The influx of these powers filled Yang Yan.
He circulated his power and moved slightly, perceiving his own soul and Emperor Body.
*They were slowly fusing, becoming truly one.*
The Emperor Body was no longer stiff; his muscles were able to move on their own.
His eyes gradually brightened.
There was a cold glimmer emanating from them, no longer like a corpse, but more like a truly living person.
This delighted Yang Yan!
"It should be due to the changes in the Emperor Body after strengthening the root bone!"
The original Emperor Body was merely an Emperor Corpse, like an ultimate Emperor Dao Weapon.
Cold and ruthless!
Yang Yan attempting to control the Emperor Corpse was akin to him refining an Emperor Dao Weapon!
At least at the Saint Level, one could refine such an existence.
To completely control it, one would need to reach the Emperor Realm.
Yet now, he clearly felt something different.
*He found himself beginning to control the Emperor Corpse and Emperor Body.*
*Though the speed was not fast, it was a good omen!*
This also led him to think that the cause was the enhancement of the root bone!
*After all, apart from strengthening the root bone, his Emperor Body had no other changes!*
*Only after strengthening the root bone did he gain the current transformation!*
"Innate Sword Body, Ancient Sacred Body..." Yang Yan's gaze focused.
The Emperor Corpse, which originally had only the root bone of the Innate Sword Body, became a constitution with both the Innate Sword Body and Ancient Sacred Body layered on it.
Among them, the Ancient Sacred Body belonged to the physique Yang Yan controlled!
The Sword Dao Emperor was of the Innate Sword Body, while Yang Yan had the Ancient Sacred Body.
The two became one, inseparable.
Hence, the Emperor Corpse was no longer merely an Emperor Corpse!
Yang Yan gained the ability to control a small portion of the Emperor Corpse.
"If I further enhance my cultivation, perhaps I could walk like an ordinary person."
To completely control the Emperor Body and exert all its power.
Given Yang Yan's current cultivation, it was impossible to achieve that.
Because the Dao Rhythm of the Sword Dao Emperor and the Emperor's Power, he hadn't cultivated to that realm, making it unreachable.
If he used some existence to suppress them deep within his body, then control the body to walk, there might be a chance.
"Let's strive to walk like a normal person once I reach the next realm!" Yang Yan operated the Emperor Technique.
In the Sea of Suffering, the golden spring waters roared like ocean waves.
Churning within, continuously entering his meridians.
With each revolution, his body's power condensed more and expanded further.
"My Sea of Suffering expanded twice its size, compared to the original Sword Dao Emperor's Sea of Suffering.
Even the number of golden spring outlets increased by a dozen."
The Divine Spring Realm was continuously opening sources within the body, commonly known as spring outlets.
The spring outlets at the ocean's bottom allowed the ocean water to flow endlessly, never ceasing.
The spring outlets in his Sea of Suffering continually radiated power, enriching his physique, ensuring his body remained forever strong.
The effects of both were essentially identical!
"The Sea of Suffering expanded twofold, and there are over a dozen more spring outlets.
This proves that the foundation I've built for cultivation is much stronger than that of the Sword Dao Emperor.
Moreover, this isn't even the limit!"
During his power devouring, more golden spring outlets appeared in the Sea of Suffering.
"I have yet to cultivate a new Divine Bridge."
Within his Sea of Suffering, collapsed bridges were disappearing.
These were the Divine Bridges cultivated by the Sword Dao Emperor. After ten thousand years without power to sustain them, they had long since crumbled.
*Yang Yan needed to break and start anew if he wanted to advance further.*
*He manipulated his power, smashing the Divine Bridges cultivated by the Sword Dao Emperor completely.*
*Letting the shattered power return to his body.*
Once the bridges disappeared completely, he could commence cultivation anew!
"Not enough power!"
Yang Yan scanned the ground; the corpses littered were already gone. He had opened several spring outlets, still thinking about condensing a Divine Bridge.
Now it seemed, the chance was gone!
*"Cultivating the Sacred Body is indeed arduous!"*
*If it were the original Innate Sword Body, with so many corpses, along with the Divine Weapon Body of the Shenpo Sect,*
*it would have been enough to cultivate to the Divine Bridge Realm, but now it was far from sufficient!*
*This made Yang Yan focus his gaze on Wudao Tian and the remaining disciples of the Heishui Sect.*
A sense of crisis descended instantly.
Forcing Wudao Tian to bow his head towards Yang Yan and kneel heavily.
"I, Wudao Tian, swear eternal loyalty to the Great Emperor.
To serve like an ox or a horse, without complaint.
If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!
My soul will forever be under the control of the Great Emperor.
If I live, it's by your grace!
If I die, I die for you!"
He made a Heavenly Dao Oath directly.
A wisp of soul fragment floated up, entering Yang Yan's hand.
"Great Emperor, as long as you crush this wisp of my soul, I, Wudao Tian, will die immediately!" Wudao Tian shouted.
"I beg the Great Emperor, spare my life, allow me to serve you diligently!"
Beside him, Leng Bi Yue's expression was grave.
"He submitted immediately!"
She knew of Wudao Tian's cultivation, the Four Extremes Secret Realm!
Such a level of cultivation was half a great realm higher than hers and close to a great realm over Yan Bahu.
But his courage fell far short compared to Yan Bahu, vastly so.
"At the very least, Yan Bahu would have died standing!" Leng Bi Yue thought.
She didn't even know how someone as timid as Wudao Tian managed to cultivate to the Four Extremes Secret Realm!
"Wait, something's wrong!" Leng Bi Yue suddenly realized.
Wudao Tian handed over his soul, letting the Sword Dao Emperor control his life.
Did that mean the Great Emperor learned something?
Then what about her...
"Leng Bi Yue, where is your soul?" Yang Yan said coldly.
What Wudao Tian did reminded him.
This world still had such a method of enslavement.
It was possible to control people's life and death, ensuring eternal loyalty.
Leng Bi Yue, it seemed, hadn't done so!
"This Wudao Tian!" Leng Bi Yue wished she could unsheath her sword and slash Wudao Tian.
She was aware that the Sword Dao Emperor had just resurrected, and his memory hadn't fully returned!
He didn't know about the Heavenly Dao Oath, the matter of controlling souls.
"I..."
Leng Bi Yue bowed her head helplessly and knelt.
"I too am willing to offer my soul to be under the Great Emperor's control!"
A wisp of her soul floated out, landing in Yang Yan's hand.
Yang Yan gently pinched the soul of Leng Bi Yue, causing her to tense up.
"Great Emperor, I was wrong; please forgive me!" Leng Bi Yue pleaded.
Yang Yan slowly released his grip.
"If you have any more ideas, don't blame me for killing you directly."
He had Wudao Tian as a servant, while Leng Bi Yue!
A woman with ulterior motives was dispensable.
"I understand, Great Emperor!" Leng Bi Yue clutched her chest, prostrate on the ground, and said weakly.
Yang Yan stowed their souls in the Sea of Suffering, imprisoning them there.
Then he manipulated the suspended Immortal Goddess Sword, shooting out waves of Sword Qi.
Before the Heishui Sect disciples could plead for mercy, it pierced through them, killing them.
Absorbing their power to replenish himself.
"Still lacking!"
Stepping into the Divine Bridge Realm, he always seemed just a bit short.
"Wudao Tian, you stand up!"
"Thank you, Great Emperor, for your magnanimity!"
Wudao Tian stood up, bowing and smiling apologetically.
"Great Emperor, whatever orders you have, just say the word!"
The Heishui Sect was down to him; all had been annihilated, yet he felt no sadness.
In the Martial Arts World, the strong were revered.
If not for Yang Yan, Yan Bahu would have wiped out the Heishui Sect.
Slaying all Heishui Sect disciples, taking control of the Heishui Sect.
And such events happened every day in this world.
Sadness and sorrow changed nothing!
Wudao Tian, having survived thus far, understood this well!
"Do you Heishui Sect have any treasures, any heritage?" Yang Yan asked.
"Yes, yes, Great Emperor, please follow me!"
Yang Yan's lips curled into a smile.
This Wudao Tian, timid, but very sensible!
Perfect for a servant!
Before long, three thumbnail-sized pieces of divine source appeared before them.
Such things were extremely precious, the finest treasures of the entire Heishui Sect.
"Devour!"
Yang Yan slightly opened his mouth, absorbing the power of the divine source.
The power of the divine source was more pure and vast than anything else!
"Condense for me!"
In his Sea of Suffering, a bridge began to faintly appear.
"Congratulations, host, for reaching the Divine Bridge Realm!"
Divine Bridge Realm!
Yang Yan had stepped into it!
"Congratulations, host, for earning the opportunity to open the Sea of Consciousness!"
"Congratulations, host, for acquiring the Sun God Sword!"
"Congratulations, host, for obtaining an opportunity to enhance the root bone once!"
"Congratulations, host, for receiving the Kunpeng Swallowing Sky Technique!"
At that moment, the messages of system rewards reached Yang Yan's ears.