Everyone present was momentarily stunned, staring at the Wheel-Turning Saint King, rendered speechless.
If one were to rank authority and credibility across the entire Ancient Continent, the Wheel-Turning Saint King was undoubtedly at the apex.
Emperor Jinshan also paused, then frowned, looking at the Saint King and saying, “Brother Saint King, have you divined something? Yet, you once said you could not calculate the Heavenly Dao.”
The Wheel-Turning Saint King nodded. “It is true I could not calculate it back then. The Heavenly Dao was too potent then. Now that he has fallen, his fortune is less dense, so calculation is possible. Originally, since he is dead, I had no intention of speaking of these matters. I did not expect everyone to still be so incensed today. Although I was one of the participants in slaying the Heavenly Dao, I have come to know the truth over these past millions of years, and I have been filled with remorse every moment since.”
A shared premonition, as if something was about to be uncovered, gripped everyone's hearts. They exchanged glances, saying nothing more, watching the Wheel-Turning Saint King quietly.
The Saint King’s voice carried a measure of weariness. “In my divinations, I learned of the Heavenly Dao’s entire life journey. His origins were tragic. His mother was a noblewoman of high standing, but upon giving birth, she discovered he was born crippled and intellectually deficient—somewhat slow-witted. To avoid angering the master of the estate and diminishing her own status within the manor, she secretly sent him away to a remote village.”
“However, the rural couple who adopted the Heavenly Dao were violent barbarians. From childhood, they forced him to perform all manner of farm labor, treating him like an ox or a horse. If he performed even slightly poorly, the whip would come down upon him.”
“When the Heavenly Dao was about eight or nine, bandits suddenly raided the village, slaughtering men and assaulting women. The bandit leader, upon seeing the Heavenly Dao standing dazedly at the edge of the corpses, mistook his terror for audacity. He took delight in him and brought him into the mountain stronghold as a junior underling, unaware that the Heavenly Dao was, in reality, paralyzed by fear.”
Everyone present was struck dumb, unable to utter a sound.
The Wheel-Turning Saint King continued, “After the Heavenly Dao entered the bandit stronghold, his congenital dullness made his reactions slow. Others saw he was easy to bully and assigned all the menial tasks to him. He would simply scratch his head and smile foolishly as he accepted. Yet, a fool often has a fool’s luck. While others secretly slacked off from the cultivation regimen set by the bandit leader, he, ignorant of how to slack, advanced his skills remarkably quickly. Later, the local secular government came to exterminate the bandits, and he alone managed to escape, wandering aimlessly thereafter.”
“During this wandering, a wealthy man took pity on him and accepted him as a house servant. Later, another servant stole items from the estate and framed him for the theft, leading to his arrest by the authorities and imprisonment in the dungeons, where he endured various tortures. Then, several demigods suddenly arrived in that city, burning, killing, and looting. Amidst the chaos, he managed to flee in confusion, drifting everywhere. After experiencing countless hardships, one day he accidentally stumbled into the fissure connecting the Dark Great World to the Ancient Great World and was taken as a disciple by that person.”
“That person taught him various secret manuals, instructed him in the arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. His kindness was immense, like a mountain. He became the most terrifying assassin under that person, achieving great renown in the Dark Great World! Later, his intelligence gradually awakened, and his disposition changed from dullness. Through years of conflict, he forged an unyielding, resolute spirit!” Silence fell over the crowd.
The Wheel-Turning Saint King stated, “Later, he followed that person’s command and came to the Ancient World, intending to coordinate an internal and external attack to crush the Ancient World.”
Everyone’s expression shifted, realizing that with the Heavenly Dao’s might, combined with that person’s power, the consequences would be unimaginable!
A slight smile touched the corner of the Wheel-Turning Saint King’s mouth. “Fortunately, at that time, he encountered someone—the Lord of the Light Hall!” As he spoke, he looked toward the Lord of the Light Hall.
All eyes in the assembly turned toward the Lord of the Light Hall, their expressions filled with a degree of astonishment.
The Wheel-Turning Saint King smiled faintly. “The Lord of the Light Hall at that time had infiltrated the mortal world. You and the Heavenly Dao met by chance. You were playing the zither and reciting poetry in the bamboo cottage by the waterfall springs. The Heavenly Dao mistakenly wandered into that place, heard your music, and felt a deep longing. From then on, he came to sit quietly before the waterfall at that same time every day to listen to your playing.”
“The Lord of the Light Hall possessed a compassionate heart; her music was filled with benevolence, warmth, light, and universal love. This was completely different from anything the Heavenly Dao had ever experienced, so he became obsessed; he fell in love with your music.”
The Wheel-Turning Saint King quietly recounted those ancient memories.
A flush rose on the Lord of the Light Hall’s snow-white cheeks, and a thread of sweetness and yearning shimmered in her eyes.
Seeing her reaction, everyone knew the Wheel-Turning Saint King spoke the truth. They were suddenly filled with wonder, never imagining that the meeting between these two was so romantic.
The Wheel-Turning Saint King smiled again. “As time passed, the Heavenly Dao wished to meet the owner of that music. In truth, the Lord of the Light Hall was also secretly observing this man. After they met, they quickly became lovers. It was the Lord of the Light Hall’s benevolence that gradually influenced the Heavenly Dao, planting seeds of doubt regarding his past actions.”
“Later, the Lord of the Light Hall had to leave hastily due to matters within her Hall. The Heavenly Dao was lost and wandered around, eventually encountering the Ice Snow Great Emperor in the North Sea!”
Everyone was startled and turned to look at the Ice Snow Great Emperor.
This beautiful and gentle woman had a slight blush on her cheeks. She lowered her head slightly, her eyes lingering like autumn water, immersed in recollection.
The Wheel-Turning Saint King smiled. “That time, the Ice Snow Great Emperor was cultivating alone on a desolate island and nearly suffered Qi deviation. The Heavenly Dao had come there primarily to scout the North Sea terrain, but unexpectedly encountered the Ice Snow Great Emperor. After that incident between you two, coupled with the Ice Snow Great Emperor’s gentleness, the killing intent within his heart was soothed. From then on, you lived together on that isolated island for several hundred years.”
“During this period, the Heavenly Dao learned of the Ice Snow Great Emperor’s identity. He reported all his intelligence to that person. Later, that person sent a secret order, commanding the Heavenly Dao to kill the Ice Snow Great Emperor!”
The crowd gasped in shock; even the Ice Snow Great Emperor’s heart skipped a beat, and she stared at the Wheel-Turning Saint King in astonishment.
The Wheel-Turning Saint King slowly continued, “It was on that occasion that the Heavenly Dao defied that person for the first time. He was conflicted, torn between two difficult choices, and ultimately chose to leave the Ice Snow Great Emperor secretly, preparing to return and accept punishment. On his way back, however, he ran into the Lord of the Heavenly Thunder Hall, who was playing amidst the mountains on her Thunder Qilin.” Everyone looked toward the girl in purple, and thinking of her spirited personality, they couldn't help but smile wryly.
The Wheel-Turning Saint King slowly narrated, “After they met, due to certain circumstances, deep affection quickly blossomed between them. Later, the Heavenly Dao had to return to the Dark Great World due to ongoing matters, and they parted ways. Not long after, he successively met the Red Lotus Hall Master and the Black Snow Clan Leader!”
People couldn't help but look toward the enchanting woman in red floating in the sky, and the Black Snow Clan Leader draped in black robes, feeling a mixture of amusement and exasperation. They realized that the most beautiful women of the Ancient World were all the Heavenly Dao’s lovers.
The Wheel-Turning Saint King’s expression slowly grew solemn. “Upon his return, the Heavenly Dao voluntarily sought punishment. That person saw that rebellion was stirring in his heart and knew he could not be heavily relied upon, yet it would be a pity to kill him. Thus, he was gently pardoned and continued to be sent to the Ancient World to gather intelligence. Afterward, that person spread the news of the Heavenly Dao Scripture he possessed throughout the Ancient World. Consequently, numerous Divine Emperor powerhouses across the Ancient World learned about the Heavenly Dao Scripture through various public channels. Each one felt an uncontrollable itching desire to seize this scripture; some, however, did not believe it and ignored the news.”
Recalling the past, everyone knew the Wheel-Turning Saint King’s words were correct.
Then, the Wheel-Turning Saint King continued slowly, “This alone did not expose the Heavenly Dao. Later, that person employed a secret technique of his own, called the ‘Great Thousand Art,’ transforming his body into thousands of forms, infiltrating the Ancient Continent. He spread vicious rumors about the Heavenly Dao everywhere, engineering all sorts of tragic events, until the Heavenly Dao’s reputation was utterly ruined.”
“By then, the Heavenly Dao had already guessed that person’s actions, but remembering the immense debt of gratitude, he did not become enraged enough to stop him. Moreover, the Heavenly Dao was inherently a man of carefree spirit, unbothered by universal condemnation. From that point on, he did not return to the Dark Great World, knowing that that person would surely move against him there. Thus, he remained in the Ancient World.”
“Later, people gradually became fascinated by the Heavenly Dao Scripture, and one after another, they came seeking the Heavenly Dao. Some were killed; others escaped. Those who escaped harbored deep resentment toward the Heavenly Dao and followed suit, spreading rumors, which caused the Heavenly Dao’s name to become completely disgraced, making him a target for everyone.”
“This culminated in the event where the entire Ancient Continent besieged the Heavenly Dao.” The Wheel-Turning Saint King couldn't help but let out a long sigh at this point, murmuring, “Such a great hero fell between heaven and earth. It is my greatest regret in life that I could not become his friend!”
The crowd fell silent.
Emperor Jinshan also paused, then sank into silence.
The Lord of the Light Hall tightly bit her lower lip, her body trembling slightly. Especially the Ice Snow Great Emperor; two clear streams of tears flowed from her eyes. She never imagined that the heartless man she had hated for a lifetime would ultimately defy that person, to whom he owed a father’s debt of gratitude, just for her sake, allowing her to escape calamity—otherwise, with the Heavenly Dao’s strength, killing her would have been effortless.
Even Ye Chen, standing below, felt a surge of emotion. He never suspected that his carefree Master’s background was so tragic, that neither the Dark Great World nor the Ancient World offered him a place to belong.
The adoptive father who raised him framed and sought to kill him.
The woman he loved also sought to kill him.
His friends, one by one, rebelled because of the Heavenly Dao Scripture.
Though heaven and earth were vast, there was no place for him to reside.
“Master,” Ye Chen thought silently, raising his head to look at the myriad Divine Emperor powerhouses gathered outside, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Black Snow gritted her teeth, looking at the Wheel-Turning Saint King. “Saint King, just how many women did the Heavenly Dao have?”
The Wheel-Turning Saint King glanced at her and sighed faintly. “Do you want the truth or a lie?”
“The truth!” Black Snow answered without hesitation.
“As far as I know, there were exactly 3028 in total! Among these 3028, 3000 possessed Divine Emperor level strength; the remaining 28 were ordinary mortals, not even reaching the Ghost God Realm,” the Wheel-Turning Saint King slowly recounted. “Currently, only 1802 still survive.”
When Black Snow heard this number, her body trembled. Although she had prepared herself mentally, she never expected the quantity to be this immense!
The Wheel-Turning Saint King smiled faintly. “This cannot be entirely blamed on him. Heroes throughout history are known for their deep affections, and the Heavenly Dao was such an exceptional man; countless women fell in love with him. Furthermore, mortal emperors keep three thousand beauties; how much more so for him? So, you need not blame him. Though the women he loved were many, every single one was cherished sincerely—that much I can guarantee.”
The Lord of the Light Hall and the others remained silent.
The Wheel-Turning Saint King turned his head toward Ye Chen and smiled faintly. “Youngster, are you from the Ancient World?”
I recommend a friend’s book; everyone should recognize it: Brother Can Jian’s Dream Stealing King.
Synopsis: Cosmic stars form the Taiji, the Self transforms into Bodhi and enters dreams.
A young man from the metropolis wakes up to find himself transported back to the ancient, myth-laden world. He possesses the ability to manipulate dreams, borrowing the Bodhi to observe dreams and cultivate through them. In dreams, no secret can remain hidden; no cultivation technique, insight, or ability can escape extraction to become my specialty.