Chapter 379: Departure

As that sound, like the opening of Heaven and splitting Earth, a majestic roar that reverberated through the primordial Great Dao of the Zhutian Wanjie, gradually settled in every corner of the endless spacetime, what followed was a grand resonance as if the universe's pulse were awakened and the myriad laws boiled.

The Starry Sky Ancient Road, the legendary Ultimate Trial Road, the arena of Heavenly Pride rivalry, the cradle of the Supreme, has its phantom fully solidified, spanning above the Zhutian Wanjie and deep within the endless Chaos, like a brilliant galaxy linking past and future, the ordinary and the immortal, sending an irresistible ancient summons to every young being with ambition and destiny.

In an instant, the Zhutian Wanjie, the endless Star Domain, countless forces, like stagnant water struck by a boulder, roared into a boil!

"The Ancient Path has opened! Finally opened!"

"Defying Heaven and altering fate, right this day! Dying without regret!"

"Our clan has lain dormant for eons, waiting for this age! Boys, let's set out!"

"Step onto the Ancient Path, seize destiny, raise our clan's prestige!"

Fervent shouts, soaring battle spirit, the mighty aura bursting forth as if billions of sleeping volcanoes erupted together, illuminating the endless dark starry sky and stirring the clouds of the Zhutian Wanjie!

Nine Heavens Ten Earths, as one of the core regions of the Zhutian Wanjie, is naturally one of the most turbulent centers!

Beneath that boundless starry sky, streaks of aura—some dazzling as stars, some deep as abysses, some sharp as swords, some vast as seas—sprouted like spring bamboo shoots after rain, soaring skyward from each ancient life star, each floating continent, each ancient secret realm!

The master of each aura is a peerless Heavenly Pride, cultivated intensely, long‑hidden, or already renowned in its sphere!

Some tread divine rainbows, some ride ancient war chariots, some command exotic beasts, some become flowing light; all share the same goal—the Nine Heavens branch that manifests above the Nine Heavens Ten Earths, exuding a vast ancient aura!

Not just the Nine Heavens Ten Earths!

In the mysterious, ancient Other Shore World, said to oppose the Nine Heavens Ten Earths, an ancient warship shrouded in Chaos Qi tears through the boundary, and at its prow stands a young figure whose gaze is disdainful and whose whole being flows with Other Shore Dao Rhythm.

Deep within the Xuanhuang Universe, the two Xuanhuang qi intertwine, forming a bridge to the heavens, bearing heroes whose aura is as weighty as the earth, stepping into the void.

In the wild mountains and forests of the ancient Honghuang realm, descendants of giants with blood surging skyward like prehistoric beasts roar, tearing the heavens…

The Zhutian Wanjie, endless races, endless civilizations, endless Dao lineages… every young generation who deems themselves worthy to vie for this era's destiny now moves with the wind, like countless rivers converging into the sea, gathering from the void in all directions, surging toward the Starry Sky Ancient Road branches corresponding to their regions!

These branches, like tributaries of the main trunk, spread across the Zhutian, winding outward, and ultimately in the unknowable depths of the Ancient Path will converge into a single… Ultimate Main Road!

Deep within the Main Road, legend speaks of endless opportunities, unspeakable Great Terror, and a ultimate secret that determines the final direction of this epoch!

No one knows where it truly leads; perhaps its end is… transcendence!

Great Thousand Divine Universe, the world Above the Nine Heavens.

On the ancient plaza before the Tai Gu Shen Yu Ta, the atmosphere is solemn yet stirring.

Led by Seven Yu Elder, several Dao‑master envoys with deep aura stand on the high platform.

Below, dozens of young figures stand proudly, each exuding unmatched aura, blood like a Dragon, Dao Rhythm innate, eyes filled with confidence and burning battle spirit.

These are the strongest batch of young beings selected in this era of the Great Thousand Divine Universe to march onto the Starry Sky Ancient Road for war!

The lineup's splendor is enough to make any force take notice!

At the forefront, naturally, are the Two Holy Sons, Ye Wuque and Feng Caichen.

Ye Wuque, clad in a black robe, stands tall, his expression calm, his aura restrained like an abyss yet seemingly containing the colossal power to swallow and emit the star‑sea; his deep eyes occasionally flash a silver temporal‑spatial vortex, fleeting and impossible to stare at.

Feng Caichen in white garments brighter than snow, posture like a sword, his clear eyes pure with sword intent, a three‑foot radius around him forming a self‑contained sword realm, with invisible edge slicing the void.

The two merely standing there are like two insurmountable monuments, the unquestioned leaders and souls of this squad!

Following them is the equally dazzling Ziyang Shen.

His violet hair flies, his face handsome; though his murderous aura is restrained, the iron‑blood and domineering bearing forged from endless slaughter still press, his violet eyes flash with hidden lightning, and his cultivation has clearly advanced since the selection.

Ye Beichen remains in a lazy pose, his dark‑blue robe loose, eyes half‑closed, seeming indifferent to everything, yet when he lifts his gaze the temporal‑spatial ripples in his eyes reveal his unfathomable depth.

Ao Tianyin moves with a dragon's stride and a tiger's step, his golden Dragon Pupils gaze with imposing power, pure Dragon Might subtly radiates, battle spirit soaring.

Chen Shimei is clad in red, appearance peerless, smile radiant, surrounded by flowing Red Dust Dao Rhythm, seeming easygoing, yet no one dares to underestimate this true lineage cultivated by the Passionate Heaven Dao…

In addition, there are top true lineages from the War Heaven Dao, Blade Heaven Dao, Thunder Heaven Dao and other heavens, each with a strong aura and solid foundation.

A rough count shows nearly twenty people!

This is the depth of the Great Thousand Divine Universe!

Gathering the essence of the Zhutian, recruiting talents from the Wanjie, each who can stand here is a once‑in‑a‑generation rarity!

Besides the young Heavenly Prides about to set out, around the plaza many elders and masters from various heavens have come to see them off, their admonitions, encouragements, and gifts of treasure ringing continuously.

The atmosphere is fervent yet solemn.

Seven Yu Elder stands on the high platform, his gaze sweeping the energetic youths below who are about to step onto the cruelest battlefield, his eyes holding both expectation and a barely perceptible gravity.

He clears his throat, and his aged, imposing voice echoes across the plaza:

"The Ancient Path is open, the expedition is at hand!"

"You all are the finest disciples of our Great Thousand Divine Universe in this era, bearing the Lord of the Universe's expectations and shouldering the glory of the Great Thousand Divine Universe!"

"The Starry Sky Ancient Road offers endless opportunities, yet death lurks everywhere! It is the true burial ground of Heavenly Prides and the soaring dragon platform for the strong! Remember, you fight not only for yourselves but also for the Great Thousand Divine Universe! Among yourselves, you must watch and aid each other, but when facing outsiders, you must share a common hatred for the enemy!"

He pauses, his voice even more solemn: "What you are about to tread is the Nine Heavens branch that connects the Nine Heavens Ten Earths with Above the Nine Heavens— the Nine Heavens branch! Though a branch, its peril is no less than any main road; along the way you will pass many ancient ruins, lost worlds, and even some treacherous lands lightly corroded by the 'Ill Omen'. Be extremely cautious!"

"Now… set out!"

"Yes! We will faithfully obey Seven Yu Elder's command!" The Heavenly Prides shouted in unison, their voices shaking the cosmos.

"Swoosh swoosh swoosh—!!!"

In the next instant, streams of brilliant light, like meteors raining upward, burst from the Great Thousand Divine Universe's plaza into the sky, tearing the heavens of the Above the Nine Heavens world, racing toward the ancient, austere entrance of the Nine Heavens branch manifested in the distant void!

Amid the flashing lights, Ye Wuque and Feng Caichen walk side by side, like twin stars guiding the way.

A short distance behind them, a tall man shrouded in a wide black robe, his face hidden beneath a black cloak, follows the group at an unhurried pace. His aura is concealed so well it seems merged with the surrounding void, drawing no attention.

Yet, as he glides, beneath the shadow of the black cloak, a pair of eyes flickering with eerie dim light seem to pierce the void, fixed firmly on Ye Wuque's silhouette ahead.

From beneath the cloak, a barely audible whisper, audible only to himself, laced with amusement and greed, drifts out:

"Tsk tsk tsk… I didn't expect it, my dear junior brother… after such a short time apart, you've grown to such a dazzling, unparalleled talent… truly makes me, your senior brother, look at you with new eyes…"

His voice is hoarse and odd, as if blended with several different tones.

"Great Thousand Divine Universe Holy Son… Ye Clan Young Master… bearing Great Power of time and space, achieving an epoch‑rare Extreme Realm… hehehe… the secret you hold, the source of the power you command… your senior brother is… very interested…"

That gaze, like a poisonous serpent's tongue, licks Ye Wuque back and forth, full of inquiry and a chilling possessiveness.

"Starry Sky Ancient Road… what a fine place… undisturbed, laws in chaos, perfect for… some interesting 'research'…"

Little junior brother… the Ancient Path stretches on, we… will play slowly… hehe… hehehe…

The low, eerie laugh was swallowed by the sound of breaking the void, and the Black Robe Figure, together with the Great Thousand Divine Universe's party, vanished into the Nine Heavens branch‑path entrance that exuded a desolate aura, disappearing from sight.

ps: The Great Thousand Divine Universe is a massive instance; I won't detail it, nor could I. I'll just skim it to speed things up. A fellow cultivator asked what the realms are after the Human King; here's a brief list. Glory Law: after the Human King comes: Heavenly Cycle, Human God, Legendary Path, Legend, Three Heavens Great Realm, Refining God Nine Stages, Vast Divine Realm, Immortal Path, Immortal, Origin Dao Realm, Supreme Realm, Transcendent Realm.