Dominator Emperor

On the second day, a series of ancient coffins were brought out from Celestial Ancient City. One by one, the Great Teaching Territories began their journey into the Ancient Sky Corpse Land!

The Treasure Pillar Saint Sect, the Jiangzuo Family, Nantian Country... one by one, Great Ancient Sects and the Holy Lands of powerful countries brought out their ancient coffins and began entering the Ancient Sky Corpse Land.

The ancient coffins of many Great Teaching Territories sparked considerable discussion, especially that of Nantian Country, which had been incredibly low-key until now.

Nantian Country brought out an immense ancient coffin. Many were secretly shocked to see it was far larger than most others. Previously, many had believed that Nantian Country’s Guardian National Divine Beast was on the verge of death. Thus, they speculated that this time, Nantian Country intended to bury their Divine Beast in a Netherworld Ship.

Now, seeing Nantian Country bring out such a massive coffin confirmed many people’s suspicions—it truly seemed possible they were going to place it on a Netherworld Ship!

In addition to the Great Teaching Territories entering the Ancient Sky Corpse Land with their coffins, a great many cultivators followed behind this vast procession.

The reason was simple: the vast majority of Earth Corpses had left for the Nether River Crossing. This caused the Corpse Qi in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land to thin out considerably. Moreover, with the Earth Corpses gone, many areas were left unguarded. This prompted countless people to seize this once-in-a-millennium opportunity to strike it rich. Some excavated mountains and delved into mineral veins, hoping to unearth Treasure Gold and find Divine Stones. Others planned to sift through skeletal remains and venture into perilous areas, hoping to stumble upon Treasure Artifacts or Secret Manuals.

Of course, even with the Earth Corpses gone to the crossing, the Ancient Sky Corpse Land remained incredibly dangerous. Accidentally digging up a Treasure Lord’s tomb was tantamount to suicide! If a Treasure Lord climbed out of its coffin, it would undoubtedly slaughter everyone who dared to disturb its grave.

The Nether River Crossing had existed for millions of years, and over time, a well-trodden path to it had formed within the Ancient Sky Corpse Land. During these few days, a vast procession of cultivators could be seen traveling along this ancient road toward the crossing.

Within this vast procession, some carried coffins, some walked on foot, some used Ta Kong, some rode beasts, and others traveled in chariots. It was a motley crowd, as if all the cultivators in the world had gathered in this one place.

The Nether River Crossing was located in the north of the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, far from its central region. However, the Nether River itself ultimately flowed into the land’s deepest reaches.

When the Nether River descended from the heavens, it landed upon the northern edge of the Ancient Sky Corpse Land. As it flowed across the ground, it formed a vast expanse like a great sea, shrouded in an endless mist—the Nether Qi. Even a Great Sage could not see through the boundless fog that cloaked the Nether River.

Furthermore, once one entered this vast Nether Sea, they would never find their way out, disappearing forever into the boundless river. For millions of years, whenever the Nether River appeared, legendary figures would step into its waters, attempting to travel upstream to find its source. However, no one who entered ever returned alive.

The boundless, inscrutable Nether River flowed across the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, with only a single stretch of it free from the enveloping mist. Only along this section could one clearly see the Netherworld Ships drifting out from the river. For this reason, it came to be known as the Nether River Crossing, a place akin to a gateway for the souls of the dead.

For millions of years, countless souls wishing to be entombed upon a Netherworld Ship have waited at the Nether River Crossing. Only when the ships emerged from the river and could be seen clearly was it possible to choose one and place an ancient coffin aboard.

Once a coffin was placed upon a Netherworld Ship, the vessel would drift along the Nether River, carrying its funereal cargo into the deepest, most hidden part of the Ancient Sky Corpse Land.

Those who chose the correct Netherworld Ship would be granted additional Lifespan and sent back out of the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, alive. But for those who chose poorly, they would become eternal Earth Corpses, and their descendants would never see them again.

As for where in the depths of the Ancient Sky Corpse Land the Netherworld Ships ended up, no one knew. It was the greatest mystery of all time. Even those who had successfully gained Lifespan and returned alive could not describe their destination. Despite having experienced it firsthand, they were unable to explain the journey.

At the Nether River Crossing, the river flowed for several hundred miles unobstructed by the nether mist. In this clear expanse, one could watch the waters of the Nether River flowing quietly by.

Just as the legends claimed, the waters of the Nether River, said to flow from the Underworld itself, were a murky, yellowish-red, like a medicinal broth. Though the river flowed peacefully here, anyone standing on its bank couldn’t help but feel a deep-seated dread. It felt as if the water was an accumulation of fluid from countless corpses, instilling a sense of unease, as though numberless dead bodies lay buried beneath the riverbed.

At this moment, the Nether River Crossing was packed to the brim with a sea of people—or perhaps more accurately, a sea of the dead.

The scene at the Nether River Crossing was truly spectacular. There were Earth Corpses, Treasure Lords, and even Earth Immortals. In addition to these undead, there were cultivators from all corners of the world. Furthermore, ancient coffins were arrayed everywhere. Any uninformed person stumbling upon such a sight would have felt their skin crawl.

However, the living and the dead each kept to their own domains. The Earth Corpses would not mingle with the living, and the living certainly had no desire to mingle with them.

To the living, the Corpse Qi of the Earth Corpses was far too dangerous. And for the Earth Corpses, was not the vital energy of the living equally unpleasant?

Thus, along the hundreds of miles of riverbank at the Nether River Crossing, three distinct factions had unconsciously formed. The vast majority of Earth Corpses crowded together. Their needs were far simpler than anyone else’s; they had no coffins and no grand mansions. Huddled on the bank, they simply lay down on the ground to wait for the Netherworld Ships.

Meanwhile, the cultivators from all over the world gathered in another area. Within this larger domain, the Great Teaching Territories and Holy Land Ancient Sects each carved out their own smaller territories. Every sect and ancient school claimed a small plot and set up camp. Some occupied a hilltop, others claimed a patch of tidal flats, and some even brought entire mansions or Divine Towers, which they manifested to float in the air.

Compared to the numberless Earth Corpses and the vast throngs of cultivators still arriving, the Treasure Lords and Earth Immortals at the Nether River Crossing were far, far fewer in number.

In fact, one could count the Treasure Lords and Earth Immortals at the crossing. Only a dozen or so Treasure Lords were present, representing various races. As for Earth Immortals, they were even rarer—only one or two had appeared.

These Treasure Lords and Earth Immortals did not associate with the cultivators or the Earth Corpses. This handful of powerful beings each claimed their own territory. Some arrived with ancient coffins, some with entire mansions in tow, and some Treasure Lords came alone.

At the crossing, the three groups kept to themselves, like well water and river water. No one dared to provoke the Treasure Lords and Earth Immortals—not the Great Ancient Sects, not the Emperor Immortal Gates, and not even the numberless Earth Corpses.

After all, these Treasure Lords and Earth Immortals had once been invincible beings, the most renowned figures of their respective eras. Some had even possessed enough power to shake the Nine Realms.

Of course, it was not unheard of for members of Great Ancient Sects to encounter their own ancestors at the Nether River Crossing.

"Is—is that not the Eighth Generation Ancestor, the Red Immortal Ancestor Master?" An Elder from the Treasure Heart Ancient Sect became incredibly excited upon spotting a Treasure Lord seated cross-legged on a jade mat atop a mountain peak near the crossing.

The Elder stared at the Treasure Lord and rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Finally, confirming that this was indeed an ancestor of his sect, he was overcome with emotion.

"Red Immortal Ancestor Master!" Unable to contain his excitement, the Elder rushed forward and called out.

Many people turned to watch the scene unfold. However, the Treasure Lord remained seated, his gaze fixed on the vast Nether River, not even sparing the Elder a single glance.

Clearly thrilled to see his ancestor, the Elder couldn’t resist climbing the mountain peak. But with a mere flick of his finger, the Treasure Lord sent him tumbling back down with a THUD!

"The living and the dead follow different paths. Go back," the Treasure Lord finally said. He spoke without opening his eyes, his focus still entirely on the vast Nether River.

The Elder froze as if struck by lightning. After a long moment, he returned to his sect’s encampment, his expression utterly crestfallen.

The countless cultivators who witnessed this were deeply moved. To meet one’s own ancestor yet be unable to approach them... it was an indescribable feeling.

"Was... was that really the Red Immortal Ancestor Master?" a disciple asked with awe when the Elder returned. This ancestor was a figure of immense influence in their sect’s history; in his time, he had swept invincible across the entire Human Emperor Realm!

"Yes," the Elder said, his face still pale. He looked toward the Treasure Lord on the peak, his voice a mixture of awe and excitement. "Legend says that when the Ancestor Master’s lifespan was exhausted, his disciples could not bear to see him pass. They used every method at their disposal to have him buried in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land. To think... he actually succeeded in gaining more Lifespan!"

Hearing this, the disciples looked at one another in shock. The tales of resurrection in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land were not just empty words after all.

"So once you’re buried in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, are you truly separated from the living forever?" Many cultivators from the Great Ancient Sects were moved by the scene, and one couldn’t help but ask aloud.

An impossibly ancient cultivator sighed softly. "You could say that. The Treasure Lords and Earth Immortals are generally unwilling to interact with their descendants. Perhaps this is how they sever the lingering attachments from their past, which have haunted them for millions of years."

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