Immortal of the Ages

“Oh…” The Divine Imperial Son glanced at Yun Xiao upon hearing his words, and commended, “A heart harboring concern for the masses, truly a sincere and noble youth. No wonder the princess has given you her heart.”

But his words were merely for the sake of saying.

After speaking, his abyss-like eyes ignited with a cold fire, sweeping ahead.

Deep within the mists ahead, a tumultuous oceanic roar resounded, mingled with the flash of dark golden mystical lights. Faintly, one could hear the wails of souls.

“A fiend, thinking he can poison the common folk just because he believes the Emperor is far away and the heaven too high, undeterred by the consequences. Little does he know, retribution is unerring, the net of heaven is vast and fails to miss even the smallest misdeed.”

With those words, the Divine Imperial Son scoffed coldly, flung his sleeves, and transformed into a streak of white light that pierced through the clouds, darting forward.

“Shall we follow?” Divine Dawn instinctively turned to ask Yun Xiao, her commanding nature still subdued by him.

“Admire from a distance, and be ready to flee at any moment,” Yun Xiao advised.

“Be ready to flee…” Divine Dawn found these words somewhat puzzling.

In her view, regardless of today's outcome between the Divine Imperial Son and Lu Fan, they must ensure Lu Fan’s demise.

Yet, she said no more, instead she followed Yun Xiao, advancing further, blending as much as possible into the mists, allowing the Divine Imperial Son to take the lead.

Soon, the entirety of the Stellar Spring of Life was in sight!

Upon the dim celestial barrier above, an inverted ocean hung, where the Stellar Spring of Life bubbled, its flowing waters sparkling with starlight, utterly magnificent.

This was the Stellar Spring of Life!

Around it, countless rivers and streams spread out like veins, connecting various mortal stars, dispersing the unique waters of the Stellar Spring of Life across all of mankind, nourishing all living beings in their growth.

This inverted ocean was indeed the root of all common beings and the source of endless life. It flourished endlessly, never drying up. This place was sacred, managed by the imperial family, yet they never came here.

And now, Lu Fan was here!

Above the Stellar Spring of Life, a group of beautiful celestial women in luxurious silken robes gathered, their faces filled with adoration and madness, chirping and laughing, their eyes held only the sight of that grand man!

In their midst, a middle-aged man with disheveled hair and a golden robe sat suspended in the air, eyes closed, immobile, as if asleep.

Yet, above his head, a colossal dark golden lotus spirit, spanning hundreds of meters, rooted itself atop the Stellar Spring of Life. Countless tendrils of dark golden power seeped into the springs, darkening the once pure waters.

A breathtaking spiritual force spread through the veins of the Stellar Spring of Life, reaching out to every mortal star.

Central to this network was a white grub as thick as an arm, nestled at the heart of the dark golden lotus spirit, its body contorted into a circle.

At this moment, the All Life Empress Gu seemed to merge with the Chaos Emperor Lotus Spirit, becoming part of Lu Fan.

Spirits merged with all living beings, and through the All Life Empress Gu, Lu Fan called upon the spirits of mortals across countless mortal stars, using the Stellar Spring of Life as a conduit.

Amplified by the Stellar Spring of Life and the perverse capabilities of the Chaos Soul, a spiritual monstrosity was taking form, more terrifying than any corpse demon, for it devoured souls, transcending the limits of distance.

And with the All Life Empress Gu and incense offerings, all beings willingly offered everything they had.

This was the level of the Chaos Soul's strategy!

The White Emperor, who had played with the incense offerings all his life, had never anticipated that his adversary would develop a method a hundred, a thousand times more destructive, pushing evil to limits even he could not fathom.

"The Emperor Lotus Soul Force, linked through the All Life Empress Gu, has entered the first mortal star. The pilgrimage of souls has begun!" Empress Zhao declared, hands clasped at her chest, her eyes shining on her dignified face, filled with a fanatical devotion.

"Wonderful!"

The exalted celestial women, like Lady Fortune and the Sun Sword Goddess, looked dazed, delirious with joy.

"A life of confusion is worse than death; better to merge with the Emperor Lotus, to become part of our lord's encompassing soul."

"This is their fortune!"

"Though they die, the merit of their humble souls will endure forever, a glory unrivaled in this world."

"When our lord transforms into the heavenly star of all beings, becoming the blessing of the common people… who then, transcendent or otherwise, could rival him?"

The women spoke passionately, tears of emotion spilling from their eyes. To them, this was a magnificent blessing, and they would not hesitate to sacrifice themselves.

In their eyes gleamed a conquered, moist shine, their gazes stretched and clingy.

BUZZ! As the Stellar Spring of Life vibrated, the channel for the souls' allegiance opened, and they embraced each other, weeping with overwhelming joy.

"It has begun!"

"A grand beginning!"

"My lord has waited far too long, and finally, the day has come for a true defiance of the heavens to be reborn…"

Amid their teary eyes, the disheveled middle-aged man was calmer than ever, his lips curling slightly.

To him, all this was as it should be.

"Am I Lu Fan, or the Chaos Emperor Lotus?"

It seemed no longer important. He heard the souls of all beings from the mortal stars boiling over. At this moment, in their eyes, Lu Fan was like the fierce sun hanging overhead.

BUZZ! Countless mortals, infected with the All Life Devouring Gu, rushed towards this fierce sun like moths to a flame, tears streaming down their faces.

They knew death lay on the path ahead, yet they were overwhelmed with emotion, as if they had found the meaning of life.

One by one, channels to mortal stars were established!

The disheveled middle-aged man, with a broad chest, laughed even more brilliantly.

It had begun!

"Come, make your pilgrimage, you specks of soul dust."

"Even if you are tiny, in sufficient numbers, you can build a celestial palace of souls."

His thoughts, at this moment, reached the zenith! The agony of rebirth, years of lying dormant, had finally paid off!

"Hahaha…"

As the disheveled man in the golden robe smelled the scent of those soul dust particles, he couldn't help but laugh aloud. He knew better than anyone the bitterness of true rebirth and reincarnation.

"Come! Come!"

His face twisted as he roared this command over the surging Stellar Spring of Life. Nothing could stop what was to come!

However, in that instant, a young man in white appeared not far beside him, his sharp, righteous eyes quickly taking in everything about the Stellar Spring of Life!

The Divine Imperial Son flew into a rage!

"You, a reincarnated evildoer with no respect for the dao, deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

With swift and thunderous action, after his declaration, a white light shot out from the halo behind his head, like a sharp sword, instantly piercing through the center of the immense Chaos Emperor Lotus…

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