216: The emperor reigns supreme, but undercurrents remain.

The moment Pavilion Master Tianji's body disintegrated and his soul scattered, the chaotic currents surging above the entire Northern Region cleared.

Xiao Chen stood with his hands behind his back in the void, his Emperor's might contained within him, yet possessing a supreme aura that made heaven and earth bow.

He flicked his fingertip, and a wisp of chaotic fire light streaked past, thoroughly purifying the remnants of Pavilion Master Tianji's aura, leaving no trace.

At the same time, far away in the Pill Tower Holy Domain, and above the battlefields raging across the continent, all the 'blood sacrifice array eyes' set up by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion suddenly extinguished their light, and the evil power that extracted the lifeblood and soul force of living beings was instantly cut off.

The rampaging Soul Hall army and the bewitched forces, as if their backbone had been removed, immediately fell into immense chaos and panic.

"Pavilion Master... Pavilion Master's aura has vanished?!"

"The blood sacrifice array has stopped! What's going on?"

"They lost... The Heavenly Secret Pavilion lost!"

Conversely, the Anti-Alliance's morale soared!

"It's Saint Xiao! It must be Saint Xiao who succeeded!" His Majesty Emperor Yan, fighting fiercely, sensed the disappearance of the heart-palpitating Quasi-Emperor pressure, roared as he punched, and flames shot up from his body, incinerating a Soul Hall Venerable to ashes.

"Chen'er... he did it!" Xuan Kongzi, who was in charge of the Pill Tower, shed tears of joy, trembling with excitement as the huge stone that had weighed on his heart for several years finally dropped.

The Dragon Emperor Projection, trapped in the "Myriad Dragon Soul Locking Array," also let out a joyous dragon roar, and his majestic dragon power erupted, instantly breaking free from his restraints.

His huge dragon eyes looked towards the Northern Region, filled with awe and relief.

Xiao Chen's mind stirred, and his Emperor Realm soul power spread like mercury, instantly covering the entire Central Region and even the more distant borders.

The remaining Soul Hall strongholds across the continent and the Heavenly Secret Pavilion remnants stubbornly resisting were all within his perception, with nowhere to hide.

"Those who stubbornly resist will be executed without mercy."

"Those who abandon the darkness and turn to the light will have their cultivation abolished and be handed over to the Anti-Alliance for judgment and disposal."

A calm thought, yet containing supreme Emperor's might, echoed like a heavenly decree, clearly resonating deep within the souls of all high-level cultivators involved in the rebellion.

This was not a negotiation, but an announcement, a final decision.

For a time, throughout the continent, the defeat was like a landslide.

Countless Soul Hall cultivators turned ashen, throwing down their weapons and kneeling in surrender.

A few diehards attempted to resist or flee, but under a wisp of Emperor's thought that Xiao Chen projected from afar, they instantly turned to ash.

The might of the Emperor Realm was terrifying!

His words were law, and no one dared to disobey!

In just a short moment, the chaos of the Soul Hall and the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, which had swept across the continent for several years and caused countless massacres, was quickly quelled in such an overwhelming manner...

Pill Tower Holy Domain, in front of the star tower.

The space rippled slightly, and Xiao Chen's figure quietly appeared.

He did not create an earth-shattering commotion, but the moment he stepped onto the ground, the entire Holy Domain seemed to glow with unprecedented vitality; plants rejoiced, and spiritual energy danced.

"Greetings, Emperor Xiao!"

Led by Xuan Kongzi, His Majesty Emperor Yan (his injuries stable), the Dragon Emperor (his projection solidified), Flower Without Shadow, Wonderful Sound, and Venerable Feng, all the high-ranking members of the Anti-Alliance and the surviving disciples knelt in unison, their voices filled with heartfelt excitement, awe, and fanaticism!

An Emperor! The continent had not seen an Emperor for ten thousand years!

And now, their leader, Xiao Chen, had achieved it!

He not only stepped into the Emperor Realm but also, at the moment of achieving the Emperor's position, personally ended the greatest source of disaster!

Xiao Chen's gaze swept over the crowd, seeing the relief and tears in his teacher Xuan Kongzi's eyes, the excitement of allies like His Majesty Emperor Yan and the Dragon Emperor, and the weariness and joy of surviving a catastrophe on the faces of countless warriors.

He gently raised his hand, and a gentle yet majestic Emperor's power lifted everyone.

"You all have worked hard.

The chief culprit has been executed, and the remnants will be cleared, but the continent is scarred and needs to be rebuilt.

From now on, we must work together to reshape the world."

His voice was calm, yet carried a reassuring power.

Hearing this, everyone's hearts stirred, and they all responded affirmatively.

"Brother Chen!" A fiery red figure rushed into Xiao Chen's arms without hesitation; it was Flame Heart.

She hugged Xiao Chen tightly, tears streaming down her face, all her worries and fears released at this moment.

Xiao Chen gently embraced her, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes.

"It's alright, Xin'er," he comforted softly.

However, just as everyone was celebrating and everything seemed to have settled, the chaotic mark on Xiao Chen's brow, which had already transformed into an Emperor's Pattern, subtly twitched.

An extremely hidden, yet deeper, older, and colder malice than that of Pavilion Master Tianji, like an undercurrent in the abyss, was once again keenly perceived by him.

That malice... originated from the "master" that Pavilion Master Tianji shrieked before his death, from the core of the "burial emperor coffin" that was not yet completely destroyed, and even more so... from beyond this heaven and earth, from the depths of the endless chaos!

Xiao Chen looked up, his gaze seemingly penetrating the nine heavens, looking towards that unknowable place.

The gentleness on his face gradually receded, replaced by a deep solemnity.

Although Pavilion Master Tianji was dead, the true mastermind behind him, the so-called "master" who intended to descend by using the "burial emperor coffin," probably... had not given up.

The peace before them might just be the calm before the storm.

"Teacher, His Majesty the Dragon Emperor, His Majesty Emperor Yan," Xiao Chen looked at the core figures, "quickly stabilize the situation, treat the wounded, and consolidate our strength.

The continent needs to recuperate."

He paused, his voice deepening a few shades: "But our steps cannot stop.

The true threat might have only just revealed the tip of the iceberg."

Hearing this, everyone's hearts tightened, and their recently relaxed nerves tensed up again.

From Xiao Chen's words and expression, they sensed a deeper concern.

Xiao Chen said no more, holding Flame Heart's hand, he took a step and was already back on the top floor of the star tower.

He needed time to consolidate his Emperor Realm cultivation, and even more time to explore the ultimate secret hidden behind the mists of ages!

The Emperor descended upon the world, shaking the eight directions with his might.

However, with heaven and earth as the chessboard and all living beings as pieces, who was the hidden hand playing the game?

What was the true purpose of the burial emperor coffin?

What astonishing secrets were hidden in this continent, and even this world?

A new journey had begun.

And this time, his opponent would be... truly... beyond the Emperor Realm!