Returning to the Upper Realm!

As far as Tianming was concerned, Su Yu was not overly worried. Now that Wuming had pledged allegiance, would Tianming really choose to oppose him? Tianming was a clever man. From the present situation, the myriad races did not hold much of an advantage. The key issue was that they lacked a supreme figure capable of uniting them under a single will. Just as humanity would fracture without a Human Lord, the myriad races lacked cohesion without a Master of the Races—a role far harder to produce than a Human Lord. Unless a true Rule Master emerged among them right now! Moreover, Su Yu's side was formidable. So long as Tianming was in his right mind, he would know which choice to make. Su Yu said no more about Tianming. Turning his gaze back to the Eight-Winged Tiger, he smiled. "In other words, Brother Tiger, as long as the figure inside the Hell Gate successfully emerges, you are willing to cooperate with me?" What the Eight-Winged Tiger sought was the chaos will, and taking down a Rule Master was no simple matter. An extra ally meant a higher chance of success... The Eight-Winged Tiger nodded, then lowered his voice. "However... there is no need for you all to act against that Rule Master. The Chaos Dragon and I will suffice. As long as you deal with the rest of the Prison King lineage, our cooperation will proceed without a hitch!" Even knowing how difficult it was to face a Rule Master, neither the Eight-Winged Tiger nor the Chaos Dragon counted on outsiders joining that battle. Otherwise, complications would inevitably follow. If these outsiders slew the Rule Master and had second thoughts—fearing the beasts' advancement and turning to obstruct them—it would become a massive headache. Therefore, he and the Chaos Dragon planned to lead the ancient beasts to besiege and kill that figure themselves. At this moment, Tianming could not help asking, "Then... will Baizhan and the others in the Lower Realm cause any interference?" "No need to worry!" Su Yu smiled. "I will head to the Upper Realm soon. Once there, I will join hands with the myriad races to seal the passage to the Lower Realm. I imagine the myriad races will be more than happy to see that, won't they?" Tianming was startled. *Seal the passage?* Well, Su Yu could travel through the chaos, so it posed no real problem for him. Su Yu weighed his options. If the Eight-Winged Tiger was truly willing to cooperate, many troubles could be avoided. Still, luring their targets into his own world would grant him far greater certainty! His only worry was being seen through. Yet even if he were exposed, it would not matter much. At worst, no one would come, and having no one come cost him nothing. With that in mind, Su Yu smiled. "Brother Tiger, I might have some other plans in the near future, such as drawing them into my world to make dispatching them easier! I may require a bit of your cooperation on that front!" The Eight-Winged Tiger pondered for a moment, instantly grasping Su Yu's intention, and replied, "That... is not out of the question. However, Emperor Su, I must make this clear in advance: even if we cooperate, that Rule Master must be left to us!" "Naturally!" Su Yu chuckled. "I would wish for nothing more. Facing a Rule Master of unknown depth is a chore I would gladly leave to you two! By the way, I won't pay a visit to the Chaos Dragon. After all, I was the one who severed his tail, and I wouldn't want him picking a fight upon seeing me! Brother Tiger, please handle things on his end; you two share a connection, after all." The Eight-Winged Tiger nodded. After a moment's thought, he looked at Su Yu and suddenly asked a profound question. "Emperor Su, what is your ultimate goal?" *My ultimate goal?* Did he intend to keep fighting in such chaotic turmoil forever? Of course not! Su Yu gave a faint laugh, lifted his teacup, took a measured sip, and said unhurriedly, "In this era, myriad Daos converge, myriad dynasties assemble, and past ages flow together! Innumerable powerhouses abound, and even World Openers are no longer rare. My goal? If I told you my goal is to let those who should vanish vanish, those who should perish perish, and those who should emerge emerge... a grand unification of the myriad Daos, would you believe me?" The Eight-Winged Tiger sank into deep contemplation before nodding a moment later. "It is only natural for a World Opener to harbor such ambition! However..." "However, my cultivation is currently too low!" Su Yu chuckled. "So for now, it's merely a thought! At present, I have only one objective: before the Human Sovereign and the Rule Masters of the myriad races return, to quell the turmoil of the myriad realms, welcoming the coming upheavals in our finest and strongest state! Back then, over a hundred Rule Masters departed. How many of them are still alive today? Some ancient marquises accompanied them as well, nearly all of the top-tier ones among them. Two-thirds of the one thousand and eighty ancient marquises left. Out of so many, how many have advanced?" Out of the 1,080 ancient marquises, at least 600 had been taken away, leaving behind the remainder in the myriad realms—and those left behind were the weaker ones. The truly formidable figures, those who had reached the Heavenly King realm or even the second rank, had almost all been brought along! Among them, how many had broken through to become Rule Masters? By the Human Sovereign's side, there were evidently no restrictions on advancement. When they returned, just how many Rule Masters would there be? No one could say. Therefore, if the myriad realms remained in their current state until their return, today's powerhouses would be reduced to mere cannon fodder. Without reaching the Rule Master realm, one could not even take the stage. The Human Sovereign's disdain toward Xingyue's words stemmed precisely from this: over there, the war belonged to Rule Masters! In the myriad realms, where even the seal had yet to be broken, figures like the Human Sovereign had essentially given up hope. Stalling was merely to bide time, perhaps in the hope that King Wen and the others might return! What Su Yu needed to do was bring peace to the myriad realms before their return, and perhaps even take the initiative to lead his forces onto the offensive! The Eight-Winged Tiger's gaze shifted, and Tianming's heart stirred as well. Su Yu's talk of quelling the myriad realms was likely no jest. Su Yu continued with a smile, "Everything happening now is merely an appetizer! What follows will be the era of Rule Masters! Those who fail to keep pace will be eliminated! So, if you and your partner wish to advance to Rule Master... as long as you do not oppose me afterward, I couldn't care less whether you advance or not!" "You belong to the chaos era. As of now, the chaos has not come into conflict with us!" "In the dead spirit realm, the Dead Spirit Emperor Sovereign is also a Rule Master. Can we slay him? We certainly have the confidence. Over there, he stands alone, while we have an abundance of talent. But... what would be the point?" Su Yu smiled. "The Martial Emperor is sealed. I could kill him right now, but is it necessary?" "For the time being, none of it is necessary!" "This era has only just begun!" "No, even the opening ceremony isn't over yet!" Indeed, their clashes with the myriad races were merely the prologue! A brilliant smile graced Su Yu's face. "Thus, this era is bound to be fascinating. Unwilling to remain nameless in an age where myriad Daos clash, I have simply chosen to cut down a few overly rambunctious foes to practice my hand!" The two looked at him. After a long silence, the Eight-Winged Tiger nodded. "I believe I understand Emperor Su's meaning! Before the Hell Gate opens, I do not foresee much conflict between us!" "That would be ideal!" Su Yu chuckled and rose to his feet. "I will say no more. Whether you two choose to betray me or genuinely cooperate, the only difference lies in how many of my subordinates will perish. As for myself... it is likely rather difficult to kill me now!" He smiled and added, "Lan Tian, leave an avatar here to converse with Brother Tiger so we can maintain communication and coordinate our actions." Lan Tian shed an avatar, which promptly morphed into a stone resting in the corner of the wall. "If Tiger Sovereign requires anything, feel free to call on me at any time!" A muscle twitched in the Eight-Winged Tiger's brow as he nodded. "Very well!" As Su Yu stepped into the air to leave, Tianming could not help asking, "Your Majesty... what about me?" "In three days, go find Wuming on your own! Once you reach the outskirts of Chaos Mountain, I will arrange for someone to guide you!" *Fair enough!* Tianming nodded, watching Su Yu and Lan Tian depart. Once they were gone, Tianming glanced at Lan Tian's avatar in the corner and sighed with emotion. "Truly, I was a frog in a well. His Majesty had already jumped beyond the scope of today's myriad realms long ago." What Su Yu was pondering was what would happen after the return of the Human Sovereign and his peers, and the convergence of all Daos. Meanwhile, many powerhouses were still merely obsessing over who ruled the roost in the myriad realms. The Eight-Winged Tiger made no comment. Watching the direction of their departure, he turned to Tianming and chuckled. "Venerable One, you may return to report to the myriad races. Cooperation is fine, but not right now! As for how you phrase it, I won't lecture you. Just don't mention that a Rule Master is about to appear, or the myriad races will surely intervene to stop it... and that would not serve our interests!" If they revealed now that a Rule Master was on the verge of emerging, a grand battle would erupt immediately, denying the Prison King lineage the chance to summon her forth. The myriad races would very likely take preemptive action, directly clashing with the interests of the Eight-Winged Tiger and his companion! Tianming nodded slightly. These days, everyone had their own schemes; he was indeed getting old. It seemed the Destiny Race could no longer remain neutral. Wuming's decision to side with Su Yu had likely come after profound deliberation. *I'll decide after seeing Wuming,* Marquis Tianming thought. At present, every faction was calculating and plotting. While the myriad races appeared strongest on the surface, that might not truly be the case. …… Meanwhile, Su Yu had already departed Chaos Mountain. He did not wander aimlessly. The chaos was perilous; getting lost would mean serious trouble. He had to return to the dead spirit realm and, following the charted route, disguise his entire world and relocate it here. That way, he could summon his subordinates to aid in battle whenever necessary. He had to make haste! The news from the Eight-Winged Tiger gave Su Yu a sense of urgency. The Hell Gate could actually allow a Rule Master to emerge. Though it sounded arduous, it was an omen indicating that powerful figures could begin passing through. The relationship between the Prison King lineage and the ancient chaotic beasts was tangled. Strictly speaking, the beasts roaming outside were distinct from those within, and the lineage likely had made some sort of deal with the internal beasts. Otherwise, why would the ancient beasts assist in sending out a Rule Master of the Prison King lineage? *The Hell Gate is about to open, yet I don't even know where the true body of the Heavenly Gate is. The Hell Gate's composition is relatively simple, consisting purely of ancient beasts. But what about inside the Heavenly Gate?* *The Heavenly Gate sealed the Creation Era, an era brimming with far too many powerhouses!* *The Time Master, the Dead Spirit Master, and perhaps even the Human Ancestor might be inside... Then who are King Wen and the others fighting?* Thoughts flashed through his mind. The situation within the Heavenly Gate was likely far more convoluted than that of the Hell Gate. *Who could possibly seal the Creation Era? That era was opened by the Time Master herself; wouldn't doing so require sealing the Time Master as well?* *And sealing an era... does that mean sealing all the powerhouses of that era, or something else entirely?* *How could one possibly seal an era?* *Where on earth did these gates come from?* *...* No one could answer these myriad questions for Su Yu right now, which only intensified his urgency! Time was running out. He had no desire to remain a small fry when all Daos converged. After struggling for so long and finally securing a foothold to become a supreme presence in the myriad realms, being relegated back to the bottom of the food chain at that crucial juncture was an outcome he refused to accept! "I must pick up the pace!" "Baizhan might have the Human Ancestor behind him, the myriad races have over a hundred Rule Masters, the Prison King lineage has the Chaos Ancient Clan, but as for me... can I really count on the Human Sovereign?" Su Yu smiled wryly! Indeed, every major faction possessed a backer, while he had none. Who could he rely on? The Human Sovereign? If they truly met, there was no telling how things would unfold. Thus, the myriad races were in no rush; if worst came to worst and they couldn't win, they could simply endure until their powerhouses returned! The Prison King lineage was not particularly anxious either, waiting for the Hell Gate to open. Even Baizhan might not be in a hurry, perhaps waiting for the Human Ancestor's return! When it came down to it, who was Su Yu waiting for? The Human Sovereign? They weren't even acquainted! There was no deep bond between them, not to mention that the Human Sovereign was currently at a disadvantage! This was the crucial reason why Su Yu had to step forward and stir the winds and clouds! He had seen through it all long ago: everyone had a reason to wait, except him! Continuing to disguise themselves as ancient beasts alongside Lan Tian, they returned to the outskirts of Chaos Mountain. After instructing the Southern King and the others to keep watch, Su Yu departed to relocate his world. …… Two days later. As Su Yu moved his world through the void, he encountered several ancient beasts along the way. Showing no mercy, he slaughtered every beast that crossed his path! Before long, in the boundless void outside Chaos Mountain, a somewhat battered continent came to rest. No longer did myriad Daos shine openly; instead, the aura of chaos flowed across it! Su Yu ceased organizing the myriad Dao forces within his world, allowing the chaotic energy to wash over it unhindered. Powerhouses stood densely across this rugged continent. Su Yu had mobilized nearly every fighter he could spare, leaving only a handful behind to guard the Tianyuan Realm, while paying little heed even to the dead spirit realm. The ground split open to reveal the Dao Diagram beneath. Without wasting words, Su Yu instructed directly, "Everyone, hide within the Dao Diagram to conceal your traces! Tea Tree, you need only plant yourself atop this diagram. Southern King, release your aura to disguise the tree's presence, deterring any ancient beasts from casually approaching! Give the Tea Tree a slight disguise so it looks different from before!" The crowd nodded. Wan Tiansheng said solemnly, "The one who needs to be most careful is Your Majesty. Going to the Upper Realm may not be safe!" "I know!" Su Yu smiled. "No matter. I am taking quite a few powerhouses with me this time!" Looking toward someone in the crowd, Su Yu raised an eyebrow slightly. "General Xuelan, come with me. Great Axe and I will ascend to the Upper Realm. Everyone knows you left with San Yue, so your sudden disappearance would look suspicious." In the crowd, Xuelan's expression was cool and aloof. Hearing this, she frowned slightly before replying calmly, "Very well!" "As for the rest of you, cultivate diligently during this period!" Su Yu said in a heavy voice. "I have granted access to the Human Lord Seal to Governor Wan and Lan Tian. If anyone wishes to comprehend the Great Dao origin, you may apply to do so. However, Marquis Jiantian remains sealed within; do not let him escape!" Wan Tiansheng nodded. "Rest assured!" Su Yu said no more. Aside from Great Axe and the others, the only person below the Heavenly King realm he took along was Tongtian! Marquis Tongtian was an absolute necessity, capable of teleporting them anywhere at a moment's notice. …… In the myriad realms, the three-day deadline Su Yu had set was drawing to a close. The three sealed domains trembled with turbulent energy, showing signs of unsealing. Su Yu's demand had been for everyone to rendezvous in the boundless void. At this moment, the powerhouses of the three realms were pondering whether to break their seals. In truth, their resolve had already been forged; yet when the moment truly arrived, hesitation lingered. Amidst this hesitant silence, a deafening boom suddenly shattered the air! Above the Immortal Realm, a protective canopy shattered! The next instant, silhouette after silhouette burst into the sky. Wearing a royal crown, Tiangu emerged with a formidable aura. Behind him stood a host of powerhouses, including King Fu—and more than one Dao Harmonizer. Indeed, there were many! Hanxiang, the Jade King, the Feng King, the Thunder King... At this moment, a full eight Dao Harmonizers stood behind Tiangu! This was the result of opening up his Dao and lifting restrictions on others' breakthroughs. Aside from King Fu, the immortal race had birthed seven Dao Harmonizers in a short span of time! Beyond them were over a dozen peak Eternities. Counting Tiangu, more than twenty powerhouses strode forth from the Immortal Realm. Having failed to harmonise their Daos in the Lower Realm, these peak Eternities stood a high chance of breaking through once they reached the Upper Realm, where the Dao's suppression was far weaker. At the same time, the void above the Demon Realm shattered, and multiple figures emerged! Moji and Moyue appeared one after another, followed by a lineup of powerhouses with deep foundations. Among them was a young expert whose aura faintly bordered the Dao Harmonizer realm—Moduona, who had dominated the Heaven Hunting Ranking for years, now stood on the threshold of harmonization. At that moment, everyone turned their eyes toward the God Realm. The void above the God Realm shattered as well. Jiwu strode forth, accompanied by five Dao Harmonizers. Yet everyone's attention was drawn deeper into the realm, where an ancient presence of immense power gradually manifested. It was an old woman with snow-white hair, tottering with age. Her aura fluctuated unstably, now strong, now weak, as she drew her Dao power out from the God Realm. The moment she took a step beyond its borders, her Dao power trembled with turbulence. San Yue, Great Axe, and Leibao swiftly arrived near the God Realm. Jiwu and the others grew instantly vigilant, but the old woman at the passage entrance said nothing. She simply smiled at the newcomers and nodded slightly. San Yue and the others nodded back. This individual was truly ancient—the Dao partner of the God Emperor! Back then, when the God Emperor and his peers had been led away by the Human Sovereign, the partners of other powerhouses had either fallen in battle or died of old age. Only she had survived to this day, steadfastly safeguarding the god race. "Former Imperial Concubine..." Jiwu said with concern. "Leaving the realm... I fear it will be difficult to suppress..." "No matter!" The old woman smiled and stepped forward anyway. At that instant, thunder seemed to brew in the sky. Right then, blood-red medallions materialized in the void, dispersing the lightning. A moment later, a gateway opened, and four figures emerged: Su Yu, Fat Ball, Tongtian, and Xuelan. Having scattered the lightning, Su Yu looked at the old woman and smiled. "So that's how it is!" The old woman looked at Su Yu and chuckled softly. "Emperor Yu must think it laughable!" Su Yu smiled. "The Imperial Concubine has earned my utmost respect! With such foundation, had it not been for the Human Sovereign's seal, you would have become a Rule Master long ago!" Pausing, Su Yu looked slightly puzzled before grinning. "Wait, something's not right... Could it be that the Imperial Concubine was already a Rule Master long ago?" Those words sent a shock through the crowd. Su Yu smiled. "Why do I feel... as though the Imperial Concubine reached the Rule Master realm long ago, but to evade the rules, severed her original Dao and switched to another? You walked that second Dao to its end, yet due to the rules' restrictions, you could not become a Rule Master again?" He continued, "Figures like the Martial Emperor or the Dead Spirit Emperor Sovereign cannot come out—or rather, they can only remain temporarily sealed, unable to move at will. Yet the Imperial Concubine moves freely! Could it be that to protect the god race, you chose not to seal yourself, but instead severed your Dao, re-cultivating a new one all the way to the Celestial Venerable realm? Alas, you are advanced in years, and severing your Dao of Rules has depleted your remaining lifespan." The old woman gave Su Yu a deep, searching look. Powerhouses from the other factions were arriving as well, their expressions filled with suspicion. Jiwu furrowed his brow slightly and glared at Su Yu. Su Yu laughed. "What are you staring at? The Former Imperial Concubine must have fallen from the Rule Master realm, and her lifespan is nearly exhausted. The God Emperor was no youth, and the Imperial Concubine is older than anyone here... In truth, the solution is simple: kill Tiangu and refine a Longevity Pill from him, and perhaps her life can be extended a little!" In the distance, Tiangu's expression remained tranquil, offering no reply. Su Yu chuckled again. "Of course, there is another way: swiftly break the seal and let the Imperial Concubine advance to Rule Master. Otherwise, I fear she won't live past San Yue!" Beside him, San Yue shifted uncomfortably. *Those words carry entirely too many meanings! Does it mean she won't outlive me, or won't live past three months?* The Former Imperial Concubine looked at Su Yu and chuckled softly. "Emperor Yu's eyes are sharp indeed, seeing through this old woman at a glance... In bygone years, I did indeed advance to the Rule Master realm. Alas... the myriad realms forbade the existence of Rule Masters. The moment one appeared, the thunderous punishment of the rules descended... The rules back then were far stronger than they are today; even Rule Masters could perish! Left with no choice, I had to sever my Dao and begin anew..." Su Yu asked with a smile, "Why didn't you seal yourself?" She chuckled. "Seal myself? What would be the point? Those like the Martial Emperor may have sealed themselves, but they haven't lived half as comfortably as this old woman, have they?" Su Yu nodded and praised, "A magnificent spirit! I imagine you have fought in plenty of battles over the years. Choosing not to seal yourself was likely so you could take to the field at any moment to defend the god race, wasn't it? I must admit, though the myriad races are my enemies, certain individuals among you who dedicate themselves to shielding their kin are truly worthy of admiration!" The Former Imperial Concubine could easily have sealed herself away, remaining in seclusion until the realms' seals shattered or living confined to a narrow domain. Yet she had chosen not to! She had chosen to sever her Dao and cultivate anew. She was truly a remarkable figure. Su Yu scanned the surroundings and laughed. "Not bad! Every faction has seen a considerable rise in strength. As expected, without pressure there is no motivation. It seems that without me, you all would have struggled to harmonise your Daos! You should be thanking me! Tiangu has become a Heavenly King, Jiwu is close behind, and while Moji is a step slower, he still has a chance..." Su Yu laughed boisterously. "Tell me, haven't you cultivated faster in these past few months than in the previous hundred thousand years?" The powerhouses of the three factions wore complicated expressions. It was indeed faster! As Su Yu said, immense pressure was one reason. Second, cultivation had become easier lately because the seals across the myriad realms were beginning to fracture, making comprehension of the Great Dao far smoother. Or perhaps certain ancient powerhouses were nearing their return, causing the power of their Great Daos to surge with vitality. For instance, the approaching return of the Immortal Emperor had invigorated the immortal race's Immortal Emperor Dao, allowing those cultivating along it to feel that its power was far more active and no longer dead and dormant! Su Yu chuckled and swept his gaze across them. "Not bad, fewer than a hundred people across all three races! It seems you had no intention of dragging your whole families up to the Upper Realm." Tiangu said placidly, "Ascending to the Upper Realm does not guarantee safety. Why bring too many?" "Fair point!" Su Yu nodded with a grin, then glanced toward the Human Realm. High above its domain, a terrifying presence seemed to hover silently, gazing in their direction. The others sensed it as well. *Baizhan!* He was watching them quietly. Su Yu smiled and looked away without lingering. Turning back to the assembly, he said casually, "Then let us be on our way!" Silence fell over the crowd. That abrupt "be on our way" sounded rather like sending them off to their deaths, making everyone feel uneasy! Su Yu then glanced at Leibao, teasing, "Venerable Leibao, aren't you going to bring some Giant Race powerhouses to the Upper Realm?" Leibao chuckled. "No need, the Lower Realm is safe enough." "Suit yourself!" Su Yu chuckled, stepping out toward the boundless void. On the god race's side, the old woman stepped out from the God Realm, followed anxiously by Jiwu and the others. Fortunately, once the lightning was dispersed, it did not reappear; otherwise, she might not have been able to leave. Her strength had reached its utmost limit, but judging by the instability of her Great Dao, if she were to strike, she might finish herself off before slaying the enemy. The old woman watched Su Yu silently, her heart heavy. *Just how strong is this young man?* Even she could not see through him now. Everyone followed quietly, the entire procession eerily silent. This was the very first time they had gathered around Su Yu without fighting or erupting into conflict, traveling together toward the Upper Realm. Could this be considered cooperation? Perhaps it could! …… Moments later, they arrived at the Fire Spreader Passage. Seeing the passage revealed with a wave of Su Yu's hand, everyone was secretly astonished. *Su Yu isn't even going to hide it? Once we reach the Upper Realm, won't this passage be completely exposed?* Leibao frowned slightly as well. Seeing Su Yu lead everyone here had already felt improper to him, yet he could say nothing now. He merely felt a weight on his chest; Su Yu was actively exposing the passage! Tiangu and the others were even more wary. If this passage was exposed, the one belonging to the Destiny Race would lose much of its value! Could Su Yu be planning to silence them all? "Great Axe, San Yue, enter first to scout the way and sweep away any danger!" Su Yu chuckled. The two powerhouses exchanged glances and stepped upward into the passage. Just as Leibao moved to follow, Su Yu said indifferently, "Venerable Leibao, you need not go up. Stay here to protect the various races against any unforeseen danger. If heavy casualties occur, it will be hard for you to answer to the myriad races!" Leibao had no choice but to halt. Glancing at Su Yu, he felt uncertain. *Just what is Su Yu's strength? Didn't they say his Great Dao had fractured? It feels like his Dao is severed, with no Dao fluctuations, yet that doesn't seem quite right either.* After Great Axe and San Yue had been inside for a moment, Su Yu stepped into the air and said coolly, "Follow me closely. If you wander off and die, don't blame me!" The Former Imperial Concubine asked softly, "Is Emperor Yu truly ascending to the Upper Realm with us?" Su Yu laughed. "Naturally! Wherever I fall, that is where I will rise again! Ascending to the Upper Realm this time, I will not rest until I have slain those bastards! Rest assured, you all can wait your turn. Once I've killed those fools from the Prison King lineage, I'll deal with you... Of course, you are welcome to come looking for me; I won't mind!" Silence answered him. Su Yu remained as brazen as ever! The group stepped into the passage, which trembled around them. …… Meanwhile, in the Upper Realm. Atop the Human Mountain, a group was still in the middle of discussions when tremors suddenly rippled from the distant Soul Burying Mountain region. A short while later, a host of powerhouses swiftly arrived. Before long, two mighty auras surged outward without the slightest concealment, and in a flash, San Yue and Great Axe burst forth from the passage. San Yue laughed boisterously. "Our mission is accomplished! Tiangu and the others have been brought forth; they are currently within the passage!" Great Axe declared coldly, "By His Majesty's decree, if the myriad races are willing to gather ninety-nine councilor medallions, he is willing to seal this passage!" Celestial Venerable Yue and the others arrived in haste, their expressions grave. *What is the meaning of this? His Majesty? Which Majesty?* Celestial Venerable Yue hesitated. "The Majesty Marquis Great Axe speaks of is..." "Emperor Yu!" Great Axe bellowed. "His Majesty will also ascend to the Upper Realm this time, willing to ally with the myriad races to crusade against the Prison King lineage! To prevent Baizhan from stirring up trouble, he is willing to seal the Soul Burying Mountain passage!" Hearing this, Celestial Venerable Huang was startled, then said in a deep voice, "Then why not strike directly into the Lower Realm and simply slay Baizhan?" Right at that moment, several more powerful auras erupted. Su Yu stepped forth, his aura overpowering, with Fat Ball's presence surging alongside him. Su Yu gave a faint smile. "After all, we are fellow humans. Slaying Baizhan would only soil my reputation. If you are willing to seal it, then seal it; if not... leave it be. If you think it better to descend and kill Baizhan first, you are welcome to try. However..." Su Yu narrowed his eyes with a smile. "Baizhan's subordinates are by no means weak! Clashing with him might not end well for you, and Baizhan himself is exceptionally powerful... In any case, I will not cooperate with you to kill Baizhan. As for the Prison King lineage, I am willing to lead my forces to cooperate with you during this ascent!" "You?" At that moment, a massive dragon tore through the void, roaring in fury. "You are that Su Yu? What right do you have to speak here? You slaughtered countless powerhouses of my dragon race..." "Too much nonsense!" Su Yu snapped coldly. "Take him down!" Great Axe, San Yue, and Fat Ball instantly unleashed terrifying power, descending upon the dragon race's Celestial Venerable in the blink of an eye! Celestial Venerable Yue and the others were shocked! *Three Celestial Venerables!* No—that Fat Ball's aura was exceedingly formidable, and the boot hovering above it radiated boundless power. Just as Celestial Venerable Yue moved to intervene, Su Yu said indifferently, "Why should the god race interfere?" Before the words had faded, Celestial Venerable Yue took fright as Su Yu appeared right beside him, pressing down with a palm. Panicked, he struck back, while Celestial Venerable Dao beside him moved just as swiftly! *Boom!* The collision forced Celestial Venerable Yue and Celestial Venerable Dao back a step, while Su Yu was pushed back several paces as well. Meanwhile, Fat Ball snapped its jaws and slammed the boot down, sending the giant dragon flying with a resounding crash, a massive boot print stamped into its scales! Su Yu laughed. "Just flexing our muscles so you don't think I came up here to take advantage of you! Counting myself, four Celestial Venerables—is that enough strength to warrant cooperation?" "San Yue!" Shocked, Celestial Venerable Yue looked at San Yue. San Yue had just forced Celestial Venerable Ming back with a single bamboo strike, while Great Axe had cleaved Celestial Venerable Feng aside with his axe. San Yue smiled naively. "I follow only His Majesty's orders!" The crowd was shaken to the core! San Yue had defected directly to Su Yu! What was more, Su Yu's strength had advanced once again, and at terrifying speed! Maintaining an impassive expression, Su Yu said coolly, "Are you willing to cooperate or not? If you are, use the medallions now to seal the Lower Realm. That way, everyone can rest easier without worrying about Baizhan stabbing us in the back!" The various figures exchanged glances. At that moment, more people arrived from behind. The Former Imperial Concubine coughed softly and said, "Seal it!" Celestial Venerable Yue started, turning hurriedly to look at her. "Imperial Concubine..." "Seal it!" Celestial Venerable Yue's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly responded, "Very well, my race agrees..." Over on the other side, Tiangu flew up and looked toward Celestial Venerable Dao and Celestial Venerable Huang, nodding slightly as he said calmly, "Seal it! The strength of Baizhan's faction remains unknown; it is better to seal off the Lower Realm first!" Celestial Venerable Dao frowned slightly. Tiangu looked at them, and the two Celestial Venerables exchanged a glance before finally nodding. Tiangu spared them a brief glance, said nothing more, and stepped toward the distance. "King Fu, lead the way!" "Understood!" King Fu swiftly led them away. Celestial Venerable Dao and Celestial Venerable Huang looked at each other, their hearts heavy. Tiangu's ascent was not necessarily a good thing! Yet leaving him in the Lower Realm had been even worse. In the Upper Realm, vast numbers of powerhouses supported Tiangu; after all, he remained the sole king of the immortal race to this very day. In the distance, Marquis Xianzhan and several other Heavenly Kings had already arrived. Overjoyed, Marquis Xianzhan bellowed, "We welcome our Emperor!" Dozens of Dao Harmonizers had actually come to greet him! What was more, the vast majority were cultivators of the true Dao, with almost no false-Dao practitioners among them. This was the true foundation Tiangu possessed in the Upper Realm! At this sight, Celestial Venerable Huang and Celestial Venerable Dao sighed inwardly, feeling helpless. Those people had come to welcome Tiangu without even consulting them. Clearly, even though they were Celestial Venerables, the immortal race had known only one emperor since the ancient era: Tiangu! "Seal it!" The Celestial Venerables spoke one after another, and over thirty medallions floated forth. Su Yu counted them; combined with his sixty, there were only ninety-seven. No matter! Missing a couple was of little consequence. The next instant, he directly manipulated the medallions, gathering immense power of the rules. The formidable energy sealed the entire Soul Burying Mountain passage shut! Su Yu laughed, and in an instant, the passage vanished! …… At the same time, in the Lower Realm. A tremendous roar echoed, causing Baizhan and his group in the Human Realm to change expression. Soon, they broke through the void at top speed. Moments later, when they reached the boundless void, the passage had completely faded away, the reverberations shaking the vast expanse! "Damn it!" The crowd was furious. Long Eyebrows raged, "They sealed the passage? Curse him, Su Yu truly colluded with the myriad races! He actually sealed the passage!" *Damn him to hell!* With this, the difficulty of ascending to the Upper Realm had skyrocketed. Take the Destiny Race's passage? That was far too dangerous! Baizhan remained silent, looking up into the void. This move from Su Yu had exceeded his expectations as well. *He actually sealed the passage! Does he truly believe he has no need of my help? Does he believe he can pacify the Upper Realm on his own?* In Baizhan's mind, even if Su Yu ascended, he would eventually turn to him for reinforcements at a critical juncture. Instead, Su Yu had severed his own retreat, completely locking down the Lower Realm! More than anything, he was guarding against Baizhan himself! …… Meanwhile, in the Upper Realm. Su Yu retrieved his medallions, while the others flew back to their owners. Su Yu chuckled. "If you want to unseal the Lower Realm, settle the Prison King lineage first! Farewell for now, everyone!" Laughing heartily, Su Yu led his companions into the sky. San Yue's voice drifted back: "I trust my kinsmen will be escorted safely back to Mount Zhu!" The Celestial Venerables remained silent. Su Yu's faction now boasted four Celestial Venerables. Just as Leibao moved to follow Su Yu, Su Yu's voice echoed through the air: "Leibao, you stay behind. Remain on the Human Mountain! If you receive any intelligence, report to me immediately! In slaying the Prison King lineage, Leibao shall serve as the vanguard. Feel free, myriad races, to hand all the toughest bones to Leibao to chew on!" Silence fell. Leibao stood frozen for a moment, his face darkening. *Damn it! That bastard is truly shameless!* At that moment, the others wore strange expressions as they looked toward Leibao. Su Yu's meaning was crystal clear: he couldn't care less about Leibao, and since he wasn't in the same camp as Baizhan, he had no intention of looking after Baizhan's man! Was that it? The humans were still rife with internal strife. Now, things had become exceedingly difficult for Leibao. He wouldn't obey the myriad races, nor would he listen to Su Yu, and Baizhan was stuck in the Lower Realm... Stuck in the Upper Realm like this, Leibao was completely on his own, unwanted by either side! Everyone watched silently as Su Yu departed. The hot-headed among them, like Celestial Venerable Long, had wanted to strike, but the enemy's strength was overwhelming; having been swatted aside in an instant, he knew he was powerless to act. If an all-out battle truly erupted, the other side had four Celestial Venerable-level combatants, with Fat Ball and Su Yu both proving exceptionally terrifying. If they truly fought, even a victory would come at catastrophic cost. For a moment, they were utterly cowed by Su Yu's presence! Seeing this, Moji and the others sighed inwardly. That fellow Su Yu was arrogant wherever he went, yet infuriatingly, he possessed the capital to back it up! Even here in the Upper Realm, he remained as wildly insolent as ever! The powerhouses newly arrived from the Lower Realm felt a complex tangle of emotions. Sure enough, in the Lower Realm, Su Yu had been the master; and up here, he remained the same!