Chapter 318

"That can't be the Origin Realm, can it?"

In the Wanhuang Realm, the ancient foundations of human cities, sages, and all other races closely watched the main current of the River.

Just now, they saw themselves in a tributary of the River—that tributary represented their Wanhuang Realm, not part of the main current.

Although they had never seen the Origin Realm or set foot in it, details about it had long spread through the words of Luwu Dou, known to nearly everyone in the Wanhuang Realm; one might not know the first race of the Wanhuang Realm, but one could never not know the Origin Realm.

The ancient foundations of human cities and sages concluded that the world revealed by the River's main current was the Origin Realm.

No other reason.

The first world to be born, the oldest world—this alone was enough to prove that the world of the River's main current was the Origin Realm.

"So powerful."

The ancient foundation of the Wanhuang Realm's first race gasped, having witnessed a scene from the River's main current…

Countless gods and demons as mighty as himself filled a starry expanse, sweeping across the Three Thousand Worlds, yet were crushed like rice stalks by a god-demon of unimaginable power—one palm strike, and the heavens rained down like dumplings, each mighty god-demon falling dead.

Other powerful beings from foreign realms also witnessed similar scenes of colossal god-demon battles or grand manifestations of supreme heroes attaining immortality.

Only—

They did not know the Origin Realm; they only knew the world of the River's main current was terrifying beyond measure. Not only were the god-demons' strengths far beyond their world's peak, but even the sheer number of god-demons crushed their world.

"What kind of world is that?"

A dormant ancient being, startled awake, spoke, eyes flickering.

Most living beings could not remain calm.

Earth.

Compared to foreign realms, Takahashi and countless others across the globe were exhilarated, frenzied.

Luxi and the Moon Reading Deity had spoken of the Origin Realm's nobility—but now they understood: the Origin Realm was the River's main current, proving it the backbone and center of all worlds.

"Did I just hear fighting sounds?"

"Fighting sounds? Are you kidding me? Isn't it just peaceful chanting?"

"No way—why did I hear terrifying ghostly howls?!"

No one spoke further; all fell silent, staring fixedly at the downstream of the boundless River, eyes filled with disbelief.

What grand scenes hadn't they seen in the past year?

The emergence of gods, the battle between the Feathered Serpent and God, the First Battlefield, the opening of the Eastern realm's ancient gate—everyone had grown numb to them.

Yet now, they nearly screamed aloud.

A city. A ruined ancient city.

On the River of Time appeared an ancient city—within the gray mist, its boundaries were invisible, too majestic, too vast; the grains composing the city were stars, the bricks were entire realms.

It dominated the River, filling all vision.

The River of Time itself was severed before that ancient city; nothing beyond could be seen—all blocked by the city.

Yet even so, the people of Earth were not overly shocked.

Only because of the three ancient characters on the city wall—characters nearly everyone recognized.

"HANGU PASS!!!!!!"

Professor Beishan roared, as if expending every ounce of strength, his throat choked like a lump of coal—he could not speak unless he screamed with all his might.

Minister Saito and others turned pale, their bodies jolted violently, spines nearly snapping.

Is this Hangu Pass?!

Are you kidding me?!

In today's world, everyone was intimately familiar with Chinese history—many had studied Chinese myths and history extensively.

Hangu Pass, this great ancient fortress, had appeared countless times in Chinese myths and history.

Legend says Hangu Pass stands west against high plateaus, east beside sheer ravines, south joined to the Qinling Mountains, north blocked by the Yellow River—paired with Jianmen Pass, famed for "one man holding the pass, ten thousand cannot pass," they were the two greatest ancient passes of the pre-Qin era.

It was said: "Hangu Pass opens the grandeur of Guanzhong, ten thousand valleys stir dust toward the northern void."

Ancient records state:

King Huai of Chu led the armies of six states against Qin; Qin, relying on Hangu Pass's natural defenses, caused the six armies to lie dead by the million, their blood floating shields.

In the sixth year of Qin Shi Huang, the armies of Chu, Zhao, Wei, and others invaded Qin—yet when they reached Hangu Pass, all fled in defeat.

Battles such as "Liu Bang guarding the pass against Xiang Yu" and the "Taolin Battle" between Tang troops and rebels during the An Lushan Rebellion—all were tied to Hangu Pass.

Not just battles.

But also culture!

"Roosters crowing, dogs stealing," "Gongsun's white horse," "Emperor Xuanzong's era change," and more… Laozi departed west through Hangu Pass, purple qi flowing east for three thousand li.

Could it be?

Could it be!!

Recalling all history tied to Hangu Pass, countless people felt their blood boil, rushing to their skulls.

Could those histories about Hangu Pass actually refer to this very Hangu Pass?

Countless minds reeled, nearly fainting from the shock of their own thought—but they knew this possibility was extremely high.

The war between Qin and the five states—those five states were actually "those from beyond," future nations that invaded, seeking to erase the past and seize vast lands, only to be annihilated by Qin at Hangu Pass.

Laozi departed west through Hangu Pass, purple qi flowing east for three thousand li…

Could this monumental figure of Chinese myth and history have departed through this very pass—this battlefield?

It made sense.

Why did Laozi's departure through Hangu Pass cause purple qi to flow east for three thousand li?

He was waging war, advancing against the "those from beyond" coming to Hangu Pass.

The purple qi stretched three thousand li—not referring to terrestrial distance, but to the River of Time; his purple qi flooded three thousand li of the River of Time, covering a stretch of future time, entirely spanning three thousand li of the River.

Its power stunned the ages, shook past and present.

This is the true ancient history, this is the truth behind "Laozi rode west through Hangu Pass, purple qi came east for three thousand li"!

"I knew it—ancient Earth history was never simple."

Someone vented.

But damn it!! This is way too complicated— I thought encountering today's gods, demons, and transcendents meant I understood the ancient past, but now I see, I understood nothing!

Ancient times held even more unknowns, even more secrets— the ancient eras were far from as simple as imagined!

Fuck, Hangu Pass was built atop the River of Time, forged from the lands of countless worlds into bricks, towering over the future stream, stretching across it, blocking the future.

Hangu Pass does not defend against any foreign race.

It truly defends against the future—against that deadly enemy of the future!

It also prevents future powerful beings from tracing through time and altering the past, causing catastrophic consequences.

The prestige is too high—they simply cannot imagine it.

Only beings of extreme power would dare such a thing: building an imperial barrier upon the River of Time to intercept the future.

"So if Jianmen Pass and Hangu Pass are called the two great passes of the Pre-Qin era, and Hangu Pass's true form is here, then where is Jianmen Pass? What is it guarding?"

……