Deep within Calamity Extermination Island, in a pitch-black space, two Divine Sense entities faced each other quietly, wordless for a long time.

Finally, it was Luo Xiu who broke the silence. "As far as I know, the Emperor of Calamity Extermination was one of the Ancient Ten Emperors and was killed by the Azure Emperor… which is to say, by me."

The Emperor of Calamity Extermination smiled. "Is what the world knows necessarily the truth?"

"Then what is the truth?" Luo Xiu asked.

"In truth, the ten of us volunteered to be killed," the Emperor of Calamity Extermination said with a sigh. "It's a long story."

"Volunteered? Why?"

"Many years ago, the Celestial Realm set its sights on the Kunlun Ancient Realm, which was on the verge of birthing a god. The ten of us consulted with the Six Emperors of Antiquity and decided to break away from the Kunlun Ancient Realm to create what became known as the Upper Realm. We came to be known as the Ancient Ten Emperors. Our purpose in creating the Upper Realm was to establish a line of defense to block the Celestial Realm and protect the Kunlun Ancient Realm. This is the truth of the Upper and Lower Realms, not the common belief that we Ten Emperors created the Upper Realm simply to seize the Kunlun Ancient Realm's Spiritual Energy."

"For many years after that, with the ten of us guarding the Upper Realm, all was peaceful, and the Celestial Realm didn't dare to invade rashly… until one day, 'it' appeared."

Luo Xiu asked, "What is 'it'?"

"We call it 'The Void'," the Emperor of Calamity Extermination replied. "It came through the Starry Sky Ancient Path, descending upon our world from the farthest reaches of space. Since its arrival, every cultivator in the Three Thousand Worlds of the Upper Realm who managed to step into the Emperor Realm has been infected by it."

"What happens after being infected?" Luo Xiu asked.

The Emperor of Calamity Extermination's tone grew heavy. "After being infected, Emperor Realm Cultivators split off another version of themselves—an evil self. We call this separated self a Void Entity."

Hearing this, Luo Xiu was suddenly reminded of the Ancient God, who had also split off an Evil Ancient God. Could that have also been due to an infection from this 'Void' the Emperor spoke of?

Then, Luo Xiu recalled the Celestial Being he saw during the great calamity in Luodi, the one who looked exactly like Guijian Chou. Could that Celestial Being have also been a Void Entity, separated after being infected by 'The Void'?

At that moment, the Emperor of Calamity Extermination continued, "A Void Entity is no different from its original self and possesses the same abilities. However, it lacks humanity and only indulges in senseless slaughter, using some mysterious power to refine the beings it kills. In essence, 'The Void' is a terrifying virus. Any cultivator who steps into the Emperor Realm, regardless of the means or methods they use, cannot escape its infection."

As he spoke, he looked at Luo Xiu's Divine Sense. "And it was at this time that you burst onto the scene. You advanced into the Emperor Realm in just a few short decades, completely unaffected by The Void."

Luo Xiu asked, "So that's why I slaughtered my way through the Upper Realm until no one dared claim the title of emperor, and wantonly killed the innocent?"

"In fact, you shouldered the burden for all of us infected Emperor Realm Cultivators," the Emperor explained. "You did not kill the innocent wantonly. On the contrary, you were kind-hearted and cared for all living beings. We willingly died by your hand, allowing our souls to enter the Mysterious Central Realm to follow the faint traces left by The Void's arrival. We hoped to reach the other side of the Starry Sky Ancient Path and uncover the truth of The Void."

"I never imagined that this residual soul of mine, lingering in my sanctuary, would be able to see you again in this way. It seems that after our deaths, your own journey has not been a smooth one."

Luo Xiu remained silent.

"Back then, you severed the Starry Sky Ancient Path," the Emperor of Calamity Extermination said. "But that could only grant the Upper and Lower Realms a moment of peace. The beings from the Celestial Realm still found ways to sneak into the Lower Realm. The Great Calamity of The Void will inevitably return."

Luo Xiu sighed. "I'm very confused right now."

"To suddenly be told all of this after losing your memories, it's understandable that you would be confused," the Emperor remarked. "Regardless, the path must be walked one step at a time."

With that, the Emperor of Calamity Extermination raised his right hand and placed it on the shoulder of Luo Xiu's Divine Sense.

"Actually, I've been secretly observing the events on Calamity Extermination Island all these years. That Luo Hao learned quite a few secret techniques in my sanctuary; the Blood Ban Technique is just one of them."

Suddenly, Luo Xiu, still confined in his cell, felt a surge of warmth through his body. A wondrous power traveled from the depths of the earth through their Divine Sense connection, flooding into his body and easily dispelling the Blood Ban Technique.

"That Luo Hao has crooked intentions," the Emperor said. "He even seems to be trying to imitate the Six Emperors of Antiquity's god-creation plan. Who knows how many people he's captured for blood sacrifices over the past few decades. Azure Emperor, the Forces of the Heavenly Realm are behind Luo Hao. You must be extremely careful when you face him in the future. As he said, the era of your invincibility is long past. The Luo Hao of today is even stronger than you were at your peak. What's more, he has already mastered the use of the Creation Green Lotus. Therefore, you must become stronger to defeat him and the Forces of the Heavenly Realm that back him."

"It's true," Luo Xiu said, "I am not his equal when it comes to using the Creation Green Lotus. I ended up in such a deplorable state this time because I underestimated him. I still thought he was the same person I so easily defeated forty years ago. The truth is, he has been progressing all this time while I have remained stagnant."

The Emperor of Calamity Extermination laughed. "In reality, it's not that you are his inferior, but that you hold such methods in contempt. Do you know why your former self endured the agonizing pain of carving out your own bones to personally strip away your Life-bound Green Lotus and cast it aside?"

Luo Xiu was deeply surprised by this. "I stripped the Green Lotus away myself?"

"Yes, because you yourself once said that creation comes with a price," the Emperor affirmed. "If one relies too heavily on that Green Lotus, they will eventually lose themselves and suffer from it in the end. Even without the Green Lotus, you could still forge an invincible path. Because you are creation itself, not someone whose achievements depend on a lotus flower."

Luo Xiu grew quiet, silently contemplating the Emperor's words.

I... am creation itself?

The Emperor continued, "Furthermore, the origin of this Green Lotus is a mystery. It's likely that a powerful existence beyond our comprehension lies behind it, so it would be best to discard it sooner rather than later. Otherwise, it's hard to say whether you are using the Green Lotus, or the Green Lotus is using you. Of course, the choice now is still yours to make."

"..."

「Two days later.」

Inside the cell, Luo Xiu slowly opened his eyes.

"I... am creation itself?" he muttered.

Hua Muyan asked curiously, "Master, what are you muttering about?"

Luo Xiu returned to his senses and slowly rose to his feet. Over the past two days, he had thought things through.

"Yan'er, I'm going to strip away the Green Lotus."

"What?!" Hua Muyan exclaimed in disbelief. "Back in the Lower Realm, you dreamed of getting the Green Lotus back. Now that you've finally regrown one, why would you..."

"I want to see if I can still walk my path without it," Luo Xiu said. "Besides, in the end, it's just a flower without feelings, and I am a man."

As he spoke, he reached out and grasped a Refining Thunder Whip.

"From this day forward, there is no Azure Emperor. There is only... Emperor Shura!"

"..."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.