Space distorted, and several figures materialized.
Standing at the forefront was a young man. He had black hair and black eyes, a tall and straight figure, with a terrifying aura.
The other figures were either middle-aged men or hunched old men, evidently roles similar to Protectors.
"Young master, in front of us is the Tianyuan Emperor Palace, the residence of the Great Emperor of the Human Race."
The hunched old man with wrinkled skin stopped and looked far ahead at the majestic palace, speaking softly.
"Tianyuan Emperor Palace?"
The young man with black hair had a sharp gaze, revealing a fighting spirit.
Ever since the Emperor Tianyuan swept through many Forbidden Zones of ancient races twenty thousand years ago, the Human Race ushered in an unprecedented era of cultivation prosperity.
In these twenty thousand years, countless cultivation geniuses of the Human Race, with special physiques and more, have emerged, striving to showcase their brilliance.
As a cultivation prodigy, naturally aiming for the strongest of the Human Race, the young man's purpose here was to challenge the Emperor Tianyuan, paving the way for his emperor's path.
In terms of strength, the young man was already at the Quasi-Emperor realm, in this world, the lifespan limit of cultivators below the Great Emperor is about one hundred thousand years.
Many cultivation talents enter Quasi-Emperor at several thousand or ten thousand years old, the young man was in such a category.
"Young master, do you really intend to challenge the Great Emperor?"
Another middle-aged man hesitantly asked, evidently not very optimistic about the young man.
"Lu, I've been a Quasi-Emperor for more than ten thousand years, once ventured deep into Forbidden Zones, fought those ancient Supreme Beings, never met defeat, even if I'm not the opponent of Emperor Tianyuan, presumably I won't lose too badly."
The young man said, he wasn't aiming to defeat Emperor Tianyuan, but wished to experience the power of this legendary emperor up close.
The Protectors exchanged glances, not saying much.
The young man indeed had returned unscathed from Forbidden Zones multiple times, although merely a Quasi-Emperor, his combat strength wasn't much weaker than Supreme Emperors.
Relying on special bloodlines and inherited methods, a Quasi-Emperor also has the hope to challenge a Great Emperor.
But Emperor Tianyuan?
Emperor Tianyuan was no ordinary Great Emperor.
The combat strength displayed twenty thousand years ago, at least started from the supreme emperor level.
"Rest assured, even if defeated by Emperor Tianyuan, my state of mind won't waver."
The young man said, he had immense respect for Emperor Tianyuan, without this legendary emperor, how could the Human Race have such a thriving cultivation era as now?
Without Emperor Tianyuan sweeping the ancient race Forbidden Zones, any slightly talented Human Race cultivator would face foreign suppression and assassination.
The young man knew personally, without the deterrence of Emperor Tianyuan, how could he venture deep into Forbidden Zones and escape unharmed?
If those ancient Forbidden Zone Masters slightly awakened parts of their strength, it still could bring him irreversible consequences.
A Quasi-Emperor hopes to challenge a Great Emperor indeed, but ultimately isn't a true Great Emperor, facing those ancient Forbidden Zone Masters requires utmost caution from even Great Emperors, let alone Quasi-Emperors.
"Young master, it's good you think this way."
The Protectors slightly sighed with relief.
They all experienced the era when foreign races were dominant, becoming increasingly aware of the terror of Emperor Tianyuan.
Among many ancient supreme emperors, forcing a sweep through, such a feat wasn't achieved by many throughout time.
Unfortunately, since Emperor Tianyuan acted twenty thousand years ago, he hasn't moved a second time, which is why many Human Race cultivation talents are eager to challenge him now.
Most Human Race cultivation talents were born in the past twenty thousand years, not having experienced the era dominated by foreign races, their reverence for Emperor Tianyuan isn't ingrained.
Yet they can still bring forth the thought of challenge.
…
Soon.
The young man with his group reached outside the Tianyuan Emperor Palace.
"So many people."
The young man looked around, startled.
Outside the palace, scattered here and there, sat several dozen to several hundred figures in meditation.
These figures exuded terrifying auras, most not inferior to him at all.
"That's… Yu Taiyin with the Bright Moon God King Body?"
"And Black Altar King with Devouring God bloodline?"
"The Chaos Body, rare throughout the ages…"
…
The young man's brow twitched.
Yu Taiyin was a peerless Quasi-Emperor from fifteen thousand years ago, his Bright Moon God King Body was a top special physique, in that era, he had no equal among the Human Race, ventured into Forbidden Zones, battling ancient Supreme Beings.
Unfortunately, Yu Taiyin suddenly disappeared, with many thinking he attempted to cross into the Great Emperor realm.
Unexpectedly, after fifteen thousand years missing, Yu Taiyin was encountered here.
Black Altar King with Devouring God bloodline was also a peerless Quasi-Emperor, his path was devouring everything, similarly disappeared at a certain stage…
The Chaos Body too, this world's incarnation of such a physique was hailed as the next Great Emperor of the Human Race, but ultimately it came to nothing.
The young man examined closely, among the figures he knew some, and others he didn't.
But the latter could sit alongside the former, indicating their considerable strength wasn't lacking.
"Are you here to challenge Emperor Tianyuan too?"
As the young man stood in awe, Yu Taiyin sitting closest opened his eyes and casually said: "From there, it's thirty-three steps to the front of the palace, if you can cross these thirty-three steps, reach the front of the palace, you can meet Emperor Tianyuan and challenge him."
"So simple?" the young man blurted.
Challenge Emperor Tianyuan, you only need to reach the front of the Emperor Palace?
"Simple?" Yu Taiyin closed his eyes.
…
Receiving guidance from Yu Taiyin.
The black-haired youth arrived at the position of the first step.
From here, there are thirty-three steps to the front of the Emperor Palace.
"Emperor Tianyuan."
The black-haired youth felt a surge of emotions, his expression solemn as he took a step forward.
The next moment.
The black-haired youth's mind fell into a boundless world.
This place was vast, and he seemed like a speck of dust, an invisible pressure swept over him.
The black-haired youth felt his mind collapse, the boundless world shatter, and returned to the outside world.
However, at this moment, the black-haired youth was drenched in cold sweat, and the step he took forward was withdrawn.
"This?"
The black-haired youth was incredulous.
He had long suspected that these thirty-three steps weren't simple.
After all, this was the threshold to meet Emperor Tianyuan.
If anyone could easily meet Emperor Tianyuan, then Emperor Tianyuan wouldn't need to cultivate but could spend all day receiving people instead.
Yet the black-haired youth hadn't expected that he couldn't even take the first step.
The thirty-three steps must be progressively harder.
The first step was naturally the easiest.
"Is it still simple now?"
Not far away, Yu Taiyin opened his eyes and looked at the black-haired youth, asking.
"Not simple, not simple at all."
The black-haired youth shook his head, then looked at the dozens to hundreds of other figures around him, "They…"
"We are all just like you, here to prepare to challenge Emperor Tianyuan." Yu Taiyin said, his tone tinged with complexity.
The black-haired youth fell into silence.
All here to challenge Emperor Tianyuan? Yet all stopped outside the Emperor Palace? Clearly, no one had traversed the thirty-three steps to reach the front of the Emperor Palace.
"Is the gap between us and Emperor Tianyuan really that big?"
The black-haired youth couldn't help but ask.
Before coming, he had indeed made some preparations, but all failed against Emperor Tianyuan.
As for now, wanting to see Emperor Tianyuan with thirty-three steps and not even passing the first step, such disparity made the black-haired youth a bit distressed.
"The gap?"
"Us?"
Yu Taiyin chuckled.
He looked towards the Emperor Tianyuan Palace thirty-three steps away, whispering, "Standing here looking at the palace, you might find it just so-so, but every step you take closer, you'll find it grander and more majestic."
"Among us, the strongest have already taken seven steps, standing there watching the palace, it already covers the sky, encompassing all things."
Yu Taiyin glanced at the black-haired youth, continuing, "But viewing the palace from thirty-three steps away or even further, you'll find the palace not that extraordinary, and the distance between you and the palace is not insurmountable."
Upon hearing this, the black-haired youth looked thoughtful.
…
In a desolate hill region.
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged, long ago, eighteen thousand years ago, he had left the Tianyuan Emperor Palace, roaming throughout the Great Wilderness Origin World.
"Succeeded."
Lin Yuan exhaled slowly, as the immortal substance merged into his flesh, the final part of his physique fully transformed into the essence of immortal substance, at this moment, both his flesh and soul were incredibly strong.
Even without relying on other methods, merely by his physical body and physique, he could suppress ordinary Thirteen Tier Second Realm Time Beings.
And the Thirteen Tier Second Realm, corresponds to the Immortal King in this Fang Yuan World.
Red Dust Immortal corresponds to Thirteen Tier First Realm, above Red Dust Immortal, the Immortal King corresponds to Thirteen Tier Second Realm, and the Thirteen Tier Third Realm Lord? Corresponds to Immortal Emperor.
As for above Immortal Emperor? Still within the Thirteen Tier Third Realm, but goes further and deeper than the Immortal Emperor.
In the Infinite Void, Thirteen Tier Third Realm Lords have strengths and weaknesses, the powerful lords even possess traits of the Fourteen Tier Perfect Time Being, easily returning to the distant past, significantly altering the past and affecting the future.
"Two thousand years, finally completed the transformation of the physical body and physique."
Lin Yuan smiled, it took him ten years to transform one-tenth of his physique.
The subsequent nine-tenths, however, took a full twenty thousand years, transforming the physical body and physique, became more difficult the further it went, especially the last bit, which took Lin Yuan nearly a thousand years.
But the rewards were tremendous as well.
Twenty thousand years ago, Lin Yuan, to suppress Gray Ancestor, a Second Realm Time Being, even deployed his true form and Primordial Spirit, yet in the end, let the opponent escape.
But now?
Simultaneously suppressing Gray Ancestor, naturally by the field emanating from his physical body and physique, once exerting full force, he could easily retain the opponent's main combat body.
Lin Yuan's current power, perhaps already close to a Third Realm Time Lord?
""Infinite Void" seventh level has been mastered."
Lin Yuan looked within his inner universe, descending to the third Origin World, besides the substantial assistance brought by immortal substance, feeling the operation of the Origin Dao of this Origin World, also played an irreplaceable role in the establishment of "Infinite Void" seventh level.
In twenty thousand years, Lin Yuan thoroughly perfected the "Infinite Void" seventh level, now the vastness of his inner universe stood no less than the Chaos Void.
It is foreseeable, once Lin Yuan steps into the Second Realm, merely by the natural transformation of his inner universe, it will surpass the Chaos Void.
"I can sense, your power has broken through again, monster, you are a monster." Not far away, a Seven-Eyed Stone Man seemed to perceive something, his gaze at Lin Yuan numb.
He was a naturally born holy spirit, nurtured for billions of years, possessing Great Emperor level combat power from the outset, when Lin Yuan discovered him, this Seven-Eyed Stone Man's strength was almost reaching the level of Supreme Emperor.
Such naturally born holy spirits like the Seven-Eyed Stone Man, protected by the heavens, possessed terrifying talent surpassing the limits of normally nurtured beings.
This was also the original thought of the Seven-Eyed Stone Man, he had no intention to contend with those Great Emperor Supremes, even in ancient times, when one Great Emperor after another emerged, the Seven-Eyed Stone Man did not care much.
"Still not comparable to an Immortal Emperor." Lin Yuan smiled.
The reason he chose to reside here, was because this place was where holy spirits were nurtured, containing rich immortal substance, which greatly benefited his transformation.
"Not comparable to an Immortal Emperor?" The Seven-Eyed Stone Man's mouth twitched.
What kind of existence is an Immortal Emperor? There have only been two or three throughout history.
"I am leaving." Lin Yuan stood, glancing at the Seven-Eyed Stone Man.
"Leaving?" The Seven-Eyed Stone Man also looked at Lin Yuan.
After spending over ten thousand years together, he had many complex emotions towards this Tianyuan Emperor who repeatedly broke his perception.
Compared to Lin Yuan, the Seven-Eyed Stone Man wasn't sure who truly was the holy spirit nurtured by heaven and earth.
"Yes."
"This place no longer provides much help for me."
Lin Yuan said.
Now he had absorbed the immortal substance to its limit, further absorption of immortal substance held little meaning.
As for the operation essence of the Origin Dao in the Great Wilderness Origin World… as long as he was within the range of the Great Wilderness Origin World, he could comprehend the operation of the Origin Dao anywhere, there was no need to stay here.
…
At the Nine Heavens, in front of a bronze Immortal Palace.
Lin Yuan's figure appeared out of thin air.
The essence of the bronze Immortal Palace was a seal.
Sealing the connection between the Great Wilderness Origin World and the Immortal Path.
In the past, numerous Red Dust Immortals and Immortal Kings stormed into the Immortal Path from here.
As Lin Yuan appeared, from within the bronze Immortal Palace, figures emerged one after another.
"Lord Tianyuan."
"Greetings, Lord Tianyuan."
Many figures bowed respectfully to Lin Yuan, eight thousand years ago, Lin Yuan had once come alone to the outside of the Immortal Palace, nearly piercing through the entire palace.
Since then, those within the Immortal Palace had shown Lin Yuan utmost respect, as eight thousand years ago, Lin Yuan already possessed combat power surpassing ordinary Immortal Kings.
It is worth noting, even in ancient times, Red Dust Immortals were already considered top-tier combat power, and it was rare to see even one Immortal King.
"Lord Tianyuan, what do you need us to do?"
The leading figure immediately said.
Since Lin Yuan pierced through the Immortal Palace eight thousand years ago, he hadn't returned.
This time, his personal arrival surely wasn't just to take a look.
"Open the seal."
Lin Yuan gazed at the bronze Immortal Palace, speaking calmly, "I want to enter the Immortal Path."