Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1874 Chapter 501: The Final Step (Part 2)

Across the battlefield, the Dragon Ancestor's actions sparked panic within the Ancestor Dragon Clan, leaving many with faces etched in worry.

Should any harm befall the Dragon Ancestor, the Eastern Domain would face total ruin.

"Dragon Ancestor, why are you making your move? Could it be that you've caught a glimpse of destiny?"

A Quasi-Emperor from the Ancestor Dragon Clan couldn't hold back his question, his gaze filled with urgency and respect.

The other Immortal Kings of the Ancestor Dragon Clan also turned their eyes toward the Dragon Ancestor, brimming with hope, since the Emperor had long grasped the threads of destiny and could alter his own path. Maybe at the edge of fate, he had already foreseen how this clash would end.

"To catch a glimpse of destiny is just one piece in its grand design. Those who truly grasp destiny never bother to peek at it. Without knowledge, there's no alteration, and absent alteration, destiny itself vanishes."

The Dragon Ancestor uttered his words with measured calm. He hadn't peered into destiny; the Emperor wielded control over it, and that very control meant he avoided any probing. Every such peek was nothing more than destiny's scripted play, a chain of cause and effect.

This held especially true in a colossal conflict like this one, drawing in endless races, tangled fates, and even emperors clashing, where any revealed destiny turned out to be nothing but deception.

"All of you, keep your eyes fixed here. Should I claim victory in this fight, I'll shatter the raging demonic tide and forge a path drenched in blood for the Eastern Domain!"

"Should I fall, my Emperor Blood will soak this field, and you will charge ahead bathed in my Dragon Blood, vowing to wipe out the Ancient Demon!"

His voice boomed with profound gravity, and as the Dragon Ancestor's form surged forward, the surrounding skies appeared to fracture, overwhelmed by the sheer force of his imperial physique, unleashing chaos and ruin.

Scales resembling sacred metal unfurled across his body in a flash, and suddenly, a colossal ancient Ancestor Dragon materialized above the battlefield, its massive length covering a million miles, with its head lost in the clouds.

Its enormous bulk matched the scale of this frontline barrier, dominating the skies and the land alike.

The warriors from various races locked in combat sensed the overwhelming presence of this dragon, the unshakeable intent of this emperor, and all stood stunned—yet unlike the terror and reverence of before, this time the imperial form radiated a comforting strength and steadfast resolve, uplifting their spirits and surging their fighting spirit.

As the dragon's aura spread wide, two ominous shadows of darkness surged ahead, swirling with a voracious pull like whirlpools, clearly bearing the marks of two emperors.

The Dragon Ancestor's stare built with fierce intensity, his eyes ablaze as if steeped in holy flames, and with a thunderous bellow, he rent the battlefield's firmament asunder, ripping straight into the Exotic Realm.

The emperor from the Evil Realm Clan refused to yield, unleashing his own formidable pressure against the Dragon Ancestor, their duel swiftly spilling over into the Exotic Realm.

Even the faintest spillover from their confrontation would wreak devastating losses on the world below.

Once the Dragon Ancestor plunged into the Exotic Realm for battle, several Quasi-Emperors from the Ancestor Dragon Clan swiftly stepped up to command the field. Still, sensing the persistent imperial presence lingering beyond the demonic surge, their hearts clenched with icy dread; the alliance of emperors from the Five Ancient Demon Clans outnumbered them far too greatly!

"You lot, hold the line on this battlefield—my Taichu Clan included!"

A chilling command echoed from the rear, as two silhouettes pulsing with emperor-level might emerged boldly, hailing from the hidden ancient lineage of the Eastern Domain, the Taichu Clan.

Beyond the demonic wave, the emperors of the Yama Clan and their allies paid no heed to the Taichu Clan's arrival. In earlier skirmishes, an emperor from the Taichu Clan had already thrown himself into the mix, and now it seemed this clan was committing fully once more.

"Who's stepping up?"

The four clans exchanged glances.

...

Deep in the Abyss, inside the Heaven Tower.

"Hurry and look—the preselection outcomes have been revealed."

Ten years had flown by in a blink; what began as the True King Competition now displayed its ultimate rankings.

Numerous cultivators gathered outside the Great Emperor Dojo of the Heaven Tower, staring upward, where the top spot remained held by that powerhouse from the Emperor Clan, Di Mingyuan.

Level: 145!

Across more than a decade, Di Mingyuan's level stayed unchanged—some had noticed he never set foot in the Heaven Tower for trials, suggesting he skipped this preselection entirely, yet he still claimed first place!

The runner-up just scraped by at 138 levels, trailing by a solid seven.

"The leading ten spots show little shift, with only three seeing small climbs in position, nothing major."

Many watched with a touch of disappointment, realizing the True King positions wouldn't see any big upheavals.

"Hmph!"

In the midst of the throng, a Divine Venerable in gleaming golden armor shot a frosty glare, having spent five centuries honing his skills in the Abyss, advancing from the First Layer of Immortal King Realm all the way to the Seventh Layer—without yet using the Realm Domain Pill. If he took it now, another breakthrough awaited.

That meant with just two more advancements, he could swallow the Pill and rocket straight to Immortal King completion!

At that point, the might from his prior existence would flow back fully, and this reborn form could withstand it all.

Then would come the moment to unleash his true strength and climb swiftly. He had to claim a True King throne!

"It's far from over; the Immortal Immortal Emperor mentioned it might take two or three hundred years more before this training wraps up—plenty of time left!"

"While training in the Great Emperor Dojo, others push their levels and grasp Immortal Laws along with Tao Realms. But for me, swift level gains are all I need, and then the full power of my past life returns. Even though I never touched King's Domain before... in this lifetime..."

The Divine Venerable's eyes tightened, recalling how among the three pupils of his old master, the Heavenly Calamity Immortal Emperor, only his youngest sister had mastered King's Domain, rising to join the Seven Monarchs.

Yet after reaching Quasi-Emperor, he too had forged other supreme domains, even if they couldn't merge further.

Reborn now, that insight formed his core, and rebuilding King's Domain wouldn't prove challenging.

"Just you wait—once I hit the Ninth Layer of Immortal King Realm and take the Realm Domain Pill, no Emperor Clan, no Dao Clan will stand in my way!"

The Divine Venerable's gaze sharpened, sweeping over the assembly, brushing past a few low-key presences, though not the Emperor Clan's Di Mingyuan or the current top three rankers—instead, lingering on some figures hiding their auras.