A flicker of Wang Lin’s form in the heavens above drew the attention of the ancient Daogu clansmen gathered below, and even the Saint Emperor, Zu Ye Wei, fixed a keen gaze upon him.

Amongst the throng stood a common man, unremarkable in his appearance. His cultivation had barely reached the level of an Eight-Star Ancient God, far from achieving Saintly status. Such individuals were countless within the Daogu lineage, typically ignored save for the imperial palace’s teleportation arrays that had brought them here in droves. Had it not been for this mass summoning, this particular man would have likely remained unseen and unnoticed.

Despite being the focus of so many eyes, the man remained calm, seemingly unconcerned by the attention. His gaze remained fixed upon Wang Lin, his expression tinged with wistful contemplation. A meager trace of Daogu royal blood flowed within his veins, a legacy of Ye Mo, a member of the royal family. Those descended from Ye Mo’s essence-infused cave realm carried this royal lineage, however diluted.

“Luo Chen…” Wang Lin murmured, hanging suspended in the air, his eyes mirroring the man’s contemplative mood.

For this commoner was Luo Chen, an old friend who had merged with the Celestial Beast, Wang Yue, and presented Wang Lin with a Godstar during his Ancient God coming-of-age ritual. Gazing at Luo Chen, memories of the cave realm flooded Wang Lin’s heart.

With a soft sigh, Wang Lin descended from the sky, embracing Song Zhi, whose spirit was intertwined with the remnants of Li Muwan’s soul. He walked towards Luo Chen, the assembled Daogu clansmen instinctively retreating to create a space.

Wang Lin stood before Luo Chen, studying the familiar face.

“Luo Chen greets Your Excellency…” the man sighed, bowing respectfully.

“When… when were you separated from Wang Yue?” Wang Lin inquired.

“When I returned here with Xuan Luo. Xuan Luo helped me sever my bond with Wang Yue,” Luo Chen replied calmly. His eyes met Wang Lin’s; he remembered the youth of long ago, so much weaker then. Now, he stood as a Grand Empyrean, one who had slain a Daogu Emperor. Even the Saint Emperor could only resort to activating the great array to force his departure.

Such transformations, from humble beginnings to unimaginable heights, were a common theme when describing landscapes. But perhaps, Luo Chen had realized, such transformations also apply to a person’s life.

“Why did you not seek me out?” Wang Lin asked softly.

Luo Chen offered a wry smile, shaking his head in silence. He had known of Wang Lin’s presence in the Daogu Imperial City and had considered seeking him out. But Wang Lin’s status was too lofty, the sole disciple of Xuan Luo, and the destined protector of the Daogu lineage. He, on the other hand, was but a insignificant speck in the vast Daogu clan.

Such a chasm kept him rooted in place.

Wang Lin saw the bitterness in the other’s expression and remained silent, a silent sigh escaping his lips. He sensed the conflict within Luo Chen’s heart.

“Then do me a favor,” Wang Lin said softly.

“Your Excellency need only command,” Luo Chen responded, his voice firm and resolute.

“You are aware of Ye Mo’s legacy…” Wang Lin said, looking at Luo Chen.

Luo Chen nodded. Upon his return to the Daogu lineage, Xuan Luo had revealed the threads of destiny, the origin of his bloodline.

“Care for the descendants of Ye Mo for me.” Wang Lin raised his head, his gaze drifting towards the distant reaches of the Daogu Imperial City.

“It shall be done. I already reside within the manor of Lord Ye Mo.” Luo Chen replied. In the Daogu Imperial City, he had no home. After descending from the Daogu Hall, he had not chosen to stay there, but rather followed the call of his bloodline to find the remnants of Ye Mo’s family. Though of royal descent, they had fallen into decline, possessing only that ancient manor.

They had accepted Luo Chen’s presence.

A smile graced Wang Lin’s face, a smile filled with reminiscence and wistful musings. He studied the old friend deeply, before raising his left hand, a flash of silver light emanating from his palm, and pressed it against Luo Chen’s chest.

Luo Chen shuddered, his body engulfed in a blinding silver radiance. The light was so intense that those who had been staring were forced to avert their eyes, wincing in pain.

“Soul Blood!” The Saint Emperor, Zu Ye Wei, cried out, her expression shifting in shock.

Xuan Luo’s eyes narrowed as he observed Wang Lin and Luo Chen, his gaze filled with complex emotion, and a sigh escaping his lips.

Luo Chen trembled, feeling a warm, invigorating current surge from Wang Lin’s palm into his body. It fused with his bloodline, purifying it, strengthening it to a state that had surpassed the lineage of the previous Daogu Emperor.

Finally, Wang Lin withdrew his left hand. He had shared a sliver of his own soul blood, imbuing Luo Chen with the potential to ascend to the throne of the Daogu Emperor.

“You gifted me with a Godstar… Today, I entrust you with the protection of Ye Mo’s descendants… I bestow upon you royal blood, in repayment for past kindness!” Wang Lin declared. With a sweep of his sleeve, he transformed into a long meteor, carrying Song Zhi towards the heavens, vanishing into the clouds. Only the gathered Daogu clansmen remained, their gazes fixed on the sky, in silence.

Xuan Luo watched Wang Lin’s departure. After a long while, the feeling of loss within his heart manifested into a deep sigh. He said nothing, but directed his gaze towards Luo Chen instead.

“I believe your name is Luo Chen?”

“Luo Chen greets Xuan Luo,” Luo Chen replied, his silver radiance fading, condensing back into his body. He knelt respectfully before the ancient one.

Xuan Luo stared at Luo Chen, his eyes searching, as if contemplating some internal decision. After a moment, his eyes hardened, and he nodded firmly.

“I choose him!” Xuan Luo declared, pointing at Luo Chen, and addressing the Saint Emperor Zu Ye Wei.

Zu Ye Wei hesitated, her gaze drawn to Luo Chen. After a moment, she sighed.

“This old one must return to her seclusion. As for the selection of the Emperor, I leave it to Xuan Luo to decide.” She turned and walked towards the coffin bathed in purple light. The coffin returned deep beneath the earth.
The specter of the ancient palace hung heavy, yet throughout the grim spectacle, the Grand Celestial of the Ancient Dao remained unseen. Not even a messenger bearing the expected tribute appeared, as though the Grand Celestial deliberately shunned the events unfolding.

Even with the death of the Dao Ancient Emperor, their lineage’s sworn protector, the Grand Celestial of the Ancient Dao offered no intervention. Among the Dao Ancient clansmen, this mystery remained unspoken, buried deep within their hearts.

The Grand Celestial’s absence gnawed at Wang Lin’s mind. He had steeled himself for the worst, prepared to unleash his ethereal avatar and challenge the Grand Celestial should he appear to interfere.

Such a battle held a high likelihood of defeat, yet Wang Lin was ready to face it.

But the Grand Celestial never arrived. As Wang Lin hastened across the land towards the ravaged mountain, cleaved in two by the Ancient Ancestor’s strike, he forced down his confusion. Now was not the time for contemplation. Even endless pondering would yield no answers. The most pressing task was to reach the mountain and unravel the enigma within.

Who was this mysterious Dao Ancient Imperial Preceptor?

As he journeyed, the hand that cradled the vessel containing a fragment of Li Muwan’s soul shimmered. With a flash of light, he secreted her within his storage space, determined to shield her from the dangers ahead.

Following Song Zhi’s disappearance, Wang Lin’s eyes blazed with chilling light. With a burst of speed, his form vanished, reappearing before the bisected mountain.

Raising his right hand, he thrust it down upon the desolate peak!

A colossal handprint materialized in the heavens, descending with earth-shattering force. Amidst the cacophony, Wang Lin shot into the heart of the crumbling mountain like a comet.

The earth quaked and the mountains groaned as Wang Lin’s palm reduced them to rubble. The devastation unveiled a vast array of arcane symbols below, shimmering with a vibrant spectrum of ten colors. Miraculously, the formation remained untouched amidst Wang Lin’s mountain-shattering assault.

The force of Wang Lin’s strike dissipated upon contact with the iridescent mist, dissolving into a myriad of vanishing bubbles.

“So, you have come…” A raspy, disembodied voice echoed from within the iridescent shroud, reverberating across the ruined landscape.

Wang Lin stood before the ten-colored mist, his gaze dark and calculating. The voice held a tinge of familiarity, yet remained strangely alien, hindering his ability to confirm his suspicions.

“Is this how the Dao Ancient Imperial Preceptor hides? You stole the fragment of my wife’s soul, had the Dao Ancient Emperor seek a vessel, all in an attempt to ensnare me. Now that I have arrived, you conceal yourself behind this veil. Do you fear I might recognize you? Or perhaps, are you an acquaintance from my past?” Wang Lin’s voice cut through the air like ice.

A moment of silence hung within the iridescent mist, followed by a harsh, rasping laughter that sent ripples through the fog.

“You are plagued by doubt, aren’t you…? You wonder who I am, how I managed to steal Li Muwan’s soul and bring it to this Immortal Galaxy. You wonder what my purpose is in all of this.

You have so many questions…” The raspy voice continued, slow and deliberate.

“Come, then. If you can pierce this mist and gaze upon my true form, I will unravel some of your mysteries.”

Wang Lin’s heart quickened, yet his face remained impassive. A chilling glint ignited in his eyes as he raised his right hand. Emerald tendrils of ethereal smoke coiled around his fingers, forming swirling rings that shot towards the mist.

Simultaneously, the Four Extremes of Gold, Wood, Water, and Earth manifested around Wang Lin, followed by the shadowy sixth Extreme of Life and Death. Before him, a black and white Yin-Yang symbol coalesced, containing the five elements within. With a wave of his hand, the Hexa-Extreme Totem hurtled towards the ten-colored mist.