Unrivaled Martial Emperor

The silhouette smiled and said, "Gu Tianxing, master of the Nebulous Divine Palace."

Chen Fan's mind was shaken.

Though he had already guessed the man's identity, hearing Gu Tianxing confirm it himself was still a shock.

He collected himself and said respectfully, "I am Chen Fan. Greetings to Senior."

Although he didn't have any connection to Gu Tianxing, the latter had contributed greatly to the Tianwu Continent.

If not for him, the continent might have fallen to the Blood Heavenly Demon Sect three thousand years ago; juniors like Chen Fan wouldn't even exist.

His eyeballs darted around, and he asked, "Did Senior summon me here?"

After entering the divine palace, the Nebulous Divine Token had acted strangely, leading him through countless halls and chambers to this very place. He couldn't believe Gu Tianxing wasn't behind it.

Gu Tianxing nodded and said, "That's right. I sensed the divine token after you entered the divine palace and knew that someone had obtained it, thus I made it guide you here."

Chen Fan asked with a calm expression, "May I ask why Senior summoned me?"

He wasn't stupid. Since Gu Tianxing had secretly led him here, it wasn't just to reveal his lingering will. There had to be a reason.

What that reason was, however, he couldn't guess. Naturally, he remained wary.

One should never harm others without cause, but neither should they leave themselves open to harm.

Even though Gu Tianxing had made indisputable contributions to the Tianwu Continent, who could say what intentions his remnant will might hold after three thousand years?

He wouldn't be surprised even if Gu Tianxing's remnant will tried to be reborn through possession.

And even if Gu Tianxing was planning on that, Chen Fan had no reason to be afraid. After all, the small golden person in his origin acupoint was no joke.

In the past, when Daoist Corpse Spirit tried to possess him, the golden figure nearly destroyed the intruder. It had also wounded that mysterious head within the strange space inside the Fiendish Corpse Mountain Range.

Even though Gu Tianxing was an immortal with boundless powers, Chen Fan didn't think that the power of a remnant will could compare to that mysterious head.

So, if the remnant will harbored any malicious intent, it was simply courting death.

Naturally, Gu Tianxing didn't know about Chen Fan's thoughts. He smiled and said, "Let me tell you some things about the Nebulous Divine Palace first."

Chen Fan nodded, curious.

"More than ten thousand years ago, I received an order from my sect and came down to the Lower Realm, which is what your people call the Tianwu Continent, to monitor the sealed Blood Emperor of the Four Fiends Space," said Gu Tianxing.

Chen Fan's irises contracted slightly.

Four Fiends Space?

Blood Emperor?

He couldn't help but think of the four treacherous lands, including the Fiendish Corpse Mountain Range. [1]

He had entered the Fiendish Corpse Mountain Range twice. During his second visit, he'd stumbled into a mysterious space and seen a massive, chained head. Could that have been the Blood Emperor Gu Tianxing mentioned?

"However, this matter was too boring. So I established the Nebulous Divine Palace and recruited disciples as a way to pass the time. Eight thousand years ago, I accepted one who, even by the Heavenly Realm's standards, was a once-in-an-era genius. I taught him with great care, even teaching him many unshared secrets, and in less than a hundred years, he became a Void Immortal."

Gu Tianxing's disciple was truly an absolute monster. To become a Void Immortal in less than a century... It was too terrifying.

"Once, I had him go to the Fiendish Corpse Space to strengthen the suppression seal on the Blood Emperor. But it was then that the Blood Emperor seduced him with demonic arts. He strayed from the righteous path and secretly established the Blood Heavenly Demon Sect.

"By the time I realized it, it was already too late. With the help of the Blood Emperor, he successfully cultivated his immortal platform and reached a cultivation level equal to mine. I tried to eradicate the Blood Heavenly Demon Sect several times, but never succeeded. With time, it grew stronger and stronger.

"Three thousand years ago, the seal on the Blood Emperor began to weaken, undoubtedly due to the Blood Heavenly Demon Sect's efforts. If that sect was not annihilated, the Blood Emperor would eventually break free, and the Tianwu Continent would face total annihilation.

"So I rallied the continent's top forces and launched an all-out assault. We crippled the sect and I killed that traitorous beast.

"Unfortunately, I perished in that battle as well. Only this remnant soul survived, held together by a Return Soul Formation..."

Chen Fan listened in silence, his heart churning with shock.

So many layers, so many hidden truths.

First, Gu Tianxing was indeed from the Heavenly Realm. He had come down on orders of his sect to monitor the seal on the Blood Emperor.

Out of boredom, he founded the Nebulous Divine Palace and took in a monstrously talented disciple, who later betrayed him, joined the Blood Emperor, and secretly established the Blood Heavenly Demon Sect, which eventually rivaled the Nebulous Divine Palace.

Chen Fan hadn't expected the blood calamity that swept across the Tianwu Continent three thousand years ago to be tied to the Nebulous Divine Palace. The founder of the Blood Heavenly Demon Sect was none other than Gu Tianxing's personal disciple.

If that hadn't happened, the disciple would never have met the Blood Emperor or been led astray to found the Blood Heavenly Demon Sect, triggering the calamity.

"All of this happened because of me." Gu Tianxing sighed, regret etched into his face.

"If I had gone to reinforce the seal myself, the Blood Emperor wouldn't have encountered him. He wouldn't have become the Emperor's pawn, and the Tianwu Continent would have been spared this disaster.

"A single lapse on my part cost the continent its strongest forces and experts, and I failed the mission entrusted to me by my sect. I am guilty."

Chen Fan was at a loss for words.

He could understand Gu Tianxing's feelings.

He came to the Tianwu Continent on his sect's orders, but one careless choice birthed the Blood Heavenly Demon Sect and weakened the Blood Emperor's seal, endangering the entire realm.

If one got to the root of the matter, all of this was because of Gu Tianxing.

Of course, Chen Fan could also guess some reasons why that disciple of Gu Tianxing betrayed him. It was nothing more than strength.

The Blood Heavenly Demon Sect practiced evil arts that allowed one's cultivation to rise quickly. How many people under the heavens could resist such a temptation?

This was also why the Blood Heavenly Demon Sect reappeared on the Tianwu Continent despite the orthodox forces joining hands and crippling the Blood Heavenly Demon Sect in that battle three thousand years ago.

There would always be an endless stream of people joining them under the lure of strength, allowing the Blood Heavenly Demon Sect to rise from the ashes.

"Then, what exactly is Senior's reason for guiding me here?"

1. Reminder: there were four major demonic corpse lands in the Great Chu Empire, now the Great Chen Empire. ☜