Normal structures that existed in primal-chaos would eventually be corroded into nothing. Even god items with deathless godliness were no exception and would eventually be destroyed.

That said, there were always ways to stave off the primal-chaos to create safe enclaves.

From what Yang Qi could tell, this was a sect set up by some powerful old-timer. In the very middle of all the mountains and buildings, there was a huge spell formation created with seven hundred imperial snakecharms, which constantly devoured the primal-chaos paleo-energy and transformed it into usable power.

Those talismans were what had turned this place into a habitable zone.

‘There they are,’ Yang Qi thought, and prepared to take them. He knew that it would result in the destruction of the formation, but there was nothing he could do about that. Before he could take action, however, a wave of power rose up behind him that was no weaker than anything Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven could produce. 

Someone was coming.

‘Who’s this? The owner of this place? Whoever set up a sect in the middle of all this primal-chaos would obviously be anything but common. Maybe I should take a look around before making a move.’

Drawing on his energy arts to conceal his presence, Yang Qi cast his gaze around until he located the new arrival, an immensely powerful figure who was apparently a Grand Emperor. He radiated an aura that seemed to contain a myriad of magics, and had a will that could span the heavens.

From what Yang Qi could tell, he was on the ninth stair of the Deathless Heavenly Stairway, the Stair of the True Void. He was very close to reaching the Deathless level.

‘Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan?’ Although Yang Qi had never seen the other three emperors of the Heavenly Court, he was fairly certain that this was who he was looking at. ‘Is this place a rite center set up by Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan? If so, I don’t need to worry about any negative consequences of taking the talismans. After all, the Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court have already set themselves up as my enemy.’ 

Just as Yang Qi was about to make his move, Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan suddenly spoke. “Patriarch Annalist, considering we're old friends, why aren’t you coming out to meet me?”

In response, a middle-aged man clad in a green garment appeared in front of Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan. From his energy fluctuations, it was obvious that he was no weaker than Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan. “What are you doing here, Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan? Didn’t you Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court set up the Dao Defense League to try seizing universal fortune? I know about the invasion of the future world, but I'm in no position to help right now. Please leave.”

“Patriarch Annalist, we four emperors are working together again to set up a new Heavenly Court. Why not join us as the fifth emperor? The Dao Defense League is now fully established, and we are already gathering universal fortune. Otherwise I wouldn't have sent this clone of mine to visit you. Once we control the universal fortune, we can definitely shatter the forces of the future world, then reach the Deathless Throne, the level of the legion of gods. You won't be able to do that working on your cultivation alone out here in primal-chaos.”

Patriarch Annalist chuckled darkly. “When you four set up the Heavenly Court in ancient times, you harbored evil intentions. You lured numerous old-timers into traps to kill them and steal their destiny, all to make your God Pills of Fate. Working with you would be like asking a tiger for its skin. I'm not interested in being fuel for your advancement. Again, I’ll ask you to leave. Even if the Dao Defense League were bigger and stronger than it is, I'm not interested in being a part of it. I don’t want to become mere cannon fodder.”

“Oh really?” Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan laughed. Pointing at King Heaven-Devourer’s talismans, he said, “You used those seven hundred amulets to set up your base out here, but over the years, your cultivation base has only slightly improved. You've actually fallen behind us. And that's not to mention the fact that we Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court are all in unison again. If you refuse to do things the easy way, we’ll do them the hard way. So I'm going to give you an ultimatum: join us, whether you like it or not. The only other option comes in the form of a single word. Death!”

“You Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court are as aggressive as ever,” Patriarch Annalist said angrily. “But I refuse to believe you’re that strong!”

“You're overthinking things, Patriarch Annalist. Your cultivation base will definitely improve if you come to the Dao Defense League. By the way, I happen to know about that new technique you started cultivating a while back—the All-Eternity Spring-Autumn Annalist God-Dao Scripture. You collect fragments of lost civilizations and use them to create Annalist True Energy that you hope will make you invincible. Unfortunately, you experienced cultivation deviation and are now a paraplegic. You only come out as an expression of incarnated will. Although this isn’t public knowledge, I'm fully aware of it.

“The All-Eternity Spring-Autumn Annalist God-Dao Scripture is truly powerful, a godly-class energy art, created in ancient times by drawing on the histories of countless civilizations. In fact, it contains countless minor aspects of a variety of other godly-class energy arts. Sadly, if you refuse to join us, you’re going to end up dead and your energy arts will fall into our hands.”

BOOM!

Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan suddenly unleashed a palm strike without any warning. In the blink of an eye, a myriad of godly-class energy arts flared to life behind him. Shocking as it was, there were literally ten thousand such arts, fused together in what appeared to be ultimate harmony.

Yang Qi was deeply shocked. ‘I can’t believe someone exists who combined ten thousand godly-class energy arts! Even Daoist Hundred-Gods only has a hundred, and he's considered an elite among the elder kings. I guess Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan really does live up to his name.’

BOOM!

The palm strike caused a tempest to spring up that ripped all the nearby mountains to shreds. In addition to the intense rumbling sounds, there were also screams as the numerous disciples inhabiting the mountains were killed.

It was exactly what one would expect to happen when a colony of ants faced a fire-breathing dragon.

Patriarch Annalist’s incarnation immediately launched a counter-attack, like a river of destructive power from the depths of history. His move collided with the Grand Emperor’s palm and a huge shock wave of true energy rolled out, shoving the primal-chaos away and creating a temporary vacuum.

Also revealed was the personal kingdom created by King Heaven-Devourer’s talismans, within which sat the real Patriarch Annalist, who looked like little more than a shriveled-up corpse.

Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan burst out laughing. “So, you really did experience cultivation deviation with the All-Eternity Spring-Autumn Annalist God-Dao Scripture. I guessed correctly, Patriarch Annalist. Or should I call you Grand Emperor Annalist, former temporary member of the Heavenly Court of ancient times. Well, it's good that I can finally execute you, traitor!”

“You evil villain!” Patriarch Annalist shouted. “Your Dao Defense League is no tool for good. I know that it’s all about growing your personal power. You want the cultivators of the immortal world to give their faith to you, then gather destiny to become god-spirits. As far as you’re concerned, all other living beings are livestock! I don’t care if I die, I’ll never lower myself to that level!”

“Fine then, prepare to die!” said Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan as he prepared to deliver the coup de grâce. “You’re right, we Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court are more than willing to sacrifice all other living beings to achieve our goals. And now you can hear a bit of the death dirge we will soon sing!”

All of a sudden, a deeply melancholic dirge filled the air, which would fill any enemy of Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan with ultimate misery.

“You!” Patriarch Annalist blurted, his face falling. Unfortunately, having experienced cultivation deviation and become a cripple, there was nothing he could do and nowhere he could go. The kingdom around him began crumbling.

“Die,” Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan said, unleashing an attack that could devastate all creation. He was going to destroy everything in sight!

POP!

Blood sprayed out of Patriarch Annalist’s mouth as his incarnation was wiped out of existence and his kingdom was destroyed.

However, it was in that very moment of despair that a bright beam of light shot out, wrapped him up along with the seven hundred talismans, then vanished. It happened so quickly that Grand Emperor Myriadmagic Heavenspan was left looking around in confusion.

A few breaths of time passed before he regained his composure. Then he realized that the person he had been trying to kill had been rescued and he howled with rage. “Who did it? Who saved him? I'm gonna kill you! Even if you run to the edges of reality, I’ll still track you down!”