Emperor’s Domination

“I suppose I should thank all of you for not wasting my efforts.” He patted her shoulder.

“Teacher, I dared not forget your teachings regarding the dao heart. Thus, I never wavered once.” She said.

“Thank you.” He smiled: “You have understood the mysteries of time yet never took advantage of it to hurt others or grow stronger. You went here instead to polish your dao heart, choosing the hardest path.”

“I had plenty of shortcomings. Thus, using my dao heart to ignite this small land against the darkness was worth it. That’s the only way I can keep up with you, Teacher.” She said.

“You have never disappointed me.” He said: “Never chose the shortcut even when it was readily available.”

“That’s the least I can do. My goal was not only to become an immortal or the primordial stage, I will go as far as you do.”

“And you can, I always knew you could.” He said.

“Because you’re still here.” She reverted to the young girl who wanted nothing more than to be with him.

After a long while, she asked: “You’re not here only to see me, right?”

“What if I am?” He smiled.

“I’m satisfied either way.” She smiled.

“This place is the key to everything.” He revealed and took out the shrine.

“This thing…” She carefully examined it: “I heard about this while staying in Guardian Alliance. Deepsouth Divine Emperor wanted it.”

“Couldn’t contain his greed.” He shook his head.

“How is it useful?” She asked.

“You’ve been here all this time, what did you sense?” He asked.

She raised her hand and the flame of the dao heart danced on her palm like a spirit.

“The sage’s dao heart deserves nothing but admiration.” She said.

“Anything else? Something unique.” He asked.

“Does a ripple count?” She said with uncertainty: “It’s faint and well hidden, virtually imperceptible.”

“Go on.” He said.

“It’s still too weak. If it can grow, perhaps it can surpass the power of immortals? However, it resembles more of a heart than anything. Its beats are to bump the veins of this world.” She said.

“The world’s heart.” He smiled.

“Is that what this is, the legend?” She was surprised.

“The nine worlds and the thirteen continents didn’t have one. Heavenrealm does.” He said.

“In other words, Heavenrealm’s heart is right here in Stygian?” She asked.

“Not quite, each major world has its own heart. Of course, it doesn’t have to take the form of a heart. It can be an immortal tree or something else.” He said.

“I see, they have similar objects.” She said: “This heart possesses all of Stygian’s energy and dao?”

“It’s not that simple. What else do you sense in this world’s time and space?” He asked.

“Nothing due to the engulfing darkness.” She said.

“It’s still hard to sense, darkness or not. Previously, it would have been the mortal coil and prosperity shielding it. If you had focused on it entirely, you would have sensed the heart of the people.”

“The heart of the people? So which is it, the world’s heart or the people’s heart?” She asked.

“In this case, the world’s heart is divided into three parts – people, time, and space.” He elaborated.

“I see.” She murmured: “I didn’t feel the other two parts at all.”

“Just feeling the people’s heart is impressive enough. They are three but one. Time and space require the people to experience them. Otherwise, they’ll be colorless and lifeless.” He said.

“Then time and space are dead now?” She asked.

“Not quite. As you can see, the people’s heart is extremely weak. This world depended on the people to give it an unending life source. With them dead, the world’s heart is virtually dead.” He said.

“Devouring Alliance devoured everyone and silenced the people’s heart.” She said: “If this world is populated again, the heart will return.”

“Do you know why it’s so easy to become an immortal in Heavenrealm?” He asked.

“Because of these hearts.” She understood.

“Yes, they complement the immortal dao. As immortals grow stronger, so do they.” He nodded.

“Devouring is akin to killing a chicken to get the eggs.” She said: “It is a dead end.”

“Yes, worlds need regular mortals. When only immortals are left, those worlds are doomed.” He said.