Jin Rou climbed the mountain slowly, carrying a leisure expression. He was enjoying the scenery with every step he was taking.

The titan-like green trees were shaking their twigs as if they were welcoming his presence. The birds chirped that made a melodious sound and other species danced in tune.

This place was haven for everyone. Not only it was giving a comfortable aura, it was also giving a cultivator a deeper dao comprehension that wouldn't be possible to exist outside of this place.

As Jin Rou passed by, the surroundings were changing. Flower background, Falls, More gigantic trees, everything changed as he continued to step forward. The universal laws and runic symbols were seemed to be very synchronized here.

But the thing here was, though it was very comfortable and soothing to the feeling, it was giving off a pressure that not just anyone was capable of enduring. In fact, even Fate Emperors might give up if they felt this kind of oppression.

However, of course, it wasn't taking an effect to Jin Rou.

Soon, after walking for a more than an hour, Jin Rou finally reached the peak of the mountain and what greeted him was a vast lake that had seemed to expanded to the horizon!

As the peak was already piercing the clouds, the scenery was very enchanting that anyone would no longer plan to leave this place.

The lake had a circulating runic symbols floating in the middle of the lake. One thing to take a note for was the behind these symbols, there was a person who was sitting in a lotus position. He seemed to be meditating with his closed eyes.

He was looking young. Probably in his early 30's. He had a water-blue hair that was shoulder-long. If we would talk about the looks, for sure, he could enter the top and hottest guys of Starlight.

He was handsome. So handsome that he was just a few levels below Jin Rou. In fact, out of all people Jin Rou met, this man was the only person who's almost near to him in terms of appearance.

Jin Rou knew that this man was in a critical situation, thus, he didn't disturb him and just waited there patiently.

Jin Rou also assumed a meditating position and closed his eyes. Even to him, this place was beneficiary.

The silence took several hours before the man inside the symbols finally opened his closed eyes. When he did, the dao and laws flashed in his eyes. The runic symbols began circulating rapidly as it came into an explosion!

"Boom!" The lake was disturbed and created a surge of tsunamis all around the place. Though this was just a lake, if a commoner would be here, they would mistake this lake as a sea above the mountain because of its massive size!

After he stabilized himself, he looked at his hands and made sure if nothing was wrong. After confirming it, he looked at his surroundings and found a meditating young man not far away from him.

"Whoosh!" The guy was shocked to his core as he rapildy rushed over to Jin Rou's place in a hurry. He soon assumed a kneeling posture and said, "Your Highness Jin Rou, I'm sorry for not meeting you personally. I... I..."

"No, it's okay." Jin Rou opened his eyes and smiled, "You are in a critical situation a while ago so I understand. Besides, don't stand in a ceremony here. There are only two of us here."

"…" Stronghold Ancient was shaken and said, "So Your Highness is aware that I knew your true self?"

"Just a hunch." Jin Rou chuckled. Indeed, this was only a hunch in his part but something he believed on. After all, he was invited personally by a big shot. Just how difficult was it to see an Ancient?

Very difficult. Only other Ancients and Ethereals had the capability to do so.

And Jin Rou also knew who gave Stronghold a heads up.

"Father has suddenly contacted me and said that His Highness Jin Rou might be going in True Realm and he wanted me to escort you personally." Stronghold Ancient confessed, "However, the time you ascended into our place came exactly the moment I was having a dangerous breakthrough, thus I wasn't able to meet you and just told Woodrain to meet you personally. I know that you are in a disguise, that's why I said nothing except a warning not to offend you."

"Please forgive this lowly being, Your Highness." Stronghold Ancient was about to kowtow,

But Jin Rou stopped him and said, "I told you that it's okay. It's not that big of a deal. I came here because I want to see the dear son of that old general of mine."

Jin Rou chuckled and said, "And indeed, you guys have almost the same appearance. And the tenacity and perseverance to seek the dao, too. It's all the same. You are like the doppelganger of your father."

"..." Stronghold didn't know what to say. To receive such a compliment from the Celestial King was like the heavens have granted him another pair of wings. He was a big shot here in Starlight, but when he was in front of Jin Rou, he was only a little kid.

He didn't expect that the Celestial King who ran away from his responsibilities was this nice. Or maybe he was only nice to him because of his father.

But the fact remained that Jin Rou was nice to him.

"So, how are the things here in Starlight?" Jin Rou asked, "Is there something weird happening?"

"Something weird?" Stronghold contemplated for a while and said, "Recently, there are weird dark-colored portals opening. Though nothing was coming from it, it was giving a chilling vibe that even I wasn't sure of."

"Dark-colored portals, you say?" Jin Rou's eyes flashed and his expression became serious which made Stronghold surprise.

Just what kind of things were capable of warranting such an expression from Jin Rou?

"Where and when did the last opening of this portal?" Jin Rou asked.

"In the territory of Seismic Island Constellation. It happened a year ago. But there are no casualties there as everyone was safe and sound." Stronghold answered. He didn't filter any information and gave everything he knew.