The sudden weakness shown by the Blood and Flesh Statue. It left both Qin Ji and Chen Xia somewhat at a loss.
Chen Xia couldn't even remember ever beating up this Blood and Flesh Statue, so why did it suddenly start admitting mistakes?
"Sir, what is this about?" Qin Ji really couldn't help but ask.
"Don't interrupt," the Blood and Flesh Statue snapped, stopping Qin Ji's words. It then smiled at Chen Xia, "It is truly my good fortune that you have come here. I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival for a long time."
Chen Xia frowned at the Blood and Flesh Statue and asked, "Do we know each other?"
This question also left the Blood and Flesh Statue momentarily stunned, but it quickly understood and revealed a smile, "It doesn't matter if we know each other or not, the main thing is that I have long admired your great name."
"Hmm..." Chen Xia frowned, staring at the Blood and Flesh Statue for a few moments, and nodded, "Then what did you let me in for?"
"There are some covert matters regarding the Forbidden Zones that must be discussed behind closed doors, so I still hope that you won't mind."
The Blood and Flesh Statue put on an extremely low posture, then smiled again, "Regarding the true purpose of the Forbidden Zones and the existence of the Forbidden Zone Lords, you must be curious to know, right?"
"Go on, tell me," Chen Xia found a wall to lean against, already prepared to listen to the story.
The Blood and Flesh Statue pondered for a moment, then began, "The Forbidden Zones are located under the Great Heaven, also called planes, on the same level as the Immortal Realm, Divine Realm, Great Death Realm, Holy Land and other such places, all controlled by the supreme Heavenly Dao."
"As for the so-called Great Heaven, it consists of thousands of Star Regions, among which some famous ones are where the Great Profound Capital of the Great Mystery Realm lies, and one where ten Great Emperors have emerged from a single world. These are exceptionally formidable Star Regions, collectively making up the Great Heaven."
Chen Xia nodded. This was the first time he had gained a real understanding of the so-called Great Heaven.
The Blood and Flesh Statue trembled slightly, then continued, "A single plane can actually be quite a bit stronger than a single Star Region. For example, the strength of the Immortal Realm surpasses that of ordinary Star Regions. At least a hundred Great Emperors have emerged from it, and it still retains a thriving vitality."
"The Divine Realm is even more powerful. An extremely mighty Great Emperor once emerged from it who even conquered other planes, laying a solid foundation for the Divine Realm."
"But among these planes, there is one that is especially peculiar. No strong experts bearing the title of Great Emperor have ever emerged from it. There are only twelve Array Eyes in existence. In fact, the entire plane is just one massive array."
"You should know which plane I'm talking about."
Chen Xia nodded and gave the answer.
"The Forbidden Zones."
The Blood and Flesh Statue let out a faint laugh. "That's right, the Forbidden Zones. They are an extremely special existence, because unlike other planes that were formed by the Heavenly Dao, the Forbidden Zones are an artificial grand array."
"And this grand array only has one function - to suppress the Heavenly Dao. So the Forbidden Zones are the only plane that has not been rectified by the Heavenly Dao. The twelve Forbidden Zone Lords are the twelve Array Eyes, locking down the entire array, suppressing the entire Heavenly Dao."
"And the function of this array is to hinder the arrival of the Heavenly Dao's rectification, thus delaying each plane's rectification by one hundred thousand years."
Beside them, Qin Ji's pupils dilated. This was the first time he had heard such an explanation. His body trembled slightly as he felt a tinge of fear.
Because these secrets were not something that an existence of his level should know about.
Yet the Blood and Flesh Statue insisted that he listen anyway.
Qin Ji could not figure out the Blood and Flesh Statue's plot, so he was increasingly afraid.
Chen Xia still leaned against the wall with a questioning look. "So why are you telling me all this?"
The Blood and Flesh Statue did not answer directly. Instead, it smiled and said,
"Three hundred thousand years ago, one of the Forbidden Zone Lords was unwilling to accept the status quo and wanted to break through the fate of being an Array Eye to ascend to the Great Heaven and become an Emperor."
"He succeeded halfway - he did manage to break through the fate of being an Array Eye, but failed to become an Emperor. Instead, he was killed halfway by a Divine Realm Great Emperor."
"After that, the residual trace of his divine soul escaped back to the Forbidden Zones through great supernatural powers and began a long period barely clinging to survival."
The tone of the Blood and Flesh Statue grew heavier.
"I am that Forbidden Zone Lord. I am unwilling to only exist as an Array Eye, restricting my own realm! I also want to ascend to the highest realms and become an almighty Emperor!"
"But the other planes won't allow it. The existing Great Emperors would kill any Array Eye that escapes."
"Because this entire Forbidden Zone, or rather, this entire array was set up by those Great Emperors of the other planes!"
Hearing this, even Chen Xia could not help but nod. "What an ambitious plan."
Using twelve Forbidden Zone Lords at the Saint level as Array Eyes, an entire plane as a grand array, in order to restrict the Heavenly Dao's rectifications.
It had to be said, this was a genius idea bordering on madness.
And it was realized too. Truly astonishing means.
"I am unwilling," the Blood and Flesh Statue began to growl in a low tone.
"I am unwilling to only exist as an Array Eye, restricting my own realm! If I was in another plane, in the Great Heaven, I would definitely have become an Emperor! How can I possibly be content to have my realm limited as an Array Eye!"
"I want to climb back up again, ascend to the highest realms, and become that supreme, unmatched Emperor!"
"So you want to invite me to go with you?" Chen Xia curiously asked.
The Blood and Flesh Statue's tone carried a hint of fanaticism as he said,
"Your talent is one of a kind, more outrageous than any Great Emperor I've seen. Yes, only the word madness can describe your talent."
"You will definitely become a Great Emperor. I have this premonition, no, you may even become one of the strongest among the Great Emperors. So I hope you will form an alliance with me."
"I know many ancient secrets, as well as countless arcane arts and even the Primordial Grand Dao that I can share with you!"
"I only ask that in the distant future when you have become a supreme Great Emperor, you can help protect my path to becoming an Emperor!"
The Blood and Flesh Statue and Chen Xia gazed at each other in silence.
Beside them, Qin Ji kept trembling uncontrollably, his hands shaking as if doing a floral dance.
The dialogue between two future Great Emperors, why could he listen in on it?
Qin Ji sank into contemplation as his face suddenly revealed ecstatic joy.
Could it be that he would also become a Great Emperor in the future?!
"As for Qin Ji..." The Blood and Flesh Statue's words finally mentioned him.
Qin Ji's expression was one of anticipation.
The Blood and Flesh Statue continued, "He's just a more obedient dog I raised that can get things done well. I had him come listen today and conveniently made him swear a Soul Oath in order to control him more easily in the future."
Qin Ji's face instantly turned pale.
So it turns out...he was just a dog?
"What happens if I refuse?" Chen Xia abruptly asked.
The atmosphere suddenly grew silent. Even the wind stopped blowing in the spacious great hall.
The Blood and Flesh Statue moved forward and shouted,
"Then I can only get down on my knees and beg you!"
Chen Xia nodded.
He did want to become a Great Emperor after all.
But these conditions were still insufficient to move Chen Xia's heart.
He turned to leave.
"I can also help you suppress your Heart's Devil!" The Blood and Flesh Statue suddenly shouted.
Chen Xia's departing footsteps stopped short.
After half a moment.
He turned his head back, his eyes flashing with crimson light as he asked, "What did you say?"
The Blood and Flesh Statue trembled, not daring to utter a word.
It was extremely quiet now.
Chen Xia suddenly grinned hideously, the crimson in his eyes full of malignance. He looked up disdainfully and said,
"To you, Great Emperor may be the end point, but to me, it is merely the starting point. Remember that, worthless trash."
The Blood and Flesh Statue didn't even dare retort with a single word.
Only when Chen Xia had walked far away, it slowly stood up and murmured,
"The Supreme Great Devil!"