The Ice-Snow Great Emperor, with hair like a waterfall of azure blue, cast a soft glance at the Withered Wood Great Emperor, a gentle smile gracing his lips. “Mr. Divine Tree is not in seclusion at the Nine God Terrace, yet you have also come. The allure of the Heavenly Dao Scripture is truly great.”

The Withered Wood Great Emperor offered a slight smile. Everyone else who had reached his level of power addressed him as Mr. Divine Tree; it was his true name. He chuckled softly, “The importance of the Heavenly Dao Scripture defies mere words. That Heavenly Dao is far too selfish. If this scripture were shared, it could elevate the overall strength of the Ancient World by a hundred million times. Then, suppressing the Great Dark World would be nothing short of effortless!”

“Easily said than done,” the girl in purple scoffed. “The Great Dark World has that man guarding it. Although the Heavenly Dao belongs to our Ancient World, he is an orphan whom that man took as his disciple—a debt of gratitude as profound as fatherly love. Even though he never forgot his origins and returned to the Ancient Continent, why would he help us fight against his own father?”

“One can only say the Heavenly Dao’s vision is too short-sighted and self-serving; he simply doesn't understand the bigger picture!” stated the Golden Mountain Great Emperor coldly from the side.

The girl in purple became furious, her cheeks flushing crimson, her delicate body trembling with anger. Just then, the Hall Master of Light beside her suddenly interjected, “Golden Mountain Great Emperor, your words are misplaced. The Heavenly Dao suffered humiliation from humanity since childhood, starting as a mere slave, enduring scorn from all sides, and bearing the bitter suffering of the mortal world. Finally, he was accepted as a disciple by that man. This kindness is as heavy as a mountain. The fact that he did not defect to fight against the Ancient World already makes him an exceptionally benevolent and righteous gentleman!” The Golden Mountain Great Emperor frowned, giving her a meaningful look. “How would you know the Heavenly Dao started as a child slave? And who says the Heavenly Dao hasn't moved against people from the Ancient World? Hmph! Are the people slaughtered by his hand over the years few in number? Which one present here hasn't suffered his humiliation?”

“Indeed, indeed!”

“That traitor Heavenly Dao is too detestable!” “Utterly despicable and shameless, devoid of conscience!” “My son was killed by him simply for blocking his path!”

“He also violated my wife!!”

The surrounding crowd erupted in indignation, their expressions filled with resentment and fury. Each person’s veins bulged on the back of their hands as they grimaced, their faces contorted in anger.

The always-silent Shen Shuang, her teeth lightly clenched on her lower lip, seemed to have made a resolute decision in her shimmering eyes. Gritting her teeth, she finally roared, “Stop it all!!”

Everyone froze, looking at the woman who had suddenly erupted in anger.

Under their gaze, Shen Shuang felt an overwhelming oppressive power, but having spoken her piece, she was resolved to stake everything. She shouted, “The Heavenly Dao is absolutely not as you describe! I understand him! The compassion in his heart is something none of you can match, and the humiliation he suffered is something none of you can imagine! He walks so carefully he fears crushing an ant; he would never needlessly kill the innocent. If your relatives were killed, there must have been a reason; it is definitely not what you imagine!” As she spoke, tears streamed down her face, her voice choking with emotion. The grievances accumulated in her heart burst forth. Despite struggling fiercely to hold them back, crystalline tears still carved two paths down her cheeks…

Dripping, in the wind.

The crowd was momentarily stunned, but quickly snapped back to attention, glaring at her with fierce eyes.

“Shen Shuang, as the Lord of the Divine Realm Civilization, you cannot speak nonsense!”

“Nonsense! I clearly saw the Heavenly Dao kill my son! My son was so well-behaved; he was killed simply because he wasn't walking as fast as the Heavenly Dao in front of him, making him an obstacle!” “What right do you have to erase the sins of the Heavenly Dao with a few words? Who knows what charm potion he gave you to make you shield him so shamelessly!”

“Shen Shuang, if I recall correctly, you were one of those who participated in the killing of the Heavenly Dao last time, weren’t you?”

Shen Shuang looked at their ferocious faces, gritting her silver teeth, her body trembling slightly. She silently lowered her head, gazing at the void beneath her feet, as if this tiny patch of ground was the only reality left in the world.

A deep breath.

She clenched her hand, her voice tinged with inexpressible bitterness and sorrow, whispering, “Yes, I was among those who killed him back then. I was blinded by rage. After he died, my hatred vanished.”

“As long as, as long as.”

“As long as he can appear before me again, no matter what happens, I will not hate him anymore.” The woman’s voice drifted quietly across the sky. The Hall Master of Light, Hei Xue, and the others stiffened for a moment, then fell silent. Even the Ice-Snow Great Emperor and the Red Lotus Hall Master high above flickered their eyes, their expressions complex.

“Heh!” “To fall in love with such a villain, truly shameless!” The hundreds of people around sneered, looking at Shen Shuang with contempt.

Ye Chen remained silent, thinking of his master, the Heaven Dao, so majestic and lofty; thinking of the ethereal figure standing atop the crystal sphere, his imposing stature, his unparalleled might, and his carefree, unrestrained tone…

He truly found it hard to believe that Master Heavenly Dao had risen from slavery. And yet, this man, upon his departure, had never mentioned seeking revenge for him. That breadth of heart alone was enough to earn his reverence!

He sighed inwardly, feeling a deep, inexpressible discomfort. He could almost picture that wild, untamed man ultimately being besieged by the entire world, and the crushing sorrow he must have felt in his final moments when even the woman he loved turned against him…

Just then, a brilliant light suddenly pierced the sky, followed by the sound of a dragon’s roar. A sharp sword cry tore through the heavens and earth, abruptly landing in the absolute center of the assembled crowd. Within this column of light, two figures slowly materialized. As the light faded, the onlookers finally saw them clearly: on the left stood a man with a golden dragon pattern embroidered on his chest, refined and handsome, smiling elegantly, poised like a graceful young nobleman.

On the right was a man in white, radiating scholarly grace, his expression gentle, his eyes as deep as the vast starry sky, carrying a frightening calm that startled the heart, as if nothing could escape the scrutiny of those placid eyes.

Whoosh—

“Dragon Spring Great Emperor!”

“Reincarnation Holy King!!”

Everyone gasped in shock at the appearance of these two, their hearts trembling. The Dragon Spring Great Emperor was a powerhouse ranked very high among the Ten Great Empires, possessing strength that shook antiquity.

And the Reincarnation Holy King was even more formidable—the Hall Master of the Samsara Temple, possessing boundless cultivation and mastery over a secret art of divination; no worldly affair could escape his sight. Moreover, in combat, this man could anticipate his enemy’s moves, achieving unexpected victories, making him the most troublesome opponent.

The most troublesome aspect was that if anyone displeased him, he could reveal their most embarrassing secrets to the world, making it impossible for them to show their faces again.

Everyone present knew that the Dragon Spring Great Emperor and the Reincarnation Holy King were old friends of many years, sharing deep camaraderie, yet it was unexpected for them to appear together here.

As soon as the Reincarnation Holy King appeared, he glanced toward Ye Chen, a hint of surprise on his face, his deep eyes showing traces of contemplation.

At this moment, the Dragon Spring Great Emperor beside him smiled and said, “Everyone has arrived quite early; luckily, we are not late either. We managed to make it. Looking at the situation, has the Heavenly Dao Scripture not been distributed yet? Why don't we simply announce it, and everyone can copy a volume?”

The Golden Mountain Great Emperor immediately nodded. “An excellent idea. Otherwise, if we fight for it, we might injure our harmony. Besides, in a million years, the Great Dark World will attack the Ancient World for the Great Saint War, and that man will also appear. It wouldn't be worth it if a few of us get injured or accidentally perish.”

This statement resonated deeply with everyone. Although the temptation of the Heavenly Dao Scripture was hard to resist, the thought of the Great Saint War a million years hence made them hesitate. Otherwise, a fight would have broken out long ago.

Bai Tian frowned, “This is not advisable. The Heavenly Dao Scripture belongs to my son-in-law. If everyone wants it, fine, but you can only have the first six levels! If you want more, bring items for exchange. I believe my son-in-law is reasonable.”

All eyes turned toward Ye Chen, their expressions hostile.

Ye Chen stated calmly, “With your current strength, cultivating the Heavenly Dao Scripture will not be difficult. Once the Great Saint War begins, I will naturally share it with everyone, contributing a small effort to my Human Race. However, not yet!”

Many clenched their fists, showing anger; some remained silent in thought, while others sneered.

“Hmph, young whelp, do you take us for three-year-old children?” a soft-spoken man sneered.

Ye Chen glanced at him. “I don’t consider you a three-year-old; please don’t insult the intelligence of a three-year-old.”

The soft-spoken man choked, then became enraged. “You’re asking for death!” Saying this, he stomped forward, preparing to seize Ye Chen through the air.

Bai Tian’s eyes turned cold. “Are you seeking death?” The soft-spoken man’s expression shifted slightly. He glanced fearfully at Bai Tian, then his eyes darted around cunningly. “Patriarch Bai, your son-in-law is the heinous successor of the Heavenly Dao. Yet you shield this petty thief? Everyone knows your intentions—you want to hoard the Heavenly Dao Scripture for yourself! But with so many Hall Masters and Great Emperors present today, we will never let you succeed!”

Thunder flickered in the purple-clad girl’s eyes, and she spoke coldly, “If you dare speak ill of the Heavenly Dao again, I will ensure you never experience reincarnation!”

The soft-spoken man’s face changed, and he immediately shut up, retreating a few steps, silent.

The Golden Mountain Great Emperor beside him chuckled lightly, “The Heavenly Dao is despicable and vile; are we not even allowed to speak of it?” The purple-clad girl looked at him angrily. “You are jealous, plain and simple jealousy!” The Golden Mountain Great Emperor’s expression stiffened momentarily, but he reacted quickly, sneering, “Idiot woman!”

“You!” The purple-clad girl exploded in fury.

“Everyone,” suddenly, the Reincarnation Holy King, who had remained silent, spoke up. He sighed with an air of melancholy. “We are all of the same race; why rush to fight amongst ourselves? In truth, we were all wrong back then. The Heavenly Dao was not like that. His nature was free-spirited and kind, unrestrained and dashing—a truly righteous gentleman. Although he was that man’s disciple, he could not bear to watch humanity be extinguished by the advance of the Great Dark World, which is why he rebelled.”