Chapter One: The Imperial Ancestor Lingluo

In the depths of the star domain’s core, an unimaginably massive planet stood tall, with billions of stars around it appearing so insignificant in comparison that even the brilliance of the suns could not illuminate a fraction of this colossal planet.

At the center of this giant planet stood the majestic Hall of the Heavens, a vast structure spanning tens of millions of miles, the sacred forbidden ground of the Lingluo Empire.

Since its construction, only five people have ever set foot in the Hall of the Heavens—namely, the successive great emperors of the Lingluo Empire.

It was precisely the emergence of these five legendary emperors that allowed the Lingluo Empire, in just thirty-six thousand years, to rise from a planetary-level civilization to a super-civilization empire uniting eight major star systems.

Within the known reaches of the vast universe, among the interstellar alliance of over a hundred million civilized nations, the Lingluo Empire had already become the strongest empire—bar none.

Whether in technological might or the overall strength of its people, the Lingluo Empire had reached a level unattainable by any other.

To give the simplest example: even an ordinary soldier in the Lingluo Empire’s legion, with the support of imperial technology, possessed the power to destroy a small asteroid single-handedly.

And as for the most powerful supreme being of the Lingluo Empire—the current supreme sovereign, Emperor Ethan—he could, without any external aid, destroy hundreds of giant planets by his own strength alone.

At this very moment, the ten-thousand-zhang-tall, godlike Emperor Ethan was gazing at the “Eye of Heaven” at the center of the Hall of the Heavens, pondering a matter he had long struggled to decide.

“Six thousand eight hundred years... I am finally reaching the end of my life... The ancestral edict foretold this day would come... but I am not confident...”

Gently rubbing the ring on his finger, a trace of struggle flashed through the eyes of Emperor Ethan, deep as black holes.

The Great Xingluo Ring—symbol of the supreme sovereign of the Lingluo Empire, and also the source of Emperor Ethan’s boundless power. This ring, passed down through five generations of great emperors, was now dim and lusterless, having lost its former brilliance that once shone like a star.

In this vast universe, only five people knew the secret of the “Great Xingluo Ring.” Four of them were already gone; now, only Emperor Ethan before him knew the secret of this ring.

This “Great Xingluo Ring” belonged to the first emperor of the Lingluo Empire, the peerless powerhouse known as “Emperor Ancestor Sullivan.”

No one knew the origin of this item; not even the all-encompassing “Imperial Court Secret History” recorded a single word about it. All that was known was that when Emperor Ancestor Sullivan first appeared in the world, he already possessed this ring.

The rise of the Lingluo Empire to its current status as a super-civilization uniting eight major star systems was intimately connected to this “Great Xingluo Ring.”

The “Great Xingluo Ring” had been depleted of energy for three hundred years. During these three centuries, Emperor Ethan had tried every method he could think of, but had not been able to replenish even a trace of energy into it.

A “Great Xingluo Ring” that could not be activated was no different from a mere ornament.

Now, Emperor Ethan was no longer willing to wait. No matter how great the risk, he had to bear it, for his lifespan was nearly at its end.

If the “Great Xingluo Ring” could be reactivated, Emperor Ethan could use this divine artifact to extend his life by another thousand years. As one who stood at the pinnacle of life in the universe, as long as he could continue to live, it was worth any risk, no matter the cost.

Standing before the “Eye of Heaven,” the mountain-like figure of Emperor Ethan trembled slightly.

The deep blue, black-hole-like spring before him was a treasure he had obtained by mobilizing the power of the entire nation, sweeping through three major star systems, and annihilating countless cosmic powerhouses.

It was said to be a divine artifact containing the ultimate source of energy in the universe.

Throughout the universe, only this “Eye of Heaven” could replenish the energy of the “Great Xingluo Ring”!

Emperor Ethan slowly removed the “Great Xingluo Ring,” which he had never taken off since inheriting the throne, as various rumors about the “Eye of Heaven” flashed through his mind—or perhaps it was more accurate to call them legends.

Some said the Eye of Heaven was the source of the universe’s energy, containing terrifying power capable of destroying star systems.

Some said the Eye of Heaven was a passage connecting billions of parallel spaces, and once activated, it could link to unknown alternate dimensions.

Others said the Eye of Heaven was the supreme energy body from before the last great destruction of the universe, a miracle utterly beyond the comprehension of the current era.

Emperor Ethan did not delve deeply into these legends; he simply remembered the ancestral edict passed down through generations—finding a divine artifact with the same aura as the “Great Xingluo Ring” was the only way to solve the problem of its depleted energy.

Emperor Ethan spent eight years studying the energy properties contained within the “Eye of Heaven.” Just a few dozen days ago, he sensed a trace of similar aura from both the “Eye of Heaven” and the “Great Xingluo Ring.”