While in Battle Through the Heavens, one can pre-appoint oneself as an emperor.

Chapter 374 Gathering Together

Void space.

A dozen figures tore through space one after another and stepped into this place. The two leading figures had a deep and abyss-like aura. They were none other than the Soul Emperor and Gu Yuan. Behind them were a group of Dou Sheng powerhouses from various races, including some powerhouses from the hidden sects of the Central Plains.

Without exception, all those who appear here are genuine Battle Saints!

After all, this void space is fraught with danger. If no one protects them, anyone below the level of a Dou Sheng could be trapped here forever if they encounter a void turbulence.

However, when everyone's figures were completely stabilized in the void, they all showed expressions of shock.

This space, which should have been eternally dark and deathly silent, was now completely enveloped by a brilliant celestial light. The light was so intense that it was like the bright moon rising in this space, penetrating the void as far as the eye could see and illuminating every corner with exquisite detail.

Once everyone had barely adjusted to the blinding light, they looked toward the source of the light and were all trembling with fear, their pupils shrinking sharply.

Before their eyes shone a blinding light, a towering figure slowly materialized. Though separated by countless miles, an imperial might, seemingly above the laws of heaven and earth, swept over them like a raging sea, pressing down on them until their breath caught in their throats and their internal fighting spirit nearly ceased to circulate.

"Hahaha! Great! This is fantastic!"

Gu Yuan felt the overwhelming and unfathomable imperial power, and burst into laughter, his laughter filled with long-suppressed joy and ecstasy.

For this high-stakes gamble, the ancient clan lost half of its members, and the price paid was considerable. But now, in the face of this imperial might, all the sacrifices seem incredibly worthwhile!

With Xun'er's connection, he dared to assert that even if the ancient clan's size were reduced by half, it would surely climb to an even more dazzling height than its former peak in the future!

In stark contrast to Gu Yuan's high spirits, the Soul Emperor stood in the void, his body trembling slightly, a rare occurrence, his eyes filled with an undisguised sense of loss.

He was arrogant throughout his life, with an almost obsessive and absolute confidence in his own strength. Within the same realm, and looking at the entire Dou Qi Continent, he never believed that anyone could be more dominant than him.

Even Xiao Xuan in the past was like this.

It was precisely because of this confidence that when Void Devouring Flame disappeared, even though the Soul Emperor was furious, he only thought that the plan had become more complicated and difficult, and never considered the word "failure".

Even though the Soul Clan's powerful warriors have fallen one or two times over the past few years, and his elite forces have been almost entirely wiped out, he still firmly believes that he will be the one who laughs last.

But at this moment, witnessing the birth of a Dou Di and feeling the despair-inducing pressure, the Soul Emperor's unbreakable confidence cracked for the first time, and confusion overwhelmed him like a tide.

Even if he gathers all the ancient jades, abandons the entire Soul Clan, and quietly finds and opens the ancient emperor's cave, can he really hide it from the senses of a Dou Di?

Not to mention, if this Dou Di expert were to intervene, what would he have to compete with?

On Dragon Island, under the watchful eyes of everyone, the majestic figure standing amidst the radiance finally opened his eyes slowly.

His gaze swept over the myriad creatures on Dragon Island, a faint smile playing on his lips. He then raised his eyes and looked peacefully toward the Central Plains.

A vast and mighty imperial might, like the blazing sun at dawn, poured down, impartially and without discrimination, covering every inch of the land and every corner of the world.

At this moment, heaven and earth fell into utter silence, and all living beings bowed their heads in submission.

Whether they were noble magical beasts or powerful human beings with unfathomable cultivation, they all sensed something the moment Chen Xiao's thoughts stirred, and involuntarily lowered their usually unruly heads.

Countless other creatures were so shaken that they prostrated themselves on the ground, unable to even muster the courage to look up.

"Greetings, Hyotei!"

Those on Dragon Island felt it even more acutely, experiencing the oppressive force emanating from the depths of their souls. Even the slowest-witted among them felt certain at this moment.

This is the supreme majesty unique to the Dou Di!

Only the legendary Dou Di powerhouse can inspire such awe and reverence for the unfathomable and unattainable.

For a time, everyone on Dragon Island, regardless of their relationship to the island or their level of cultivation, bowed deeply in worship.

"Greetings, Hyotei!"

This is the most sincere and deserved respect and reverence for a newly promoted Dou Di.

Hearing the thunderous praises that soared into the sky, Chen Xiao slowly rose up, his figure rising tens of thousands of feet higher, reaching the heavens, truly as majestic and unparalleled as a pillar supporting the sky.

His voice seemed to be responding to everyone on the island, and also seemed to be proclaiming to the entire Dou Qi Continent. His clear voice was like the voice of the Great Dao, resounding in the hearts of every living being, full of supreme majesty, which made all living beings tremble with awe.

"I am Chen Xiao, and today I break through to the Dou Di realm. From this day forward, I shall be known as the True Emperor Di Yin! Heaven and earth bear witness, and all living beings are my witness!"

Ten thousand years have passed since the last Tuoshegu Emperor.

Ten thousand years is such a long time, long enough for the masses to believe that the realm of Dou Di is a distant legend, a thing of the past.

However, today, everything is completely different.

Another Dou Di powerhouse has been added to the Dou Qi Continent!

The moment the majestic imperial voice fell, strange phenomena appeared one after another in the world.

A shower of energy rained down like fine wine, bringing life to everything in its path.

The vegetation grew wildly, withered trees sprouted tender new buds, barren lands were covered in green again, and even the battlefields that had been ravaged by powerful forces were slowly healed and the cracks disappeared under this great power.

Bathed in this gentle rain of energy, the chronic illnesses of weak ordinary people are cured, all diseases disappear, and the hidden injuries and hidden dangers accumulated by cultivators over the years are completely healed. Their meridians become more and more unobstructed, and the magical beasts in the mountains and forests not only have their blood and qi surge, but many of them also gain intelligence, with a clearer and more clever look in their eyes.

At this moment, breakthroughs resounded throughout the entire Dou Qi Continent. Countless cultivators who had been stuck at their bottlenecks for many years stepped into the higher realms they had longed for under the nourishment of this opportunity!

Within the Beast Realm and the Yellow Springs Stele, the bodies of the two remnant souls suddenly solidified considerably, and then abruptly rose to their feet.

The Yellow Spring Demon Saint glanced at the Pure Lotus Demon Saint with a look of inquiry, and the latter nodded slightly.

"Like you, my condition has strangely recovered quite a bit, or rather, it's like I've returned to how I was a few hundred years after my fall."

:

Upon hearing Jinglian Demon Saint's words, Huangquan Demon Saint was finally convinced that his intuition was correct.

Upon experiencing the sudden return to warmth once more, the Yellow Spring Demon Saint's face was filled with horror.

"It's neither Hyotei nor Chendi, but the perplexing title of Diyin Zhendi. Now, observing the changes in you and me, I'm beginning to understand."

There's a saying that goes, "There are no wrong nicknames, only wrong names."

This statement isn't absolutely accurate, but it covers most of the points.

Even powerful Dou Di (Battle Emperor) experts are no exception.

You can actually glean a lot from the simple title.

For example, this Dou Di powerhouse's greatest strength lies in a certain aspect.

Chen Xiao calls himself the True Emperor of Diyin. While the slow-witted are still exclaiming in surprise, the perceptive have already gleaned much from his words.

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Heavenly Tomb.

As Xiao Xuan felt his condition gradually recover, an expectant smile appeared on his aged face.

"Soul Emperor—"

"We'll see each other again soon!"

..

The Soul Emperor was unaware of Xiao Xuan's thoughts.

At that moment, the Soul Emperor felt a blur before his eyes. When his vision cleared again, he found himself in an incomparably luxurious palace.

Accompanying him were Gu Yuan, as well as those other Dou Sheng powerhouses who had also entered the void space.

The sudden turn of events startled the Soul Emperor.

He knew that the Dou Di realm was extraordinary and far beyond the Dou Sheng realm, but he never expected that there would be such an unbelievable method. Even with his strength, he could not feel the slightest fluctuation of the attack just now.

It was as if he had been in this hall the whole time, and the memory of being in the void earlier was just an illusion.

Suddenly, the Soul Emperor felt many gazes, some curious and some indifferent, fixed on him.

Immediately, the Soul Emperor slowly raised his head, and a series of figures came into view.

Four-star Dou Sheng, four-star Dou Sheng—

Six-Star Dou Sheng!

Eight-Star Dou Sheng!

Then, four early-stage Nine-Star Dou Sheng!

Zhu Hong, who was clearly quite old, was alright, but the aura of the three siblings, Chen Yao, Chen Xi, and Chen Xiao, made the Soul Emperor pause for a moment.

But soon, he realized the reason.

This must be the direct bloodline of a Dou Di powerhouse!

Once the bloodline of the Dou Di is activated, the benefits that his children will receive are absolutely unparalleled. Although the boost is terrifying, it is still acceptable.

Taking a deep breath, the Soul Emperor finally caught sight of the seated figure.

The magnificent imperial aura he had previously sensed had long since subsided, and not even the slightest fluctuation of his battle qi had leaked out. Chen Xiao simply leaned casually on the throne, his plain white robes spotless, his body as calm as a deep pool without ripples.

Yet, this figure, which had concealed all its sharpness, was more terrifying than any extreme pressure in the world in the eyes of the Soul Emperor.

He was sitting right there, within arm's reach, yet the Soul Emperor felt as if the other was standing on the other side of the river of time, unreachable.

Especially when those calm and unwavering eyes fell upon him, the Soul Emperor could clearly feel as if two invisible shackles pierced through his flesh and bones, penetrated his soul, and revealed all his secrets and even his thoughts in every detail, leaving him nowhere to hide!

This sense of powerlessness, originating from the depths of his soul, caused the Soul Emperor's pupils to suddenly contract, and his fingertips to tremble uncontrollably. He tried to look away, but found that his gaze was being drawn by an invisible force, and he could not move it away even an inch.

"Please sit down—"

A soft voice rang out in the hall, not deliberately raised, yet it seemed to carry an undeniable power, subtly easing the tense atmosphere within.

The Soul Emperor breathed a sigh of relief and sat down as instructed, though his fingertips remained slightly curled up inside his sleeve.

He lowered his eyes, not daring to look directly at the figure sitting high above him, but even so, the feeling of being pricked by thorns did not diminish at all.

As a powerful figure who had stood at the top of the pyramid for thousands of years, Soul Emperor was able to guess some of Chen Xiao's plans.

The past is the past, the present is the present.

After today, the rules and structure of the Dou Qi Continent will inevitably have to be changed.

The Soul Emperor was very uncomfortable with this feeling, especially since he wasn't even sure if the person sitting high above him harbored any murderous intent towards him.

He hadn't experienced this kind of agonizing wait for the verdict for many, many years.

Compared to the Soul Emperor, Gu Yuan was much more relaxed, and his mindset changed very quickly.

He didn't rush to establish any relationship. From the moment he arrived at the main hall until now, he had only nodded slightly to Xun'er in greeting. Now, at Xun'er's prompting, he calmly took his seat.

But when he saw Chen Xiao holding Xun'er's little hand, especially when he felt the aura that was only two minor realms away from his own, the smile on his face never stopped.

"Haha, I'm a little late! Congratulations on advancing to the Dou Di realm!"

Just as the group of Dou Sheng powerhouses inside the hall were lost in thought, a clear laugh suddenly came from outside the hall.

Before anyone could turn their heads, a figure was already standing in the hall, bowing slightly to the seated figure.

But then, to everyone's surprise, Chen Xiao, who had been sitting upright, slightly cupped his hands, and his smile became noticeably warmer.

This small gesture sparked endless speculation among the crowd, making them curious about who this seemingly young man was that Chen Xiao would treat him in this way.

"Bodhi, you're a few breaths slower than I expected."

Hearing Chen Xiao's familiar tone, Bodhi smiled, then looked at the Soul Emperor who had already taken his seat with a strange expression.

Upon seeing this, the Soul Emperor was startled.

He didn't know Bodhi, but he could sense a threat emanating from Bodhi that was no less than that of Xiao Xuan a thousand years ago.

This is yet another terrifyingly powerful expert who was completely unknown!

Now, seeing such a powerful figure looking at him with such strange eyes made Soul Emperor feel inexplicably uneasy.

What he didn't know was that Bodhi hadn't fully recovered; otherwise, he would probably be even more unable to calm down.

"On the way out of the Soul Realm, I met a person and stopped to observe him for a moment. He introduced himself and seemed to be called Xiao Chen."

Upon hearing this, Soul Emperor's ability to control his facial expressions completely failed.

With a loud crack, the chair beneath him shattered into pieces on the floor.

He looked around and, sure enough, all the remaining Dou Sheng powerhouses from the Burial Sky Mountain Range battlefield, as well as the Soul Clan powerhouses including Hun Yuantian and Hun Sha, had all come to the void space and appeared in this hall.

The same was true for the three clans of Gu Lei Yan. The Black Annihilation King, the Three Immortals of the Ancient Clan, and the Fire Spirit Fairy of the Yan Clan were all in the hall at this moment, but Xiao Chen was nowhere to be seen!

Given the situation, anyone could guess what Xiao Chen was up to!

It wasn't that the Soul Emperor cared much about those members of the Soul Clan; as long as their deaths were worthwhile, the Soul Emperor was even willing to personally annihilate them.

But the current situation, where Xiao Chen slaughters them at will, and they die without any value, is something that the Soul Emperor cannot accept.

Moreover, being outmaneuvered by Xiao Chen in front of so many powerful figures was a disgrace to the Soul Clan Chief.

Click!Click!

Suddenly, a crisp sound came from beneath the feet of the Soul Emperor.

Everyone looked over and saw that the seats that had been shattered on the ground had mysteriously reassembled and were restored to their original state in an instant.

"Soul Emperor, you may choose to leave. I will not stop you, and the same applies to everyone else."

Upon hearing Chen Xiao speak, the Soul Emperor took a deep breath, then clasped his hands in a fist salute and sent a telepathic message ordering Soul Yuantian and the others to leave first, while he himself sat down again.

Chen Xiao nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the various expressions on the faces below, and smiled, "It is truly a fortunate event for me to break through today. I know you all have many thoughts, and gathering you all together is to give you—an answer."

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