The crowd dispersed. Those who remained were the foremost Hunyuan Wuji powers of the Prehistoric Era, beings who stood at the pinnacle of the heavens.
Xuan Ming, You Hui, Han Xi, Yang Mei, Han Li, Wang Shu, Qing Ling, Qing Ya, Li Tianba, Shang Zhen, and Tian Feixue had all gathered, along with the other top Wuji powers and Half-Step Wuji cultivators.
Half the Wuji fighting strength in the heavens had assembled at the heart of Qingming Lake.
The mood shifted in an instant from celebration to solemn resolve.
Every gaze settled on Xuan Qing, waiting for the Half-Step Great Dao sovereign to speak and decide their course.
Xuan Qing stood on the platform at the lake's center. His Six Supreme Dao Ring had withdrawn its radiance, leaving him looking as calm as ever. Yet he now commanded the ultimate principles of the heavens. A word from him could shape the Prehistoric Era; another could decide the safety of Chaos.
His gaze turned toward the far north of the Prehistoric Era, toward the ancient, silent darkness at the edge of Chaos. When he spoke, his voice was calm but carried a resolve that could settle the fate of ages:
"The Mortal Tribulation is over, and the Prehistoric Era has advanced to Half-Step Eternity. Only one step remains before Order is complete and the myriad Daos are without flaw.
"Only the Divine Abyss Forbidden Land remains unexplored. It lies within the Chaos Rift, concealing ancient secrets and mysteries from antiquity."
"The Divine Abyss has an unfathomable origin and unknown depths. The strange powers, ancient remnants, and hidden Origins within it remain the greatest threat hanging over the heavens of the Prehistoric Era.
"Now that I have broken through and your Dao Fruits are complete, we stand in a prosperous age free