"So no matter what the sect says, it counts as half a home for you. You grew up in the True Martial Sacred Ground," the Sky Shroud War God said. "I am not trying to play the emotional card, I am just speaking the truth. Sacred Lord Xiao may not be suited to be a hero in chaotic times, but in an age of peace he is at least a capable minister."
"Ancestor, what is the meaning of your visit to me?" Xu Zimo raised his head and asked directly.
"This time when you go to the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground, it also counts as the True Martial Sacred Ground’s contribution," the Sky Shroud War God said. "I can also take the chance to meet some old friends."
"Since ancestor has set aside his pride to come and ask me, naturally I will not refuse," Xu Zimo nodded. "I only hope some things never happen a second time."
"That’s good," the Sky Shroud War God replied. "I’ll speak to Sacred Lord Xiao. As for the others in the sect, don’t take it to heart. To be honest, you hid yourself deeply enough. Who would have thought that even before the struggle for Heaven's Will began, a Grand Emperor already walked among us."
"God Emperor is different," Xu Zimo shook his head slightly.
The Sky Shroud War God chatted with him a bit more, then left.
Only Xu Zimo was left, lying on a chair, blending into the darkness.
The sky gradually brightened.
The heavens seemed to turn gloomy, with fine drizzle silently falling, landing on the skin and chilling to the bone.
Xu Zimo summoned the maidservants Chunxiao and Xiaqiu, instructing them: "Tell the sect, I’m leaving. Let them make their preparations as well."
Then he called for Lin Ruhu and Little Gui, and the three of them rode atop the vast body of Chaos, their figures gradually disappearing into the distance.
…………
Immortal City, the main city of the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground.
This was a city steeped in the river of history, sworn to endure forever.
Only because behind it stood the sect of five Grand Emperors, the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground.
It was shrouded in mist, and from afar, immortal might surged, as if mountains and ridges were forming and dissolving within the immortal fog.
The entire city was ancient yet overflowing with immortal charm. Some even regarded it as a holy city of the Overlord Region.
Drizzling rain fell gently.
The sky in blue-gray mist, the rain like smoke, people hurried along, and everything seemed as though it had just broken dawn.
For the residents of Immortal City, this was an ordinary day.
Although recently news of Baili City kept arriving, and discussions filled the taverns and teahouses, most people didn’t take it seriously.
For this was Immortal City. They knew no one dared to offend it.
The sect of five emperors, its glory had spanned one era after another.
"Uncle Wang, give me a meat pie," a voice called from the street. "It’s raining, bring it over to me."
Uncle Wang, the vendor, had just wrapped a steaming pie in paper when he suddenly noticed the oil pan in front of him begin to shake.
The surface of the oil rippled, waves rising, boiling over.
Sensing something, he raised his head in shock, only to see that at some unknown moment, the sky above was filled with countless figures.
There were those of the Dark Primordial Race, and also of the Divine Gate of the Elden Lands.
Regardless of strength, they had nearly come in full force.
"Uncle Wang, what are you staring at?" the voice of a regular customer still rang from across the street.
But the vendor no longer thought of pies, only of the feeling that the sky itself was collapsing.
"Where is the Lord of Immortal City?" A vast voice boomed like thunder across the heavens above.
Like thunder born in the autumn dew, it rolled down, carrying pressure and an unstoppable momentum.
Only a few seconds after the voice fell, a figure slowly walked out of the City Lord’s Mansion.
"I, Mu Chengmiao, Lord of Immortal City, greet the honored ones," the figure lifted his head and replied calmly.
"We are here by order of our master to encircle and suppress the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground. Are there those of the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground here?" the voice in the heavens asked again.
Though the voice was thunderous, making scalps tingle, Mu Chengmiao still braced himself and replied with a bitter smile: "I am the city lord appointed by the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground. The sect asked me to deliver a message, if you have come, you may proceed to the Immortal Mountain ahead. They await you there."
Hearing his words, the presences in the sky fell silent.
After a long while, an earth-shaking might descended.
That might enveloped the entire Immortal City.
Mu Chengmiao felt as though every bone in his body would shatter beneath it, his blood surging backward, his face pale.
After holding on for a moment, at last he knelt to the ground.
At that instant, not just him, when that pressure descended, nearly all in the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground fell to their knees.
The people raised their heads in terror, yet could see nothing, only feel an imperial might that pierced the heavens.
As if contending with the very sky itself.
"To the Immortal Mountain," the voice in the heavens ordered. All the figures stepped into the air, heading toward the front of Immortal City.
Only after they all departed did Mu Chengmiao feel the pressure release, his whole body relaxing.
He tried to stand, but his knees, shattered when he first knelt, could no longer support him.
Unable to rise, he lifted his head. "It has changed. The heavens have changed."
……………
In April, the Immortal Mountain was brocaded with beauty, a painting woven of clouds and mist.
On the qilin’s back stone runes cracked, beneath the coiling dragon’s scales red branches snapped.
Divinities drifted amidst the clouds, and immortals riding cranes arrived.
This was the posture of Immortal Mountain.
Shrouded in immortal mist, this colossal entity of five emperors,
This existence acclaimed as one of the strongest powers of the Primordial Heartlands, had slumbered within the Immortal Mountain for countless millennia.
From afar, stepping into the mist, all that could be seen was white expanse.
Going further, the visage of the Immortal Mountain gradually appeared.
The qilin turned into immortal stone, the coiling dragon into immortal trees.
The mountain was endlessly tall, tens of millions of meters would not be an exaggeration.
At its peak, it truly seemed to tower above all.
You could not see clearly within it, for it was too vast, divine beasts turned to stone, divine trees eternal.
Clear waterfalls poured from the mountain’s summit, spanning tens of millions of meters, from top to bottom.
Like a silver river, spraying water into stars, a wondrous sight.
Jagged rocks, shaded woods, blossoming flowers.
The essence of sun and moon circulated through all things.
Jade towers and celestial palaces arose from the ground, magnificent architecture everywhere.
Disciples in broad robes walked, some gray, some white, some purple.
The styles were the same, only colors differed.
The robes themselves exuded majesty.
Phoenixes soared, ancient beasts cried softly, strange peaks rose like stars across the sky.
When the Dark Primordial Race and Divine Gate arrived, even though their forces already rivaled imperial lineages, at this sight of Immortal Mountain, they still could not help but sigh in awe.
Compared to their own sects, this was like heaven and earth apart.
This place was like a paradise beyond the world, like a palace in the sky, breathtakingly beautiful, yet also dreamlike.
As if it existed only within a dream.
Upon arriving, no one acted rashly.
The leading Death God Qin sat cross-legged in the void, closing his eyes to meditate.
He did not seem in any hurry.
Yet the countless masses had abruptly gathered in the skies above the Immortal Mountain.
Someone approached Death God Qin.