Divine Realm.
In a secret place.
This space seemed to be completely cut off from the outside world. All connection through time and space had vanished.
Above this expanse of heaven and earth, a stooped old man stood with his hands behind his back, silently facing the enormous bronze gate.
Months had already passed, yet he hadn't moved an inch. He was like a statue.
It was as though every ounce of his life, will, and strength had been pulled taut, like a bow drawn to its limit. The moment the bronze gate opened, he would shoot out like a speeding arrow.
Behind him, a group of Venerables waited in anxious unease.
Dao Venerable Jing and the others exchanged glances.
"Did an Emperor really return from beyond the bronze gate?"
"We've been guarding it for months. Surely that can't be the case..."
"With the Imperial Court gone, the Divine Realm is probably in turmoil..."
They murmured among themselves.
Suddenly, the stooped old man before the bronze gate whipped around and looked toward the space-time behind him.
A flicker of shock crossed his aged eyes.
"What's going on... Why am I sensing such a powerful aura of ill omen from the direction of the Yang Realm?"
"Judging by the fluctuations, it seems to be a gray-mist creature that has set out on the road..."
Divine Emperor Yang Chu murmured.
With his great power, he had severed the Imperial Court from the entire Yang Realm.
The people of the Yang Realm could no longer sense the Imperial Court, but he could still feel the fluctuations there.
Just now, he had sensed the aura of gray mist in the Yang Realm...
"Could spies have already infiltrated the Yang Realm?"
Divine Emperor Yang Chu's expression was grave.
At that moment, he clenched his fist,