As it turned out, this Daoist mansion was the place where the Great Emperor of Through-the-Ages had attained enlightenment before ascending the Heavenly Road and traversing all the worlds and realms. For the rise and fall of the human race and determined to suppress all enemies in foreign lands, the Great Emperor had feared that his foes were too strong, while the Chenghuang that had followed him to pacify the Eastern Land was already aged and growing frail. Therefore, he had left his mount behind here to spend its twilight years in peace, while he alone set forth to slaughter his way across the Heavenly Road.
Though called a mount, the Great Emperor had always treated the Chenghuang with utmost courtesy. That Chenghuang had met the Great Emperor in its youth, just like this, and had accompanied him all the way to emperorship, forging an exceptionally deep bond.
Corpshes littered the Great Emperor's path, yet the Chenghuang had followed the Emperor Lord every step of the way, braving life and death through a thousand trials and ten thousand perils, fighting against the dark turmoil. In truth, it had wished to continue accompanying the Great Emperor up the Heavenly Road, but the Emperor Lord refused. Ascending the Heavenly Road was far too dangerous—countless times more perilous than the mortal realm—and as the Chenghuang aged and lacked the necessary strength, the Great Emperor ultimately left it behind here.
Chapter 271