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Xu Zimo followed the fluttering green sprites step by step into the deep forest.
The air was filled with a refreshing scent.
As he walked, he thought back to the question asked by the spirit of the Abyss of Life and Death.
In truth, heaven and earth are only complete at ten, but one is always missing, thus the great Dao has flaws, and all things retain a sliver of hope.
Though life and death are inevitable paths, the Dao also leaves room for survival.
Once one's cultivation reaches a certain level, lifespan can be extended.
Especially for those who become Grand Emperors, living millions of years is not out of the question.
And according to legend, those who open all twelve meridians can achieve true immortality, eternal life.
Whether it's true or not remains to be seen, but the possibility exists.
Xu Zimo continued following the sprites. The scenery was beautiful, with eternal spring-like conditions.
It was very peaceful.
He walked through dense cover of massive trees, feeling almost lost in the damp wilderness. Some leaves here were larger than his entire body.
Eventually, the floating green sprites stopped in front of a massive ancient tree and vanished.
Xu Zimo curiously observed his surroundings.
An elderly man in white robes, with a kindly face, walked over from the side.
"You've arrived," the old man said naturally.
"Greetings, Ancestor," Xu Zimo bowed slightly.
He recognized the man, this was the Sky Shroud War God, one of Grand Emperor Zhen Wu’s old generals.
Though they'd met several times, this was their first true conversation.
"No need to be so formal. Just call me Grandpa Hong," the Sky Shroud War God said with a smile.
His real surname was Hong, “Sky Shroud” was just his title. It had been used so often that many forgot his original name.
"I'm not being formal," Xu Zimo replied calmly. "May I ask why Grandpa Hong has called for me?"
"There are some things I want to give you, and some things I want to tell you," the Sky Shroud War God said.
"What kind of things?" Xu Zimo asked with curiosity.
"The sect will explain the details of the War of Heaven’s Will later. I won’t go into that. What I want to talk about is the Outer Heavens," the Sky Shroud War God said.
"One thing I must remind you of, becoming a Grand Emperor is great, but if in the end you're not strong enough, don’t be disheartened. Becoming an immortal is also a valid path. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Grandpa Hong wants me to survive?" Xu Zimo smiled.
"Exactly. In every era, so many people join the fight for Heaven's Will, but only a handful survive. Most see the Heaven's Will as everything. If they can’t attain it, they’d rather die trying," the Sky Shroud War God explained.
"The Immortal Path may not be as strong as the Dao Path, but it’s still a path forward. If you surpass the limits of immortality, you’ll find a whole new world."
"I understand," Xu Zimo nodded.
The Sky Shroud War God took out a token.
It was triangular, with a strange pattern carved on the front and the character "Wu" (Martial) on the back.
"Whether you become a Grand Emperor or an immortal in the future, I hope you'll go to the Outer Heavens. There’s a wider world there," the Sky Shroud War God said.
"This token was left behind by Grand Emperor Zhen Wu. When he left for the Outer Heavens, he founded a force there and brought the True Martial Sacred Ground with him. In every era since, when our disciples go to the Outer Heavens, they carry this token to find him. It gives them a place of refuge, our disciples won’t be bullied on the Primordial Heartlands, and neither will they in the Outer Heavens."
Xu Zimo accepted the token and smiled. "Thank you, Grandpa Hong."
"Becoming a Grand Emperor is just a stop along the cultivation path, don’t get too attached. As long as you give it your all and have no regrets, that’s enough," the Sky Shroud War God continued.
"I understand," Xu Zimo nodded.
"Come with me," the Sky Shroud War God said, walking deeper into the forest.
Xu Zimo followed closely behind.
"Among all the Holy Sons in our sect's various eras, you’re the one I’m most satisfied with," the Sky Shroud War God said as they walked.
"I’ve looked into your background. You rarely stay in the sect, and yet you’ve reached this level through your own hard work.
You rarely rely on the sect for anything."
Xu Zimo smiled and shook his head. Since reaching the peak of the God Meridian realm, there were few things on the Primordial Heartlands that posed much of a threat to him.
Even if he ran into danger, he could usually escape if needed.
As they walked through the forest, Xu Zimo noticed they were climbing upward.
The path ahead became steeper, like a mountain trail.
He could feel a mysterious force pressing down on this world, preventing him from flying.
He had no choice but to walk forward step by step like a mortal.
Eventually, they reached the top of the mountain.
At the summit, besides the Sky Shroud War God, two others stood.
One was a scholar-type man with a refined, elegant appearance.
The other was a burly man polishing a long saber.
Xu Zimo paused. These two were the other two battle generals of the True Martial Sacred Ground,
The Heaven-Saber War God and the Traveler.
"Greetings, esteemed ancestors," Xu Zimo bowed slightly in respect.
No matter what, these people were the true power behind the scenes of the sect.
They had kept the sect safe for millions of years.
They could have left for the Outer Heavens, but chose to stay for the sake of the sect.
"Kid, you’re quite good," the Traveler laughed from the side.
The Heaven-Saber War God noticed the curved blade strapped to Xu Zimo’s back. His eyes lit up.
"Kid, want to spar?" he asked with a grin.
The Sky Shroud War God coughed lightly.
The Heaven-Saber War God quickly smiled and said, "Just joking, just joking."
It was clear that the Sky Shroud War God held considerable authority among them.
"May I ask why you brought me here?" Xu Zimo asked with curiosity.
From this mountaintop, the view was excellent.
Because of the elevation, he could see nearly everything below.
The massive ancient trees seemed to pierce the sky. Looking out, the forest was thick and lush, as if every tree had become a spirit.
Leaves of all shapes, oval, triangular, umbrella-like, covered the forest floor densely.
"We brought you here to give you something," the Sky Shroud War God said.
"What happens next depends on your own fortune."
"What is it?" Xu Zimo asked.
The three ancestors exchanged glances.
Suddenly, all three erupted with powerful auras.
Three distinct colors of spiritual energy burst from their bodies and shot into the sky.
The turbulent skies above swirled. The beams of spiritual energy merged together.
The three men stood in a triangle.
A triangular formation began to emerge on the ground.