A man of majestic countenance, towering like a pillar between heaven and earth, his entire body exuded an aura as ancient as time itself, hinting at a terrifying, indescribable pressure of energy.
“Guhuang, it’s you! I admit defeat! Release me immediately!”
The gray-robed elder roared.
The next moment, Guhuang Great Emperor’s palm pressed down upon the elder, forcing him to his knees right then and there.
“Ah...
Guhuang, you’re too stingy. Back then, I merely offended you unintentionally—it caused you no loss whatsoever. Instead, you thrashed me and locked me up here, all the way until now!
The punishment you dealt me should be sufficient by now!
Don’t think that just because you’re a Great Emperor, you can disregard reason!
Now let me out!”
The gray-robed elder howled in rage.
“Is Guhuang Great Emperor’s temper somewhat hot-tempered?”
Ye Yunfei couldn’t help but send a Sound Transmission to Hun Lao.
“What does it matter if an emperor’s temper is a little harsh?
The dignity of a Great Emperor cannot be trifled with!
All the races under heaven must revere him with absolute fear and respect. Those who defy it shall be punished.”
Hun Lao replied.
“Fair point.”
Ye Yunfei nodded.
Having once been a Heavenly Emperor himself, Ye Yunfei knew that their power crowned the world, revered by myriad races. If someone dared provoke one, the consequences were dire.
This expert of the Tianying Clan had likely inadvertently offended Guhuang Great Emperor and had been imprisoned ever since.
“Kid, let me warn you: don’t meddle in Guhuang Great Emperor’s affairs, or don’t blame me for being blunt.”
Hun Lao told Ye Yunfei.
“Don’t worry, I won’t interfere.”
Ye Yunfei nodded.
Naturally, Ye Yunfei would not meddle in another Great Emperor’s affairs.
No one knew for certain whether Guhuang Great Emperor had truly fallen; what if he returned someday and settled scores afterward? That would spell trouble.
At that moment, the energy pressure emanating from the gray-robed elder was forcibly suppressed back into his body by Guhuang Great Emperor’s hand!
The elder now sat cross-legged on the ground, no longer struggling, appearing somewhat dejected.
“The unassailable majesty of a Great Emperor...I have learned this lesson deeply now.”
The gray-robed elder suddenly sighed softly.
“Naturally. Who told you to affront Guhuang Great Emperor’s dignity back then?”
Hun Lao said with a smug tone.
Just then, the gaze of Guhuang Great Emperor’s form abruptly turned toward Hun Lao.
“Little Hun, all these years... you have suffered.”
Guhuang Great Emperor said gently.
“Guhuang Great Emperor!”
Hun Lao, both shocked and overjoyed, looked up at the emperor intently.
Ye Yunfei and the gray-robed elder also stared at Guhuang Great Emperor in awe.
They had originally assumed that this Guhuang Great Emperor was merely an energy imprint etched here—only an outward form, devoid of consciousness, memories, Soul Power energy, or any such traits. Yet now, the emperor was speaking.
Clearly, this Guhuang Great Emperor possessed consciousness and memory!
This was a spiritual imprint endowed with consciousness and recollection!
Thus, its implication was entirely different. This was equivalent to an avatar of Guhuang Great Emperor himself!
“Guhuang Great Emperor, all these years... where have you gone?
I searched for you so painstakingly!”
Hun Lao rushed before Guhuang Great Emperor and spoke his question aloud.
“Where I went...”
Guhuang Great Emperor lifted his head, as if gazing far into distant space and time, and sighed softly.
“My true self may have set foot upon a path of no return.”
Guhuang Great Emperor stated.
“Great Emperor, what exactly happened back then? That slumber...I slept far too long. By the time I awoke, the era had already changed. I traversed the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds afterward but could never find you again.”
Hun Lao was in tears, his voice choked.
“Do not search for me. You will not find me.”
Guhuang Great Emperor shook his head.
“It was I who struck you unconscious back then. Certain matters you need not involve yourself in, for they were too perilous.
This Heavenly Dao Tower is what I left for you.
Everything within belongs to you, to deal with as you will—including these prisoners on the second floor.
However, their strength is too overwhelming; you are no match for them. So I advise against releasing them lightly, lest you invite retaliation.”
Guhuang Great Emperor said.
“Guhuang, I was wrong! I never should have defied your dignity—I apologize to you!
Please release me.
I swear I will not seek vengeance!”
The gray-robed elder suddenly cried out.
“Whether to release you rests with Little Hun.
Besides, your power is too great. Letting you out would endanger Hun.”
Guhuang Great Emperor cast a glance at the gray-robed elder.
“Guhuang, then when can I escape this place? You couldn’t possibly intend to keep me imprisoned here forever!
That would be utterly unfair!”
The gray-robed elder shouted.
“As I already said, releasing you or not lies with Little Hun.”
Guhuang Great Emperor answered calmly.
“Guhuang Great Emperor, what about this young man here? How do you judge him?
I think his aptitude is quite fine.
Though his nature is rather enigmatic.
Is he suitable to be your inheritor?”
Hun Lao suddenly pointed at Ye Yunfei and spoke.
“Him?”
Guhuang Great Emperor’s gaze turned upon Ye Yunfei, scrutinizing him top to bottom.
“Young man, you truly are profound.”
Guhuang Great Emperor abruptly revealed a stunned expression, as if he had discovered something, and spoke.
A flicker of alarm struck Ye Yunfei. Immediately, he mobilized every means possible to shield his Soul Sea—especially the strand of Heavenly Emperor remnant soul deep within it—with the strictest concealment.
“Strange...That such a bizarre occurrence exists in this world.”
Guhuang Great Emperor shook his head repeatedly, as though witnessing something unbelievable.
“Little Hun, you seem to get along with him quite well.”
Guhuang Great Emperor said to Hun Lao.
“Yes, I feel this youngster is all right.
Decently upright.”
Hun Lao responded.
“Then follow him from now on.
You’ll have a place to belong.
Staying with him probably won’t be any worse than staying with me.
As for an inheritor, that need not be; his foundation is not inferior to mine.”
Guhuang Great Emperor stated.
Hearing this, Ye Yunfei felt inwardly startled—this Guhuang Great Emperor seemed to have seen right through him!
“No!
Great Emperor, I must find you—I wish to keep following at your side!”
Hun Lao hastily exclaimed.
“Little Hun, seeking my true form will be incredibly difficult, maybe even impossible.”
Guhuang Great Emperor sighed softly.
“Young man, I entrust Hun Lao to you.
Treat him well.
Within this Heavenly Dao Tower, I left certain items. If you can break through the seals within the tower one by one, whatever I left behind is yours.”
Guhuang Great Emperor told Ye Yunfei.
“This spiritual imprint of mine possesses limited energy and cannot manifest for long.”
The emperor added.
As his words fell, the form of Guhuang Great Emperor began to fade gradually into transparency.
“Great Emperor, will there still be a chance for us to meet again someday?”
Hun Lao clung to hope and shouted loudly.
“Depends on fate.”
Guhuang Great Emperor answered.
And with that, he vanished entirely.
“Guhuang Great Emperor...”
Hun Lao stared blankly at the spot where the emperor had disappeared, unwilling to part.