A gentle breeze wafted across the peak of the Jiuzhong Tian Heavenly Palace, carrying the scent of immortal flowers that bloom once every thousand years. On the highest balcony, which overlooked the entire universe, a man stood tall with an undeniable aura.
Liang Zhenwu, a name that even the gods dared not speak casually, had deep black eyes like bottomless abysses, yet within them, tiny stars slowly swirled. These were eyes that had witnessed the birth and death of galaxies, but now they shone with the longing of a child who wanted to go home.
His long white robe, with its shimmering golden threads, sparkled with heavenly light. A golden dragon medallion rested on his chest—the symbol of the supreme ruler of the nine heavens.
Even in silence, Liang Zhenwu's presence caused the space around him to tremble slightly, as if the universe itself was holding its breath in his presence.
"Shifu..."
A soft voice broke the silence. Five figures approached from behind, each radiating an aura powerful enough to shatter galaxies, yet in front of him, they seemed like mere children.
"Is Shifu truly leaving us?" Xiao Yue, his only female disciple, could not hide the tears streaming down her pale cheeks. As the Moon Goddess who commands millions of stars, she never cries. But today was different.
Liang Zhenwu turned slowly, revealing a handsome face with high cheekbones and eyes that radiated millions of years of wisdom.
"You are all grown now," he said in a calm yet deep voice. "I have delayed my return for fifty thousand years. It is enough."
"But Shifu," Zhao Ming, the eldest disciple known as the Golden Dragon Emperor, stepped forward. "We still need your guidance. The nine heavens will not be the same without your presence."
Liang Zhenwu offered a faint smile—the first one his disciples had seen in a hundred years.
"Why have I delayed my return for so long?" he murmured, more to himself than to them. "Because I was worried you weren't ready. Because I feared the nine heavens would collapse without me. But look at you now..."
His gaze shifted to the five disciples he had nurtured with great affection. Zhao Ming had become the ruler of the eastern galaxy. Li Feng commanded heavenly fire and served as the supreme judge. Wu Chen controlled space and time. Bai Hu commanded the celestial army. And Xiao Yue maintained the yin-yang balance of the universe.
"You have all surpassed your master. You no longer need to live in my shadow."
Suddenly, the sky rumbled. It was not a rumble of anger, but one of respect. From every corner of the nine heavens, trillions of creatures rushed to the scene. Gods and goddesses, ancient dragons, immortal phoenixes, and even emperors from various galaxies—all knelt in the sky, forming an endless expanse before the palace.
"HONOR TO SOVEREIGN ZHENWU!"
The thunderous voice echoed throughout the entire universe. Planets trembled, stars flickered in rhythm, and even parallel dimensions shook in reverence.
Liang Zhenwu did not move, but the aura around him changed. The aura he had suppressed slowly began to radiate outward. The air became thick, space and time seemed to stand still, and all beings felt an unimaginable pressure—yet it was not a frightening pressure, but one that made them feel safe.
"Rise," he said softly, yet his voice reached the ears of every creature in the nine heavens. "I am no longer your leader. Starting today, I am simply Liang Zhenwu, who wishes to go home."
With a simple wave of his hand, he tore a crack in the air. The crack widened, revealing a swirling void—a portal to a different dimension.
His five best disciples looked at each other, then simultaneously knelt in deep respect. Even as rulers of galaxies and dimensions, they knew this was a farewell moment that might never be repeated.
"Shifu," Zhao Ming spoke with a trembling voice, "allow us to see you off with the highest honor."
Xiao Yue bowed her head deeply, her tears falling to the heavenly ground. "Thank you for all that you have taught us, Shifu."
"We will protect the nine heavens as you wished," Li Feng added in a solemn tone.
Wu Chen and Bai Hu also declared their final allegiance, their voices full of respect and longing.
Liang Zhenwu looked at his five kneeling disciples with eyes that sparkled—a mix of pride and affection.
"Rise," he said gently. "You have become masters unto yourselves."
But they remained in their kneeling positions, paying their respects until the very end.
"Take care of yourselves. Guard the nine heavens. And remember—true power does not come from cultivation, but from a sincere heart."
Liang Zhenwu smiled one last time at his disciples, then stepped into the dimensional crack. A dazzling light enveloped his body.
The five disciples remained kneeling until the crack completely closed, paying homage to the master who had changed their lives forever.
---
**Earth, Qingshan Village, Xuanlong Mountains.**
From the vortex, a man fell. He slammed into the ground, creating a small crater and a cloud of dust. This was Liang Zhenwu, the boy who had disappeared without a trace four years ago. Back then, he was just a scrawny youth with an empty gaze, always the subject of ridicule. Now, he wore his white, cloud-embroidered robe and possessed an aura of grace. His narrow eyes shone with an incomprehensible light of wisdom.
The moment his feet touched the ground, the entire planet trembled. Strange phenomena occurred across the globe: oceans surged without storms, mountains shook as if to rise, and the night sky was adorned with constellations never seen before. Astronomers at observatories were baffled, recording cosmic anomalies. Old monks in ancient temples felt an unusual vibration of qi, and hidden mountain hermits awoke from their long meditations.
At the NASA Observatory, Dr. Michael Harper and his team stared at the data with pale faces. "This... this is impossible. All our calculations are in chaos," Harper said, pointing at a monitor displaying the cosmic anomalies. "Quick, record all these phenomena; don't miss a single one!" The young scientists around him scrambled to log and verify the data.
Meanwhile, at the Chinese Observatory, Dr. Li Wei and his team were also recording the same phenomena. "This data... is incredible," Li Wei said, pointing to the coordinates and time on the screen. "This phenomenon isn't just visible in the United States; it's being recorded globally as well. We must document it meticulously."
The Heavenly Dao of Earth appeared—but far from Liang Zhenwu's location, on the secluded peak of the Tianyuan Mountains. Its form was that of a five-year-old boy with soft black hair and large silver-glowing eyes. His tiny body radiated an invisible aura that made his surroundings tremble. He felt the power that had just been released—a power he couldn't even control. For now, the Heavenly Dao could only close its eyes. As long as this powerful person did not endanger the Earth, it could only remain silent.
Liang Zhenwu sighed. "I didn't come to conquer... but if I don't seal my power, this world will be destroyed by a mere breath of mine."
With a single breath, he sealed 99.99% of his power to the Nascent Soul realm, leaving only 0.01% so that Earth's mortal realm could withstand it.
After calming the qi vibrations, Liang Zhenwu walked to the spot where he had first been transported into the cultivator's world. The ground there still held the faint remnants of the fading vortex of light.
He bowed his head, observing the ancient energy traces and feeling the lingering aura that was far older than modern human civilization. Then he closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, he smiled meaningfully.
"Interesting. Very interesting."