Death God Qin, he was the one among the Dark Primordial Race who had the best relationship with Xu Zimo.
Back then, the two had transactions and even worked together.
But later, once the Dark Primordial Race obtained what they wanted, they focused on developing their power in secret.
Meanwhile, as Xu Zimo’s strength grew, he often roamed without a fixed abode, and their contact became far less frequent.
It could be said that when the entire Primordial Heartlands suppressed the Dark Primordial Race, only Xu Zimo never cared about their identity and still cooperated with them.
“You came to join the fun too?” Xu Zimo laughed lightly.
Truth was, he had only spoken to the God Emperor about this matter. As for the Dark Primordial Race, he had nearly forgotten them altogether.
“When our lord faces difficulties, how could we not lend a hand?” Death God Qin smiled.
“I think your helping me is secondary, you just want to hitch a ride on my wagon back into the light,” Xu Zimo said.
“Now the entire continent is crying out for demon-slaying and righteous defense, and no one wants to ride with you. But we Dark Primordial Race desire it greatly. Just leave us a seat, will you?” Death God Qin smiled.
“In my era, I can shelter you for three thousand years. After that, it will depend on yourselves,” Xu Zimo said.
“Then we thank our lord greatly,” the Dark Primordial Race replied with a laugh.
“Today, whoever opposes our lord is the enemy of my Dark Primordial Race,” Death God Qin ordered, and at once the Dark Primordial Race clansmen dispersed.
They surrounded the area.
The faces of the imperial lineage members turned ugly instantly.
The situation reversed in an instant, yet they dared not utter a single complaint.
Xu Zimo raised his head slightly, looking toward the Lord of Light, smiling: “So how will you choose now? Stand on my side, or theirs?”
The Lord of Light said nothing, but his radiance surged brighter and brighter.
“Do you know why I didn’t kill you?” Xu Zimo asked.
“I do not. I hope you will enlighten me,” the Lord of Light shook his head and asked.
“Because in my eyes, you are not the Lord of Light. You are still that Xiao Dingtian. Still the Daoist in Fox Immortal’s eyes,” Xu Zimo answered. “If you had killed Fox Immortal just now, perhaps you would already be a corpse.”
He did not intend to avenge Fox Immortal. Rather, his impression of Xiao Dingtian was that he had his own thoughts and ideals, not a lackey of light.
One who could compromise for the great era, instead of stubbornly chasing some abstract higher pursuit.
“Today, I have been taught a lesson,” the Lord of Light said. “You have made me understand: the road ahead is long, the future path stretches endlessly.”
“I am curious about one thing,” Xu Zimo smiled.
“Please, ask,” the Lord of Light replied.
“You are still the Daoist in Fox Immortal’s heart, not the Lord of Light, correct?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Since you already see it, why ask further?” the Lord of Light shook his head.
Inside, Xu Zimo had always had a suspicion.
Whether Xiao Dingtian, the Daoist, or the one before him, none was truly the Lord of Light.
It could even be said that the true body of the Lord of Light was never on the Primordial Heartlands at all.
These avatars were merely vessels to spread light.
But the difference was, each avatar had its own thoughts.
That was the terrifying part of these incarnations, to grant them thought, not just make them puppets.
“I would very much like to meet the true Lord of Light,” Xu Zimo smiled.
“When the time comes, you will naturally meet him,” the Lord of Light replied.
“Then do you want to be the true Lord of Light?” Xu Zimo asked.
At those words, the Lord of Light’s expression froze.
The true Lord of Light…
He looked at Xu Zimo with a smile, but remained silent.
Finally, he said: “Wait until you become a Grand Emperor.”
Only the two of them understood the hidden meaning in those words.
…
Xu Zimo then shifted his gaze to the sedan chair in the sky.
He chuckled: “If this were the Outer Heavens, you’d still have some say. But now, forcing open the barrier between worlds, under the rules of the Great Dao in Primordial Heartlands, how much strength do you still retain?”
The figure in the sedan chair fell silent. The sedan itself was crimson, with wild winds sweeping above.
The next moment, the four light-shadows carrying the sedan erupted with terrifying power, charging toward Xu Zimo.
The God Emperor had just intended to move, but Xu Zimo stopped him.
“Let her come,” Xu Zimo smiled.
If it were a true Grand Emperor, at his current level Xu Zimo was still far too weak.
But those who returned from the Outer Heavens were constrained by the world’s Heavenly Dao, their strength much reduced.
And moreover, they could not remain in this world for long.
As the four light-shadows attacked, Xu Zimo’s eyes, already the Heavenly Dao Eye, unleashed one of the Ten Primordial God-Scriptures, the Infinite-Samsara God-Eye.
Between Dao and Samsara, a terrifying aura burst forth.
Above Xu Zimo’s head, an immense eye appeared, overlooking all beings with cold indifference.
In an instant, time and space twisted. Before the four light-shadows could even reach Xu Zimo, they were devoured by the warped void.
“Will you act yourself then?” Xu Zimo smiled.
“I will wait for you in the Outer Heavens,” the shadow within the sedan said faintly, without revealing herself.
“Leave me a name, so I know whom to find,” Xu Zimo smiled.
But the one within gave no reply, only vast immortal energy echoing through the void.
Above, the heavens seemed to open into a Celestial Gate.
The sedan began to dissipate within the immortal aura.
“I’ll see you off then,” Xu Zimo lifted Shadow Tyrant, unleashing the boundless blade intent.
It transformed into a sky-splitting saber light, slamming heavily onto the fading sedan.
A cold snort came from within, clearly displeased by Xu Zimo’s action.
But in the end, the pillar of light vanished, taking the sedan with it.
Xu Zimo looked at Baili Xiao before him, murmuring softly, “It ends now.”
At this moment, his feelings were hard to describe.
Whether in his past life or this one, everything that had happened should end here.
He would bear the Heaven’s Will, journey to the Outer Heavens, and witness a new era.
In that moment, Baili Xiao gently closed her eyes.
Countless scenes seemed to surface in her mind.
Chu Yang, the gentle girl from Sunshine Village, or the many ups and downs of her previous life.
As Shadow Tyrant fell, the blade light bloomed, and the world before her turned black.
“Chu Yang...”
Her figure, in pain, was reduced to ashes.
Xu Zimo held his blade, standing silent for a long, long time.
At last, he turned, sweeping his gaze across all the imperial lineages and rogue cultivators present.
“Spare us, my lord, grant us mercy.”
At that moment, some unwilling to die began kneeling to beg for their lives.
“We were deceived by the Baili Imperial Clan. We are willing to serve under you.”
More and more people began to kneel.
The longer one lived, the more one feared death, indeed, that saying was true.