A Conversation in the Hall, A Secret

Su Li and Thunder Emperor walked side by side, stepping onto the ancient stone stairs as if traversing a tunnel through time and space, arriving in a mysterious world.

On both sides of the stairs, ancient trees towered into the sky, their leaves lush and dripping with verdant color. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the foliage, casting a warm and serene glow upon the two of them.

Upon entering the grand hall, a faint, refreshing fragrance wafted toward them, instantly soothing their spirits.

The light within the hall was soft, and the air was permeated with a mysterious aura. The surrounding walls were carved with various enigmatic patterns, leaving one in awe of the exquisite craftsmanship of the ancients.

Looking up, the dome was inlaid with colorful, brilliant gems that shimmered with a captivating radiance. These gems seemed to contain infinite power, evoking an indescribable sense of wonder.

Su Li and Thunder Emperor could not help but stop in their tracks, a profound sense of reverence surging within their hearts.

That aura of majestic supremacy seemed to have traveled from the distant past, delivering a shock that defied description.

They looked up to see three towering figures faintly manifesting within the chaotic mist deep inside the hall.

Those were the legendary three Immortal Kings. Their forms were tall and solemn, appearing like guardians of heaven and earth, radiating an imposing presence that commanded respect without the need for anger.

Immortal King Six Paths Reincarnation!

Immortal King Wuzhong!

Immortal King Lingbao!

"Greetings, Father, Uncle Wuzhong, Immortal King Lingbao." Su Li and Thunder Emperor spoke in unison, their voices filled with respect and piety. They bowed deeply to show their reverence for the three Immortal Kings.

"You have arrived?" Immortal King Six Paths Reincarnation spoke, his voice majestic.

"Yes, Father." Su Li and Thunder Emperor replied in unison, their voices tinged with awe.

"Take your seats."

Su Li and Thunder Emperor walked respectfully to the sandalwood table in the hall and sat down.

After seeing them seated, Immortal King Six Paths Reincarnation exchanged a few pleasantries, and then the three Immortal Kings jointly bestowed several treasures upon the two.

Immortal King Wuzhong's eyes were profound and his tone grave as he continued, "The frontier is currently in turmoil. The wolves of the foreign realm are eyeing us covetously, and signs indicate they are preparing to wage war against our Ancient Realm."

"At this critical juncture, you young prodigies must grow rapidly and shoulder the heavy responsibility of protecting the Ancient Realm."

Su Li and Thunder Emperor felt their hearts swell with emotion; they could feel the majesty and bearing radiating from Immortal King Wuzhong.

They knew that what this Immortal King said was no empty talk. The threat from the foreign realm was imminent, and as part of the Ancient Realm, they had to contribute their own strength.

Immortal King Wuzhong continued, "After deliberation, we three fellow Daoists have decided that on a certain day three months from now, we will open a rift in time and space within the secret realm of the Ancient Realm."

"This rift will be a channel for rapid growth. Through it, you will be able to step into the Immortal Realm within a very short time without any side effects, thereby enhancing your strength."

Su Li and Thunder Emperor were stunned; they knew that such an opportunity was not something everyone could encounter.

To ensure the safety of the Ancient Realm, these three Immortal Kings were willing to pay a huge price to open a space-time rift, giving them, the younger generation, a chance to grow quickly.

They would keep this kindness etched in their hearts.

"I hope you will cherish this opportunity, cultivate with all your might, and contribute your strength to the future of the Ancient Realm." Immortal King Wuzhong's words were resonant and powerful, leaving Su Li and Thunder Emperor feeling greatly inspired.

"Is the foreign realm going to launch a war against our world once again?" Thunder Emperor's tone was intense, his eyes flashing with the light of hatred.

His ancestor had been an incredibly powerful giant among Immortal Kings, but at the end of the previous epoch, due to the war with the foreign realm, he had been cruelly suppressed by three supreme giants who returned from the Boundary Sea, leaving behind neither corpse nor soul.

This tragic history had always been a thorn in Thunder Emperor's heart. He had sworn to avenge his ancestor, to raze the foreign realm, and to slaughter the wolves of the foreign realm.

Even with his heaven-defying talent, after only six hundred years of cultivation, he was still far inferior to the powerful Immortal Kings of the foreign realm.

Immortal King Wuzhong said in a deep voice, "Yes. According to our intelligence, the foreign realm began mobilizing their armies twenty years ago, preparing to launch a full-scale invasion of our world. This is an unavoidable war, and we must make full preparations."

"Twenty years ago?" Su Li was startled. Had the foreign realm been preparing for war for twenty years?

Thunder Emperor frowned and asked in confusion, "The foreign realm has been plotting for twenty years and is finally going to act now? But why didn't they act twenty years ago?"

Immortal King Wuzhong did not continue to answer.

Instead, Immortal King Six Paths Reincarnation said softly, "Twenty years ago... the foreign realm was indeed supposed to have launched the war twenty years ago."

Subsequently, Immortal King Six Paths Reincarnation revealed a secret.

Su Li and Thunder Emperor looked at Immortal King Six Paths Reincarnation in shock, waiting for him to continue.

Immortal King Six Paths Reincarnation took a deep breath and slowly recalled, "Twenty years ago, when Su Li was just born, the entire sky suddenly became bright."

"Dew fell from the heavens, each drop as clear and translucent as a pearl, bringing endless vitality to this world."

"Thousands of auspicious signs appeared, as if heaven and earth were celebrating the birth of a new life."

The scene at that time was far too grand; the entire Imperial City had been shrouded in a holy dew, a spectacle unprecedented in history.

Immortal King Six Paths Reincarnation paused, as if recalling that shocking scene.

"What was even more astonishing was that the moment Su Li was born, a massive River of Time suddenly stretched across the Imperial City, like a flowing river of time. It was a sight I had never seen before—mysterious and solemn."

As Immortal King Six Paths Reincarnation described it, that massive River of Time seemed to slowly unfold before their eyes.

It was like a giant silk ribbon spanning the horizon, flowing with the power of endless ages.

The River of Time surged with rolling waves, as if one could see the passage of time itself. Every ripple and wave seemed to represent the rise and fall of a universe—it was terrifying to the extreme.

"I walked out of the hall at that time, stood in the plaza, and looked up at the firmament, feeling a powerful aura step out from the River of Time."

"That aura was so powerful that it seemed capable of shaking the entire world and intimidating all the heavens and myriad realms. I could not help but feel a mix of awe and fear in my heart."

That aura was powerful and solemn, as if an endless surge of power had emerged.

It made one feel the majesty and mystery of time, while also realizing one's own insignificance and helplessness. Even Immortal King Six Paths Reincarnation could not help but feel a trace of fear and reverence in the face of that aura.

The entire Imperial City had been shrouded in this aura, and everyone had felt its presence.

They had knelt on the ground one after another, expressing their awe and piety toward that aura. It was a moment that transcended the mundane, and the entire world seemed to be trembling because of it.