Caelus leaned quietly against the inner wall of the rapidly moving carriage. The blurred scenery outside the window reflected in his shattered golden eyes, yet failed to stir the slightest ripple.
He clearly recognized this fact, but strangely, felt no guilt or fear in his heart.
He was not the type of person who would indulge in meaningless internal friction.
His past life as a corporate drone had long taught him a cold truth.
In the face of vast rules and destiny, the joys, sorrows, and sense of morality of an individual were often ridiculously fragile.
Having been reborn, wielding the authority over time and death, and having witnessed the might of transcendent power, what he pursued was absolute strength above all else and unconstrained freedom.
And this supreme throne and the freedom to act as one pleased had always only allowed a single person to enjoy them exclusively.
His essence was selfish.
This selfishness did not stem from the cruelty of ignorant innocence, but rather from an extreme calmness achieved through deep consideration and the removal of unnecessary emotional baggage.
He clearly knew that the activation of the myriad karma true blood might cause some people to lose their loved ones, might cause certain factions to collapse, and might even trigger a war spanning the entire continent, leading to countless deaths.
But these things were unavoidable on his Dao toward the supreme throne. He was willing to bear all the sin, and if justice existed and sought to punish him, he would have no complaints.
However, he would not surrender easily. If he failed, he would be an eternal villain; if he won, great scholars in the future would naturally rationalize his actions.
The chaos of the World, for him, might be a crisis, but it was equally an opportunity.
The collapse of order often meant a reshuffling of the hierarchy, signifying more opportunities to exploit.
The suffering and death of others, as long as they did not affect the handful of people he cared about, were merely distant, indistinct background noise.
What he pursued was the implementation of his own will, the eternity of the self.
As for how many skeletons he would step over, how much bloodshed he would cause, how many people's dreams he would shatter, or how many people's nightmares he would bring about in this process... those were not matters he needed to prioritize.
When one person achieves the Dao, even their dogs and chickens ascend to heaven.
And when one wishes to ascend to the supreme throne, how can the steps beneath their feet not be stained with dust and blood?
Caelus slightly closed his eyes, shutting out all external distractions.
What he needed to consider was how to extract sufficient nourishment from this raging fire that he himself had ignited.
He intended to become the sole victor who could ultimately stand proudly under the heavens.
After several days of full-speed travel, the spirit tool carriage finally slowed down.
When Caelus lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside, even with his Mind and nature refined over two lifetimes, a hint of awe flashed in his eyes.
A colossal city, whose grandeur was beyond description, appeared before them, resembling an ancient behemoth crouching upon the earth.
Star Luo City, the absolute heart of the Star Luo Empire, had a history that could be traced back ten thousand years to the era of contention with Spirit Hall. Having endured countless wars and reconstructions, it had accumulated unimaginable depth and glory.
The first thing that came into view was the massive city wall, winding and undulating like a mountain range.
The wall was not made of ordinary bricks, but was constructed from huge granite-bluesteel stones sourced from the depths of the Ming Dou Mountain Range. It stood over eighty meters high, its surface polished exceptionally smooth, covered with the mottled traces left by time and various reinforcing and defensive spirit tool runes, shimmering with a cold, hard metallic luster in the sunlight.
On the city wall, the patrolling soldiers wore bright armor, and banners fluttered. Massive defensive spirit tools could vaguely be seen extending from the battlements, a murderous aura rushing forth.
The city's area was unimaginably vast; as far as the eye could see, there was no end in sight.
It was said that, counting the peripheral satellite towns and garrison areas, Star Luo City and its surrounding influence could accommodate nearly thirty million residents, and its core main district was permanently home to over eight million inhabitants.
The carriage passed through the royal exclusive city gate, which was heavily guarded and required a special token for passage, officially entering this legendary city.
The scene inside was even more dazzling.
The main thoroughfare, wide enough for ten carriages to travel abreast, was paved with a type of hard bluestone slab, polished so smooth that it reflected people clearly.
Shops lined both sides of the street, with diverse signs and banners. Everything was available, from the most ordinary necessities of life to medicinal herbs, spirit tools, weapons, and armor specifically for Soul Masters. The streets were bustling with people, shoulder to shoulder, displaying extreme prosperity and vitality.
Buildings of various styles stood side by side, including millennia-old establishments that were simple and grand, and magnificent tall buildings filled with the modern technological feel of spirit tools.
The air was filled with various food aromas, the fresh scent of medicinal herbs, and the faint energy fluctuations characteristic of operating spirit tool machinery.
Traffic flowed continuously. Soul Masters and ordinary people mingled, collectively forming the unique picture of this Imperial capital—vibrant yet strictly hierarchical.
The carriage did not linger in the bustling market but drove straight toward the core area of the city.
The deeper they went, the quieter the environment became, the streets grew wider and cleaner, and the patrolling guards became more elite. The surrounding buildings all displayed grandeur and heritage; this was clearly the residential area for high officials, nobles, and powerful Soul Master Families.
Finally, the carriage stopped in front of a quiet courtyard separated from the Imperial Palace walls by only two streets.
This residence was a quiet retreat amidst the hustle and bustle, with white walls, black tiles, and a vermilion gate. Two majestic stone beasts stood at the entrance. Although the layout was not overly extravagant, the details revealed careful craftsmanship and nobility.
Xu Jiujiu was the first to step out of the carriage and said to Caelus and Grandpa Hui:
"We've arrived. This will be your residence from now on. This 'Listening to Snow Pavilion' has an elegant environment and is convenient for entering and exiting the Imperial City. It now belongs to you, Caelus."
Her tone was calm, as if she were only presenting an ordinary gift.
Without waiting for Caelus's reply, she took out a card of special material, inlaid with dark gold patterns along the edges, and handed it to the overwhelmed Grandpa Hui:
"Grandpa Hui, this card holds one hundred thousand gold coins. Please take it for daily expenses, purchasing suitable furniture and items, or some basic resources Caelus needs to Cultivate. If it's not enough, you can use this card to withdraw funds from the royal designated bank."
One hundred thousand gold coins.
Grandpa Hui's hands trembled.
He knew very well that all the pension and savings left by Caelus's parents after they died while serving in the Eighth Soul Master Legion, after deducting the portion they consumed for their own Cultivation, the inheritance left for Caelus amounted to only about ten thousand gold coins at most.
What Her Highness the Princess casually gave was ten times that inheritance.
And that wasn't all.
Xu Jiujiu gestured slightly, and the vermilion gate of the courtyard quietly opened. Inside, more than ten maids and servants in uniform stood respectfully with their hands lowered. Upon seeing Xu Jiujiu and Caelus, they all bowed in salute. Clearly, the royal Family had already arranged everything perfectly, just waiting for the master to move in.
This level of attention was truly meticulous and full of sincerity.