A thousand years to become a Sovereign, ten thousand years to become a Monarch—without a doubt, such cultivation speed was already astonishing, enough to be recorded in the annals of history.
It was universally acknowledged that the later one progressed in cultivation, the slower the advancement became. Even among the Ten Monarch Progenitors, which one had not lived for tens of thousands of years? The youngest, Sovereign Xialuo, was over a hundred thousand years old, yet he remained far from the Monarch realm—a testament to the difficulty.
Even Ye Chen dared not be confident that he would definitely become a Monarch within ten thousand years.
"After becoming a Monarch, he was also universally acknowledged as the myth of his era. Therefore, he styled himself the Myth Emperor Lord, renamed the Myriad Races territory as the Mythical Emperor Domain, which is how the present Mythical Emperor Domain came to be."
"The eighteen Ancient Monarchs of that time dared not disobey, all following his commands, for he was the true myth, possessing the supreme strength to suppress all under heaven."
"After becoming a Monarch, the Myth Emperor Lord sought to ascend to the legendary Emperor realm that stood above all, continuously attempting breakthroughs. Unfortunately, a long period passed—a full hundred thousand years—yet he still could not succeed," said Tianheng Monarch, revealing a little-known mystery.
The crowd was also astonished. A thousand years to Sovereign, ten thousand years to Monarch—this proved his aptitude was absolutely not the issue. But why could he not become a Supreme One in the subsequent hundred thousand years? This was a question.
Sovereign of Formlessness said, "Although a Monarch is very close to a Supreme One, separated by only a step, or even a hair's breadth, that hair's breadth difference is still a world apart. It is not said that becoming a Monarch guarantees becoming a Supreme One. Throughout the ages, many heaven-defying talents in the Chaos Sea became Monarchs, but until the moment their lifespan dried up, they still could not take that final step."
Regarding this, Sovereign of Formlessness had more authority to speak than anyone, for he was the strongest Monarch, even comparable to a Supreme One, with none who could surpass him.
Tianheng Monarch gave a bitter smile. "Indeed, the Myth Emperor Lord was truly dazzling and monstrous. A thousand years to Sovereign, ten thousand years to Monarch—that says it all. But he still could not take that step, so he made a shocking decision!"
"A shocking decision!?"
The crowd tensed, as if sensing something, holding their breath, motionlessly focusing on Tianheng Monarch, eager to learn about the subsequent actions of this legendary Myth Emperor Lord.
"He decided to venture into the Vast Uninhabited Zone!"
Tianheng Monarch spoke, voicing the guess in everyone's hearts, causing their hearts to tremble!
"Whether in the Mythical Emperor Domain or the earlier Myriad Races territory, the Vast Uninhabited Zone has always been regarded as a taboo. Even during the golden age of the Mythical Era, when we eighteen Ancient Monarchs rose one after another, we always harbored deep fear. This is a legend passed down through the ages; none dared to violate it, and it had become an ingrained psychological barrier!"
"Because in even more ancient times, there were Ancient Monarchs who journeyed far into the Vast Uninhabited Zone and never returned. In later eras, many Divine Kings and other figures met the same fate, thus solidifying its status as a taboo."
"Precisely because of this, even though the Mythical Era possessed eighteen Ancient Monarchs, none dared to set foot deep into the Vast Uninhabited Zone, all harboring fear."
"Moreover, it wasn't that we were unwilling to explore; we too hoped to advance further on the cultivation path."
"Unfortunately, upon reaching our level as Ancient Monarchs, we all possessed keen perceptions of life and death. We sensed the terrifying danger lurking deep within the Vast Uninhabited Zone, so none dared to go, ultimately retreating."
"But the Myth Emperor Lord feared not. He had reached the pinnacle, achieved Monarchhood, gazed upon the Supreme One realm. In the vast world, how many could compare to him? Even looking throughout the ages, he stood among the strongest. Moreover, having cultivated to the Monarch realm, the Myth Emperor Lord no longer harbored much ambition to rule the Mythical Emperor Domain. He yearned more for transcendence, to become a Peerless Supreme One standing above the ages. Therefore, he chose to leave the Mythical Emperor Domain and set foot into that Vast Uninhabited Zone!"
Everyone was shocked. The Vast Uninhabited Zone concealed immense terror. Countless years ago, even Ancient Monarchs who ventured there never returned, illustrating the peril within.
But to take that final step, the Myth Emperor Lord willingly risked life and death, actively venturing forth.
All hearts were in their throats, for this was a rare, important secret from that era. Only half-epoch Old Antiques like Tianheng Monarch, who had lived from the Mythical Era to the present, knew such secrets. They were all tense, unwilling to miss a single detail.
"The Myth Emperor Lord entered the depths of the Vast Uninhabited Zone. Back then, we eighteen Ancient Monarchs saw him off, but we could not know what exactly happened after he entered the deepest parts. We only knew there was a fearsome battle that shook the entire great world, its tremors felt even in the Mythical Emperor Domain despite the immense distance. The heavens and earth changed color as if the world was ending."
Speaking of this past event, even Tianheng Monarch looked sorrowful and fearful.
Although he had become an Ancient Monarch, that battle originating from the deepest part of the Vast Uninhabited Zone was too terrifying, unprecedented in history. Even Ancient Monarchs felt their own insignificance, utterly incapable of participating.
"After half a day, everything returned to calm, but the Myth Emperor Lord never walked out again. From then on, the world saw no more Monarch!"
Simple words conveyed the final outcome: the Myth Emperor Lord ventured forth and never returned, and the Mythical Era came to a complete end.
The Vast Uninhabited Zone became a taboo among taboos.
To prevent anyone from provoking the Vast Uninhabited Zone, the eighteen great empires of the Mythical Era constructed magnificent heavenly passes, isolating the Mythical Emperor Domain from the Vast Uninhabited Zone.
"Later, living beings from the Ten Heavens Ancient Domain descended upon our Mythical Emperor Domain, actively provoking the Vast Uninhabited Zone. Great terror emerged, causing eight great empires of our Mythical Emperor Domain to vanish," another Monarch Progenitor mentioned this past event. Because of that incident, they held considerable hatred towards the Ten Heavens Ancient Domain, calling them sinful beings; otherwise, the Mythical Emperor Domain would not have suffered such heavy losses.
"Fortunately, however, the terrifying existence deep within the Vast Uninhabited Zone has always maintained an attitude of 'if you don't provoke me, I won't provoke you.' So as long as one does not offend it, one is basically safe. But if one dares to violate it, even if far away, punishment will surely follow!"
When saying this, Tianheng Monarch was undoubtedly warning the various Heavenly Emperor Clans, Immortal Clans, and others not to violate the Vast Uninhabited Zone.
Yet he also looked towards Sovereign of Formlessness, for this was a Peerless Supreme One. If he took action, it was not impossible to explore the truth—even the truth of why the Myth Emperor Lord never returned.
At this moment, someone raised a doubt: "Senior, we have heard that the terror deep within the Vast Uninhabited Zone has been continuously suppressed by the Monarch Progenitors of the Ten Great Empires?"
"Suppressed?"
The Ten Monarch Progenitors all gave bitter smiles. "How can we speak of suppression? Even a peerless figure like the Myth Emperor Lord never returned. Back then, eight of the eighteen Mythical Empires vanished, and eight Ancient Monarchs were lost forever. With only ten of us left, how could we suppress the great terror of the Vast Uninhabited Zone? Not being annihilated by the great terror is our greatest fortune!"
Everyone's hearts pounded with fear. It was evident that the great terror deep within the Vast Uninhabited Zone was at least a Monarch, possibly even a Supreme One; otherwise, it wouldn't be so terrifying.
"Is this the great terror hidden within the Vast Uninhabited Zone you speak of? Most likely, a Supreme One resides there. Otherwise, I would not be unable to see through everything. Only a Supreme One could achieve this," said Sovereign of Formlessness, making many people's scalps tingle, including the Ten Monarch Progenitors. Had Sovereign of Formlessness previously gazed into the distance towards the Vast Uninhabited Zone, attempting to explore but failing?
"Very well. Since I've come today, I shall go take a look."
Sovereign of Formlessness rose to his full height, his interest in the great terror deep within the Vast Uninhabited Zone growing.
"Supreme One!?"
The Nine Monarch Progenitors and even the powerhouses of the Ten Great Empires changed expressions, filled with trepidation. After all, they harbored a fear of the Vast Uninhabited Zone rooted deep in their bloodlines. Too many terrifying events had occurred in the past; even Ancient Monarchs never returned. Thus, they were terrified to the extreme, not daring to touch this forbidden land.
Sovereign of Formlessness gave a faint smile. "You need not worry excessively. Even if the Vast Uninhabited Zone holds heaven-defying terror, I do not even fear the Chaos Burial Ground, let alone a mere Vast Uninhabited Zone. If I wish to leave, no one in this vast world can keep me!"
This was the confidence of a Supreme One!
Whoosh—
With a single step, Sovereign of Formlessness vanished, leaving the Mythical Emperor Domain in the blink of an eye, his speed unimaginably fast as he entered the Vast Uninhabited Zone.
"Supreme One!"
Many in the Heavenly Palace Divine Hall rushed out. Monarch Wushi, the Great Emperor's reincarnation body, Sovereign Tongtian, and the Ten Monarch Progenitors quickly pursued, arriving at the border pass of the Xialuo Empire. They did not step beyond but gazed into the deepest part of the Vast Uninhabited Zone, where Sovereign of Formlessness had gone.
But Sovereign of Formlessness's figure was long gone, too fast!
When a Supreme One traveled, even Ancient Monarchs could not hope to match such speed.
"Look! Black mist is rising from the deepest part of the Vast Uninhabited Zone, just like during the Mythical Era!"
Tianheng Monarch, this Old Antique who had lived for a full half-epoch, exclaimed repeatedly. Within their field of vision, the mysterious Vast Uninhabited Zone had, at some unknown time, produced layers of pitch-black mist, blotting out the sky and sun, submerging the deepest parts as if a great terror was slowly awakening.
Yet this made the Nine Monarch Progenitors' hearts pound with fear, especially the surviving old Monarchs, who clearly remembered that when the Myth Emperor Lord entered the Vast Uninhabited Zone, such terrifying black mist had also appeared.
And on the day the nine great empires were buried, it was the same.
It could almost be said that every time billowing black mist surged from the deepest part of the Vast Uninhabited Zone, it was the day the great terror awakened!
Boom—
At this very moment, an aura of terror reaching the utmost extreme of the world erupted from the deepest part of the Vast Uninhabited Zone. Even separated by billions of li, one could still feel how terrifying that aura was, causing even Ancient Monarchs to feel fear.
The other powerhouses who had followed out all felt their hearts quake, almost falling from mid-air. At the very least, those below the Divine King level all tumbled down, severely affected by the oppressive might of this great terror.
This was the aura of the great terror that had caused the Myth Emperor Lord to never return and annihilated nine Mythical Empires—the greatest taboo throughout the ages.