The deadly tribulation of the Emperor Road

The Emperor Gate opened, spanning heaven and earth. A crimson-gold pillar of light pierced the nine heavens like a pillar holding up the firmament, illuminating ten thousand miles of mountains and rivers. Under countless watching eyes, Xiao Yan vanished into the gate of light. The Gate to the Emperor Road slowly closed, as though shutting out all clamor and killing intent. Yet just as peace was about to settle over the world—

"Emperor-Slaying Formation, activate!"

An enraged shout rang down from the nine heavens, crashing like thunder against every ear and shaking heaven and earth. The Ancestor of the Gu Clan and the High Priest of the Hall of Souls formed seals simultaneously, their eyes bloodshot, their killing intent soaring skyward. In an instant, the world darkened, and the sun and moon lost their light. Nine blood-colored pillars shot into the sky from nine forbidden grounds across the Central Plains, each entwined with countless wailing, wronged souls. They converged into a blood-colored killing net spanning ten thousand miles, closing around the Emperor Gate like an inescapable net cast over heaven and earth!

"Boom—!!!"

The tremendous crash shook the universe. The Emperor Gate shuddered violently, its crimson-gold radiance crushed beneath the blood net. It even showed signs of closing, as though its connection to the Emperor Road were being forcibly severed!

"Trying to leave? Xiao Yan, you won't set half a foot on the Emperor Road today!" The Ancestor of the Gu Clan grinned viciously and swept the ancient token in his hand, his voice thundering. "Summon our clan's Ancient Emperor Corpses—guard the Emperor Gate and seal this road forever!"

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

Three muffled impacts struck the hearts of all living beings like ancient war drums. The earth cracked, and dust surged skyward as three corpses clad in ancient battle armor emerged from underground, their auras as deep as abysses and vast as seas. With each step, space collapsed an inch, and cracks spread through the void like spiderwebs. These were the Ancient Dou Di Remains the Gu Clan had sealed for ten thousand years using a secret art. Though devoid of awareness, they still retained imperial might. A single outburst could shatter stars; a single step could destroy mountains and rivers!

Not to be outdone, the High Priest of the Hall of Souls knelt at the Black Flame Altar and formed seals with both hands, growling, "Summon the Nine Nether Dark Generals of our Hall of Souls! Sacrifice ten thousand souls and condense—the Emperor-Slaying Spear!"

In an instant, countless souls were forcibly drawn from the Soul Clan's forbidden grounds. Their endless wails surged like rushing rivers as every last one was sucked into a pitch-black spear. The Emperor-Slaying Spear took shape. Wherever its tip pointed, the void burned away and laws turned to ash. Even time seemed to freeze!

Over the Emperor Ruins Plains, winds rose and clouds churned. Killing intent flooded the skies, and heaven and earth changed color.

Yao Chen stood at the forefront of the Nine Flames Emperor Court, his white hair streaming in the gale. The medicinal cauldron in his hand expanded with a thunderous rumble, hovering in the air like a mountain, its mouth facing the heavens. Medicinal fragrance intertwined with Emperor Flame, forming an undying barrier. "Xiao Yan has entered the Emperor Road. We will defend this gate to the death!"

"Nine Flames Emperor Court, heed my command—"

"Fight to the death! Never retreat!"

"Fight to the death! Never retreat—!!!"

Thunder Venerable, Venerable Feng, Gu Ling, Medusa, Xiao Yi Xian, Zi Yan... every expert of the Emperor Court stepped forward together. Their Dou Qi surged into the heavens like an inverted river of stars. The crimson-gold imperial banners snapped in the gale, their bloodstained fabric still blazing like undying fire, standing proud!

"Wind-Fire-Thunder, stir! Nine Flames, link the camps—raise the formation!"

At Yao Chen's command, the nine main formation camps of the Nine Flames Emperor Court erupted with crimson-gold firelight simultaneously. Nine veins of flame surged from underground like nine fire dragons soaring skyward. They interwove into a net before the Emperor Gate, resonating with it to form the legendary Nine Flames Burn Heaven Formation, meeting the Emperor-Slaying Formation head-on!

"Boom—!!!"

Fire collided with blood; thunder and flame exploded. Space collapsed layer by layer, and laws shattered, turning the Emperor Ruins Plains into a battlefield of nothingness. Dou Zun fell like rain, leaving not even bones behind. The blood of Dou Sheng splashed across the sky, staining the firmament red. The earth split into abysses ten thousand feet deep, flames burning within them as though the gates of hell had opened.

Medusa transformed into a nine-colored serpent a thousand feet long, her scales shining with imperial majesty, and took a strike from the Emperor-Slaying Spear head-on with her body. With a sharp crack, her scales shattered, and blood poured out like a waterfall. Yet she still coiled tightly around the shaft, her eyes crimson. "Little Yanzi... how could I let you walk your road alone..."

Thunder Venerable's wings turned to lightning, shielding the core of the Emperor Gate. But an Emperor Corpse struck him down with its palm, instantly shattering both his arms and scattering flesh and blood. Still, he threw back his head and laughed. "I've lived a thousand years, and I've finally lived to see this battle—worth it!"

Venerable Feng wove a barrier from the laws of wind, protecting his gravely wounded comrades behind him. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and his voice was faint but resolute. "The Emperor Road... must not be severed..."

Gu Ling burned his lifespan to activate the Gu Clan's secret treasure, the Hourglass of Time. The hourglass reversed, slowing time and barely holding one Emperor Corpse in place. Blood kept spilling from his lips as he whispered, "Xiao Yan... if you survive... look for me... and see what lies... at the end of the Emperor Road..."

Yao Chen stood at the formation's heart. Three deep cracks had split his medicinal cauldron, his arms were charred black, and all his meridians were severed. Yet he still sustained the formation with his ravaged body, raising his head to cry toward the heavens. "Master—Yan'er—he made it!"

"In this battle, we—will not retreat!"

"Boom—!!!"

Another Emperor Corpse roared and brought its fist crashing down. The Nine Flames Burn Heaven Formation shook violently, its patterns rupturing. Three of its nine flame veins snapped, and the Emperor Gate's radiance dimmed by three-tenths, nearly extinguished!

At that very moment—

"Boom—!"

From within the Emperor Gate, a voice pierced the void and resounded throughout heaven and earth:

> "Who said—I was alone?"

> "In my Nine Flames Emperor Court—every person can become emperor flame!"

> "Wind and fire—burn the heavens!"

In an instant, a crimson-gold wave of fire burst through the gap in the Emperor Gate like a furious dragon surging out of the sea, like a river of stars pouring down in reverse. It swept across the entire battlefield! The three Emperor Corpses were forced ten steps back. The Emperor-Slaying Spear wailed within the flames and was instantly burned to ash, leaving not even a trace of residue!

Xiao Yan's voice came from within the Emperor Gate, deep and resolute, as though an emperor had descended upon the world:

> "Master, I have seen the Emperor Road."

> "I will remember this battle."

> "When I return—"

> "I will reforge these mountains and rivers with Emperor Flame!"

The Emperor Gate slowly closed, and its crimson-gold radiance faded. Only the Nine Flames Emperor Stele remained standing there. The fragments of the Nine Flames Token upon it flickered faintly, as though whispering, as though waiting.

Within the Emperor Gate, upon the Emperor Road.

Xiao Yan stood on a golden avenue bordered by endless seas of fire. Within the flames appeared countless visions of ancient wars—emperors falling, heavenly flames burning the heavens, myriad races bowing in worship. Nine spectral figures floated in the air, all clad in imperial robes, their auras as deep as abysses. These were the ancient Souls of the Nine Flames Emperors. They had once walked the Emperor Road to its end, only to vanish at last into the long river of time.

At their center, a figure slowly appeared, clad in crimson-gold robes. His face was indistinct, yet bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Yan's. His aura was like fire, like an emperor descending upon the world.

"You've come..." the figure said, his voice like ten thousand flames murmuring, piercing the soul. "The one who brings the Nine Flames Return to Origin, the final trial-taker of the Emperor Road."

"Who am I?" Xiao Yan raised his head, his gaze blazing like a torch.

"You are—the reincarnated embodiment of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, the inheritor of the nine nether wind flame, the master of Emperor Flame, and also... the reincarnated soul of the last ancient Nine Flames Emperor. Because you defied heaven and changed your fate, the Heavenly Dao sealed you for ten thousand years. You have returned in this life for one purpose: to walk the Emperor Road again and burn away every shackle."

"And there is only one path before you—pass through nine tribulations and burn away nine souls. Only then can you truly—become an emperor!"

Xiao Yan raised his head and looked toward the end of the golden avenue. There, a cluster of spectral blue flames burned quietly, with what sounded like a woman's whispers within them. It was the Pure Lotus Demon Flame origin, the end and the beginning of his destiny.

He slowly raised his hand. Though the Emperor Fire Seal was cracked, its undying fire still burned. The remnants of the nine flame seals flowed across his palm, as though answering his will.

"My father opened the gate for me with his remnant soul. My master guarded my formation with his life. My brothers paved my road with their hot blood..."

"This Emperor Road—I, Xiao Yan, will walk to its very end!"

He stepped forward, accompanied by wind and fire as the Nine Flames resonated. With every step, a rune lit up on the golden avenue beneath his feet, as though welcoming its true master.

"Pure Lotus Demon Flame—"

"In this life, I won't let anyone take you away again."

"Because—"

"You were me all along."

The Central Plains, Emperor Ruins Plains.

Blood stained the sky, and corpses littered the land. The earth looked as though a colossal beast had torn into it, devastation stretching as far as the eye could see.

More than half the Nine Flames Emperor Court had been killed or wounded. Seven battle camps had been all but annihilated, yet they still stood in formation. No one retreated.

Yao Chen stood leaning against his cauldron. Cracks covered its surface, and both his arms were charred black, yet he still held his back straight. Looking at the closed Emperor Gate, he said softly:

"Yan'er... go...

We—held the line in this battle."

The wind rose, stirring the tattered banners. Like undying fire, they seemed to speak of an unyielding will.

In the distance, the Ancestor of the Gu Clan and the High Priest of the Hall of Souls exchanged a look, their eyes filled with gloom.

"Though the Emperor Gate has closed, the Emperor Fire Seal remains. The nine flames' return to origin is incomplete. He won't reach the end."

"Pass down the order—activate the Emperor Blood Altar. Use the blood of nine Dou Sheng to reopen the Emperor Gate!"

"In this life, the Emperor Road—must be severed!"

Next chapter preview: "Nine Flames Trials"

Xiao Yan stepped onto the Emperor Road to face the trials of the Nine Flames Emperor Souls. The first—the Heart-Burning Tribulation, using emotion as fire to burn away every obsession; the second—the Soul-Severing Tribulation, cutting down his past-life self to affirm the resolve of his present life. The seventh level of the Nine Flames Return to Origin Art awakened—"Emperor Flame Soul Devourer," capable of devouring emperors' remnant souls. Outside the Emperor Gate, the Gu Clan and Soul Clan secretly conspired to reopen it with the "Emperor Blood Altar" and reclaim the Emperor Fire Seal! The remnants of the Emperor Court would face an even crueler, bloodier battle, while Xiao Yan had to find the road back at the end of the Emperor Road.