Chapter 37: Battling the Supreme, Slashing the Ancient Emperor, the Methods of Tuoba Yulong

Tuoba Yulong—this name, in the long river of history in the Eastern Wilderness, shone with the brilliance of a dazzling star. Fifty thousand years ago, when Tuoba Yulong attained the Dao and became an Emperor, the heavens and earth trembled, and all things bowed in submission.

Legend has it that at the moment of his ascension, Tuoba Yulong slew two Supreme Beings from the forbidden zones with his bare hands and struck down an Exotic Emperor, cementing the glorious rise of the Tuoba clan and ensuring that from that day forth, none dared to offend them.

Yet, after that single battle where he extinguished three Emperors, Tuoba Yulong vanished into the annals of history. Some claimed he had been cursed by the Supreme Beings of the forbidden zones, causing his lifespan to wither; others whispered that he had suffered grievous injuries during the dying counterattack of the Exotic Emperor.

His disappearance lasted for tens of thousands of years. Within the clan’s own history, he remained a mysterious and formidable presence. He rarely appeared before his kin, yet whenever the Tuoba clan faced an existential crisis, Tuoba Yulong would emerge in time, resolving all threats with invincible might, standing like a towering mountain that guarded the clan’s peace.

However, his last intervention had been tens of thousands of years ago. Through the long passage of time, he had not appeared once, and the world assumed the old ancestor had passed away. Even many within the Tuoba clan believed he had succumbed to his old wounds and dissolved into the Dao, keeping it a secret only to maintain their prestige.

It appeared now, however, that this living fossil of the Tuoba clan was still alive.

The experts of the Tuoba clan had already fallen into an abyss of despair under the terrifying might of Xiao Xuan. Yet, when the beast-like figure of Tuoba Yulong appeared before them, the entire scene froze, and the air grew thick with overwhelming shock.

No one had expected the Tuoba clan to possess an Emperor who had survived for fifty thousand years!

The younger cultivators, however, were filled with confusion and bewilderment, whispering to one another.

"Tuoba Yulong? Why have I never heard this name?" a young cultivator from the Zhao family asked his companion in a low voice, his eyes clouded with doubt.

"Me neither. This name seems to have never surfaced in our generation," another young cultivator from the He family replied, equally perplexed, searching his memory in vain for any record of the man.

In stark contrast to the confusion of the youths, the Saint-level cultivators who had lived for long ages were struck with a mixture of shock and ecstasy. Having lived through vast stretches of time, these elders had heard the legends of Tuoba Yulong from ancient texts and understood the true weight of his title.

"An Emperor from fifty thousand years ago, still alive! This... how is this possible?" a senior member of the Dugu family gasped, his face pale with disbelief. He rubbed his eyes repeatedly, struggling to reconcile the reality before him.

Nearby, an aged Ancient Saint of the Tuoba clan wept with excitement. He knelt, kowtowing with devout fervor, his voice trembling: "The Supreme Ancestor! He... he has truly appeared! He is the guardian god of our Tuoba clan!" His voice choked with emotion, as if every spark of hope had been reignited. To the experts of the Tuoba clan, Tuoba Yulong was their spiritual pillar and their faith.

It was precisely because of Tuoba Yulong that the Tuoba clan had stood firm through the chaotic eras of the Eastern Wilderness. His name was the glory of the clan and a legend of the realm. With his appearance, the despairing clansmen felt a surge of hope, their eyes burning with the anticipation of salvation.

"Ancestor, you have finally returned! The glory of our clan rests upon you!"

"Ancestor, you must destroy Xiao Xuan and avenge our Tuoba clan!"

The experts knelt in succession, faces filled with expectation and awe.

"Is it you, Xiao Xuan, who dares to offend my clan?" Tuoba Yulong’s gaze locked onto Xiao Xuan, and a flicker of disbelief crossed his eyes. As an Emperor himself, he knew his own limits—surviving fifty thousand years was already the pinnacle; extending one's life beyond that was as difficult as reaching the heavens. Yet Xiao Xuan had survived for a hundred thousand years, a feat that defied Tuoba Yulong's understanding.

"Xiao Xuan, you... you are actually still alive?!" Tuoba Yulong’s voice trembled, clearly shaken. "A hundred thousand years... how can this be?"

"Tuoba Yulong, you have wasted fifty thousand years of life only to remain a frog at the bottom of a well. Is my providence something you could possibly fathom?" Xiao Xuan merely offered a cold smile, his eyes filled with disdain and an unshakable, arrogant confidence.

Tuoba Yulong’s expression darkened instantly, a fierce light erupting in his eyes. His aura shifted, becoming like that of a primordial beast, his killing intent radiating outward. "Xiao Xuan, you have destroyed the roots of my clan. This debt will be settled today!" His voice was deep and thunderous, each word laden with lethal power.

Xiao Xuan remained unmoved, raising an eyebrow with contempt. "Settled? Tuoba Yulong, do you even possess the ability? I happen to be in need of an Emperor puppet, and your physical body will serve perfectly." He made no effort to hide his intentions. He had recently refined a Quasi-Emperor puppet, only for it to be smashed to pieces by Tuoba Yulong; he intended to settle that score.

"Xiao Xuan, do not be so arrogant! Today, I shall test exactly how deep the cultivation of a hundred-thousand-year Emperor truly runs!"

Infuriated, Tuoba Yulong roared. His figure moved like lightning, charging at Xiao Xuan, unleashing a barrage of punches that carried the force of a collapsing world.

"Well met!" Xiao Xuan scoffed, his form shifting as he met the onslaught head-on.

The two engaged in a cataclysmic battle in the sky. Fist winds and palm shadows intertwined, each collision triggering tremors in the firmament, as if tearing time and space asunder. The air around them shrieked under the pressure of their warring auras.

"Boom!"

Tuoba Yulong’s fist struck Xiao Xuan’s palm, the explosive force sending both figures reeling backward.

"Tuoba Yulong, your strength is nothing more than this." Xiao Xuan landed steadily, a cold sneer playing on his lips. Tuoba Yulong, meanwhile, was pushed back tens of thousands of miles, a trace of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.

"Xiao Xuan, do not rejoice too soon! I have yet to use my full strength. I shall let you witness my true power!" Tuoba Yulong wiped the blood away, his eyes gleaming with ruthlessness as he fixed a chilling gaze upon his opponent.

"Whatever skills you have, bring them forth. Otherwise, the Tuoba clan shall be erased this very day," Xiao Xuan said, utterly indifferent.

"I have mastered a forbidden technique. With it, I once slew two Supreme Beings of the forbidden zones and struck down an Exotic Emperor!"

"The side effects are severe; to use it once is to require tens of thousands of years of recovery. I had not intended to use it, but you have brought this upon yourself, Xiao Xuan!"

Tuoba Yulong licked the blood from his lip, his presence turning into that of an ancient, bloodthirsty beast. He had not wished to use this forbidden art, but Xiao Xuan’s relentless aggression left him no choice. He would hide his strength no longer.