Su Chen returned to his original universe, the foundation of his path.

Two million years had passed since he left. It was an unbearably long span of time, during which countless old friends had passed away.

"Emperor Venerable… Emperor Venerable! It's really you! You've returned!"

Of his original followers, only a handful remained. One of them was a phoenix who had once become a Great Emperor, then severed her cultivation to undergo nirvana twice. She had become one of the greatest terrors in the world. Yet now, this supreme expert who struck fear into all living beings wept tears of overwhelming joy.

"Emperor Venerable has returned!"

Across the universe, terrifying existences emerged. Each one was a peerless powerhouse, yet they all knelt before a single figure. The current Great Emperors trembled in awe.

"Could it be… that the legend was true?"

Two million years had turned Su Chen into a myth. The being said to have transcended now stood before them once more.

With a single thought, Su Chen took complete control of the entire universe. He casually reached out and retrieved a hidden Undying Divine Medicine, then sealed Qin Wujie away. With the divine medicine, Qin Wujie might still have a chance to live out a third life.

"They also transcended?"

Su Chen fell silent.

Though their traces had vanished, both women possessed nine-star talent. Even as newly advanced Two Tribulations Rulers, together they could likely hold their own against an ordinary Three Tribulations Ruler.

Su Chen began refining Wang Potian's Universe Heart. As a Five Tribulations Ruler, Wang Potian's essence was incredibly powerful.

Time flew by like a white colt passing through a gap. Seasons cycled endlessly. Talented geniuses rose one after another, most blooming briefly like ephemerals before withering away. A few, seeking the truth, ventured into one forbidden land after another.

The Emperor Court gradually declined with the passage of time, while the Myriad Laws Emperor Sect steadily produced new powerhouses.

Until one day, an unparalleled Great Emperor named Qing Yuan appeared. Having overcome seven layers of the Emperor Tribulation, he surpassed every Great Emperor recorded in the past four million years. With overwhelming might, he suppressed forbidden zones across the universe. He stood invincible.

Watching his loved ones pass away one by one, Qing Yuan began exploring the greatest secrets of heaven and earth in search of transcendence. He set foot in the ruins of the ancient Emperor Court.

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Excitement surged through Qing Yuan. "This Emperor wants to see just what kind of person this legendary Emperor Venerable truly was. If he could transcend, then so can I!"

Confident that he was inferior to no one, Qing Yuan smashed through the ancient Emperor Court's barriers and stepped inside. The once-glorious halls now lay in ruins, yet faint traces of their former splendor remained.

As Su Chen refined Wang Potian's Universe Heart, the ancient Emperor Court slowly faded from existence. Future Great Emperors would covet the secret of transcendence, but the Emperor Court's foundations gradually eroded with time until they vanished completely. Its destruction had always been inevitable.

All intelligent beings were ultimately driven by greed.

Qing Yuan searched tirelessly for transcendence opportunities. The ancient Emperor Court was vast, yet it held no signs of life.

"What is this?"

Qing Yuan suddenly sensed a faint fluctuation. He arrived at a sealed area where layer upon layer of restrictions protected a massive glowing orb at the center. The aura it emitted made his blood boil with excitement.

"This is undoubtedly a divine treasure. Perhaps it holds the secret behind Emperor Venerable's transcendence!"

As Qing Yuan tried to break the seals and seize the "divine treasure," the glowing orb moved.

....

Qin Wujie had no idea how much time had passed. He vaguely remembered advancing his cultivation, shattering the barrier, and successfully transcending. Afterward, he began searching for Su Chen. Through persistent effort, he finally picked up traces of him—only to encounter a formidable enemy. Bursting with confidence, he challenged the opponent. His final memory froze at that moment.

"Was it Di Chen who saved me?"

Bitterness filled Qin Wujie's heart. He possessed the Chaos Body, touted as the greatest physique of all time—an undefeated supreme constitution that had allowed him to break through the barrier and achieve transcendence.

Yet he couldn't help wondering whether the Chaos Body was truly the greatest in history, or merely the "greatest" in a different sense. Why had he not won a single victory since his birth?

A strange aura suddenly pulled at him. Something was trying to seize him.

Qin Wujie flew into a rage and slapped out with his palm.

"How is this possible… No—"

In an instant, blood stained the Emperor Court.

Qin Wujie stepped out of the seal. It seemed he had just slapped something to death. Whatever. It didn't matter.

He looked around at the ruined Emperor Palace. A long time must have passed.

...

In the universe, a sudden wave of mourning swept through all living beings.

"A Great Emperor has fallen!"

The powerhouses of the myriad races were shocked. Only one Great Emperor existed in the current era—Qing Yuan. His strength had suppressed all others, preventing any new Great Emperors from rising. Everyone believed he would follow in the footsteps of the legendary Emperor Venerable and become the second being to achieve transcendence.

But it never happened.

Qing Yuan had fallen without warning. No one knew what had occurred.

...

Within a mysterious space, Su Chen slowly opened his eyes. His aura had grown even more terrifying. A single breath from him could reverse the flow of time across an entire universe.

After refining Wang Potian's Universe Heart, Su Chen had reached the peak of the Four Tribulations Ruler realm.

Just as he prepared to exit seclusion, he sensed an opportunity stirring within his body. He continued his closed-door cultivation and successfully broke through to the Five Tribulations Ruler realm.

Su Chen left the space and returned to the original universe. The once-mighty Emperor Court had fallen into ruin with the passage of time. His expression remained indifferent. The rise and fall of a single faction held no significance to him now.

Qin Wujie had also successfully revived for another life.

When the old rivals met again, Qin Wujie felt deeply puzzled. Su Chen's strength had become even more horrifying—far more terrifying than the powerful enemy who had once defeated him. Perhaps he would never be able to catch up to Su Chen again.