Chapter 491 - 490: Emperor Tang’s Worry

Chapter 491: Chapter 490: Emperor Tang’s Worry

"Now that Emperor Tang has left, we can awaken the Ancestor." Fervor burned in Wei Wuya’s eyes, which shimmered with a dark light.

"Once the Ancestor emerges, the Southern Wilderness will belong to our Corpse Spirit Hall." The two experts beside him were also itching to make their move.

In the past, they had remained dormant precisely because they were wary of Emperor Tang.

But now that Kun Hai was keeping Emperor Tang occupied, they no longer had to worry.

It was, without a doubt, the perfect opportunity to awaken the Corpse Ancestor.

"Let’s go!" As the low voice rang out, Wei Wuya and the others flew toward the Great Tang Empire.

...

「Night fell. On a mountaintop in the Lingyun Sect.」

Wearing a Dragon Robe, Emperor Tang stood on the edge of a chasm, gazing at the distant Void. His aura was clearly stronger than it had been a year ago in the Great Tang Empire.

Beside Emperor Tang was a young man in a white Elixir Robe.

This young man was, of course, Ling Fei.

After proclaiming the Holy Decree to the world, Emperor Tang had departed, but he had sent a message to Ling Fei, and the two were now meeting here.

This made many people incredibly envious.

Especially the Eighth Prince and the Third Prince.

Because neither of them had received a private audience with Emperor Tang.

"I never thought our next meeting would be here." Emperor Tang turned, his gaze falling on the young man beside him with a hint of wistfulness.

"I didn’t think the Southern Wilderness would fall into such a state either," Ling Fei sighed. The current situation in the Southern Wilderness, despite Emperor Tang taking the lead, was anything but optimistic.

Just as Sect Leader Yuan had said, as long as the Kunpeng Ancestor wasn’t destroyed, he would remain a catastrophe in the making.

’But even if the Kunpeng Ancestor were destroyed, would the world truly be at peace?’

’The state of the world was clearly not that simple.’

"Heaven and Earth follow their own course. For those of us born in turbulent times, we need only follow our hearts and do our best." Emperor Tang smiled, his expression magnanimous.

It seemed he had long since come to terms with everything.

"Indeed. For those of us born in turbulent times, the only thing we can do is our best," Ling Fei said with a nod.

"Haha, I heard that you didn’t hesitate to burn your source Divine Soul to kill Xu Zitao back in the North Spirit Ruins. Such courage is truly admirable!" Emperor Tang chuckled, looking at Ling Fei with undisguised approval. ’A young man just past eighteen, yet willing to risk his life for the sake of justice. How rare.’

"You give me too much credit, Your Majesty. Given the situation, if the Kunpeng Ancestor had emerged, I would have been doomed anyway. Since death was inevitable, I figured I might as well fight with all my strength. Better to go down fighting than die for nothing. That way, at least I could die without regrets," Ling Fei said with a carefree smile.

"Haha, ’die without regrets.’ Well said! That is how we Cultivators should be. That way, as long as a single member of the Human Race still lives, there is hope." Emperor Tang’s gaze hardened, and his voice grew stronger as if his very blood was boiling. ’Though the young man before him spoke of it so casually, Emperor Tang knew that when faced with a life-or-death crisis, far too many people feared death, choosing to swallow their pride and live in mediocrity.’

’The Human Race!’ Ling Fei’s eyes flashed, and he couldn’t help but look at Emperor Tang with a newfound respect.

He had fought with all his might to protect his family, but Emperor Tang was concerned with the entire Human Race.

Emperor Tang’s thoughts were clearly on a grander scale than Ling Fei’s, his heart vaster.

"Regarding this campaign, how confident are you, Your Majesty?" Ling Fei’s gaze shifted as he suddenly asked.

Although his strength was still insufficient to contend with Daoist Palace Realm experts, he was still concerned about this battle.

"Confidence?" Emperor Tang’s eyes narrowed, and he couldn’t help but take a deep breath. "In tomorrow’s battle, I have no certainty of victory. It will all come down to the will of the heavens."

"What!" Ling Fei’s brow furrowed at his words. "Even Your Majesty isn’t confident?"

’At the same time, he was confused. If there was no certainty, why go to war at all?’

"The situation in the Southern Wilderness is far more difficult than you can imagine," Emperor Tang said, taking a deep breath.

"Your Majesty seems to have some reservations?" Ling Fei inquired.

"Do you remember the Xiling Ruins?" Emperor Tang asked, a question in his eyes.

"The Xiling Ruins?" Ling Fei’s eyes flashed. "I’ve been inside before. There was an Ancient Evil Demon in there."

"Correct." Emperor Tang nodded. "That was not an Ancient Evil Demon, but an Ancient Corpse Ancestor, lying dormant in our Southern Wilderness, planning to emerge one day."

"Now that the people from the Corpse Spirit Hall have appeared, I’m afraid they will also try to find a way to awaken the Corpse Ancestor." Emperor Tang was fraught with worry.

’In the north, the Kunpeng Ancestor is about to emerge. In the south, there is the hidden threat of the Corpse Ancestor. But the Southern Wilderness no longer has an Ancient Great Power to guard it. Now, I have no choice but to step forward myself, regardless of victory or defeat!’

"So it was a Corpse Ancestor!" Realization dawned in Ling Fei’s eyes. "But that Corpse Ancestor’s Divine Soul has already been obliterated."

"Obliterated?" Emperor Tang was inwardly shaken. ’That was a Corpse Ancestor, of all things.’

’Legend had it that its Divine Soul was formed from the remnant soul of a Hou, a Divine Beast from the Ancient Era, fused with the corpse of an Emperor!’

’The Divine Soul of a Hou was exceptionally powerful and difficult to destroy. That was why, during the great war of Ancient Times, it wasn’t completely annihilated despite its grievous injuries. Instead, it found a secret place to bury itself and plot its revival. It was only after the Xiling Ruins were exposed that Emperor Tang confirmed it was the burial ground of the Ancient Corpse Ancestor.’

"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it should have been completely obliterated," Ling Fei said.

’Back then, Yiyi had gone all out, burning her very source, just to obliterate the Corpse Ancestor’s remnant soul.’

’Logically, if the Corpse Ancestor’s remnant soul still existed, it definitely would have done everything in its power to kill me.’

’After all, the Corpse Ancestor had been trying to seize the Dragon Bone Pen from my hands!’

"Can you elaborate?" Emperor Tang asked, wanting to confirm this matter.

Because this matter was of great importance, Emperor Tang had to ask for clarity. Only then could he properly judge the situation.

"When I entered the Xiling Ruins... in the end, it was she who helped me obliterate the Corpse Ancestor’s remnant soul." Ling Fei recounted what had happened.

At the same time, with a flash, Yiyi appeared on Ling Fei’s shoulder.

"This little beast has such a sacred aura. The Essence Qi in its body is so pure, far surpassing ordinary Essence Qi, and its Divine Techniques are astounding. I suspected back then that it was no ordinary Spirit Beast, but I never imagined it was actually a creature nurtured by the heavens and earth themselves. It seems your meeting was truly fated," Emperor Tang said with a laugh.

He had seen Yiyi long ago.

’The little rascal stole from the Royal Family’s Medicine Garden back then!’

However, upon learning that this beast was the one that helped Ling Fei obliterate the Corpse Ancestor’s remnant soul, Emperor Tang was utterly astonished.

"If not for Yiyi, I don’t know how many times I would have died," Ling Fei said, gently stroking Yiyi’s little head.

Emperor Tang nodded slightly. His expression turned serious as he said, "Now that the Corpse Ancestor’s remnant soul is gone, I can finally fight without holding back." A blazing fighting spirit burned in his eyes. When he first came to the Southern Wilderness, he had been worried the Corpse Ancestor might emerge, so he had arrived prepared to lay down his life.

Gazing into the distance, he showed no signs of hesitation. All that remained was the coming battle.

’Besides, even if the situation was dire, no one could know the final outcome until the very end. If I were to give up so easily, how could I ever face the people of this world?’

Now, hearing Ling Fei’s words, he was immensely pleased.

Seeing the fighting spirit burning in Emperor Tang’s eyes, Ling Fei also felt a hint of joy.

’If even Emperor Tang can’t turn the tide, then the Southern Wilderness is truly doomed!’