The Gravekeeper

Chen Nianzhi was shocked, and found it hard to believe.

What manner of figures had the East Emperor and Emperor Jiang been in their day? Even beings like them had not been confident of quelling the calamity here. That showed just how terrifying these seven Demon God Heavenly Pillars were.

Even more astonishingly, judging from the gravekeeper's words, Emperor Jiang and the East Emperor seemed to have both been his juniors.

This greatly exceeded Chen Nianzhi's expectations. In his original speculation, the gravekeeper might merely have been a disciple of the East Emperor.

Yet on closer thought, it was also only to be expected.

The East Emperor and Emperor Jiang had lived merely six or seven thousand years ago. If they were still alive now, their lifespans would not exceed thirteen or fourteen thousand years.

If the gravekeeper had been the East Emperor's disciple, then he ought to have been in the prime of life now. How could he appear so incomparably aged and stooped, his body filled with the aura of decay?

With that thought, Chen Nianzhi could not help looking at the old man before him. He promptly cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask what great master you are, Senior?"

"This old man..."

The gravekeeper opened his mouth, then shook his head.

With a sigh, he said, "When this old man was young, I too was once passionate and glorious. Like you, I was once an outstanding figure of my generation."

"But after that battle more than twenty thousand years ago, the Dao Lords of the Purple Yin Realm nearly vanished as a generation. This old man was one of the last few survivors, and also one of those who established the Dao calendar."

"I was half a master to Jiang Xudao. When he was young,