Inside the Quiet Room of the Myriad Phenomena Garden.
Time seemed to lose its meaning here; Han Xuanji sat cross-legged on the chaos green lotus, dao-rhythm flowing around him.
The profound true meaning of the "Xuantian Great Dao" flowed through his heart, deducing a Supreme Divine Ability unique to himself that could exert its power to the extreme.
Han Xuanji was not working in isolation; in fact, up to this day, the Legacy of the three Wuji existences—Nirvana Dao Venerable, Grand Supreme Dao Venerable, and Yuanshi Dao Venerable—had benefited him immensely.
Whether it was Yuanshi Dao Venerable's "Dao of the Origin of All Things," Nirvana Dao Venerable's "Dao of Absolute Extinction," Grand Supreme Heavenly Venerable's "Dao of Taiji Harmony," or even the Demon Ancestor's "Dao of Heavenly Demon Erosion," all were the extreme manifestations of the essence of their respective Daos. Others could hardly replicate their full power, nor did they need to.
Now, several vague directions were gradually taking shape in his mind.
First, his Divine Ability did not focus on external destruction, but rather triggered the deep Concept of "encompassing all things and returning to Chaos" within the "Xuantian Great Dao," causing internal collapse and disintegrating its Origin.
Under Han Xuanji's extraordinary Comprehension Ability, countless thoughts flew by.
"It would be best if it could both kill enemies and protect myself..."
Han Xuanji fell into deep thought.
However, the form in which the Divine Ability would manifest was a problem.
He was not the Lord of the Sword Dao and did not want to create another Sword Dao Divine Ability.
Of course, in the future, he would also deduce the Nine Tribulation Immortal Execution Sword Formation to the Wuji level...
Time flies, and moments pass in the blink of an eye.
Over a hundred years passed.
While Han Xuanji was still immersed in creating his Divine Ability, a great war broke out between immortals and demons, shaking the heavens and causing the universe to weep blood.
The Demon Race launched an attack on the myriad races of the Immortal Domain. Now, a total of four Immortal Domains with relatively weak foundations have fallen one after another under the continuous and increasingly fierce offensive of the Demon Race.
Billions of lives were lost, the immortal legacies were severed, and Devilish Qi spread like a plague in those shattered Realms. The fierce might of the Demon Race grew day by day, and the morale of the Immortal Realm side once dropped to freezing point.
However, a force also began to rise, namely a group of ancient Cultivators under the name of the Ancient Heavenly Court. They claimed to be upholding the Legacy of the Heavenly Emperor and protecting the orthodoxy of the heavens.
They preached that as long as all living beings were through Rebirth and gathered their Power Of Faith in the Heavenly Emperor, the Heavenly Emperor could return to save the world.
While the Demon Race rampaged and the myriad races fought their own battles or even neared collapse, they held high the banner of "Rebuilding the Heavenly Court, Welcoming the Return of the Heavenly Emperor," traveling between various forces and promoting a seemingly ethereal yet extremely seductive hope:
The Heavenly Emperor has not truly fallen!
As long as the myriad spirits of the heavens gather their pure faith in the Ancient Heavenly Court and the Heavenly Emperor, condensing Supreme Power Of Will, they can awaken the Heavenly Emperor's True Spirit sleeping deep within the River of Destiny and help him return!
At that time, the Heavenly Emperor will hold the Heavenly Dao Authority, command all immortals, sweep away the demons, and reopen a peaceful and prosperous age!
At first, this claim was regarded as nonsense by many Cultivators.
But gradually, as some Cultivators calling themselves "Ancient Heavenly Court Divine Generals" and "Heavenly Court Star Sovereigns" showed quite impressive strength and achieved results in assisting the resistance against the Demon Race in some local battlefields, the argument for the "Return of the Heavenly Emperor" began to attract more attention, especially among those Cultivators who fled from the fallen areas of the Immortal Domain and forces with low morale, where it spread rapidly.
Lingxu Immortal Domain, Shenji City.
The Lingxu Immortal Domain, which was originally seen as an abandoned piece, now had a relatively stable battle situation and even a slight advantage on the surface, but overwhelming negative news from the outside world continued to arrive.
Although the Demon Race's attack on the Lingxu Immortal Domain had slowed down, its strength still could not be ignored.
There was no need for the legendary Demon Ancestor to take action; the Great Heavenly Demon could easily wipe them out with just a flick of a finger. Only by rebuilding the Ancient Heavenly Court and having the Powerful Experts of the Heavenly Court assist could there be a glimmer of hope.
In the side hall, the topic of Lu Fan, Su Ming, Jiang Hao, and others inevitably turned to this intensifying trend of the "Return of the Heavenly Emperor."
"Hmph, Ancient Heavenly Court? Return of the Heavenly Emperor?"
Jiang Hao was the first to scoff. He had just returned from a fierce battle, and the Evil Qi on his body had not yet dissipated.
"They didn't return earlier or later, but chose to jump out just when the Demon Race was at our doorstep and the Immortal Realm was in critical danger?
I see them as nothing more than some lingering old fogies trying to take the opportunity to seize Luck and Power Of Faith to restore their former authority!"
Hearing this, Lin Potian took a more objective view and said:
"I heard that in some places, those Powerful Experts calling themselves the Ancient Heavenly Court have indeed helped a lot, repelling the Demon Race's attacks.
If the Heavenly Emperor really can come back, will it be possible to end this great war?"
He was simple-minded and felt that anything that could end the war was good.
Faith is faith; it wouldn't affect their spiritual practice anyway.
Li Taiqing shook his head slightly, not being that optimistic:
"Junior Brother Potian, the Power Of Faith does have its mysteries. Gathering the collective thoughts of all living beings might achieve a Divine Path or even awaken certain special existences.
But what Realm is the Heavenly Emperor at? His level of existence is already beyond our imagination.
Whether he can truly return by relying on the Power Of Will of faith, and whether he will truly be as selfless as they preach in leading all immortals and repelling the Demon Race after his return, is still unknown."
Su Ming nodded, echoing Li Taiqing's words:
"Brother Li is absolutely right, and even if the Heavenly Emperor returns, it may not necessarily be a good thing for us."
As he spoke, his gaze swept over Lu Fan almost imperceptibly.
The Human Sovereign and the Heavenly Emperor, one is the Emperor of the Human Race, and the other is the head of all immortals.
Once the Heavenly Emperor returns, the Human Sovereign's authority will inevitably be affected.
Moreover, Su Ming also had some guesses about some of his Senior Brother's plans and goals, and he didn't know what his Senior Brother's intentions were for all of this.
Lu Fan as the Human Sovereign, his face was solemn, and he naturally knew some of the inside story:
"As a direct disciple of the Dao Ancestor, the Heavenly Court established by the Heavenly Emperor is also the designated orthodoxy of the Immortal Realm. However, do you know that the Heavenly Emperor might not want to continue sitting in that position?"
This was information he had learned from an ancient Primordial Chaos Golden Immortal Realm Expert of the Human Race. At first, he was also incredibly shocked.
After all, the Heavenly Emperor is already the most powerful position in the entire Immortal Realm. Would someone really give it up?
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.
Even the always calm Nangong Wenjian was a bit dazed.
They were all Grand Unity Golden Immortals now, no longer the ignorant little Cultivators they once were, and naturally knew the weight of the title "Heavenly Emperor."
Lin Potian's mouth also hung open, his mind seemingly unable to process it:
"The position of Heavenly Emperor... one can choose not to sit in it? Then... then who will sit in it?"
Lu Fan gave the explanation he had heard from others:
"The position of Heavenly Emperor was established by the Dao Ancestor, inheriting the will of the Immortal Ancestor, and governing the heavens on behalf of the Heavenly Dao. The authority is boundless, but the position also carries boundless Karma, infinite Karma, and endless shackles.
That Heavenly Emperor His Majesty, after experiencing endless ages, may have seen through the obstacles and grown tired of the eternal responsibilities and chains brought by this Supreme power, seeking transcendence or another Dao."
Jiang Hao's heart stirred, and he couldn't help but ask:
"In other words... the Heavenly Emperor will choose the next successor?"
Su Ming was the first to recover from the shock. His eyes flashed with thoughtful light as he said slowly:
"If what Junior Brother Lu said is true, then many things can be explained."
"Perhaps the Heavenly Emperor will choose the most bright person in this Demon Tribulation as the next Heavenly Emperor?"
Su Ming's words left everyone in deep thought.
"I don't know."
Lu Fan shook his head and admitted frankly:
"No one can say for sure who will be the next Heavenly Emperor."
"Perhaps Master knows?"
After saying this, Lu Fan also became a bit uncertain. After all, the position of Heavenly Emperor involved so much that even if Han Xuanji had heaven-defying abilities, he might find it difficult to influence.
"In other words, maybe we could be it too?"
Jiang Hao suddenly said.