“You’ve come out of seclusion,” Xu Qingshan asked with a smile.

“Yes,” Xu Zimo nodded.

“I’ve stepped down from the position of Vice-Lord,” Xu Qingshan said. “From now on I can be more relaxed, spend more time with your mother. When are you planning to leave?”

“Tomorrow,” Xu Zimo was silent for a moment before speaking.

“It is time to leave. Whether sooner or later, you must eventually go,” Xu Qingshan smiled. He walked forward, patted Xu Zimo’s shoulder. “Be a man.”

At that moment, Wenren Yun walked out from the house.

In her arms she carried a bundle.

She came to Xu Zimo, straightened his clothes, smoothed his hair back from his forehead. Then she smiled and said, “These are clothes your mother made for you. Take them with you.”

Xu Zimo received the large bundle of clothes and nodded heavily.

“Go,” Wenren Yun’s voice trembled with sobs. She forced back her emotions and said, “Mother won’t ask you to give her a grandchild anymore. Just promise me, take care of yourself, live on, all right?”

“Thank you, mom. I will.” Xu Zimo laughed.

Wenren Yun smiled faintly, then took out a jade bracelet from her bosom. She placed the jade bracelet in Xu Zimo’s palm, smiled and said, “This was originally prepared for your future wife. You keep it. If one day you meet someone suitable, give this to her. Let it be a gift from your mother.”

Xu Zimo was silent, a little sorrowful.

Since his rebirth, his journey had always been smooth.

It seemed everything was within his grasp.

He had never encountered setbacks or grief, but at this moment of farewell, he could not help but feel sadness.

“Prepare yourself well, go,” Wenren Yun said.

…

Leaving Green Mountain, Xu Zimo stored away the bundle.

He let the True Martial Sacred Ground spread the message.

Tomorrow he would ascend to the Outer Heavens, and at that time the gate from the Primordial Heartlands to the Outer Heavens would be opened.

If anyone wished to go together to the Outer Heavens, they should gather quickly at the True Martial Sacred Ground.

The Heavenly Gate would remain open for one day.

After one day, it would close.

If one wanted to go again, they would have to wait until the next era’s Grand Emperor bore the Heaven’s Will.

This news quickly spread throughout the entire Primordial Heartlands.

In fact, not many wished to go to the Outer Heavens.

Some people were too weak, afraid that before even reaching the Outer Heavens, they would be torn apart by the world’s barrier.

Others held high prestige on the Primordial Heartlands, with transcendent status, but in the Outer Heavens they might be worth nothing.

As the saying goes, better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.

That was the reasoning.

There were also some who wanted to go, but could not abandon their attachments on Primordial Heartlands.

Love and family ties were among such attachments.

So very few would actually go to the Outer Heavens, except for those chasing the dream of becoming stronger.

…

By dusk, Lin Ruhu and the God Emperor arrived at the True Martial Sacred Ground.

They called for Zhang Guilin, and the four of them drank together under the moon at South Goose Mountain, reminiscing about the past.

“How could Young Master Xu drink here without inviting me?” a woman’s voice came from outside the courtyard.

They saw Lady Jing, dressed in red robes, like a blooming rose.

Her red robes spread across the ground like petals in full bloom.

She carried a rich rose fragrance as she walked in from outside.

“Why have you come, Miss Jing?” Xu Zimo smiled.

“What? You don’t welcome me?” Lady Jing smiled back. “I too am going to the Outer Heavens, of course I must find Young Master Xu.”

“I see. A guest is a guest, come sit,” Xu Zimo waved his hand.

Among all the people he had met, only this Lady Jing remained inscrutable.

The last breath of spring wind drifted across the sky.

The night air was just right.

The moon hung in the sky, and everyone spoke of the Outer Heavens.

“They all say Lady Jing knows everything, but how much do you know about the Outer Heavens?” the God Emperor asked.

“The Outer Heavens are divided into nine layers called Heavens. When we break the Heavenly Gate from Primordial Heartlands, we usually enter the Mortal Ascension Heaven,” Lady Jing raised her cup. Her red lips gently sipped a taste, then she said, “These Nine Heavens are like nine skies layered on top of one another, with the Mortal Ascension Heaven at the very bottom. And below the Mortal Ascension Heaven lies our Primordial Heartlands.”

“Why does Lady Jing go to the Outer Heavens?” the God Emperor asked again.

“I am originally from the Outer Heavens, so naturally I am returning home,” Lady Jing smiled. She spoke with ease, without the slightest concealment.

But the God Emperor froze, staring at her as if to see through her.

But it was useless.

Everyone knew how difficult it was to come from the Outer Heavens to Primordial Heartlands.

But to Lady Jing, it seemed nothing at all.

As if it were simply everyday talk.

Since she did not wish to explain, the others did not ask further.

That night passed without words, they drank and relaxed until the morning.

Some who wished to go to the Outer Heavens also began to gather at the True Martial Sacred Ground.

The light of dawn bloomed before the break of day.

Xu Zimo set down his wine cup, stood up and smiled, “Everyone, it is time to depart.”

He was the first to head up to the summit of South Goose Mountain, the others followed close behind.

Standing on the summit, the cold wind whistled.

Clothes fluttered, as if a call from the heavens echoed faintly.

His gaze swept over Primordial Heartlands, this would be his last time seeing this world.

Then imperial might surged around him.

That vast might rushed into the sky, stirring up the heavens with storm and rain.

The entire Primordial Heartlands, no matter where one was, could feel that power.

“What is happening?” inside the True Martial Sacred Ground, the feeling was especially strong, some disciples asked curiously.

“Don’t you know? Our sect’s Grand Emperor is opening the Heavenly Gate.”

“Then let’s go watch. To see such a sight once in a lifetime is already enough.”

“Yes, yes.”

At the foot of the mountain, Zhang Shaopu raised his head, looking at the towering figure at the summit.

His gaze was firm, as if he had understood something.

…

The heavens shifted with wind and clouds, dazzling light like a rainbow, the sun and moon revolving, shining on Xu Zimo.

Xu Zimo stepped into the air, holding Shadow Tyrant, walking step by step toward the heavens.

With a wave of his right hand, the Heaven’s Will he carried coiled around him like a dragon.

In response to the Heaven’s Will, the Heavenly Dao faintly stirred.

Vaguely, a giant gate’s shadow appeared deep in the void.

“Open!” Xu Zimo shouted loudly.

His voice surged like the vast, boundless cosmos.

The Heaven’s Will, with irresistible force, charged toward the Heavenly Gate above.

In this moment, every creature on the five continents focused their gaze on that portal.

Because they knew, within it lay another, far greater world.

One that an era could only glimpse once.

With a booming sound, the power of Heaven’s Will exploded in the sky.

The Heavenly Gate in the skies was slowly being pushed open.