Chapter One: A Dream of a Hundred Thousand Years

In the majestic main hall, Star Lord Wu Shu reclined on his throne. Below the throne, two figures prostrated themselves: an old man and a beautiful young woman.

An eerie atmosphere permeated the hall, so quiet that the fall of a needle would have been audible. Half an hour passed in this state before Wu Shu finally broke the silence. "Things have reached this point; do you two have nothing left to say for yourselves?"

Within the hall, the two were heavily constrained, as if by an invisible pressure. They could not even stand straight, and speaking was a laborious task. Upon hearing Wu Shu’s words, the woman, though she desperately wanted to curse, remembered her status as a prisoner and struggled to utter, "Star Lord, the constraints..."

As she managed to choke out the word "constraints," Wu Shu flicked his hand toward them. The pair immediately felt their bodies lighten and began to gasp for air.

Freed from the bonds, the old man hissed, "Wu Shu, I treated you well in the past; how dare you treat me like this? If I had known it would come to this, I should have strangled you in your mother’s womb!"

Wu Shu was not surprised by the old man's reaction, but he would never tolerate someone openly using his name and insulting him to his face. After tens of thousands of years of accumulated authority, Wu Shu merely gazed at him calmly, and the old man felt a shiver run down his spine. Just as the old man was about to beg for mercy, the pressure descended again, forcing him uncontrollably to the ground.

It was evident that the old man was a formidable powerhouse in his own right; yet, under Star Lord Wu Shu’s pressure, he could only manage a trickle of blood from his lips.

"There is still plenty of space beneath Saint Son Mountain," Wu Shu said calmly. "I wouldn't mind suppressing another traitor there."

As the highest mountain range on the Forgotten Continent, Saint Son Mountain was not only rich in ley line energy but protected by arrays laid down by generations of Star Lords. Beyond the Star Lord himself, even god-tier experts of Star Lord rank would likely never return if they entered.

When the old man chose to collaborate with Zhao Fenxing, he had considered the potential consequences, but he never imagined that Star Lord Wu Shu would intend to suppress him beneath Saint Son Mountain. Once inside, one would not only endure the day-and-night torment of various arrays but also the mockery of the "old thing" already buried there.

The old man hesitated, his words caught in his throat. Zhao Fenxing, standing to the side, said with disdain, "The Holy Path is difficult to tread. I truly cannot understand how, with such a temperament, you managed to cultivate the Holy Seal."

Speaking of Wu Shu's strength—and especially his comprehension—even as Wu Shu’s guide, the old man still could not fathom it. When Wu Shu first arrived on the Forgotten Continent, his talent was indeed high, but only in the cultivation of profound energy. His understanding of arrays was definitely not exceptional. Anyone who could enter the Forgotten Continent had to be a prodigy just to qualify; compared to others, Wu Shu’s initial aptitude for arrays was at the very bottom.

Yet, never had the old man imagined that such a "useless" youth would one day shock the world. That day, Wu Shu’s sudden breakthrough shattered the rules of the Forgotten Continent. While others might gain enlightenment and be known throughout the land, Star Lord Wu Shu gained enlightenment and became invincible. What shocked the old man even more was that from the moment Wu Shu awakened his talent for arrays, he had ruled the Forgotten Continent for over ninety-nine thousand nine hundred years. *Sigh...* and all those decades prior, Wu Shu must have been feigning weakness to seek protection.

Star Lord Wu Shu did not care to answer Zhao Fenxing. Over the last hundred thousand years, too many geniuses had fallen by his hand, and every one of them, once prostrate, asked similar questions. However, Wu Shu understood that if no one answered, Zhao Fenxing would assume she had been insulted and would thereafter fall into a defiant silence, waiting for death. Human powerhouses had their dignity, and as a god-tier expert, Zhao Fenxing was no exception.

"Wu Zuo," Star Lord Wu Shu said, "answer this question for her."

As he spoke, the invisible pressure on the old man vanished. The old man stood up, clearly agitated. "Wu Shu, how many times do I have to tell you? I am Wu You! The old thing under Saint Son Mountain is the one called Wu Zuo!"

On the throne, Wu Shu ignored him. The brothers Wu Zuo and Wu You had argued over who was the elder since they first gained consciousness. In truth, only the heavens knew which of the twins was truly older.

Seeing Star Lord Wu Shu begin to drum his fingers on the throne, Wu Zuo immediately spoke: "Fenxing, to speak of the Holy Seal, one must first speak of the Holy Path. For many, the name alone suggests it is difficult to tread, let alone cultivate. Traditionally, the Holy Path begins with the kindness or malice of the human heart, and the place where light resides is where the Holy Path leads."

"But the Holy Path walked by array masters on the Forgotten Continent cannot be strictly counted as the one the world speaks of. On this path, an array master must possess not only a Holy Mind but a Holy Heart. Only an array master with a Holy Heart can perfectly wield the Holy Seal. Otherwise, even if you are qualified to be a Saint Master of arrays, you can only comprehend the Holy Runes within the seal."

At the mention of the Holy Seal, Zhao Fenxing frowned, clearly displeased. "A Holy Heart? Why? Why didn't you tell me sooner that mastering the Holy Seal depends on whether an array master can cultivate a Holy Heart?"

Wu Zuo smiled bitterly. "The path of arrays is all-encompassing. You have already cultivated the Holy Runes and are only one step away from achieving the Holy Seal; surely you have your own insights. In your training, I have shared everything I know regarding the seal. *Sigh...* everything was done in too much haste. If you had been given another ten years, with your talent, you would surely have surpassed Star Lord Wu Shu."

"Furthermore," Wu Zuo added, "in the path of arrays, Star Lord Wu Shu has mastered not just the Holy Seal, but the Dao Runes, the Immovable King Seal, the Ghost Gate, and the Demon Statue. His comprehension of all these is exquisite."

"How can that be?" Zhao Fenxing exclaimed in disbelief. "How could anyone in this world master so many arrays?" She looked at Wu Shu. "It is impossible. Even a god cannot merge the Holy Heart, the Dao Heart, the Buddha Mind, the Ghost Desire, and the Demon Heart into one."

In truth, Zhao Fenxing was not unaware of Wu Shu's unimaginable strength. She spoke these words in his presence in hopes of finding a weakness through his subtle reactions. She hoped to discern the root of his cultivation from his demeanor. After all, for a human to possess the body of a god and demon is one thing, but to refine conflicting and mutually exclusive powers to be used at will is the true difficulty.

To Star Lord Wu Shu, Zhao Fenxing and Wu Zuo were merely putting on a show. Compared to past geniuses, Zhao Fenxing’s performance was simply more vivid.

"I have answered your question," Wu Shu said calmly. "Now, it is your turn to answer mine. You dared to treat me as a mortal enemy; what was your purpose?" Before she could answer, he added, "Choose your words carefully, or you will end up like the other fallen prodigies: without a grave to call your own."

Wu Shu was indisputably the strongest on the Forgotten Continent. Even if Zhao Fenxing considered herself powerful, she was small compared to him. Yet, faced with his threat, she replied without hesitation: "My primary purpose for entering the Forgotten Continent was to confirm one thing: whether any of the prodigies from the Thick Earth Continent were worth my attention."

"Since I gained consciousness, I have been surrounded by peers who were hailed as geniuses, yet it is a regret that not a single one could withstand three of my moves. Invincibility is a lonely state, and I believe you understand that loneliness now."

"Over the years, after countless clashes with your subordinates, I have realized one thing: your rise to power was no accident. You do not fear your opponents, you do not fear yourself, and you do not fear this world—that is why you are stronger than others. In my view, those who can truly see themselves clearly are rare, and those who are truly fearless are even rarer. I believe someone like you should not have existed in the mortal realm."

"My meeting with you has taught me another thing: all phenomena in the world stem from a single heart. As the saying goes, 'My heart knows that I am.' As for my true purpose in meeting you? Perhaps when you meet the 'true' me in the near future, I will consider whether or not to tell you."

Although Zhao Fenxing's words were not much different from those of past geniuses, Star Lord Wu Shu knew that her appearance was no accident. There was an urgent motive hidden behind her words.

"Your tone is not that of a loser," Wu Shu said calmly. "Is there anything else? Say it all. If what you tell me is of benefit, I can promise you a quick end."

Zhao Fenxing knew well the torment that awaited her beneath Saint Son Mountain, but she felt no fear. The path of cultivation, especially for the strong, knows no distinction of age, gender, or infirmity; one must simply challenge the heights. Beyond sharpening herself, she wanted to know his weaknesses and the true extent of his power.

Zhao Fenxing sneered, "So, if I tell the truth, I might be spared physical suffering, but the death penalty remains, correct? Star Lord, I did not expect you to be so devious. It is a pity that I do not respond to this 'carrot and stick' approach. However, if I reveal why I came to the Forgotten Continent, I believe that not only will you not harm a hair on my head, but you will remember this debt of gratitude."

To Wu Shu, her words were nonsense. Before absolute power, words were feeble. And what did a god-tier expert know of gratitude? Still, having stood at the pinnacle of the Forgotten Continent for a hundred thousand years, he treated this as mere entertainment.

He rose from his throne and feigned suspicion. "I did not expect you to harbor so many secrets. I happen to know someone who also holds many secrets. If you two were to meet, I think you would find much in common."

Sensing where Wu Shu intended to take them, Wu Zuo hurriedly intervened. "Star Lord, Zhao Fenxing would never find common ground with *that* person!"

"Wu Zuo, this journey does not require your permission. Besides, before absolute power, do you truly believe you have a choice?"

As he spoke, Wu Shu appeared beside them. He waved his hand across the space, and in the next moment, the three of them stood beneath Saint Son Mountain.

"Traversing the void?" Zhao Fenxing murmured, unable to believe her eyes. She reached out to touch the flowers and grass nearby. Everything was real, but she could not fathom that Wu Shu had become this powerful.

"Little girl, this is not traversing the void," a strange, aged voice drifted over, surprising Zhao Fenxing. "The technique the Star Lord just displayed is called 'Spatial Rhythm.' It originates from a basic array, 'Shifting Positions.'"

"Who is lurking there?" Zhao Fenxing demanded coldly.

"Sigh... what a pitiful child," the voice replied. "You are already here, yet you don't even know what you're facing, instead worrying about an old man."

Wu Zuo scoffed, "Old fool, stop pretending to be profound. After all these years, haven't you been drained dry yet? You still have the energy to deceive a little girl?"

An old man, looking identical to Wu Zuo but dressed in rags, walked toward them. "Old thing, how are you talking to your big brother? Do I need you to teach me how to behave?"

"Old fool!" Wu Zuo retorted furiously. "It seems the arrays around Saint Son Mountain haven't disciplined you enough! You dare talk back to your brother?"

The brothers, Wu Zuo and Wu You, had spent tens of thousands of years arguing over their seniority. In Wu Shu's words, they had both popped out of rocks, so who knew who was older?

Ignoring them, Wu Shu focused on the shifting arrays of Saint Son Mountain. "Boredom," he remarked suddenly. "With my strength having surged again, only the arrays of Saint Son Mountain are worth my time to break."

He gestured in the air, and the arrays surrounding the mountain vanished instantly.

Wu You, freed from the constraints, laughed in disbelief. "Hahahaha! The Great Array of Saint Son Mountain is gone! Those cursed arrays are really gone!"

Wu Zuo, Wu You, and Zhao Fenxing exchanged glances. They were all masters of arrays.

"Damn you, Wu Shu!" the brothers shouted in unison. "You finally had a moment of carelessness!"

Wu You was ecstatic. "Oh, heavens! I have finally waited for this day!" Having been suppressed for tens of thousands of years, he felt a hatred for Wu Shu that could not be expressed in words. "I have suffered endlessly just to cling to life. Today, I will take your head!"

He looked at Wu Zuo. "Wu Zuo, let us put aside our grievances and take down Wu Shu together! What do you say? Shall we forget our wager?"

"To hell with the wager!" Wu Zuo agreed readily. "Wu You, even though I wasn't suppressed, I have lived in his shadow for years. Let us join forces and show him who the true master of the Forgotten Continent is!"

While the brothers were blinded by impulse, Zhao Fenxing remained silent. She was shocked. The strength of Star Lord Wu Shu was far beyond her imagination. She knew better than anyone what kind of arrays had guarded this mountain; she had sneaked into the outer edges of these very arrays many times in the past.

Star Lord Wu Shu merely flicked his fingers, and the arrays were gone. She wondered where the brothers found the confidence to think they could defeat him.

Wu Shu remained indifferent to their threats. He gazed toward the other side of the mountain and said calmly, "So, this is what 'indulging in order to capture' looks like."

*Indulging in order to capture?*

The brothers instantly cooled down, bracing themselves.

"Wu Shu," Wu Zuo said, his voice wavering, "don't bluff. We know exactly how much you're worth."

Wu Shu shook his head. "All three of you, attack at once. Today, I will let you witness my true strength."

Zhao Fenxing steeled herself. "Fine. I have long wanted to witness the Star Lord's true power. Since you are willing to teach us, we shall oblige. Wu Zuo, Wu You—if you want to live, use your full strength!"

"Four Spirits Array: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise—SUPPRESS!"

Wu Shu stood motionless as the array sealed every path. "I knew you three were plotting something," he sighed. "That is why I allowed you to gather here. So, you intended to suppress me beneath Saint Son Mountain."

"Holy Seal, emerge!" Zhao Fenxing commanded.

"Wu Shu," Wu You said confidently, "you guessed correctly. But no matter how clever you are, from today on, you will taste the misery of being suppressed by an array!"

"How ignorant," Wu Shu replied. "Watch closely. Compared to the arrays you set around this mountain, which do you think is more powerful—the ones I have placed over the entire Forgotten Continent?"

"Holy Seal, arise! Dao Runes, activate! Ghost Gate, manifest! Demon Statue, surge! Immovable King Seal, wither the autumn wind! Profound Will, seal!"

As Wu Shu spoke, the entire continent was covered by a massive array. Compared to his, the arrays of Zhao Fenxing and the brothers were like light drizzle.

"Wu Shu, what are you doing?" the brothers trembled. "Are you... are you trying to drag us to the grave with you?"

Wu Shu felt a headache coming on. "Living on the Forgotten Continent is truly too boring. When I play wit, you cannot keep up. When I compare combat power, I crush you. It is time to return."

"Unknowingly, I have lived here for a hundred thousand years. As my strength grew, I realized a few thousand years ago that the Forgotten Continent is merely a small world. The flow of time here is different from the Thick Earth Continent; one year there is ten thousand years here."

"I have gained much, and it is time to return to the Thick Earth Continent. Of course, I must seal away most of my memories. My young body there could never withstand the mental strength I possess now. I truly wanted to see what you were planning, but it is nothing more than the games of children."

"Farewell, the three of you. If we meet again on the Thick Earth Continent, I will be sure to treat you well."

With that, the array solidified. The three watched as Wu Shu plunged a golden needle into his own heart, and then, he vanished.

After he disappeared, the brothers stood as if they had lost their souls. Everything had happened too suddenly; even Zhao Fenxing was bewildered.

"Since Wu Shu has awakened, my mission here is complete," Zhao Fenxing said.

"Little girl," Wu Zuo asked, shocked, "you came to the Forgotten Continent not for cultivation, but just to wake that damn brat up?"

Zhao Fenxing smiled, saying nothing, and her body drifted away with the wind.

"That little girl is interesting," Wu You sighed, watching her leave. "It seems the Thick Earth Continent will be lively."

"Is that it?" Wu Zuo muttered. "Is it all over?"

Wu You looked at his brother with disdain. "Everything has only just begun."

"Sigh," Wu Zuo whispered, a sudden glint of mischief in his eyes. "Brat, enjoy your arrogance. When you wake up, I'll show you."

"Agreed," Wu You replied. "A debt unpaid is the mark of a villain."