This was a strange space; every step forward felt like going against the current, resisting time and space.
There was only one staircase leading to the unknown world, but nothing behind it. Here, even the stairs had disappeared; here, you could only advance, not retreat.
Long Chen advanced step by step. Although the resistance was strong, he could still endure it. When he reached the end of the stairs, countless beings were charging at him again.
Long Chen forced his way through seven levels in succession. With each level he advanced, the creatures before him grew more terrifying. When he reached the seventh level, Long Chen was besieged by a horde of terrifying beings. Despite unleashing his full strength, he was still covered in blood.
After rushing three times in a row, he finally entered the passage. Inside, Long Chen was panting continuously, and his wounds were slowly healing.
"What are all those things?" Long Chen said in shock. These beings were terrifying; Long Chen almost died here.
The creatures here include humans, beasts, and some strange beings never seen before. Without exception, they are all extremely powerful and each has their own unique attack style.
Especially one dark monster ant among them, which spewed a cloud of black mist that nearly corroded Long Chen's soul in an instant. If not for his soul power being strong enough, he might have been slain by other beings the moment he lost consciousness.
"This bone tower is strange, almost like the Heavenly Dao, able to copy certain things.
Those beings were very likely powerful figures who died here; their attacks from life had been copied and used to attack those who came after.
You should be grateful that you're not unlucky; the ones behind you are the most unlucky because they are attacking the pagoda and may face your attack. "Dragon Bone Xie Yue said.
"No way, I can't believe I could be copied too?" Long Chen was stunned.
"I'm afraid they will." Dragonbone Xie Yue replied.
Long Chen broke out in a cold sweat: "This path was pointed out by Emperor Yun Shang, so doesn't that mean ...?"
Long Chen looked at the end of the stairs, his scalp tingling. Emperor Yun Shang must have walked this path too, so wouldn't Long Chen have to face Emperor Yun Shang soon?
"This ..." Dragonbone Xie Yue was also stunned for a moment.
"If Emperor Yunshang were to be copied by the pagoda, who could defeat him? No wonder he warned Yuntian not to take this path. Long Chen's face darkened; he seemed to understand Emperor Yunshang's intentions.
An emperor is an invincible existence. Just facing one emperor is already a near-death situation, and now surrounded by so many other beings—isn't that a death sentence at all?
"Yun Shang is such a trick. If we'd told him earlier, would we have never come?" Dragonbone Xie Yue also said angrily, among the same generation, who could rival the Great Emperor? Let alone a group of other beings?
Now, Long Chen was on the stairs between the seventh and eighth floors. There was no way to retreat—he could only move forward. Ahead was a dead end, and Long Chen found himself in an extremely awkward situation.
"Damn it, let's go for it."
Long Chen took a deep breath, expanded his internal vision, confirmed he had recovered, tightly gripped the Dragon Bone Evil Moon, gritted his teeth, and headed toward the eighth floor. Long Chen knew the eighth level probably wasn't the most dangerous; the Great Emperor was probably waiting for him on the ninth floor.
"Whoosh."
Long Chen stepped onto the eighth floor, and the world before him appeared. He slashed with his blade, but it struck empty air—there was not a single living being in sight.
"This ..."
Long Chen and Dragon Bone Xie Yue were both stunned; this was not what they had imagined.
"Isn't it strange?"
At that moment, a voice came from behind Long Chen, startling him into quickly turning around and nearly slashing at him. When Long Chen saw the person before him clearly, he cried out in alarm:
"Emperor Yun Shang!"
The man wore white clothes as white as snow, with sword-like brows and starry eyes. Standing there, he seemed to stand tall above the mortal world. Noble and easygoing—Long Chen will never remember his gaze.
That person was none other than Emperor Yunshang. Emperor Yunshang smiled faintly, looked into Long Chen's eyes, and after a long moment said, "
I see. You've met me after becoming an emperor."
"After becoming emperor?"
Long Chen was stunned at first, then understood: the Emperor he was meeting now was the Emperor when he was young, while the Yun Shang Emperor he met in the Spirit Realm was his own after becoming an emperor. In other words, the current Yun Shang was not yet an Emperor.
"Kid, you're just one of Yun Shang's avatars. How are you here?" Dragonbone Evil Moon said coldly.
Yun Shang smiled faintly, looked at Dragon Bone Xie Yue, and said, "From the moment I saw Long Chen, I was no longer that clone. It seems you still hold a deep grudge against me." "
Hold a grudge against you?" What a joke, 'winner takes all, loser loses.' Defeat is defeat, what's the point of holding grudges?
Unfortunately, you're already dead. Otherwise, when I recover, I would definitely challenge you again. If I had the Ten Thousand Dragon Nest last time, I might not have lost to you." "Dragon Bone Xie Yue snorted coldly.
Long Chen was a bit confused. As time passed, Yun Shang's aura began to change constantly, leaving him somewhat confused.
"That's right. If you hadn't been too careless back then, with the Ten Thousand Dragons Nest at your side, you really would have had the strength to compete with me.
But even if they had the strength, so what? Even if you defeat me and wipe out the Spirit Clan, what can you do?
Constantly devouring and plundering, driven by their own desires, what can they do no matter how strong they are? Isn't the current version of you better? Emperor Yunshang looked at the Dragonbone Evil Moon and said meaningfully.
"Hmph, what nonsense. You're losing your body, fighting alongside a useless guy, and every time it's so frustrating. Do you expect me to thank you?" Dragonbone Xie Yue snorted coldly.
Emperor Yunshang smiled without saying anything, then looked at Long Chen and said, "My current body is a past self, but what you encounter is a future self for me now."
When I met you, the karma of my past and future bodies was connected because of you, so my present past and future selves have gradually merged, so my aura is constantly changing, so you need not be surprised. "
Although I don't understand, I still think it's impressive. An emperor is a great emperor." Long Chen sincerely praised him; what the Great Emperor had learned was truly awe-inspiring.
Long Chen is also known as one of the top experts on the Tianwu Continent, but in terms of knowledge, he is on a completely different level from Emperor Yun Shang.
"It's different. Our times are different. Although I had just experienced the ancient Immortal War and the continent was beginning to decline, some legacies had not yet been broken.
And you live in the age of the End of Dharma, where all kinds of exquisite inheritances disappear without continuity. You possess astonishing talent, but learn nothing, and have no use for it—this is not like belittleing yourself in vain.
Also, you need to change your way of addressing him. The Great Emperor is called by outsiders; you should call him 'Big Brother.' "Emperor Yunshang smiled and patted Long Chen on the shoulder, speaking warmly.
When he first entered, Emperor Yun Shang's aura was still somewhat unfamiliar. Now, his aura was exactly the same as the Emperor Yun Shang had met in the Spirit Realm before.
The past self could actually fully merge with the future self—this was a form of Dragon Dust OriginHaving never touched the Dao before, Long Chen felt like a frog at the bottom of a well.
Now, seeing Emperor Yun Shang's familiar gaze, tone, and movements, Long Chen felt as if he had returned to that space from years ago.
"Big brother," Long Chen called out respectfully.
Emperor Yunshang nodded and said, "No need to be awkward. Calling him brother is your business. Let's each talk about our own business." Long
Chen did feel a bit awkward because of this matter. Both of them called him brothers, so the seniority was a bit messy.
"Big brother, what are you doing here?" Long Chen asked.
"This is one of my avatars. Back then, I intercepted this ghost ship and activated the Eye of Destiny. On this ghost ship, I saw countless opportunities.
I also saw something I just needed to use, but there was one item I couldn't take all at once, so I asked Yuntian to come and get it. "Emperor Yunshang said.
"Big brother, I'm a bit puzzled. You possess the Eye of Destiny and can see the future, so why did you make such a mistake?" Long Chen said, referring to the Dragon King Blood Essence Stone.
"Although I possess the Eye of Destiny, I can only see a glimpse of the future, and only a glimpse of the future of one realm.
Back then, I sealed Xie Yue and his dragon crystal, leaving them for you, but that woman is a deity from another world, not within the scope of my destiny lock.
But she took the Dragon Crystal, moving from cause to effect, which led to my miscalculation. Besides, the future isn't set in stone, so don't trust these too much.
Our cultivation is a struggle against destiny; otherwise, worldly people would be born and aged sick and died repeatedly.
And cultivation means refusing to be manipulated by fate, so the future is always in your own hands.
Emperor Yunshang's tone shifted, "This avatar of mine stayed here just to see who would come here in the future. I never expected it would be you."
To preserve this avatar and prevent it from being destroyed by the laws here, I slaughtered all the living souls here, using their power to sustain the vitality of this avatar. Long
Chen suddenly understood, finally understanding why none of the living beings here could see anything—it turned out that all had been slain by Emperor Yun Shang.
Long Chen was even more impressed by Yun Shang. The beings here must be even stronger than those on the seventh floor, and these beings, influenced by the laws here, are almost immortal and indestructible. Yet Emperor Yun Shang actually slain them all—such a technique is simply unimaginable.
"Since you're here, it's easy to handle. Let's go, let's go to the ninth floor." Emperor Yunshang spoke as he led Long Chen toward the stairs ahead.
"Big brother, you've never been to the ninth floor?" Long Chen asked.
"I've been there, but karma is suppressing me, which means this place isn't meant for me.
Or rather, this opportunity wasn't meant for me at all. I used the Eye of Destiny, which itself is a form of cheating—it rejects me.
I've rushed in several times but never made it through. Now that you're here, I should be able to get through. I also want to see what secrets are here. Long
Chen and Yun Shang walked side by side toward the stairs. As they stepped onto the stairs, the void suddenly twisted, and a pitch-black bone blade, filled with endless evil energy, slashed down at the two in midair.