Chapter 2: The Path to Emperor and Other Roads, Preparing for Both

Nathaniel Hayes had just emerged from the tribulation and ascended to the rank of Emperor, revealing the overwhelming aura of an invincible being of the age. His gaze reached the edge of the universe, and as his voice echoed, the tremendous power shattered space and time, descending upon the universe's outer edges.

The bizarre creatures that had crossed the boundary to spy on the Imperial Barrier City were immediately struck down by unimaginable points of light, turning into dust.

In the next moment, a swarm of such strange creatures, densely packed and occupying the Boundary City, retreated like a tide into the dark chaos beyond. Even from an unknown distance, they seemed to fear this invincible Emperor of the age.

"Becoming an Emperor truly is different," someone muttered.

In another starry river, Mason Carter looked at Nathaniel Hayes, who was displaying his invincible stance, and once again sighed, before leaving in melancholy.

Before an Emperor, no matter how peerless or extraordinary you are, it is but a fleeting moment, never surpassing the brilliance brought by the Emperor.

From this moment on, Nathaniel Hayes would certainly be remembered in history, his path illuminating both the past and future.

"This is indeed the era where the Dao’s fortune is supreme, one Emperor after another!"

"Even if foreign strange creatures invade, what of it? With an Emperor present, who dares to be reckless?"

"The Radiance Grove has produced three Emperors, it truly makes others envious..."

Countless supreme beings sighed. During the time an Emperor existed, Boundary City wouldn't need to send many cultivators for defense. The strange creatures that came from nowhere, unable to communicate, feared the Emperor and dared not act recklessly.

Before long, Nathaniel Hayes's name spread throughout the three thousand star regions of the universe and the corners of the Nine Realms and Eight Wastelands.

Of course, it wasn't his real name, but his imperial title, the "Emperor Skyler."

For a time, the Radiance Grove in the Evergreen Realm was bustling with guests.

Although the Carter Family also sent someone to offer congratulations, Mason Carter did not go, nor was he within the Carter Family, instead retreating into his small world.

He was thinking, how could he possibly become an Emperor?

This question haunted him, and in the blink of an eye, a hundred years passed without return.

During this time, Mason Carter had gone through all the ancient history books but found no answers.

Perhaps there was no answer at all.

Mason Carter could only choose to remain dormant, waiting for the arrival of the next great era, and try again—perhaps it was a misunderstanding?

Of course, Mason Carter was not truly waiting to die; he was preparing a backup plan for the possibility of never achieving the throne. Even if he truly could not ascend to the imperial seat, he was immortal, and on the long road of immortality, who was to say he wouldn’t find a path of his own?

To outsiders, and even the Carter Family members, it seemed Mason Carter must have been unable to bear the blow, and had sealed his divine source, preserving his bloodline and cultivation at the peak, thus allowing him to strive for the throne in the next great era.

In reality, many celestial prodigies who had failed to secure the throne, yet were unwilling to give up, did this. They often chose to hide within their divine source, preserving themselves at their peak to prevent their life force from decaying.

For Mason Carter, this lifetime in pursuit of the throne, he had no true friends, so he had no worries about being disturbed. The family also understood that he would wait for the next great era, and thus left him in peace.

"Nathaniel has become Emperor, so he should have the demeanor and vision of an Emperor, and will not be petty enough to trouble me."

"And if his luck runs out, he can only live for one lifetime. When you add in the time for the Dao to scatter, it will take at least twenty thousand to thirty thousand years..."

At the edge of the Red Dust Realm, in Mason Carter's self-created little world, he was lying in a small courtyard, planning his future.

For cultivators at the peak of quasi-Emperor, their lifespan could be no more than nine thousand years unless they find some heavenly medicine, making it almost impossible to live a second life.

Fortunately, those who had not ascended to Emperor could hide in their divine source, sealing their life force. The time flow between the divine source and the outside world was vastly different, almost stationary. It could be said to be an alternative form of "immortality."

The only downside was that they would fall into a deep sleep, and it would be indistinguishable from death, which was extremely difficult to endure.

An Emperor, having broken through the shackles of the Great Dao, could live for more than twenty thousand years.

Moreover, with the aid of heavenly medicine, they could live another life.

If they could find some great fortune, living through three lifetimes was not impossible, but it was extremely difficult.

An Emperor’s bloodline is boundless, containing the essence of the Great Dao. In this world, nothing can stop the passage of time for them, and the divine source is useless. Thus, every Emperor must eventually pass away.

Therefore, Mason Carter would have to wait at least twenty thousand years before he could once again vie for the throne.

However, unlike others, he did not need to seal his divine source, which might be one of the benefits of immortality.

But Mason Carter still chose to meditate and contemplate the Dao. His bloodline would not decline, remaining at its peak, and he could continue to perfect himself.

Therefore, even upon learning that he could not become an Emperor in the end, Mason Carter did not feel too sorrowful. As long as he was alive, there would always be a way.

…………

In the blink of an eye, three thousand years passed.

Nathaniel Hayes had been an Emperor for three thousand years, and the world had become calm. The various races no longer fought, and even conflicts had lessened significantly.

Moreover, because he was a human Emperor, the human race had a much better life compared to other races, with all other races lowering their heads in deference.

This is the nature of the struggle for the Dao—whenever any race produces an Emperor, they become powerful, suppressing the other races for a long time.

For ordinary cultivators, three thousand years might be a lifetime, but for an Emperor, it was truly the beginning of his rule over an era.

As the foundation of Radiance Grove grew stronger, Nathaniel Hayes, the Emperor, welcomed his empress, and on their wedding day, the entire world celebrated, with all Dao resounding.

For the next long period, Nathaniel Hayes was revered by all races and began to travel through the realms, settling old scores.

Top forces were wiped out, their traces completely erased from the world by Nathaniel Hayes.

This was a force that had once plotted against Nathaniel Hayes, which had produced an Emperor in the past and had flourished for a hundred thousand years. But now, their lineage had been severed.

Many forces became silent, fearful of being swept away.

Fortunately, Nathaniel Hayes had only targeted those forces that had been excessively cruel in the past. For most forces, even if they had been hostile in the past, he had not taken action. He merely issued small warnings.

With Nathaniel Hayes's current vision, as long as the forces did not harm the lives of the world, he would not interfere.

After spending a thousand years, Nathaniel Hayes traveled across the three thousand star regions, the Nine Realms and Eight Wastelands, before finally arriving at the The Carter Family in the Red Dust Realm.

Naturally, The Carter Family received Nathaniel Hayes with the highest honors, for it was well known that this Emperor Skyler had once contended with Mason Carter over the Imperial Barrier, fighting one hundred battles, but never winning a single one.

Had it not been for Mason Carter being rejected by the Great Dao, there would have been no place for the Emperor Skyler.

Of course, since Nathaniel Hayes became Emperor, no one mentioned the hundred battles between him and Mason Carter anymore. At most, people would privately joke about it.

At the high seat of The Carter Family, the towering figure was too overwhelming to look at directly. The aura of the Great Dao, even if intentionally reined in, still moved people's hearts.

The current The Carter Family Patriarch received Nathaniel Hayes with the highest honors.

In fact, The Carter Family had little connection with Radiance Grove, and it seemed that Nathaniel Hayes had come because of Mason Carter, though no one knew for what purpose.