In a chaotic void southeast of the ancient star road, a deafening roar echoed, and light annihilated everything. Three figures shot out, stabilized their bodies, and stood facing each other.
"Who is it?"
Han Xin, holding his long sword, faced two elderly men of the human race ahead. These two elders were identical, but their robes differed: one wore a gray robe, the other a blue one.
The two elders, having stabilized themselves, both took a step back. At this moment, they ceased their attacks and gazed at each other from afar. The elder in the blue robe smiled slightly and spoke to Han Xin.
"For the human race to have reached this point without my support is truly beyond my expectations. The potential of our people is indeed great!"
The elder in the gray robe stroked his beard, his gaze fixed on Han Xin. "You extinguished my servants. This debt, we must settle!"
"Servants?"
Han Xin furrowed his brow slightly, then a smile touched his lips. "The three elders of Di Xu are behind this!"
"Where is your true form? Do you think setting up two avatars here will allow you to escape the Great Han's pursuit?"
"Hahaha!"
"Pursuit?"
The gray-robed elder laughed heartily. "Since my birth, I have witnessed the most brilliant era of the Immortal Realm. Behold! Such a glorious era ultimately met its end at my hands. Without my schemes, how could the human race have risen in the ancient immortal era!"
"To be frank, it's better to be clear," Han Xin's expression turned cold. These two had yet to reveal their identities.
"I am the past self of the Desolate Origin Ancestor!" the gray-robed elder stated, stroking his beard, his eyes chilling.
"And I am the future self," the blue-robed elder nodded slightly.
"I have schemed for ten thousand years, and today, my plan is finally complete. Submit to me, and I shall grant the Great Han eternal rule over the Immortal Realm!"
Boom!
A colossal explosion rent the air behind them. The void warped, and visible divine rules converged. A nine-story, dusky gray Origin Pagoda materialized, entwined with myriad laws!
"Origin Pagoda!"
Han Xin's expression instantly became solemn. He recognized the phenomenon, a divine artifact capable of manipulating countless laws, as the Origin Pagoda spoken of by the Heavenly Emperor!
"Hmm?"
The past and future selves' faces changed drastically, their gazes filled with killing intent as they locked onto Han Xin. "How do you know of it?"
The Origin Pagoda!
It was the foundation of the Immortal Realm and the ancient star road, containing the fundamental power for beings to step into transcendence. Discovered by him since the creation era, it had been under his protection. He moved it to Di Xu, established a grand sealing array, and controlled the Immortal Realm, continuously weakening the strength of the various races. All this was to protect the Origin Pagoda from being discovered by other beings.
But today!
Han Xin before him actually knew of the Origin Pagoda's whereabouts. If he knew, it meant the high-level rulers of the Great Han Celestial Court had learned everything!
"What one wishes to conceal, one must not do," Han Xin said coldly.
"If you know of the Origin Pagoda, then you cannot be allowed to live!" the past self spoke indifferently, but his eyes brimmed with killing intent potent enough to pierce the very heavens of the ancient star road. He continued, "You and the Great Han behind you will be utterly annihilated for your words today!"
"You wish for my Great Han Celestial Court to be annihilated?"
"Who speaks such arrogant nonsense!"
The void boomed, and a bottomless chasm of space ripped open, leading directly to their location. Two figures emerged calmly, their gazes locking onto the past and future selves.
"The omen of Gui Xiu!"
Han Xin looked up, his heart instantly startled as he saw Guiguzi. The omen of Gui Xiu could only signify a peerless hero born after him, the legendary figure of the Spring and Autumn Warring States period – Guiguzi, who treated the various states as a chessboard!
"And that is?"
At this moment, Han Xin looked at the emaciated man beside Guiguzi. He could sense that beneath the gaunt exterior lay a terrifying power capable of crushing the Immortal Realm. He had seen a similar aura on Xiang Yu.
"A creature like you dares to utter such threats? To destroy my Great Han? As long as I, your grandfather, stand here, I can sweep through the entire ancient star road!"
"Hmph!"
"Hand over the Origin Pagoda!"
Looking at the emaciated figure and the elder who bore the omen of Gui Xiu, the past and future selves' eyes flickered. Such immense power! In the creation era, this power could have suppressed the two overlords, the Star Ancestral Emperor and the Immortal Ancestral Emperor.
The future self spoke slowly, "Sweep through the ancient star road? Admirable courage. Even in the creation era, such a statement would be remarkable. Boy, do you know who I am?"
"State your name!"
Clang!
Li Yuanba shouldered his great hammers, the vibrating light waves shattering the vast expanse of the sky.
"Desolate Origin Ancestor!"
The future self uttered each word slowly.
"Desolate Origin Ancestor!"
Guiguzi smiled faintly and said, "I sense energy within you that does not belong to your true form. This energy originates from the Origin Pagoda, doesn't it? It seems you have succeeded since the creation era until now!"
"Who are you?"
The past self was shocked. In just a few words, this elder had seen through his core. Until now, only his three servants knew of this matter. How could this elder know!
"Hahaha!"
Guiguzi smiled and stroked his beard. "I am the Grand Protector of the Great Han Celestial Court!"
"You come from creation, but the Immortal Realm has gone through eras of Immortal Ancient, Savage Desolation, Underworld Sea, and the Age of Emperors, yet there has been no trace of you. Such a significant matter, and you remained hidden. It was only recently, when the unconfirmed realm of transcendence reached its peak and perfection, that a detailed investigation revealed the truth!"
"So what if you've seen through it? The Origin Pagoda is the fundamental source of this world. This immense power is now mine. Who in this heaven and earth can defeat me?" The past self's face contorted with ferocity, and the future self's eyes glinted with disdain. The very origin of this world had merged with him. Ordinary beings were no match for him.
"General Li, in this heaven and earth, who can annihilate him!" Guiguzi shook his head with a smile, looking at the emaciated Li Yuanba.
Bang!
The twin hammers collided, causing the past and future selves to tremble. The power unleashed was incredibly potent, carrying an aura of endless destruction!
"Mere flies, easily swatted! Whoever dares to block me, whoever dares to fight me, whoever dares to receive my hammer strike!" Li Yuanba roared, gripping his twin hammers. His words sent tremors not only through the past and future selves but also startled Han Xin. The energy erupting from the collision of the hammers gave Han Xin a sense of terrifying annihilation. It was different from Bai Qi's path of slaughter; it was the destruction of the very source of power!
"Hahaha, courageous indeed!"
The future self calmed down and said coldly. In the past, this question might have been difficult to answer. This emaciated man was more powerful than any titan he had encountered in the creation era, surpassing them all!