Old Ruins was once the center of this world. Despite its name, it was prosperous with powerful immortal-level lineages such as Five-element Mountains, Purification Creek, Famed Bamboo, Immortal Bronze Mountain, Nine-secrets, and many more…

Ancient clans included the Li, the Mu, and others. Alas, two great wars - Immortals Slaughtered and Heavenslay - broke this place and these lineages were either destroyed or evacuated to other areas.

They lasted for years with numerous battles taking place in Old Ruins. It finally had rest and was spared from Nightwatch. Why? Because it had nothing left; all of its lineages were no longer present or strong enough to participate.

Time healed all wounds and the land showed signs of recovery and life. The scorched lands and shattered mountains eagerly met the challenge in the healing process.

Of course, mighty existences visited this place. Some felt sentimental about the past and personally aided the recovery process. The lucky descendants of the native dao lineages continued to nourish the land.

Alas, it still didn’t regain its original prosperity. The dao lineages and their wondrous visual phenomena could no longer be seen.

The land looked like a fallen clan. Although people were still around, ruins were readily available as well. While standing at the highest spot of the region, one could still see devastating damages from the wars - broken divine mountains and chaotic temporal and spatial storms.

Only small cities and villages were around. The inhabitants were tenacious and unwilling to give up. Some included descendants of the fallen lineages or newcomers with nowhere else to go.

Li Qiye sighed as he walked through the ruins. Beneath the ground were incredible dao sources - the reasons for the land’s past success.

It was nothing short of paradise, making cultivation exceedingly easy. Mortals also benefited, gaining longevity and strength.

Of course, there were always two sides. These mortals in the past enjoyed health and more opportunities to cultivate. However, they lived near emperors and progenitors.

Peace was wonderful but when wars broke out, just one undirected blast from an emperor could destroy a city. A progenitor’s supreme technique and its shockwaves could inadvertently destroy a kingdom.

Battles and destruction were normal for these beings but for mortals, they were calamities. In just one night, a wealthy mortal and his city could be reduced to blood without realizing why.

This was the way of life for mortals. Fortunately, their life was short in comparison, saving them from constant stress and anxiety.

“Prosperous and demise due to cultivation. Its absence is better for the mortal world.” Li Qiye remarked.

This extended to epochs as well. They were created and destroyed as part of a constant cycle. Without the interference of cultivation, living beings could still populate, albeit never being able to reach true prosperity. It wouldn’t shine brightly but would continue to exist as a faint star.

Unfortunately, the birth of an epoch would also birth numerous supreme overlords. This was inevitable.

After passing by a peak, he stopped and looked up at the wooden plaque of an abandoned courtyard. The two characters engraved were Li Clan.