"Stop!" An incomparably aged voice rang out, and an aura surpassing that of a Saint King swept over everything.
Everyone, including Xu Changqing, suddenly stopped breathing. It was as if a mountain ten thousand zhang high was pressing down on them, making it impossible to move.
The aura alone had reduced them to this state. What would happen if its owner actually attacked?
Several commanders were also instantly targeted by that terrifying pressure and slammed heavily to the ground, their faces pressed against the bluestone road as they stared fearfully into the sky.
A white-haired old man covered in blood slowly walked out of the Starry Sky. From time to time, he coughed up blood, while droplets of blood seeped from his nose and eyes.
It seemed he had gone through a fierce battle.
"Pang Tong, Gou Yi, and Envoy Sun colluded with the Foreign Race in an attempt to kill the Human Race's Heavenly Prides!"
"They deserve death!"
The aged yet domineering voice spread throughout the entire Forty-ninth City. Everyone was stunned, cold sweat breaking out all over them.
Boom!
The next moment, the white-haired old man attacked expressionlessly. He slapped down at those who had just made their move, and a massive palm covered them all, instantly crushing them into bloody pulp.
They had no room to resist. Moreover, the old man's control over his own strength had reached an extreme level—not even a trace of aftershock spread out.
Everyone fell silent. No one had expected such a thing to happen.
It would have been fine if Xu Changqing had not come, but the moment he arrived, several powerful figures died. That was absurd.
After easily dealing with those people, the white-haired old man looked at Xu Changqing and said, "Your appearance has made many powerful figures feel threatened, so they will spare no cost to eliminate you."
"Of course, you are not the only one. Tun Tian, the Feathered Divine Son, Tian Youqing, the Overlord Emperor, and the other Heavenly Prides have all been targeted as well."
"The Saint Spirit Race has produced an exceptionally monstrous member of the younger generation. They were likely the ones who acted against you. Be careful."
After resolving Xu Changqing's troubles, the white-haired old man left.
He did not ask Xu Changqing to do anything. He was merely fulfilling his duty.
After all, that was the Guide Envoy's mission: to protect the Imperial Pass and safeguard the Human Race's Heavenly Prides from assassination by old monsters of other races.
But the Guide Envoys of the Imperial Pass were not all like him.
"My Human Race has a chance to Become Emperor in this era..."
The white-haired old man did not wish to see those hopes of becoming Emperor extinguished. After all, if the Human Race produced a Great Emperor, it would bring enormous benefits to the Human Race.
Xu Changqing remained silent. After deeply glancing at the white-haired old man, his intuition told him that this old man was the Guide Envoy of the Human Race's First Pass.
However, he did not ask any questions. He left the place and continued on his journey.
From the moment he had set out until now, he had not rested for even an instant.
He had to rise as quickly as possible, defeat the various Heavenly Prides, carve out a blood-soaked path, and finally fight her in a decisive battle!
From this moment onward, he knew that he had entered the sight of the entire Starry Sky and could be in mortal danger at any time.
A Great Sage might come to surround and kill him. Members of the Foreign Race might also secretly cross over to hunt down Human Race Heavenly Prides like them.
"He's set out again. He truly never stops. Rather than taking the Secret Realm or the trial grounds, he chose to directly traverse the Broken Path through the Starry Sky." Many members of the younger generation sighed in admiration.
They had already struggled greatly just to reach this place. Going any farther was impossible for them.
Because the Human Race's Fiftieth Pass was very special.
The Fiftieth Pass contained a Secret Realm, a gathering place where Heavenly Prides from every race in the universe came to compete.
The journey was unbearably dull. In the dark, cold Starry Sky, Xu Changqing walked alone. His heart held no distracting thoughts. When bored, he read cultivation manuals. When lonely, he casually found a place to sit and silently drank wine.
One day, as he neared the Fiftieth Pass, he came upon an ancient land of life.
Xu Changqing entered the ancient land of life, and it was different from what he had imagined.
There was no smoke of war here. There was only tranquility.
At night, the Starry Sky was brilliant. Countless stars flickered with dazzling radiance, while a bright half-moon hung high in the heavens. Its surface gave off a faint golden glow, but the moonlight that fell upon the ground was cold and clear.
In a flash, Xu Changqing left the forest. He planned to stay here for some time, as he had not rested in a very, very long time.
Moreover, his killing intent was too intense, and he lacked a suitable environment to comprehend the Dao. For the time being, he should avoid fighting and killing, and spend some quiet days in peace.
That night, he passed through a small town.
Under the moonlight, rows of houses lined both sides of the town's streets. Crimson lanterns hung overhead, shadows moved behind the windows, and laughter and cheerful voices filled the lively streets.
It was not very late yet. By his reckoning, it was only a little past eight in the evening.
Xu Changqing swept the area with his senses. The cultivators here did not seem very strong. The strongest was only at the Dao Palace realm, stationed within a large house at the center of town.
"Hahaha, today I get to be the father!"
Near the street stood a willow tree. Beneath it, several childish children were playing and roughhousing. There was a pile of sand and mud at their feet, and they were playing house.
At the entrances of some courtyards sat white-haired old men and women. They discussed which family had run into trouble, and whose family had lost someone.
Some also reminisced about their dashing days, telling everyone just how handsome they had once been.
"It's New Year's today. Have you thought about your plans for next year?"
"Why think so much? It's New Year's. Don't overthink it. Everyone should happily reunite, enjoy the New Year's Eve dinner, and celebrate together. Why insist on talking about next year's plans?"
"Big brother, come on, let's go set off firecrackers!"
The town was incredibly lively. Every household overflowed with laughter and joy. Smiles of happiness hung on the children's faces as they took the New Year's money given by their parents and headed toward the shops.
Through the windows of the town's homes, five or six people could be seen gathered together, chatting and laughing. Some drank heartily, while relatives who had not been seen for years had returned home.
Lights shone from ten thousand homes, and the Mortal World was resplendent. Such scenes belonged only to mortals. Cultivators entered seclusion for years at a time; who knew how long it had been since they had experienced such reunions?
What were they truly pursuing?
Immortality?
But after attaining immortality, after all those familiar people were gone, what meaning would remain?
Setting foot on the Emperor's Road and battling in every direction?
But not everyone was the protagonist.
Their goal was to Become Emperor. Once they became Emperor, the universe would revere them, and they would stand invincible across the heavens. But so what? Were they happier than mortals?
Xu Changqing did not envy anyone here. Though lights shone from ten thousand homes, not one was lit for him. But so what? The path he walked was destined to be unable to blend into such an environment.
"Young man, you're from out of town, aren't you?"
"How did you get white hair at such a young age? That's so inauspicious."
Some people on the street sighed when they saw Xu Changqing.
The elderly, in particular, could tell from Xu Changqing's expression and gaze that he was lonely. An aloof, indomitable aura emanated from his entire body.
"Young man, have you eaten? Why not come to my home for a meal? It'll be nice and lively," an older woman said with a warm smile. She walked up to Xu Changqing, took his hand, and tried to pull him into her home.
Though Xu Changqing's hair was white, he was truly handsome, even if he looked somewhat cold.
Xu Changqing was stunned for a moment, but he did not refuse. He followed the older woman into a simple house.
Why hadn't he refused? It was only because he missed the person he had been in his previous life.
He had not eradicated all humanity or destroyed every emotion. He had merely cast aside the feelings he considered shackles.
As for killing countless people, that was to uproot the weeds entirely and prevent all manner of trouble from coming to find him.
An oil lamp hung on the wall. The moment he entered, a strange smell filled the room, a scent whose nature he could not quite describe.
It was familiar yet unfamiliar, like the feeling of visiting a friend's home for the first time.
Inside the house were an old man and four young boys and girls.
Two boys and two girls.
They had pleasant features, but their skin was rough and sallow, their pores large, and their complexions somewhat dark. They wore hemp cloth, though the fabric was clearly new.
"Come, have something to eat with us." The enthusiastic older woman pulled Xu Changqing over to sit beside the small table, then served him a bowl of rice.
Xu Changqing had not said a word. He simply sat there silently, occasionally observing his surroundings. The four young boys and girls stared at him without blinking.
"Young man, are you married?"
"Young man, where is your home?"
The enthusiastic older woman asked question after question, full of curiosity. Her real goal, however, was to find out whether Xu Changqing had a wife or a woman he loved.
But Xu Changqing only shook his head, his gaze growing slightly colder.
The people here were warm and simple. He also missed who he had been in his previous life, but that was only the past.
Now, his heart was as firm as stone. No one could shake his state of mind.
After countless years of struggle and hardship, he had forged a heart of steel.
He had only come here to calm the killing intent in his heart, not because he was attached to the beauty of this place.
The days ahead would contain only blood and tears, only battlefields ablaze with war, only that breathtakingly brutal tableau of slaughter upon the Emperor's Road.
He might as well enjoy this moment while he could.
Before you continue