At the same time.
A high-pitched dragon's roar echoed through the grand hall, deafening and shaking the very souls of those present.
This power…
Unprecedented, ancient, and majestic.
It was even more vast than the ancient essence of Hellfire.
As if…
The wrath of heaven, the roar of the earth.
Every expert present, without exception, was sent flying by this ripple, which was accompanied by sonic attacks that ceaselessly battered and reverberated within their minds.
Even Bai Zihe narrowly escaped losing his composure in an instant.
He could only hold his breath and focus his mind, guarding his spiritual platform.
As for the others…
One by one, they fell to the ground in agony.
Some rolled on the floor.
Some wailed incessantly.
Some bled from their ears.
Even Zhuge Sheng had to sit down cross-legged to resist this sonic wave.
Even Liu Wen had to seal his seven orifices to block out the alluring sounds that struck at the heart, lest he lose himself and be unable to extricate himself.
Fortunately.
Although the sonic attack was potent and insidious, it only occurred once.
The experts on both sides ceased their attacks, and the great battle was thus halted.
"Whoosh…"
Suddenly, at the far end of the grand hall.
On the throne that had stood for countless years, light began to emanate.
The light shimmered but was not dazzling.
It was profound and captivating, exuding an air of mystery that drew the mind.
Everyone stared fixedly at that spot.
"Whoosh…"
Moments later, a colossal figure suddenly materialized upon the throne.
Instantly, divine radiance flared.
Its aura surged like a fierce tiger or a dragon, wild and mysterious.
Its gaze swept around like an emperor descending, domineering and disdainful.
Although.
It was so ethereal.
Yet.
The appearance of this colossal being sent chills down the spines of all the experts present.
Just the mere sliver of its ancient aura made them feel utterly insignificant in its presence.
As if…
It had transcended time and space.
Perhaps even…
It had died in the past, its body and mind long decayed.
But this did not prevent its residual power from crossing the river of time, descending upon this place, and dominating myriad worlds.
Too terrifying.
Everyone stood stunned, unable to react for a moment.
"I am the master of this island."
"You may call me—the Dragon Emperor."
The ethereal monarch spoke slowly.
No.
It was not him speaking.
Rather, it was his spirit, his will, influencing everyone present, causing them all to believe that his voice resonated within their minds.
The Dragon Emperor surveyed the surroundings, divine light flowing within his eyes: "Dragon Island is one of my creations; it took painstaking effort to achieve its current scale."
"Since you are here to seize treasures, listen carefully…"
No one spoke.
They dared not, nor did they wish to, for fear of missing crucial information.
"Beyond this place lies the Treasure Scattering Rock."
"Scattering treasures, scattering treasures…"
"There, countless treasures are scattered. Each one can greatly enhance your strength, such as cultivation techniques, world-ending divine abilities, or rare elixirs…"
"To obtain even one is a momentous opportunity."
"In the outside world, it would be enough to stir up a bloodbath!"
The gazes of the crowd sharpened.
Anything the Dragon Emperor considered a treasure would surely be extraordinary!
"Past the Treasure Scattering Rock lies the Path of Life and Death."
"Path of Life and Death, severing life and death…"
"Once you enter, you are not your own master, and your life and death are not your own. Enter with caution, with caution!"
"But after the Path of Life and Death, lies a new world, the Treasure Pavilion."
"Within the Treasure Pavilion lies my lifelong collection."
The Dragon Emperor's collection!
Everyone's hearts pounded with excitement.
What heaven-shattering power would treasures hoarded by the Dragon Emperor possess?
They could not imagine.
But the mere spiritual attack from the Dragon Emperor's ethereal consciousness had repelled them all, nearly causing their deaths on the spot…
A glimpse into the whole, as the saying goes.
The Dragon Emperor's strength in his prime must have been world-shattering!
"And those who possess the Hellfire…"
At this moment, the Dragon Emperor shot out two beams of divine light, landing on Bai Zihe: "Will face a more stringent trial, and…"
"Even rarer treasures!"
As these words were uttered, all eyes turned to Bai Zihe.
He was the possessor of the Hellfire here.
A more stringent challenge?
Even more precious treasures?
"Challenge it, and it's best if you die within!"
"When that happens…"
"I will take the rest in one fell swoop!"
The False Emperor's eyes gleamed with ferocity as he cursed inwardly.
Bai Zihe, however, suddenly thought of more matters.
The Decahedron!
His senior disciple had specifically told him to activate the Decahedron on Dragon Island. He wondered about its purpose.
But for now, it seemed the time was not ripe.
He could only take it one step at a time.
"Hehehehe…"
As a chilling laugh faded, the Dragon Emperor's phantom on the throne gradually receded, becoming fainter and fainter until it vanished entirely.
And before that throne…
A portal of light suddenly appeared, no different from the ones before. This must be the path into what the Dragon Emperor called the "Treasure Scattering Rock."
"Swish!"
The False Emperor immediately, without a second thought, rushed towards the portal of light.
The Imperial City guards, Liu Wen, and the remaining experts behind him followed suit.
The experts on Bai Zihe's side grew anxious as they saw them take the lead.
But Bai Zihe calmly said, "This Dragon Island is fraught with danger; who knows what might suddenly appear…"
"Rushing is not necessarily good."
"Slowing down does not necessarily mean being at a disadvantage."
The numerous experts felt as if they had been enlightened, and their worries subsided.
Indeed.
Previously, when they landed first, they were challenged by the masked man, suffering heavy casualties and a severe blow, allowing the False Emperor's faction to gain an advantage.
However, the False Emperor's group, in their haste, also returned battered and bruised, having suffered losses and clearly paying a considerable price.
As the last subordinate of the False Emperor entered.
Bai Zihe and his group followed closely behind.
"Whoosh…"
Upon entering, they beheld a magnificent hall. A plaque above bore the inscription "散宝岩" (Treasure Scattering Rock) in ancient, golden script that shimmered brightly.
The hall was supported by twelve colossal pillars. The surroundings were filled with ancient bookshelves, their once precious wood now weathered and decayed by time, bearing the marks of ages.
And on the bookshelves…
Countless elixirs, weapons, and other treasures were displayed.
"Swish!"
"Swish swish swish!"
Immediately, all the experts unleashed their divine abilities, reaching out to various shelves to seize these treasures.
As the False Emperor's group had arrived first.
They therefore held the initial advantage in this round of competition.
One by one, their pockets were stuffed full.
Even…
When their pockets could hold no more, they held them in their hands.
In contrast, on Bai Zihe's side…
Only a handful of individuals obtained some seemingly unremarkable elixirs and some peculiar weapons that hardly anyone had ever seen used.
Amidst the crowd.
Only Bai Zihe and Zhuge Sheng harbored doubts.
Since approaching Dragon Island, their journey had been unusually smooth.
But now…
Was it perhaps too smooth?
Bai Zihe and Zhuge Sheng exchanged glances, the same thought occupying their minds.
"Tsk tsk tsk…"
Seeing that the hall was almost completely looted.
The False Emperor's face broke into a triumphant smile: "Bai Zihe, I apologize, but this round… we have won!"
He looked at the treasures he had gathered and felt extremely pleased.
"Chrr…"
"Chrr chrr chrr…"
Just then, a strange sound was heard.
Everyone froze and looked towards the source of the sound.
It was one of the False Emperor's subordinates.
He held some elixirs in his embrace and a pair of gleaming weapons in each hand, his face radiating a smile of satisfaction.
But the hand tightly gripping the weapons…
Had begun to corrode, emitting a foul-smelling blood that dripped continuously.
"Plop!"
"Plop!"
Lightly, they fell to the ground, and into everyone's hearts.
Everyone was shocked.
These things…
Were indeed not so easy to obtain; there was something fishy about them!
The man's soul was filled with dread. He immediately threw the weapons from his hands, but the foul-smelling blood seemed stuck to them, impossible to shake off.
"Ahhh!"
A heart-rending cry ensued.
The man bled from his seven orifices and quickly dissolved into a pool of pus and blood, dying on the spot.
More people, having come into contact with these treasures, began to corrode and melt, their struggles proving futile.
Until death.