Chapter 729: Take Off!
w.a.n.g Baole shook when he heard that.
He had guessed that the coffin had been a gift from his master, but he hadn’t realized its purpose. He was to hide inside and sleep away the calamity that was headed his way.
His senior brother’s words proved that his guesses regarding the Heavenly Dao were correct. The Heavenly Dao… to a certain extent, could be considered as a supreme weapon.
He also agreed with the Never-Ending Clan’s position on the Heavenly Dao. Together with his existing knowledge of the Dark Sect’s history, he could somewhat piece together what had happened in the past.
The Dark Sect had changed the Heavenly Dao and written down the laws for the universe. The Never-Ending Clan had gathered the clans to revolt against them and destroy the Heavenly Dao. They had caused the fall of the Dark Sect, then rewritten their own version of the Heavenly Dao. After replacing the Dark Sect, the Never-Ending Clan had continued exterminating survivors of the Dark Sect.
His senior brother was clearly an exceptional case!
Chen Qing watched as emotions flashed past w.a.n.g Baole’s face. He sighed softly.
“Baole, I know you don’t wish to leave your home. But it’s necessary that you leave. Your departure will also become a source of hope for the Federation’s civilization.”
“Hope?” w.a.n.g Baole lifted his head and stared at his senior brother questioningly.
“The Federation is still too primitive a civilization. It’s like a child compared to the rest of the universe. It has virtually no means to protect itself. Let’s not even consider the scenario of an Eternal Star realm cultivator coming across the Federation. If a mere Planet realm cultivator comes across the Federation and wishes to refine it, he could do so easily!” Chen Qing didn’t mince his words. He laid the truth out bluntly.
w.a.n.g Baole fell silent. He knew that his senior brother was speaking the truth. The Federation… was undoubtedly a relatively weak civilization. Spirit Qi had only made its appearance in the Federation a few decades ago. The spirit meridians on Earth weren’t yet fully formed, and they had to create their own spirit stones.
They might not be an infant cultivation civilization, but it wasn’t wrong to call them a mere child when compared to other civilizations.
“Of course, there’s still the Vast Expanse Dao Palace on the ancient sword. But in my view, even though there are powerful elders slumbering on the ancient sword, most of them are with serious injury. They might lend a hand if something were to threaten their survival, but if the danger in question is only towards the Federation, will they even be bothered to help? Of course, there’s also the question of whether the Federation will still exist when they awake!” Chen Qing stared at w.a.n.g Baole as he continued speaking.
His words rendered w.a.n.g Baole speechless yet again. He had Little Missy with him, so he believed that there was a great chance that the Vast Expanse Dao Palace elders would become their allies after they woke up. But… this was still a gamble. It was placing one’s survival in the hands of others. A sudden change in mindset might be all the difference. w.a.n.g Baole wasn’t in favor of such pa.s.sivity.
“What’s the point of you remaining in the Federation? If you really wish for your home civilization to evolve and prosper, the best way is to let the Federation civilization become more powerful!
“There are two ways to do that. One is to allow time to do its work. As time pa.s.ses, the generations will continue to evolve. However, based on the Solar System’s potential and its current structure, this method will require a great deal of time. Even if no accident were to befall the Federation during this time, its evolution would still require tens of thousands of years!”
“That’s why the second method will suit the Federation better!” w.a.n.g Baole lifted his head again when Chen Qing said that. His eyes shone brightly.
“Senior Brother, what’s the second method?”
“It’s a shortcut. As you advance the level of your cultivation, you will also be helping your civilization consume other civilizations!” Chen Qing paused for a few moments before replying abruptly. His reply revealed the hidden laws by which the universe operated!
“The foundation of every civilization is an Eternal Star! Only star systems with Eternal Stars have the potential to give birth to cultivation civilizations!”
“A civilization’s Eternal Star—its sun—is what’s most precious to the civilization. That is because the sun is the essence of all life!
“In your Solar System, the sun is your main essence of life. If you can guide your civilization’s sun into devouring the Eternal Stars of other civilizations, you can make your sun more powerful. Both its propulsive force and its energy stores will increase. It will become a force of nature in the cosmos!
“The Eternal Stars and the civilizations that it consumes will become its servants. As the Federation’s Eternal Star grows increasingly more powerful, the cultivators of the Federation will also see more rapid advancements in their cultivation!
“That is the hidden law of this universe and the root of all wars between civilizations. The Never-Ending Clan doesn’t interfere in such wars. Across the universe, countless civilizations are engaging in war and pillage freely, all in order to strengthen themselves!”
“So, how will you choose?” An unfathomable light glimmered in Chen Qing’s eyes as he stared at w.a.n.g Baole.
w.a.n.g Baole fell silent, though his breathing had quickened slightly. After a long moment of silence, a look of determination settled in his eyes. He turned towards Chen Qing, cupped his fists, and bowed.
“I’ll do whatever Senior Brother instructs me to do. But I’d like to have another day. I’d also like to request a protective spell to be cast over the Federation, as a layer of defense.”
“Sure!” Chen Qing nodded. Without wasting any time at all, he raised his right hand. With a wave of his hand and a series of hand seals, a sudden burst of sword Qi erupted in the heavens. It descended upon the earth, buried itself underground, then vanished without a trace. w.a.n.g Baole’s bindings were loosened at the same moment.
“I’ll be waiting for you outside Earth!” Having said that, Chen Qing flung a storage bag towards w.a.n.g Baole, turned, and dashed off into the skies. He disappeared instantly.
w.a.n.g Baole stood in midair and gazed into the direction his senior brother had vanished. A long moment pa.s.sed before he finally made up his mind. He turned and headed straight for the Ethereal City. He reached home, then sat inside his house quietly. When dawn broke, w.a.n.g Baole got to his feet and began preparing breakfast for his parents. When his parents woke up, he turned towards them and got to his knees.
He explained gently to the shocked elderly couple, making up a reason instead of telling them the truth because he didn’t want to cause them to worry. The farewell was a painful, heartbreaking affair. They had their breakfast, then w.a.n.g Baole cast a few protective spells over his parents and watched as they took the pills his senior brother had given him to extend their lifespans. Finally, w.a.n.g Baole gave his parents a deep bow and left.
He found Bunny, then Li Wan’er. He sent Li Xingwen and Duan Muque each a voice transmission. The Martian Colony Governor and a few others were shocked when they heard that w.a.n.g Baole was leaving, while Li Xingwen was almost beside himself with anxiety. Duan Muque was speechless, having no idea what to do with himself or with the situation.
But w.a.n.g Baole had no choice. He wanted to stay, but he knew his senior brother was right. For himself, and for the future of the Federation, he had to leave. Hope for them rested beyond the Solar System.
He still regretted the fact that he hadn’t been able to become the Federation President. In the end, the Martian Colony Governor was made the next Federation President. w.a.n.g Baole’s departure from the Federation was designated as top-secret. To the general public, he had retreated into seclusion.
His one day’s grace soon came to an end. w.a.n.g Baole witnessed his last sunset on Earth, then got to his feet and headed for the stars!
As soon as he reached s.p.a.ce, Chen Qing appeared beside him. With a wave of his hand, the cosmos was transformed instantly. The both of them teleported away from Earth and reappeared in the next moment… on Pluto!
“It’s a long way to the underground Dark Sect. We have to pa.s.s seven restricted regions and go through the Never-Ending Clan’s primary territory. The time of the Never-Ending Clan’s Heavenly Dao approaches. For your safety, you have to go into deep sleep inside the coffin. This coffin is a gift from our master. It’s a unique artifact that can’t be stored away in a storage bag, so I’ll have to carry it. The journey will take us ten years or so. We’ll reach our destination by the time you wake up.”
w.a.n.g Baole was rendered speechless as he listened to Chen Qing’s explanation. He felt helpless at the thought of having to sleep away ten years of his life. He knew there was no other way around it though, so he nodded his consent. Pluto shuddered as Chen Qing waved his hand, and huge crevices split the ground apart. Towers of black mist rose to the heavens, then gathered and transformed into an enormous coffin right before w.a.n.g Baole’s eyes!
Chen Qing formed a series of hand seals, and the coffin shook and shrank in size rapidly. Finally, it settled into a normal-sized coffin that was no longer made of mist but of a tangible, black metal!
The sense of age that exuded from the coffin appeared stronger at that instant. The runes that s.h.i.+mmered on the lid of the coffin gave off waves of unimaginable, overwhelming power.
“Do I really have to sleep in the coffin?” w.a.n.g Baole sighed.
“Don’t worry, Baole, it’s just a nap. You’ll reach the place in no time.” Chen Qing smiled at w.a.n.g Baole as he raised his right hand and waved. The coffin lid slid open slowly, and mist flowed out of the coffin. w.a.n.g Baole rubbed his forehead, then took a huge step and got inside.
He lay inside the coffin. It wasn’t as uncomfortable as he had thought it might be. In fact, it felt warm. w.a.n.g Baole began to feel sleepy. He yawned, then muttered, “It’s not bad, actually, to sleep for ten years. I’ll be there when I wake up. I hope nothing happens during the journey…”
“Don’t worry, nothing will happen!” Chen Qing stood outside the coffin and laughed. He slid the lid shut, then lifted it. Afterwards, he began walking towards the stars swiftly. Within three steps, he was out of the Solar System!
He didn’t stop. With another step, he was away, headed for the distant stars!