Immortal Emperor Clan

Golden bells rolled across Heaven Ascension Mountain like the roar of ancient dragons awakening from eternal slumber.

The sound shook the floating islands suspended above the Eternal Heaven Realm.

Golden clouds churned violently beneath the heavens while millions of cultivators knelt upon the sacred stairways carved from immortal jade stone.

Dense Ling Qi drifted through the skies like rivers of light, wrapping around spirit cranes whose silver wings reflected the radiance of the rising sun.

Ancient arrays glowed beneath the mountain foundations, their heavenly runes pulsing with enough power to destroy kingdoms in a single breath.

Even the winds themselves carried pressure capable of crushing ordinary cultivators into blood mist.

Gu Tian walked slowly through the endless heavenly stairway.

His black robes fluttered behind him like shadows dancing against divine flames.

Every step he took caused faint ripples of spiritual force to spread beneath his feet.

The disciples kneeling below lowered their heads deeper, not daring to look directly at the young master of the Eternal Gu Clan.

Some trembled from reverence while others shook from fear alone.

For in this realm, the name Gu Tian already carried the weight of destiny itself.

At merely seventeen years of age, he had already reached the peak of the Spirit Foundation Realm.

His spiritual veins contained nine cycles of Heavenly Essence Qi, a phenomenon considered impossible among younger cultivators.

Within his dantian rested a sealed spirit core known as the Void Heaven Lotus, an ancient treasure born from primordial chaos itself.

His cultivation technique, the Eternal Void Scripture, allowed him to absorb Ling Qi far beyond mortal limits.

At his waist hung a dark silver sword named Moonfall, a Heaven-grade spirit weapon forged from fallen meteor iron.

The blade emitted faint growling vibrations as though sensing danger hidden within the heavens themselves.

Yet despite the reverence surrounding him, Gu Tian’s expression remained disturbingly calm.

Too calm.

Too silent.

The kind of silence carried only by men who had long learned how to bury fear beneath layers of pride and duty.

His dark eyes reflected neither excitement nor arrogance.

Only exhaustion hidden beneath endless composure.

Far above the mountain peak stood Gu Shen.

The Clan Leader wore robes of golden-black dragon silk embroidered with ancient heavenly beasts.

A crown of immortal jade rested upon his long silver hair while terrifying Heavenly Emperor aura surrounded his figure like invisible storms.

Space itself distorted around him.

Even powerful elders standing nearby unconsciously lowered their breathing.

None dared stand too close to the ruler of the Eternal Gu Clan.

Behind Gu Shen floated twelve Heavenly Law Pillars.

Each pillar represented one conquered immortal kingdom from ancient wars that stained entire realms with blood.

Within every pillar slept chained beast souls capable of annihilating armies.

Their low growling echoed faintly beneath the mountain.

An oppressive pressure descended upon the skies, causing countless disciples to pale.

Several younger cultivators nearly coughed blood from the spiritual suppression alone.

Gu Tian approached slowly before stopping beside his father.

For a brief moment, silence lingered between them.

Only the wind moved through the immortal flags fluttering across the heavens.

The mountain beneath their feet hummed with ancient power.

Far below, millions watched with anticipation burning inside their hearts.

Today would decide the future ruler of the Eternal Heaven Realm.

Gu Shen finally spoke.

His voice was deep and steady like thunder restrained beneath calm waters.

“Tian’er.”

Gu Tian lowered his gaze slightly.

“Yes, Father.”

Gu Shen observed him quietly for several breaths.

His sharp eyes seemed capable of piercing directly through souls.

Few people in existence could withstand such pressure without collapsing.

Yet Gu Tian stood firm despite the trembling hidden within his Dao Heart.

The Clan Leader slowly folded his hands behind his back.

Then he spoke again.

“You do not need to surpass anyone.”

Gu Tian’s brows tightened faintly.

A small reaction.

Yet for him, even such little emotion was rare.

The surrounding elders exchanged surprised glances but remained silent.

No one expected Gu Shen to speak such words before the awakening ceremony.

“The heavens are already fortunate enough to witness your existence.”

For the first time in years, Gu Tian’s breathing faltered slightly.

A strange warmth touched his chest before disappearing again beneath layers of restraint.

He had spent his entire life hearing expectations, commands, pressure, praise, and fear.

But never comfort.

Never understanding.

Never words spoken simply as a father to his son.

His fingers unconsciously clenched near the hilt of Moonfall Sword.

The movement was small.

Yet Gu Shen noticed immediately.

Of course he did.

The Heavenly Emperor Realm allowed one to observe even the slightest fluctuations within another’s spiritual sea.

Nothing escaped his gaze.

Suddenly—

A powerful memory surfaced within Gu Tian’s mind.

A young child stood hidden behind jade pillars inside the ancestral hall many years ago.

The flickering lantern flames illuminated cold elder faces seated upon heavenly thrones.

Their voices carried disappointment hidden beneath politeness.

“His bloodline is powerful.”

“But not monstrous enough to surpass Gu Shen.”

“Hm. Perhaps the boy lacks true immortal destiny.”

“Tsk… such a shame.”

The small child remained silent behind the pillar.

His tiny fists trembled violently.

Blood slowly dripped from his palms where fingernails pierced flesh.

Yet he never cried.

Never spoke.

Never showed weakness.

Back to the present—

Gu Tian inhaled slowly.

His eyes regained calmness once more.

But deep within his spiritual consciousness, cracks spread faintly across the stability of his Dao Heart.

A cultivator who doubted himself could easily fall into inner demons.

Especially one carrying expectations vast enough to crush entire worlds.

At that moment, the heavens darkened unexpectedly.

BOOOOM—!

Thunder exploded across the Eternal Heaven Realm.

Golden lightning split through the skies while ancient runes ignited upon the awakening altar ahead.

The crowd below erupted into shocked murmurs.

“What the hell—?!”

“Holy shit… heavenly tribulation signs?!”

“That pressure… impossible…”

Several disciples collapsed instantly from fear.

Even powerful elders frowned heavily.

Such heavenly phenomena should not appear during a mere awakening ceremony.

Gu Shen narrowed his eyes slightly.

A dangerous aura leaked from his body.

The surrounding space cracked apart like fragile glass before instantly healing again.

Then—

A voice echoed through the skies.

Ancient.

Cold.

Monstrous.

“The bloodline awakens…”

Millions froze instantly.

The voice did not belong to any living cultivator.

It sounded older than mountains themselves.

Inside the deepest forbidden tomb beneath Heaven Ascension Mountain, a pair of ancient eyes slowly opened within endless darkness.

Gu Wudi had awakened.

The Supreme Ancestor of the Eternal Gu Clan had remained asleep for over eight hundred years inside the Immortal Death Tomb.

Legends claimed he once slaughtered thirty immortal sects in a single night using only one hand.

Others whispered he devoured heavenly lightning to refine his immortal body.

Some even believed he had already surpassed mortality itself.

No one truly knew the truth.

Because everyone who witnessed Gu Wudi fighting had long since died.

BOOOOM—!

A terrifying immortal aura erupted from beneath the mountain.

The entire Eternal Heaven Realm shook violently.

Several floating islands cracked apart.

Spirit beasts hidden within sacred forests began screaming in terror.

Gu Tian suddenly felt unbearable pressure descend upon his body.

His knees almost bent.

Almost.

But he refused.

Grrr…

His spiritual veins ignited violently.

The Eternal Void Scripture circulated at full speed while dark silver aura erupted around him like storms consuming the skies.

Moonfall Sword released sharp sword cries as sword intent exploded outward.

The crowd gasped collectively.

“Sword Aura Manifestation?!”

“At Spirit Foundation Realm?!”

“Ridiculous…”

“No… this bastard’s talent is horrifying…”

Gu Tian ignored the voices completely.

Cold sweat slid down his neck while immense pressure battered his soul relentlessly.

It felt as though ancient mountains were crushing his bones piece by piece.

Yet he stood unmoving before the awakening altar.

Then the ground split open.

An enormous black pillar emerged from beneath the mountain.

Chains wrapped around its surface while immortal flames burned endlessly upon ancient inscriptions.

At the top of the pillar floated a single object.

A crystal.

Dark crimson.

Pulsating slowly like a living heart.

Its aura radiated terrifying ancient power capable of suppressing entire bloodlines.

Gu Shen’s expression changed slightly.

“The Primordial Heaven Blood Crystal…”

Even the elders inhaled sharply.

That artifact had disappeared since the ancient wars of the multiverse era.

Why had it appeared now?

Why during Gu Tian’s awakening ceremony?

The crystal suddenly emitted crimson light directly toward Gu Tian.

His body froze instantly.

Pain exploded through every spiritual vein inside him.

“UGH—!”

For the first time, Gu Tian let out a strained sound.

Blood leaked from the corner of his lips while ancient symbols appeared across his skin like burning marks.

The crowd panicked.

“What the fuck is happening?!”

“His body cannot endure it!”

“Stop the ceremony!”

But Gu Shen remained motionless.

His sharp gaze never left his son.

Because he alone could see the truth hidden beneath the pain.

Something inside Gu Tian was awakening.

Not merely bloodline power.

Not merely talent.

Something older.

Far older.

Within Gu Tian’s spiritual sea, darkness suddenly spread endlessly.

A massive ruined throne appeared amidst black flames and shattered stars.

Chains wrapped around countless corpses beneath the throne while rivers of blood flowed across broken worlds.

Then—

A pair of eyes opened within the darkness.

Ancient golden eyes filled with endless destruction and sorrow.

Gu Tian’s consciousness trembled violently.

A voice echoed inside his soul.

“You have finally returned…”

His pupils contracted instantly.

Returned?

Before he could react, countless fragmented memories exploded into his mind.

Worlds burning.

Gods screaming.

A black-armored figure standing above billions of corpses while holding a shattered divine spear.

Multiverse gates collapsing beneath endless darkness.

An army kneeling before a throne made of heavenly bones.

Then complete silence.

Gu Tian suddenly opened his eyes again.

His breathing became uneven for the first time in years.

The golden clouds above the heavens had turned crimson red.

Ancient lightning twisted like dragons through the skies.

And directly behind him—

A colossal phantom appeared.

An immortal figure wearing shattered black armor.

Its eyes glowed like dying suns.

Countless broken worlds rotated behind its enormous silhouette.

The entire Eternal Heaven Realm fell into absolute silence.

Even Gu Shen’s expression finally changed.

Shock.

Real shock.

Far beneath the mountain, inside the ancient immortal tomb—

Gu Wudi slowly smiled for the very first time in centuries.

“Hmmm…”

“So it truly was you.”

The old monster’s eyes gleamed with terrifying excitement hidden beneath ancient wisdom.

Outside, millions of cultivators stared at the heavens with pale faces.

Because the phantom behind Gu Tian carried an aura no immortal should possess.

An aura that belonged only to beings capable of destroying universes themselves.

And somewhere beyond the endless multiverse…

Something had already sensed his awakening.