The Nine Extremes Heavenly King took a single step. The ripples in space left behind by the collapse of the Astral Bone Throne had yet to fade when a passage paved in starlight unfolded beneath their feet.
Xu Changqing followed half a step behind him. The starlight beneath his feet was soft yet solid, and with every step, fine specks of stardust rose from beneath his soles.
Wherever the two passed, space folded of its own accord, compressing a distance that should have spanned untold light-years into arm's reach.
After pondering for a moment, Xu Changqing asked, "Heavenly King, could you tell me a little about the Great Dao Venerable in advance?"
The Nine Extremes Heavenly King did not stop walking. Countless stars being born and dying were reflected in his nebula-like eyes. Only after a long silence did he say, "No one can clearly explain the Great Dao Venerable's circumstances.
"His existence runs through the past, present, and future, like the River of Time itself."
Xu Changqing's steps paused slightly at those words. "Everywhere at once?"
"Correct."
A rare trace of solemnity entered the Nine Extremes Heavenly King's voice. "If you pull up a blade of grass, say a word, or make a decision in the Heavenly Origin Realm, the Great Dao Venerable may already have seen it tens of millions of years ago.
"This is not foresight. Before him, time has no before or after."
Xu Changqing did not ask further.
The implications were far too vast. Continuing to ask would only make him seem frivolous.
He turned his gaze toward the starlight passage beneath his feet and changed to a more practical question. "Then what about the Northern Dipper Star Region?
"What kind of place is it?"
"The Northern Dipper Star Region is also known as the