Chapter 23: The Return of the Immortal Emperor Part 2: The Emperor's Forgotten Arsenal The Celestial Golden Sky Citadel continued collapsing. The endless floating city that had existed for countless generations was now covered with cracks. Ancient towers fell from the sky. Golden formations shattered one after another. The battlefield had already surpassed the limits of what the Citadel could endure. Above the ruins... Adrian stood in the sky. The Void Sovereign Skyblade rested in his hand. The memories of his past life continued returning. Not as a separate existence. Not as another consciousness. They were his own memories. The battles he had fought. The techniques he had created. The enemies who had fallen beneath his sword. The countless years he had spent standing above the heavens. The Immortal Emperor. That era was slowly returning. The Primordial Garuda watched silently. The ancient existence could feel the change. Adrian's aura was no longer the same. The sword in his hand became heavier. Not because of weight. But because it carried the pressure of an ancient era. Adrian raised the Void Sovereign Skyblade. The sky above the Celestial Golden Sky Citadel turned dark. Countless stars appeared. A massive formation of sword light formed above the battlefield. The Primordial Garuda immediately moved. Its golden wings covered the sky. "Primordial Heaven Wings." The ancient wings released endless golden blades. Each feather carried enough power to destroy a mountain. The golden storm descended toward Adrian. Adrian looked at the incoming attack. His expression remained calm. The Void Sovereign Skyblade moved. "Celestial Emperor Sword Art." "Third Form..." "Star River Fall." The sword light rose. The countless stars above the battlefield moved. A river of silver sword energy descended from the heavens. Boom! Golden feathers collided with silver sword light. The entire sky exploded. The shockwave spread across the remaining structures of the Citadel. The ancient towers that were already damaged completely collapsed. The Garuda warriors watching from below were forced to retreat. The remaining elders protected the evacuation route. They did not attempt to join the battle. They understood. This level of combat was no longer something ordinary cultivators could interfere with. Inside the battlefield... The Primordial Garuda moved through the explosion. Its massive body crossed the sky. A golden claw descended toward Adrian. Adrian raised his sword. CLANG! The collision created a huge distortion in space. The Primordial Garuda continued attacking. Another claw. Then a wing strike. Then thousands of feathers. The attacks connected without pause. Adrian blocked. Countered. Moved. The Void Sovereign Skyblade created countless silver arcs. Each slash destroyed the incoming golden attacks. But the Primordial Garuda's body was too powerful. Even after being cut by sword intent, its ancient feathers continued recovering. Adrian stepped backward. The sword in his hand changed. The silver light disappeared. A golden-white flame appeared around the blade. The surrounding temperature instantly increased. The sky started burning. The Primordial Garuda looked at the change. Adrian lifted the sword. "Myriad Celestial Flame." The flame erupted. It was not ordinary fire. It burned energy itself. The golden feathers approaching Adrian began disappearing before reaching him. The Primordial Garuda moved away. The ancient being's eyes became serious. Adrian swung the sword. The celestial flame transformed into a massive wave. The entire sky became a sea of fire. The remaining formations of the Celestial Golden Sky Citadel melted. The golden structures that had survived countless years finally began disappearing. The Garuda Ancestor looked at the burning sky. His expression changed. That technique... It belonged to the era when the Immortal Emperor ruled the heavens. The Primordial Garuda spread its wings. The golden light around its body became stronger. "Primordial Golden Body." The ancient feathers hardened. A golden armor-like layer covered its entire body. The celestial flames struck. BOOM! The flames exploded. The Primordial Garuda moved through the fire. Its body remained unharmed. It appeared before Adrian. The golden claw struck. Adrian blocked. The impact forced him downward. The air beneath him shattered. Adrian stabilized himself. The Primordial Garuda attacked again. This time... Adrian did not block. He moved the Void Sovereign Skyblade sideways. A strange sword mark appeared. "Emperor's Void Step." His body disappeared. The golden claw passed through empty space. The next moment— Adrian appeared behind the Primordial Garuda. The sword descended. "Celestial Emperor Sword Art." "Fourth Form..." "Heaven Burial Sword." A massive silver sword appeared above the battlefield. The sword carried terrifying pressure. Even the Primordial Sky Domain began shaking. The Primordial Garuda turned. Its wings gathered golden energy. "Primordial Origin Barrier." A massive golden shield appeared. The Heaven Burial Sword descended. BOOM! The entire sky turned silver and gold. The collision created a shockwave that spread through the entire Celestial Golden Sky Citadel. The remaining floating islands broke apart. The ancient palace at the center of the city cracked. The Garuda warriors watched helplessly. Their homeland... The place their ancestors protected for countless generations... Was reaching its final moments. When the light disappeared— Adrian remained standing. The Void Sovereign Skyblade released a low vibration. The Primordial Garuda's golden barrier had shattered. Several ancient feathers had fallen from its wings. But the ancient being was still standing. It looked toward Adrian. Then toward the destroyed Citadel below. The battle had reached the point where neither side could continue without changing everything around them.