A shower of blue light danced through the air — brilliant and beautiful. These were fragments of immortal gold, having rushed into the deepest reaches of the universe. Countless great celestial bodies were shattered to powder by the impact, like a burst of fireworks blooming across the heavens.

Vast and world-shaking!

“Roarrrr…”

In the depths of the vast celestial expanse, within a majestic heavenly palace suspended amid primordial qi, a furious roar rang out. He caught a single glittering shard and pinched it between his fingertips, the depths of his eyes filled with boundless cold fury.

“The sun sets on fading glory, old and declining — let them flaunt their might for now. The day I reign supreme over the universe, I shall rewrite every old order!”

The Imperial Tower had been destroyed. This towering figure, swallowed by the primordial mist, sat upon the highest throne, expression cold, voice low — yet still filled with forcefulness and confidence, supremely domineering.

In the Northern Dipper star domain, the saints erupted into clamor.

Everyone was shocked. Such overwhelming power — a single palm strike had shattered the thirty-three tiered tower forged of Eternal Blue Gold into fragments, dissolving them into a vast rain of gorgeous light that vanished into the depths of the universe.

What manner of dominance and might was this? The master of the Primordial Forbidden Ground simply did not care about this immortal material — she disdained it entirely and crushed it with a single palm!

In the great Forbidden Zones, the several Ancient Sovereigns remained impassive. It was clearly someone who had wanted to stir up trouble and take measure of the strength of the entity within the Primordial Abyss — yet it had ended like this.

The nine sacred mountains of the Primordial Forbidden Ground had collapsed, the ground beneath a vast field of ruins, shrouded in mist. Yet it showed no sign of desolation — if anything, the ruins made the place feel even more unfathomably deep, inspiring a sense of reverent awe.

Outside, the great rift of the Immortal Road grew ever larger, while the five continents emitted a faint glow. The massive five-colored sacrificial altar seemed to be awakening, about to open a colossal gateway.

In the Northern Dipper, even Quasi-Emperors were now supremely cautious, no longer daring to act recklessly. The warning was plain for all to see — a nearly-proven-Dao master’s divine thought projection had been destroyed, and his divine artifact shattered. How could that not strike fear into the heart?

Even so, the number of saints and sages continued to grow. From the ten thousand domains of all the heavens, from the great ancient life grounds, anyone of any significant achievement was unwilling to miss this — they all came rushing.

Those with little lifespan remaining formed the main force, utterly fearless — death meant nothing to them, for they were already facing that moment regardless. If they could fight their way through, it would be another world entirely, and true immortality would be theirs!

As for other supremely powerful beings, they were naturally more self-assured. Would they truly fall short compared to those withering old creatures? Great Sages in their prime and patriarchs of great sects arrived in force, presiding over the region near the Burial Star of Emperors.

Of course, they would not contend with the Ancient Sovereigns — they understood their station clearly. Even if one was the most powerful being in an entire domain, called the strongest of a ruling star, one still had to coil like a dragon here, crouch like a tiger — no one dared to be proud. Most of these figures waited in the outer regions, biding their time, waiting until after the sovereigns had waged their campaign before making their move. They understood their own standing and qualifications very clearly.

The Northern Dipper star domain was awash in vast currents of upheaval. The tense atmosphere grew thicker by the day, until at last the entire ancient star blazed with light, and all living beings awaited the opening of the path to immortality.

Within the great Forbidden Zones, the beams of light piercing through the thirty-three heavens grew even more radiant — colossal and immeasurable. Nearly all the sovereigns who had once been invincible above and below the heavens, who had ruled the ancient universe, had awakened!

This atmosphere was suffocating. As time passed day by day, even the nerves of saints and sages were stretched to the breaking point — every single person was filled with unease, trembling with anxiety.

For ten thousand ages they had waited, and all of it would come to a head in a single instant. When it broke open, the greatest upheaval to ever overturn the mortal world would begin. To storm into the immortal realm, to attain the Dao and ascend — it was the dream of every cultivator.

Immortals were never seen. It seemed no one had ever successfully fought their way into the immortal realm. Every question had accumulated until this one age — the hopes of the Ancient Heavenly Venerables of the mythological era, the aspirations of the emperors of the primordial age, the longings of the human-race Great Emperors of the ancient age — all of it was about to reach its conclusion, demanding an answer at last!

This was the calm before the storm!

By now, no one stirred up trouble. No one waged war. Even the creatures that had emerged from the Forbidden Zones kept an extremely low profile. For a time, the entire world seemed to fall silent.

“Should we go to the Northern Dipper? That place is now set to become the most powerful battlefield in all of history. Even without the hope of achieving immortality, one should go to witness it!”

“By all means — the trials on the ancient roads have reached their apex. It is unknown when the ultimate competition for the Path of Emperors will begin. We should make for the Burial Star of Emperors!”

“We cannot miss this. The sovereigns of ten thousand ages will appear. Perhaps even ancient emperors and Great Emperors of old might show themselves — existences at such a supreme level should be witnessed no matter what!”

“Indeed — who knows, perhaps even an Ancient Heavenly Venerable of the mythological era might appear. The most inconceivable age of all has arrived. How could one miss it? Even if one cannot participate, witnessing it is only right!”

On the human race’s ancient roads, young rising saints were all in discussion. In recent days the Northern Dipper’s upheaval had shaken all six directions and eight wastelands, and every strong person had heard the news — everyone was buzzing with discussion and watching closely.

Nor was it limited to this one road. The ancient roads of the sacred spirits, the divine races, the ancient imperial clans — on every supreme path, every person was gazing toward the Northern Dipper star domain, awaiting the arrival of that moment.

No one knew how many had already set out, making for the Burial Star of Emperors. Even those who could not participate wanted to bear witness — to see the grandest spectacle of the age unfold, to hear the most fierce and powerful war hymn of the Immortal Road!

“Boom!”

A tremendous crash rang out. The heavens split and the earth cracked. A Dao body passed through the void in a flash, making countless stars tremble and sending shockwaves through the vast sea of stars.

“Who is that — so powerful and so forceful?”

Nearby, within a sacred city on one of the ancient roads, many people cried out in shock upon seeing that figure streak across the stars and disappear into the distance, their faces filled with astonishment.

“That is Tai Chu — he was the first person to carve his name into the crystalline stele at the end of the ultimate ancient road!”

Someone actually recognized him, having caught a distant glimpse once before. Now they spoke of his origin, instantly drawing cries of shock from those around them.

Throughout the universe, there were many ancient roads. Only the most powerful, those who broke through all shackles and made the ultimate leap, could arrive before the final celestial gateway and leave their name there.

The first to arrive would always leave a deep impression on others. Now, as he streaked through the void heading toward an unknown star domain, he naturally stirred hearts.

Boom!

Another great tremor — many figures streaked across the heavens, one after another, their magical power flooding the skies, shaking the sacred cities below nearly to collapse. Every single one of those figures could cross the universe on the strength of their own body alone.

“All of them have left their names on the crystalline stele — the most powerful beings from every ancient road. To think they have all set out. Are they all heading to the Northern Dipper star domain to bear witness?!”

Without question, the Northern Dipper star domain had become the center of the entire universe. Ten directions focused upon it, ten thousand races united in anticipation — all the currents of upheaval converged upon that place.

Beneath the brilliant starry sky, a slender figure appeared, encircled by one hundred and eight divine rings. Otherworldly and transcendent, wholly sacred, even his strands of hair were dyed with a layer of golden radiance — his entire being was dazzling beyond measure, as though the Son of the Sun God had descended into the world.

It was none other than Yao Guang, who had been absent for many years. He had appeared on the ancient road, serene and tranquil, his whole body radiating crystalline brilliance. His eyes were deep and profound as he murmured to himself: “So it is finally about to open. I should return as well. The bones of a Quasi-Emperor and the blood of an Ancient Sovereign — this will be a feast the likes of which has never existed before!”

In an instant, he was gone.

Boom!

Another tremendous crash. A terrifying figure appeared, stepping forward one stride at a time, countless stars retreating beneath his feet as he passed. He carried a presence that could swallow mountains and rivers whole.

“Who is this person — why is he so distinctive? It is as though he alone could reign supreme across the great universe, as though only he is destined to become an emperor. That bearing comes from the very marrow of his bones!”

The crowd was shaken, feeling a supreme oppression — the only sovereign above and below heaven, looking down upon the ten thousand ages and all domains. This was the bearing of that person, his every movement that of a sovereign descending into the world!

“He is… the Emperor Sovereign!”

“What? A Great Emperor or an Ancient Emperor?” Those unfamiliar with him cried out, faces aghast.

“No — his name is literally the Emperor Sovereign. He once inscribed his name before the grand pass on the one true road, ranked in the fifty-first position. Beside the inscription were the words ‘Emperor Sovereign.’ Extremely fearsome and powerful.”

In the primordial era, this name had flashed into being like a comet — a single man who had killed every last competitor in the struggle for the Path of Emperors who had gathered before the ultimate celestial gateway at that time.

Yet in the end, before that grand pass, he had let out a light sigh, and did not enter. He turned away, back to that pass, and departed.

When someone recounted this secret, every person on the ancient roads in that star domain was staggered. How powerful would one have to be? A single man killed them all — would that not make him the sovereign of all under heaven? Stunning and peerless beyond compare? Yet he chose to leave!

He had chosen to seal himself in the source and wait for this age to appear. Now that he had emerged again, who could say what manner of upheaval he would stir?

“Only, the waters of the Burial Star of Emperors run very deep. Someone so forceful going there — upon encountering the Ancient Sovereigns of old, most likely he too will have no choice but to coil and crouch. He cannot stand against them.”

One great figure after another set out for the Northern Dipper, leaving the people on the ancient roads speechless. But this in turn drew even more people to go and watch — all wanting to see what would come of it.

People were clear-eyed about it: they could not contend with the Ancient Sovereigns, nor go to fight for the immortal gateway — otherwise, even if one’s cultivation were to increase ten thousand fold, one would still be slaughtered. Going now was purely to witness the opening of a golden age of splendor.

Driven by this, the crowd grew larger and larger. On the ancient roads, a great tide formed, all converging upon that set of coordinates — the saints ascended the road together!

“The seal on the Ascending Immortal Star is loosening — those attackers are on the move again. Another earth-shattering assault has begun!”

On this day, word came in — in a distant star domain, there gathered numerous ancient great clans, among them no shortage of supremely powerful beings who had been sealed since ancient times.

“They are mustering their forces. Do they seek to find the Immortal Bell, or seize control of the Desolate Tower — or are they about to launch an assault on the Burial Star of Emperors, hoping to achieve immortality? All of these should be their targets!”

Not only them — the Ziwei Star Domain, the Gochen Star Domain, the Tongtian Star Domain, the Amitabha Star Domain, the Fire Mulberry Star Domain, the Feathered Transformation Star Domain, the Eternal Star Domain, and countless other life-bearing worlds all surged into motion simultaneously.

One hundred thousand divine fiends tread across the universe. A million powerful beings crossed the Northern Dipper. This was a frenzied age. Having endured for ten thousand ages, every cultivator and every powerful being could sit still no longer — all those with the ability were making for the Burial Star of Emperors.

The heavens were about to collapse. The earth was about to shatter. Even if nothing came of it, something would inevitably happen!

The universe was vast beyond measure, boundless and limitless. Setting aside the weaker races, the powerful clans and those capable of crossing the universe alone numbered in the tens of thousands. All of them converging upon a single domain — this was a terrifying, mighty storm.

In the starry sky, a middle-aged monk appeared, his face bearing an expression of boundless compassion, sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion, seemingly unmoved for a thousand years, his body nearly buried beneath accumulated dust. Now he rose to his feet and stepped out into the starry sky. Behind him, the golden cicada followed.

In another star domain, an old man appeared — looking utterly plain and ordinary, with a natural and unassuming aura — riding astride a cyan ox, also now on his way, walking into the ancient domain of the starry sky.

“Boom!”

Ten days later, a world-shattering crash erupted in the Northern Dipper star domain. From the central life-bearing great star, a peerless divine power shot into the heavens and rapidly expanded outward through the universe — and every celestial body it reached shattered into pieces!