The Ancient Emperors in the Coffins

The Ancient Emperors in the Coffins . . .

Zi Daoyang, the son of the Violet Emperor and the top-ranked individual on the Immortal Ascension Rankings, now found himself suspended in mid-air, held by an enigmatic figure whose mere presence felt capable of snuffing out his life with a single thought.

The assembled geniuses were on edge, their collective anxiety palpable. The gray-robed old man's penetrating gaze bore into Zi Daoyang, seemingly capable of delving into every corner of his mind.

—BOOM!— An intense surge of energy erupted, and a voice emanated from Zi Daoyang, distinct from his own, asking, "Sir, who might you be?"

"That's not Zi Daoyang's voice!" Everyone's faces tightened in realization. It was the Violet Emperor himself, concealed within Zi Daoyang!

The gray-robed old man continued to fixate on Zi Daoyang, and within his eyes, the silhouette of the Violet Emperor emerged.

"Who am I? And who are you?" The old man maintained his grip on Zi Daoyang, his voice carrying an ancient cadence, as though he had weathered the ages, forgetting his own identity and everything else.

"I am the Violet Emperor, and my son has come to the City of Ancient Emperors to hone his skills. I hope, sir, that you will show him mercy," the Violet Emperor's voice resonated. The old man's eyes flashed, and he spoke faintly, "Violet Emperor... your strength is decent. Should I spare your son?"

He seemed to be conversing with himself, and an immense aura surged from Zi Daoyang. However, the old man's palm was equally resolute, brimming with boundless strength. He locked eyes with the Violet Emperor's silhouette and said, "Are you resisting me? Very well, since your son has the fortune to come here, I will release him unharmed."

With that, he casually tossed Zi Daoyang a short distance away. Witnessing this, the onlookers felt their hearts quake. This old man had disregarded Zi Daoyang and even the Violet Emperor himself. But given the old man's apparent memory loss, he might not even recognize the Violet Emperor.

Still, why did such a formidable figure find himself in this place? What was his purpose?

The mysterious old man turned his gaze to the gathered geniuses, his empty eyes scrutinizing each one, as though he could discern their every secret.

"Too weak. Why are there so many weaklings? What's the point of all of you being here?" The old man sighed, leaving the geniuses speechless. To be labeled as weak by this enigmatic old man, who could be considered a genius in his eyes?

"Never mind, let fate decide," the old man sighed once more. Then, with a sudden movement, he soared into the air and pointed toward the location emitting the aura of kings and emperors. In an instant, he vanished from view, his movements so swift that none could follow.

"What a peculiar old fellow," Jun Mengchen muttered, relieved. But as his words faded, an overwhelming pressure descended upon him. His expression froze, and he saw a hand descending from the sky, lifting him into the air.

"Mengchen...!" Qin Wentian's face paled. "Senior, please, spare him!"

"Among these so-called weaklings," the mysterious old man's voice echoed, "you could be considered one of the less weak ones. I won't end your life today. You may proceed."

With a casual toss, Jun Mengchen was sent soaring ahead, heading towards the two contrasting auras. The hand that had held him vanished as if it had never existed. The sheer power displayed left everyone in stunned silence, afraid to utter a word.

"Let's continue," Qin Wentian urged, and the group pressed on, their eyes fixed on the two auras that dominated the skies. Questions swirled in their minds: Were these the inheritances of the Brahma Heavenly Emperor? Had both of these auras been left by the ancient emperor? Or did another ancient emperor bestow an inheritance here?

Finally, they reached the midpoint between the two locations. On the left stood a cavern emanating a gray aura, while on the right, a cavern exuded a pure, untarnished golden hue, reminiscent of kings and emperors. At this juncture, hesitation gripped the geniuses. Which path should they choose?

"Little Rascal is over there," Qin Wentian pointed at the gray aura-draped cavern. What mysteries lay behind these ancient emperor's legacies? After countless years, their mighty presence still lingered, reaching skyward.

"That should be the Brahma Heavenly Emperor's inheritance," someone in the group suggested. The Brahma Heavenly Emperor, a deity of slaughter, was a name that shook the immortal realms. He had been ruthlessly efficient, once vanquishing eight immortal emperors in a single battle. His aura was expected to carry coldness, ruthlessness, and an unchecked tyranny capable of obliterating all—a perfect fit for the grayish aura on the left.

"What do you all think?" Qin Wentian asked.

Qing'er remained silent, naturally following Qin Wentian's lead.

"I have no preference. We should explore both locations," Hua Taixu replied calmly.

"I'm going to the right. That's where Mengchen should be," Zi Qingxuan decided, drawn to the pure golden aura of kings and emperors.

"I'll join you on the right," Nanfeng Yunxi added.

"In that case," Qin Wentian said, "Qing'er and I will explore the left, while the three of you investigate the right. Nanfeng Yunxi, keep a watchful eye on them in case of trouble." He felt compelled to check on Little Rascal's situation to the left, and Qing'er would accompany him. Meanwhile, Nanfeng Yunxi's strength should suffice to protect Zi Qingxuan and Hua Taixu if they faced any threats.

"Agreed," Nanfeng Yunxi nodded. With that, they split into two groups, Qin Wentian and Qing'er heading left towards the cavern.

Numerous individuals had chosen both paths, but a greater number ventured left, captivated by the legend of the Brahma Heavenly Emperor, which was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

Entering the cavern, Qin Wentian and Qing'er discovered a place that appeared to be naturally formed by the heavens, yet the aura within was clearly the result of later cultivation. The floor was littered with bones and skeletons, instilling a sense of unease. It was clear that entering this place wouldn't be straightforward and that there was the potential for life-threatening danger.

"Ancient coffins," Qin Wentian murmured as they encountered stone platforms bearing wooden coffins. These coffins were constructed from unique materials, remaining pristine even after millennia.

"Zi Daoyang is right there," the crowd whispered, noticing him in a cross-legged meditative pose at the cavern's side.

"What's happening with him?"

"What could be inside those wooden coffins?"

Curiosity drove them closer, until someone ventured to peer inside one of the coffins.

"ARGH!" A blood-curdling scream tore through the air, and the explorer scrambled away, collapsing to the ground. His eyes bled, a gruesome and horrifying sight that sent shockwaves through the onlookers.

"What in the world?" The group froze, turning their gaze back to the coffin. The gruesome fate of their unfortunate companion halted the bravest among them in their tracks, paralyzing them with fear.

—BOOM!— An unsettling noise emanated from the coffin, followed by the sight of bony, pale-white hands emerging from within, devoid of blood or life. The eerie ambiance intensified as anxious tension swept through the crowd.

Suddenly, the hands were followed by an entire body rising from the coffin. Its head swiveled to face the stunned geniuses, and within moments, agony seared through their eyes. Blood-red arrows seemed to pierce their vision as a dominating presence invaded their minds, plunging them into a realm of blood.

Every individual felt transported to a nightmarish world, where a figure exuding absolute authority stood before them. In the figure's hand, a blood-red spear proclaimed their judgment.

Qin Wentian shared the same harrowing experience, struggling to break free from the entity's gaze. The figure in the coffin was incomparably imposing, like a lord of tyrants, possessing overwhelming divine power.

"Eight coffins..." Qin Wentian discerned that there were a total of eight wooden coffins in the chamber. Did this mean there were seven more beings similar to the one who had just emerged?

"Heavenly Emperor..." a chilling realization dawned on Qin Wentian. Were these eight beings the bodies of the supreme-tier immortal emperors defeated by the Brahma Heavenly Emperor in the past? Had the Brahma Heavenly Emperor arranged their remains here?

...BOOM...BOOM...! Terrifying sounds reverberated as all seven remaining coffins stirred. Ghastly white hands emerged from each, followed by the rising forms of seven imposing beings. As their eyes opened, they exuded unmatched celestial authority.

—bang!— One of the beings took a step forward, causing all the geniuses in the chamber to fall to their knees, overpowered by an irresistible force. Even Zi Daoyang couldn't resist the pressure.

Among the geniuses, however, the eighth-ranked Bone Demon struggled to advance, his gaze locked on one of the bodies. Suddenly, the figure he was fixated on radiated a brilliant light, as if imbued with mysterious power.

"Bone Demon, of the younger generation, pays respects to our ancestor," Bone Demon knelt, bowing reverently to one of the bodies. The figure he paid homage to trembled, and an arm extended from the void, seizing Bone Demon while its empty eyes bore into him.

"Ancestor, I'm but a humble junior from the Bone Race, your own descendant!" Bone Demon's face was etched with terror as he urgently called out.

"It appears Bone Demon hails from the ancient Bone Race, and the figure within the coffin is, without a doubt, his ancestor—an immortal emperor. Astonishingly, the eight immortal emperors defeated by the Brahma Heavenly Emperor were brought here, their bodies unscathed and carefully placed within these coffins," someone whispered, sending a ripple of fear through the gathered geniuses.

The Heavenly Emperor. The eight immortal emperors. Had they truly met their end?

This raised a perplexing question: What had these bodies become? Had the Brahma Heavenly Emperor turned them into puppets?

These thoughts sent tremors through the hearts of everyone present. Immortal emperor puppets—such a notion was unimaginable.

The Bone Race Ancestor turned his gaze upon Bone Demon, his eyes devoid of emotion. Did he still retain a semblance of self-awareness?

—BOOM!— The ancestor abruptly cast Bone Demon aside, sending him crashing heavily into a wall. Bones snapped audibly as several of Bone Demon's skeletal structures fractured. He looked up at his ancestor with a bewildered expression. His ancestor, a supreme-tier immortal emperor, had been transformed into a puppet by the Brahma Heavenly Emperor?

"Brahma Heavenly Emperor, your ruthlessness knows no bounds. Is your inheritance truly hidden here?" Bone Demon's gaze then pierced the depths of the cavern.

"Inheritance. What type of attribute energy might the Brahma Heavenly Emperor's inheritance embody? Throughout history, only a select few ancient emperors could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. It's unlikely that his mastery of attribute energies was limited to a single type," someone pondered aloud. The realization sent shivers through the hearts of the crowd. If they indeed stumbled upon the Brahma Heavenly Emperor's inheritance, what colossal tempest would it unleash?