Ch. 1027 - A Child Is Born

Xu Zimo nodded slightly.

After bidding farewell to Xu Qingshan and Wenren Yun, he left Green Mountain and went straight toward the line of sky at the back of the True Martial Sacred Ground.

No one blocked his way. In today’s world, there was no place he could not go.

Passing by the Abyss of Life and Death, he arrived at this vast land that looked like a boundless forest.

Xu Zimo looked into the distance, took one step, and already appeared on the cliff top.

The three old ancestors sat there, quietly waiting for him.

Seeing Xu Zimo approach, the Sky Shroud War God stood up first and bowed to him.

“Why is Ancestor doing this?” Xu Zimo smiled.

“The one who attains the throne of Grand Emperor naturally commands reverence. Whoever sees him must bow. It has nothing to do with age or seniority.”

Xu Zimo did not argue, only chuckled softly.

“Now that you have achieved the Grand Emperor realm, our True Martial Sacred Ground’s prestige is at its peak,” said the Traveller. “In your era, the sect can grow like wild grass and trees, thriving freely. No one and no power dares to contend with us.”

“I understand,” Xu Zimo nodded. “I came here to ask, how much do the honored ancestors know about the Ruins of Divinity?”

Hearing his words, the three exchanged glances.

The Sky Shroud War God said, “When we were young, we also entered once. Rather than calling it ruins, it would be more accurate to say it is the necropolis of the gods.”

“Necropolis?” Xu Zimo was surprised. “Have all the gods died?”

The fall of the Legendary Era and the disappearance of the gods were closely linked. Most people believed the gods had simply vanished.

No one ever considered that gods could actually fall.

Who could have the power to end the lives of gods?

“Whether all the gods fell, we do not know. But inside is indeed the tomb, or you could say the cemetery, of gods,” replied the Sky Shroud War God. “Inside lies both great fortune and great danger. Many ancestors at the Zenith Immortal realm died there. Yet some young heroes with good fortune gained opportunities inside and eventually bore the Heaven’s Will.”

“You want to go see it?” asked the Traveller.

“Of course I will,” Xu Zimo nodded.

“Be cautious. Even Grand Emperor Zhen Wu could not see through it in the past,” said the Sky Shroud War God.

Xu Zimo nodded. “In the days to come, I will enter seclusion for a time. To stabilize my Dao heart, and prepare for my eventual ascent to the Outer Heavens.”

The three old ancestors all nodded.

The time a Grand Emperor could stay in the Primordial Heartlands was limited. The Heavenly Dao would not allow an invincible being to exist here for too long.

Such a presence would disrupt the world’s order and hinder its growth.

The Sky Shroud War God then reached into the void and took out two objects.

One was a book, the other a token.

He handed both to Xu Zimo, saying, “This is the True Martial Token. Before Grand Emperor Zhen Wu ascended, he once said that the glory of the True Martial Sacred Ground must shine even in the Outer Heavens. In the Desolate Era, he ended the rule of the beasts, founded the True Martial Sacred Ground, and opened the Imperial Era. I suspect that even when he reached the Outer Heavens, he would have established the True Martial Sacred Ground there as well.”

“Yet the Outer Heavens and the Primordial Heartlands are worlds apart. Even as a Grand Emperor, one is only considered middle strength there. Countless years have passed, and I do not know how he fares above. Every generation of emperors in our sect, I give them one token. Take it with you to the Outer Heavens, and seek out Zhen Wu or the True Martial Sacred Ground if you can. First, to see whether our forebears of the True Martial Sacred Ground still live well there. Second, once you arrive in the higher realm, alone and without support, perhaps this will give you a place of shelter.”

Xu Zimo solemnly received the token. He did not seek protection, but he sincerely admired the greatness of Zhen Wu.

These ancestors never ceased their steps, always desiring to make the name of the True Martial Sacred Ground shine in the Outer Heavens.

As for himself, he had no attachments. After bidding farewell to his parents, there would be little left for him to care about.

He then accepted the book.

It was not written on paper but carved onto bamboo slips.

It looked extremely ancient.

“This was left behind by Zhen Wu before he ascended. It contains his insights and experiences on the realm of the Grand Emperor. You may read it; perhaps it will help you,” explained the Sky Shroud War God.

“Thank you,” Xu Zimo said with a nod.

The Sky Shroud War God waved his hand, sighing, “The only pity is, you grew too fast.”

“Is growing fast a bad thing?” Xu Zimo smiled.

“It is not that it’s bad. But every Grand Emperor through history had his war generals. You, however, alone, you crushed all the prodigies,” said the Sky Shroud War God.

“Otherwise, our True Martial Sacred Ground could have gained another ancestor. As for your character, I cannot see through it. Those truly close to you are only Lin Ruhu and Zhang Guilin. My original choice for a war general was Lin Ruhu. Unfortunately, that boy is not one to remain in the Primordial Heartlands.”

“Then let Little Gui stay,” said Xu Zimo.

“Would he be willing?” the Sky Shroud War God asked. “Weren’t those two determined to follow you?”

“There are many beautiful things in this world beyond simply following me,” Xu Zimo smiled.

His words carried meaning, though he did not explain further.

After a few more exchanges with the old ancestors, Xu Zimo left and returned to his South Goose Mountain.

There, Lin Ruhu and Little Gui had already been waiting for some time.

“You two came quickly,” Xu Zimo smiled.

Both were dressed in long blue robes, accented with black and red.

They looked spirited and full of energy.

The two chuckled, and Little Gui said, “These past few days, our True Martial Sacred Ground has been very lively. Doesn’t Senior Brother want to take a look? Everyone is waiting for you to appear.”

“What’s so lively about it?” Xu Zimo replied.

“Ever since you bore the Heaven's Will, powerful forces have come every day to pay respects at our sect, nearly trampling the threshold down,” Lin Ruhu laughed.

“The elders have been busy receiving the great imperial lineages. Inside the sect, disciples’ will to compete grows stronger by the day.”

“There’s no need for me to join in that liveliness,” Xu Zimo waved his hand.

“What plans do you two have for the future?”

“I want to follow you to the Outer Heavens,” Lin Ruhu said directly. “Once there, I want to forge my own path.”

Little Gui hesitated, as if something weighed on his mind.

“What is it?” Xu Zimo smiled. “Is there something you can’t say?”

“I…” Little Gui hesitated for a moment.

“His son was born, just three days ago,” Lin Ruhu interjected, unable to hold back.

Xu Zimo already knew Little Gui and Yao Shengnan had been together for a long time.

He suddenly thought of his parents’ words about children. Perhaps it was Little Gui’s child that had reminded them.

“This is a good thing,” Xu Zimo smiled. “What’s there to be ashamed of?”

“I…” Little Gui still looked hesitant.

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