Patriarch Nanyang's eyes were clouded, like those of a village elder nearing the twilight of his life, yet immense power lay within his flesh, which was on the verge of decay.
"The Road to Immortality has appeared. If I do not set foot on it in this lifetime, if I do not fight for that slender chance at immortality, then this life will have been lived in vain." A sharp gleam flashed through Patriarch Nanyang's clouded eyes.
"But what if? What if the future you predicted is wrong, fellow Daoist?" Throughout the ages, who had dared claim that the future they predicted was certain to come true? Not even an Ancient Great Emperor could necessarily do so!
"You should understand, fellow Daoist. The Road to Immortality is the last chance for cultivators like us, whose lifespans have run dry!"
The years cut down heaven's chosen; time ground away the greatest heroes.
For the first time, Luo Yan felt the devastation time wrought upon those prodigies who had once brimmed with spirit.
In his youth, Patriarch Nanyang had also been an unrivaled hero who strode across the world, sitting at ease as clouds rose and smiling as evening clouds fell. He had left a brief but richly colored stroke in the history of humanity.
"There are emperors beneath the forbidden zones." Luo Yan still revealed this piece of news. He could not stop those staking everything on one last gamble.
Patriarch Nanyang was startled and asked again in disbelief, "Ancient Great Emperors still exist in this era?"
Luo Yan replied, "Yes... they always have! They are waiting for an opportunity."
"What opportunity?"
"To become immortals."
"May I ask, Senior, do immortals truly exist in this world?"
Luo Yan said nothing. Immortals had always existed.
The legendary Immortal Medicines had once been Immortal Kings who fell long ago. They waited in the mortal world, revived in the mortal world, yet they were no longer their complete selves.
"Senior, would you be willing to take her as your disciple?" Patriarch Nanyang looked toward the Tianxuan Saintess again.
Luo Yan shook his head. "The Saintess's talent is unmatched. Her future accomplishments will be no less than mine. If she does not die young, she could stand shoulder to shoulder with an Ancient Great Emperor. Throughout the ages, only a handful could outshine her."
"If possible, I would rather address the Saintess as a peer."
Patriarch Nanyang could scarcely believe it. Even a Quasi-Emperor said the Tianxuan Saintess could one day rival a Great Emperor. Perhaps she truly would become the first Great Emperor to attain the Dao since the Azure Emperor of Desolate Antiquity.
"The spiritual energy of heaven and earth is drying up, and the world is becoming less and less suited to cultivation. Can anyone truly attain the Dao and become a Great Emperor?" Patriarch Nanyang asked the question that concerned him most. Heaven and earth were undergoing the most terrifying upheaval in recorded history. Perhaps, before long, even breaking through to the Saint realm would be impossible.
Luo Yan said, "When things reach their extreme, they reverse. Heaven and earth seek balance; an ending is a beginning. The offspring of Ancient Emperors will reappear in the world six thousand years from now."
Patriarch Nanyang was startled and solemnly bowed.
Today, Luo Yan had already revealed a great deal of crucial information.
Living Great Emperors lay beneath the Desolate Forbidden Zone, immortals existed in this world, and six thousand years from now, a golden age would arrive.
For sharing such information without holding anything back, he deserved so profound a bow!
Not long afterward, the Tianxuan Holy Land announced two pieces of news.
The first was that, three years from now, the Tianxuan Holy Land would muster the strength of its entire order to attack the Desolate Forbidden Zone and fight its way onto the Road to Immortality. Elders and disciples within the holy land could choose to leave.
Naturally, this announcement met with the approval of the entire order. With patriarchs bearing Emperor Weapons to clear the way, no one believed they would fail.
The second was that the Tianxuan Holy Land would seal away some of its disciples, preserving a future for the holy land so that, even if they failed, its legacy would not be severed.
Foremost among them was the Tianxuan Saintess. If they failed, she would become the hope for the Tianxuan Holy Land's revival. Next were the Three Heroes of Tianxuan, at least one of whom would also have to be sealed away, along with some disciples of considerable talent and comprehension.
Of course, knowledge of the second announcement was restricted to certain senior figures within the holy land.
Another day passed.
Wei Yi and Little Madman were making the most of their time to cultivate.
The one chosen to be sealed away until a later age was ultimately the Tianxuan Saint Son. This was Luo Yan's suggestion, and it surprised the holy land's elders. Their original plan had been to seal away Wei Yi, the youngest and weakest in cultivation. Moreover, Luo Yan had brought Wei Yi to the Tianxuan Holy Land. By both sentiment and reason, he should have recommended him, yet instead, he had recommended the Tianxuan Saint Son.
Luo Yan knew that Little Madman and Wei Yi would not die in this attack on the forbidden zone. They would even sever the Dao and become Saints in the Age of Dharma's End, providing aid to Ye Fan in the future.
Through his probing, Luo Yan had already clarified the rules governing the Great Dao. His indirect guidance would not draw its attention. For instance, guiding the Tianxuan Holy Land's leaders into devising a plan to "preserve the lineage" would not touch those invisible rules. But directly influencing the course of history would draw its gaze.
Killing a prodigy blessed with extraordinary fortune like Fang Jin, or directly changing Little Madman's and Wei Yi's futures-such things would attract the Great Dao's attention.
Luo Yan had worked out these rules not merely for the present, but for the future.
If Luo Yan could return to an even more distant age, meet the Void Emperor and Emperor Hengyu, and indirectly reveal the future to them, perhaps the coming Dark Turmoil would claim far fewer lives.
He could also bring more reinforcements to the Desolate Heavenly Emperor, who stood alone across the ages, so that, at the very least, he would not have to face the dark source all by himself.
Time slipped by, day after day. The Tianxuan Saintess came to see him again-the fifth time that month, by his count.
Sorrow gathered between her brows, and her former radiance was gone. She had so much she wanted to say, yet she could only pour out her grievances to Luo Yan.
Everyone in Tianxuan was now preparing to attack the Life Forbidden Zone. Even she, once surrounded like the moon amid a host of stars, received far fewer visitors.
The Tianxuan Saintess drained the fine wine in her cup. No one understood better than she did that attacking the Desolate Forbidden Zone was a profoundly mistaken decision, yet she lacked the strength to stop it.
Tear tracks covered her tipsy face. She seemed to be weeping, seemed to be grieving; all her countless words lay within the wine.
Everyone in the "preserve the lineage" plan except her had already been sealed within divine source. As the Tianxuan Holy Land's public representative, she normally received many requests for an audience. To avoid arousing outside suspicion, she would choose a suitable moment to "enter seclusion."
Nothing in this world was more agonizing than watching one's loved ones die and being powerless to help-knowing that doom awaited them, yet having no choice but to watch them walk toward death, step by step.
"This is their decision, Saintess. You need not grieve." Luo Yan thoughtfully poured her another cup of fine wine.
She paused and gazed at the exquisite reflection in her cup. "Brother Luo Yan, I really don't want to wake up one day and never again see my beloved patriarch, my respected master, or the elders who cherish me!"
Her eyes reddened slightly, and her lips twisted with unbearable bitterness. She looked so forlorn that the sight of her stirred pity.
"If I were strong enough, could I stop this catastrophe?" At those words, she sighed inwardly again.
Suddenly, she pushed aside the wine on the table and slumped halfway over it. Her arms, like pale jade lotus roots, cradled her cheeks as she said drunkenly, "How about this, Brother Luo Yan? Why don't you suppress every last one of them? With your cultivation, you could definitely subdue them!"
"Saintess, you're talking nonsense." Looking at her breathtakingly beautiful face and skin so delicate a breath might break it, Luo Yan gave an awkward smile.
"I'm not! Yes! Suppress them! Suppress every last one of them! Brother Luo Yan, come with me and suppress the patriarch!" The Tianxuan Saintess caught Luo Yan's sleeve.
Luo Yan remained unmoved. He looked at her, shook his head, and sighed.
Perhaps realizing that Luo Yan would not budge, the Tianxuan Saintess clenched her pearly teeth and nestled her fragrant, soft body into his arms. Her gentle voice whispered in his ear, "Brother Luo Yan, help me stop the patriarch and the others, and I'll be yours from now on!"
"I'm the greatest beauty in the Eastern Wasteland, you know. Won't you at least consider it?"
Her voice carried a tearful note. She was almost out of ways to turn.
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