Returning Home

Looking down at the Bronze Immortal Hall beneath his feet, Li Ming recalled that it had not played much of a role in the original story. In the end, the Ruthless Empress had refined it into her mask and ring.

So Li Ming planned to refine the Bronze Immortal Hall directly into his Heavenly Demonic Saber in the future.

However, with Li Ming's current strength, he was still unable to dismantle and refine the Bronze Immortal Hall.

After all, it was a genuine Immortal Weapon.

Moreover, it seemed to have fallen from the Immortal Domain into this world, possibly having degraded from an Immortal King Weapon into an Immortal Weapon. How could it be easy to dismantle?

Li Ming estimated that after undergoing several transformations, he could probably refine it into his Heavenly Demonic Saber without using the Nine-Lifetime Red Dust Ascension.

Li Ming had attained enlightenment as a Venerable. To the Human Race of the Age of Mythology, this was absolutely a momentous occasion.

Although quite a few enlightenment achievers had appeared among the Human Race during the Age of Mythology, the emergence of the Nine Heavenly Venerables had pushed the Human Race's glory to its peak, making it the strongest race in the entire universe.

One especially regrettable point in the original story was that after the Age of Mythology ended, the Undying Heavenly Emperor attained enlightenment as an Emperor.

Throughout the entire Primordial Era, those who attained enlightenment as Emperors were basically all from the Primordial Ten Thousand Races.

The rise of the Primordial Ten Thousand Races was truly astonishing.

Yet for a long time after the Undying Heavenly Emperor, not a single enlightenment achiever emerged from the Human Race.

Thus, the various Human Race holy lands and aristocratic families became coveted prizes in the eyes of the Primordial Imperial Clans.

They became treasures for those clans to covet.

It was like a child carrying gold through a crowded market. It was impossible not to attract greedy eyes.

For some unknown reason, many Human Race enlightenment achievers of that era had taken their Extreme Dao Weapons with them instead of leaving them to their successors or descendants.

By contrast, the Primordial Imperial Clans had basically left Extreme Dao Weapons—the Ancient Emperor Weapons—for their descendants and clans.

Those Primordial Imperial Clans suppressed the Human Race without restraint, and many Human Race holy lands and aristocratic families simply vanished into ashes.

In the original story, the Human Race of Big Dipper during the Primordial Era had actually become livestock raised by the Primordial Ten Thousand Races.

That situation was not limited to Big Dipper. Similar circumstances had appeared on other Life Source Grounds as well.

Fortunately, during the Primordial Era, the Lunar Saint Emperor and Solar Saint Emperor finally appeared. They preserved the Human Race of Big Dipper, and the Human Race on the other Life Source Grounds greatly improved afterward.

The Human Race rose to prominence once again beginning in the Desolate Ancient Era.

After entering the Desolate Ancient Era, it seemed that thirty Human Race Great Emperors and nine Ancient Desolate Saint Bodies had appeared in succession. That was the true age of the Human Race's great prosperity.

During that time, Emperor Hengyu also emerged on Ziwei Star.

Ziwei Star was truly fertile soil for the Human Race, nurturing powerful Human Race figures such as the Solar Saint Emperor, Lunar Saint Emperor, and Emperor Hengyu.

It truly deserved to be called one of the Human Race's strongholds.

It was one of the birthplaces of the Human Race.

At this moment, purple qi coiled around Ziwei Star and stretched for hundreds of millions of miles. The essence of heaven and earth was incredibly dense. It was truly one of the most fertile Life Source Grounds.

Because of Li Ming, this era had become even more prosperous.

To put it simply, Li Ming's attainment of enlightenment as a Venerable immediately made Ancient Ziwei Star the number-one Life Source Ground of this era. It became the center of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, where the Human Race's destiny gathered.

Thinking of Ziwei Star, Li Ming also thought of the wandering cultivator who had raised him.

Unlike other transmigrators, Li Ming had been orphaned at a young age and adopted by a wandering cultivator surnamed Zhang.

Old Zhang's cultivation was not high. He had spent his entire life wandering at the Dao Palace Secret Realm and had never broken through to the Four Extremes Secret Realm.

He could be called the guide who had led Li Ming onto the path of cultivation. Unfortunately, before Li Ming discovered the wonders of the Bronze Mirror, the old man had already died.

Old Zhang had been dead for many years, and even his bones had long since decayed.

With a casual glance, Li Ming could take in the entire situation of Ziwei Star.

Now, all of Ziwei Star was filled with celebration and vitality.

Before those extraterrestrial sages, its people held their heads high. They were genuinely proud of Li Ming.

Although Old Zhang had died long ago, he had left his family considerable benefits before his death, enough to lift them beyond the status of an ordinary mortal household.

Before Li Ming left Ziwei Star and embarked on the Ancient Starry Sky Road, he had also given his family many benefits. In particular, the complete Five Secret Realms Cultivation Method and complete Sage Scriptures had played a crucial role.

His family had now developed into a flourishing lineage.

After receiving news that Li Ming had attained enlightenment as a Venerable, the lineage developed by Old Zhang's family grew into Ziwei Holy Land.

Meanwhile, the family into which Li Ming had been born developed into the Bright Sect after Li Ming attained enlightenment as a Venerable. Later, out of taboo toward the character in Li Ming's name, it changed its name to the Sun-Moon Divine Sect.

The Sun-Moon Divine Sect was a very interesting name. It was now called the Sun-Moon Holy Land.

On present-day Ziwei Star, where countless lineages stood, Ziwei Holy Land and Sun-Moon Divine Sect were two Saint lineages that stood apart. No one dared to look down on them.

According to the legends passed down by word of mouth, Li Ming, who had attained enlightenment as a Venerable ten thousand years ago, had an immense connection with these two holy lands.

More than ten thousand years had passed. Although many people still believed the legend, they also found it strange. Why had the Demon Venerable never returned to Ziwei Star or come back to support the two holy lands?

Could there be some other reason?

After the old Saints of the two holy lands passed away, neither Ziwei Holy Land nor Sun-Moon Holy Land produced a new Saint. Instead, they gradually declined.

Thinking back to those days, after Li Ming attained enlightenment as a Venerable, many people learned that he had come from Ziwei Star.

The various holy lands and aristocratic families of Ziwei Star investigated Li Ming's origins, seeking to discover which family or holy land he had come from.

In the end, people were astonished to learn that Li Ming had been born into a small family hidden in a mountain village.

The place where he had cultivated had also been forced to wander with a wandering cultivator surnamed Zhang because no holy land had been willing to accept him.

This discovery shocked every holy land and aristocratic family on Ziwei Star.

For a time, the Li Family and Zhang Family became highly coveted.

Countless people wanted to curry favor with Li Ming but could not. Thus, the tiny Li Family and Zhang Family immediately became extremely influential.

The leaders of the various holy lands and aristocratic families, along with their divine sons and daughters, came to visit one after another.

Some even gave up excellent cultivation grounds and simply gifted them to the Li Family and Zhang Family.

This provided enormous assistance to the rise of Ziwei Holy Land and Sun-Moon Holy Land.

Even now, both holy lands occupied blessed lands rich in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, benefiting from those gifts.

Although Ziwei Holy Land and Sun-Moon Holy Land had declined somewhat, whenever the leaders or Saints of the various holy lands visited, they still maintained a respectful attitude.

They did not respect the two holy lands themselves, but Li Ming behind them.

Although Li Ming had never married or had children, his uncles and brothers in the family had long since died. Their descendants had multiplied for more than a hundred generations, and some had even embarked on the path of cultivation. A few had reached the Slashing the Dao realm.

They revered Li Ming, their grand ancestor, as a god. They had effectively become Li Ming's dependents.

As for Old Zhang, he had direct descendants of his own. His descendants had likewise multiplied for more than a hundred generations, and their bloodline had become extremely distant.

However, relying on their ancestral relationship with the Li Family, they had also prospered.

No one even dared to cause trouble for them when they used the name Ziwei Holy Land. That too was a benefit of their connection.

After all, not just anyone could use the name Ziwei Star—or dare to use it.

In short, after Li Ming attained enlightenment as a Venerable, everyone with even the slightest connection to him benefited. It was truly a case of one person attaining the Dao and even his chickens and dogs ascending to heaven.

It could be imagined that as long as Li Ming lived, even if Ziwei Holy Land and Sun-Moon Holy Land had no Saints, they would still hold an important position on Ziwei Star.

More people firmly believed that once Li Ming returned, merely tossing them some unwanted item would immediately make the two holy lands the most glorious holy lands on Ziwei Star.

It was not only the holy lands and aristocratic families of Ziwei Star that sought to curry favor with the two lineages. Even Primordial Species from other life-bearing planets came from the depths of the starry sky to establish ties with and visit these extraordinary lineages.

Indeed, those extraterrestrial sages had humbled themselves to visit and befriend Ziwei Holy Land and Sun-Moon Holy Land because of Li Ming.

Even now, although Ziwei Holy Land and Sun-Moon Holy Land had no Saints, some visiting extraterrestrial sages and Primordial Species still came to see them.

The two holy lands had practically become mandatory destinations for those extraterrestrial sages.

Of course, there was a reason for this.

Some powerful extraterrestrial clans still felt deep dread toward Li Ming.

When Li Ming had fought his way along the Ancient Starry Sky Road, he had either dug up the graves of certain powerful clans' ancestors or secretly devoured the origins of their prodigies. He had thoroughly offended them.

Although the Bronze Mirror had concealed his whereabouts and prevented them from finding him, after repeated attempts and increasingly large numbers of pursuers, he had occasionally been caught off guard and forced to flee for his life.

The powerful clans of the universe possessed enormous influence and resources. If someone disturbed their ancestral graves or killed their peerless prodigies, they certainly would not let the matter go.

Yet they had never imagined that every Saint, Great Saint, and even Quasi-Emperor they sent out would ultimately fail to intercept Li Ming.

Several Quasi-Emperors had even pursued Li Ming while wielding Extreme Dao Weapons.

Some elderly Quasi-Emperors had pursued him with Extreme Dao Weapons in hand.

Yet every time, Li Ming miraculously escaped.

Under the pursuit of countless powerful clans of the universe, Li Ming had attained enlightenment as a Venerable.

A Heavenly Venerable could not be insulted. All the powerful clans that had pursued Li Ming fell into unending panic.

When Li Ming had first attained enlightenment as a Venerable, many powerful clans of the universe had wanted to prepare generous gifts and visit him to apologize.

But after attaining enlightenment as a Venerable, Li Ming had either comprehended the Dao and cultivated or been on his way to kill the Dark Supremes. For a time, no one dared visit him.

The matter had simply been delayed.

Many of those who had once pursued Li Ming had already died, but their families remained.

The obvious way to make amends was to curry favor with Li Ming's dependents—to seek favor with the people of Ziwei Holy Land and Sun-Moon Holy Land.

The generous gifts they had sent back then had indeed caused the two holy lands to expand rapidly. At their peak, they had even produced several Saints.

But Saints lived only a few thousand years. After more than ten thousand years, they would eventually pass away.

On this day, a strand of Chaos Divine Light extended from the Cosmic Frontier Wasteland, radiating overwhelming Extreme Dao Divine Might.

After sensing that terrifying pressure, all the cultivators of Ziwei Star looked toward the starry river-cast Divine Bridge in the sky, their eyes filled with shock.

"Venerable Ming is back!"

"Ziwei Venerable is back!"

Sensing the aura unique to Li Ming, all the cultivators on Ziwei Star erupted with excitement.

The Demon Venerable had been born on Ziwei Star. After more than ten thousand years, he had finally returned to his homeland.

All the cultivators of Ziwei Star, especially those of the Human Race, considered it a supreme honor.

The leaders of Ziwei Holy Land and Sun-Moon Holy Land were even more excited, their bodies trembling slightly.

The leaders of the various holy lands and aristocratic families of Ziwei Star, along with their divine sons and daughters, immediately emerged from seclusion.

"Ziwei Venerable is back. Let us go pay our respects at once!"

The divine sons and daughters, as well as the holy sons and daughters, were all filled with excitement.

They had missed the Golden Age of the past and had been born at its end. They were destined to be unable to attain enlightenment as Venerables, but that did nothing to diminish their worship of Li Ming.

Under the excited gazes of the crowd, the Chaos Divine Bridge extended all the way above Sun-Moon Holy Land.

Immortal Spirit phantoms circled around him, Grand Dao Golden Lotuses bloomed, and the Grand Dao Heavenly Sound thundered. A figure radiating Chaos Light walked over from the starry sky.

The pressure unique to an enlightenment achiever spread in every direction, shaking the entire planet.

The entire Sun-Moon Holy Land was transformed into sacred soil. Divine radiance filled the sky, purple qi churned, Chaos Divine Light shone, and the Myriad Dao of Heaven and Earth resonated together.

Many cultivators trapped at bottlenecks felt as though they had been enlightened by divine nectar. They instantly understood something.

Some even broke through their realms on the spot.

Several white-haired elders bathed in the Chaos Immortal Light and became much younger in the blink of an eye, gaining decades or even centuries of life.

Everyone in Sun-Moon Holy Land was joyful and excited.

The current leader of Sun-Moon Holy Land was grinning from ear to ear.

After the old Saint of Sun-Moon Holy Land had died, the holy land no longer possessed a Saint. Although he was a Slashing the Dao cultivator, he had always felt that he was unworthy of the name Sun-Moon Holy Land.

He had worked hard to break through but had been unable to find the opportunity.

Now, Li Ming, the old ancestor of his family, had finally returned.

He was so happy he could explode!

Sun-Moon Holy Land was going to soar from this day onward!

Li Ming's choice to return to Ziwei Star at this time had naturally been made after careful consideration.

Over the years, he had constantly perfected and organized his Dao while steadily increasing his strength.

He knew how terrifying the influence of the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art was, so he had never passed on the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art he had created to anyone.

As he continually organized his Dao and cultivation methods, he had finally created the second scripture belonging exclusively to him: the Thunder God's Heavenly Art.

He had decided to pass down the Thunder God's Heavenly Art as his inheritance.

As for the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art, aside from perhaps leaving an inheritance for the Ruthless Empress in the future, he did not intend to pass it on to anyone else.

This cultivation method harmed the harmony of Heaven too deeply. Ordinary people could not withstand the karma within it.

Passing it on to them would do more harm than good.

This time, he had returned precisely to pass down the Thunder God's Heavenly Art.

This scripture definitely belonged among the Heavenly Venerable Scriptures. Among the cultivation methods of enlightenment achievers, it was absolutely one of the finest.

In the future, aside from the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art, he would certainly create his own Chaos Scripture as well.

Ordinary people would be unable to cultivate such a scripture. If their physiques were insufficient and they forced themselves to cultivate it, they would only injure themselves and might even be reduced to ashes.

After all, this world emphasized physique and bloodline, while also placing great importance on comprehension.

Even many cultivators who possessed supreme scriptures were unable to attain enlightenment as Venerables.

As for becoming an immortal, that was even more of a pipe dream.

The people of this world could not confirm whether immortality was still possible.

But Li Ming knew that not only did immortals exist beyond this world, immortality could also be achieved within this world.

From Li Ming's understanding, the current Dark Supremes were mostly very lost.

They did not know where the path lay, much less how to proceed along the road ahead.

They could only foolishly wait for the Road to Immortality. They had no choice but to self-slash and seal themselves away, and in order to wait for the Road to Immortality to open, they did not hesitate to devour billions upon billions of living beings.

Li Ming knew for certain that this world allowed one to become a Red Dust Immortal.

He knew that by cultivating step by step according to the several transformation methods in the original story, there was a high chance of becoming a Red Dust Immortal.

Since Red Dust Immortals existed in this world, Li Ming suspected that there might also be a gradual cultivation method capable of breaking through the limits of the Human Dao's extreme point and becoming a True Immortal.

In other words, the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands should also possess a path of True Immortal cultivation. It was merely that this path now seemed to have vanished, or that no one knew of it anymore.

At least during the era of the Desolate Heavenly Emperor, becoming a True Immortal was relatively simple.

Unfortunately, the Primordial Ancient Realm was later shattered, and even the laws of heaven and earth became incomplete.

Now, even the Immortal Domain was incomplete, having been shattered as well.

The Nine Heavens and Ten Lands were likewise formed from a collection of severely damaged worlds.

In this age, ten thousand years—or even more than a hundred thousand—might pass before a single Supreme emerged. It was a far cry from the past.

Back then, anyone with enough strength could attain enlightenment and become a Supreme.

When Li Ming had read the original story, he had felt as though the entire Nine Heavens and Ten Lands were a balloon slowly losing air.

From the Age of Mythology to the Primordial Era, then the Desolate Era and the Post-Desolate Ancient Era, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth seemed to have grown ever thinner.

The whole world seemed to be growing weaker.

At least, according to the original story, the vital energy of heaven and earth had been far richer in the Primordial Era than in the Post-Desolate Ancient Era.

Many of the Primordial Ten Thousand Races had even sealed themselves away to escape the long Desolate Ancient Era and wait for the Road to Immortality to open.

That was the clearest comparison, and the original story had stated it outright.

Now that Li Ming had arrived in this age, he was startled by how many Cave-Heaven Blessed Lands there were. The cultivation environment far surpassed anything described in Ye Fan's era.

No wonder this age had so many Dark Restricted Areas, with so many Dark Supremes still surviving in them.

According to the original story, the entire Nine Heavens and Ten Lands were steadily declining.

Restoring them to the prosperity of the Age of Mythology would probably take the blessings of at least one Immortal King, if not several.

At this rate, periods when the Grand Dao remained unmanifest would only grow longer. Even during a Golden Age, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth would be less abundant than before, and such ages would not last as long.

Of course, Li Ming had no need to worry about what would happen in later ages.

The age he lived in now was the best possible one for cultivation.

Even if he wanted to help this world, he could only do so after becoming an Immortal King.

His goal in this world was to become a Red Dust Immortal.

Everything else could wait.