"I am the humble Daoist Duan De."
Across the boundless plains of the Eastern Wasteland, a gentle, even Dao Sound reverberated like the peal of a mighty bell. Both the weak human cultivators on the Five-Colored Altar and the alien beings lurking beyond the heavens felt their hearts jolt.
Together, they gazed toward the source of the Dao Sound. That place was already shrouded in dense Innate Divine Rosy Glow, its transcendent radiance stretching fifty million li. Within it, an ethereal figure strode toward them upon the divine glow.
Looking closely, they saw that the ethereal figure was a stout Daoist with upright features. He wore a wide-sleeved Daoist robe harmonizing Yin and Yang, with a Lingxiao Crown forged from purple gold atop his head. Neither sorrowful nor joyful, neither resentful nor angry, he looked truly transcendent, almost immortal.
The divine glow around him was profoundly sacred. It was the majesty of the Imperial Dao, a presence born naturally when the essence of life evolved to a certain height. Though he was only a Quasi-Emperor, he still stood above all those weaker than himself.
"Greetings, senior!"
The human protector named Duan De had stepped forward for the Ziwei Human Race. The many young cultivators on the Five-Colored Altar bowed deeply without hesitation. In their eyes, the stout Daoist's broad back was the loftiest of sacred mountains, granting them an unprecedented sense of security.
"Mm."
Duan De did not turn to look at those youngsters, whose strongest members were merely Saint Kings. He simply waved a hand, scattering hundreds of millions of strands of innate rosy glow. Boundless purple qi surged forth, sheltering the Five-Colored Altar below at its center, while he took a light step straight into the starry sky.
Whoosh!
His mild gaze swept into the depths of the