Su Chen now understood the full story. His expression remained calm as still water, yet a strange feeling stirred in his heart.

A genius from a small, insignificant place had suddenly awakened, then fought his way upward with unstoppable momentum. No, that wasn't quite right.

After a moment of thought, Su Chen realized the truth. This person had moved in secrecy, possessing extraordinary talent and repeatedly displaying bizarre, unpredictable techniques.

The script felt oddly familiar.

"Was he like Xiao Sha, someone who reincarnated from the future? Or a powerful expert who chose to cultivate anew?"

Su Chen calculated the timeline. Ever since he achieved the Double Kill accomplishment, he had not encountered such a pure Child of Destiny.

Throughout history, every great Emperor could be considered a figure of immense fortune, a destined son of their era.

Yet in Su Chen's eyes, they still fell slightly short compared to a true, unadulterated Child of Destiny. It was this pure flavor that truly piqued his interest. He had a strong premonition that this time he had hooked a truly remarkable big fish.

"So you're saying that Ning Changqing is waiting for me in Emperor City right now?"

Could it be… that their Master intended to act personally?

The mere possibility left them deeply shaken. These supreme geniuses, each the pinnacle of their respective clans and orthodoxies, knew better than anyone the terrifying depth of their Master's power. A trivial matter like this could easily be handled by any one of them, yet it had directly alarmed their Master.

"Lead the way," Su Chen said.

His words snapped the stunned crowd back to their senses and filled the true disciples of the Myriad Laws Emperor Sect with wild joy. With the Emperor Son taking action personally, they would surely avenge their fallen martial brothers and sisters!

...

The starry sky trembled, and Emperor City stirred, all because of a single piece of news. The Immortal Spirit of the Myriad Laws Emperor Sect was coming to Emperor City!

Countless factions watched with schadenfreude.

"That kid can provoke anyone he wants, yet he chose to offend that person from the Myriad Laws Emperor Sect."

"Even the countless geniuses of this era willingly submit to him, but this fellow still dares to speak arrogantly. If not for the protection of so many major orthodoxies, he would have been killed long ago."

"It's been ten years since we last saw him in action. His strength must be even more unfathomable now."

"..."

Inside Emperor City, numerous forces openly mocked and ridiculed Ning Changqing.

If not for the many powerful orthodoxies shielding him, how could he have survived until now? A single spit from each of the forces backing that person from the Myriad Laws Emperor Sect would have been enough to drown him.

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Ning Changqing paid no attention to their mockery.

Why would a true expert care about the opinions of ants?

He had slain Immortal Spirits before.

The forces behind Ning Changqing merely sneered.

"An Immortal Spirit may be strong… but at most, it only possesses limitless potential. Behind this one stands a true… Emperor!"

No one was a fool. They all understood the might of the Myriad Laws Emperor Sect's chosen one. Yet no matter how powerful he was, he could not compare to the background of the person before them. In their eyes, those who were mocking right now were the real fools.

The final outcome was certain: Lord Changqing would win. They believed it without the slightest doubt.

"He's here!"

Everyone looked up toward the starry sky above Emperor City.

A flawless sea of flames manifested as a majestic phoenix appeared, pulling a grand war chariot. Behind the chariot followed numerous figures that seemed both divine and demonic.

Inside the chariot sat a handsome young man, his features as exquisite as carved jade. Not a single trace of aura leaked from him, yet he felt like the sovereign of heaven and earth itself.

The young man opened his eyes. Stars and galaxies rose and fell within them, the great Dao taking shape.

Su Chen studied this Child of Destiny. Ning Changqing studied Su Chen in return.

A spark of delight appeared in Su Chen's eyes. The same delight shone in Ning Changqing's.

Su Chen wondered what kind of cheat this Child of Destiny possessed. He noticed that Ning Changqing's eyes carried a profound weariness far beyond his apparent age—an aura that belonged to an ancient era.

Yes… Su Chen was now certain that Ning Changqing was an ancient powerhouse who had chosen to cultivate anew. This kind of ancient vicissitude was something Su Chen knew all too well.

For such a being from a bygone epoch to appear in this great era, a massive secret must lie hidden behind it. Otherwise, no expert from the distant past would have the ability to cross countless ages and revive in the present day—unless they were something as broken as the Spirit Divine King.

Ning Changqing's delight stemmed from the fact that this Immortal Spirit carried an aura that did not belong to this world.

That's right… An aura not of this world could only come from beyond it—the ultimate path that countless great Emperors had pursued throughout history.

Transcendence!

A genuine opportunity for transcendence had just landed right in front of him. Even though Ning Changqing had once been the foremost Heavenly Venerate of the Mythical Era and had seen it all, even after reincarnating from the end of that era into the new one, he could not suppress the surge of joy in this moment. It felt as if a pie had fallen from the sky and struck him squarely on the head.

He firmly resolved to capture Su Chen alive. The secret of transcendence might very well lie within reach!

Ning Changqing suppressed his excitement, stood with his hands behind his back atop the vast starry sky, and looked at Su Chen.

"Your talent is excellent. Are you willing to follow me? In this life, I can grant you the opportunity to achieve transcendence."

Su Chen's expression turned extremely strange.

Had this guy lost his mind? A mere Saint actually thought he could act like a supreme Emperor? Even supreme Emperors were not untouchable—Su Chen had already killed two of them.

Without another word, Su Chen slapped down with his palm.

A massive hand descended, covering the entire Emperor City.

Ning Changqing stood firm like an immovable sacred mountain. Beneath his feet, layers of killing formations surged to life.

"That's… a damaged Emperor Array!"

"No wonder this boy was so confident. He had already set up a damaged Emperor Array here in advance. Even a Quasi-Emperor who stepped inside would likely perish in blood!"

"What a cunning and insidious tactic! What kind of genius relies on external objects like this?"

"..."

Ning Changqing sneered inwardly.

As long as he won, any method was a good method.

In his previous life, he had risen from obscurity to become the supreme Heavenly Venerate by relying on all kinds of means. Only the victor had the right to speak of the future.

The killing array he had prepared would draw blood from anyone short of a current great Emperor. Even Quasi-Emperors would struggle, let alone a mere Great Saint.

The first layer shattered.

Ning Changqing remained calm. If the opponent could not even break the first layer of the damaged Emperor Array, then he was unworthy of being called an Immortal Spirit.

The fourth layer shattered.

Ning Changqing rarely offered a word of praise. "As expected of an Immortal Spirit, one who comes from above the heavens."

The seventh layer shattered.

Ning Changqing's brow finally furrowed.

This Immortal Spirit was rather ferocious.

The ninth layer shattered.

The aloof, transcendent expression on Ning Changqing's face changed drastically.