Chapter 643: Zhao Rushen, The Battle for Dao Sovereignty

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting golden ripples on the river’s surface.

Tian Hong Emperor remained kneeling by the riverbank. His beard had grown long, reaching the ground, and his knees had sunken deep into the mud. With his eyes closed and his black hair draped over his shoulders, he seemed to have merged with the surrounding forest, his presence utterly natural.

Since Xiao Lan’s departure, another ten thousand years had passed. Tian Hong Emperor had now been kneeling for a total of twenty-one thousand years.

Footsteps approached from behind. A young man in black robes appeared, his features sharp and striking. His black hair was tied beneath a jade crown, and at his waist, he carried both a sword and a gourd. He exuded an aura of restrained sharpness, like an unsheathed blade barely held back.

"The so-called greatest genius under the heavens, the one the Dao Court hoped would become the next Dao Sovereign—yet here you are, kneeling in disgrace. It seems the Sword Master of the Dao doesn’t think much of you after all. Do you regret it?"

The black-robed man stopped a few paces behind Tian Hong Emperor, his voice cold and piercing.

Tian Hong Emperor did not open his eyes. His voice, hoarse from years of silence, calmly asked, "Who are you?"

"Zhao Rushen. Some also call me the greatest genius under the heavens." The man’s voice was filled with pride.

Tian Hong Emperor remained silent.

Zhao Rushen continued, "You may not know me, but I have seen you before. Back when I first entered the Dao Court, my talent was unremarkable. I remember watching you return victorious from slaying demons, the entire city of disciples chanting your name. You were the kind of person all of us aspired to become."

Tian Hong Emperor showed no reaction, as if he had not heard him.

"When you left the Dao Court, you made way for me. The Dao Court poured all its resources into me, and I became the new greatest genius. I have defeated every prodigy of my generation. For a thousand years, I fought across the world without rest. Yet people still compare me to you. They say I have never defeated you, so I cannot truly be called the strongest."

Zhao Rushen paused, his gaze turning sharp.

"So, you came here to challenge me?" Tian Hong Emperor remained motionless, completely unbothered by the possibility of an ambush.

"In my heart, I know that I am still not your equal."

Zhao Rushen took a step forward, his voice steady. "Now, I walk the same path as you, striving to become the Dao Sovereign. The Dao Court Master left behind a prophecy before departing—both you and I have the potential to achieve this title, to lead the Dao Court to an unprecedented height. Come back with me. If Wushi does not value you, why suffer humiliation here? Do you know how much controversy you’ve caused? The whole world now knows that the Dao Court’s proudest genius has been kneeling before Wushi’s gates. Do you know how much criticism the Dao Court has endured because of you?"

Tian Hong Emperor slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was as sharp as ever, showing no sign of being worn down by time.

"I am no longer a disciple of the Dao Court. You should leave." His voice was low and calm.

He lifted his gaze across the river, scanning his surroundings as if searching for something.

Zhao Rushen’s brows furrowed tightly. His hand drifted toward the hilt of his sword.

"Young one, this is not a place where you can act recklessly."

A cold voice rang out from the opposite side of the river, startling Zhao Rushen. His eyes snapped up to see two figures emerging from the depths of the forest.

It was none other than An Xin and Chen Chuan.

When Tian Hong Emperor saw An Xin, his gaze grew complex.

He could never forget that crushing defeat. Even now, he often pondered—what kind of eyes had he faced that day?

Chen Chuan followed beside An Xin, his gaze filled with curiosity as he studied Zhao Rushen.

He could sense a formidable sword aura emanating from Zhao Rushen—one so powerful that even he felt uneasy.

Zhao Rushen also stared at An Xin, his heart pounding.

There was something terrifying about her presence, something immeasurable. When their eyes met, a chilling fear crept into his soul. He had never felt this way before—not even when facing beings beyond the Unfettered Immortal Realm.

One thought rang in his mind—she must not be provoked!

That was Zhao Rushen’s exact feeling at this moment.

"May I ask the senior’s name?" Zhao Rushen cupped his hands in salute, his tone respectful.

An Xin replied calmly, "Wushi, An Xin. You should leave."

Zhao Rushen raised an eyebrow, about to speak when he suddenly felt an intense chill rise up his spine, sending a shiver through his heart.

After a brief hesitation, he chose to bow and retreat.

Although he didn’t understand why An Xin seemed hostile toward him, he wasn’t willing to risk dying here.

Zhao Rushen’s aura vanished swiftly as he departed, leaving An Xin and Chen Chuan standing at the riverbank, facing Tian Hong Emperor across the flowing water.

Tian Hong Emperor looked at An Xin but said nothing, his expression as calm as ever.

An Xin spoke first. "He wanted to kill you."

"Is that so?" Tian Hong Emperor asked in slight surprise. To him, Zhao Rushen had seemed more like someone trying to provoke him into returning to the Dao Court.

An Xin continued, "And he could have succeeded."

At those words, Tian Hong Emperor’s brows furrowed.

He could sense that Zhao Rushen had already reached the Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal Realm, catching up to his own cultivation. But that was only because he himself had been kneeling here for twenty thousand years. Even at the same realm, he did not believe he would lose to anyone—except for An Xin.

Chen Chuan was also shocked. He hadn’t expected Zhao Rushen to be this formidable.

An Xin turned to Chen Chuan and said, "You should go ahead."

Chen Chuan nodded before vanishing into thin air.

Tian Hong Emperor wasn’t particularly curious about him. What did intrigue him was that An Xin clearly had something to say to him, which stirred ripples in his heart.

An Xin fixed her gaze on Tian Hong Emperor. "That man will be your greatest rival. In the future, both of you will become Dao Sovereigns and will ignite a world-shaking struggle."

Tian Hong Emperor was puzzled. "Didn’t you just say he could kill me? If I weren’t here, wouldn’t I have already died at his hands? How, then, would we become rivals?"

"You will die, but you will rise again in the cycle of reincarnation. In every life, you and he will fight for supremacy."

An Xin’s voice was eerily calm, as if she were discussing something entirely trivial. Tian Hong Emperor, however, fell into deep silence.

After a long pause, he couldn’t help but ask, "Can you see my fate?"

"It’s not me."

Her answer caused Tian Hong Emperor’s expression to shift for the first time. His once tranquil heart wavered.

The Sword Master…

An Xin continued, "Keep kneeling. Master cannot accept you as a disciple for now. As for the reason, even I don’t know. Perhaps this is part of your cultivation. Over these years, you should have felt your understanding of the Dao deepening."

Tian Hong Emperor let out a soft chuckle. "That’s true. Though my cultivation has not advanced, my comprehension of the Dao has grown immensely. This must be a gift from the Sword Master."

That was why, even after kneeling for twenty thousand years, he never felt weary.

He had already glimpsed hope. Even if he had to kneel for another hundred thousand years, he would not find it unbearable.

An Xin said no more. She stepped past him and continued forward.

Tian Hong Emperor turned his head to look at her and couldn’t help but ask, "Senior Sister, where are you going?"

"I have my own matters to attend to."

An Xin replied casually, her lips curving slightly. She found Tian Hong Emperor rather perceptive.

Tian Hong Emperor then asked, "Will Zhao Rushen bring prosperity to the Dao Court, or disaster?"

"Destiny is ever-changing. If you learn of the future too soon, it will only hinder your path."

Before her voice had even fully faded, An Xin had already disappeared into the depths of the forest.

Tian Hong Emperor turned back to the river, lost in thought.

Dao Sovereign…

He had heard Yuan Songzi mention it before. In the Three Thousand Great Worlds, countless geniuses were vying for the title of Dao Sovereign. But for now, the Heavenly Spirit Great World had yet to produce one. Yuan Songzi had once told him to prepare himself well.

According to the future that An Xin had hinted at, Dao Sovereignty would become the ultimate battleground of the era. That meant Yuan Songzi's words might come true.

To become a Dao Sovereign, the Heavenly Spirit Great World must first break open the path to the Dao!

Tian Hong Emperor took a deep breath, casting aside all distractions.

He didn’t yet know how powerful a Dao Sovereign truly was, but the Great Dao of Strength that he was currently comprehending was undeniably formidable.

Even though his cultivation had not increased, he could feel his spiritual power undergoing a transformation. Compared to before he started kneeling, he was already multiple times stronger.

And yet…

Even with all that, would he still be slain by Zhao Rushen?

Tian Hong Emperor engraved Zhao Rushen’s name in his heart, anticipating the battle they would one day have.