Gazing into the distance, Dugu Changkong seemed to see scenes from his youth, training with the elders of his sect, living a carefree and peaceful life.

But everything changed later. As the elders’ cultivation levels improved, their smiles faded, replaced by melancholy and frequent sighs. Not long after, the elders made arrangements for sect matters and then passed away in meditation.

It wasn’t until Dugu Changkong grew up and reached a certain height that he understood the whole story.

That day, was I really afraid of death?

In a daze, Dugu Changkong saw his senior brother’s back as he headed to the demon abyss, so clear as if it were yesterday.

Perhaps there was a trace of fear of death, but more than that, it felt unworthy!

The sages of the sect knew that going meant certain death, yet they went one after another. The result was that they protected the common people but couldn’t protect their descendants.

“I think I understand now!”

As one grows old, many things become clear.

Dugu Changkong’s longing for his sect grew stronger. He wondered if he could return to the sect in this life and bow a few times to the predecessors.

Everyone has to die eventually.

While alive, one must do something.

Not for rewards, but to have a clear conscience.

The countless sages of Qing Sect, though dead, their will persists.

When the truth is revealed in the future and spreads across the world, even if people don’t feel grateful to the ancient sages of Qing Sect, they should at least have some respect!

“Death is nothing to fear. While still alive, pave the way for the next generation so they won’t be bullied.”

Dugu Changkong never married in his life, living for nearly thirty thousand years, still maintaining his virginity.

Was it because he never met a girl he liked?

No.

He had met a girl who moved his heart and wanted to become Dao companions with her. The girl had a great affection for him and often found excuses to meet him.

Later, Dugu Changkong severed this thread of fate.

It wasn’t that he didn’t love her, but he had a greater duty.

At that time, Dugu Changkong had just inherited the Qing Sect’s legacy, hadn’t mastered many top Dao techniques, and his strength hadn’t reached the pinnacle.

To perfect certain Dao laws, he had to maintain his virgin essence.

The girl was very puzzled by Dugu Changkong’s sudden coldness and asked him many times. To this, Dugu Changkong only said that he pursued the Great Dao in this life and was not qualified to talk about love.

From then on, Dugu Changkong went into seclusion.

About ten thousand years ago, Dugu Changkong received news that shook his heart, and he shed two lines of tears.

The girl from the past had passed away. Moreover, her sect’s juniors recounted: “The ancestor refused everyone back then, waiting bitterly for the senior, and never married in her life.”

When someone truly occupies your heart, there’s no room for anyone else.

From youth to old age, that heart never changed.

If the person by your side isn’t you, it’s better to grow old alone and seek peace.

Dugu Changkong went to her grave, gently touching the cold tombstone, his heart trembling, eyes reddening.

“If there’s a next life, I won’t let you down.”

He left a tear and a hairpin made of spiritual wood.

With heavy steps, he left.

That hairpin was meticulously crafted by Dugu Changkong in his youth, originally intended to be a gift to the girl, a promise for life.

Unfortunately, Dugu Changkong ultimately couldn’t let go of Qing Sect’s will, choosing to focus on cultivation, silently hiding the hairpin away, hiding it for a lifetime.

Memories surged like a tide, softening Dugu Changkong’s gaze.

A few breaths later, Dugu Changkong’s expression returned to indifference. This star domain was extremely silent, the atmosphere oppressively tense.

“If you all dare not show yourselves, then I, this old man, will come to seek advice.”

Dugu Changkong had already revealed his true identity, so he had to give the heroes of the Imperial Province a good warning.

Only by showcasing his absolute strength could he protect the younger generation from being oppressed and lay a solid foundation for Qing Sect’s revival.

Swish—

With that, Dugu Changkong took a step forward.

One step spanned billions of miles, crossing the Baichen Star Domain, heading to the bustling area of the Imperial Province, leaving behind a series of blurred afterimages.

Everyone watched the gradually dissipating afterimages, their hearts trembling, hands tightening, extremely uneasy.

Where did Dugu Changkong go? What was he going to do?

The cultivators, filled with confusion and fear, kept looking into the distance, searching for Dugu Changkong’s trace.

In a corner of the starry sky, within the prayer bead barrier.

Chen Qingyuan had memorized the first four forms of the Eight-Part Dragon Palm, but it would take some time to grasp the basics.

“Why did that old elder pass on the teachings to me? Did he make a mistake while passing them to Old Wu and included me by accident?”

Chen Qingyuan was very puzzled and couldn’t figure it out.

He didn’t mention this matter to avoid trouble. If there was a chance later, he would see if he could directly ask the old elder.

Whoosh—

A stick of incense later, a powerful storm swept in from afar, affecting this part of the starry sky.

The Imperial Province had nine major star domains, and Baichen Star was located in a corner of the Yundou Star Domain.

“Towards Heavenly Mansion Mountain Villa!”

As the storm approached, the Mahayana cultivators immediately looked in that direction, using various methods to see the distant scene.

“Now this is interesting.”

In the void, Sword Immortal Li Muyang smiled and waved his hand.

Immediately, a huge law mirror appeared in the starry sky, projecting the area where Heavenly Mansion Mountain Villa was located.

Those cultivators who couldn’t see far looked towards the mirror projected by the Sword Immortal, their reverence for him growing even more.

“What happened?”

Everyone was tense, eyes fixed.

In the image, in a mountain range of Heavenly Mansion Mountain Villa, hundreds of barriers were set up around, very sturdy, and no one in the sect could enter or leave.

Dugu Changkong pointed and shattered the barriers, swaggering in.

A giant hand came from a dark corner at the end of the mountain range, striking towards Dugu Changkong, accompanied by a rebuke: “Dao friend, coming uninvited is somewhat impolite.”

“I, this old man, am here to seek advice.”

Dugu Changkong waved his sleeve, and the giant hand above his head shattered.

“How dare you be so presumptuous!”

The living fossil of Heavenly Mansion Mountain Villa was forced to take action, and the terrifying power caused hundreds of towering mountains to collapse, the earth to shake, and the sky to darken.

At this level of confrontation, ordinary people couldn’t see clearly, only a white blur in front of them, very vague.

Only Sword Immortal Changgeng and Vice Dean Yu Chenran and others could see clearly.

“Just a rat hiding in a dark corner. It’s already a blessing to touch the divine bridge in this life. Without that Dao heart to contend with heaven and earth, you’ll never truly stand on the bridge until you die.”

Li Muyang gave an evaluation of some old fellows, the sarcasm in his words undisguised.