Immortal Supreme: Sovereign of the Grand Dao
Chapter 253: Top Twenty, Undercurrents

Chapter 253: Top Twenty, Undercurrents

’I am running out of time,’ Arthur thought to himself as he sat cross-legged, his expression calm, yet his mind in turmoil.

The awakening of his complete memories had brought clarity, but with it came unsettling realizations.

’The Grand Dao rewrote reality.’

He had sensed the shift almost immediately. Small discrepancies, subtle changes—things that only someone like him, who had once stood at the peak of the universe, could perceive. The flow of fate had been altered, the very foundation of existence rewritten. Those with lesser cultivation would never notice, their minds unable to comprehend such grand changes, but Arthur was different. He knew.

He could feel the divergence in reality, but he himself had remained untouched. The gems had shielded him from whatever force had enacted this rewrite, allowing him to retain his original memories. If not for that, the consequences would have been unpredictable.

’But why would reality itself be rewritten?’ His brows furrowed as he pondered.

Such an event was beyond rare. Even the collapse of ancient civilizations, the fall of divine realms, and the wars between supreme beings had never resulted in something of this magnitude. The universe had always adapted, but it had never rewritten itself.

’It can’t be because of me, can it?’ He considered the thought before shaking his head inwardly. ’No, despite my defiance of certain heavenly laws, I was never powerful enough to cause such a reaction.’

His past actions had certainly defied fate, but to force a complete rewriting of reality? That was on a different scale altogether.

’Then again... what could?’

He had been trying to find the answer ever since his most recent awakening, yet no clue had surfaced. Whatever had caused this shift, it was something beyond the scope of even his knowledge.

Still, despite the uncertainty, he found one silver lining in all of this.

’At the very least, this new reality makes it easier for me to grasp the Dao of Sovereignty.’

It was an irony, really. The heavens had never aided him before, and he wouldn’t dare assume they were doing so now. But regardless of the intent, the changes brought by this rewritten reality had tilted things slightly in his favor. And Arthur had no intention of letting this opportunity slip through his fingers.

Just as he was about to continue his contemplation, the booming voice of the referee echoed across the arena.

"The Third Round will now begin!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement reaching a fever pitch. The first two rounds had been nothing short of spectacular, and now, only the best remained. The battles ahead would determine the top ranks of the competition.

Time passed quickly as the matches progressed, and soon, under the watchful eyes of countless spectators, the top twenty emerged.

Arthur stood among them, his expression indifferent to the result. He had expected this outcome from the beginning.

Beside him were several familiar names—Sun Wukong, Balor, Luke, Anastasia, Zaith, Crixus, Julius, Kaiser, and the twin princes. Each of them was a force to be reckoned with. Some were old acquaintances, others potential threats, but none were unexpected.

However, there were also a few surprises.

A young man named Qin Tian had risen through the ranks with astonishing speed. He was an unknown genius, one whose name had never been heard before, yet his performance so far had turned many heads.

Another was Thomas, a participant from the Heavenly Sword Sect. His inclusion among the top twenty was not as shocking, but to Arthur, it was of particular interest.

Thomas was the one who had registered him when he had gone undercover at the sect. Back then, Arthur had sensed something unusual about him but had been unable to pinpoint exactly what. Now, standing here among the strongest contenders, Thomas’s presence felt even more peculiar.

Arthur’s gaze lingered on him for a moment before he muttered under his breath, "Hmm, this little boy has had quite the experience, huh?" His voice was so low that none could hear.

He recalled their first encounter. Thomas had been young, but even then, there had been something off about him. And then, mysteriously, he had vanished for years—only to resurface now.

But Arthur had no intention of prying into the boy’s secrets. He wasn’t curious, nor did he care. Unless Thomas directly interfered with his plans, his past and ambitions were of no consequence.

With the final rankings set to be determined today, the top twenty were granted time to recuperate.

Arthur used this brief respite to peer into the mysteries of the present era. Closing his eyes, he activated the Fate Gem.

"Hm? This is..."

His mind drifted beyond the immediate battlefield, beyond the Southern Continent itself. The veil of fate lifted, revealing glimpses of distant lands—places beyond the scope of ordinary vision.

---

Elsewhere, across the vast Mortal Emperor World, similar grand tournaments were unfolding.

In the Eastern Continent, the warriors of the Azure Dragon Empire clashed in a dazzling display of martial skill, their techniques imbued with ancient legacies passed down for generations.

In the Northern Continent, brutal combat unfolded under the icy skies, where survival itself was a test of strength. The harsh lands had forged their cultivators into warriors of unmatched resilience.

In the Western Continent, mystical arts intertwined with raw martial power, producing battles that defied logic. The sects there placed great emphasis on spiritual harmony, resulting in a unique blend of technique and power.

And then there was the Central Continent—the undisputed strongest of them all.

The sheer scale of their tournament dwarfed all others. They had the largest landmass, the densest concentration of spiritual energy, the most powerful legacies. Every aspect of their cultivation environment was superior.

And this time, the Central Continent had birthed an unprecedented number of monstrous talents.

Ten times more than before.

This anomaly had not gone unnoticed.

Countless ancient figures, hidden away in seclusion, had been stirred awake. Whispers spread among the old monsters of the world. Something was changing. Something monumental.

Many believed that the time was near.

The time when all five continents would merge.

And with it, the long-awaited return of the successor of the Mortal Emperor.

A transformation was approaching. One that would shake the very foundation of existence itself.

---

A dark, swirling portal tore through the fabric of space in a hidden dimension, its eerie glow casting a sinister hue upon the surroundings.

From within, a group of figures emerged, their forms wreathed in a thick, ghostly mist. Their skin was deathly pale, their eyes hollow yet gleaming with an unnatural light.

The air around them was heavy with the scent of decay, and an oppressive chill spread outward from their presence.

These were beings of the Netherworld.

The first to step through was a tall figure clad in flowing black robes, the intricate silver patterns on his garments pulsing faintly with ghostly energy.

His long, ashen-white hair billowed despite the still air, and his crimson eyes reflected only cold indifference. He was one of the elders of the Netherworld’s Abyssal Council.

Behind him followed a dozen warriors, each exuding immense power, their very presence enough to corrode the vitality in the air.

After the last of them passed through, the portal closed with a hiss, sealing off their connection to the Netherworld.

Voss glanced around, his gaze settling on the vast mountain range that surrounded them. "So this is the Mortal Emperor Realm," he murmured, his voice like a whisper of the dead.

"Pathetic... yet brimming with opportunity."

A shorter, hunched figure stepped forward, his twisted hands clutching a bone staff inscribed with dark runes.

"Elder Voss, are we truly to wait until the opening of the Martial Emperor Secret Realm?" His voice was raspy, as if speaking through cracked lips.

Voss turned to him with a calm but terrifying gaze. "Patience, Morlan. We are not the only ones seeking entry. If we force our way in too soon, we risk exposing our presence."

Morlan sneered. "Hmph. These mortals are weak. Why not simply tear through them?"

Voss chuckled darkly. "Because brute force is the tool of the ignorant. The Martial Emperor Secret Realm is sealed with ancient laws. Even our full strength would not guarantee an easy entry."

At this, another figure stepped forward—a woman draped in layers of tattered black silk, her voice carrying an eerie resonance. "The artifact."

Voss nodded, raising his hand. A dull, obsidian sphere materialized in his palm, swirling with spectral energy. "This will be our key. When the time comes, the barriers will weaken just enough for us to slip through unnoticed."

A sinister grin spread across Morlan’s face. "And once we’re inside?"

Voss’s lips curled in amusement. "We harvest. The mortals who enter the realm will be nothing but fodder. Their souls will fuel our ascension, and the treasures of the realm will belong to us."

The group exchanged dark smiles, their anticipation palpable.

But they were not the only ones who had come to claim the riches of this world.

---

Far across the Mortal Emperor Realm, in a desolate valley shrouded in mist, another portal flickered open.

A gust of cold wind swept through as hooded figures emerged, their armor glinting under the dim light. These were not beings of the Netherworld, but invaders from another plane entirely.

A deep voice rumbled from one of them, filled with disdain. "So, the others have come as well. This world will soon be ours."