“What about the Grand-Pivot God-Sword?” Xu Zimo continued to ask.
“This sword has always been held by the descendants of the Xuanyuan Clan,” Paimon replied. “As for the Xuanyuan Clan, I do not know much, you will need to investigate yourself.”
Xu Zimo frowned slightly. At that moment, a soft ‘hmm?’ sounded nearby.
A group of disciples in blue robes approached from afar.
One of them happened to catch sight of the Infernal Heart in Xu Zimo’s hand.
“Senior Brother Bai, what’s wrong?” someone beside him asked.
Bai Tihe shook his head and walked toward Xu Zimo.
“Friend, may I take a look at that heart?”
Xu Zimo slowly lifted his gaze, putting the Infernal Heart away.
The young man before him wore a blue robe, a seven-starred sword at his waist. His features were handsome as carved jade, his robe billowing in the wind.
On his chest glowed the character ‘Unify’.
“What’s so interesting about a heart?” Xu Zimo shook his head.
“Would you sell it to me, for a high price?” Bai Tihe asked.
“You couldn’t afford it. And I’ve no intention to sell,” Xu Zimo replied coolly.
“Do you know who Senior Brother Bai is?” a disciple nearby laughed. “There’s nothing he can’t afford. His wealth is beyond your imagination.”
“That’s enough,” Bai Tihe cut them off with a wave.
Looking at Xu Zimo, he said, “Since fate has brought us together, I won’t press the matter.”
He casually handed Xu Zimo a token.
“If you ever wish to sell, come find me at the Unified God Sect. Name any condition you like.”
With that, he turned and left without lingering.
But no sooner had Bai Tihe departed than the Blade-Axe Sect members crowded around.
“What great fortune you have,” one said enviously.
Seeing Xu Zimo’s puzzled expression, another explained, “That was Bai Tihe, the Young Ancestor of the Unified God Sect. You don’t even realize the honor you just dismissed.”
Back in the Four Regions, he hadn’t noticed. But here in the Azure Frontier, he kept hearing of Dao Courts everywhere.
“Not a Dao Court, but greater than one,” another explained. “Their ancestor was the Soaring Leviathan Immortal Sovereign, said to have deep ties with the race of Golden Rocs. You must know of them?”
“The ones in the Azure Mystic Heaven?” Xu Zimo asked.
The man nodded. Xu Zimo understood.
The Azure Mystic Heaven was one of the Nine Heavens, a world entirely ruled by God Beasts.
There, the Eight Upper Races and Eight Lower Races of God Beasts reigned supreme.
The Golden Roc Race was one of the Eight Lower Races.
They were notoriously ferocious. In the ancient wars between humans and beasts, countless Dao Courts had been destroyed by them.
They repaid every slight with vengeance, and, above all, they were fiercely united.
The Roc radiated dazzling golden light, covering the entire valley.
Then, with a deafening cry, its massive body soared into the distance.
More than a dozen figures leapt down from its back.
Men and women alike, all imposing and majestic, each with a Golden Roc emblazoned on their chests.
They strode directly into the valley’s heart, and not a soul dared bar their path.
“So domineering,” someone from the Blade-Axe Sect sighed enviously. “When will we ever enjoy such respect?”
“Tell me about this Bright Emperor,” Xu Zimo asked.
“To speak of the Bright Emperor is to speak of the empire he founded, the Bright Empire. It was hailed as the most iron-blooded empire in history,” the talkative cultivator said, sitting beside him.
“The Bright Empire was destroyed thirty thousand years ago, by none other than the Time Emperor.”
“Time Emperor?” Xu Zimo’s brow furrowed.
There had also been a Time Emperor in the Primordial Heartlands. Could it be the same one?
“You really don’t know anything, do you?” the man chuckled.
“The Time Emperor came from a smaller world, but even here in the Nine Heavens, he carved a great reputation.”
“Then it must be him…” Xu Zimo murmured.
In the Imperial Era, the first was Grand Emperor Zhen Wu, the second, the Time Emperor.
Xu Zimo had once met him. Back then, using the River of Fate and the Primordial Chaos Bead, he had returned to the dawn of the Legendary Era.
The Time Emperor had even given him a Fate-Defying Pearl.
It had been so long ago that Xu Zimo had nearly forgotten, until this name resurfaced.
“When the Time Emperor first emerged from his small world, he clashed with the Bright Emperor and his Bright Empire. The details are murky, but… after years of cultivation, once he adapted to the Nine Heavens’ Dao, the Time Emperor shattered the void and invaded the Bright Empire. That great war marked the end of an empire that had stood for a hundred million years. But what amazed the world most, was that when the Bright Empire’s trillions of soldiers and civilians died, not one surrendered. Even women and elders fought to the last. Truly, the sovereign dies with his state, the Son of Heaven guards the city gates.”
“And what of the Bright Emperor himself?” Xu Zimo asked.
“No one knows. He vanished. Even his own people had no idea where he went,” the man answered.
“That’s why the emergence of his Particle World has caused such a stir. Rumors abound, of course. But it’s no baseless talk, look how many powers have come. Clearly, this Particle World is extraordinary.”
Xu Zimo smiled faintly.
As they spoke, the entire valley began to tremble.
Then came the thunderous sound of countless synchronized footsteps.
As if millions marched at once.
The heavens split open by a streak of blue light.
Bolts of lightning poured from the void under the blazing sun.
The sky itself birthed a Heavenly Tribulation.
“The Particle World is opening!” someone shouted.
“But why would a Particle World summon Heavenly Tribulation?”