighty. The fourth stage of his Windfire Emperor Body had reached perfection, and his Dou Zong cultivation had reached its limit. Only one step remained before he could enter the Dou Zun realm and truly set foot on the Emperor Road.

"Xiao Yan!"

A fierce shout rang out as the Ancestor of the Gu Clan descended with three mighty Dou Sheng experts, sealing the void on all sides.

"You defied and altered heaven's decree and opened the Emperor Gate, provoking the Heavenly Dao's wrath! If you are not slain today, the Central Plains will fall into chaos, and the Emperor Road will collapse!"

"Hand over the Emperor Fire Seal and cripple your own cultivation, and I may leave your corpse intact!"

Xiao Yan sneered and slowly raised his head, the might of the Emperor Flame sweeping across the eight wildernesses. "I, Xiao Yan, have come this far not through anyone's charity, but through—the will to burn everything to ashes!"

"You sealed the Emperor Road for ten thousand years, enslaved Heavenly Flames, and suppressed heaven's chosen, all to preserve your so-called 'order of the Heavenly Dao.'"

"But today—"

"I will use the Emperor Flame as my spark, burn your order to ashes, and reopen a road—for the strong!"

"Whoever stands in my way—"

"I will burn them!"

Before his words had faded, the Emperor Fire Seal spun violently. The Nine Flames Return to Origin Art surged to its utmost limit, wind and fire intertwining into nine crimson-gold fire dragons that coiled around him!

"Nine Flames Burn Heaven—Emperor Fire Ninefold Transformation!"

Boom!

The fire dragons roared in fury, tore through the void, and lunged straight at the Gu Clan's three Dou Sheng experts!

Xiao Yan's figure flashed, and he was already before the Ancestor of the Gu Clan, striking out with his palm—

"Heaven-Burning Seal!"

Crack!

The Ancestor of the Gu Clan's defensive Dou Qi shattered like paper. The Emperor Flame pierced his chest, sending him hurtling backward as he spat blood!

"He... he actually confronted a Dou Sheng head-on while only in the Dou Zong realm?!"

"That's impossible!"

"Nothing is impossible." Xiao Yan stood amid the flames, his gaze sharp as a blade. "I, Xiao Yan, have never followed your rules."

"The road I walk—is the Emperor Road!"

He turned toward the Emperor Gate and took a step forward.

"Today, I, Xiao Yan—enter the Emperor Gate!"

"If anyone refuses to accept it—"

"I will burn—the entire Gu Clan to ashes!"

Boom!!!

Crimson-gold firelight surged into the sky. The Emperor Gate slowly opened, wind and fire howling as though welcoming its master.

Xiao Yan's figure slowly disappeared into the Emperor Gate, leaving only an oath echoing between heaven and earth:

"When I return—"

"Heaven and earth shall honor the Emperor Flame as supreme!"

Next chapter preview: "Emperor Road Calamity"

Xiao Yan entered the Emperor Gate, and the Emperor Road officially opened. The Gu Clan and the Soul Clan activated the Emperor-Slaying Formation, raising the Ancient Emperor Corpse as their soldier to encircle and slaughter those at the Emperor Gate's entrance. Yao Chen led the Nine Flames Emperor Court in a battle to the death, blood staining the Emperor Ruins Plains. Within the Emperor Gate, Xiao Yan faced the Ancient Emperor Soul's trial, and the Nine Flames Return to Origin Art would awaken its ultimate profundity—Emperor Fire Return to Origin! Yet what awaited him beyond that gate was not only the Emperor Road, but also... the true destiny of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.