“You have captured me now, but once you go to the Outer Heavens, you will be hunted by my race. By then, only I can protect you,” the strange insect continued.

“You carry my scent on you, and they will follow the trail all the way. Even a Grand Emperor will be powerless. Do you dare kill me?”

“Primordial God Frontier? Why have I never heard of it?” Xu Zimo asked.

“How could that be something you could touch? Just a frog at the bottom of a well in a minor world,” the insect said faintly. As soon as its voice fell, it let out a miserable cry. Xu Zimo’s foot had come down, stomping heavily on its head, pressing it deep into the ground. Dust flew into the air.

“If you’re so powerful, how did you become my prisoner?” Xu Zimo said.

“If it weren’t for the schemes of the Heavenly Dao of the Primordial Heartlands, even ten Grand Emperors would be useless. Do you really think you defeated me?” the insect still asked unwillingly.

“What do you mean?” Xu Zimo asked.

“In the past, when our race from the Primordial God Frontier invaded the Primordial Heartlands, we underestimated its Heavenly Dao, and we were heavily injured by its schemes. In the end, led by that so-called Fei Yu, we were exterminated. Out of hundreds of our Cosmic Insect Race, I alone survived,” the insect said with resentment. “I was on the verge of death, forced into hiding. For thousands of years I nursed my wounds, waiting for a comeback. Now that I was close to regaining my power, I didn’t expect the Heavenly Dao had long been watching me. It let you contestants of Heaven’s Will arrive at the Sky-Trap Island, reducing all my efforts to nothing. I hate it. Just one step, only one more step, and I could have recovered, broken the seal of the Primordial Heartlands, and returned to our Primordial God Frontier. Then, with the arrival of the army, everything would be destroyed.”

“Then you’re rather pitiful,” Xu Zimo replied.

“Boy, you carry my scent. Unless you never ascend, once you reach the Outer Heavens, my kind will sense it,” the insect said. “It brings you no benefit, only the threat of death. Why not let me go? I can let bygones be bygones.”

“Let you go?” Xu Zimo shook his head with a laugh. “I don’t think so. Perhaps this is a good thing.”

“What do you mean?” the insect asked.

“Your identity must not be ordinary,” Xu Zimo said. “Let me give you an example. Our True Martial Sacred Ground is the number one imperial lineage in the Eastern Continent. But even so, if an ordinary disciple disappears, few will notice. Only if someone of my level, a Holy Son, goes missing would the lineage move heaven and earth to find him. Your Primordial God Frontier must be the same. If no one comes looking, it means your identity is low, and I need not worry. But if someone comes after me, it proves you are extraordinary, and your life is in my hands. Tell me, what would they be willing to pay to exchange for you? Oh right, does your race have any treasures? Tell me, so I can see if your life is worth anything.”

Hearing Xu Zimo’s words, the insect cursed angrily, “Human, you are shameless. The Primordial God Frontier will never be threatened.”

“Then we’ll wait and see. For now, just stay here. Even if you want to die, you can’t,” Xu Zimo said.

After that, he ignored the insect. Paimon and the others came over from afar.

“Congratulations, my lord,” everyone congratulated.

“Heaven’s Will has chosen you; my lord has finally taken the first step.”

“Yes, but this is only the first step. The realm of Grand Emperor is both an end and a beginning,” Xu Zimo sighed. “After I rest for a hundred years, I will set out for the Outer Heavens, to battle in that greater world.”

Xu Zimo pointed to the insect and said, “Keep a close watch on it. Its identity is unusual; don’t let it play tricks.”

After giving Paimon and the others a few instructions, Xu Zimo returned to the Primordial Heartlands.

At this moment, the images carried by Heaven’s Will also vanished from the void, and no one knew the situation inside Sky-Trap Island.

Only the words, “I am the Infernal Emperor, and I shall dominate all things,” echoed through the void, spreading across the entire the Primordial Heartlands, falling into everyone’s ears and hearts.

“Infernal Emperor,” someone murmured. “So, this is his imperial title for this era.”

Many great imperial lineages sighed.

“In the end, we still lost.”

Before absolute power, all conspiracies and alliances are nothing but illusions, like flowers in the mirror or the moon in water, meaningless and unreal.

“In past generations, Grand Emperors always fought their way to the top. But when have we ever seen such a direct sweep?”

“Yes, when has there ever been a time when all prodigies fought against just one person?”

“This generation’s geniuses are all finished. I fear the Primordial Heartlands will now enter a barren period.”

The so-called barren period was when there was a gap in the rise of geniuses. With all the strong ones fallen, those left were just monkeys crowned kings in the absence of tigers.

“What does it matter? The Grand Emperor will remain on the Primordial Heartlands for a hundred years. This century belongs to him. After a hundred years, when he ascends, the geniuses will have recovered, and then prosperity will return.”

Those nearby explained.

For those who had seen the struggle for Heaven’s Will before, it was acceptable. But for many witnessing it for the first time, they were filled with awe.

This generation’s battle for Heaven’s Will had ended, and the Infernal Emperor inherited the era left behind by the previous Mortal Emperor. From this moment, he was the master of the Primordial Heartlands.

………

A lone small boat floated slowly in the boundless sea, drifting eastward toward the Eastern Continent.

This boat seemed to carry a special meaning. No matter how the waves surged, it remained unmoved. In the vast sea, it traveled steadily, calming the waves around it, exuding peace.

In the distance, the God Emperor stood upon a reef, gazing at the approaching boat.

“Congratulations,” he said with a smile.

In that moment, the God Emperor was also deeply moved. Fate truly was a strange thing.

Xu Zimo leaned against the corner of the boat, slowly opening his eyes and yawning.

“Why are you here?”

“To talk, and also for some matters,” the God Emperor replied.

He followed beside the boat, stepping on the water’s surface without causing a single ripple. Everything was tranquil.

“What matters?” Xu Zimo asked.

“The Ruins of Divinity will soon open. You’ll be going, won’t you?” the God Emperor asked.

“The Ruins of Divinity…” Xu Zimo thought for a moment.

It seemed that long ago he had an agreement with a clan called Fan, who promised to leave him a spot. But with his current status, he no longer needed that quota. If he wanted to go, who would dare stop him?

However, since so much time had passed, if the God Emperor hadn’t mentioned it, he might have almost forgotten.

“I’ll go take a look,” Xu Zimo nodded.