Watching the people from the Purgatory Sacred Ground leave, the other imperial lineages also looked grim.
The Dan Imperial Clan and Blood Nether Sacred Ground said a few words and left as well.
On the Divine Sun Sacred Ground's side, Elder Chiwu looked at Xu Zimo with a serious expression and said, “You should understand what the Five Spirit Orbs are. Once this news spreads, countless people will be interested.”
“You'd better worry about yourself first,” Xu Zimo replied calmly.
Elder Chiwu snorted coldly and led the others into the void.
They all knew that just Sky Shroud alone could fight them all at once. If Traveler and Heavenblade returned later, it would surely turn into a brutal battle.
Moreover, with each of their lineages’ imperial foundations destroyed, it would take a long time to rebuild.
And only a true emperor could form a genuine imperial foundation. Any imitations they made would be far inferior.
Once everyone had left, Sacred Lord Xiao gave the order to deactivate the Guardian Formation.
Sky Shroud turned around, looked at Xu Zimo, and smiled. “You did well.”
Xu Zimo nodded slightly.
“If you ever need help, come find me at Imperial Valley,” Sky Shroud said, handing him a token. “This is the key to Imperial Valley.”
“Thank you, Ancestor,” Xu Zimo said gratefully.
Imperial Valley was a forbidden land of the True Martial Sacred Ground, where the old ancestors lived. Regular disciples were never allowed in.
Even the Grand Elders didn’t have the qualifications. Only the Sacred Lord of each generation could enter.
Now that Sky Shroud had given him the token, it meant he fully acknowledged Xu Zimo’s position as the Sacred Ground’s Holy Son.
“We didn’t expect things to go this way. Sorry to trouble you, Ancestor,” Sacred Lord Xiao said from the side.
“If not to prevent the Eastern Continent from descending into chaos, we would’ve destroyed the Divine Sun Sacred Ground today,” Sky Shroud said coldly.
“Jueyun, remember this: on the Primordial Heartlands, no one dares to look down on us.”
The Sacred Lord of the True Martial Sacred Ground was named Xiao Jueyun.
Of course, few people remembered that name anymore, since becoming Sacred Lord, hardly anyone dared address him like that.
Sacred Lord Xiao nodded quickly.
Finally, Sky Shroud vanished into the void, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
…
“Mo’er, are you okay?” Xu Qingshan immediately asked Xu Zimo.
“I’m fine. They couldn’t hurt me,” Xu Zimo shook his head.
“Tell me, what’s the deal with the Soft-Water Pearl?” Sacred Lord Xiao looked at Xu Zimo and asked after a moment of thought.
“I already explained. They tried to steal it from the Southern Four Demons, and I snatched it from them first,” Xu Zimo said.
“This thing is tied to too many secrets. Once the news spreads, it could cause turmoil across the entire Primordial Heartlands,” said Sacred Lord Xiao.
“You could leave it in the Sacred Ground. That would be safer for you.”
“Thanks for your concern, Sacred Lord. But I think I can protect it myself,” Xu Zimo smiled and shook his head.
“As you wish,” Sacred Lord Xiao didn’t press the issue and returned to the Sacred Ground.
The Sacred Ground likely needed to discuss the aftermath of this incident. Xu Zimo returned alone to South Goose Mountain.
He decided to leave the next day, to head for the Elden Lands.
He didn’t want to think about anything else.
…
Since leaving Blood Slaughter City, Tan Jiulin had returned to the Ancient Forest where she once trained.
She had studied there under her master, the Sage.
She knew the real body of her master wasn’t there, only a clone left behind to guide her.
By the time she returned, it was already deep into the night.
The stars sparkled above, and the bright moon hung high in the sky.
Her master sat above a waterfall on a mountain pool, absorbing the essence of the stars and moon.
A clone would grow weaker the longer it was separated from the real body. To maintain it, constant cultivation was necessary.
It’s said that once the tenth vmeridianein gate is opened, one can separate their God-Soul and create a true second clone.
“You’re back,” the middle-aged man said with a warm smile as he looked at Tan Jiulin.
She nodded.
“How did it go?” he asked.
“I met him,” she said quietly, her emotions low as she remembered her defeat.
“Who?” he asked quickly.
“That man.”
“He knows about you now?” the man frowned slightly.
“I’m not his match,” Tan Jiulin replied with a nod.
“So he’s grown,” the man sighed.
Then he smiled and said, “Don’t feel too bad. You haven’t reached the God Meridian Realm yet. When you’re at the same level, you might not be any weaker than him.”
“Master, can I really beat him?” she asked.
“You must understand, you’re never fighting alone,” the man said gently.
“Fate tells me that what he’ll face is not just the Primordial Heartlands, but even the realms beyond the heavens.”
“Not alone…” Tan Jiulin murmured to herself.
…
Early the next morning, Xu Zimo left South Goose Mountain.
He went to Green Mountain to say goodbye to his parents, and then said farewell to Lin Ruhu, Zhang Guilin, Ji Baiyu, and the others.
The late autumn season had finally ended, and a light snow fell in the early morning.
The entire True Martial Sacred Ground was blanketed in white. A cold wind swept through, carrying a sense of quiet sorrow.
Perhaps the end of autumn was to make way for the coming spring.
Xu Zimo sat on the back of the Darksky Tiger. His figure slowly disappeared in the shadow of the vast Sacred Ground.
On Green Mountain, two figures watched silently.
Xu Qingshan turned to Wenren Yun and asked, “What did Mo’er say before he left?”
“He said, next time he comes back, he’ll bring that girl home for us to meet,” Wenren Yun replied.
“Good, good,” Xu Qingshan nodded with a satisfied smile.
“A man should seek his fortune far and wide. May his road be full of both thorns and blossoms, and his future shine bright!”
Xu Zimo sat on the back of the Darksky Tiger, traveling slowly down a tree-lined path.
Snow fell quietly on his clothes. Perhaps farewells are always tinged with sadness.
The snow lasted for three days, casting the entire world in a cold silence.
By noon that day, the snow was still falling relentlessly.
The massive Darksky Tiger suddenly stopped.
Xu Zimo rubbed his sleepy eyes, sat up, and looked ahead.
Somehow, a small inn had appeared in front of him.
It stood right in the middle of the road, old in style, not very large.
There was no signboard, only a flag by its side.
On it were four large characters: “Inn of Good and Evil.”