Chapter 2202: The Secrets of the Nine Realms of the Emperor Stage

Big Yellow grimaced at the laughter aimed at him, baring his teeth in frustration, wishing he could tear Lin Xun apart.

At this moment, Zhong Qiu suddenly said aloud, “Junior Brother, take this punch!”

Boom!

Without waiting for Lin Xun’s response, he just threw a punch—simple, direct, and delivered with unparalleled force.

The sky, earth, and void remained completely still.

In reality, the power behind this punch had been condensed to the extreme, reaching an unimaginable level.

In Lin Xun’s eyes, the punch perfectly embodied the essence ‘the great dao is formless’—powerless and indescribable!

It seemed simple, yet it was omnipresent and all-encompassing. His spirit, the mind, the body...even every thought was overwhelmed by this punch.

It was undeniably terrifying!

Despite that, Lin Xun did not dodge or evade. He took a deep breath and struck back with a punch of his own. His punch was like chaos, equally simple in its form.

At that moment, Xia Zhi and Battle Emperor Fengling who were beside him, Drunkard, Big Yellow and Qing Ying in the distance, all held their breath in anticipation, their minds completely absorbed in the scene.

A strange scene unfolded. When the two fists collided, there was not the slightest sound, nor the faintest ripple.

There was no earth-shattering explosion.

Lin Xun’s figure swayed slightly, and he could not help but exclaim, “The greatest sound is the faintest.”

In the distance, Zhong Qiu staggered back several steps, appearing to be at a disadvantage, but he laughed loudly, “Strictly speaking, it should be called the greatest image is formless!”

“Senior Brother, thank you for letting me win.” Lin Xun landed on the ground and gave a cupped fist salute with a smile.

Zhong Qiu stepped forward, patted Lin Xun on the shoulder, and said with emotion, “The punch I threw earlier contained the full power of the first level Emperor Stage, without holding anything back. It’s clear that if I was still at the first level, my strength would be no match for yours.”

“Come, let’s have a chat, just the two of us—senior and junior brothers.” As Zhong Qiu said that, he grabbed Lin Xun by the shoulder and teleported away.

Battle Emperor Fengling, Xia Zhi, and Drunkard, left standing on the scene, stared awkwardly at one another.

Big Yellow’s face was filled with resentment as if it had been abandoned.

Drunkard was the first to break the silence and said with a smile, “I am Heaven-Dooming Martial Emperor, this is Miss Qing Ying. You must be Battle Emperor Fengling.”

As he spoke, he looked at Xia Zhi with a hint of curiosity.

The rumors from a few days ago spoke of a black-robed girl in the Ancient Nebula Road with boundless power and terrifying combat ability, striking fear into the hearts of the Emperors.

Battle Emperor Fengling nodded quickly, “That’s correct, and this is Miss Xia Zhi.”

After a brief greeting, everyone quickly became familiar with each other, but Xia Zhi remained silent, as cold as snow.

Fortunately, soon, everyone grew used to it and walked toward the distant hall with Qing Ying.

“Damn it, not only did he not introduce me, but he also didn’t even tell me when he left. Clearly, he doesn’t take me seriously.” Big Yellow, who had been waiting for an introduction, sulked in the corner by himself, gritting his teeth with an angry expression.

On the way, when Battle Emperor Fengling learned that Lin Xun’s second senior brother Zhong Qiu was the Lord of the Copper Sparrow House, one of the Three Dark Giants, he was dumbfounded once again.

He could never have imagined that the Lord of Copper Sparrow House, who was considered the most prideful person in the world and had refused to pay respect to Heavenly Emperor Shi, was actually from the same sect as Lin Xun!

If this got out, all the major forces in the world would probably be unable to sit idly by, right?

……

Lin Xun’s return did not attract any attention from the outside world.

This was because this was the Dark Lair, the territory of the Fog Obscured Alms.

As soon as he sat down in the great hall, Zhong Qiu asked, “Where did Master go?”

The question caught Lin Xun off guard. He paused for a moment, then began recounting the story of the earthshaking battle that had unfolded in the depths of the starry sky.

When he heard about the Spear of Many Changes, Axe of Creation, God Executing Sword and World Destroying Halberd, symbols of the four immortal sects and clans, Zhong Qiu’s eyes flashed with an undisguised murderous intent.

“When I go to the other side of the cosmos, I will definitely settle accounts with those sects and clans!”

When he heard Lin Xun mention the young man named Kong Jue who had suffered a mind tribulation, Zhong Qiu’s eyes flickered, and a contemplative expression appeared on his face.

“With the Devouring Wilderness Gourd hanging by his side, he walks the path of the great dao. In life, he endured eighteen lifetimes of tribulation, and in death, he claims the immortal legacy… It turns out to be him. Speaking of which, we disciples of Fangchun Mountain should call him Martial Uncle.”

Zhong Qiu’s eyes revealed a trace of emotion. That man was the first person to make it to the other side of the cosmos in the primeval era, so how would he not know about him?

However, he never thought that such a person would suffer such a bizarre and terrifying ‘mind tribulation’.

“Master said that when I go to the other side of the cosmos, he wants me to bring back Martial Uncle Kong Jue,” stated Lin Xun.

Zhong Qiu nodded. “That’s right. If his mind tribulation isn’t resolved, then he will surely become a target, exploited by others.”

“Where’s Master now?” he asked again.

“I don’t know.” Lin Xun shook his head and told him about the disappearance of the Lord of Fangchun Mountain’s Will Dao Body.

“Did Master mention where his real body is?” Zhong Qiu blinked in confusion.

Lin Xun shook his head.

Zhong Qiu couldn’t help but feel a moment of disappointment, then he sighed, “That’s right. With how Master is, he would have told us long ago if he wanted to. Since he hasn’t said anything, there must be a reason behind it.”

Next, the senior and junior brothers chatted about the Nirvana of Transcendence.

From Zhong Qiu, Lin Xun finally confirmed that the fortune of becoming an Emperor and Ancestor was actually the Will Dao Body left by his Master in the diagram of Crescent Moon Three Stars.[1]

In other words, this fortune was neither an inheritance nor a blessing, but instead the will power of the Master of Fangchun Mountain.

The purpose of it was to protect Lin Xun when he ascended to the Emperor Stage!

Zhong Qiu smiled. “This is why, when I first learned that you had obtained the diagram of Crescent Moon Three Stars, I gave you many tests. I wanted to see what kind of ability the person I, Zhong Qiu, had been waiting for all these years, possessed to earn the recognition of our Master.

“Then is my senior brother happy now?” Lin Xun asked with a smile.

Zhong Qiu laughed heartily, “From now on, I, Zhong Qiu, am proud to have you as my junior brother!”

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The two chatted some more, mostly about Zhong Qiu’s advice to his junior brother Lin Xun. As someone who had attained the dao and become an Emperor in the primeval era, Zhong Qiu’s cultivation experience was naturally vast and profound.

Lin Xun soon learned that the Emperor Stage consisted of nine realms and each one was like a heavenly barrier that he needed to cross.

The first three realms were considered a karmic obstacle, referred to as the Emperor Mind Obstacle.

Once one overcame this obstacle, both their body and mind could transcend, transforming into a realm of their own.

Between the fourth and sixth realms was another trial known as the Trial of Confinement.

Once one broke free from this confinement, they would no longer be bound by laws or the heavens!

Between the seventh and ninth realms was a tribulation called the Ancestor Reversion Tribulation.

Only upon attaining the dao and undergoing Ancestor Reversion could one rise to the pinnacle of the Emperor Dao!

The obstacle, trial, and tribulation were the three major turning points on the Emperor path.

Once overcome, one’s combat prowess would undergo a complete transformation, gaining power and might that were entirely unmatched by their previous state.

If they failed, their cultivation journey would either come to a halt, or they would face death.

This was the Emperor’s road: nine heavenly barriers, with an obstacle at the third, a trial at the sixth and a tribulation at the ninth!

The Emperor Dao laws were about comprehending and grasping the fundamental secrets of the great dao across all heavens. The deeper one’s understanding of these laws, the faster they could advance on the Emperor’s path!

Zhong Qiu specifically reminded Lin Xun that if he wished to progress further on the Emperor’s path, he should create his own true dao scripture and forge an Emperor weapon to match it!

This was the so-called creating a dharma art in the Saint Path and composing a scripture in the Emperor Stage.

At the Saint Stage, one created their own dharma art;at the Emperor Stage, one composed their own dao scripture!

Dharma art and dao scripture might not sound too different, but there was a world of difference between them.

This made Lin Xun involuntarily think of the Great Dao Furnace Art that he had created. Strictly speaking, it was a Saint Dharma art, not a true and complete Emperor Scripture.

Similarly, Lin Xun began to seriously consider whether he could perfect the Great Dao Furnace Art into an Emperor Scripture of his own, and if so, how he should forge a life-bound Emperor weapon to complement it?

The so-called life-bound Emperor weapon was an Emperor-grade treasure closely connected to one’s cultivation path.

When Lin Xun was at the Saint Stage, he had raised the Broken Blade as his life-bound Saint weapon.

Unfortunately, now, it was no longer suitable.

Firstly, he had become a supreme Emperor and his dao path was no longer the same as before.

Secondly, he had long discovered that a weapon spirit was lying dormant within the Broken Blade, meaning it was not suitable to be refined into his own life-bound Emperor weapon.

After thinking it over, Lin Xun suddenly realized that although he owned many weapons and treasures, none of them truly belonged to him or were fully aligned with his own dao!

Seeing Lin Xun lost in thought for a long time, Zhong Qiu reassured him, “Don't worry, whether it's composing an Emperor Scripture or forging your own life-bound Emperor weapon, it won’t be difficult given your foundation and abilities.”

Lin Xun nodded.

“Next, I have something important to discuss with you.” Zhong Qiu’s expression grew serious. “Junior Brother, in the Ancient Nebula Road, have you realized who is the one that can truly threaten both you and me?”

Lin Xun felt a chill in his heart and answered without hesitation, “Heavenly Emperor Shi.”

Zhong Qiu nodded. “Besides him, there is also a woman named Yanxing. Although the previous Nameless Esteemed Emperor was killed by our eldest senior brother, a fragment of his soul survived and was rescued by Yanxing. If that old thing is allowed to recover and regain his strength, it will definitely pose a huge threat to us.”

Lin Xun knew about this matter well.

After the earthshaking chess match ended back then, he went to Divine Apparatus Profound Sect, intending to inquire about the route to the True Dragon World.

Unfortunately, when he arrived, he was shocked to find that this ancient sect had already been abandoned.

However, at that time, he saw the purple-clothed woman called Yanxing, and he also saw the former Nameless Esteemed Emperor, reduced to nothing more than a fragment of soul.[2]

Yanxing called this man ‘Ninth Granduncle’!

Yanxing’s purpose in going to the Divine Apparatus Profound Sect was to find the route to the True Dragon World.

At the time, Lin Xun strongly suspected that either his mother, Luo Qingxun, or Mister Lu, were most likely hiding in the True Dragon’s Lair.

Otherwise, Yanxing would not inquire about the True Dragon World for no reason.

It was because of this suspicion that Lin Xun deliberately exposed his whereabouts at that time, hoping to attract Yanxing’s attention.

Finally, when he arrived at the Ancient Nebula Underworld, Xi had taken action and clashed with Yanxing![3]

Since then, Lin Xun and Xi had been separated and not seen each other.

Lin Xun only knew that Xi was rescued by his second senior brother, while Yanxing had narrowly escaped with her life and had gone to seek help from Heavenly Emperor Shi.

Just as thoughts raced through Lin Xun’s mind, he heard Zhong Qiu say, “Recently, I’ve received word that Yanxing may have gone to the True Dragon World.”

“What!?” Lin Xun’s pupils shrank.

1. See Chapter 1763 for when Lin Xun obtained it ☜

2. See chapter 2057 ☜

3. See chapter 2065 ☜