Chapter 2330: Emperor's Path Sixty-Four (Part 2)

Boom! Rumble!

Nineteen emperors stood tall, their imperial might surging and making the starry sky tremble with a deep hum.

Yet, this was far from over. Only about half of the sixty-four emperors had manifested, and all eyes remained fixed on that expanse of stars, eager to witness each one appear.

People's moods varied. Figures like Tian Shuo, Yang Feng, Wu Qing, and Li Feng Qiu, all sons of emperors, gazed with full hope, yearning for their imperial fathers to reappear in the form of law bodies. After so long, it had become an ancient, unfulfilled wish.

Others, like the Shen Jiang, felt the same. Though they knew Ye Chen was the reincarnation of the Emperor Venerable, they had never seen his divine form and simply wanted one more glimpse of the Emperor Venerable to fulfill their hearts' desires.

Then there were people like Jiu Jian San Ren, whose expressions were dazed, their eyes etched with the weariness of ages. They only stared at the Jiu Huang Da Di, reminiscing about the past when they had vied for the imperial path with him, nearly slaying him before he became an emperor. Jiu Jian San Ren was more brilliant than Jiu Huang, but fate had denied him that sliver of opportunity, leaving him without the imperial throne to this day.

Many others shared his sentiment—veterans of the ancient eras who had sealed themselves until now. In those distant ages, they too had fought in the battles for the imperial path. Now, seeing their old adversaries again through this method, their emotions were profound, filled with regret over the passage of time.

Boom! Bang!

Under the watchful eyes of all, two thunderous roars echoed simultaneously, shaking the starry sky.

In the western region, two emperors manifested, neither of them human but both avian. One was the Yuan Gu Chi Bird, later known as the Yuan Gu Chi Di; the other was the Shang Gu Xue Yan, titled the Shang Gu Xue Di.

The Yuan Gu Chi Bird and Shang Gu Xue Yan clans were also part of the Nan Yu Wan Zu. Back in the day, they had joined in the siege against Ye Chen. Before the return of Da Chu, they had already sealed themselves in their ancestral lands, avoiding extermination by the Da Chu Nine Emperors. During the Tian Mo invasion, they hid away like the Hong Huang clans.

But karma has its cycle, and heaven spares no one. These two races had chosen the wrong side, colluding with the Hong Huang clans, and thus could not escape being suppressed by Di Huang. They were banished to the domain planes.

This time, with their clan's emperors manifesting, they were not present to witness it—a true regret.

Ye Chen watched quietly, leaving past grievances for the future. He still held deep reverence for these two emperors. They were symbols of their eras, having once ruled over all beings and dominated the universe, leaving behind legendary imperial tales. Each was an immortal myth.

The starry sky continued to quiver as the emperors' manifestations did not cease.

Three emperors appeared together: one was the Ba Qi Da Di, the ancient emperor of the Ba Qi clan; another was the Feng Diao Da Di, the emperor of the Tai Gu Feng Diao clan; and the third, whose true form was the Jiu Yi Shen Peng, was undoubtedly the emperor of the Shen Peng clan.

These three emperors emerged side by side, all supreme beings standing shoulder to shoulder, like three eternal monuments that no force of time could topple. Their imperial legends reigned supreme through the ages.

In truth, the imperial legacies of these three emperors had tarnished the glory of emperors. Their clans were also part of the Nan Yu Wan Zu. After Da Chu's return, these three clans were completely wiped out.

The Da Chu Nine Emperors stood solemnly, revering the three emperors, yet their expressions remained indifferent. If given another chance, they would eradicate the clans again, for how else could they honor Ye Chen and the souls who died in battle?

As they spoke, two more emperors coalesced, one in the south and one in the north.

In the northern starry sky was the emperor of the Jin Chi Da Peng clan, known as the Jin Chi Da Di. He was enveloped in imperial laws, his might echoing through heaven and earth, his eagle-like eyes embodying the essence of the ultimate path.

In the southern starry sky was the Qi Cai Kong Que clan's emperor, called the Kong Que Da Di. His figure was ancient and weathered, his expression calm and emotionless, with visions of stars and blazing suns collapsing within.

"We pay our respects to the ancestors," said Tian Zhi, along with the members of the Qi Cai Kong Que clan, bowing respectfully with deep reverence. Tian Zhi fared better, having once battled his clan's emperor during the Da Sheng Jie and surviving nine near-deaths, but the elder members of the clan were overcome with tears streaming down their faces.

Following the two emperors, the heavens and earth shook as five more beams of imperial immortal light burst forth.

This time, five emperors manifested together, all aligned in the east, standing in a neat row like majestic mountains rising as eternal peaks at the end of time—both dreamlike and unattainable.

They were the Bi An Da Di, the Suanni Da Di, the Xue Qiao Da Di, the Kui Ba Da Di, the Han Jiang Da Di, and the Lu Tian Da Di, all emperors of the Hong Huang clans, each leaving legacies in the world.

However, their legacies would not arrive today. The Xue Qiao clan had already been exterminated by Di Huang, and the other four clans had been exiled to the domain planes, never to return.

"Thirty-one emperors now," Mo Yuan murmured softly, his vast, star-like eyes filled with anticipation, hoping that the next emperors to appear would include the Hong Lian Nu Di.

At his side, the Xie Mo sighed, understanding Mo Yuan's thoughts, but knew the hope was slim. Ye Chen had already faced the Hong Lian Nu Di during his Sheng Wang Jie, so it was impossible in this Zhun Di Jie.

"The sixty-four emperors haven't even reached half," Chi Yang Zi said, stroking his chin with a tsk of amazement. "If all sixty appeared at once, that would be an eternal spectacle."

"You're getting impatient," Xiao Yuan Huang scratched his monkey fur, truly feeling rushed. Having them appear one by one was so dramatic—why not all at once?

"It's better one by one," Kui Niu said earnestly. "If they all manifested together, my poor heart couldn't take it." Each emperor's appearance made his spirit tremble; sixty at once would overwhelm with their sheer pressure.

Indeed, many shared Kui Niu's view—it was more reliable for them to appear one at a time, preserving some mystery. If they all came together, no one would know where to look.

In the central starry sky, Ye Chen drew out his Ling Xiao iron staff, his sacred body tense, not daring to relax for a moment. Though the sixty emperors weren't all present, he couldn't rule out these manifested emperors attacking now. One slip, and he'd be obliterated.

The thirty-one emperors seemed to have an unspoken understanding; though manifested, they did not attack, standing silently as if saying, "Wait a bit longer—once we're all here, we'll finish you."

With them holding back, the onlookers grew restless. Some time had passed without another emperor appearing, making everyone's hearts pound with urgency.

"Could there only be these thirty-one emperors?" Di Lao ventured.

"I think the great emperors are preparing a big move," Tian Lao said meaningfully.

And sure enough, his words proved true.

No sooner had he spoken than the calm star domain began to ripple. Thirty-three beams of ultimate light manifested one after another, coalescing into human forms under everyone's gaze. They stood in a straight, orderly line like thirty-three heavenly pillars anchoring the river of time. Each was incredibly ancient, each carrying supreme imperial might.

Gulp!

The spectators swallowed hard, instinctively stepping back under the pressure of the thirty-three emperors, even the Zhun Di among them. Those with weaker cultivation stumbled and fell.

"They really held back for a big one!" Sheng Zun exclaimed in awe.

The elder Zhun Di were equally shocked. These thirty-three emperors were, without exception, from the Hong Huang clans, and they seemed quite united, even arriving together in their heavenly tribulation law bodies.

"Sixty-four emperors, all here," the Shen Jiang said with a deep breath, though they had not seen the Emperor Venerable. The sons of emperors and the imperial legacy holders sighed, having not glimpsed their ancestors again.

"Out of the Xuan Huang One Hundred Thirty Emperors, excluding Ming Di, Dao Zu, and Di Zun, all the others have appeared in the Sheng Ti's heavenly tribulation."

"Adding these sixty, that's one hundred twenty-seven in total."

"We should thank the Sheng Ti. Without his tribulation, how could we witness such a grand event?"

"Sixty-four emperors—unparalleled in history!"

Waves of discussion rose again as many continued to retreat. The upcoming battle would shatter heavens and earth; even the slightest ripple could be devastating. Not just juniors, but even Zhun Di dared not approach carelessly—this was no ordinary tribulation.