Chapter 375: Breaking the Shackles of Heaven's Path

Chapter 375: Breaking the Shackles of Heaven's Path

"Your offspring, Gu Yang, has established the Divine Martial Empire as an imperial dynasty, achieving the title 'Emperor Ascending the Nine Heavens' (one-time trigger)!"

"Reward: 100,000 enhancement points!"

"Reward: 3 Sage Realm Ascension Pills!"

"Reward: 30,000 elite loyalists!"

"Reward: Perfect Emperor Skill 'Netherworld Rebirth Eye'!"

...

"Finally, we've ascended!"

Gu Qingfeng's eyes gleamed with divine light.

One hundred thousand enhancement points!

Such a generous reward was both shocking and within Gu Qingfeng's expectations. After all, the difficulty of ascending to an imperial dynasty was at least a hundred times greater than ascending to a royal dynasty. Even with the Divine Martial Empire's territory expanding a hundredfold, it took years to accumulate the necessary foundation for the ascension.

Therefore,

One hundred thousand enhancement points.

It was not at all excessive.

However,

The one hundred thousand enhancement points were only part of the reward.

Three Sage Realm Ascension Pills!

Thirty thousand loyalists!

Each of these was a considerable reward in its own right.

There was no need to elaborate on the Sage Realm Ascension Pills. Three of them would allow the Divine Martial Empire to produce three peak Ninth Heaven Sages.

As for the thirty thousand loyalists, if used wisely, their potential could even surpass the value of the three Sage Realm Ascension Pills. After all, the potential of loyalists was limitless; their talent was merely a lower limit, not an upper one.

Thirty thousand loyalists.

This number exceeded the total number of loyalists Gu Qingfeng had ever obtained.

With such a force at his disposal, Gu Qingfeng could spread his influence throughout the Ancient Realm, and even extend it into the chaotic starry expanse in the future.

However,

What Gu Qingfeng was most concerned about was the final reward:

The Perfect Emperor Skill—Netherworld Rebirth Eye!

This was the first Emperor-level skill Gu Qingfeng had obtained, and it could be used to directly reach the perfect level.

With a flick of his divine consciousness, the treasure containing the Netherworld Rebirth Eye transformed into a stream of light and merged into his mind.

Immediately,

A torrent of memories surged forth.

Gu Qingfeng felt as if he had spent thousands of years cultivating, finally mastering this Emperor skill to its peak.

It seemed like a thousand years.

Yet, it also felt like an instant.

When Gu Qingfeng opened his eyes, a terrifying aura emerged from his pupils, and a formidable power permeated the void, as if it could devour everything.

The Netherworld Rebirth Eye!

It could kill without a trace!

A single glance could extinguish the soul of a living being, sending them to the depths of the Netherworld, utterly destroying both body and spirit.

"An exquisite Emperor skill!"

"Truly extraordinary—"

With this skill,

Gu Qingfeng's strength had reached a new level.

If faced with the scenario of six demon emperors again, he could ensure that demons like the Raksha Demon Emperor would never return.

This was the terrifying power of an exquisite Emperor skill.

While a cultivator's strength was the root of all, mastering a top-tier skill could significantly enhance one's power.

However,

To achieve mastery of a top-tier skill required a considerable amount of time.

But now, Gu Qingfeng had instantly brought the Netherworld Rebirth Eye to perfection, saving at least a thousand years of arduous cultivation.

After all, without a thousand years of practice, it was impossible to bring an exquisite Emperor skill to its peak.

Next,

Gu Qingfeng glanced at his cultivation level and, without hesitation, used the enhancement points to boost his strength.

...

Fourth Heaven of Sage King!

Fifth Heaven of Sage King!

Sixth Heaven of Sage King!

Seventh Heaven of Sage King!

Eighth Heaven of Sage King!

Ninth Heaven of Sage King!

...

In a moment, Gu Qingfeng had elevated his cultivation from the Third Heaven of Sage King to the peak of the Ninth Heaven of Sage King.

One more step.

And he could break through the Sage King barrier, directly entering the Empire Aspirant realm.

...

Name: Gu Qingfeng

Age: 127/9000

Realm: Ninth Heaven of Sage King

Martial Arts: Heaven Pulse True Scripture (Fourth Level), Heavenly Blade (Perfect), Great Wasteland Fist Sutra (Perfect), Desolate Ancient Era Heavenly Blade (Perfect), Purple Extreme Dao Canon (Perfect), Departing Wind True Scripture (Perfect), Nirvana Dao Scripture (Ninth Level of Dao Palace), Heavenly Phoenix Divine Technique (Perfect), Nine Heavens Scripture (First Level of Great Sage), Divine Sky Thunder (Perfect), Nine Yang Dao Scripture (Perfect), Ten Thousand Spirits Dao Scripture (Perfect), Depth Sutra (Ninth Level of Sage King), Ancient Divine King Sutra (Ninth Level of Dao Palace), Netherworld Rebirth Eye (Perfect), (and more)

Points Increased: 49,600

...

"Sage King Ninth Tier!"

"Each stage of advancement to the Empire Aspirant Realm requires fifty thousand points!"

"Currently, with just four hundred more points, I can step into the Empire Aspirant Realm!"

Gu Qingfeng thought to himself.

Four hundred points might be just a matter of moments.

Once he reaches the Empire Aspirant Realm, his strength will take another leap.

Now, having broken through to the Ninth Tier of the Sage King Realm, Gu Qingfeng feels his strength has multiplied several times over compared to before. If he advances to the Empire Aspirant Realm, he can't even imagine how powerful he will become.

"I wonder if there's still a gap between me and an Emperor!"

Gu Qingfeng muttered to himself.

An Emperor is undoubtedly powerful, but it's not impossible to contend with them.

Back when he was at the Third Tier of the Sage King Realm, with the power of four Heavenly Veins, he could match the top Ban Di. Even ancient Ban Di like the Raksha Demon Emperor could be directly suppressed.

Now, with his strength at the Ninth Tier of the Sage King Realm, having multiplied several times over, Gu Qingfeng is confident he won't be weaker than an Emperor if he goes all out.

If he can take it a step further and break through to the Empire Aspirant Realm, his strength will become even more formidable.

Then,

A drop of essence blood appeared with a snap of Gu Qingfeng's fingers, landing in the middle of the hall.

This golden blood emitted a terrifying aura. If an Empire Aspirant were present, they would truly understand just how formidable this single drop of blood is.

Then,

After all, the shackles of Heaven’s Path are not so easily broken. Even in the presence of an Emperor, it is incredibly difficult to truly shatter the bonds of these shackles.

At this point, Xiao Jianjun fell silent.

In his line of sight, Gu Yang had directly mobilized the entire Divine Martial Empire’s national fortune. The nine ancient tripods that once suppressed the nine continents suddenly appeared, each bronze tripod brimming with the terrifying aura of the empire’s people.

Following this,

Gu Yang summoned the imperial seal, and a boundless aura of fortune condensed into a supreme lotus, striking the shackles of Heaven’s Path.

Such overwhelming force landing on the shackles of Heaven’s Path only made them tremble slightly, with no signs of breaking.

"Many say that the Era of Decline cannot produce a Sage, but I refuse to accept that. What are the shackles of Heaven’s Path to me? Today, no one can stop me from achieving the Dao and becoming a Sage… The people of the Divine Martial Empire, I need your strength. Please raise your right hands and help me break the shackles of Heaven’s Path!!!"

Gu Yang’s eyes blazed with fierce determination, his resolute voice echoing throughout the entire Divine Martial Empire, reaching the ears of every citizen.

In an instant,

Many citizens instinctively raised their right hands, and faint glows arose from all over the Divine Martial Empire, eventually converging into a celestial river of light, heading toward Mount Imperial Sun.

Rumbling!!

The combined strength of the empire’s countless citizens and its entire national fortune now concentrated on Gu Yang.

Then,

He once again summoned the imperial seal, launching another attack on the shackles of Heaven’s Path.

"Break for me!!"

Gu Yang’s aura soared like a rainbow, his immense presence shattering the limits of the Palace of Dao Realm, seemingly ascending to a higher level.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound echoed, and then, to the shock of all present, the unshakable shackles of Heaven’s Path began to crack, disintegrating before their eyes.

As the shackles of Heaven’s Path shattered, Gu Yang’s aura surged, completing the final transformation.

Rumbling!!

A terrifying ascension tribulation appeared suddenly, heavy clouds of tribulation covering the entire sky.

"The Sage Ascension Tribulation!"

"He succeeded—"

Xiao Jianjun’s face changed dramatically. He never thought that Gu Yang would truly succeed, using the strength of the entire empire’s citizens and its national fortune to break the shackles of Heaven’s Path and forcefully advance to the Sage Realm.

Now,

The Sage Ascension Tribulation had descended, confirming everything.

In an instant,

Xiao Jianjun waved his sleeve, a powerful divine consciousness enveloping him and Gu Shengnan, and they instantly left Mount Imperial Sun, escaping the range of the Sage Ascension Tribulation.

At the same time,

Other cultivators did the same.

They couldn’t afford to be stunned by the scene before them and hurriedly rushed away from Mount Imperial Sun, fearing that the Sage Ascension Tribulation would affect them.

After all, such a level of tribulation was far from ordinary.

Even a top-tier half-Sage could be at risk of falling if caught in the Sage Ascension Tribulation.

In this situation, no one dared to be careless.

"The Sage Ascension Tribulation!"

When Gu Qingfeng arrived in the nine continents, he saw the powerful tribulation clouds gathering over Mount Imperial Sun.

He had witnessed Gu Yang mobilizing the strength of the people earlier.

Now,

The Sage Ascension Tribulation had descended.

This meant that Gu Yang had truly succeeded.

"If Yang can break through this time, he will have set a precedent!"

Gu Qingfeng stood with his hands behind his back, looking toward Mount Imperial Sun, his expression full of satisfaction.

Many say that no one can achieve Sagehood in the Era of Decline, but Gu Yang, with his own means, has broken through, setting a precedent.

Of course,

Gu Qingfeng also understood.

Gu Yang’s success was due to the fact that this was the end of the Era of Decline, and the Da Zheng Prosperity was soon to arrive.

At this time, the suppression of Heaven’s Path was at its weakest.

If it were during the peak of the era, Gu Yang would have had no chance of success.

However,

This weakness was only relative.

Even in this period, not everyone could break through.

Gu Yang’s achievement made him the first in history.

Gu Qingfeng did not count himself, as his method of breakthrough was not replicable and thus had no basis for comparison.

As for whether Gu Yang would fail the tribulation, Gu Qingfeng had no concerns.

With Gu Yang’s foundation,

The Sage Ascension Tribulation posed no threat.

Even without reaching the Sage Realm, Gu Yang’s strength was already on par with a Sage.

Now that he had broken through, his power was even more formidable.

"Once Yang breaks through to the Sage Realm, he can provide me with another boost. Advancing to the Empire Aspirant Realm will no longer be a problem!"

Gu Qingfeng smiled, considering this a double celebration. Not only had Gu Yang broken through to the Sage Realm, but he himself had also advanced to the Empire Aspirant Realm, greatly enhancing the strength of the Gu family and the Divine Martial Empire.

As Gu Qingfeng’s thoughts came to a close, the long-anticipated Sage Ascension Tribulation finally descended.

Rumble!!

The moment the thunder struck, the brilliant lightning illuminated the heavens and earth, as if silencing all living things. (End of Chapter)

Chapter end