He was invincible from the beginning of the Heaven-Covering Era.

The Azure Emperor was not only incredibly powerful, but also possessed unparalleled talent. Although I was initially shocked, after carefully studying it for a while, I finally understood what this power was all about.

That's why he was deeply moved; this power was truly...

He is too powerful. If the eternal path he walks is the King of the Great Dao, then the path Zhou Qing walks can be called the King of Kings of the Great Dao. I really don't know whether it is a blessing or a curse for people of this era to meet Zhou Qing.

At this moment, the Azure Emperor thought that on that chaotic path that existed for some unknown reason, he had competed with Zhou Qing twice, both times ending in defeat. In other words, even if there were other geniuses of his generation in this era, it would be difficult for them to defeat this young man.

Perhaps they can witness the rise of an invincible emperor, witness his glorious past, and leave behind a series of mythical legends, but Zhou Qing's existence will also plunge other geniuses into despair. Whether it is a blessing or a curse is hard to say.

"I truly hope you can rise quickly and pave a concrete and feasible path to immortality for us." The Azure Emperor looked at Zhou Qing standing on the blue lotus with a complex expression.

Now that he has become an emperor, the appearance of such a terrifying young emperor in the future poses no obstacle to him. The appearance of such a person is not only not a bad thing, but even a great thing.

Becoming an immortal is extremely difficult. Although he is confident in the path he is taking, he does not dare to say with 100% certainty that he will succeed. Objectively speaking, the path he is taking also has a slim chance of success.

If he could find another, more powerful like-minded person to share his experiences and move forward with, or to directly pave a practical path ahead for him to reference, that would be of great significance to him.

At the same time, after Zhou Qing grabbed the humanoid red light, he murmured something, and the humanoid red light's eyes immediately became confused.

Then, in a moment, the humanoid red light distorted, and its eyes regained their clarity.

He manipulated the fate of the third-generation Yuan Tianshi, grafting the fate of this demonic thought onto himself.

This is not an ordinary conversion; it is the grafting of fate, identity, self-awareness, and future onto oneself, replacing the identity of the spell caster, and completing the exchange!

"Zhou Qing, you said you wanted to free the third-generation Source Master from the control of that demonic thought, but why haven't you taken action yet? Don't you know how to do it?" the Zhou family patriarch asked in confusion.

In the eyes of the Zhou family patriarch, the humanoid red light had not changed at all, but in Zhou Qing's eyes, the humanoid red light had transformed into his own appearance.

“No, I’ve already done what I needed to do,” Zhou Qing said.

At this moment, he also knew who the demonic thought of the third-generation Yuan Tian Master came from; it was the curse that Tongtian Mingbao had personally placed on the Yuan Tian Master lineage.

Under normal circumstances, it would be difficult for him to tamper with the fate of such a celestial artifact. However, he borrowed the power of a quasi-emperor from the Azure Emperor and activated the power of the Gate of Destiny. The power he unleashed was beyond his own judgment, and he instantly stole the connection between the Heavenly Nether Treasure and the demonic thought into himself.

"Hmm? What did you do?" The Azure Emperor also looked puzzled.

He kept his eyes fixed on the humanoid red light, but he didn't notice any changes in it.

At this moment, the blue lotus beneath Zhou Qing's feet withered, and he gently landed on the ground, his aura transforming into that of a normal saint.

The humanoid red light returned to the crown of the third-generation Source Master's head. The third-generation Source Master opened his eyes, which flashed with red light, but were no longer ferocious. Instead, they were very calm. He said, "From now on, the third-generation patriarch will no longer be suppressed by another consciousness."

"You are Zhou Qing?" The Azure Emperor was very surprised. He still couldn't understand how this mysterious change had happened.

It should be noted that the demonic thought has become closely intertwined with the third-generation Source Master. If the humanoid red light malfunctions, the third-generation Source Master will become a cold corpse in the next moment.

But now, for some reason, that demonic thought seems to have been taken over by Zhou Qing, replacing the original true ruler behind it.

When the red light in the eyes of the third-generation Source Master faded, he looked bewildered and asked, "What just happened? Have I fallen into a dazed state again?"

“No, Third Ancestor, you no longer need to worry about being suppressed by another consciousness. That consciousness will fall into a deep sleep, while your half-true self will remain awake. However, there is a side effect,” Zhou Qing said.

"What side effects? Tell me. If what you say is true, then I'm already very satisfied. I don't care about any side effects." The third-generation Source Master said nonchalantly.

“That is, your consciousness will be linked to my life. As long as I live, this state of yours will last. Once I die, the other consciousness in your body will also dissipate, and your half of your true self will also dissipate into the world and become a corpse because it has lost its anchor,” Zhou Qing continued.

Zhou Qing has now taken over the original position of Tongtian Mingbao, and has taken over the fate of that demonic thought onto himself.

Previously, the reason why the true self of the third-generation Source Master had been dormant for so long was entirely because the Tongtian Mingbao was too powerful, and the third-generation Source Master simply could not compete for control.

Even if the power of the Emperor's Artifact briefly puts the demonic thoughts left by the Heavenly Nether Treasure into a slumber, it can quickly awaken and once again suppress the true self of the third-generation Source Master, taking control of this body.

Therefore, although he is said to be half-demon and half-human, he spends almost 100% of his time in the demon state, and his human state is rarely seen.

Now that Zhou Qing has stolen the fate of the demonic thought, he certainly won't do what the Tongtian Mingbao did. Instead, he will actively put the demonic thought to sleep, allowing the true self of the third-generation Source Master to remain awake.

"At the same time, I also obtained a fragment of a scripture," Zhou Qing continued, drawing golden ancient characters in the air with his hand.

"This is... the Tribulation Transcending Heavenly Technique?" A strange expression appeared on the Azure Emperor's face.

Legend has it that the Tribulation-Crossing Heavenly Skill was created by a supreme Taoist deity. One must constantly undergo various great tribulations throughout one's life in order to finally attain the Dao fruit.

However, this school of thought has always been flawed, and the true scriptures have never been seen.

The scripture that Zhou Qing inscribed in the air was the Heavenly Tribulation Transcending Technique, which was also incomplete.

"This is the Tribulation-Transcending Heavenly Technique that the Underworld possesses. The reason why the Third Ancestor was able to cultivate half of the Reincarnation Seal was because the people of the Underworld were using the Third Ancestor as an experiment to try to perfect this Heavenly Technique. Obviously, they still haven't succeeded," Zhou Qing said.

Because the scriptures are incomplete, the Reincarnation Seal cannot be fully formed. The Underworld uses Source Masters for experiments, perhaps in an attempt to deduce the true content of the incomplete parts through continuous experimentation. The Cai family ancestor was one of the experimenters.

"Also, the connection to the Heavenly Nether Treasure is in my hands. Shall I give it to you now?" Zhou Qing looked at the Azure Emperor's murderous intent.

"Oh? Give it to me now, let me see where those people are hiding?" The Azure Emperor revealed a strange smile.

That connection was the curse of the Heavenly Netherworld Treasure. Zhou Qing replaced that connection, so now it is in a state of not being connected to anyone.

If Zhou Qing were to pass this connection on to someone else, that person would be cursed by the Heavenly Nether Treasure, a curse from a celestial artifact that could instantly kill most people in the world.

However, the Azure Emperor was not included. When Zhou Qing connected the link to the Azure Emperor, although some wisps of red hair grew on the Azure Emperor's body, they were evaporated by a burst of blue light in the next moment.

The Azure Emperor closed his eyes and followed the curse with his mind. A quarter of an hour later, the Azure Emperor opened his eyes, smiled, and said, "So, in that desolate star field, I have finally found them."

Chapter 288 Entering the Ancient Dragon's Lair

This is a desolate star field, where darkness and death are the themes. Most of the floating stars are broken, with only a very few stars suspended in the sky, illuminating the sky with faint light.

A deep, dark mist drifted across the starry sky, vast and boundless, filled with deathly energy. Within this mist floated a continent, its land black, making it seem as if one had entered the underworld.

"Did the Underworld Emperor really appear here?" a dazzling figure asked.

This figure was filled with incomparably holy divine light, as if it had been transformed from divine source, and its whole body exuded a sacred aura. This was a Source God.

“That’s right. Tens of thousands of years ago, I sensed the aura of the Underworld Emperor. I knew he was still alive, and his aura remains here.” This voice came from a jet-black, crystalline treasure wheel.

It carried a sacrificial sound, as if all living beings from several eras were weeping and praying, which was awe-inspiring.

This is a heaven-connecting artifact of the underworld, and also the imperial artifact of the Underworld Emperor. Shaped like a treasure wheel, it slowly rotates, revealing the past scenes of this area and reflecting a chubby figure buried in the black soil.

"Is that the Underworld Emperor? It's a pity, he seems to have awakened not long ago. Although we found a burial pit here, it's empty." A figure covered in dense, long hair revealed a strange smile. This was the Source Ghost.

"For tens of thousands of years, the underworld's ghostly soldiers have been frequently active, traveling through various star fields in search of us. It seems they are very afraid of the return of the Underworld Emperor."

Below the treasure wheel, there was a figure shrouded in chaotic light, seemingly merged with the treasure wheel, inseparable from it, and unfathomable.

“We’ve run out of time again. The Underworld Emperor has awakened, and with his methods, it will be very difficult for us to find his past life.” The Heavenly Underworld Treasure slowly turned and made a sound.

"The people of the Underworld all think you want to find the Underworld Emperor and bring him back to suppress them and rule over everything, but how could they know your true thoughts?" Yuan Gui let out a cackling laugh, his smile eerie.

“He once gave me life and bestowed upon me divinity, and I am grateful to him. But now, I only want to be my own master and do not want anyone to oppress me.” The Heavenly Nether Treasure, shrouded in celestial light, uttered these words, which made the other three laugh sinisterly.

The Underworld Emperor was ultimately betrayed by his own imperial artifact. It was as if it were destiny. The Emperor's Green Cauldron and the Underworld Emperor's Heaven-Reaching Underworld Treasure became increasingly uncontrollable as their spiritual connection grew.

In comparison, in the original timeline, Ye Fan's betrayal by the Myriad Things Mother Qi Cauldron was the kindest among the immortal artifacts.

In the Immortal Transformation Pool, the Azure Emperor withdrew his killing intent from following the artifact, a smile also appearing on his face. He said, "The Heavenly Nether Treasure has become an immortal artifact. Its ability to conceal itself is too strong. This time, by following the connection of this curse, I finally found its location."

"Back then, the Great Emperor Wushi also wanted to attack the Underworld, but this magical artifact concealed the Underworld, causing the vast Netherworld to disappear from the universe. The Great Emperor Wushi could only sigh," said the Zhou family patriarch.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Nether Treasure was pursuing the Azure Emperor.

Xun was completely unaware that, in the Tongtian Mingbao's perception, the connection to that curse had never changed and had always been linked to the third-generation Yuan Tianshi.

"Now that we've found their location, I'll be heading there as well," the Azure Emperor's voice rang out.

"What about the Holy Spirit in the Ancient Dragon's Lair? We may have to go back into the Ancient Dragon's Lair to find the Dream Immortal Marrow Mother Plant. I'm worried that the Holy Spirit might use the great fortune of the Central Plains, represented by the Qinling Great Dragon, to clash with the weapons in our hands." Zhou Qing expressed his concern.

"You don't need to worry about that. Do you think that the Holy Spirit didn't dare to attack you just because I was standing here?" the Azure Emperor asked.

"Could there be another hidden story?" Zhou Qing's face showed a strange expression.

He was indeed very surprised. That Holy Spirit was definitely a fearless being. Even when facing the Azure Emperor, that Holy Spirit would not hesitate to take action.

When he entered the Ancient Dragon's Lair, he specifically asked the Azure Emperor to kill the Holy Spirit for him, but everything went smoothly in the end. The Holy Spirit barely made a move and didn't even send out his minions.

"Do you know how a snake reacts when it encounters a true dragon? The snake will tremble constantly, suffer immense suppression from the difference in life level, and even its mind will have to submit. Even a snake king that has cultivated for thousands of years would not dare to make a move against a young dragon," the Azure Emperor said slowly.

"Among plants and trees, I am also a 'True Dragon' level existence. Before I became a saint, I encountered a saintly locust tree on an ancient star. My cultivation level was far behind his, but when facing me, he couldn't even make a move."

“All powerful demons that have become spirits from plants and trees will be naturally suppressed in front of me. Unless their cultivation level is far superior to mine, they may not be able to attack me, but their power will be very unstable and their abilities will drop sharply.”

"And your suppression of that Holy Spirit may be far beyond your imagination. Do you think he doesn't want to make a move? No, he simply finds it difficult to make a move."

The Azure Emperor's voice, like a grand and resounding bell, echoed in Zhou Qing's ears, deafening and awakening him.

"You mean, that Holy Spirit can't attack me?" Zhou Qing murmured. He recalled the words the Azure Emperor had spoken to him when he entered the Ancient Dragon's Lair to find the Cai family's ancestor. He realized that these words contained such profound meaning.

The Azure Emperor nodded, put his hands behind his back, and looked at the dragon cave of another great mountain, as if he were staring at a living being.

“I have been to the Divine Ruins, walked through the South Heavenly Gate, passed through the Heavenly Palace complex, and killed two true Holy Spirits under that Immortal Peach Tree. I am quite familiar with this kind of life.”

“Holy spirits are born of nature and nurtured by the earth, arising from the interaction with the Great Dao, and condensing the essence of the Dao. Therefore, their birth causes great changes and can be compared with the great emperors of ancient times.”

"Therefore, in a sense, the Holy Spirit can also be called the Child of Heaven. Killing them will bring boundless misfortune. Only ancient emperors or cultivators who walk the path against Heaven can kill them, and afterwards they must rely on their own power to avert the calamity from Heaven."

"And your physique is truly unheard of and unseen. Like the Great Emperor Wushi and myself, you can all be called the first supreme being since the beginning of time, without precedent."

It can be found.

"Although I have only glimpsed a part of its mystery, I know that when a naturally born spiritual being like the Holy Spirit meets you, it is like a snake meeting a true dragon, or an ordinary tree meeting an elixir of immortality."

With his robes fluttering and his expression calm, the Azure Emperor slowly revealed the secret he had recently discovered by observing Zhou Qing's physique, while Zhou Qing listened attentively from the side.

"Does the Great Emperor mean that I don't need to worry about the Holy Spirits there attacking me when I enter the Ancient Dragon's Lair, and I can just do my own thing?" Zhou Qing asked.

“That’s good. If you’re still worried, I can stay here a little longer. I’ll leave after you come out of the Ancient Dragon’s Lair. Although I know the location of the Heavenly Nether Treasure, they won’t move anytime soon, so staying here a little longer should be enough,” the Azure Emperor continued.

"No need. Since you've analyzed so much for me, what reason do I have to continue to worry?" Zhou Qing said with a smile.

"I'm leaving. I hope we'll meet again someday." With that, the Azure Emperor tore open the heavens and earth with his hands, stepped into the crack, and vanished.

Through the crack, Zhou Qing saw a star field filled with deathly aura.

"So it really isn't in the Netherworld? It seems the Heavenly Nether Treasure really did fly away from the Underworld," Zhou Qing muttered to himself.

Suddenly, just as the rift was about to close, a dazzling celestial light bloomed in that star field, illuminating the entire universe. Rolling radiance flowed like water, and countless auspicious clouds surged up, causing the universe to tremble.

Zhou Qing couldn't help but close his eyes. The dazzling light leaked out from the crack, making the Immortal Transformation Pool bright and clear, even more dazzling than thousands of suns gathered together.

After a long time, Zhou Qing slowly opened his eyes. The crack in the void had long since disappeared. He sighed, "Now, even if Tongtian Mingbao and his group are not completely wiped out, they will probably suffer heavy losses. Even if this Azure Emperor's killing intent is not enough, it can still take a few of the Origin God and Origin Ghost's group down with it."

Although the light was too dazzling, he didn't know what the scene looked like, but he could roughly guess.

It must have been that the Azure Emperor was tearing through the universe and crossing into that star field when he was discovered by the Tongtian Mingbao the moment he arrived, and a great battle was about to break out.

After this battle, that star field should no longer exist, and the surrounding star fields will also inevitably be reduced to dust by the aftershocks.