Chapter 1024: Chapter 1024

9600th floor Gatekeeper, Heart Emperor.

Lu Chenzhou glanced around; the 9700th floor should be Emperor Xuan, the 9800th floor Dragon Emperor, and the 9900th floor Emperor Zhan.

As he knew, after the 9600th floor, the difficulty and floor count were not strongly correlated.

The four Emperors were all at the pinnacle of their respective paths and had mutual contests during the Great Wilderness period, but they had victories and losses.

Therefore, it’s hard to determine a first among them.

However, relatively speaking, Emperor Zhan is the most balanced, possessing strong aspects in spirit, body, and skills.

"Lu Chenzhou greets the Heart Emperor." Lu Chenzhou smiled slightly, realizing that this projection seemed to possess some intelligence.

"Is it that the Great Catastrophe of the Great Universe has not yet begun since there is a human who has ventured this far? Or has it already ended?" Heart Emperor asked.

"It has not yet begun."

Upon hearing this, Heart Emperor was silent for a moment, then said, "That’s not bad; having True God level combat power should give a slim chance of survival in the catastrophe."

Lu Chenzhou asked, "What is your current state, senior?"

"I have already perished; only a wisp of spirituality resides within this power projection," Heart Emperor continued, "Star Lord Si Chen betrayed the Golden Crow Emperor, causing the Divine Court to fall completely with no chance of victory. When Emperor Zhan learned of it, he and allies like the Chi Ji God, True God Zouyu, and True God Zhu Tian triggered the contingencies they had prepared in advance. This Heavenly Battle Tower (Battle Realm) is a key part, and our contingencies are divided into two factions.

The Divine were more conservative, hiding the Divine Rank and Divine Enthronement Ceremony in the Divine Mansions, preparing for a second divine enthronement by future generations;

while we four sects still held expectations for cultivation, so we established the Heavenly Battle Tower, Supreme Sword Realm, Dragon Transformation Ancient Road, and Heart Hall as Inheritance Lands, selecting those with potential to become Great Powers, preserving the Fire Seed of cultivation for future cultivators, hoping someone can step into the Tenth Realm."

Lu Chenzhou nodded, "Thanks to the help of you seniors, we have persisted until today."

No matter which faction, it benefited living beings.

Otherwise, the Tianxia Civilization wouldn’t have survived the early stages of the Great Catastrophe, let alone Lu Chenzhou today.

"Come, if you can defeat me, the other three old fellows shouldn’t hold out much longer either." Heart Emperor laughed.

"I have a question, senior: you are the 9600th floor Gatekeeper, so should the 9700, 9800, and 9900 floors be the other three seniors? Who is the Gatekeeper of the final 10000th floor? Is there perhaps a being among the cultivators stronger than the four of you?" Lu Chenzhou asked.

"You’ll find out when you have the ability to reach the 10000th floor." Heart Emperor laughed.

"With all due respect, I have already slain the Monarch of Silent Annihilation and the Holy Lord, so I should be able to reach the 10000th floor, right?" Lu Chenzhou said.

Heart Emperor’s eyes narrowed, appearing somewhat incredulous, and after a long silence, he said, "Perhaps. I’m not sure... In fact, even Emperor Zhan, the creator of the Heavenly Battle Tower, has not reached the ten-thousandth floor. We three have also tried, without exception, and failed."

"How is that possible? Creating the Heavenly Battle Tower should mean Emperor Zhan has power surpassing this tower," Lu Chenzhou said, puzzled.

"I don’t know either. You can ask old man Zhan when you reach the 9900th floor." Heart Emperor laughed.

"Thank you, senior, for clarifying things. Make your move." Lu Chenzhou splayed his palm, taking a stance.

Heart Emperor nodded slightly; the next moment, a golden vertical eye cracked open between his brows, shooting out a dazzling beam of light.

A rich Great Dream Dao Essence spread out, instantly filling this realm.

Caught off guard, Lu Chenzhou vanished.

He opened his eyes, finding himself in a vast Hanhai World with golden clouds surging.

Within the clouds, a golden dragon danced with Heart Emperor standing at its head, his black robe fluttering.

"An Ancient Golden Dragon as a mount, well done, senior," Lu Chenzhou laughed.

"In terms of raw strength, I’m no match for you; the Monarch of Silent Annihilation and the Holy Lord are far stronger than I am. I can’t stop you in this trial, but I observe your cultivation holds the Great Dream Dao. You might try using the Great Dream Dao to break my Great Dream World, which may help you take the final step," Heart Emperor said.

As a Dao Pioneer and the strongest in Great Dream Dao, he could immediately see Lu Chenzhou’s foundations.

Eighth Rank limit in Great Dream Dao, but not yet mastering Dao.

"Thank you, senior!" Lu Chenzhou expressed sincere gratitude.

He indeed wished to consult Heart Emperor on the cultivation of the Great Dream.

In the field of dreams, he was far inferior to Heart Emperor.

Lu Chenzhou emitted Great Dream Dao Essence, carefully perceiving the structure and operational rules of the Great Dream World.

Heart Emperor did not attack, only sat at the dragon’s head, watching quietly.

Time passed, and a month went by.

On this day, Lu Chenzhou opened his eyes, and billions of blue butterflies flew outward from him, into the vast heavens, dreamlike and illusory.

Everywhere in the Great Dream World, a blue butterfly landed.

The butterflies self-combusted, phosphorescent flames scorching the Great Dream World.

Heart Emperor nodded slightly, inner heart delighted.

"He has found the structural nodes of my Great Dream World; such observation and insight are indeed impressive."

Heart Emperor believed that this young man before him truly had the power to slay True Gods.

Lu Chenzhou analyzed every inch of the Great Dream World from a butterfly’s perspective.

Three months later, he finally stood up, with countless blue butterflies returning.

Behind him, a world equally vast emerged from chaos, Heaven and Earth Creation unfolding, with endless Great Dream Dao Essence expanding.

Within Heart Emperor’s Dream Realm, another miniature Dream Realm unfolded as the two worlds collided.

With a loud crash, Heart Emperor’s Dream Realm was torn open; taking this chance, Lu Chenzhou successfully escaped.

If he used Return to Tai Chi and the Chaotic Time Lotus, he could’ve left in one strike.

But Heart Emperor gave him a learning opportunity, which he cherished greatly.

"Such strong comprehension, the world has another master of the Great Dream Dao. You can seek out the Xuan Emperor now," the Heart Emperor said with a smile.

Lu Chenzhou solemnly bowed, intending to turn and leave.

The Heart Emperor waved his hand, and a jade scroll flew in front of Lu Chenzhou. Follow current novels on noⅴelfire.net

"This is the ’Great Dream Heart Sutra’, find a suitable successor for me," said the Heart Emperor.

He knew Lu Chenzhou had no need for this item. Even though they both followed the Great Dream Dao, Lu Chenzhou and he were fundamentally different.

Moreover, he perceived that Lu Chenzhou had also comprehended the Nightmare Dao, with limitless potential achievements in the future.

"Thank you, senior. I will kill the Forget-Worry Old Mother and avenge you," said Lu Chenzhou.

"Actually, with your strength, even if the great calamity arrives, you’ll manage to save yourself. You can go to the Xia Realm to find a Black Star Passage; through this method, you can escape the constraints of the Great Universe and flee to other universes. Even though the rules differ between universes, given your aptitude, you could rise again at any time. Perhaps achieving the Tenth Realm is not a mere wish. If you attain the divine realm, you could return and resurrect us, providing another way out."

The Heart Emperor smiled, admiring Lu Chenzhou.

But he also knew how difficult it was to survive the great calamity.

If Lu Chenzhou had another thousand years, perhaps he could turn the tide.

But time was running out.

Lu Chenzhou said nothing; he would not leave.

He and the Witch must have a battle to resolve the grudges of the past two hundred years.

"The Heart Emperor lost? How did he lose?"

Onlookers in the Battle Realm were all baffled.

The fight between Lu Chenzhou and the Heart Emperor took place in the Dream Realm, where no one else could see what happened.

They only saw the Heart Emperor’s figure dissipate, and Lu Chenzhou continued forward.

"Even though it was known the Heart Emperor would lose, witnessing it firsthand is still shocking."

"Indeed, after all, it’s the Heart Emperor."

For cultivators, in terms of fame and prestige, the Four Emperors far surpassed the gods of the Divine Court.

Lu Chenzhou defeating the Heart Emperor was even more impactful than defeating the Monarch of Silent Annihilation.

"Alas, Master, when will you return from your rebirth?" Lu Xiaolan looked at the dissipating Heart Emperor, her eyes moist.

In a corner, Red Leaf with the reincarnated forms of the other Buddhas were also feeling conflicted.

They were alive, yet the Heart Emperor seemed to have vanished without a trace.

A month later, on the 9,700th level.

A handsome swordsman with flowing black hair, clad in a green robe with a wine gourd at his waist, descended gracefully.

"Defeated the Heart Emperor, remarkable," said the swordsman, drinking and wiping his mouth with a smile.

"I ask senior for guidance," said Lu Chenzhou, drawing out his long spear, his battle intent surging.

"Don’t call me senior; your cultivation is not much different from mine. We can interact as peers," said the swordsman as he put away his wine gourd and continued, "For some reason, I feel an inexplicable familiarity with you, like meeting an old acquaintance in a foreign land... how strange and mysterious. Where do you come from?"

"From the Starry Sky World in the Three Thousand Worlds," Lu Chenzhou replied.

The term Xia Realm was their own name for it, something the ancients might not know.

"Is that so?" the swordsman murmured.

"It’s normal to feel familiar since we are all from the Great Universe," Lu Chenzhou smiled.

"That’s not me," the Xuan Emperor suddenly said, startling Lu Chenzhou.

"Are you a visitor from outside the Great Universe?" Lu Chenzhou asked.

"Yes, in some ways, I might be a compatriot of those evil gods among the stars," the Xuan Emperor laughed, "So I sensed a familiar aura from you. I thought you also came from the Land of the Stars. Since you are not, never mind... In any universe, there are unexpected visitors. Some arrive by their own great powers in various ways, but more often by chance encounters, sent by places like the Black Star."

"Does senior know those evil gods among the stars?" Lu Chenzhou asked.

The Xuan Emperor shook his head, "Don’t know them. But they should also be some pitiful beings unable to make a living in their home universe, forced to bully their way into this Great Universe. For me, this Great Universe is my true home. Everything I have is here."

Lu Chenzhou hadn’t expected the Xuan Emperor to be the legendary "transmigrator".

"Are the other three emperors also outside-universe visitors?" Lu Chenzhou curiously asked.

"Probably only me. This secret, they wouldn’t have told anyone before they died. I’m only telling you now, after my death," the Xuan Emperor said.

The Xuan Emperor chatted with Lu Chenzhou while drinking, talking about everything under the sun.

In high spirits, the two laughed heartily to the sky.

This was a very straightforward person.

Lu Chenzhou also realized that the Xuan Emperor, strictly speaking, was half a person of the stars.

The Xuan Emperor’s physical body was of the Great Universe, but his soul, by chance, reincarnated from the stars into the Great Universe.

It wasn’t until he cultivated to Great Power that he discovered an extra memory of the stars and awakened his innate wisdom.

The Xuan Emperor drew his sword and said, "Come, it’s been a long time since I’ve fought. Let’s enjoy this last battle to the fullest."

Lu Chenzhou cupped his fists in salute, then his long spear, like a dragon, stabbed towards the Xuan Emperor.