The Legendary Son-in-law of the Emperor Chapter 1863 - 1860: Immortal Bodies Meet
Previously on The Legendary Son-in-law of the Emperor...
Ye Xuan sought out information from Jiang Ya, Wang Xi, and others, but their knowledge of the Thousand Absolute Saint Heir’s whereabouts was nonexistent. It seemed the Saint Heir, anticipating peril, had deliberately postponed his ascent onto Emperor Road rather than confronting Ye Xuan directly. Ye Xuan, however, remained unperturbed by this delay. He knew that unless the Thousand Absolute Saint Heir abstained from the path entirely, their eventual encounter was inevitable. There was also the slim chance that another might eliminate him first, though this was deemed improbable given his residual cultivation and formidable strength after expulsion from the Primordial Hall. As the fourth-ranked individual on the Mystic Yellow List, he possessed considerable combat power, capable of contending even with reincarnators or those preserving ancient legacies.
Setting aside this thought, Ye Xuan pressed onward, his pace deliberately unhurried. From his perspective, the journey felt sluggish, perhaps because this iteration of Emperor Road differed significantly from previous ones. In the past, the Heavenly Dao Suppression was absent, allowing even Quasi-Emperors and Great Saints from earlier eras to embark on Emperor Road. For these titans of history, ascending was typically straightforward. Particularly at their advanced stage, Great Saints possessed a profound grasp of their respective Daos. The nascent Dao aura emanating from Emperor Road would not hinder them; instead, it would offer enhanced insights.
However, the current Heavenly Dao Suppression barred Great Saints and Quasi-Emperors from entry, preventing them from utilizing its power to advance their own cultivation. Consequently, even this initial stretch of Emperor Road proved challenging for many Great Sage Realm cultivators, forcing them to advance at a glacial pace. It was likely that the true prodigies had already surged ahead, their progress unfettered. Yet, in Ye Xuan’s judgment, this collective crawl was the norm. The only true talents worthy of his admiration were a select few – Gu Changge, Zhou Ye, and Qiao Xinyu. Even notable figures like the Ziwei Saint Heir, Witch Wang Xi, Wu Ting, and Liu Yuanchen, who ranked near the top ten on the Mystic Yellow List, did not particularly distinguish themselves in his eyes. Of course, this was Ye Xuan's personal assessment; to others, these very individuals shone brilliantly.
“Curiously, the Dao aura at the entrance of Emperor Road feels somewhat diminished…” Ye Xuan mused, his brow furrowed. He had noticed this subtle weakening from the moment he set foot on Emperor Road and suspected the Heavenly Dao Suppression was the cause. This raised the question of whether the subsequent areas would be similarly affected. Or perhaps, the Heavenly Dao Suppression would be lifted later, allowing those venerable Great Saints and Quasi-Emperors to finally enter Emperor Road. Contemplating this, Ye Xuan felt a sense of ease and continued his march.
An hour elapsed. To Ye Xuan’s surprise, he and his companions managed to catch up to Gu Changge, Zhou Ye, and their respective groups. It had become customary for participants in this Emperor Road trial to form alliances. Even Zhou Ye, representing the Immortal Capital Pavilion, was not traveling alone but was accompanied by several disciples and prodigies from the Pavilion. Upon acknowledging Ye Xuan’s presence with a nod and a smile, Zhou Ye’s group continued their journey.
Suddenly, Gu Changge, who had been leading the procession, halted. He turned back, his gaze locking onto Ye Xuan and Liang Difan, who were not far off. A fervent light ignited in his deep eyes. “It seems this lifetime won’t be so uneventful after all,” Gu Changge whispered to himself. Simultaneously, Liang Difan’s attention shifted to Gu Changge. Unlike Gu Changge’s intense anticipation, Liang Difan appeared remarkably composed.
Immortal bodies have always been exceedingly rare, a time-honored truth. Yet, today, three individuals bearing immortal bodies were simultaneously treading Emperor Road, shattering past precedents and injecting a potent element of intrigue into the competition. Gu Changge, without further comment, quickly averted his gaze and resumed his forward momentum. He understood that this was merely the threshold of Emperor Road; engaging in conflict here would be unproductive. The true thrill, he believed, lay in facing formidable opponents within the heart of Emperor Road. The Gu family patriarch had thoroughly briefed him on Emperor Road's rules, confirming that conflict was not just likely, but inevitable. From the very moment he ascended, Gu Changge had resolved to test his mettle against the strongest cultivators from across all Realms.
“Could that be Ye Xuan, the legendary supreme Reserve Emperor of the Mystic Yellow?” Many of the followers trailing Gu Changge craned their necks, eager to behold the fabled Ye Xuan. “He doesn’t seem as extraordinary as imagined; compared to our Young Master, he appears quite ordinary.”
“Shush now, don’t speak so carelessly. As the old saying goes, appearances can be deceiving. While he may not possess the striking looks of our Young Master, nor the transcendent aura of a banished immortal, there must be a reason he’s known as Mystic Yellow’s strongest Reserve Emperor.” A collection of followers engaged in hushed conversation, employing secret techniques. However, every individual present had attained at least the Great Sage Realm, rendering their covert methods utterly ineffective at concealing anything. Anyone in their vicinity could instantaneously intercept their whispered transmissions. One follower, seemingly made of snow, declared with bluntness: “The reason he’s dubbed Mystic Yellow’s strongest Reserve Emperor is merely due to Heavenly Dao Suppression; true prodigies have yet to reveal themselves. Our Young Master’s Taiyang Immortal Body is destined for Great Emperor status. It won’t be long before we ascertain who the genuine strongest Reserve Emperor of Mystic Yellow truly is.” It was evident that many of Gu Changge’s followers held Ye Xuan’s title in low regard, firmly believing their own Young Master, Gu Changge, was the one destined for true greatness. Gu Changge, leading the way, naturally overheard these pronouncements but offered no objection to their discussion. For in his perception, their words held the undeniable ring of truth. Nevertheless, to those standing beside Ye Xuan, the words struck a particularly jarring chord. “If you are not content, why not settle this with a battle then?” The East Desolate Wolf flashed a grin, baring his fangs, his gaze sharp and savage. Hai Dong, Cheng Kes, and the others also fixed cold stares upon Gu Changge’s retinue. “Haha, truly pathetic. This is not the actual Emperor Road, merely its entrance. Engaging in combat here would only impede our progress,” followers behind Gu Changge jeered. “If you’re scared to fight, then hold your tongues!” the East Desolate Wolf retorted sharply. “A dog is just a dog, forever yapping.” A man clad in resplendent armor, emanating an arcane aura from behind Gu Changge, drawled indifferently. This individual was Gu Changfeng, a scion of the Gu family and a cousin to Gu Changge. Although his age prevented him from ascending the Mystic Yellow List, he was undeniably a Great Sage of true destiny. “If you disagree, we could propose a competition to see who completes this pilgrimage first and receives the Dao’s baptism,” Gu Changfeng suggested languidly, showing no regard for the East Desolate Wolf. The East Desolate Wolf did not immediately accept the challenge, instead glancing towards Ye Xuan, a flicker of unease crossing his features. “Tsk, truly a canine, just as I thought.” Upon witnessing this, Gu Changfeng scoffed once more. “A competition it shall be, but since it’s a contest, there must be stakes involved,” The East Desolate Wolf, seeing that his master Ye Xuan had not interceded, responded boldly, stating his terms casually.