"..."

Sikong Jiu and his group were dumbfounded.

After realizing what Xu Lai wanted to do, their expressions grew as strange as could be: "Redirecting trouble elsewhere? This is too wicked, hahaha!"

Thinking of the expressions on those old bastards from the Nine Kings' Palace when they received this gift, Sikong Jiu couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He felt that being tricked by Xu Lai earlier wasn't such a big deal anymore.

In comparison, Sikong Jiu even felt a bit sorry for those old turtles.

"The issue is, how do we transport it there," Sikong Jiu asked.

"Snap."

Xu Lai snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, countless layers of teleportation arrays densely accumulated in the sky, each imbued with the aura of the Emperor Realm.

Evidently, each one was personally crafted by Xu Lai.

"In total, there are 31,927 arrays. No matter how much it can devour, I'm confident I can hold it for one breath."

Xu Lai confidently said, "Just one breath is enough!"

Sikong Jiu took a deep breath.

The aura of these formations was identical to that of The Supreme Emperor.

In other words, in the brief time when he was being hunted, The Supreme Emperor had set up so many formations personally?

What an enormous burden this must be!

Sikong Jiu suddenly felt choked up, feeling like he wasn't worth much.

While he was being chased madly at the bottom of the Boundless Sea and complaining about The Supreme Emperor, wasn't The Supreme Emperor fighting with his life on the line on the sea surface?

"The Supreme Emperor, you have worked hard."

Sikong Jiu quietly wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.

Xu Lai smiled.

It wasn't that hard.

During those dull tens of thousands of years when he was almost ready to give up and die, Xu Lai kept engraving formations.

He thought about how, after his demise, the old members of the Heavenly Court would inevitably be targeted by other Holy Lands, so he should at least set up some teleportation formations to protect the Divine Generals and Heavenly Generals under his command, right?

Most Emperor Realm level teleportation arrays were of no use, and with one command, all were gathered in the treasure vault of the Heavenly Court...

After drinking tea for a day, Xu Lai moved them back.

Hmm.

On second thought, those tens of thousands of years weren't that easy either.

...

...

Nine Kings' Palace.

Even more terrifying than the Samsara Sea, which was also a forbidden area of the Immortal Domain, no Emperor Realm has survived upon entering this place.

Fifteen epochs ago.

The Great Emperor, whose true form was a ghostly tree, considered himself unrivaled in the world and wanted to enter the Nine Kings' Palace to become the tenth king. As a result, his gigantic tree trunk corpse lay across half a star system, with eight characters carved on it—

Virtue does not match position.

Entry is not permitted.

This was clearly a humiliation.

Since then, there has been no news of any Great Emperor attempting to storm the Nine Kings' Palace.

Fifteen epochs later.

Great Emperors who should have faded into history began to appear one after another, totaling three, trying to step into the Nine Kings' Palace.

This matter stirred up much discussion in the Immortal Domain.

There were fearless cultivators following closely behind the three Emperor Realm figures, relaying information to the outside world at all times.

Even though the Immortal Domain is now in chaos, and all major Holy Lands have closed their sect gates and ordered disciples not to go out, the news spread without any delay.

As time passed, some ancient traditions recognized the Emperor Artifacts of Great Emperor Jiu Feng and Great Emperor Jin Shi, and thus inferred their identities.

"Emperor Bahuang!"

"Great Emperor Jiu Feng!"

"Great Emperor Jin Shi!"

While it was shocking and frightening that Emperor Bahuang from dozens of epochs ago still lived, the survival of Jiu Feng and Jin Shi was more conceivable to the cultivators of the Immortal Domain.

After all, they belonged to the ninety-eighth and ninety-ninth epochs of the Emperor Realm.

Whether through severing a previous life to live anew or utilizing Secret Techniques, it was both unexpected and logical.

The pace at which the three Great Emperors advanced was neither slow nor fast.

They were gathering momentum.

Especially Li Bahuang, who had already chosen the utmost pinnacle, now working to elevate his 'momentum' further.

"Eh."

Great Emperor Jin Shi wore a worried expression: "I wonder how those two kittens are faring."

Jiu Feng showed no pleasant expression to this 'predecessor,' and did not hide his coldness in the slightest.

Like Xu Lai, he had no faith in the path of incense and always believed it to be a conspiracy.

Just like Purple Spirit within Spiritual Energy.

Although absorption could greatly enhance boundary and combat power, Jiu Feng never actively absorbed a single particle of Purple Spirit; it was always involuntary.

Becoming an emperor through incense?

To Jiu Feng, an incense emperor could never be a true Emperor Realm, merely a pseudo-emperor.

Only those incapable of reaching the peak by themselves would choose an easier shortcut.

Great Emperor Jin Shi wasn't a fool, and naturally noticed someone's dislike, yet he wasn't angry, worrying by himself about the safety of his 'male pet.'

It is hoped that under the protection of his Jin Shi Palace, as long as they don't court death for two months, they should survive the Fallen Emperor Period?

After all, it was a quasi-Emperor Artifact-level defensive treasure.

"The path of incense is truly wondrous."

Li Bahuang sat cross-legged on the Eight Desolate Cauldron, and voluntarily conversed with Jin Shi.

He once studied becoming an emperor through incense but ultimately did not choose that path. Encountering a living incense Great Emperor, he felt inclined to explore.

"Li Daoyou jests."

Great Emperor Jin Shi gave a bitter smile: "Although possessing the lifespan of an Emperor Realm for a million years, my combat power is probably not half of yours."

"Half?"

Jiu Feng laughed coldly: "Your strength may be inferior, but your boasting isn't small."

Great Emperor Jin Shi narrowed his eyes.

Jiu Feng, unfazed, stood atop the heads of nine phoenixes, gazing down from above.

All the stars in the surrounding star system ceased to rotate, as the entire star domain froze, two imperial auras rising simultaneously.

"No infighting."

Li Bahuang spoke wearily.

"Hmph."

Jin Shi snorted coldly and turned away from Jiu Feng, and the latter restrained his aura, giving Li Bahuang face.

Li Bahuang felt a headache.

Well.

They had almost started an internal conflict before even reaching the Nine Kings' Palace gates!

Was Xu Qingfeng, that brat, worried the journey would be too dull?

Yet Li Bahuang knew there was no blame on Xu Qingfeng or Jin Shi, it was purely Jiu Feng's lack of regard for the young lady.

"Li Daoyou, it's rumored that you sat at the Northern Sea Eye until your demise, beneath the eye...what lies there?"

Great Emperor Jin Shi inquired.

"You know about the recent sudden disappearance of the Northern Immortal Domain, right?"

"Naturally, I know."

Great Emperor Jin Shi's voice grew solemn, and Jiu Feng also looked over.

Neither, one hiding in the Dead Realm, the other settled far on the remote Moon, could avoid knowing about this massive event.

For the entire Northern Immortal Domain was carried away by a whale!

"The Sea Eye allows entry into the whale's body."

"So, the North Sea Eye of the Northern Immortal Domain was actually just the mouth and nose the whale uses to absorb Spiritual Energy?"

"It could be described that way."

"Then does Li Daoyou know the origin of this giant whale?"

"Regrettably, I do not know."

Li Bahuang felt regret, for he, too, wished to learn the real origin of that enigmatic whale.

"It comes from The Other Shore." Jiu Feng interjected.

"Are you sure, Daoyou!?" Li Bahuang's pupils shrank.

"I'm sure."

Jiu Feng nodded emphatically: "I once deciphered a piece of Cloud Water Rust rune, which contained only one image, a whale and a boat within the painting."