A Heavenly Emperor is a Supreme Realm that transcends Great Emperors.
They are an existence akin to an Immortal.
In the long and magnificent history of the countless Universes spanning billions of years, the first Heavenly Emperor to be born was the Ancestor of the Jiang Family.
Jiang Taiyi!
In the long epochs that followed, several astonishingly talented Heavenly Emperors also emerged in the Myriad Domains of the Heavens, each of them a Supreme existence who dominated an era and suppressed their times.
Whenever a Heavenly Emperor appeared, the whole world celebrated, and all Daos submitted.
Even those ancient Daoist traditions with long Legacies had to bow their heads in submission.
Only the Jiang Clan remained aloof from the world.
They never paid any heed.
These Heavenly Emperors, naturally, were quite displeased with the Jiang Clan's attitude, and each of them personally visited the Jiang Clan, hoping to explore its Foundation and attitude.
However, in the end, without exception, they all left dejectedly and silently.
As for the reason, Su Hongye didn't say, only that Jiang Ye would know once he cultivated to Great Emperor Realm.
Upon hearing such a secret, Jiang Ye's last trace of doubt completely vanished.
It was still that old saying.
To get by, you need a background.
What kind of thing is the Ancient Immortal Domain?
It doesn't even count as a fallen noble.
Not a single Great Emperor has been born in countless epochs; even minor figures shake their heads.
"In that case, I can boldly make my arrangements," Jiang Ye's mouth curved slightly upward... Deep in a mysterious valley in the Eastern Wasteland, Wangchen Village still resembled a secluded paradise, tranquil and peaceful, cut off from the world.
Shou Lao returned quietly with Ye Qingyun and Li Guangrui.
The Old Village Chief and several other elders in the village had already been waiting there, their expressions solemn, their eyes filled with worry, clearly having already known everything that had happened in the outside world.
In the village's ancestral hall, the spirit tablets of nine elders were enshrined. The moment Blood Butcher's spirit tablet shattered, the Old Village Chief, who was far away in the village, had already sensed it, and he knew that something major must have happened with Ye Qingyun.
"Grandpa Village Chief..."
Ye Qingyun's voice was low, suppressing endless grief in his words.
This time, the blow to him was immense, but after a few days, his Heart-Nature had improved significantly.
The Old Village Chief sighed deeply. With their Realm of cultivation, transmitting messages was but a fleeting thought, and they already knew the full story.
Shou Lao immediately transmitted the detailed account of what had happened.
"Qingyun, you and Saint Li should first go into seclusion in the Heavenly Profound Pool to cultivate and stabilize your Foundation, so as not to leave any Dao Foundation problems."
Ye Qingyun had previously been severely injured by the Supreme's power, with all his internal organs ruptured. If he did not recuperate with a calm mind, the consequences would be endless.
In these years, although they lived in seclusion.
However, Shou Lao was skilled at concealment, and occasionally went out to collect rare spiritual items from heaven and earth to maintain their cultivation resources.
But he was also extremely cautious, fearing to reveal even a trace.
After all, although the Ancient Immortal Domain was a remote corner, not a vital area of the Heavens, it was still difficult to ensure that it wouldn't be investigated by others.
Especially, how powerful was the Longevity Jiang Clan?
After the dark turmoil, Su Hongye's prestige was monstrous. If even a whisper of news spread in the Ancient Immortal Domain, it could bring about a devastating disaster.
For these two hundred thousand years.
They had been cautious, treading on thin ice.
Yet, they never expected Ye Qingyun to encounter Jiang Ye just as he began his worldly experience, which made them feel a deep sense of worry.
After Ye Qingyun and Li Guangrui left, the atmosphere in the village grew even heavier.
Li Shou broke the silence and asked, "Chaoxian, how are your injuries and cultivation now?"
The Old Village Chief looked towards the sky, his eyes seemingly containing endless Dao rhyme, with countless star rivers slowly flowing at their depths.
Zhang Chaoxian, Fire Lotus Great Emperor.
Back then, this title only shone for a very brief moment in the river of history, not even for a few short months, before being harshly struck down to rock bottom by the Jiang Clan, and from then on, he vanished without a trace.
He looked back at the past, but his heart was surprisingly calm.
How glorious and powerful was Fire Lotus City back then, renowned throughout the Heavenly Domain?
When he achieved the position of Great Emperor, countless forces came to visit and pledge allegiance, wanting to attach themselves to them.
But it was quickly and forcefully purged by the Jiang Clan, falling to rock bottom, and a generation's Great Emperor thus fell.
After fleeing to the Ancient Immortal Domain, his cultivation was damaged, and his Dao injuries were severe; the most strength he could exert was that of a Half-step Great Emperor.
Zhang Chaoxian sighed slightly.
Throughout the long years, he had been angry countless times, resentful, unwilling, and regretful... But now, his heart was unusually calm, as if he had seen through all the worldly troubles.
As the leader of Fire Lotus City, he commanded heroes, spread his own philosophy and style of action, befriended many heroes, and built the prosperity of Fire Lotus City, but at the same time, he also led to its destruction.
If one were to speak of the culprit.
It must be the Jiang Clan.
But in reality, he was born in the Heavenly Domain, and after rising up, he established Fire Lotus City in the Heavenly Domain. At that time, the destruction of Fire Lotus City seemed to have been predetermined.
Now, Zhang Chaoxian, having lived in seclusion in Wangchen Village for so many years, had gradually come to understand this point.
If he were to put himself in their shoes, with identities swapped, perhaps he would have made the same choice as Su Hongye.
For the eternal prosperity of the Family, what did sacrificing some so-called justice matter?
Zhang Chaoxian's aura slowly rose, and the ancient and vicissitudes of life Dao rhyme flowed smoothly around him like water.
"Li Shou, although I have now recovered to the Emperor Realm, the Dao injuries within my body are irreversible, and I have long lost the possibility of further advancement."
"My Dao will stop here."
As these words fell, everyone's expressions changed.
But Zhang Chaoxian showed no regret, as if his heart had found peace.
Upon hearing this, Shou Lao's heart couldn't help but choke up. He said in a low voice, "Now that the Jiang Clan has discovered our existence, with Su Hongye's vengeful Heart-Nature, she will surely not let us go..."
"It's fine if we old guys die, but this child Qingyun will be in trouble. He is exceptionally talented and will surely achieve great things in the future, but now that he has been targeted by the Divine Son of the Jiang Clan, I'm afraid..."
Zhang Chaoxian knew very well that these brothers, who had once fought alongside him and shed blood, still couldn't let go of the past.
"Do you have any other ideas? I'll accompany you with this old body of mine."
"But there's one thing..."
"Don't put the hatred of our older generation onto Qingyun; that's unfair to him."
After hearing this, Shou Lao's face showed some helplessness.
"But now that Qingyun has been discovered by the Jiang Clan, I'm afraid they already consider us Fire Lotus City as one entity, and there might be no turning back."
At this moment, the elder surnamed Mo spoke, "The most urgent task is to find a way to escape this calamity as soon as possible. The Jiang Clan's strength is too great; we absolutely cannot confront them head-on."
The other elders also nodded in agreement: "We should quickly strengthen Wangchen Village's concealment formation. Next, the Jiang Clan will surely conduct extensive searches throughout the entire Ancient Immortal Domain. The Jiang Clan has countless experts, and we all have more or less Dao injuries, so we simply don't have the strength to confront them directly."
Zhang Chaoxian also slowly nodded.
Wangchen Village, after so many years of their careful arrangement and management, possessed extreme concealment.
Even if the Longevity Jiang Clan was powerful, it would be impossible for them to find this place in a short time.
Shou Lao looked at the Old Village Chief and said in a deep voice, "You all go make the arrangements. I need to go out and investigate the external situation, especially regarding the innate immortal liquid in the Ancient Immortal Domain. I must plan quickly..."
"If I can obtain such a Heaven-Defying Opportunity, perhaps I can even advance further, and in the future, there might be a chance to contend with the Jiang Clan!"
The Old Village Chief, Zhang Chaoxian, did not speak. He had already learned a lot about everything happening outside the Ancient Immortal Domain from Li Shou.
But he didn't hold too much hope in his heart.
The matter of the innate immortal liquid has now reached such a point that the entire Ancient Immortal Domain is probably struggling to protect itself. As for his old friend's wish for revenge, he is now powerless to stop it.
He can only let nature take its course...