#645 - Zhao Rushen, the battle between the emperor of the Great Dao
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves, scattering onto the river surface, creating shimmering golden light.
Emperor Tianhong was still kneeling by the river, his beard touching the ground, his knees deep in the mud. His eyes were closed, his black hair disheveled, and he seemed to blend into the forest, his breath as natural as the surroundings.
Another ten thousand years had passed since Xiao Lan's departure, and Emperor Tianhong had been kneeling for over twenty-one thousand years.
Footsteps approached from behind, and a man in black robes appeared. He had handsome features, his black hair was arranged under a crown, and he wore a sword and gourd at his waist. He resembled a sheathed sword about to be drawn, his sharpness barely contained.
"The legendary number one genius, Emperor Tianhong, the Great Dao Emperor Lord that the Dao Court wanted to cultivate, is actually kneeling here. It seems the Sword Revered Fudao doesn't think much of you. Do you regret it?"
The black-clad man stopped, watching Emperor Tianhong's back, and spoke coldly.
Emperor Tianhong didn't open his eyes, and softly asked, "Who are you?"
His voice was somewhat hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time.
"Zhao Rushen, I am also known as the number one genius." The black-clad man answered coldly.
Emperor Tianhong was silent.
Zhao Rushen continued, "You may not know me, but I've seen you. Back then, when I first entered the Dao Court, my talent was unremarkable. I saw you return after slaying demons, the entire city's disciples shouted your name. You were who I, and all the disciples, wanted to become."
Listening to his words, Emperor Tianhong still didn't say a word.
"Your departure from the Dao Court made me. I received the Dao Court's full support, and I became the new number one genius. I swept away all the geniuses in the same realm. For a thousand years, I was constantly fighting all over the world, never resting. But many people compared me to you, saying I hadn't defeated you and couldn't be considered number one."
Zhao Rushen stopped as he spoke, his eyes becoming sharp.
"So, you've come to challenge me?" Emperor Tianhong didn't get up, completely unconcerned about Zhao Rushen ambushing him.
"Actually, in my heart, I also feel I can't compare to you."
Zhao Rushen said calmly, stepping forward and continuing, "Now I've also embarked on the path of pursuing the Great Dao Emperor Lord. This is the inheritance left before the Court Master departed, saying both you and I are qualified to become Great Dao Emperor Lords, and can lead the Dao Court to an unprecedented peak. Come back. Since Wushi looks down on you, why suffer humiliation here? Do you know your story has spread throughout the world? The world knows the peerless genius cultivated by the Dao Court is kneeling before Wushi's gate. Do you know how much criticism the Court has received because of this?"
Emperor Tianhong slowly opened his eyes, his gaze still full of brilliance, completely unaffected by the years.
"I am no longer a Dao Court disciple. Go back." Emperor Tianhong answered softly.
He raised his eyes to look at the opposite bank of the river, his gaze moving left and right, as if searching for something.
Zhao Rushen frowned, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Junior, this isn't a place for you to act recklessly."
A clear and cold voice came from the front, startling Zhao Rushen to look up. He saw two figures walking out from the depths of the forest on the opposite bank of the river.
It was An Xin and Chen Chuan.
Seeing An Xin, Emperor Tianhong's expression was somewhat complicated.
He couldn't forget that crushing defeat. He still wondered, what kind of eyes were those?
Chen Chuan followed beside An Xin, his gaze sizing up Zhao Rushen, his eyes full of curiosity.
He sensed a sword aura from Zhao Rushen, a sword aura that made even him uneasy.
Zhao Rushen, looking at An Xin, was equally shocked. An Xin gave him a sense of unfathomable depth, especially when their eyes met, he couldn't help but feel apprehensive. He had never felt this way before, not even when facing existences above the Free Immortal Realm.
Untouchable!
This was Zhao Rushen's immediate feeling.
"May I ask for the senior's name?" Zhao Rushen cupped his fist in salute, asking politely.
An Xin calmly said, "Wushi, An Xin. Please leave."
Zhao Rushen raised his eyebrows, just about to speak, when he suddenly felt a chill rise up his spine, startling him.
After hesitating for a moment, he chose to salute and leave.
Although he wasn't sure why An Xin was hostile towards him, he was also afraid of dying here.
Zhao Rushen's aura quickly disappeared, while An Xin and Chen Chuan came to the riverbank, facing Emperor Tianhong across the river.
Emperor Tianhong looked at An Xin, not speaking, his eyes still calm.
An Xin spoke, "He wanted to kill you."
"Is that so?" Emperor Tianhong asked in surprise. In his opinion, Zhao Rushen seemed more like he wanted to use reverse psychology to force him back.
An Xin continued, "And he can do it."
Hearing this, Emperor Tianhong's brow immediately furrowed.
He could sense that Zhao Rushen was already a Wonderful Dharma Spirit Immortal, catching up to his cultivation realm. But this was also because he had been kneeling for twenty thousand years. Even in the same realm, he didn't think he would lose to anyone other than An Xin.
Chen Chuan was also somewhat surprised, not expecting Zhao Rushen to be so powerful.
An Xin looked at Chen Chuan, saying, "You go first."
Chen Chuan nodded, then disappeared into thin air.
Emperor Tianhong wasn't very curious about Chen Chuan. He sensed that An Xin had something to say to him, which stirred up ripples in his heart.
An Xin stared at Emperor Tianhong, saying, "That person will be your nemesis. In the future, you will both become Great Dao Emperor Lords, stirring up a shocking battle in the human world."
"Didn't you just say he could kill me? If I weren't here, wouldn't I have already died in his hands? How could I become a nemesis?" Emperor Tianhong asked curiously.
"You will die, but you will rise again in reincarnation, fighting him in every life."
An Xin's tone was very calm, as if she was talking about a trivial matter, leaving Emperor Tianhong silent.
He couldn't help but ask, "Can you see my fate?"
"Not me."
An Xin's answer caused a change in Emperor Tianhong's expression for the first time, his already calm heart fluctuating.
Sword Revered...
An Xin continued, "Keep kneeling. Master can't accept you temporarily. As for the reason, I don't know either. Perhaps this is a form of cultivation. Over the years, you should have felt your Daoist cultivation increasing."
Emperor Tianhong smiled, saying, "Indeed, although my cultivation hasn't increased, my understanding of the Great Dao is growing rapidly. This must be the Sword Revered's gift."
This was also why he had been kneeling for over twenty thousand years and still didn't feel tired.
He had already seen hope. Even if he had to kneel for another hundred thousand years, he wouldn't feel bitter.
An Xin stopped speaking, flashed to Emperor Tianhong's side, and continued walking forward.
Emperor Tianhong turned his head to look at her, couldn't help but ask, "Senior Sister, where are you going?"
"I have my own matters."
An Xin answered casually, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, feeling that Emperor Tianhong was very sensible.
Emperor Tianhong asked, "Will Zhao Rushen bring good or bad results to the Dao Court?"
"Fate is constantly changing. Knowing the future in advance will only become an obstacle for you."
Before the words had even finished, An Xin had already disappeared into the depths of the forest.
Emperor Tianhong turned back to look at the river surface, lost in thought.
Great Dao Emperor Lord, huh?
He had previously heard Yuan Songzi mention that the geniuses of the three thousand great worlds were all pursuing the Great Dao Emperor Lord, but the Heavenly Spirit Great World didn't have the chance to become a Great Dao Emperor Lord yet. Yuan Songzi told him to prepare well.
According to the future An Xin revealed, the Great Dao Emperor Lord seemed to be the future's struggle for power. In that case, Yuan Songzi would succeed.
To become a Great Dao Emperor Lord, the Heavenly Spirit Great World had to open the path to the Great Dao!
Emperor Tianhong took a deep breath, casting aside distracting thoughts.
He didn't know how powerful the Great Dao Emperor Lord was, but the Great Dao of Force he was currently comprehending was truly strong.
Even though his cultivation hadn't increased, he could feel his magical power transforming. Compared to before he knelt, he was already several times stronger.
But...
Even so, he would be killed by Zhao Rushen?
Emperor Tianhong noted down Zhao Rushen's name, looking forward to their future duel.
