As he disappeared into the vastness of heaven and earth with the Azure Emperor's mark, Yun Fan's presence vanished.
Though he was gone, the legends of him began to spread like wildfire, echoing through all three thousand great worlds.
For Yun Fan was a living legend of this era. While the three thousand great worlds had birthed several Heavenly Emperors since their inception, the path to achieving such a title had been severed after Yuan Emperor. Not only was it rare to become a Heavenly Emperor, but even Pseudo-Emperors were few and far between.
Yet, in the age of End of Dharma, Yun Fan, through his own might, had broken through to become a Heavenly Emperor. How domineering was that?
This was precisely why he stood out so remarkably, his legend resonating across the three thousand great worlds.
In the Great Thousand World.
Upon hearing that Yun Fan had achieved the status of Heavenly Emperor, his six beloved women were overcome with excitement. They had always known that with Yun Fan's talent, he would eventually reach emperorship.
However, they had never expected him to achieve it so swiftly, completely surpassing their predictions.
Undoubtedly, their adoration for Yun Fan at this moment knew no bounds.
Although Yun Fan had not returned, they understood that he must have significant matters to attend to. Therefore, they did not rush him.
Before they themselves broke through to the Heavenly Emperor realm, they would not add to Yun Fan's troubles.
Even the Slaughterer was filled with profound emotion. Ages ago, he had come agonizingly close to becoming a Heavenly Emperor, only to fail in the end. Now, with Yun Fan's rise in this era, he felt a flicker of hope.
Only now did he truly grasp how wise a choice it had been to pledge allegiance to Yun Fan. Had he not done so, this opportunity would have eluded him.
While the outside world was abuzz with tales of Yun Fan's legend, the Great Thousand World remained remarkably tranquil.
Meanwhile, Yun Fan was deep within the Grand Void.
Indeed, after severing the Azure Emperor, he had come here to secluded cultivation, not to heal. While he had sustained injuries, they were not fatal.
His true purpose for secluded cultivation here was simple: to forge a unique path to emperorship.
Others achieved emperorship by condensing their own marks. But Yun Fan was different; he was merging the marks of others to form a single, powerful insignia.
This was his unconventional path.
For a considerable period, he dedicated himself to fusing the marks of the Azure Emperor and the Cang Emperor.
Before the fusion, he utilized his Heaven-Fighting Power to thoroughly purge the Azure Emperor's aura, then proceeded to the most crucial step: integration.
After an unknown duration, Yun Fan succeeded in merging the two marks.
Of course, he did not blindly integrate the marks into himself. He conducted numerous trials, and only after confirming its safety did he begin the fusion.
Upon its integration into his physique, his power surged exponentially.
"This path... it truly works!"
Yun Fan exclaimed with excitement. Of course, "works" here did not imply that others could follow his path.
In fact, his path was incredibly solitary. It was only with the augmentation of his Heaven-Fighting Power that he could suppress these two marks.
Without the support of his Heaven-Fighting Power, if the two marks were to collide and merge, he would be utterly annihilated, his soul unable to escape.
Such was the perilous nature of this endeavor.
Fortunately, he had a firm grasp on the key element: his Heaven-Fighting Power.
Yun Fan could not precisely gauge his current strength, but he was certain that this fusion had elevated him by at least two significant tiers.
If he were to encounter the peak Azure Emperor and Cang Emperor again, he could now effortlessly vanquish them. However, if the two were to join forces, it would not be so simple to defeat them.
An increase in strength did not equate to an ability to create distance and obliterate everything instantaneously. The reality was far more complex.
To reach the Heavenly Emperor realm, was one not already at the pinnacle of human achievement? Yun Fan, who had slain two Heavenly Emperors, was a unique legend throughout history.
Even Yuan Emperor, who was exceptionally brilliant before him, could only defeat previous Heavenly Emperors. Killing them was an entirely different matter, otherwise, Yuan Emperor would have acted long ago.
At this juncture, Yun Fan emerged from seclusion, preparing to return to the Great Thousand World.
As it stood, the path to immortality had not yet opened, and Yuan Emperor had not yet revived. To defeat him, Yun Fan needed to know his whereabouts.
Otherwise, everything was moot.
If he were expected to personally seek out Yuan Emperor, he was sorry, he had no such leisure. If Yuan Emperor insisted on hiding, there was nothing he could do.
However, the moment Yuan Emperor appeared, he would be dealt with.
On his way home, a figure suddenly appeared, blocking his path.
Yun Fan looked ahead and saw a woman adorned in shimmering, multi-colored light, with a halo atop her head.
She exuded an aura of immense sanctity.
This irked Yun Fan immensely. He, a Heavenly Emperor, did not present himself with such ostentatious divinity, yet this woman dared to be so flamboyant.
"Hey, you, your light is blinding me. Take off your halo, or don't blame me for being impolite!"
Yun Fan declared with extreme arrogance. He had risen from the depths of millennia, becoming the sole Heavenly Emperor in countless ages.
Or, at least, up to this point.
Who would dare not address him as a supreme being? No one was allowed to act superior in his presence.
Upon seeing Yun Fan, the woman's eyes flickered with disdain. "This is my innate halo!"
"Innate or not, it's unacceptable!"
Yun Fan stated directly, "In my presence, you must be low-key!"
"Hmph!"
The woman snorted and threatened Yun Fan, "Dare to be arrogant in front of me again, and believe it or not, I'll kill you!"
"Your strength may be lacking, but your temper is quite fiery!"
Yun Fan remarked dismissively.
"What did you say?"
As the woman was about to make a move, Yun Fan interjected, "Stop! That was just a joke!"
The woman assumed he was intimidated. In reality, Yun Fan was simply playing the magnanimous role. As a Heavenly Emperor, one should not quibble over such trivialities.
Even if others acted presumptuously before him, there was no need to retaliate, as it would diminish his status and dignity as a Heavenly Emperor.
"You're wise enough to know your place!"
The woman snorted and did not trouble Yun Fan further. It was evident that she was not a bloodthirsty individual.
Had it been another celestial maiden, Yun Fan would have already been struck down and killed.
Yun Fan then asked her, "I see you're heading towards the Great Thousand World. What business do you have there?"
She was a Pseudo-Emperor level expert.
Within the three thousand great worlds, she was still considered to be at the pinnacle of power. Do not assume that because he alone had ascended to Heavenly Emperor, the overall strength of the three thousand great worlds had drastically increased.
In reality, apart from his exceptional existence, the three thousand great worlds remained as they were.
Normally, one would rarely encounter a Pseudo-Emperor, let alone a Heavenly Emperor.
The woman replied, "I am going to find the Battle Emperor!"
"Who is the Battle Emperor?"
Yun Fan was dumbfounded. The name sounded incredibly mediocre. He found it hard to believe that a Heavenly Emperor would adopt such a name.
Furthermore, in his memory, he did not recall encountering anyone of this name. Had he fallen behind?
And why would this mediocre Battle Emperor be in the Great Thousand World? That was his home, after all!
Who dared to encroach upon his territory? Were they tired of living?
The woman sneered, "You truly are a bumpkin, not even having heard of the Battle Emperor!"
"Tell me about him!"
Yun Fan inquired with curiosity.
"The Battle Emperor is the sole existence to achieve Heavenly Emperor status after countless ages. He defeated both the Cang Emperor and the Azure Emperor, becoming the legend of this era!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Fan's face darkened. He never would have imagined that the clown in this scenario was himself.
"Who gave him the name Battle Emperor?"
Yun Fan asked with a grim expression, desperately wanting to know which fool had bestowed such a rustic name upon him. It sounded weak and unimpressive.
Names like Azure Emperor and Cang Emperor sounded sophisticated and powerful, evoking beings who had suppressed all ages.
But his title, Battle Emperor, sounded utterly pathetic. Those who knew would understand, but those who didn't might think he was a circus performer.
Therefore, Yun Fan was thoroughly displeased with this appellation.
"I don't know. That's what the world calls him!"
The woman replied directly.
"My word!"
Yun Fan was utterly stunned. There was no hope now; his common moniker had become widely known. Even if he changed it now, people would still refer to him as the Battle Emperor. Su Dan Novel Network
Yun Fan inwardly lamented his fate. After a lifetime of achievement, he had been undone by a name. He had nowhere to turn to express his frustration.
Resigned to his fate, Yun Fan asked the woman, "Why are you seeking out such a formidable being as the Battle Emperor?"
"Why should I tell you?"
The woman was displeased. Why did this man have so many questions? She was fortunate to be in a good mood lately; otherwise, she would have dealt with him and wasted no more of her time.
Yun Fan replied, "Actually, even if you don't tell me, I can guess the reason!"
"Oh? Then by all means, tell me!"
The woman looked at Yun Fan with disdain, eager to see if he could offer any logical explanation.
Yun Fan continued, "The Battle Emperor is undoubtedly the most powerful being of this era. At such a young age, he has already achieved Heavenly Emperor status, breaking the historical record for reaching emperorship. Without a doubt, he stands at the absolute pinnacle. Not only in this era, but even past Heavenly Emperors cannot compare to him!"
"Enough!"
The woman scoffed, "You're still praising him. Get to the point!"
"Oh! My apologies!"
Yun Fan realized he had gotten carried away in his own self-praise and forgotten the main point.
"Therefore, he must be adored by countless celestial maidens, and every woman desires to marry him. In all three thousand great worlds, marrying the Battle Emperor is considered an honor! Naturally, this includes you. I surmise you are going there to get close to the Battle Emperor and become his woman!"
Upon hearing this, the woman, who had been indifferent until now, erupted in anger. She looked at Yun Fan with contempt and declared, "Your guess is preposterous! I would rather die than marry him!"
"Why?"
Yun Fan asked in confusion. By his reckoning, his reputation was not that bad. He hadn't expected to be looked down upon by a stranger.
It had almost shaken his confidence.
The woman explained, "Because he is an arrogant individual. He thinks he's invincible after defeating the Azure Emperor and Cang Emperor in their weakened states. He hasn't encountered my father yet; otherwise, his legs would have been broken long ago!"
Yun Fan almost collapsed upon hearing this. Daring to break a Heavenly Emperor's legs was beyond mere arrogance.
Thus, Yun Fan inquired, "Who is your father?"
"Listen carefully!"
The woman proudly proclaimed, "My father is the first to break through to Heavenly Emperor status in ages past: the Thunder Emperor!"
"Thunder Emperor?"
Yun Fan's expression was one of doubt.
"Indeed!"
The woman declared proudly, "My father was the first to achieve Heavenly Emperor in the three thousand great worlds. He was the pioneer of the peak of human cultivation. His contributions to the three thousand great worlds far surpass those of all other Heavenly Emperors, including this Battle Emperor, whose achievements pale in comparison to my father's!"
"Never heard of him!"
This time, it was the woman's turn to be bewildered. She had expected Yun Fan to be awestruck upon hearing her father's name.
Instead, the man claimed to have never heard of him.
Frustrated, she exclaimed, "It's not your fault, you bumpkin, for not knowing. It's because Yuan Emperor severed the path from ancient times, so my father's legend has faded. Otherwise, compared to my father, this Battle Emperor is nothing!"
The woman spoke with immense arrogance.
"Let's set that aside for now!"
Yun Fan asked, "Then what is your purpose in seeking out the Battle Emperor?"
"Of course, my father wants to see him. But my father has not yet recovered, so it is inconvenient for him to come. He sent me instead. Do you think I *wanted* to come?"
The woman said with disdain.
Well! At this point, Yun Fan even suspected that the Thunder Emperor harbored the same intentions as the Cang Emperor.
However, was the Thunder Emperor's scheme too late?
The Cang Emperor had made his move when Yun Fan was merely a half-step Heavenly Emperor. Now, Yun Fan was an absolute peak Heavenly Emperor.
Was this scheme not incredibly overconfident?
Let alone others, even Yuan Emperor would face his direct confrontation.
"Then, what is your father's purpose in meeting the Battle Emperor?"
Yun Fan stated directly, "Of course, you can tell me. After all, I am just a bumpkin. Even if I know the secret, what does it matter?"
Upon hearing this, the woman found Yun Fan's reasoning plausible and thus boasted, "It's fine to let you broaden your horizons! I am seeking out the Battle Emperor because my father was injured in a battle with Yuan Emperor and needs his assistance!"
Well! Yun Fan had expected something else entirely. It turned out she was here to request his help, but her attitude in asking for a favor was quite abrasive.
Yun Fan then inquired, "Getting back to the point, why do you detest the Battle Emperor?"
There was always a reason for everything. Yun Fan knew his reputation should not be tarnished, so he wanted to understand the cause.
The woman replied, "Because he stole my father's glory. They say he is the strongest Heavenly Emperor, which is utter nonsense. My father is the strongest!"
So, it was about this matter. Yun Fan smiled playfully and said, "I believe the Battle Emperor is the strongest!"
"Why?"
The woman looked at Yun Fan with displeasure. Did this man dare to so openly touch her sore spot? Was he itching for a fight?
Yun Fan then presented his reasoning, "Because your father was defeated by Yuan Emperor! Therefore, he is not the strongest. Not to mention the Battle Emperor, your father couldn't even defeat Yuan Emperor! Naturally, the Battle Emperor is stronger!"
"You..."
The woman was momentarily speechless, as Yun Fan's words seemed to hold a degree of truth.
However, she still retorted stubbornly, "My father is far stronger than Yuan Emperor, but he was defeated by Yuan Emperor's despicable tactics. If Yuan Emperor and my father had a direct confrontation, he would certainly not be my father's match!"
Seeing her unwavering confidence, Yun Fan could not bear to shatter her beautiful fantasy.
Therefore, Yun Fan said, "Then you might be making a wasted trip!"
"Why?"
She asked Yun Fan in confusion.
Yun Fan replied, "Because the Battle Emperor is not in the Great Thousand World!"
"Then where did he go?"
"How would I know!"
Yun Fan, wishing to avoid trouble with this young woman, found an excuse and prepared to leave.
However, at that very moment, a force suddenly struck.
"Be careful!"
She quickly pushed Yun Fan aside and shielded him from the attack.
"Fool, if it weren't for me, you would be dead! Be careful yourself, there are powerful beings approaching!"
She warned Yun Fan.
"Uh..."
With such a meager force, she dared to claim he would be dead? What a joke. Did she think his Heavenly Emperor strength was merely for show?
However, to maintain his low profile, he would not reveal his identity.
The approaching figures were not one, but several. He had sensed them even before they unleashed their power.
Indeed, in the next moment, three figures appeared, encircling them. To Yun Fan's surprise, these three were Pseudo-Emperors.
Furthermore, they had existed for an extremely long time, suggesting they were ancient beings from a past era who had been in seclusion. After all, in this era, apart from himself and the Heart of Curses, there were currently no other beings who had broken through to the Pseudo-Emperor realm.
His wives, while powerful, had either recovered or achieved a breakthrough, which was different.
Shui Linglong did not count either; at most, she had stolen someone's maxed-out account.
"Who are you?"
Upon sensing the aura of the three Pseudo-Emperors, even the woman lost her composure.
One-on-one, she could defeat any one of them, but facing three, she had no chance of victory.
The leader of the group stated, "Demon Sect's Black Demon!"
"Dark Demon!"
"Fierce Demon!"
The three immediately revealed their names.
Yun Fan instantly recognized their origin: the Heavenly Demon Continent, renowned in the era of Yuan Emperor.
The Demon Sect was the ruling power of the Heavenly Demon Continent. However, due to the passage of time, many believed these three lunatics were already dead.
Who would have thought that they were not dead, but had merely chosen to hide and fall into slumber?
"Then why are you attacking us?"
The woman asked coldly. This question not only puzzled her but also Yun Fan.
Fierce Demon sneered, "Our master is about to awaken but lacks a Pseudo-Emperor realm supplement. You are precisely what we need!"
"Who is your master?"
Yun Fan immediately asked.
"Yuan Emperor!"
The three demons directly revealed their master's name.
Instantly, the woman gasped, but Yun Fan remained unfazed.
"Yuan Emperor? What ancient history are you referring to!"
Yun Fan scoffed, "Don't you know this is the era of the Battle Emperor?"
Upon hearing this, the three demons sneered, "When our master awakens, what is the Battle Emperor? He is merely a soul to be vanquished by our master!"
With that, they positioned themselves in three directions, trapping Yun Fan and the woman. In their eyes, Yun Fan was a mere trifle, and the woman was their true target.
The woman was furious. "I am the daughter of the Thunder Emperor, Liuli. If you dare to harm me, you are making an enemy of my father!"
The three demons remained dismissive.
"Thunder Emperor?"
Dark Demon scoffed, "Ages ago, the Thunder Emperor was merely a defeated opponent of our master. He was beaten so badly that he fled like a stray dog. To think he still lingers!"
Hearing this, Liuli was instantly enraged. She could not stand these three daring to insult her father.
Thus, without further ado, she attacked the three demons.
However, before she struck, she warned Yun Fan, "Country bumpkin, find an opportunity to escape later. I will hold them off for you!"
"Hmm!"
Yun Fan nodded. He understood that Liuli was prepared to fight them to the death to salvage the Thunder Emperor's reputation.
Seeing Liuli charge at them, the three demons smirked and engaged her from three directions.
As for why they didn't leave anyone to deal with Yun Fan?
Frankly, Yun Fan was not worthy of their attention.
Although Liuli's strength was definitely on par with, if not exceeding, any one of the three demons individually, facing all three, she had no chance of victory.
Under the full assault of the three demons, Liuli was suppressed.
"Daughter of the Thunder Emperor, you are nothing more than this!"
The three demons mocked her dismissively.
Liuli was furious. "Attacking three against one, what kind of skill is that? Have the courage to fight one-on-one!"
"Apologies, we do not have the patience for that!"
In the next moment, the three demons attacked Liuli directly, intending to kill her instantly.
Liuli blocked the deadly strikes from the first two, but she could not withstand the final fatal blow.
Just as she thought she was finished, an invisible force repelled the fatal strike.
"Who?"
The three demons were shocked. They had expected a sure kill, but Liuli had managed to evade it. In their eyes, it was likely a life-saving technique left behind by the Thunder Emperor.
"Me!"
Yun Fan stated truthfully.
"You, a mere weakling, are capable of this!"
The three disdained Yun Fan and soon turned their attention back to Liuli.
Unexpectedly, he, too, had experienced being underestimated. Yun Fan was angered, but before he could eliminate these three, he needed to guide Liuli to a safer position.
Otherwise, if he were to act and accidentally injure Liuli, it would be awkward.
Thus, he immediately said, "Could you do me a favor and stop fighting?"
"Why haven't you left yet?"
Liuli was angry. She had been unable to interject earlier, so now she looked at Yun Fan with an expression of exasperated disappointment.
However, Yun Fan replied, "No rush! Retreat to the side, and leave the rest to me!"
"Can you do it?"
Liuli asked doubtfully.
"Don't doubt my strength. My power is beyond your imagination!"
With that, Yun Fan stepped forward, standing before the three demons.
"Kid, since you're in such a hurry to die, I'll deal with you first!"
In the next moment, Black Demon attacked. To him, instantly killing this weakling Yun Fan was a task beneath him.
However, as soon as he reached Yun Fan, before even touching his body, he saw his own body disintegrate at a visible rate.
"Ah!"
Black Demon let out a scream. Not only had his body vanished, but his soul had also been shattered.
"What?"
At this moment, the remaining two demons and Liuli were stunned. They had assumed Yun Fan was useless, but it turned out he was a king.
They had misjudged him.
However, Dark Demon and Fierce Demon still refused to believe Yun Fan possessed such strength. Therefore, they decided to attack together.
They refused to believe that Yun Fan was also a Heavenly Emperor.
Just then, even Liuli prepared to support Yun Fan.
However, reality dictated that he did not need her support at all.
In the next moment, with a casual wave of Yun Fan's hand, the two demons followed Black Demon's path, perishing instantly.
In Yun Fan's eyes, they were not even worthy of his world-shattering techniques, as they did not warrant such effort.
In Yun Fan's view, these two were merely fleas, nothing remarkable.
Undoubtedly, this move of his left Liuli wide-eyed.
"You... how can you be so strong?"
Liuli looked at Yun Fan in shock.
Yun Fan replied, "Because I have always been this strong!"
Was this not stating the obvious? However, after witnessing Yun Fan's true power, Liuli no longer dared to be impertinent.
"Who are you?"
Facing Liuli's question, Yun Fan directly stated, "I am the Battle Emperor!"
Although he did not wish to acknowledge such a common moniker, there was no other choice. His title had become deeply entrenched.
Even if he introduced himself by his real name, others might not recognize him.
Upon hearing this, Liuli's expression changed drastically. "How... how is this possible?"
"Why would it be impossible?"
Yun Fan replied, "A name is merely a designation!"
"Then why were you hiding it from me earlier?"
Thinking back to her earlier conversation with the Battle Emperor, Liuli blushed profusely. This was far too embarrassing!
However, what had been said could not be taken back.
Yun Fan said, "You never asked who I was!"
"Alright! You win!"
Liuli awkwardly stammered, "Uh, Battle Emperor, I didn't mean to earlier!"
"Don't worry! I'm not that petty!"
Yun Fan smiled.
Liuli finally breathed a sigh of relief, but inwardly, she was immensely curious why the Battle Emperor would be so low-key.
"Then, can you help my father recover from his injuries?"
Liuli specifically emphasized, "My father said he is willing to offer an equivalent exchange!"
"No problem!"
Yun Fan replied, "Let's go!"
"Uh..."
Liuli was stunned. The Battle Emperor's demeanor was truly beyond her expectations. However, her impression of Yun Fan had greatly improved.
This was because the Battle Emperor was not aloof as the legends suggested, but rather possessed a very casual personality, which perfectly matched hers.
Therefore, at this moment, she held a very favorable impression of Yun Fan.
She only wondered if her earlier words might have left a negative impression on Yun Fan.
If time could be rewound, she would surely retract all the words that now made her want to cry tears of regret.
However, being able to persuade Yun Fan to save her father was beyond her expectations.
...
Yun Fan and Liuli arrived at the Thunder Emperor's place of slumber, a realm of thunderclouds. This realm of thunderclouds was not within the three thousand great worlds, yet it belonged to them.
It was quite peculiar, similar to a world that existed independently, explaining why he hadn't discovered this marvelous place before.
"Did you grow up in an environment like this since childhood?"
Yun Fan asked in confusion.
Liuli replied, "No, I was sealed by my father ages ago. In fact, I only awoke not long ago!"
She revealed the truth to Yun Fan.
Yun Fan nodded, understanding the situation.
He then remarked, "It seems the Thunder Emperor truly lives up to his name, cultivating with the power of lightning!"
This lightning was not the pathetic lightning on Earth. This myriad of lightning was incredibly terrifying. Below the Pseudo-Emperor realm, even a Saint Ancestor, if careless, could be instantly annihilated by a single strike.
Such was the formidable nature of this lightning. However, for those above the Pseudo-Emperor realm, as long as they were cautious, it wasn't that terrifying.
At this point, she said to Yun Fan, "Battle Emperor, please!"
"Hmm!"
Yun Fan nodded and entered the realm of thunderclouds with her. Soon, Yun Fan saw an illusory figure of lightning.
It was definitely not a clone, but a human form condensed from lightning.
However, it was clear that this figure represented the will of the Thunder Emperor.
"Senior!"
Yun Fan was very polite. He did not look down on anyone simply because he had achieved Heavenly Emperor status. Generally, as long as others did not provoke him, he would show them some respect.
This naturally included the Thunder Emperor before him.
The Thunder Emperor said to Yun Fan, "Fellow Daoist, there is no need for politeness. Although you have risen in a later age, you are already a Heavenly Emperor. Such formalities are unnecessary!"
"Hmm!"
Yun Fan nodded.
At this point, the Thunder Emperor said to Liuli, "Child, you may leave now!"
"Yes!"
Liuli withdrew from the realm of thunderclouds, leaving only the Thunder Emperor and Yun Fan.
The Thunder Emperor then said to Yun Fan, "I never expected that although you rose later, your strength surpasses ours!"
Even without his true body, he could see at a glance that Yun Fan's strength was superior to his own.
"Fellow Daoist is too kind. It was merely by chance!"
Yun Fan said humbly, showing no trace of arrogance.
Then, the Thunder Emperor said, "I am aware of your situation. You have defeated the Cang Emperor and the Azure Emperor! Frankly, they were too greedy, which led to their demise!"
Yun Fan replied, "Yes, they intended to scheme against me, but they never expected to perish by my hand!"
"It matters not!"
The Thunder Emperor said, "I have no intention of plotting against you by inviting you here!"
"Indeed, even if I did intend to plot against you, with your current strength, you would have nothing to fear from me!"
The Thunder Emperor stated his intentions clearly, assuring Yun Fan that he harbored no malice.
As for Yun Fan, even if he harbored ill intentions, he would not be afraid. After all, what he lacked was more marks.
Although he had fused two marks, if the Thunder Emperor truly intended to scheme against him, then Yun Fan might as well acquire a third mark.
For him, having too many marks was not an issue.
"Fellow Daoist, how would my current strength fare against Yuan Emperor in battle?"
In response to Yun Fan's question, the Thunder Emperor said, "Fellow Daoist need not worry. You have only just begun your journey, and your path is still long. Yuan Emperor, however, has reached his limit!"
Although he did not provide a direct answer, Yun Fan had already grasped the implication.
That is, with his current strength, he was still no match for Yuan Emperor. This was rather awkward; he had thought he could conquer all enemies.
This Yuan Emperor was indeed not to be underestimated.
"I did not expect him to be so powerful!"
Yun Fan remarked.
The Thunder Emperor explained, "Because his power originates from the Immortal Realm, his strength is so formidable!"
"The Immortal Dao Curse?"
Yun Fan inquired.
"Precisely!"
The Thunder Emperor stated, "The Immortal Dao Curse is not a power from the three thousand great worlds, but a force overflowing from the Immortal Realm. He obtained it, and through the Immortal Dao Curse, he achieved his current strength!"
"No, it's not that he utilized the Immortal Dao Curse, but rather the Immortal Dao Curse utilized him!"
Yuan Emperor quickly corrected the statement.
"What?"
Yun Fan's eyes widened. He had not expected such an origin, which was completely beyond his anticipation.
The Thunder Emperor then clarified, "In truth, neither the Azure Emperor nor the Cang Emperor were inherently evil. They were merely greedy and intended to scheme against you, leading to their demise. The true evil is Yuan Emperor!"
"What do you mean?"
Yun Fan seemed to understand, yet also not entirely. It was difficult to comprehend, as the Thunder Emperor spoke in such an enigmatic manner.
The Thunder Emperor elaborated, "Because Yuan Emperor is no longer truly Yuan Emperor. Although his strength is immense, he cannot escape the fact that he is a puppet!"
"Puppet?"
Yun Fan was instantly astonished.
A martial cultivator at the peak of human cultivation being a puppet sounded utterly unbelievable.
"Senior, are you implying that Yuan Emperor is a puppet of the Immortal Dao Curse?"
Facing Yun Fan's question, the Thunder Emperor answered without hesitation, "Yes, he is a puppet of the Immortal Dao Curse. After obtaining the Immortal Dao Curse, he used it to break through to Heavenly Emperor. But this was merely the beginning of his path as a puppet! Throughout history, there have only been a few of us Heavenly Emperors. After he first gained prominence, he even visited us! At that time, we congratulated him. However, after another era passed, he completely changed, as if he had become another person. When we met again, it was no longer to discuss the Dao, but to engage in combat! He was the first to attack me. I originally believed that as the first to reach the peak of human cultivation in the three thousand great worlds, even he would not be my match!"
"But soon I realized that with the augmentation of the Immortal Dao Curse, he had become stronger than me. We fought for three days and three nights, and in the end, I was defeated!"
Yun Fan was shocked. In that case, Yuan Emperor was not Yuan Emperor; rather, the Immortal Dao Curse was controlling him.
The Thunder Emperor then continued, "Of course, my defeat was only the beginning. Afterward, he also fought against the Cang Emperor and even the Azure Emperor. The outcome was the same: neither of them was his match. However, before that, I had weakened him, so he was unable to kill the Azure Emperor and the Cang Emperor!"
This was the Thunder Emperor's explanation.
Yun Fan listened and then asked, "Senior, does that mean your injuries from that battle have not yet recovered?"
"Correct!"
The Thunder Emperor was not one to be overly concerned with appearances. Having been defeated was simply that; there was no need to hide it.
"From the moment he decided to abandon his own self, no matter how strong he became, he would ultimately remain a puppet!"
The Thunder Emperor sighed. In his view, if one had lost their sense of self, it was no different from being dead.
Yun Fan commented, "Perhaps, this was the path he chose for himself!"
"Indeed!"
The Thunder Emperor said, "Fellow Daoist, if you can save me, I will certainly not treat you unfairly!"
After all, in his eyes, Yun Fan had no direct connection to him, and he wouldn't selflessly offer salvation. Do not assume that reaching the Heavenly Emperor realm implied selfless devotion.
In fact, at the Heavenly Emperor realm, individuals were often more pragmatic.
Yun Fan said, "Please allow me to examine your injuries!"
Following that, the Thunder Emperor led Yun Fan to his true body. Indeed, upon seeing the Thunder Emperor's true form, Yun Fan could confirm that among all the Heavenly Emperors he had encountered thus far, the Thunder Emperor was the strongest.
Even the Cang Emperor and the Azure Emperor were inferior to him.
The Thunder Emperor's mark was undoubtedly alluring, but unfortunately, he was not Yun Fan's enemy.
Since they were not enemies, he could not resort to dishonorable tactics.
Therefore, he refrained from seizing the Thunder Emperor's mark.
Subsequently, he examined the Thunder Emperor's injuries and discovered that within the Thunder Emperor's body resided what he had seen so far as the strongest Immortal Dao Curse.
Or, it could be described as a primal Immortal Dao Curse, attached to the Thunder Emperor's mark. No wonder the Thunder Emperor could not break free.
It turned out that to break free from the curse attached to the mark, there was only one solution: destroy the mark.
However, if the mark were truly destroyed, the Thunder Emperor would also be rendered useless.
At this point, the Thunder Emperor asked Yun Fan, "Fellow Daoist, is there any hope?"
"There is hope!"
Yun Fan replied, "If it were before I achieved Heavenly Emperor, I would have no solution. But now, it is of no concern to me!"
It wasn't that he was overly arrogant, but rather that he was inherently a counter to the Immortal Dao Curse.
The Thunder Emperor was extremely excited. He never imagined that the problem that had plagued him for countless years would be so insignificant in Yun Fan's eyes.
It was impossible for him not to be moved.
"Fellow Daoist, please name your price. As long as I can fulfill it, I will do my utmost!"
The Thunder Emperor was very principled. He did not wait until Yun Fan had healed him to promise benefits, but rather offered them beforehand.
Yun Fan said, "For me, this primal Immortal Dao Curse is the greatest benefit! As for other requests, let's forgo them!"
This was the honest truth. It was not that this primal Immortal Dao Curse could provide him with boundless power.
Rather, it was because this primal Immortal Dao Curse could provide him with a method to decipher Yuan Emperor's weakness, making it a worthwhile benefit.
The Thunder Emperor was surprised that Yun Fan did not seize this opportunity to make further demands. Therefore, in his heart, he was greatly astonished by Yun Fan.
Since Yun Fan had not actively requested anything more, he naturally did not dare to make further promises lightly. However, it was evident from his confident gaze that he had already decided how to repay Yun Fan, he was just not saying it yet.
At this moment, Yun Fan said, "Senior, before I heal you, I would like to ask you a question!"
"Fellow Daoist, please ask!"
The Thunder Emperor smiled. As long as it was something he knew, he would not hesitate to share it with Yun Fan.
Yun Fan then asked, "I wish to know, where did he find the overflowing Immortal Dao Curse? Why would such an evil force originate from the Immortal Realm?"
Upon hearing this, the Thunder Emperor's eyes flickered. He did not know much himself and had originally intended to tell Yun Fan later.
However, since Yun Fan had taken the initiative to ask, there was no harm in telling him.
The Thunder Emperor asked Yun Fan, "Fellow Daoist, you have likely been to the Gate of the Immortal Realm, have you not?"
"I have!"
Yun Fan nodded.
The Thunder Emperor then posed a soul-stirring question, "Fellow Daoist, in your opinion, does the Gate of the Immortal Realm block our path from the three thousand great worlds to the Immortal Realm, or does it block the path from the Immortal Realm to the three thousand great worlds?"
Yun Fan was left stunned. He had never before considered the inverse question.
He had always believed that the Immortal Realm was blocking the ascension path for cultivators at the peak of human cultivation from the three thousand great worlds.
Now, hearing the Thunder Emperor's words, Yun Fan's mind was greatly shaken. If it were the former, it would be understandable.
But if it were the latter, it would be terrifying.
The Thunder Emperor smiled and continued, "I used to believe it was the former, but after countless deliberations, I am inclined to believe it is the latter!"
"What?"
Yun Fan inhaled sharply.
The Thunder Emperor explained, "The Immortal Realm is definitely problematic! The overflowing, evil force of the Immortal Dao Curse is a clear indication. The Immortal Realm is a sacred place, and if even a sacred place is experiencing issues, one can imagine the extent of the terror involved. Perhaps the Gate of the Immortal Realm is merely blocking the other side!"
This was his deduction.
Yun Fan responded, "In that case, Yuan Emperor's actions are not for ascending to the Immortal Realm. Perhaps he aims to open the Gate of the Immortal Realm and allow the monsters from the Immortal Realm..."
"Hmm!"
The Thunder Emperor nodded. "Precisely, Fellow Daoist. Your analysis is very insightful. Therefore, from the current perspective, regardless of which scenario it is, Yuan Emperor must die!"
At this point, Yun Fan stated, "Combining your earlier statement that Yuan Emperor is no longer Yuan Emperor but has become a puppet, I can confidently conclude it is the latter!"
Upon hearing this, the Thunder Emperor nodded.
Yun Fan continued, "In that case, we likely cannot delay much longer. Senior, when will you be able to awaken?"
The Thunder Emperor replied, "As long as the Immortal Dao Curse is removed, I will be able to awaken!"
"Good!"
Yun Fan said, "I will do my best to remove the Immortal Dao Curse for Senior as quickly as possible. Then, Senior and I will find Yuan Emperor together. At present, I cannot rest easy without seeing Yuan Emperor. If he truly manages to open this Gate of the Immortal Realm, then we will have to contend with more than just one Immortal Dao Curse!"
This was Yun Fan's true concern.
And his worry was not without reason. Even if he could counter the Immortal Dao Curse, if Immortal Dao Curses from the Immortal Realm were to descend, then even as a cultivator at the peak of human cultivation, Yun Fan would ultimately be a mere underling.
Of course, in Yun Fan's view, there was no need to be overly pessimistic. If it were the former, then there would be no need to fear.
However, the more he considered it, the more Yun Fan felt it was the latter.
"Hmm!"
At this moment, Yun Fan began his work. He unleashed his most powerful Heaven-Fighting Power and directed it into the Thunder Emperor's mark. Initially, it was resisted by the Immortal Dao Curse, but soon, the Heaven-Fighting Power exerted its advantage, suppressing the Immortal Dao Curse.
During this period, the Thunder Emperor experienced both pain and shock, never imagining that even the primal Immortal Dao Curse could not withstand the Heaven-Fighting Power.
Although the process was extremely painful, for the Thunder Emperor, he was moving towards a state of ease.