On the thousandth year of the reign of the Divine Emperor Wu, a coup erupted, and the once-unshakable ruler fell from power.
No one knew the exact details behind the fall of the famous emperor — a wise sovereign said to have the ability to summon the clouds and call forth the rain with a mere flick of his sleeves. His divine abilities were unmatched, unrivalled in all the Three Seas and Eight Deserts.
After his downfall, the heavens experienced a massive shift in political structure. His younger brother, Song Taiyi, ascended the throne as the new Emperor of the Eight Deserts and Three Seas — ruler of both the celestial and human realms.
But this was no era of peace.
The heavens were plagued by problems both internal and external. The demons who had once been driven out had regrouped, joining forces with the fiends of the netherworld to strike again. The new emperor's reign was still unstable; rival gods, their eyes glittering with ambition, circled like predators.
In such a climate, although they coveted the heavenly throne, they dared not strike openly. Instead, they conspired in shadows. The demon realm's open hostility became both a threat and a weapon — one that Song Taiyi intended to use.
It was in this volatile moment that the emperor made a decision that would shock even his most loyal subjects.
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"Your Highness, if you do this, there will be no turning back," one official implored, his voice trembling. "Cutting off your emotions in exchange for power will bring only ruin. Your Majesty, please reconsider."
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!" the others echoed.
Song Taiyi's eyes were cold, his tone final. "We have already made up our mind. There is no need for further discussion. If there is nothing else, you may withdraw."
The court fell silent as the emperor rose from his throne.
"Long live the Emperor," they murmured as he departed.
But instead of returning to his palace, he walked a solitary road toward a sheer precipice that split the skies — the Emotion Vanquishing Cliff.
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As he approached, a ripple in the air formed, and an old man appeared behind him, bowing low.
"Your Majesty, it is an honour to be graced by your prestigious presence."
"Lord Guardian, you are too kind," Song Taiyi replied, his face unreadable. "I have merely come to fulfil the will of the heavens."
The old man studied him for a long moment. Though still young, the emperor bore himself like one who had walked for centuries beneath the weight of destiny. He had survived countless assassination attempts, each one deadly, and every step he took in the imperial court had been on ice as thin as a hair.
"Lord Guardian," Taiyi said, still gazing at the abyss, "is everything prepared?"
"Little Yi… must you truly do this?" the old man asked, one last plea in his voice.
Silence.
The old man sighed. "Everything is ready. We have only been waiting for Your Majesty. But let me warn you once more — failure means death. Since ancient times, only two have succeeded here. Haaah… Forget it. I know you will not turn back. Once you are ready, step onto the platform."
He vanished like mist, leaving no trace.
---
"Master… thank you for everything," Taiyi whispered, not turning to look after him. "It was an honour to walk beside you. But the rest of the road is mine alone. Emotions will only weigh me down. Only by severing them can I defeat my enemies. They are too strong. I will not be anyone's puppet."
His footsteps echoed in the stillness as he stepped onto the ancient stone platform. Unknowingly, he had reached its centre.
Above him, the clouds churned, gathering into a vortex. A cold, ethereal voice cut through the air.
"Young one, what is it you seek in such a place?"
"Power," Taiyi replied without hesitation.
"Why do you need power?"
"To defeat my enemies."
The voice paused, as if surprised by the bluntness of his answer. Most came here hiding behind noble pretences — the greater good, the will of the heavens. But here was one who did not bother with masks.
"Good. Power comes at a price. Are you willing to pay it?"
"Emotions will only hold me down," Taiyi said, his voice like iron. "If I cannot destroy those who seek my life, then I will be the one lying dead. Better to cast my emotions aside than to fall to them."
The sky rumbled faintly. "Of all who have stood here, you are the first to speak so honestly. I will give you a chance. If you pass, you live. If you fail, you die. I offer you the chance to change your fate. Seize it, or let it slip away."
"You may begin," Taiyi said, his tone still cold.
"Sixty-four thunder strikes. Forty-nine tribulation swords. Four imperial thunder strikes. Are you ready?"
The mere mention of the first trial could make an immortal tremble. The last had slain gods.
"Yes."
---
The heavens roared.
Black clouds swelled like a tide, blotting out the sun. The air grew heavy, and arcs of lightning danced between the clouds like restless serpents. The wind screamed across the cliff, tearing at his robes.
The first thunder strike fell — a pillar of white-blue fury that split the sky, striking the platform with a deafening roar. The ground quaked beneath his feet.
The second followed before the smoke had even cleared.
Taiyi did not move. His gaze never left the heavens.
Somewhere deep within the storm, a sword-shaped bolt of lightning formed — one of the forty-nine tribulation swords — its edge humming with destruction.
He exhaled slowly, steadying his stance. "Brother… let me finish what you failed to end."
The sky answered with another strike. And the trial began.
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