In the sky above the land of black soil, Chu Kuangren was engaged in a fierce struggle with the Slumbering Emperor Coffin.
The former desired to refine the latter, while the latter desired to destroy the former. Two forces clashed in the void, producing a terrifying forcefield. Even the surrounding void felt like it was getting twisted.
At this point in time, if anybody were to step within a certain distance to this zone, they would surely be crushed to dust by this appalling energy field.
Slowly but surely, Chu Kuangren seemed to have gained the upper hand in the battle.
The Slumbering Emperor Coffin may have enough power to destroy Chu Kuangren's physical form, but his Immortal Body could heal him swiftly.
Hence, after half a day had passed, Chu Kuangren was able to remain unscathed. On the other hand, the Slumbering Emperor Coffin's resistance waned.
"Oh, have you reached your capacity?"
Chu Kuangren chuckled lightly and said. He took out the Chaotic qi that he obtained from this Slumbering Emperor Coffin previously and absorbed it into his body. With his Universal Cauldron Physique activated, it was rapidly converted into spiritual power, which replenished his energy.
Then, he amassed his power and concentrated it into refining this Slumbering Emperor Coffin.
Right at this moment, the Slumbering Emperor Coffin suddenly opened its case with a creak. A black ray of light glided past him in a flash and enveloped him in whole. After that, an incredibly terrifying absorption force sucked his entire body into the coffin.
This abrupt turn of events made everyone gape.
"What just happened?!"
Everybody exchanged glances with each other.
Even Qin Tianchen was rather shocked. "Did he just enter the Slumbering Emperor Coffin?"
Since ancient times, what lies beneath the Slumbering Emperor Coffin is a mystery in which countless Emperors before them had not been able to unearth.
Only less than a handful of Emperors were daring enough to touch this desecrated item, let alone entering it to explore what was beneath.
Yet now, Chu Kuangren had entered the Slumbering Emperor Coffin in front of everyone's eyes, becoming the first in history to have done this.
This was a remarkable feat, at least in Qin Tianchen's books.
"What the hell is inside that thing? Perhaps this thousand-year mystery would be solved here today."
Anticipation began to mount in Qin Tianchen's heart.
Just then, Sha Wushe sneered at him. "For such an unholy item, even touching it would cause anyone's death, not to mention going inside like that. From my point of view, Chu Kuangren's fate has been sealed!"
Not many in the crowd could argue against what he just said.
Rightfully so, the Slumbering Emperor Coffin was an item that brought doom. No one who had touched it did not end well. Yet, Chu Kuangren had directly entered the coffin. Although this was an unprecedented act, that did not necessarily mean that it was a good thing.
There might be a deadlier death trap hidden inside that coffin!
"Could this spell the end for Chu Kuangren?"
Bai Hongyu asked worriedly.
"Not necessarily. Perhaps an Opportunity of Fortune is in there." Wang Quan shook his head and hypothesized.
"Quit fooling around. What kind of Opportunity of Fortune would present in that sort of sinister object? This Chu Kuangren must be dead by now." Sha Wushe scoffed.
"Exactly. That coffin is something that even the ancient Emperors feared. Chances are that Chu Kuangren is already dead inside."
Jiu Yan from the Nine-Headed Snakelet Tribe grinned and said.
At this moment, the Slumbering Emperor Coffin suddenly trembled.
Everyone's expressions shifted at this odd change. Sha Wushe and Jiu Yan were especially astonished. No way. Was he really not dead yet?!
However, after a slight tremble, the Slumbering Emperor Coffin sank into the crack in the land of black soil abruptly. With that, it vanished from sight.
The giant crack in the land of black soil closed up in everyone's view, returning to its usual calmness.
"Haha, I'm pretty sure he's dead for good now!"
Sha Wushe laughed out loud.
Jiu Yan, who was beside him, revealed a smile of relief as well.
The rest of the outlawed sky-prides like Zhi Wuji, Bai Hongyu, and the others also felt somewhat relieved and breathed a long sigh of relief. It was as if a giant rock had been removed from their chest.
"Shame. The brightest and most talented sky-pride of this era has crestfallen."
Qin Tianchen shook his head and said.
Then, he held his head high and straightened his back, facing the hot sun confidently. "Finally, my time has come. It is a Qin Tianchen's era!!"
Some of the remaining sky-prides looked more radiant too. Their heads were finally cleared of their previous internal struggles. There was a newfound rejuvenation in their old dispirited selves.
"The Slumbering Emperor Coffin had already returned to the land of black soil, so there's nothing left to explore anymore on this land anymore. I'm going elsewhere to try my luck now."
"Indeed. The land of black soil is a lost cause now. Besides, let's not disturb Chu Kuangren's final resting place. Shall we?"
"Having the Slumbering Emperor Coffin as your coffin and the land of black soil as your grave… Not even the greatest Emperors have this luxury, Chu Kuangren. Lucky you."
Each sky-pride left the land of black soil with smiles on their faces.
Very soon, not a single soul was left on Black Soil.
It did not take long before news of Chu Kuangren presumably buried within the Slumbering Emperor Coffin spread to every corner of Emperor Road.
Many people found it hard to believe.
Chu Kuangren was dead??
The most dazzling and remarkable sky-pride on Emperor Road was dead?!
How was that even possible?!
Dozens of elite Sovereigns had tried to kill him and so many archaic ancient orthodoxies wanted his head, but they all failed. How could he have died all of a sudden?
The first thought that came to everyone's mind was disbelief.
However, after confirmation from numerous sources, they finally settled on the fact that Chu Kuangren had been sucked in by the Slumbering Emperor Coffin and buried within the land of black soil.
The Slumbering Emperor Coffin was a cursed object from immemorial times, while the land of black soil was the most sinister land amongst the Forbidden Barren Wastelands. With this double threat, even Emperors would perish, what more Chu Kuangren, who had not even achieved Emperorhood yet.
The people could almost certainly confirm that Chu Kuangren was now dead!
At that moment.
Countless cultivators mourned his death.
However, many archaic ancient orthodoxies rejoiced.
Sword Tribe.
"Haha, Chu Kuangren is finally dead. Dead!"
The Sword Tribe Leader laughed joyfully, feeling extremely ecstatic.
It had been so long since he last felt so happy. It was ten times more satisfying than when he became the Sword Tribe's leader back then.
"Tell our people that we're having a feast tonight. We'll drink till the sun rises!"
The Sword Tribe Leader chuckled happily.
"Yes, sir."
Aside from the Sword Tribe, the Wang clan, Bai clan, Qin clan, Demonic Tribe, and various other archaic ancient orthodoxies were also delighted by Chu Kuangren's death.
All of the great orthodoxies were celebrating as if it were New Year's.
Meanwhile, in the rest of the world.
The Slumbering Emperor Coffin disaster had just passed, and countless places were still grieving over their losses. Their emotions were a stark contrast with the joy of the various great archaic ancient orthodoxies.
Inside a fortress.
A sculptor took out a piece of stone that he had kept for a long time to sculpt a sculpture of somebody and placed it in his front yard.
"Daddy, who is he?"
A little girl pointed to the stone sculpture and asked curiously.
The sculptor did not provide an answer. Instead, he held the little girl's hand in response, and they both knelt on the floor, where they kowtowed solemnly for three times.
"He's our great savior."
"He dragged the cursed coffin into the desecrated earth to his grave, sacrificing himself in the process. Those great orthodoxies chickened out and valued themselves more than the greater good. Only this brave warrior offered himself to battle with the demonic coffin, finally restoring peace to this world…"
The sculptor said sentimentally.
There were countless other civilians who thought the same as the sculptor. To them, Chu Kuangren was far nobler than those great orthodoxies who abandoned the people's wellbeing for their own selfishness.
Chu Kuangren was the undisputed savior of the world who was willing to risk it all for the people. His legacy was further cemented when the Slumbering Emperor Coffin ceased to wreak havoc anywhere else after news of his death had spread to all parts of the world.
Chu Kuangren had sealed the Slumbering Emperor Coffin's away with his own life as the cost.
This fable slowly spread out to all corners of the firmament.
As such, millions of people began building sculptures in honor of him. Chu Kuangren's great name and fame had now surpassed that at any previous stage in his life.