Chapter 260: Ziyang Shen!

Huang Lao's voice was filled with heartfelt excitement; he could feel that the Ziyang Shen before him already possessed a foundation and essence sufficient to stand proudly among the supreme peaks of the Zhutian Wanjie!

Ziyang Shen gave a faint smile; his handsome face showed little pride, instead appearing very calm as he spoke sincerely to Huang Lao:

"You overpraise me, Huang Lao. Had you not poured out your teachings back then and shown me the way, I would not be where I am today. I shall never forget this debt, young one."

His gaze was profound, as if seeing through the Eternal Time and Space.

The deep accumulation from his previous life, the meticulous teachings of Huang Lao and other protectors of the Dao, and the unique, slow flow of time in this secret realm within the Time‑Space Island.

This allowed him, though only a short span seemed to pass in the outside world, to actually endure an unimaginably long period of arduous cultivation and life‑and‑death trials, finally attaining this terrifying, transformative achievement.

Yet Huang Lao shook his head, his expression becoming solemn.

"Ziyang, you need not be overly modest."

"The old man merely served as a guide and a protector of the Dao."

"You were able to take that crucial step solely through your own perseverance, talent, fortune, and that unwavering Dark Heart!"

"Throughout history… among the top clans, the Wu Shang Sheng Di, and the supreme Heavenly Pride, there have been many who aspired to enter that realm… yet those who truly succeed are rarer than a phoenix feather among phoenix feathers!"

"That achievement… cannot be attained merely through guidance…"

"If one's own talent, temperament, Dark Heart, fortune, and destiny are insufficient, even if you are a Supreme progeny, what then?"

Ziyang Shen nodded.

Indeed, this achievement, a near‑death ordeal, cannot be attained without sufficient temperament, Dark Heart, talent, fortune, opportunity, and so on.

"In truth, I must also thank someone; had it not been for him, I might already be dead now…" Ziyang Shen said.

Huang Lao, upon hearing this, couldn't help but glance toward the deepest unfathomable darkness region of the Time‑Space Island, his respect immeasurable.

That Dark Being is the true ruler of the Time‑Space Island, a living epic.

Ziyang Shen also followed Huang Lao's gaze, his eyes showing deep gratitude.

That supreme Dark Being indeed bestowed a life‑saving and fulfilling great grace upon him.

"Indeed… that… Dark Being… truly helped you greatly…"

"When you were crossing the tribulation, had he not intervened in time, you might already be facing a grim fate now…"

Then Huang Lao shifted his tone, looking at Ziyang Shen with a teasing smile, "Speaking of it, you're so eager to come to this Time‑Space Divine Island to cultivate; strengthening yourself is one thing, but perhaps you also hope to find your friend Ye Wuque soon?"

Ziyang Shen gave a slight smile and admitted: "Indeed. I want to go see how Brother Ye is faring at this moment, what stage he has reached, and what bearing he now possesses…"

Huang Lao, hearing this, let out a hearty laugh, pointed his hand toward the pinnacle of the Zhutian, where the Big Dipper—now radiating boundless light that illuminated the Wanjie—shone, and said with a light smile: "Hehe, you wish to discuss the Dao with him? Isn't there a perfect opportunity right now?"

Ziyang Shen followed Huang Lao's pointing, looked up at the sky, and when he saw the Big Dipper pattern linking the Zhutian, exuding a vast ancient aura, his handsome face first froze, then his pupils suddenly contracted, revealing extreme delight!

"This is… the Big Dipper?!!"

His voice trembled with a hint of disbelief, "The legend is truly about to unfold… when the Big Dipper spreads across the heavens… the Great Thousand Divine Universe… will unleash its divine might onto the world?!"

"Could it be… that supreme trial spanning the timeline is about to commence?!"

…

Meanwhile.

In another chaotic, dark place.

This place… belongs to none of the Nine Heavens Ten Earths.

Nor does it belong to any location within Liuhe Bahuang, Honghuang World, or any other world.

Here, it seems to be the end of time and Reincarnation… the Other Shore of the Zhutian and the Eternal Time and Space…

Looking out, the endless expanse held no living creature…

There was only… Death, Destruction, and Darkness…

At the same time, a pervasive Great Terror and profound despair!

If any top master of the Zhutian Wanjie were to witness this, they would surely recognize that this place is, unmistakably, the No Return Path!

The source of the ultimate calamity representing the Zhutian Wanjie!

If Ye Wuque were here, he would also gasp in shock!

Because he had been here before; under the power of the Void and the effect of the Heavenly Mechanism Spirit Pill, he arrived at the grim No Return Path and witnessed overwhelming terror and darkness.

The golden tomb (Jinse Dafen) that buried Ao Kun, which Ye Wuque had once seen, still stood silently, exuding sorrow and brilliance! Moreover, an indescribable despair and loneliness lingered…

At this moment, on the No Return Path that stretches endlessly into the far distance, there lies a terrifying zone even deeper than that golden tomb.

Here, an infinite horror of great blackness shrouds the area, endless black fog spreads, the laws wail, and myriad paths submit…

Yet beneath this endless darkness, a faint glimmer of light flickers faintly…

Weak, yet truly present, as if it could be extinguished at any moment.

Upon closer inspection, beneath the black fog, a towering, resplendent tomb—millions of times grander than that golden tomb—stands here…