Chapter 1: I, the Strongest Destiny, Yet a Defeated General on the Path to Emperorhood

"In the vast history of time, it's likely that no one will remember a person who never became an emperor, unless they clearly had the potential but were forsaken by destiny."

Deep within the cosmic galaxy, towering structures resembling coiled dragons swirl around the stars, extending endlessly with an ancient, solemn, and murderous aura. Even the stars themselves can only serve as mere decorations.

The Imperial Gate Great Wall has existed since ancient times, a place where one battles for destiny and seeks the imperial throne. It is where the Great Dao evolves, and countless outstanding geniuses from all the races have bled in pursuit of this goal.

At this moment, at the end of the Imperial Gate Great Wall, a young and tall figure with a handsome face stands high, gazing up at the gradually dissipating cataclysmic thunder tribulation in the starry sky, muttering to himself.

Mason Carter couldn't help but chuckle bitterly. He had fought to the end among all the chosen of destiny, becoming the number one of his era, leading the way with unrivaled strength.

Logically, he should have been the only candidate for emperor in this lifetime. The cataclysmic thunder tribulation had already appeared—if he could survive it, he, Mason Carter, would be an invincible emperor, suppressing all enemies.

However, before the thunder tribulation could fully form, it began to dissipate.

As a person chosen by destiny, Mason Carter could feel the disdain of the Heavenly Heart Mark towards him.

Without the Heavenly Heart Mark, one could not dominate all laws, and could never ascend to the throne of the emperor, as one would not be recognized by the Great Dao.

"Not accepted by the Great Dao, perhaps I am the first in history to face this."

Mason Carter was deeply troubled. Such a thing had never happened before. No cultivator had ever fought to the end at the Imperial Gate but failed to become emperor.

Thinking back on his undefeated journey, Mason Carter couldn't help but curse. As a transmigrator, his identity, background, and talents were all maximized. Why wouldn't the old thief let him become emperor?

Was it just because he was immortal?

Since his transmigration, Mason Carter had known he possessed an immortal body—ageless and deathless, eternal as the ages.

At first, he was pleased about this. With this body, even if he was a useless person, after countless years, he would still be able to make a name for himself in the immortal world.

In fact, Mason Carter was not only an immortal, but also a descendant of the imperial family The Carter Family. He had identity, background, and resources.

He had shown his undefeated demeanor, reaching the peak of quasi-emperor at two thousand years old, only one step away from becoming an emperor.

Sadly, an accident occurred. He was forsaken by the Great Dao, perhaps simply because he was immortal.

"Sigh."

In the end, seeing the thunder tribulation dissipate, Mason Carter's sigh turned into a deep lament, and he turned to leave the Imperial Gate.

Such a thing, even with the peak cultivation of a quasi-emperor, was beyond his control. He could only become the joke of the immortal world.

Even if Mason Carter were to die under the thunder tribulation, he likely wouldn't be mocked, because many cultivators had died just before becoming emperor.

But to be abandoned by the Great Dao—this was more thought-provoking. Could there be some secret?

In this sense, he might actually be the first person in history.

At the same time, countless supreme beings from different locations, spanning unknown distances, were watching everything unfold at the Imperial Gate. After all, the birth of a supreme, invincible emperor of this era was worth watching.

An emperor rules all laws, and that is the destiny, the strongest being in the world. Moreover, in any given era, there can only be one emperor. This is the "Emperor does not meet the Emperor!"

Furthermore, while an emperor is alive, no other cultivator can become emperor.

But just as Mason Carter's emperor tribulation dissipated, the supreme beings were dumbfounded. What was going on here?

Soon, some of the supreme beings used their great powers to investigate and discovered that Mason Carter had indeed been rejected by the Great Dao.

"Since ancient times, the victorious chosen ones have always become emperors. What is happening now?"

"Could it be that Mason Carter cannot bear the destiny?"

"To be rejected by the Great Dao, how dark must his fate be?"

"Mason Carter, what a pity… His battle power is truly unmatched, yet he does not have the emperor's fate!"

"Such a pity. Mason Carter was so close to allowing The Carter Family to have two emperors. With such a foundation, The Carter Family might have prospered for ten thousand years…"

Many supreme beings lamented for Mason Carter, because many of them had fought with him, traveled alongside him, and knew his true strength.

Being unrecognized by destiny—what a shame!

"It really is destiny! If he had become emperor, wouldn't we all have to face reckoning?"

"Two emperors in one family, such immense fortune and opportunities, but how could that be so easy?"

However, some were overjoyed. These were the forces with enmity towards The Carter Family.

In the mortal realm, The Carter Family, aside from Mason Carter, had another quasi-emperor—an elder of Mason Carter's family. At this moment, he was leading many of The Carter Family clan, watching Mason Carter's every move from outside the Imperial Gate.

When the thunder tribulation dissipated and Mason Carter walked out of the Imperial Gate, this old quasi-emperor merely sighed and comforted him, saying, "Mason Carter, you're still young, at the peak of your vitality. Even if this era's destiny does not recognize you, there's no need to be disappointed. Just seal your divine source and wait for the next great age to rise again."

"Throughout history, many great emperors have sealed their divine sources and waited through countless eras before finally becoming emperors. Just like our The Carter Family ancestor, who became emperor in the second era."

Facing his elder's concern, Mason Carter nodded, saying little.

After all, only he knew the true reason he could not become emperor—he had become a blacklisted person.

Just as Mason Carter was preparing to return to the mortal realm, suddenly, thunder rumbled above the Imperial Gate, and the thunderclouds brewed. Destiny had returned!

The cataclysmic thunder tribulation, the emperor tribulation, had appeared once more!

"Could it be that there's a twist in the situation?!"

This immediately drew everyone's attention. The emperor tribulation had arisen again. Did this mean that destiny had accepted Mason Carter?

Mason Carter looked at the thunder tribulation and felt an inexplicable surge of excitement.

If he truly achieved the throne of emperor, coupled with his immortal body, no one would ever be able to become emperor again, right?

Would the Great Dao truly choose him?

The next moment, the thunder tribulation stirred, becoming even more terrifying, blocking out the sun, and the dazzling thunderbolts shattered the stars, enveloping the entire area of the Imperial Gate, forcing the observing cultivators to quickly retreat.

"Mason Carter! Since you have not been accepted by the Great Dao, I shall claim the emperor's throne for this era!"

Suddenly, a figure ascended from the Imperial Gate, rising into the deep space, directly confronting the dark thunder tribulation, but not forgetting to turn and give Mason Carter a cheerful smile.

This smile contained surprise, excitement, and astonishment.

"Radiance Grove's Nathaniel Hayes!"

"The thunder tribulation is for him?!"

"Sure enough, Mason Carter still failed to gain recognition from the Great Dao!"

"Nathaniel Hayes may have failed hundreds of times against Mason Carter, but that doesn't stop him from being the strongest genius beneath Mason Carter!"

"The Great Dao favors him—this is only natural."

At this moment, all eyes were on Nathaniel Hayes. If he became emperor, Radiance Grove would have three emperors in one family. Such immense fortune and opportunities made everyone envious.

Mason Carter was not surprised that the Great Dao had accepted Nathaniel Hayes.

After all, at the Imperial Gate, Nathaniel Hayes could defeat anyone except Mason Carter.

But he just happened to be Mason Carter's constant loser.

"Such a stroke of good luck."

It would be a lie to say that Mason Carter wasn’t jealous—after all, the throne of emperor should have been his.

But the facts could not be changed. He could only sigh and leave the starry sky with the others.

The cataclysmic thunder sent a booming sound across the universe, and the various thunderbolts, as if aiming to tear everything apart, engulfed Nathaniel Hayes. A quasi-emperor's aura steadily climbed, and a giant red sun rose in the thunderstorm.

In the thunderclouds, the Heavenly Heart Mark faintly hung down, with myriad laws emanating from it…

Many cultivators watching from the surrounding starry sky observed this magnificent scene, and Mason Carter was no exception.

After all, witnessing the birth of an emperor was a rare and fascinating event.

No one knew how long had passed, but the rolling thunderstorm gradually calmed, and the sounds of battle and roars vanished. Even Nathaniel Hayes's aura had disappeared.

It was eerily calm.

Could it be that Nathaniel Hayes didn't survive the tribulation and perished?

After all, even Nathaniel Hayes didn't know he was destined to become the emperor, so it was understandable if he failed.

Many of the presiding auras attempted to probe further, but they dared not cross the thunderstorm.

The next moment, the entire thunderstorm boiled again, rising to an extreme, dispersing nonstop!

A vast, mighty, and incomprehensibly immense aura spread out, seemingly piercing through the past and future. It radiated across all three thousand realms, and in that moment, all living beings seemed to sense it, instinctively turning to gaze in the direction of Nathaniel Hayes.

This was the aura of an emperor!

Nathaniel Hayes had become emperor!

The universe trembled, and the Great Dao rejoiced.

As the thunderstorm dispersed, Nathaniel Hayes stood tall, his imposing figure revealed to the world.

Nathaniel Hayes's gaze seemed to penetrate the starry river, looking toward the desolate edges of the universe.

"I am the emperor, the invincible in this world!"

"You, otherworldly strange beings, have crossed the boundary!"