The Emperor Mountain.
Situated at the end of the Emperor Road, the Emperor Mountain spanned more than ten thousand meters tall and was enshrouded within layers of gold fog.
Before the Emperor's Thrones fully materialized, the gold fog would remain as it barred anyone from gaining access into the mountain.
On this day, the gold fog seemed to have sensed a peculiar presence, and it began to roll onto itself.
About ten thousand kilometers away, more than a hundred ancient warriors were dragging an enormous crimson-tainted coffin towards the Emperor Mountain.
It was the Slumbering Emperor Coffin!
Once the Slumbering Emperor Coffin arrived at the Emperor Mountain, the gold fog unfolded aggressively, releasing a strange ripple of energies outwards.
Sensing the strange event taking place at the Emperor Mountain, the Sovereigns who resided within Emperor Road cast a curious gaze towards the Emperor Mountain.
"There are no living beings within a hundred thousand kilometers of the Emperor Mountain. If the Slumbering Emperor Coffin wishes to absorb living essences, why would they come here?!"
"Does the Slumbering Emperor Coffin wish to enter the Emperor Mountain?"
"Has the Slumbering Emperor Coffin gained a conscience of its own?"
"Such cursed objects have always been enigmatic and unpredictable. We don't even know who's buried within the coffin."
While the Sovereigns were busy assessing the situation, the ancient warriors roared in unison as they channeled their spiritual powers and Emperor qi, and struck them at Emperor Mountain.
Up to one hundred sources of terrifying energies struck the gold fog and blasted it open. As a result of the enormous impact, Emperor Mountain trembled under its weight.
The spectators could vaguely catch a glimpse of what lay within the Emperor Mountain through the gaps in the gold fog.
The majestic Emperor Mountain stood proudly erected with countless streams of Daoist runes circling it. A few golden platforms were raised at the peak, surrounded by a frightening amount of mythical forces.
The Sovereigns were dumbfounded at the sight of the platforms.
"Those are the… Emperor's Thrones!"
"And there's more than one of them!"
"Oh, heavens! The Era of Great Battle has truly brought upon unprecedented changes in this world! It's an opportunity to turn any unfavorable situation around. Look, it has even produced more than one Emperor's Throne!"
"Looks like our sky-prides do stand a chance at ascending after all. No matter how strong Chu Kuangren is, he can't possibly hoard all of the Emperor's Thrones, right?"
"Haha, that's fantastic! What a pleasant surprise."
The Sovereigns were overjoyed at what lay within the Emperor Mountain. However, their joys were soon replaced by sorrow when they remembered the Slumbering Emperor Coffin.
Why was the Slumbering Emperor Coffin attacking the Emperor Mountain? Was it trying to tear the entire mountain down?
Fortunately, the Emperor Mountain had been untouched since immemorial times. Although the ancient warriors were threatening, it was still quite impossible to ruin Emperor Mountain.
As the ancient warriors tore the fog open, their attacks attempted to penetrate the mountain's exterior but were immediately disintegrated by the Daoist runes.
After their failed attempt, the ancient warriors mechanistically channeled their Emperor qi and prepared for their second strike.
Just then, the fabric of the realm tore open, and out came a figure dressed in a set of long white robes.
Judging from the silhouette, the figure seemed to be that of a lady. However, what stood out the most was that the lady… did not have a head!
Not only that but the Sovereigns were horrified to sense the presence of an Emperor's Aura seething from the lady's body.
"What's this creature?"
"She's still moving without her head. Who's she?!"
"Her Emperor's Aura is powerful! She must be a being of the Emperor's level. Why did she suddenly appear out of nowhere?"
The Sovereigns were intrigued by the Headless Empress's appearance.
At this moment, the Headless Empress launched an abrupt attack, sending a palm technique that was infused with boundless Emperor's Aura.
Due to the Emperor Road's restriction and the absence of her head, it was evident that the Headless Empress could not draw her full power. Nevertheless, her combat strength was not to be underestimated.
That palm technique was all it took to blast the group of Sovereigns away.
However, the Sovereigns were not what the Headless Empress was after. After clearing a path between, she immediately dashed for the Slumbering Emperor Coffin.
With another palm technique, she unleashed a raging fury of Daoist Rhymes and Emperor qi onto the Slumbering Emperor Coffin.
Unable to withstand the force, the Slumbering Emperor Coffin was catapulted one hundred meters into the air, and its surface began to crack under the Headless Empress's power. All that seeped out from the cracks were a cloud of greyish fumes.
The greyish fumes seeped out of the coffin and headed towards the ground.
However, when it finally touched the earth, the ground gave way at the weight of the seemingly light fumes and dented inwards to form a large crater.
"Those… those are Chaotic qi!"
The Sovereigns gasped as they stared passionately at the greyish fumes.
According to legends, the Chaotic qi was a treasure created before the formation of heaven and earth. It had the extraordinary ability to morph into any other form of energy.
Be it to refine weapons, Daoist Physiques, and one's cultivations, the functions of Chaotic qi were said to be endless.
Just a small strand of Chaotic qi was enough to help many cultivators in achieving a breakthrough. It was a treasure much sought after even by the Sovereigns.
Yet, what did they just witness?
The Sovereigns had just witnessed a boundless amount of Chaotic qi seeping through the cracks of the Slumbering Emperor Coffin!
Just how much Chaotic qi was that?!
"This is undoubtedly the largest Opportunity of Fortune I've ever come across! Just a ball of Chaotic Qi would be enough to last me a long time. I could even confidently ascend into an Emperor in the next era."
"Indeed. Who would've thought the Slumbering Emperor Coffin would house such remarkable treasures!"
"Oh, heavens! This is unimaginable."
Amidst the Sovereign's shock, the Slumbering Emperor Coffin began to close its cracks.
The cloud of Chaotic qi had also vanished before the Sovereigns' eyes. The Headless Empress immediately attacked once more in an attempt to destroy the Slumbering Emperor Coffin.
Unfortunately for her, the Slumbering Emperor Coffin was made out of extraordinary materials and was reinforced with layers of Daoist runes. Even with the Headless Empress's power, she could not inflict lasting damage.
The ancient warriors immediately responded with an unending series of retaliation, forcing the Headless Empress to retreat as she finally tore open a portal into the realm and left.
The Sovereigns were puzzled by the Headless Empress's behavior.
"What's the Headless Empress's intention for appearing so suddenly but leaving after a short fight?"
"Hmm, I don't know either. Perhaps the Headless Empress was trying to get her hands on the Chaotic qi within the Slumbering Emperor Coffin."
"So, what do we do now?"
One of the Sovereigns asked, only to have the others rolling their eyes at him.
"What else can we do? We can only stand by and watch while the Slumbering Emperor Coffin disappears after it gets what it wants. Do you plan to interfere as the Headless Empress did?"
Another Sovereign pouted and said.
Indeed, although the Chaotic qi within the Slumbering Emperor Coffin was an otherworldly Opportunity of Fortune, the Sovereigns had no way of grabbing it for themselves.
After all, there were up to a hundred ancient warriors guarding the Slumbering Emperor Coffin.
If the Headless Empress could not penetrate their defenses, neither could they.
Following that, the Slumbering Emperor Coffin continued to instruct its ancient warriors to strike the Emperor Mountain. However, Emperor Mountain was indestructible. The ancient warriors spent more than a day striking the Emperor Mountain but failed to blast even a piece of boulder off it.
At last, the ancient warriors could only helplessly drag the Slumbering Emperor Coffin to another location in search of more life essences.
After the departure of the Slumbering Emperor Coffin, the Sovereigns immediately snatched the few strands of Chaotic qi that managed to seep out from the Slumbering Emperor Coffin.
"D*mn you, this is mine! Get your hands away!"
"Hmph, finder's keepers."
While the Sovereigns were fighting aggressively over a few strands of Chaotic qi, the Slumbering Emperor Coffin continued its journey through the realm, leaving nothing but death in its path.Chaos (混沌) refers to the formless mass before creation of the universe in Chinese mythology.