At the moment he destroyed the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground, Xu Zimo felt several powerful gazes pierce through the void from the depths of the heavens, falling upon him.
Their attitudes were hard to read.
By sparing the sect, he had left them in name only. Without resources, rebuilding was possible, but regaining their former glory was nearly impossible.
Leaving one of the five old ancestors was their last shelter.
As for the other experts, many had died or been crippled in the war, leaving barely a tenth of their strength intact.
By letting them live, not only could the great emperors not hate him, they even owed him a favor.
This was the price of the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground’s survival.
In truth, the conflict between him and them was not entirely irreconcilable; the key figure was simply Lu Changhen.
That matter was concluded.
The colossal body of Chaos carried everyone toward the True Martial Sacred Ground, while Xu Zimo stopped midway to return once more to the God World.
As for the Sky Blue Demon Roc, a Nirvana Void beast, after a series of disciplines it had finally submitted.
Though Xu Zimo had not personally witnessed the process.
He looked at Paimon and the others and asked, “How is the development of the God World now?”
“No overly powerful beings have appeared. Everything is well,” Paimon replied.
He acted in Xu Zimo’s place to oversee the land, like the Heavenly Dao itself, keeping order.
“Heaven's Will is about to take form. Once I bear it, this world will be transformed once again,” Xu Zimo said. “By then, it will be time to head to the Outer Heavens.”
“Good. After all, the Outer Heavens is the true battlefield,” Paimon nodded.
“How is your cultivation?” Xu Zimo asked.
Paimon and the others had already opened ten meridian gates. Upon reaching the Outer Heavens, they would be Saint Sovereigns.
One must know, even Grand Emperors who bore Heaven's Will had only opened nine gates.
Beyond Saint Sovereign was the Infinite Dao Realm.
That meant eleven meridian gates.
During these days, Xu Zimo had used the Heavenly Dao of the God World to guide their comprehension directly.
The Dao itself was before their eyes, all its rules manifest in the void. Conditions like these were things others could never experience in a lifetime.
Paimon smiled and shook his head. “Infinite Dao is not so easily understood. Even with the Heavenly Dao placed before me, it is not something achievable in such a short time. But there are already some clues.”
“That’s good,” Xu Zimo nodded, then instructed, “I have kept the Myriad Beast Realm hidden because their strength is too great. If they appeared openly, they might disrupt the world’s development. But for now, they can begin to reveal a small part of themselves and return to the world.”
He knew he should not interfere too much in the world’s development. All things grew according to their own laws.
The less ignorant and the more evolved the world became, the less he should intervene.
But at times, he could not allow beings that might destroy his world to exist.
The Myriad Beast Realm was the best solution for this.
They were controlled by him from the shadows. Things he could not personally do, they could do for him.
Hearing this, Paimon nodded slightly.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Do not reveal too much at once,” Xu Zimo reminded.
Then he withdrew from the God World.
…………
The season had turned to autumn. Yellowing leaves mirrored the desolation and chill of this era’s Middle Continent.
The sky was dark, shrouded in heavy clouds.
The news of the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground’s defeat spread instantly to the great imperial lineages, then to first- and second-tier forces.
Before long, the entire continent knew, even the wandering cultivators and common folk.
A sect of five emperors had fallen, their mountain destroyed, four of the old ancestors crippling themselves just to preserve the sect.
And they had publicly apologized to the Holy Son of the True Martial Sacred Ground.
This news struck like thunder, shaking everyone’s hearts.
Before the battle, though some favored the True Martial Sacred Ground, they thought it would be mutual slaughter at most. No one expected the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground to lose so utterly.
It seemed this era was destined to be ruled by the True Martial Sacred Ground.
Unless Xu Zimo failed to bear Heaven's Will.
That was the only chance for other forces to rise.
Already so strong before carrying Heaven's Will, once he became emperor, no one else would have a future.
Many sects were anxious, but all warned their disciples not to provoke anyone from the True Martial Sacred Ground.
…………
Upon returning, Xu Zimo went to see the Third Elder, Lin Ruhu’s grandfather.
“Third Elder, how is the matter I entrusted to you?” Xu Zimo asked with a smile.
“It’s almost done,” the elder replied with a smile.
“But you should go see the Sacred Lord. I believe he has something to say to you.”
“Sacred Lord Xiao?” Xu Zimo chuckled.
“Don’t hold too much against him. He has his own difficulties,” the elder said.
“I understand,” Xu Zimo nodded.
He was not petty. Since he had agreed with the Sky Shroud War God, he would not quibble over the matter.
After saying farewell, he went to the island where Sacred Lord Xiao resided.
The man in green robes had clearly been waiting a long time.
“You’ve come,” Xiao said.
“The Third Elder told me to find you,” Xu Zimo nodded.
“The Dao Race’s location has been found. Their Holy Son should be within their clan,” Xiao said.
“Because the Dao Race hides from the world, they live in a Particle World of their own. I captured one of them. He can take you inside.”
“Thank you,” Xu Zimo nodded.
For now, nearly all debts and enmities were settled, except for the Lord of Samsara.
After reincarnating, he had become the Dao Race’s Holy Son. Xu Zimo knew this.
As Xu Zimo was about to leave, Xiao quickly said, “About last time, I owe you an apology.”
“I had already forgotten. Let’s not mention it,” Xu Zimo waved without turning back.
Some things needed no words; both sides understood.
Watching Xu Zimo’s departing figure, Xiao remained silent for a moment, then chuckled softly.
…………
Returning to South Goose Mountain, Xu Zimo did not head immediately for the Dao Race. He intended to let the sect handle that, while he himself rested and prepared for the coming Heaven's Will.
Looking toward the sky, he saw Heaven's Will nearly complete.
An ancient Grand Dao stretched across the heavens from one end to the other. It suffused the vast void above.