Chapter 1054: The Multiverse Emperor

Ye Guan and Ruler Qi exchanged a glance, and then they both turned to look. In the distance, the large gate remained tightly shut, with no signs of movement.

Ye Guan frowned deeply at the sight.

Soon, the snakes had disappeared into the desert.

Ruler Qi stood up and slowly walked toward the stone gate, inspecting the runes etched upon it. Upon closer examination, she discovered characters hidden beneath the runes.

A trace of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Ye Guan walked over and asked, "Do you recognize these characters?"

Ruler Qi nodded. "These are ancient Multiverse characters."

Curious, Ye Guan asked, "What is it about?"

Ruler Qi explained, "It's a cultivation method related to time. This place is indeed connected to the Multiverse Emperor."

"How do we enter?"

"Aren't you interested in that time cultivation method?"

"No."

"Why not? With this ancient time cultivation method, you could enter the timelines of other universe regions. If you truly mastered it, destroying a civilization would become unbelievably easy."

"I just want to focus on mastering my swordsmanship."

"True, trying to learn too much can be overwhelming. You're making a wise choice."

"So how do we get in?"

Ruler Qi walked up to the stone gate and placed her right hand on it. Before she even exerted any force, the gate automatically opened.

Ye Guan looked at her but said nothing.

Ruler Qi smiled and said, "Let's go."

Ye Guan nodded.

As the two of them stepped through the gate, the stone gate suddenly closed behind them. Ye Guan frowned and turned to look at Ruler Qi, but her expression remained calm.

Ruler Qi said, "Since we're here, we may as well make the best out of it."

Ye Guan nodded slightly, and then he looked ahead. A towering mountain stood in the distance, and ancient halls and pavilions loomed up above it.

Ruler Qi said, "The Void Clan is in the distance. The Multiverse Emperor once belonged to that clan."

Ye Guan looked around and asked, "Is the Multiverse Emperor still alive?"

Ruler Qi shook her head. "I'm not sure. There are very few records about him. What we do know is that after he unified all timelines, he disappeared completely.

"Over the years, our three civilizations have been searching through the ruins and secret realms he had left behind. Besides seeking his inheritance, we also want to know whether he is still alive or dead."

Ruler Qi looked at Ye Guan and said, "Let's go."

The two began making their way up the mountain. The ancient ruin was eerily quiet, so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard.

Ye Guan looked around cautiously. The unsettling silence made him wary. It was far too still.

Before long, they reached a grand mountain gate. The gate was nearly a hundred meters high, with two massive stone pillars propping it up; it radiated a strong, oppressive aura.

Just as Ye Guan was about to walk through the gate, Ruler Qi stopped him. She pointed at the pillars and said, "Look at them."

Ye Guan saw that each pillar had a fearsome beast carved on it. These beasts had dragon heads and human bodies, with terrifyingly vicious expressions, as though they were ready to devour anyone in their path.

Ruler Qi explained, "Dragon-Headed Beasts. The Multiverse Emperor once raised them, and they later became the guardian beasts of the Void Clan."

Ye Guan asked, "Are they still alive?"

Ruler Qi nodded. "Yes, they are."

"Do you think I can defeat them right now?"

"Don't worry, they're currently in a state of slumber. What I meant was that the snake swarm likely retreated because it sensed the presence of these two beasts when it got close to this area."

"What cultivation realm were they in when they were alive?"

"They were at least Eternal Immortals."

Ye Guan's lips twitched slightly.

Ruler Qi chuckled, "Let's go."

With that, both of them walked towards the mountain gate. After passing along a narrow path paved with green stones, they arrived in front of a grand hall.

The hall was ancient; it couldn't withstand the ruthless passage of time.

Ruler Qi looked up at the three large characters written on a plaque hung above the hall. She then proceeded to walk inside. The hall was spacious, and a cushion meant for meditation was in the distance.

An elderly man in a blue robe was sitting cross-legged on the cushion. His hair and beard were white, and he held a horsetail whisk in his hand.

Ye Guan asked, "Is he the Multiverse Emperor?"

Ruler Qi shook her head. "No."

Ye Guan was about to ask more questions when the old man raised his head slowly.

The old man opened his eyes, which were initially cloudy but soon became clear. After a moment, he glanced at Ye Guan and Ruler Qi, and softly said, "At last, someone has come."

Ruler Qi asked, "Who are you?"

The old man replied, "I am Xu Chen, the sixth-generation clan leader of the Void Clan."

"Are you waiting for someone?"

Xu Chen nodded.

Ruler Qi glanced around and then asked, "Are you the only one left from your clan?"

"I'm just a soul projection."

"Back in the day, the Void Clan had the Multiverse Emperor's protection. Logically, no one should be able to destroy you guys..."

Xu Chen suddenly laughed, but it was one tinged with self-mockery.

Ruler Qi looked at him for a moment but remained silent.

Ye Guan said, "Don't tell me... the Multiverse Emperor destroyed the Void Clan?"

Xu Chen looked at him, somewhat surprised.

Seeing his reaction, Ye Guan's expression darkened. "Really?"

Ruler Qi's gaze was also fixed on Xu Chen.

Xu Chen said softly, "We were all deceived by him."

Both Ye Guan and Ruler Qi looked confused.

Xu Chen looked outside the grand hall, his voice melancholic as he explained, "Back then, the multiverse contained many different timelines. At that time, someone created a special cultivation method that could break the laws of that era, forcefully entering the timeline of another universe region and traveling back to the past to perform a dimensional strike.

"Do you know who created that cultivation method?"

Ye Guan replied, "You're saying that it's the Multiverse Emperor?"

"That's right," Xu Chen said.

Ye Guan frowned slightly. "He created it, causing chaos in the vast expanse, and then he came back to merge the timelines himself? Was it a self-directed play?"

"Yes," Xu Chen replied.

Ruler Qi frowned. "Why?"

Xu Chen was about to speak when he sensed something that made his eyes narrow.

Ye Guan and Ruler Qi's brows furrowed, and they turned to look outside the hall. Footsteps echoed, and soon, a voice reverberated outside. "Welcome to the Multiverse!"

A middle-aged man slowly walked into the hall. He wore a clean white robe and had long hair cascading over his shoulders. A gentle smile tugged at his lips, and his eyes reflected wisdom and resilience.

Ye Guan's expression turned grim. It was the Multiverse Emperor.

Xu Chen's face instantly turned ashen.

The Multiverse Emperor looked at Ruler and said, "Welcome, Ruler Qi."

"Multiverse Emperor!" Ruler Qi exclaimed.

The Multiverse Emperor smiled, and then he glanced at Ye Guan. "Three special bloodlines. That's quite interesting."

Ye Guan remained silent, but he was secretly on guard.

Then, the Multiverse Emperor turned to Xu Chen and said with a smile, "Xu Chen, continue with your narration. It's fine."

Xu Chen glared at the Multiverse Emperor without a word, but the smile on the Multiverse Emperor's face remained.

"Go on," he urged.

Xu Chen continued, "The reason he caused chaos and then merged them himself was for the sake of refining the Multiverse into a Dao artifact related to the Dao of Time. Our Void Clan was ultimately destroyed because we learned his secret and opposed him."

Refining the Multiverse into a Dao artifact related to the Dao of Time?!

Ye Guan was shocked.

The Multiverse Emperor laughed and said, "Xu Chen, you've got one part wrong. It's not refining the entire Multiverse but all known civilizations."

Xu Chen stared fiercely at him and said, "You will face divine retribution!."

The Multiverse Emperor shook his head and said nonchalantly, "I've destroyed countless Heavenly Daos; at least eighty thousand of them."

He waved his hand, and Xu Chen was instantly reduced to ashes. Then, he turned to Ruler Qi and said, "Ruler Qi, you are quite strong. If you're willing to follow me, you can live. In fact, I can take you to see a broader world in the future."

Before Ruler Qi could respond, he added with a grin, "I'll only say this once. You only have one opportunity."

Ruler Qi looked at Ye Guan and asked, "What about him?"

The Multiverse Emperor said, "Actually, I'm a bit surprised because this guy not only possesses three special bloodlines but also has unknown karmic connections. Someone is protecting him, and they are strong.

"Although he is weak, if he is willing to submit, I can let him follow me."

Ruler Qi looked at Ye Guan and asked, "What do you think?"

Ye Guan glanced at the Multiverse Emperor and replied, "I can think about it."

The Multiverse Emperor chuckled, "Trying to stall for time? Young man, you're so calm and composed; I know it's because you feel secure. But unfortunately, you underestimate my strength. I cannot be confined by any Daos. No karma, including those related to time, can affect me."

The Multiverse Emperor waved his hand lightly.

Ye Guan's pupils constricted to needle points, and he could feel himself disintegrating into nothingness.

Just then, a lady appeared in front of him.