On this day, the world was shaken.
The Initial Land sounding of the bell as a warning, and the appearance of the Ancestral Artifact —the implications of this are self-evident.
The group of prodigies felt a chill run down their spines, as if a harsh winter had arrived.
"According to what the Ancestral Artifact Master said, we are about to face a new world, an unknown realm, not our nemesis Hengyuan Realm."
"The unknown is the most terrifying thing. Who knows what kind of terrifying creatures are lurking in that realm?"
"A bloody battle between the two realms could easily break out."
Yu Changqing, the Chaos Dao Monarch, had a solemn and extremely grave expression.
Everyone says that if the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up, but only family members know their own situation.
In the present era of Xuanhuang, there were no beings at the Dao Ancestor level; only a few Ancestral Artifact remained to sustain them.
If that day ever comes, these Dao Monarch will be the main force.
"There's no need to be so nervous. Maybe the other side is friendly and unwilling to start a bloodbath, or maybe their overall strength is inferior to Xuanhuang's."
Some people couldn't help but think the best, unwilling to let the current peace be broken.
"Both Xuanhuang and the enemy's Dao Ancestor have locked onto them; there's no way to avoid it. How can the situation be any better?"
Some people were extremely pessimistic, their expressions filled with dejection.
They are still in a phase of rapid development, and what they need most is time to grow. If a bloody battle breaks out, who can guarantee that they will survive?
"If all else fails, share the Star Chart to keep them calm and give us enough time to jump."
A certain Fate Child murmured to himself, his eyes constantly shifting.
Qingping Dao Field.
This is the name of Jiang Ping's new residence.
Upon returning from outer space, he couldn't wait to tear through space.
Life is unpredictable, and he felt a sense of urgency, wanting to bring the people he cared about most to his side.
Qingling Palace was filled with peace and tranquility.
News of an enemy from outer space was blocked and did not reach Xuanhuang.
As a result, Qingdi City remained as before, radiant and dazzling, bustling with pedestrians, filled with a dazzling array of shops and stalls, and teeming with traffic, with the sounds of children chasing and playing frequently heard.
On the distant Sword Fighting Platform, the talented young men were full of vigor and high spirits.
The sounds of negotiations among the merchants filled the restaurant.
Flood Dragon and cranes frequently fly over the city; these are all kinds of extraordinary talents who come to Qingling to seek apprenticeship.
Jiang Ping, high above the world, overlooks all the scenery, and his heart is inexplicably stirred.
It is said that the deeper one's Dao practice, the more stable one's state of mind becomes, and the less likely one is to experience emotional fluctuations.
But he believes himself to be the same as before, with flesh and blood, possessing life and emotions, and never separated from the mortal world.
Jiang Ping gazed at the life within the city, at those vibrant faces, people striving for their future or for their families.
I am no different from that person now. Even after Initial Land all before me, what I want most is to keep the person I love by my side.
This is his pursuit, and perhaps it is the pursuit of most people.
"You haven't figured it out again, have you?"
Sensing the emotional fluctuations of this person, the Turtle Shell couldn't help but speak, its tone quite surprised.
Jiang Ping himself, shook his head, and chuckled, "It's not that bad. I'm still in a period of fatigue; it just takes time to recover."
Although the resources for breaking through the barrier will be delivered soon, it will be difficult for him to break through again, and he will indeed need to wait a few years.
A moment later, he arrived quietly at the small residence on Qingdi Mountain.
Chen Qingyan noticed the commotion and instantly appeared in the courtyard.
She rarely goes into seclusion now, as she is currently in the stage of refining her physical body, and like Jiang Ping, she can only rely on time to mature.
"You've finally decided to come back?"
"Pack up, we need to move."
Chen Qingyan was taken aback, but then she understood.
Soon after, their three children arrived in haste upon hearing the news.
Jiang Yirou was the first to return home, and she was incredibly excited when she heard that she was going to Initial Land.
"At eighty or ninety years old, it's the perfect time to strive!"
She wasn't speaking to herself, but rather encouraging her Old Father, giving her the feeling of watching him grow step by step into a towering dragon.
"Father, Mother."
Jiang Yao approached, her aloofness growing ever stronger. Her beauty was breathtaking; she was already the most renowned woman in the Qingling Palace, possessing both talent and beauty, unmatched by anyone.
Jiang Hao remained composed, but when he heard that he was about to set foot on the Initial Land, the young man experienced a violent emotional fluctuation.
The Initial Land was a secluded Pure Land where the most outstanding geniuses of Xuanhuang resided, a resource-rich place that many people yearned for. He was a divine traveler, yet he was qualified to enter.
"Hehe, observing a group of the most talented geniuses clashing will become a daily routine for Jiang."
Soon after, Jiang Yirou happily traversed space and arrived at the legendary mystical realm.
Jiang Yao took her mother's hand and they stepped onto the Initial Land together.
Gazing at the majestic Mountains and Rivers, she couldn't help but ask, "Father, is this all your territory?"
"This place is very stable, connected to the heavens and earth, and my understanding has even increased."
Jiang Hao looked surprised, then smiled.
Living here, he can break through barriers faster and freely interpret Daoist techniques.
Just as Jiang Ping led his wife and children into the palace where they were to live, his body suddenly became ethereal and disappeared from the spot.
"Here is the Dao Elixir you requested."
A blurry figure appeared in Jiang Ping's line of sight.
He realized that this was Ancestral Artifact, yet like Zhong Yong, it was a humanoid being, and he even sensed a vast and boundless Blood Qi.
He couldn't help but ask the old tortoise, "Senior, is it only Ancestral Artifact that can transform into human form?"
"Transforming into human form is a minor skill; even a mid-tier Supreme Artifact can do it."
The Turtle Shell replied that it could naturally transform, but it had never done so. Its original form was more natural and comfortable, so why should it try to become a person?
"Those Ancestral Artifact..."
"They are living, breathing human beings with flesh and blood!"
"What?!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ping was deeply shaken.
But the Turtle Shell explained, "Only Ancestral Artifact can achieve this, completely altering the form of life and fundamentally humanizing it."
"You should know that we weapons are difficult to upgrade on our own. We were created by a supreme being, and although we have developed consciousness, we do not possess the instinct to cultivate."
"And once Ancestral Artifact like Zhong Yong come to life, they can improve their Dao practice."
Jiang Ping was extremely surprised and said, "So, you're saying they're already living Dao Ancestor, and can't be discussed using weapons?"
"You could also think of them as the Dao Ancestor of their time, capable of passing on their lineage, comprehending the mysteries of the Dao, and, if they have enough materials for the Ancestral Artifact, even creating more Ancestral Artifact to continuously enhance the power of the Xuanhuang."
"However, once a life form is formed, a very high price must be paid."
The Turtle Shell speaks eloquently, revealing the Secrets Ancestral Artifact.
The world is fair; it cannot be said that once Ancestral Artifact comes to life, it can still possess a lifespan exceeding that of Dao Ancestor.
Once its form changes, its lifespan will be drastically shortened, far less than that of the Dao Ancestor in history.
"As far as Master Turtle knows, there was once a top-tier Ancestral Artifact that took human form, but it didn't even last 100,000 years."
"Very short!"
Jiang Ping exclaimed in surprise.
It should be noted that Dao Monarch can reincarnate time and again, living for over 100,000 years.
The lifespan of a Dao Ancestor, who dwells far removed from the world, is less than that of a Dao Monarch; the price to pay is unimaginable.
"Xuanhuang wanders the Starry Sky and will eventually encounter wolves and tigers like those in the Hengyuan Realm. They have no choice but to do this for now, using the limited time to enhance Xuanhuang's strength and buy you enough time to grow."
The Turtle Shell seemed somewhat sentimental.
Our ancestors and sages have passed away, and this world is now supported by a group of objects that should have little life or emotion, forming the last backbone of the Xuanhuang.
After obtaining the resources, Jiang Ping returned to Qingping Dao Field.
At this moment, Jiang Yirou was already familiar with inspecting her own Daoist temple, picking various Divine Medicine that were useful to her in the herb field, occasionally letting out a cry of surprise.
Chen Qingyan has integrated into the community and is now behaving like the lady of the house, starting to plant flowers and plants in the small courtyard in front of the door.
Jiang Ping smiled slightly, enjoying the warmth before him.
Time flies, and three years have passed in the blink of an eye.