Ancient secrets, the Supreme Heaven! Was the ancient times so glorious?

“Heavenly Court?”

Lin Mo keenly caught this keyword.

This supreme term from the myths of his previous life filled him with infinite curiosity, and he couldn’t help but ask, “May I ask, Emperor, what is the ‘Heavenly Court’?”

The Emperors Phantom seemed to fall into some distant memory, and the starlight around him softened slightly.

“Let me tell you a secret.”

“Do you know that in ancient times, only Great Emperors who had attained the Dao were qualified to be the masters of an Imperial Dynasty?”

“Not like now, where one can establish a Dynasty and claim to be an Emperor even without entering the Saint Realm.”

The Emperors Phantom’s words were astonishing, causing Lin Mo’s heart to tremble.

Only Great Emperors could establish a Dynasty? What a glorious and prosperous era was that?

That’s a bit outrageous, isn’t it?

“In ancient times, many Emperors coexisted, and countless Dynasties stood.”

“And all Imperial Dynasties had to obey a supreme existence, which was… the Heavenly Court!”

The Emperors Phantom continued, his voice carrying a hint of indescribable pride and reminiscence, as if narrating a golden age he had personally experienced.

Many Emperors coexisting, countless Dynasties standing, all revering the Heavenly Court!

Just twelve words, yet they painted an unimaginably grand and magnificent picture in Lin Mo’s mind.

What a brilliant era that was, where Great Emperors were no longer legends, but true Emperors walking the world, jointly upholding the order of this heaven and earth with the Heavenly Court—it was truly mythical!

But after the immense shock, an even greater doubt arose in his heart.

Lin Mo pressed on, “Since many Emperors coexisted in ancient times, why is it that now, even one Great Emperor is hard to come by in an entire era? And even Quasi-Emperors are as rare as Phoenix feathers?”

Upon hearing this question, the Emperors Phantom’s tone suddenly became deep, that pride and reminiscence replaced by a profound sorrow.

He slowly said, “Because the current Cangxuan Great Realm is no longer complete.”

“It once experienced an unimaginable ancient tribulation, was shattered and incomplete, with incomplete Laws of heaven and earth, and damaged Dao.”

“This is the fundamental reason why the path to becoming an Emperor is so difficult.”

Ancient tribulation? Damaged Dao?

Damn it, the Cangxuan Great Realm even went through something like that?

That doesn’t sound like good news at all!

Lin Mo wanted to ask for more details about the tribulation, wanting to know what kind of terrifying disaster could shatter a glorious world where many Emperors coexisted, leaving its Laws incomplete.

But the Emperors Phantom shook his head, stopping his questions.

“Your current strength is too weak; knowing too much about those forbidden matters is not beneficial to you.”

“Cultivate diligently. This Sovereign Extreme World-Suppressing Scripture will pave the way for you.”

“When you reach the pinnacle, you will naturally come into contact with that buried truth.”

After instructing Lin Mo, the Emperors Phantom’s gaze turned to Ji Lingxue, who had long been stunned by these shocking secrets.

His indifferent words, devoid of any emotion, then sounded.

“Your Dynasty’s current foundation is too shallow, and its national destiny is weak, far from sufficient to bear an Emperor-level method like the Sovereign Extreme World-Suppressing Scripture.”

“If you forcefully establish an Imperial Dynasty, it will only invite backlash, leading the entire Dynasty to eternal damnation.”

“Sometimes, being content with a corner, and being an ordinary Dynasty, is not necessarily a misfortune.”

“My words end here; take care of yourself.”

These words were like a basin of the coldest water from the Nine Netherworlds, pouring over Ji Lingxue’s head.

The hope that had just ignited because Lin Mo passed the test was shattered at this moment.

The Emperor’s words, like a supreme decree, directly pronounced the “death sentence” for her and the Ancient Spirit Dynasty.

Ji Lingxue’s delicate body swayed slightly, the light in her eyes visibly dimming at a rapid pace. The huge drop from the clouds to the bottom of the valley almost suffocated her.

After giving guidance to Ji Lingxue, the Emperors Phantom began to become ethereal, eventually transforming into specks of brilliant golden light, slowly dissipating into the air.

Only a long sigh remained, echoing in the empty Star River Plaza.

“My imprint’s mission is complete. Junior, the future path is yours to walk…”

As the Emperor's imprint dissipated, the heart-palpitating, lofty aura in the Star River Plaza also vanished, and everything returned to tranquility.

For a moment, in this silent plaza, only Lin Mo and the two women remained.

Lin Mo walked over to Ji Lingxue, seeing her distraught, her eyes vacant, looking utterly devastated as if the sky had fallen. He felt a pang of unwillingness in his heart.

So he spoke softly, attempting to comfort her.

“Don’t worry. Although the Legacy ultimately chose me, I will still keep my promise and impart the Method of Dynasty Prosperity to you.”

Unexpectedly, his words not only failed to bring comfort but became the final straw that broke Ji Lingxue’s emotional defenses.

“No… Fellow Daoist Lin, it’s not needed anymore…”

Ji Lingxue’s tears finally flowed uncontrollably. She shook her head desperately, her voice choked, filled with helplessness and despair.

“The Emperor has already stated that my Ancient Spirit Dynasty is not qualified to become an Imperial Dynasty… Forcibly doing so will only invite catastrophic disaster…”

“Perhaps, destruction is our only outcome…”

She had completely given up.

Even the legendary Great Emperor had personally declared their future; what more could she hope for?

Seeing her tears streaming down her face, heartbroken, Lin Mo sighed in his heart.

This girl, it seems she’s been hit hard!

However, if it weren’t for Ji Lingxue this time, he wouldn’t have obtained such a great Opportunity.

So, both emotionally and logically, he had to help her.

Thinking of this, Lin Mo reached out and gently wiped away the tears on her cheek with his fingertip.

The warm touch made Ji Lingxue’s delicate body tremble suddenly. She looked up blankly, her tear-filled eyes reflecting Lin Mo’s calm yet incredibly resolute face.

“The Emperor said ‘currently’ not qualified, which doesn’t mean ‘in the future’ not either.”

“The destruction of the Dynasty is not the only outcome either.”

“Because, with me, I will help you.”

Lin Mo’s voice was steady and powerful, every word striking her heart.

“Fellow Daoist Lin… you… you mean?!”

Ji Lingxue’s heart pounded. A sapling named hope, trembling, once again broke through the soil of her heart.

“That’s right.”

Lin Mo looked at her solemnly, giving his promise.

“Next, I will stand by you!”

“With me here, the Ancient Spirit Dynasty will not be in chaos, nor will it be destroyed!”

This decision, of course, was not Lin Mo’s impulse.

Because on this Secret Realm trip, if Ji Lingxue hadn’t led the way, he wouldn’t have been able to obtain this complete Emperor Scripture.

And such a heaven-sent Opportunity was a Karma that had to be repaid.

“Really… really?!”

“Lin… Fellow Daoist Lin, thank you!! Truly thank you!”

“Wuwu…”

Being abruptly pulled from the abyss of despair to the peak of hope, this extreme emotional contrast made Ji Lingxue unable to maintain the composure of an Eldest Princess any longer.

She let out an uncontrollable sob, crying, and threw herself into Lin Mo’s arms without hesitation, hugging him tightly with both arms.

All the grievances, fears, despair, and now the new-found ecstasy and gratitude from this period of time, all turned into hot tears, freely flowing out.

The sudden embrace of warmth and softness caught Lin Mo by surprise.

His hands instinctively hovered in mid-air, unsure where to place them appropriately for a moment.

Feeling the delicate body of the beauty in his arms trembling slightly from excitement, and the warmth of his chest quickly soaking with tears, he could only sigh helplessly in the end.

His hovering hands could only gently rest on her back, patting her awkwardly yet softly, silently offering comfort.

Meanwhile, Liu Fang, seeing the two suddenly embracing, was already dumbfounded.

But very quickly, a hint of a smile appeared on her face.