Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

An endless starry sky spread out before him.

Within this starry sky, a colossal black fortress seemed to plummet from the Nine Heavens, smashing violently into a blazing sun below.

BOOM—

Heaven and earth trembled as the immense sun was directly shattered into dust by the black fortress.

Black Demon Flames billowed, devouring the destructive energy of the shattered sun. The dark light surrounding the fortress surged even more violently.

Figure after figure appeared across the cosmos. There were majestic beings riding Azure Dragons, Martial Arts Venerables treading upon seven-colored clouds with Law Divine Chains coiling around them, and even ethereal fairies in white, wreathed in celestial music...

Every one of them was an expert who stood at the very pinnacle of this world!

"Celestial Demon, hand over the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map, and we may yet spare your life. If you continue this futile resistance, don’t blame us for forgetting our past relationship!" The ethereal fairy’s voice was otherworldly and pleasant to the ear as it echoed through the void.

The Martial Arts Venerable treading on seven-colored clouds had eyes like the stars and moon, glinting with a cold light. "Hand over the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map, or die!"

"Celestial Demon, why must you do this?"

The Azure Dragon roared as the majestic being atop it sighed softly.

The other experts stood by with cold smirks, their Divine Essence fluctuating with abnormal intensity, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

Atop the black fortress.

A powerful being clad in purplish-black battle armor, divinely imposing and wreathed in Demon Flames that towered to the heavens, slowly flew out from the black fortress.

His Demon Flames could incinerate the Nine Heavens and melt True Gods. His pair of icy eyes swept over the assembled experts as a cold laugh, like thunder shaking the void, rang out, "Hahaha, you bunch of hypocrites! When we explored the Hong God’s Secret Realm, we agreed that life and death would be decided by Heavenly Destiny, and treasures would go to those fated to find them. I obtained the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map, and now you all team up to snatch it away. Have you no shame?"

"The Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map is of immense importance. The very survival of countless beings in our world is at stake. It cannot fall into the hands of a Demon like you!" the ethereal fairy declared righteously.

The majestic being riding the Azure Dragon said coolly, "Such a paramount treasure should be in the hands of us, the righteous."

"Hahaha, a bunch of hypocritical trash! The Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map is right here in my hands. If you have the guts, come and take it!"

The Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable threw his head back and roared. A Demon Sword appeared in his hand, and as he drew it, the world trembled and the starry sky was torn asunder.

The fairy, the majestic being, and the Martial Arts Venerable all attacked...

The battle was cataclysmic, shattering heaven and earth, nearly annihilating the firmament itself.

The Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable’s demonic might was god-like. He tore the Azure Dragon apart with his bare hands, incinerated the Martial Arts Venerable with his Demon Flames, and stomped the ethereal fairy’s lower body into a bloody pulp.

But he paid a heavy price. Grievously injured, his Soul Fire flickered precariously. His cold gaze swept over the other experts, who were stirring restlessly, as he flicked his sword and bellowed, "You all schemed endlessly to seize my Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map. Today, I, the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable, am outnumbered. But when my successor returns to this world, that will be the day you all bow your heads! Just you wait, hahaha..."

The Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable transformed into a divine radiance and fled into the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle, disappearing into the depths of the starry sky...

BOOM—

Jiang Chen’s whole body jolted. He gasped for breath, drenched in sweat, as if he had just personally experienced that scene. He looked up at the body of the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable, his mind reeling. ’What a terrifying Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable! To fight so many supreme beings all by himself. A glorious defeat. An expert like that deserves respect!’

Jiang Chen bowed deeply to the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable.

He had just witnessed the memory of the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable’s final battle and could feel his helplessness and rage. He swore a silent oath in his heart, ’If I ever become powerful enough to slay those enemies, I will definitely bring justice for Elder Celestial Demon!’

BUZZ—

The body of the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable trembled slightly. The pitch-black longsword standing before him also quivered and flew out.

An ancient scroll also flew out from within the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable’s robes.

Without the black longsword and the ancient scroll, the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable’s body erupted with a black light. His entire form began to melt, transforming into an exquisite, translucent Hexagram that flew over.

The black longsword, the ancient scroll, and the Hexagram.

The three items floated in front of Jiang Chen.

"What are you spacing out for? These three items are the inheritance the Venerable Emperor left for you. Hurry up and take them!" urged the Black Emperor.

"Alright!" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Jiang Chen nodded and reached for the first item of the inheritance. The black longsword quivered, and a burst of black light shot out from its blade.

It transformed into a mysterious, jet-black rune and branded itself between Jiang Chen’s eyebrows.

The black longsword continuously shrank until it was the size of a fine hair, then shot into Jiang Chen’s body and disappeared.

At the same time, information about the black longsword also appeared in Jiang Chen’s mind. ’The Demon Sword, Spirit Slayer, was the former Combat Weapon of the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable, a Divine Soldier that surpassed the Celestial Tier. Unfortunately, the Slaying Spirit Demon Sword was severely damaged in the final battle and has fallen to the Earth Tier Low Level. It requires materials to be re-refined to restore its former grade!’

"Come out!"

With a thought, the Slaying Spirit Demon Sword, pulsing with black light, appeared in Jiang Chen’s hand. With another thought, it vanished. He repeated this a few times. Holding the Spirit-Slaying Sword and gently stroking its dark blade, Jiang Chen said in a low voice, "As expected of a Divine Soldier that once surpassed the Saint Tier. It’s a shame that with my current strength, I can’t fully unleash its power and can only use it in a crisis. Spirit Slayer, don’t worry. I will definitely find a way to help you return to your Peak!"

BUZZ—

The Spirit-Slaying Sword let out a gentle tremor, as if in gratitude to Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen smiled faintly, retracted the Spirit-Slaying Sword into his body, and reached for the ancient scroll!

The ancient scroll actually had a powerful seal on it, making it impossible to open. The Black Emperor spoke up from the side, "This is the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map. It’s tied to the whereabouts of a world-shaking treasure. The Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable fell because of it. Your cultivation is too weak right now to break its seal. You’ll only be able to undo it once you reach the Demigod Realm!"

’An innocent man gets into trouble for carrying a treasure. Even a peerless Demon Lord like the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable died because of it. If anyone found out I have the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map, I probably wouldn’t live to see another sunrise!’

"I understand!"

Jiang Chen nodded, carefully stored away the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map, and looked at the Black Emperor. "Little Black, what realm is the Demigod you just mentioned?"

The Black Emperor said flatly, "Above the Union Palace Realm!"

Jiang Chen grew thoughtful, then turned his gaze to the final item, the Hexagram.

The Hexagram was completely transparent and radiated a dazzling, seven-colored light.

The Black Emperor stared intently at the Hexagram, a flash of fervor and emotion in his eyes. He said in a deep voice, "Young man, of the three inheritances the Venerable Emperor left for you, both the Spirit Slayer and the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map are ultimately external objects. The truly most important one is this Wisdom Crystal, condensed by him at the moment of his death!"

"The Wisdom Crystal?"

Jiang Chen glanced at the Hexagram, puzzled. ’What does this have to do with wisdom?’

The Black Emperor asked, "Do you know why the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable earned the title ’Venerable Emperor’?"

Jiang Chen shook his head.

"Then you must know about Alchemy Masters and Artifact Refiners, right?" Seeing Jiang Chen nod, the Black Emperor continued, "Both Alchemy Masters and Artifact Refiners are divided into seven grades. First Grade is the lowest, and Seventh Grade is the highest. A Seventh Grade Alchemy Master is a Pill Emperor, and a Seventh Grade Artifact Refiner is an Artifact Venerable. The Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable was a great being who held both titles, Seventh Grade Pill Emperor and Seventh Grade Artifact Venerable. In the two domains of Alchemy and Artifact Refining, he could be called the greatest of all time!"

HISS...

Jiang Chen sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes wide with shock.

’A person’s energy is finite! To master even one domain to its peak is already an incredibly difficult task, yet the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable not only had extraordinary attainments in the Martial Dao, but he also reached the pinnacle in the Path of Artifact Refining and Alchemy. He truly deserves the title of "the greatest of all time"!’

"This Wisdom Crystal was condensed by the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable at the moment of his death. It records his entire life’s experience in Artifact Refining and Alchemy, as well as his many techniques. As long as you absorb it, in terms of realm, you will be a Seventh Grade Pill Emperor and a Seventh Grade Artifact Venerable. As long as your Martial Dao strength and Divine Thought Master grade continue to improve, you will be able to refine pills and Profound Weapons of corresponding levels!" the Black Emperor said, grinning to reveal two sharp fangs.

Jiang Chen’s face was filled with astonishment, and his gaze upon the Hexagram turned fiery.

’Once I refine this, I’ll be a Seventh Grade Pill Emperor and a Seventh Grade Artifact Venerable. Although it’s only in terms of realm—I’ll still need sufficient strength to actually refine high-quality pills and Profound Weapons... but even so, at least in terms of realm, I’ll be standing at the Peak of both Alchemy and Artifact Refining!’

’For a Martial Artist to increase their strength, besides talent and hard work, pills and Profound Weapons are both indispensable. No wonder Little Black said this was the most important part of the inheritance for me...’ Jiang Chen took a deep breath and reached for the Wisdom Crystal.

The Wisdom Crystal erupted with brilliant seven-colored light that enveloped Jiang Chen and fused with him.

Jiang Chen was bathed in the seven-colored radiance. He sat cross-legged, suspended in mid-air, refining the Wisdom Crystal.

He was absorbing the many precious memories left behind by the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable.

Besides the experiential memories of Alchemy and Artifact Refining, there were also many wondrous methods, and even a Secret Technique for condensing Divine Thought Power. However, for Jiang Chen, who was currently receiving a massive influx of memories, there was temporarily no time to comprehend these things.

However, little did Jiang Chen know, while he was absorbed in receiving the Venerable Emperor’s inheritance over the past few days, the Qinghuo Gang, led by Zhao Qinghuo, had already mobilized their full force and arrived at the Celestial Demon Canyon...