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

Chapter 380 Remodeling the Heavenly Tomb

The Emperor-grade embryonic core vanished in an instant, and this outcome sent a chill down the spines of all the Dou Sheng powerhouses present.

But upon closer reflection, it seems perfectly reasonable.

After all, the person he was facing was a genuine Dou Di!

When a Dou Di expert faces someone below Dou Di, it's like dealing with ants below Dou Sheng. The difference in strength may vary, but they can all be easily wiped out!

Suppressing their unrealistic thoughts, the group of powerful figures struggled to shift their gaze from the radiant ball of light in Chen Xiao's palm and turned their attention back to their surroundings.

Although a single Emperor-grade embryonic pill, along with dozens of high-level Heaven-rank combat techniques, is already an incredible opportunity, this is, after all, the legendary ancient emperor's cave. Having only these things seems too meager, and it always feels a bit off.

Just as Chen Xiao was instructing the two sisters, Chen Yao and Chen Xi, to collect those Heaven-rank cultivation techniques and combat skills, Zhu Kun, who was standing not far behind him, glanced at Zi Yan and Chen Xiao, then at the two sisters who were busy counting the cultivation techniques, and Chen Xiao who was being protected by the two senior sisters and Jiu Xuan. Finally, he made up his mind and stepped forward.

"I've been trapped in front of this ancient emperor's cave for thousands of years, so I know a bit about its secrets. As far as I know, before that old fellow left, he left behind more than just a single Emperor-grade embryonic pill; he also left behind an even more special inheritance—the Origin of an Emperor!"

"The Origin of the Emperor?!"

As soon as Zhu Kun finished speaking, all the powerful figures present were shaken to their core and couldn't help but murmur in disbelief.

Although the ownership of this imperial origin will ultimately be decided by Chen Xiao, the increased chance of these people getting a share of the spoils undoubtedly increases their chances of becoming emperors.

Gu Yuan, in particular, was so excited that he could hardly contain himself.

He had long seen clearly that Chen Xiao had the closest relationship with the ancient dragon clan, and his attitude towards his father-in-law, Zhu Kun, was far warmer than that towards him, his father-in-law.

In that case, he probably won't get that Emperor-grade embryonic pill.

However, if there were another opportunity to become an emperor, Gu Yuan felt that Chen Xiao would definitely consider him no matter what.

After all, the matter of becoming emperor is of great importance, and when considering candidates, all conditions must be taken into account.

Those who already possess Emperor-level souls and whose battle qi cultivation has reached the late stage of Nine-Star Battle Saint are undoubtedly the most suitable candidates.

"Brother Zhukun, where is the Emperor's Origin hidden? And how can one obtain this inherited power?"

Gu Yuan's face was full of excitement, but as soon as he spoke, he noticed the strange looks around him and quickly added, "Please don't misunderstand, everyone. I'm just curious. How to deal with this inheritance in the end is entirely up to the True Emperor!"

Everyone present was a cunning old fox who had lived for thousands of years; how could they not see through his little scheme?

This explanation is hardly convincing.

However, no one spoke out in criticism.

After all, it's only natural to lose one's composure when faced with such an extraordinary opportunity as Emperor Cheng.

Zhu Kun looked up at Chen Xiao, only to see that Chen Xiao showed no surprise at all upon hearing the words "Origin of the Emperor," but simply nodded slightly, indicating that he could continue.

Seeing this, Zhu Kun couldn't help but feel secretly relieved.

Fortunately, he didn't keep this secret; otherwise, if it displeased Chen Xiao, it would have been a great loss.

Little did he know that Chen Xiao didn't care about the legacy of Emperor Tuoshe at all.

Even if Zhu Kun didn't say anything now, once Chen Yao and Chen Xi had finished collecting those cultivation techniques and fighting skills, he would have Zhu Kun move the statue of the Ancient Emperor Tuoshe and the Strange Fire Plaza from the cave together.

With Chen Xiao's approval, Zhu Kun walked slowly to the stone statue in full view of everyone, patted the stone, and said loudly, "The origin of the Emperor is hidden within this stone statue!"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's eyes snapped to the ancient emperor's stone statue.

If it weren't for Chen Xiao standing nearby, they probably wouldn't have been able to restrain themselves and would have rushed forward to investigate.

Seeing the eagerness in the eyes of this group of people, and seeing Chen Xiao's leisurely appearance, Xun'er rolled her eyes at her father, whose eyes were shining, and then turned to Chen Xiao to ask the question that all the powerful people were most concerned about.

"Brother Chen Xiao, in Xun'er's perception, this statue of the Ancient Emperor Tuoshe seems to be just an ordinary stone sculpture. Could it be that certain specific conditions must be met to obtain this inheritance?"

The group of powerful figures immediately pricked up their ears, afraid of missing a single word.

Under the expectant gazes of everyone, Chen Xiao nodded slightly and said with a faint smile, "Those of you who have cultivated to your current level must all know that, regardless of the level of breakthrough, a steady and gradual approach is always the best way."

"Besides these, there are also opportunities, inheritances, and elixirs that can help people break through their limitations."

"Among these methods, the method of using elixirs is undoubtedly the inferior choice, while opportunities and inheritance are more desirable, but these two are often accompanied by extremely harsh conditions."

"The same applies to this imperial origin. Only those who meet the requirements of the ancient emperor Tuoshe can obtain this opportunity. If the conditions are not met, even if you spend thousands or tens of thousands of years exploring it, it will be all for naught."

He changed the subject and looked at Zhu Kun, saying loudly, "Father-in-law, you will move this ancient emperor statue, along with the strange fire plaza, back to Dragon Island later. In the future, all members of my pavilion can step forward in order to try. No matter what means are used, as long as someone can obtain this imperial origin, I will be happy to see it succeed."

Upon hearing this, all the powerful figures present showed joy on their faces.

They were well aware that the probability of them meeting the requirements of Tuoshegudi was extremely low.

But at least, it is a glimmer of hope.

What if!

Chen Xiao took in everyone's emotional changes but said nothing more.

He knew perfectly well that, looking across the entire Dou Qi Continent, only two people met the requirements for this inheritance.

That was Cao Ying and Xiao Yan.

It's because they all practiced the Burning Technique.

Compared to the other two, Xiao Yan's strength is too weak. Even if the conditions are right, it is impossible for him to catch the eye of Emperor Tuoshe in a short period of time.

On the contrary, Cao Ying, with her qualifications and experience in all aspects, has a very high chance of inheriting this origin.

But when Chen Xiao thought about the process involved in that inheritance, he completely gave up the idea of ​​letting Cao Ying try it.

Let Xiao Yan experience the extreme pain of constantly undergoing rebirth and reshaping his body.

As for Cao Ying—

There's no need to rush.

Since he is now a Dou Di (Battle Emperor), he will open the interdimensional portal once everything is prepared.

At that time, whether Cao Ying chooses to cultivate on her own or break through with other means, she will be able to enter the Dou Di realm in a safer and more comfortable way.

..

After leaving the ancient Tuoshe Emperor's cave, Chen Xiao did not return to Dragon Island with the main force. Instead, he changed direction and went straight into the depths of the ancient realm.

Within the ancient realm lies a place called the Heavenly Tomb, which opens once every twenty years and has always been reserved for ancient races.

From the perspective of non-ancient races, such harsh restrictions are undoubtedly a waste of resources.

Now that there are no more ancient races in the world, even the Soul Clan and the Ancient Clan have been brought under the command of the Purple Cloud Pavilion, Chen Xiao naturally has no reason to leave such an excellent opportunity idle.

He had long planned to transform the Heavenly Tomb into the largest secret realm on the Dou Qi Continent, giving everyone the opportunity to enter it and thus accelerating the accumulation of the Dou Qi Continent's foundation!

However, before that, some changes need to be made to this Heavenly Tomb.

"Boom—!"

As Chen Xiao stepped into the Heavenly Tomb, the moment his thoughts stirred, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from the end of this void space. Rolling sound waves, like thunder from the heavens, surged out from the depths of the void, causing countless energy bodies within the Heavenly Tomb to tremble violently and nearly collapse.

Xiao Xuan's figure slowly emerged from the tomb. He looked up at the distant horizon, a trace of solemnity flashing between his brows.

He could sense an unfathomable soul fluctuation rising from the void, its power no less than that of him, the former ancestor of the Xiao clan.

The ripples, imbued with a rich, mottled quality, were all too familiar to him; they were the unique marks left behind by the devouring of countless remnants of powerful souls.

"That would save us a lot of trouble—"

Xiao Xuan gazed at the vast sky and murmured to himself.

Over the years, he and the Soul of the Heavenly Tomb have lived in peace in this secret realm, but in reality, they are both somewhat wary of each other and have even secretly agreed to keep to themselves.

Previously, Xiao Xuan had promised Chen Xiao that if he wanted to take action against the Soul of the Heavenly Tomb, he would do his best to help him. However, with Chen Xiao's current strength, he no longer needs Xiao Xuan to do anything.

In the hazy void, invisible soul fluctuations gathered wildly. In just a moment, the entire space rippled violently like water, and a gigantic face, tens of thousands of feet tall, slowly materialized from nothingness and hung in the sky.

On that giant face, there was no trace of the emotions a living being should have; only a chilling indifference and eeriness.

This is the soul of the Heavenly Tomb!

If we consider the Heavenly Tomb as an independent world, then the soul of the Heavenly Tomb is the Heavenly Dao nurtured by this world.

Unfortunately, the "Way of Heaven" has already been distorted!

Born from absorbing the remnants of countless powerful souls, from the moment of its birth, it has invisibly planted a desire for killing and devouring in all the remnants of energy bodies within the Heavenly Tomb, turning this special space, which should have been a place of eternal rest, into a bloody hunting ground where the strong prey on the weak.

Here, if an energy entity wants to grow stronger, it can only endlessly devour its own kind.

Such behavior is like forcing these energy beings, who were human in their previous lives, to eat people. The more intact their intelligence is, the more unacceptable it becomes.

"True Emperor, you have entered the Heavenly Tomb multiple times, and I have never stopped you. Are you now trying to repay kindness with enmity?"

The giant face rolled over, its pair of emotionless eyes staring at Chen Xiao, who was suspended in the sky. Its icy voice, like thunder, echoed throughout the heavens and earth.

He sensed Chen Xiao's intentions and knew that things would not end well today, so he tried to use words to shake Chen Xiao's resolve.

He really had no other choice.

We can't let a creation of a Dou Di expert go head-to-head with a Dou Di expert, can we?

Moreover, strictly speaking, it is not even a creation of a Dou Di powerhouse. It is a special existence that was derived from the subsequent absorption of the soul remnants of countless powerhouses.

Chen Xiao looked at the giant face and shook his head with a smile.

He entered the Heavenly Tomb several times, and there was one thing in common with each of them.

That is, having always possessed absolute self-defense capabilities!

The first time, he sent an avatar to accompany Xun'er inside. Even if the avatar was destroyed, it was not a great loss to him and did not harm his fundamental nature.

The second time, he sent Xiao Chen into the Heavenly Tomb. Although he was still in the form of an avatar, he already possessed the strength to be fearless of the souls of the Heavenly Tomb. It was that unfathomable pressure that made the latter wary and dare not make a move rashly.

And this third time, he was already a true Dou Di!

Therefore, the Soul of the Heavenly Tomb claiming that he did not stop Chen Xiao is simply patting himself on the back.

To be more precise, they were simply powerless to stop it!

He was like a powerless farmer, only able to watch helplessly as Chen Xiao stepped into his territory time and time again.

"Your birth was a mistake from the start. I imagine that the Azure Emperor who created the Heavenly Tomb could never have imagined that the place he painstakingly built would give birth to such a twisted and bizarre creature as you."

With a slight thought, Chen Xiao made a quick deduction in his mind about the real world and the illusory world, and in an instant, he learned the name of that ancient Dou Di.

He paid no attention to the astonishment and shock on the giant face of the Heavenly Tomb Soul, and continued in a calm tone: "I have come here today not to completely eliminate you. You can continue to exist in this Heavenly Tomb, but there is one thing that must be changed according to my will: the order in this Heavenly Tomb must be completely changed."

"What do you mean?"

The voice of the Heavenly Tomb Soul suddenly rose, carrying an uncontrollable ferocity. The cold and eerie expression on that enormous face was instantly replaced by a ferocious one.

He thought Chen Xiao had come to eliminate him, but Chen Xiao's words were even more infuriating than outright annihilation.

He is the absolute controller of the rules of the Heavenly Tomb, having controlled the order of this place for countless years. How could he be content to be a dog?

"It means, from now on, your word doesn't count!"

Chen Xiao spoke calmly, but before he could finish, the soul of the Heavenly Tomb launched a fierce counterattack.

"roar--!"

A deafening roar echoed through the void, and the colossal face, towering ten thousand feet tall, suddenly shattered, transforming into countless strands of pitch-black soul energy. These strands were entwined with the resentment and killing intent of countless powerful remnants of their souls, forming a massive, all-encompassing net that madly descended upon Chen Xiao.

These soul threads are the primordial power of the Heavenly Tomb's soul; touching them will devour your soul. Within the entire Heavenly Tomb, apart from Xiao Xuan, there is probably no energy entity that can withstand them in the slightest.

Moreover, the entire void of the Heavenly Tomb trembled, the earth cracked, and countless energy bodies were forcibly drained of their power, transforming into beams of blood-red light that flowed into the Soul Silk Net.

In an instant, the Heavenly Tomb was filled with deafening battle cries, and the bloodthirsty light in the eyes of those energy beings surged once more as they charged madly toward Chen Xiao.

"Overestimating one's abilities."

Chen Xiao's eyes were indifferent. He took a step forward, and an endless, chilling aura suddenly rose from his body.

The icy air surged, transforming into an ice river that stretched across the heavens and earth. Wherever it passed, layers of frost condensed in the void. Those dark soul threads that touched the icy air instantly turned into nothingness, leaving no room for even a struggle.

Even more terrifying is that within that endless chill, there is also a vast and pure power of the soul.

The bloodlust in the eyes of those energy beings who had been forcibly controlled vanished instantly upon being touched by the cold air, and they regained their clarity. They knelt down and kowtowed to Chen Xiao, their eyes filled with gratitude.

It is difficult for living people to sense the existence of the soul in the Heavenly Tomb, but the energy body in the Heavenly Tomb can always be sensed.

Furthermore, the better one's mental state is preserved, the clearer one's perceptions will be.

They had long been fed up with the humiliation of being controlled by the Heavenly Tomb Soul, which is why countless energy entities cheered when Xiao Xuan attacked the Heavenly Tomb Soul in the original timeline.

The countless strands of soul energy dissipated at a visible speed under the endless chill of the frozen air.

"No! I am the true master of the Heavenly Tomb!"

Amidst the roar of the Heavenly Tomb Soul, filled with intense fear and resentment, it suddenly gathered its remaining power, transforming it into a jet-black soul spear, imbued with an all-consuming might, and pierced towards Chen Xiao's brow.

Chen Xiao raised his hand and gently pinched the Soul Spear between two fingers.

"Click."

A crisp cracking sound rang out as the Soul Spear shattered inch by inch, turning into specks of soul light. Even the devouring power was completely frozen and annihilated by the chill at the fingertips.

The very essence of the Heavenly Tomb's soul trembled violently at this moment. Sensing the threat of death, its giant face reformed, but was now mostly illusory. Its voice pleaded, "True Emperor, spare my life! I am willing to submit!"

His initial arrogance followed by his later obsequiousness is laughable.

"It's too late, you're useless now."

Chen Xiao remained unmoved and showed no mercy, suppressing him with a flick of his hand.

At the same time, Chen Xiao's mind stirred, and the illusory world in his mind was deduced again. Profound golden patterns emanated from his palm, spreading out as if they were alive, towards the entire Heavenly Tomb.

This is how he used the power of a Dou Di (Battle Emperor) to combine with the original rules of the Heavenly Tomb created by the Azure Emperor, and rewrote the order of the Heavenly Tomb!

Wherever the golden patterns passed, the shattered earth of the Heavenly Tomb was slowly repaired, the violent energy became gentle and mellow, and the resentment and killing intent that permeated the void were completely cleansed. Countless energy bodies with confused consciousness quickly cleared their eyes and were no longer muddled.

"From this day forward, within the Heavenly Tomb, all battles that transcend major realms are forbidden, whether between energy beings or when facing outsiders."

After a moment's thought, Chen Xiao issued only one decree.

Once these energy beings regain their senses, conflict will inevitably arise. This is a problem that cannot be avoided anywhere, and Chen Xiao has no intention of prohibiting it; in fact, he welcomes it.

Only through constant struggle can pressure be created, allowing those who enter the arena to grow faster.

Of course, this pressure cannot be too terrifying, otherwise it will not be a tempering process, but a one-sided massacre.

Therefore, a few restrictions are sufficient.

Having done all this, Chen Xiao ignored the energy entities that were chanting the name of the True Emperor and took away the sealed origin of the Heavenly Tomb Soul.

With the new rules governing the Heavenly Tomb, the Soul of the Heavenly Tomb no longer needed to exist.

Upon exiting the Heavenly Tomb, Chen Xiao flipped through hand seals, and a series of thunderous roars echoed throughout the ancient realm.

Watching the Heavenly Tomb Space rapidly separate from the Ancient Realm and head towards the center of the continent, Chen Xiao nodded in satisfaction.

After that, aside from resurrecting the two demon saints, Huang Quan and Jing Lian, and Xiao Xuan, there was nothing else on this continent worth Chen Xiao's personal involvement.

"The vast world is almost here—"