A Day of Despair, Only a Skull Remains
A Day of Despair, Only a Skull Remains
The palace halls were grand and magnificent, pavilions stretching in unbroken rows. The current Emperor of Ascension gazed out over the vast expanse of his domain, his eyes filled with sorrow, his fists clenched tightly beneath his dragon robes.
“At a critical juncture like this, how can I simply leave? These are all my subjects and my people!”
“The Homeland of my Ascension Celestial Dynasty lies within the Northern Dipper Star Territory, enduring since ancient times. Are we truly to abandon our homes today, leave our native soil behind, and flee to distant territories?”
His heart was filled with unwillingness. He could not bear to sever himself from all of this.
An unforeseeable catastrophe was about to descend. The entire Northern Dipper Star Territory would be reduced to dust and ruins—nay, the entire Resplendence Universe would be destroyed.
The Emperor of Ascension understood all of this perfectly well—better than anyone, in fact. But he simply could not let go of the subjects and lands of the Ascension Celestial Dynasty.
The Ascension Celestial Dynasty was the most ancient power in the Northern Dipper Star Territory, founded by the first True Daoist after the Era of the Great Annihilation—none other than Empress Huang Yu herself.
Within the Northern Dipper Star Territory, Empress Huang Yu held extraordinary significance. In the eyes of countless Cultivators and living beings, she was the undisputed First Empress, her cultivation unmatched. After attaining the imperial throne, she had selflessly preached the Dao for all beings of later generations, leaving behind her Dao and her teachings.
Even in eras when other True Daoists suppressed the world and bore the Mandate of Heaven, none dared show Empress Huang Yu the slightest disrespect.
In their eyes, Empress Huang Yu was a pioneer. During that most impossible of times for achieving the Dao, she had blazed a trail through the darkness, carving out a path for all who came after.
The True Daoists of later generations all, in truth, owed her a debt of gratitude.
“Your Majesty, at this critical moment, you cannot afford to waver!”
“All the powers and lineages that could leave have already left. There are few forces remaining in the Northern Dipper Star Territory now.”
“So long as the foundation of our Ascension Celestial Dynasty endures, there will come a day when we rise again. Every extra day we remain in the Northern Dipper Star Territory is another day of peril. We beg Your Majesty to hesitate no longer!”
“Once the Northern Dipper Star Territory is destroyed, nothing will remain. Everything will become history. What will there be left to worry about then?”
Below the imperial palace, the assembled ministers knelt prostrate, their faces streaked with tears, all begging the Emperor of Ascension to depart.
In truth, they all understood the Emperor’s misgivings and anxieties at this moment.
“If only the Founding Ancestor were still here at a time like this...”
The Emperor of Ascension sighed in grief. The Founding Ancestor he spoke of was the first emperor of the Ascension Celestial Dynasty—and also the disciple of Empress Huang Yu.
He did not wish to bear the infamy of a king who lost his kingdom, even though none of this was within his power to prevent.
If the Ascension Celestial Dynasty were to take its foundations and flee to distant territories now, it would mean abandoning all of its lands and all of its people.
In the eyes of everyone, he would be a weak, cowardly king who forsook all his subjects—a king who lost his kingdom.
He would be nailed to the pillar of shame, reviled for ten thousand generations.
Suddenly, a dazzling, resplendent bolt of golden lightning emerged from the depths of the Ascension Celestial Dynasty, like a rain of light flooding the heavens. Holy and terrifying fluctuations rose and fell within it.
“This is...”
The assembled ministers within the imperial palace, along with the Emperor of Ascension himself, were all instantly frozen in shock. Their eyes went wide as they stared toward the deepest reaches of the palace.
That was the Forbidden Area of the Ascension Celestial Dynasty. Ordinarily, not even the old imperial ancestors could easily set foot there.
Everyone had speculated that it was the secluded cultivation ground of some ancient ancestor of the Ascension Celestial Dynasty.
But whether any ancestor truly stood guard within, no one knew.
Ever since Empress Huang Yu achieved the Dao, the Ascension Celestial Dynasty had never again produced a True Daoist in all the generations since.
Their strongest had been merely Quasi-Nirvana existences—infinitely close to that level, yet ultimately unable to touch it.
“Could it be that an ancestor has awakened?!”
The Emperor of Ascension and the others were tremendously shaken, yet also astonished and exhilarated, their gazes fixed tightly upon that place.
“This is not the aura of a Quasi-Nirvana...”
“How could a True Daoist suddenly appear from the direction of the Ascension Celestial Dynasty?”
“Nor is this the aura of a Nirvana Grade Artifact reviving—this is a genuine, world-suppressing Emperor! How is this possible?!”
“Didn’t the Ascension Celestial Dynasty only ever produce a single True Daoist?”
“And that was after the Era of the Great Annihilation, an immeasurably distant age from now...”
At the same time, throughout the Northern Dipper Star Territory—
Within the lineages that had yet to evacuate, the strongest experts currently awake all changed expression drastically, staring in utter shock toward the direction of the Ascension Celestial Dynasty.
The radiance there was simply too brilliant—like a pillar of light tearing apart the dome of heaven, piercing through the universe, suppressing the Eight Wastelands. Terrifying beyond measure.
There were no true True Daoists alive in the Northern Dipper Star Territory today.
Only within those Life Forbidden Areas were there ancient existences whose vitality had withered, who had severed a portion of their own cultivation.
But their strength still fell far short of a genuine True Daoist.
Of course, before them, Quasi-Nirvana experts were another matter entirely.
Not just the Northern Dipper Star Territory—even across the vast and boundless Resplendence Universe, there was scarcely any trace of a True Daoist’s aura.
In the other star territories, Quasi-Nirvana existences and self-severed ancient beings all sensed this fluctuation in unison. Their expressions changed dramatically in disbelief.
After how many countless years, imperial might had abruptly risen from the depths of the Ascension Celestial Dynasty!
Vast and overwhelming, it caused the countless Cultivators and living beings of this universe to tremble, prostrating themselves and kowtowing.
“How can there be a True Daoist in this era? This is no Nirvana Grade Artifact reviving—this is a genuine True Daoist with blood vitality flooding the heavens!”
“Nor is this someone who suddenly achieved the Dao. Could it be they were sealed away by some secret technique all this time, or used some other means to evade the Five Immortal Decays?”
All the powerful existences were shaken to their core, and in the first instant, their thoughts turned to the founder of the Ascension Celestial Dynasty.
If that were so... then perhaps the Resplendence Universe still had hope?
“Impossible. Never mind a True Daoist—even an Immortal Dao figure likely couldn’t change any of this. Compared to the other ancient universes, the Resplendence Universe’s foundation is simply too weak.”
“Other ancient universes have True Daoists numbering in the double digits at the very least, while we have but a single one.”
The strongest experts of many powers and lineages smiled bitterly. The faint thread of hope that had risen in their hearts shattered once more.
They did not believe that a True Daoist reviving at this moment could change anything.
But even so, they still turned their gazes toward the distant Northern Dipper Star Territory.
Divine light surged skyward. It was as if a seal had shattered there. Everyone saw a woman of peerless grace in phoenix robes, her Dharma Body incomparably radiant, standing above the Ascension Celestial Dynasty.
She simply stood there, naturally and effortlessly, yet she exuded an aura that shook the Nine Heavens and Ten Realms.
As if this universe itself could not contain her true form.
“Empress Huang Yu—it really is her figure!”
“How on earth did she survive from that distant era until now?”
“Too inconceivable! The very first Emperor, appearing in the world at this moment!”
“Is this truly the figure of Empress Huang Yu?”
Everyone was shaken, the waves in their hearts unable to settle for a long time.
After all, this was the first being to attain the imperial throne since the Era of the Great Annihilation! She bore the Celestial Phoenix bloodline, her talent terrifying, her true form that of a Celestial Phoenix. Had she not been born in the wrong era, her achievements would never have stopped at the mere Imperial Realm.
One must understand—before the Great Annihilation, all Daos and teachings had been destroyed, and every trace of cultivation had vanished from heaven and earth. Yet she had forcibly carved open a path from within that desolation.
Such accomplishments and such grand ambition were enough to earn the remembrance and admiration of countless generations to come.
And just as the Resplendence Universe reeled in shock and disbelief at the appearance of Empress Huang Yu—
In the depths of the distant universe, Chaos Energy exploded. Heaven-flooding radiance, like sharp blades, tore open one great cosmic tunnel after another. The vast and mighty army of the Beyond was drawing near.
That terrifying aura, sweeping across the Nine Heavens and Ten Realms and surging along the River of Time, filled all who sensed it with dread.
One after another, ancient and weathered Ancient Battleships, draped in blood and bone, smashed through the vault of heaven, rumbling as they pressed forward, rapidly approaching the Resplendence Universe.
Though they had encountered no few dangers along the way—some Chaos Seas boiling and rioting, swallowing many of their troops—it did nothing to diminish the terrifying immensity of this force.
The Beyond was the great crossroads where the myriad worlds of the heavens converged. The number of ancient worlds there was simply too great, and every single universe was far older and more ancient than the Resplendence Universe.
Rather than saying the Beyond was marching to slaughter the Resplendence Universe, it would be more accurate to say that those universes were colliding with the Resplendence Universe—the accumulated foundations of their power all crushing down upon it at once.
“I can already sense the aura of the Tree of Epoch. It truly is in that universe. We are not far now.”
Aboard an Ancient Battleship, an ancient figure of terrifying presence spoke, his eyes burning with fervent light.
He stared at the boundless Chaos Energy ahead, sensing the laws of heaven and earth drifting out from within.
That aura filled his entire body with comfort. Every pore seemed to relax and unfold as he greedily devoured that essence.
“We must seize the Tree of Epoch at the first opportunity! Once the True Ancestor of our clan attains the Immortal Throne, our clan shall become the foremost clan of the Beyond!”
“The Tree of Epoch—we are determined to have it!”
Aboard this Ancient Battleship stood other terrifying figures as well. Though none were foundation-level beings, even the weakest among them was a Quasi-Nirvana, their blood vitality flooding the heavens, all at the peak of their prime.
They gazed into the distance, terrifying auras surging around them like overturned seas. They had come as the vanguard to scout the path. Though there were signs this might be a suicide mission, it did nothing to diminish the confidence in their hearts.
For according to their senses, this place was incomparably remote from the center of the Beyond. The laws of heaven and earth in these universes were utterly incomplete. Even though the Tree of Epoch grew here, slowly mending the environment of this realm, that would require an immensely long time—it could not have allowed these universes to birth and nurture a sufficient number of powerful experts.
In other words, the strongest beings in these universes could not possibly exceed a certain level.
And their numbers would be few.
Rumble rumble rumble!
Soon, the Ancient Battleships crushed forward all the way, countless brilliant runes lighting up like a storm, blasting apart the Chaos Energy ahead, tearing through the cosmic barriers, ripping open the walls of the universe—
Directly piercing through into the Resplendence Universe!
The vast vanguard army of the Beyond had finally descended!
It was a terrifying power that made the entire Resplendence Universe tremble. The laws of heaven and earth were crushed to the point of shattering, unable to bear the strain. One great star after another collapsed in succession, exploding into dust that filled the sky.
The Ancient Battleships were simply too enormous, like ancient continents pressing down across the heavens, tearing through the spatial barriers with matchless dominance as they descended upon this place.
Aboard them were the figures of Cultivators and living beings beyond count, packed dense as ants—some wielding heavenly sabers and heavenly swords, some riding ferocious beasts and savage mounts—like a flood that made one’s heart quake with terror. One glance revealed no end to them at all.
And this was merely the vanguard. The great army descending behind them was even more terrifying—enough to sweep away any universe.
“The laws of heaven and earth in this universe are suppressing us, but that is all. It can only barely accommodate the existence of True Daoists. Once the True Ancestor descends, he alone can suppress this entire universe.”
“Hahaha, the Tree of Epoch actually appeared in a place like this. Isn’t it simply waiting there for us to come and collect it?”
The dreadful figures standing upon the Ancient Battleships, upon sensing the degree of this universe’s heavenly laws, all laughed in relief, not the least bit worried about what threat this place could pose to them.
Not even a True Daoist to its name—so weak it hardly deserved to have the Beyond mobilize against it.
They swept their divine senses outward without the slightest scruple, arrogant and unrestrained, flaunting their auras as True Daoists, suppressing the Eight Wastelands without any attempt at concealment.
Thereupon, following their intelligence, they steered the Ancient Battleships swiftly toward the location of the Northern Dipper Star Territory.
The star territories they passed along the way were all ignored—utterly beneath their notice, not worth wasting time upon.
The Resplendence Universe posed no threat to them, but the lineages and powers rushing here behind them were in no way inferior—there might even be foundation-level beings descending. So they had to make haste and seize the Tree of Epoch first.
“The forces from beyond the realm have descended...”
“This day has finally come. How is anyone supposed to resist this? Just the auras of True Daoists on display—there are no fewer than four of them!”
Within these star territories, many powers that had once produced True Daoists immediately brought out their Nirvana Grade Artifacts, rousing them to life, ready to resist at any moment.
Yet what filled them with despair was this: aboard those Ancient Battleships, the True Daoists revealing their auras alone numbered four—not counting the Quasi-Nirvana existences, nor the great armies following behind into this universe.
One must understand—in the records of the Resplendence Universe, in any given era, it was impossible for two True Daoists to exist simultaneously, for the environment of heaven and earth would not permit it, nor could it withstand such auras.
Yet today, four True Daoists had appeared at once. A single wisp of the aura spilling from them was enough to make the Four Seas and Eight Wastelands explode.
Before a True Daoist, all Cultivators and living beings were ants. Resistance was impossible.
Even if a Quasi-Nirvana brought out a Nirvana Grade Artifact and roused it to full revival, it would likely still be smashed to pieces.
This day, for the Resplendence Universe, was a day of absolute darkness—a day like the end of the world.
All Cultivators and living beings could not see even a sliver of hope. Their hearts were filled with nothing but grey despair.
And at this very moment, deep within the Ascension Celestial Dynasty, divine light blazed brilliantly and sacred rain of light drifted down. The Dharma Body of Empress Huang Yu emerged, standing supreme between heaven and earth, unrivaled in all existence, displaying the fluctuations of a True Daoist.
But when the Emperor of Ascension and the others rushed to this place and saw the scene before them, they were all struck dumb in unison—filled with horror and disbelief.
A Platform sat upon this spot, and upon it there was only a single skull, crystalline as jade!
The enormous Platform glowed with light. Grand Runes circled around it one by one, threads of Principles of Dao interweaving, cascading down vast streams of Chaos Energy.
There was no figure of Empress Huang Yu here as they had imagined. There was only a single skull, from which a faint, feeble spiritual imprint emanated, stirring the surviving Dharma Body of Dao Principles—as if conveying an emotion... and a longing.