Perfection: The Eastern Emperor Bell manifests, I am the Golden Crow Heavenly Emperor

Chapter 100: The Four Quasi-Immortal Emperors Descend, the Dark Sacrifice Begins

In the deepest part of the Boundary Sea, in that eternally dark land beyond the reach of even time, three figures of indescribable majesty and terror have descended before the faintly flickering dark core of the Azure Emperor.

The dark matter surrounding them was so dense it was almost tangible. The laws beneath their feet groaned and reorganized. Their mere existence caused the surrounding void and boundary sea to continuously collapse and vanish into nothingness.

It was the other three Dark Quasi-Immortal Emperors—the World-Destroying Elder, the Feather Emperor, and the Hong Emperor!
Their cold gazes swept over the shattered fragments of the Azure Emperor's body and the remaining core, and the air was instantly filled with a mixture of mockery, indifference, and a hint of "I knew it."

"Ah."

The Feather Emperor let out a soft sneer first. He was shrouded in a hazy, dark light, with the faint phantom of broken wings floating behind him. His voice was sharp and indifferent, like metal.

"Cang, you were actually injured to such a state by a newly promoted junior? It's truly... a disgrace to us all."

Hongdi's aura was even more violent and intense, like a dark star burning with flames of destruction. He snorted coldly, his voice booming like a bell, causing the very source of darkness to surge.

"Twenty thousand years! Not only did you fail to capture it, but your imperial body was destroyed, leaving only a remnant soul! Cang, has your 'Path of Eternal Silence' lost its edge?"

Faced with the merciless mockery of his two colleagues, the remaining core of the Azure Emperor flickered violently, emitting mental fluctuations of extreme humiliation and anger, but he was too weak to form an effective rebuttal.

Just then, the World Destroyer, who had been silent all along and whose aura was the most ancient and obscure, as if bearing the weight of countless ages, spoke.

His voice was hoarse and slow, yet it carried an aura of absolute authority, causing Emperor Yu and Emperor Hong to slightly restrain their mockery.

"enough."

The old man's gaze was like an abyss, sweeping over the core of the Azure Emperor.

“This fiend’s ‘Path of Annihilation’ is indeed unique, and it is not to be underestimated, as it targets our very essence.”

He then changed the subject and pointed out the key point.

"Although Cang was defeated, his existence is crucial to the integrity of the 'Grand Sacrifice' ceremony. Only with the joint veneration of the four emperors can the power of the source be drawn to the maximum extent, ensuring the Grand Sacrifice goes smoothly and completely burying this era. If any one of them is missing, the power of the ceremony will be greatly reduced, and unforeseen changes may occur."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yu and Emperor Hong still showed disdain on their faces, but the contempt in their eyes lessened considerably.

They can mock the Azure Emperor's incompetence, but they cannot ignore the "Dark Grand Sacrifice," a matter of paramount importance concerning their ultimate goal and the source of their power.

The effect of having four emperors in power versus having only three emperors is worlds apart.

"Hmph, you got off easy."

Emperor Yu said coldly.

Emperor Hong said no more, but the dark flames burning around him surged slightly, revealing his displeasure.

The Old Man of Annihilation ignored them. He slowly raised a withered hand, like the bark of an old tree. In his palm, dark matter gathered and finally condensed into a pill the size of a longan, pitch black in color, with countless fine blood-red lines flowing on its surface.

The moment this pill appeared, the surrounding light seemed to be completely swallowed up, and even the laws groaned under the strain. An ominous and destructive aura, so thick it was impossible to dissipate, spread out, containing within it a boundless vitality and dark origin that almost defied creation!

"This is the Myriad Tribulations Reincarnation Pill, made by gathering the calamity energy of the destruction of all realms and fusing it with the endless source of darkness. Taking it will help you reshape your imperial body and reunite your origin."

The old man who was destroying the world spoke in a calm tone, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"But you must bear and eliminate the resentment and calamity of the destruction of all worlds contained within. Whether it is a blessing or a curse depends on your fate."

Having said that, he flicked his finger, and the ominous "Eternal Reincarnation Pill" transformed into a streak of black light, disappearing into the remaining core of the Azure Emperor.

"Om-!"

In an instant, the core of the Azure Emperor erupted with unprecedented dark light, as if a black hole had been ignited in an instant!

Countless mournful cries, venomous curses, and illusory images of annihilation aura emerged and struggled from its core. These were the most vicious marks left when all living beings in the myriad worlds were destroyed, and now they all became the resources for reshaping the Emperor's body!
At the same time, Emperor Yu and Emperor Hong also made their moves.

Behind the Feather Emperor, the shattered phantom of wings cast slivers of dark light, like chains of divine order, helping the Azure Emperor stabilize his core structure and regulate the raging dark energy.

Emperor Hong then summoned the blazing dark fire to burn away the excessively violent calamity and resentment, aiding in the refining of the medicinal power.

The three Dark Quasi-Immortal Emperors have joined forces to help the Azure Emperor recover, all for the sake of the success of the Dark Grand Ceremony!

It is foreseeable that once the Azure Emperor successfully digests this Myriad Tribulations Reincarnation Pill, not only will his imperial body be restored, but his strength may even benefit from the disaster, drawing new power from the destruction and becoming even stronger and more unpredictable!
Meanwhile, Lu Xuan, relying on the subtle interference emitted by the Guiding Ancient Palace and the energy chaos brought about by the Nameless Quasi-Immortal Emperor's desperate outburst, did indeed disrupt the perception of the three emperors, including the World Destroyer Elder, for a very short time.

Although they sensed that the nameless Quasi-Immortal Emperor was gathering power, they were misled by the "same origin" fluctuations from the Ancient Reception Hall and, considering the priority of treating the Azure Emperor, they did not immediately launch a full-scale attack to intercept him.

When the Annihilation Elder, the Feather Emperor, and the Hong Emperor helped the Azure Emperor stabilize his core, they turned their gaze back to the location where the Nameless Quasi-Immortal Emperor had been. There, only a slowly calming aftershock of annihilation and a rapidly dissipating spatial ripple remained.

"They ran away?" Emperor Yu frowned slightly.

"At the end of its rope, it's just clinging to life." Emperor Hong scoffed.

The old man's profound gaze seemed to pierce through layers of space, sweeping over the area where Lu Xuan had activated the ancient palace, and then looking in the direction where Wuming had fled. For the first time, a barely perceptible hint of amusement appeared on his usually calm face.

"Interesting ants...that they can even slightly disturb the secrets of heaven."

He didn't point it out, but simply kept this slight anomaly in mind.

"It's alright. Once Cang recovers and the grand sacrifice begins, everything... will return to darkness."

The Boundary Sea was temporarily plunged into the most oppressive stillness before the storm.

On the dark side, the gap in strength revealed by the defeat of the Azure Emperor is being rapidly filled, and they may even become stronger.

The sparks of resistance, though they narrowly escaped immediate annihilation, knew all too well that true, ultimate darkness was slowly descending in an unprecedented manner.

Hundreds of thousands of years, a mere blink of an eye

Time may pass in the Boundary Sea, but for those who stand at the pinnacle of the Great Dao, the passage of time is still clearly discernible.

Hundreds of thousands of years have quietly passed in the waves of the border sea.

During this period, the myriad realms seemed to fall into a strange balance and a repressive tranquility.

The source of darkness ceased its major activity, but the four terrifying imperial mights residing in the deepest part of the Boundary Sea remained like swords hanging over the heads of all beings, constantly reminding them that the ultimate threat had not yet disappeared. Within the secret realm at the core of the Sun Star, permeated with chaotic energy, Lu Xuan slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were as deep as the universe, as if countless worlds were born and destroyed within them, and the chaotic Dao flowing around him became increasingly perfect and flawless. With every move he made, he resonated with all the myriad Daos of the heavens.

After hundreds of thousands of years of arduous cultivation, his understanding of the "Chaos Battle Immortal Path" and the "Method of Severing the Three Corpses" has reached a state of perfection. His own realm has long been stabilized at the pinnacle of the supreme giant, and he has even faintly touched the indescribable barrier that lies between kings and emperors.

He could sense that the gate leading to the Quasi-Immortal Emperor realm was right in front of him, and the scenery behind the gate seemed within reach.

He could clearly "see" the vast ocean of the Great Dao and feel its power that truly transcends eras and surpasses cause and effect.

But this is the last glimmer of hope!
No matter how he tried to break through, how he tempered himself with the Chaos Dao Fire, or how he used the Three Corpses Method to reflect his true nature, that seemingly thin barrier was incredibly tough, and he could never truly penetrate or cross it.

It was as if he was missing some crucial key, or perhaps he needed a catalyst that would shake his entire path.

"What exactly does a Quasi-Immortal Emperor need to transcend beyond this level?" Lu Xuan frowned, feeling the boundless power within him that always seemed to lack a bit of perfection. His heart was filled with urgency and a hint of barely perceptible restlessness.

He also developed his own path and methods, but he just couldn't cross the threshold to become an emperor.

He knew that time was running out.

The suffocating oppression from the source of darkness has never truly dissipated.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Boundary Sea, in a hidden remnant world that even the Dark Emperor could hardly explore—the last core fragment of an ancient, long-destroyed world, enveloped by layers of annihilation laws and temporal turbulence.

The nameless Quasi-Immortal Emperor sat cross-legged in the void, his body swirling with a hazy, desolate aura. Compared to his near-collapsed state hundreds of thousands of years ago, his aura was now much more stable and solidified.

Most of the cracks on the blue robe had healed. Although it still looked old and worn, it was no longer in danger of falling apart.

His face was still blurred, but the tragic and resolute meaning was more restrained, like a dormant volcano accumulating destructive power.

Thanks to the environment of this special place and the characteristics of his own Dao of Nirvana, his recovery speed was far beyond ordinary.

However, it will still take time to return to the peak. It will require completely eradicating the last of the dark imperial laws that have corrupted the Dao, and thoroughly digesting the insights gained from the battle with the Azure Emperor and the near-death experience.

He could also sense the four abyss-like imperial might deep within the Boundary Sea, and he could also vaguely perceive an increasingly intense sense of ominousness and deathly stillness permeating the laws of the Boundary Sea. He knew that the ultimate ritual of darkness was probably already brewing.

What was supposed to come finally came.

At a certain point in time, in the deepest part of the Boundary Sea, four dark imperial mights suddenly erupted in unison, like four pillars supporting the sky, stirring up the laws of the entire Boundary Sea!
Led by the Annihilation Elder, the Feather Emperor and the Hong Emperor stood on either side, while the Azure Emperor, whose imperial body had just been reshaped by the Myriad Tribulations Reincarnation Pill and whose aura was even more profound and eerie than before, also reappeared. The four Dark Quasi-Immortal Emperors had gathered!
They remained silent, but simultaneously activated their own dark origins, connecting with the source of darkness in the darkness.

In an instant, an indescribably massive phantom of a dark altar emerged from the depths of the Boundary Sea and slowly solidified.

The altar was inscribed with countless twisted and wailing ancient runes, emanating a terrifying aura that devoured all light and hope.

"Festival-!"

The old man's hoarse yet powerful Daoist voice resounded throughout the boundary sea, like a declaration of final judgment.

The Dark Sacrifice has begun!

The altar emanates an infinite suction force, not directed at matter, but at "existence" itself, at the origin, the fruit of the Tao, and the soul of all living beings!

Invisible pillars of sacrificial light, composed of dark laws, spread wildly and swept outwards from the depths of the Boundary Sea!
Wherever the beam of light passed, whether it was a dilapidated ancient realm or a floating immortal island, whether it was a secluded immortal king or a powerful giant, as long as it was swept by this sacrificial beam of light, it would instantly let out an extremely shrill scream.

His cultivation, origin, and soul were all forcibly extracted and stripped away, transforming into the purest torrent of energy, which, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, was devoured by the dark altar!

This was a thousand-year-long, indiscriminate massacre targeting all living beings in the Boundary Sea!

It was a bloody sacrifice carried out by the dark faction for some ultimate purpose!
"Do not--!"

"Darkness forever!!"

"help me……"

Countless immortal kings and giants struggled, roared, and wailed in despair. Their supernatural powers and magical treasures seemed so pale and powerless in the face of the sacrificial power that originated from the quasi-immortal emperor's origin.

The Boundary Sea has transformed into a true purgatory, where blood and darkness have become the dominant themes.

A thousand years of blood sacrifice, the border sea withers away.

The pervasive sorrow and deathly silence that had lasted for millennia finally stirred a silent emperor.

In the hidden remnant realm, the nameless Quasi-Immortal Emperor suddenly opened his eyes.

His eyes no longer held confusion or weariness, only an unyielding coldness and resolve.

He could sense that countless lives were being annihilated amidst their cries of agony, and that the "life force" of the Boundary Sea was being rapidly drained.

If this grand sacrifice is allowed to continue, not only will the Boundary Sea be completely destroyed, but all the heavens and myriad realms will also be unable to escape its clutches.

He couldn't wait any longer.

"Om-!"

The Daoist aura of annihilation soared into the sky, instantly breaking through the seal of the hidden remnant realm!
A gray figure tore through the endless void and charged headlong into the depths of the Boundary Sea, towards the dark altar, and towards the four dark emperors who stood at the pinnacle of destruction!
"You... your crimes are unforgivable!"

An unnamed Daoist voice resounded, filled with endless grief and killing intent. He directly manifested his ultimate Dharma form, and the Nirvana Heavenly Art was pushed to its limit. The phantom of the Xuanhuang Great World behind him reappeared. But this time, the phantom seemed to be infused with the resentment and unwillingness of countless souls who died in this thousand-year blood sacrifice, giving his Nirvana Daoist Law a chilling edge of judgment and revenge!
He actually intended to fight the four Dark Quasi-Immortal Emperors alone and interrupt this bloody grand sacrifice!
"Hmph! You dare to come here to die while you're still clinging to life?"

The Azure Emperor was the first to react. New and old grudges surged into his heart, and his reconstructed Dark Emperor body erupted with a monstrous black light as he charged forward.

Emperor Yu and Emperor Hong also sneered and attacked at the same time. Their dark wings cut through space and time, and their dark imperial fire burned everything. Together with Emperor Cang, they formed a triangular formation, surrounding the nameless quasi-immortal emperor in the center.

The Old Man of Destruction still stood at the core of the altar, presiding over the grand ceremony, but his deep gaze was now fixed on Nameless, as if looking at an insect about to be crushed.

"Boom——!"

A war even more devastating and desperate than one that occurred hundreds of thousands of years ago erupted in an instant!
(End of this chapter)