Chapter 395: The Emperor Awakens! The Divine War Begins! Terra Council! Venerable

Chapter 395: The Emperor Awakens! The War of Gods Begins! The Council of Terra! Venerable Qin Feng Returns to Terra!

Qin Feng walked toward the center of the God-Fall Land, a region shrouded in chaotic mist.

The closer he drew, the more he sensed a sorrow and resentment that pierced to the very marrow of his bones.

This emotion did not stem from a single deity, but from the superposition of thousands of similar despairs, intense enough to shake the Dao heart of a Universal Venerable.

He walked slowly, each step dissecting the residual laws lingering within this space.

He discovered that the laws here were exceptionally pure and extreme.

Around the giant sword tombstone, only the law of slaughter existed; all other laws were repelled and annihilated.

Near the World Tree, there was only the cycle of life and decay, where concepts like time and space blurred into nothingness.

...

This was not the state of innate deities, who resonate with the myriad laws of the universe in a self-consistent harmony.

Instead, it felt more like... a mortal cultivator who had pushed a single law to its absolute, even paranoid, extreme.

A thought, sharp as lightning, flashed through Qin Feng’s mind, causing him to halt.

He spun around, re-examining this graveyard of gods.

A subversive hypothesis surfaced in his heart.

"What is buried here... perhaps it is not 'gods' at all."

With this suspicion, he quickened his pace, stepping into the chaotic fog that veiled the continent's heart.

Inside the mist, there was no ultimate inheritance, nor any earth-shattering treasure.

Here, there was nothing.

Only a more broken, more ancient ruin of a battlefield.

And in the center of the ruins stood the final, and only, ordinary stone tablet that radiated no divine might.

On the tablet, there were no words, only a deep claw mark that seemed as if it would split the entire continent in two.

That claw mark, Qin Feng had seen countless times in his millions of years of illusions.

It was filled with endless slaughter, change, lust, and decay.

It was... the claw mark of Chaos.

Beneath the mark, a line of faint, flickering script was carved, as if it might dissipate at any moment.

It was not any known cosmic language, but information branded directly onto the causal level by sheer will.

[Latecomer, know this upon seeing this mark:]

[This place is no tomb of gods, but a graveyard for those who sought to ascend.]

[We were all aspirants from various eras who sought the throne of godhood to contend with Chaos.]

[Yet, at the end of the divine path, there is only despair.]

[Chaos... is invincible.]

[Turn back, for this path... is a dead end.]

Boom!

This message exploded in Qin Feng’s sea of consciousness like a cosmic cataclysm.

He understood in an instant.

He understood completely.

The God-Fall Land!

What fell here were not "gods," but those "quasi-gods" who possessed the potential for godhood, who had reached the pinnacle of the Universal Venerable, and who had attempted to take that final step!

They were the most brilliant, peerless masters of their respective eras; they were not content with the realm of the Venerable and sought to ascend to godhood to gain the power to confront the Chaos Gods head-on.

But they, without exception, had all failed.

They fell on the path to godhood, ruthlessly erased by that giant claw reaching out from the chaotic dimension.

Their holy paths, after death, transformed into these "tombstones" across the continent, serving as warnings to those who followed.

This entire [God-Fall Land], from beginning to end, was never a secret realm of inheritance!

It was a "trap"!

A cruel and authentic "warning sign" constructed by countless pioneers with their own lives and despair!

Its only purpose was to tell those like Qin Feng, who aspired to oppose the Chaos Gods:

The path you walk, your ultimate goal, will lead to the same end as ours!

This road is a dead end!

A chill of extreme coldness took hold, one that even Qin Feng’s current state of mind could barely suppress.

He seemed to see, in the distant past, one brilliant powerhouse after another, filled with the heroic ambition to save the universe, charging toward the supreme throne, only to be effortlessly crushed by a giant claw spanning dimensions.

Their resentment, their sorrow, crossed billions of years of time, pressing heavily upon Qin Feng’s heart.

Qin Feng stood silently before that final stone tablet for a hundred years.

During those hundred years, he did not attempt to comprehend any divine path from the "tombstones," nor did he try to break the mark of Chaos.

He simply thought.

He thought about the message, and he thought about this "dead end" path.

"Is Chaos... truly invincible?"

He whispered to himself.

Had it been the version of him before the War of the Myriad Star Domain, his Dao heart might have wavered at this message of despair.

But having been baptized by millions of years of illusions and having personally "experienced" the corruption of the four Chaos Gods, his Dao heart was already as firm as stone.

"You failed because you were not 'extreme' enough."

"You attempted to use the 'rules' within the universe to fight 'Chaos,' which transcends those rules. You were still operating on the level of 'technique'."

In Qin Feng’s eyes, the cold chill slowly faded, replaced by a light that was more resolute and pure.

"And my Dao, from the very beginning, has been to 'override' the rules, to 'define' the rules."

"Your path may be a dead end."

"But my path... has only just begun."

He did not linger further.

He bowed slightly to the stone tablet, a gesture of both tribute and farewell.

Then, he turned and, with unwavering resolve, departed from this land of despair that had buried the hopes of countless pioneers.

The experience in the [God-Fall Land] did not make him retreat; instead, it made him even more certain of the correctness of his own path.

The conventional path to "godhood" had already been proven a dead end.

Thus, he must forge a path of his own—a path of "extremes" that no predecessor had walked, and no successor would ever tread.

To traverse this road, one could not simply shut oneself away to dream up a carriage; isolation was a dead end.

He required more information, more resources, and more... understanding of the higher-level secrets of this universe.

"The Endless Sea..."

Qin Feng stood at the edge of the "Sea of Death," looking back at that chaotic expanse of stars.

"The resources of the seventy-two divine passes have been exhausted by me. What remains are merely scattered secret realms of no further use."

"It is time... to return."

He made his decision.

He would return to the first half of the cosmic sea, to the territories of the human race.

For him, the Endless Sea had become like a "newbie village" already fully explored; there was no need to linger.

He discerned his direction, tore through the fabric of space, and stepped onto the long journey home.

This return was no longer a flight for survival, nor a quest for vengeance.

It was to consolidate every available power, to seek every clue that could make him stronger, and to prepare for the final, inevitable showdown against the Chaos Evil Gods.

From the "Endless Sea"—the darkest reach of the universe—back to the core of the human domain in the first half of the cosmic sea, the distance was so vast that even for Qin Feng, a newly ascended Cosmic Venerable, it was a journey of immense duration.

He had to cross countless unfamiliar galaxy clusters, traverse chaotic belts of cosmic dark matter, and even bypass natural spacetime dead zones that would trouble even a Venerable.

Qin Feng spent a full one hundred thousand years on this road.

Yet, these hundred thousand years were not merely spent in transit.

For a Venerable, cultivation had long since merged with every breath and every moment of existence.

When passing through a "Sea of Nihility" composed of the pure laws of "Extinction," he would stop to sit in meditation for a millennium, synchronizing his own "Extreme Universe" cycle with the "Return to Zero" laws of that realm, deepening his grasp of the "End."

When passing a super-giant neutron star on the verge of collapse, he would delve into its core, experiencing the ultimate "compression" and "gravity" to temper his [Hun-Yuan Extreme Body], pushing its density and resilience to an unfathomable degree.

When passing through star systems with unique civilizations, he would descend as an ordinary traveler, observing their social structures and contemplating the rise and fall of their cultures, thereby enriching the aspects of "order" and "evolution" within his own Holy Path.

This hundred-thousand-year journey was like a long, arduous "quenching."

It allowed the vast, somewhat "hollow" power Qin Feng had seized through frantic plundering in the divine passes to settle and solidify.

Though his realm remained at the early stage of [Cosmic Venerable], his foundation was now as stable as the bedrock of the universe.

His mastery over his own power had reached a new, subtle, and microscopic level. He no longer needed to deliberately release his [Extreme Divine Light]; every glance, every thought of his, was in itself a "definition" of the rules of reality.

If he were to encounter a Saint of the Divine Path like Di Shitian now, he would likely not need to exchange a single blow; a mere thought would suffice to cause the opponent's Holy Path to collapse from its very foundation.

He possessed absolute confidence.

Even against those renowned Venerables who had dwelled in that realm for several epochs, he was confident he could stand toe-to-toe with them, or even... emerge victorious!

One hundred thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

When Qin Feng once again beheld that familiar star field, constructed from countless artificial celestial bodies and interstellar fortresses, brimming with the aura of humanity, his heart remained entirely unruffled.

He had returned.

The Human Holy Academy was reached.

When Qin Feng’s figure appeared outside the Academy, he drew no one’s attention.

He had restrained his aura to the absolute limit, appearing as the most ordinary of travelers returning home.

However, the moment he prepared to enter the Academy, a gentle, ancient, and vast consciousness—as if containing the entire starry sky—resounded directly within his sea of consciousness.

"Newly ascended Venerable, welcome home. Please come to the 'Heavenly Profound Hall' for a conversation."

Qin Feng’s footsteps faltered, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

He knew he had been discovered.

And to communicate with him on a soul level without him sensing it beforehand, the opponent's realm was beyond doubt.

—[Lord of the Universe]!

A Lord of the Universe was a being who stood above the Venerables, truly at the very pinnacle of the cosmic pyramid.

Each one was a pillar of the Human Alliance.

Qin Feng did not resist. Following the guidance of that consciousness, he took a single step and appeared directly inside a simple, quiet palace that seemed to have merged with the starry sky of the entire universe.

The hall was empty.

There was only an old man dressed in simple grey robes, with white hair and beard and a kind face, sitting cross-legged beneath a massive star map, as if he had been sitting there for billions of years.

"Junior Qin Feng pays his respects to the Senior."

Qin Feng bowed slightly, offering a salute.

This was respect from the bottom of his heart.

"No need for formalities."

The old man slowly opened his eyes, which were deeper than the starry sky, as if reflecting the entire history of the universe from its birth to its destruction.

"My name is Tian Xuan. In this epoch, it is my turn to preside over the Academy."

He looked at Qin Feng, his all-seeing eyes filled with a trace of approval, a hint of relief, and a touch of... imperceptible gravity.

"Not bad. To have walked this far, all alone, in a place like the Endless Sea in such a short time. You are the greatest surprise for the human race in this epoch."

"Senior is too kind," Qin Feng replied calmly.

"It is not kindness," Lord Tian Xuan shook his head. He did not ask about Qin Feng’s experiences in the Endless Sea, as if he already understood everything. "I invited you here today because there is one—no, two—major matters concerning the fate of the entire human race that I must tell you."

Qin Feng’s expression turned solemn, and he listened intently.

"The first matter."

Lord Tian Xuan’s tone became incredibly grave, "Not long ago, a 'God War' broke out."

"A God War?"

Qin Feng’s pupils constricted; he recalled the truth of the [Land of Fallen Gods].

Could it be...

"Yes."

Lord Tian Xuan seemed to see through his thoughts, "It is a battle between true 'Gods.' Although the specific reasons are unknown, a fierce, god-level war erupted in an unknown dimension of the universe. Based on the ripples of the laws we observed, more than one... true god has already fallen."

This news was like a heavy bomb, causing even Qin Feng’s heart to tremble.

"And related to this is the second matter."

Lord Tian Xuan looked at Qin Feng and slowly uttered a name that he could never have expected.

"The Emperor has risen from the Golden Throne."

"The Emperor?!"

A surge of emotion, far more violent than when he heard of the "God War," erupted in Qin Feng’s heart.

The Emperor!

The supreme leader of the Human Alliance, both in name and in absolute reality!

A living "myth" who, since the humble beginnings of humanity, has led the race through thorns and thistles to its current status as the hegemon of the cosmos!

Yet, according to the records of the Holy Academy, many epochs ago, the Emperor suffered grievous wounds in a cataclysmic war against Chaos, and had since remained enthroned upon the Golden Throne of Terra, using his own soul to suppress a colossal rift leading to the chaotic dimension, unable to stir even an inch.

He was the "anchor" of the human race; though he could no longer strike, as long as he remained, the destiny of humanity would never be severed.

But now, the Lord of Tianxuan claimed... he had risen?

"Yes, he has risen."

The voice of the Lord of Tianxuan carried an indescribable tremor of shock and excitement. "At the very moment that 'War of Gods' erupted, the Emperor joined the fray."

"And the outcome?"

Qin Feng pressed, his voice taut.

"He... returned, as whole as the day he ascended."

The Lord of Tianxuan drew a deep breath and spoke slowly, "Furthermore, judging by the residual laws lingering around the Golden Throne upon his return... he slaughtered many gods."

...

...

The great hall fell into a prolonged, heavy silence.

The news was far too earth-shattering to comprehend.

A "living fossil" who should have been mortally wounded and immobile had not only stood up, but participated in a war where even primordial deities perished, and then... wreaked havoc and returned unscathed?

To what terrifying extent had the Emperor's power truly reached?

"How... how could this be?"

Qin Feng felt a profound sense of bewilderment.

"I do not know."

The Lord of Tianxuan shook his head. "The Emperor's realm has long transcended the scope of our comprehension. Upon his return, he spoke little, leaving behind only a single decree."

He looked at Qin Feng, his expression turning grave and solemn.

"A 'Terra Council' of the highest order is to be convened."

"At that time, every being within the human territories with a cultivation level above the Emperor-Sealing Realm must journey to the ancestral home of humanity—Terra—to attend this assembly."

"Everyone?"

Qin Feng caught the weight of the word.

"Yes, everyone."

The Lord of Tianxuan nodded. "Whether they are the elders of the Holy Academy, the generals guarding the frontiers, or even newly ascended Venerables like yourself. Not a single soul may be absent."

"This council will determine the path our race shall take in the face of the unprecedented upheaval that is about to sweep across the entire universe."

The Lord of Tianxuan stood up, walked before Qin Feng, and raised his hand to bestow upon him a token shimmering with golden radiance.

Upon the token was nothing but an ancient, double-headed eagle emblem.

"This is the sigil of Terra."

"When shall the council commence?"

Qin Feng took the token.

"The time,"

The Lord of Tianxuan gazed at the starry sky beyond the hall, speaking slowly, "is set for one million years from now."

"One million years..."

Qin Feng nodded.

For a mortal, such a span of time was unimaginably vast.

But for beings of their stature, it was perhaps nothing more than a brief period of seclusion.

"I understand."

Qin Feng tucked the token away.

The War of Gods, the Emperor, the Terra Council...

(End of this chapter)