That's right, it was the legendary Ship That Slays Immortals. Ye Chen had seen it several times in the chaotic seas of the Ancient Emperor Realm, and later, when the Profound Gate opened, he had even traveled against the River of Time to enter the Primordial Immortal Realm.
It was said that in past epoch eras, the Ship That Slays Immortals had led all the living beings of an entire Ancient Universe to attack the Primordial Immortal Realm, but ultimately failed, burying the entire Ancient Universe. Billions of living beings perished, even True Dragons fell in the starry void, leaving not a single soul behind—a scene of utmost tragedy.
And now, through the scene revealed by the cracking Ghost Stone, they witnessed that moment from the past.
Within the grand hall of the Emperor Clan, everyone watched in astonishment at the scenes unfolding from the cracked Ghost Stone.
Ye Chen seemed to see that at the very forefront of the Ship That Slays Immortals, there always stood a peerless, towering figure, suspected to be the strongest of that entire Ancient Universe—a Peerless Supreme, an Emperor—leading the entire Ancient Universe into battle, charging toward the vast and boundless Primordial Immortal Realm. His divine might was immeasurable, blood stained the heavens, and countless living beings fell. Everything was about to vanish, leaving only tragedy...
They could not see exactly what kind of brutal battle occurred when the Ship That Slays Immortals attacked the Primordial Immortal Realm, for it was unseen, submerged by the River of Time and covered by Supreme Emperor Laws. It represented the most terrifying battle of that era, one that could be recorded in the annals of the Chaos Sea.
Yet, in the end, Ye Chen clearly saw that the Peerless Supreme on the Ship That Slays Immortals, even drenched in blood, remained standing firm as a mountain.
Opposite him was the Immortal Heavenly Pass, upon which stood an equally boundless and majestic figure—an Immortal King, perhaps even a Nine Heavens Immortal King, possessing an invincible posture that looked down upon the Chaos Sea. Immortal Laws flooded the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, blocking the advance of the Ship That Slays Immortals. A detached voice echoed through the heavens: "You trusted the wrong person. You shouldn't have done this."
"Perhaps you are not wrong..."
The Peerless Supreme on the Ship That Slays Immortals did not deny it. His Emperor body was stained with blood—his own and his enemies'. Though still majestic as a mountain, at this moment, he appeared exceptionally desolate. He even turned to look behind him, as if gazing at someone, and said softly, "Why did you deceive me?"
His gentle words received no answer, as if he were talking to himself. Filled with desolation, the Peerless Supreme then gave a sorrowful smile. "Was this all part of your plan? Was even I just a pawn in your hands?"
These words shook the hearts of all the Heavenly Mighty Figures. Even the most powerful Emperor had been reduced to a pawn, a tool for someone else's attack?
Who exactly was this being?
No one knew.
"I planned for an entire epoch era, willingly giving up the chance to enter the Primordial Immortal Realm that should have been mine, all to lead my people into it, unify the Immortal Realm, and achieve epochal greatness. Yet, in the end, it was all for nothing. Everything was buried, and nothing remains."
"Success was because of you, failure was because of you. Why treat me this way?"
The Peerless Supreme's black hair was disheveled, dancing in the wind. Covered in Emperor's blood, his aura surged across the Chaos Sea, submerging the myriad stars. Invincible throughout the world, yet utterly alone in the world.
The entire Ancient Universe had been buried. Everything had failed. Only the invincible self remained. The family, friends, and followers who had accompanied him on his grand campaign had all perished one by one, leaving only himself.
What did it matter if he was undying? What did it matter if he remained invincible? He could see not a shred of hope for living on.
This scene made Ye Chen's heart ache with sorrow.
He seemed to see his own future self, drenched in blood, similarly ending everything, resolving the most terrifying bloodshed and chaos, truly becoming invincible throughout the ages. In the vast world, he could not find a single enemy worthy of his hand. The whole world might be his enemy, but was that not also the same as being utterly alone in the world? Sitting alone on the Emperor's throne—what meaning did that hold?
It held no meaning at all. Nothing remained. He had personally buried his wife, children, friends, and followers. Then, filled with grief, he pierced through the River of Time, enduring the most terrifying forbidden Immortal Thunder, forcibly traveling upstream against the current, all to change the tragic, blood-soaked future, to smoothly reverse everything back to the past.
He did not need to be truly invincible, nor did he wish for it. As long as his loved ones were still alive, he would rather have the whole world as his enemy, fighting ceaselessly to change everything.
How similar his future self was to the master of the Ship That Slays Immortals before him!
"Ah—"
The Peerless Supreme on the Ship That Slays Immortals roared, a roar that shook the starry rivers of the heavens, shook the Chaos Sea, and blasted apart boundless ancient chaotic energy—a terror beyond measure.
His black hair exploded, wildly dancing. His entire being exuded a sharp, peerless aura. Standing tall and straight, facing the Peerless Immortal King on the Immortal Heavenly Pass, his sorrow was mixed with an air of 'invincible as long as I exist.' He strode forward and said coldly, "Even if only I remain, I shall represent the Eight Desolations Ancient Universe and fight to the end, vowing to break into the Primordial Immortal Realm."
"Why bother, Great Emperor Hantian? Why not join our side, fight back with us, and kill the one who used your entire Ancient Universe as a pawn, to resolve this eternal hatred?"
The Supreme Immortal King on the Immortal Heavenly Pass spoke. Around him were layers of Immortal Rings, a full one hundred and eight, each seemingly piercing through an Ancient Universe, radiating light that illuminated the heavens, possessing the most terrifying divine might, invincible throughout the heavens, looking down upon the great worlds with peerless terror.
"Great Emperor Hantian! It's him!"
All the Heavenly Mighty Figures present changed their expressions upon hearing this.
Who was Great Emperor Hantian? He was one of the most powerful Emperors throughout history, not inferior to the Great Saint Sovereign or the Battle Saint Ancestor, all hailed as the Strongest Emperors. Moreover, he was a true supreme overlord in the Chaos Sea who stood above all, powerful beyond imagination.
Naturally, Great Emperor Hantian had also slain Supreme-level existences, making his name known and becoming the strongest in the Eight Desolations Ancient Universe where he resided.
Yet, no one expected that such a renowned Strongest Emperor would meet such an end, manipulated like a pawn, with his entire Ancient Universe helplessly buried. How tragic, evoking empathy in all who witnessed it.
Who exactly was it that caused Great Emperor Hantian to fall into such a tragic state? Many were shocked.
But there was no answer, and no one knew.
Great Emperor Hantian laughed heartily to the heavens, his black hair flying, exuding a peerless Emperor's demeanor. His voice shook the past, present, and future: "It's all too late now. All I seek is death. Come, fulfill my wish!"
"To die in battle is the best end for the likes of us!"
Great Emperor Hantian raised his aura to its peak, completely looking down upon the heavens, shaking the past, present, and future, affecting the River of Time, becoming utterly peerless and supremely powerful.
He actively charged toward the Immortal Heavenly Pass guarding the Primordial Immortal Realm, leading the Ship That Slays Immortals into battle.
On the Immortal Heavenly Pass, the Immortal King's expression turned grave. The Immortal Rings suddenly blazed with radiance billions of times brighter, enough to illuminate the entire past, present, and future, and even shake the River of Time and the Chaos Sea—a terror of unimaginable scale and peerlessness.
Moreover, on the Immortal Heavenly Pass, one supreme figure after another appeared, figures capable of standing proudly upon the River of Time, towering above the thirty-three layers of heaven, displaying immeasurable Immortal might that influenced the past, present, and future.
The Immortals had appeared!
Great Emperor Hantian would face the Immortals of the Primordial Immortal Realm alone!
Boom—
Immeasurable light exploded, annihilating everything, shattering the entire epoch, scattering all that existed...