Three thousand years later, the world remained at peace.
Tai Chu's attainment of the Dao was hardly good news for the universe's most exceptional prodigies. Two emperors could not coexist; the appearance of one meant that no new emperor would emerge in this universe for at least tens of thousands of years.
Thus, as Emperor Tai Chu's Heavenly Heart aura blanketed the universe, Di Huang, Fan Mo of the Brahma Battle Body, the Azure Sky Peng of the Flying Immortal Star, and others chose to seal themselves away. They all harbored tremendous ambitions, intending to emerge in the next age and once again embark upon the path to emperorship.
At the same time, however, a small number of prodigies chose not to seal themselves away again. Instead, they continued cultivating in this age when the Heavenly Heart already had a master, staying beside their people, old friends, and loved ones.
Dongfang Taiyi was one of the peerless prodigies who made that choice.
He was a man who valued his bonds deeply. In Dongfang Taiyi's eyes, family and friends mattered more than attaining the Dao and living forever. Even knowing that attaining the Dao was impossible while the Heavenly Heart Imprint had a master, he persisted, shouldering the responsibilities that were his to bear.
Today, Dongfang Taiyi arrived at the Ziwei Ancient Star.
After three thousand years of cultivation, the once wildly ambitious young lad had become a powerfully built man in his prime. His upper body was bare, revealing a tiger's back and a bear's waist. Firm, dark muscles coiled across his body like horned dragons, and every step stirred ripples in the Dao laws.
Such majesty shook the souls of everyone who saw him. Dongfang Taiyi's aura was simply too vast. Standing there, he resembled both a blazing, domineering