"Karmic flames are rising everywhere, sin is piercing the heavens. This is an ominous sign of great misfortune. In times past, it would inevitably signify a calamitous star descending upon the world, causing chaos under heaven."
"Now, the Demon Court's offensive shows no sign of abating, their killing intent fills the sky, boundless territories are being engulfed. I fear it will eventually affect and disturb even the Sovereign's longevity celebration."
On a high tower within the Immortal Chu Dynasty, an old man with white eyebrows, clad in a starry Dao robe, held a compass as he observed the celestial phenomena at night, his eyes filled with sighs.
Below him, numerous figures stood in positions that subtly conformed to some heavenly pattern. A faint radiance flowed among them, seemingly converging into an illusory river of fate.
"What has the Star Lord discerned from this?"
Hearing the white-browed old man's words, these figures could not help but ask.
The white-browed old man was precisely the White-Browed Star Lord of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, a venerable and prestigious existence.
He had already reached the Dao Realm many years ago, with unfathomable strength. Even Chu Gucheng usually treated him with great respect.
"It seems my tribulation has arrived."
Upon hearing their question, the White-Browed Star Lord could only shake his head and sigh repeatedly.
Then, he looked at the people below and asked, "Have there been any updates regarding the mysterious man in white you were instructed to investigate?"
"Reporting to the Star Lord, there is no news. After his brief appearance in the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain, that man vanished. It is suspected that an ancient cultivator of the Ancestral Dao Realm around him intervened, obscuring all heavenly secrets related to him," one of the figures below answered respectfully.
The White-Browed Star Lord was not surprised. Even he, exhausting all means, had been unable to deduce or investigate anything.
It was just that the attitudes of Purple Mist Mountain and the Divine Ascension Cavern towards that mysterious man in white were truly suspicious.
Various rumors and speculations about his identity abounded, saying he came from the Forbidden and Mysterious Lands. However, there was no basis or evidence as to why he would appear within the myriad worlds.
The death of the offspring of Immortal Chu Dynasty Sovereign Chu Gucheng also seemed to have some entangled karma with him.
All these matters contained far too many coincidences.
During this period, he had been constantly trying to investigate and deduce, wanting to know the man's movements and thus understand his origin.
If he truly was related to the Forbidden and Mysterious Lands, then matters would be easier to handle.
But the White-Browed Star Lord worried that things were not as simple as he thought. For he had a vague premonition that his own tribulation was approaching, his allotted lifespan was nearing its end, likely within the near future.
Moreover, indistinctly, he felt that his own tribulation and fate might be connected to Chu Xiao's death.
An existence like him could often vaguely sense fragments of his own fate, knowing heaven's decrees and understanding himself.
The tribulation now facing the Immortal Chu Dynasty was, in a way, the tribulation he himself had to face.
"Is Wu Dao present?"
With a slight inward sigh, the White-Browed Star Lord looked at the people below and asked.
Hearing this, a man with a wooden expression, a square face, and dressed in coarse cloth walked out, asking respectfully, "What instructions does the Master have for this disciple?"
The White-Browed Star Lord looked at this, his most accomplished disciple, and nodded slightly. "You stay behind alone. Your master has words for you. The rest of you may leave first."
Although he served Chu Gucheng, he had his own Dao academy, with disciples numbering in the billions spread across various major realms. Among them, the one he valued most was this wooden-faced man before him.
Soon, only the master and disciple remained in the high tower.
The White-Browed Star Lord looked at the wooden-faced man, took out a slightly yellowed letter from his bosom that had been rubbed smooth, and handed it to him, saying, "Among my many disciples, you alone are the one I value most, and the only one whose actions I trust completely."
"Take this letter. After leaving the Prime-Origin Civilization, go to a place called Yinxu Cave within the Vast Expanse, and deliver it to the master of Yinxu Cave."
"Yinxu Cave?" The wooden-faced man was stunned, his face full of confusion.
This was the first time he had heard this name.
However, the White-Browed Star Lord did not explain further, merely saying, "After leaving the Prime-Origin Civilization, journey towards the darkest place in the world. Once you arrive there, you will understand. Your master is destined to face a tribulation; it seems my only hope lies within this letter."
"Yes, Master."
The wooden-faced man's expression immediately turned solemn. He accepted the letter, then turned and left the high tower.
The White-Browed Star Lord watched him leave, then let out a long, drawn-out sigh.
"Chu Gucheng bears the Mandate of Heaven, carrying the fortune of the Prime-Origin Civilization. I received his favor back then and have served him for nearly a hundred epochs in the blink of an eye. It is a pity that the signs of the Human Emperor have yet to be verified upon him..."
"Could it be that what my own Master once said was all wrong?"
Chu Gucheng is protected by the Mandate of Heaven, having hacked his way through thorns to reach this point.
Although he encountered many setbacks and tribulations along the way, he ultimately resolved them all.
Besides his astonishing fortune, the White-Browed Star Lord also speculated that this likely had to do with Chu Gucheng's hidden fate.
The Dao tradition of his own master's lineage emphasized verifying the Heavenly Dao, pursuing naturalness, with the Dao as the sole principle, following one's heart's intent.
His reason for following Chu Gucheng and serving him was largely to verify the signs of the Human Emperor.
If Chu Gucheng were to condense the Human Emperor Dao Fruit, then the Dao methods cultivated by the White-Browed Star Lord could naturally be verified. Based on this cultivation, he would undoubtedly advance further, drawing closer to the End of the Path stage.
But now, the signs of the Human Emperor have not revived. Instead, the Immortal Chu Dynasty established by Chu Gucheng is beset by rising karmic flames and overwhelming sin. Without intervention, its flourishing fortune will eventually wither and deplete.
The White-Browed Star Lord suspects someone is secretly scheming against the Immortal Chu Dynasty. Without revealing their true form, yet possessing such terrifying means—it truly fills him with dread and palpitations.
Sheng Yang Ancient Domain, Xi Yan Province, Kingdom of Jing.
The next day, Jing Xiang left the Jing Prince's Manor early in the morning for the imperial palace's scripture repository.
Jing Xiao was curious and wanted to follow to see. How could such a secret of the Jing family be casually recorded in ancient texts?
However, Gu Changge stopped her, not letting her follow...
"Since your brother says he found it in recorded texts, there must be his reasoning. Junior Sister Jing Xiao, surely you don't distrust even your own brother?"
Gu Changge asked with a smile.
Hearing him say this, Jing Xiao also thought it made sense. After all, if her brother said so, he must have his reasons.
Ling Yuxian, however, shot a meaningful glance at Gu Changge.
Approaching afternoon, Jing Xiang finally returned from the imperial palace...
And he did not disappoint Jing Xiao and the others, joyfully informing them of a method to enter the Jing family's ancestral lands.