Spring Will Never Return

This is three thousand years after the collision of the Way of Heaven.

The spiritual energy winter of the Great Heaven has begun, and opportunities have become extremely scarce, leaving many perplexed.

The darkness still lingers under the Way of Heaven, though now dark remnants rarely appear, often just lurking before retreating back into the shadows.

The frontline walls now only have a faint trace of the main battle line, which is also known by other cultivators as the Battlefield of the Way of Heaven.

With the return of the Emperors, a legend about a cultivator has spread throughout the Great Heaven.

Chen Saint.

Legend has it that this ruthless figure could slay an Emperor at the mere Grand Saint level of the fourth realm. It is said that he played a significant role in the final great slaughter.

The specifics of his role remain unclear, as even the Emperors avoid discussing it, hinting at some great secret.

The incident from back then was not as simple as it seemed. The one who ultimately self-destructed with the Way of Heaven was Chen Xia, yet not Chen Xia.

None of the Emperors truly understand, so they agreed to keep it a secret.

Those who returned alive were already few, and with their tight lips, the truth remains unknown.

The greatest change in the Great Heaven now is the increasing difficulty of cultivation. With the Way of Heaven in slumber, spiritual energy and opportunities have dwindled, making it harder for high-level cultivators to emerge.

In the past, out of a million talents, ten could become quasi-Emperors, but now only five can.

This has a significant impact, but high-level cultivators have another opportunity: many quasi-Emperors and Emperors have died.

Three hundred Emperor seats have suddenly opened up, and the quasi-Emperors are rushing to claim them, all eager to secure a place among the three hundred who can stand at the peak of the myriad worlds.

The quasi-Emperors of the Great Heaven are outmatched by those from the myriad worlds, as the latter did not experience the Way of Heaven's slaughter and are at the pinnacle of their strength, just waiting for Emperors to pass away and leave behind their seats.

With the deaths of the Emperors in the Great Heaven, the top quasi-Emperors from the myriad worlds have successively taken their places. This is an unprecedented era for the myriad worlds, with the number of Emperors reaching an all-time high of two hundred and still growing.

However, there is one puzzling aspect.

None of the quasi-Emperors who specialize in the Sword or Thunder Dao have been able to ascend to Emperor status, no matter how powerful their cultivation or combat prowess.

The only explanation for this situation is that there is a quasi-Emperor whose Sword or Thunder Dao surpasses theirs.

This infuriates the Sword Dao quasi-Emperors.

"Who the hell is it?" they exclaim.

"Hiding in silence, reaping the benefits, are you?"

They rack their brains trying to figure out which Sword Dao quasi-Emperor could possibly be more skilled than they are.

It's truly frustrating.

In the Great Heaven, the wars have temporarily subsided.

News of an Emperor returning to their star domain has spread far and wide, reaching many star domains.

The Grand Saints of the Blue Sky Sword Sea have begun eagerly awaiting Chen Saint's return from the front lines.

They have prepared banners, each writing their own messages.

[Welcome Chen Saint back to the Blue Sky Sword Sea, your loyal servant Emperor Capital is ready to serve!]

A sentence that vividly portrays the relationships of brotherhood, fatherhood, master, and pet.

[Welcome.] This is Chi Yu's message.

[Return to a clean slate, put an end to the scars of war, victory!] This is Qiu Li's.

[I won't ask you to repay the ten thousand spiritual stones.]

[I'll give you ten thousand spiritual stones.]

Li Yang and Li Yue.

[It's been a long time, I miss you dearly, come back, my Chen Saint!]

This is Jia Bai, Huang Can, and Hu Linye's joint message.

They have already rehearsed their lines in advance, eagerly waiting for Chen Saint to descend from the heavens and become the soul of the Blue Sky Sword Sea, leading it to become the top sect in the myriad worlds.

They wait.

Spring blossoms, summer grows the grass, autumn winds blow, and leaves scatter.

As the snow falls, they suddenly realize it's already winter.

But the snow has arrived, so when will Chen Saint return?

No one can answer them.

Waiting is always agonizing, and despite countless rehearsals, they still feel nervous, fearing Chen Saint might suddenly appear, yet more afraid he might not return at all.

After winter comes the spring equinox.

Flowers bloom and fall, repeating one cycle after another.

The flowers come, the snow comes.

But where is the person?

One year, two years...

Not everyone has the patience to wait indefinitely. The initial hope of waiting eventually turns into a grinding torment on the heart. Huang Can leaves first, saying he has matters to attend to.

Over the years, more Grand Saints leave one by one.

Another winter arrives.

The snow keeps falling, howling without end.

Chi Yu clenches his fists, standing firmly in the fierce snowstorm, his eyes unwavering as he gazes at the sky where the snow originates.

He stands shoulder to shoulder with Emperor Capital, and now only the two of them remain.

In the pale world.

Chi Yu exhales a breath of hot air, which instantly forms a mist. The usually silent man suddenly speaks softly.

"It's a bit cold."

Emperor Capital, already covered in snow, stands motionless like a snowman, nodding in agreement.

"Yes."

But it's not the snow that's cold.

They have been waiting here for an unknown number of years, but this winter feels especially harsh. The biting wind and snow mixed with ice shards seem to pierce into their hearts.

In the vast whiteness.

No one speaks, but they all understand.

Perhaps spring will never return.