Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

This was an incredibly vast place, floating in the void like a suspended continent.

It was circular in shape, and its outer edge was lined with rows of poplar trees.

The poplars swayed in the wind, exuding an ancient and primeval aura.

They seemed to have existed here for countless ages.

Beneath Jiang Chen and the others’ feet was a bluestone path marked by the passage of time. Lilacs grew on both sides of the road.

The subtle and elegant fragrance of the lilacs carried a faint sorrow.

Walking along the bluestone path, one couldn’t help but feel a touch of melancholy, growing quiet and downcast.

’Celestial Burial Demon Mausoleum... just what kind of place is this?’

’Could it be that the heavens themselves are buried here?’

As they walked the bluestone path, Jiang Chen and the others couldn’t shake the heavy weight and deep confusion in their hearts.

Gai Shi walked ahead, his steps somewhat heavy.

It was as if each step he took was a difficult decision in itself.

CHIRP! CHIRP!

CHIRP...

A loud, piercing cry suddenly echoed from within the Celestial Burial Demon Mausoleum. A Celestial Burial Divine Bird, radiating a silver glow, was inside the cemetery.

Its sharp talons were digging at the ground.

After carving out a pit, the Celestial Burial Divine Bird opened its beak, and a stream of white light shot out, landing in the hole.

WHOOSH!

With a flap of its wings, the Celestial Burial Divine Bird sent dirt flying to cover the pit, forming a small burial mound.

The Celestial Burial Divine Bird beat its wings, raised its head to the sky, and let out a long cry, as if in mourning.

HUM!

Suddenly, a fierce gale tore through the entire Celestial Burial Demon Mausoleum. Amidst the howling wind, three tombstones were blown forward, landing with three muffled booms.

The three tombstones came to rest in front of the small mound.

Three names appeared upon their surfaces.

They were none other than the three deceased Human Emperors of the Purple Wind Clan!

Jiang Chen and the others looked toward the three small graves.

Awe filled the faces of Zifeng Jun and Purple Wind Frost. These were former Human Emperors of the Purple Wind Clan, elders of their lineage.

”CHIRP!”

The Celestial Burial Divine Bird’s black-and-white eyes turned to Jiang Chen and his companions.

Zifeng Jun quickly said, ”Lord Divine Bird, we are disciples of the Purple Wind Clan. The three Human Emperors you just laid to rest are our clan’s seniors. We juniors wish to pay our respects to our ancestors. We ask for your permission, Lord Divine Bird!”

”Please grant us your permission, Lord Divine Bird!”

Purple Wind Frost added.

The Celestial Burial Divine Bird’s black-and-white eyes stared intently at the group, scanning over them. After a moment, it nodded and, to their surprise, spoke in a human voice. ”Paying respects to your ancestors is permitted, but you must not disturb any of the departed souls within the Celestial Burial Demon Mausoleum!”

”Rest assured, Lord Divine Bird!”

Jiang Chen and the others replied in unison.

”Mm.”

The Celestial Burial Divine Bird nodded, then turned and strode away with its head held high.

Jiang Chen and the others immediately entered the Celestial Burial Demon Mausoleum.

Zifeng Jun and Purple Wind Frost began to pay their respects to their clan’s fallen heroes.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chen, Zhao Hongluan, and Gai Shi started to wander around the Celestial Burial Demon Mausoleum.

A mysterious power seemed to permeate the Celestial Burial Demon Mausoleum, causing the three of them to drift further and further apart without even realizing it.

Suddenly, a blue-gold light flashed in Jiang Chen’s Eyes of the Heavens. The confusion in his eyes vanished. He stopped in his tracks, shook his head, and a look of lingering fear appeared on his face. ’This place is too bizarre. It actually hypnotized me without me realizing it? What in the world is this Celestial Burial Demon Mausoleum?’

’Where are Gai Shi and Zhao Hongluan? Huh? Why have Zifeng Jun and the others disappeared too...’

Jiang Chen looked all around.

He suddenly discovered that everyone was gone.

He was the only one left in the entire Celestial Burial Demon Mausoleum!

And endless graves!

THUMP!

Jiang Chen’s heart suddenly began to race.

THUMP!

THUMP!

THUMP-THUMP...

His heartbeat grew faster and louder until it felt like the only sound left in the world.

He felt something in the graveyard pulling him forward, an immense attraction, as if between two magnets.

Following that faint, indistinct feeling in his heart, Jiang Chen arrived before the very thing that was making his heart pound.

It was three unmarked stone tablets, bearing no inscriptions!

A look of shock appeared in Jiang Chen’s eyes. ’W-what is this? Why does my heart race when I get close to these three tombstones? It’s as if... my closest kin... are buried here?’

The thought was so incredible that even Jiang Chen himself couldn’t believe it.

He had never been to the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm before.

Moreover, he was certain he belonged to the Human Race, not the Icefield Race.

How could his closest relatives be buried in the Ancestral Land of the Icefield Race?

”To think that the person these three tombstones have been waiting for is you.” A calm voice sounded beside his ear.

Jiang Chen froze and turned his head to look.

A silver figure had appeared beside him at some unknown time. It was the Celestial Burial Divine Bird!

Jiang Chen asked in confusion, ”Senior, are you saying these three unmarked tombstones were waiting for me?”

”Mm.”

The Celestial Burial Divine Bird nodded, its black-and-white eyes shimmering with a strange light. ”These three unmarked tombstones are also known as the Three Lives Stele. They bury the past, the present, and the future... Eight years ago, these three unmarked tombstones flew in from beyond the heavens and suddenly appeared in the Celestial Burial Demon Mausoleum. The master of this mausoleum once said that what lies buried beneath is the past, present, and future of a great and mighty existence.”

Jiang Chen listened, his mind wandering.

’Eight years ago?’

’Eight years ago, my father mysteriously disappeared. Eight years ago, I received the Purple Dragon Jade Pendant that could awaken the God-slaying Sword. And eight years ago, these three unmarked tombstones suddenly appeared in the Celestial Burial Demon Mausoleum?’

’Why did everything happen eight years ago?’

Jiang Chen had a faint feeling that all of this was closely related to his father. But... just what kind of existence was his father, Jiang Taixu?

’Why is it that in the places he once visited, aside from a few scattered people who knew of him, there is no other evidence or trace that he ever existed?’

”Little one, since these three unmarked tombstones are waiting for you, I won’t disturb you any longer.” The Celestial Burial Divine Bird’s form gradually blurred and vanished. However, its eyes, swirling with black and white light, never moved away from Jiang Chen.

A moment later...

The Celestial Burial Divine Bird vanished completely.

A sharp glint, mixed with confusion, shone in Jiang Chen’s eyes. Unable to make sense of it all, he decided to find out for himself.

He reached out his hand, grasping for the first tombstone, the one that buried the past.

However...

Just as Jiang Chen’s palm touched the tombstone, it suddenly erupted with a mass of black light.

The black light condensed upon the tombstone, forming a black vortex.

The vortex churned, spinning ceaselessly.

The streams of black light grew increasingly brilliant and bright.

In an instant.

It enveloped Jiang Chen’s body, like countless hands suddenly reaching out, gripping him tightly and dragging him toward the tombstone...

[This is the fifth update for May 2nd. Little Tian is starting to write for May 3rd. I can finally get all the Chapters done tonight and not be behind anymore!]