Divine Emperor of Death

South of the Infernal Lightning Palace Territory is the Deprived Hymn Abode Territory. The latter's hegemonic power held strict control over the Territory through their ominous music sounding in low notes all the time through the usage of many formations built in a wide radius.

With the Deprived Zither City as the main base and the source of the main formation, these Territory-wide formations acted as extenders and had an eye on the people. However, it was not used for surveillance but for defending against attacks from enemies and others, including other wicked path hegemonic powers. After all, it wasn't like the wicked path hegemons were all allies as they had their own stories of alliance and betrayals ranging from time immemorial.

In the Deprived Zither City, the capital of the Deprived Hymn Abode, there was a huge floating abode that resembled a zither. It looked more like a construct than a building, but this slight differentiation didn't matter since floating palaces were also considered constructs. What's more important was that an array of High-Level Law Rune Stage Powerhouses and Peak-Level Law Rune Stage Powerhouses surrounded the zither-like abode and sat cross-legged, taking out a variety of musical instruments as they kept it ready to be played under their skillful hands.

"Quick! They could be here anytime after finishing off the Infernal Lightning Emperor!"

A stifled voice, seething with urgency, echoed from the zither's top as a black-white robed man stood on top of it, sitting cross-legged. The abode's top was wide enough to fit an entire battle arena meant for eighth stage experts, and there was also a separate formation embedded in it, one that appeared like a concealment formation.

Within the edges sat two Peak-Level Law Rune Stage Powerhouses as they held two formation cores within their hands. However, it did not seem to be related to the concealment formation but the Territory-wide formation.

"Abode Master, you'll take us along with you, right?"

"Of course, without you all, how am I going to survive? On the other hand, if I leave you all here, you would undoubtedly be massacred. Moreover, I can't do all things by myself in the lavish world of the immortals, so I need some lackeys…!"

"Ahaha, good."

That Peak-Level Law Rune Stage Powerhouse, who similarly looked powerful, nodded his head. He was none other than two of the Ancestor-level characters in the Deprived Hymn Abode, but after the Abode Master naturally surpassed them, they would have to obey his words under the iron law of the survival of the fittest.

It could also be seen that they were reliant on him to cross the heavenly tribulation so that they could also reach the immortal world and make improvements as they felt resources there might be more obtainable and effective.

They started the formation as their energies surged through the two formation cores. At the same time, the other Law Rune Stage Powerhouses started playing their musical weapons as well, their music resounding through the entire Territory through the help of Territory-wide formation. However, the people in this Territory went about their way, doing their own work, but unbeknown to them, they were all in a beguilement formation, their lives in the hands of the Territory Hegemon.

The powerhouses who were not affiliated but under the rule of the Deprived Hymn Abode noticed the activation of this beguilement formation. However, knowing that they were not being targeted after a few seconds, they didn't do anything about it, not like they could do anything about it.

Seeing this scene of their beguilement formation encompassing most of their Territory, the Deprived Soulstir Emperor felt emboldened as he relaxed and looked at the formation core he held in his hands.

It was none other than the concealment formation that deceived the eyes of the heavens. Not to say that it can completely deceive the eyes of the heavens, for it had some limitations. For one, the formation core should be in the hands of the one undergoing the heavenly tribulation, constantly pouring energy into it and treating it as a weapon. Although it wasn't much, it still did the job it was intended to do, although they were still more limitations, both explored and unexplored, as one cannot simply deceive the eyes of heaven and remain unscathed when messing up.

'I used up a bit of my blood essence to escape, but it shouldn't be a problem. Additionally, with this Heavenly Sin Deceiving Formation, the heavenly flames would also be easier to tackle, and finally, with the beguilement formation, I should be able to buy enough time to ready myself to receive the heavenly tribulation and withstand it.'

The Deprived Soulstir Emperor thought with confidence brewing in his eyes, but he turned to look at his Ancestors one last time.

"Make sure to use the Burning Phoenix Ridge's Legacy Artifact to bait them around. Otherwise, they might quickly find a way out and break out of the beguilement formation."

The two Ancestors nodded as they had already done the preparations.

'Hmph!'

The Deprived Soulstir Emperor deeply smiled as he inwardly harrumphed.

'So what if your prowess is two levels higher, Sect Master Lea Weiss? Your soul is still weaker even if you're a Soul Empress. Therefore, you would be unable to overcome my Dismayed Constellation Formation, which should even be able to fool the Emperor of Death for a period of time, and that is more than enough time for me to ascend with everyone else, leaving you with nothing but an empty Deprived Hymn.'

'Furthermore, when I ascend after this ordeal, I'll be sure to warn the others of the Emperor of Death's and your peculiarity and instigate them saying that you have obtained a frightening treasure that allowed you both to become overly powerful in a short time.'

"Hehehe~"

The Deprived Soulstir Emperor couldn't help but snicker, becoming more and more sure of his plan.

Surely, since he had not died already like the Spatial Blight Emperor, he assumed that there was some kind of limitation on the Emperor of Death for using that mysterious life-stealing technique.

Perhaps, the Emperor of Death could only use it once a day?

The Deprived Soulstir Emperor then checked again for any strange inscriptions or hex on his body, but he frowned as he could not find any other than his own. He even went as far as to check if own inscriptions he used on his body had been tampered with, but he still couldn't find anything strange. Before long, he snickered.

'Heh, whatever. I doubt he could use that to kill me after I ascend, as the expanse we are in should be different and wide apart. Once he ascends, I will get him before he gets me, so I don't need to worry.'

Clenching his fists at the formation core, the Deprived Soulstir Emperor began to activate the concealment formation.

The two Ancestors also saw this monumental moment and nodded their heads, wanting to see their majestic Abode Master cross the tribulation. They knew as long as they weren't within a three-kilometer radius of the heavenly tribulation, they would be absolutely fine. Even if they were inside, as long as they don't have any intentions to harm or protect the tribulation taker, they would still be fine and wouldn't incur the wrath of the heavens, attracting it to them or making it more powerful against the tribulation taker.

This was also one of the reasons why no cultivator dared to disrespect the heavens, for they knew that it could see through their intentions even if it were a superstition.

*Bzzz!~*

The concealment formation became activated as a resonance could be felt, but there was no change visually in their eyes. They looked at the Deprived Soulstir Emperor sit down cross-legged, closing his eyes and concentrating on breaking through to the next stage on circulating energy according to the cultivation manual, an Immortal Grade one.

The Deprived Soulstir Emperor suddenly hung his head even though he still sat straight as a pillar, so the two Ancestors didn't notice anything. But before long, they saw the concealment formation naturally become undone as they could no longer feel the resonance.

"Abode Master?"

The Peak-Level Law Rune Stage Powerhouse, who spoke with the Deprived Soulstir Emperor, looked confused as he called out with a bit of hesitation. However, even after waiting for two seconds, he received no answer, causing him to slowly stand up.

"What are you doing, Killnight? Stay there and concentrate on the beguilement formation. Those two can enter our Territory at any time even though they might already be cautious of our Dismayed Constellation Formation."

The other Peak-Level Law Rune Stage Powerhouse spoke with a harrumph, looking dissatisfied. But regardless of his words, the previous Ancestor titled Killnight slowly walked towards the Deprived Soulstir Emperor in a daze, his eyes struck with a bit of disbelief.

"You…! Stay back! It's not like you don't know that the Abode Master is injured. He is recuperating and will shortly begin his tribulation. At that time, if you're within three kilometers of him-"

The other Ancestor suddenly stopped as he saw Killnight stand before the Abode Master and open his mouth agape. His heart couldn't help but feel shaken as he also slowly stood up.

"...!?"

Killnight was also deeply shocked as goosebumps ran all over his body. However, seeing that nothing happened to him even after a few seconds, he looked at the other Ancestor once before looking at the unmoving body before him. He instantly waved his hand and shot towards the opposite side, not hesitating to use his blood essence as dark gaseous energy took over him.

"Impudent! The Abode Master is dead! Capture Ancestor Killnight! He's escaping with the Abode Master's body!"

Greed also flashed in the other Ancestor's eyes, but Ancestor Killnight was one step ahead, escaping with the Deprived Soulstir Emperor's corpse. The other powerhouses were dumbfounded at this sight, unable to react. They could even use the beguilement formation to trap Ancestor Killnight because he still possessed one of the two formation cores.

Nevertheless, they only delayed for two seconds before chasing Ancestor Killnight. However, it was already too late by then as he had gained considerable distance.