The Great Ruler: Starting from the Dark Ages

Chapter 125: The Eternal Dream
"Emperor..." Chuan Ying, inside the bronze palace, waved towards the place where the Emperor had disappeared, shouting in unwillingness.

Ever since the Emperor stirred up the winds and clouds of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, he had been awakened from the Divine Source, but he had been unable to leave the Bronze Palace.

Too much time had passed, from the Mythical Era to the Post-Ancient Era, millions of years had gone by, and he could no longer remember clearly. He only remembered one nightmare after another that had woken him up in the dead of night.

All I remember are the lonely souls, one after another, telling tales of resentment and desolation.

As the ancient Heavenly Court was destroyed, he gradually transformed from the first divine general of the ancient Heavenly Court into the greatest lonely ghost in the world.

His entire life was dedicated to taking lives.
It was not just about revenge, but also about repaying the Emperor's kindness in recognizing and recognizing his talent.

Now, the figure I've been longing for day and night, the figure who fell long ago, has returned against all odds.

He truly became an immortal, but he became extremely strange, so much so that even Chuanying could not recognize him.

Only the phrase "Heaven and earth, ghosts and gods, all worship the Emperor," which seemed to emanate from the depths of the universe, allowed him to truly understand the meaning of the ancients.

The bronze hall was pushed open, and golden light poured down, with dust outlining the shape of the light. A figure slowly walked in from among the dust.

Xu He concealed the myriad radiance within, causing the clamorous yet golden light to dissipate, and the bronze palace returned to its former tranquility.

Chuan Ying slumped to the ground, and after a long while, he finally spoke:
"Thank you, God."

"Have you figured it out?" Xu He asked.

Chuan Ying hummed in agreement and nodded silently: "I look young, but I am also tens of thousands of years old. Now that I think about it, if the Heavenly Emperor had not set up a forbidden spell in the Bronze Palace, perhaps I, Chuan Ying, would have already died and disappeared."

Xu He smiled faintly: "Good that you understand."

He knew that Chuan Ying had always harbored an obsession, not only about the destruction of the Heavenly Court, but also about the life and death of the Emperor. This obsession had always been an obstacle to his attainment of the Dao. Otherwise, Chuan Ying would probably have already attained the Dao long ago.

The Emperor's move was so massive that it couldn't possibly have escaped Chuan Ying's notice. Given Chuan Ying's temperament, if he hadn't set up a forbidden spell, he probably would have already rushed to the heavens to demand an explanation from the Emperor, and there was a 90% chance that he would have died.

"I'm just too weak now." Chuan Ying sighed deeply, no longer as carefree as before.

In the past, during the most glorious mythical era, his own strength and the power behind him allowed him to roam freely across the world.

He could enter and exit the restricted area as if it were flat ground, and no Celestial Venerable dared to make a move against him.

Now, his combat power at the alternative Dao attainment level is far behind that of the top combat power, even though he has proven with his actions that if he were to attain Dao, he would not be inferior to many ancient emperors and supreme beings.

"I want to attain enlightenment, I must attain enlightenment." At first, Chuanying only murmured a few words, but gradually his tone became more and more powerful, and his gaze became more and more determined, as if he had regained his former radiance.

The Emperor's strangeness was quickly analyzed after he calmed down. Although Xu He and the Emperor had been facing off for a long time, Chuan Ying was unable to deduce the truth of the matter from those few words.

"I want to stand before the Emperor myself and ask him the reason for all these changes!"

Finally, after thanking Xu He, Chuanying left the Heavenly Emperor's Palace.

No one knows where Chuanying went; his aura seems to have completely dissipated, and even the Heavenly Venerable Ancient Emperor could not detect it.

Xu He also knew that Chuan Ying was at a critical moment of enlightenment, so he shut down his perception of Chuan Ying, making him truly a kite with a broken string.

A kite with a broken string can fall from grace in an instant, but perhaps, without chains and constraints, it can truly reach for the stars.

A hundred years later, someone witnessed Chuan Ying's whereabouts.

The baby-faced boy embarked on the ancient road to the stars. He single-handedly defeated all the geniuses of that generation without taking their lives. However, rumors circulated that he had said he did it all just for his own enjoyment and to do as he pleased.

The impact of this event was so great that, in order to save face, the patriarchs of various families emerged, creating an immense spectacle.

However, it was still incredibly vast. In less than a day, all the ancestors of the prodigies were suppressed, and Chuan Ying did not harm their lives.

Finally, at this moment, someone recognized Chuan Ying's identity. Carrying a large bow on his back and holding a stone club, his domineering presence, which allowed him to control a quasi-emperor with one hand, caused countless people to retreat.

In the end, Chuan Ying simply said it was boring and disappeared for another hundred years.

When it was reborn, it appeared in the Primordial Ancient Mine.

The Primordial Ancient Mine was about to explode, and even the Supreme Being wanted to curse, so he quickly brought up the agreement with the Heavenly Emperor.

Chuan Ying said he was just wandering around and then visited the entire Primordial Ancient Mine before leaving in a carefree manner, as if he had truly returned to the mythical era.

He disappeared again, without a trace.

Five hundred years later, a vast and boundless imperial aura swept across the four seas and eight wastelands in a short period of time, attracting the attention of countless people.

The heavens and earth were in an uproar; someone was about to attain enlightenment.

The identity of the person who attained enlightenment seems self-evident, because that person was too dazzling hundreds of years ago.

"Is it really him? The number one general of Heaven!" Someone swallowed hard, exclaiming incredulously, "Heaven... is Heaven about to produce a second Great Emperor?"

Once upon a time, in the glorious ancient era, when spiritual energy was not as scarce as it is today, the existence of two great saints from one sect was already a legendary tale.

Now, it seems that one family is about to produce two emperors?
This is an unprecedented event. At least in the present world, only a very few powerful beings know that Wushi originated from Yaochi.

"No! He still beat me to it!" A peak-level Quasi-Emperor roared in frustration. He was a newcomer who had entered this realm to prepare for his breakthrough to the Emperor realm.

Having just emerged from seclusion, I'm now reflecting on the world and preparing to leap over the dragon gate.

But Chuan Ying beat him to it.

Although the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths have changed, they are no longer like before. The Great Emperor's suppression of the Great Dao prevents later generations from attaining the Dao. Or perhaps it still exists, but only for a very short time, a few hundred years.

However, the birth of an emperor consumes the world's essence to some extent, and in a short period of time, the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths will definitely not be able to give birth to a second emperor.

Moreover, entering the Emperor Realm requires not only strength, but also opportunity and mindset.

Otherwise, how could so many peak quasi-emperors throughout the ages have given birth to those supreme beings?

If one fails to seize the moment of leaping over the dragon gate, one may very well suffer a fatal misstep.

"It's over, it's all over." A quasi-emperor sighed, silently accepting the ending.

Of course, some peak-level Quasi-Emperors still harbored the thought that Chuan Ying had failed his tribulation.

There are quite a few people who have such thoughts, and no one will criticize or condemn them. After all, cultivation is going against the heavens, and who can stop someone from having such thoughts and complaints in their heart? No one is so noble as to cheer for a competitor who is about to become an emperor and take away the glory that should belong to them.

The supreme beings of the restricted area looked at each other, pondered for a long time, and decided to wait and see.

They were indeed unsure of Chuan Ying's attitude towards them, but the Heavenly Emperor's attitude was very clear. After all, they had not participated in the destruction of the ancient Heavenly Court, nor had they launched the Dark Turmoil.

Nameless Starfield

Endless lightning bolts rained down, engulfing the starry sky.

Chuanying let the thunder and rain fall freely, completely at ease. Although his body became increasingly charred and his clothes torn as time went by, he remained extremely happy.

The devastating thunder and rain truly shattered everything, yet it brought new life to Chuan Ying. As the thunder and rain fell, the purest essence merged into Chuan Ying's crystalline body. Before long, the supreme imperial might emerged and truly condensed into countless strands of imperial laws.

The great dragon of the spine leaped upwards, while the primordial spirit descended, truly merging into one.

Become emperor!

Chuan Ying has truly become an emperor, and a great regret in his heart has been made up for at this moment. His aura has surged to its peak.

After becoming emperor, he traveled all over the world, constantly consolidating his own realm.

The news of Chuan Ying becoming emperor was exciting for many heavenly soldiers and generals in the Heavenly Court. As fellow divine generals under the Heavenly Emperor, they believed that they too would one day ascend to the throne.

This view is also recognized by many people outside the industry.

Everyone knows that this new emperor is more powerful than many great emperors. With two emperors in one family, no one dares to question the strength and foundation of the Heavenly Court.

When Chuan Ying consolidated his realm and returned to the Heavenly Court, many people had mixed feelings.

Some have speculated that the divine generals who become emperors will break away from the Heavenly Court and establish their own sects, after all, they are great emperors and still supreme beings in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

But the moment Chuan Ying returned, countless doubts were dispelled.

From this moment on, many prodigies on the ancient starry road fell into deep thought. Even a great emperor of the world was willing to continue to submit to the Heavenly Emperor and become his divine general. In their hearts, the dream of joining the Heavenly Court gradually balanced the struggle for supremacy on the Emperor's Road.

Perhaps things will change someday in the future.

"Is the Heavenly Emperor in seclusion again?" After knocking on the door to no avail, Chuan Ying sighed and finally sat cross-legged in front of the bronze door, guarding the gate for the Heavenly Emperor.

"I hope the Heavenly Emperor won't be in seclusion for too long this time. My life isn't long enough to waste with you..." Chuan Ying murmured, also looking forward to what changes the Heavenly Emperor would bring when he emerged from seclusion.

……

Inside the Heavenly Emperor's Palace, a space had already been carved out.

At this moment, Xu He was in a mysterious and enigmatic state.

Chaotic energy permeated the Heavenly Court, enveloping it completely, and Xu He's body flowed with divine essence as if it were the most precious celestial gold in the world.

It was as if it had been in a long sleep, but its regular and rhythmic breathing was as steady as a blue whale swallowing and exhaling waves.

The Great Dao within his body was constantly being drawn by Heaven and Earth. Xu He's life fire flickered, and just a moment ago, he was almost transformed into the Dao.

Fortunately, the situation was reversed in time. Although he is still in a deep sleep, his expression has become more relaxed.

"The fluctuation just now... could it be that the Heavenly Emperor almost passed away?" Chuan Ying outside the hall frowned and murmured. The flow of energy just now was only a momentary thing, and it was almost lost. If he had not already attained the Dao and was not so close, he probably would not have been able to detect it.

"A dream that lasts for eternity?" Duan De strode into the Heavenly Court and murmured to the Bronze Palace.

"Is the Heavenly Emperor cultivating the Dao in the mortal world?" Chuan Ying frowned, not surprised by the appearance of the person in front of him. They had met several times before, whether in the Mythical Era or the Post-Ancient Era.

"Yes, this is an extremely special method, which has been accumulated over countless ages. Its great path will be refined by the long river of time, and when it awakens, it may truly become an immortal in the mortal world." Duan De said with utmost seriousness.

As someone from the Chaotic Ancient Era, he had some understanding of the methods of immortality in the mortal world. The Great Dream of Eternity was one of them, but this method was far too dangerous, and no one dared to experience eternity in a dream.

No one knows what will happen in a dream, or when this dream will end; an accident can lead to death.

Even in a dream, time still flows by in the river of time. If one cannot awaken, the only outcome will be death and the annihilation of one's soul.

Therefore, even as a Heavenly Venerable who had transcended tribulations, he dared not attempt it lightly. He had no choice but to settle for second best, constantly burying himself, forming the Samsara Seal, continuously increasing his age, and constantly comprehending to achieve the effect of a leap.

"Cannot be awakened?" Chuan Ying knew that the risks involved were absolutely indescribable, so he prepared himself to force his way into the Bronze Palace and awaken Xu He when his lifespan was about to end.

Duan De slowly shook his head and sighed:

"He can only rely on himself. This is the path of cultivation he chose in the mortal world. Although it is extremely dangerous, the opportunities are also limitless."

“If you forcibly stop him, even if you awaken the Heavenly Emperor, it will only damage his Great Dao.”

"Why not give the Heavenly Emperor more trust? He has brought so many miracles to the world. I believe he will return again." Duan De was absolutely certain in his heart. Xu He was the person he was waiting for, and also the person his friend was waiting for.

There were simply too many causes and effects involved, and Duan De couldn't explain it to Chuan Ying.

“Then I will wait.” Chuan Ying said with a firm gaze, “I will wait until the Heavenly Emperor awakens. I believe that with my lifespan, I can live to see that day.”

Duan De was slightly surprised, but he nodded nonetheless. After one last conversation with Chuan Yingjin, he left to continue perfecting his own path.

After Duan De left, Chuan Ying sat cross-legged in front of the bronze gate of the Heavenly Emperor's Palace.

For nearly ten thousand years thereafter, he reigned supreme over the world, acting as the Heavenly Emperor to govern the world.

During this period, the Heavenly Court did not decline, but continued to prosper, and the thoughts of all living beings in the world continued to converge on the Nine Cauldrons.

As time passed, the nine great cauldrons were indeed evolving into celestial artifacts, albeit slowly, but they were steadily approaching that goal.

During this period, the world changed again. It seemed that the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth had successfully received something, and spiritual energy revived once more. The Golden Age appeared, and this time countless geniuses emerged. Not only that, even emperors received some blessings.

Even the newly enthroned emperor has a lifespan that is a thousand years longer than that of previous emperors, and Chuan Ying has not yet fully entered his old age.

When the Great Emperor spoke, the world began to repair itself.

In that same year, a riot broke out in the Heavenly Emperor's Palace, and endless chaotic energy instantly spread throughout the entire Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Chuan Ying, Duan De, Qing Di, Lingbao Tianzun, Wang Bo, and others arrived at the Heavenly Court, wanting to find out the reason for the Heavenly Emperor's riot.

However, that restless chaotic energy only lasted for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick before dissipating.

Immediately afterwards, Xu He's aura completely disappeared, and even the Great Emperor, Ancient Emperor, and Heavenly Venerable could not detect him.

The emperors disregarded everything else and joined forces to break open the bronze palace gates. They searched the entire palace but could not find even the slightest trace of Xu He. They had even exhausted the hidden spaces.

"He's gone, he's really gone!" Duan De was the person closest to Xu He's realm, apart from the Ruthless Man, but even he couldn't sense Xu He's location at all.

It's as if it really disappeared.

Between heaven and earth, the supreme ancient emperors displayed various expressions.

Chuan Ying leaned closer, knowing that Duan De was quite knowledgeable in this area, and quickly asked:
"What's wrong with the Heavenly Emperor? Even if the Great Dream of Eternity carries the risk of disintegration, it shouldn't disappear without a trace, right?"

"A dream that lasts for eternity shouldn't be like this... Even a return from illusion to reality shouldn't be like this..."

“Unless…” A mysterious glint flashed in Duan De’s eyes.

"Unless, he dreamt of the past and went back to history."

(End of this chapter)