Before him, all twelve Deity Transformation Cultivators of the entire Minor World knelt on the ground.
Ripples stirred in their hearts as they recalled many things from the past.
Three thousand years was a long stretch even for Deity Transformation Cultivators. Half of their natural lifespans had already passed, and they had entered the middle-aged years of a Deity Transformation Cultivator.
And yet, even so,
they still dared not forget Tushan.
For forgetting Tushan, forgetting Tushan Law, meant death.
"Everyone, it has been a long time."
"Please rise."
Jiang Ding gave a slight nod.
A faint sigh rose in his heart.
The last time he had seen these old acquaintances, they had only recently entered the Nascent Soul Stage over a thousand years ago. They had been high-spirited, like humans in their prime, as though the future held countless possibilities.
Yet only three thousand years had passed, and traces of age had already appeared on them.
Many fellow Daoists had already entered the latter stages of their lives.
"Mu Tianxue, how old are you?"
Jiang Ding asked.
Among everyone present, Mu Tianxue was the oldest.
Countless people had once been older than her—True Monarch Divine Crow, True Monarch Tianyang, Old Demon Six Fingers, and others—but all those elders had died. None had advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage.
"Reporting to Heavenly Monarch, I am already five thousand five hundred and seventy-two years old."
Mu Tianxue cupped her hands and reported.
"And you, Han Lin?"
Jiang Ding asked again.
"Junior Martial Uncle, this disciple is just over five thousand years old."
Qingyun Heavenly Monarch Han Lin scratched the back of his head.
"Heavenly Monarch, I am the same."
Great Love Heavenly Monarch respectfully bowed.
"Master, I am about the same age as Qingyun Heavenly Monarch, perhaps one or two years apart."