Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

"Nineteen, you comprehended your Sword Intent of Ages during the sword discourse at Mount Hua, did you not?"

Having left the ancestral shrine, the Flying Immortal Great Emperor was still preoccupied with this matter and now posed the question.

Su Han did not evade the question. He had already prepared an explanation, which he now offered smoothly, leaving no flaws for the Flying Immortal Great Emperor to find.

"Although you did not receive the ancestors’ inheritance this time, you have obtained the Sword Intent of Ages. As long as you cultivate diligently, given time, you will inevitably catch up to the Crown Prince."

The Flying Immortal Great Emperor nodded. With his suspicions confirmed, he asked no more questions.

While Su Han’s innate talent and strength were indeed remarkable, there was still a significant gap compared to the Crown Prince. Between the two of them, the Flying Immortal Great Emperor still favored the latter.

"You have already visited Myriad Sword Mountain and the ancestral shrine; next, you will go to the Path Enlightenment Lake. It is the foremost site of opportunity within the Myriad Virtual Realm. Since you have obtained a sliver of the Sword Intent of Ages, perhaps you will find your destiny there."

The Flying Immortal Great Emperor was a man of his word, allowing Su Han to visit all three major sites of opportunity. Myriad Sword Mountain and the ancestral shrine had both been rewarding, each yielding its own gains. The Path Enlightenment Lake, as the place where the Void-Slasher Great Emperor had achieved his Path Enlightenment to become a Great Emperor, naturally held even greater opportunities.

"Father Emperor, I’ve heard the Crown Prince is also cultivating here. I wonder if he is at the Path Enlightenment Lake as well?" Su Han took the initiative to ask about the Heavenly Sword Crown Prince’s whereabouts, seeking to confirm his own suspicions.

"The Crown Prince has grasped the Sword Intent of Ages and is cultivating the Sword Scripture of Ages. He is currently in seclusion at the bottom of the Path Enlightenment Lake. But you needn’t worry. He will not be emerging for the time being, and his seclusion will not interfere with your search for opportunities."

The Flying Immortal Great Emperor did not hide anything, revealing the Heavenly Sword Crown Prince’s location. Although he spoke lightly, Su Han still caught the critical implication.

It looks like the Path Enlightenment Lake is where the dagger will finally be revealed!

Su Han was mentally prepared for the Flying Immortal Great Emperor’s schemes, but nothing had materialized at Myriad Sword Mountain or the ancestral shrine. Now, only the Path Enlightenment Lake remained, which was bound to be where the true plot would unfold.

Furthermore, with the Heavenly Sword Crown Prince also in seclusion at the bottom of the lake, Su Han refused to believe it had nothing to do with him. The greatest danger of this trip might very well come from the Heavenly Sword Crown Prince. After all, besides the Flying Immortal Great Emperor, the only other person in the entire Myriad Virtual Realm was the Heavenly Sword Crown Prince.

The Heavenly Sword Crown Prince was a powerful expert of the Saint Realm and the ninth-ranked prodigy on the Hidden Dragon List. Both his innate talent and his strength were immense, far beyond the likes of the Demon Swordsman.

Su Han had managed to slay the Demon Swordsman, but he had no confidence in facing the Heavenly Sword Crown Prince. Nevertheless, he had to go to the Path Enlightenment Lake. This was the place where the Void-Slasher Great Emperor achieved his Path Enlightenment, a site of unimaginable opportunities and fortune. Hadn’t he come here precisely to find such opportunities to break through and grow stronger?

Though the Heavenly Sword Crown Prince was dangerous, Su Han was not without his own trump cards. The outcome was still uncertain.

Fortune is found in peril. I must seize the opportunities at the Path Enlightenment Lake.

Moreover, the Flying Immortal Great Emperor was always by his side. Even if Su Han refused, the emperor was unlikely to agree. It was better to face the Heavenly Sword Crown Prince, where there was at least a sliver of a chance, than to confront the Flying Immortal Great Emperor, which meant certain death.

Having thought everything through, Su Han was calm and betrayed no sign of his inner turmoil.

Guided by the Flying Immortal Great Emperor, Su Han wasted no time and soon laid eyes upon the Path Enlightenment Lake.

Amidst the towering mountains and steep ridges lay a vast valley, lush with vegetation and a carpet of green grass. A ring of Sword Mountains surrounded it, standing like sentinels guarding the Path Enlightenment Lake within. The entire valley floor was taken up by the seemingly endless lake. Its crystal-clear water was a pale blue, resembling a vast sapphire embedded in the earth from a distance—stunningly beautiful and mesmerizing.

The lake spanned over a thousand acres of rippling waves, but it was devoid of any fish or aquatic plants. This emptiness gave it an almost surreal beauty.

At a glance, Su Han seemed to see a majestic figure, sword held aloft, carving out a unique path of the sword as he broke through from the Saint Realm to the Great Emperor Realm.

The comprehension of the Dao is divided into four major realms: Enlightenment, Seeking the Path, Forging the Path, and the Great Dao. Only by finding one’s own path can one become a Great Emperor. If one cannot find their path, they will remain trapped in the Saint Realm, forever unable to break through.

The path of the Void-Slasher Great Emperor was the Sword Path of Ages. Each strike was like the river of time itself, possessing an incredible power beyond ordinary comprehension. Although the Flying Immortal Great Emperor was also a powerhouse in the Great Emperor Realm, his path paled in comparison to the Void-Slasher Great Emperor’s. Thus, his achievements were far less significant.

Such a rich Sword Intent of Ages!

Within Su Han’s Dantian, the Sword Intent seed was already on the verge of sprouting, making his perception of the Sword Intent of Ages particularly acute. The waters of the Path Enlightenment Lake contained a rich Sword Intent of Ages. The entire lake seemed to be a segment severed from the river of time itself, filled with Dao Rhyme, making one feel as if they could lose themselves in it with a single glance.

"The Path Enlightenment Lake is where the ancestor achieved his Path Enlightenment and became an emperor. It contains its own space-time and endless opportunities. What you can obtain, however, depends on your own destiny. Since you have already comprehended the Sword Intent of Ages, this place is a Blessed Land for you," the Flying Immortal Great Emperor said as he led Su Han to the lake’s edge.

His expression was calm and his tone was even, revealing nothing unusual. One could find no fault in his demeanor.

However, Su Han’s heart was filled with apprehension. It wasn’t because of the Flying Immortal Great Emperor’s schemes or the threat of the Heavenly Sword Crown Prince, but because of the Path Enlightenment Lake itself.

Back at Mount Hua, he had been attacked by the Sword Intent of Ages, which included the singular strike the Void-Slasher Great Emperor had unleashed when he achieved Sainthood. The Flying Immortal Great Emperor mistakenly believed he had comprehended the Sword Intent of Ages on his own, but Su Han knew better than anyone how he had obtained that seed of Sword Intent.

Although the Path Enlightenment Lake held great fortune, it also harbored great danger. If he attracted another attack from the Sword Intent of Ages, Su Han would find himself in grave peril. Furthermore, he did not know if the Void-Slasher Great Emperor had also left behind a sword strike that could span millennia when he became a Great Emperor. If so, the danger he faced would double.

All of this was unknown, which made Su Han even more vigilant. But at this point, further worry was useless.

"Father Emperor, your son is leaving now!"

Su Han bid farewell to the Flying Immortal Great Emperor, then flew toward the Path Enlightenment Lake. He plunged into the water with a SPLASH, and his figure soon vanished without a trace.

The Flying Immortal Great Emperor was not surprised. The Path Enlightenment Lake was a separate space-time, so he naturally could not see what was happening inside from his vantage point. However, he was confident his plan would succeed.

"Nineteen, you are indeed exceptional, but I already have a Crown Prince. I do not need another. For the sake of the Crown Prince’s future, you will just have to be sacrificed." The Flying Immortal Great Emperor murmured to himself, his hands clasped behind his back. His face showed neither joy nor sorrow, his gaze utterly indifferent.

He stood there quietly, awaiting the success of his plan.