224: Resting on the way back, facing enemies beyond the borders.

The Land of Gui Xu once again fell into dead silence. Fragments of the burial emperor coffin filled the sky, like dark red snowflakes, slowly drifting down and finally merging into the pitch-black void land beneath their feet, disappearing without a trace. Only the lingering aura of the extra-dimensional will that made souls tremble, and the still unsettled cracks in space, spoke of the thrilling Emperor Realm battle that had just taken place.

"Pfft—!" Xiao Chen finally couldn't hold on, kneeling on one knee, and spitting out another mouthful of golden Emperor blood. His face was as pale as paper, and his aura was extremely weak. Continuously burning his origin, activating the star tower, and directly confronting the extra-dimensional will—even though he had achieved the Emperor Realm, he was now almost at the brink of exhaustion.

"Emperor Xiao!"

"Brother Chen!"

His Majesty Emperor Yan, His Majesty the Dragon Emperor, and the others hurried over, their faces filled with worry and lingering fear. They had personally experienced the terror of that extra-dimensional phantom! It was an absolute suppression at the level of life itself! If Xiao Chen hadn't fought to the death, they would probably have already been annihilated!

"It's nothing... just excessive consumption..." Xiao Chen waved his hand, struggling to take out a few Emperor-grade pills exuding rich life essence and put them into his mouth. The pills dissolved in his stomach, transforming into a surging warm current that nourished his battered Emperor body and his almost dry Emperor heart.

"This place is not suitable for long stays..." Xiao Chen propped himself up, his gaze sweeping across this desolate and ominous Land of Gui Xu. "Although the enemy from beyond the border has temporarily retreated, since his will has already descended upon this world, he might probe again at any time."

"We must return to the Pill Tower immediately! And formulate a long-term plan!"

"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison. At this moment, there was no joy of victory in their hearts, only a heavy pressure! Destroying the burial emperor coffin was not the end; instead, it seemed to have unveiled an even more terrifying prelude!

Xiao Chen strenuously activated his remaining Emperor power, once again opening a spatial passage leading to the main world. The group, supporting each other, stepped into the passage, their figures disappearing into this Jedi (deadly land). Pill Tower Holy Domain, top floor of the star tower.

"Pfft—!" As soon as he returned to safety, Xiao Chen once again spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, sat down cross-legged, and immediately entered the deepest state of secluded healing. Chaos Qi and starlight intertwined to form a giant cocoon of light, firmly enveloping him. The star essence accumulated in the tower for ten thousand years surged into his body like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.

His Majesty Emperor Yan, His Majesty the Dragon Emperor, and the others also found places to urgently heal their injuries. Their injuries were equally not optimistic.

Seven days later.

"Buzz—!!!"

The light cocoon on the top floor of the star tower suddenly shattered! Xiao Chen slowly opened his eyes. His complexion had already returned to a healthy ruddy color, and his aura not only fully recovered but also became even more profound and restrained than before! The Chaos Emperor Mark on his brow glowed, and within it, there seemed to be a few more hints of the essence of stars! After the baptism of this battle and the extreme pressure at the brink of life and death, his control over his Emperor Realm power and the fusion of the Dao of Chaos and Stars had advanced a step further!

"Brother Chen! You're alright?" Flame Heart, who had been waiting outside, sensing the change in the tower's aura, immediately rushed in, her beautiful eyes filled with joy and concern.

"Mm." Xiao Chen smiled slightly, took her hand, and indicated that he was fine. He looked up at the sky outside the tower, his gaze seemingly penetrating layers of space, seeing the unknown beyond the border.

"Teacher, His Majesty Emperor Yan, His Majesty the Dragon Emperor... Everyone, please come to the star tower for a discussion." Xiao Chen's calm voice spread throughout the entire Pill Tower Holy Domain.

A moment later, Xuan Kongzi, His Majesty Emperor Yan, His Majesty the Dragon Emperor, Flower Without Shadow, Wonderful Sound, Venerable Feng, and other core members of the Anti-Alliance, whose injuries had largely recovered, gathered on the ninth floor of the star tower. Everyone's faces bore a solemn expression.

"Chen'er, how is the situation?" Xuan Kongzi was the first to ask in a deep voice.

Xiao Chen took a deep breath and recounted his experiences in the Land of Gui Xu, especially the appearance of the extra-dimensional phantom, its terrifying strength, and its malicious words, to everyone in detail.

"...So, our true enemy is not the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, nor even the burial emperor coffin, but some, or a group of, unimaginable terrifying existences from beyond this world." Xiao Chen's voice was low and serious.

The tower was filled with dead silence. Even though they had already had some suspicions, hearing Xiao Chen's description firsthand still sent a chill down everyone's spines!

"enemy from beyond the border..." His Majesty the Dragon Emperor let out a low dragon roar, his dragon eyes filled with unprecedented solemnity. "Could the ancient catastrophe... be repeating itself?"

"According to the information remaining in the star tower... and the words of the Coffin Guardian..." Xiao Chen slowly said, "The other party's goal seems to be to sacrifice our world with blood... to summon something even more terrifying to descend. And by destroying the burial emperor coffin... we have temporarily blocked one of their important channels... but we have also completely exposed ourselves."

"They will never give up." His Majesty Emperor Yan clenched his fists, flames burning in his crimson eyes. "What should we do next?"

"Improve our strength! Integrate all forces that can be integrated!" Xiao Chen's gaze swept over everyone, his tone resolute! "First, I need to quickly and completely master all the power of the star tower, and try to find a way to go to the Sea of Emperor's Origin! There, perhaps, lies the key to fighting the enemy from beyond the border!"

"Second, Teacher, please unite all the surviving forces on the continent and publicly announce the threat of the enemy from beyond the border! Put aside all grievances and form a true Anti-Alliance army! We need the power of the entire world!"

"Third, His Majesty Emperor Yan, His Majesty the Dragon Emperor... please return to your respective clans and activate the deepest ancestral land inheritance! Spare no expense to cultivate more powerful individuals!"

"Fourth, Venerable Feng... please use all the intelligence networks of the Starfall Pavilion to closely monitor any abnormal spatial fluctuations or otherworldly auras across the continent!"

"Everyone..." Xiao Chen stood up, his gaze like lightning, sweeping across each solemn face. "We are facing a war concerning the survival of this world! It might be very difficult, and we might have to pay an unimaginable price... but we have no retreat!"

"Only to fight to the death!"

"We obey Emperor Xiao's decree!" Everyone responded in unison, their voices filled with determination and conviction! Although the road ahead was arduous, with a true Emperor leading them, they had the courage to fight!

The meeting dispersed. Everyone, having received their orders, hurried away to begin intense preparations.

Xiao Chen stood alone at the top of the tower, gazing at the seemingly calm sky outside the window. He could feel an invisible, enormous shadow slowly descending.

"enemy from beyond the border..." He murmured to himself, Chaos Qi and starlight slowly merging in his palm.

"No matter who you are... if you want to destroy my world..."

"Then step over my corpse!"