A Million Years Gone, the World Changed Beyond Recognition! A Descendant of an Old Friend?

In the Southern Ridge Demon Domain, within a dragon's nest that rose like a pillar of heaven...

A massive dragon, red-gold from head to tail, lay coiled deep in the nest. Its draconic might surged like a tide, crushing the void around it into countless fractures.

Its eyes were like two blazing suns. The moment it opened them, the entire nest trembled.

"The Chen Family... the invincible Divine Son from a million years ago... the Chaos Body..."

A deep, rough voice echoed through the nest.

A flicker of almost human interest crossed the red-gold dragon's eyes. "I'd like to see which is stronger: his Chaos Body or my perfected Ancestral Dragon Bloodline."

Beside him, a slightly smaller silver dragon warned in a low voice, "Young Master, the clan elders have ordered us not to provoke the Chen Family for now. That Chen Haotian is a Quasi—"

"Chen Haotian?"

The young red-gold dragon snorted. "He's only at the ninth level of the Quasi-Emperor Realm, isn't he? Once I break through to the Saint Emperor Realm, I'll smash him apart with one punch. And that so-called Evergreen Divine Son? He's just an antique from a million years ago. Does he deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as me?"

Across the star domains.

Forces that had once been subordinate to the Chen Family began stirring one after another.

"Hahaha!"

"The Longevity Chen Family is finally entering the world again!"

"Wonderful! Our chance to rise has come!"

"Heh... A million years! We've already fallen into decline. Will the Chen Family still care about us?!"

Deep within those ancient, dark Forbidden Zones, gazes likewise turned toward the Purple Star Domain.

"The Longevity Chen Family... the Chaos Body..."

"Heh heh heh..."

"He'd make a fine stepping stone."

"What, interested in that Chaos Body?" another voice asked, a hint of amusement in it.

"Hehehe..."

The ancient voice laughed, its sound echoing through the darkness like ten thousand ghosts wailing together.

"So what if he was a peerless prodigy a million years ago? I've lived through more eras than I can count and seen more prodigies than there are stars. Only those who survive deserve that name. The rest are nothing but dust."

"I hear the Evergreen Divine Son once slew over a hundred holy sons and holy daughters in the Purple Star Secret Realm. He does seem to have some skill."

"He merely killed a few worthless failures."

"I've finally waited until this age. Even if a Great Emperor came in person now, I might not think much of him. Much less some little Chaos Body."

For a time.

Gazes arrived from countless realms beneath the heavens, and innumerable divine senses wove together and collided in the void.

Some marveled at the depths of the Chen Family's foundations. Some wondered when the legendary Evergreen Divine Son would appear. Others already saw the Chen Family as a stepping stone to fame.

In short—

Even after a million years of silence, the Chen Family's return inevitably sent shock waves through this Golden Age.

The Purple Star Domain.

When the Chen Family's clanspeople heard they were free to leave the Purple Star Domain to temper themselves, excitement swept through them like sweet rain after a long drought. They could hardly wait to set out.

As for Chen Changqing, after bidding his parents farewell, he also planned to go have a look around.

At first, Chen Yuanba and the other two insisted on accompanying him.

But Chen Changqing refused outright and told them to find their own paths. Comprehending the Dao was something they had to experience for themselves.

Once refused, Chen Yuanba and the others did not press him.

Whatever Chen Changqing told them to do, they would do without objection.

And so, the battle-loving Chen Yuanba shouldered his staff and set off to visit the various forces, intending to challenge their so-called prodigies.

Chen Musen chose to remain with the Chen Family and study the books in the Scripture Repository. To him, reading was his Dao.

Chen Qingshuang prepared to search far and wide for renowned swords and challenge prodigies of the sword, sharpening her own swordsmanship.

In this Golden Age, everyone had something to pursue, and everyone was searching for their own opportunity!

Chen Changqing stood at the edge of the Purple Star Domain. Behind him loomed the phantom of the Chen Family's Dao-Comprehension Heavenly Net, enveloping the stars. Before him stretched an endless sea of stars.

At that moment.

He looked at the Purple Azure Broken Sword in his hand and could not help feeling a touch of melancholy.

"A million years have passed. The world has changed beyond recognition!"

"I wonder what that little girl's family is like now."

That girl in green had once knelt before him, cradling her sword, and said, "I wish to follow the Divine Son." Now even her bonded Dao sword had broken.

Time was merciless, yet Chen Changqing still felt as though he had seen her only yesterday. He found it hard to believe that the little girl had truly fallen.

He had nothing pressing to do. He might as well visit the Lin Family first.

With a thought, Chen Changqing took a step and appeared in the starry expanse beyond the Purple Star Domain.

He stood among the stars with his hands behind his back. Rather than hurrying onward, he spread out his divine sense and casually swept his surroundings.

That sweep revealed quite a few interesting sights.

Aboard a distant starship, several young cultivators in brocade robes had gathered together and were discussing something in hushed voices.

Judging by their clothes, they were probably disciples of a sect.

"Hey, that proclamation from the Chen Family ancestor scared our sect's higher-ups half to death. It even disturbed the one who's been in seclusion for three thousand years. They sent us here specifically to investigate the Chen Family."

"Damn it. Sending disciples like us to investigate an imperial clan? Is this some kind of joke?"

"So are we really going to investigate the Chen Family?"

"Investigate my ass. That's the Longevity Imperial Clan, an ancient force with a Quasi-Emperor! How much did the sect pay you to risk your life for them?"

"Exactly! If we anger the Chen Family, our entire sect wouldn't be enough for them to beat with one hand."

"Speaking of which, what's the story with the Chen Family's Evergreen Divine Son? He sounds insanely powerful."

Chen Changqing shook his head at what he heard and paid it no mind.

His divine sense continued sweeping outward.

He saw a marketplace floating amid an asteroid belt. A huge stone stele stood at its center, densely covered in names.

It was a ranking of prodigies. Dao patterns traced the names at the top, making them blaze with dazzling light.

Cangwu Ditian, Ao Jiuxiao, Sumeru Buddha Son...

Every name belonged to a prodigy capable of dominating a generation.

At the very top of the stele, a line had been left blank. Beneath it, small characters in an ancient style read: "Chen Family of Longevity, Evergreen Divine Son, ranking pending."

"This list is rather interesting."

Chen Changqing gave it little more thought. His divine sense, like an invisible net, continued sweeping the surroundings.

Suddenly!

Chen Changqing's gaze sharpened.

There, in the void to the southeast, ten thousand miles away.

A battered Starship was hurtling toward the Purple Star Domain at nearly its maximum speed.

Most of its protective barrier had shattered. Scorch marks from spell attacks covered the hull, and black smoke trailed from its stern. It had clearly endured a brutal battle.

Inside the Starship.

A girl drenched in blood gritted her teeth, using the last of her true essence to drive the vessel onward.

She looked no older than sixteen or seventeen. Blood had soaked through her dress, and her left arm hung limp at her side, plainly broken.

Blood and grime covered her face, but they could not hide the hatred and will to survive surging in her clear eyes.

In her right hand, the girl clutched a token. It was purple-azure throughout and stained with her blood.

She gripped it fiercely, as though holding on to her last hope.

"Hm?"

"That token looks..."

Hum—

The instant Chen Changqing's gaze fell upon the token.

The Purple Azure Broken Sword in his hand suddenly trembled. As if it had sensed something, it gave off a faint yet unwavering purple-azure glow.

Its keening sounded like a sob!

Chen Changqing glanced down at the broken sword, then looked up at the Purple Azure Token in the girl's hand aboard the battered Starship.

"Huh?"

"That token was actually made from fragments of the broken sword?"

Chen Changqing raised an eyebrow. For once, a ripple stirred in his eyes, usually as still as an ancient well.