“What is it?” he asked.

“How much do you know about the Ruins of Divinity?” the God Emperor asked.

“I haven’t had the chance to learn about it yet,” Xu Zimo replied.

It was said that the Ruins of Divinity were the final place where the gods vanished during the Legendary Era.

In that age where gods filled the land, divinities ruled the world.

Until one day, the War God waged a battle against the other gods for unknown reasons.

After that battle, came the Godsfall, and from then on, no god remained in the world.

Even all traces and legends about them disappeared without a shadow.

Only the existence of the Ruins of Divinity, as the last place, symbolized the glory of that era.

But the conditions to enter the ruins were harsh, even the Grand Emperors could not bypass them.

They only opened once every hundred years.

In the past, the ruins had always been occupied exclusively by the Middle Continent’s forces, not allowing outsiders to intrude.

But given Xu Zimo and the God Emperor’s status now, no one would dare to stop them.

That was all Xu Zimo knew about the ruins. As for what lay inside, he had no idea.

“I came to find you because I want us to explore it together,” the God Emperor said. “I went once before, but there were places even I felt were dangerous and didn’t dare force my way through. This time, with you there, we can look out for each other.”

“Alright,” Xu Zimo nodded. “When the ruins open, come to the True Martial Sacred Ground.”

The God Emperor nodded slightly, then asked, “What are your plans for now?”

“Nothing much, just stabilizing my realm and probing toward the next level,” Xu Zimo replied.

The realms beyond Grand Emperor were no longer the same as the lower ones.

The Grand Emperor Realm was divided into five sub-stages.

They were Yin-Yang Stage, Void Tribulant Stage, God-Unity Stage, Life-Death Stage, and finally the Sovereign Lord Stage.

The gap between these stages was like an unbridgeable chasm.

What Xu Zimo had just accomplished, bearing the Heaven's Will, was only stepping into the Grand Emperor realm. He had not even reached the first stage, Yin-Yang.

A hundred years would be enough for him to reach Yin-Yang, and then ascend to the Outer Heavens.

At such a level, advancement depended entirely on comprehension.

On enlightenment.

Some could awaken in one night, break through, and step forward.

Others would spend their entire lives with no progress until death, living in regret.

After exchanging a few words, the two parted ways.

The small boat sailed smoothly. Xu Zimo was still adapting to the power within his body.

After bearing the Heaven's Will and entering the Grand Emperor realm, his strength had skyrocketed.

He needed time to adjust. Before, his body was like a stormy sea, power surging violently.

Occasional muffled booms echoed from within him.

Now, that power was gradually calming, like a gentle stream flowing quietly through him.

If one looked closely, one could see his blood slowly turning golden.

His eyes carried more and more pressure.

In fact, in Xu Zimo’s eyes, even his vision of the world seemed different.

He could see the floating essences of countless attributes around him.

The movement of the air, every subtle detail of existence.

It felt as though the higher he went, the more he could see through the essence of the world.

Above the Nomological Truths were the Primal Daos, above the Primal Daos were the Primordial Edicts. Beyond that, what was there?

Xu Zimo did not know. He would have to wait until he reached the Outer Heavens to find out.

……

After bearing the Heaven's Will, he did not make a big spectacle.

Even though the whole Primordial Heartlands now buzzed with the news that the new Grand Emperor, titled Infernal Emperor, was none other than the True Martial Sacred Ground’s current Holy Son.

Xu Zimo returned to the Eastern Continent. With a wave of his right hand, the void before him split open, forming a void gate. His figure stepped through, and minutes later he appeared at the gates of the True Martial Sacred Ground.

The purple robe was long gone, replaced by a white robe.

The robe was embroidered on the back with golden waves, and its sleeves and collar were carefully tailored.

At this time, the spring breeze was mild, the sunlight warm.

Xu Zimo walked through the sect’s mountain gate.

The two disciples guarding the gate hurriedly greeted, “Greetings, Infernal Emperor!”

Xu Zimo smiled and waved.

Watching him walk away, the two stared blankly for a long while.

“A Grand Emperor, alive. In my lifetime, I’ve actually seen a living Grand Emperor.”

“Yes, with our True Martial Sacred Ground now holding five Emperors, we will surely become the strongest force in the Primordial Heartlands.”

“Even the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground was defeated by the Holy Son. Who else would dare oppose us?”

……

Xu Zimo first went to Green Mountain to see his parents.

No matter how vast the world, family came first.

Wenren Yun and Xu Qingshan seemed to have been waiting for him.

Xu Qingshan patted his shoulder, looked him up and down, and laughed, “Good, you’re back.”

“Let me see, are you hurt anywhere?” Wenren Yun asked with concern. She had seen during the Heaven’s Will battle how everyone had besieged Xu Zimo.

Xu Zimo smiled and shook his head.

He chatted briefly with his parents, but felt they seemed to be holding something back, as though they had words left unsaid.

“Dad, Mon, what’s wrong?” Xu Zimo asked directly. “If there’s something, just say it. In this world, there’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Since you asked, then I’ll speak plainly,” Wenren Yun replied. “Your path of cultivation, your choices, we have never stopped you. We’ve always let you decide. But now you’ve reached the Grand Emperor realm, standing atop the world. I know it won’t be long before you will have to leave this world. All this way, it’s been nothing but cultivation. Have you never thought of anything else?”

“What else?” Xu Zimo asked, confused.

He truly didn’t understand. Other than cultivation, what else was there?

“Your marriage, of course. They say among the unfilial, having no descendants is the grandest sin,” Wenren Yun quickly said. “You’ve never thought about this?”

Xu Zimo almost wanted to reply, ‘Women only slow me down when drawing my sword.’

But after some thought, he didn’t say it.

“Mother, this isn’t urgent,” Xu Zimo said instead.

“How is it not urgent? I tell you, before you ascend, leave us a grandchild,” Wenren Yun said. “Otherwise, your father and I will always feel empty inside.”

Seeing her anxious expression, Xu Zimo fell silent.

Parents everywhere, most of their thoughts are always on their children.

Hoping they grow up, start a family, and carry on the line.

He was their only son. If he left, whether they would ever meet again was uncertain.

“I’ll think about it,” Xu Zimo finally said.

Wenren Yun was about to continue, but Xu Qingshan stopped her.

“Let him think about it. Don’t push him too hard.”

Then Xu Qingshan said, “Go visit the ancestors. They’re likely eager to see you too.”