The Imperial Maiden could no longer hold back and threw herself into her father's embrace. No matter how powerful the Emperor Father might appear in the eyes of others, to her, he was still just the loving, doting father who cherished her.
She did not want the Emperor Father to leave, for once they parted, she did not know how many years would pass before they could meet again. How could she bear it?
"Father, please don't leave Ruo'er, okay?"
Yet the Alchemy Emperor merely sighed softly, gently stroking the Imperial Maiden's smooth, cascading black hair. "In the future, when you reach the Emperor realm, we will eventually meet again. I will be waiting for you on the other side."
"But—"
The Imperial Maiden's face was streaked with tears, unwilling to let her father go. However, the Alchemy Emperor's figure quickly began to dim, unable to persist for long. He then looked towards Ye Chen in the distant sky, his gaze emitting a brilliant light. "I never thought I would witness a Chaos cultivator who has also reached this stage, and a successor of the Battle Saint lineage at that. You also carry the aura of the Supreme Saint Emperor. Truly a young junior blessed with heaven-defying fortune."
The Alchemy Emperor was immensely powerful, capable of seeing through everything. In that brief moment of observation, he had already discerned much about Ye Chen, feeling a sense of marvel.
"Senior!"
Ye Chen performed a respectful bow, not daring to show the slightest negligence.
The Alchemy Emperor nodded. "You can be considered to have a connection with this Emperor. You once possessed this Emperor's Nine Cauldrons, allowing them to be truly gathered together. In the past, this Emperor also had good relations with several of the Emperors from your Sealed World. Considering your talent in the path of alchemy shows some promise, this Emperor shall bestow upon you an opportunity. Do you wish to receive it?"
Upon hearing this, almost everyone's eyes instantly shone with brilliant light.
An opportunity bestowed by an Emperor was undoubtedly a heaven-defying immortal fate, especially one from the Alchemy Emperor, the foremost master of alchemy. The opportunity he granted was likely related to alchemy techniques. Could it be that he intended to pass on his alchemy legacy to the Battle Saint King?
At that moment, countless alchemists felt envy, even those at the level of Ninth-Grade Alchemy Grandmasters. After all, this was the alchemy legacy of the Alchemy Emperor—how could it be anything ordinary?
Ye Chen was momentarily stunned but naturally would not refuse. He hurriedly cupped his fists. "This junior naturally hopes with all his heart to receive the Alchemy Emperor Senior's immortal fate."
"Good!"
Seeing that Ye Chen was not one to stand on excessive ceremony, the Alchemy Emperor chuckled lightly. "Your Battle Saint lineage has always been known for its domineering forcefulness. For you to be relatively humble now is commendable. I bestow it upon you."
He flicked a finger, sending out a beam of light that directly entered Ye Chen's brow. The latter had almost no time to defend against it.
In an instant, a stream of mysterious information appeared in Ye Chen's mind. To his delight, it contained the Alchemy Emperor's alchemy legacy, vast and all-encompassing, as well as insights related to cultivation. This would undoubtedly benefit Ye Chen immensely; once digested, it would be of great advantage!
However, soon after, the Alchemy Emperor's figure began to fade gradually, for this was merely an apparition and could not endure for long.
"Father!"
The Imperial Maiden wept, clinging tightly to her father's fading form, unwilling to let go.
The other clansmen of the Dan Emperor Clan were also grief-stricken. They had finally been able to witness the majestic figure of the Alchemy Emperor and had fervently hoped that this peerless Emperor of alchemy from ages past could return to the imperial clan and preside over it. Then, the entire Dan Emperor Clan could truly dominate the Ancient Universe, becoming the undisputed top power. Whether it was the Ultimate Ancient Path or the Soul-Sealing Hall, all would have to bow in submission.
For with an Emperor present for eternity, especially the legendary Alchemy Emperor presiding, what could not be suppressed?
Yet the Alchemy Emperor gently stroked the Imperial Maiden's hair and said softly, "You must remember, my departure is for the ultimate battle in the Blood-stained Future. I have no choice but to leave. You must also grow completely before that ultimate battle arrives. If possible, I hope you too can break through the Sovereign realm and achieve the Emperor realm. Only by reaching this step will there be a possibility of surviving in that blood-stained future."
The whole world was shocked. Was the Blood-stained Future truly so terrifying that even the Alchemy Emperor spoke of it with such caution, stating that only Emperors and Sovereigns might survive?
Ye Chen felt an increasing weight in his heart. He thought of his own future. If even the Alchemy Emperor spoke thus, what kind of invincible power would he need to turn the tide and protect all those by his side?
The strongest Emperor?
No, that still wouldn't be enough. He needed power that transcended Eternity.
He needed to completely shatter the shackles of Eternity, break into that Immortal domain, achieve the sole state of Eternity, suppress all bloodshed and chaos, and make the Blood-stained Future vanish like smoke.
His gaze grew resolute.
"Alright, my child. I hope to see you again in the future." The Alchemy Emperor sighed softly, and then his entire figure dissipated, transforming into a shower of light rain that entered the Imperial Maiden's body and also merged into the other clansmen of the Dan Emperor Clan.
Vaguely, all the Dan Emperor Clan members felt as if some shackle within them had been severed. Their Emperor's bloodline power surged and boiled. Almost all clansmen experienced a sharp rise in their aura, their strength increasing by a significant margin.
Even a peak Great Power like Dan Chen took another small step forward, now only a hair's breadth away from breaking into the Ancient Monarch realm, infinitely close to the Monarch realm.
Dan Chen felt ecstatic. Given enough time, breaking into the Monarch realm would not be a problem. His reverence for his ancestor, the Alchemy Emperor, grew even deeper. Truly worthy of being the peerless Great Emperor of all ages. Such imperial methods were enough to shock the world.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The aura emanating from the Imperial Maiden was even more pronounced. It rapidly surged, breaking through several heavenly layers, becoming many times more terrifying. Moreover, she felt a trace of restraint within her dissipate. She sensed that she could now perfectly and limitlessly wield her Emperor's bloodline power, far surpassing her previous capabilities.
Yet tears fell from her eyes, and her heart ached unbearably, for with this parting, she did not know how many years would pass before she could see the Alchemy Emperor again.
However, she soon evaporated the tears from her eyes. Those phoenix-like, autumn-water bright eyes now shone with determination. She clenched her delicate fists and whispered, "Father, please wait for me. One day, your daughter will surely break through the Emperor-Sovereign domain. In the Blood-stained Future, I will meet you again and fight side by side with you, slaying all great enemies."
Rumble—
At this moment, the Emperor's Gate of the Immortal Heavenly Pass was slowly closing. Finally, with a terrifying soft sound, it shut completely.
Everything was over. All of it had ended. The Emperor's Gate of the Immortal Heavenly Pass gradually closed, standing tall on the Emperor-Fallen Battlefield, immensely lofty, reaching into the thirty-third heaven, cleaving the entire Emperor-Suppressing Path in two.
The four Ancient Monarchs all breathed a sigh of relief. With this Immortal Heavenly Pass blocking the way, even the alien races would find it difficult to truly lead an army through this place into the Ancient Universe where the Ultimate Ancient Path was located.
Yet at this moment, everyone's hearts turned cold, for the passage to the alien Ancient Universe had not completely closed. Within it, the boundless demonic forms of the five Emperors remained in the passageway, their Emperor's might continuously radiating as they gazed towards this side. A cold voice echoed forth: "What an Alchemy Emperor, daring to use the Emperors of our realm's universe as sacrificial offerings. This is tantamount to provoking our realm's Ancient Universe. Unforgivable."