Endless Plateau, Black Central Realm.
Four people looked at the void with great apprehension. A thousand years was neither long nor short for them.
Since this place is a vast and chaotic nothingness, it creates endless solitude. Once a person becomes solitary, their spirit can collapse.
However, fortunately, they have cultivated for countless ages, their state of mind certainly unmatched by ordinary creatures.
But no matter what, this was a full thousand years. If they were to fail again this time, they might truly doubt their existence.
....
"Bone Emperor, how is it?"
"Can you sense if it has successfully traversed the River of Time to reach the past?"
One shadow hesitantly asked.
"I can't see clearly."
Bone Emperor gazed into the void. He no longer had excess Power of Origin for divination and could only wait quietly for the result.
Thus, the four people prayed in their hearts, hoping all goes smoothly.
The next second.
The space above the void began to distort, and the hearts of the four tightened at this moment.
No way?!?!!
Suddenly, a pitch-black coffin appeared once more from the void, right in front of the four.
The appearance of the coffin meant that they had failed again!
Silence!
Dead silence.
....
"Why!!!"
One shadow roared at the void, a powerful suppression causing the entire Black Central Realm to shake continuously.
Gu Ying walked towards the coffin, and upon getting closer, he found a line of words on it.
Although eroded by the Power of Time, making it hard to read, it vaguely showed.
[Do you dare try again?]
This short sentence made the Four Emperors freeze in place instantly. Overwhelming fear replaced the anger, and for some reason, at this moment, it felt as though a pair of eyes were watching them from the shadows.
It sent chills down their spines.
The Black Coffin not only came back against the current from the River of Time but also brought back a warning.
Such a simple sentence completely subdued the four.
Power is not terrifying.
The unknown is the real terror.
They couldn't determine what kind of being left the words; this unknown power gnawed at their psychological defenses like a nightmare bit by bit.
The four remained silent for a long time, continually analyzing the meaning of the sentence.
Why such a warning?
And who wrote it?
Could it be that something unexpected happened on the main battlefield?
But… they were all castaways trapped in the Black Central Realm. Why go through all the trouble against them?
And… what kind of existence can achieve such a feat?
.....
"Bone Emperor, what should we do next?"
The three looked towards their backbone. At this moment, they were also lost, not knowing the next move.
Bone Emperor pondered for a very long time and made a crucial decision in his heart.
"At this point, we can only use our last piece."
Upon hearing this, the other three showed expressions of shock: "Is it really necessary?"
Bone Emperor nodded: "This is the only way."
"Let's first try to establish contact with the main battlefield..."
With those words, the Four Emperors began to deduce, sending their messages out of the Black Central Realm, to the distant main battlefield.
Fifty years in the Black Central Realm passed by in a flash.
A presence appeared in the Black Central Realm.
When the Four Emperors felt this presence, they were ecstatic; they finally succeeded.
Next, the Four Emperors transformed into human figures, kneeled on one knee towards the illusory presence in the void, and performed a special salute.
"Venerable Lord."
With those words, the "presence" in the void emitted specks of golden Immortal Light, and a voice echoed in the minds of the Four Emperors.
"You four, absorb my presence completely, and restore your bodies as quickly as possible, then personally deliver the Black Coffin to the Huainan Realm five thousand years ago."
"If you have the chance, it's best to eliminate him while he has yet to grow. If you can't, at least leave the Black Coffin five thousand years ago; the rest you need not concern yourselves with."
"The situation on the main battlefield is unsteady, and I am already stretched thin. This presence is the maximum support I can provide."
"You have five hundred years to recover; ensure completion."
With those final words, the golden presence split into four parts, merging into the bodies of the four.
Instantly, the four shadows glowed with specks of gold, their auras continuously restoring.
With the power of will reinforced, most of their exhausted Power of Origin was restored; now they needed time to recuperate.
Short as three hundred years, long as five hundred; they could restore their forms.
Bone Emperor, receiving the power of will, didn't feel elated.
The presence of the Venerable Lord wasn't entirely good news, meaning the main battlefield was disadvantaged and needed the four castaways' help.
"Fantastic! The Venerable Lord hasn't abandoned us!"
The other Three Emperors appeared excited. With the Venerable Lord's intervention, escaping this Black Central Realm seemed only a matter of time.
"Don't get too excited too soon."
"The Venerable Lord directing us to personally return the Black Coffin means our main battlefield is at a huge disadvantage, needing to alter the past timeline to impact the main battlefield's situation."
"If the Venerable Lords on the main battlefield are defeated, no matter where we escape to, we can't avoid complete obliteration."
Bone Emperor's words plunged the other three into silence.
Indeed, if the terrifying enemy on the main battlefield defeated the Venerable Lords, eliminating them would be as simple as a wave.
Having cultivated to such a realm, they understood one truth: true battles can only be won, there's no room for failure; failure means eternal ruin.
"The Huainan Realm five thousand years ago..... was when that formidable enemy first surfaced. I still remember, back then, we didn't think much of him."
"But it turned out that in a span of five thousand years, he grew strong enough to challenge the entire ancestral land."
Bone Emperor recalled with some regret.
Five thousand years ago, he was completely able to eliminate him.
"Exactly, back then, we didn't pay him any mind. Who would have thought five thousand years later, he'd grow to the level where he imprisoned us here with one strike."
"Over three thousand years have passed since, and from the Venerable Lord's tone, one can perceive that he's become a significant headache for the Venerable Lord."
The three shadows expressed with emotion.
"Time is pressing; let's restore ourselves as swiftly as possible to personally traverse the River of Time back five thousand years to support the Venerable Lord."
Bone Emperor murmured.
"But, if we encounter that presence on the River of Time that obstructs us time and again, we..." The other three voiced their concerns.
....
"There's no room for buts; this mission must be completed. I also want to see who is causing trouble on the River of Time!"
"Moreover, with the Venerable Lord backing us, we can't afford to cower."
Bone Emperor shed his earlier fearful demeanor.
...
"Ah-choo!"
Lounging, Su Mu sneezed sharply: "Who's cursing me again?"
Standing up, he yawned and stretched.
Just then, he sensed spiritual resonance by the shore, and his heart lifted.
Little Mahi!
Missing for a month or two, it finally knew to come back. If it delayed any longer, Su Mu might have thought it perished outside.
Immediately, he followed the spiritual sense towards the riverbank.