Immortal Emperor Clan

CHAPTER 3 “The Hidden World Beyond Heaven”

Noon light filtered through the massive crystal ceilings of the Gu Clan Heavenly Hall like rivers of molten gold descending from immortal heavens.

The palace stretched endlessly across the mountain summit, built entirely from ancient immortal jade capable of gathering Heaven Qi naturally from the surrounding realms.

Golden emperor formations glowed beneath the transparent floors while countless divine symbols floated through the air like living stars.

Every pillar within the hall carried carvings of primordial dragons, heavenly phoenixes, and ancient conquerors whose names had long vanished from mortal history.

The atmosphere felt unbearably heavy beneath the pressure of gathered experts whose cultivation alone could overturn kingdoms.

Even the surrounding spiritual winds trembled slightly beneath their overwhelming auras.

Rows of clan elders sat upon elevated jade thrones arranged beneath the Heavenly Law Pillars.

Some possessed long silver hair flowing like waterfalls of moonlight while others radiated monstrous battle intent capable of suppressing entire armies.

Spirit beasts slept beside several elders, chained through ancient soul contracts forged centuries ago during immortal wars.

One old man rested a massive blood-red halberd against his shoulder while dark lightning crackled around its blade endlessly.

Another elder held prayer beads crafted from demon skulls, each bead containing sealed Saint Realm souls screaming silently within spiritual confinement.

This gathering alone possessed enough power to shake the Eternal Heaven Realm into chaos.

At the center of the hall stood Gu Tian.

His black robes moved calmly beneath the drifting spiritual currents while fragments of black-golden aura occasionally flickered around his figure like hidden storms trapped beneath calm waters.

Since the awakening ceremony, his entire presence had changed subtly.

Not louder.

Not more arrogant.

Simply deeper.

As though something ancient now watched the world through his eyes.

Many elders noticed it immediately.

And many feared it silently.

Lady Yuexin observed her son quietly from beside Gu Shen’s throne.

Her elegant silver-blue robes shimmered faintly beneath the heavenly light while crystal phoenix hairpins rested gently within her dark hair.

Unlike Gu Shen’s cold emperor aura, Yuexin’s presence carried graceful warmth mixed with terrifying hidden sharpness.

Her cultivation had already reached the Peak Great Saint Realm, allowing her spiritual sense to perceive fluctuations beyond ordinary cultivators.

She could hear the unstable rhythm beneath Gu Tian’s breathing.

She could feel the dangerous silence buried inside his soul.

A mother always notices first.

Her fingers slowly tightened against the armrest of her throne.

Not enough for others to see.

But enough for the immortal jade beneath her nails to crack faintly.

Gu Xu suddenly slammed his fist against the ancient table before him.

BOOOOM—!

The jade table shattered instantly beneath terrifying Saint King force.

Violent battle aura erupted around the War Elder like exploding flames while blood-red spear intent spread across the hall.

Several younger disciples standing nearby turned pale instantly from pressure alone.

“Another world?!”

“Impossible!”

His voice thundered across the Heavenly Hall like battlefield drums soaked in blood and fury.

The massive scar across his jaw twitched visibly while his eyes burned with aggressive suspicion.

Gu Xu had conquered seven lower immortal kingdoms personally during the Heavenly Expansion Wars centuries ago.

His cultivation technique, the Tyrant War Scripture, transformed spiritual energy into destructive battle force capable of crushing mountain ranges.

Behind him floated nine phantom war spears condensed entirely from killing intent.

Each spear represented one Saint King Realm opponent slain by his own hands.

“What the hell is this nonsense?”

“A hidden world beyond heaven?”

“Ridiculous…”

“Either this is some ancient illusion trap…”

“Or something far worse.”

Several elders nodded grimly.

Others remained silent while observing Gu Tian carefully.

No one dared interrupt Gu Xu directly.

Among the Gu Clan, the War Elder’s temper was nearly as terrifying as his strength.

Yet Gu Tian showed no reaction.

Not anger.

Not offense.

Not even annoyance.

He simply raised his right hand slowly.

Then the air changed.

HMMMMMM—

Black-golden symbols appeared around his fingertips while strange system-like inscriptions floated through the hall.

Ancient energy unlike ordinary spiritual Qi gathered above the palace floor.

Even the emperor formations beneath the hall flickered uncertainly.

Several elders frowned deeply.

“This aura again…”

“It doesn’t belong to our cultivation system…”

“Disgusting… yet terrifying…”

Then suddenly—

The hall darkened completely.

A massive illusion projection appeared above everyone’s heads.

The entire Heavenly Hall fell silent instantly.

Broken heavens stretched endlessly through the illusionary skies.

Gigantic cracks divided entire worlds apart while black storms consumed burning continents beneath endless darkness.

Ancient ruins floated through the void like abandoned graves of forgotten civilizations.

Countless corpses covered shattered battlefields, some still wearing divine armor glowing faintly despite endless ages passing since death.

Massive chaos monsters wandered through ruined lands, their bodies resembling twisted mountains covered in countless crimson eyes and rotting wings.

One monster slowly opened its mouth.

Inside the illusion—

Millions of screaming souls could be seen trapped between its teeth.

Several disciples nearly vomited from horror.

“Holy shit…”

“What kind of monster is that?!”

“Ugh… disgusting…”

Even Saint Realm elders visibly stiffened.

Because the pressure radiating from those illusionary creatures did not feel fake.

It felt real.

Too real.

The illusion continued shifting.

A gigantic black gate floated endlessly within the darkness between worlds.

Ancient chains wrapped around the gate while crimson eyes slowly blinked across its surface.

Each eye carried terrifying suppression force capable of shaking one’s Dao Heart merely through observation.

Then the projection stopped.

Absolute silence filled the Heavenly Hall.

Not even breathing could be heard clearly anymore.

Gu Xu slowly stood from his throne.

For the first time since the meeting began, uncertainty appeared within the battle-hungry elder’s expression.

His fingers tightened around the shaft of his Blood Tyrant Spear resting beside him.

The Heaven-grade weapon vibrated faintly as though sensing danger hidden within the projection itself.

“What… is that place?”

Gu Tian’s gaze remained calm.

Yet deep inside his eyes, faint golden patterns rotated silently once more.

“The system calls it a Hidden World.”

“An abandoned realm beyond our heavens.”

“Filled with ancient civilizations, ruined immortal inheritances… and unknown threats.”

His voice remained steady throughout the explanation.

But the deeper he spoke, the colder the atmosphere became.

“According to the system…”

“There are countless worlds beyond the Eternal Heaven Realm.”

“Some already dead.”

“Some still alive.”

“And some…”

His gaze slowly lifted toward the illusionary black gate.

“…waiting to devour weaker worlds.”

Several elders immediately stood.

Shock spread visibly across the Heavenly Hall.

“That’s impossible!”

“The Eternal Heaven Realm is already one of the supreme realms!”

“How could there be more worlds beyond ours?!”

“Horse shit…”

But Lady Yuexin suddenly turned pale.

Very pale.

Cold sweat slowly formed along her elegant fingers resting against the throne armrest.

Her breathing became uneven despite her Great Saint Realm cultivation.

Fragments of forgotten memories surfaced violently within her mind.

FLASHBACK—

Many centuries ago.

A younger Yuexin walked through the lower prison chambers beneath the Gu Clan mountains.

At that time, she had not yet become First Madam of the clan.

She had merely been a talented disciple responsible for overseeing spiritual prisoner interrogations.

The underground prison smelled of blood, rust, and death.

Ancient suppression chains covered the walls while countless prisoners screamed endlessly within darkness.

Some had already lost their minds after centuries of imprisonment.

But one prisoner remained different.

An old immortal bound by twelve Heavenly Execution Chains.

His flesh had already decayed beyond recognition while strange black symbols crawled endlessly across his skin.

Yet despite his miserable appearance, his eyes still carried terrifying clarity.

Young Yuexin had once asked him quietly.

“Why did you betray your immortal sect?”

The old prisoner slowly raised his head.

Then he laughed weakly.

A hollow laugh filled with despair.

“Young girl…”

“You know nothing about the real heavens.”

“There are worlds beyond this realm…”

“Dying worlds…”

“Hungry worlds…”

His cracked lips trembled violently.

“And when the gates reopen…”

“Everything will drown.”

Back to the present—

Lady Yuexin’s fingers trembled faintly.

Her beautiful eyes remained fixed upon the illusionary black gate floating above the Heavenly Hall.

That same terrifying pressure…

That same suffocating aura…

It matched the prisoner’s description perfectly.

Gu Shen noticed her reaction immediately.

“Yuexin.”

His deep voice carried hidden concern beneath its calmness.

She inhaled slowly before speaking.

“I once heard of this before…”

The entire hall turned silent again.

Even Gu Xu frowned heavily.

Lady Yuexin rarely spoke uncertainly.

And when she did, it usually meant genuine danger existed.

Her gaze remained fixed upon the projection.

“Long ago…”

“An imprisoned immortal once spoke of dying worlds beyond heaven.”

“He claimed ancient gates connected countless realms together.”

“And he said…”

Her voice lowered slightly.

“…something sleeps beyond those gates.”

The temperature inside the Heavenly Hall seemed to drop instantly.

Several elders unconsciously circulated spiritual Qi to stabilize their Dao Hearts.

Gu Xu growled under his breath.

“Damm it…”

“So this nightmare might actually be real…”

Suddenly—

The projection flickered violently.

Then a new image appeared.

A battlefield.

Countless black-armored warriors kneeling before an enormous throne built from divine corpses.

Broken suns floated above ruined skies while rivers of blood stretched endlessly across shattered worlds.

And standing beside the throne—

A familiar silhouette.

Tall.

Cold.

Wrapped in black-golden flames.

Its face remained hidden beneath darkness.

But its eyes…

Its eyes looked exactly like Gu Tian’s.

The Heavenly Hall exploded into chaos instantly.

“What the fuck?!”

“That figure…”

“No… impossible…”

Gu Tian’s pupils contracted sharply.

A violent headache pierced through his skull once more.

Fragments of unknown memories surged through his consciousness like floods tearing apart ancient dams.

War.

Endless war.

Burning multiverses collapsing beneath monstrous armies.

And himself…

Standing above them all.

His breathing became uneven for the first time since entering the hall.

Black-golden aura leaked uncontrollably around his body while the system voice echoed once more inside his soul.

> “Warning.”

> “Ancient Authority Resonance Detected.”

> “Memory Seal weakening.”

Then the projection suddenly shattered apart.

BOOOOM—!

The Heavenly Hall trembled violently.

Several emperor formations cracked beneath the pressure erupting from Gu Tian’s spiritual sea.

Far away beyond the Eternal Heaven Realm—

Within endless cosmic darkness—

A massive black gate slowly began opening.