Just as the old patriarch forced me to my death, I achieved the unity of Dao and fruition.

On an ancient star in the vast universe, an old man stood quietly in the starry sky.

His aura had weakened to the extreme, yet no one around him dared to underestimate him.

His cultivation level was at the ninth level of Quasi-Emperor, just one step away from the legendary Great Emperor realm.

Despite his immense power, making him the strongest being in this star field, he was merely observing the masses on the Emperor's Road.

An unexpected figure, under the watchful eyes of the world, took that step.

The old man gazed at the figure bathed in myriad rays of light in the center of the starry sky, remaining silent for a long time.

After a long while, he finally let out a soft sigh.

"So...it really works."

The voice carried a complex tone.

He had lived for too long, long enough to witness the rise of too many prodigies and the fall of too many so-called monsters.

Throughout history, those who have attained the status of a Great Emperor have always been the most dazzling figures of their era.

They were young and powerful, dominating their contemporaries in their most brilliant years, and ascending to the throne over countless corpses.

Therefore, it has long been a habit in the hearts of countless cultivators.

A great emperor should be young.

Even though the Heavenly Dao Emperor Seal has never restricted age, everyone still believes that if a person cannot attain enlightenment before the age of a thousand, then there is basically no hope for them in this life.

Because your golden years have passed, your vital energy has begun to decline, and your potential has been exhausted.

But today, that unknown entity has shattered everyone's preconceived notions.

He did not amaze the world in his youth, nor did he sweep across all races in his prime.

When he first appeared in the sight of the masses, he was already three thousand five hundred years old.

This very being now stands in the position that all cultivators in the universe dream of: the Great Emperor!

"That's incredible!"

The old man murmured softly.

"It turns out that the Great Dao has never stipulated that the Great Emperor must be a young man."

"We cultivators have always been trapped by our own perceptions."

Beside him, a middle-aged man in black, who had also reached the Quasi-Emperor realm, merely sneered.

"It's too early to be sentimental about these things now."

The old man turned his head to look.

"What do you mean?"

The middle-aged quasi-emperor gazed into the depths of the starry sky, his voice calm.

"Having just attained the status of a Great Emperor, he is indeed unparalleled in the world."

"But...you've forgotten something."

"Those supreme beings of the forbidden zones haven't appeared yet."

Upon hearing this, many powerful figures around him changed their expressions slightly.

Yes!

The Great Emperor's attainment of enlightenment is only the beginning, not the end.

Every great emperor of every era must face an unavoidable existence.

The forbidden zone of life, where ancient supreme beings severed themselves, sealed their divine source, and lingered on until now.

They were once emperors, invincible figures of their time.

Simply to survive, they chose to sever their own paths and slumber within the forbidden zone.

But they will eventually awaken, because they need the life essence, the origin of countless living beings, and the continuation of their own lives.

Therefore, the birth of each new emperor would attract the probing of the Supreme Being of the Forbidden Zone.

If the new emperor is powerful enough, they will fall back into slumber.

If the new emperor is too weak... then... this newly born emperor might become their best prey.

"That's right. After each great emperor attains enlightenment, a supreme being will be born."

"Some supreme beings might even directly launch small-scale dark upheavals."

"They don't need to destroy the entire universe; plundering the life essence of a single star system is enough to restore some of their strength."

"If the new emperor cannot stop it... then it will be another disaster."

Many powerful figures remained silent.

Meanwhile, those ancient monsters resurrected from the divine source all had burning eyes.

They thought that after their birth, they would usher in an era of their own.

But no one expected that they would witness the birth of a great emperor as soon as they stepped into this era.

"If this emperor were to be killed by the Supreme Being..."

A young prodigy from an ancient clan said in a low voice.

"Has the Imperial Road... reopened?"

These words caused a change in the expressions of many young talents.

They didn't want the emperor to die, but they were even more unwilling to admit that someone in their generation had already reached the end for everyone else.

If the emperor falls, then a new struggle will begin once again.

These young prodigies may not be without opportunities.

……

Meanwhile, in the distant depths of the universe, there is an ancient mountain range floating in the Milky Way, a forbidden zone of life that has existed since the primordial era, the Immortal Mountain.

boom!

Today, the immortal mountain, silent for countless years, experienced its first major tremor.

Ancient array patterns lit up, and the beings that had been dormant in the divine source gradually awakened.

"Has the great emperor of the new era finally appeared?"

An ancient voice resounded throughout the heavens and earth, and then a figure emerged from the depths of the sacred mountain.

He was clad in ancient armor, radiating an aura of imperial power that was suffocating.

He was once a protagonist of an era.

But time is merciless, and in the end, he chose to sever his own path and enter the forbidden zone to eke out a living.

A second figure appeared; it was a white-haired woman.

She once amazed an era and was hailed by countless people as having the appearance of an empress, but in the end, she too succumbed to the passage of time.

A third figure slowly emerged.

His body was massive, and with each step he took, the entire starry sky trembled.

Three supreme masters of the penalty area!

They all emerged from the Immortal Mountain at the same time!

At this moment, the entire universe felt those three terrifying auras.

Countless powerful figures looked up, their expressions instantly changing.

"The Supreme Beings of the Forbidden Zone... They're here."

The three supreme beings of the penalty area marched forward.

They did not immediately march on the location of the newly born emperor.

Instead, they stopped as they passed by ancient stars inhabited by life.

boom!

A colossal hand descended, draining the life essence of the entire star, causing countless creatures to flee in terror.

But in front of the Supreme Being, they didn't even have the right to struggle.

One star field, two star fields, three star fields... They did not destroy the entire universe.

Because that's pointless; they just need to regain some strength.

Get yourself back to your peak condition.

Finally, amidst the fearful gazes of countless powerful figures...

The three supreme beings descended upon the place where the Great Emperor resided.

They formed a triangle, surrounding the figure of the newly enlightened emperor in the center.

Throughout the entire universe, countless divine thoughts are watching this place.

Everyone held their breath.

The great battle... is about to begin.

However, the next moment, the three supreme beings of the forbidden zone frowned at the same time.

Because they discovered that the new emperor before them showed no sign of nervousness.

Even... his gaze was sweeping them up and down.

That look didn't seem like he was looking at an enemy; it was more like he was looking at something precious, or rather... food.

A strange unease rose in the hearts of the three supreme beings of the forbidden zone.

For the first time in countless millennia, they sensed that something was amiss.

"you……"

One of the supreme beings in the restricted area slowly spoke.

"Why are you looking at us like that?"

In the starry sky, Gu Changjin, bathed in myriad rays and radiating imperial might, gently licked his lips, his eyes bright.

"It's nothing, I just think... the three of you look delicious."