Prologue

After coming of age... after coming of age... after coming of age... after coming of age... after coming of age... after coming of age... after coming of age... If you fight, fight to destroy heaven and earth; if you lust, be bold enough to shake the heavens; if you conquer, conquer all Three Realms and Six Paths...

Volume One: Emergence

Chapter One: Emergence

In the year 7840 of the Tianyu Continent, the Great War of the Nine Nations broke out. After more than ten years, four nations were destroyed, and the remaining five were left severely weakened, unable to continue fighting. The ruling classes of the five nations finally reached a consensus and signed a non-aggression pact.

The continent was desolate, everything in ruins and awaiting revival.

By 7878, more than twenty years had passed since the Great War of the Nine Nations. The remaining five nations—Qingfeng, Baiyue, Hantang, Wushuang, and Xinming—had recovered their strength after years of recuperation. The continent was thriving again, with prosperity and celebration everywhere.

Changsheng Valley was located within the Hantang Empire. All year round, the valley was lush and full of vitality.

There was an ancient legend here. It was said that in ancient times, a peerless Demon Lord lived in Changsheng Valley. His martial arts were unparalleled, dominating the continent, looking down on his contemporaries, and finding no worthy opponent.

For unknown reasons, the Demon Lord angered the immortals, and a great battle between immortals and demons erupted in the valley. The Demon Lord, a prodigy of the ages, actually cultivated his mortal body to the realm of both immortal and demon, his overwhelming power making even the immortals struggle to withstand him.

The battle lasted three days and three nights. As for the outcome, no one knew. Only long after did the residents outside the valley dare to enter and look. They saw devastation everywhere, the ground littered with broken branches and leaves, and piles of beast bones as high as mountains. For decades afterward, not a blade of grass grew in the valley, not a trace of life remained, only deathly silence.

About a hundred years later, the valley slowly regained its vitality, once again displaying the lush, vibrant scenery of Changsheng Valley throughout the four seasons.

Even so, no one was ever willing to set foot in the valley again.

These were, after all, just ancient legends, gradually forgotten as time passed.

In 7878, Changsheng Valley welcomed rare visitors—a family of four moved in to live there.

Three months later, on a certain night, the young woman in Changsheng Valley was about to give birth. Painful moans came intermittently from a thatched hut, mixed with the encouragement and comfort of an elderly woman.

A young man paced anxiously outside, his face full of worry. Meanwhile, a man in his fifties sat quietly on a chair in the courtyard, looking indescribably relaxed.

"Eric Smith, stop pacing. Don't worry, everything will be fine. When your mother gave birth to you, I wasn't nearly as flustered as you are. Back then, I set a table of food and wine in the courtyard, drinking by myself, 'awaiting the good news.'"

The young man stopped and laughed, "No wonder every time Mom talks about the past, she always scolds you."

Just then, a loud, clear cry pierced the stillness of the night.

"It's born, it's born!" The young man was so happy he nearly jumped up, turning to rush into the house.

But at that moment, something strange happened. A dazzling blood-red light burst from the hut, instantly filling the entire Changsheng Valley. Then, the brilliant blood-red light shot straight into the sky, outshining the stars and moon.

The young man was stunned, and the older man sprang to his feet.

At the same time, dozens of martial artists across the continent, all in pursuit of the ultimate martial path, simultaneously sensed something and looked toward Changsheng Valley.

On Chatiang Peak in the Wushuang Empire, an elderly man with white hair sat cross-legged on the ground, a spirited young man standing behind him.

The youth asked, "Master, what is that blood-red light soaring into the sky?"

The old man's eyes shone with divine light. Gazing at the blood-red beam thousands of miles away, he sighed, "It is defiance, it is rebellion."

In the Moonlight Hall of the Qingfeng Empire, an old woman murmured to herself, "Slaughter has come."

In the Cloudsmoke Pavilion of the Xinming Empire, a whisper was heard, "A piece of obliterated history."

In the Baiyue Empire, an elder said, "Soaring immortal, breaking through the void."

In the Hantang Empire, someone said, "The battle of immortals and demons."

At the summit of Yunshan, someone said, "Undying and unperishing."

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The blood-red light that shot into the sky lasted for half a minute, then suddenly vanished without a trace.

The young man snapped out of his daze and shouted as he rushed into the hut.

He saw his delicate and beautiful wife lying wearily on the bed, while his mother—the old lady—was playing with a chubby, jade-like baby. The baby was neither crying nor fussing, its big, bright black eyes staring unblinkingly at him.

The young man cried out excitedly, "Mom, is this my child?"

"Shh, keep your voice down. Don't wake Olivia Smith. She just gave birth and is still very weak."

The young man asked nervously, "Olivia Smith is all right, isn't she?"

The old lady smiled, "She's fine. You're a father now, yet still so flustered. Come, take a look at your precious son. See how adorable he is."

The old lady's face was full of doting affection.

The young man reached out to take the baby, unable to resist planting a kiss on the baby's chubby little cheek.