The tomb also had no name, but judging from its scale, it was clear that its owner was extraordinary.

Beneath the starlight sand was a massive door made of separation wood. Separation wood came from the Acacia Tree, but that species had gone extinct as far back as the Primordial Era. The only places where such wood could still be found were in these ancient ruins.

Xu Zimo walked up to the gate and saw that it was carved with a very old picture. It depicted a human figure, though it was already somewhat blurred. The figure held a long halberd, wore a robe of blue golden silk threads, had empty, lightless eyes, and long blue hair that fell loosely.

Just as Xu Zimo placed his hands on the door, a powerful force flung him back. At the same time, the entire tomb began to shake violently. The ground cracked open, the surrounding irregular tombs collapsed, and a howling yin wind swept through the cemetery.

“You’ve triggered the tomb’s restriction,” the God Emperor said calmly.

“Restriction?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Yes. Every tomb here has its own restriction, a kind of protection for the dead,” the God Emperor explained. “To enter a tomb, the restriction must first be broken.”

Xu Zimo looked around.

From the mounds of earth atop the graves, pairs of hands pushed through the soil and crawled up from the ground. The large tomb seemed to be the ruler of this kilometer-wide area. Its restriction had been triggered, causing all the smaller tombs around it to react as well.

From these smaller tombs, figures climbed out, their condition reflecting the level of cultivation they once had. Those with weaker cultivation had decayed into bare skeletons. Those who had been strong in life still retained their flesh, though their clothes were tattered.

They were like puppets, walking corpses, charging at Xu Zimo and the God Emperor. At a glance, there were dozens of them.

“These are not gods, nothing to be wary of,” the God Emperor said with a smile. “They’re more like servants of the gods. When I came to the Ruins of Divinity before, I stopped at this very tomb. I suspected that its master was a True God, so I didn’t enter out of caution.”

As he explained, the God Emperor’s power surged. The Grand Dao he comprehended was the God Dao.

Golden divine energy flowed in his hand with a noble majesty. With a flick of his finger, it erupted in a burst of blinding light.

It shot skyward, blocking out the falling snow above. Golden radiance covered the heavens. It was like an ocean splitting into countless rivers.

The light rained down, shimmering like gold upon the waves, dazzling and magnificent.

Below, the puppets charging toward them were swallowed by the golden light, their bodies disintegrating at a speed visible to the naked eye.

One ray of divine light, nothing could withstand it.

This was divinity.

“I suddenly thought of a question,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.

“What?” the God Emperor asked.

“What’s your relationship with the Primal God Race?”

This kind of power, Xu Zimo had once felt something similar when competing for Heaven’s Will, from the Primal God Race’s Holy Son, Chu Tianyang. He had never before considered that the God Emperor might have any connection to the Primal God Race, since the Divine Gate was an independent force.

“A few tens of thousands of years ago, we were one family,” the God Emperor replied with a smile.

“If you don’t want to say, I won’t press,” Xu Zimo said.

“It’s not that I don’t want to say, I just don’t want to mention that race anymore,” the God Emperor replied.

“Ah, so more grudges,” Xu Zimo waved his hand dismissively. He couldn’t be bothered to listen further, it was just a casual question anyway.

He placed his hands on the great door again, channeling his spiritforce. With force, he pushed down, and at last, with a creaking sound, the ancient door slowly opened.

The air inside was thick and foul, carrying a pungent stench. Likely because the place had been sealed too long, with no circulation.

The lighting was extremely poor, dim and oppressive.

“Let’s go,” Xu Zimo said, stepping inside first. The interior space was actually quite vast.

As soon as they entered, a heavy bang echoed behind them. The great door had shut on its own.

The two exchanged a glance, then continued forward.

It was a narrow passageway with no end in sight, unclear where it might lead.

After walking for more than ten minutes, their view finally opened up.

They had arrived inside a great hall.

Around the hall, many glowing pearls had been placed, still emitting a faint light even now.

At the very center stood nine blood-red coffins. Each one was suspended in midair, hanging from iron chains.

“Who dares trespass in my master’s resting place?” a hoarse voice came from within one of the coffins.

Then came a soft murmur.

“Two Grand Emperors in one era, now that is rare indeed.”

“Who are you?” the God Emperor asked.

The two of them had been seen through at a glance, yet the voice showed not the slightest fear, only mild surprise.

“You come into our tomb and yet don’t know who we are?” the voice from the coffins said.

“But it doesn’t matter. This is no longer our era. Our names have long since faded with time. Leave now. We will not trouble you.”

“We don’t wish to fight with seniors either,” the God Emperor said with a smile. “We only came to seek a few things.”

The coffin voice paused, then asked, “What things?”

“God Crystals.”

“Impossible.” The God Emperor’s words were cut off immediately.

“The God Crystals formed from the Godsfall are incomparably precious. More importantly, taking them is a desecration.”

“Whether it’s desecration or disrespect, I don’t give a crap,” Xu Zimo said. “We didn’t come here for nothing.”

“If that is so, then we shall fight,” the voice from the coffin said flatly.

With nine loud bangs, the nine coffins shook. Without hesitation, they opened.

Nine figures stepped out.

They were nine old men, all dressed in the same red robes.

Each was emaciated, skin clinging to bone, as if only a thin layer of flesh remained.

The only difference between them was their height, some as short as children, others towering over two meters.

In each of their eyes flickered sharp light.

From beneath their wide red robes, a storm-like pressure surged forth, wild and overwhelming.

“These later generations are growing more and more arrogant,” one of the old men said coldly.

“That’s still better than relying on age to act superior,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.

“Child, when we walked the world, you had not even been born yet,” the old man replied flatly. “We sought to retreat from the later ages, yet disturbances persist. Must we extract a price before peace is found?”

“Then let’s see if you truly have that ability,” the God Emperor said calmly.