52: In the age of mythology, the Celestial Venerable who transcends tribulations!

Big Dipper Star Field.

The Supremes who had just retreated from the Hall of Miraculous Mist did not immediately return to their respective Life Forbidden Zones, but instead gathered together in unspoken agreement.

The location was in a desolate and deathly silent expanse of starry sky just outside the Primordial Beginning Ancient Mine.

A dozen figures, each of whom had once dominated an era, had now restrained their auras and formed a circle, weaving their Divine Thoughts together to conduct a secret discussion concerning the future.

"Fellow Daoists, what are your thoughts on today's events?"

The Ten Thousand Dragon Emperor spoke first; his Divine Thought was as heavy and concentrated as a mountain, his gaze sweeping over every Supreme present.

"I think... I think the Wushi Heavenly Emperor is serious."

The voice of the Lord of the Divine Ruins carried a trace of uncontrollable trembling, "He is truly willing to give us a way to survive, a... bright path. He lectured on the Dao to repair our Dao foundations; this is by no means a lie. I can feel his Dao—vast and boundless, far above our own. He is more than qualified to guide us."

"I feel the same way."

The Lord of the Reincarnation Sea chimed in, its voice sounding somewhat weary and weathered, "Did you feel it? The bearing, the vision he displayed when he spoke... That is not just a Great Emperor who wants to suppress us, but a Heavenly Emperor who truly wants to change this era and create a landscape never before seen in eternity. His gaze is fixed on something further away—the Immortal Domain, and beyond the Immortal Domain. We, these so-called Supremes, are likely... nothing more than significant chess pieces on his board in his eyes."

Once these words were spoken, all the Supremes fell silent.

Chess pieces? Although this word was jarring, they had to admit that what the Lord of the Reincarnation Sea said was the truth.

In the face of such a grand goal held by the Wushi Great Emperor, they, these Ancient Supremes who had launched the Dark Turmoil just to survive, truly appeared insignificant.

Being utilized by him, becoming a piece on his chessboard, seemed... not entirely unacceptable.

"So be it, a chess piece! As long as I can survive, as long as I can see the hope of Immortal Ascension, what does it matter if I am a chess piece?"

A Supreme from the Immortal Tomb snorted coldly, "Rather than sleeping half-dead in a forbidden zone, waiting for the next Dark Turmoil and eventually fading away in despair, I would rather fight for him! At the very least, this is a path where hope can be seen!"

"Indeed!" another Supreme said excitedly, "The Great Emperor lecturing on the Dao! This is a tremendous Opportunity! Perhaps we can truly take this chance to mend the flaws in our Dao fruits, live another life, and vie for Immortal Ascension once more! This is far more tangible than any Strange World!"

The more they spoke, the more excited they became; the trace of humiliation originally felt from submitting had long since been diluted by that bright future and the tangible benefits.

"I have decided."

The Ten Thousand Dragon Emperor took a deep breath, his golden pupils flashing with a resolute light, "The Great Dao oath has been sworn; there is no room for regret! I will lead the Ten Thousand Dragon Nest and wholeheartedly follow the Wushi Great Emperor! Not for anything else, but for that sliver of survival."

"Me too!" the Lord of the Divine Ruins declared.

"Count me in! From now on, the Sea of Reincarnation will obey only the orders of the Heavenly Emperor!"

One by one, the Supremes voiced their commitment.

At this moment, they were sincere.

They were conquered by the vision of the Wushi Great Emperor, shocked by his strength, and deeply attracted by the future he had depicted.

Following such a Heavenly Emperor, perhaps they could truly see a different future!

However, at this moment of high spirits.

A cold, decaying, and mocking Divine Thought, like a venomous snake, abruptly intruded.

"Hehe... hehehehe... What a touching performance of loyalty. A group of Emperors and Sovereigns who once suppressed the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, now acting like a pack of fawning dogs, fooled into submission by a few words from someone?"

All the Supremes' Divine Thoughts froze, and they turned in unison toward the source of that Divine Thought—the depths of the Primordial Beginning Ancient Mine!

That was... a Supreme who had not chosen to emerge and was still sleeping!

"Who?! Hiding your head and showing your tail, what kind of thing are you!"

The Ten Thousand Dragon Emperor was furious. With a roar, his terrifying Dragon Qi transformed into tangible sound waves that swept toward the depths of the Primordial Beginning Ancient Mine.

"Who I am is not important."

That Divine Thought was filled with mockery and disdain, "What is important is, you fools, do you really think that person surnamed Wushi is so kind-hearted? That he will really open the Strange World for you? Stop dreaming!"

"He is merely using you! Making you serve as his vanguard to gnaw on the hardest bone that is the Underworld! Once you help him destroy the Underworld, once your utility value is squeezed dry, he will turn around and liquidate and suppress you one by one! Have you forgotten the methods of the Human Race Great Emperors? Have you forgotten how the Void Realm dealt with us? You Emperors and Sovereigns have actually fallen to the point of becoming dogs for a Human Race junior? Ridiculous! What a huge joke!"

"Insolence!"

The Ten Thousand Dragon Emperor was completely enraged. Golden Qi and blood soared into the sky, and the entire starry sky trembled violently under his Dragon Qi. "What are you! How dare you slander the Heavenly Emperor here? If you have the guts, come out and fight!"

"Slander? I am merely stating a fact that you dare not admit!"

That Divine Thought continued to sneer, "You useless trash who went out, your Dao Heart is lost, your spines are broken; you are no longer worthy of being counted among us! Go on, be his dogs obediently! Just wait, when Wushi grows old, when he passes away, when the day comes that his Qi and blood wither, this Universe will still be our hunting ground! By then, even you traitors will be liquidated along with him!"

"You are courting death!"

The Lord of the Divine Ruins had the most explosive temper. Having long since reached its limit, it let out a roar and attacked directly! It reached out with a massive hand that blotted out the sky, wreathed in Chaos Qi, condensing Supreme Dao laws, and slammed it down fiercely toward the Primordial Beginning Ancient Mine!

"Boom—!"

The ancient mine shook violently, and an equally terrifying Emperor aura erupted from the depths of the mine, transforming into a blood-colored immortal light that collided fiercely with the massive hand of the Lord of the Divine Ruins!

A terrifying energy storm swept out, and the several large stars nearby instantly turned into cosmic dust.

"Hmph! You want to fight? Do you think I am afraid of you?! Your Dao fruit is flawed, your Qi and blood are decaying, yet you dare to show off in front of me?!"

The owner of that Divine Thought was clearly a violent person as well; its aura refused to show any weakness, and more Emperor aura brewed in the depths of the ancient mine, seemingly ready to erupt into a war between Life Forbidden Zones at any moment.

At this tense moment.

"Enough!"

The Ten Thousand Dragon Emperor let out a roar, his dragon cry shaking the Nine Heavens. A more majestic Imperial Dragon Qi swept out, forcefully severing the aura standoff between the two.

It stared coldly at the depths of the Primordial Beginning Ancient Mine and said in a deep voice, "Those with different Daos cannot work together! Since you are unwilling to submit to the Heavenly Emperor, then continue hiding in your hole like a tortoise! But if you dare to speak insolently again, do not blame us for joining forces to flatten your ancient mine first!"

"Well said!" the Lord of the Reincarnation Sea also said coldly, "We have already sworn the Great Dao oath and completely severed ties with the past! If you dare to spread rumors again and shake our Dao Heart, you will be making an enemy of us, over a dozen Supremes! Weigh the consequences yourself!"

The auras of the dozen-plus Supremes faintly united, forming a terrifying pressure that made the entire Universe tremble, locking onto the Primordial Beginning Ancient Mine.

The Divine Thought in the depths of the ancient mine fell silent. No matter how arrogant it was, it dared not face over a dozen beings of the same level simultaneously. In the end, it could only snort coldly in unwillingness and slowly restrained its aura.

The Ten Thousand Dragon Emperor then withdrew his gaze, looked at the people around him with their varied expressions, and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, do not be swayed by such words! We have no way back! Three days later, we listen to the Dao at the Heavenly Court!"

The Supremes nodded one after another; the last trace of hesitation in their hearts had also been completely severed during the confrontation just now. They had drawn a line between themselves and their old selves from the old era.

...

Inside the Chat Group.

【Ding! "Tribulation-Crossing Heavenly Venerate" has joined the Chat Group!】

A new name abruptly appeared in the group member list.

Everyone was stunned.

Tribulation-Crossing Heavenly Venerate?

A being from the mythological era?!