At All Costs, the Great Exodus of the Northern Dipper Star Territory
At All Costs, the Great Exodus of the Northern Dipper Star Territory
Sky Emperor Mountain had existed for ages and possessed a profound foundation, but the fact that it now had only three Hidden Experts left was an undeniable truth.
Many Hidden Experts could not outlast time itself. They had passed away in meditation throughout history, never stirring so much as a ripple.
Of course, Sky Emperor Mountain actually had other branch lineages that had split off in the past, but they had long since evolved into separate clans, each ruling their own. There was no way they would come to Sky Emperor Mountain’s aid at a time like this.
There had also been Hidden Experts who departed in the past, taking a portion of resources with them to establish themselves independently beyond the mortal world, forming their own Forbidden Areas.
So for Sky Emperor Mountain, an extremely ancient Force and orthodoxy of the Beyond, to have only three Hidden Experts remaining today was actually well within reason.
“If Changge comes to kill us...”
Hearing these words, the One-Eye Daoist’s face paled somewhat, filled with apprehension, unwilling to dwell on such thoughts.
As of now, Changge’s whereabouts were completely unknown. He had no idea whether Changge was at the Family of Immortals, or whether, like the Hidden Experts of the other orthodoxies, he had already set out for the Resplendence Universe to compete for the Opportunity to Become an Immortal.
Truth be told, deep in his heart, the One-Eye Daoist had no intention of defending Sky Emperor Mountain. As long as he alone achieved Immortality, what did it matter if Sky Emperor Mountain was destroyed?
He had simply lived far, far too long. The clansmen of his lineage had multiplied to this day and grown incredibly powerful, with several True Daoists holding the fort, and they had even contended for Sky Emperor Mountain’s seat of authority.
But the blood ties between those clansmen and himself had long since grown exceedingly thin.
The Daoist’s true kin and old friends had all passed away and died of old age in the distant past—he could not even find where their bones were buried.
Now, his only thought was to become an Immortal. Everything else could be cast aside.
“Sky Emperor Mountain cannot be destroyed. My vitality and blood have already declined. Even if I competed for the Opportunity to Become an Immortal, I could not outmatch the others. Better that I remain to guard the clan, lest Sky Emperor Mountain’s legacy be severed in these chaotic times.”
The Hidden Expert sitting upon the prayer mat spoke, his words calm, his gaze profound, without the slightest desire to compete for the Opportunity to Become an Immortal.
He had already seen through it all and would no longer fight for it.
Hearing this, the One-Eye Daoist fell silent, his expression turning exceptionally ugly. He had never imagined it would come to this.
“The clan only needs one person to hold the fort. Then I shall go with you. This old man’s vitality is withered—I’m afraid I won’t be of much use.”
“If that Gu Changge comes to kill us, having one person wield the foundation will be enough to resist him.”
The other Hidden Expert, who had remained silent all this time, now opened his eyes as well. His words were filled with vicissitudes and helplessness.
He rose to his feet, appearing extremely hunched, gaunt as firewood, frail with age. One of the twin horns on his forehead had broken off, and he looked as though a gust of wind could blow him away.
Yet the aura upon him was not to be underestimated—vast and boundless like a great universe, capable of collapsing the heavens.
Hearing these words, the One-Eye Daoist was overjoyed, and immense hope suddenly surged in his heart.
If the two of them joined forces and exhausted every means at their disposal, there was still hope of competing for the Opportunity to Become an Immortal.
The Resplendence Universe was extremely remote, far too distant from the center of the Beyond.
Between them lay many withered, broken ancient universes. Even for domain-crossing ancient warships, carving a path through was exceedingly arduous—they had to break through that Chaos Energy.
With the slightest carelessness, they might blast open corpses and weapon fragments buried within the chaos, unleashing terrifyingly destructive aftershocks.
The vast armies of the various orthodoxies and Forces had charged forth from the center of the Beyond, but they had lost considerable numbers of troops to these ruined universes along the way. Even some Sacred Emperor Realm Cultivators had perished.
This left many Cultivators gripped by unease. And this was merely the beginning of the push forward.
If a great battle were to erupt midway, everyone except the True Daoists would likely be reduced to cannon fodder.
This path was indeed fraught with difficulty, but for the Opportunity to Become an Immortal, they would stop at nothing.
Some Hidden Experts, their eyes utterly cold, simply waved their great hands and unhesitatingly ordered the armies to press onward.
At the same time, they dispatched the True Daoists and Quasi-Emperor beings of their clans to clear the way ahead. Only when they encountered calamities truly beyond resolution would the Hidden Experts themselves take action.
Throughout this process, the Hidden Experts were all devising ways to accumulate strength for themselves.
They had already foreseen that upon reaching the Resplendence Universe, an unimaginable, world-shaking great war would erupt. That entire universe would absolutely be sunk.
Meanwhile, in the distant Resplendence Universe, within the Northern Dipper Star Territory—
Boundless immortal light erupted from the land of Gods’ Ruins, as though a dazzling sun had risen and emerged there.
A terrifying aura swept across heaven and earth, the four seas and Eight Wastelands. Countless Cultivators and living beings trembled, horrified to the extreme.
Even from a great distance, one could see that in that legendary land of Gods’ Ruins, a towering divine tree had risen from the earth.
Its branches and leaves held aloft the sun and moon of chaos. The rumbling sound of a world turning emanated forth, shaking heaven and earth—vast and heavy. The entire universe trembled because of that aura.
Countless Dao rhythms and divine mysteries emerged from that place, spreading toward the entire universe.
Legends of Gods’ Ruins had circulated since ancient times. Even the founder of the Ascension Celestial Dynasty—the most ancient and powerful Force in the Northern Dipper Star Territory today—Empress Huang Yu, had entered it in her youth and received the guidance and teachings of the Lord of Gods’ Ruins.
She herself had said that within Gods’ Ruins stood an incomparably ancient and majestic tree that could hold aloft the eternal heavens, mysterious and profound to the utmost.
That Lord of Gods’ Ruins possessed world-shaking cultivation. None knew whence he came; he seemed more like a being who had existed since the Era of the Great Annihilation, having long since surpassed the Celestial Realm.
All manner of rumors had long spread throughout the Northern Dipper Star Territory, and even other star territories had heard such tales.
Among them, besides that incomparably mysterious ancient tree, it was said the Lord of Gods’ Ruins had also planted a peach tree, which by now had long since grown to an unimaginable degree of existence.
At this moment, within the resplendent palace of the Ascension Celestial Dynasty—
The current ruler of the Ascension Celestial Dynasty stood with a face full of sighs, gazing into the distance.
Before him knelt a great many ministers, all wearing worried expressions as they urged:
“Your Majesty, go quickly! Leave the Northern Dipper Star Territory first, then devise a plan later. Leave this universe!”
“It’s obvious there’s something wrong with that ancient tree in Gods’ Ruins. Its fruit is about to ripen, and it’s drawing supreme experts from many universes toward it. When that happens, an unimaginable great war will surely erupt in the Northern Dipper Star Territory!”
“Even the Resplendence Universe will not be spared—it will be destroyed. The heavens and earth are changing. While there’s still time, let us flee quickly!”
“The other Forces and orthodoxies have already begun relocating elsewhere...”
The Northern Dipper Star Territory was now in great turmoil. Everywhere was war, blood, and fire. Nothing was peaceful—a great exodus was underway.
Gods’ Ruins was incomparably mysterious. Even the most powerful True Daoists since ancient times could not approach it.
The divine object within was ripening, and the fluctuations it emitted were so intense and terrifying that they were spreading toward the myriad heavens and worlds—no different from a bright lamp in the darkness, one that would draw the supreme experts of other ancient universes toward it.
And so, after gaining a deep understanding of this matter, the Holy Lands and ancient clans whose ancestors had produced True Daoists were all devising ways to relocate their Homelands, seeking to flee the Northern Dipper Star Territory.