"Huff..."
On the boundless desolate plains, Chen Xiaoming and a woman in white stood suspended in midair. Her eyes flickered with a brief hint of surprise before returning to their usual calm. Like the autumn waters, her gaze remained unfazed, showing no sign of relief despite Chen Xiaoming having just slain the young man before her.
Seeing this, Chen Xiaoming felt a bit awkward, especially when he noticed the faint trickle of blood at the corner of her lips—an injury from his spatial chains.
"Uh... if I said I saved the wrong person, would you believe me?"
It didn't really matter whether she believed it or not—because Chen Xiaoming himself certainly did.
Spreading his hands helplessly, he sighed inwardly. He had just been passing by, happened to hear a cry for help, and, having recently broken through in cultivation, wanted to test his strength in this world of Shrouding the Heavens.
Who knew his luck would be this terrible, stumbling into such a mess?
He silently cursed the system that had randomly transported him here—not just across worlds but also at an arbitrary point in time.
At first glance, he hadn't connected the white-robed woman before him to that legendary, peerless Empress of eternity.
It wasn't until the young man mentioned the name Yuhua Divine Dynasty that realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.
He had arrived... a bit too early.
By roughly 200,000 years.
Staring at the woman, Chen Xiaoming could almost see the shadow of her future self—an ethereal, unrivaled figure standing alone against the ages.
Sigh, what a headache!
If this were any other world, he wouldn't have hesitated in the slightest. But here? Facing this particular woman, he hesitated.
For now, she seemed ordinary.
But in the ages to come, she would be known by a name that struck fear into the hearts of all beings—the Ruthless Emperor.
A woman who defied the heavens, possessing talent that outshone all of eternity. One who could slay gods beyond the nine heavens, stand atop the cosmos, and make even deities tremble. Yet, she never sought immortality.
She waited in the mortal realm.
For someone who never returned.
Recalling her tragic past, Chen Xiaoming felt a pang of sympathy. With a flick of his finger, he sent the young man's corpse and his ancient shield toward the white-clad woman.
The Ruthless Emperor's expression remained cold as she glanced at the offering before taking it without hesitation. She gave Chen Xiaoming a brief, unreadable look before turning away without a word.
"Hey, you—"
Before he could finish, she vanished into the horizon, disappearing through the void in an instant.
Gazing at the empty sky, Chen Xiaoming chuckled to himself. For some reason, the image of that resolute yet cold figure lingered in his mind. Shaking his head, he decided not to dwell on it—perhaps he was just overwhelmed at meeting the legendary Ruthless Emperor in person.
He made no attempt to chase after her.
She had been decisive enough. Why complicate things further?
As for why he hadn't attacked her?
It wasn't fear.
Just common sense.
After all, in this world, some beings could trace attacks back through the timeline itself and strike him down where he stood.
Turning into a streak of light, Chen Xiaoming sped off into the distance, finally beginning to contemplate his current situation.
This was the Barren Era—200,000 years before the main story of Shrouding the Heavens would begin.
Racking his memory, Chen Xiaoming realized with dismay that there was barely any information available about this time period.
The world of Shrouding the Heavens was vast, spanning entire eras—
The Age of Origins, the Era of Fallen Emperors, the Immortal Ancient Era, the Chaotic Ancient Era, the Dark Ancient Era, the Mythological Era, the Primordial Era, and the Barren Ancient Era, which led into the Post-Barren Ancient Era where the main story unfolded.
He was currently in the Barren Ancient Era, before the Ruthless Emperor achieved her path.
By this time, Amitabha the Great had already perished for ten thousand years, and his lingering divine pressure upon the world had long since dissipated.
A great era of contention was about to begin.
A sudden chill ran down Chen Xiaoming's spine.
Gazing into the vast, blue sky, he seemed to glimpse a future filled with endless bloodshed and towering mountains of corpses.
Deep within his eyes, a flickering flame began to burn.
In an era of such grand contention, how could he, Chen Xiaoming, be absent?
Thinking of the countless rivals he would face—peerless geniuses, supreme holy bodies—his excitement surged, and his speed increased yet again, disappearing into the horizon.
...
One month later.
Eastern Wastelands, Beiyuan City.
"Finally! A city!"
After flying across the endless wilderness for an entire month, Chen Xiaoming finally reached civilization. The massive city sprawled across the plains, backed by rolling mountains and lush forests. No more barren wastelands—just the vibrant life of a bustling metropolis.
Descending from the sky, he entered the city.
The streets were lively, filled with carriages and merchants hawking their wares. Taverns overflowed with laughter, and even places of ill repute flourished with song and dance.
After a grueling month, he decided he deserved some indulgence.
Choosing a reputable tavern, he secured a private seat by the window. From here, he could see a grand establishment named The Painted Boat Pavilion, where graceful figures moved about like delicate lotus blossoms.
"Tsk tsk."
Just as he was about to enjoy the view, a nearby conversation caught his attention.
"Hey, have you heard? Nangong Xian'er has come out into the world to train."
"You mean from that Nangong Clan in the Eastern Wastelands?"
"Of course! Is there another Nangong Clan with someone as legendary as Nangong Xian'er?"
A group of cultivators, each at the Dao Palace Realm, were deep in discussion. Chen Xiaoming listened intently.
Nangong Clan? Nangong Xian'er? Interesting.
Sipping his tea, he withdrew his spiritual sense, suddenly intrigued by these scions of noble families and holy lands.
"Tsk tsk, the Holy Sons of various sacred grounds and even imperial princes must be restless now."
One of the men's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Naturally! Nangong Xian'er is famed as the most beautiful woman in the Eastern Wastelands, possessing the legendary Luo Shen Physique. Even in her youth, she was already regarded as a celestial being by the Holy Sons of various sacred lands."
"Just catching a glimpse of her would make this life worthwhile."
"Keep dreaming! Even the Holy Sons of sacred lands struggle to meet her, let alone nobodies like us."
"Sigh..."
Throughout the tavern, many listeners echoed similar sentiments.
Chen Xiaoming, however, smiled with interest.
So, even in this Barren Ancient Era, such a remarkable figure existed?
He had to see for himself.
"Nangong Xian'er... fascinating!"
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